Dr Julia Kopeika
Consultant Gynaecologist and Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine & Surgery, Assisted Conception Unit (ACU), Guy’s Hospital (part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust)
State-of-the-art, personalised fertility care — delivered by a multidisciplinary team of experts — offers hope and support for all types of family building.
Fertility difficulties affect as many as one in six heterosexual couples1 and three in five over the age of 40.2,3 However, advancements in reproductive medicine now offer more options than ever. The Assisted Conception Unit (ACU) at London’s Guy’s Hospital (part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust) is one of the UK’s largest NHS fertility clinics. It offers state-of-the-art fertility options to support individuals and couples — whether they are starting their journey, exploring parenthood options or preserving fertility for the future.
Counselling and emotional support
are also available free of charge.
Evidence-based, supportive fertility care
The ACU’s expert multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, embryologists and counsellors is dedicated to using precise, evidence-based approaches to maximise success. “Our fertility specialists only provide treatments that truly enhance outcomes,” says Dr Julia Kopeika, consultant gynaecologist and subspecialist in reproductive medicine and surgery. “We do not support the use of ‘add-ons’ when there is clear evidence that they do not improve treatment outcomes. We believe that fertility treatments should be guided by scientific benefits rather than unproven methods.
“We work with each patient to personalise their treatment plan, carefully managing expectations and recommending interventions based on individual needs. Counselling and emotional support are also available free of charge, ensuring holistic and patient-centred care.”
Comprehensive fertility treatments
The ACU offers a full spectrum of fertility treatments including ovulation induction, in vitro fertilisation (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), intrauterine insemination (IUI) and surgical sperm retrieval (MicroTESE). It also has the UK’s largest pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) service — treatment for couples with known genetic conditions at risk of having a child who might inherit a genetic condition — and performs more than half of PGT cycles in the country.
Its fertility preservation service is among the largest globally, providing advanced treatment options such as egg, sperm and embryo freezing, ovarian tissue cryopreservation and OncoTESE. These services support individuals looking to preserve their reproductive potential, including those undergoing cancer treatments or choosing to delay parenthood.
Access and inclusivity
For NHS treatments, patients must meet certain eligibility criteria, but self-funded packages are available. Dr Kopeika adds: “We welcome everyone exploring their journey into parenthood including those with complex medical conditions, cancer patients, individuals undergoing gender-affirming therapies and those with cultural needs.”
“As fertility science advances, so do the opportunities for those hoping to start a family,” says Dr Kopeika. “We’re proud to lead the way with our commitment to research and excellence and ensuring that patients have access to trusted fertility care and the most innovative treatments available.”
[1] World Health Organization. 2023. 1 in 6 people globally affected by infertility: WHO.
[2] BMJ. 2003 Aug 23;327(7412):434–436. doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7412.434.
[3] Heffner LJ. Advanced maternal age–how old is too old? N Engl J Med. 2004 Nov 4;351(19):1927-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp048087. PMID: 15525717.
