TESTS BEFORE YOU GO

What tests do I need to have for clinics abroad?

You need very recent HIV, Hepatitis B & C blood tests. Some clinics say tests completed within 3 months, others within a year so check first.

You can get these tests done for free. You don’t need to have them done at the clinic. It can cost you over £100 to get it done privately.

If you are a couple, you’ll both need tests.

Other than that, you need to take your full fertility history and any other important information from your past (e.g. operations)

Where can I get those required blood tests done?

Your GP can refer you or you can go straight to your local NHS ‘GUM’ or Sexual Health Clinic for free tests. GUM (Genito-Urinary Medicine) is NHS run and you do not need to be referred to visit. Many do walk-in consultations.

You must wait a week before you collect your results. The GUM clinic will want to speak to you to deliver the results. They can’t do this over the phone.

Make sure you tell them upfront it is for IVF purposes, as you will need to take a signed letter, confirming you are negative, to take to your European clinic. You cannot do IVF without this.

These tests can be anything around £100 each in some IVF clinics. So make the most of the UK freebies!

Access to your medical records – Are there any charges to get them back?

If you have had consultations already in UK with UK Clinics but then decide to look at IVF abroad, you’ll need to get your results back. Some IVF clinics have realized this and can charge you anything from £5 to £50 pounds to get your (own!) notes back. So start checking.