Asking the receptionist about cost had got me thinking about the Access Fertility leaflet I had been given but hadn’t really looked at, so I gave it another look and it started to seem more like a good idea. I had been pretty sure about IUI working first time, which it didn’t, then second time, again nothing, so what if IVF doesn’t?
Looking at the packages, the multicycle seemed like the best option, giving me the chance of 2 fresh IVF cycles and unlimited frozen. Something that if I was paying for individually I probably wouldn’t do a second fresh.

So the clinic didn’t get back to me, and I had to chase them up, but I almost wished I hadn’t because I nearly passed out at the cost!

She had split it into component parts : IVF, ICSI, Blastocyte culture and freezing. The last 3 are refundable if not needed/done. So the total to stump up on 7th was 5,800, about 1k more than I had expected (because I hadn’t even considered the need for ICSI)! Hopefully I will get the ICSI cost back as I shouldn’t need is as that is to do with sperm quality. But if I didn’t have bank of mum and dad with the best interest rates in town backing me I would have had a full on panic attack there and then about having to find another 1k in 6 days!

I asked if it was too late to use Access Fertility and she said no, but to get onto it ASAP!
Which I did!

I was concerned about the fact they had separate basic vs ICSI packages and didn’t know how that would work with probably not needing it, but the lady on the phone explained that I was better off getting the basic package, paying for ICSI seperately and then hopefully getting the refund. It actually works out no cheaper if I do need it by doing the ICSI package anyway. (well maybe like £200) So I (or rather mum and dad) stumped up £6,800 for a multicycle package. That takes the pressure off a bit if this cycle doesn’t work. If it does then we are 2k down. If it works after one frozen cycle then we are £500 down, any tries after that and we are in profit. But as mum said, we would kick ourselves less for that when theres a baby, than stumping up another 4k when there isn’t!

So that’s it! All paid up and ready to start!
Once I come to the end of my package and if it hasn’t worked then I will be out of sperm and tries and will have to stop. It seems like a good end point rather than ‘just one more try’ which I can ill afford. I’ll be paying this off for years to come as it is!!

Roll on 7th for my baseline scan (and stumping up a further 1k for the ICSI!)