IVF patient information

Find out what to expect when you come to hospital for your appointment.

Before your appointment

It is important to know that your appointment must be scheduled after a period has stopped, but before ovulation in order to exclude early pregnancy. Be sure to bring along the results of any tests you have had, as well as a list of any medications you are taking. You are welcome to ask for a chaperone and we will endeavour to provide one for you. 

We suggest that you wear comfortable clothing that is easy to remove, as you are likely to have an internal examination. 

During your appointment

Please note that we are a teaching hospital, so medical students may be present for some appointments. If you do not wish to have them in the room please let the nurse or doctor know and the students will be asked to step outside. 

Before we begin any procedure, we will explain it to you in detail and ask you for your consent. During your appointment, we will take your medical history and, if appropriate, perform an examination. As part of the examination we may also do a test to see if the fallopian tubes are blocked, which may be causing fertility problems. 

In addition, we may order further tests and discuss the results of any previous tests or investigations. We will answer any of your questions and discuss a treatment plan. 

After your appointment

You may experience uterine cramping after your appointment. You may also be invited for a follow-up appointment, which will be made after your initial consultation. Results will be sent to the doctor who ordered the tests and these will be discussed at a follow-up appointment. 

NHS funding criteria

We work with several clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to provide IVF treatment to NHS patients. These are:

• North Central London CCG – Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington
• North West London CCG – Central London, West London, Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Brent, Harrow
• Merton CCG
• We also work with the armed forces.

Which CCG you are a part of will depend on the GP practice you are registered with and where it is based. The CCGs tell us how many cycles of IVF they will fund for each individual patient. Each CCG has certain criteria that patients have to meet to receive funding. 

If you do not meet the criteria for NHS funding, you may wish to find out more about the private consultant-led care we offer. 

Find out more about private consultant-led care