More couples are facing infertility in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – Out of each 100 couples, 8 are sterile. The rate of secondary infertility caused by inflammation and abortions is increasing rapidly. This is one of the reasons that makes Vietnam face a downward trend in childbirth in the near future, experts have warned. Mr. Nguyen Van Tan, Deputy General Director of the General Department of Population and Family Planning, said the findings of the Central Obstetrics Hospital in conjunction with the Medical University of Hanoi in 2012 on more than 14,000 couples in eight ecological regions across the country, shows that infertility rate is 7.7 percent, including 3.9 percent of primary infertility and 3.8 percent of secondary infertility. Another study of the Military Medical Academy in 2011 with over 9,300 couples releases other numbers: Nearly 3.2 percent of couples are infertile, in which 38 percent of the couples having troubles from women, men 40 percent, and both 10. In fact, there is no comprehensive study on infertility in Vietnam. Experts have warned that infertility, particularly secondary infertility, is increasing and it is associated with inflammatory factors and abortion. To demonstrate this, a doctor from the Central Obstetrics Hospital, said 10 years ago, only about 2-3 couples came to the hospital for infertility treatment. Today, the figure is up to 50-60 couples per week. Tan said the General Department of Population and Family Planning would propose measures to assist infertile couples, helping them access to good health services. Tan said that many countries succeeded in reducing fertility, including Vietnam, but no one is successful in increasing fertility. In Vietnam, a downward trend is evident. The data shows that the average number of children born by each woman of child-bearing age has reduced from 6.3 in 1961 to 2 in 2010 and is expected to fall to 1.78 in 2020. In addition to high rates of infertility and abortion, the birth decline is caused by economic, social factors, with fiercer competition in the living environment. In addition, the value of human life has changed: Many people want to enjoy life and marry late; the number of people living alone is higher. The most important reason is the effectiveness of policies to reduce the country's birth in recent time. The head of the General Department of Population and Family Planning - Duong Quoc Trong - said, due to declining birth rates and rising life expectancy, the population structure of Vietnam has changed. Lessons from countries in the region in coping with declining birth will be very useful for Vietnam. Article: 31st March 2013 www.english.vietnamnet.vn Read more about helping infertility at www.prideangel.com

US says it is ok for women over 50 to get fertility treatment

A key group representing fertility specialists in the U.S. has shifted its messaging and now says that healthy women over the age of 50 should not be discouraged from trying to become pregnant using donor eggs or embryos. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has long said that women older than 50 should be "discouraged" from seeking fertility treatments. But new guidelines, published this month in the Journal of Fertility and Sterility, reverse that stance. The group now says women between 50 and 55 who are healthy and "well prepared" for child rearing should be allowed to receive donated eggs and embryos. “The Committee believes that achieving a pregnancy through egg donation after age 50 is not such a significant departure from other currently accepted fertility treatments as to be considered ethically inappropriate in postmenopausal women,” the group says in the paper. For most women over 50, pregnancy is not an option, since the average of menopause is 52. While most women wouldn’t even want to become pregnant after that age, some do, and the ASRM says there is no reason why these women can’t raise children, as many already do as grandparents. “There is, therefore, no reason to assume that society will be harmed by allowing older individuals to procreate, or that older women and their partners lack the physical and psychological stamina for raising children,” the ASRM says in its paper. “Also, because older men may father children, denying women a successful alternative for reproduction at ages equivalent to men is prejudicial.” Nonetheless, the ASRM notes there are physical risks to becoming pregnant after 50. Dr. Tom Hannam of Toronto’s Hannam Fertility Centre explains that it’s not the conception process that’s risky; in fact, that stage is fairly simple. The prospective mother takes hormone pills for a few days to build up her uterine lining and then the fertilized embryo is transferred to her uterus in a simple in-office procedure. But it’s the pregnancy itself that can be difficult, Hannam says. “The risks from the conception are not that high. It’s the complications-risk during the pregnancy that can be concerning,” he told CTV New Channel. “It’s clear that as women age, the health concerns that women have over the age of 50 are more likely to be amplified during pregnancy.” Those concerns include the risk of hypertension, gestational diabetes and the need for caesarean section. Studies on the small number of women who have achieved pregnancy after 50 suggest all these risks rise for older mothers. Hannam says it would have to be up to a fertility specialist to decide if a patient over 50 is fit enough for pregnancy. “Ultimately, it has to be individualized. And when we look to women over 50, one would have to be very careful indeed,” he says. While the ASRM guidelines are meant for U.S. fertility specialists, Hannam says they will affect Canadian women too. That’s because since 2004, it’s been illegal to offer egg donors financial compensation in Canada, so the vast majority of egg donation takes place in clinics in the U.S. “Because it’s illegal to pay a woman for her eggs, most women who want to use donor eggs are going to the U.S.,” Hannam says. But he says the guidelines will also help doctors like him in Canada because they give him some literature to refer to patients who are considering pregnancy after menopause. “I’m glad there are articulated limits in the U.S. It’s going to help people make choices,” he said. Article: 28th March 2013 www.ctvnews.ca Read more about egg donation and finding an egg donor at www.prideangel.com

Men using saunas regularly have lower sperm counts

Men who visit saunas may be damaging their sperm, Italian researchers have warned. They found that healthy men who regularly used them had a lower sperm count - and the damage could last several months. In the study, Finnish men in their 30s who had normal sperm counts were monitored. They all spent 15 minutes in a sauna twice a week for three months, after which their sperm counts were tested. The researchers discovered that the men's sperm counts were lower at the end of the study than at the beginning - and only six months later did they return to normal. Dr Andrew Kramer, a urologist at the University of Maryland Medical Centre told the website LiveScience that heat was to blame, as it affects sperm production. The researchers found that during the sauna sessions, the temperature of the men's scrotums increased by three degrees Celsius (5.4 F). 'The testicles hang down from the body in men to cool them,' added Dr Kramer. He added this may be why 'men with undescended testicles can have impaired sperm product and fertility'. Men who used the saunas also had differences in their sperm's DNA, the researchers noted. Previous research has shown that heat from laptops can damage sperm, affecting fertility as it struggles to swim to the egg. Reporting in the journal Human Reproduction, the researchers in the sauna study said: 'The large use of Finnish sauna in Nordic countries and its growing use in other parts of the world make it important to consider the impact of this lifestyle choice on men's fertility.' They added that in countries were saunas are widely used, doctors should flag up the problems they may cause to couples struggling to conceive. Sperm counts are falling at an alarming rate - up to 38 per cent in a decade - with diet and lifestyle largely to blame. A recent Spanish study found that even in young men, sperm concentration fell by an average of two per cent a year - and could soon hit levels where fertility is compromised. A ten year-study of more than 200 men found the average concentration went from 72 million spermatozoids per millilitre in 2001 to 52 million/ml in 2011. Meanwhile a British survey published last month found that nearly 20 per cent of couples spend more than a year trying for a baby. And the effect of not being able to conceive is so bad for some couples that it forces them apart - or places their relationship under great pressure. Experts have blamed women delaying motherhood and the obesity epidemic as the two most likely reasons for rising infertility. Article: 26th March 2013 Test your sperm count using the Fertilcount Male Sperm Count Test.

Singapore uses 'fairy tales' to warn women of falling fertility

With her blond bob, convertible car, cigarette in hand and cropped top emblazoned with the letters YOLO ("You Only Live Once"), this is an Alice in Wonderland the world has not seen before. Like Lewis Carroll's original, this cartoon Alice is curious about the world – "she gives up her cash to fly around rash" – but the moral here is that this twentysomething Singaporean is so busy being "wild and reckless" that she stands to lose her chance of starting a family. Welcome to adult education in marriage and fertility, Singapore-style. "Alice" is one of 15 fairytales revamped for a new government-backed scheme to encourage Singaporeans to get married and start having babies earlier. Faced with a rapidly ageing society, skyrocketing housing prices, low birth rates and a population that works the longest hours in the world, this country of 5.3 million people has made various attempts over the years to encourage its citizens to marry and procreate, from government-funded speed-dating schemes to educational flyers on how to flirt. Now, however, it is changing its tactics in search of a happy ending. Aimed at 21- to 30-year-olds, the "Singaporean Fairytale" was created by four final-year university students who wanted to "find an interesting way to connect with young adults … on what it takes to start, live and be a family in Singapore", says the project manager, Chan Luo Er, 23. "Fairytales are very accessible, as almost everyone grew up with a fairytale or two – our little poem on a woman's declining fertility as she ages ties in quite nicely with the Golden Goose." The fairytales – which have been distributed by leaflet to universities around Singapore – include versions of Cinderella, the Three Little Pigs, Rapunzel and Snow White, each involving a reworked tale that relates to fertility, sex or marriage, and a resulting moral. The lesson with "careless" Alice, for example, is that "the extended adolescence of twentysomethings today has a biological cost for women" and the story ends with a stark warning: "After 40, [fertility] drops 95%." Read more... Article: 22nd March www.guardian.co.uk

Problems accessing sperm and eggs increases fertility treatment abroad

PROBLEMS in accessing donor sperm and eggs at home appear to be behind a reported increase in the number of UK citizens who seek fertility treatment abroad, despite the fact that this is widely seen as risky. Now, a team of academic experts, including a University of Huddersfield professor, have investigated the phenomenon and analysed the attitudes of health professionals. The researchers found little support for legal controls on cross-border fertility treatment, but UK-based clinicians stressed the importance of checking out overseas fertility clinics in order to make sure they meet UK standards and pose minimal risk to patients. Eric Blyth, who is Professor of Social Work at the University of Huddersfield and an acknowledged expert on issues such as infertility and surrogacy, is a member of a six-strong research team, based at a range of UK universities, which carried out a study into the growth of overseas travel for fertility treatment. The group has now described its first phase of findings in an article in the 2013 edition of the Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. There are few robust statistics on the numbers travelling overseas for egg or sperm donation, states the article, but it concludes that "there would appear to be growing international brokering in gametes and overseas clinics, largely driven by the donor shortage in the UK". Now further research is needed into how professionals and patients "navigate this form of transnational reproduction". Concerns expressed ‌The article claims that media representations of what is often dubbed "fertility tourism" have many of the hallmarks of a "classic moral panic". Despite the fact that IVF is now widely accepted as a legitimate form of reproduction, people who travel overseas to receive it are frequently seen as "deviant users" of the technology, sometimes depicted as selfish "baby shoppers". Sensationalist examples of older mothers and multiple pregnancies are used to bolster such views. "Those who cross borders for treatment are frequently portrayed as illegitimately challenging nature, or "playing God", in wanting to "design" their babies by selecting their sex or seeking out particular physical or intellectual abilities," states the article. Professionals in the field take a more complex, nuanced view, but they often represent cross-border reproductive travel as risk-laden. Concerns expressed include the control of quality and safety standards overseas; the need to protect patients against incompetence and negligence; an alleged lack of psychological support in some clinics; and inadequate information about possible health risks to patients, donors or offspring. The article stresses that there is no strong evidence to support these fears and that many patients travelling for fertility treatment outside the UK - mostly to European destinations - felt that they had received a better quality of care. None of the clinicians surveyed by the research project felt that in an age of easy and affordable travel there would be any purpose in the UK introducing restrictions on overseas fertility treatment, even if it was a procedure that was not legal in Britain. This is because it would be impossible to prove where a child was conceived. The article's authors state that: "In the absence of formal international regulation of standards and procedures, many participants reflected that professionals had a key role to play in educating people about possible risks and to ensure that patients were aware of the issues that they need to consider when having treatment abroad." Article: 22nd March 2013 www.medicalnewstoday.com

Three person IVF developed in North East gets support

A CONTROVERSIAL fertility treatment developed in the North East which could eradicate incurable inherited diseases has the public's backing, it has been revealed. Fertility regulators yesterday paved the way for the Government to legalise the creation of IVF babies with three genetic parents. A team of researchers at Newcastle University, leading on the development of the technique in humans, aims to prevent the transmission of maternally inherited mitochondrial disorders. After a six-month public consultation, the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA) announced its findings which showed broad support for mitochondria replacement being made available to families at risk of passing on a serious mitochondrial disease. In advice to ministers, the HFEA set out safeguards for mitochondrial replacement techniques that could affect future generations. But it did not explicitly argue for a change of the law that would allow children to be conceived with the help of DNA donated by a second “mother”. Instead, it was left to ministers to decide whether they should ask Parliament to agree to the procedures. However, the public’s support overcomes a key hurdle in the path of changing the law to allow mitochondrial replacement as 56% of those questioned said they were “very” or “fairly” positive about techniques which could prevent mitochondrial disease by altering genetic make-up during IVF. Meanwhile, critics insist that it is the start of a slippery slope towards “designer” babies and eugenics Prof Doug Turnbull, director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research at Newcastle University said: “Mitochondrial DNA disease runs in families and there is no cure. The techniques we are working on could help hundreds of women have healthy children. “We are very grateful for the detailed public engagement exercise carried out by the HFEA and welcome the supportive views of most of the public. “We understand that more research is required but believe it is crucial that the Government moves now to draft the regulations so that mitochondrial patients in the UK will have access to this treatment.” The groundbreaking fertility treatment involves taking the nucleus of an embryo from a mother with defective DNA and putting it into the egg of a woman with healthy DNA. This healthy egg is then implanted into the first woman, allowing them to create a baby free of genetic disease. A child produced this way would have DNA from two women and a man. The nuclear DNA, which influences characteristics such as sex, height and eye colour, would come from the mother and father. Only 0.05% of DNA is from the female donor. Defects in mitochondrial DNA give rise to a range of potentially life-threatening diseases, including a form of muscular dystrophy and conditions leading to the loss of hearing and vision, heart problems and bowel disorders. Sharon and Neil Bernardi, of Springwell, Sunderland, have lost all seven children to mitochondrial disease, the majority dying within just a few hours of being born. Their son Edward, who suffered from Leigh’s disease, became the oldest person in the world to survive the life-limiting condition before he died two years ago at the age of 21. Mrs Bernardi has a heart defect and mobility problems caused by an inherited mitochondrial disorder. The 47-year-old said: “I am very pleased at the findings of the HFEA, as it’s nice to see that the fertility treatment has the public’s backing. The treatment is about giving people affected by mitochondrial disease the chance to have a family if they want to. “The disease has a devastating impact on families and no-one can imagine how difficult it is, as you never get over the death of a child. “The fertility treatment is a great option and a good step forward to helping those affected by the disease.” In its advice, the HFEA said clinics wishing to offer mitochondrial replacement should be specifically licensed. It also insisted that the Authority should approve each use of the procedures, at least initially. Children should not have an automatic right to know the identify of mitochondrial donors, although this could occur by mutual consent, said the HFEA. It also called for a further safety assessment once a clinic had applied to carry out one of the techniques. This followed advice from scientists that more research was needed despite there being no evidence that mitochondrial replacement is unsafe. Prof Lisa Jardine, chair of the HFEA, said: “The Government has asked us to take the public temperature on this important and emotive issue and that is what we’ve done. We’ve found that there is broad support for permitting mitochondria replacement, to give families at risk of mitochondrial disease the chance of having a healthy child.” Mitochondrial replacement is banned because under the present law any tampering with inherited genetic material in clinics is illegal. A window has deliberately been left in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, allowing this blanket rule to be changed by Parliament in exceptional circumstances. Dr David King, director of the pressure group Human Genetics Alert, opposes the move. He said: “These techniques go far beyond anything existing in both invasiveness to the embryo and complexity so it’s not surprising that they pose serious health risks to the child, risks that the HFEA refuses to properly address.” Article: 21st March 2013 www.journallive.co.uk

TV documentary wants to hear your co-parenting story

Leading UK Documentary Company Wants to Hear Your Co-parenting Story Award-winning television production company Windfall Films, is researching a documentary about modern families and co-parenting. If you’re based in the UK and are a co-parent, searching for a parenting partnership, or going through a co-parent pregnancy, we’d love to hear about your journey. We’d simply like to talk at this stage. Getting in touch will not in any way commit you to taking part. Windfall Films has a trusted reputation and proven track record in making sensitive documentaries with a committed approach for the BBC, Channel 4, and all major broadcasters. Our programmes have not only won awards but many have been used to help train doctors, social workers, and teachers. Please see more about us on our website: www.windfallfilms.com. For a confidential chat, please get in touch with producer Kim Duke: kimduke@windfallfilms.com or 0207 251 7676. Article: 19th March 2013

Dutch lesbian couple go into hiding with Turkish foster son

A Dutch lesbian couple has gone into hiding with their foster son after the boy’s biological parents went on television in Turkey and said that they consider the pair morally unfit to take care of their child. The row is threatening to overshadow an official visit by the Turkish prime minister to the Netherlands next week. The Associated Press reports the Dutch vice prime minister told reporters on Friday that political interference from Turkey would be “inappropriate.” He praised the foster parents for taking on a “child in danger” and defended Dutch social service policies as discriminating only on the basis of parental ability. The nine-year-old boy was removed from his biological parents’ care in the Netherlands while he was still a baby. There’s currently a shortage of Islamic foster families in the Netherlands. Turkish children have been placed in Christian families as well as with gay parents, both in Holland and in Belgium – which has caused anger in traditional parts of Turkish society. Last month, Turkish authorities began procedures to remove Turkish children from foreign gay foster parents. Article: 15th March 2013 www.pinknews.co.uk

And baby makes three' at the Building Families Show

So the two of you are more than happy, but do you want more? Have you ever considered you might be ready for a baby? More and more same sex partners are taking the steps to provide a secure and loving family. Society’s attitude towards gay parenting has changed too. Nowadays, an increasing number of gay people are seriously considering parenthood as a viable option. Attitudes have changed because people are experiencing problems conceiving a child for a variety of reasons, with one in six couples now seeking help in trying for a child. With figures like this, many people are heading down to the Building Families Show, at the Hilton, London Metropole on 6th April 2013. Infertility, for any reason, can take you to a lonely and desperate place. But it also expresses inner strength you didn’t know you had. Building Families brings together the world’s leading IVF & Surrogacy specialists and showcases the most diverse range of innovative methods and technologies to make surrogacy and sperm or egg donation work for you. The unique event will bring the professionals and the general public together under one roof to discuss options for the next chapter in your journey and advise you on how to start, or help your family grow – through the help of IVF, surrogacy or egg donation. Building Families presents a perfect opportunity to boost and update your knowledge of the world of Surrogacy and Gamete Donation and to meet new friends. As a potential or intended parent you will get support from other people going through IVF, surrogacy or gamete donation, and the experts will talk you through your options as an individual. It is a fantastic opportunity to hear what the process of becoming a parent would be like for you, by discussing your future with exhibitors, including: British Surrogacy Centre; Simply Fertility and California Fertility Partners – who together, have over 30 years’ of experience. Plus, there will be seminars all day, which will be held by world class experts who will discuss the options for your journey, or explain their own steps into parenthood. Speakers will include Anne-Marie Hutchinson, OBE, Tony Drewitt-Barlow, on his personal surrogacy journey and a designated question time with experts from The California Fertility Partnership, Dawson Cornwell and Andrea Bryman. Entry is free if you pre-register and you will be surrounded by people waiting to work for you – to give you what you need and tohelp create the family you have always dreamed of. Everything you always thought you couldn’t have, you now can, and leading experts are waiting to help. So what are you waiting for? Go down, and make the most of the day and start on the exciting journey of becoming a parent. After all good things come in threes Article: 15th March 2013

'Snowballs' cooling pants to help improve male fertility

For men who are trying to conceive a baby the ideal environment in which to store their little swimmers is one cooled to a temperature slightly below core body heat. So now one forward-thinking Morocco-based man (who has suffered fertility problems of his own) has invented a pair of men's underpants that keep things downstairs chilly in order to maximise the chances of conceiving. American Josh Shoemake's patented 'Snowballs' pants come with a special integrated pocket that cools a man's nether regions in effort to boost his sperm count. Shoemake, 38, a full-time writer who was headmaster of The American School of Tangier for 5 years, himself spent lots of money and suffered endless heartache going through the 'fertility factory' with his wife. Originally from Virginia, Shoemake came up with the idea for Snowballs after a friend of his was told by a doctor to cool his genitals in order to help him conceive a baby. On his Kickstarter webpage - through which he is attempting to net US$20,000 (£13,361) of funding before 4 April in order to produce and market the underpants - Shoemake explains how he and his friend became obsessed with the idea of how heat affects male fertility. He says: 'It was my friend and his wife who really provided the breakthrough. It had been a painful year. There had been a silent miscarriage after two years of trying, and the best doctor that money could buy had said that their chances were now zero.' Shoemake continues: 'They ignored his advice and saw another doctor, and then another, until finally one gynecologist took the time to sit down with them and listen carefully. 'Almost immediately, he had a new plan. First, my friend should begin icing his balls. Huh? And then he should have himself tested for a varicocele. Again, huh?' Varicoceles are enlarged veins in the scrotum that bring more blood and raise scrotal temperatures. When Shoemake's friend began icing his testicles, he and his wife conceived a daughter. Speaking to MailOnline, Shoemake said: The studies showing that icing works are pretty recent, and we're just starting out, but there is no doubt that heat kills sperm, and that icing prevents that. 'I imagine we'll have some additional testimonials pretty soon, but in fertility science, like in most science, it's difficult to isolate any one factor. 'As we say on the site: "We believe in miracles, but don't count on Snowballs to work 'miracles'. They should increase both sperm quality and quantity, and they should give you a better chance to conceive at minimal cost, but fertility science is complex, and you'll also want to consult with a urologist (for varicoceles), as well as your fertility specialist.' If Shoemake accrues enough funding, each order of Snowballs will include three pair of specially designed underwear, three unique SnowWedges™, and a guide to what else you can be doing to maximize your chances at fatherhood. Market price will be somewhere between $65 and $80 (£43-£53), and those who donate on Kickstarter will receive a discount. Article: 13th March 2013 www.dailymail.co.uk

Janis Hetherington: 'There are a lot of gay families out there'

Janis Hetherington sits with her back erect on a pink chaise, in a pink room. We are in the understated grandeur of her 17th-century longhouse in a sleepy town in Oxfordshire, which she shares with her long-term partner, Barbara. Her grey hair is wound in a tight plait and pinned to her head. With wide trousers, waistcoat, jaunty cravat and a hanky in her pocket she resembles a country gent about to go hunting. More than 40 years ago, Janis was the first lesbian in the UK to undergo artificial insemination. For anyone else that might have been a daunting decision, fraught with fear of the potential repercussions and prejudice, but for Janis it was only one of several controversial decisions that have characterised her life. Age hasn't calmed her wild ways; at 66, she's still a massive flirt. "If I were 20 years younger!" she cackles, patting my knee, with a Cheshire cat grin and saucer-wide eyes. To say Janis has a high sex drive is an understatement. In her youth, she was, "totally addicted to, if you like, sex. It was bliss." She says it with a Miranda-style primness, all Patricia Hodge plummy tones – but there's a Carry On whimsy to her saucy life story. As a teenager, Janis was determined to explore her sexuality and she took a 25-year-old lover when she was just 15. "A lot of people would say she should be arrested," she says. "That's absolute rubbish. I mean, I was the one seducing her!" At 16, she travelled to France, where she was recruited into a brothel and at just 18 moved back to London to start up a sex business of her own. During that time she was raped and became pregnant, but at seven months, she miscarried. By the age of 25, Janis felt she had "done everything" and the lifestyle had begun to wear her down; "it wasn't all a bed of roses" she says despondently. She began to long for stability, a partner – and a baby. "She was scared and exhausted and she also felt trapped. She had this great, glamorous life but what she really needed was someone to love her for who she really was," says Nick, Janis's son. Now 41, Nick is married, living in New York and is working on the screenplay of his mother's life. He's had uncomfortable conversations that a son might not normally have with his mother, but it's helped him to understand her. "I've become almost her biographer," he says. In 1971, aged 25, Janis met Judy. Ten days later, they left London for Bicester, Oxfordshire, bringing Judy's five-year-old daughter, Lisa, with them. They settled down, ran a dress shop together and got involved in the local women's football team. They quickly decided to have a child. The fertility doctor actually donated his own sperm for the insemination. "Whether it was fresh sperm or frozen I don't know ... but he disappeared with his assistant nurse who was quite pretty and he came back looking quite happy," says Janis with a giggle. It was the 1970s and artificial insemination was virtually unheard of, but the community in Bicester was very supportive. "They were all looking forward to it. I used to go hunting with the guys and they would say, 'we'll set her with our spray' – they had this spray they used on the sows to set the sperm, but I said, 'you're not getting into my knickers thank you very much!'" Nine months after Nick was born, Judy died of a heart attack, age 30. "I knew she was dying, because I could hear it – the death rattle, eyes sightless... we got her up on the bed and [a medic friend] started to resuscitate her... you could see her body filling with air... I just knew she was dead. I looked out the window and I felt her go past me and somehow I knew she was gone." The attendant doctor refused to acknowledge Janis as the next of kin. "I said for fuck's sake, she's dead. She's my lover. That's my child we've had together. If you don't believe me get the fucking police." A battle for custody of Lisa quickly ensued and lasted two years in which Janis had no time to grieve. "I was angry, absolutely angry. It was almost as if I had evolved as a butterfly and I was going back to being a caterpillar. I had nothing. I had no rights." "I think in some ways Mummy never got over Judy's death and that was incredibly hard," says Nick. When Nick was two, Janis and Barbara became an item. "We were trying to find out who we were to each other and it was very difficult for Lisa, who had lost her mum... [Janis] is not the easiest mum to have, not because of her sexuality, but because of who she was ... but you strip away the layers and realise she is extremely vulnerable." Janis and Barbara were always open with the children about how Nick had been conceived, although he wasn't fully aware of the life Janis had before he was born. Growing up, Lisa was lavished with presents and both children had a liberal upbringing. Aside from a brief experimental fling at 16 with a man, Nick is straight and thoroughly conventional – although he says this was partly due to the pressure he felt to prove to the world he was normal. He is still close to both Barbara and Janis (whom he calls "Mummy and Mummy"), but Lisa moved to Australia to start a family and has just become a grandmother for the first time. Lisa doesn't speak to Janis or Barbara – although she and Nick often talk. Janis is surprised there are still challenges to be met regarding sexuality today. "I can't understand why people are making such an issue about gay marriage and gay families now. Did they just think it would go away? I do feel totally in a time warp. It's like I am Doctor Who in that bloody telephone box and everything I represented 40 years ago – people have suddenly started to realise it. Why has it taken all this time?" The issue of lesbian insemination has come to the forefront of the news agenda recently, as same-sex couples will be included in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on IVF treatment for the first time. The guidelines state those hoping to start a family should be treated according to the same criteria as heterosexual couples. "'Alternative families' is almost a derogatory name," says Janis, "but now mainstream media are talking about them, perhaps Britain will wake up to the fact there are gay families out there. Besides, the story is not about me any more, the story is about my son, ask him." I do: "It doesn't matter what sort of environment you grow up in, straight, bi or transgender, but that family has to be strong and if it's not strong it will be shitty and, certainly growing up, ours was not strong." Despite those early hurdles, Nick says they are now close. "I now have that unity [with my mother] and my sister has found that unity with her own family." Janis says although the process of telling Nick her life story was "excruciating" she trusted him not to reject her, and he, in turn, felt it explained a lot. "I probably know more about her than anyone else on the planet. There were always a lot of holes that I couldn't figure out. I felt more filled out, more complete when I found out, because it's part of you, isn't it? And all those things you were mad about you sort of go, 'Ah, OK,' and she stops being your mum, in a way, and she is just a human." 'Love Lies Bleeding: Memoirs of a Sexual Revolutionary' by Janis Hetherington is available from Amazon Article: 11th March 2013 www.independent.co.uk

Jayne Torvil's IVF misery revealed: fertility facts you need to know

Jayne Torvill has spoken out about her difficult and heartbreaking experience of trying to conceive by IVF. Despite improvements in IVF success rates, Jayne revealed how her desperation to become a mum took over her life before she came to the decision to adopt. Jayne, 55, half of the super skating duo Torvill and Dean, broke down on Piers Morgan's Life Stories as she spoke for the first time about her trials to get pregnant and how an ectopic pregnancy left her devastated. And with Anna Friel, 36, admitting she's looking into freezing her eggs for when boyfriend Rhys Ifans is ready to become a dad, we looked at what you need to know about your fertility now. IVF success rates The latest figures from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) show that around 25 per cent of IVF cycles using a woman's own, fresh eggs, result in a live baby at the end. However, success rates are clearly related to age. Women aged 35-37 have a success rate of 32.3 per cent but this decreases with each age group beyond 37. 27.7% for women aged 35-37 20.8% for women aged 38-39 13.6% for women aged 40-42 5.0% for women aged 43-44 1.9% for women aged 45+ For frozen egg (which is what Anna Friel is talking about), success rates were similar for each age group but slightly less successful overall, with around 22 per cent of cycles ending up with a live baby. Though Anna blithely said she would freeze her eggs, it's not quite as simple as that. Though the actress is more likely than most potential mums to be able to afford several rounds of IVF, the impact on your body and emotions is huge and shouldn't be taken lightly. Read more... Read more about IVF and alternatives to IVF at www.prideangel.com

Being: The Donor Conceived Perspective

Another full house for the final event of Progress Educational Trust's 'When it Takes More Than Two' series. This time attendees were invited to consider gamete donation from the perspective of the donor conceived. Two donor-conceived people were on the panel and they answered the questions from an engaged audience in an honest and open way. First to speak was Jess Pearce, a donor-conceived adult who only found out about her origins when she was 28. Jess was told by her mum when she was considering starting a family of her own. Her father's vasectomy reversal had been unsuccessful and her parents turned to IVF using donated sperm. Although members of the extended family did not know about the donation, Jess took comfort in the fact that her parents never lied to anyone about her birth. She also knew that as a donor-conceived child she must have been 'really, really wanted'. She referred to her non-biological father as her 'social father' and explained that their relationship has remained largely unchanged by the revelation. Luckily for Jess, she had access to her donor number, but so far had had no luck in finding her donor father. Services like UK DonorLink had been a 'godsend', she said, for her to make friends and discuss her situation with other people on a similar quest to her own. Jess understood her mother's reasons for not telling her, and was grateful that she found out eventually. Although she still hoped to find some information, she understood that it was unlikely she ever would. Christine Gunter spoke next, worried that she might be adding a bit of 'doom and gloom' to the evening. In fact, Christine's talk wasn't as negative as all that. Christine is the Coordinator of UK Donor Link, which is designed to help people who were donor-conceived or who donated before donor anonymity ended get in touch with one another, if they so wish. Christine made the point that it's not just the donor-conceived who have an interest in their genealogy. The success of programmes like 'Who Do You Think You Are?' attests to the broad appeal of tracing ancestors. Similarly, in Christine's experience, the donor-conceived are simply curious about how they came to be, although for some donor-conceived people the revelation can leave them very distressed. Christine found that this was particularly true of those born via donor insemination (DI) in the 1940s and 50s. These people's parents would be unlikely to tell them about their donor and they may have found out in less secure ways. In such cases, said Christine, the confusion and lack of answers can seem to occupy every waking hour of a person's life. Further complications arise when one considers that at this time, there was no limit to the number of donations one could make. In some case, hundreds of children could have been born from one donor. Accidental incest and genetic sexual attraction remain exceptionally unlikely for the offspring of such donors, but can be a real fear. One donor-conceived adult who was struggling with the information about his conception commented that 'my parents never met, and if they did they might not like each other'. This is a common worry for older donor-conceived adults, Christine said - they don't like the idea of a 'medicalised' conception, and would prefer a traditional relationship between their parents. Dr Tabitha Freeman spoke next, and provided useful insights from her work at The University of Cambridge's Centre for Family Research. Tabitha's research concerned children who are donor conceived, and she found that the nature of their conception had very little noticeable psychological impact. More important to their development was the environment that they grow up in – the warmth of the family and quality of parenting. The same was true for children born to single mothers and gay couples; children did not seem to be negatively affected because they were donor conceived. Tabitha believed it helped that the children were obviously wanted, and the parents were likely to be involved and committed. Read more... Article: 4th March 2013 www.bionews.org.uk

Japanese fairy-tale Gay wedding at Disney resort

TOKYO — The wedding was a fairy-tale affair, with flowing dresses and a three-tiered cake set in the most coveted of Japanese venues: the Tokyo Disney Resort. Koyuki Higashi and her partner of one and a half years tied the knot in front of 30 well-wishers on Friday, but much more of the country was in on the celebration, the first same-sex wedding at the theme park here. Ms. Higashi, a stage actress turned gay rights activist, and her partner, Hiroko, who has not revealed her full name, posted frequent social media updates of their wedding plans and from their Christian-style ceremony, with a romantic gondola ride. “My partner Hiroko and I just held a gay wedding at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Even Mickey and Minnie are here to celebrate with us!” Ms. Higashi, 28, wrote in a Twitter post that also had a picture of the newlyweds posing with the big-eared Disney characters and a flower-festooned cake. Her entry was reposted more than 6,000 times, drawing largely positive responses. “Congratulations,” replied Masaki Koh, a Japanese gay porn star. “Your wonderful wedding will bring inspiration and hope to many people who still hesitate to take the first step. I was also encouraged that Tokyo Disney Resort was so understanding.” But on the Naver Matome site, which collects and curates social media entries, a user who identified himself as Nizo Hakoda remarked: “I don’t particularly mind homosexuality and same-sex marriage, but watching the news made me wonder why they had to hold their ceremony at a crowded place like Disney. It’s fine for the people who accept it, but there are others who don’t.” The Walt Disney Company had long allowed same-sex celebrations in a limited way on its grounds, like in banquet halls. But in 2007, it began allowing same-sex couples to buy high-end wedding packages, which can include elaborate ceremonies, Disney characters and public displays at its theme parks and on its cruises. Despite that change in policy, Ms. Higashi found that no same-sex wedding had ever occurred at Tokyo Disney Resort. She reported on her blog and on Twitter that she had inquired about weddings at Tokyo Disney Sea, a part of the Disney Resort. But when it became apparent to the organizers that her partner was female, Ms. Higashi reported, she was asked if one of them could wear a tuxedo — so that other visitors to the park would not feel uncomfortable. Her posts set off the first stir on Japanese social media sites. A week later, the organizers at Milial Resort Hotels, a subsidiary of the company that runs Tokyo Disney, got back to Ms. Higashi with good news: both brides were welcome to wear wedding dresses (or both tuxedos, for that matter). “Mickey Mouse supports gay marriage!” Web headlines declared. Milial Resort Hotels issued an apology. “Initially, there was an incomplete understanding on the part of our staff over the requirement for dresses,” said Jun Abe, a Milial spokeswoman. “If we caused them sadness and discomfort, we are sorry.” Of course, their dream wedding did leave something to be desired for the couple: legal standing. Japan does not recognize same-sex marriages, though there is little in the way of religious opposition from Buddhism, imported from China, or Japan’s native Shinto religion. Japanese historical texts contain references to same-sex relationships. Some local governments, including Tokyo, ban discrimination at work based on sexual identity, but even so, in this group-conscious, relatively conformist society, most gay residents remain in the closet. Gay public figures tend to be in TV entertainment, where gay men win laughs as flamboyant queens. Ms. Higashi came out less than three years ago after a short-lived stage career, while Hiroko says she cannot use her full name widely because some family members are not fully comfortable with her sexuality. Hiroko said, however, that she was emboldened by the response the couple had received from friends, family and social media, and that she hoped that her wedding helped create a public discussion. “This could prompt Japan to question why it so often ignores or discriminates against minorities,” Hiroko said. “Mostly we just want people to know that gay people exist for real, and we would like to throw weddings like everyone else.” Article: 4th March 2013 www.nytimes.com

Children in gay adoption are at no disadvantage study shows

Recent Study shows children adopted by lesbian and gay couples are at no disadvantage. Fears that children do less well in life are completely unfounded, according to the first study into how children and parents in non-traditional families fare compared with heterosexual households. The findings, from the University of Cambridge's Centre for Family Research, will be published in a report by the British Association of Adoption and Fostering tomorrow. Researchers found that gay and lesbian parents are at least as good at coping with the demands of parenting. Children do not suffer any disadvantage, and the vast majority are not bullied at school, but the report warns: "Bullying and teasing are much more of a problem in secondary schools than primary schools; thus, only follow-up will reveal how things turn out in the future." The experiences of 130 gay, lesbian and heterosexual adoptive families in Britain, with children aged four to eight, were examined – focusing on the quality of family relationships, how parents cope and how children adjust. The study concludes "there was no evidence" to support speculation that children's masculine or feminine tendencies are affected by having gay or lesbian parents. Family life and the quality of relationships are very similar for children regardless of their parents' sexual orientation, it says. Professor Susan Golombok, director of the Cambridge centre and report co-author, said: "What I don't like is when people make assumptions that a certain type of family, such as gay fathers, will be bad for children. The anxieties about the potentially negative effects for children of being placed with gay fathers seem to be, from our study, unfounded." Gay men are less likely to have depression, anxiety, stress and relationship problems while coping with parenthood. One reason cited is that "same-sex couples were much less likely to have experienced infertility on their route to parenthood and were more likely to come to adoption as their first choice". In addition, "gay fathers, in particular, are extremely committed to parenting". The former TV presenter Phil Reay-Smith, who has an adopted son, said: "I'm not at all surprised that gay couples have been found to be just as good adopters as straight adopters are. I look at my own family, which is me, my husband, Michael, and our son, Scott, who is six, and we just have a very boring family life. We haven't had any problems in the playground yet. My main concern is perhaps what happens at secondary school, but my belief is that if we educate him to have the confidence in himself about his family situation, he'll be able to deal with anything that does crop up." The issue of children being brought up by same-sex parents divides opinion. Welsh Secretary David Jones was condemned last month after claiming that gay couples "clearly" could not provide a "warm and safe environment for the upbringing of children". He has since said he is not opposed to same-sex adopters. More lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people should come forward, said Sir Martin Narey, the Government's adoption adviser. Speaking on the eve of LGBT adoption and fostering week, he said: "I have seen how LGBT people, who tend to come to adoption as their first choice for becoming parents, bring determination and enthusiasm to it. Many more gay adopters need to be encouraged to come forward." Article: 3rd March 2013 www.independent.co.uk

The National Gay Wedding Show 3rd March 2013 Liverpool

Are you planning your gay wedding? Would you like ideas for fantastic venues, dresses, cakes and more? Come to the BT Convention Centre on the 3rd March 2013, for the National Gay Wedding Show, where you will be able to view a wide range of products and services across the whole wedding market. Under amendments made to The Marriages and Civil Partnerships Regulations in 2011, allowing same sex couples to register for a civil partnership, 53,417 ceremonies have been conducted, a number that still continues to rise. The National Gay Wedding Show will have over 200 hand selected exhibitors from every aspect of the wedding industry, to help you learn everything you need to know about your special day. It will not only blow your wedding shoes off, but will guide you through what is set to be one of the most important days of your life. As you are entering into married life together, maybe you have also thought about starting a family of your own. Why not check out Pride Angel’s stall at the show for information and advice about becoming a parent as a gay or lesbian couple. SHOW FEATURES Over 200 hand selected exhibitors Free Rainbow coloured ice cream cones from our very own vintage van Live entertainment Catwalk Shows and demonstrations VIP Lounge Wedding Wonderland full of tasty treats Wedding experts on hand to offer advice and experience Dressing Room for all your dressing up and trying on needs, with advice for all! Goodie Bag for every visitor Beauty tips and treats Champagne Bar + so much more VIP Package VIP tickets available, tickets include: Entry to an exclusive VIP relaxation area Fast track entrance Complimentary glass of champagne Complimentary VIP goody bag Exclusive live lounge entertainment The tickets will cost £20 per person Under 14’s must be accompanied by an adult over 18.