This is a genetic condition where there are multiple small 5-7mm follicles on the ovary and ovulation occurs with sub-optimal hormones. This increases the risk of miscarriage and infertility.

This is one of our favourite conditions to treat, because we often achieve success with this diagnosis. Women with polycystic ovaries can have regular cycles, but often the cycle will be longer than 28 days. Severity varies from mild to moderate and severe. In more severe cases weight gain and increased body hair are part of the condition.

Women with Polycystic ovaries are “normal-stimulated” to produce a single mature follicle with Neo Fertility, most commonly with letrozole.

We use a combination of charting the fertility cycle, medical treatments, surgical intervention (if considered necessary), dietary changes and supplements to restore normal function. We confirm optimal cycles through FertilityCare charting, ultrasound follicle tracking and monthly hormone blood tests for progesterone and oestradiol post ovulation.

More severe cases need a significant amount of medication to restore optimal function – but we can achieve effective ovulation and conception in the majority of patients with polycystic ovaries in our programme.

Recurrent miscarriage can cause a significant amount of heartache and distress for many couples.  Medically this condition is defined when a couple have had three or more consecutive miscarriages. There are multiple factors that may cause miscarriage but often the cause of recurrent miscarriage is not identified.

At Neo Fertility we look at 13 factors that can increase your risk of miscarriage. We have the ability to identify couples who are at risk of miscarriage even before the first miscarriage occurs. A review of our data from 2010 showed 80% of couples had successful pregnancies with a history of 3+ miscarriages. An abstract of our data is available here.

Couples with a history of eight to nine previous miscarriages have now had successful pregnancies using this system, but unfortunately it does not work for everybody. In most instances it is certainly worth a try. Treatment with Neo Fertility is safe and minimally invasive, with a low incidence of twins, premature births or low birth weight.  This is important to minimise health risks for babies conceived in our programme.

Our approach is to find the cause(s) of miscarriage and provide treatment before conceiving again. When the cycle is balanced and functioning optimally the couple are advised to conceive while taking the recommended treatment.

By charting your fertility cycle and getting timed blood tests, we identifiy biomarkers that increase the risk of miscarriage. These include unusual bleeding patterns, short luteal phase and limited cervical mucus flow or if premenstrual symptoms persist for longer than four days.

In some cases we recommend further surgical evaluation of the woman’s uterus (womb). Endometriosis can be a significant cause of recurrent miscarriage. In many cases this can be silent or symptom-free endometriosis.

We look at the possibility of a chronic low grade infection and treat this if appropriate.

We send additional blood tests including for Natural killer cells, food antibodies, chromosomal or blood clotting abnormalities. Endorphin deficiency can also increase your risk of miscarriage. If we identify problems in any of these areas we commence treatment to correct these abnormalities.

Environmental and lifestyle factors are often very significant contributors to miscarriage.  In particular excessive alcohol and cigarette smoking together with a busy stressful working environment or other lifestyle stress may be the primary reasons why the couple are having miscarriages.

Once the couple conceive we monitor pregnancy closely and provide pregnancy hormonal support. Dietary changes initiated while trying to conceive are important to maintain throughout the pregnancy to decrease the risk of miscarriage.

If a couple miscarry on their first attempt with us, it is medically worthwhile trying another time.  We often modify treatment further for subsequent attempts that may improve the chances of success.

What about Fertility treatment age 40-plus ? It is well known that fertility declines with advancing female age.

Neo Fertility has a specific treatment strategy for both men and women at 40-plus. This is helpful whether you have a history of infertility, recurrent miscarriage or you have just started trying to conceive.  We assess your fertility charting pattern, test the quality of ovulation based on timed blood tests for progesterone and oestradiol and prescribe whatever treatment is deemed necessary. The goal is to optimise your preconception environment and hopefully reduce the risk of infertility, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and premature delivery.

There is a “genetic clock” built into our DNA which causes us to age. At 40 both male and female fertility potential is reduced compared to age 20. So far, we cannot influence this genetic ageing effect, but we can positively influence other aspects of ageing and possibly improve pregnancy outcomes as a result. With Neo Fertility we “Normal-stimulate” the follicle, provide hormone support to the luteal phase of the cycle and provide hormone support during the early stages of pregnancy. In addition we address diet, nutrition, supplements and lifestyle factors which all have an impact on your health and fertility.

This graph  shows declining live birth rates with advancing female age. It compares the declining live birth rates in the general population compared to IVF live birth rates at the same age. Data for the red bars are known and the orange bars are extrapolated. The blue bars are the most recent live birth data from HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) UK in 2014. The graph compares one year of trying to conceive naturally with one round of IVF at the same age. You can see that in the general population live birth rates are significantly higher for every age group in the general population compared to the IVF group... but natural conception can take longer.

With Neo Fertility we aim to achieve the optimal potential available for each age group through our multifactorial treatment approach. When optimal cycles are achieved it is important to continue treatment for 12 effective cycles to ensure you have given yourself the best chance to conceive naturally.

Reduced ovarian reserve can be treated successfully with Neo Fertility.

AMH levels are commonly measured in fertility clinics to assess ovarian reserve and give an indication of female fertility potential. AMH is produced by the small antral follicles in the ovary. Low AMH is a condition where the number of antral follicles have diminished. This is especially relevant for IVF clinics as generally IVF clinics aim to produce 8 to 12 follicles to obtain as many “good quality” embryos as possible. With a low AMH, the possibility of producing multiple eggs for an IVF cycle are reduced, making success less likely. If you produce a small number of eggs, it is less likely you will have enough good quality embryos to transfer, giving lower success rates in an IVF cycle.

Historically, antral follicles were counted during ultrasound scanning to give an indication of the ovarian reserve. In recent times a blood test for AMH is now widely used to determine a woman’s egg reserve. AMH levels are constant throughout the cycle, they do however decrease with age.

With Neo Fertility we need just one follicle and one egg per cycle for natural conception to occur. Because of our lower egg requirement we are able to achieve success with couples who have low AMH levels even those who were advised that were not suitable  for IVF because of their low AMH. We have had success with couples even in cases where donor eggs were advised or previously used unsuccessfully. Our approach with Neo Fertility is to normal-stimulate your cycle producing one good egg per cycle with the aim of achieving natural conception. We monitor your treatment using ultrasound follicle tracking and monthly timed blood tests.

The lowest AMH blood result we have achieved success with was for a 36year old woman with 6 years of infertility who never conceived previously – her AMH was only 0.07pmol/l (0.009 ng/dl) and her FSH was 42iu/l. She conceived on her first cycle of treatment with our clinic and delivered a 9lb baby boy at full term with our treatment.

A powerpoint presentation on Low AMH is available , with one personal story here.

This is when the lining of the womb is found in an abnormal location such as in the pelvis, ovaries, ligaments and bowel.

Each cycle when menstruation begins, tissues in these locations become inflamed causing pain, altered bowel habit (constipation or diarrhoea) and possibly pain with intercourse. Commonly endometriosis can be present and cause no obvious symptoms other than fertility problems. It may be mild, moderate or severe – depending on how extensive it has spread. Inflammatory fluid in the pelvis makes conception more difficult and miscarriage more likely. The only way to know for sure that endometriosis is contributing to subfertility is by laparoscopy under general anaesthetic with a skilled gynaecologist. Excision of the endometriotic lesions seems to be more effective than diathermy or laser ablation with a lower chance of recurrence.

Surgical treatment of endometriosis has been shown to improve the chance of conception and reduce the risk of miscarriage. See .

Every patient diagnosed with Endometriosis in our programme is advised to take Low dose Naltrexone, supplements with vitamin D3, omega 3 and our dietary strategy to improve clinical well-being and optimise fertility.

Clinically, symptoms improve with treatment. Surgical intervention is the most effective treatment but symptom relief is enhanced with additional medical treatments.

See case report .

Male factor subfertility occurs in 40% of couples attempting conception in our programme. This can range from mild to moderate or severe. Many couples with severe male factor infertility may still conceive naturally in our programme with appropriate medical intervention. Sometimes couples come to us already aware that male factor fertility is an issue for them. For all couples though, if conception has not occurred after 6- 12 months of regular intercourse during potentially fertile days, male factor subfertility may be a possible cause and is investigated at this stage.

In order to obtain a semen sample, we provide couples with the Male Factor Pack so the sample can be collected through normal intercourse. Abstaining from intercourse for 3 days prior to collection improves sperm concentration. Samples collected through normal intercourse with the male factor pack generally give more accurate and better results.

Semen Analysis Results

Interpretation

The above values from 2010 normal semen (middle column) represent the lowest 5% of samples collected from a cohort of couples where conception occurred within 12 cycles of trying to conceive. An average sample should be higher than these values. In clinical practice conception can occur with samples lower than the above threshold. The lowest level acceptable for natural conception has not yet been determined. If a sample is sub-optimal this can be due toa number of transient events for example, a recent flu, illness, period of stress or following heavy alcohol or caffeine consumption. It is wise to consider repeating a sample after 10-12 weeks following any intervention to see if there is an improvement. If the sample result is at or around these lower limits, interventions to optimise male factor are worth considering and implementing. In addition new medical and surgical treatment strategies are now available for men with a zero sperm count.

DNA Fragmentation Index

This is a new test to assess for DNA damage in sperm. It is not evaluated as part of routine testing and is not part of the WHO criteria to assess seminal fluid.  It is too early and too expensive to recommend this test for every couple trying to conceive. The DNA result is impossible to predict from history or routine semen results.

DNA fragmentation occurs due to oxidative stress causing free radical damage to the sperm cells which are poorly protected because of sperm cell design with minimal cytoplasm.  If you are older, a smoker, have a varicocele or chronic infection this will increase oxidative stress and therefore the DNA fragmentation index will be higher. There are several different kinds of DNA tests available with different reference ranges of normal values.

Generally if the DNA fragmentation index is

15% or less natural conception is likely15-25% Acceptable25-50% Unsatisfactory>50% Natural conception is unlikely

Anti-sperm Antibodies

With Neo Fertility we can achieve success even with 100% anti-sperm antibodies.

Treatment Plan

Lifestyle factors

For both the male and female we recommend

No SmokingAlcohol – 7 units per weekCaffeine – 2-3 per week (Tea, coffee, cola)Stress – control as far as possibleExercise – too much or too littleLoose fitting cotton trousersWeight reductionRegular sleep – 7 hours minimum nightly

Supplements

Various supplements are recommended, depending on what problems are identified.

Treatment of chronic low grade infection

Symptoms are not always obvious but a chronic low grade infection can result in lower semen parameters. Treatment may be given empirically or following PCR-DNA testing for silent infection including chlamydia, mycoplasma and ureaplasma.

Scrotal Ultrasound

We refer to a specialised radiologist to assess for possible varicocele. If found embolization can correct the varicocele and improve fertility.

Other treatments

TamoxifenDiclofenacMaca- Peruvian Herb

Treatment Outcomes

In our clinical experience we estimate over 50% of couples will see an improvement in semen parameters with intervention.

We re-check semen analysis after intervention and if we do not see an improvement in semen parameters we alter our treatment strategy until all of our treatment options have been tried.

Neo Fertility can eliminate Pre Menstrual Syndrome in the majority of women. It is common to have negative symptoms for 2 or even 3 days pre menstruation and this is not a huge concern – but if you have symptoms such as bloating, breast tenderness, mood changes etc for a week or more each cycle before menstruation this is a concern. Apart from feeling unwell, it is associated with a higher incidence of infertility and miscarriage. PMS is multifactorial, so several underlying factors can contribute to it and cause it to be problematic. A significant majority will feel dramatically better following treatment with low dose naltrexone which stimulates endorphin levels and relieves negative symptoms over 70% of the time.

Neo Fertility can dramatically and rapidly treat postnatal depression in 80% of women who develop this condition after delivery. This is treated with a combination of natural progesterone and low dose naltrexone which is clinically vastly superior to antidepressants. Symptoms resolve in a matter of days and the impact of treatment is dramatic in terms of speed of action and effectiveness.

If you suffer from postnatal depression – even if you did not conceive with our programme – contact our clinic to commence treatment as soon as possible.

Baby Charlie born after after 6 years of infertility....mum aged 36 years, never conceived naturally, had 4 previous failed IVF, 4 failed IUI and 2 early miscarriages before attending our clinic for the first time in April 2015. 4 is the magic number as this little boy was delivered 4 weeks early, both mother and baby doing well and parents are overjoyed. In their own words: "You have made our dreams come true" 

We got married in June 2011. I was 32 and David was 40 therefore we started trying for a baby straight away. I always had regular periods and just assumed that I wouldn’t have any bother getting pregnant. After about a year nothing had happened so I went to my local GP and was then referred to the fertility clinic in our closest hospital. I was placed on the hospital waiting list for SIUI. In February 2013, before I was called to begin my IUI cycle I felt very unwell one day. I went to the doctor and it turned out that I was actually pregnant but unfortunately it was ectopic. I was closely monitored by the hospital and I ended up miscarrying naturally at around 8 weeks. I did the SIUI cycle in autumn 2013 and it was unsuccessful. By Christmas 2013 I had fallen pregnant naturally again. I really did think that this was it! I had an early scan and we could see the baby’s heartbeat so we were sure that we were going to have a baby. Sadly, right before my 12 week scan I felt that something just wasn’t right. I had lost the baby at around 10 weeks. We were devastated. I felt so lost. I was offered another SIUI but again I fell pregnant naturally in May 2014. I was extremely nervous but I tried to remain positive and kept saying ‘third time lucky’. In the beginning of July I had severe pain in my right side and I just knew that this was another ectopic. I went to A and E and my fears were confirmed. I had to undergo surgery and ended up losing my right fallopian tube. By that August I had fallen pregnant again and once again I miscarried. My world just fell apart. I was so sad and was convinced that we would never have a baby. It was then that I heard about Dr. Phil Boyle and his team. After hearing a few success stories I was filled with hope and immediately made an appointment. I attended the clinic in October 2014. The doctors talked to us for around an hour gathering information about our fertility journey so far. By the end of the appointment we were on a new path and we left feeling so excited. I started an autoimmune diet and eliminated gluten, sugar, dairy and caffeine. I was prescribed vitamin supplements and an appointment was arranged with a surgeon in Galway for a laparoscopy as they  suspected I had endometriosis. In March 2015 I went to Galway for my laparoscopy and indeed was diagnosed with endometriosis! I was delighted as I thought this was the reason for all the miscarriages. It was successfully removed along with a cyst on one of my ovaries. By May 2015 I was pregnant again. Dr Boyle and his team monitored me every step of the way over the phone and by email. Medications were altered in response to very regular blood tests, which kept track of my hormones.  On the 7th February 2016 we welcomed our beautiful baby girl Annalise into the world.  We will be forever indebted to Dr Boyle and his team for making our dream of having a baby a reality.  Caroline and David

This journey together began when after 9 years together we got married and started trying for a baby immediately with the trust that everything would be straightforward. But we were soon to discover that this was not to be the case. I like to take a proactive approach to life and not wait for my problems to be solved for me, so at age 31 and after 6 months of trying to conceive, I went to my GP who sent me away for another 6 months reassuring me that it was going to happen and not to worry too much. By our first anniversary panic had set in and I pleaded with my GP to refer me further which she did, to a local Gynaecologist, who after one set of blood tests and a semen analysis swiftly referred us on to an IVF clinic. Day 3 and 21 bloods were repeated with no obvious issues detected (I now know day 21 is an average and would not have accurately identified my hormonal issues). A laparoscopy was performed with mild endometriosis diagnosed. We were immediately told that IVF was needed and that no doctor would attempt IUI due to the morphology issue found in the semen analysis. The first IVF cycle was abandoned as I did not respond to the treatment. We were devastated. Further heartbreak was to occur when we went for our review. I was told I had an AMH of 3.2 and when I asked for an explanation; I was told I had the ovaries of a 46 year old and it was unlikely I would ever have my own genetic baby. However they would try to help us achieve a pregnancy by increasing my dose but ultimately we may end up using a donor egg. Over the next 18 months we did two rounds of IVF with a relatively low number of eggs retrieved and even less getting to the embryo/transfer stage. The first was a negative result with the second being a very short lived positive. The ‘Donor Option’ was again raised and as our desperate desire to become parents was so strong we decided to go down this tumultuous path. This involved so much physical and emotional turmoil, and severe exhaustion of all our hard earned savings. The result was a Big Fat Negative – How could this be? I exchanged my “useless” eggs for those of a 24 year old’s! We both knew we couldn’t continue on this path anymore, it was taking its toll on our everyday lives and we were emotionally and financially spent! We had some cold faced truths to face up to, it seemed. Throughout this journey Neo was mentioned to us on many occasions but my sullen reply was always, “We’re so past that” – if donor eggs won’t stay with me what chances have I with my own?. Then one day, while cuddling my cousin’s Neo twin baby an inner voice encouraged me to email Dr. Boyle outlining my sad case and history. I was expecting a “you’re a lost cause” reply, but to my excitement and disbelief, they told me of the many couples they have helped with similar situations. So not really expecting it to be successful, but really using it as a way to get off the IVF treadmill we decided to give it a go, one final effort at chasing our dream. New testing began that conventional clinics don’t normally do and so the list of problems increased – Low progesterone, low oestradial, elevated Natural Killer Cells, low DHEA levels. But this time we heard something else we never heard in the past 5 years – “We will treat the problems not bypass them”. This particularly resonated with my husband as he always questioned the approach of the IVF clinics, in that they immediately provided a possible solution while not identifying exactly the causes of our problems. We started charting which resulted in the clinic getting a full view of my cycle over 3 months, to our utter amazement we became pregnant within the next 3. We were cared for right through with regular blood tests to ensure we sustained the pregnancy. After almost 6 years of pain and heartache we welcomed our little man into the world. This was a day we never thought we would see and you can only imagine the sheer sense of complete joy we experienced. But our journey did not end there! Now, with the help of Neo once again, we have another day to look forward to this summer, so again we are eternally grateful to Neo and their professional expertise for helping us achieve this pregnancy and provide our energetic son with a sibling! We have no doubt that if we didn’t make that call to Neo our lives would be very different today. There are things I wished we knew back then that we know now…… • That Neo existed before we started IVF. • A low AMH does not necessarily mean poor quality eggs • All you need is one good egg, overstimulation doesn’t suit everyone • Every woman is different and we don’t necessarily fit into the perfect 28 day cycle • Hormone levels differ month to month – one off blood tests can’t tell your story accurately • Hormone levels post positive test and right through pregnancy may not be optimal, the aftercare we received previously was not adequate, which is a stark contrast to our experience with Neo.  • Age doesn’t matter when it comes to Egg Donation so don’t rush it – exhaust every option possible first as it is not a sure thing! • We could’ve saved ourselves in excess of €30k if we first went to Neo Fertility.

Niamh and David had Hector in 2013 and since writing this article had Pierce in April 2016.

Here is a nice update from a recent pregnancy scan we did ……..J and M, both aged 36 had been trying to have a baby since 2010 without success. Investigations found combined female and male factor infertility. She had low AMH and reduced ovarian reserve and responded poorly to IVF which had not been successful for 2 previous attempts. His semen analysis was poor with a previous count of 1.5 million per ml, 20% motility, 3% normal morphology. DNA Fragmentation index was 32%.

They started treatment with the practice in July 2014 and had a positive pregnancy test after just 4 cycles of treatment.

We had a perfect scan today with a normal sized embryo, a clear strong heart beat of 150/min and excellent hormones. It is likely this will be a healthy pregnancy. 

Anita and I got married in December 2007 and started trying for a family from January 2008. We had various investigations done including a semen analysis and we were told natural conception would not be an option for us because of male factor subfertility. My sperm count ranged from 0.2 million – 9 million. We attempted ICSI on 2 occasions but it was not successful.

We then heard about Neo Fertility and decided to try this route. We first attended the clinic in November 2011. I started on antibiotics for 3 weeks to treat a suspected chronic infection and I also started taking supplements. Anita was found to have low progesterone and was commenced on Follicle stimulating treatment and medication to help ovulation.

My repeat semen analysis hadn’t improved and I had an ultrasound to check for a varicocele which was found and embolised in February 2012.

By April 2012 we were pregnant!  Our daughter was born in November and we conceived again very quickly afterwards. We now have 2 beautiful girls and we couldn’t be happier.

*names changed

My name is Conor. I had been married to Jessica for 3 years and we wanted to start a family. When we had been trying for 2 years I got a semen analysis checked in my local hospital assuming everything would be okay. I never thought that male factor subfertility would be an issue.

The result was not what I expected and I was told I had “severe oligoasthenospermia”. Our hopes for a family were dashed. My sperm count at that stage was less than 1 million per ml. We got two more tests done but the results were similar. Jess then heard about a clinic taking a different approach to other fertility clinics. We had nothing to lose and their treatment approach sounded pro-active, so we decided to attend.

After the first visit, I started on 2 medications, one of which was an antibiotic and 2 supplements. I also stopped taking caffeine and alcohol. The plan was for me to get a repeat semen analysis after 12 weeks of treatment. I also got some blood tests done.

Unfortunately the repeat semen analysis wasn’t any better. I had another appointment with the doctor and after that I commenced injectable medication three times a week.

To our shock we conceived just 3 cycles into the treatment. Our beautiful little girl was born in 2011. We went on to have another pregnancy and our son was born in 2013.

I am so grateful for our family and for the work that Dr. Boyle and his team do.

*Names changed

I suffered six miscarriages all ranging from seven to thirteen weeks.  Myself and my husband had all the routine checks done in our local hospital after my second miscarriage and they could find no reason as to why.  I had a scan done on my womb which showed that I had a slightly abnormal septum which should not cause miscarriage so I was told to go ahead and try again.  So I did, this time I got to thirteen weeks and I was sure I was going to make it only to have another miscarriage, this little baby developed, it was a little boy, we brought him home and buried him with my dad.  I will never forget it.

I was then sent to one of the Maternity hospitals in Dublin for further tests and again they could find no reason why and I was told to try again which I did, only to have another miscarriage.  Following that miscarriage my doctor in my local hospital put me on aspirin and injections for my next pregnancy only to have another miscarriage.  I then went to another maternity hospital for more investigations and there they decided to operate on my womb to see if it was the septum that was the cause, they removed it and I was told if it was the cause of the miscarriages then it was taken care of.  I felt very sure this must have been my problem and felt confident to try again which I did, only to have another miscarriage.  I felt this was the end of the road for me and by now I was almost forty.

Then a friend told me about a clinic in Sandyford which was supposed to have good success with all pregnancy problems so I rang and the doctor explained their Fertility Treatment and said that they had success with a woman who had nine miscarriages.  I was very impressed and decided to give it one more try.  We went along with the programme and now at the age of forty one I have a perfect little baby girl. We can never thank these doctors enough and I only wish someone had told us about this approach years ago and maybe I could have avoided all the pain and heartache.

This is the baby we never thought we would be holding.

After having recurrent miscarriage six times, God finally answered our prayers.  We had been to doctors in Dublin, Galway, Sligo and London.  Not one of these doctors could find any problems.   I was told I was producing “gluggers” (egg with no yolk) and was sent home by one doctor.  We were told by another doctor to go home, buy a bottle of wine and keep at it!  We were told by another doctor to use a Sperm Donor.  We didn’t want to be sent home anymore.  We needed someone to stand up and genuinely try to help us.  None of them seemed to care.  We felt very isolated and brushed under the mat.  One day last January  I received a clipping from a newspaper about Dr. Boyle's Treatment Programme from my friend.  What the hell – I’ll call, what’s one more doctor?  We got an appointment straight away.   We started on the programme at the very first appointment.  Five months later we were expecting our little angel.  The whole team were most professional and caring.   They really do want to help you.  They understood our anxiety and our pain.

The programme is exceptional.  It leaves no stone unturned.  The backup support is fantastic.  My little boy is proof in the making.  Not enough people know about this type of treament.  A friend of mine is in the programme and is four months pregnant.  It may not work for everyone but people should at least know it is on option.

We are the happiest couple in Ireland.  We know only too well the heartache, anguish, strain and loneliness of miscarriage.  But we never gave up.

Myself and David had been married 3 years whilst trying for a baby.  When we were both aged 38, we went to our GP who sent us for investigations to assess our fertility.  Following numerous tests we were told it was highly unlikely that we would ever conceive without the use of IVF.  Following almost another year of hospital investigations, at a cost of almost 7000 euro, we were then told that ICSI would be our only hope of conceiving as David had a morphology count of less than 3%.  Before I was due to commence my IVF medication I got a cancellation appointment to see Dr. Boyle to assess our suitability for the his programme.  Following our appointment we decided that we would put IVF on hold and try this programme for a year.  It made sense to us as it looked at a couple as a unit and not whether one or the other had ‘problems’.  Through our investigations we also discovered that I had a very low progesterone level, which was monitored monthly.

We started our first course of medication early July and we were pregnant by the end of July. Naturally we were overjoyed and I gave birth to our first son Oscar the following April.  When Oscar was 9 months old we decided to use Neo again and very surprisingly we conceived our second son Naoise within a month of treatment.  We had a third son and then in 2015 suffered a late miscarriage at 21 weeks with the loss of our beautiful baby girl Fiadh.  We went back to Dr. Boyle's clinic and are currently expecting again and due in October 2016.  Our three sons are proof that this treatment works.  We have recommended it to many of our friends who have also conceived through the programme.

It’s unfortunate that not enough people know about this clinic especially within the medical community, as it uses natural methods  to overcome infertility.  We feel that this decreases the financial, emotional and physical stress that infertility can place on a couple.  We would definitely recommend this treatment as a first choice if a couple are trying to conceive and experiencing difficulty.

Baby Ted was conceived after 4 months, having tried to conceive for 4 years previously , 2 failed IVF attempts and two failed IUI attempts

Ted was born on Christmas Eve .  Myself and my Husband started trying for a baby on the 30th of December 4 years ago. After trying for a baby for a year I got checked to see what the problem might be. All in all we were trying for four years. We tried a lot of different things from IUI which we tried twice. After that we tried artificial reproduction and sadly we had 2 failed IVF attempts. After all that I decided to take a break. My body had been through a lot and I was exhausted. The expense of all the treatments had also take its toll. A short time after I spoke to a friend of mine who had tried a different approach with a clinic in Sandyford and, even though I wasn’t feeling hopeful after all the other failed attempts, something in my heart said give it a try. From the first time I went to my appointment I felt a new lease of life as if it was a new beginning because I felt like someone was actually listening to me and investigating. I feel that  IVF kind of goes around problems where with Dr. Boyle's practice my Doctor aimed to try to find the problem, deal with it  and resolve it then we can and then move onto the next step of trying to get pregnant.

From just our initial conversation he was quite sure I had endometriosis. Through all my different treatments this was the first time something like this came up. I was referred to an excellent surgeon who conducted a laparoscopy and they found stage 3 endometriosis. I had an operation to remove it.  After this I went back to Dr. Boyle and after almost four years of trying, a month later I became pregnant.

I found having tried other methods  this was non invasive and  the costs were so much less. The environment and support was so different, I really felt like this Doctor was the first Doctor that seemed to really genuinely care and manage my expectations. All the staff were so encouraging and supportive. I would 100% say to try  this first before trying other avenues because it’s so much less intrusive. Other methods put a lot of pressure on your body and also on your relationship. The team always follow up and help you through. I am so glad that I made that first appointment, I am so thankful to all the team for helping us to have Ted. I still can’t believe that nearly 4 years to the day after we started trying, Ted was born.

We started trying for a baby soon after we got married. My cycles had become long and unpredictable and nothing was happening. A scan showed that I had polycystic ovaries (PCOS). A gynaecologist prescribed clomid but it really didn’t suit me. At this stage we had been trying for about 18 months and were upset and anxious. A friend suggested we should try Neo. Luckily a cancellation meant we could see a Neo Doctor that week.  The Neo team were so understanding and thorough. Firstly the Doctors worked on my general health. Finally we had found a Doctor who was interested in looking at our fertility in a holistic way. I was tested for food intolerance and went off dairy, eggs and caffeine. My adrenal health was addressed and most importantly treatment given to aid ovulation. After less than 6 cycles we were pregnant! It was a very healthy happy pregnancy with no complications. We had a baby boy in 2011. We returned to Neo sometime after he was one year old. Again I was treated until I was ovulating and feeling healthy and we became pregnant within another 9 cycles. We had a baby girl in 2013 . Throughout this period of my life the Neo team were a constant source of support and reassurance to us.

I would recommend Neo as a first option for anybody trying for a baby. Several of our close friends have conceived using Neo on our recommendation. In one cases where IVF had sadly repeatedly failed.

Carmel and Damian had two babies with Neo. A son born in 2011 and a daughter born in 2013.

We had been trying for a baby for 3.5 years. Just when we had started to lose hope  we had heard of Dr. Boyle's clinic through another acquaintance who had success. We were will interested and we decided to give it a try.

I had already another treatment scheduled for November 2012. We were advised to have the treatment and continue with treatment. I had a laparoscopy which found a blocked tube on my right side. When I got this news I was very thankful that I had already started treatment because the hospital didn’t give me many options or hope. We left the hospital feeling very disheartened. Thankfully our Doctor gave us hope and within the first month we conceived.

After being told by the hospital that there wasn’t a lot they could do it was amazing that we conceived so quickly. I started charting my cycle. I also changed my diet cutting back on caffeine, diet coke and wine. My bloods were also monitored closely to check on my hormone levels.  I still find it hard to believe that Calum is here. I remember the day I was going on maternity leave. After trying to conceive for 3.5 years I had almost given up. I had gotten used to laughing off peoples comments and remarks about why we hadn’t a baby. Just when I thought there was no hope, I realised that  I was pregnant. Calum was born 25th October 2013. The pregnancy itself was plain sailing. I stayed with the clinic throughout the pregnancy. They kept a really close eye on me. I was taking cyclogest during the pregnancy which really helped with my hormone levels. They really kept such a close eye on me.  The level of care is just amazing, down to getting calls out of office hours with updates or support. Action is always taken straight away.  I’m so glad I tried this before anything else. I had to put Calum in his high chair for the first time yesterday, it really is amazing. Anyone who is having trouble conceiving I would send them straight to Dr. Boyle's clinic because the thoroughness, the care, the professionalism and how pro-active and straight forward everything is. The care is so personal, I have heard with other more invasive and expensive methods that you can be just another medical record number. This approach is just so different. From our very first consultation we felt like we were taking action and we had  plan. I will certainly be going back for baby number two!

Brona and Gary had baby Calum on the 25th October 2013

Low AMH, high oestrogen and low progesterone

We had been trying to get pregnant for four years, after two years of trying we had no success. When we started to contact the clinic in Sandyford and it was discovered that I had high oestrogen, low progesterone, Low AMH and issues with my thyroid  any thyroid antibodies. In December 2012 it was then discovered that I had Endometriosis and a septum in my womb. I had two procedures in December 2012 and January 2013 to remove those problems, after which I took 6/7 weeks to heal. I began my treatment again at the end of March and I found out I was pregnant on in 26th of April 2013. This was one of the happiest moments in our lives. My progesterone levels were low during the pregnancy so my bloods were done weekly. The clinic really took such good care of me. My progesterone level remained on the low during the pregnancy and I remember my Doctor calling me on a Friday evening to discuss them and to arrange to increase my medication and one Sunday morning just checking to see how I was. I felt they were there for me no matter what. One of the best moments was my first scan at 7 weeks and the heartbeat was present, it was so personal, the doctors and staff gave us so much time, we even recorded the heartbeat, something that we will have forever.The doctor always went above and beyond what he had to do.

What I found so amazing about this type of treatment was the fact that the Doctor aims to find the problem and fix the problem. Each person is an individual case, no one person is the same. Through treatment we were a couple with a dream that they made come true. My husband was also so included, it really looks at you as a couple and brings you closer together. I would recommend this clinic to anybody, we had so many odds stacked against us, We really didn’t think anything was going to work for us and it did.

Our baby Laura was born in January 2014. If we decided to try for another baby we would go straight back we wouldn’t consider anything else.

Aine and Mathew had baby Laura in January 2014.

Baby Elizabeth was born in 5th June 2013.

Before I started treatment I had been trying for a baby for 7 years.  I hadn’t heard about it when my GP told me about it. At this stage I had done four rounds of IVF treatments. We started our first round of IVF September 2011 I really thought it would work. I tried everything from Ovulation sticks and taking my temperature.  After the IVF My body was exhausted after all of it, and the sadness I felt, when it didn’t work was indescribable.

I was 12 months into treatment when I conceived.  The whole process was non invasive and you are learning so much about your body. At the time I thought I was well, fit and in good health. But In  terms of getting to know how your own body even works was really important. For example my Doctor did everything possible to ensure my body wasn’t putting energy into producing antibodies or fighting infections that all my bodies energy was focused on achieving pregnancy. I also got down to a healthy BMI. I was on various medication I was on for my thyroid to make sure it was working at its optimum and I regularly took bloods to monitor my progesterone levels to help maintain the pregnancy. I also took some medication to boost my egg production. Charting your cycle makes it very easy to know what day to take different medication in a very targeted way. It is tailored to suit you based on your chart and on your bloods, sculpted to suit the individual women with the aim get her in peak condition for fertility and to get your body ready for pregnancy. For example my Doctor measured and tracked the size of your follicles in the early part of the cycle with a view to directing me to take specific medication which would trigger ovulation on that day that my follicles were healthy. I had to be very careful once we conceived and my doctor really helped me through  the first 12 weeks.

I have recommended the clinic to friends. My advice would be to do this first and give it a chance, stick with it. I’m so glad I didn’t give up. So be patient and persevere.