The problem and the options

Examining Keith’s problem, and the available solutions.

The Problem

THE reason Keith had no sperm count was largely because he had an undescended testicle. This is a phenomenon that has increased markedly over the past 20 to 30 years and is thought by some to be the result of pollution from pesticides and plastics (it’s thought that in the past 100 years 80,000 new chemicals have been released into the atmosphere).

Mark Underwood, below, a consultant urologist at GCRM, was able to retrieve sperm surgically which was then frozen. This sperm was subsequently thawed and used during a cycle of ICSI.

Juliet’s remaining embryos were frozen in 2007, using the slow freezing technique – but the clinic now use vitrification which has a 90 per cent survival success rate.

The GCRM, based in Cardonald, Glasgow, is the only clinic in Scotland now offering a revolutionary new test where every egg is tested to check it has the correct number of chromosomes.

This ensures that eggs used for IVF implantation are more than 50 per cent more likely to implant – which is especially good for older women whose eggs may be damaged. It is thought up to 75 per cent of all natural and IVF pregnancies fail because the eggs don’t have the correct number of chromosomes.

The Options

ONE in six couples is likely to have fertility problems. Help is available on the NHS, but some might face a wait of more than three years. In Scotland eligible patients can access two to three cycles of IVF or IVF/ICSI funded by the NHS. But, according to the Infertility Network Scotland, availability for funding of other forms of fertility treatment such as IUI – or intrauterine insemination – will depend on where you live.

Waiting lists also vary between regions, ranging from six months to more than three years, although the Scottish Government has announced a commitment to bringing waiting times down to under a year.

Women need to be under 40 to access NHS treatment and not have a child living at home. And if you’ve paid to have any previous private treatment – this will be taken into account when assessing whether you’re eligible for NHS fertility help. Private fertility treatments vary in cost, but can be around £4,000 for an IVF cycle.