IVF & ICSI INFORMATION BOOKLET - Plymouth Hospitals

Assisted Conception Information Booklet 

IVF & ICSI INFORMATION BOOKLET 

SOUTH WEST CENTRE FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE 

OCEAN SUITE - LEVEL 6 

Derriford Hospital 

Plymouth PL6 8DH 

Tel. (01752) 763704 : Fax (01752) 763641 

e-mail: jackie.waugh@phnt.swest.nhs.uk - www.derriford.co.uk/ivf 

THE UNIT 

The South West Centre for Reproductive Medicine has been established to provide a full 

range of investigations and treatment for couples experiencing infertility. It is housed in 

purpose built premises on Level 06, Women’s Health Services Derriford Hospital, and has 

incorporated all previous infertility services with the addition of the Assisted Conception 

Unit providing the most up to date treatments. We offer preliminary investigations, 

ovulation induction, secondary sperm function testing, intrauterine inseminations, donor 

sperm treatment, in vitro fertilisation (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), 

assisted hatching, oöcyte donation, and freezing of sperm and embryos. The Centre is 

fully licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and all work is carried 

out in accordance with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act and the Authority’s 

Code of Practice. 

THE TEAM 

The team includes senior medical, nursing, scientific and secretarial staff that have many 

years of experience in infertility treatment. Our expertise and knowledge has been 

accumulated in some of the best Units in the UK. 

We, as a team, believe in providing the highest quality of treatment and care while 

understanding the anxieties and concerns of the couple. We offer a caring sensitive 

approach within a dedicated and knowledgeable team who appreciate the nature 

and problems of infertility, both physical and emotional. 

NATURAL CONCEPTION 

Every month an egg is released from the ovary and moves slowly down the Fallopian 

tubes (tubes) towards the uterus (womb). If sperm have been released in the vagina 

during intercourse within the previous day or two these may have swum up to the tubes 

where they attempt to combine with the egg. If this union is successful, the fertilised egg 

continues along its path to the womb growing along the way. After 5 days, the embryo (as 

it is now called) begins to implant in the lining of the uterus. If this implantation is 

successful and the embryo establishes itself well, a pregnancy will result. If no sperm 

were present, or they did not fertilise the egg, the egg will continue towards the womb, be 

expelled and a period will begin (two weeks after the egg was first released). 

WHAT IS IVF? 

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a phrase, which describes the process by which the oöcyte or 

egg is fertilised by the sperm outside the body. Originally, this was carried out in glass 

dishes, which is how the term “in vitro” arose, as this literally means “in glass”. IVF 

involves the collection of eggs and sperm, which are then mixed in the laboratory under 

strictly controlled conditions. 

P.I. 1.3-Assisted Conception Information Booklet-V:7 Jan10 SD/AL/UA Page 1 of 11


The eggs, which fertilise normally, are left to grow for a further day or two to check that 

they are developing normally. In most women a maximum of two embryos are replaced in 

the womb (although the law allows us to replace up to three in patients over the age of 40), 

and if there are remaining embryos, which are of suitable quality, they may be frozen. The 

frozen embryos can be thawed and replaced at a future time. 

WHAT IS ICSI? 

ICSI stands for intracytoplasmic sperm injection and is a technique used for male factor 

causes of infertility such as a very low sperm count. The process is very similar to that in 

IVF cases, but the difference is that a sperm is injected directly inside each egg. By 

placing the sperm inside the egg it gives an opportunity for fertilisation to occur where it is 

not possible naturally due to poor sperm quality. This is still a relatively new technique that 

has been used routinely in the UK since the early to mid 1990’s. 

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM IVF AND ICSI? 

Couples having difficulty conceiving a child may be having a problem in any or several of 

the steps involved in natural conception. IVF and/or ICSI can help many couples including 

those in which the woman has blocked, damaged, or no fallopian tubes; the woman has 

the condition called endometriosis; the man has a reduced sperm count; the woman has 

problems ovulating or no cause of infertility has been found. 

PATIENTS WE TREAT 

We recommend that to increase your chances of a successful treatment that you are the 

right weight for your height. A measurement used to help assess if you are within a healthy 

range is called Body Mass Index (BMI). A member of our team can work this out for you. 

Excess weight may not only reduce your chance of success but in extreme cases is 

associated with a significant health risk to both mother and baby. 

Please also note that NHS funding for some of the more expensive treatments, such as 

intrauterine insemination (IUI), ovulation stimulation using a course of injections, and invitro 

fertilisation (IVF) is currently restricted to couples that fulfil criteria set down by their 

local Primary Care Trusts (the organisations responsible for NHS funding). For residents of 

Devon & Cornwall these include: more stringent body weight requirements (BMI less than 

30); the woman should be a non-smoker and her partner advised likewise; the woman’s 

age should be under 40 and neither the man nor the woman should have any existing 

children. Eligibility for this NHS funded treatment also has to be validated and approved. 

At the present time we are able to offer NHS funded IVF to women if the level of an Anti 

Mullerian Hormone (AMH) blood test is at a level where stimulation is likely to be 

successful. When couples request treatment, we are by law required to take in to account 

the welfare of a future child. Our unit policy is to assess each couple individually. 

At present our age limits for treatment are 19 to 45 years of age. If there are oncology 

patients who need treatment then the lower limit may be not adhered to due to this group 

of patient’s special needs. 

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS? 

If you are interested in having IVF treatment with us, we request that you obtain a letter of 

referral to the Unit from your GP. Your GP will initiate some tests prior to your first 

appointment. 



We will send you some more detailed information and a consent booklet which you will 

need to read through carefully and sign during your consultation and before beginning 

your treatment. Signing the consent form does not commit you to treatment and you are 

free to change your mind at any time. 

Please read everything carefully and if there are any things you do not understand or if you 

have any questions make a note of them and ask them at your first visit. 

Both partners should come for the first consultation, which may take about an hour in total. 

During this visit we will take your medical history, explain the treatment, and ask for some 

background information about yourselves and your relationship. 

THE TREATMENT 

There are four main stages, which IVF requires. 

1. The use of special hormones to stimulate the ovaries to produce more than one egg. 

2. Collecting the eggs from the ovaries. This is usually performed under sedation. 

3. Preparation of the sperm sample for mixing with the eggs on the day of egg collection. 

4. Replacement of fertilised eggs (embryos) into the womb. 

During a natural cycle the ovary produces one and occasionally two eggs. For IVF the 

production of a greater number of eggs increases the chances of success and the ovaries 

can be “stimulated” to produce more eggs. The stimulation of the ovaries is achieved with 

hormones that are the same ones normally produced by the body. These hormones 

cannot be taken orally (by mouth) as they are digested and destroyed in the stomach and 

would not have any effect on the ovaries. These hormones are administered by injection 

and the clinic will instruct you on how to use and take these hormones. 

DOWN-REGULATION 

The first stage of stimulating the ovary is to suppress the woman’s own hormone 

production in the pituitary gland (a small gland at the base of the brain which controls the 

ovaries). Switching off the pituitary prevents any activity within the body, which could 

interfere with the stimulation procedure. These drugs are called gonadotrophin releasing 

hormone agonist (GnRH-a) or antagonists. Treatment is usually started following a period 

of taking the contraceptive pill and continues right up until the day of egg collection. 

The GnRH-a can be taken by nasal spray, depot injection (once a month) or daily 

subcutaneous injections. Exact instructions will be given by the clinic when your treatment 

starts. Side effects, which may be experienced with these drugs, are described below. A 

few days after starting GnRH-a treatment a period should occur. This signifies that the 

pituitary has been suppressed, called down-regulation. 

STIMULATION 

After down-regulation has been achieved further hormones will be given in specific and 

timed daily doses, which will stimulate the ovaries. There are various types and brands 

that can be used and details will be given by the clinic when treatment begins. These 

hormones are given by injection under the skin. Each woman will respond slightly 

differently to these hormones and will be carefully monitored by the clinic. This is done by 

regular ultrasound scans (to look at and measure the ovaries). The ultrasound scan is 

performed using a small probe in the vagina from which the ovaries can be clearly seen. 

Ovaries contain follicles, which are small fluid filled sacs. These grow and develop in 

response to the stimulation hormones. As the follicles grow and develop so does the egg 

that is contained within the follicle (not every follicle will contain an egg). 



At a suitable time when there has been enough stimulation of the ovaries a final injection is 

given which will cause the eggs to finish developing. This is called the human chorionic 

gonadotrophin (hCG). The clinic will instruct you to have this injection at a specific time, 

usually at night. It is very important that you have this injection at the time instructed 

because this is necessary to make sure that the eggs are well developed and can be 

collected. If you take this injection at the wrong time, we may not be able to collect any 

eggs or they may not be mature and the treatment will be compromised. 

EGG COLLECTION 

The mature eggs are removed from the follicles so that they can be mixed with sperm in 

the laboratory. The egg collection is usually carried out in the Assisted Conception Unit 

under sedation, which is a sleepy state where you may feel some discomfort but will not be 

knocked out. An ultrasound machine is used to watch the ovaries while the eggs are 

being removed. Your partner is welcome to be present at the time of egg collection. 

As the ovaries have been stimulated they become enlarged and lie close to the top of the 

vagina. The egg collection is done with a fine needle, which is attached to a special guide 

on the ultrasound probe. The needle is passed through the wall of the vagina into the 

ovaries, which can be seen, on the ultrasound scan. The tip of the needle can be seen on 

the ultrasound and is placed in each follicle to remove the contents, which will also, 

hopefully, contain an egg. Every single follicle does not contain an egg and so there may 

be fewer eggs than the total number of follicles seen during the stimulation of the ovary. 

The fluid collected from the follicles is passed to the Embryologist who will look at it under 

the microscope and find the eggs. The eggs are then put in a special fluid (culture 

medium) and placed in an incubator for a few hours prior to insemination. 

SPERM COLLECTION 

On the day of egg collection a sperm sample is required, usually around the same time as 

the egg collection. The man should abstain from intercourse (ejaculation) for 2-5 days 

before the egg collection. Abstaining for shorter (less than 2 days) or longer (more than 5 

days) periods can affect sperm quality and should be avoided. The sperm sample will be 

prepared to obtain a sample with many motile sperm, which are the sperm capable of 

getting to, attaching and hopefully fertilising an egg. The prepared sperm are then mixed 

with the eggs. The eggs will then be checked the following morning at which time the 

Embryologist will be able to find out how many eggs were fertilised. Occasionally, and 

unexpectedly, the eggs may not fertilise. The failure to fertilise may occur even if the eggs 

and sperm do not appear to have any problems. 

INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION 

If there are sperm problems (low sperm count etc) then there may not be enough sperm to 

mix with eggs to achieve fertilisation. In this case the procedure of intracytoplasmic sperm 

injection (ICSI) is carried out. The sperm are injected into the egg and this improves the 

chances of fertilisation for couples with very low sperm numbers or no sperm in the 

ejaculate. The eggs are collected as described above and if they are sufficiently mature a 

single sperm will be injected into each egg. The egg is held with a fine glass pipette and a 

single sperm is identified and picked up with a very fine glass needle. The needle is then 

gently pushed into the egg and the sperm released. The injection needle is gently 

removed and the egg put away in the incubator. 



The eggs are left overnight in the incubator and checked the following morning for 

fertilisation. As a needle is being placed in the egg, there is a risk of damage to the egg, 

which is expected to be around 10-15%, although in some cases the eggs may be more 

fragile and damage more easily. 

Although there have been many babies born from this treatment, the first was only born in 

1992 and therefore the long term safety of this technique is still not fully known. 

Recent publicity regarding the risks associated with assisted conception techniques 

(IVF/ICSI) implied there is a slight increased risk of genetic/birth defects. 

The risk of birth defects in the general population is low, 2% of children born in Europe are 

born with birth defects. Some research has suggested that there might be an increased 

risk for babies born as a result of IVF/ICSI. This risk rises to 2.6%, which is still very low. 

However, the research cannot say with absolute certainty that this increase risk is due to 

the use of assisted conception techniques rather than other causes such as the age of the 

patient and the cause of infertility. 

TRAINING WITH EGGS, SPERM & EMBRYOS 

Consent will be sought from you to allow the lab to use any spare unfertilised eggs or 

spare embryos, or sperm samples for the training of laboratory staff in techniques such as 

ICSI (as above) or for the development of new techniques and services e.g new embryo 

freezing techniques. Only eggs, and embryos that are unsuitable for your treatment or 

storage will be used. No sperm will be inseminated or injected into any eggs. If you have 

any further questions regarding the use of your samples in training then please ask to 

speak to a member of the lab team. 

SPERM CRYOPRESERVATION: 

In ICSI although fewer sperm are needed than for conventional IVF, we do require a 

certain number of sperm to enable viable sperm to be selected for injection. For some 

couples therefore it is advisable to cryopreserve sperm samples prior to treatment. This is 

to ensure that on the day of egg collection sufficient sperm are available for the injection 

procedure. There is a charge for sperm freezing. Please ask the staff for current price 

details. 

Prior to sperm freezing the male partner is required to complete a consent form, which is 

issued by the HFEA. This form is a legal requirement giving your consent to freezing and 

also specifies your wishes as to the outcome of the frozen sperm if anything untoward 

were to happen to you. HFEA requirements also mean you will have routine screening for 

Hepatitis B, C and HIV. 

EMBRYO GROWTH 

The fertilised eggs are placed in the incubator for a total of 2 or 3 days after egg collection. 

The embryo will be checked to see that they are growing as expected. The egg starts off 

with one cell which splits into two which each split and so on until about 6-8 cells can be 

seen on the third day. The embryos are “graded” on their appearance, which is an 

indicator of how well they are expected to continue to grow. The grading is a guide only as 

technology is not yet at the stage where we can predict which embryo will result in a 

successful pregnancy. 



EMBRYO TRANSFER 

The embryo(s) are replaced in the womb with a soft fine plastic tube (catheter). This is a 

fairly simple procedure similar to a smear test. No anaesthetic is required and the 

procedure should not cause any discomfort. The neck of the womb (cervix) is viewed with 

a speculum (also used during smear tests) in the vagina and the cervix is then cleaned 

with a damp swab. The Embryologist loads the embryos into the catheter. The catheter is 

then passed gently into the womb and the embryos carefully released. 

Occasionally there may be a problem in getting the very soft catheter through the small 

neck of the womb and the Doctor may use an instrument to help him get the embryos 

transferred. This is not a common problem but there is some discomfort when this 

instrument is used. However, it is very important to get the embryos in the womb as 

quickly and as smoothly as possible, which is why the Doctor will try these other methods. 

AFTER EMBRYO TRANSFER 

As the pituitary has been down-regulated the woman will need some hormonal support 

after the embryo transfer. This will usually be given in the form of vaginal or rectal 

pessaries (progesterone). If the embryo or embryos successfully implant and establish a 

pregnancy you should not expect a period. A pregnancy can first be detected two weeks 

after the embryo transfer, usually by means of a urine test, which you can do at home. If 

there is some bleeding at the end of two the week period this could mean that no 

pregnancy has been established. If a urine test for pregnancy is positive then a scan will 

be arranged to confirm the pregnancy. 

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS 

The hormones taken may cause the following side effects. 

• The GnRH-a hormones cause down-regulation by switching off the pituitary, which is 

similar to the changes, which happen after the menopause (change of life). Therefore 

the side effects, which may be experienced, are similar to some of the experiences of 

the menopause. GnRH-a may cause hot flushes, irritability, headaches or depression. 

These symptoms should ease and disappear when the stimulation hormones are 

taken. 

• A few women may over respond to the stimulation hormones, which will be recognised 

during the careful monitoring. This response can lead to a condition called ovarian 

hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). If left unattended the consequences of OHSS can 

be very severe including death. In severe cases the ovaries become enlarged and 

there is fluid retention in the abdomen (stomach area), which can cause pain or 

discomfort. There may also be diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, reduced urine output, 

thirst, breathlessness and a feeling of faintness or weakness. This is a rare 

complication. If you have difficulties, please get in touch with the unit rather than any 

other hospital doctor or your GP. If you are experiencing these symptoms telephone 

Derriford switchboard on 0845 1558155 and ask for the IVF Sister to be paged. In 

case of emergencies, a Sister is on call 24 hours a day. 

• As a result of ovarian stimulation treatment, there maybe a possible association 

between this and ovarian cancer but evidence from research studies has been 

contradictory. Recently, a large population study from Denmark published in February 

2009, found no convincing association between the use of fertility drugs and risk of 

ovarian cancer. 



POSSIBLE PROBLEMS 

There are several steps involved in the IVF treatment beginning with down-regulation, 

ovarian stimulation, egg collection, sperm preparation, fertilisation, embryo transfer and 

embryo freezing (if performed). Although most couples will proceed through most of these 

stages there is a chance that one or several of these steps may not work. 

• For example, the ovaries may not stimulate well and the hormone doses can be 

adjusted to try and improve the response sometimes, however, the response does not 

improve and we may advise you to cancel your treatment cycle. 

• After egg collection there is a small chance of an infection. To reduce this risk we will 

administer some antibiotic cover just prior to your egg collection. Some patients 

experience some bleeding from the needle site in the vagina. This usually subsides 

quickly. 

• There is a small chance that there may not be any eggs collected. However, this is 

rare and we will usually get at least one egg from a woman. Once the eggs are 

collected they are then taken to the lab and mixed with the sperm of your partner or a 

donor, whichever treatment you have consented to. There is a possibility that the eggs 

may not fertilise or that they may not develop well and there will not be an embryo 

transfer. We are not able to predict how the eggs will develop until then, but we can 

use the information from other treatments to help us improve the result of the next 

treatment, if you were to come back. 

• If all the steps proceed satisfactorily the final outcome is still not guaranteed, that is a 

pregnancy is established. Pregnancies established after IVF are still exposed to the 

same antenatal risks as natural pregnancies such as miscarriage or abnormalities. 

Although there do not seem to be any greater problems during pregnancies between 

women conceiving naturally or from IVF, women having IVF tend to be slightly older, 

which in itself is associated greater risks during pregnancy. 

• Normally we only replace only 1 or 2 embryos in line with current HFEA directives. In 

women over the age of 40 up to three embryos may be replaced in the womb. There is 

a chance that if you become pregnant there may be more than one baby; a multiple 

pregnancy. Multiple pregnancy places a greater physical strain on the mother as well 

as increasing the risk of complications such as miscarriage and premature delivery 

(before the due date). Also, the mother is more likely to have to be admitted to 

hospital. The average pregnancy is 34 weeks for triplets (three babies), which is 4-6 

weeks earlier than the due date. These babies often have to stay in the intensive care 

unit for up to a month and if they progress well they have many hurdles in front of them. 

Depending on the maturity and weight some babies do not survive. Looking after twins 

or triplets is very demanding especially for the first three years and the parents face 

chronic tiredness, anxieties, tensions and a strain on their relationship. The costs of 

looking after more than one baby should also be considered. 

OTHER 

As a unit we endeavour to use high quality, safe and licensed equipment in the assisted 

conception processes. In addition, we as with many units use “off label” consumables. This 

means that products are used for purposes other than those specified by the 

manufacturer. As a unit we risk assess and batch test equipment as appropriate and 

frequently audit our results and success rates. 



EMBRYO FREEZING 

Following your embryo transfer if your remaining embryos are of a suitable quality, they 

may be frozen. Freezing embryos is a way of preventing them from perishing and using 

them at a later date. However, not all embryos survive the freezing and thawing process 

but it is hoped that approximately 70% (two out of three) of the embryos will survive the 

process. Only good quality embryos will be frozen, usually we require at least three, as 

these are expected to have a better chance of surviving the freeze-thaw process. 

Frozen embryos are stored in tanks containing liquid nitrogen and these are monitored 

with alarms and are checked regularly. It is very unlikely that any problem will occur 

during the freezing, storage or thawing period. However, if a problem does arise, the 

Assisted Conception Unit cannot be held liable. Every effort is taken to ensure that 

problems do not arise and that the embryos will be frozen stored and thawed successfully. 

REPLACEMENT OF FROZEN EMBRYOS 

Frozen embryos can either be replaced during a natural or stimulated cycle. Medical or 

nursing staff will give details of this to you. We ask that you wait for at least 2-3 months 

after your first IVF attempt before coming back for your frozen embryos to be replaced. 

This gives the woman’s body time to recover from the hormone and other treatments of 

the IVF cycle. Some people are worried that there could be damage to the embryo, which 

could result in an abnormal baby. At the moment the number of babies born from 

frozen/thawed embryos is still quite small but there does not seem to be any increased 

birth problems or defects. However, as with any IVF treatment, there can be no guarantee 

about the outcome. 

There is an additional charge for freezing embryos and for the subsequent thawing and 

replacement of the embryos. There is an annual charge for every year the embryos are 

kept cryopreserved. 

COUNSELLING 

The steps and treatments required during IVF are very intensive, with several visits, many 

injections and sometimes unexpected problems that can all be very demanding and 

draining on both partners. It has often been a long road to IVF treatment, with many 

intrusive and uncomfortable investigations, which are often described as a roller coaster. 

Family and friends may add to the pressure, usually not meaning to at all. Everyone 

around you seem to be having babies, colleagues at work may not be sympathetic to your 

absences and even the relationship between you and your partner is strained. 

These situations and feelings are not unique and most IVF patients will experience some 

or all of these pressures. At the Unit, we are keen to understand all of your cares, 

concerns and worries about treatment. All of our staff will seek to provide you with the 

information and support that you need, in considering treatment, going through it and in 

coping with the outcome, whatever this should be. It is important that you have the 

opportunity to think through the implications of treatment to yourself, your family and to any 

resulting child. Our nurses and doctors are happy to talk this through with you and provide 

you with any information that you need. We also have a trained and independent 

counsellor available. 



We feel that taking time out to talk to a trained counsellor about these issues is a valuable 

process, which could help both partners a great deal. You will be able to air feelings of 

isolation, desperation and even anger. Talking to a third person is often easier than with 

someone you are closer to, giving you a chance to get these feelings and problems out of 

your system. Our counsellor is independent and has a lot of experience dealing with 

women’s health issues. For the first 2 appointments we do not charge you for counselling, 

as we strongly believe that it is a part of the IVF treatment, and you can arrange to meet 

with the counsellor at any stage. Counselling is confidential. 

THE REGULATIONS 

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act of 1990, which is implemented by the 

Authority (HFEA), governs the freezing and storage of embryos for a specific and limited 

period of time. Normally embryos may be stored for 10 years. In certain circumstances 

this may be extended but this would require further discussions, consultations and renewal 

of the consent forms as necessary. 

At the end of the storage period, if we have not been able to get in touch with you, we are 

obliged by law to discard the embryos and allow them to perish, regardless of your 

wishes. The Assisted Conception Unit will endeavour to contact you every year (if you still 

have embryos frozen) to ask if you want them to remain in storage. Although every effort 

will be made to contact you, it is very important that you keep in touch with the clinic and 

tell us if you change your address or other circumstances. 

It is very important to bear in mind that these embryos could remain frozen for 10 years, 

during which time many circumstances may change. It is for these reasons that you 

should consider very carefully your wishes for the future of the frozen embryos. In the 

event of a partner’s death or in the break-up of a relationship, decisions will have to be 

made concerning the future of your embryos. Although this is a difficult subject, you are 

asked to discuss this before the embryos are frozen and make decisions regarding your 

wishes for the future. If anything were to happen to either partner, we will be obliged to 

carry out the wishes of that person specified on the consent from, such as allowing the 

embryos to perish etc. 

The consents given before embryos are frozen are binding, however these can be 

changed or withdrawn at any time, unless the embryos have already been used for 

treatment. You can change consents by coming in to the Unit and signing new consent 

forms, but both partners will have to come in and discuss their changes in consent and 

sign new forms. Withdrawal of consent must be made in writing. 

Should any partner withdraw their consent there is a ‘cooling-off’ period of up to 12 months 

from the date consent is withdrawn. During this time all reasonable steps must be made to 

notify the intended recipient. If both parties involved agree, then the embryos will be 

discarded. The 12-month cooling-period cannot exceed the statutory 10-year storage 

period. 

CONSENT 

There are various consents we need prior to undertaking treatment. The consent booklet 

has all the areas we need to cover and obtain consent for e.g. consent for treatment, 

disclosure of information, cryopreservation etc. Further details about consent and legal 

parenthood can be obtained from http://www.hfea.gov.uk. 



THE HUMAN FERTILISATION AND EMBRYOLOGY AUTHORITY (HFEA) 

The HFEA was established to licence, monitor and regulate clinics performing IVF and 

treatment involving human sperm, eggs and/or embryos in accordance with the Human 

Fertilisation and Embryology Act of 1990 (amended 2008). In addition to ensuring that all 

licensed clinics are providing these treatments within the laws and guidelines of the Act, 

the HFEA also aims to safeguard the interests of patients and the welfare of the children 

born as a result of this treatment. 

The HFEA has members appointed by the UK Health Ministries and at least half of these 

members are neither doctors nor scientists working in the field of infertility so that an 

independent perspective can be maintained. The members represent a broad range of 

experiences and backgrounds such as social, legal, lay, religious, medical and scientific 

representatives. 

The HFEA carries out the following roles: 

• Inspects and licences clinics offering treatment to infertile couples. 

• Monitors and regulates licensed clinics. 

• Publishes a Code of Practice giving guidelines to centres about carrying out licensed 

activities. 

• To keep a formal register of information about treatments, patients, children and donors. 

• To provide advice and information to patients, clinics and donors. 

• To constantly review the field of infertility treatment and provide recommendations to the 

government when asked to do so. 

The HFEA has a duty to collect information about the treatments and outcomes from 

licensed clinics, which it publishes regularly. The register was set up in 1991 and contains 

information about all treatments, donors and children born from that date onwards. 

Information about patients, donors and children is CONFIDENTIAL and will not be given 

out by the HFEA 

If you would like more information about the HFEA you can contact them directly at 

HFEA 

21 Bloomsbury Street 

London 

WC1B 3HF 

Tel: (020) 7291 8200, Fax: (020) 7291 8201, Website at http://www.hfea.gov.uk 

LEGAL PARENTHOOD ISSUES 

On the 6th April 2009, the HFEA introduced a new law relating to legal parenthood. This 

law affected who can be registered as a child’s legal father or second parent when the 

child has been conceived following fertility treatment. This only applies to patients 

undergoing fertility treatments using donor sperm or donor embryos. 

Different consent forms are required depending on whether the couple are married, in a 

civil partnership or not and enables the patients involved to give their consent to be 

recognised as the father or second parent of any child born. 

This law does not apply to patients using their husbands or partner’s sperm in their own 

treatment as, in this instance, they will automatically be the legal father of any child born. 



SUGGESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE 

All staff at the South West Centre for Reproductive Medicine at Derriford Hospital believe 

in providing the highest standard of care and to provide the best possible service with 

sensitivity to the pressures and strains that infertile couple face. We would like to hear 

from you if there are any aspects of the service or quality of care you have received is 

below expectation, or if you have any suggestions as to how we may improve the Unit 

please let us know. Any complaints or comments that you have will not affect your clinical 

treatment. 

Please feel free to let us know if you have any suggestions or complaints or you may 

contact: 

Mrs Julie Manton, 

Directorate Manger (RHWS) 

Level 07, Derriford Hospital 

Plymouth 

PL6 8DH 

Or: HFEA- details as previous. 

SUCCESS RATES AT THE SWCRM

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