Causes & Treatment
12,000 Babies and Counting by CRGH Fertility Clinic
Eloise Edington | 21 Jan 2021
Having personally had scans at CRGH, we are delighted to be sharing more information on well-regarded fertility clinic, CRGH (the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health). Based in Marylebone, London, they have helped welcome a serious number of babies into the world! We are definitely keen to hear more and about how they’re operating during Covid time with no delayed wait-times.
Read on to find out about how CRGH are involved in our brand-new Fertility Clinics vs Covid worldwide initiative, in which they’re offering one of our readers a free round of IVF. We couldn’t be more grateful, as we know this will bring someone so much hope.
Read on to benefit from a free mini consult with CRGH.
How CRGH Has Helped 12,000 Dreams Come True
In the coming weeks, the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health (CRGH) is expecting to celebrate the birth of its 12,000th baby. That’s 12,000 families over the last 30 years who have been created or expanded with the help of CRGH’s skilled fertility specialists, nurses and embryologists. Yet, at CRGH we never underestimate the significance of each, and every healthy baby born, and happy family created. We’re humbled to be able to help so many of our patients, from such diverse backgrounds and locations to achieve that dream.
The CRGH Story
CRGH have been pioneers in reproductive and genetic health from the beginning. When Mr Paul Serhal founded CRGH in 1990, he did so in the belief that not only could we improve and perfect existing fertility treatments, but that we could also pave the way for ground-breaking treatments and approaches. This ambition has ensured that CRGH have always been at the forefront of fertility treatment not just in the UK, but around the world. Mr Serhal’s commitment to excellence extends beyond the consulting room and laboratory to be an integral part of every branch of the CRGH “tree”, from the nurses and embryologists to the administrative teams. The fact that Mr Serhal continues to consult with fertility patients on a daily basis is testament to his commitment to helping individuals, while also contributing to the global community of fertility specialists and embryologists striving to improve the constantly evolving science of creating healthy babies.
Over 30 years, CRGH have grown to become a renowned name in the fertility field. We’re lucky to have patients who travel from around the world to undergo treatment with our dedicated fertility specialists and we are always looking to welcome an even broader, more diverse group of patients. Our multinational team is now composed of doctors and nurses, embryologists and sonographers, counsellors and geneticists, everyone needed to provide excellent holistic care from start to finish.
Leading the Way in PGD
Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) allows us to ensure that patients with a predisposition to genetic or hereditary diseases can have healthy families. Through this technique, we’ve been able to create the first babies in the UK to be born without hereditary predispositions to breast, bowel and eye cancers among other conditions. We work closely with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to apply for new PGD licences, ensuring more and more patients can safely achieve parenthood.
The European Egg Bank at CRGH
Creating the European Egg Bank at CRGH has been a most rewarding focus over the last few years, ensuring we can offer donor eggs to those that need them. It is impossible to overstate the significance of the gift our donors are making when they choose to donate their eggs to the European Egg Bank. As we look to the future, one of our priorities is to expand our Egg Bank further to ensure it is as diverse as our patients and we are actively looking for more wonderful egg donors in 2021.
CRGH Canterbury
To provide the same level of care to even more patients in the coming months and years, we recently opened a state-of-the-art, satellite IVF clinic in Canterbury, removing the need for many in the South East of England to travel to London so regularly. Minimising the impact that fertility treatment has on our patients’ lives is important to CRGH and we hope that making our service easily accessible to more people will help in this endeavour.
Covid Safety & No Delay
In 2020 the Covid-19 pandemic made ensuring the safety of our patients and staff more crucial than ever. As the pandemic persists, we’re proud to be able to say that we’ve successfully implemented new guidance and procedures by which we have been able to continue caring for our patients and avoid any delays. CRGH was the first fertility clinic to be granted licence to reopen by the HFEA following the first national lockdown and we have remained open since. We are able to welcome new patients without delay.
Technology
At CRGH, we’ve been investing in new technology which makes our patients’ journey easier and we will continue to do so in the coming years. We managed to keep our services going during the Covid-19 pandemic by moving all consultations with our doctors and nurses online, via a purpose-built, medical video-chat platform. We’ve also created our own Patient Portal which allows our patients access via their phones to everything from appointment times and medication schedules to instructional videos and live-chat.
Proud Partnerships
CRGH are proud to have passionate advocates throughout the fertility and trying-to-conceive community. We know that, while IVF success rates are important, a recommendation from someone who has experienced our care first-hand is a vital support to those deciding which fertility clinic is right for them. Through partnerships with the likes of Two Dads UK, LGBT Mummies Tribe and (of course) Fertility Help Hub, we’re able to share our expertise with a wide and diverse audience. This also has huge benefits for our patients: we’re able to put them in touch with support networks reflective of their own situation and give them that extra helping hand along what can sometimes feel like a daunting journey.
Related Article – TTC: New Year Fertility Resolutions
Fertility Clinics vs Covid – Our Free IVF Cycle
CRGH is excited to be working with FHH to support their global Fertility Clinics vs Covid campaign, and to be contributing a FREE round of IVF as part of this. We are acutely aware of the ways, both big and small, in which those pursuing fertility treatment have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which is why it is important for us to be a part of something which is giving back to those who have had their fertility journey disrupted. The Fertility Clinics vs Covid campaign is an opportunity for CRGH to join a global effort to #RestartTheJourney; something we’re proud to be a part of.
The First 12,000
We at CRGH believe that, in order to give every patient, the best chance of success, we need to create bespoke treatment plans for each individual. That means that each and every one of those 12,000 babies (with the exception of twins!) is the result of a plan which was created specifically for them. From scans and stimulation, medication, genetic testing and laboratory techniques, every single patient is given a plan which is tailored to their body, their genes and their wishes. Without that attention to detail, our IVF success rates might not be so high, and 12,000 babies might still be a distant target.
Within those 12,000 stories of IVF success are some incredible examples of how, with the right support and fertility treatment, patients can overcome challenges and achieve their longed-for family. By combining this founding principle with our commitment to improving existing treatments, as well as developing new treatments where necessary, CRGH have been able to achieve some of the highest IVF success rates in the UK and the world.
Related Article – How to Choose a Fertility Clinic: 9 Top Tips
To everyone who has contributed to us reaching 12,000 babies, we’re truly thankful – from our staff and partners to our donors and patients. Now at this significant milestone, we’re as motivated as ever to continue overcoming barriers to conception and helping make our patients’ dreams a reality. We look forward to welcoming you to the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health and creating the next 12,000 happy families in the years to come.
If you’d like to speak to CRGH’s friendly team, they’re always ready and happy to help.
