Case Studies
Special Gift Results In Baby Joy
'Emily' had two children already from a former relationship, so when she and her partner 'Mark', decided to try for a baby of their own she didn’t think there would be a problem. She says:
"We were trying for a couple of years and nothing was happening, so we went to our GP for advice. We were referred to Hinchingbrooke Hospital for tests and these showed that there were no sperm in my partner’s sample."
After further testing the couple were told that although Mark’s health is fine there was a genetic issue and after counselling the couple were advised to go to Bourn Hall Clinic.
Bourn Hall is the world’s first IVF clinic and one of the first to establish its own sperm bank. It has also pioneered a number of breakthroughs in male infertility including sperm freezing, surgical sperm retrieval and ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg.
Oliver Wiseman, Consultant Urologist at Bourn Hall explains that there are a number of reasons for absence of sperm in an otherwise healthy man: "It could be a blockage – perhaps after a sporting injury – or that no sperm are being produced. The latter can be as a result of a hormonal imbalance or a genetic condition and the reason can be revealed with blood tests.
"There are two genetic tests, one looks at the size, number and shape of the chromosomes and the other investigates micro-deletions on the Y chromosome. It is important to determine the cause of the infertility as even if sperm are available a genetic condition may affect the health of a subsequent child," he said.
"Once we got to Bourn Hall it was really quick," continues Emily. "Bourn Hall has its own sperm bank and they found a suitable match for us. We got an appointment almost immediately in February and in March I had treatment using donor sperm and ICSI. I only produced three embryos so I didn’t think I had much chance.
"But I got pregnant first time and everything went fine. Mia was born in January.
"She is just brilliant, so content and happy, gurgling all the time. Mark is well chuffed. We are very grateful to the donor that has made this possible."
