NEW, forty, sterelized and need to find good IVF clinic

[savalosuk]

hello, to everyone. I am new to the forum I've been reading your messages for days now and I 've plucked up courage to ask you for your advise.....
I am 40 and was sterelized three years ago because I was having a terrible time with my ex-partner then. there was a lot of violence and I didn't want to bring a child into that life. I never imagined that I would ever find someone that would love me and take care of me. But I did, everything is so perfect now but for the fact that we can't find children as I was sterelized 3 years ago, my tubes were cut off.
Please can anyone advise me were I could go for IVF treatment.
I don't mind going abroad as we don't have much money.

thankyou.... and good luck to everyone who is trying......

[lumi]

Are you in the uk?

The HEFA publishes a guide book you can get free (or see on the net). It lists all IVF clinics in the UK with some statistics (but dont worry too much about the figures).

Good luck with the search - its great to make the first move. you really feel a step closer. If you mention your area, someone may know/use a clinic near to you and share experiences.

http://www.hfea.gov.uk/Home

This is a link to the site.

Take care Lumi xxx

[savalosuk]

thankyou lumi. I am in London. and i have read a little bit about ivf. but am not sure if am able to have ivf here because of my age.
also i wondered if is better abroad?
any advise is helpful as my doctor is not.

[lumi]

Your dcotor should give you a list of clinics so he can refer you. If not, tell him to refer you to the clinic you want. You will need his letter to do make a start. 40 is not too old for IVF! I think you will have to be a private patient though.

I dont have expereince of IVF abroad, but it is cheaper and you can transfer more embryos ( as you are 40, you can transfer 3 here). I think you just have to look at pros and cons, and if you can take so much time to go over for treatment and how much accomdationb would cost. Also, the languageetc.

Good luck!

Lumi xxx

[savalosuk]

thank you lumi.
I was also reading the 'over forty crowd'. its making this more clearer.
I am also going to find out about hammersmith hospital. thank you so much

[cmg]

Just wanted to say hi, as I spotted you are another over 40 person. As Lumi said, 40's not too old to do IVF in the UK - different clinics have different age limits (and some have none) but I'm sure they're all a good few years beyond 40. You won't be eligible for NHS treatment though.

You've got quite a lot of choice of hospitals and clinics in London, so it's worth doing a bit of research. Prices vary and it's not always easy to make a straightforward comparison. For example, I was at the ARGC last year, whose basic fees are about the same as many other people's but they charge extra for blood tests. That doesn't sound like much but they do very intensive monitoring there and you can get to the stage where you are having 2 a day at £30 a go. It really mounted up and added much more to the treatment cost than I expected. The other thing is that clinics don't quote you the cost of the drugs because they don't know how much you'll need. The drugs are incredibly expensive and unfortunately you tend to need more when you're older. They will add maybe £1000 to the total cost. In total you can probably expect to pay £3 - £5000.

I've never investigated treatment abroad so I don't know if it's cheaper. But bear in mind that you might really appreciate being in familiar surroundings with friends and family around to support you. It's a fairly long process, with unpredictable timings, so if you did it abroad you'd either need to be away for weeks or prepared to hop on a plane at very little notice. There are people on the board who have done IVF abroad and could advise better but personally I'd need a very good reason for doing so.

Anyway, good luck with your research. I wouldn't put it off too long and wish really that I'd got on with it sooner. I'm 43 and waiting to see if it's worked this time. It must be very exciting to be moving into a new phase of your life after the horrible pain you've been through and I'm glad that you've found someone more deserviing of your love.

Come and join us on the over 40 thread.

Caroline

[Sand]

Hi Savalosuk

I just wanted to Welcome you to the Site. I hope you manage to find a cllinic that you're happy to cycle with.

Good luck

Sandra x

[taylorjools]

Hi Savalosuk

as another 40+ welcome. We are going abroad as we wlive in Germany and we need donor eggs which is not allowed here. It's not that cheap. There is a clinic in Kiev called ISIDA that is quite cheap but of course you do have to pay flights and hotel then.

Come and join us on the over 40 crowd as well you are very welcome

Love and best wishes for success

bigJ

[Tessa]

Hi Savalasuk,

I would say choosing a clinic is the most important thing, it can get you a possitive or a big fat neg! I had to write and warn you NOT to go to The Bridge Centre in London. I found them rude, the nurses very unhelpful and due to their lack of care, nearly cost me my life. They over stimulated me the first cycle, cancelled the cycle and managed to over stimulate me again 4 months later..... apparently 'the nurse was very busy, so didn't get round to calling you to tell you to stop the medication'. They went ahead with the treatment where I got OHSS and as a result, got renal failure.
That is 'The Bridge Centre'!!!! If you didn't get it the first time. I would just hate somebody to go through what I went through....

I heard the ARGC is very good in London. Everyone I personally know who has been there has had success. But that is just what I have heard.

Good luck in your search
Tessa

[lumi]

That is such a shame - we shouldnt have to go through such shocking treatment This is emotional enough.

I am sad about the Bridge Centre as a friend was full of praise for the place - she has a son from there!! But that was 11 years ago......

lumi xxx

[trisha]

HI I HAVE BEEN LOOKING JUST LIKE YOU DONT KNOW WHERE TO GO I AM NOW GOING TO DOCS SEE IF HE IS AS HELPFUL AS YOURS I HAVE NOT A LOT OF MONEY LIKE YOU SO LETS HOPE WE GET SOMEWHERE WITH THIS AS WE BOTH DESERVE SOME GOOD LUCK WILL KEEP INTOUCH I AM NEW TO THIS TO

[JackieT]

hi i just wanted to reply to your question. i got a lovely positive last year with our 2nd attempt of ivf. we have 4 frozen embees. i was 42 years old. i didnt go full term, i got to 27 plus5. we have a very healthy girl, we used the homerton hospital in london, and we had to go private as i was sterlised many years ago and already have children from my first husband. we have an appointment in october to {hopefully} go for fet.
which will be the hrc method.
hopefully this is of some use to you.
jackie.xx

[ogr1]

i am in the states and we have spent over 70 thousand $$$$$$$$$$$

trying to have our child. at first it was 8,000 then things just started adding up.
i had alot of test done and blood work once a wk and sometimes every 3 days along with scans..

but i was pregnant twice. mc both times but not of fault of clinic.

there is a lot of ups and downs going threw ivf .. it has best been said that it is like a roler coaster ride..
alot of ups and downs..

it is important for your own mind to trust in your clinic..

i kept a notebook and during the wk would write down any questions that i had had. cause when we would get into the doctor office i would forget everything i had wanted to ask..

good luck in finding a clinic.. and glad that you are now safe..