My IVF Cost – the Mammogram

So after our eventful trip to Hungary we were left with two things to sort out before I could start taking the IVF medication – my thyroid and a mommogram.

The doctor retested for my thyroid (which delayed things yet another week) and then prescribed me thyroid tablets, which he says I will be on for life – I hate taking tablets! I knew I had been very tired lately but I thought it was because I was working long hours pretty much seven days a week. When I started taking the tablets it was like I was born again! The difference is amazing, I feel like I am alive again! Obviously it wasn’t the hard work that was running me down!

So then came the mammogram, apparently the IVF stimulation drugs affect the breasts so it is important that they are checked to ensure there are no problems before you start taking the IVF medications. In the UK they will not do a mammogram screening on the NHS under the age of 50 unless you have a problem. Since I did not have a problem this meant that I would have to pay privately for the mammogram. I called a few private hospitals to get a price:

BUPA £179, but they had £20 off if I went before the end of the month

Nuffield Hospital £178.50

BMI £101

No competition – I went for BMI. The radiologist was great, and what a difference from going on the NHS – your appointment time is kept to and they even give you coffee and biscuits afterwards!

I have been verbally told that everything is fine, just waiting for the images and report to come through.

IVF cost so far £752.60

Leave a Reply

15 Responses to “My IVF Cost – the Mammogram”

  1. Comment by Tillie

    Hello,

    I hope you finally started your IVF journey after the delay.
    Hope things are going/went well. 🙂

    Tillie

  2. Comment by admin

    Hello Tille,

    Thank you – unfortunately when I had my thyroid tested again it is still not low enough, so I am still waiting! Hopefully the next test will see it having come down enough to start and we will be on our way – we have all the medications here just waiting to start! I will do another post as soon as things get moving.

    All the best,
    Sue

  3. Comment by Momofone

    keep us posted, I hope you can get your thyroid all in line

  4. Comment by admin

    Hi Momofone,

    Unfortunately I am still waiting to get a thyroid reading that will allow me to start. On the positive side I feel a million times better in myself than I did before I started taking the tablets – so I know that at least one good thing has come out of this even if the whole process does not succeed!

    I will definitely keep you posted when I start.

    All the best,
    Sue

  5. Comment by Lorraine

    Hi there

    Interesting reading, we have our first apt with Dr Kovacs in 6 weeks and excited and nervous at the same time,

    Cant wait to hear how you get on,

  6. Comment by mandy

    Hi there,
    After reading your fab website have booked an appointment with peter kovacs for the 10th June very excited. I live in Portsmouth so Hungary is a lot closer than India originally planned!!! Wouldn’t have been able to do it without your excellent advice!! I am 37 and have no fertility issues my husband has a failed reversal, do you think I should get a mammogram done before I go? Is it absolutely needed?

    Appreeciate your time and hard work
    Many thanks Amanda

  7. Comment by admin

    Hi Mandy,

    I’m thrilled for you. I think the mammogram is a must, but you don’t need it prior to your first appointment. I have heard that you may be able to get a standard check for about £60. I’ll try and get some more details on this for you if you are interested.

    I wish you every luck, do let us know how you get on.

    All the best,
    Sue

  8. Comment by nifa

    hello Sue,
    Thanks for your hardwork establishing this website. It’s so useful.
    How is it going with yr treatment. I haven’t started mine. Still trying to choose clinic (at the moment I am visiting clinic in Lausanne, not far where I live, but thinking to go Hungary for some cheaper one)
    <<<Rgrds
    Niff

  9. Comment by admin

    Hi Niff,

    That’s excellent news, Dr. Kovacs is great, I’m sure you’ll be impressed. We’re still at a standstill unfortunately – too much work we just haven’t seemed to get ourselves organised – or are we just cowards!!!

    We wish you every luck, do let us know how you get on.

    All the best,
    Sue

  10. Comment by Paul & Linda

    Hi Sue, what is the latest on your IVF journey? My wife and I have been following this site for some time as we had spent two and a half years trying to get pregnant. Fortunately, after 2 free cycles of hmg injections on the nhs my wife fell pregnant. Prior to that we were seriously considering our options. Although we are looking forward to the birth of our first child in December, we would very much like to hear how you are getting on. We’d also like to thank you for all the great work you are doing through this site.

  11. Comment by admin

    Hi Paul & Linda,

    Congratulations! I’m so happy for you, and December is so close now.

    I have contemplated updating the site as to the position I am now in. Initially I just felt bad about where I am, but after a few people sent me messages asking how I was doing and I explained, I came to realise that there are probably a lot of other people out there just like me, and hearing that can often help.

    I got my thyroid sorted out and really was ready to go. Life was busy, we run our own business which makes it difficult to get away, and time just seemed to pass. I say that because it’s the easy thing to say, but if you really want something you will go out and get it, but if you are afraid then you procrastinate and allow things to get in the way. Apprehension, not just of the procedure but of how it would change life so completely. Concern that maybe I am just past the age when this should be happening – not that I feel old at all, but I think maybe the hormones settle down a bit. It’s very difficult to explain, I am happy now, but how would I be if we tried and failed? So after all the time and all the effort, am I giving up? I don’t know, it’s easier to just say life’s too busy than to make a decision! All I know is that the time and effort is all worthwhile if it helps get some of the information to others to help them on their journey, even if I don’t complete mine.

    Thank you so much for your kind words about the site.

    All the best with the new baby,
    Sue

  12. Comment by mrs r

    i had ivf treatment around 2006 i have a tyroid problem underactive one. they just told me when i started treatment make sure you take your tyroid tablets and that was it. im wondering now if they should have made sure that my tyroid level was at the right level and not just to tell me to take my tablets when it came to that part of my treatment i felt i was not looked after where i was treated maybe becaues it was on the n.h.s

  13. Comment by admin

    Hi Mrs R.,

    Peter Kovacs was very particular about the range in which the thyroid reading was as he said this would have a significant effect on the outcome, so yes, I would have thought they should have tested you again after you started taking the thyroxine to make sure you reached the right level. Do they test you regularly now? I think you are supposed to be tested on teh NHS at least once a year to make sure you are getting the correct strength of tablets.

    All the best,
    Sue

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  15. Comment by Alicia Lilly

    I have had two etopic pregnancies and 2 tubal ligation and I would like to have a child. TOOOOO expensive in the USA. What is the pricing of the entire procedure of IVF