Fertility Investigations and Referrals

When can a referral to fertility clinic be made?

• At any time if you have a history of infertility or conditions that risk infertility
• If you are aged under 34 and no pregnancy has occurred after 12 months of regular sexual intercourse (or 6 cycles of artificial insemination)
• If you are aged 34 or over and no pregnancy has occurred after 6 months of regular sexual intercourse (or 3 cycles of artificial insemination)

Other criteria that need to be fulfilled for a referral to be made

• The clinic will see people of any age and gender and discuss their options if fulfilling the above criteria, but in addition:
• Both partners must be non smokers
• The partner wishing to conceive must have Body mass index of 19-34.9 inclusive

Investigations

To make a referral to Oxford Fertility Clinic, the following  investigations are needed:

For female partner(s):

• Chlamydia swab – this can be a self-taken vaginal swab – this is to ensure you do not have chlamydia, which can sometimes be present without symptoms
• Rubella blood test – this is to ensure you are immune to Rubella
• Blood tests on day 2-5 of your menstrual cycle: TFTs, LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone – these are hormone blood tests
• Blood tests 7 days before your next period is due (day 21 if you have a 28 day cycle): Progesterone – this is a hormone blood test which can show whether you have ovulated in the cycle it is taken
• Cervical smears must be up to date – we can arrange this for you if not
• Ultrasound pelvis for some partners – if any history of irregular periods or any gynaecological problems such as fibroids, arrange this prior to referral

For male partner(s):

• Sperm sample 

Once all the above have been done, you will need follow up with the GP who arranged the tests, to review all the results and make the referral if appropriate. It is your responsibility to arrange this once you have had the scan (which is likely to be the last thing to be done) and you know all the other tests have been done.

Sperm Samples and Results

The sperm sample should be arranged through the male partner’s GP – this may sometimes be arranged during an appointment with the couple, or separately via our surgery, or if the partner is registered elsewhere, by a different GP surgery.

If results come back to us directly, these can be discussed at the follow up appointment if the male partner is present and consents to this or sent directly to the patient if requested to do so by them.

If results come back to another GP surgery, it is the male partner’s responsibility to get this result and forward it to us to be sent with the fertility clinic referral.

Eligibility for IVF

In Oxfordshire, there are very strict criteria to be eligible for NHS funded IVF and other assisted reproductive treatments.

• Current criteria can be found here.

Criteria are complex and different from those used for referral to fertility clinic, but this is a simplified summary of the main ones:

1. Age of the person trying to become pregnant is under 35 – need referral before 35th birthday
2. No previous NHS funded IVF fresh cycle treatment (NHS only funds one cycle)
3. Not more than 2 previous privately funded IVF fresh cycles
4. Neither partner has a living child (includes adopted children)
5. Neither partner has previously chosen to be sterilised
6. Body mass index of the person trying to become pregnant is between 19 and 29.9
7. Both partners are non-smokers

Requests from Private Fertility Clinics for Blood Tests

If you are seeking private fertility treatment, we can take bloods for:

• The usual investigations as we would for NHS patients (as above) 
• HIV and hepatitis screening (as we would offer these on request sometimes anyway) 

We will not agree to take other blood tests for private fertility treatment, such as AMH or any other unusual tests or repeat testing, for example of hormone levels