Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Fertility Unit in Gateshead is set to be the first in the Tyneside region to use cutting edge technology to improve the chances of successful IVF treatment. The new “Embryoscope” technology allows regular 15-minute monitoring of embryo development without having to remove them from their incubator. This […]
Family Planning
27 posts
The risk of a child having autism, or otherwise being diagnosed with a disorder on the autistic spectrum, is doubled when conceived through an assisted reproduction technique such as IVF. That’s according to a new study by researchers at Columbia University in New York City. To be clear, this is […]
It has been hard to ignore one of the latest celebrity spats to grace the Internet. Elton John reacted angrily to words spoken by high-profile fashion partners Dolce & Gabbana on the subject of ‘natural’ children and IVF. Sir Elton, who has two children conceived through IVF with marriage partner […]
There are many health benefits associated with weight loss for those with obesity, but regaining fertility may not be the first you’d think of. Yet a study suggests bariatric surgery — commonly known as gastric bypass surgery — may provide hope for morbidly obese women of child-bearing age who are […]
Three in four NHS trusts are not offering infertile couples three chances at IVF, with some not funding the treatment at all. That’s the finding of a cross-party group of MPs who found it’s a real postcode lottery as to who receives the treatment, Channel 4 News reports. Most primary […]
Experts more usually accustomed to tracking CCTV footage have partnered with Action Medical Research to try to find a way to prevent stillbirth. Advanced technology could help track changes in foetal movements towards the end of pregnancy. Bereaved mothers often say that their baby’s movements in the womb seemed to […]
Age and fertility In the last couple of days, two news stories have appeared that, at first glance, might seem to contradict one another. One warns women of age 35 and over not to stop taking contraception, with the Family Planning Association launching its “Conceivable?” campaign that reminds women to […]
With results that probably won’t surprise any couple experiencing fertility issues, a new study suggests that infertility seriously affects positive self-esteem. “Flawed” In a national survey carried out in the United States, seven out of ten women said that infertility made them feel flawed, while half of all men said […]
Miscarriage is a tragedy, however statistically common it is and at whatever stage of pregnancy it happens. It is of course natural and right that any woman who has experienced a miscarriage should be given all the medical help and emotional and physical support and comfort possible. It’s also important […]
Empty Arms is a beautiful video created by Susan Robinson. In a simple way using music, images and words it tries to share some of the pain that couples with fertility issues face every day. It's a poignant video, not judgmental or accusatory, but of encouragement to friends and family to stand alongside and simply love...
Everyone seems to have an opinion on Nadya Suleman, the 33-year-old who now mothers fourteen children. One of the latest to weigh in is medical director of Georgia Reproductive Specialists, Dr Mark Perloe. He believes that the physician who treated Suleman is guilty of “criminal negligence” because American Society for […]
Having a baby won’t save a bad marriage. In fact, some couples report reduced satisfaction in the relationship with their partner after starting a family. That may sound depressing, even fatalistic, but the truth is that parents who plan a family and collaborate with parenting are much less likely to […]