The Gateshead Fertility Unit is a purpose-built facility on level three of the Jubilee Wing of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
This is a brief introduction to the various fertility treatments available here at the Gateshead Fertility Unit.
After reviewing your fertility investigations our fertility specialist will be able to advise you on the most appropriate treatment and give you more detailed information.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
IUI is a treatment used for the following fertility problems.
- Frozen husbands’ sperm for example: after cancer treatment
- Sexual intercourse problems
In order to offer this treatment it is essential that the fallopian tubes are open, no more than mild or minimal endometriosis is evident and a reasonable sperm sample is obtained.
Treatment may involve some ovarian stimulation with fertility drugs (a daily injection), depending on the woman’s natural ovulatory cycle. At the time of ovulation, a prepared sperm sample is deposited at the top of the uterus (womb) using a special catheter. This procedure is performed in theatre and is similar to a smear test.
Donor Insemination (DI)
DI is a treatment used for:
- Severe male factor problems
- Single women
- Same-Sex couples
All donor sperm is screened and quarantined for sexually transmitted infections and genetic disorders. A DI treatment is very similar to an IUI treatment.
In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
IVF was originally designed to treat couples where the fertility problem was caused by blocked fallopian tubes and this is still the main indication for IVF. However, IVF is now used to treat a variety of fertility problems, including:
- Endometriosis
- Mild to moderate degrees of sperm abnormality
- Unexplained infertility
- Ovulation problems
IVF is a fertility treatment that involves the use of drugs to stimulate the ovaries into producing eggs (a daily injection). The eggs are then taken out of the body and fertilised in the laboratory. The fertilised eggs (which are called embryos) are then replaced in the uterus (womb). The number of embryos to be replaced will be discussed with you in more detail although our aim is to get you pregnant with one baby at a time.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
ICSI is a relatively new fertility treatment that has been developed to treat couples in whom the investigations have revealed that the cause of infertility is due to a severe sperm problem. Before the development of ICSI the only treatment option would be to use donor sperm. ICSI now offers the hope that men with severe sperm problems can have children conceived using their own sperm.
ICSI is a modification of conventional IVF. For the couples undergoing ICSI the drugs and procedures are identical to conventional IVF treatments (see above). The difference is how we handle the sperm and the egg in the laboratory. ICSI involves picking up a single sperm with a very fine needle and injecting it directly into the egg.
Shared Motherhood
Shared motherhood is essentially IVF for a same sex couple, where one partner wants to donate her eggs to be inseminated with donor sperm. Once the embryo has developed, the other partner will then have the embryo transferred to her womb and carry any subsequent pregnancy.
Should there be a problem with the donor sperm, ICSI can also be performed during this treatment.
Contact us
If you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us as there will always be someone happy to help
Telephone: 0191 445 2768 (Direct Line)
Email: [email protected]
or in the case of an EMERGENCY please call 0191 482 0000 and ask for the IVF Doctor on call after office hours.