How to get started

The first step

The first step is usually the hardest - making that initial call.  But remember, you are not alone; simply phone us in the strictest confidence and one of our friendly team will help guide you through the options open to you.  Whether you have recently become concerned about your fertility, want to have treatment as a single women or as part of a lesbian couple or are looking for a second opinion, we will do our best to help you achieve a successful outcome.  

At LWC Wales, the first step is to come into the clinic for an initial consultation.  All of our patients require a consultation prior to treatment.  During the consultation the female partner will have a pelvic ultrasound scan and where applicable the male partner will need a semen analysis.  

Located in Cardiff and Swansea, our Swansea clinic provides IVF and other fertility treatments with our Cardiff clinic acting as a satellite to Swansea providing IUI and donor insemination.  We can generally offer an initial consultation within a few days. Appointments take place between Monday to Friday from 8:30am until 4:30pm.  Please get in touch with us to book your appointment or if you have any further questions.  

For our Cardiff clinic call 02920 734 008

For our Swansea clinic call 01792 290 924

Pelvic ultrasound scan

One of our experienced Sonographers will perform a pelvic ultrasound scan of your womb and ovaries on the day of your consultation.  The ultrasound will detect any cysts or polyps that may cause problems with your fertility.  The ultrasound probe (covered with a sterile probe cover) is placed just inside the vagina.  The scan does not take long and is not usually painful, but may be a bit uncomfortable.  If you have an allegy to latex rubber you must tell the nurse ahead of your scan.  You do not need to have a full bladder for the scan unless you are unable or uncomfortable to have a vaginal scan.  In these cases, it may be possible for you to have an abdominal scan. 

Semen analysis

Prior to your consultation, we would suggest that the male partner has a semen analysis.  The analysis will test for:

• the number of sperm present
• the number of sperm that are moving (motility)
• the number of sperm that are normally formed (morphology)
• whether there are anti-sperm antibodies present (MAR)
• whether or not an infection is present in the sample

The male partner will need to abstain from any form of sexual contact for three days (no more, no less) before the semen analysis takes place.

Consultation with the specialist

You will meet with one of our experienced consultants who are all specialists in infertility and gynaecology and/of IVF.  The consultant will complete a detailed medical review of you and your partner's (where applicable) medical history and discuss your pelvic ultrasound scan results and semen analysis report with you.  If you have test results or treatment notes from previous clinics that are relevant to your future treamtent, we would suggest that you bring these along to your consultation for the specialist to review.  

The specialist will advise you on your fertility and the treatment options that you may need to consider.  This is a good time to ask any questions that you might have about your results or the treatment options you have been recommended.  We understand that a large amount of medical information can be overwhelming and difficult to comprehend so the specialist will do his/her best to help you understand your results and the treatment options available to you.

Nursing consultation

Following your consultation you will meet with a specialist fertility nurse who will talk you through your treatment plan, including any necessary medication and further tests you may need.  You should leave your initial consultation clear of your next steps towards treatment.  Our nursing team will give you their contact details so that if you have any questions you can always get in touch.