Health Awareness
Dr Julia Kopeika
Consultant Gynaecologist and Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Assisted Conception Unit (ACU), Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
For more than 30 years, our Assisted Conception Unit (ACU) at Guy’s Hospital has been providing specialist fertility treatment and helping individuals and couples on their path to parenthood.
As one of the UK’s longest-established fertility services, the ACU combines specialist expertise with evidence-based, patient-centred care for a wide range of fertility needs, including complex cases, all under one roof.
Patient-centred fertility care
Every fertility journey is different. Our multidisciplinary team includes fertility consultants, embryologists, nurses, counsellors and urologists, working together to provide joined-up care tailored to each patient’s circumstances and goals.
Alongside IVF, egg freezing and donor treatments, we provide specialist male fertility and andrology services, working closely with urologists and offering advanced procedures including micro-TESE for severe male-factor infertility.
The ACU is also home to the UK’s largest preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) service, supporting people at risk of passing on serious inherited genetic conditions. Our specialists help patients understand their reproductive options and, where appropriate, use PGT to reduce the risk of passing a specific genetic condition to their children.
Research and innovation are integral to our work. With patients increasingly faced with a growing range of fertility tests, treatments and add-ons, our specialists help cut through the noise — distinguishing genuine advances from interventions where the evidence has yet to match the promise.
“Every patient comes to us with different circumstances, priorities and hopes. Our role is to provide expert, honest and evidence-based advice, helping people understand their options and make decisions that are right for them.” – Dr Julia Kopeika, consultant gynaecologist and clinical lead of the ACU.
Our specialists help cut through the noise — distinguishing
genuine advances from interventions where the evidence has yet to match the promise
Specialist fertility preservation
The ACU has extensive expertise in fertility preservation, including urgent care for people whose fertility may be affected by cancer treatment or other medical conditions. Working closely with oncology and other specialist teams, we provide egg, sperm and embryo freezing, as well as specialist ovarian and testicular tissue preservation for selected patients, including those for whom conventional fertility preservation may not be possible.
We also support transgender patients considering gender-affirming treatments and are committed to providing inclusive fertility care in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Demand for egg freezing has increased as more people consider preserving their fertility for the future. Our approach is to provide personalised advice about both the potential benefits and limitations, helping patients make realistic, informed decisions. As part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, we combine world-renowned expertise with safe, trusted care grounded in science.
