NHS | News | Total Fertility

What does a semen analysis measure, and why do one before choosing a fertility clinic?

If you are comparing fertility clinics, success rates and treatment costs, there is one question worth answering before any of it: what does a semen analysis measure, and have you had one? Marking Men's Health Week (15 to 21 June), this article looks at the test that shapes which treatment, and which clinic, is actually right for you. Male factors contribute to around half of all cases where couples have difficulty conceiving, according to the NHS. Despite this, many couples begin researching IVF before the male partner has been tested at all. The five things a semen analysis measures A diagnostic semen analysis assesses a sample against World Health Organization (WHO) reference values. The headline parameters are: 1. Volume. The total amount of ejaculate, with a WHO lower reference of 1.4ml. Low volume can affect how many sperm reach the cervix. 2. Concentration. Sperm per millilitre. The WHO lower reference value is 16 million/ml. Below this is classed as oligo…

Dr Ed Coats on ‘Fertility Inequalities’

Dr Ed Coats is a Reproductive Medicine & Surgery Consultant working in Oxford and London and is the co-founder of Total Fertility. Ed will discuss the NICE recommendations for fertility treatment, the differences in NHS funding geographically and the postcode lottery that exists across the UK currently. Increased healthcare rationing means more and more patients are potentially have to self-fund fertility treatment and in the future. Ed will explain more about fertility inequality and how to start looking for a fertility clinic near you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqHHuWxnwYQ

Dr. Ed Coats Features on Channel 4 NHS Heroes: Fighting to Save Our Lives

Total Fertility co-founder Dr. Ed Coats features in the upcoming Channel 4 documentary, NHS Heroes: Fighting to Save Our Lives, this Wednesday the 6th May at 9pm. https://youtu.be/JLG0SmYTpqA This special documentary follows a number of NHS workers both at home and at work as they continue the struggle of balancing home lives and their hospital duties during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus & Pregnancy Webinar

Coronavirus (Covid-10) & Pregnancy Webinar with Dr. Ed Coats The COVID-19 pandemic has left many expectant mums feeling uncertain about the months ahead. Dr Ed Coats, Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and accredited sub-specialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, talks here about COVID-19 and pregnancy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wn4O8KFlAE Video Transcription Janet Lindsay: Welcome to the first “Wellbeing of Women” webinar. I hope we've got a full audience today. I'm Janet Lindsey, and I am the CEO of Wellbeing of Women. Thank you so much for joining us today. And also thank you to our brilliant speaker, Mr. Ed Coats who's consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Royal United Bath Hospital, and he's also a specialist in fertility. Before we start, I would like just to cover a little bit of housekeeping. We are recording this so if you want to turn off your video, now is the time to do so. We are also askin…

Coronavirus (Covid-19) and My Pregnancy

By: Dr. Ed Coats As the Coronavirus pandemic surges on, there will be many concerned about the impact that this new virus may have on pregnancy. We wrote about Covid-19 and Fertility Treatment recently with so much uncertainty in the months ahead for those trying to conceive. Those trying to conceive, newly pregnant or perhaps more established in pregnancy will be anxious to understand what lies ahead. We wanted to address the facts and what we know so far about Covid-19 and how to prepare mentally and physically for the months ahead. The Current Situation The latest coronavirus (Covid-19) began in Wuhan, Hubei province in late 2019 and since then has spread globally. There has been a massive effort to gather data from those infected to help understand how it affects us all. Pregnancy is a unique state that needs specific attention as the immune system’s response to infection can differ. On 16th March the UK Chief Medical Officer categorised pregnant woman as a…

Coronavirus (Covid-19) and My Fertility Treatment

By: Dr. Ed Coats As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the globe and remains a serious threat to all our lives many will be wondering what lies ahead for my fertility treatment. One thing that is certain is that uncertain times lie ahead for both patients and clinics. It is hard to give concrete advice in such a rapidly changing landscape, but at the time of writing this article this is where we are. We will update this article as new developments occur. COVID-19 is the seventh coronavirus to transfer from animals to humans and specifically this type of virus attacks the lungs and airways. It can be fatal to the older generation and those with co-existing medical illnesses. However, it is not exclusive to this group and the novel nature of this new virus is disconcerting. As the scientists and experts search for a suitable vaccine and the epidemiologists work on tactics to suppress the virus the rest of the world watch and wait. Just this week Fertility Organisations arou…

Petition against NHS ‘postcode lottery’ reaches 100,000

Campaigners will present a petition with more than 100,000 signatures to Prime Minister Theresa May calling for an end to the “postcode lottery” of NHS fertility treatment. The Fertility Network is urging the Government to create a fairer system so that couples across the country can get equal access to IVF on the health service. It said that infertility disease affects about one in six couples in the UK, yet many NHS services ration it unfairly. The Fertility Network is presenting its 102,000-strong #Scream4IVF petition to Mrs May at Downing Street today. The charity and online magazine IVF babble launched the #Scream4IVF campaign, with partners Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness advertising agency, in September and within two months the online petition had gathered more than 100,000 signatures. The Fertility Network’s chief executive, Aileen Feeney, said this showed the public support behind ending the postcode lottery. She added: “Gathering 100,000 signatures, in…

Couples denied IVF on the NHS due to Age and Weight

Although not being featured in the national guidelines or having any proven affect on success rates, being too old or overweight is being given as a reason why males are denied IVF on the NHS. An audit of 195 CCGs (Clinical Commissioning Groups) by Fertility Fairness found: - 27% of clinics used a man’s BMI to determine if a couple could be referred for IVF. - 8% of clinics only provided IVF for men under 55 - 91% of clinics refusd IVF on the NHS if the couple have a child from a previous relationship Raj Mathur, a consultant gynaecologist and Fertility Fairness member said that “Male age and BMI are not in the Nice guidance as criteria for IVF and there is no strong evidence of impact on clinical outcomes of IVF,”. The study also found that the majority of NHS CCGs choose not to offer the full three IVF cycles; the recommended clinically effective and cost-effective approach for infertility. Number of IVF Cycles offered of 195 CCGs audited - 3.6% of CCGs h…

NHS IVF Treatments Cut Back in 13 Areas of England during 2017

The following areas of England have cut, stopped completely or are currently in the consultation process of reducing IVF treatment since the beginning of 2017:

CCG - Number of IVF Treatment Cycles

Swindon - Cut from three treatment cycles to one

West Cheshire - Cut from three treatment cycles to one

Eastern Cheshire - Cut from three treatment cycles to one

South Cheshire - Cut from three treatment cycles to one

Vale Royal - Cut from three treatment cycles to one

Wirral - Cut from three treatment cycles to two

Croydon - Stopped treatment except for individual applications granted on 'exceptional' grounds

South Worcestershire - Has reduced the number of cycles they fund from two to one

Redditch and Bromsgrove - Has reduced the number of cycles they fund from two to one

Wyre Fo…