Practising at
Clinic times
An initial consultation with Miss Shahnaz Akbar is from £250.
Miss Shahnaz Akbar
Consultant Gynaecologist, Obstetrician & Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine & Surgery
MBBS, MSc (USS), MRCOG, FRCOG, MRCPI, PgDip (Medical Heath & Education), PgCert (Counselling skills)
Specialises in
- Hysterectomy
- Ovarian cyst removal
- Laparoscopy investigation and treatment
- Endometrial ablation surgery
Also available for:
Virtual consultations:
I have been a consultant gynaecologist, obstetrician and subspecialist in reproductive medicine and surgery since 2005. I started as a consultant at King’s College University Hospital in London, and then moved to Luton and Dunstable University Hospital in 2008, where I am based now and working as the lead consultant for the fertility services and developed a dedicated Fertility/IVF unit.
I specialise in general gynaecology and obstetrics and sub-specialise in reproductive medicine and surgery. I am very approachable to my patients, on their initial visit, they are provided with a dedicated telephone number and an email to contact me directly.
I offer appropriate advice, investigations, treatments and support in a non-judgmental fashion to couples including same sex couples and single women, who want to conceive or having any fertility or gynaecological issues or male factor subfertility. I take great pride in providing a focused and holistic care to my patients in a comfortable and professional environment. My aim is to provide patient tailored /personalised treatments and care according to their needs and always involve patients in the decision making process whilst at the same time respecting their dignity.
I am fluent in several languages and believe this benefits my patients by offering holistic care to those from different ethnic backgrounds. I am very much involved in teaching and training. I am the Royal College tutor and preceptor for the subfertility and reproductive endocrinology, advanced training module at Luton and Dunstable Hospital. I specialise in assisted conception techniques and therapies, in vitro fertilisation (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI), in vitro maturation (IVM), intrauterine insemination (IUI), surrogacy, gamete donation (egg donation /sperm donation), including fertility preserving keyhole surgeries, (laparoscopy, hysteroscopy), endometriosis and all aspects of fertility treatments. I also specialise in ultrasound scanning/HyCosy and counselling. I have special interest in male factor subfertility, implantation failure, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and fibroids.
I manage busy, thriving practices at Spire Harpenden Hospital and at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, treating a full range of general fertility conditions, general gynaecological conditions, as well as assisted conceptions in the form of IVF, ICSI, IUI, and surrogacy. I have performed over 2,000 IVF /ICSI cycles. I perform fertility improving surgeries including laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgeries as well as opened surgeries in the form of fibroid removal, ovarian cyst removal, and treatment to endometriosis, ovarian drilling for PCOS and tubal surgeries.
To date I have performed over 2,000 laparoscopic surgeries, over 1,500 myomectomies, and carried out over 1,000 ovarian cyst removal, as well as hysteroscopic procedures well above 1,500. I also perform other general gynaecological surgeries and so far performed over 1,000 hysterectomies both in my NHS and private practice. I offer surgical treatment to Jehovah Witness (JW) patients, by offering auto transfusion /special techniques and I have performed over 500 major surgical procedures to JW patients without any complications in my NHS and private practice.
I perform dedicated clinics; Well women clinic, one stop fertility clinics, postmenopausal women clinic, adolescent gynaecological problems clinic, PCOS / Menstrual problem clinic, fibroids /heavy period’s clinic, pelvic pain / endometriosis clinic, recurrent miscarriage clinic, fertility treatments to couples in alternative relationship, ultrasound scanning both routine and emergency, male infertility clinic, surgical treatment to Jehovah Witness patients by offering auto transfusion /special techniques.
In addition to my clinical work, I am also proud to be a member of Trust‘s Ethics committee, at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation as well as the member of Trust’s Schwartz’ Committee. I am a trained appraiser and educational supervisor and involved with junior and senior colleague’s appraisal for The General Medical Council (GMC) re validation purposes. I am PR to Personal Responsible to Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).
I am very much involved with teaching and training and was awarded a “Best Tutor Award” several times by UCL London. I regularly deliver lectures and present at local GP surgeries, in order to keep my colleagues at primary care with the recent advances and management in fertility and general gynaecology. I help with fund raising for cancer research and I am involved with radio shows on fertility at BBC and local radios. Patient experience and feedback are incredibly important to me, and I am proud to have received excellent testimonials from my patients in the past and currently.
General Medical Council Number: C4676447
Treatment information
Some of the principal treatments carried out by Miss Shahnaz Akbar at Spire include:
Gynaecology
- Cervical smears
- Colposcopy
- Dilatation and curettage (D&C)
- Endometrial ablation surgery
- Female sterilisation
- Hysterectomy surgery
- Hysteroscopy procedure
- Ovarian cyst removal
- Laparoscopy investigation and treatment
- Sexual health testing
- Thyroid test
- Ultrasound scan
- Vaginal repair operation
Other treatments
- Fertility checks for male and female and one stop fertility clinic
- Cycle monitoring including ultrasound scan and IVF ultrasound scan, pregnancy viability scan, subfertility, reproductive health, assisted conception IVF, ICSI, IMSI, IVF plus egg and sperm donation, egg freezing, male and female infertility, pregnancy viability scan, early pregnancy scans
- Well woman clinic
- Recurrent miscarriage and early pregnancy problems clinic
- Post-reproductive health, post-menopausal health, psychosexual problems (male and female), male and female sexual disfunction, problems with intercourse/ lack of libido
- Hysteroscopy, bloodless myomectomy (suitable for Jehovah's Witnesses), laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis, polypectomy, transcervical section of fibroids, ovarian drilling, removal of Bartholin's cyst, laparoscopic adhesiolysis, vaginal cysts removal, removal of vaginal and uterine septum, emergency gynaecology scan, surgical management of miscarriage.
- PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), fibroids, PMT, vaginal cysts, premature ovarian failure, vulval problems including vulvodynia, prolapse
- Adolescent gynaecological problems
Get in touch
Important information about COVID-19 tests
COVID-19 testing or antibody tests are not available as a standalone service at Spire Harpenden Hospital.
Additional information
Clinical interests
Qualification and professional memberships
MBBS-Dow Medical English / University of Karachi / 1984
Bachelor of Medicine. Bachelor of Surgery
MBBS is an abbreviation for Bachelor of medicine, Bachelor of Surgery in English; the degree is awarded to Physicians in countries following British tradition.
MSc (Clinical ultrasound scanning) / London Southbank University / 2005
Masters in science
MRCOG / Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists - London / 2000
Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists
Awarded to gynaecologists & obstetricians, that the education and training, professional qualifications and surgical competence has passed a rigorous evaluation and have been found to be consistent with the high standards established and demanded by the college, of which the gynaecologist and obstetrician is a current member.
FRCOG / Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, London / 2012
Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists
Awarded to gynaecologists & obstetricians, who possess MRCOG, for over 12 years and devoted to the field. Having been judged by the College to have advanced science and art of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. That the education and training, professional qualifications and surgical competence have been found to be consistent with the high standards established and demanded by the college, of which the gynaecologist and obstetrician is a current fellow.
MRCPI / Royal College of Physicians, Ireland / 1995
Member of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland
Awarded to gynaecologists & obstetricians, that the education and training, professional qualifications and surgical competence has passed a rigorous evaluation and have been found to be consistent with the high standards established and demanded by the college, of which the gynaecologist and obstetrician is a current member.
Professional memberships
Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Member of British Fertility Society
Member of British Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy
Member of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Member of British Medical Association
Person Responsible to Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
Professional leadership
I am the lead for the Fertility services at Luton & Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Luton.
I am the Director for the Fertility laboratory at Luton & Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Luton
I am PR-to HFEA (Personal Responsible to Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority)
I head the research team at fertility centre, currently involved with multicentre study on Fibroids (FEMME study-uterine artery embolisation and myomectomy), Study on PCOS and endometrial Scratching for failed IVF treatment.
Research and publications
My main research interests are:
- Male factor infertility
- Implantation failure
- High FSH subfertility
- PCOS /Fibroids
- Life style and fertility
Current NHS posts
Consultant gynaecologist, obstetrician and subspecialist in reproductive medicine and surgery
Fertility lead consultant
Personal profile
I am married to an architect and we have 20 year old twins, both my son and my daughter are medical students.
In my free time, I enjoy yoga, and enjoy spending time with my husband and twins.
I also enjoy walking with my husband in the countryside, listening to classical music, as well as travelling, reading, interior designing / decorating and some gardening.
Contact information
| Website | http://www.safertility.co.uk |
| Private secretary | Jessie Waterman |
| Private secretary telephone | 07936 963 066 |
| Private secretary email | jessie.waterman@spirehealthcare.com |