First Time Trying
Getting Started
Expert guidance and trusted information from the very beginning
Your First Steps
We appreciate that concerns about your fertility can be worrying. We’ve prepared a guide on what to expect when you are first exploring your options.
As internationally recognised fertility experts, you can rest assured that we will support you at every step of your journey.
Your Fertility Questions Answered
We’ve been trying for a baby for a while. When should we seek fertility advice?
We recommend that you see a fertility specialist if:
- You’ve been having regular, unprotected intercourse for one year (or 6 months if the female partner is over 35) and you have not yet become pregnant.
- The woman has irregular painful periods or a history of abdominal or pelvic surgery.
- You’ve had two or more miscarriages, as this might indicate that there is something preventing your embryos from implanting.
How many couples need help having a baby?
Approximately 1 in 5 couples in Ireland will encounter issues conceiving.
Are Problems Conceiving Typically A Female Issue?
No. You may be surprised to learn that a male factor issue is the sole contributor in about 30% of cases. It is a contributing factor in a further 20% of cases.
How Do I Book a Consultation at Beacon CARE Fertility?
It is easy to book an appointment with one of our expert Fertility Consultants. Just go to our Make An Appointment page and fill out your details (we can’t take them over the phone or email for GDPR reasons).
Do I Need A Referral Letter From My GP?
No, that is not required. However, if you have undergone treatment previously, a copy of your medical history will ensure you receive a fully informed initial consultation.
What Should I Expect At The Consultation?
Your consultation is your opportunity to discuss your fertility concerns and ask any questions you may have.
Based on your individual circumstances, your Consultant will develop a personalised treatment plan tailored to you.
To help your Consultant provide a more comprehensive consultation, we recommend attending the clinic approximately two weeks before your consultation, where possible, to complete certain fertility tests (some female test results can take 7-10 days).
What Fertility Tests Do You Recommend For Women?
The following tests help your Consultant build a more complete picture of your fertility health:
- Transvaginal Ultrasound Scan – provides an assessment of the ovaries and uterus.
- Female Fertility Profile – includes an AMH blood test (to assess ovarian reserve), TSH (to evaluate thyroid function), Rubella immunity screening and Chlamydia screening.
What Fertility Test Do You Recommend for Men?
We recommend:
- A Semen Analysis- assesses the quantity, quality and motility of sperm. This can be carried out on the day of your consultation at our clinic.
IVF-Step By Step
Step 1 – Ovarian Stimulation
To enhance your chances of success, medications are used to stimulate your ovaries, encouraging the growth of larger follicles and maximising the number of eggs produced during IVF.
We have many different regimes that we tailor to your specific needs. In general, the stimulation medications are administered daily, by injection. Training will be provided by our team on how to carry this out and we also have demonstration videos HERE.
Step 2 – Support and Monitoring
During the days leading up to egg collection, your progress is monitored regularly and closely throughout this stage of your treatment. When tests show that your eggs are ready, there will be another injection to help the eggs mature before collection. The timing of this final injection is important.
Approximately 36 hours later your eggs are ready for collection and the clinic will give you the precise time to attend for egg collection.
Support At Every Step
We will support you at every step throughout your IVF journey. Our nurses will be on hand to answer any questions you may have during your treatment and can be reached at
nurses@beaconcarefertility.ie or 01-293-2955.
They also can be reached out of hours at 087-293-3714 for urgent or time-sensitive matters (Hours: Monday-Friday 5pm-9pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am-9pm). In the case of an emergency, please call 999 or contact your nearest A&E.
Step 3 – Egg and Sperm Collection
Egg Collection: Your eggs are recovered using a vaginal ultrasound procedure This is a straightforward process that takes about 30 minutes, under sedation or anesthesia. It is considered an out-patient procedure. You should be able to go home within a couple of hours. The number of eggs collected varies between patients.
Once collected the eggs are prepared for the next stage by the embryologist. For FAQs about what to expect on your egg collection day, please click HERE.
Collection of Sperm: Your partner is usually requested to produce the sperm sample around the time of egg collection. Some patients may have sperm frozen whilst others might require a surgical sperm recovery, either under sedation or anesthesia.
Step 4 – Egg Insemination
The prepared eggs are inseminated on the same day. This can be done in two ways:
IVF, where the eggs are mixed with a specially prepared sperm concentration, then moved to an incubator to fertilise;
or
ICSI (Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection), this highly skilled procedure involves a single prepared sperm being injected directly into the centre of an egg. The inseminated eggs are moved to an incubator to fertilise.
Step 5 – Fertilisation and Embryo Development
The resulting embryos are cultured in our state-of-the-art labs for three to six days. During this time, our expert embryologists check on your embryos to assess how they are developing. This helps us determine the best quality embryo to use for transfer.
Caremaps-AI
When utilising our award winning Caremaps-AI® Embryo Selection System , timelapse images of your embryos are taken approximately every 10 minutes to closely monitor every cell division.
Using a unique algorithm developed by our scientists, a score is assigned to each embryo to help us select the ones with the most potential for success.
Step 6 – Embryo Transfer
Embryos are transferred to the womb at the most optimal time. Typically, this will happen at the blastocyst stage (‘blastocyst transfer’). Following pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT-A, PGT-SR or PGT-M) we almost always use blastocyst stage transfer.
The embryo transfer procedure is straightforward and is almost always performed without the need for sedation or anaesthesia. Beacon CARE Fertility has a single embryo transfer policy.
After The Procedure
Soon after the transfer a nurse will visit you and explain the next steps, but you will be able to go home shortly thereafter.
Pregnancy
Assessing the outcome of your treatment is performed in two ways, first the ‘pregnancy test’, which may need to be repeated, and the ‘pregnancy scan’.
Pregnancy Test: This is usually taken 14-16 days after the embryo transfer and can be performed in the comfort of your own home. The test results indicate whether or not an embryo has implanted in the womb. It might be very important to repeat this test and you will be given the necessary advice.
Pregnancy Scan: If the pregnancy test is positive an appointment will be booked for an ultrasound scan to see if a heartbeat is visible to confirm an ongoing pregnancy. Once this is confirmed you will then be discharged into the care of your chosen obstetrician who will arrange ante-natal care.
If the pregnancy test proves negative, a follow-up appointment with your Consultant will be arranged to discuss your future options. Support counselling can also be arranged.