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Getting started with fertility treatment

Starting your fertility journey can feel overwhelming. Here’s some information to help make sure you have everything you need before taking the next step.

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Taking the first step

Each year, our teams at TFP Fertility UK dedicate themselves to supporting many individuals and couples through fertility treatment.

If you’re about to start your own journey, reading this guide means you’ve already taken the first step.

We want to make sure you’re getting the answers you need and that you’re supported to make the right decisions.

Feeling understood, informed, and in control will hopefully mean you get the very best from your fertility experience.

Prefer to talk to us directly? One of our experts will walk you through the process.

When should I see a doctor about my fertility?

About 84% of heterosexual couples will conceive naturally within a year if they have regular unprotected sex, but around one in seven couples may have difficulty conceiving.

If you're an LGBT couple or a single woman looking to start your journey towards parenthood, unless you have medical concerns, your first step would be to get in touch with us to arrange a consultation or attend an information event at your nearest TFP Fertility UK clinic.

You should see a doctor or GP about your fertility if:

  • You’ve been trying to conceive for a year or more

You should seek advice sooner if:

  • You have medical problems or menstrual problems

  • You’re aged 36 or over – the decline in fertility starts to speed up in your mid-30s

Your doctor will do an initial assessment and ask about your medical history and lifestyle.

There are some factors that can affect your fertility, including weight, smoking, alcohol, exercise, and stress.

They may recommend making certain changes to your lifestyle to help you conceive.

Women can then be referred for tests including blood tests to measure hormone levels, and scans to check the ovaries, womb, and fallopian tubes.

Men may be referred for semen analysis to check for problems with sperm such as low sperm count.

Need more help with fertility?

If you’ve had tests and are now ready to take the next step, we’re here for you.

Whatever your fertility needs, our team of experts will take the time to understand your individual situation and explain your options.

Finding a fertility clinic

Finding the right clinic is key. Here are some things to think about when choosing:

  • Is everything about the treatment clearly explained?

  • Do I feel I can ask questions at any time? Are the staff welcoming and compassionate?

  • Do they understand my needs?

  • Will treatment be tailored to me? This is very important for example, for same-sex couples, single parents, and anyone who’s had a poor experience before.

  • Are there transparent pricing and payment options?

  • Is it easy to get to with free parking? Some clinics have local satellite clinics so you can have some tests and appointments closer to home.

At TFP Fertility UK, we’re able to offer all these factors and more, including:

  • Short waiting times to start treatment

  • Specialist fertility counselling and access to additional therapies

You can also look at the HFEA (Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority) website.

This independent body oversees and regulates the quality and safety of all fertility treatment in the UK.

They give advice and publish success rates and award inspection ratings for fertility clinics.

All TFP Fertility clinics have the maximum rating of 5. We also share our success rates on our clinic pages.

Getting started patient stories

What do other patients think?

Often the experience of other patients is the best way to find out about a fertility clinic. We share our many patient stories here.

Talk to a fertility expert, one-to-one

Reach out to us

Attend one of our information events or complete our online form

We’ll call you back

Our dedicated enquiry team will call you to chat through your needs, listen to any concerns, and answer your questions.

There’s no obligation to book an appointment, we’re here to help you decide what your next steps are.

Health questionnaire

To help our fertility consultants get up to speed with your medical background and fertility history, we’ll ask you to complete a short questionnaire.

Your first consultation

Your consultation can take place by phone, video, or face-to-face, whichever suits you best.

And whether you’re starting or continuing your treatment, we’ll explain the options and answer any questions.

We’ll also help you decide the best time to start and what tests you need.

Our fertility assessment

Our fertility assessment involves a range of tests and a consultation with one of our specialists to provide you with the information you need to take the next steps.

We offer assessments for women, men, and couples and we have various packages designed to suit your personal circumstances.

It takes up to two visits to the clinic to complete all the tests and have a consultation.

If needed, you’ll be given appropriate advice following your assessment and discussion with our specialist.

You don’t need to have seen a GP or have a referral to book a fertility assessment.

Getting started fertility assessment

Understanding fertility treatments

Your assessment will help to identify any problems with your fertility and our specialists will then be able to guide you on your treatment options depending on what’s causing the problem.

We can get things started with a personalised treatment plan that takes into account your medical history, your concerns, and anything else you want to share with us.

We can then give you a timeline to help you plan the coming weeks and months.

We offer a full range of treatments.

  • Green Circle
    IVF

    IVF (in vitro fertilisation) is the most commonly used fertility treatment and is proven to work for many people, including single women and women over 40.

  • Pink Circle
    ICSI

    ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection) is a procedure carried out during IVF treatment where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg to help maximise the chances of fertilisation.

  • Orange Circle
    Fertility for LGBT+

    There are many ways to help LGBT+ individuals and couples create their families. These include insemination, fertility treatment, advice about surrogacy, egg and sperm donation, and freezing for those who wish to plan for the future.

  • Yellow Circle
    Preserving fertility

    Fertility preservation involves freezing your eggs, embryos, sperm, or reproductive tissue so they can be used at a later date to help you create the family you want.

Getting started contact us

Contact us today

For free advice about your fertility options, or to book an appointment, please contact us. We’ll get back to you within 48 hours and provide you with all the information you need to get started.

How much does fertility treatment cost?

At TFP Fertility UK, our pricing is inclusive of all the essential elements of your treatment.

There are no hidden extras and the only cost variables will be related to your individual treatment, such as the medication you may need.

Some fertility treatment can be funded by the NHS. Your NHS GP or consultant can write a referral letter to us explaining why you need treatment.

Your GP will be able to give you more information, as criteria for funding varies depending on where you live, or talk to us and we can help you understand your options.

Sometimes fertility treatments can be covered if you have private medical insurance. Check with your insurer if you’re not sure.

We also have a partnership with Access Fertility who offer a variety of payment packages, discounts for multiple cycles, and a potential refund if your treatment is unsuccessful.

How can we help?

We’re here to help anyone who wants to create a family and offer a wide range of scientifically backed fertility treatments and procedures.

We tailor your treatment plan to meet your specific needs, whether that’s IVF and ICSI to help couples with fertility issues and LGBT+ families, or IUI for single women.

We can also help you to conceive using donor eggs or sperm.

Whatever your fertility concern, let us guide you.

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Ready to start your fertility journey? We're here for you

Speak to our patient support team for advice about your options and to book your first consultation with a fertility expert.