Find out more about the latest IVF techniques, successes and infertility treatment breakthroughs both at Manchester Fertility Services and across the world.
Male Factor Infertility Expertise
At Manchester Fertility Services we also specialise in treating male infertility. This is more common than many of us might think. Infertility which has a basis in the male partner is thought to be the main reason why around a third of couples have difficulty conceiving.
Common male factors contributing to these problems are:
- A low sperm count
- Poor sperm motility, which influences the sperms’ ability to reach the egg
- Abnormal sperm shape, which makes it difficult for sperm to attach to the egg to fertilise it
- Simply not producing any sperm at all
All of these problems may be due to lifestyle issues, have a genetic basis or be due to an obstruction to sperm flow.
The consultant urologist who works with us at Manchester Fertility Services, Steve Payne, provides longstanding expertise in assessing and treating male-factor fertility problems. Steve is widely published in this field.
Steve is able to treat patients who have problems such as:
- Varicocele, which may be influencing the testicles’ ability to produce the best quality sperm
- Obstructive issues, where reconstructive surgery may allow sperm to be ejaculated in the semen. This is relevant to men who have had previous vasectomy and obstruction due to infection or surgery.
Steve can also help advise our male patients about the surgery relevant to surgical sperm retrieval, when no obstruction is present, reconstruction is not possible or as ‘backup’ at the same time as surgical reconstruction of a blockage. Retrieved sperm can then be used together with IVF techniques to help achieve a pregnancy.
Steve works with the rest of our team, including senior andrologist Joanne Adams, who specialises in the treatment of sperm disorders.
Using the latest technology, we can often pinpoint exactly what the problem might be, and whether there is any underlying obstructive or genetic basis for a patient’s inability to produce sperm.
This team-working approach means that reconstruction can always take place when feasible. The best sperm Steve can retrieve is used by our embryologists in treatments such as ICSI which involves injecting a single, healthy, sperm into an egg to fertilise it.
In many cases, male factor infertility is treatable. So if you’re a man concerned about your fertility, visit your GP who can conduct simple non-invasive tests to identify any problems. You can then be referred to our specialist team at Manchester Fertility Services for further advice and treatment.
European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology - Conference 2010
The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) held its annual 2010 conference in Rome.
There were plenty of scientific updates to report to delegates, one of which is an egg screening technique, which is hoped can boost the success rate of IVF by finding eggs which are genetically sound.
The screening technique can predict genetic problems in 90% of cases, according to research. But it is not yet clear whether or not it actually increases pregnancy rates. A large trial is due to start in 2011 to further assess the new technology.
Attendees of the conference also heard that in a Belgian study, women in their late 30s were freezing their eggs due to their careers, not finding the right partner or simply as ‘insurance’ for their fertility. Egg freezing enables women to save their eggs for future treatment if needed, however the rate of pregnancy is better in younger women than older ones, so women need to be aware of the impact age has on their fertility and future treatment success.
Obesity and its impact on pregnancy rates also came under discussion, following a UK study of over 300 women, which showed that more than a third of overweight and obese women had a miscarriage, compared to one in five women who were of healthy weight.
Currently it is not specifically known why carrying too much weight increases the risk of miscarriage, but delegates were told that overweight women undergoing IVF should be made aware of the risks.
Other items on the conference agenda included the impact of drinking alcohol in pregnancy, and whether it can affect the future fertility of any unborn male children. A Danish study found that sperm levels were a third lower in men whose mothers had more than four alcoholic drinks a week.
For more information on the conference, visit Eshre.eu.
Blastocyst Transfers at Manchester Fertility Services
Did you know that at Manchester Fertility Services we don’t charge any extra for patients who undergo blastocyst cultures and transfer?
Some clinics will often charge for the blastocyst procedure, but at Manchester Fertility Services it’s included in your treatment plan at no extra cost for you.
So what is blastocyst transfer? A blastocyst is an embryo that has been allowed to develop for longer after fertilisation in our laboratory incubator, before being transferred to your uterus.
In normal embryo transfers, embryos are implanted into your womb two to three days after fertilisation, when they reach the ‘four-cell’ stage.
But in a blastocyst procedure, the embryo is allowed to develop for five to six days after fertilisation, before transfer. However, the blastocyst must still attach itself to the wall of the uterus for pregnancy to occur.
A blastocyst transfer can help further improve the chances of pregnancy in patients with a good IVF prognosis, because the embryo has already developed further and is therefore more likely to implant successfully. It can also help you if you’ve produced good quality embryos before, yet which failed to implant for pregnancy.
But it’s important to remember that not all embryos will continue to develop to become blastocysts. Sometimes embryos stop developing at the ‘four-cell’ stage.
Our expert team of embryologists will advise on whether a blastocyst is suitable for you or whether you would be better to implant earlier, as in a normal embryo transfer procedure.
If you have more than one good quality blastocyst following the procedure, we will also advise on the option of single blastocyst transfer, which helps to reduce the risk of multiple birth. As with normal embryo transfer, any remaining blastocysts can be frozen and stored for future use.
Patient Open Evenings
Patient open evenings are held monthly. The evenings are intended for patients who are either contemplating fertility treatment or who are about to commence treatment with us.
Please come along and make use of the informal evening to discuss the services that we can offer. You will be able to view our facilities and meet some of the staff. Refreshments will be provided. The dates for the open evenings are as follows:
| Date | Time |
| Thursday 12 August | 7pm - 9pm |
To book a place please email: info@manchesterfertility.com
Egg Sharing at Manchester Fertility Services
North West infertility clinic, Manchester Fertility Services is offering couples reduced rate IVF through a new scheme which aims to help women who need donor eggs.
The new egg-sharing programme is designed to help couples who need IVF but can’t afford private treatment. The programme gives them a subsidised rate for a cycle of IVF if they agree to donate some of their eggs collected during the IVF process, which are not being used for their own treatment, to other infertile women.
Professor Brian Lieberman, founder of Manchester Fertility Services at the Bridgewater Hospital in Manchester city centre, says: “There is currently a huge shortage of egg donors in the UK, and as such there are long waiting lists for women who can only conceive by using a donor egg.
“Our new egg sharing programme is designed to bring together those who need IVF and women who need a donor egg. We know that more people are turning to privately-funded IVF due to limited NHS funding. If women are willing to donate their eggs as part of the procedure, then we can help more infertile couples and they get cheaper IVF as a result of their donation.
“For many women, the use of a donor egg is their only hope of a baby. They may have suffered early menopause, or there may be an underlying genetic reason why they can’t use their own eggs. Or, simply, they may not be producing any eggs at all.”
Couples willing to donate eggs at Manchester Fertility Services will receive a cycle of private IVF treatment at a subsidised rate of £500.00 (usual price from £2,650).
To take part in the egg-sharing programme, women must be aged between 23 and 35 and the same rules apply as for general egg donors, including being willing to undergo screening tests and having no known serious medical problems. Couples will also receive full counselling on the implications of donating eggs from the specially-trained team at Manchester Fertility Services.
For more information about Manchester Fertility Services’ egg-sharing scheme, call 0161 227 0010 or visit our dedicated website www.manchesterdonors.com
New Human Embryonic Stem Cell Line
The North West Embryonic Stem Cell Centre, based at the University of Manchester, has just achieved the successful generation of an early stage human embryonic stem cell line, the first from the IVF programme at Manchester Fertility Services. The Medical Director of MFS, Professor Brian Lieberman, said "Manchester Fertility Services has always been heavily involved in research which will improve outcomes for patients with infertility and, in this case disease, and we are delighted with this success". The Research Director at MFS and Co-Director of NWESCC, Professor Daniel Brison, said "couples undergoing treatment and the staff at MFS have supported our effort to make embryonic stem cell lines for the treatment of serious disease. This is a great tribute to their generosity and motivation and emphasises the important research being carried out here in Manchester".
CHKS Accreditation and ISO 9001:2008
On 21st October 2009 Manchester Fertility Services was awarded Accreditation and Certification to ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management Systems for healthcare organisations by the CHKS. The primary objective of accreditation is to help healthcare organisations to improve their management and operational systems and demonstrate their capability of providing quality services. CHKS awards Accreditation to healthcare organisations which demonstrate that they have fully complied with all the CHKS standards and criteria relating to legal and professional requirements, safety of patients, staff and visitors, patients' rights and accepted sound organisation practice in healthcare.
Certification ISO 9001:2008 (PDF) (540KB)
CHKS Accreditation (PDF) (497KB)
Inspection Report
For our latest inspection report from the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority please log on to: