Fertility specialists

A fertility specialist is a specialist physician (gynaecologist) who has undergone additional training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Other specialists have sub-specialities such as reproductive surgery and may therefore be called upon to help manage possible growths or endometriosis.

Fertility specialists can treat both men and women, and work in a hospital or special fertility clinic. They will prepare a treatment timetable and provide an estimate of the expected costs. From the outset, couples must properly identify what procedures and treatments they can afford.

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Fertility / IVF Clinic

A specialist fertility and/or IVF clinic has the advantage of being dedicated to treating couples with fertility problems. Besides the involvement of specialist gynaecologists, specially trained fertility or IVF doctors often carry out treatment in these clinics. In addition, health care professionals with many different disciplines are usually present, including specialist nurses, laboratory personnel and frequently a psychologist or counsellor as well. Once a fertility treatment has started it is possible that monitoring will have to be carried out quite intensively, including possibly over weekends.

Carrying out procedures that require critical timing, such as intrauterine fertilisation and IVF requires a very precise approach. Assisted reproduction techniques, such as IVF, may only be carried out by specially established IVF clinics. In theory all possible fertility treatments can take place in these IVF clinics. A specialised laboratory where embryologists and specialised laboratory staff and others take up the recovered eggs (ova), sperm cells and embryos, is an important part of an IVF clinic.

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Other specialists

Various other specialists may be involved in the diagnosis and treatment phases. If the man’s fertility appears to be the problem, the help of a urologist specialised in male infertility (andrology) can be sought. In some circumstances it may also be desirable to get information and advice from a heredity expert. At whatever part of the fertility process couples find themselves, specialist doctors and other experts are available to provide the best possible care and expertise.

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