Fertility tests, what is out there?

fruitcake_2

Hi, this feels a bit hard for me to express but here goes, I'm 35 and will be 36 at the end of the year, am in a good relationship with a wonderful man. I would really like to have children or even one child in the future, of that I'm sure and would also like biological children, BUT I am in no position financially and would ideally like to be married when I do.
What I would really like to know from someone is what facilities are available to check how many eggs I have left, whether NHS or not, and where can I find out about freezing embryos. I have found lots of info on US sites (with Oprah's help) but have yet to find any reliable sources of info here in the UK, unless I am looking in the wrong places.
(also how do I become independently very rich over night...legally?);)

iglimpse

On the NHS, there are no facilities for this. I am sure you will eventually find someone willing to do some tests. Not sure they could ever tell you how many eggs left. Am I right in thinking that you are not infertile, just want to plan things? Freezing embryos, very expensive process. IMO you would be better spending any money you have getting into better financial position, rather than private fertility stuff.

None of us are ever in ideal financial postition when we have kids. If the time feels right, go for it.

Miss_Kitty_Fantastico

Hi

I dont know it this helps but fertell now do a woman only kit for £24.99 i saw it advertised in a magazine.

I believe it tells you the quality of your eggs and approx how long you can afford to wait before the quality of your eggs diminishes (i'm 36 in a few weeks as well).

I am going to take the test in a few weeks so I'll let you know what its like if you are interested.

quietheart

If you have an understand GP you could have full blood tests which will tell you your estrogen and FSH levels which give an indicator of whether you are going towards menopause. I know when I went for egg-sharing despite having recently had a healthy baby I was rejected for having an FSH rate of over 10..... shame someone missed out because of a number, I had another healthy baby a year later. It doesn't mean everything but is an indicator fertility clinics rely on.
Best of luck

hobbesy_2

The fsh level test is the one your gp will do and is indeed the number clinics, etc will look at. It can't really give you an idea on quality, its more the fact there are still eggs there and you could, in theory, be stimulated to produce a fair number at once. As rovers said for any kind of ivf they're generally looking for a number under 10, the lower the better. I am currently donating eggs and was very pleased to find my level was 3.6 which is fantastic, but I'm 28 and your levels will certainly start to drop at the age you are now and in a few years probably quite dramatically.

A friendly and understanding gp could organise this test and others for you, but as far as the nhs goes there is no funding so you could get a sharp no.

If you go to fertilityfriends.co.uk you will find a lot of information on infertility in general. They have forums, which like here are very friendly and helpful. For your situation you might be best chatting to the ladies on the ivf and perhaps donor eggs sections. Its not specifically your situation but a lot of the same process and the ladies have good experience of the various clinic both here and abroad and what they offer.

Basically you're looking at doing an ivf cycle, but with no embryo transfer, with all good quality embryos being put into storage to be transferred at a later date. So long as there are no problem factors pretty much any ivf clinic should be able to help you. And you can find a list of these by looking at the hfea website (human fertilisation and embryology authority)

Feel free to pm me. I'm no fertility expert but happy to help and it takes my mind off the dreaded injections I'm starting next week!

Keri -x-

niknaks

I am 36 in November - and tried for 3 years before I got pregnant (in Jan this year).

As important as being more financially stable is, if having children is important to you, then I would say do not leave it any longer. It could be that you get pregnant immediately, but then you could be trying for years - and I feel that in that situation you would really regret putting it off.

I do feel for you though. I hope you can sort something out - it is a terrible decision for you to make.

xxx

MJMum

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ktb

there are plently of baby threads on here that point out the fact that you can never really be financially ready for kids.. ... people who have babies get by somehow someway. You are in a stable relationship and have the desire to have kids... why bother with all that faffing about? Why not just take the plunge?

Good luck!

iglimpse

rovers wrote: »

If you have an understand GP you could have full blood tests which will tell you your estrogen and FSH levels which give an indicator of whether you are going towards menopause. It doesn't mean everything but is an indicator fertility clinics rely on.
Best of luck

Unless you have had problems getting pregnant, menstrual cycle problems, or are donating eggs then there is no valid reason to do a hormone level check. It is unreasonable to expect the NHS to fund lifestyle tests such as these. Plus, the result is often not reliable.

I cannot understand why you would want to put yourself and your partner through what is not a pleasant experience, unfortunatley for those who are infertile - they don't have a choice. You do.

If you pay privately, they will do any blood tests you want. I hope you are not infertile, there is one sure way to find out...keep practicing

CrepeSuzette

Miss_Kitty_Fantastico wrote: »

Hi

I dont know it this helps but fertell now do a woman only kit for £24.99 i saw it advertised in a magazine.

I believe it tells you the quality of your eggs and approx how long you can afford to wait before the quality of your eggs diminishes (i'm 36 in a few weeks as well).

I am going to take the test in a few weeks so I'll let you know what its like if you are interested.

Good morning Ladies

Do you know if the test works if you are on the pill?

Thank you

CrepeSuzette xx

Miss_Kitty_Fantastico

Sorry I dont know about the pill but will be buying it next week so i'll let you know what the instructions say