Mr Rehan Salim
Consultant Gynaecologist, Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine, and Medical Director, Lister Fertility Clinic at the Portland Hospital
As people embark on parenthood later in life, fertility preservation is on the rise. A consultant gynaecologist explains the importance of focusing on your individual needs amidst misleading online information.
Over the last decade, the path to parenthood has seen remarkable adjustments. A shift in traditional relationships, career priorities and financial pressures is seeing more people delay the decision to start a family.
Fertility preservation today
“Fertility preservation is about saving your fertility today, so you have the chance to use it later,” explains Mr Rehan Salim, Consultant Gynaecologist and Medical Director of The Lister Fertility Clinic at The Portland Hospital. “What began as an option for patients facing medical treatments like chemotherapy has now become something much more far-reaching.”
Mr Salim attributes this rising demand to a growing awareness of fertility preservation treatments, alongside ongoing improvements in fertility techniques. With more women balancing their careers and financial stability over starting a family, fertility preservation becomes an increasingly valuable way to keep all options open.
For many, IVF offers a tangible
hope for the future, while for
others, it may not be necessary.
Improvements in fertility care
With technological advancement and innovation comes improvements to fertility care, meaning higher success rates than ever before. “One area we have seen remarkable improvements is in the thawing stage of the procedure, where the techniques involved are becoming extremely refined,” says Mr Salim.
“Fertility preservation offers a realistic hope for the future,” he adds. “We know that a woman’s eggs naturally reduce in number and quality with age. Freezing them earlier in life means you’re saving your best potential now, giving yourself access to today’s outcomes even when you’re older.”
Cutting through commercialisation
HCA Healthcare opened its dedicated Lister Fertility Clinic at The Portland Hospital, London, in 2022, experiencing rapid growth. “We are the only fertility clinics in London situated inside a private hospital,” Mr Salim explains. “This level of expertise and infrastructure on hand means that we can manage complex cases.”
Rather than urging people through the doors at scale, they focus on guidance and clarity. “We are keen to help people cut through misinformation, such as misleading results from at-home testing kits or myths about supplements and nutrition, and instead focus on people’s personal goals based on science,” he says.
Emphasising the importance of considered decision-making, Mr Salim highlights that for many, IVF offers a tangible hope for the future, while for others, it may not be necessary. “It is important to think carefully. We are here to guide you to make the right decision.”
