Next steps after initial GP visit & costs?

LegacyUser

Hi all,

my wife and i have been trying for a baby for the past year without any success. I have done a home sperm test which came up fine (this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001FOBGQW/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i03) and my wife has been to the GP for a blood test which didnt show anything untoward.

A little background, we are both in early 30s, reasonably fit, no health issues. She had been taking a contraceptive pill for a long time, since we were 20, but came off of it about 18 months ago when we were ready to try for a baby.

The GP has given us a letter and said the next step is to visit a fertility specialist. So what im wondering is, normally what are the next steps here, where is best to go, and what approximately are the costs involved?

Any help appreciated.

Lac21

If you decide to see fertility specialist, GP sends a referral letter. First appointments take about 3 months in my experience (Galway). I think it might be quicker in some of the Dublin clinics though.
During that time, the woman gets blood tests on day 3 and day 21 of cycle. Both of you have a simple blood test to test for HIV and some other STD's.
On the first appointment at the clinic, you could expect to pay about €200 for case history and ultrasound. Sperm analysis is usually done about an hour before the appointment and they have results when you go in. That costs about €100.
All going well, they should recommend a definite course of action then. Once you get to the initial appontment, things usually start happening quite quickly.
Best of luck! It's not easy to actually make the decision to go see a specialist but it's definitely worth it to get some answers.

orchidsrpretty

If you are in dublin the costs will be as follows: for her about day 3 bloods about 60e day 21 30. If she needs any more they are 20-30 each, AMH is about 55-70. you will need a SA done(try do this on site for more accurate results) which is about 140. you msy need to do this at least twice as sperm can change. A scan for your wife to look at ovarys is about 100e. These will be done before you attend the consultant appointment.

The appoi ntment itself costs about 160-200, which is where the doctor will go through all the results and talk about a plan of action. If they are thi king about iui or ivf your wife may need a lap and dye which is really expensive if you dont have health insurance. Will cost upwards of 5000+

I have recently started on this journey myself and tbh, I feel like the clinics here are a bit too interested in how much you are willing to pay.
Good luck and hope you get a happy outcome:)

lollpop

Myself and my husband are going through this at the moment.
There are 3 main fertility clinics in Dublin:
HARI - In the Rotunda
Merrion Fertility Clinic - Attached to Holles Street
SIMS - in Clonskeagh.

My GP advised phoning them all to see which had the shortest waiting list. They were all around the 6 week mark. They all seem to have more or less the same costs also. Once you send in your referral letter, they will send an appointment date and a list of tests you need to get done in advance of the appointment. Bear in mind that they may ask you to repeat some tests in their clinic (e.g. the Semen Analysis).

Our first appointment is going to cost around 500 euro.
Breakdown of costs as follows:
Appointment - 160
Semen Analysis - 140
AMH Blood test - 55
TPO Antibodies blood test - 30
Ultrasound - 100

I had already had the other tests they wanted (Day 3 & 21 bloods, prolactin, rubella, Thyroid, Smear test) done through my GP so i just had to get copies of the results.

Hope that helps.

LegacyUser

Thanks so much, this is really helpful,

so the tests that they want you to have done in advance, say the semen analysis, do you do that at their clinic in advance and do they set up the appointment to do that?

WHich clinic are you visiting do you mind me asking?

orchidsrpretty

ProspectiveDad wrote: »

Thanks so much, this is really helpful,

so the tests that they want you to have done in advance, say the semen analysis, do you do that at their clinic in advance and do they set up the appointment to do that?

WHich clinic are you visiting do you mind me asking?

Once you get an appointment they will send you out a info pack of all the tests they want you to have and where to get them done,. Most clinics would like the SA done on site as it gives a more accurate picutre as the sample should be tested no more than 1 hour after its produced.

lollpop

We're attending the merrion, we haven't had the first appt yet though.
For the tests, the info they send you in the post gives you all the phone numbers you need to make the appointments. You have to get the semen analysis done in their clinic, you just phone the number and make an appointment yourself. For blood tests you can choose to get most of them done elsewhere if you want but there is one (AMH) you have to get done in their clinic.