can anyone recommend a clinic for fertility investigations in London?

Good luck with the tests Elemis - here is hoping you get some good news.

I went to the London Womens Clinic in Harley Street. I called and got an appointment the same day - they were absolutely lovely. Perhaps like you I woke up one morning and decided I needed to take action (I was nearly 41).

On the day of my appointment they took my blood and scanned my ovaries.

Their staff are fantastic and talked to me for as long as I needed, I never felt hurried.

I started a cycle of treatment a few weeks later and was pregnant 2 weeks after that (exceptionally lucky).

This man has helped 100's of women and the media are out to get him. Yes, there are risks when you use IVF, of course there are, nothing is 100% safe. However, I hate this type of journalism where they have decided from the off that they want to find out something sinister. The worst they could find apparently was that he ran two clinics, one for women over 40... big deal

Hi Rocky yes I was aware of that programme. Apparently loads of the parents he's helped protested against the programme. As I said, I have no experience but my friend was told she'd never have children and now has twins (with his help). She has nothing but good things to say and gets quite teary when talking about him.

Dr Taranissi was the subject of a documentary a couple of years ago and they treated him appalling. Kate Singleton was the reporter and started to accuse him of doing unecessary tests, tests that others centres didnt think necessary - erm - maybe his success rates were high because of those tests.

One couple said they didnt like the credit card machine on show and felt 'upset' that it was treated like a business. Even Robert Winston got on in the act. I felt really sorry for Dr Taranissi, however he did turn the tables on Kate and asked her if she was at the last chance saloon, if she had tried other treatments and they didnt work - would she come to him for these 'unecessary' tests. She got on her high horse and said she didnt want to be experimented on.

We now know she has had big problems conceiving. Wonder if she slipped his card in her bag as she was leaving.

Horrible programme and he did eventually receive an apology

Dr Taranissi's Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre is supposed to have the best success in the country. My friend very much recommends.

AMH is just a test done to see the numbers of eggs left. Some clinics do an internal scan mid cycle to see how many follicles you have instead or as well as an AMH test.

FSH and LH are standard blood tests your gp can do for you, to check whether ovulated - so done at set days in your cycle... usually day 3 and 7 days post ovulation (day 21 if 28 day cycle).

how about Vivika? it is north london though.

I don't think the ovarian reserve can measure quality as opposed to quantity can it?

the lister buggered up my final attempt at ivf/icsi,they did apologise and offered to reduce the bill

They do an AMH test to see what your ovarian reserve is.

NOt sure they can test egg quality but you can test other things. See for instance here
www.thebridgecentre.co.uk/05_treatments/oar.htm

Frankly any of the larger fertility clinics should be able to do the tests so I'd probably go with a reputable one that can see you soon. If you do decide you need IVF or similar you don't necessarily need to stay there for that.

Problem is I think that the Lister is world famous. People fly in from all over the world to see the doctors. It is very much a business, my SIL didnt rate it because it didnt come across as 'spa' like. They were the only hospital who ironically helped her when she went to the US for donor eggs and needed tests this side of the pond. Think she should be very grateful for that!

Thanks Keziahhopes. Thought that Zita West should have confirmed that my SIL had been medically tested before 'treating her'. I had my 2nd at 41 for what its worth.

Heard good things about Lister too.

Rocky - I would not got to Zita West for Zita West type things either, but Dr Nduwke is leaving Care (where he is Medical Director) to start new fertility clinic and he is very highly rated - especially if suspected immune deficiencies, for older women etc. It is Dr Nduwke I rate - not Zita West, I guess she is just putting up finance - i would ignore all of her side of things!!

Not sure about Zita West tbh, my SIL went there and they gave all all sorts of useless tests, massages etc and the silly girl hadnt yet been tested to see if she was still fertile (she wasnt!).

If it was me I would go to the Lister, say you will take any cancellations and call every couple of days to see what they have. Sometimes just doing something positive like this could make all the difference. You have had one child already (hurrah!) but time is not on your side - please dont mess around with any quacks. My SIL went to a chap who studied her face and said she had 20 different things wrong with her and that is why she wasnt conceiving!

I have a friend working for the London fertility centre. She says their success rates are exceptionally high in comparison to other clinics. I believe they are picky about who they take on though, might be a reason for their high success rates, but she did not believe this was the reason. They are central London. Surely worth a tube ride for success.

I know Zita West is setting up a new IVF clinic with a great consultant called George Ndukwe who starts Sept, currently director of a Care... it takes 12 weeks to queue to see him at Care - he is that popular! He might not be booked up at Zita West. Think Central London though.

Even with private clinics and hospitals we have had to wait at least 5 weeks with anything, usually 8-12 weeks. That was a shock to start with, but once we had seen a consultant then we were in the system and no more waits unlike at the NHS hospital.