fertillity investigations and costs

mary1978

Hi there,

I am 33 and have been TTC for about 6-7 months. Living in Dublin.
My husband is 32.

Starting to think about getting some initial tests done for infertility such as bloods for me to check that I am actually ovulating, and sperm analysis for my husband.

He has VHI (not sure which plan) with his work. I don't have insurance at all.

Just wondering does a regular GP do these tests or do we need to go to a special fertility clinic?

And if we do go on to need fertility treatment, would my husbands VHI cover the cost if we wanted to go down the private route, or would I need to get VHI as well?

I presume going public for fertilty treatment will have huge waiting lists?

And anyone know how much these things cost if you just pay yourself?

Thanks so much for any advice!

Goodne

Hi, Your GP should be your first port of call. They can arrange blood tests for you and sperm analysis for your husband. While your there get them to send a letter of referral for you to go onto the public waiting list to see a consultant. You will be waiting a while to see someone, I got my appointment letter in April to see a consultant in Holles Street next March! VHI won't cover any tests or consultants. I will attached a link to Clane ACU to give you an idea of the costs if you went private.
http://www.clanefertility.ie/prices/consultation.133.html

Neyite

Start by going into your GP for a blood test on day 3 of your cycle. Return for another one on day 21. The days can vary, but your two blood tests should be pre & post ovulation.

If there are any levels that are slightly out, another blood test or two will be carried out. Your husband will need his bloods tested too, but bear in mind that if you get a referral, you might need to get all bloods /semen analysis done again, even if you have them already done by your GP. Check this out to save you a few quid.

You will likely have to go private - in Galway I was 9 weeks waiting for a private appointment but probably in Dublin its quicker. I dread to think what the waiting list is for public patients.

The only health insurer to cover some fertility treatments is Quinn, and even then you need to be with them for a certain amount of time before you can claim. You can however, claim tax back on any medical spending both of you have per year from revenue. You can backdate this up to 4 years so it might be worth totting old reciepts.

So far, our bill is:
2x GP visits: 60
5x Nurse visits for bloods 125 (I had a hormone related problem that I needed repeat tests)
200 Fertility specialist
100 Semen Analysis
200 HSG Xray

Having said all this, they do recommend that you be a year trying, so its up to you if you want to give it another few months, or fib with your GP and tell them its a year of trying. They might be reluctant to refer you until you are a full year trying.

mary1978

Thanks girls for your replies. Thats really helpful.

I actually work in a hospital so will be able to get the bloods done easily enough...

So what are the bloods that I need? From having a quick look around the web this is what I think I need:

- day 3: LH and FSH

- day 21: Progesterone.
... I assume this one is meant to be taken on day 7 day post ovulation, rather than on day 21 regardless of cycle length?
As I have a 35 day cycle, and think / hope I am ovulatingaround day 21, I presume that means I should get this test taken on day 28?

Is there anything else I am missing?

Thanks again!

liliq

Ok, i've no experience with TTC or anything at all, but from your last post saying that you've a 35 day cycle and are unsure what day you ovulate, might it be worth investing in some cheap ovulation tests and figure out which day you ovulate?
It may be that you've been missing your fertile days in your cycle and this is why you've not got pregnant so far, and all the bloods, tests, etc might not be necessary!

Good luck either way!

Neyite

Mary,

Lillq has made a very good point - do you use anything to predict ovulation? or do you get pains when you ovulate? At 6 months of trying, you might still be adjusting if you had previously used hormone based contraception.

You need to be tracking your cycle - I had a years worth of a diary detailing when I got my period, when we had sex, when my LH surge happened and when I got ovulation pains. And when I spoke to my GP to get the referral, I had the information to back up her referring me. I also needed it when we had our consult with the fertility doctor. She was throwing random dates out at me and I had to tell her what day of my cycle it was, for her notes.

We winged it for about 6 months when we first started trying, then I got ovulation predictor sticks cheap online, and we concentrated our efforts around those days, for another 6 months. Then we went to the doctor, to begin investigations.

Skipmeister

Hi Mary

Your progesterone levels should be done 7 days before your period starts so day 28 for you. When getting your bloods done also get thyroid function as this can affect your ovulation if it's low. I would get insurance as the consultant will probably want to do a laporoscopy and health insurance covers this and you get booked in fairly quick. Good luck.

caprilicious

Nothing to add to the advice above, just wanted to wish you the best of luck!
The "Trying to conceive/Planned parenthood/Assisted Reproduction Chat thread" http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055237284&page=110 is a great place to find more advice/vent your ttc frustrations