Hey all, wow it's been ages since I've been on here and pretty sad to think still no BFP

Anyways, think we'll be popped on IVF waiting list soon and usually a year to 18 months wait in Milton Keynes.

So we're thinking of going private cos really, it's been ages now and we have the money so why not. I have quite a few questions. Can I ask, how much on average for a full round (including meds?). Also, how much time would you need to take off work (I know you don't have to but I'd prefer to - so how many days do you need to be in clinic?). Silly Q this one: do you get your subsequent rounds cheaper if 1st fails? And anyone tried the Care clinics (in Northampton, I think).

Also, I think I heard the rules have changed, meaning you still qualify for NHS IVF even if you'd had a private round. Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks! x

Hey there,

One cycle is around 3500-5000, i suppose it really depends on what you have done, the prices are all broken down so ur IVF packagae is tailored to fit your needs. If you have a specific clinic in mind they might have a website which usually has a price list.

I think a lot of the girls on here have taken the week of EC and ET off to recover and take it easy so the embryo sticks. Its not compulsory, but I think most people feel a bit sore after EC. I am starting this month and I am planning to have a week off. You will have several clinic appointments, but you can usually just take half a day off. I havent had a round yet, so Im not sure entirely, maybe some of the other girls can help, but we will have at least 5 or 6 clinic appointments overall.

Not sure about the rules changing, but I think one of the girls on here might be able to help you there as she has had a private cycle and is now having NHS funding so u might be right-However, it does vary from trust to trust so you would need to find that out.

As for costs...as far as I'm aware, unfortunately it doesnt get cheaper but if you are young enough and qualify for egg sharing you can have the cost of ur treatment halved. That's something the clinic will talk to you about I suppose.

Good luck!!

Hey Trix! Now there is a friendly face i recognise from ttc... before we all ended up over here! How are you? Hope your brothers wedding went well! I remember it AGES ago!!!

Our PCT allows 1 private cycle prior to our NHS cycle... but if we get pregnant then the NHS cycle is null and void so you can't have it at a later date to get a sibling. Best thing is to speak to your PCT and see what if anything they allow. Our PCT said 12 months and they notified us we could start after 9 months - having said that our cycle didn't start until 13 months into waiting!

My friend just had her cycle - she had no pain or discomfort after EC and actually went back to work the day after for 2 days! I've booked a week off during EC and ET - if i feel up to it i'll go into work but after ET i'll have a few days to chill out.

Different PCTs/countries recommend different things - i remember Mendy was on strict bed rest for 4 days and couldn't even shower! My PCT recommend shuffling between the living room and kitchen for a few days to keep the blood flowing but that's about it.

Ask Maz in the journal section as she is under Care i believe? also the fertilityfriends forum is good as you can ask girls at specific clinics to see how they find things - much better than looking at performance indicators.

Dh wouldn't be swayed with a private cycle prior to our NHS one as he felt why pay when you get a free shot?? But, I know how i felt on the waiting list and i was fed up that it had been so long - if your private go won't affect your NHS chances then i would go for it hun

Thanks guys, really useful and good to hear from you Rachelle - bro's wedding was ammmaaaazzzzzing! x

Hey sweetie!!! Good to see you around here again!

No point in explaining costs from my end, as it will be way different to you.

Time off work is minimal. I took two days off for the Egg collection (cause we have quite a ways to travel)...really I could have went back the next day...pain is not much.

The transfer itself was very quick, and I could have done it in a lunch break from work!! Only I had to fly to anther city, so I took the day off work, but it was friday so I did have the weekend...

Honestly work is what kept me sane in the TWW after that..cause OMG! lol, it's good to keep yourself busy

Lots of luck sweets. xoxo

Ney ney, how's it all going? Hope you are having an easy pregnany.

I have heard great things about CARE in Nottingham, and the Lister. Saying that, I am at Oxford and couldn't fault them.

I have a week off over EC/ET. I agree with NeyNey that I could've gone back the next day, but unfortunately had OHSS so ended up needing that time off. It was a god send!

Full round at Oxford is about £4.5-5K, and more if you need ICSI or any other more specialised stuff.

You wouldn't get subsequent rounds cheaper, but if you were to get some embies to freeze then a frozen cycle is £700-£900 depending on if you have the drugs or not. As far as i know the rule still stands that if you have gone private you forfeit your NHS cycle, but I would check this as I am not 100% sure.

Good luck with everything, and let us know what you decide to do

Hi girls.... I am completely new to all this staff. I am planning my IVF in April... have some questions... My doctor prescribed me a birth control, two antibiotics and one more medicine (have no idea why) As result i was not feeling very well and decided to take only one antibiotic Ofloxacin. The problem is that i am completely healthy and have no idea why my doctor prescribed me so much medicine. Did anyone take any medicine before IVF? Thank you

Hi TrixieLox!

Just seen that you're in MK... me too! Me and hubby have been TTC for just over three years now. The GP finally put in a referral for IVF last month, only for us to be refused. We were told that 3 years wasn't long enough for us to have been trying and that I'm too old... I turned 36 the day I signed the referral and I've been told they only fund IVF for women up to the age of 35 in Bucks. Anyways, like you we considered going private... we contacted a clinic on March 1st and March 11th we had our first consultation. We've been to CARE @ Northampton a couple of times for hubby's SA but we had the consultation at the Saxon Clinic in MK and saw a Dr Tony Stock... wonderful man! It was £160 for the consultation and lasted around an hour. Apparently they're part of CARE Northampton but do the consultations, drug dispensing, scans etc locally... the only time you have to go to Northampton is for EC and ET. Just wondered how you're getting on... As for still being entitled to a round on the NHS... even before we were refused funding, our doctor told us that as soon as we went private, we gave up the right to free NHS treatment.

Oh and we were given a rough 'quote' for treatment. £2,784 for IVF... and an additional £930 for ICSI, £210 for sedation during EC... our HIV/Hep B and C tests are over a year old so we're having to have them done again... £108 per partner. I can't believe how quickly it's adding up but it will be worth it if we get a BFP

Good luck!

Hi Hun, I'm doing well. I'm having a pretty smooth pregnancy after a bit of a rocky start...Thank you for asking I hope you're well too.

I didn't mention, but I too had OHSS, quite severe, and ended up in hospital for 5 days...It's important to watch for those symptoms, because if you are successful (fingers crossed) and you do have mild OHSS, it can progress very quickly, inflamed by the increasing HCG...So horrible as it feels, it's a good sign sometimes.