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health care employees

Couples who opt for assisted reproduction technologies often have to deal with a whole range of health care employees in their quest to become parents. This section provides a brief summary of these experts and their role. These treatments only take place in special Fertility/IVF clinics, where several disciplines often work together to guarantee an optimum level of care.

  • fertility specialist
  • embryologist
  • specialist nurses
  • psychologist/social worker

fertility specialist

A fertility specialist, an expert in reproduction, is a gynaecologist who has undergone additional training and has specialised in reproductive hormones and infertility. A specialisation of this type is important in the constantly developing field of infertility. Doctors have to keep up to date with new tests, drugs and procedures. Some again have sub-specialities, such as reproductive surgery. Reproduction experts can treat both men and women.

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embryologist

A clinical embryologist is a scientist who has advanced knowledge of embryology, biochemistry, microbiology or genetics. The embryologist prepares the sperm and the egg cell for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) or ICSI and then ensures that all the conditions are met to allow fertilisation to take place and allow the embryo to develop. Embryologists are also often specialised in the freezing of embryos (cryopreservation) for future use.

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specialist nurses

Often, it is the nurses in the clinic who make the ART process less stressful.

Her tasks can include the following:

  • Nursing admission.
  • There are often telephone consultations.
  • The scheduling of IVF treatments.
  • Administering drugs and giving instructions.
  • Assisting in performing transvaginal ultrasounds.
  • Offering the initial psychological reception.

Specialised nurses often help patients with information about ART drugs and procedures, and teach patients how to give themselves injections. Some also help patients with psychological advice while they are going through the ART process.

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psychologist/social worker

A psychologist or a social worker with special experience of couples who have fertility problems is often part of the treatment team. If couples are finding the treatment difficult and need more professional help, a psychologist or social worker can do a lot of good work.

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