Ovulation induction

The use of tablets or injections to stimulate your ovaries to produce eggs. This is monitored carefully by ultrasound during the treatment cycle to pinpoint ovulation and allows the correct timing of sexual intercourse or intrauterine insemination.

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Intra-uterine insemination (IUI) using partner's sperm

Your partner will need to produce a sperm sample on the day you are ovulating (which can be pinpointed through ultrasound scans and urine tests). The sperm is assessed and prepared in a special solution, and is then passed through the cervix (neck of womb) and placed into the uterus (womb), using a fine soft catheter.

This treatment is useful for:

• ovulation problems
• mild endometriosis
• slightly low sperm counts
• some cases of 'unexplained' infertility.

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Intra-uterine insemination (IUI) using sperm donor

In a women's normal menstrual cycle one egg will usually develop to maturity in the ovary, within a sac of fluid called a follicle. As the egg matures the follicle becomes larger, reaching 18-21mm by the middle of the cycle. The follicle then ruptures, releasing the egg - this is called ovulation.

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In-vitro fertilisation (IVF)

In a woman's normal menstrual cycle one egg will usually develop to maturity in the ovary, within a sac of fluid called a follicle. As the egg matures the follicle becomes larger, reaching 18-21mm by the middle of the cycle. The follicle then ruptures, releasing the egg (this is called ovulation).

In order to perform IVF, the ovaries are first stimulated with drugs to grow more eggs, hopefully eight to ten eggs. The eggs are then collected from each follicle just before ovulation begins. The egg collection is performed through the vagina under ultrasound control. This procedure is performed under mild sedation.

IVF is where the eggs and sperm (from the male partner or donor) are collected and mixed outside the woman's body in the laboratory. If fertilised, the eggs develop into embryos and we aim to transfer the two best embryos back into the uterus (womb) after two or three days.

Any remaining good-quality embryos can be frozen and stored for future use with your consent (see embryo freezing).

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Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

ICSI is offered when there are problems with the sperm that makes it difficult to fertilise naturally or through traditional IVF.

It is a similar process to IVF, whereby the woman's ovaries are stimulated and the eggs are collected. However, to achieve fertilisation, the eggs - once collected - are treated with an enzyme to remove the surrounding cells and a single sperm is taken into a fine glass needle and injected directly into the egg.

If fertilised, the eggs develop into embryos and we aim to transfer the two best embryos back into the uterus (womb) after two or three days.

ICSI has similar success rates compared with conventional IVF. 

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Embryo freezing

Following IVF treatment, two embryos (very rarely three) can be replaced into the woman's uterus. However, more than two or three embryos are sometimes created. If the quality of these remaining embryos is good they can be frozen for embryo transfer at a later date.

Embryos can be stored for a maximum of ten years. There is a yearly storage fee to help us cover administrative costs.

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Sperm freezing

Sperm can be frozen as a 'backup' in cases where your partner is anxious about being unable to produce a semen sample on the day of intended treatment. Consent is required for this and all other procedures involving use or storage of sperm. A small cost is incurred for this additional service in most cases.

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Surgical sperm recovery

Sperm can sometimes be removed surgically from the testes when men have been found to be azoospermic (no sperm in the semen).

We can refer your partner to our urology department for a surgical sperm retrieval procedure, under local or sometimes general anaesthesia. One of our embryologists would be present during this process.

If any sperm are found these are frozen for future use. The patient can then proceed with an ICSI cycle.

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Egg donation

Some women are unable to produce their own eggs, for example their ovaries have not developed properly as a result of a gentic disorder or there has been ovarian failure caused by premature menopause, surgery or chemotherapy. Others may not wish to use their own eggs for medical reasons.

An egg donor must be between 21 and 35 years of age. She must be fit and healthy, and ideally should have completed her family. Donating eggs is a voluntary process and no payment is made to the egg donor, apart from travel expenses for hospital visits. To donate eggs the woman has to go through the process of ovarian stimulation for IVF and have an egg collection performed.

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Surrogacy

A surrogacy arrangement is one where one woman (the surrogate mother) agrees to bear a child for a married couple (the intended parents).

Surrogacy can be used for women who are unable to carry a baby themselves. This may be due to hysterectomy, pelvic disorder, or where a pregancy would be a serious risk to health. Surrogacy can also provide a solution for women who suffer repeated miscarriage or late pregnancy loss.

If you are considering surrogacy please speak to a member of staff for more information about this. We provide counselling prior to embarking on any surrogacy arrangement.

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Embryo donation

For a variety of reasons some couples are unable to produce their own genetic sperm or eggs. In such cases both donor sperm and donor eggs can be used to produce an embryo. On rare occassions we have frozen embryos available for donation. This can happen when couples have had embryos frozen during IVF treatment and then decide to donate some or all of their embryos to another couple. 

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