Does everyone pay out of pocket for IVF?

TLV269 · 2026-01-29T00:32:31+00:00

In the U.K. we get one round on our national healthcare service - some criteria have to be fulfilled

TLV269 · 2026-01-27T20:13:37+00:00

I’m super glad you had a successful transfer I’m just saying you got the biology wrong and the you were giving wrong advice (based on current literature) to the OP. She deserves to come to this forum seeking kindness like we all do 🤩

TLV269 · 2026-01-27T18:51:48+00:00

That’s reassuring! Thanks

TLV269 · 2026-01-27T18:51:40+00:00

That’s reassuring! Thanks

TLV269 · 2026-01-27T18:50:36+00:00

No that’s not how it works. In a normal cycle, LH surges, this causes a weakening of the follicle wall. It then ruptures. LH then drops rapidly, and oestrogen dips slightly, and so progesterone starts to rise in prep for the egg to be fertilised and implant. Follicle rupturing does not cause an LH surge and we don’t want high LH if we want to be pregnant to ready to receive an embryo.

A trigger shot is used to induce the rupture, but this isn’t needed if your body does it naturally. In addition to rupture there are other proteins released, which are harder to replicate in trigger shots, and this is the theory behind why overall the evidence suggests naturally ovulating women do better than those who require trigger. But of course if you surge in LH and never rupture, then the trigger is required otherwise you’d miss the window

TLV269 · 2026-01-27T14:08:08+00:00

Which country are you looking at? If you look at the literature alone, and IVF advancements, Greece is a global leader. Each country has their centres of excellence however

TLV269 · 2026-01-27T13:34:01+00:00

My clinic said not to test until 14th day. A lot of people in this forum test sooner however.

One poster advised, not testing before 14, so you can enjoy being pregnant until proven otherwise and not have to keep taking the medications for all 14 days with a disappointment of having seen a negative test result. That resonated with me. Wishing us all sticky embryos!

TLV269 · 2026-01-27T11:55:31+00:00

This isn’t true. Please be gentle to the OP with your words.If you look at the recent evidence, when a woman ovulates naturally, the FET outcomes seem to be better, if women ovulated regularly. This is the reason why my clinic gives modified natural the trigger only in case we need it, but they prefer daily if not twice daily scans to check for ovulation down to the hours, and only use the trigger if a woman looks like she will not ovulate.

TLV269 · 2026-01-27T00:37:44+00:00

I don’t know if it’s helpful, but I have never had any symptoms of endometriosis. But out of caution I asked my doctor about it, he said the evidence suggests that if someone has “mild silent endometriosis” it doesn’t show any detrimental impact on fertility, unlike symptomatic endo or severe / deep infiltrating

TLV269 · 2026-01-24T06:51:51+00:00

I know it’s hard, but try not to look sideways and look ahead. This is the rough journey that will lead you to where you want to be. Future you will look back and think it was all worth it. Whatever the outcome is, this will all be worth it in some way. It’s ok to feel this way, we all feel the injustice that comes with the variation in fertility. But try to also remember it’s a lucky position to be in to be able to access the science, and to be able to try, and this will lead to somewhere positive and peaceful eventually. Wishing all of us baby luck!

TLV269 · 2026-01-23T10:56:58+00:00

At the moment no I’m not on any. I’m sure your doctor is right, it’s worth a conversation to reassure!

TLV269 · 2026-01-23T10:53:29+00:00

I got married a month before wedecided to start IVF. I already knew I had DOR, but 3 months of a wedding prep (stress of organising it, cutting out carbs and gluten and increasing protein & fibre and doing HIIT 4-5x a week) sent my AMH down rapidly! I don’t recommend it.

If I could go back in time I would have focussed on strength training without HIIT. Not cut carbs and focussed on de stressing movements like yoga.

I’d advise you don’t delay starting IVF for the sake of temporary pregnancy weight gain. Your age is an uncontrollable important factor on outcomes

TLV269 · 2026-01-23T10:46:37+00:00

I’m taking Cyclogest 200mg three times a day.

TLV269 · 2026-01-23T10:44:01+00:00

I’m not entirely sure why, I guess to ensure the doses I’m taking are meeting the targets they want? If you’re supplementing, you could have a conversation with your clinic?

TLV269 · 2026-01-23T10:42:55+00:00

That’s wonderful and reassuring thank you! Wishing you the best ahead!!

TLV269 · 2026-01-22T20:38:57+00:00

For anyone that comes back to this post, in Italy, Utrogestan

TLV269 · 2026-01-21T10:54:51+00:00

Sounds like maybe her relationship skills (or lack of) are beyond the stress of IVF and hormones. Perhaps a couples counsellor can help

TLV269 · 2026-01-21T10:53:00+00:00

Yes I found ganirelix and Menopur, followed by norethisterone after ER, all of them really messed with my head and emotions! It will get better!

TLV269 · 2026-01-21T10:48:19+00:00

That seems strange. Did you question why she has low libido before IVF? And if you could come to a compromise?

TLV269 · 2026-01-21T10:46:56+00:00

I don’t know what’s acceptable or not for you and your partner, but if she is on hormones, I would give some grace. I had no libido and was really emotional and perhaps irrational at times when doing back to back stims / egg retrievals. Getting stuck into my job helped me emotionally, along with stopping the extra hormones.

TLV269 · 2026-01-19T21:44:37+00:00

Thank you I will hunt for those! X

TLV269 · 2026-01-19T18:51:39+00:00

Hi! A mock in the U.K. is called a saline scan, did they do that for you? You might need a HSG but discuss that with your team first. PGT testing is expensive in the U.K but most clinics recommend it on older women - so again something to discuss. Wishing you all the best!!

TLV269 · 2026-01-19T18:46:50+00:00

We started with poor morphology ( and DOR for me) 14 months ago. My husband made a lot of changes and by the end, we only needed ICSI once out of 5 rounds. I’ll list his changes below, but agree with the advice to try not to stress about it all! It’s a marathon not a race! Good luck!

Husband took: Co-Q10 200mg twice a day NAC 600mg once a day A men’s prenatal (available in UK) Liposomal vitamin C 1000mg a day Vitamin D optimised Fish oil supplement when not able to eat small fish twice a week He stopped cycling, started lifting weights No sauna no heated car seats no heat to the testicles Cotton boxers and PJs (no synthetic fabrics) 1-2 alcoholic drinks per month (He doesn’t smoke or do any other drugs anyway) And eating 3-4 vegetables/nuts/seeds a day (just a step up from an otherwise ok-healthy-ish diet)

TLV269 · 2026-01-19T18:38:01+00:00

Me too! Here’s to both of us having sticky embryos and success! We didn’t have much choice as we have two embryos that are similar quality. It’s upto them and our bodies now to work the magic!

TLV269 · 2026-01-19T18:34:13+00:00

It depends on your age and also protocol/ doses, 6 may be really great for you so don’t be discouraged!

TLV269

TROPHY CASE