Clinics Archives

10 Questions to Ask at Your First Fertility Consultation

By: Mr Edward Coats | 13th May 2024 Mr Coats is a Consultant Gynaecologist and Specialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery with 18 years medical experience. He is Medical Director at a West London fertility clinic. He is a member of The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, The British Fertility Society and The British Menopause Society. Ed tailors treatment according to the needs of his patients using an evidence-based but holistic approach. When heading to your first fertility consultation with a specialist, it's helpful to think about the questions you wish to ask in order to have the situation, options and next steps clear in your head. Here Mr Ed Coats lists those questions, some of which only apply to you if you know already that you need IVF, but all of which are helpful to know the answers to so that you have an overview of the clinic, prices and proposed plan. 1. Is my egg reserve normal? A woman’s egg reserve can is either asses…

10 Most Common Questions at a Fertility Consultation

By: Mr Edward Coats | 12th June 2023 Mr Coats is a Consultant Gynaecologist and Specialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery with 18 years medical experience. He is Medical Director at a West London fertility clinic. He is a member of The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, The British Fertility Society and The British Menopause Society. Ed tailors treatment according to the needs of his patients using an evidence-based but holistic approach. Seeing new fertility patients every day, I meet a range of people in different situations with different requirements. From those investigating their fertility for the first time, perhaps with the intent of having children later down the road, to others who have undergone fertility treatment before both successfully and unsuccessfully. As a result of these years of consultations in clinic, I have found these are the 10 most common questions asked at a fertility consultation by patients and the answers that I…

Paying for IVF Treatment Costs

We have written before on Total Fertility about ‘what does IVF cost?’, but this is a really important and topical subject at the moment in the area of assisted conception treatments. Across the UK there are over 100 fertility clinics offering fertility treatments to patients. Costs vary between clinics and patients may find identical treatments cost variable amounts in different clinics. There is no price cap imposed on IVF treatments and so clinics are able to set their own prices. It is an expensive for patients as many of these treatments require modern equipment and involve cutting edge science and technology. NHS Funded IVF Treatment The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that heterosexual couples requiring IVF under the age of 40 should be able to access three full IVF treatment cycles. However, NHS funding streams are limited and require prioritisation so increasingly patients are having to foot the bill for the treatments they require t…

What is a Satellite Fertility Clinic?

Across the UK there are a number of HFEA licensed fertility clinics with high-tech laboratories at the heart of their success. As the HFEA data demonstrates some fertility clinics are more successful than others. The very latest HFEA success rates can be easily accessed for all the clinics listed here on Total Fertility, when this data is available. The ultimate goal for every patient is to achieve a live birth through fertility treatment. The chance of taking home a baby is a clear priority for patients choosing a successful clinic. Whilst this is clearly the most important outcome, there are a number of other factors to consider when choosing the right clinic for treatment. The location of the clinic can be a hugely relevant and important consideration. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic you could expect to visit your chosen fertility clinic to have scans and consultations with doctors and nurses prior to starting treatment and then several more times during the treatment c…

Can I currently travel to Greece, Spain or Italy for IVF?

Last Updated: 29th July 2021 With the travel restrictions of the past 16 months impacting travel abroad for ivf treatment, cross border tourism for fertility treatment is starting to gather pace again as Covid-19 travel restrictions from the UK ease. Every year thousands of people travel from the UK to Europe to undertake fertility treatment. The Coronavirus pandemic has placed an enormous strain on travel globally and restricted many peoples’ fertility treatment plans too. Based on The Fertility Tourism Survey 2020 by Andrew Coutts of the International Fertility Company and its 527 respondents across the UK and Europe, people considered the following destinations for fertility treatment: Spain - 23% Cyprus - 15.2% Greece - 14.4% Czech Republic - 14.3% UK - 7.8% USA - 7% Ukraine - 4.8% Difficulties have occurred largely due to the uncertain and changeable nature of the travel and quarantine restrictions put in place by both the UK and destination countries due…

Understanding Home Fertility Tests

Home Fertility Testing has become increasingly popular in recent years. Many of the commonly undertaken fertility tests are now available over the counter or purchased online. The marketplace is overflowing with different options from predicting ovulation to assessing your partner’s sperm using a smartphone. We look at some of the commonly performed tests and try to help you understand when home fertility testing has a place. In the UK around 80% of couples will conceive within a year of having regular sexual intercourse when a woman has regular menstrual cycles. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends beginning fertility diagnostic tests at this point if there has been no success after a year of trying to conceive. It is important to obtain as much information as possible about your fertility if you are having difficulties conceiving. Many people are checking their fertility early by using fertility tests that can be performed at home, rather than…

The City of London & East London Fertility Clinics

Leaving the shops, bars and stylish streets of Marylebone behind, if you head towards the City of London there is a cluster of fertility clinics on the East side of town. These clinics make an ideal locations for those requiring IVF and working in the City of London or travelling into London from the East side of London. Around the corner from London Bridge Station is the long-established Guys & St Thomas’s Hospital Assisted Conception Unit. Yacoub Khalaf and his team at Guys are well known for their expertise in Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) both in the UK and across Europe. PGD is a specific type of IVF treatment that helps people with an increased risk of having a child with certain genetic conditions. Over 1000 babies have been born from successful PGD treatment at Guys. The Shard is one of London’s more breath taking landmarks. Inside the Shard are hotels, restaurants, bars and a rather convenient IVF satellite clinic. The Lister Fe…

Fertility Treatment Abroad

Taking the decision to self-fund fertility treatment is a big step but making the decision to travel abroad takes careful planning and preparation. It has been a frustrating past year for those wishing to travel abroad to Europe and further afield for IVF treatments. The attraction of travelling abroad for treatment is that the costs are lower and the availability of treatments, such as egg donation, can be easier to access. The Coronavirus pandemic has severely restricted foreign travel and many people have been paralysed by the changeable travel and quarantine rules. Traditionally the popular European destinations for fertility treatment are Spain, Greece, the Czech Republic and Cyprus. As travel restrictions look set to continue through the summer and into the Autumn, many seeking treatment abroad may have their plans curtailed. The current restrictions have been a real barrier to patients travelling as the UK government currently advises against all but essential trav…

Central London Fertility Clinics At A Glance

This is the first in a series of articles looking at fertility clinics in London. Our focus is to help connect you to the best fertility clinics in Central London. The Marylebone area traditionally has several of the UK’s top fertility clinics with some of the highest success rates and top doctors in the speciality. Despite this there are a number of clinics to choose from, which can make the prospect daunting. London is so well connected with transport links that means getting into and around the city can be really easy. A number of people living in London, the South-East and the home counties commute or work in Central London, which can make getting to appointments convenient. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic many more people are working remotely and from home, so travelling to essential medical appointments around London is now even easier. London has around 30 fertility clinics and some have been established for many years. In the central ar…

Jheni Osman on “Fertility Education”

Jheni Osman is a science journalist, author and presenter. She is adept at making tricky science topics understandable and entertaining to non-experts. She is the former editor of the award winning science and technology magazine “BBC Science Focus’. She is also a former Great Britain Tennis player who played at Junior Wimbledon. Jheni’s personal experiences of infertility led her to write the book “Conceivable” teaching patients everything they need to know about fertility and IVF. Jheni is passionate about raising awareness around Fertility Education. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFRmZPEOoq8 Follow Jheni on her website & on Twitter

Male Fertility MOT

Men considering their fertility might also be wondering where to begin. More than 40% of the problems that cause infertility are related to male factors. Around 1 in 20 men will struggle to conceive yet public awareness of this is not high. Self-examination The first place to start is self-examination, which is an important part of understanding your own fertility. All men should be aware of their bodies and be able to identify problems early. Each testicle should be examined separately rolling it gently between the thumb and forefinger. The surface to the testicle will feel smooth and should not have any lumps or bumps or tenderness. Familiarise yourself with your own anatomy and the structures of the epididymis and the spermatic cord. Always ask a specialist if you are uncertain or if you notice any unusual lumps or bumps. Testicular size is an important marker of normal function. However, most men will not have anything to compare their testicular si…

Steve Parry on ‘Male Fertility’

Steve Parry is British Swimmer and Olympian who won Bronze in the 200m Butterfly at Olympic Games in Athens 2004. Steve is a dad and friend of Total Fertility and wants to raise awareness of the importance of Male Fertility and Testicular cancer. He shares his very personal story of surviving testicular cancer and his fears around fertility. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6Zo1hloqdw