TFP Belfast Fertility, formerly TFP GCRM Belfast, celebrates its 10th anniversary this month as the largest independent, longest established provider of fertility investigation and treatments in Northern Ireland. The clinic has treated thousands of patients with fertility treatments including IVF, IUI, fertility MOTs, egg and sperm donation (to name just a few) and achieved over 1500 live births.
This includes Shawna Wood and her husband Dan from Ballymena, who had been trying to conceive for four years. Shawna Wood comments, “We were diagnosed with unexplained infertility which was very frustrating. My BMI was slightly over, despite being healthy and keeping fit, which meant NHS funding wasn’t an option. We then had ICSI treatment at TFP Belfast Fertility and successfully fell pregnant on the first round welcoming our daughter Ivy on 20th August 2023”.
The clinic has been supporting those wishing to start a family since the clinic’s inception in 2013, including hetrosexual and same sex couples and single women.
One of those families includes Jacqueline and Tara McClean from Dundonald, who had been talking about starting a family for a while and visited TFP Belfast Fertility back in 2015.
Jacqueline McClean comments, “TFP Belfast Fertility was the first clinic we visited and instantly felt it was the right choice. The staff made us both feel comfortable and supported through each process from reciprocal IVF to sperm donation. We have since had three wonderful children all thanks to this brilliant clinic.”
TFP Belfast Fertility was awarded Northern Ireland’s Fertility Clinic of the Year for three years running from 2021 to 2023 and as a clinic it continues to innovate and improve its services for patients. It established the first Micro-TESE service in Northern Ireland. This technique, which is offered in only a few centres throughout the UK, offered the potential for biological paternity to men with severe male factor infertility by collecting sperm from a sample of testicular tissue.
Innovation continues at TFP Belfast Fertility, and the clinic is currently in the process of applying to the HFEA for a license to undertake Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT). The first clinic to offer such a service in Northern Ireland.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT), is a screening test which enables embryos to be genetically analysed to help select the best quality prior to transfer during IVF treatment, it also helps exclude inherited genetic disorders such as Cystic Fibrosis. While PGT doesn’t increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy, the process minimises the number of embryo transfers or pregnancy losses someone might go through, which could speed up time to pregnancy.
Ishola Agbaje, Medical Director and one of the Founding Directors since the clinic was established in 2013, comments: “Up until now patients have not been able to access this technology in Northern Ireland, once available in TFP Belfast fertility it will expand the range of options available locally for patients helping to reduce the treatment burden”.
A number of patients also require egg donation to build a family, with many travelling abroad to access this service. In 2014. TFP Belfast Fertility established a satellite service with IVF Life in Alicante (Formerly IVF Spain), to successfully help create more families.
Mr Agbaje continues: “It has been incredible to experience the clinic’s growth over the past 10 years and to be part of the leadership team with a clear focus on evidence-based medicine and innovation.
“The clinic has secured many partnerships over the past decade which also includes outreach clinics in Letterkenny, Mid Ulster and Ballykelly as well as being linked with group partners Ultrasound Direct to make treatments more accessible”.
Mr Agbaje ends, “Our recent HFEA renewal inspection highlights how well our staff work together to provide safe, effective and compassionate care to our patients. I am extremely proud of the clinic, and together we will continue to develop our infrastructure and the services we provide”.
TFP Belfast Fertility introduced the Access Fertility Programme, and is currently the only fertility clinic to offer this in Northern Ireland. This programme offers various IVF packages and finance options to make treatment more accessible to patients. This includes having unlimited IVF cycles over two years, programmes that offer up to a 100% refund if you aren’t successful in having a baby and multi-cycle programmes for a significantly reduced fixed fee.
The clinic holds regular free fertility Information evenings for those wanting to find out more about the services it offers.
Whether you’re starting or continuing your fertility journey, TFP Fertility UK can help. To find out more about fertility treatments visit TFP Belfast Fertility.
