Specialist fertility care

Read more

I will start by taking a complete history of your fertility journey so far, as well as a medical history for both partners. Depending on what investigations you have had to date, further tests may be necessary. These may involve an ultrasound and blood tests to help me determine if there are any underlying medical problems, like endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), that are affecting your ability to fall pregnant. I will also assess your ability to ovulate (release an egg from your ovaries each month) and order an assessment of your ovarian reserve (to get an indication of how many eggs you have left).

I place particular importance on assessing the male partner at the same time. ‘Male factor infertility’ affects one in 20 men and plays a role in over a third of cases where couples can’t conceive. Like women, men may undergo a range of investigations, including blood tests and imaging. However, the pivotal test for males is a semen analysis to assess sperm number, motility and quality (e.g. shape, movement).

As your fertility specialist, I will carefully interpret the results of these tests within the context of your lifestyle, medical history and overall health, before recommending a fertility treatment plan that is right for you and your partner.

Read more

For example, some very simple measures like ovulation tracking and timing sexual intercourse correctly, are sometimes all that is needed to achieve a pregnancy.

The specific type of assistance you require will depend on the underlying cause of your fertility issues, but may include:

• Ovulation tracking: this involves tracking the woman’s cycle to determine the time of ovulation, then timing sexual intercourse to coincide with this fertile window.
• Ovulation induction (OI): this may be used when the underlying problem is abnormal or irregular ovulation. A hormone medication is given to stimulate the production of certain hormones in the body, causing the ovary to release an egg.
• Intrauterine insemination (IUI): this involves injecting a large number of sperm directly into the uterus to increase the chances of an egg and sperm meeting. It may also be used if donor sperm is required to conceive.
• In vitro fertilisation (IVF): IVF is a form of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that involves collecting the woman’s eggs and then fertilising them with her partner’s or donor sperm in a laboratory. The fertilised egg (now an embryo) is then placed back into your uterus (womb) in the hope that it will lead to pregnancy. 
• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): This is a special procedure that may be used during IVF, typically when there is an issue with the man’s sperm. In this case, the sperm is directly injected into the egg in the laboratory to achieve fertilisation. This overcomes any issues with the sperm fertilising an egg on its own.

Based on your specific circumstances, I will advise which approach I believe is best for you and your partner. This will involve a discussion around the pros and cons of all the available options, so that we can agree a way forward that you are comfortable with.

Read more

You may consider freezing your eggs if:

• you are not yet ready to have a baby (for personal or other reasons) but want to preserve your chances of having a family in the future (particularly if age is a concern); or

• you are about to undergo medical treatment that may cause damage to your eggs or reproductive organs, such as chemotherapy or radiation to treat cancer.

These days, egg freezing is a relatively simple process, which I can facilitate for you via Newlife IVF’s egg freezing service.

Sperm freezing is also an option for men who want to preserve their fertility. Like egg freezing, sperm can be stored for a period of time and then thawed for use with IVF or insemination. I can also facilitate this service via Newlife IVF's treatment centre.

Read more

Possible causes include an unknown genetic condition in either partner, abnormal hormone levels including thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity, as well as structural problems of the uterus.

Miscarriage, particularly when it happens more than once, can be incredibly upsetting and even traumatic, so it is important that you receive the right guidance and support. I can help you narrow down the possible reasons you may be miscarrying in order to determine what can be done to prevent a further miscarriage in the future. 

Read more

Some reasons for seeking a second opinion may include:

• You’ve explored some options with your GP or gynaecologist but still haven’t fallen pregnant.
•  You have undergone one or more unsuccessful rounds of IVF at your current clinic and wish to try elsewhere.
• You want to try all possible options and your current clinic can’t offer a certain test or treatment.
• Your doctor has suggested that you seek a second opinion.
• You have concerns that something has been missed or suspect there may be more to your infertility diagnosis.

Whether you just want peace of mind or the opportunity to consider a different treatment approach, a second opinion can provide the reassurance you're after or open the door to new options.

Read more

If you are a single woman or lesbian couple, options include intrauterine insemination (IUI), whereby donor sperm is placed directly into your uterus via a small tube, or IVF. For gay male couples, a donor egg will be fertilised with the sperm of one partner, and the resulting embryo implanted in a surrogate to achieve a pregnancy.

While donor sperm and eggs are most commonly used to assist single women and same-sex couples to conceive, donor embryos may also be an option. These embryos typically come from a couple who have been through IVF to have their own family, and have chosen to donate their surplus frozen embryos to help bring joy to other couples. 

Regardless of your personal circumstances and preferences, I can give you the expert guidance and support you need throughout your fertility journey.