Highlights of 2019: New free fertility testing and diagnosis launched for GP-referred patients

At the end of October, to coincide with Fertility Week, we launched a brand new ‘Fertility Diagnosis and Ovulation Induction treatment’ service – offering free fertility testing and diagnosis for anyone who is referred by their GP to the clinic. This followed an earlier announcement that, following a successful pilot in Kings Lynn, we had gained NHS qualified provider status for level 2 fertility services.  Although Bourn Hall has been an NHS provider of IVF treatment for many years, this new service gives rapid access to fertility experts providing early diagnosis and intervention enabling many women to achieve a pregnancy without the need for IVF.

Bourn Hall’s patient pathway is unique in that it is provided in clinics dedicated to treating only fertility patients with over 40 years experience and a proven track record of success.

Ovulation Induction treatment successes

Kim is one of the patients who has benefited from the free fertility testing and diagnosis through our  King’s Lynn clinic.

Irregular periods are a sign that a woman is not ovulating (releasing a ripe egg) every month. For natural conception to take place the eggs and sperm must meet in the fallopian tube and if a woman is not ovulating regularly the likelihood of her conceiving is greatly reduced.

“Once I had come off the pill my periods became irregular again and so while we were trying to conceive I had to regularly take pregnancy tests to determine if my lack of a period was because of my irregular cycles or because I was pregnant.

Her son Callum, now a lively two-year-old was conceived naturally after ovulation induction treatment. 

After Callum was born Kim found that her periods became more regular and, earlier this year, was astounded to discover that she had fallen pregnant again – without any outside help at all.

Fast fertility testing and diagnosis to help patients get pregnant quicker

The service offers a diagnosis in six weeks and, if ovulation induction is appropriate, the treatment can start immediately.

The aim of the service is to get patients pregnant quicker without the need for IVF.

Women with no or infrequent ovulation may benefit from ovulation induction, which increases egg production using fertility drugs such as Clomid.

Around 70% of women ovulate using the treatment; the majority within the first three months and, of those who ovulate, between 20 per cent and 60 per cent will become pregnant. The wide range is due to many factors affecting fertility such as age, weight, sperm quality and lifestyle or other health issues.

Dr Thanos Papathanasiou, Medical Director at Bourn Hall Clinic, stresses that most couples (about 84 out of every 100) will get pregnant within a year if they have regular sex and don’t use contraception and says instead of stressing about the ‘fertility window’ they should aim for regular intercourse a couple of times a week – and if it doesn’t happen after a year to visit their GP or seek expert advice.

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