Implications Counselling information

Fertility treatment can help many people achieve their dream of having a family. However, decisions about whether to proceed with treatment, and about the storage of eggs, sperm, and embryos, can be complex. There may be medical, ethical, religious, cultural, and legal aspects to consider.

If you are considering treatment using donor eggs, sperm, or embryos, implications counselling takes on an additional dimension, exploring the specific issues that can arise from using donor gametes to build your family. This may include thinking about whether and how you will tell any resulting child about their donor conception, how you might approach questions from family and friends, and how you feel about the possibility of your child seeking information about their donor in the future. Implications counselling offers a confidential space to think through what this might mean for you, your partner (if applicable), and your child, both now and in the years ahead, and to consider how you feel about the wider implications of donor conception for your family.

Everyone considering fertility treatment, or making decisions about the storage of eggs, sperm, or embryos, is offered counselling with one of our specialist fertility counsellors on the implications of treatment and/or the storage of gametes and embryos. If you are having treatment with a partner, this session should be attended together, as a couple. Additional sessions without your partner can also be arranged, if you wish.

You might be considering implications counselling, or you may have been advised to book an appointment. This page explains what implications counselling involves, so you know what to expect when meeting with the counsellor.

What is Implications Counselling?

Implications counselling provides a confidential space for you (and your partner, if applicable) to explore the short- and long-term implications of treatment or storage decisions. You will be invited to consider how your decisions about treatment and the storage of your eggs, sperm, or embryos might affect you, your partner, your children (if applicable), and any child who may be conceived. Implications counselling is not legal advice.

This specialist type of counselling is very different from other forms of counselling you may have had in the past or may know something about. It gives you the chance to ask questions in complete confidence and without fear of being judged. Our counsellor aims to help you reach a confident and comfortable decision about treatment, or about consenting to store your eggs, sperm, or embryos.

As well as addressing any questions you may have, the counselling also provides an opportunity to prepare for treatment and to explore practical and emotional strategies for managing what can be a stressful time. There is no obligation to continue with treatment, or to make any particular decisions about your gametes and embryos, following implications counselling.

Implications counselling is not an assessment of your suitability for treatment, and you do not need to demonstrate any particular resilience or acceptance of needing treatment. However, on very rare occasions, the counsellor may have concerns about you undergoing treatment at this time. They will always discuss these concerns with you thoroughly, in an effort to find resolution. They may also involve a senior member of the clinical team to help you.

Counselling is available throughout your time at the clinic, and you are welcome to return at any time in the future to see our counsellor, should any issues arise from the treatment or storage decisions you have made.

What records are kept of implications counselling?

Following implications counselling, your counsellor may arrange for a general summary of the themes explored during the session to be added to your clinic medical record, along with the date of the session, the names of those who attended, and the name of the counsellor. Crucially, no other information shared in confidence during the counselling will be disclosed unless you have explicitly agreed to this.

How is Implications Counselling carried out?

Implications counselling takes place with a practitioner who belongs to a professional body and has qualifications and experience in delivering therapy — for example, a counsellor, psychotherapist, or psychologist — and who has specialised in fertility counselling. You may have one or more sessions, and you will agree with your counsellor when you feel ready to make a decision about treatment.

Each session lasts 50 minutes and takes place via Zoom or another secure virtual platform. You will be sent a link before your session and will need to find a private space where you can be alone, with your camera on, and where you are unlikely to be interrupted or overheard.

Finally...

If you're having treatment, we hope, of course, that it results in you having a family. However, treatment doesn't always work straight away, and sometimes it doesn't work at all. You can access the fertility counselling service at any time if you would like support to help you manage fertility treatment and cope during difficult times.