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Fertility care
Surgical investigations for fertility
- Female fertility tests
- Over 23,000 babies born with us
- More than 35 years of expertise
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Non-invasive prenatal tests at HCA UK
Why choose us?
At the Lister Fertility Clinic, our experts treat more than 2,000 couples each year. If you’re struggling to conceive, then we can help.
Surgical investigations are an important part of the fertility treatment process and are carried out by our specialists in our state-of-the-art facilities. A laparoscopy or hysteroscopy procedure enables our consultants to fully examine your uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes in detail. They can then quickly diagnose and, in some cases, treat any underlying conditions that may be affecting your fertility during the procedure.
A laparoscopy is a minimally invasive form of keyhole surgery that’s carried out under general anaesthetic. At Lister Fertility Clinic, we have surgeons who specialise in Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS), a scarless surgery technique.
A thin, flexible tube with a camera inside, called a laparoscope, is inserted through a tiny incision in the abdomen (usually the belly button). The camera relays images of your uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes onto a screen for your consultant to look at in closer detail.
You can find out more about the procedure in the ‘What to expect’ section below.
A hysteroscopy is a non-surgical procedure that may be performed under a general anaesthetic. A narrow, flexible telescope (called a hysteroscope) is gently inserted into your vagina, passed through the opening of the cervix and into the uterus.
It allows our consultants to determine:
- The size and depth of the uterine cavity
- Identify any congenital abnormalities, such as a double uterus or a septum that divides the inside of the uterus
- The presence of polyps or fibroids in the uterine cavity, and resecting these if possible
- Whether specific abnormalities of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) are present, such as hyperplasia (excessive growth of the lining of the uterus), scarring adhesions or inflammation. A biopsy may be taken
You can find out more about the procedure in the ‘What to expect’ section below.
Sometimes routine tests and scans don’t give our consultants all the information they need and they may want to take a closer look at your uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes.
We recommend a laparoscopy for patients who are struggling to conceive in addition to experiencing painful periods, painful sexual intercourse or pelvic pain.
A laparoscopy can be used to diagnose the following conditions:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Endometriosis
- Types of cancer, such as ovarian cancer
A hysteroscopy can help to find the cause of the following problems:
- Heavy vaginal bleeding
- Irregular periods
- Bleeding between periods
- Bleeding after sex
- Persistent discharge
It's also used when abnormalities of the uterus, such as polyps and fibroids, are found during an ultrasound scan.
You can begin your IVF cycle from the very next menstrual cycle after laparoscopy.
Everything in-house
All our tests and procedures are carried out onsite, and our main clinic is linked to the HCA UK hospital network
State-of-the-art labs
Expert processing in our outstanding labs
Exceptional, personalised care
In modern, comfortable facilities
Locations
We’ve made it easier to access Lister Fertility Clinic’s exceptional private fertility services, with clinics at The Portland Hospital, The Shard, Canary Wharf and The Beaconsfield Clinic. Each clinic has its own state-of-the-art facilities, so you can have diagnostic tests and surgical investigations all in one place, at a location that suits you.
Lister Fertility Clinic
Chelsea Bridge Road SW1W 8RH London
Lister Fertility Clinic at The Portland Hospital
First Floor 215 Great Portland Street W1W 5PN London
Lister Fertility Clinic at The Shard
The Shard Outpatients St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Lister Fertility Clinic at The Beaconsfield Clinic
Little Hall Barn Windsor End, Beaconsfield HP9 2JW Buckinghamshire
Laparoscopy or hysteroscopy procedure
What to expect
We understand that you’re likely to be feeling anxious before your procedure. Our dedicated teams will be with you to put you at ease and answer any questions you may have. In the meantime, this will give you a good idea of what to expect.
01
Before your procedure
If you’re having a general anaesthetic for your procedure, your consultant will let you know how long you should avoid eating or drinking for.
Like most procedures, there might be some risks and side effects involved. Your consultant will explain these to you. They'll also answer any questions you might have. You might feel a bit drowsy after your general anaesthetic, so you’ll need to arrange for someone to drive you home.
02
During your procedure
During your laparoscopy: Your consultant will make a single, tiny incision in your abdomen (usually your belly button). A small tube with tiny camera (a laparoscope) is passed through the opening and into your abdominal area.
The laparoscope enables your consultant to look for, and possibly treat, endometriosis, the presence of any scar tissue (adhesions) around the fallopian tubes or ovaries, and some fibroids.
During the procedure, the consultant will also insert dye into the uterus and fallopian tubes to check whether the tubes are open.
Once they've finished, your consultant will close the incision with stitches. The procedure usually takes between 30-60 minutes.
During your hysteroscopy: An instrument called a speculum is placed within your vagina to help the doctor see your cervix (the neck of the uterus). This is the same instrument used during a smear test.
A hysteroscope is a narrow telescope with a light and camera at the end, which relays images onto a screen. Your consultant will carefully insert the hysteroscope into your vagina, pass it through your cervix and into your uterus. As the uterus is usually ‘folded up’, your consultant will insert some fluid into the hysteroscope to expand your uterus and see the area more clearly.
Your consultant will be looking for any irregularities or growths and checking the internal openings of the fallopian tubes. They may take samples of tissue (a biopsy) or remove any fibroids and polyps using small instruments that are passed through the hysteroscope. The procedure usually takes between 10-30 minutes.
03
After your procedure
After your laparoscopy: Most patients go home on the same day but, in some cases, an overnight stay might be required. As this procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic, you'll need to wait until it wears off and have someone take you home.
You might experience feelings of bloating or cramps in your tummy. This is normal and should disappear after a couple of days. If you do feel any pain, you should contact your consultant.
After your hysteroscopy: You’ll be shown any pictures that were taken during surgery to show you what was seen and done. These will be kept in your medical notes.
You should be able to go home on the day of your procedure. If you've had a general anaesthetic, you'll need to wait until it wears off and have someone take you home.
You might have some cramps, discomfort and bleeding for a few days afterwards. This is normal but if they persist you should contact your consultant.
Your consultant will advise you on the pain relief to take when you’re at home, and when you can return to work and resume exercise.
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for treatment and don’t want to wait, all of our fertility treatments can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll provide you with a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
Laparoscopy and hysteroscopy FAQs
These procedures should be performed during the first half of your menstrual cycle, before ovulation has taken place. This is to minimise the risk of disrupting an early conception.
The alternative to laparoscopic surgery is open surgery. However, open surgery carries higher risks and a much longer recovery time than laparoscopic keyhole surgery. Patients also experience more pain and discomfort.
We don’t have a waiting list, so our team will fit you in as soon as possible at a time and date that suits you.
We realise that undergoing any fertility investigations and treatment is a personal and difficult process, and we want you to feel as comfortable as possible. That’s why we let our patients choose which consultant they see. You can use our online Consultant Finder to view our fertility specialists and find an HCA UK location that suits you.
We know that undertaking fertility treatment can be challenging and part of that is understanding the potential costs involved. We try to ensure our fees are as transparent and simple to understand.
You can view our price lists here.
If you have any questions about our prices, our dedicated billing team will be happy to help.
Our services are regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which is responsible for fertility treatment and research across the UK. As well as licensing clinics and monitoring their practices, HFEA sets standards to ensure patient safety and high-quality care.
Our inspection rating for both The Lister Fertility Clinic and Lister Fertility Clinic at The Portland Hospital is 5/5. You can see the full reports for yourself here and here.
Our patients’ stories
Alice and Aaron's fertility treatment
After being told they’d never have children, Alice and Aaron turned to the Lister Fertility Clinic. They now have a beautiful two-year-old daughter.
How Lister Fertility Clinic helped two fathers-to-be
Paul is sitting in his home in Belfast, with his husband Neil and their beautiful three-month-old son Felix, talking about their journey to fatherhood – a journey that the Lister Fertility Clinic, part of HCA Healthcare UK, accompanied them on.
Clare’s fertility treatment
Clare and her husband Derek thought they might never have children, until joining the egg-sharing programme at the Lister Fertility Clinic.
“I came to this clinic on recommendation and it has surpassed my expectations – from the initial diagnosis to the surgery. Dr Raef Faris, his fantastic secretary Breege and Nurse Leandri make for a wonderful team. Thanks again!”
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