Frequently Asked Questions
I have included some of the common questions that clients ask during consultation. These and any other questions specific to your circumstances can be answered during our consultations.
Most frequently asked questions
- Can you help me understand my diagnosis and/or the reason for our infertility?
- Should I pay privately or wait for an NHS appointment?
- Is there a benefit to paying for private treatment?
- Can you help me understand the clinic success rates ?
- Some fertility clinics appear to have a higher success rate than others, is it worth paying to travel to a clinic that isn’t local to me if it has better results?
- What can I do pre and during treatment to increase my chances of success? e.g. do reflexology and acupuncture actually work?
- Can I work during treatment?
- How can I speak to my employer about fertility treatment?
- Should I be asking for time off work to attend fertility appointments ?
- Should I pay to see a gynecologist privately, or should I contact a fertility clinic?
- How many rounds should I be prepared to pay for if I pursue treatment privately?
- What exactly does ‘one round’ of IVF mean?
- How many people should I tell?
- When is the best time to start treatment?
- I have already had 1 baby through treatment, where should we go from here to plan for baby number 2?
- Does treatment increase the chances of abnormalities?
- Do fertility drugs increase the chances of cancer ?
- Can embryos be tested for abnormalities?
What causes infertility ?
The most common reason for female fertility issues is age, fertility begins to decrease after the age of 35, and by the age of 40 is in significant decline. Other reasons include:
- Problems with ovulation
- Previous surgery or medical treatment
- Issues with the womb or fallopian tubes including scar tissue or endometriosis
- Overall health, eg being overweight or underweight can impact fertility
The most common cause of male fertility issues involves poor quality or an insufficient number of sperm . Problems can arise when either not enough sperm is being produced, or the sperm is of poor quality.
What is the difference in Primary and Secondary Infertility?
Primary infertility is the inability to have any pregnancy, while secondary infertility is the inability to have a pregnancy after previously successful conception.
How can I find out more about my options?
Starting out can feel a little overwhelming, and one of your key steps is learning what you can about the treatments available, timescales, costs of treatment, how to best prepare your self for treatment and the steps involved in the treatment process. There are many ways you can get the information you need:
- Attend a fertility information event. Many clinics run in-person or virtual information events, where you can find out about treatment options and other essential information, and have an opportunity to ask questions
- Read patent stories – it can really help to read about other people’s fertility journeys.
- Read reviews. You can find patient reviews on the HFEA (UK fertility regulator) website https://www.hfea.gov.uk, clinic websites, Facebook, Google and Trustpilot.
- Patient support groups.
- You can find further information on WHO website
What fertility treatments are available?
Again this depends on your individual circumstances.There are different treatments available for heterosexual couples, same sex couples or single male or females.
In addition to fertility treatments of IVF and ICSI many clinics offer genetic techniques, which check for genetic illnesses and conditions, or examine embryos on a genetic level to decide which are likely to give the best chance of a pregnancy. Donor eggs, sperm and embryo treatment is also available for those individuals or couples unable to use their own eggs and or sperm.