Male infertility

Grace MacDonald mother of world's first IVF boy

Amazing Grace: mum of the world’s first ‘test-tube’ boy, who paved the way for IVF treatment

When Grace was told she was infertile in 1974, there was nothing that medicine could do. Determined to have a chance of a child, she signed up in secret to a pioneering research programme led by Patrick Steptoe, Robert Edwards and Jean Purdy.

Sarah and Esmé

IVF or IUI? The dilemma for single women

As a single woman ‘going it alone’ to have a baby you need to choose between IUI or IVF fertility treatment. Both have benefits and disadvantages, so consultant Dr Valentina Mauro will be discussing the options with members of Fertility Network’s Single Women’s Fertility Group.

Shaun and Jenna

Holding it together – Jenna & Shaun share their journey

Shaun vividly remembers the telephone call when he was told by the hospital he had no sperm: “I remember just kind of reeling and my head was spinning.”

Becoming an egg donor has changed my life – I hope it changes someone else’s

Becoming an egg donor has changed my life – I hope it changes someone else’s

Lisa didn’t realise that she could donate her eggs until a friend going through IVF…

Lucy Reading, Bourn Hall embryologist

EmbryoGlue could increase IVF birth rates by 7%, research reveals

IVF live birth rates could be improved by seven per cent through the addition of Hyaluronic acid (HA) to the embryo transfer media, a paper in Human Reproduction has found. Therefore, Bourn Hall is to offer ‘EmbryoGlue’ as an option to its self-funded patients and closely monitor the outcomes.

Anne O’Leary, Regional Lead Embryologist for Bourn Hall Essex

HFEA issues guidance about ‘Add-ons’ – additional treatments of benefit to some

Add-ons are optional treatments that may provide benefits to some groups of patients but do…

Emotional strength

Getting back your emotional strength

Recognising that feelings such as uncertainty, sadness and frustration are natural and infertility is a type of grief can give you back your strength. 

Pair of tomatoes supercharge your sperm

8 ways to supercharge your sperm

To be told that you have poor sperm quality can be disheartening, but as sperm are produced constantly there is much you can do to improve them. Being fertility fit will improve your wellbeing, both physically and mentally, and increase your chances of successful treatment.  Bourn Hall’s Nutritional Therapist Angela Attwood gives her top tips for improving sperm health. 

Snowdrops at Bourn Hall

If you want a baby and it’s not happening

If you are asking ‘Why can’t I get pregnant?’ the good news is that you can boost your chances of conception… and we can tell you how. If you are trying to conceive we can provide you with some good advice.

Zoe and Adam with Isabella their rainbow baby

Baby Isabella brings joy and comfort this Christmas

Zoe and Adam from Cambridgeshire are looking forward to enjoying their first Christmas with their ‘rainbow baby’ after heart-breaking loss.

Bourn Hall Day 1-170

Find out how can we help you

To make an appointment, or to find out how we can help, please contact us.

Patient reviews you can trust

Genuine experiences from real patients. See why so many trust us with their fertility care.

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“We went to an open evening at Bourn Hall Wickford and came away feeling really positive about the place. The staff were really friendly and the presentation was clear about the statistics regarding success rates and live birth rates; their data was very transparent. We came away feeling like we would really be looked after.”

Katy and Leigh are parents to Charlie after IVF

Patient 2023

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“We chose to make an appointment at Bourn Hall Wickford because of the favourable reviews. When we got there and met the staff they were just so lovely, making us feel welcome and explaining to us what tests would need to be done and what our options were; we just thought ‘yes, let’s get the ball rolling!”

Jess and Fran are mums to Nathan after IVF with donor sperm

Patient 2023