Sperm donor mum tracks down son's global siblings

With their similarly shaped faces and shared blond hair and blue eyes, it’s easy to guess that the three boys are brothers. But Max Silverwood and half-brothers Liam and Grant come from three different families – and have nine other siblings around the world. Their remarkable global ‘family’ has emerged after six-year-old Max’s mother Ellie Silverwood tracked down the other offspring of the sperm donor she used. The only information she had for the anonymous man was that he is Danish and had the donor alias ‘Dane 1421’. Miss Silverwood, from Oxford, conceived Max with a donor because her now ex-husband was unable to have children. As her son grew, she began to wonder more and more about what Max’s siblings might look like if he had any. She joined the Donor Sibling Registry, a US-based website which allows families of donor children to locate each other, registering her interest in contacting anyone related to Dane 1421. In the next two years, she received messages from nine families, who between them had eight boys – including Grant, four, and Liam, five – and three girls, all conceived by the Dane. They live as far afield as the US and Australia. Max is the oldest; the youngest is four. ‘One of the first people to contact me was Liam’s mother, Mary,’ said Miss Silverwood, a retail buyer. ‘She emailed me a picture of Liam and I burst into tears when I saw it. He was the spitting image of Max. I was really happy and excited.’ The first face-to-face meeting came when she and Max flew to Texas to spend Christmas with Grant and Liam, who have different mothers. Ellie Silverwood and her son Max, age 6, from Abingdon. Ellie conceived via sperm donor and she has tracked down 12 half siblings to her own son Miss Silverwood said: ‘It was hugely emotional for myself and Grant’s and Liam’s families to see the boys together. ‘The similarities are uncanny. They all share what must be their father’s hair, distinctive shaped eyes, eye colour, head shape and noses. They also have the same outgoing sparky characters – and they all loved playing Angry Birds. ‘Us mothers became quite emotional thinking about the man responsible for giving us our wonderful children. All I could think was surely he would be bursting with pride if he could see them.’ She chose a donor from Denmark because far more information is given there about fathers than in the UK, where it is limited to height, hair and eye colour. As well as a full family medical history going back two generations, information on personality was also available. She found Dane 1421 via a New York-based agency called Scandinavian Cryobank. He stood out on their list of 30 possible donors: he is 6ft, blond, blue-eyed, speaks four languages, has two degrees and plays the saxophone – and she also learned his favourite car is an Aston Martin Vantage V8. She said: ‘But what really set him apart was he’d written how he and his wife made the decision for him to donate because his own two sons were such a joy. ‘He described his love for his wife, and referred to his children as “his treasures” which I thought was wonderful. ‘I liked the fact this was an educated man who had come to a decision with his wife to help childless couples.’ With the help of a fertility clinic, she imported the sperm under licence from regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Miss Silverwood – who was married at the time of Max’s birth – said: ‘As he started to grow up and his personality started to come through, I found myself wondering about the donor more, particularly his two children. ‘I used to wonder if his sons looked like Max, and whether they were sporty and bright and funny like Max.’ In 2008, she paid to register with the Donor Sibling Registry. ‘Max had always wanted a brother or sister, and talked about it from as soon as he could speak,’ she said. ‘I would have loved to have another child from the same donor, but Dane 1421 was no longer donating.’ Max has spoken on the phone with two other half-brothers, Tristan in California and Nicholas in New York. Miss Silverwood hopes all 12 will get together soon, possibly in Disneyland. She said: ‘Max knows a special man in Denmark with the help of special doctors helped his mummy and these other mummies have their lovely children. Finding them has been a fantastic adventure for both of us.’ Article: 26th February 2013 www.dailymail.co.uk

New NICE guidelines for women over 40 and lesbian couples

New guidelines set out for treating fertility problems dominate the health news. The coverage is based on updated infertility guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). While these guidelines are wide-ranging, the media’s coverage focuses largely on recommendations that: • NHS-funded IVF should now be offered up to the age of 42 (in certain circumstances) – the current IVF age limit is 39 • couples having difficulty conceiving should be offered treatment after two years of regular unprotected intercourse, instead of the current three • same sex couples should be offered NHS fertility treatment NICE says there is a need for new guidelines to reflect the medical advances which mean fertility problems (particularly in older women) can be treated more effectively. Other recommendations say that women under the age of 37 should only have one embryo transferred in their first cycle of IVF. This is intended to reduce the number of multiple pregnancies arising from IVF, which can result in complications for both mother and child. Most couples would no longer be offered intrauterine insemination, as NICE says the results are no better than those for sexual intercourse. An exception to this is if there are circumstances where vaginal intercourse would not be appropriate or possible. NICE guidelines are considered best practice and are based on the best available evidence. Local NHS organisations should follow the recommendations. The updated NICE guidelines have been published following an extensive consultation on draft guidelines issued in May 2012. The new guidelines set out many recommendations, the most high profile of which are outlined here. Article: 20th February 2013 www.nhs.co.uk

TV company wants to hear from sperm donors and recipients, can you help?

Seneca Productions is a television production company based in London, UK. We specialise in high-end documentaries, the most recent of which was All In The Best Possible Taste with Grayson Perry. We're developing an observational documentary on private sperm donation, in which we'll follow donors and recipients through their experiences, while getting insight into the community and its motivations. We want to speak to as many British donors and recipients as possible. We'd like to have a telephone conversation with those who reach out to us, rather than send out a standard questionnaire. Individuals can be as open or anonymous as they like during this informal chat. Do you have something to say about sperm donation? Do you have an interesting story to tell? If so, get in touch. We want to tell people's story as it is. If anyone wishes to know more about the type of programmes we make please take a look at our recent Channel 4 documentary, 'All in the best possible taste with Grayson Perry' “A fabulous work of television.” (The Guardian) “A terrific series.” ***** (The Times). Available on 4oD. You can contact Pride Angel for more information, or email Marcus direct - marcusplowright@senecaproductions.com or give Marcus a call on +44 (0)20 7324 6079. Many thanks for all your help. Article: 22nd February 2012 Seneca Productions

Lesbian couple talk about MRKH and their difficulties of starting a family

So, having neither of us ever written a blog, we are writing one about the difficulties we, as a lesbian couple, are having trying to find a sperm donor in a rural, stuck in the dark ages, area, in the middle of nowhere . Things aren’t quite as straight forward for us two; I suffer from one of the rarer forms of Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome or MRKH for short. Most sufferers of the condition have all the female workings minus a uterus, or minus the vagina. My version was a bit more complicated. From being young, I was small for my age, had routine checks for my height and weight. Then at 16, when I hadn’t started my periods, it was always put down to my height and weight, but the Doctors sent me for a scan, then to hospital for further testing after constant nagging. I had a camera put in just under my belly button and another one just on my pubic area. It was found that not only was I missing my uterus and fallopian tubes but I also had no vagina. As you can imagine, to be told this at any age would be upsetting enough, but to find out that at 16, you were only one in 5,000,000 to have the rarest form of MRKH would be one hell of a blow, especially when all I have ever wanted was to be a mum! From early 1998, aged just 17, I made 3 trips to the Queen Charlotte Hospital in London, the first trip down was to meet the consultant to find out what happened next. The second trip was to create a vaginal opening; this involved the use of dilators being inserted as far as possible and holding in place, increasing the length of time each time I had to do it. The only way to describe it would be to try squeezing a 6 inch vibrator into a hole the size of a pea!!! As you can imagine a very uncomfortable and painful experience. I was, however, lucky in the fact that I didn’t need to undergo the surgical route of creating a vagina as my skin had enough elasticity in it. To add to the emotional trauma of all this going on, I was trying to cope with my parents separating around Christmas/New Year 1997 into 1998….. Definitely one to remember…. For all the wrong reasons! So, MRKH…. Some facts for those who are interested MRKH is a congenital disorder that affects the female reproductive tract. Congenital means that it is there at birth. About 1 in every 5,000-10,000 female babies has this condition. MRKH is a syndrome (group of symptoms). We do not know the cause of this syndrome but we do know that when a baby grows in the mother’s uterus (womb), systems develop. One of the systems is called the reproductive system, which includes the uterus, vagina, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. The reproductive system is formed during the first few months of “foetal” life (while a baby is still in her mother’s womb). With MRKH, the reproductive system starts to develop but doesn’t completely finish. Girls with MRKH have normal ovaries and fallopian tubes. Most often the uterus is absent or tiny. The vagina is typically shorter and narrower than usual or it may be absent. Sometimes, there may be one kidney instead of two. About 3% of girls will have a minor hearing loss and some may have spinal problems such as scoliosis (curvature of the spine). When is a girl likely to find out she has MRKH? The most common age for MRKH to be diagnosed is when a young woman is between 15 and 18 years old. That’s when a young woman is likely to see her health care provider because she hasn’t started her period. Some girls may find out at an earlier age or when they are older. You can create a vagina without surgery using dilators You can have a surgical procedure You can do nothing Creating a vagina with dilators Most of the time girls with MRKH choose to make a vagina by using vaginal dilators. This treatment is very effective and “non-invasive” (does not have the risks of an operation). There are different kinds of dilators available and they come in different sizes. The most commonly used dilators look like a thick plastic tube similar to a slender tampon. Starting with the smallest dilator you will learn how to hold the dilator and apply pressure to stretch your vagina. In the beginning, most of the dilator will be on the “outside” and used as a “handle” (as it can only go in so far). You will use the dilator for about 15-20 minutes, twice a day. Over time, you will begin to notice that the dilator is able to go into your vagina a bit further. This means you have made progress! As your vagina stretches, your doctor will know when to give you the next size. The next size will be slightly wider. The average amount of time it takes to create a vagina (if the dilator is used at least 15-20 minutes, twice a day) is about 3-14 months. It can take less time for some young women or more time for others. If the dilators are not used every day, it can take a year or more. So, that’s the scientific bit out of the way. Where does this leave me now? Well, I am 32 years old, in a civil partnership with my beautiful, understanding wife and, we want to start a family. Naturally, due to my condition, I will be unable to carry a baby, but we are looking for a donor for my wife to (fingers crossed) become pregnant through. Trying to find a donor around where we live isn’t exactly easy. The nearest cities (where the majority of donors appear to be) are over 100 miles away. We can travel (the wife drives!) so that isn’t an issue, it’s a case of finding a donor who is willing to donate via AI (Artificial Insemination), someone who is willing to take the time for us to get to know them. We aren’t looking for an “uncle” or co-parent, something that a lot of donors are looking for. Hopefully by the time we write the next blog, we will have been successful in finding a donor and have something positive to talk about! Article: 20th February 2013 by Amy and Sarah

Gay and lesbian in UK urged to consider adoption or fostering

Gay and lesbian people are being urged to learn more about adoption and fostering as part of the LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week . The event runs between Monday 4 March – Sunday 10 March – and is organised by New Family Social, the charity run by LGBT adopters and foster carers for families and families-to-be. The British Association of Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) says an estimated 4,000 children need adopting every year, with the Fostering Network stating that around 9,000 extra foster carers are needed to bridge the shortfall for children currently in care. However, experts say this could be done if just two percent of LGBT people came forward to foster or adopt. LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week is a series of events around the country aimed to educate prospective parents and carers about the processes involved and to let them hear from others in their area who have adopted or fostered children themselves. Action for Children is the week’s main sponsor, and the charity’s Director of Public Policy, Helen Donohoe, said: “From 140 years of working with the UK’s most vulnerable children, we know how important it is to find the best possible placement for each and every child in care – and we know that LGBT people often come to adoption or fostering as the first choice for expanding their family, bringing love, real enthusiasm and resourcefulness. “Throughout LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week, our friendly approachable staff will be on hand at events across the UK to answer questions and help potential parents take the first steps towards providing one of the thousands of children desperately in need with a stable, loving home.” Andy Leary-May, Director of New Family Social, added: “Some people are still put off by fears that they won’t be welcomed by agencies, but things are changing. In our group we have huge and diverse range of families, including plenty of parents who are single, or in their fifties. It’s clear to see how well our children are doing, and what a positive and rewarding choice fostering and adoption can be”. LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week runs from Monday 4 March – Sunday 10 March For information and to find an event nearby, visit lgbtadoptfosterweek.org.uk Article: 14th February 2013 www.pinknews.co.uk

More IVF for lesbian couples and women over 40

More lesbian couples to get IVF on the NHS under new plan. Under an expansion of NHS-funded fertility treatment, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) will recommend that lesbian couples be offered six cycles of artificial insemination and, if that fails, IVF. Most lesbian couples trying for a child are forced to go private because state provision is patchy. One cycle of IVF can cost them £8,000. The NHS is having to find £20 billion of efficiency savings over four years because flat-rate budget increases are not enough to cope with increasing demand. Campaigners said local clinical commissioning groups, which make the final decision on fertility provision in hospitals, will be unable to afford the extra treatment without making drastic cuts to other services. However, Nice does not have to consider budgets when setting its guidelines. It is updating its 2004 fertility advice to take medical advances and changes in society into account. Infertility is thought to affect one in six couples. There were just over 1,000 cycles of insemination performed for women in same-sex relationships in 2010, resulting in 152 babies. The number of cycles of IVF for this group rose from under 100 in 2009 to 561 in 2010, resulting in 215 babies. Most couples paid for treatment privately. Current guidelines bar women aged over 40 from NHS-funded fertility treatment. Under the new guidance, they would be offered one full cycle of IVF between the ages of 40 and 42 if they have not previously had treatment and cannot conceive naturally. The guidelines also reduce the length of time couples need to try naturally for a baby before tests and treatment can begin, from three years to two. In cases where the fertility problem is known, couples can be referred immediately. In an effort to reduce the number of multiple births from IVF treatment — the biggest risk to mother and babies because of the increased chance of premature birth — the guidance also stipulates when one embryo should be transferred to the womb, and restricts two embryos to older women. Under no circumstances should more than two embryos be transferred, the guidance is expected to say. Almost 50,000 women received IVF treatment in 2011, a 4.3 per cent increase on the previous year, with around one in four cycles resulting in a baby. Prof Yakoub Khalaf, the director of the Assisted Conception Unit at Guy’s Hospital in London, said the guidelines were common sense. “Whether the NHS can afford to extend access to funded treatment is something every primary care organisation will have to decide,” he said. “After the 2004 guidance we had some PCTs providing all three cycles and others providing none. I cannot imagine the situation will have changed much.” He added: “We see women aged 40 or 42 day-in and day-out funding their own treatment when their next door neighbour, aged 39, might be having NHS-funded treatment. It is wrong. “The chances of success for these women are improving and even if we can offer them a one in five chance of a baby, that is important.” He dismissed concerns about NHS funding for same-sex couples, saying “the law and the whole of society has moved on” and he did not think a significant number would seek treatment. The guidance also states that insemination should be offered to disabled people who cannot have sex naturally. Dr Jane Stewart, the secretary of the British Fertility Society, said: “Fertility problems are a bona fide health issue and should be funded as such. However there is a risk that without central direction from the Department of Health there will continue to be variation according to postcode and that is regrettable.” Josephine Quintavalle, of the campaign group Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said: “Women in lesbian relationships may or may not have fertility problems, but if not then it is difficult to understand how they qualify for fertility treatment in the first place.” Anthony Ozimic, from the Society For the Protection of Unborn Children, added: “The guidelines ignore biology in the name of politically correct social engineering. In the case of IVF for same-sex couples, children are being abused by being deliberately deprived of either a father or a mother. And in the case of IVF for women over 40, technology is being abused, by extending childbearing beyond the limit set by Mother Nature.” Article: 16th February 2013 www.telegraph.co.uk

'Gay couples cannot provide safe environment for children' states MP

The Welsh secretary has said gay couples "clearly" cannot provide a "warm and safe environment" in which to raise children. On ITV Wales' Face to Face programme, David Jones said this was why he had voted against the government's legislation for same-sex marriage. The Conservative MP said he was not homophobic and had "people in my life who are important to me who are gay". But Labour said the comments showed "the nasty party is alive and well". MPs were given a free vote on same-sex marriage legislation in the Commons last week, meaning that they were allowed to vote according to their consciences and did not face sanctions for taking an opposing view to their party leaders. Prime Minister David Cameron is a strong supporter of same-sex marriage, but Mr Jones was one of two cabinet ministers to vote against it. 'Overwhelming opposition' The Welsh secretary told ITV: "I regard marriage as an institution that has developed over many centuries, essentially for the provision of a warm and safe environment for the upbringing of children, which is clearly something that two same-sex partners can't do. "Which is not to say that I'm in any sense opposed to stable and committed same-sex partnerships." He said he believed his constituents were "overwhelmingly" opposed to the government's plan to allow same-sex couples to marry or convert their civil partnerships to marriages. In a statement after the interview, Mr Jones added: "I made the point of stressing that I was fully supportive of committed same-sex relationships. I also strongly approve of civil partnerships. "I did not say in the interview that same-sex partners should not adopt children and that is not my view. "I simply sought to point out that, since same-sex partners could not biologically procreate children, the institution of marriage was one that, in my opinion, should be reserved to opposite sex partners." 'Ill-informed' But shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith strongly criticised the secretary of state's original remarks. "That such views exist in the heart of the Tory cabinet provides yet more evidence of how out of touch the Tories are with modern Britain, and how David Cameron's claim to have changed his party is, like so many of his promises, nothing more than empty words," the Labour MP said. "David Jones's comments are profoundly offensive and he should apologise immediately." The director of campaign group Stonewall Cymru, Andrew White, said: "We're saddened that the secretary of state for Wales should make such an offensive and inaccurate remark. "There are many different types of family in Wales today, including many same-sex couples raising children. It's deeply undermining to families and children when they hear this sort of ill-informed comment. "Fortunately, recent YouGov polling for Stonewall Cymru shows that the secretary of state's views are out of touch with the majority of people, both in Wales and throughout Great Britain." strong>Article: 15th February 2013 www.bbc.co.uk

Ever thought of freezing your eggs to have a baby in the future?

Have you ever frozen your eggs to help you have a baby or are you considering freezing your eggs to have a family in the future? The Sunday Times Magazine is researching an in-depth feature on egg freezing and in particular the issue of social egg freezing. They are looking for women who would like to share their inspiring stories with their readers. The Sunday Times Magazine is a high quality publication. Serena from the Magazine says ‘anyone who chooses to speak to us will do so on their own terms, and you would be able to ensure your story was told your way.’ The aim of the piece is to inspire and inform women of all ages about their options with regards fertility preservation. Serena believes that there is not enough information about the positive effect egg freezing can have both for families who have failed to conceive using other more traditional procedures, and also women who are seeking to preserve their fertility for more personal reasons. These days 1 in 3 female graduates will end up involuntary childless. Serena is seeking to examine why this is happening and to combat the myth that women are prioritising careers over having a family. ‘I need your stories to help me tell me to do this’ says Serena. Please contact Pride Angel for more information or Serena directly at: serena.kutchinsky@sunday-times.co.uk

Elton John talks about loving being a dad again

Elton John is loving being a dad for the second time. Elton spent most of his life with one singular love- music. But meeting David Furnish changed all that. Now the Crocodile Rocker is a family man and couldn't be happier! He says: "I never knew fatherhood could be so wonderful, perhaps because I had reached the age where I never expected to have children of my own… I honestly don’t have the words to describe the ways in which these two children have enriched our lives — the feelings are beyond words." Awww! Maybe Elton can express his feelings in a small piano concert? Just trusted friends, beloved family, notable internet personalities… So, the family recently expanded, and Zachary got a little brother! How has adding Elijah to the mix changed things? Is it a lot tougher having two kids? Elton says: "From the moment I first [held] Zachary, I have been so overwhelmed with love for him that I almost wondered if I could love Elijah as much. But I have learnt that a parent’s capacity for love is endless. When another child is born, our depth of love just grows deeper and wider." Wow! What a beautiful and poetic sentiment! That's definitely going on the next album! Article: 11th February www.perezhilton.com

Three parents named on baby's birth certificate in Miami

A judge in Miami-Dade County, Florida, has decided that a gay man who donated sperm to a lesbian couple has the right to be on the birth certificate of their 23-month-old daughter. Massimiliano “Massimo” Gerina was asked to provide sperm by Maria Italiano and Cher Filippazzo, who married in Connecticut. After a successful conception the two women sent a contract to Mr Gerina seven months into the pregnancy asking him to give up parenting rights, but he decided not to sign. Florida law states that artificial insemination sperm donors have no legal rights as parents, but Mr Gerina was able to file a paternity suit after the child, Emma, was born. “My papers said I would have parental rights, a visitation schedule,” Mr Gerina said. “They hated it. They said this wasn’t what they wanted. I said, ‘Now that you’re already pregnant, you should have thought about that before.’ Despite opposing him in court for nearly two years the women did want him to be involved, says the couple’s attorney, Kenneth Kaplan: “As the child gets older, the child will want to know who her father is. They want to be an honest family and they’re not going to keep secrets from the child. He loves the child. That’s a beautiful thing. The more people who can love your child, the better it is.” Mr Gerina said of his desire to be a father to Emma: “It’s nature — the same reason a woman wants to be a mother.” A trial was set for 31 January, but the three managed to settle their dispute out of court a week beforehand. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Antonio Marin approved the settlement. Mrs Italiano, who gave birth to Emma, has sole parental responsibility; Mrs Filippazzo has legally adopted Emma; Mr Gerina is recognised as her father and has visiting rights. “We’re creating entirely new concepts of families. If you have two women seeking to be listed as Parent One and Parent Two, that does not exclude listing a man as father,” said Mr Gerina’s lawyer Karyn J. Begin. “People have to understand, the case is really a second-parent adoption, meaning that there are not three equal parents. There are three involved but there are two people who have sole parental responsibility,” said Mr Kaplan. “Under Florida law, they make all the decisions for the child. This is an adoption by two women, with him receiving certain rights.” Earlier this month, it emerged that the Justice Ministry of the Netherlands is set to commission a report on the possibility of legally recognising families with three or more parents, and has noted the protective values of such a law for LGBT families. Article: www.pinknews.co.uk 8th February 2013

Lazy men have lazy sperm, new study reveals

Young men who watch TV for just three hours a day have half the sperm count of men rarely found in front of the box, warn researchers. For the first time, a study shows falling sperm quality is linked to lower levels of physical activity. Men who are mostly sedentary lose out to those who are moderately active, says the Harvard University study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Experts say the effect could be due to lack of exercise, or to overheating of the testicles caused by prolonged sitting. Men wanting to father a child are currently urged against wearing tight underpants to improve sperm quality, while drivers and cyclists may also be at risk. In the latest study from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), healthy young men who watched more than 20 hours of TV each week had a 44 per cent lower sperm count than those who watched almost no TV. Men who exercised for 15 or more hours weekly at a moderate to vigorous rate had a 73 per cent higher sperm count than those who exercised less than five hours per week. Mild exercise did not affect sperm quality. Study leader Dr Audrey Gaskins said ‘We know very little about how lifestyle may impact semen quality and male fertility in general so identifying two potentially modifiable factors that appear to have such a big impact on sperm counts is truly exciting,’ The researchers analysed the semen quality of 189 men between the ages of 18 to 22 participating in the Rochester Young Men’s Study during 2009-2010 at the University of Rochester. The men were asked about their physical activity and how much time they spent watching TV, DVDs or videos over the previous three months, in addition to health issues that may affect their sperm quality, such as diet, stress levels, and smoking. Over half the men were of normal weight, and levels of diagnosed infertility were low. The amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity taken each week ranged from five to 14 hours, while weekly TV screen time varied from four to 20 hours. Those who watched most TV, 20 hours or more, had a sperm count almost half that of men watching the least, and TV viewing seemed to cancel out the benefits of exercise. Jorge Chavarro, senior author of the study and assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology at HSPH, said: ‘The majority of the previous studies on physical activity and semen quality had focused on professional marathon runners and cyclists, who reach physical activity levels that most people in the world cannot match. ‘We were able to examine a range of physical activity that is more relevant to men in the general population.’ However, he added, while a reduced sperm count has been linked to lower fertility, it does not necessarily ruin a man’s chances of fathering a child. Men who exercise were found to have much higher sperm counts than those who shirk physical activity Dr Allan Pacey, Senior Lecturer in Andrology, University of Sheffield, said ‘The results are intriguing and suggest that men who do regular exercise have higher sperm counts than men who watch a lot of television. ‘On the face of it, this seems like a well conducted study albeit with a relatively small number of participants. ‘Having said that, the authors appear to have used good methodology and have attempted to control for all of the obvious variables that might differ between the two groups of men (e.g. diet, smoking, Body Mass Index). ‘Their conclusions are plausible, and I would agree that there is evidence to suggest that moderate exercise could change men’s physiology sufficiently to improve testicular health. ‘Similarly, we already know that testicular heating through sedentary jobs or tight underwear can decrease sperm counts and so arguably the same effect might be seen in men who spend too many hours on the sofa watching television. ‘However, it remains to be seen if coaxing a TV watching couch potato into doing some regular exercise could actually improve his sperm count. 'Or whether there exists an unknown fundamental difference between men who like exercise and those who do not which might account for the findings. ‘This should be a relatively easy study to perform, but before all worried men hunt for their sports bag it’s important to note that other research suggests that doing too much exercise can be harmful to sperm production and this study did not examine the type and intensity of exercise their participants were undertaking. ‘My advice would be everything in moderation - and that includes time in the gym as well as watching TV, or perhaps both at the same time!’ Article: 7th February 2013 www.dailymail.co.uk How's your sperm count? get it tested using a simple male sperm count test.

Gay marriage: MPs vote overwhelmingly in favour to legalise

MPs tonight overwhelmingly backed David Cameron's controversial plan to legalise gay marriage. After more than six hours of bitter debate, the Commons voted in favour of same-sex weddings by 400 votes to 175, a majority of 225. The Prime Minister risked the embarrassment of having to rely on Labour and Lib Dem MPs to secure victory, with more than 100 Tories predicted to vote against the measure. But tonight he took to Twitter to defend the policy in the face of the biggest Tory rebellion in history. ‘Strong views exist on both sides but I believe MPs voting for gay people being able to marry too, is a step forward for our country,’ the Prime Minister wrote. Hours earlier the PM launched a last ditch attempt to persuade Tory MPs to back gay marriage, arguing it will 'make our society stronger'. ‘I am a strong believer in marriage. It helps people commit to each other and I think it is right that gay people should be able to get married too,' he said. Salisbury MP John Glen warned it would cost the Tories votes at the 2015 election while Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, said he had ‘serious misgivings’ about assurances from ministers about ensuring that religious freedom will not be compromised. Former minister Edward Leigh said: ‘We should be in the business of protecting cherished institutions and our cultural heritage otherwise what, I ask, is a Conservative Party for?’ Tory grandee Sir Roger Gale risked controversy when he appeared to liken gay marriage to incest, ‘Marriage is the union between a man and a woman, has been historically, remains so,’ he said. Home Secretary Theresa May, pictured leaving No. 10, urged Tory MPs to back the plans 'because we are Conservatives' It had been suggested, he said, that a civil union bill could be created ‘that applies to all people irrespective or their sexuality, or their relationships, and that means brothers and brothers and sisters and sisters and brothers and sisters as well’. Sir Roger stressed he did not subscribe to the notion, but added he recognised the merit in the argument. However a number of gay MPs from all parties spoke movingly in favour of the reforms. His fellow Conservative Margot James (Stourbridge) warned: ‘The modernisation of the Conservative Party is not yet complete.’ Openly gay former Tory minister Nick Herbert said later he was ‘delighted’ by the result of the vote. He said: ‘The Commons has voted by a substantial majority for equal marriage, with support across all the major parties. 'The Bill will now be examined in detail, but we believe today's vote was a momentous step towards the goal of securing the freedom for gay people to marry.' Culture Secretary Maria Miller was accused of pushing a policy which was an 'irrelevance' which did not feature in the Tory party manifesto. Opening the debate, Mrs Miller said: 'What marriage offers us all is a lifelong partner to share our journey, a loving, stable relationship to strengthen us and a mutual support throughout our lives. 'I believe that this is something that should be embraced by more couples. The depth of feeling, love and commitment is no different between same-sex couples than opposite-sex couples. 'This Bill enables society to recognise that commitment in the same way too, through marriage. We are doing this very clearly as an important part of the way we can make this country a fairer place to live.' Five of the most prominent Right-wingers in the Cabinet came out fighting for the policy in a last-minute attempt to rescue Mr Cameron from the worst Tory revolt of his leadership. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith decided to back the push for same-sex unions out of loyalty to the Prime Minister. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, a standard bearer of the Tory right, argued that the ‘collapse of marriage and families’ has ‘absolutely nothing to do with homosexuality’. But scores of Tories rejected the plea of their leader. The Labour Whips office suggested that 139 Tories had voted against the Bill, with 132 in favour. Dozens more did not vote including several government ministers. Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson voted against the legislation, thought to be the only senior minister to do so. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond and Attorney General Dominic Grieve were the two most senior figures to stay away from tonight’s vote, after the vast majority of Cabinet figures agreed to back the PM. Housing minister Mark Prisk also did not vote Around 20 Labour MPs voted against the bill at second reading, along with Lib Dem MP Gordon Birtwistle. The result meant a record number of Tory MPs rejected the leadership's policy, far greater than the 95 Conservatives who voted against post-Dunblane gun reforms introduced by the Major government. However, Downing Street sources stress that because Tories were given a free vote those who opposed Mr Cameron's pro-gay marriage stance were not technically rebelling. After the result was announced, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg hailed the result as a ‘landmark’ for equality in Britain. He said: ‘Tonight’s vote shows Parliament is very strongly in favour of equal marriage. No matter who you are and who you love, we are all equal. Marriage is about love and commitment, and it should no longer be denied to people just because they are gay.’ Article: 5th February www.dailymail.co.uk

Fertility organisations trying to clarify new sperm donor court ruling

Natalie gamble Associates (NGA) has been contacted by UK patient organisations trying to clarify the implications of the High Court’s ruling, which has allowed two sperm donors to argue in court that they should have rights of contact with their biological children. NGA has been representing the lesbian mothers in this case. The ruling received a lot of press attention yesterday (including on the front page of the Daily Mail, and in the Guardian, Telegraph, Independent and BBC). Natalie spoke to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the British Fertility Society, the National Gamete Donation Trust and the Donor Conception Network – all seeking further information about what to say to patients, donors and donor conceived families who were contacting them. The HFEA and the BFS have issued press statements in response to the ruling. We thought it would be helpful to provide a clear summary of what the ruling means for these organisations and others concerned about this: - The ruling only gave the two donors the right to argue their case in court. It is not yet know whether they will be given any rights of contact with the children. - The reason for the decision was very fact specific, a result of the fact that the donors were known to the lesbian mothers and had contact with the children in their early months before relationships broke down. The court was satisfied, on the facts, that the donors had sufficient connection with the children to at least justify their cases being heard in court. - The ruling is therefore exceptionally unlikely to apply to donors who have had no contact with the child – for example unknown donors through licensed clinics. - However, the ruling could apply to other types of known donors, including known sperm or egg donors who have donated through a licensed clinic, if they can demonstrate sufficient connection with the child in practice. Although in this case conception took place outside a licensed clinic, the law which provided that these men were ‘not to be treated as the father for any purpose’ is the same law which excludes the status of other types of egg and sperm donors. - The ruling does not in any way affect donors’ responsibilities – it does not make it possible to hold a donor legally or financially responsible for a child they help conceive. Article: 3rd February 2013 www.nataliegambleassociates.co.uk

Landmark High Court ruling on sperm donation and same sex parenting

The High Court has today made a landmark ruling, allowing two civilly partnered sperm donors the right to ask for contact with their biological children (against the wishes of the children’s respective lesbian mothers), but also warning that it will consider the need to protect the lesbian families carefully before a final decision is made. NGA is representing the mothers in the case of Re Z, one of the two connected cases and the one which brought the novel legal issues to the attention of the court. The ruling has significant implications for same sex parents and families created through donor conception. It is the first case to test rights for same sex parents introduced by Parliament in 2008, which give lesbian mothers the same legal protection following sperm donation as opposite sex parents. Under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, the mothers in this case, as civil partners, are the legal parents of their children. The biological fathers, like sperm donors through clinics, are expressly excluded from being treated as the legal fathers ‘for any purpose’. Relationships broke down after the men each sought more involvement than the mothers agreed. They applied to court, and the court has now ruled that they can have their cases heard. The court’s decision opens the door to legal claims from sperm donors who want involvement but have no legal parental status. But the judgment also makes it clear that every case will be considered carefully. Donors will not simply be treated as fathers, and protecting the primary family’s autonomy is also a ‘material consideration’. Donors will only be able to seek redress on the basis of the the particular facts, where this is justified. In Re G and Re Z, the fact that the donors had had early contact with the children was what persuaded the court that they should at least be allowed to have their cases heard. However, although the court has given the donors ‘leave’ to apply, it does not necessarily follow that they will actually be given any rights of contact, and the court has warned that the underlying legal framework will be a significant consideration, and that any expectation of very significant contact is likely to be ‘wholly unrealistic’. Mr Justice Baker suggested that there was no principle being created of automatic rights for donors to lesbian couples: “I endorse the submissions that the policy underpinning these reforms is an acknowledgement that alternative family forms without fathers are sufficient to meet a child’s need… Thousands of children in this country are being brought up happily and successfully by same-sex couples.” Going forward, there are some significant lessons for same sex parents (and anyone conceiving through known donation): Lesbian mothers need to understand that being named on the birth certificate does not give absolute protection. Conceiving with a known donor will always carry some level of risk if things don’t work out as intended, so mothers should be very careful about giving any level of contact unless they are absolutely sure. Gay fathers who act as known donors need to understand that their legal position may be more fragile and uncertain than they think. Men who want to be fully involved fathers will not have any automatic rights if there is a dispute. Everyone going into known donation or co-parenting arrangements should be crystal clear about their expectations from the outset. Setting the strongest possible foundations at the start is the best way of avoiding later problems. One way to do that is to put an agreement in place, but the real key is good communication – an agreement is a means to that rather than an end in itself. There is more from our blog on How to Avoid a Known Donor Dispute. At NGA, we provide leading specialist advice to parents conceiving through known donation, including same sex parents, both male and female, and leading representation to those in disputes. We have worked at the cutting edge of the law, pushing boundaries, for many years, and were instrumental in helping create the rights for same sex parents in the HFE Act 2008. There is more information on our website about known donor disputes and about planning known donation for mothers and for fathers. You can also follow us on Twitter for the latest updates on our work and campaigns.