Reading Time: 2 minutes When considering genetic testing, especially in the context of fertility treatment, there are several important factors to keep in mind. Purpose and Goals Clarify why you are considering genetic testing. Are you looking to identify potential genetic disorders that could be passed on to your children? Or are you seeking to optimise fertility treatment outcomes by screening for genetic compatibility between partners? Understanding your goals will help determine which specific tests are relevant. Types of Genetic Testing There are different types of genetic testing availab ..read more

Reading Time: 4 minutes Checking sperm health is one of the first things you do when you are preparing to start your fertility journey through surrogacy. As the Northern & Midlands Centre of Excellence for Surrogacy, Manchester Fertility explains what’s involved in semen analysis and what else we can do to help your surrogacy journey. A semen analysis involves analysing the sperm in your semen, which is the fluid you ejaculate. The test looks at three main factors – how much sperm you have (sperm count), how well your sperm moves (motility) and the shape of your sperm (morphology). Prepari ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Mr Rehan Salim, Medical Director, Lister Fertility Clinic at The Portland Hospital Choosing a fertility clinic from the growing list of options can be a challenge. However, as with any other decision on healthcare, it comes down to two important factors; namely the team looking after you and the facility. Pregnancy rates are also helpful but can vary widely as some clinics can be more selective in whom they will treat and so can have a better looking pregnancy rate than reality. HFEA regulation has meant that it is, in general, difficult to be a poorly performing clinic ..read more

Reading Time: 3 minutes By Tracey Sainsbury, Fertility Counsellor, Lister Fertility Clinic Embracing donor conception as your pathway to parenthood can be a beautiful experience for many families, however it also brings unique challenges and complexities that can benefit from robust support systems. Whether you are a parent navigating this journey for yourself and your child, a donor conceived person or a donor, having access to support can be invaluable, as donor conception can raise emotional and practical questions for everyone involved. The Lister Fertility Clinic Counselling Team, lead by ..read more

Reading Time: 4 minutes You may have recently seen via our social media channels that I was asked to participate in an MP drop-in session related to the IVF Provision debate led by Kate Osborne MP. Our friends at Stonewall brought together a group of us to all talk about our experience as LGBGTIA+ people embarking upon fertility treatment. I was joined by Laura-Rose from LGBT Mummies and Megan and Whitney Bacon-Evans who you may know as WhatWeganDidNext. Each of us have demonstrated a fierceness when it comes to campaigning and separately, we’re determined to raise appropriate awareness via ne ..read more

Reading Time: 4 minutes Carole Gilling-Smith, Medical Director and Michèle Gilling-Ulph, Egg Donation Coordinator at The Agora Clinic Embarking on a surrogacy journey is an exciting and life-changing time for intended parents (IPs). When it comes to selecting an egg donor, it is crucial to make a thoughtful, well-informed choice but also to manage your expectations. In our experience, IPs need to bear in mind the realities and possibilities to be able to navigate this stage of the journey with confidence and clarity. makeup of the child. First define your expectations Before delving into the p ..read more

Reading Time: 3 minutes Improving your swimmers for a 2024 surrogacy journey As part of Fertility Awareness Week 2023, we aim to provide valuable information and support to individuals and couples who are considering surrogacy as a means of building their families. Today, we’d like to address gay men in particular who are looking to embark on a surrogacy journey in 2024. While surrogacy presents a wonderful opportunity for gay couples to have biological children, it’s essential to pay attention to the quality of sperm, often humorously referred to as “swimmers.” In this blog, we’ll explore how ..read more

Reading Time: 4 minutes Earlier this week, Manchester Fertility was featured in an insightful Instagram Live interview hosted by Mike Johnson-Ellis, the co-founder of My Surrogacy Journey. Joining Mike was our lead fertility counsellor, Ann Curley, who explored preserving mental health as part of the fertility journey and touched upon helpful coping strategies for those navigating fertility treatment. Here’s what Ann had to say in this week’s IG live: Tell us about your role? I’m an infertility counsellor and have been part of the Manchester Fertility team since January 2020. This role holds a ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes At Lister Fertility Clinic at The Portland Hospital, we’re passionate about helping people achieve their dream of becoming a family and we understand the importance of choosing the fertility clinic that’s right for you and your journey. We opened the clinic in May 2022 expanding the expertise of the Lister Fertility Clinic to the heart of London, under the leadership of Mr Rehan Salim, Consultant Gynaecologist and sub-specialist in reproductive medicine. Clinic Partners We choose our clinic partners carefully but working with TwoDadsUK was an easy decision for us due to ..read more

Reading Time: 3 minutes James Nicopoullos, Medical Director of the Lister Fertility Clinic The Lister Fertility Clinic has long supported the HFEA’s development of a traffic light system as a tool to move towards a more consistent and transparent approach to the use of treatment add-ons in fertility services. For individuals or couples embarking on the journey of creating embryos as IPs with the intention of pursuing surrogacy, selecting the right fertility clinic and treatment options can be overwhelming and the ratings system tool has helped those often vulnerable and occasionally desperate ..read more