Fertility

Your first consultation

Most appointments are held in an outpatient department or the St Bartholomew's Centre of Reproductive Medicine. You may have had some tests and treatments before having arrived, but we may ask for further information and undertake our own investigations. Women initially undergo blood tests and a pelvic ultrasound. Male partners undergo semen analysis.

Follow-up consultation

We will discuss your test results and your treatment options with you. We will also provide the relevant information in writing, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Pre-treatment information session

All patients at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine must attend a pre-treatment information session. You will receive detailed information on your treatment, including possible side-effects. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions, and we will give you instructions on how to administer your medication. We will also ask you to sign a number of consent forms.

If you are being treated as a couple, both partners will need to attend the information session. We are able to provide an interpreter, where necessary.

Counselling

The Centre for Reproductive Medicine provides a confidential counselling service. Counselling is available for all patients prior to, during, and after their treatment. Patients who are receiving or donating eggs, sperm, or embryos must discuss the implications with a counsellor prior to treatment, in accordance with HFEA recommendations. You can receive counselling on your own, or with your partner.

Download our counselling information leaflet [doc] 164KB

Our treatments

Our team is committed to offering individualised care in order to help you overcome your infertility, and to identifying which clinical treatment will best suit your needs.
 
We always aim to:

• Investigate the cause of your fertility problems
• Offer recommendations and advice
• Provide a full counselling service
• Complete our investigations as quickly as possible, minimising the time you need to wait

In-vitro fertilisation (IVF)

Eggs are removed from the ovary and fertilised in a laboratory by mixing with the male partner’s (or donor’s) sperm. Resulting embryos are cultured in incubators for transfer and/or freezing.

Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

ICSI is the most common and successful treatment for male infertility.  As with the IVF procedure, eggs are removed from the ovary. A single sperm is then injected by a scientist directly into the egg in a laboratory, using a fine needle.

Fertility preservation (FP)

Fertility preservation involves freezing and storing eggs, sperm, or embryos for future use. We offer fertility preservation to those undergoing treatment for a medical condition which may affect their future fertility.

Frozen embryo transfer (FET)

If available, good quality excess embryos can be frozen and stored after IVF or ICSI treatment. These embryos can be thawed and placed in the uterus (during the course of a natural or hormonally-assisted cycle).

Egg donation 

Egg donation is when a woman goes through part of the IVF process and donates all or some of the harvested eggs for the treatment of others in achieving a pregnancy. 

Some women may want to consider treatment using donor eggs. Reasons for treatment using donor eggs include patients who have gone through the menopause, advanced maternal age, if they have had cancer treatment and their fertility has been impaired or her children are at risk of inheriting a serious genetic disease.

Intra-uterine insemination (IUI)

Donor insemination (IUI-D)

Women in same-sex couples, or single women, may be inseminated using donor sperm. Heterosexual couples may use donated sperm, if the male partner is unable to produce his own sperm. We import donor sperm from accredited donor banks in the UK and overseas. The CRM also offers donor egg insemination on application, provided the patient has their own donor.

Ovulation induction (OI)

Ultrasound scanning and urinary hormone testing identify the female partner’s natural time of ovulation. Either tablets or injections stimulate her ovaries to produce follicles.

Surgical sperm retrieval (SSR)

If no sperm is found in the male partner’s semen sample, it is sometimes possible to extract sperm surgically. This is a day surgery procedure, performed under local or general anaesthetic.

Surrogacy (on application)

Surrogacy is when a woman carries and gives birth to a baby for another person or couple.  The person carrying the baby is referred to as the Surrogate, and those who are to become the parents are referred to as the Intended Parent/s (IP).

Reproductive surgery

The Centre offers surgical treatment such as tubal surgery, endometriosis treatment, fibroid removal, and correction of uterine abnormalities. Most of these procedures are performed using minimal access surgery, also known as ‘keyhole’ surgery. Minimal access surgery minimised the recovery time for the patient. All our permanent consultants have subspecialty training in reproductive medicine and surgery.

Menopause

Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels.  It usually affects women between the ages of 45 and 55 however it can happen earlier. We provide a menopause clinic to diagnose, treat and counsel women during the menopausal transition.

Fertility frequently asked questions [doc] 1MB

Referrals for fertility investigations

Barts Health fertility services offers fertility investigations and consultations across three hospitals: St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, Whipps Cross and Newham Hospital. Fertility treatment is then provided at St Bartholomew’s Hospital if required.

Referrals for fertility treatment

St Bartholomew’s Hospital accepts referrals from GPs, Newham Hospital and Whipps Cross Hospital for couples and individuals seeking further investigations and/or treatment for infertility.

If you are a patient at Newham or Whipps Cross Hospital, and you require further fertility treatment, you will be referred to St Bartholomew’s Centre for Reproductive Medicine. The Centre is fully licensed by the Human Fertility and Embryology Association (HFEA).

Patients can be referred via the electronic referrals system (ERS) and tertiary care providers.

Referrals for fertility preservation (egg and embryo storage)

Please complete the fertility preservation form [doc] 235KB and return it by email.

Urgent referrals for fertility preservation must be made via email with the subject line 'fertility preservation'.

Referrals for fertility preservation (semen storage) 

Referrers can consult our sperm banking referrers booklet prior to referring a patient for sperm cryopreservation.

Please complete the sperm freeze referral form and return it to by email . 

Referrals for semen analysis

Please ask your GP to refer you to us using the Electronic Referral System (eRS).

Instructions for booking a semen analysis [docx] 372KB

Funding treatment

To qualify for NHS-funded treatment, you need to meet the criteria specified by your Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Your CCG is determined by the area in which your registered GP is based. You must fulfil the criteria at the start of each cycle of treatment you undertake.

Self-funding treatment

If you do not meet NHS funding criteria, you may fund part or all of your treatment. Self-funded patients do not need a referral to access this service and can contact us directly.

Barts Health centre for reproductive medicine price list [doc] 245KB

Self-funded patients must meet the following criteria to receive treatment:

• Age: you must be under 45 when the treatment commences
• BMI: your body mass index (BMI) must be under 35