IVF - Our first appointment

I had no idea what to expect at this appointment but this is how it went for us.

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I was surprisingly calm driving to the clinic.

Our first appointment was just for tests - because we've been under the NHS fertility clinic for 3 years now it meant all the investigations we had in 2021 are "out of date" and the IVF clinic wanted to repeat them. They require results from within the last 12 months in order to proceed with a treatment plan. Had I known this I would have pushed the NHS clinic to repeat everything for me and save having to pay for it so if you're under an NHS clinic and looking to go private, ask them to check your antral follicle count and AMH to save you some money.

I've had so many internal ultrasounds and blood tests that I reckon I could do it all myself now and I think this is why I felt so relaxed beforehand. It was nothing new, nothing that I hadn't already experienced and results that I've already been given.

Prior to our first appointment we'd been set up with individual access to the Patient Portal. We'd been informed that this is where all the documents, results and appointments will appear, similar to the NHS app. There were several forms we had to fill out prior to our first appointment, all pretty straightforward but it did take some time to go through them all.

We arrived at the clinic 5 minutes before our appointment and were greeted by a very friendly receptionist who guided us to our respective waiting areas. The waiting area was quite busy when I arrived, several couples dotted around, but the radio was playing and there was a free coffee machine available. I was called from the waiting room at the exact time of my appointment, so far very impressed with the efficiency!

The scan was very thorough, more detailed than the scans I've had done on the NHS. There was a screen in front of me and the nurse talked me through everything she could see. She was friendly but professional, which I liked but some may find it slightly cold. I prefer the professional approach, I'm not looking for lots of chat and sympathy.

There has been some improvement in my polycystic ovaries, my left now appears normal with 10 follicles (the criteria for PCO is 12 or more) but the right remains polycystic with 15 follicles. When I was first diagnosed I had >20 follicles in both ovaries!! I'm taking this as a good thing and not a sign that my fertility is plummeting because I'm 4 years older...

Other than that she said everything else looked good. I had the blood test straight after the scan and I should receive the results of those in the next day or two.

My husband had to repeat his semen analysis. Last time he did it at home and brought it in but this time they wanted him to do it in the clinic. Not the most relaxing way to produce a sample but needs must. We were in different waiting rooms for our appointments but from his account he said a nurse showed him to a private room that had a sofa and sink in it (romantic...) and pointed out the wifi code in case he needed it (even more romantic...). Once he was done there was a shoot to send the sample down and he left without needing to see or speak to anyone.

Overall, we were finished within half an hour. My first impressions of the clinic are very positive. Everyone seemed friendly but professional, the appointments all ran to time, the clinic itself was spotless and as relaxing as it could be, and I'll always appreciate free coffee!

Our first consultation with the consultant is next week. I'm hoping this is when we'll get a treatment plan sorted and I'll update as we go. Fingers crossed this is the start for us.

L x