Hammersmith Hospital offers a full range of infertility investigations and treatments to the widest group of patients – yet in spite of this, waiting lists are short. Typically, most treatments can be commenced within four to six weeks of listing. Once accepted, you will be required to attend a pre-treatment appointment where your treatment regime will be discussed with you and all information and consent forms given to you at the time.

In vitro Fertilisation Treatment(IVF)
In vitro Fertilisation is where fertilisation takes place in the laboratory and is the treatment used when the egg and sperm cannot come together in the normal way. For this treatment the ovaries are stimulated to produce several eggs which are recovered using ultrasound guidance.

Once the eggs have been collected they are mixed with sperm in dishes and cultured overnight before being examined to see if normal fertilisation has taken place. The day after their collection, all the eggs are examined and all normally fertilised eggs cultured for at least another 24hours before embryo transfer. The most suitable embryos are selected by the embryologists for transfer. No more than two embryos are transferred unless there are exceptional medical circumstances inorder to reduce the risk of multiple pregnancy.

The team at the Hammersmith is proud of the fact that our triplet birth rates here are amongst the lowest in the world – this is because of a strict policy to avoid the need for large numbers of embryos to be transferred simultaneously.

Excess embryos can either be frozen (see embryo freezing), allowed to perish or donated to the on-site research team. The research team are world leaders in human embryo research and their projects (which are all licensed by the HFEA) are creating information which is used directly in the infertility treatment programmes.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)
In couples with poor sperm numbers or function, or with a previous failed cycle or low fertilisation rate, ICSI may be indicated. A single sperm is selected and injected into each of the eggs collected, using specialised equipment. Only embryologists who have been trained and licensed are permitted to carry out the procedure, and Hammersmith currently has six of its staff registered for this purpose.

Surgical Sperm Recovery Techniques (MESA/TESE)
In some cases sperm may have to be surgically removed from the testes using one of two techniques called MESA or TESE. Usually, we freeze several samples allowing sperm to be available for several treatment cycles. Sperm collected in this way have poor motility and therefore ICSI will always be required after a MESA or TESE collection. Our results show that fertilisation rates can be almost as good as those using ejaculated sperm.

Other Assisted Reproductive Techniques
Occasionally patients who are older or have had previous failure can benefit from different embryological techniques.

Blastocyst transfer
There have been many developments in our knowledge of the way embryos develop which has enabled us to produce culture medium that is now better suited to culturing embryos for longer. The developmental stage that embryos would enter the uterus is called the blastocyst stage and is where the embryo has undergone many cell divisions and is almost ready to implant. This would normally be seen on Day 5 after your egg collection. It is known from our research programme that around 50% of human embryos never progress to blastocyst stage. Using these extra days in culture could help to select the embryos that may have a much better potential to implant. However, this technique is not suitable for all patients and would be discussed on an individual basis. (See Patient Information)

Assisted Hatching
This technique involves using micromanipulation to thin or make a hole in the outside shell or zona pellucida of the embryo to help the embryo ‘hatch’ and subsequently implant. The evidence for improving pregnancy rates is not conclusive and again this technique should only usually be used in older patients or those with repeated IVF failure. (See Patient Information)

Embryo Freezing
After your IVF cycle you may have embryos remaining. In some cases they may be suitable for embryo freezing. Once frozen embryos can remain in storage for many years without any deleterious effects. Embryo freezing has many benefits but also it is important to consider all the implications before deciding on this option. Freezing may not be suitable for all patients and the details will be discussed on an individual basis.

Sperm Freezing
The Andrology service has a sperm freezing facility for cancer and fertility patients. The needs of young cancer patients, who may be made infertile by their oncological treatments, were recognised at Hammersmith many years ago. Over a long period of time we have built up one of the largest sperm banks of its kind. We are pleased that our clinical success rates after frozenstorage are well above the national average.

Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI) & Ovulation Induction
This is a simple form of assisted conception that is suitable for patients with unexplained infertility. After consultation with a doctor you may wish to consider this treatment either before or after IVF. IUI is a technique where we prepare sperm in the laboratory and then inject the sample directly into your uterus (womb). This improves the chance of sperm getting into the fallopian tubes where fertilisation normally occurs. It is most effective when the ovaries are stimulated gently using drugs.

Donor Insemination
Donor insemination may be considered when a man is not producing any viable sperm or for single women. We do not usually use DI unless there is no chance of pregnancy by other methods. Although we do not have a sperm donor bank here, we buy in sperm from two highly reputable and licensed centres in London and make every effort to find a suitable donor profile for each woman/couple.

Egg Donation Programme
We have a very successful egg donation programme for patients when a suitable donor is available. The donor can donate directly to the named couple or be offered to someone else who would prefer anonymous donation. A donor should be under the age of 35 and have at least one healthy child. All recipients and donors are carefully medically screened and meet with our counsellors to discuss ethical, emotional, social and legal implications of their decision.

We do not have a waiting list for treatment.

Egg Freezing
In 2002 the first child was born in the UK from cryopreserved eggs. Since then the techniques that we have for freezing and thawing eggs have improved and the success rates have increased. This technique can be an option for women without a male partner to freeze eggs if they are about to undergo treatment for cancer such as chemotherapy or surgery. It may also be suitable for women who wish to delay starting a family and wish to store their eggs when they are younger for use in the future. Much research is still being carried out on egg freezing and there is still a chance that eggs will not survive the cryopreservation process, also eggs that have been frozen and thawed have to undergo ICSI to achieve fertilisation.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
PGD is a technique pioneered at the Hammersmith Hospital to detect genetic disease in embryos. This allows couples who are at risk of producing a baby with a genetic defect to commence a pregnancy knowing that the embryo is unaffected by the condition. PGD has helped many couples who have previously lost a child through illnesses such as cystic fibrosis, haemophilia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Oncology Patients
Due to the centralisation of gynae-oncology services at Hammersmith Hospital, there is a unique service for female and male patients about to undergo any surgeries or therapy that may affect their future fertility. Sperm freezing is relatively easy, although it is now possible to freeze eggs or ovarian tissue for female patients. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (freezing) is still offered on a research only basis, however some pregnancies have been achieved through egg freezing. It is very early days in both treatments and much research is still needed in these areas. Patients who have tissue cryopreservation or embryos frozen prior to cancer treatment can be followed up in the unit.

Screening
There is a mandatory requirement for all patients and their partners to be screened for Hepatitis B&C and HIV when planning to undergo assisted conception. If you have been screened for this within the last year, please bring these results. If you have not been screened you can arrange this via your GP or alternatively we can arrange this for you here. There may be a small fee if you are a private patient (please see Fees).

Patient Support Groups
A number of patient groups exist to help provide support, advice and information to couples having difficulty conceiving naturally.

Infertility Network UK
Charter House
43 St Leonards Road
Bexhill on Sea
East Sussex TN40 1JA
or visit www.infertilitynetworkuk.com

The Daisy Network - premature menopause support group. Send a SAE to PO Box 392, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP15 7SH or visit www.daisynetwork.org.uk

Miscarriage Association – c/o Clayton Hospital, Northgate, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 3JS.
Telephone 01924 200 799

Donor Conception Network – PO Box 7471, Nottingham NG3 6ZR. Telephone 020 8245 4369

Pregnancy Follow Up
Your initial pregnancy scans will take place in the IVF unit. You will be given a document to record the outcome of your pregnancy that you will need to send back to us upon the completion of your pregnancy. You can then be referred to your local hospital for antenatal care or to our own maternity unit here at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital.

Being part of a major London teaching hospital has many patient benefits. Not only are we able to provide all the emergency back-up you would expect of a large hospital Trust, we are able to provide all other elements of care you may require should you decide to give birth in this hospital.

The Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital is one of the largest maternity hospitals in the country as well as being one of the newest and most modern in terms of the facilities it offers. As a patient at Queen Charlotte’s, you would benefit from the specialist input of the antenatal and fetal medicine teams, the neonatal unit and one-to-one midwifery service. The excellent facilities include single bedrooms with en suite on the post delivery ward and security tagging for all new born babies. The hospital is located adjacent to the IVF unit (see map).

Success Rates
Our success rates speak for themselves and in spite of the high pregnancy rate, multiple birth rates are far lower than the national average and damaging premature delivery uncommon. As we are constantly monitoring and updating our success rates, please ask for the latest published success rates leaflet.

Fees
Basic charges go to the hospital with part of the fees going to our charity which is used for research into improvements of assisted conception. We believe that our private treatments offer very good value for money - there are no hidden extras in the prices quoted to patients. For a full and up to date list of prices, please ask for our private price list if one has not already been included in the back of this brochure.

Come and Visit us
We are happy to arrange visits for those interested in the services offered here. For a personal guided tour of the unit, please call The Wolfson Family Clinic on 0845 811 6644.

How to Contact Us

Private Patient Enquiries and Appointments
Tel: 020 8383 4152
Fax: 020 8749 6973

The Wolfson Family Clinic Reception
Tel: 0845 811 6644

Nurse Helpline
Tel: 020 8383 8186

Egg Donation Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
Tel: 020 8383 8168

Counselling Service
Tel: 020 8383 8184

NHS Funding & Referrals
Tel: 020 8383 4908
Fax: 020 8383 5858

Embryology Team
Tel: 020 8383 8185

Andrology Department
Tel: 020 8383 4680
Fax: 020 8383 3591

Pharmacy
Tel: 020 8383 3079

Back to the top...