We offer one of the widest ranges of fertility treatments in the UK - from traditional IVF to fertility preservation and egg and sperm donation
Here are the treatments we provide at TFP Oxford Fertility and how they work.
In IVF, we retrieve the eggs from the ovaries and fertilise them with sperm in the lab. These are kept in an incubator for five to six days where they mature into embryos ready for implantation or freezing.
IVF treatment requires multiple eggs so we stimulate the ovaries using hormone medication to increase the number of mature eggs available for fertilisation.
In conventional IVF, at least 100,000 sperm must be placed with each egg to have a realistic chance of achieving fertilisation. ICSI is an additional add on to IVF treatment that involves injecting a single healthy sperm directly into an egg.
This may be recommended if there are male factor issues present as it reduces the need for the sperm to reach and penetrate the egg.
IUI is a less invasive procedure than IVF as it doesn't require the stimulation of egg growth or egg retrieval.
If your partner or co-parent is providing sperm, they will need to produce a fresh sample on the day of insemination. If you've chosen to use donor sperm, this will be thawed prior to your treatment.
During the procedure, the healthy sperm is placed into the uterus using a fine catheter.
Remaining healthy embryos from your IVF treatment can be frozen and safely stored for future use. You may wish to use these to try for a sibling later on or if previous cycles have been unsuccessful as it removes the need for a further egg retrieval procedure.
Frozen embryo transfers are required for those wishing to use previouslu fertilised embryos.
We are a selected NHS England IVF treatment provider for patients requiring pre-implantation genetic testing for genetic conditions (PGT-M) or rearrangements of the chromosomes (PGT-SR).
This involves testing embryos to see if they carry the genetic condition before deciding which embryos are best to transfer into the womb.
Preserving your fertility means collecting, freezing and storing your eggs, sperm or embryos for future fertility treatment.
As you age, so do your eggs and sperm. For females, not only does your ovarian reserve decline but the quality of your eggs does too. Preserving them now can give you more options for starting a family further down the line.
Preserving your fertility doesn't guarantee a future pregnancy. However, it does let you try treatment at a time that is right for you.
We use a process called ‘vitrification’ to freeze sperm, eggs and embryos.
Vitrification involves much more rapid cooling than other less advanced methods of freezing, and it prevents ice crystals from forming.
This preserves the quality of the cells and improves the chances of surviving when they are thawed, compared to slow-freezing.
Through our comprehensive egg and sperm donation programmes, we match hopeful parents to their ideal donor.
This allows individuals, couples and co-parents who cannot conceive alone the chance to have the family they have always dreamed of.
Before IVF treatment begins, we carry out fertility tests for all patients, including a semen analysis for males.
In some cases, men have sperm being manufactured in their testes, however, it is not present in their ejaculate. This problem can be caused by a blockage or reduced sperm production.
Surgical sperm retrieval allows us to collect sperm either from within the testicle or the testicular tissue.
We can also use this method to collect sperm for men who have previously had a vasectomy, or a failed vasectomy reversal.
We can offer mild IVF if it's the right choice for you. In mild IVF, you'll take lower doses of medication compared to traditional IVF, over a shorter period of time.
This helps to reduce the potential side effects as well as the cost of the treatment. It can also reduce the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).
Sadly, IVF and ICSI treatment doesn't always end with a successful implantation, even after a number of transfer using healthy embryos. Other times, a cycle achieves a conception but the pregnancy doesn't develop to term.
AT TFP Oxford Fertility, we are experts in implantation failure and recurrent miscarriage and can recommend potential tests and therapies to help reduce these risks.
We offer acupuncture, a treatment derived from ancient Chinese medicine, using fine needles at specific sites in the body for therapeutic or preventative purposes. The process of using the needles to stimulate sensory nerves under the skin and the muscles of the body focuses on rebalancing the body’s flow of energy.
The body’s hormones are fundamental to everyday life. Changes in their balance need careful management, whether it be due to a medical condition or a specific stage of life.
Hormone Health’s range of expertise means they can offer appropriate advice and treatments for women throughout their lives.
Additional techniques and treatments (add ons) are optional extras that are available to you in addition to your normal fertility treatment. These have extra costs associated with them.
TFP Oxford Fertility aims to provide the best evidence-based additional techniques, but they are not suitable for all patient groups and we recommend patients research them before making a decision.