We encourage both partners to attend the initial consultation so that both are involved in the discussions, the explanation of results and final decision-making. The consultation, together with the various diagnostic tests, may take between 1 to 2.5 hours.
Various diagnostic test results are necessary for the fertility consultant to provide a fully informed consultation tailored to your needs. Below you will find a list of all the results we need.
If you have had these tests done elsewhere within the last 3 months and you can provide us with the results, then these tests will not need to be repeated.
You may choose to have these tests performed in our clinic. Otherwise, your GP may be able to help with some of these tests, this will minimise the cost for you and help to avoid any delay in commencing treatment.
Initial test results
Screening tests are necessary for both male (if using his own sperm) and female partners and the results of these are only valid for 12 months:
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HIV 1 and 2: Anti-HIV – 1, 2
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Hepatitis B: HBsAg/Anti- HBc
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Hepatitis C: Anti-HCV-Ab
The following tests for the female partner are only valid for 3 months:
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FSH / LH / oestradiol / prolactin: all performed between days 1 to 5 of the menstrual cycle
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Progesterone: performed on day 21 of the menstrual cycle
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Thyroid profile including TSH, T3 and T4 performed on any day of the cycle
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Full blood count
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Rubella
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Up-to-date cervical smear
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Sickle Cell status (if Black African / Caribbean ethnicity)
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Thalassemia screening (if Asian / Mediterranean background)
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HTLV I & II (if Japanese / Caribbean / South American / African origin)
Urine sample:
If you decide that it is more convenient for you to have these tests performed in the clinic, this can easily be arranged by arriving several days in advance of your initial consultation. This allows sufficient time for the blood results to become available on the day of your consultation. However, you will first need to be registered as a patient before you can have these tests carried out. Most registration paperwork is available online now can be downloaded under the section how to book an appointment of this website. Please note, you will first need to call the medical secretaries to book an appointment before you start filling in any registration paperwork.
Once we have received your forms and you are registered, we provide a drop-in phlebotomy service from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Mondays to Fridays. There is no need to call and book an appointment; this is a drop-in service so please be mindful that you may need to wait depending on how many other patients have arrived for blood tests.
