Overview & Introduction

Ally Richardson and Steve Davies, Module Leads

One in six couples struggle to conceive.  This can have a profound impact on their biological, psychological and social well-being.  Half of these couples will often achieve a pregnancy with relatively simple advice that can quite easily be provided by their GP.  Although the remainder will require some form of intervention or treatment offered by secondary or tertiary care providers, their journey begins in primary care and it is likely that they will maintain a relationship with their GP throughout the process.  This study day aims to equip motivated GPs and GP trainees with the knowledge, skills and attributes required to be able to effectively manage these couples.

The programme will focus on how to differentiate couples that can (at least initially) be conservatively managed in primary care (and how to effectively do this), from those that warrant an earlier referral to secondary care.  It will include advice on what investigations are useful and how to interpret the results.  The programme will include a brief summary of the different fertility treatments available including ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination as well as more advanced reproductive treatments including IVF and ICSI and the risks and complications associated with these, including what to do when fertility treatments fail.  Finally, there are sessions on more recent fertility developments including pre-implantation genetic testing and fertility preservation.

All of these presentations have been specifically tailored to the target audience and are provided by speakers who are enthusiastic and experts in their field.