IVF/ICSI: Which Hospital? Post Reply

[JenM]

Hi,

After several months of investigations, we've been told that we can get NHS funded IVF/ICSI treatment (masculine fertility issue). Until today I thought we could receive treatment either at Kingston or St Helier's hospital and we just needed to pick. Went for an appointment today at St Helier and was told that we could actually receive the treatment for 1 cycle either at St Thomas, Chelsea & Westminster, King's College, Kingston or St Helier.
Try to look for some information, but I am a bit lost. We live in Clapham Junction and I work at Olympia/Hammersmith. I would be tempted to go for Chelsea and Westminster as I believe it is a good hospital and it would probably be more convenient.

Does any of you have any experience of those hospitals for IVF Treatment?

Thanks for your help

[Chucka]

I know this is not what you might want to hear but in the light of the article below I would suggest to re-consider?  

There are positive alternatives: other projects -helping children if that is what are drawn to... adoption, fostering and maybe even you have natural fertility possibilities from people such as lifefertility.  By my mid 40s it was very possible we would not have a child.  We did in the end but life is deeply rich and worthwhile whether we are biological parents or give our gifts in other ways.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... nancy.html

[this_is_cat]

Chuka
What a horrible post! And how totally irrelevant to the question. Why on earth should that article make any difference to what JenM does?

Jen
Chelsea and Westminster assisted conception unit has great results
My main criticism of them was being a bit ‘one plan fits all’ in their approach, but with male factor issues, this won’t be much of a problem

The department does get quite busy so there can be some waiting around but that is true for all IVF clinics

Your 1 funded round will cover a frozen transfer as well, if your fresh round doesn’t work, but subsequent transfers will have to be paid privately
The cost of a transfer at C&W is absurdly high - far more than any other Clinic - so if this is something you have to consider, you might want to think about transferring your embryos to another clinic. The cost of moving them still means it’s cheaper

Good luck with your choice and also your treatment

[j88]

Hi Jen

We had ICSI treatment a few years ago at St Thomas. I would say they are good and they were supportive.

Best of luck with your journey.

Xx

[IrenaP]

I agreed - Chuka’s Post is ridiculous. Have you read the HFEA results? With IVF do check into the results. I know somebody who had a poor result at Kingston - part of the procedure was done with the private (and in her experience not great) bridge clinic. Try finding out about the whole supply chain if it’s not all in house and then again see what HFEA says.

Good luck. IVF changed my life.

Also another tip if you want it is that you may wish to consider auxiliary treatment along side such as nutrition/ acupuncture etc. I found this very helpful as the experience was stressful and medically focused. One of the key things is building up your protein levels, apparently. Zita West helped me with this.

[Dalma]

We used the C&W hospital (ICSI treatment) twice. Now l have two little girls (6y and 4y).

Good luck with your choice and your treatment x

[JenM]

Thanks a lot for your answers. I had looked at HFEA website but was a bit lost, hence my question.

I am new on Nappyvalley.net and happy to see that most people are here to help without judging others’ choices.

I will go to C&W as it is more convenient but bear in mind what you said this_is_cat regarding costs if I have to go private. Thanks for the tip.

Thanks again for all your help!

[Chucka]

Only glad of "most" comments?  Which one displeases?  This comment is itself judging one person's comment choice to be "judging".  To authentically believe in choice our choices logically are those that respect the choices of others: to engage in discussion,  to be free of negative labelling, to be created naturally, to exist and not be frozen or discarded , to know one's siblings and not have to contemplate them frozen or discarded - and of course much more.  Have a great day Jen.   I leave you in friendship and goodwill.  Thank you for opening this needful discussion topic.

 

[JenM]

Chucka, I am not here to pick a fight.
I am just saying your post did not help me to chose an Hospital.
I respect your views and belief but I don’t think sharing them with someone who had already made her mind and is asking for more specific recommendations helps.

I don’t want to debate reasons of my choice with you.

Let’s leave it there.

[Flowermummy]

JenM - there some people on NVN who use others' genuine posts to air their ideas about the world... unhelpful, and I think the best way to deal with them is to ignore them (since they do not address the original post); luckily there are more NVN users with genuine advice and suggestions...
I don't have any further suggestions for your questions (except to say that 2 of my friends were very happy with ARGC, but this is private)... best of luck!!