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health care employees
Couples who opt for assisted reproduction technologies often have to deal with a whole range of health care employees in their quest to become parents. This section provides a brief summary of these experts and their role. These treatments only take place in special Fertility/IVF clinics, where several disciplines often work together to guarantee an optimum level of care.
fertility specialist
A fertility specialist, an expert in reproduction, is a gynaecologist who has undergone additional training and has specialised in reproductive hormones and infertility. A specialisation of this type is important in the constantly developing field of infertility. Doctors have to keep up to date with new tests, drugs and procedures. Some again have sub-specialities, such as reproductive surgery. Reproduction experts can treat both men and women.
embryologist
A clinical embryologist is a scientist who has advanced knowledge of embryology, biochemistry, microbiology or genetics. The embryologist prepares the sperm and the egg cell for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) or ICSI and then ensures that all the conditions are met to allow fertilisation to take place and allow the embryo to develop. Embryologists are also often specialised in the freezing of embryos (cryopreservation) for future use.
specialist nurses
Often, it is the nurses in the clinic who make the ART process less stressful. A specialist fertility/IVF nurse is trained in the procedures and questions specific to infertility and ART.
Her tasks can include the following:
- A nursing admission.
- There are often telephone consultations.
- The scheduling of IVF treatments.
- Administering drugs and giving instructions.
- Assisting in performing transvaginal ultrasounds.
- Sometimes performing intra-uterine inseminations.
Specialised nurses often help patients with information about ART drugs and procedures, and teach patients how to give themselves injections. Some also help patients with psychological advice while they are going through the ART process.
Counsellor
He or she has special experience of couples who have fertility problems is often part of the treatment team. If couples are finding the treatment difficult and need more professional help, counsellor can do a lot of good work.
Further information on fertility counselling can be obtain from the British Infertility Counselling Association BICA .
Please discuss with your Fertility clinic the availability of counsellors at the clinic, alternatively BICA provide contact details of counsellors in your area.
