Pride Angel Journey - Apprehensions

Most pregnant women and their partners await the birth with at least a little apprehension – and with good reason: my friends alone have provided me with enough childbirth horror stories to last a lifetime – failed epidurals, forceps and the nightmare that is otherwise known as ‘induction’. We weren’t worried about these things. After my long but calm and straightforward labour with little Luna, and after a good few months of reading books on ‘natural’ childbirth, we were confident that our home birth would be a smooth, gentle, pleasant affair. I still had apprehensions though. Firstly, Luna. She would be approximately 13 months at Willow’s birth. She always co-slept with me; she was exclusively breastfed and still fed through the night; she was unused to other people looking after her and prone to separation anxiety. How could I both be a supportive birth partner and give Luna what she needed? And secondly, how could I be a supportive birth partner? When I was giving birth, the midwife had praised Sal’s efforts, suggesting she could be a professional doula. Sal had planned every tiny detail of her forthcoming labour. I meanwhile, was working full time and spending every spare moment with Luna who would cling to me from the moment I stepped through the door. How could I possibly find time to learn the reflexology techniques, memorise the birth mantras and work out which homeopathy remedy should be used when? We inflated the birth pool and had a practice run: all three of us bobbing about in a big hot tub in the steamy, humid living room. Then, 9 days before Sal’s due date, when Luna was exactly 13 months old, after weeks of pushing trolleys and holding hands, she finally walked unaided – she was ready to be big sister. We had arranged for my brother and his partner to come and stay the weekends either side of the due date – Monday 16th June. They would look after Luna. Sal, knowing that the time was right because we had people to care for Luna, would go into labour on one of the two weekends. I thought it would be the second of the two weekends: surely most babies are late? It was Sunday 15th June. “Lins,” Sal said. I opened my eyes. She was talking at normal volume at 7.30am in a room with a sleeping toddler – why would she do that?! “Lins, I think it’s starting!” Article: by Lindsey, West Yorkshire 7th December 2014

New centre brings integrated cutting edge fertility, gynaecology and IVF treatment to the North West

Reproductive Health Group have recently opened the newest and most modern clinic in the North West, at Daresbury Park, in Cheshire. We have called the clinic the Centre for Reproductive Health, and we are different for two main reasons: • it was designed by consultants and embryologists to meet the very highest standards in patient care. • as well as offering the latest fertility techniques, including genetic testing and EEVA embryo selection, the clinic also has a fully-equipped operating facility in which we carry out day case surgical procedures. We promise that we will only recommend the best care pathway for patients, once we have carried out all the appropriate investigations that could reveal the cause of the apparent infertility. That is why, unlike other IVF clinics, the Centre for Reproductive Health is equipped with the vey latest equipment for gynaecology and urology day case procedures. Whilst we believe we have built a market leading facility, we are even prouder of the team of highly experienced embryologists, nurses and support staff who we have recruited to join us – they all share our commitment to quality, and to delivering the best possible outcomes for our patients. We work with a number of associates and have satellite clinics in Manchester, Preston, Cheadle and London.

Coverting your civil partnership to a marriage?

As of the 29 March 2014, marriage for same-sex couples in England and Wales became a reality and many have already tied the knot. At the time the Same Sex Couples (Marriage) Bill was passed there was no immediate provision for those in a civil partnership to be able to convert this to a marriage if they chose. However, in the recently published ‘The Marriage of Same Sex Couples (Conversion of Civil Partnership) Regulations 2014’ it is now the case that from 10 December 2014 civil partnerships can be converted to marriage. But how will this work and what does it mean in practice? In order to convert a civil partnership into a marriage, most couples will need to follow the prescribed ‘standard procedure’. There are specified procedures for the less common scenarios, such as couples that are housebound, detained persons and for couples where a person is seriously ill and is not expected to recover. No matter which procedure is used, there is to be no religious service used at a conversion. The standard procedure involves a fairly straightforward process where couples must attend a register office together. They must give the registrar the following information in order to be able to sign an official declaration: forenames, surname, date of birth, sex, rank or profession, address and the date and place of the formation of the civil partnership. Afterwards, the registrar must register the conversion declaration as soon as is practicable. There should also be no need to pay a fee provided the civil partnership was registered before the 29 March 2014 and the conversion takes place before 10 December 2015. It should therefore be an easy process to convert a civil partnership into a marriage and couples may use this as an opportunity to celebrate the ability to have their union recognized as now being a marriage. Prior to the change in law allowing same-sex marriage, the distinction between a marriage and civil partnership was always an uncomfortable one in terms of terminology as it seemed to suggest same-sex couples were the ‘same, but different’. The ability to convert should now at least address that imbalance, but in actual fact, does this somehow undermine the status of a civil partnership? From a legal perspective, the distinctions between a civil partnership and a marriage are minimal, as was the original intention of Parliament when the Civil Partnership Act 2004 was created. When couples in a civil partnership separate and they wish to formally bring the legal relationship to an end then they need to apply to the court to dissolve their civil partnership. The process is the same as for heterosexual couples when getting divorced other than same-sex couples cannot rely on adultery as a ground for dissolution. With same-sex marriage it will be possible to become divorced as opposed to dissolution and adultery can be relied upon as a ground, but only if the adultery took place with a member of the opposite sex. Additionally, when trying to resolve financial matters, the parameters that lawyers and judges use are identical as for same-sex couples and heterosexual couples. This means that, for those who wish to convert their civil partnership to a marriage, it should make no practical or legal difference. It would appear therefore that for those who wish to convert their legal union, it really comes to down to personal choice as to whether they wish to become married or to simply remain as civil partners. It will no doubt be very important for many couples to be allowed the status they always felt they should have had and be recognized as legally married. There is a wealth of further information at nataliegambleassociates.com Article: 28th October 2014 www.gaystarnews.com

Pride Angel at the Fertility Show 2014

Another successful year at the Fertility Show, with over 5,000 visitors over the weekend. Erika Tranfield co-founder of Pride Angel was delighted to give a talk this year about the benefits of known donation and co-parenting. Alongside Fertility Lawyer Nicola Scott of Natalie Gamble Associates, who explained the legal considerations and how preparing a legal agreement can help clarify intentions. The Fertility Show gave visitors a wide range of quality information about fertility treatments and how complementary therapies and nutrition can enhance fertility and improves chances of having a healthy pregnancy.

Single woman or lesbian couple? get advice at the Fertility Show

Visit the Fertility Show this weekend 1st Nov - 2nd Nov. It's taking place at the Olympia London Exhibition Centre, Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UX. Below are some seminars you may want to book. Saturday 15.45-16.30 Single women and lesbian couples - options for conceiving. What are the routes open to women who want to conceive without having sex with a man? Dr Carole Gilling-Smith, Medical Director of the Agora Fertility Clinic, explains the practical issues around getting pregnant with donor sperm, including IUI and IVF, whilst Deborah Sloan, The Agora's Fertility Counsellor, provides insight into the patient's perspective by looking at some of the issues discussed in counselling. Sunday 13.30-14.15 Single woman in your 30s or 40s? Thinking about having a baby on your own? Then come to this talk and let Caroline Spencer, fertility coach, ex-nurse, cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist and single mum to a donor conceived child, guide you through the decision making process. Having gone solo herself, Caroline now supports and mentors others through their decisions as well as being a trustee for the Donor Conception Network. In this talk she looks at your choices, how they relate to you, what you need to consider and outlines some of her own experiences. Sunday 14.30-15.15 Unknown donor vs Known donor vs Co-parenting Single women and lesbian couples looking to start a family face big issues from the outset when it comes to choosing a donor. Anonymity may seem like the simplest route but knowing more about a donor has its advantages, not least for those who want their child to have a relationship with its father. Fertility lawyer Nicola Scott of Natalie Gamble Associates looks at the practical and legal issues behind these decisions as well as the rights and responsibilities of the parties involved, whilst Erika Tranfield of Pride Angel, a website that facilitates and encourages conversations between donors and potential parents, offers an insight into the thinking and motivation of the people who connect via her site. Article: 28th October 2014 www.fertilityshow.co.uk

Five foods that may help male fertility

New research suggests a poor diet can wreak havoc on more than a man’s pants size. Guys, you’ve heard the standard advice for protecting your swimmers: Don’t wear tight undies. Keep your laptop far from, well, your lap. Stop smoking ASAP. But there may be an even easier way to shield your sperm — watch what you eat. “We’ve noticed that fertility has been decreasing over the past several decades. And guys want advice to improve upon matters,” said Dr. Ryan Terlecki, director of the Men’s Health Clinic for the Wake Forest University Department of Urology. “Most guys have never even heard that anything in their diet could impact sperm count.” But the truth is, an emerging body of research suggests that the foods you pile on your plate may play a role in the number of sperm you have (count), whether they’re normally shaped (morphology), and how well they move (motility). How that does that play out in the bedroom? “Sperm count is, of course, important, because if it’s not there, you’re not going to [biologically] father a kid,” said Dr. Paul Turek, president of the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology. “And I think sperm motility is more important than sperm count.” Although morphology is less firmly linked to fertility, it has been shown in a number of studies to influence reproductive success, said Audrey Gaskins, who researches nutrition and fertility at the Harvard School of Public Health. Although the research is still new, one thing is clear: The foods that may pose a threat to male fertility are many of the same dietary culprits behind things such as Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease. That means you’d be smart to avoid them, regardless of whether you plan to make a baby any time soon.The following foods might get in the way of fatherhood: Processed meats Sure, meat is considered the ultimate man food — but if you eat the wrong kind, your sperm could be compromised. In a 2014 Harvard study, men who consumed the most processed meat — hamburgers, hot dogs, salami, bologna, bacon — had 23 percent fewer normal sperm than guys who ate it sparingly. In another 2014 study, published in the journal Epidemiology, the same researchers found that eating processed meat was associated with lower sperm count. Interestingly, saturated fat intake — which has previously been blamed for poor sperm quality — wasn’t the nutritional connection. “We didn’t find a link with unprocessed red meat, so it seems to be something that happens in the processing that is detrimental to sperm quality,” Gaskins told Yahoo Health. One possibility: Processed meats tend to house more hormonal residues than other meats, which could have potential reproductive consequences. “In the U.S., we allow more hormones to be administered to our cattle [than in the European Union],” she said. “So this is definitely one possible p> “Dark meat fish have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids,” which have been previously shown to boost healthy sperm, said Gaskins. The extra dose of vitamin D in dark-meat fish may also be a factor. Full-fat dairy Whole milk may leave you with a fraction of the healthy sperm you should have. Young guys who eat at least two servings of full-fat dairy — especially cheese and whole milk — per day tend to have fewer motile sperm, according to a 2013 study in Human Reproduction. Don’t blame the cows, though: Pesticides and other chemical contaminants in the environment, which are attracted to the fat in dairy, may be what leads to subpar sperm, the scientists say. Eat this instead: You don’t have to ditch dairy altogether. Just switch your focus to the low-fat kind: Men who consume a couple servings of low-fat dairy — especially 1% or 2% milk — per day have 33 percent higher sperm counts and more motile sperm than those who eat little or no low-fat dairy, a 2014 study in Fertility and Sterility found. One explanation: Low-fat milk may boost levels of insulin growth factor-1, a hormone thought to aid the cells that help produce sperm, the scientists say. “It’s not always the sperm themselves [that are affected],” said Terlecki. “Sometimes, it’s the supporting cells — those that create testosterone to nurture sperm development, and cells that guide the sperm toward maturation. We see those cells affected a lot, in terms of compounds that come from the diet.” Non-organic produce That fresh spinach may come with a side of pesticides — and your sperm could be the first casualty: In a study presented at the 2014 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Annual Meeting, which took place this week, men who consumed the most pesticide residues through produce had 64 percent fewer normal sperm and 70 percent fewer motile sperm than guys who took in the least. Pesticides may throw your hormonal balance out of whack, which can interfere with your body’s production of sperm, said Gaskins. “We’re concerned about low chronic exposure, day after day at a low dose,” she said. “Our body slowly becomes unable to deal with these low-level impacts over time. This slowly leads to destruction.” Eat this instead: We’d never suggest you eliminate produce from your diet — but you may want to consider shelling out the cash for organic fruits and vegetables, especially when it comes to these pesticide-laden picks: apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, peaches, spinach, sweet bell peppers, nectarines (imported), cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes. A 2014 Environmental Working Group study showed that these 10 fruits and vegetables have the highest pesticide load. Alcohol You booze, you lose — sperm, that is. Drinking alcohol may have a negative impact on sperm concentration and motility, according to a 2012 Brazilian study of men seeking fertility treatments. Why? Downing copious amounts of alcohol may lead to total-body oxidative stress, which is a key cause of male infertility, the researchers say. But one drink probably isn’t a problem: “In moderation, alcohol intake seems to have no effect on semen quality,” Gaskins said. However, as a new Danish study found, modest but habitual alcohol intake — slightly less than a bottle of wine per week — may compromise sperm quality. Drink this instead: An occasional beer probably won’t do your body any harm, but if you’re constantly sipping on something (besides water), make it pomegranate juice. In a Turkish study, male rats given pomegranate juice on a daily basis experienced a boost in sperm count and motility. The purple juice is a rich source of antioxidants, like vitamin C, and although this was an animal study, past research has linked a high intake of antioxidants in men to better semen quality. “Men who eat a healthier diet with higher antioxidants — particularly from natural foods, as opposed to supplements — tend to have higher motility,” noted Gaskins. Soda Here’s yet another reason to kick the can: In a new study of 189 healthy young men, published in Human Reproduction, regularly drinking sugar-sweetened drinks — slightly more than a serving per day — was linked to poorer sperm motility. (Interestingly, this connection was strongest among lean men.) Sipping on sugary beverages — soda, sports drinks, sweet tea — boosts your odds of insulin resistance, which in turn leads to oxidative stress than can damage your sperm, the scientists say. Eat this instead: If you need a shot of sugar, make it the kind found in fruit — not soda. In the Brazilian study, fruit was positively related to sperm quality, although, keep in mind, you should go organic whenever possible (or give your fruit a good scrubbing before eating it).

The HFEA Information for quality consultation - want your views

Information plays an increasingly important role in all our lives and in the provision of public services. In education, health and many other areas, online services aim to help service users to make better-informed choices and to help service providers monitor their own performance. The HFEA is working with other government organisations, through the National Information Board, to maximise the use of data and technology across the health and care system – to benefit patients, professionals, citizens and taxpayers. Information for Quality (IfQ) is our own contribution to that effort: an ambitious programme to transform the way we collect, use and publish information to benefit patients, the public and clinics. Here we set out how we plan to modernise our information services and ask for your views about some of the changes we want to make. This website sets out both our plans and proposals, which falls into three strands: - The information we collect - How clinics submit data to us - How we publish information Having read our plans, we ask that you consider the issues we set out on subsequent pages (which you can navigate to from the bottom of each page). These are designed to get you thinking about our proposals and what they could mean for you or your service. You can download a copy of all the information and questions we set out on this website should you wish to share and discuss with colleagues. You can feed in your views by completing our online survey by 12 November, or, if you are a professional working in the sector, attending one of our consultation workshops.

YTE Dietary supplement could help combat stress and help fertility

At any given time in the UK, some 200,000 women have been trying for a baby for 6 months or more. About 1 in 4 women TTC will fall into the category of unexplained infertility. Infertility is, in this case, a misnomer as, after 3 years of trying 93% of women achieve a natural pregnancy. (70% after 3 months) It is unexplained because a range of common issues can affect your chances of success and these could be different ones each cycle or a combination of several. Apart from frustration, waiting and not knowing cause stress. When this is compounded by work, relationships or other stressors it can lead to underlying chronic stress without you realising it. In chronic stress your body keeps producing cortisol, the main stress hormone. In women the overproduction can lead to delayed ovulation or no ovulation at all. More importantly, it impairs the preparation of the uterus for implantation of the egg. (also a major issue in IVF success rates) In men stress affects sperm quality. YTE is a dietary supplement that breaks the vicious cycle of chronic stress. It may help you to prevent potential issues due to stress. Article: 9th October 2014 YTE Dietary supplement

Pride Angel Journey - A Little Bump

Six weeks, seven weeks, eight weeks...we waited for the nausea to become a crippling misery of sickness...nine weeks, ten weeks, eleven weeks...still just a vague queasiness...twelve weeks, thirteen weeks, fourteen weeks and we finally accepted with relief (and a little envy on my part) that not all pregnancies involve eleven weeks of retching, vomiting and despair. After the initial bleeding scare, Sally's pregnancy was to be a low maintenance one, and with a eight-month-old baby Luna to look after, this was no bad thing. Fifteen weeks, sixteen weeks, seventeen weeks... Luna though of course, being a baby, was on the high maintenance end of the scale, and required every bit of attention that two mummies could provide. She had developed a strong attraction to all objects small and swallow-hazardy, an uncanny ability to smear yoghurt into into everything within a two-metre radius of the dining table, and a deep love of "milky" - such that I spent hours and hours and hours trapped under a sleepy, sucky bundle of now rather big baby. So Sally might have had an easy time of it, but lost amidst the nappies and lullabies and bootees and board books, she missed out a bit - on the tummy rubs and pampering and excitement of a first pregnancy. And perhaps I - not having had chance to get to know the little bump so well - missed out a bit too. Eighteen weeks, nineteen weeks, twenty weeks...and that little bump that was really starting to show... Article: by Lindsey, West Yorkshire 1st October 2014

How George Clooney can increase his fertility at age 53?

With the wedding almost out of the way speculation will be rife that babies are going to be next on the agenda for George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin. And although George looks to be in the peak of physical fitness, he is 53 and from a baby making point of view it's his clock that is ticking for a change. Although a man's fertility does not decline in the same way as a woman's, it is certainly the case that advancing age can have an impact. Several studies have shown that being over 50 is associated with a decline in semen volume, sperm motility and morphology. So, if like George you're slightly more mature than the average budding dad-to-be, what can you do to ensure your sperm is in tiptop condition? 1. Ease back on the nespressos - scientific studies vary in their conclusions and it's difficult to separate caffeine intake from other lifestyle factors but some research suggests too much caffeine can reduce sperm count. I suggest no more than one caffeinated drink a day. Don't forget the caffeine in fizzy drinks and when ordering from the big coffee chains ask for one shot not two. 2. Stay out of the sauna. I'm sure the Aman Canal Grande Hotel in Venice has some amazing facilities, but not for you, George! Extreme heat is very bad for sperm and if you sit cooking them in a sauna they will be collapsing left, right and centre. Hot baths are also a no-no, though showers are OK. The good news though, if you have been indulging in spa facilities recently, is that sperm count will usually return to normal within about 3 months. 3. Cut back on the booze - apparently Clooney's best friend has flown in 50 cases of tequila for the wedding weekend. I definitely wouldn't deprive the groom of a good knees-up on his own wedding day but it's probably wise to scale back after that. One large study published in 2009 found that couples who shared one bottle of wine a week were 25% less likely to be successful at IVF. 4. Eat well - breakfast, lunch and dinner, all to contain some protein to help balance blood sugar throughout the day, plenty of leafy green veg, not too much sugar etc etc - you know the drill. You don't have to deny yourself the treats you love but eat more of the good stuff and the rubbish will be crowded out. 5. Don't use a laptop on your lap. There is the heat generated by the computer itself which is directed straight at the testicles but also the knees together position used to balance the laptop has an effect. It takes only 20 minutes of sitting with the knees together for testicular temperature to rise to a level that adversely affects sperm. 6. Drink plenty of water. Semen is 98% water. If you're a bit dehydrated your body directs what water it has to your heart, your brain, your liver, your lungs - the major organs - and your reproductive system is way down the pecking order. Aim for 1.5 to 2 litres a day. 7. Take your mobile phone out of your Armani trouser pocket, George. Further research in this area is needed but initial evidence suggests that men who carried their mobile phones in their trouser pockets had reduced motility and sperm count. Put it in your jacket pocket instead and store it off your body altogether whenever you can. 8. Ejaculate regularly. Not a problem usually for newlyweds, but if work schedules take you far apart or if you've been trying for a while and sex has become a chore it can become an issue. It does no good to store up sperm and in fact the more you ejaculate the more you stimulate the testes to produce new, young, fit, healthy sperm which are more likely to be capable of fertilisation. Article: 29th September 2014 www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

Mas Gay Raid Ball - 7th November 2014 - Buy your tickets now

Its Crazy, Its Wild, Its BIG and its Brave.... Is it a Concert?,Is it a Ball?,Is it a Rave? Not it’s a.. Mas-Gay-Raid Ball In London’s Multi Million pound venue ‘THE TROXY’, 490 Commercial Rd, London E1 0HX, United Kingdom Friday 7th November 2014
Due to Public Demand we have put together an event of a lifetime for the people ! RAWX Presents Mas-Gay-Raid Concert Ball. Bring your masks, your costumes and your friends to have the night of your life from 7pm – 2am, with an after party to follow. The experience from the moment you walk through the doors will be thrilling, entertaining and mind blowing. From Abstract face Painters, to flying glow In the dark acrobats this event will be like no other. Your Going to talk about it ! Your going to Feel it ! Your going to want to come BACK to it. ! Don’t miss your chance to see some of the hottest Dj’s Battle,DJ FABIO LUIGI, DJ LEO BLANCO as well as some sexy Male Pole dancers surprise performances and a wet wet pants dancing competition. HOSTED BY NONE ONLY THAN THE INFAMOUS ‘LA VOIX’ Get your body painted and even pick up a ‘Cock Dog’ and some 'Pop Porn' on your way in.. Contact: Genea Fortune Unplugged Music Nation Phone +1917 214 5358 Alt No: 07538 055 980 gfortune@live.com

Pride Angel at the Alternative Parenting Show 2014

The Alternative Parenting Show had another successful exhibition at the weekend. It provided a one-stop shop, which gave valuable information to same-sex and heterosexual couples and single men and women on how to make the dream of having a family a reality. In today's society families are made up of all different combinations, however this brings the need for fresh information. The show included advice from leading experts in their field on how to navigate through the minefield of having a child. Top areas included legal provisions, surrogacy, fertility, co-parenting, fostering and adoption. The one day event provided people with the opportunity to chat in an informal atmosphere to the experts who could give the answers needed. Pride Angel were delighted to have exhibited and enjoyed being able to answer the many questions asked about starting a family with the help of a known sperm or egg donor. The show was run by event and publishing specialist Square Peg Media.

The law in Ireland does not recognise that I am Edie's parent'

Edie is the one-year-old daughter Clodagh has with her partner of eight years, Moninne Griffith. Although it was Moninne who carried Edie for nine months and although Clodagh does not have any biological relationship to Edie, she feels a bond as deep and powerful as that of any mother. "She has brought such joy into our worlds," she says. "I can't imagine life without her." But Clodagh's joy is tinged with anxiety. "Right now, legally, I have no connection to Edie whatsoever. The law does not recognise that I am her parent. What if something happened to Moninne? I'd have no rights whatsoever." Her pain is shared by Moninne, who is co-director of the Marriage Equality advocacy organisation. "The law, as it stands today, is discriminatory towards families like ours," she says. "Our families, friends and neighbours all fully accept that Clodagh and I are Edie's parents, but the State doesn't." Dubliner Moninne hopes that the proposed Children and Family Relationships Bill will become legislation by the end of the year. "It will provide greater security for all of us, especially Edie." Moninne says she always wanted to be a mother and loved being pregnant: "It was such a happy time. I know some women have tough pregnancies, but I was lucky." Clodagh was by her side at the Coombe Maternity Hospital when Moninne gave birth. It was the end of a journey that began several years earlier in an IVF clinic when, invariably, they were the only gay couple in the waiting room. The couple came out as gay at different stages of their lives. Clodagh was in her mid-20s. "I'd had boyfriends before," she says. "I'd been afraid of homophobia, worried that I wouldn't be accepted. But when I told people, the response was really positive. I got great support." Moninne came out in her 30s. She had been married to a man for several years and it was after that relationship had ended that she had "the great fortune" to meet Clodagh. "I don't like labels," she says, "but I would identify as a lesbian now. I'm not trying to erase my past - I had relationships with men. When I was younger, coming out seemed to mean that it would be so much harder to become a mother, but that's certainly not the case now." Both women have been greatly heartened by the warmth and support they have received from strangers, including older neighbours in their apartment complex in Dalkey, Co Dublin. "We've been really touched by how lovely they've been," Moninne says. "It's a sign about how accepting Ireland has become and how much its changed in a matter of decades, although I do think it is easier for society to accept two mammies rather than two daddies." Obstacles remain, however. "I am lucky in that I teach in an Educate Together school where the management, staff and parents are very accepting," Clodagh says. "But that's not the case for many lesbian and gay teachers in Ireland who have to pretend they're something they're not in order to keep their jobs. "The INTO have an LGBT group that is trying to have Section 37.1 of the Employment Equality Act dropped. This discriminates against gay teachers and people in the medical world and other jobs. It shouldn't be in place in 2014 and it's a reminder that for all the progress that has been made in Ireland, there are still reminders that full equality does not exist." Moninne is quietly confident that the referendum on same-sex marriage will be carried next spring, The polls suggest a huge margin in favour of gay marriage, but she is unwilling to jump the gun just yet. "We need people who favour marriage equality to go out and vote and not sit and home and think, 'I don't need to vote because the polls say it will happen'". Should the referendum be carried, Clodagh and Moninne will start planning a special wedding day. "I would hope that it would be as important and meaningful for my family as my brothers' wedding days were." Clodagh was raised in the Church of Ireland tradition and both she and Moninne had Edie christened at St Patrick's Church, Dalkey. "It was such a lovely ceremony," Clodagh says. "So welcoming and inviting and so lovely to have loved ones around us and our baby." Moninne is hopeful that the Ireland that Edie grows up in will be even more tolerant of gay relationships than it is now. "Of course, there are some conservatives who are opposed to gay marriage and the idea of gay parents. But if those people could see how loved children like Edie are, they might find it harder to maintain such views." Article:31st August 2014 www.independent.ie

Mila Kunis takes Yoga classes in final months of pregnancy

Careful doing Downward Dog! In approximately her final month of pregnancy, Mila Kunis is still out and about, taking a yoga class in Studio City, Calif. on Wednesday, Sept. 3. The glowing mom-to-be, 31, was photographed leaving the class in a fitted black tank top and matching leggings. Though Ashton Kutcher’s fiancee has yet to reveal her exact due date, she is definitely nearing the end of her pregnancy. The Jupiter Ascending actress recently told Marie Claire that she’s embracing her body’s changes, especially her expanding chest size. "They're amazing!" Kunis told the mag of her boobs. "They've tripled in size. I was a 34A; now I'm a 36C. I’m so excited! I'm telling everyone I know, 'Go ahead, touch them!'" Article: 7th Setember 2014 www.usmagazine.com

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their second baby

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their second child, it has been confirmed. "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their second child," tweeted Clarence House. A statement from Kensington Palace said that the Queen and members of the royal family are "delighted with the news". As with her pregnancy with Prince George, the Duchess is suffering from acute morning sickness - hyperemesis gravidarum. She is being treated inside Kensington Palace this time, rather than a private hospital where press had previously waited outside for updates. "We're immensely thrilled, it's great news, early days but I'm hoping that things settle down, she feels a bit better," said Prince William today during an official visit to open the Dickson Poon University of Oxford China Centre Building. His wife pulled out of the engagement due her sickness. The Duke of Cambridge meets a young fan during an official visit to Oxford today 8 September "She's feeling ok," he continued. "It's been a tricky few days, week or so. I'm going to go back and look after her now." Kensington Palace said the Duchess's attendance at forthcoming events would be decided on a "case-by-case" basis. She is scheduled to make her first official solo overseas tour to Malta from 20 September for two days. "Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their second child," read the statement. "The Queen and members of both families are delighted with the news. "As with her first pregnancy, The Duchess is suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Her Royal Highness will no longer accompany The Duke of Cambridge on their planned engagement in Oxford today. The Duchess is being treated by doctors at Kensington Palace." Article: 8th September 2014 www.independent.co.uk Read more about fertility and pregnancy at www.prideangel.com

Gwen Stefani says her eldest son's Prayers led to her Pregnancy at age 44

Kingston Rossdale didn’t need a show to put his talent to the test: His voice was heard loud and clear. During a Wednesday appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Gwen Stefani admitted she thought her family of four with husband Gavin Rossdale — including Kingston, 8, and Zuma, 6 — was complete. “[Kingston] asked me, ‘Mom, are you going to have a baby? I want you to have a baby,’ ” The Voice judge recalls. “I was like, ‘It’s over. We’re not having any more. This is our family.’ “ But Kingston used the power of prayer to bring his parents’ newest blessing — Apollo Bowie Flynn, now 6 months — into the world. “Kingston … has a direct link to God, basically,” Stefani, 44, said. “[He started to pray,] ‘Dear God, please let my mom have a baby. Please, God! Please let my mom have a baby.'” Ask and you shall receive: Before long Stefani and Rossdale discovered another baby was on the way. “I swear to you, he prayed every single night, and four weeks later, I was pregnant,” she explained. “I brought out a cake after we found out it was really going to happen and it said, ‘We’re having a baby!’ I made him read it … and he goes, ‘Ahh! I prayed for that!'” Now that Kingston has witnessed the power of prayer, Stefani jokes there’s no stopping him! “He prays for everything. He’s like, ‘Please, God! Please let me have another cupcake. He really believes,” she says. Article: 4th September 2014 www.celebritybabies.people.com

Pride Angel Journey - Swordfish and a Scan

The good news outweighed the bad news, but it didn't stop us feeling awkward. We'd called at Sainsbury's for a pregnancy test on the way to my brother's house. Perched on the edge of the bathroom we whispered in our excitement as we watched that word appear: Pregnant. The bad news was that my brother and his partner had spent a fortune on swordfish for dinner. We googled it. No, as we thought - no swordfish for pregnant Sal, only a very small amount of swordfish for me; I was still breastfeeding Luna. At the table we awkwardly shifted bits of fish around our plates; the next day, feeling a bit guilty and a bit excitable we told them the news: four weeks pregnant. Ten days later Sal woke me to say she'd had some bleeding. "There was a small clot - I'm afraid I think that was it." She wiped away her tears and we consulted the books. And there we found some hope because she wasn't in pain. She took her first sick day in ten years and, settled herself in bed for a day of worried wondering. The following day at the hospital, while Luna entertained herself with the cubicle curtains, we watched as a tiny heartbeat pulsed contentedly. The heartbeat of a little five-and-a-half-week-old, not-yet-baby-shaped blob, bouncing around in its very spacious-looking uterine home. Article: by Lindsey, West Yorkshire 1st Setember 2014

Reading Pride Announce Festival Line-Up - 30th August 2014

<< Pride Angel at Manchester Pride 2014 | Reading Pride Announce Festival Line-Up - 30th August 2014 August 29, 2014 21:00 by PrideAngelAdmin Reading Pride have announced the full programme and stage line-up for the 2014 Pride Parade & Festival on Saturday 30th August inspired by this year’s theme of ‘Musicals’. The day starts with the traditional parade through Reading Town Centre leaving the Civic Centre at 11.30am passing through Broad Street and Forbury Gardens before arriving at King’s Meadow for the opening of the Pride Festival by the Mayor of Reading at 12 noon. Headline acts on the main stage include Sam Callahan of X-Factor Fame, Amanda Wilson of the Freemasons and local favourite Nicolette Street, all hosted by The Joes. There will be a full line-up on the main stage throughout day starting with local jazz and swing band Funk Lab and including Cabaret favourties Misty Lee, Topping and Butch, Lola Lasagna and Sandra London as well as Reading’s own Wilma Fingadoo who will be hosting throughout the afternoon. There will also be upcoming local talent featured including Luke Upton [winner of Has Reading Got Talent? 2013], the ever-popular Feryl [previously known as Benji] and Markie. Other attractions at the Festival include a ‘Village Green’ youth and family zone including Disco Dome and other attractions, an extensive Marketplace, food and drink outlets, karaoke stage and funfair as well as a VIP area and Trans picnic area. This year’s VIP Area has received a make-over in line with the Musicals theme with red carpet and glitz to be expected with dedicated bar service and food outlet. VIP wristbands are available on the day priced £12 each or in advance priced £10 from www.readingpride.co.uk Chair of Reading Pride Andrew Adams said ‘This year has seen significant progress in rights for LGBT+ people in the UK but there is more to be done to build a truly equal society, while in many parts of the world we see people continuing to be persecuted for their sexuality. This year’s Reading Pride will be a great day out for the whole community while showing solidarity for those who are still prevented from expressing their love for one another, wherever they may be’. The festival runs until 7.00pm. Entry is free and the entire community is welcome. For further information visit www.readingpride.co.uk Article: 29th August 2014 www.readingpride.co.uk For all media enquiries contact chair@readingpride.co.uk or call 0844 3570124 / 07738 699522. Read more about gay parenting at www.prideangel.com

Pride Angel at Manchester Pride Expo

Manchester Pride Expo Saturday 23rd - Monday 25th August. The Expo is one of the community's favourite places to be during the Big Weekend! Find out about joining a sports group, getting advice about health and wellbeing or enter some competitions with our partners. There are over 40 stalls representing LGBT organisations and supporters right in the heart of the site. Visit Pride Angel at the Expo Thinking about becoming a parent? Looking for a donor or co-parent? Or want to help others by donating sperm or eggs? Come along and talk to Pride Angel, at the Manchester Expo, where they will be happy to talk through your options. Pride Angel is a leading connection website and fertility portal, bringing together donors and recipients throughout UK and worldwide. Members can register for free, create their own personal profile and contact users through our internal messaging system. We have over 35,000 members registered , to include lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual. Members are able to search donors, co-parents or recipients by criteria such as hair colour, eye colour, sexuality, the amount of contact if any they wish to have with a child, and whether they wish to be a legal parent or not legally responsible. Fortunately the law has improved within recent years to make legal parenthood much clearer, meaning that a donor can donate to a married or lesbian couple without the worry of being legally or financially responsible. So why not give the gift of life and make someone’s dream of a family become a reality. Creating families with Pride.

Alternative Parenting Show to take place in September 2014

Europe’s biggest event for prospective gay parents, the annual Alternative Parenting Show is set to take place again in London on Saturday 21 September 2014. Returning to the Grand Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden, London, the event is aimed at anyone – including LGBT singles and couples – who wish to explore today’s different routes to parenthood. There will be exhibitors from agencies from all over the world, including international surrogacy providers, legal advisors and adoption/fostering agencies. There will also be a series of seminars from experts on topics such as surrogacy law and practice, legal issues around sperm donation and co-parenting, and fertility issues for older women. Over 40 exhibitors have so far been confirmed for this year’s show, with the London Women’s Clinic acting as headline sponsor. Also attending will be former Coronation Street actor, Charlie Condou [pictured], who will talk of his own experiences as a gay dad to two young children. The event’s organiser, Sarah Garrett said, ‘Figures realised by the Office for National Statistics show that in 2014 families come in all different shapes and sizes and that is certainly going to continue as single men and women, as well as same-sex couples, are exploring ways in which to start a family. ‘Ten years ago the idea that a gay person could start a family was an unrealistic objective for many. I'm pleased that is changing. ‘The Alternative Parenting Show helps would-be mums and dads battle through the minefield of having children and I'm glad to be hosting it for the third year running – there is a packed programme on the day and a record number of exhibitors providing expert advice.’ You can find more information on the show at www.alternativeparenting.co.uk Article: www.gaystarnews.com 9th August 2014

Telling your child they are donor conceived

If you are thinking of creating your family through donated gametes - sperm, egg or embryo - or you already have children, you may have wondered how best to explain their biological origins to them as they are growing up. Donor Conception Network may be able to help you. DCN is a national charity which was started over 20 years ago by five families who had children through sperm donation and wanted to support each other and encourage others to be open with their children. Now there are 1700 member families and individuals, including lesbian and single parent families, heterosexual families, donor-conceived adults and those who are still thinking about whether donor conception is right for them. Some are pursuing treatment in the UK, others abroad; and their donors may be known, id release or anonymous. The DCN website (www.dcnetwork.org) includes amongst other things personal stories and a bookshop selling DCN publications about how to talk to your children about donor conception, and books for your children themselves. DCN also runs workshops open to all, both for those preparing to become parents, and for those who already have children.It is a chance to explore all the issues in a safe and confidential setting; the facilitators are skilled in running groups, and equally importantly are all parents of donor-conceived children. There are separate groups for heterosexual couples, and for lesbian couples and single women, as people often say they welcome the opportunity to talk things over with others in similar situations. One recent participant on the Preparation for Parenthood workshop stated: 'Thoughtfully put together with a good balance of factual, practical content whilst maintaining focus on the emotional and psychological impact of donor conception.' DCN believes that the more open parents are about donor conception the better it is for the health of individuals and families. If you would like to find out more, look on the website, or phone 020 7278 2608, or email enquiries@dcnetwork.org if you would like to know more or discuss something in confidence. Article: 6th August 2014 www.dcnetwork.org/

Get pregnant naturally with the 'Pregnancy Miracle Book'

Infertility is common problem today and many women from all ages suffer from it. With the advance of the modern medicine, there dozens of solutions and medications that could help you solve many of the health problems that could be causing the infertility. Yet there are many women, for which, the traditional solutions offered by the modern medicine simply doesn't work. After being diagnosed as infertile, women quite often turn to various other untraditional pregnancy methods - from seeing sidekicks to performing various rituals, consuming particular herbs and pretty much everything else you can think of. Just recently, it seems there is a solution to infertility that actually works and is called the Pregnancy Miracle Book. Visit Pregnancy Miracle Presentation The Pregnancy Miracle Book is especially created for women, who are unable to conceive and are unable to receive pregnancy help from traditional medicine. It consists of taking advantage of multiple pregnancy techniques, which are meant not only to improve chances to conceive, but also help improve overall body health. How does the Pregnancy Miracle Book Work? The Miracle Pregnancy Book contains a complete program to help women get pregnant in easy to understand and follow manner. With the Pregnancy Miracle Book, you will take care of the cause for your fertility problems. The program contained in the Pregnancy Miracle Book is far more effective than any traditional infertility treatment practiced today. For example with the most popular infertility drugs, the risks of getting cancer hit the roof and with the modern IVF procedures, multiple pregnancies carry increased risks for your health. This sounds scary even without considering the various health risks for your child – from cerebral paralysis to brain damage. With the Pregnancy Miracle Book, you will explore radically new ways of treating infertility. The book focuses on the various reasons for infertility and how to deal with them to conceive without risking the health of our child. What are some of the reasons for infertility according to Pregnancy Miracle Book? Infertility is directly linked to our lifestyle and this is widely recognized fact today. There are multiple factors, which combined affect ability to conceive in negative manner. Fixing any of these wouldn't help, unless you treat all factors simultaneously and here to help comes the Pregnancy Miracle Book. One of the main factors that affect infertility is our diet – the food we eat actually prevents us from getting pregnant and is also one of the most common reasons for child's diseases and disorders. Although, quite popular, our diet is just one of the factors that affect infertility, so to solve this issue you need to cover all of these. Another main reason for infertility is disrupted internal environment and there are many reasons for this occur. To fix this, you will need to develop an exercise routine that will help you also get healthier. With the Pregnancy Miracle Book you will be able to learn all there is to know about how to treat all factors that affect your ability to conceive and within 30 to 60 days you will be able to give birth to a beautiful child, no matter what the doctors are telling you! Visit Pregnancy Miracle Website Article: 22nd July 2014 www.baystreet.ca Read more about natural fertility at www.prideangel.com

Increase your fertility with Positive Affirmations

Saying positive affirmations will improve your health and well being, which in turn will increase your fertility and chance of getting pregnant. Using positive affirmations is a form of healing based on re-wiring your subconscious mind to new and more positive thinking while allowing the release old negative thinking. During your life you may have taken up negative thinking patterns based mostly on your fears, life uncertainty and discouraging experiences. These negative thoughts are now the cause of your mental and emotional blocks that might prevent you from allowing the process of conception to take place within your body. Positive affirmations are a great way to meditate and to bring a positive outlook back into your life. If you stop for a moment and think about it, you will notice that you already practise affirmations all the time. When you tell others that you are going to do something, you are affirming something that you intent to manifest into your life. In order for you to manifest an idea into reality, you first have to create a thought, then you have to express this thought either verbally or mentally in the form of a sentence or an image and then you have to choose the actions necessary to manifest it. Positive affirmations are meant to support you through the process of conception by helping you to release all the mental blocks that prevent you from truly manifesting your desire to become pregnant and assist you to affirm positive and encouraging thoughts into action. The following show examples of some positive affirmations you can say to increase your fertility: I love and trust myself I accept the gift of life within myself I release fears about age and time I release emotional blocks preventing me conceiving I welcome my time to become a parent Read more positive affirmations here Article: 25th July 2014 www.natural-health-for-fertility.com

Smoking during pregnancy may be linked to ADHD in children

Children born to women who smoked during pregnancy appear to have an increased risk of developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to new research. The new study also hints -- but doesn't prove -- that nicotine-replacement products used during pregnancy, such as patches and gum, could pose the same risk to children. Still, this study suggests that nicotine itself, not just tobacco, may be a hazard during pregnancy. Continue reading below... "We've been lulled into a false sense of security, thinking that if we can just get mothers to stop smoking and onto nicotine replacement, it will protect against any kinds of fetal damage in the developing child. This is a stark injection of reality about how that may not be the case," said Dr. Timothy Wilens, director of the Center for Addiction Medicine and acting chief of child psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Researchers have long tried to pinpoint the hazards of smoking during pregnancy. Among other things, lighting up during pregnancy seems to boost the risk of miscarriage, pregnancy complications, premature deliveries, low birth weight and even obesity in the child's life, said study lead author Dr. Jin Liang Zhu, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Aarhus University in Denmark. It's not clear how smoking and nicotine use in mothers may affect the brains of developing fetuses. Zhu said nicotine may cause abnormalities in the brain, while the products of cigarette smoke -- such as carbon monoxide -- could affect the brain, too. It's also possible that other factors are behind the association between smoking in pregnancy and ADHD in children, the study authors suggested. ADHD tends to run in families, and people in families with ADHD are more likely to smoke. So, it's possible that the association seen in this study isn't a direct cause of expectant mothers' smoking, but may be the result of genetics or a shared environment where smoking is present, according to background information in the study. ADHD is a common behavioral disorder in childhood, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms include difficulty paying attention, impulsive behavior and problems with sitting still and getting along with others. Previous research has already linked ADHD in children to mothers who smoked during pregnancy, noted Wilens, who was not involved with the study. In the new study, researchers examined the medical records of nearly 85,000 children born in Denmark to mothers who were recruited to be part of the study from 1996 to 2002. Signs of ADHD were present in slightly more than 2,000 children. The numbers were lower among kids of nonsmoking parents (1.8 percent) and in households where mom quit smoking and dad was a nonsmoker (2 percent). The rates of ADHD were highest among kids in families in which both parents smoked -- 4.2 percent. Read more ...

Single mum went to Danish sperm bank for Blonde blue eyed baby

As Jessica McCallin smiles down at her little girl, there is no mistaking the family resemblance. The pair share the same fair hair, blue eyes and broad smile – which makes it even more remarkable that three-year-old Freya was conceived using a sperm donor almost 800 miles away in Denmark and Jessica has absolutely no idea who the father is. Far from being unusual, hers is a decision that increasing numbers of British women are making. Approaching 40, single and with her body clock ticking, Jessica knew time was running out for her to become a mother. So she decided that the answer was to spend £480 on sperm from a Danish donor. “Being a single mother wasn’t what I wanted, hoped for or dreamt of. But not being a mother was unendurable,” says Jessica, 40. With a growing demand from British women for donor fathers and lack of red tape in Scandanavia compared to the UK, sales of Danish sperm are soaring, with the European Sperm Bank, one of the largest in Denmark, reporting a 20% surge in online sales to the UK in the last year. For Jessica the decision made perfect sense. “I chose to use a Danish donor because I knew the characteristics of the child would be similar to mine. People always ask me if I’m Swedish and a lot of the research I read said it can help if the child looks as much like you as possible. I know my family originates from the north of England, which was once conquered by the Norsemen, so it’s reasonable to assume I have Scandinavian ancestry. The Viking aspect had a certain appeal.” Coupled with the fact that there simply aren’t enough donors in the UK to meet demand, or the same level of clinical infrastructure, it is little wonder that Danish sperm now accounts for a third of the total used in the UK. Sperm, along with beer and Lego, has become one of Denmark’s top exports and Freya could soon have more in common with her peers than previously might have been expected. “With more and more women seeking Danish sperm, there’s going to be lots of children with Danish ancestry about,” says Jessica. “I think it’s something that’s going to become reasonably common and also more socially acceptable.” Jessica, who, by coincidence, lives in Denmark Hill, South London, had always wanted children. But it wasn’t until she hit her 30s that she realised that, as a single woman, her options for carrying a baby were limited. “I didn’t really think about starting a family in my 20s, but when I got to 32 I knew I wanted to do it,” she says. “There were no significant men in my life – my most serious relationship was in my 20s and we did talk about children but that all fell apart when I was 28. I have some gay friends who always said if no one came along we could have a child together, but for various reasons they weren’t quite ready when I was.” As her 35th birthday came and went, Jessica found herself reading articles about female fertility dropping after that age. It was then that she began researching the possibility of using donor sperm and discussed the idea with family and friends. “It was a Danish friend who suggested I go to Denmark. I had overwhelming support from family and friends and I was quite surprised about that,” says Jessica, a writer. “Everyone was extremely supportive with the exception of one friend who felt children need fathers – the others all thought I was worrying too much about the absence of a father.” It wasn’t just that playing on Jessica’s mind, however. She knew that if she used a Danish donor then her baby would never even know his name. Sperm donors in Denmark have a legal right to remain anonymous and can’t be traced, whereas in the UK a law was passed in 2005 saying a donor may be contacted by their offspring when they turn 18. The change sent the number of donors plummeting. “It was the complete black hole in a child’s life about never knowing the name of the father that worried me,” says Jessica. “But I came to the conclusion that knowing the name of the donor wouldn’t necessarily help because I had read that it can be a disappointment for donor children who do trace and meet their fathers because they’ve built up an image in their mind then the man turns about to be nothing like the person they expected, so they feel let down.” Despite her concerns, Jessica decided the time was right to become a mother. “I’ve always pretty much been single and I’ve never lived with anyone. It was normal for me. I was ready to have a baby and didn’t mind doing it on my own.” So, in June 2010, as a 36th birthday present to herself, Jessica travelled to Copenhagen to be inseminated with sperm from an anonymous donor. She says: “Although friends and family offered to come with me, I went on my own because when you track your ovulation you only know the “right” time at the last minute, so there wasn’t much notice. “The process was incredibly straightforward. I contacted the clinic, they sent me a questionnaire and conducted a phone interview to be sure I knew what I was doing and had thought it through and that was it. I paid £480 for the sperm and it cost around £1,000 in total for my two-day stay including travel. I was confident I’d considered enough of the issues and was very excited.” Although she had access to her donor’s profile, Jessica chose not to see it. She says: “I know nothing about him other than he’s a young Danish man screened for major genetic diseases and has fast swimming sperm. The clinics have basic information about the donors like their job but I didn’t ask for this because I don’t feel that it tells you anything meaningful about a person. With everyone in my family being tall, fair and with blue or green eyes, I just asked for a donor with a similar profile.” Knowing the chances were that insemination wouldn’t work the first time, Jessica had prepared herself for several trips to Denmark – trips she never needed to make. “I know it sounds silly but I just knew the insemination had worked the afternoon after they had done it. I wasn’t surprised when the pregnancy test was positive and I was absolutely delighted.” Jessica’s excitement was shared by her mother, father, brother and three younger sisters who all helped out during the pregnancy. Read more...

Fertility clinic used 'wrong sperm' in fertility treatment

A clinic used sperm from the wrong donor in fertility treatment, a report by the regulator says. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) warned clinics "too many" mistakes were being made. Its report showed one in every 100 women treated had experienced some form of "adverse incident", although most would not have affected their odds of having a baby. The regulator has called on clinics to eradicate "avoidable errors". There were 1,679 adverse incidents in fertility clinics in the UK between 2010 and 2012. Three of them were in the most serious - or grade-A - category. In one case a woman was having fertility treatment using donated sperm. She wanted a child who would be genetically related to an elder sibling, but sperm from the wrong donor was used. No further details have been released to protect the family's anonymity. A separate grade-A case involved embryos being contaminated, probably with sperm. And in the third incident, sperm were removed from storage too soon. 'Highest quality' There were 714 grade-B incidents, which include the loss of embryos or equipment malfunctions affecting embryo quality. There were 815 grade-C errors, such as eggs left unusable or women's ovaries being "over-stimulated" to produce eggs. HFEA chairwoman Sally Cheshire, said "We are committed to ensuring that clinics provide the safest and highest quality service to their patients. "These results show that, in the main, clinics are doing a good job of minimising the number of serious errors, and this should be welcomed. "However, there remain too many grade-C mistakes, such as breaches of confidentiality. "As patients have often told us, these mistakes may be less serious at first glance but they can still be very upsetting." "Clinics can and should be eradicating these sorts of avoidable errors, which will go a long way towards reducing patient distress and improving the overall experience of IVF treatment." Article: 9th July 2014 www.bbc.co.uk

Pride Angel Journey - A Roadside Insemination

"Here, this'll do..." Sal braked sharply and backed up a short farm track almost hidden between the hedgerows. I glanced out of the back window: an audience of a dozen sheep behind an iron gate didn't seem to pose too much of a problem. First things first: milky. Luna couldn't go more than what seemed like ten minutes or so without complaining of being on the verge of dehydration. I got her out of the car seat and fed her whilst Sal scuffled around on the back seat trying to find a way of getting her pelvis propped up higher than her bottom. A discreet way (given the fact that half way into a farmer's field or not, we were still parked on the edge of a well-used narrow country lane). The thing is, when your sperm donor lives a 90-minute drive away, and after a visit to the grandparents, you happen to be passing - on ovulation day - it's too good an opportunity to miss. Luna was two and a half months old and this baby thing had been pretty straightforward so far. Time for another. So we called in for a cup of tea and a donation. It was the second time Luna's sperm donor had held her. We sat drinking tea, eating fancy turnip crisps and discussing the weather, while he held her, a cuddly bundle of his own genes...and then passed her back. And once again I silently acknowledged how much, in that little sample pot, he had given us. And an hour later, there we were: backed up against the farmer's field with a baby, a syringe and another little sample pot. We had to do it while it was still warm. So after waiting for a couple of cyclists to pass, we got on and did it: a roadside insemination. And when we set off again I wondered. I wondered three things. One: had we been seen? Two: when would Luna start to cry for milky again? And three: a potential due date before Luna's first birthday - what on earth were we thinking? Article: by Lindsey, West Yorkshire 5th June 2014

Contraceptive pill could 'age' a woman's fertility

Going on the pill could damage a woman’s future fertility - at least temporarily, a new study has revealed. Researchers found that the powerful hormones can ‘age’ the reproductive system, reducing the production of eggs to levels seen in older women, months after coming off the contraceptive. While scientists do not think the phenomenon is permanent, they advise that a woman’s ‘biological clock’ should be measured three months after finishing taking the pill. The link emerged in a study of 833 women between the ages of 19 and 46 years old, who were attending a fertility clinic. Experts measured anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicles (AFC) which are indicators of ‘ovarian reserve’ or fertility. Levels of AMH and AFC were 19 per cent and 16 per cent lower in pill users. In addition, between 19 per cent and 52 per cent less eggs were produced by the women taking part in the study, with the greatest reductions seen in those under 30. Dr Kathrine Birch Petersen, of Copenhagen University Hospital, said: ‘We expected to find an effect of the pill. But during the project we were surprised at the quantified effect on ovarian reserve parameters as defined by anti-Mullerian hormone, antral follicle count and ovarian volume.’ More...Sperm donations from men in their 40s are more likely to result in pregnancy, study finds Too much sleep in middle age is as bad for you as too little: More than eight hours 'can damage brain power' Even after statistical adjustment for age, BMI, smoking and maternal age at menopause, AMH was still up to 30 per cent lower and AFC up to 20 per cent lower in pill users. Dr Birch Petersen presented her results at a meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Munich and said that they suggest measurements of AMH and AFC should be monitored in those taking the pill. She said: ‘We do not believe the pill changes the ovaries in any permanent way. 'But we still need to know more about the recovery phase after women stop the pill. ‘The pill is unlikely to change the basal ovarian biology of egg depletion - but it certainly changes the appearance of the ovaries and the secretion of AMH.’ Dr Birch Petersen said women in the pre-conceptional care programme in Copenhagen who have been on the pill ‘are now advised their ovaries may look old with small volume, a few small antral follicles and low levels of AMH'. But she said this may not necessarily reflect their future fertility status. In order to have a more precise measurement of the biological clock’s status and to reassure the pill user about her fertility potential, ovarian reserve assessment – the capacity of the ovary to provide egg cells that are capable of fertilisation - might be repeated three months after stopping the pill. She said that the pill could mask a severely diminished ovarian reserve and this is important to recognise. Most women are able to become pregnant six months after stopping the pill. Article: 3rd July 2014 www.dailymail.co.uk

Why aren't more gay couples becoming parents?

I am the fifth in a line of Patricks in my family, but, as a gay man, it’s unlikely I will carry on the name. My parents accept my sexuality but I know one of their biggest disappointments is that I probably won’t continue the lineage. I think that goes for many parents of gay men: their main issue or sadness at their son's sexuality is the prospect of no grandchildren, rather than any stigma attached to having a gay son. Thankfully, I have brothers who have already fulfilled in the grandchildren department, with more hopefully yet to come. Men are not supposed to want kids as much as women do – but that's a generalisation that smacks of pub logic. I have met many guys who long for babies as much as women do, and there are excellent examples of gay men raising children. There's never been a better time for gay men to start a family in the UK. The law is on our side and research has shown that children with same-sex parents, on the whole, enjoy the same quality of upbringing as those from other families. So what’s stopping more gay men having children, either naturally or through adoption? Figures show the number of same-sex couples adopting children in England has doubled in the past four years. According to the Department for Education, the number of same-sex couples adopting rose from 3pc in 2009 to 6pc in 2013. Campaigners say that many more adoptive parents are needed for the thousands of children waiting to be placed who are currently in care. The key issue with any adoption is that it meets the needs of the child. Many local authorities are proactively reaching out to engage with their local lesbian, gay and bisexual community – Glasgow City Council were widely praised for running an ad in a metro station that featured a same-sex couple in its call for adoptive parents. In recent years Barnardos, the British Association of Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) and First 4 Adoption have all been proactively encouraging adoption by lesbian, gay and bisexual people. It doesn’t help that 80pc of us believe our sexuality is a barrier when considering adoption or fostering, while two in five lesbian, gay and bisexual people say they consider their own family’s attitudes a barrier to becoming a parent. These stats and others were revealed in Stonewall’s report Gay In Britain – Lesbian, gay and bisexual people’s experiences and expectations of discrimination (2013), including: – Almost half (46 per cent) of lesbian, gay and bisexual people expect to be treated worse than a heterosexual person by an adoption agency if they want to adopt a child. – Three quarters (74 per cent) of lesbian, gay and bisexual people consider the bullying at school of children with gay parents a barrier to becoming a parent. – More than half (56 per cent) say lack of information and support on starting a family is a barrier to becoming a parent. – Four in five (79 per cent) lesbian, gay and bisexual people consider society’s attitudes towards gay parents a barrier to becoming a parent. Surrogacy is another option, albeit an expensive and sometimes complicated one. While legal in the UK, the law does outlaw commercially-arranged surrogacy and advertising for surrogates, so finding one can be challenging. Under English law, the surrogate is the child's legal mother, while the alternative is to conceive through an international surrogacy arrangement – particularly in the USA, where in certain states both fathers can be named on the birth certificate from the outset. We have a few celebrity gay dads who have gone down the surrogacy route. Elton John and David Furnish have two boys, while designer Tom Ford and his partner Richard Buckley have a son. But their idyllic and gilded family life does not translate to the ordinary, every day world where 74 per cent of lesbian, gay and bisexual people consider the bullying at school of children with gay parents a barrier to becoming a parent. Children go through enough trauma in the playground as it is. Who wants to put them through more? A number of other prejudices come into play. Gay people are seen as untrustworthy with children, and a frivolous view that we would rather spend our money on parties, designer clothing and pilates still persists. Then there's the unfounded stereotype that all gay men are promiscuous and unable to offer a stable, family home because our relationships are less sustainable than others. Sometimes, it's difficult not to absorb some of these. Gay men tend to make great uncles, godfathers and babysitters, but does that make us potential parents? I’ve changed nappies, bathed and babysat many children and I personally feel I would make a great, responsible and very loving dad. I also know my parents would love him or her in the same way they love their other grandchildren. Being a good parent has nothing to do with being gay or straight. It also has nothing to do with the combination of the parents’ genders. Parenting advice for same-sex couples is widely available (e.g. Stonewall’s Guide for gay dads) and most gay men (myself included) are surrounded by wonderful female role models to fulfil the ‘maternal’ influence. So what’s stopping me? Firstly, I have yet to meet Mr Right; secondly, it would have to be a Mr Right who wanted kids; and thirdly, I honestly still haven’t decided if I do want children (and remain content at the prospect of not having one). The reality is, however, that I do know that should little Patrick VI come along, he would grow into a happy, loved, supported and well-rounded human being. Isn’t that something every child deserves? Article: 25th June 2014 www.telegraph.co.uk

Want to be involved in a TV documentary about gay parenting?

MAP TV are a well-established UK television company producing award-winning, quality documentary films. The company is gay-owned. We are looking for gay and lesbian parents and would-be parents to take part in a serious and positive documentary film on the subject of gay and lesbian parenting. We are looking for different examples of gay parenting anywhere in Great Britain: First, for a gay couple and a lesbian couple who are all co-parenting together (4 parents in total, two mums and two dads) Second, for lesbian couples who are in the process of conceiving, are pregnant or have very young children. Third, for gay male couples who are in the process of deciding about parenting and looking at the options available to them. We are ideally looking to meet and film three of four different families for the hour long documentary. We would like to spend 2 days (non-consecutive) with each family, filming interviews to hear more about your journey to becoming a family, and also some filming of day to day family life. If you are interested and would like to know more, please contact Kirsty at modernparenting@yahoo.co.uk Article: 23rd June 2014 PrideAngel

Smoking during pregnancy at lowest recorded level

The number of women smoking during pregnancy across England is down to 12%, the lowest recorded level, figures for 2013-2014 show. But there were large regional differences, with 5% in London smoking up to nearly 21% in the North East. Rates have fallen 16% since first measured in 2006-7, the Health and Social Care Information Centre said. Smoking while pregnant can damage babies' hearts and increase the risk of miscarriage and premature birth. The government has set a target to reduce the rate to 11% or less women smoking at the time of delivery by 2015. Still 'way to go' The report shows to see the decline in numbers of pregnant women who smoked. But he added: "There is still a little way to go to achieve the national ambition. "Today's figures highlight there is a still work to be done and it is fundamental that mothers-to-be are aware of the damaging effects smoking can have on their baby." NHS Blackpool had the highest rate, with 28% of pregnant women smoking. Other areas with high smoking in pregnancy rates were South Devon, the Isle of Wight, Wiltshire and Lincolnshire. Meanwhile, central London had the lowest rate of 2%. Article: 19th June www.bbc.co.uk Read more about pregnancy and fertility at www.prideangel.com

Should you opt for anonymous or open sperm donors?

Should you opt for anonymous, or non-anonymous sperm donors? And should you tell your child how they were conceived? For most it’s an agonising decision, writes Helen O’Callaghan. “Anonymous means the donor will never know who you are and you will never be able to contact or communicate with him. A non-anonymous donor will never be able to track you down but your child can make contact through the sperm bank when they reach 18,” explains Declan Keane, senior embryologist and director of ReproMed. Last year his clinic (most Irish clinics source sperm mainly from Denmark) saw a 49% increase in women going for IUI (intrauterine insemination) using donor sperm. Of donor sperm cycles, three out of four involved lesbian couples and single women. “The majority of single women and lesbian couples go for known donors. They want their child to at least have the choice to communicate [with donor in future]. Fifty percent of heterosexual couples reserve that choice too — the other half say ‘no, this is our child’.” Ann Bracken, counselling psychotherapist at Sims IVF — where 157 women used donor sperm last year — says those opting for non-anonymous donors want to give the adult child choices in the future around accessing their genetic heritage. “Some parents feel there’s nothing to hide.” Helen Browne, co-founder of NISIG (National Infertility Support and Information Group) hopes most parents of donor-conceived babies tell children about their origins. She recalls the mum who envisaged secondary school science sufficiently advanced 12 years hence for her daughter to discover the truth in the classroom. “She could take her father’s and her mother’s hair from the comb and do DNA at school,” this mother told Browne. “She’s so right!” exclaims Browne. “This is why honesty is so important.” So why don’t parents tell? “They fear rejection as a parent. They fear their child will be picked on at school. There’s an element of getting on with life and ‘putting it behind us’. They’ve carried the baby, it’s part of them and they forget,” says Browne, who believes it’s in the child’s best interests to be told “and so it’s not a secret that parents hold all their lives”. In the UK, anybody born through donation after April 2005 is entitled to request and receive their donor’s name and last known address, once they reach 18. Read more... Alternatively many more people are choosing to find known sperm donors through connection websites such as www.prideangel.com

Is it time be stopped treating childbirth like a disease?

The No. 1 reason for hospitalization in Canada is childbirth. The most commonly performed surgery in this country is the cesarean section. Those facts should give us all a case of morning sickness. And they should prompt a lot of hard questions. Is pregnancy a disease? Is a hospital really the best place to give birth? Are women ending up there by choice or by default? Is surgery actually required to deliver one in every five babies? There were 389,822 live births in Canada in 2012-13, according to Statistics Canada; there were 369,454 births in hospitals, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). The balance were home births or babies born in birthing centres not located in a hospital. (Also, Statscan counts actual babies; for CIHI, multiple births – twins and up – count as a single birth.) All that to say that roughly 98 per cent of Canadian babies are born in hospitals. And virtually every baby in this country is still delivered under the supervision of a physician – either a specialist obstetrician-gynecologist or a general practitioner. Fewer than 5 per cent of births involve a midwife. Let’s face it, the vast majority of births are uncomplicated. That doesn’t mean easy – it means not requiring medical intervention. Where and how you give birth matters. It’s worth recalling the old adage: “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” Similarly, put a perfectly healthy pregnant woman in a hospital and she becomes a patient – someone to be monitored, sedated, drugged, “assisted,” operated on and so on. When someone is placed in an institutional setting, there is often a cascade of dubious and not-always useful interventions that occur: Shaving of pubic hair, fetal monitoring, IV drips, inducement, epidurals, forceps, episiotomy and, of course, a cesarean section. (Again, this is not to suggest that epidurals are unnecessary, and 58 per cent of women opt for one during delivery, but pain relief can be done outside the hospital, too.) There were 100,636 C-sections performed in Canada in 2012-13. Fully 23 per cent of women over 35 and 17 per cent of women under 35 delivered their babies through a surgical intervention. Does anyone seriously believe that level is justified? The World Health Organization suggests that the optimum rate is somewhere between 5 and 15 per cent. Too many C-sections are done for the sake of convenience (of the physician, rarely the patient) and out of fear. Don’t buy the “too posh to push” nonsense. Yes, an increasing number of women are “choosing” a cesarean, but when you medicalize pregnancy and labour, and don’t offer reasonable alternatives, you create uncertainty and fear. Just as troubling as the high rate of C-sections over all is the wide variability in rates around the country, ranging from 15 per cent in Quebec to 22 per cent in British Columbia. (The C-section rate in Nunavut is only 6 per cent, but high-risk pregnancies are handled out-of-territory so it’s not a fair comparison.) Yes, surgery can be lifesaving. But too much surgery is harmful. Physicians should be handling the complex, high-risk cases – women with conditions such as obesity and heart disease that compromise the pregnancy, mothers over 35 (though the risks to “older” women are debatable) etc. Most births should be handled by midwives, preferably in a home-like setting, such as a birthing centre. This is not an attempt to romanticize “natural” childbirth or a call to return to the “good old days” – because they weren’t so good. Until the last century, babies were born at home with little support, and many tragic complications for moms and babies alike. Maternal mortality fell precipitously in the 20th century, but only a small portion of those improvements were due to obstetrical interventions. We have a much higher standard of living (hence healthier mothers), we have contraception and emancipation (so the days of 17 children are mercifully behind us) and, most of all, we have better infection control, including vaccination and antiseptic environments. The greatest risks to our foremothers were infectious diseases and excessive bleeding. Those are still the biggest risks today. But they are manageable risks. In a bid to totally remove risk (which is not possible), we have made pregnancy and birth unnecessarily tedious and costly and created new risks to boot. To make our health system patient-centred, efficient and cost-effective, the aim should be to deliver appropriate care in the right place at the right time with the right health professional. Profound cultural change is required – and what better place to start than by tackling the leading cause of hospitalization and in-patient surgery. Pregnancy and birthing are part of a normal physiological process that should be celebrated. Bringing a child into the world should be beautiful and memorable, messy and magical. Why have we reduced it to a series of billable acts where moms-to-be are institutionalized and the process is unnecessarily medicalized? Mothers and their babies deserve better. Article: 15th June www.theglobeandmail.com

A gay dad's Father's Day

Becoming a father once had this dreamy quality to it. I was seven years old when I first knew the names of my future kids: Sascha, Pascal and a third that got lost in the passage of time. There was also a wife in that picture somewhere. As a kid, the concept of marriage and sexuality was nothing to be concerned with. Later, when I realized that I was gay, fatherhood became an illusion, something I knew I’d never achieve. In the 1980s, finding a boyfriend was the height of gay aspirations. Living together was really a stretch goal. That all changed, when civil unions were introduced. All of a sudden, the prospect of family moved from the realm of illusion to the land of possibility. My husband Alex and I had been thinking about becoming parents since before we met. It was a prerequisite for any future partner of mine as I had a real wish to start a family. As Alex is 12 years my junior, he felt it important to first finish his studies and get his career going before we explored our parenting options. We started slowly, with two exchange students, before finally trying to become full-time parents. We first opted for foster care. We were evaluated, probed, prodded and finally approved as foster parents just before Christmas of 2011. Yet, due to the raging homophobia still permeating society, we were never awarded a child to foster. Desperately, we resorted to surrogacy and in March last year, our son Sascha was born. Since then, we’ve been asked countless times what it means to be gay parents. It’s a difficult question. Being a “gay” parent per se does not mean much to me or my husband or even Sascha. It seems to have more of an impact on the people around us as they witness two men raising happy and healthy children. I’ve come to believe that gays as parents may result in shifting attitudes toward the LGBT community as a whole. So much of homophobia is based on fear of the unknown. The more people see LGBT families, the less they will fear us or listen to hate speech from politicians and religious leaders. Gay parenting may one day reduce prejudice, make it easier for gays to come out and for gay teens to face bullies. Every now and then, there are people out there who will frown upon seeing us with our son. We recently had such an encounter. But more and more, they are becoming the exception rather than the rule. For me, Father’s Day isn’t about getting a tie from my son (heaven forbid, as I don’t wear them). The day is to celebrate Alex and me, and our united contribution in raising our son, Sascha. Just as my dad once joined my brother and me in celebrating mom, paying to take her out to lunch and helping us make dinner and breakfast in bed, so too will we do for our boy. Happy Father’s Day, gay dads. Article 12th June 2014 www.washingtonblade.com Gay? wanting to become a dad? register as a co-parent on www.prideangel.com

Do mobile phones affect sperm and male fertility?

A review of the evidence, by the University of Exeter, suggested sperm number and movement were affected by keeping mobile phones in pockets. However, one sperm scientist said the evidence was still too sketchy and his phone was staying in his pocket. The study, published in the journal Environment International, suggested electromagnetic radiation was to blame. It analysed 10 separate studies on sperm quality involving 1,492 men. These included laboratory tests on sperm exposed to mobile phone radiation and questionnaires of men at fertility clinics. Lead researcher Dr Fiona Mathews told the BBC that all but one of the studies showed a link between mobile phone exposure and poorer sperm quality. She added: "The studies are coming out with a consistent message that sperm motility declines with exposure to mobile telephones and similarly proportion which are alive, it's about an eight percentage point fall. "I think for your average man there's certainly no need to panic, if you already know you have a potential fertility issue then it might be an additional thing to consider - just as you might change your diet - you might want to change where you keep your phone." She acknowledged criticisms from other scientists about the quality of the evidence saying she "absolutely calls for more research". Dr Mathews concluded: "This is interesting, but we're obviously not saying that everyone who carries a phone in their pocket is going to become infertile." How sperm would be damaged by mobile phones is unclear. Ideas include radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation from the phone disrupting the cycle of sperm production or damaging the DNA. Another suggestion is that heat either directly from the phone or through the radiation, may affect the sperm. 'Crazy' Dr Allan Pacey, from Sheffield University, who researches sperm, remains unconvinced, saying the quality of the evidence is poor and he would not change where he kept his phone. He told the BBC: "There has been concern for some time about whether keeping a mobile phone in a trouser pocket might affect semen quality and male fertility in some way. "There have been some crazy and alarming headlines, but, in my opinion, the studies undertaken to date have been somewhat limited in scope because they have either irradiated sperm kept in a dish or they have made assessments of men's phone habits without adequately controlling for confounding variables, such as other aspects of their lifestyle. "What we need are some properly designed epidemiological studies where mobile phone use is considered alongside other other lifestyle habits. "Until that time, I will be continuing to keep my iPhone in my right-hand trouser pocket!" Article: 10th June 2014 www.bbc.co.uk/news

Kirsty Allsopp says for women 'fertility falls off a cliff'

TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp has urged women to put off higher education and a career in favour of having children because their "fertility falls off a cliff". In a recent interview with Jeremy Paxman on BBC Newsnight, Ms Allsopp, who met her husband when she was 32 and then had two children, said: "Nature is not with you and I. Nature is not a feminist." She also encouraged women to be "more honest" with one another about their biological clock, saying the topic was still "taboo". So what is the truth about the female fertility window? Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which was updated in 2013, is pretty encouraging. It says that "over 80% of couples in the general population will conceive within one year if the woman is aged under 40 years", if they have regular sexual intercourse and do not use contraception. NICE guidelines go on to state that "of those who do not conceive in the first year, about half will do so in the second year". That leaves around 10% of women - the percentage said to be affected by infertility in the UK. We know, of course, that female fertility declines with age, but is there really a dramatic drop-off at a certain point? No rule Mr Yacoub Khalaf, head of assisted reproduction at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London, says it is not quite as simple as that. "It is tempting to want a black and white answer, but biology doesn't work that way. "Some women find it difficult to conceive in their late 20s, while others don't have a problem into their 40s." So there is no rule, but science tells us that a woman's body does gradually change and there is nothing that can be done to alter that process. Mr Khalaf explains that from the age of 35, the rate of depletion of the follicles in the ovaries speeds up, and from the age of 40 they start to deplete even faster. These follicles are important because they house the eggs which will develop and mature before finally being released during ovulation. Hence, the quality and quantity of a women's eggs also begins declining sharply from around the age of 35 onwards. Read more ... Article: 7th June 2014 www.bbc.co.uk For more on testing your fertility visit www.prideangel.com/shop

Pride Angel Journey | Niche Parenting

The thing with parents is, there's just so many different sorts. And no matter what efforts we made in those early weeks, it just felt as though we were trying to climb through the wrong shaped hole in the shape-sorter. We've never considered ourselves particularly 'mainstream' in any area of our lives and so some sort of 'niche' parenting was always going to suit us best. Perhaps we'd get on better with the gay parents? Keen for Luna to grow up feeling 'normal', it seemed a good idea to find some other kids for her to hang out with whose conception had involved a sperm-donor, syringe and two lesbians. As I was spending around 12-14 hours a day breastfeeding, I had plenty of time to do a bit of Internet searching. And I did manage to locate a few gay parenting groups online: pockets of same-sex parents with children of all ages keen to discuss teething and tantrums and toilet-training. However somehow, the niche just wasn't quite right. It was too big and vague - more 'spacious alcove' than 'niche.' What we needed was a niche where people actually had a new baby and did the stuff we did, the stuff the books and our instincts had told us to do, which was co-sleeping and baby-wearing and breastfeeding on demand - sometimes for hours at a time. And eventually, I stumbled upon a name for this business - Attachment Parenting. The potential for an alternative niche was developing, and sure enough I found our local AP Facebook group where we could discuss bed-guards and slings and cluster feeding to our heart's content. But I can't help thinking that really, the answer lies in the Lesbian Attachment Parenting niche. The search continues... Article: by Lindsey, West Yorkshire 5th June 2014 Read more Lesbian parenting blogs at www.prideangel.com

Parents share video: touching story of their transgender son

Ryland Whittington was born a girl but now lives as a boy. The seven-minute video explains the story of a six-year-old transgender child, Ryland Whittington, who was born a girl but, according to her parents, began insisting she was a boy as soon as she could speak. “This is my sister Brynly, and I’m her brother, Ryland,” a young Ryland can be heard saying in the video, posted last week to his family’s YouTube page. The video’s narrative explains that Ryland’s parents, Jeff and Hillary Whittington, discovered around Ryland’s first birthday that their daughter was deaf. After being fitted with cochlear implants and learning to hear and speak, some of Ryland’s first words were, “I am a boy.” The Whittingtons, who declined to comment, said they consulted with professionals and soon realized that Ryland’s desire to be a boy was more than just a tomboy phase. “With phases they just come and go or kids try things on for a little while,” San Diego-based gender therapist Darlene Tando told ABC News. “But with gender identity, when a child is transgender, typically nothing fades in or out. It just really stays the same for a long time.” The Whittingtons then made the decision to change Ryland’s identity, cutting his hair, referring to Ryland only as “he” and sending a letter to family and friends about the change. “There are huge benefits of doing this earlier in life,” said Tando. “It’s really just like they have been given this gift that everyone around them starts seeing them for who they are.” Ryland himself spoke out about his transition at an event last month in the family’s home state of California honoring the Whittington family. “My name is Ryland Michael Whittington,” he said at the 6th annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast in San Diego. I’m a transgender kid. I am six. I am a cool kid.” “I am the happiest I have ever been in my whole life,” Ryland said at the breakfast. “Thank you to my parents.” Article: 2nd June 2014 www.krdo.com

Stress linked to reduced male fertility

Past research has associated stress with a number of health problems, including heart disease, asthma, obesity and depression. Now, a new study suggests stress can reduce sperm and semen quality, which could have implications for male fertility. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, in around 40% of infertile couples the male partner is the sole cause or contributing cause of infertility. The main cause of male infertility is sperm abnormalities, including low sperm production or misshapen or immobile sperm. Medical conditions - such as undescended testicles or ejaculation problems - can lead to sperm abnormalities, as well as health and lifestyle factors. In this latest study - published in the journal Fertility and Sterility and led by researchers from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health in New York, NY, and Rutgers School of Public Health in Piscataway, NJ - the team investigated whether stress may affect sperm and semen quality. Life stress 'led to lower semen quality'To reach their findings, the researchers assessed 193 men aged 38 to 49 between 2005 and 2008. All men were a part of the Study of the Environment and Reproduction at the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan in Oakland, CA. Men who experienced two or more stressful life events in the past year had lower sperm quality than men who did not experience any stressful life events, according to researchers.As part of the study, the men were required to complete a series of tests that measured levels of stress, including that from the workplace, stressful life events and overall perceived stress. They were also required to provide semen samples. Using standard fertility testing methods, researchers from the University of California, Davis, analyzed semen concentration, and sperm shape (morphology) and movement (motility) in each sample. The researchers found that men who experienced two or more stressful life events in the past year had a lower percentage of sperm motility and a lower percentage of sperm of normal morphology, compared with men who did not experience any stressful life events. They note this finding remained even after accounting for other factors that may influence semen quality, such as age, other health problems and history of reproductive health problems. Although workplace stress did not directly affect semen quality in the men, the researchers found that those who experienced job strains had lower levels of the hormone testosterone in their semen, which could affect reproductive health. In addition, they found that regardless of the levels of stress experienced, men who were unemployed had lower semen quality than those who were employed. How can stress affect semen quality?Although the researchers are unable to pinpoint exactly how stress affects the quality of semen, they do present some theories. They say stress could activate the release of glucocorticoids - steroid hormones that affect the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins - which could reduce testosterone levels and sperm production. Furthermore, they say stress could trigger oxidative stress - physiological stress on the body caused by damage from unneutralized free radicals - which has been associated with semen quality and fertility. Commenting on the findings, first study author Teresa Janevic, PhD, an assistant professor at Rutgers School of Public Health, says: "Stress has long been identified as having an influence on health. Our research suggests that men's reproductive health may also be affected by their social environment." The researchers note that this is the first study to use subjective and objective measures of stress and, as a result, find links with reduced semen quality. In a recent spotlight feature, Medical News Today looked at whether infertility is primarily seen as woman's problem, and whether there needs to be more awareness surrounding male infertility. Article: 1st June 2014 www.medicalnewstoday.com

Drug helps women preserve fertility after chemotherapy

For some young women, one of the most crushing side effects of breast cancer treatment is early menopause, which ends their chances of becoming pregnant. A new study shows that these women have a better chance of preserving their future fertility if they temporarily turn off their ovaries during chemotherapy. The ovary glands produce estrogen and typically release one egg a month during women's fertile years. Early menopause can cause a number of medical complications, including an increased risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. The procedure involves injections of an existing hormone-suppressing drug called goserelin, which lowers estrogen levels, preventing women from getting regular menstrual cycles, according to the study of 218 women presented Friday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago. Both groups of women in the study, who were ages 18 to 49, received the same chemo regimen. Two years later, women who had been randomly selected to take the medication saw a number of benefits, compared with women who didn't take the drug. * Women who took the drug were 64% less likely to have their ovaries fail, which occurs when women miss their periods for six months or more. About 22% of women who got standard chemo experienced ovarian failure, compared with 8% of those who also took goserelin. * Women who received goserelin were twice as likely to have become pregnant, according to the study, funded by the National Institutes of Health. About 21% of women who took goserelin became pregnant and 15% delivered a baby. In comparison, 11% of those who did not take goserelin became pregnant and 7% of them had a baby. About the same number of women in each group had tried to conceive. * Women who took goserelin were also 50% more likely to be alive four years later than women who didn't receive goserelin. "Premenopausal women beginning chemotherapy for early breast cancer should consider this new option," said lead author Halle Moore, an oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, in a statement. It's possible that turning off the ovaries protects them from the effects of chemo, which fights cancer by targeting cells that are growing and dividing, says Clifford Hudis, president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, who was not involved in the new research. While authors of the new study focused on breast cancer patients, the technique would likely benefit women being treated for other kinds of cancer, he says. The study included only women whose breast cancers are fueled by hormones. Nearly 11,000 women under age 40 are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Traditionally, women looking to preserve their chances of becoming pregnant after chemo have had to undergo invasive treatments, such as harvesting and storing ovarian tissue or embryos. Banking embryos isn't an option for all women, however, such as those without partners. Although a handful of earlier studies had suggested goserelin might be beneficial, cancer specialists haven't recommended it to women. This trial may lead many doctors to recommend it more widely, says Patricia Ganz, a breast cancer specialist at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center who wasn't involved in the study. Article: www.usatoday.com 30th May 2014