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Preliminary tests and general advice prior to commencing treatment
To provide a safe environment for both patients and staff and to take into account the welfare of any child that may be born as a result of treatment, all patients undergoing treatment are screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Both male and female partners are screened and all results must be available before treatment is allowed to commence.
At the initial consultation you will be advised about the implications of these tests. If you have any queries or concerns about the tests, you should speak to a member of our nursing staff. Independent counsellors are available to all couples, on request.
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When will screening take place?
After your initial consultation you can either make an appointment with a Nurse Coordinator to have you and your partner’s blood tests performed at the Centre or, alternatively you could ask your GP to organise them for you.
Your screening status will be reviewed annually. You will not be allowed to start a another treatment cycle if more than 12 months have elapsed since your last screen. If you have been screened elsewhere prior to registering with Herts & Essex Fertility Centre, you must provide copies of the original results. A repeat screen will be required if this is not possible, or if it is more than 12 months since the last screen.
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What if any of the screening results are positive?
In the rare event that any of the screening tests are positive, you will be asked to return to the Centre to discuss the implications of the result with a member of staff.
You will have the opportunity to talk to one of our experienced counsellors, and arrangements can be made for specialist counselling related specifically to those test results. It is our policy to notify your GP of the results.
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Hepatitis B and C
If a positive result is found for Hepatitis B or C we can proceed with your treatment if you wish, but we cannot freeze any embryos for you.
In the case of a positive Hepatitis B result, the partner will be advised to be immunised before starting on the fertility programme. To date, no vaccine has been developed for Hepatitis C.
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HIV
If the initial result is positive, the blood sample will be sent to a reference laboratory for further confirmation.
We do not treat any patients where one or both partners are HIV positive, but we can refer you to a clinic which has facilities for treating patients who are.
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Counselling
At the Herts & Essex Fertility Centre, we recognise that fertility treatment is a potentially stressful time for many couples.
We offer all our patients the opportunity to meet an independent fertility counsellor to discuss their thoughts and concerns. This is available at any stage: before, during or after treatment, and is free of charge.
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Holistic therapy
We have a link with The Jeyarani Centre run by Dr Gowrie Motha, a local practice with a holistic approach to the management of the stress associated with infertility, and the beneficial use of relaxation therapies such as reflexology and massage.
An initial appointment is free of charge for those undergoing treatment.
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