It is not just the financial aspect that causes some couples to stall before embarking on IVF treatments but the fear of the process, too. While their eyes may be firmly focused on the hope of a baby at the end of it, many women are nervous about the side effects of fertility drugs and feeling out of control of their emotions.

There are many stressors at play

Undergoing any kind of fertility treatment is undoubtedly stressful. It will come on the back of many months, and possibly years, of dashed hopes; this itself can cause havoc with a woman’s emotional state, but commonly puts stress on a couple’s relationship, too. The aim of fertility drugs is to stimulate ovulation production, and the resulting fluctuating levels of hormones are likely to have a negative effect on mood. Some women fear this will exacerbate the existing levels of psychological distress.

Find the right specialist for you

During this unsettling time, comfort can be drawn from being under the care of a specialist with whom you enjoy a good rapport. London female gynaecologist Miss Amanda Tozer has helped many couples through their fertility treatment. At large fertility centres, the process can, at times, feel impersonal and you are likely to see several different doctors.

At Miss Tozer’s London fertility clinic you will receive personalised, one-to-one care which patients tend to find comforting. Miss Tozer talks couples through every step of the process, performing all procedures herself, and giving each patient her personal phone number, encouraging them to call with any query, however minor. She will discuss the side effects of any fertility treatments, describe how you they might affect your mood and can offer counselling, too. Amanda Tozer has many years’ experience of helping couples through this potentially bewildering and stressful time, and does so with compassion and reassurance, minimising stressors wherever possible along the way.

Couples who are desperately trying to have a baby will usually say ‘we’ll try anything’ – so when they see a story in the press about couples who have conceived after an intravenous infusion of ‘egg yolk extract and soya bean oil’, their interest is piqued. When they present at female gynaecologist Amanda Tozer’s London Fertility Clinic, they want to know if it is a treatment that could help them – and how does it work?

Who can benefit from intralipids?

In some cases of recurrent miscarriages or multiple failed IVF or IUI cycles, the cause is natural killer (NK) cell activation. With this condition, the uterine and peripheral natural killer cells react abnormally to the implantation of an embryo: the woman’s immune system goes into overdrive when it interprets the embryo as an invading cell and sends signals to the body to attack it – and, ultimately, to miscarry. Intralipid is a fat emulsion that is used to provide essential fatty acids and calories for intravenous nutrition, commonly used in patients who are unable to eat normally.

Crucially, intralipids have been shown to have a stabilising effect on cell membranes, thereby suppressing natural killer cell toxicity. Research has suggested that women experiencing recurrent miscarriage and repeated IVF/IUI disappointment may benefit from immunotherapy using intralipids.

How do I access this treatment?

Two doses of intralipids are given via an intravenous infusion as an auxiliary treatment in an IVF cycle; the first between five and ten days prior to embryo transfer and the second, five to seven days after a positive pregnancy test. Miss Amanda Tozer offers this treatment at her London Fertility Clinic where she assists many couples with a wide range of infertility problems. This treatment is not exclusive to Miss Tozer’s IVF patients but also available to those receiving IVF elsewhere.

Fertility problems can lay enormous stress on a couple’s relationship: many months, or even years, of dashed hopes can lead to strained relations and often recriminations, too. When couples attend Amanda Tozer’s London Fertility Clinic, she is very aware of their journey so far.

We’re both nervous…

A frequently voiced concern is that while a couple wants to know why they aren’t getting pregnant so they can do something about it, they are afraid of finding out. How will it affect their relationship? What if it is untreatable?

London female gynaecologist and fertility expert Amanda Tozer has helped many couples at this most stressful of times, treating each couple as an individual case, and talking them through every step of the way. Testimonials from her previous patients cite her personal attention, compassion, and even humour as reassuring factors during their treatment.

What happens at the consultation?

During your consultation at Amanda Tozer’s London Fertility Clinic, you will share your full medical history and then undergo diagnostic tests to identify the cause of the infertility. These include a pelvic ultrasound to identify any abnormalities, hormone level tests to identify an imbalance, tubal patency and sperm analysis. There are many other tests that can be run, depending on your individual case.

When armed with the facts, Miss Tozer will talk you through your options, explaining in detail what each approach entails and its pros and cons. Amanda Tozer offers her London patients a specialised one-to-one service; contrary to what you might experience in a large clinic, Miss Tozer will personally carry out each step of your fertility treatment: the scans, the egg collection, the embryo transfer, and so on.

Furthermore, understanding just what a bewildering process fertility treatment can be, Amanda Tozer encourages her patients to contact her directly on a personal phone number with any questions they have, no matter how small.

For many women, the irregularity and heaviness of their periods or the occurrence of intramenstrual bleeding can cause frustration, pain and even distress. Irregular bleeding is usually secondary to either a pelvic condition such as polyps or endometrial fibroids, or to a hormonal problem. By seeking the advice of a specialist such as London female gynaecologist Miss Amanda Tozer, the causes of your irregular bleeding pattern can be diagnosed and, in many cases, a simple treatment prescribed.

What tests will I have?

At her clinic in London’s Harley Street, Miss Amanda Tozer will check for cervical abnormalities and conduct a pelvic ultrasound, identifying any pelvic pathology. She will also run tests for hormone imbalances. In some cases it will be appropriate to conduct a saline sonography whereby any hidden abnormalities in the uterine cavity become evident. If you are over 40, Miss Tozer may recommend a hysteroscopy which enables further investigation to ensure that nothing has been missed.

What are my treatment options?

If the investigations reveal the presence of endometrial polyps, a minor operative procedure – a hysteroscopy and polypectomy – can be performed to remove them. The treatment of fibroids (benign tumours) depends on their type, location and size. In some cases, no treatment is advised but where they are considered to be posing a threat to fertility or putting pressure on an organ such as the bladder or the rectum, surgery may be advisable. Miss Amanda Tozer lists menstrual disorders as one of her main interests and she has treated many women with irregular bleeding at both her private clinic and at London’s St Bart’s Hospital where she is a consultant gynaecologist. During a consultation with Miss Tozer, you will receive clearly explained specialist advice and be given compassionate, reassuring and personalised care.