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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…

A Comprehensive Guide to Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A) for Fertility Treatments

Pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) is a powerful tool that can in some circumstance help improve IVF success rates and reduce the risks of miscarriage. It enables our embryologists to analyse cells from embryos before they’re transferred to the womb, giving us up to a 98% chance of identifying any abnormalities. By selecting only those embryos with the correct number of chromosomes, PGT-A can sometimes help couples have a baby faster and more safely. However, the HFEA, rates PGT-A for day five embryos RED because there is no evidence as of yet, from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to show that it is effective at improving the chances of having a baby for most fertility patients. Overview of Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A) PGT-A (also known as pre-implantation genetic screening or PGS) is a sophisticated technique that can be used to analyse embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF). It allows us to check the number of chr…

Top 10 Fertility Apps By Popularity

The popularity of apps to help with fertility, pregnancy and timing has grown significantly in recent years. Combining personal health information with data driven models can assist in the timing prediction and suggested regime in order to fall pregnant. The iPhone fertility apps as found in the App Store listed below are focused predominantly on the timings of ovulation but we will run an additional article in the near future on apps that focus on fertility support, an area which is garnering huge investment to ensure individuals or couples going through fertility struggles have the full support they need. The Mira Ovulation Tracker is more accurate way of tracking ovulation using urine samples daily to analyse hormone levels. #1 - Flo Period & Ovulation Tracker - 123k ratings - 4.7 out of 5 rating #2 - Clue Period, Ovulation Tracker - 92k ratings - 4.7 out of 5 rating #3 - My Calendar - Period Tracker - 28.7k ratings - 4.8 out of 5 rat…

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 does IVF Cost – Dr Raj Mathur (Podcast Episode 13)

“Ask what does the price include? Also ask the question, what does the price not include that I can still reasonably expect I will be asked to pay? Because you might be given a price for example and it might not include sedation for instance. Three-quarters of women would prefer to have sedation for their egg collection so it would be reasonable that you also want this and need to pay for it.” - Raj Mathur

Dr Raj Mathur is a Senior Fertility Consultant and a Consultant Gynaecologist with a long and established career in Reproductive Medicine. Dr Mathur has a unique understanding of the individual needs of both private and NHS patients, as the creator of Cambridge IVF clinic, which he established in the region before moving to Manchester in 2014. Raj is well published in the field of fertility on reducing the risks associated with treatment. Dr Mathur is chair of the British Fertility Society (BFS) and advisor to the HFEA and the Fe…

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…

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…

12 Tips to Optimise your Fertility over The Festive Season

2020 has been a long and fatiguing year with multiple National lockdowns due to Covid-19. Fertility patients have endured an incredibly stressful year as their plans have been turned upside down with fertility clinic closures. This climate has added uncertainty to an already difficult journey. It has been a tragic year for those who have lost family and friends but a difficult year for those trying to start a family or endured pregnancy loss alone and isolated. Our new modern ways of working and socialising though means our lifestyles will probably never feel the same again. Fertility clinics have adapted wonderfully well in most cases to help keep patients plans alive. Finally as a vaccine is now on the horizon, we find ourselves hurtling into the season of excesses, merriment and trying to plan 2021. Total Fertility want to help you a spring into the New Year feeling energised, optimistic and ready to plan the next steps of your fertility journey. Today is the 12th day …

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