Male fertility patient information

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

Before your appointment

We usually see patients within 10 weeks of referral. You are welcome to bring your partner, a relative or close friend with you to your appointment. There are no special instructions for patients attending the male fertility clinic, however, if you have had any other fertility tests, either from your GP or from other specialised units, please bring the results with you to the appointment. 

Please remember to check your appointment letter for anything specific you have been asked to take with you. In addition, it would be helpful if you could bring the following:

• Your full address and telephone number(s)
• Your appointment card and appointment letter
• Your GP’s name and address
• Money to pay for any prescriptions, or an exemption card
• A list of questions you may want to ask your consultant.

During your appointment

The male fertility clinic is located alongside the specialist clinics for female fertility in the outpatient department of Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea Hospital. You are welcome to ask for a chaperone and we will endeavour to provide one for you.

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. 

You can expect to be at our clinic for 60 to 90 minutes depending on the nature of your appointment. Please be prepared to take some blood tests and semen analysis. You will usually require further fertility tests, which may include ultrasound scans and blood tests. Most patients will have already had advice about important lifestyle changes to help improve fertility. It is sometimes necessary to consider an operation to discover the cause of infertility, and sometimes to retrieve sperm from the testicles. Occasionally, it may be possible to restore fertility by undertaking micro-surgical operations. 

After your appointment

If necessary, you will be asked to come in for a follow-up appointment. The clinic secretary will arrange this appointment for you.