The Fertility unit is a specialist gynaecology service with clinics and theatres located at both St Peter’s Hospital and Ashford Hospital.
We provide a high quality, friendly and personalised one-stop service to patients who are seeking fertility treatment.
We have an expert team providing the support you need, and to help you choose the most appropriate treatment.
Meet the Team
Our friendly and very experienced team consists of a consultant, two associate specialists with an interest in fertility, an admin co-ordinator and other support staff.
Miss Lilian Ugwumadu
MBBS, DFSRH, MRCOG, PgCert Med Ed
Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
Miss Lilian Ugwumadu is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Lead Consultant for Fertility, Reproductive Medicine and Preterm Birth at Ashford & St Peter’s Hospital. She trained mostly in South London where she worked at St George’s Hospital, Kingston Hospital and Croydon University Hospital.
She undertook further advanced specialist training in Subfertility & Reproductive Health and a one year Fellowship in Endometriosis and Minimal access surgery. She also completed a 2 year clinical fellowship in Prematurity and Recurrent miscarriage at St Mary’s Hospital Paddington. Miss Ugwumadu is a member of the European Society of Human Reproduction & Embryology (ESHRE), British Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE) and the British Society of Gynaecological Imaging (BSGI).
She performs a wide range of Reproductive surgery using key-hole surgery including advanced Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy and Assisted conception services. She has an interest in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education providing teaching and training in Subfertility and Reproductive surgery. She sees herself as a Reproductive health specialist providing care from preconception to birth.
Miss Ugwumadu has published in various journals, contributed to book chapters and presented at national and international meetings.
- Dr Catey Bass - Associate Specialist
- Dr Mahbuba Sultana - Specialty Doctor
- Mrs Eileen Gorman - Clinical Office Admin Co-ordinator
About Infertility
About 1 in 7 couples (around 3.5 million people) in the UK have difficulty conceiving. About 84% of couples will conceive naturally within a year if they have regular unprotected sex (every 2 or 3 days). For couples who've been trying to conceive for more than 3 years without success, the likelihood of getting pregnant naturally within the next year is 25% or less.
What Causes Infertility?
There are many reasons why some couples have difficulty conceiving. Some of the main reasons are:
- Ovulatory problems (25%)
- Damage to the fallopian tubes (20%)
- Problems with the sperm for example low count or quality (30%)
- Gynaecological problems such as endometriosis (10%)
In about 30% of cases there may be problems in both the man and the woman.
Lifestyle factors such as being overweight or underweight, smoking and age may also play a role.
However, in about 25% of couples there may also be no identified cause. This is then known as “unexplained infertility”.
Some women do get pregnant very quickly, but for others it can take longer. NICE guidance suggests that women who have not conceived after 1 year should be offered further assessment and investigations along with her partner. As fertility decreases with increasing age, women over the age of 36 or women with factors that are known to affect fertility should be offered earlier investigations. Your GP may arrange some basic investigations and offer advice or referral to the fertility clinic.
What We Do
The following appointments and investigations are available:
- fertility hormonal blood tests
- ovulation monitoring ( follicular tracking scans)
- ovarian reserve testing (Anti-Mullerian hormone)
- gynaecological imaging
- tubal patency assessment - HyCoSy or HSG
- semen analysis
- comprehensive urological assessment and investigation (for male patients/partners)
- early pregnancy scans
- counselling service
Treatment
We offer a wide range of fertility treatment:
Ovulatory Disorders
The most common reason for a delay in conceiving is problems with ovulation, and the main cause of this is polycystic ovarian syndrome. We have a great deal of experience in managing ovulation disorders with Clomiphene citrate, Letrozole, Metformin and Gonadotropins injections. We combine medical management with follicle tracking scans and appropriately timed intercourse.
Surgery
- Laparoscopic surgery – We have a special interest in Endometriosis and Fibroid surgery. We work closely with the Centre of Endometriosis and Minimally Invasive Gynaecology (CEMIG – link to CEMIG), which gives you access to dedicated surgeons with expertise in advanced gynaecological endoscopic surgery. We also remove ovarian cysts, damaged fallopian tubes and adhesions.
- Hysteroscopic surgery – we perform hysteroscopic surgery as an outpatient or under general anaesthetic. During this type of surgery polyps and fibroids can be removed and some abnormalities of the womb such as uterine septa can be corrected.
- Open surgery – we have extensive experience in open myomectomies to remove large multiple fibroids.
Assisted Conception
If you are likely to benefit from Intrauterine insemination (IUI), In vitro fertilisation (IVF) or Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment, then we will help you determine whether or not you are eligible for NHS funding (please see CCG document).
If you are eligible, we will refer you promptly to an IVF provider (please see CCG document). If you do not meet the requirements for NHS IVF treatment, then we will independently advise you on the self-funded options available to you.
Support
We want to support you through this challenging time. Our doctors are available to give advice whenever you may need it. Please feel free to email us at any time if you have questions about your investigations or treatment.
Contacts and Organisations
Infertility Network UK
Information and support to anyone affected by fertility problems
www.infertilitynetworkuk.com
The Miscarriage Association
Support and information for those affected by pregnancy loss
www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
More to Life
A support network for those exploring what life without children has to offer
www.infertilitynetworkuk.com/moretolife
HFEA
The Human Fertility and Embryology Authority
The regulatory body for fertility treatment in the UK
www.hfea.org.uk
Twins and multiple births association
Support for families with multiple births
www.tamba.org.uk
Verity
The UK charity for women with polycystic ovary syndrome
www.verity-pcos.org.uk
NICE
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence National evidence based guidelines
www.nice.org.uk
The Fertility Clinic is not responsible for the information supplied by other organisations mentioned in this leaflet.
Contact us
Eileen Gorman
Clinical Office Admin Co-ordinator
Gynaecology Department
Abbey Wing
St Peters Hospital
Guildford Road
KT16 0PZ
Email:
Tel: 01932 723973
