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