The Agora WHERE LIFE BEGINS
THE SUCCESS RATES FOR FERTILITY TREATMENTS AT THE AGORA CLINIC ARE AMONG THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY
At the Agora, we take the time to get to know you and listen to your concerns. Our friendly team of specialists, nurses, and therapists combine professionalism with compassion and an understanding of the complex issues facing people with gynaecological and infertility problems. Knowing how difficult it can be to seek help, every patient is cared for as an individual with a personalised treatment programme and supported by our team every step of the way.
Our success rates for fertility treatments are among the best in the country, with over 700 babies having been born as a result of treatment at the centre since it opened in 2007 - and more are on the way. The latest Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) figures show that our pregnancy rates are comparable to some of the top IVF clinics in London.
We welcome people from all walks of life and support alternative parenting, offering specialised programmes for same-sex couples and single women who wish to conceive using donor sperm. Working with you to plan your treatment, we provide patient information that is easy to understand so that you can make informed decisions. All your treatment is carried out at the clinic, where we use the latest fertility techniques in our state-of-the-art on-site laboratory.
We are able to offer a full range of fertility services including: Ovulation induction for women carrying out self- insemination at home, Donor sperm insemination ( DI), IVF using donor sperm and Egg donation between partners.
Our medical and scientific consultants are all internationally renowned experts and pioneers in the field of reproductive medicine with extensive experience in assisted conception. All of our treatments are carried out using state of the art technology and we are at the forefront of ground breaking advances within our field.
Dr Gilling- Smith is a Consultant Gynaecologist and the Medical Director. She is a specialist in Reproductive Medicine and lectures both nationally and internationally on the subject. She has also published work on a wide range of fertility related topics including Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, the menopause, male infertility and recurrent miscarriage. She lives in Sussex with her husband and three children.
We also offer regular open evenings and support groups. For more information please see our website www.agoraclinic.co.uk Tel: 01273 229410 Email: admin@agoraclinic.co.uk
DR CAROLE GILLING-SMITH IS A CONSULTANT GYNAECOLOGIST AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE AGORA GYNAECOLOGY AND FERTILITY CENTRE.
On a personal note what got you interested in fertility treatments in the first place?
I graduated in medicine from Cambridge University in 1984 and from the outset was interested in female reproductive health. I was awarded a Medical Research Council Training Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine in 1990 and did my PhD thesis on the genetics of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Since that time I have devoted my career to Reproductive Medicine, where my true passion lies. Since my appointment as a Consultant in Gynaecology and Fertility in 1999, I have been leading NHS fertility programs and have held responsibility for managing IVF units.
Following the birth of my third child, my dream was to open a state of the art fertility clinic in Brighton that could offer all the latest scientific technology and the best results, as did the renowned larger London IVF clinics, but would have a much greater focus on a patient’s need for emotional support and personalised care. My aim was to create a clinic that was warm and inviting. A place where each and every patient would feel welcome and understood so that their plan of care could be individualised to their needs. I feel strongly that fertility clinics should not feel cold and clinical as embarking on fertility treatment can be a very daunting experience.
When was the Agora Clinic established and where are you based?
In 2006 and we are located in Hove, very close to Hove Station.
What treatments do you offer?
Pretty well everything that a fertility clinic should offer: IUI Donor Insemination IVF ICSI Surgical Sperm Retrieval Egg sharing Egg donation Gynaecology Fertility preservation Cryopreservation for Cancer patients undergoing Chemotherapy Women’s health screening Adolescent gynaecology Counselling Acupuncture
What options are available to lesbian couples?
The simplest treatment is donor sperm intrauterine insemination in a natural cycle. We offer basic fertility screening for this and monitoring so that we achieve the highest pregnancy rate possible. We also offer fertility drug treatment to help with ovulation combined with donor sperm insemination or IVF with donor sperm. Many of our lesbian couples choose to donate eggs from one partner to the other and this involves IVF with donor sperm.
You have programs for lesbian and single women wishing to conceive with donor sperm. How is the donor sperm selected?
Lesbian and single women can either select their donor from an HFEA regulated donor bank or they may choose to use a donor that is known to them subject to screening. We are there to advise and support them on the best options for them. We then help by screening known donors and arranging sperm storage or import the chosen donor sperm from donor banks.
You developed the UK’s first fertility programme for HIV-infected patients. In such instances, what special issues need to be taken into consideration?
The main aims are to minimise the risk of transmitting HIV to the uninfected partner or future child through techniques such as sperm washing and offering couples the same fertility tests and treatments as uninfected patients. In 1999, when I first set up a program to help HIVinfected individuals become parents, society treated them as outcasts who should not be allowed to have children and they were denied all forms of fertility treatment. I had to fight very hard to change people’s attitudes and started by taking their case to our hospital’s ethics committee. Thankfully, fifteen years on many with HIV have successfully had children safely and lead very fulfilling lives.
What does the Agora Clinic offer that other similar clinics do not?
The Agora prides itself on offering a personal service where support is fundamental. We treat all of our patients on a one- to-one basis. Our dedicated and highly skilled team take the time to get to know our patients so that they feel we are following them throughout their individual journey.
Again on a personal note, what is the most satisfying aspect of your work?
The best part of my job is of course when treatment has been successful, although this is tempered with the inevitable disappointments when treatment has failed. I work as part of a team and we share these highs and lows with our patients and try to support them as best we can. I particularly enjoy seeing the babies when they come back to visit us and then watch them change as they grow into toddlers as many of our patients come back to us to complete their families.