NHS fertility referral at Lister Hospital Post Reply

[BellaR219]

Hello, GP has just referred us to a fertility specialist, got the letter through and looks like it will be at Lister. Can anyone advise how long it will be until they contact me, and if anyone has had treatment there, what was your experience like? Also what to expect at the first appointment

[Greenfingers1987]

We were at Lister for three rounds of IVF and ICSI. They are very nice and do their best to see people quickly/schedule appointments to suit you etc. What I would say about ALL fertility clinics is that you have to be on your guard. It is a brutal process and can be emotionally extremely taxing. Look after yourself.

Bear in mind that they have a vested interest in keeping hopes high. Also that fertility is not an exact science. One of the doctors at Lister said it was impossible for me to conceive naturally. I agree that it looked incredibly unlikely after that tests and on paper. Yet after three failed rounds and with a very low AMH, that is exactly what I did and my daughter was healthy and perfect.

I apreciate that not everyone has the luxury of time and it is something which few would choose if given a free choice. I just think that you need to know where you will personally draw the line and bear in mind that a lot of it really is guesswork and outside of the control of a doctor (any doctor, no matter how good or qualified).

[balhamas]

I’ve been having fertility treatment at the lister since 2019 and have 2 children. We self funded so I can’t comment on the nhs referral and the timeline or if that makes a difference in any way, but I wouldn’t imagine so in terms of the service or facilities. I’ve always found them quite good to get hold of - emailing the nurses can be quicker than waiting on the phone line though. In my experience it’s always better to be proactive with anything medical so I would contact the clinic now and explain that you’ve been referred and you’re wondering how long it takes as you’re keen to get going. I know it’s a cliche but time is really of the essence with this stuff so there is no point waiting around - if you’re eager to crack on then let them know.
Fertility in general can be so complicated and few people have an easy road but I feel like I have learnt a huge amount during the journey, I am always very happy to talk about this - I didn’t know anyone having ivf when I started and it felt quite lonely, but it shouldn’t be like that! Regarding the Lister I can wholeheartedly recommend it, and have to many people who need some help with fertility. All the nurses are extremely kind and happy to spend time listening and talking and answering questions when you need it, my doctor will answer my text messages or call me on his way home if I’m having a wobble, and I always felt as though he sees it as his personal mission to help us have the family we want.
Your first appointment will probably depend on a few things:
1) do you know the reason for needing fertility treatment - eg low sperm count, recurrent miscarriage etc
2) have you already had tests for both you and your partner, or just you if you’re doing it alone
3) what, if any treatment you’ve previously had/ nature of your referral.
4) what type of ivf you need
For most people it will be a chance to discuss the process, the medications and how it all works, but also probably to do some blood tests and arrange anything further in the way of tests you might need (scans, sperm samples etc).
It can feel overwhelming but all I can say from my experience is that it is totally and utterly worth it to have children, and sadly if it’s necessary for you then you just have to embrace it and try to get through it the best you can. Please don’t feel alone, I’m always happy to chat if you want to, just drop me a message and we can have a call or go for a coffee. I’d extend the same invitation to anyone reading who is facing this Always feel free to send a message x

[BellaR219]

Thank you both so much for replying, really helpful. So nice to hear you had positive experiences at Lister with successful outcomes! I can imagine it wasn’t easy going through that. So far I’ve had blood tests and ovary ultrasound done, I have mild pcos, I haven’t had AMH test yet or Hycosy. My partner has an issue with sperm morphology. I called them this morning and they said from next week I should be able to book an appointment with them. Definitely not getting our hopes up but glad we have got the ball rolling now.