Fertility Centre

We provide the following services:

• cycle tracking
• ovulation induction 
• intra-uterine insemination (IUI) using partner's sperm 
• in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) 
• intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) 
• donor sperm treatments (IUI/IVF-ICSI)
• egg , embryo and sperm freezing for cancer patients (fertility preservation)
• Egg freezing for severe endometriosis
• Frozen embryo transfer
• embryo freezing 
• sperm freezing 
• surgical sperm recovery 
• andrology services (from February 2025)
• counselling

Please ask your doctor about what funding you are eligible for as not all of these treatments are funded by the NHS.

1. My partner and I have already been investigated. Will I be on the waiting list sooner?
   At Homerton Fertility Centre, we perform some specialised tests for both you and your partner, which may not be available through your GP. Therefore, the waiting times remain the same.
   
   
2. How many cycles of IVF are we eligible for at Homerton Fertility Centre that will be funded by the NHS?
   Homerton Fertility Centre does not decide the number of cycles funded by the NHS. This is pre-decided by the local Integrated Care Board (ICB). Please contact your GP to find out what you are eligible for. The doctor in the clinic will discuss funding with you in your first appointment.
   
   
3. I have had a private IVF cycle already. Am I still eligible for treatment on the NHS?
   Any private attempts at IVF count towards your NHS cycle entitlement. You may still be eligible for NHS-funded treatment if you qualify for more than one cycle of IVF through the NHS.
   
   
4. I am undergoing self-funded treatment. Can I pay in instalments?
   The cost must be paid in full at the Homerton Hospital finance department before your treatment starts.
   
   
5. Am I the right age range to receive NHS-funded IVF treatment?
   NHS-funded IVF treatment is available for women aged 24 to 42. Women aged 40 to 42 are eligible for treatment only if they have not had any previous IVF attempts. Please note that age is not the sole criteria for determining eligibility and the fertility team will discuss the options with you.
   
   
6. Am I too old to have IVF treatment?
   Each case is assessed individually to determine if IVF treatment will be beneficial. However, Homerton Fertility Centre does not offer IVF treatment to women over 45 years old, even on a self funded basis.
   
   
7. I am a single woman. Can I have NHS-funded treatment?
   Your Integrated Care Board (ICB) (https://www.england.nhs.uk/integratedcare/what-is-integrated-care/) may fund IVF treatment if you have a fertility issue and meet the eligibility criteria, but the majority of single women will have to undergo self funded Intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment before becoming eligible for the IVF.
   
   
8. I am considering egg donation. Does Homerton Fertility Centre offer egg donation services?
   Homerton Fertility Centre offer consultations to guide you through the process and medical aspects of egg donation. However, we do not offer egg donation services.
   
   
9. What are the best things we can do as a couple to help our treatment?
   Simple measures such as stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, eating a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and doing some exercise can often help.
   
   
10. What if my partner or I have an inherited/genetic condition or are carriers?
    It is vital that you share this information with us. Homerton Fertility Centre may be able to offer counselling and additional testing to help you fully understand the risk of transmission and prevent your child from inheriting the condition. Conditions such as cystic fibrosis, Huntington disease, sickle cell disease, and others are important to disclose. If you are unsure, please let us know.
    
    
11. Why am I being asked for my passport and marriage certificate?
    By law, Homerton Fertility Centre must confirm the ID of the person we are treating, at various points during treatment. Married couples will be asked for their marriage certificate to ensure it is recognised in UK law. This is done to legally assign the correct parenthood to the couple. Read the  legal parenthood leaflet

1. Do I have to take time off work?
   Most patients feel ok during their treatment and do not need to alter their daily routine. A typical treatment cycle lasts between 5 to 7 weeks. You will however need to make time for regular scans and on the day of the planned egg collection and embryo transfer.
   
   
2. I do not want anyone to know that I am undergoing the treatment. How can I ensure my privacy?
   Homerton Fertility Centre take confidentiality very seriously. Your information will only be shared with healthcare professionals on a need-to-know basis, such as your GP. We will always ask for your consent on who we can share information with before starting treatment.
   
   
3. Can I exercise or swim during the treatment?
   Light exercise is permitted during your treatment cycle. Swimming should be avoided whenever a procedure is planned to reduce the risk of infection.
   
   
4. Can I have intercourse during the treatment?
   You should avoid intercourse or only engage in protected intercourse during your treatment.
   
   
5. Does my partner have to come for every visit?
   You and your partner are expected to attend all consultations with the doctor or nurses as well as the day of egg collection. You can, however, attend your scan appointments alone if you wish
   
   
6. How will I receive my medications?
   Once your treatment begins, all your medications will be delivered to your preferred address. Please store them as advised
   
   
7. Do I have to rest after the embryo transfer so the embryo does not fall out?
   Once the embryo is placed in the womb, there is no chance it will "fall out." Studies show that bed rest after embryo transfer does not improve pregnancy rates.
   
   
8. I am spotting after my embryo transfer? Does that mean I am not pregnant?
   Light bleeding and spotting after embryo transfer is common. You will only know if you are pregnant after your pregnancy test, which is scheduled for two weeks after embryo transfer.
   
   
9. I have pregnancy symptoms after the embryo transfer? Does that mean I am pregnant?
   You may experience symptoms such as breast tenderness and nausea due to the medication used to support the pregnancy. Please do not take your pregnancy test early, as the result will not be accurate and may cause additional stress.
   
   
10. How do you ensure that my egg and sperm are not mixed up with anyone else’s?
    Homerton Fertility Centre use two systems to prevent mixing of eggs and sperm: manual witnessing and electronic witnessing. These systems run side-by-side to ensure that eggs and sperm from different patients are not mixed.

1. My pregnancy test is positive. What do I do?
   Continue taking the medications we have prescribed. You will be invited for an early scan at 7-8 weeks to confirm the pregnancy’s viability.
   
   
2. Can I have intercourse after positive pregnancy test?
   Yes, once you feel physically and mentally ready, you can resume sexual activity.
   
   
3. My pregnancy test is negative. Can I see a specialist immediately to understand what went wrong?
   We understand how distressing this can be. Typically, you will see the specialist 8 weeks later to discuss and plan next steps. In the meantime, counselling services are available free of charge. Please schedule a counselling appointment if needed. Details of how to contact the counselling service are available on this website. 
    
4. Did I do anything wrong  that caused the pregnancy test to be negative?
   No, treatment outcome is mostly due to chance, and it can take more than one attempt to achieve pregnancy.
   
   
5. What should I I expect my periods to be like after a negative pregnancy test?
   You may experience an early or delayed period, which could be heavier than usual before it settles into its regular pattern.
   
   
6. How soon can I have intercourse after a negative pregnancy test?
   You can resume sexual activity as soon as you feel physically and mentally able.
   
   
7. Do I have to wait to start another cycle?
   All NHS patients will be placed on the waiting list. Taking time to heal physically and mentally is important. We advise making use of our counselling services while you are waiting, if you feel this would help you.
   
   

The Homerton Fertility Centre offers insemination and IVF treatment using donor sperm for couples and single women.

Who needs to use donor sperm for treatment?

• Same sex couples
• Single women
• Heterosexual couples with male factor infertility

Information for Donor Sperm Treatment

The Homerton Fertility Centre offers Intra-uterine insemination and ICSI treatment using donor sperm for couples and single women.

Legal implications of using donor sperm

The sperm donor is regarded as the biological father but has no legal rights or financial responsibility for the child. The child will have legal parents (the recipients). It is important to note that identifying information about the donor is held by the HFEA and may be shared with the child once they turn 18, if they request that information. 

Donor Sperm

Donor sperm may be procured from licensed donor sperm banks that follow UK regulations and can be bought from online catalogues after matching your preferred characteristics. The laboratories from Homerton and the sperm banks ensure that the sperm used for licenced clinics in the UK follow all the regulations set by the HFEA. Please do not buy sperm until all your investigations have been completed and your treatment plan has been finalised. 

When ordering sperm what do I need to know? 

It can be very confusing trying to work out what type of sperm to order and how much. Below is a basic guide to help. 

• Only sperm originating from “open donor/ donors agreeing to identify disclosure” can be purchased for use within the UK. Do not purchase sperm from an anonymous donor
• Depending upon the quality of the sample purchased one vial or straw is often sufficient for one treatment cycle (very rarely have we had to use 2)
• You will need to know your CMV status (blood test result) before ordering sperm
• If you are CMV positive you can choose a donor that is negative or positive
• If you are CMV negative, we recommend you only buy CMV negative sperm
• For Intra-uterine insemination treatment it is suggested that you choose either an IUI ready sperm sample, with a minimum count of 30 million motile sperm per ml or an ICI/unwashed sample with a minimum of 60 million motile sperm per ml.
• For ICSI cycles you can choose a sperm sample with much lower count and motility as less sperm is required for treatment (these will be cheaper but do not be tempted to use them for Intra-uterine cycles as this is a false economy).

Washed or unwashed sperm

If you buy donor sperm, you have a guaranteed count in the final thawed sample however, if you buy an ICI/unwashed donor sperm sample it will have to be prepared before use at Homerton; although we do not charge for this, the count and motility reduces with the final preparation.

Dry ice or liquid nitrogen

Donor sperm samples should only be transported to Homerton Fertility Centre in liquid nitrogen vapour to avoid damaging the sperm. We can receive sperm from: 

• European Sperm bank based in Denmark
• Cryos sperm bank based in Denmark
• Xytex international based in the USA
• Brighton Fertility associates
• Fertility centre - Whittington

Andrology is the medical specialty that deals with men's reproductive health and disorders. 

Our diagnostic service includes:

• Semen analysis as part of a routine infertility investigation
• Post-vasectomy semen analysis to check the success of the vasectomy operation

How to Make an Andrology Appointment

NHS Appointments

NHS semen analysis appointments can only be requested by your GP or another specialist using the new Referral Assessment Service (RAS) requesting semen analysis. The GP or referring specialist may add any additional tests required for the investigation.

Once the department have received your referral we will contact you to collect a toxicity-tested specimen pot from the Fertility Centre reception.
Request forms or letters must be returned on the day of your appointment. We will not accept samples if:

• the request form or letter is incomplete from the referring doctor or GP
• the specimen pot is not from the fertility unit
• the specimen is produced more than one hour before reaching the fertility unit

Private Patients

You can refer yourself to Andrology and must pay for the test and results. For current charges, please check the self-funding treatment costs by clicking here.

Address and Contact Details

Andrology 
Homerton Fertility Centre
Homerton Hospital
Homerton Row
London E9 6SR

Tel: 020 8510 7813
Email: huh-tr.homertonivflab@nhs.net

The counselling service at Homerton Fertility Centre is free to all patients and their partners. It is a routine part of treatment. You can refer yourself or be referred by a member of the team.

You are funded for therapeutic counselling up to 6 times before, during and after treatment, whatever the outcome. You can attend individually or with your partner, if you have one, and spread appointments as you wish. You can use the counselling service up to 9 months after your last appointment in the Fertility Centre, whatever the outcome of your treatment.

The doctors will refer you for implications counselling before you give consent for certain treatments (such as using donated sperm, or fertility preservation). Implications counselling is routinely offered to anyone considering treatment with donor sperm – single women, same sex couples and heterosexual couples. At implications counselling we have information to provide, and we aim to support you in making the treatment decisions which are right for you and with the stresses of treatment. 

Counselling is confidential to the counselling team, unless the counsellor has a serious concern regarding a risk to you or someone else, that they may need to share with the team and/or with your GP.

You can discuss how counselling has been for you, and any concerns with your counsellor, and you can also express your feedback via the counselling survey.

Appointments are currently available on Mondays and last 50 minutes – 1 hour:

To make a counselling appointment, telephone the Homerton Fertility Centre Administration Team on 020 8510 7486 or 7638 or email huh-tr.fertility.unit@nhs.net

 

If you are receiving NHS treatment, there is no charge for your treatment. NHS prescription charges will apply for medications. NHS funding depends on your ICB's eligibility criteria, which is discussed during your initial consultation. Please note that some add ons are not funded by the NHS, and if you opt to have these you may be required to self-fund them.

We currently fund services in two ways:

NHS Services

NHS funding is managed by Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). However, not all ICBs fund fertility treatment, and those that do have specific eligibility criteria. You can speak to your GP to find out if you are eligible for treatment. 

You must fall within our catchment area to be able to have NHS treatment with us. You can also review the eligibility criteria on the following pages as a guide, but please note that these criteria may change without notice, depending on your ICB’s funding availability.

https://northeastlondon.icb.nhs.uk/about-us/about-nhs-north-east-london/our-policies/fertility-policy

Self-Funding Patients

Self-funding patients receive the same services as NHS-funded patients but choose to fund their own treatment if they do not meet the eligibility criteria for NHS-funded treatment or prefer not to wait for NHS funding to become available.
Self-funding patients are seen in NHS clinics by the doctors and nurses on duty at the time of their appointment. If you choose to self-fund, you will still need a referral from either your GP or a hospital to be seen.
Homerton Fertility Centre offer self-funded treatments, but we do not offer private treatments.
You can view our most up-to-date self funded treatment price list.
Treatment prices include HFEA fees but do not include the cost of medications. Please note that prices may change without prior notice.

For NHS or self-funding referrals to the Homerton Fertility Centre, we need a GP referral from a UK based GP or a referral letter from your local hospital where you have had your initial investigations. 

• Fertility GP referral form - NHS patients
• Fertility GP referral form - self funders

Please use the links above to access the referral forms, which list all the necessary tests to be completed before your appointment at the fertility centre. Ask your GP or hospital to perform these tests so that, when you see us, the decision-making and treatment processes can be expedited.

Referral criteria:

• BMI: must be within 19–30 for the biological mother at the time of referral and the start of each treatment. This will be assessed at each visit
• smoking status: the biological mother and partner must be non-smokers at the time of referral and the start of each treatment and throughout the treatment process.

Please note that if either of these criteria is not met or recorded on your referral form, your referral may be rejected or your treatment delayed or discontinued. If your BMI is above 30 but below 35, or you or your partner are smokers, you can choose to have self funded treatment with us. Please remember that this will affect your NHS entitlement – see FAQs.

The Fertility Policy for North East London was launched on April 3 2023, replacing the five separate policies that were in place for each borough and means that all eligible people registered with a GP in north east London will be able to have the same fertility treatment, such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The policy was approved by the NHS North East London Integrated care Board.  

The policy was developed using the latest national clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and CaRe Excellence (NICE), research and best practice. Clinicians, including GPs and fertility experts also helped to shape it and it was subject to a public engagement period.

The new policy is for both individuals and couples with a fertility problem, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or relationship status, and applies to people who are registered with a GP in Barking and Dagenham, City of London, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets or Waltham Forest.

If someone has previously received treatment and think they are now eligible for more, we advise them to speak to their GP who will re-refer them for further treatment, if appropriate. 

If someone is already undergoing or has already been referred for NHS-funded fertility treatment, they will not be disadvantaged by the new policy.

The full policy and other documents, including questions and answers, a summary of the main changes, an information leaflet and information about mental health and wellbeing support can be found on the NHS North East London website