First Time Trying
Getting Started
We appreciate that being concerned about fertility can be worrying. As dedicated fertility specialists we see patients from all walks of life with differing problems – those who seek our advice because they have only recently become concerned about their fertility, and those who have had treatments elsewhere and need a fresh view.
We have compiled a list of the following frequently asked questions for those who are exploring their fertility options with us for the first time.
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 for GDPR reasons).
A member of our helpful team will then get in touch with you to arrange a day that is convenient for you. If you would prefer to give us a call first, our friendly team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
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?
At your consultation, we’ll discuss your medical and surgical history and explain the relevant options that are available to you.
Arrangements will also be made for a semen sample and vaginal scan. These 2 tests will help your Consultant to form an early view of the appropriate course of treatment. All of these aspects will be taken into account to personalise your treatment plan.
Why Are A Semen Analysis and Vaginal Scan Typically Recommended?
A Vaginal Scan provides us with an overview of your Ovarian Reserve. A Semen Analysis provides insight into the quality and quantity of the sperm.
If IVF is Recommended, What Should I Expect?
We’ve provided an outline below of what to expect at each stage of the IVF Journey. Please bear in mind that that is an overview and your own individual treatment plan may vary.
Step 1 – Ovarian Stimulation
To help improve the likelihood of success, drugs are used to stimulate your ovaries, this increases the number of eggs you produce.
We have many different regimes that we tailor to your specific needs. In general, the stimulation drugs 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.
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.
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 five days. During this time, our expert embryologists check on your individual embryos daily to assess how they are developing. This helps us determine the best quality embryo to use for transfer.
Step 6 – Embryo Transfer
Embryos are transferred to the womb on either Day 2 or Day 3, or at the blastocyst stage (‘blastocyst transfer’) on Day 5 or Day 6. 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 anesthesia. Beacon CARE Fertility has a single embryo transfer policy.
Soon after the transfer a nurse will visit you and explain the next steps, but you will be able to go home soon after.
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 embryo transfer. 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 show 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 always be arranged