What is Egg Freezing?

Egg freezing is a service available for women who hope to try to have a baby in the future and are worried about declining fertility. Women’s fertility decreases with age because the quality and number of eggs are reduced which makes the chance of conceiving naturally harder. Egg freezing involves collecting the eggs, freezing and storing them to be used when you are ready in a fertility treatment.

Is Egg Freezing for me?

If you are worried about your fertility and not ready to have a child or you haven’t found the right partner you might want to consider egg freezing.

What does egg freezing involve?

The first stage of the process is to arrange a fertility health check (link to this – see item below) then you proceed onto the following.

Medical Consultation

During the consultation a doctor will talk through your medical history and the results of your tests. They will discuss the egg freezing procedure in detail and if you are suitable to proceed.

Counselling

Counselling with one of our fertility counsellors is part of the process. This will provide you with the opportunity to explore the implications of any decisions/course of action you wish to consider. You can talk to one the Counsellors before, during and after treatment.

Nurse Appointment

At this appointment you will be tested for any infectious diseases (HIV, Hepatitis B & C), taught to self-inject the hormone drugs and ask any questions you have regarding the treatment plan. We are unable to offer treatment if you are HIV or Hepatitis B or C positive.

Egg retrieval

You will commence treatment on day 2 of your menstrual cycle and the whole process takes approximately two weeks. Regular monitoring appointments will be arranged until you are ready for egg collection. On the day of egg collection your procedure will be under local anaesthetic with pain relief medicines. You will be discharged home the same day. It is advisable to arrange to be collected by a relative or friend.

What are the chances of the frozen eggs being used successfully in future treatment?

Currently we do not have data for success rates for this Unit, as the service has only recently become available. From worldwide experience, we know that about 50-70% of eggs will survive the freezing and thawing process.

It is important to note that there can be no guarantees that any of the frozen eggs will result in healthy embryos suitable for treatment or a successful pregnancy.

Costs

please refer to our price list for the most up to date costs

Why get a fertility health check?

Men and women request fertility health checks for various reasons. By discussing your health, medical history and lifestyle along with completing a few simple fertility tests, we can assess your fertility health and give you general reassurance or advice regarding your fertility results.

Do I need to be referred?

No you can self-refer. Contact the Unit on 0114 226 8050 and request an appointment.

Who are fertility health checks for?

We offer fertility health checks for males, females and couples.

What is included?

For a fertility health check you will be given an appointment with a specialist nurse. During the consultation you will:

Female:

• Discuss your medical history, focusing on areas that could impact on your fertility health and how to improve them.
• Undergo a blood test called AMH, which will assess the amount of egg stores in your ovaries
• Receive an internal ultrasound scan to assess the ovaries and uterus to detect any abnormalities and look at the potential of the ovaries to produce eggs.

Male:

• Discuss your medical history, focusing on areas that could impact on your fertility health and how to improve themM
• Arrangements will be made for you to attend Andrology services for a Semen Analysis

What happens next?

Once all your results are collated and reviewed, the nurse specialist will arrange a time to contact you to discuss the test results. If the health check has highlighted any concerns they will also discussed. The results will be summarised in a written report.

How much do the health checks cost?

We offer an open and transparent pricing system, with a fixed cost for males, females and couples.

As part of the fertility health assessment other tests will be discussed. The additional tests may be undertaken by your GP. However, you may choose to have the additional test during your assessment, these will incur individual costs.

It is important to understand that the fertility health check results do not guarantee a pregnancy.

Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a process that works alongside IVF. We use ICSI when the sperm concentration or motility (percentage of sperm swimming) is too low for us to do conventional IVF.

ICSI is used in conjunction with IVF if there is a severe problem with the sperm. The ICSI procedure is the direct injection of single sperm into each mature egg. ICSI is a process we also provide for couples when we retrieve sperm surgically from the male partner.

Single Embryo/Blastocyst transfer:

Couples who are below 37 years of age and are on their first (and possibly subsequent cycles), generally have a higher chance of a pregnancy but are at a higher risk of a multiple pregnancy (twins or more).

If you fall into this patient group then we will recommend that you have a single embryo transferred. This will be performed at the blastocyst stage (day 5 after egg collection) if possible, but can also be done earlier after 2 or 3 days. Transferring embryos at day 5 gives us more information about them and allows us better selection of the best embryo(s). All other good quality embryos may be frozen and stored for further treatment.

Blastocyst transfer is not be suitable for every patient although all are encouraged to have if if possible - please ask your embryologist for advice.

We do not charge extra for blastocyst transfer.

Egg sharing is when a woman donates half of her eggs to another woman and receives her treatment at a reduced cost. Not all women are suitable to be egg share providers; there are strict criteria to be met, and a range of specific issues to consider. Counselling plays a vital role in this decision making process and is essential for all egg share providers and egg recipients

Frozen Embryo Replacement (FER) is an option for patients who have embryos frozen from a previous treatment.

IVF treatment may result in 'spare' embryos. We are able to offer freezing of these embryos to allow you to use them in a FER cycle. Stimulation drugs are not always administered for this treatment; careful monitoring is carried out to time your ovulation perfectly. Which allows us to calculate when the lining of the womb will be suitable for your embryo(s) to implant and at this stage we will arrange for your embryo transfer. The embryo is placed into your uterus using a very soft plastic tube called an embryo transfer catheter. This is a simple procedure that does not require an anaesthetic.

Surgical Sperm Recovery is an option for patients who do not produce sperm in their ejaculate or where ejaculation is not possible

Surgical Sperm Recovery is the process of sperm samples being obtained directly from the testicle by this simple procedure, which is usually performed under mild sedation and local anaesthetic. Sperm are extracted using a very fine needle. The main reasons for this procedure are the absence of the tubes carrying the sperm, blockage of the tubes, a vasectomy or other testicular disorders.

Sperm Sharing is also an option available to those couples willing to both donate and be recipients

In sperm share a man becomes a sperm donor for other patients and receives his treatment at a reduced cost. Not all men are suitable to be sperm sharers; there are strict criteria to be met, and a range of specific issues to consider. Counselling plays a vital role in this decision making process and is essential for all sperm sharers and their partners.

This treatment is used for couples with unexplained infertility or for women with problems with ovulation.

The principle of SIUI is to stimulate the ovaries with hormone medication so that one or more eggs are produced. The man's semen (either from a partner or a sperm donor) is prepared to separate out the high quality sperm. This is then inseminated high up into the uterus with a soft catheter. Fertilisation of the eggs can then occur naturally.

Occasionally, couples may be advised to have intercourse rather than the insemination. We will take blood samples and scan your ovaries to make sure your IUI is timed to coincide with ovulation, which will maximise your chances.

Egg Donation is used when there is an issue with the female's eggs

Egg Donation is a treatment that involves the use of eggs provided by a donor. Occasionally, a patient may be treated with eggs from a donor who is already known to them. The eggs are fertilised with your partner´s sperm to allow their use in an FER cycle. This treatment may benefit couples that cannot conceive because the female does not produce her own eggs due to premature ovarian failure, removal or absence of the ovaries, a genetic disorder, disease, or sometimes in older women the eggs may be of poorer quality.

Donor Insemination (DI) is a treatment used when there are serious issues with the quality of the man's sperm. We also use it to treat single women and women in same-sex relationships.

Donor Insemination (DI) involves the use of sperm from a donor.

Stimulation drugs are not always required for this treatment; careful monitoring is carried out to ensure the correct time for insemination.

The sperm sample is prepared and then a soft plastic tube (catheter) is used to place them into your uterus.

We’re licensed by the HFEA to freeze and store eggs, embryos and sperm.

We use a super-cooling technique for egg and embryo freezing called vitrification, which gives us consistently high survival rates.

We can help diagnose fertility conditions using ultrasound scans and appropriate blood tests. Investigations can look at ovulation and the way the dominant egg-containing follicle develops.

Your GP may refer you to a specialist centre (e.g the Andrology Department in the Jessop Wing) to have tests performed on the semen sample.

If you have been referred for a semen analysis this will involve producing a semen sample (usually by masturbation) in the Andrology department. The semen sample is then observed down the microscope in order to assess the quality of the sperm.

A general observation is made about the seminal fluid and then several observations are made on the sperm themselves. We look at the motility (how the sperm move around in a sample), the concentration (the sperm count) and normal forms (the number of 'normal' sperm). All of this information will be sent to your referring doctor for discussion with you and your partner. The information is also used if you require fertility treatment and a decision can made about what type of treatment is suitable for you.

A trial sperm preparation is a basic semen analysis test to check the ‘quality’ of your sperm and suitability for treatment.

One of the most challenging decisions for an embryologist is deciding which of your embryos gives the best chance of a successful pregnancy. Jessop Fertility has introduced the latest technology to help us do this. We have invested in two types of time lapse technology: Primovision™ and Embryoscope™.

Cameras located within incubators take images of your embryos approximately every 10 minutes without them ever having to leave the incubator. This gives us videos of the embryos’ development and allows us to identify which ones are most likely to lead to a successful pregnancy.

We aim to use time lapse for the vast majority of our patients. This technology is part of your treatment and there will be no extra charge.

Embryo transfer is one of the most sensitive and critical procedures in IVF treatment. EmbryoGlue™ is a medium developed exclusively for embryo transfer and can have an implantation-enhancing effect. It is uniquely developed to mimic the conditions in the female uterus in order to help embryos implant after transfer.

All our patients receive EmbryoGlue™ as part of the package. There is no extra charge for this.

Jessop Fertility now provides Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) which allows our embryologists to identify embryos that have the incorrect number of chromosomes at a very early stage to avoid transferring them to the uterus. During this procedure some cells from the embryo are assessed to see if there are any chromosomal abnormalities.

Using only those embryos that do not have chromosomal abnormalities can increase the chances of IVF being successful as we can chose embryo(s) for transfer that will be much more likely to implant and create a healthy pregnancy. It can also reduce the chance of a miscarriage.

This service is only appropriate for certain patients and our doctors will discuss this with you if they feel that it would increase your chances of a successful pregnancy.

PGS (preimplantation genetic screening) can be used to determine if embryos created after IVF have normal chromosomes. Embryos with abnormal chromosomes might look and develop normally but may be more likely to result in a miscarriage or the birth of a child with, e.g. Down Syndrome.

PGD (preimplantation genetic diagnosis) can be used to screen for a particular genetic predisposition to a genetic disorder (i.e. if there is a genetic condition that runs in the family). At the moment we provide this service in collaboration with Guy’s Hospital in London.

In PGS and PGD a small number of cells are removed from the embryos. The embryos are then frozen and the cells sent to specialist labs for analysis. Unaffected embryos can then be thawed and transferred back into the uterus at a later date.

Endometrial scratch research no longer supports offering this procedure to our patients.

Jessop fertility’s own Mr Metwally was the Chief Investigator for a large national multi-centred randomised control trial to provide conclusive evidence if the procedure of Endometrial Scratch improved pregnancy outcomes for patients undergoing their first cycle of IVF/ICSI. The study was conducted in Sheffield and 15 other sites in the UK recruiting over 1000 patients over 2.5 years. Half of the patients were randomised to treatment as usual and the other half had the endometrial scratch 7-10 days prior to starting their treatment. Results showed there was no statistical difference in live birth rate in either group. Furthermore secondary outcomes of clinical pregnancy rate, embryo implantation rate and obstetric complications showed no difference between both groups of patients.

This is further supported by a study of Endometrial scratch in patients having their second or subsequent cycle of IVF/ICSI, conducted by Lensen et al across 5 countries also demonstrated that the endometrial scratch has no beneficial effect on the outcome of IVF/ICSI.

Why should I think about banking my sperm before I have my vasectomy?

A vasectomy is a long term (and usually permanent) form of birth control. However, some men may change their mind after their vasectomy and decide that they would like to have more children. Banking sperm is a safe and cost-effective way of providing a chance to do this after a vasectomy.

How do I arrange for sperm banking?

Please contact the Andrology Department 0114 2268349 (Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm) or sht-tr.AndrologyJessopFertility@nhs.net. We will explain what is involved and send you all the documents and information you need. We will take payment and and we will arrange a convenient day and time for you to attend.

How much will it cost for me to bank my sperm?

There is a one-off cost for pre-vasectomy sperm banking; it is not available on the NHS.

The cost includes the appointment, screening (for HIV, HTLV, and Hepatitis B and C), sperm freezing and 5 years’ storage. After 5 years if you would like to continue to store your sperm there will be a further charge, and so on. You will be expected to pay for your sperm banking in full before your appointment.

Please contact the Andrology Department 0114 2268349 (Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm) or sht-tr.AndrologyJessopFertility@nhs.net for current costs.

Will storing sperm guarantee my fertility in the future?

If you bank a good number of healthy sperm then there is a very high chance you will be able to use your stored sample for fertility treatment such as IVF or ICSI in the future. However, not all IVF cycles are successful, so even if you have good quality sperm stored, there is no guarantee the fertility treatment will work.

This needs to be discussed with your doctor/embryologist. Blastocyst transfer is where your embryos are grown to day 5 of development (day of egg collection is termed day 0). Using this technique allows us to gain more information about your embryos and how they are developing. Your doctor/embryologist will discuss whether or not you would be a suitable candidate for this. It is recommended if you are under 37 years of age and on your first or second cycle that you have a single blastocyst transferred during your IVF treatment. This is to avoid a multiple pregnancy but should still give you a good chance of a pregnancy. It is not suitable for all patients and requires a good number of eggs/embryos which are of good quality. At Jessop Fertility there is no extra charge for blastocyst culture. Whether you are self-funding or NHS-funded, all costs for this service are included in your treatment cycle.

If you have been sent an appointment to attend Andrology it will be so that we can check whether or not you have sperm in your ejaculate, how many there are and how well they are swimming. You will have been sent the appointment either because you would like to start a family (diagnostic semen analysis), or because you have had a vasectomy and we need to check if it has worked (post-vasectomy semen analysis).

Please click on the document below to find out more.

As part of your treatment you may have been given some progesterone pessaries. These help to keep the lining of your womb prepared for an embryo to implant. You can use your pessaries either vaginally or rectally, or a combination of both. If you use them vaginally then you may have some discharge. This is likely to be from the pessary coating and is nothing to worry about - just use a panty liner if you need to. There is usually very little discharge if you use the pessaries rectally, so you may find that this method is more convenient. We usually advise you to use the pessaries approximately 12 hours apart (e.g. 9 o'clock each morning and evening). However, on the day of your embryo transfer, please do not use your pessary that morning but bring it with you to use straight after your embryo transfer. You should keep using your pessaries until you attend for your pregnancy test. Depending on your pregnancy test result we will advise you whether or not you need to keep using them. If you have any other questions then please get in touch with the nurses.

Yes there are female doctors in residence at the ACU and we will try to arrange that you see a female doctor for your treatment if this is what you wish. However, we are a busy clinic and it will depend upon which doctor is carrying out procedures that particular day, so we cannot guarnatee that there will be a female doctor available to see you. Please make your wishes known to our staff as soon as possible when you come for treatment.

Yes, we are always happy to talk to you if you are thinking about becoming a sperm or egg donor. To find out more, please have a look at our information for sperm donors and egg donors. Please contact us if you would like more information. There is no obligation at this stage, please feel free to just call us for an informal chat.

As you progress through your treatment cycle you may want to find out more about your embryos' development. Likewise, you may want to find out more about your options for thawing embryos for your frozen embryo replacement (FER) cycle, or to discuss your embryo quality and development after your cycle is complete. The Embryology Team are always happy to talk to you about these and other issues. Please contact reception on 0114 2268050 to arrange an embryology consultation if you think this would be helpful for you.

Yes, at Jessop Fertility we have 2 time lapse systems (Embryoscope® and Embryoscope+®) that can constantly monitor your embryos' development. We strongly feel that the uninterrupted culture of embryos and the information the incubator generates about their development is of benefit to all patients. Therefore, the cost will be covered either by your NHS funding, or be included in the package price of your self-funded cycle. You won’t be charged extra for this.

We aim to provide the highest standards of care and are continually striving to improve our service to patients. Whilst we hope that you will be entirely happy with your treatment at the Jessop Fertility, we welcome any comments, suggestions or constructive criticism.

If you have a complaint about any aspect of your treatment, please do not hesitate to tell us and we will endeavour to resolve the matter immediately. You may complain either verbally, if the matter is not too serious, or in writing, addressing the complaint to Ms Val Kitcheman, Business Support Manager, if you feel that the nature of the complaint justifies a full investigation. If you would prefer to speak with someone outside of Jessop Fertility you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 0114 271 2400 or email sth.pals@nhs.net.

All complaints and suggestions are recorded for monitoring purposes and may be inspected by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. We will respond quickly and sensitively to all written complaints, by acknowledging the complaint in writing. We will then investigate as necessary and respond in writing according to Trust policy. If you would like to meet to discuss the issue in greater detail we will be happy to arrange this. In some instances the matter cannot be dealt with satisfactorily within the specified time periods. If this is the case we will report regularly to you on the progress of the matter. If you do not believe that your complaint has been adequately dealt with, you may take the matter to the Chief Executive of the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust using the NHS complaints procedure or to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

When you come in for your embryo transfer we will ask you to have a full bladder. The reason is that, for most women, a full bladder helps us to pass the catheter containing your embryo(s) more easily. It also may give us a clearer picture as we scan you during the transfer. We don't want you to be too uncomfortable for your embryo transfer, so don't make your bladder too full. It's actually more important that your bladder isn't empty, so just drink as normal but don't empty your bladder for an hour or two before your embryo transfer appointment. Don't be afraid to ask us for more advice if you're still unsure.

This can depend on many factors including your eligibility for funding and which treatment you need. We will do everything we can to ensure that you do not encounter any unneccessary delays to your treatment. Please contact us for more information.

You will have many different appointments before and as you come through for treatment. All vary in length depending on your personal circumstances and the type of treatment you are having. Below is a general guide:

Doctor's appointment (medical consultation): half an hour to an hour
Nurse appointment: half an hour to an hour and a half
Egg collection: Allow around 3 hours so that you have plenty of time to recover before heading home
Embryo transfer: Around half an hour
Intrauterine insemination (IUI): Around half an hour

Trial sperm prep: A couple of minutes for a chat, and then however long it takes you to produce a semen sample

If you have 3 or more good quality embryos on day 3 then we may suggest that we continue to grow them in the lab until day 5. At this point we would hope that some of your embryos may have formed blastocysts. We will talk to you every day whilst your embryos are growing in the lab. We will make the decision with you about whether or not to grow your embryos to the blastocyst stage. This decision won't be made until we know how many embryos you have made and what their quality is like. You will both be involved in making this decision. It is not unusual to have only one or two blastocysts on day 5, even if you have several good quality embryos on day 3. In some cases the embryos might not form blastocysts at all. However, by growing them until day 5 we will know which of your embryos are the strongest and the most likely to form a successful pregnancy. It is incredibly rare for all embryos to stop developing on day 3.

This depends upon several factors: your age; embryo quality; whether or not you have been pregnant before; and how many treatments you have had previously. Our general recommendations are if you are aged 37 and under, on your first cycle and have good quality embryos you should replace one embryo in your IVF cycle (we may be able to freeze some of the remaining embryos). This is because there is only a very small difference between the pregnancy chances when replacing one or two embryos in this group of patients, but the chance of a twin pregnancy is much higher. There may be circumstances under which we may discuss with you the possibility of having two embryos replaced. If you are younger than 40 then by law you are allowed a maximum of two embryos to be replaced, although some health authorities will stipulate a single embryo transfer in the funding contract.

In orer to maximise the chances of conception and to help pregnancy outcome, you should consider the following aspects of preconceptual care: Folic acid: This has been shown to reduce the occurence of Spina Bifida. You should take 400 micrograms daily for 4 months before conception and continue until the 12th week of pregnancy. Rubella: You should check your immunity to Rubella (german measles) through your GP. Cervical smear: You should be up to date with your cervical smears. Weight: You should try and make sure your weight is within the normal limits. NHS funding can be affected if you very over- or under-weight. Limiting your alcohol intake and stopping smoking may increase your chances of pregnancy and general health and wellbeing.

At Jessop Fertility we offer a clear price for your treatment cycle with no hidden charges. Before you start your treatment cycle we will provide you with and explain your personalised "costed treatment plan" which will outline exactly what you will pay for your cycle. Please have a look at our costs for more information.

Side effects may occur from the fertility drugs taken during your cycle. These may include hot flushes, feelings of depression or irritability, headaches and restlessness.

One of the major risks of fertility drugs is ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS). OHSS is a result of sensitivity to the fertility drugs and the development of many eggs in the ovary which can become large and painful. Symptoms of mild OHSS include abdominal pain and bloating, nausea and vomiting. Occasionally cases of severe OHSS are observed which are associated with an increase in vascular permeability and the build up of fluid in the body resulting in cardiac, respiratory and renal problems. Our treatments aim to greatly reduce your risk of developing OHSS.

There is a slightly higher risk of ectopic pregnancy with IVF, by which a fertilised egg implants in the fallopian tube rather than the womb.

Multiple births are one of the major risks of IVF and the incidence of double (twins) or triple (triplets) gestations is increased with treatment. While for many couples struggling to have children this may seem like a bonus, multiple pregnancies carry many serious medical risks to both the mother and the babies:

Multiple gestations can: cause your blood pressure to rise significantly; increase your risk of developing diabetes and increase the risk of a still birth. Approximately 50% of twins and 90% of triplets are born premature or at a low birth weight. It is approximately 5 or 9 times more likely (for twins and triplets respectively) that a multiple birth baby will not survive the first week of life over that of a singleton baby. Also, babies from multiple gestations display an increased occurrence of cardiac defects.

To reduce the risk of multiple births there are strict guidelines regarding the number of embryos a woman can have transferred back. The governing body for IVF treatment in the UK, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), insists that a maximum of two embryos are put back into the womb during treatment in women under the age of 40. The HFEA also encourages elective single embryo transfer (eSET) in women who are most at risk of having twins such as women 37 years or under who have a good number of quality embryos. At Jessop Fertility we suggest eSET for women under 37 years of age who have a good number of quality embryos at the day5/blastocyst stage.

We are open Monday to Friday 8.00am - 5.00pm and from 8.00am to 3.30pm on Saturdays. We also have 24 hour emergency nursing cover during your treatment. You will be given information on how to access this service once you start your treatment cycle.

Once you have had your embryo transfer you can carry on as normal. However we do advise you to follow these lifestyle guidelines: Avoid any foods that are not recommended for pregnant women, such as unpasteurised dairy products. Do not smoke or drink alcohol. There is no need to stop exercising if this is something that your body is used to. However, do not do too much and become over-tired. You are fine to return to work, assuming you have recovered well after your egg collection. If you have a job that involves strenuous physical activity then please ask for individual advice. You are fine to continue to have sexual intercourse. Continue with your pessaries or other medication until we tell you otherwise. If you have any doubts or queries then please contact us and speak to one of our nurses.

ICSI is a technique where a single sperm is injected into each egg during the IVF process. ICSI is recommended where the male partner has a low sperm count or the number of sperm swimming (motility) is low or if you have had a previous cycle of treatment where none or a very low number of eggs have fertilised. All of the other steps in the IVF process are the same.

This depends what results you are ringing for. Pregnancy results are available from 1:30-2pm. All other results are available from 2-3:30pm. The number you need to ring for all results is 0114 2268066

Parking can be a problem around the Jessop Wing/Hallamshire Hospital. There is a pay and display car park at the Jessop Wing but you may struggle to find a space as numbers are limited. There is a large multi-storey car park at the main Royal Hallamshire Hospital which is well signed. However, this car park also fills up by about 1030 each day, with spaces then becoming avaialable as and when people leave. In April 2016 a new public multi-storey car park opened on Durham Rd, opposite the Children's Hospital, which is just a few minutes walk from the Jessop Wing. There is limited street parking, often with time restrictions. There are some public car parks in Broomhill which is a 5-10 minute walk away. If you are travelling by car then we would advise allowing plenty of time to find a parking space.

As you come through for your IVF or ICSI cycle we will talk to you about how your embryos are likely to develop from day 1 to day 5 or 6.

Day 0 is the day of your egg collection.

Day 1 is the day that we check for fertilisation.

Day 2: we expect your embryos to have 2-4 cells.

Day 3: we expect your embryos to have 5-8 cells.

Day 4: we do not look at your embryos as they are difficult to grade and assess at this stage (morula stage).

Day 5: we hope that your embryos may have developed into one or more blastocysts.

The vast majority of eggs that fertilise on day 1 (the day after your egg collection) will usually go on and form an embryo on day 2. Therefore, if you have a reasonable number of eggs that have fertilised (usually 3 or more) then we will not ring you on day 2. However, if your day 2 falls on a Saturday, meaning that you would not be able to have a day 3 transfer (on Sunday) then we may ring you on day 2. On day 4 of development (4 days after your egg collection) your embryos should be at the "morula" stage. A morula is a ball of cells that are usually too many to count. It is also difficult to assess the quality of the cells, even if we are able to count them. Because it is so difficult to grade your embryos at this stage, we won't usually look at them on day 4 and we won't ring you. You will be told a day and time for your embryo transfer when we speak to you on day 3.

This will depend upon a number of criteria and you will need to ask your GP/ clinic administration department to find out if your treatment is covered. The criteria are different for each primary care trust.

If you want or need to self fund please see our costs.

If you have any queries regarding your funding then please contact us.