First of all, you will need to approach your GP who may arrange to do several preliminary blood tests for the female partner and a semen analysis(sperm test) for the male partner. Blood tests to check levels of the female hormones called FSH,LH,TSH and Prolactin are particularly useful for women over the age of 35 years and should be done during a menstrual period(day 2-5 of the cycle). These levels give us a good indication of a woman's ovarian reserve or age-related fertility level.
Your GP may then refer you to your local NHS hospital to be seen by a fertility specialist. I am the consultant in charge of the Fertility Treatment Centre at Mayday University Hospital(NHS) in London Road , Croydon.
The average waiting time for an initial appointment is less than 6 weeks, according to government targets, although there are sometimes longer delays for investigations and surgery.
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You may choose to ask your GP to refer you privately, either before or after your initial NHS appointment. If you have private health insurance, most policies will cover for the initial consultation and investigations and any surgical procedures as well, although few cover the cost of fertility treatment. Please check with your insurance company prior to being referred.
My private patients are looked after very well at Shirley Oaks Hospital in Shirley, Croydon, where I run both a Fertility Treatment Centre and an extensive gynaecological service. Initial appointments are usually available within one to two weeks. There are no waiting times for any treatments and most surgeries can be performed within two to four weeks, depending on the case.
If you are not insured, Shirley Oaks Hospital has a payment plan scheme where any tests, treatments or surgeries performed within the hospital can be paid off interest-free over six months. Any balance remaining after that time will be subject to a low rate of interest.
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