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 cycle. Often these visits are condensed into just a few weeks and may involve early morning ultrasound assessments, theatre procedures such as egg collection and eventually an embryo transfer.
Since Covid-19 arrived many fertility clinics have adapted to a more virtual way of working. Many clinic appointments are now undertaken virtually, reducing the footfall of people coming though the clinic each day. Whilst this was an initiative designed to reduce the spread of Covid-19 infection, the general public in many instances like the option to seek expert opinion and plan treatments virtually, without having to travel.
In recent years there has been a surge in fertility clinics offering outreach ‘Satellite’ clinic services, for convenience and to reduce the travel time for patients. A satellite clinic exists to help reduce travel time and allows patients to consider clinics further afield. Many large fertility clinics now run successful satellite clinics. When looking at clinics it important to understand what a satellite clinic is and what it is not.
The main fertility clinic is where the laboratory is located and where the patient’s eggs, sperm and embryos are cultured and looked after. A satellite clinic does not have a laboratory, so patients usually just have their fertility consultations, scans and blood tests at the satellite clinic, and then travel to the main clinic for egg collection and embryo transfer procedures. A few exceptions exist where patients opt to have their embryo transferred back to the satellite clinic for transfer into the womb, though this is unusual.
Satellite clinics are an excellent way to reduce travel time for patients to a fertility clinic. A patient can access a highly performing successful fertility centre and laboratory via its satellite clinic. This has become increasingly popular in recent years and means patients in the new virtual world only need to visit the main clinic for egg collection and embryo transfer.
The flip side of satellite clinics is that not every patient knows that they are visiting a fertility clinic that requires additional travel to a main centre during treatment. It is always important to check with the clinic you select, whether they offer all procedures for the entirety of your treatment on that site. You may be required to travel several hours to the main clinic and laboratory once into treatment for your egg collection and embryo transfer.
On Total Fertility clinic listings we let you know what is a main clinic and what is a satellite clinic to make your decision making process a little easier. Find a clinic >