9am-1pm Mon-Fri

'The staff at the AFC have given us the best gift in the world our son.' - Sarah & John

Welcome to Aberdeen Fertility Centre

The Aberdeen Fertility Centre has been at the forefront of fertility treatments for over 30 years. Once a diagnosis has been made by our caring team of expert clinicians and embryology staff, we can offer a range of treatments across our Centre to suit your individual needs.

Change in the Law Relating to Storage Period for Gametes and Embryos- 20th June 2022

The law is changing

As of the 1^st July 2022, a new law comes into effect relating to the maximum permitted storage period for gametes and embryos.

The new law relates to changes in the maximum permitted period of time gametes or embryos can be stored.

Why is the law changing?

The current regulations limit the maximum storage period for gametes or embryos to 10 years unless a patient can demonstrate a medical need to extend this period longer. The new law allows for a maximum period of 55 years.

The change in the law means that a new set of HFEA consent forms must be used.

Using the new HFEA Consent Forms

To benefit from the increased storage period(s) under the new law, you will need to complete and sign the new consent forms, even if you have signed the old forms already.

The new consent forms are only being released by HFEA on the 1st July 2022, and will then apply to patients undergoing treatment after this date.

Since the new consent forms are not being released until 1^st July, there may only be a short period of time for you to complete the new forms before storage of any of your gametes or embryos. Although we are sorry for any inconvenience caused, matters of law are beyond the control of the centre.

Please speak to a member of the team if you have any questions.

Aberdeen Fertility Centre is becoming part of NHS Grampian

Dear Patient,

On the 1^st August 2022, Aberdeen Fertility Centre will be solely managed by NHS Grampian (up to this point the Centre has operated under the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian).

What does this mean to you?

The service you receive will remain unchanged – this applies to both NHS funded and self-funded patients. You will receive the same treatment as before, undertaken in the same centre and by the same staff.

The only change we want you to be aware of is that on 1^st August, your personal data will no longer be held by the University of Aberdeen and all your information will be held and managed by NHS Grampian.

Personal Data

On the Centre website, our privacy notice describes how your personal data is used.

On 1st August, this privacy notice will be changed to reflect that NHS Grampian will be managing your personal data.

Please read the privacy notice carefully. As stated above, the only change is your information will be held and managed by NHS Grampian rather than the University of Aberdeen. We will continue to operate a multi-disciplinary, partnership team who look after patients and data with the highest standard of ethics.

If you have any questions about how your information will be handled, please contact NHS Grampian Data Protection Officer at nhsg.dpo@nhs.net

Kind regards,

Nev Trower, Business Manager

Aberdeen Fertility Centre

Covid vaccine and Fertility treatment update 07/03/2022

Fertility treatment for unvaccinated patients no longer need to be deferred. However, Patients will be

∙ Fully informed, prior to their treatment, of the evidence concerning the safety of vaccines in those planning pregnancy, undergoing fertility treatment and the pregnant population in respect of maternal and perinatal outcomes, including evidence for continued vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 disease.
∙ Advised at the start of the fertility pathway and at every opportunity thereafter about the risks of non-vaccination.
∙ Required to sign an informed consent form acknowledging that they are aware of the risks prior to treatment, should they choose not to be vaccinated.

If your treatment was deferred due to non-vaccination, Please get in touch with the clinic and we will arrange further appointment soon.

The Scottish Intensive Care Society Report, published on 13 October, highlighted that of the 89 COVID-19 positive pregnant women who were admitted to critical care between December 2020 and end September 2021, 88 were unvaccinated, 1 was partially vaccinated, and none were fully vaccinated. Wave 3 has seen increased numbers of pregnant women being admitted to hospital with moderate to severe COVID-19 symptoms requiring critical care, with clinicians reporting a particular peak in September.

In addition to this, the latest evidence from the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) and the Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK (MBRRACE-UK) shows that unvaccinated pregnant women and their babies have died after admission to hospital with Covid-19 and 98 % of pregnant women in ICU with Covid-19 are unvaccinated. We also know that of the all women who have died during pregnancy or up to 6 weeks after birth 88% of them were unvaccinated.

Frequently asked questions for patients on Coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found here.

Vaccination Drop in clinics at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital

Flu and Covid 1st/2nd or booster vaccination clinics are being held in the Antenatal Clinic (1st floor, above scanning department) 12th - 14th January between 1000-1730 for staff, women and their partners to drop-in.

Introduction of new Electronic Patient Record System (EPR)

We are continually improving our service provision and are introducing a comprehensive, new EPR system which will improve our internal communication regarding patient care.

The Aberdeen Fertility Centre will not be undertaking any procedures: egg recoveries, embryo transfers, donor cycles or IUI procedures throughout December 2021 and restart on 17^th January 2022. Staff will be available in the Centre throughout this time as clinics will be ongoing.

During this time staff will be undertaking training as we are introducing a new EPR management system. Please have patience when contacting the Centre throughout January and February as we roll out the live system.

Community Hubs - Blood Tests

If you are a Grampian patient and require a blood test, an appointment can be made at one of our community hubs rather than you having to attend the hospital or your GP. In order to book your appointment please ring the Central Booking Team on: Tel: 01224 555177. Further information can be found here.

If you have a query regarding a clinic appointment please contact our reception team at gram.fertop@nhs.scot. If your query relates to IVF or donor treatment please contact our administration team at gram.aberdeenfertility@nhs.scot.

If you are considering self funded treatment we can offer you an initial Consultation to discuss your personal situation. Should you have previously had treatment in the Centre and wish to have a self funded cycle please contact the email above.

For more information regarding fertility treatment during COVID-19, please view our patient information document here.

Introduction

Testimonials

'I have been struggling with PCOS and could not get pregnant for years. Upon much consideration, we have decided to go through IVF with Aberdeen Fertility Clinic. During the phases of the treatment we have been given great care and support. After four rounds of IVF we are now the happiest parents in the world and our beautiful baby boy is healthy and sound. Thank you so much!.'

Ewelina & Piotr

"We consider ourselves lucky and fortunate to have been successful with our first round of IVF but in reality it was all down to the expertise and fantastic support from the team at Aberdeen Fertility Centre. We will be forever grateful and thankful to them for our little boy!."

Mairead & Chris

"Thank you so much to all the staff at Aberdeen Fertility Clinic who provided excellent medical care and support. We now have our miracle baby boy. "

David & Emma

"We had an amazing experience with IVF. On our 2nd implantation we were given a beautiful healthy little girl born 2021. This was only possible thanks to the wonderfully talented, kind and friendly team at Aberdeen fertility. We are forever thankful."

Kimberley & Kyle

"My husband and I underwent two successful rounds of ICSI at AFC. We are incredibly fortunate to now have two beautiful and healthy boys that we would not have had without the help of everybody in the team. We’d like to say thank you to all who work at AFC who showed kindness, empathy and professionalism and helped us to create our family."

Fiona & John

"Due to a long term medical condition, travelling to and attending the IVF appointments in Aberdeen from the Highlands was always going to be challenging for us. We're grateful to AFC for facilitating our needs, thus making our treatment possible and ultimately giving us the best gift in the world - our son"

Cerian & David

'We can’t thank the Aberdeen Fertility Clinic enough. They have been amazing right from when we were having tests to having treatment. All the nurses and Drs have been so helpful and reassuring through the process and now we are incredibly lucky to have two healthy boys.'

Sarah & Max

'I've been really grateful that we've had the opportunity to attend counselling sessions, I think it's helped us through a very difficult process where we don't have to spend more time explaining the detail about IVF/ICSI etc. to a less specialised counsellor. I also appreciated that they were free and that Lesley saw us separately if/when necessary.'

Jayne & Stuart

"We were referred to Aberdeen Fertility Centre after 3 years of trying to complete our family. It was established that I was not ovulating, we spoke with Dr Marconi who was fantastic, he had a plan and we felt like we were getting somewhere, even in the midst of the pandemic. After a few months I was able to get started on my treatment to induce ovulation. We were over the moon to see I had ovulated and a few weeks later we found out we were indeed pregnant. Every member of staff was incredible and so understanding. We are so grateful for every one of them and can never thank them enough for their part in helping us complete our family"

Amanda Maclean

Expertise

The Aberdeen Fertility Centre is committed to providing high quality care throughout the patient experience.

Success

We provide the highest quality of integrated fertility care – assessment, diagnosis, treatment, support and aftercare – for our patients.

Research

The Aberdeen Fertility Centre has consistently led innovative projects which have led to many publications in scientific journals improvements in the effectiveness and safety of treatments.

Donate

Fertility is something that most take for granted, for some however fertility issues can mean that having a child is difficult or impossible without help from a donor. Donors are people from all walks of life - there is no such thing as a standard donor. What they have in common is a desire to give the gift of life and help people to achieve the family they otherwise could not have.

Donor information for women »

Donor information for men »

IVF

A cycle of IVF can take 8-10 weeks from a menstrual bleed to the completion of the embryo transfer and it is essential that couples fully understand each step involved.

Sperm, egg or embryo freezing may be required as part of a fertility treatment cycle or for fertility preservation purposes.