Have you ever heard the quote “the journey of a million miles begins with a single step”?
For couples having difficulty starting or growing their family, single men or women and couples in same sex relationships, taking the first step can be overwhelming, confusing and intimidating. To help with these feelings, we have prepared a summary of what you can expect from your first fertility appointment and your experience at Eve Health.
The tests will include:
- For heterosexual couples, a semen analysis will be requested to measures the number, movement (motility) and shape of the sperm
- For both partners, an array of blood tests to assess hormone levels, antibodies, infectious disease status HIV with HIV, hepatitis B & C, syphilis, rubella (German measles), blood group and some genetic tests.
- For the female partner, a pelvic scan via ultrasound to assess the condition of your reproductive organs. You may also be referred to a radiology clinic for a more specialised scan.
The initial discussions and investigations will allow your specialist to evaluate your fertility based on the following five essential conditions required for pregnancy.
- The right balance of hormones to allow egg and sperm development and support.
- A healthy, mature egg and the ability to ovulate.
- A good quantity and quality of sperm.
- A functioning reproductive tract (uterus and fallopian tubes).
- The ability of the female body to allow for implantation of an embryo, and to maintain and nourish that embryo.
Whilst the process of understanding your individual circumstances begins at your first appointment, sometimes getting to the bottom of the problem can take some time. Every woman and every couple is unique with a different journey and unfortunately, some are more complex than others. Our team specialises in the investigation and management of highly complex fertility problems, and we offer a multidisciplinary approach to achieve the very best outcome.
The recommended course of treatment is discussed during your follow-up. It is important to understand that not everyone will require IVF and that there are multiple alternatives. Many factors contribute to treatment choice – your test results, your story so far, age, values and preferences.
The most common treatment options for infertility include:
- Timed intercourse and ovulation induction (OI)
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF) with or without microinjection (ICSI)
- Gynaecological surgery to remedy underlying issues
Eve Health fertility specialists are experienced and compassionate. They will help you to understand why you are experiencing difficulties or guide you through the options that fit your individual circumstances. You can trust that the team will work with you to identify the best path forward.
Your appointment will begin with your specialist listening to your personal story. It is important and central to the care we provide that we understand your values and preferences. At your first appointment your specialist will discuss your medical history, reproductive history and lifestyle. You and your partner (if applicable) may have a physical examination and there will be a number of tests requested if your GP has not already arranged these. Together, your medical history and these results will help us to understand why you are seeking fertility treatment.
Eve Health is a complete fertility service. We welcome everyone who wishes to become a parent and will help everyone who wishes to start a family. If you require donor and /or surrogacy services, egg freezing or sperm retrieval, then Eve Health can assist you.
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