Overcoming vaginal dryness to help your fertility naturally

Recent article talks about how to improve fertility naturally and talks about the benefit of using sperm friendly lubricant for helping you conceive. In a 2012 article published in journal Human Reproduction, researchers estimated that the current infertility rate in Canada ranged from 11.5% to 15.7%. Both of these estimates represented an increase in current infertility prevalence in Canada when compared with previous national estimates. A new review paper entitled "Overcoming Vaginal Dryness and Improving your Fertility – Naturally" by Dr. Judith Fiore, N.D., Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and Natural Fertility Expert in Toronto, is now available for free download to help couples trying to conceive. Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) November 30, 2012 In a 2012 article published in the journal Human Reproduction, researchers estimated that the current Canadian infertility rate (measured as greater than 12 months trying to conceive) ranged from 11.5% to 15.7%. Both of these estimates represented an increase in current infertility prevalence in Canada when compared with previous national estimates. When trying to conceive naturally many couples are unaware that there are actions they can take themselves to complement any therapeutic approach. A new review paper entitled "Overcoming Vaginal Dryness and Improving your Fertility – Naturally" by Dr. Judith Fiore, N.D., Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and Natural Fertility Expert in Toronto is now available at the Canadian Zestica Fertility website for free download. In the paper Dr Fiore shares her insights and experience on what has helped many couples achieve "baby making" success. Her insight and tips for natural ways to increase a couple's chances of conceiving include advice on what to look for in a sperm-friendly personal lubricant to overcome vaginal dryness and help sperm motility, and what it really means to follow a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle. Dr Fiore also covers the importance of sleep, exercise and stress management as well as sharing her thoughts on timed lovemaking. The paper can be downloaded from the www.zesticafertility.ca homepage Article: 30th November 2012 www.sfgate.com

Opportunity to help understand the changing face of Donation

My name is Stephen Whyte and I am a social sciences researcher from Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane (QUT), Australia. I’m conducting research into the changing market for Donors and women seeking donors for DI, IUI, ICSI and IVF treatment. As a father of three beautiful sons myself, I am lucky enough to already know “why” people are seeking the amazing gift of parenthood. What my study is seeking to establish is the driving factors behind the potential parents and donors seeking to step away from the current public and private sector options for donor insemination treatment. My research aims to better understand the participants in this new market place (Website Forums for Donation), so that fiscal policy and legislation can affect more socially beneficial outcomes. Government policy is often based on stringent un-biased academic research such as the type I am attempting to conduct. I am seeking to better understand the donors and potential parents involved in websites such as Pride Angel. To do this I first need to have an understanding of the people involved and what has brought them to participate in such online forums. I have created a short survey that takes approximately five - ten minutes for donors and ten – fifteen minutes for people seeking donors to fill in. The survey does not ask you to personally identify yourself, it is completely anonymous. We do not wish to identify you now or in the future. What we do want is a general demographic outline of you, so as to form a better idea of what has brought you to this forum. Understanding how you have got to this point, the factors that drive you and what is influencing your selection is the essence of this research. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. I would ask and hope that you follow the links below, fill in our survey and help us in our research endeavour. Thank you and good luck in your pursuit of the amazing gift of life. If you are a donor please fill in the survey at this link: www.survey.qut.edu.au/survey/175520/e66c/ If you are looking for a donor please fill in the survey at this link: www.survey.qut.edu.au/survey/175495/125c/ Article: 28th November 2012 by Stephen Whyte - Social sciences researcher from Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane (QUT), Australia

Egg Freezing - women still leaving it too late to have a baby

Leading Fertility expert Dr Gillian Lockwood says that women are still leaving it to late to try and have a baby. Dr Lockwood has suggested that Egg freezing should be every father’s graduation present to his daughter. Dr Lockwood, of the Midland Fertility Centre, where half of Britain’s babies conceived from frozen eggs originated, said young women are still not getting the message about infertility. She told The Times: ‘One part of me wants to say that [egg freezing] should be every dad’s graduation present for his daughter. It would be a very safe, low dose, and you could have 20 beautiful eggs in the freezer. 'But – and it’s a very big but – I’m concerned about how that would alter a woman’s life choices, that they might think: “Well, instead of having a family with Mr Not Quite Perfect, I can afford to wait for Mr Absolutely perfect”. In Britain, women are delaying childbirth later than ever: the average woman here has her first child at 31, compared to 24 in 1962. About 6,500 eggs have been stored in Britain in the decade since egg freezing was licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). Yet the chances of conceiving a baby from a frozen egg are low, and preparing for it is a painful, costly process involving potent fertility drugs, chemicals and surgery. Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston is rumoured to have frozen her eggs, and in a recent episode of the U.S. reality television show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kim injected herself with hormones in preparation for doing the same. But despite egg freezing being something often talked about as a viable option, just 12 babies have been born from frozen eggs in this country. However this may slowly change after a recent report by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) stated that egg freezing is no longer experimental technology. The organisation has recommended that women freeze their eggs in their 20s and 30s to help them conceive later in life. And it is timing that is key, says Dr Lockwood. 'By the time many women decide they want to freeze their eggs, they are often in their late 30s, when their eggs have declined in quality significantly. I get many calls from women around the age of 38 who want their eggs frozen,’ she told the Mail last month. Last year Brigitte Adams decided to freeze her eggs at the age of 38, to safeguard what was left of her fertility ‘A frozen egg from a 38-year-old will be better than a fresh one from a 42-year-old, but pregnancy is still not very likely.’ Dr Lockwood added that a 30-year-old who freezes her eggs would have a 30-40 per cent chance of having a child. After 38, this falls to 25 per cent. And even freezing your eggs at 30 could have its downsides, she said. 'Will it mean a woman waits around all her life for Mr Perfect, knowing she has healthy eggs from her 30-year-old self in the freezer, but then becomes bitter because she has rejected all the Mr Pretty Well Good Enoughs and found herself single and childless at 45, with frozen eggs that turned out not to work?’ Other experts have cautioned that egg freezing is by no means a fail-safe insurance policy. Dr Magdy Asaad, clinical director of the London Fertility Centre, says the chances of getting a baby from a frozen egg are about 1 to 3 per cent for each egg. Also, only eight out of ten eggs survive the thawing process and there are still some concerns about whether egg freezing is effective or safe in terms of the long-term health of children. There have also been suggestions that chemicals applied to the egg wall during flash-freezing could potentially damage the egg. Egg freezing is funded by the NHS if carried out for women having cancer treatment. Otherwise it costs £5,000 per cycle, then £200 a year to pay for safe storage of the eggs. One woman who chose to freeze her eggs was Brigitte Adams. Last year, at the age of 38, she decided to take action to safeguard what was left of her fertility. She told The Times: 'I know I have less than a 30 per cent chance - but it's better than zero chance. I feel I have at least done something proactive and have a back-up plan.' She has gone on to found the website Eggsurance to encourage other women to think about freezing their eggs as an 'insurance policy' that can be used later. Ms Adams was 37 when she started thinking about the procedure. 'I just always expected that at my age I would already have kids. I also had some close friends who were either going through difficult IVF treatments or looking into the adoption process. 'I contacted a fertility doctor in my city who told me to “just get pregnant". Not exactly what I wanted to hear.' She adds that she assumed because she ate well and exercised that she must have a healthy supply of eggs. 'So I was surprised when I learned that maternal age directly correlates to the health of your eggs.' Her family were incredibly supportive, she says. 'My parents were all for it and even offered to pay for some of the treatment costs. My friends, on the other hand, were shocked initially as they did not know anybody who had had their eggs frozen. 'However, once I explained the procedure to them they were extremely supportive and of great help. You really need a strong support system through a process like this as it is both physically and emotionally challenging.' Article: 26th November 2012 www.dailymail.co.uk

118 MPs may vote against the new Gay Marriage Bill

118 Conservative MPs could potentially vote against government plans to legalise marriage rights for gay couples the Daily Mail has reported. The story was carried large on Saturday’s front page and has been written by the paper’s columnist Andrew Pierce Mr Pierce has previously voiced his opposition to equal marriage despite claiming to be a supporter of gay rights. According to the Mail, 118 out of 303 Conservative MPs have reportedly written to their constituents about their unease over the policy. Unlike Labour and the Lib Dems, Tory MPs have been granted a free vote on the issue. Even if 118 Conservative MPs voted against an equal marriage bill – it would still be likely to pass through the House of Commons as most of Labour and nearly all Lib Dem MPs are expected to back the measure. Conor Burns, the gay Conservative MP for Bournemouth West, Branksome East and Alderney, is cited in the Mail as a key parliamentary opponent. Last month, the MP told the Belfast News Letter that civil partnership legislation had granted gay couples all of the necessary legal entitlements. However, Sky News reports on Saturday that Mr Burns hasn’t decided whether to abstain or vote in favour but says he doesn’t understand why it’s being brought forward now. It is the second time the Daily Mail has splashed heavily on equal marriage in successive days. Claims made by the paper on Thursday evening, that David Cameron was looking to “fast-track” equal marriage legislation have since been downplayed by Whitehall officials. Article: 23rd November 2012 www.pinknews.co.uk

Gay and lesbian families to be given legal protection in Ireland

Ireland to introduce a new bill to give greater protection for gay and lesbian families. Ireland’s Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) has welcomed comments made by Justice Minister Alan Shatter on the need to improve legal provision for gay parents and their children with new legislation. Speaking at an LGBT reception on Wednesday, Mr Shatter confirmed that the Irish government would bring forward new legislation to secure “equal citizenship for lesbian and gay parents”. Mr Shatter announced a comprehensive Family Relationships and Children Bill, to be enacted by the end of 2013, which will provide for relationships of guardianship, custody and access for children in lesbian and gay headed families. The proposed bill will also provide greater financial security for the children of same-sex parents by addressing maintenance and inheritance rights, and issues concerning assisted human reproduction. In response, the chair of GLEN Kieran Rose said: “This is great news for lesbian and gay couples who are parenting children. One of the most urgent issues for these parents is the lack of legal certainty for their families and the lack of protection and security for their children. “The reforms the minister outlined this evening will transform the status of these families, and secure for their children the range of protections and supports available to children in other families.” Article: 21st November 2012 www.pinknews.co.uk

Known sperm donors discussed on Woman's hour

Natalie was interviewed on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour on Thursday on the topic of private sperm donation. The programme feature NGA client Mark Langridge (the donor who has been pursued for child support by the CSA twelve years after donating his sperm to a lesbian couple) and Laura Witjens, Chief Executive of the National Gamete Donation Trust, with Jenni Murray asking ‘what makes a father’? You can listen to Natalie on Woman’s Hour here. At NGA, we advise many prospective parents (and donors) considering a known donation arrangement, helping them to set things up with the strongest foundations. We sadly also help people whose known donation arrangements have broken down, both representing donors pursued for child support and lesbian and solo parents whose donors seek more involvement than they want. You can find out more about known donation and about known donor disputes.

Test for High Sperm Damage - a leading cause of unexplained infertility

New research from Queen's University Belfast has uncovered the cause of infertility for 80 per cent of couples previously diagnosed with 'unexplained infertility'. In a study of 239 couples with that diagnosis, researchers found that in 80% of cases, the men had high sperm DNA damage. They can now be fast tracked to the appropriate treatment for that specific problem. Every year, about 50,000 couples in the UK require fertility treatment. These findings will save them time, money and heartache, Queen's scientists said. Professor Sheena Lewis from the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen's, said this was "a huge finding". She said it was a breakthrough rather than a cure, but that it offered "a way to fertility". "For almost one third of couples, until now, there has been no obvious cause for infertility and these couples are given the diagnosis of 'unexplained infertility'," she said. "These couples often invest a lot of time and money in fertility treatments like intra-uterine insemination which are unlikely to be successful. "In our study, we have now had a breakthrough which explains the cause of infertility for many of those couples. "Now that we have found the cause of infertility for these couples, suitable treatments can be tailored for them which will direct them straight to the best treatment and increase their chances of having a baby." Professor Lewis said a million couples across the world were being investigated for infertility every year. Professor Sheena Lewis said this was a "huge finding" "This will save them time, it will save them money and it will save them the heartache of failed fertility treatments," she said. "Nothing is a guarantee but it will give them a better chance." The study also has a second major finding. It is the first study to show that the chances of having a baby after IVF is closely related to the amount of DNA damage a man has in each of his sperm. The university is also working through Lewis Fertility Testing to make the test available to anyone who needs it. The test is also being trialled in China. Professor Lewis said the breakthrough was a result of local talent and was having a global impact. However, Professor Christopher Barratt, professor of reproductive Medicine at the University of Dundee said that most clinics would not test for high sperm damage because of uncertainty over what to do with the results. He also pointed out that although high sperm damage was found in the majority of couples, it may not be the only cause of their fertility problems. "Whether this type of testing predicts which treatment you should is not yet clear. "The question is whether this type of testing is going to help and that is where the evidence needs to be stronger." Article: 14th November 2012 www.bbc.co.uk

Woman 58 acts as surrogate to her own daughter

A woman in her 50s will give birth to her own children after becoming a surrogate mother for her infertile daughter. Cathy Donnelly, 58, is six months pregnant and will welcome her seventh grandchild into the world when she gives birth to her - before daughter Shannon Fischer raises the baby. Mrs Fischer and her husband Jamie had been trying for two years when they discovered they couldn’t conceive due to scarring in her uterus. So Mrs Donnelly mother of three and a grandmother of six, volunteered to be a surrogate mother for her daughter. Mrs Fischer said: 'The day I came home from my surgery mum said "I'll do it". She didn't hesitate.' Mrs Donnelly, from London in Ontario, Canada, said: 'I felt bad for them - I just thought what’s nine months of my life? They are going to have a child for the rest of theirs? It's not like I'm busy doing anything.' He said: 'Usually it’s a close friend or a sister that acts as the gestational carrier - women who are over 45-years-old are not normally in good enough health. 'Pregnancy for older women is much riskier. The most common complications are high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and premature child birth.' But they were risks Mrs Donnelly was willing to accept and while she admits her pregnancy hasn’t been easy, she has had no complications so far. 'It was long process and involved a heavy dose of fertility drugs for both of us but in the end it all paid off. 'I was standing in line for a coffee when I got a call from my doctor confirming I was pregnant. I was just bawling - people must have thought someone close to me died. 'But it has been challenging. Now I’m showing I make sure people aren’t staring or looking at me because they’re probably thinking ‘look at that old lady.' Mrs Donnelly said she did question whether she was doing the right thing and if everything would work out okay until she started to feel the baby move. Now her only concerns are about how she will feel once she has given birth. 'I don't know if I'll feel like I've lost her, I don't know how I'm going to feel,' Mrs Donnelly said. Shannon plans to name her daughter Zoey Hope Catherine after her mother. And for her the whole experience has made her cherish their mother-daughter relationship even more. She said: 'It just changes your relationship 360 degrees. We were close before but it’s just on a whole new level. I want to be like she is to my own daughter, that caring and willing to do stuff for her. Article: 16th November 2012 www.dailymail.co.uk

Maternity leave to be granted for parents through Surrogacy

We are pleased to say that the government announced yesterday that they would be introducing adoption leave (equivalent to maternity leave) rights for parents through surrogacy. After campaigning for more than five years, Natalie Gamble Associates are thrilled ‘Some days I feel very proud of what we do here, and today is one of those days’ Until now, parents whose biological child is carried by another woman have had no rights to time off work when their new baby arrives, unlike parents who give birth or who adopt a child. This has been grossly unfair, and resulted in parents through surrogacy having to quit their jobs or go back to work if their employer does not (or cannot) give leave on a discretionary basis. The new rights will be introduced as part of the government’s maternity leave and adoption leave reforms, expected to come into force in 2015. Although the full detail has yet to be confirmed, we know that parents through surrogacy will be entitled to two antenatal appointments during the pregnancy, and adoption leave after the birth. This will be available to all couples eligible to apply for a parental order, including heterosexual parents and gay dads. Surrogate mothers will also retain their right to maternity leave to recover from giving birth. More information is available in the government’s response to the consultation on modern workplaces which says: We propose that intended parents in surrogacy cases who satisfy the criteria for a Parental Order and intend to apply, or have applied, to a court for a Parental Order will be entitled to leave and pay on the same basis as adopters who are eligible for statutory adoption leave and pay, subject to the qualifying conditions and evidential requirements. In addition, both intended parents will be entitled to take unpaid time off to attend two antenatal appointments with the surrogate mother carrying their child. What is so exciting about the change, as well as the practical legal rights it will introduce for new parents, is that this is the very first time in UK legal history that parents through surrogacy have been recognised as having any rights in advance of the birth of their child. This is a very significant recognition that surrogacy is real and here to stay, and hopefully a first step towards wider reform of our surrogacy laws. Read more information about surrogacy law and more about Natalie Gamble Associates' campaigning work. Article: 15th November 2012 www.nataliegambleassociates.co.uk

DuoFertility monitor a success in Britain expands into the US

Fertility monitor which accurately measures basal body temperature is a success in the UK, helping many couples have a baby. Most entrepreneurs care deeply about their businesses but they’re not usually reduced to tears by a successful sale. For Oriane Chausiaux, of Cambridge Temperature Concepts, which provides fertility monitoring for couples struggling to have a baby, the early successes of the business had as much emotional impact as financial. “After the thirtieth pregnancy I managed to stop crying when I heard the news,” says Dr Chausiaux. The company makes a monitor called DuoFertility. This is a small sensor worn by a woman under her armpit, which sends signals about body temperature and sleep patterns throughout the day and night to an analytics centre in Cambridge, using wireless technology. These signals build up a picture about when she is most fertile, because the presence of different hormones affects body temperature. Users can call up the centre at any time to discuss the results with a fertility expert. The device is not cheap – it sells for about £500 in the UK, through the company’s website, Boots online and Pride Angel, but includes all the analytics and communications with the company, which offers a guaranteed refund to women who don’t fall pregnant within 12 months. The price is cheap compared to IVF treatment, which costs between £5,000 and £7,000 per cycle in the UK. The monitor is only suitable for couples who don’t have medical issues that mean IVF is the only way they could conceive but, because about a third of patients who have IVF in the UK suffer from “unexplained infertility”, there is still a large market to go for, says Dr Shamus Husheer, chief executive. The monitor had an unconventional birth. It was the brainchild of Dr Husheer when he was a nuclear and structural chemistry PhD student, working in a particle accelerator in France. He was inspired by the difficulty his parents had in conceiving him and by new battery technology which generated power from the body. He recruited Dr Chausiaux, who is now the head scientist, and four other Cambridge PhD students to help him build a prototype and come up with a business plan. What they developed was a medical device that, in its first form, was “a shoebox full of electronics which you strapped to your body”. The idea won the scientists £1,000 and then £20,000 in competitions run by Cambridge University. They used the money to pay for filing a patent and building a prototype. At the end of 2007, they raised £250,000 from angel investors in the Cambridge area, to develop the DuoFertility monitor. Even when they were still at the shoebox stage, they were contacted by couples wanting to pay to have a monitor built for them. Dr Chausiaux says: “That showed us the need really was there.” Dr Husheer adds: “We also didn’t appreciate how huge the mental and psychological side was when we started off. The couples were always on the phone to us to talk about their condition and we realised we were providing a service that was not available to them anywhere else.” After being screened to check their fertility issues are within the limits the monitor can help with, Cambridge Temperature Concepts says couples who use it for six months have the same chance of getting pregnant as someone of the same age on a cycle of IVF. While growth in the past four years has been “spiky”, Dr Husheer admits, the firm now has 2,000 customers and expects turnover to rise to £2.5m in 2012-13. However, growing through UK retail has been slower and trickier than the pair anticipated and the founders are in the middle of a £1m fund-raising to help to pay for plans to expand in the US. They are hoping that American doctors will recommend the product to patients. The opportunity in the US, where a cycle of IVF can cost as much as $20,000 (£12,500), is an order of magnitude greater than in the UK, Dr Husheer says. “We believe there are 400,000 women in the US a year for whom our product is the right thing.” However, there is also a new opportunity in the UK – the company has been accepted for a trial by the NHS, with the same guarantee that it will reimburse the health service after a year if the patient does not fall pregnant. “There’s a push into payment for outcomes by the Department of Health, so we’re ticking the political boxes too,” says Dr Husheer. Since the first fund-raising from angel investors, they have raised money “a couple” more times the same way, although they still own just over 50pc of the company. “The main things we need to finance now are some people with deep commercial experience in the US, and staff in the UK to do the fertility analysis,” says Dr Husheer. The company hopes to be able to provide the same level of support as it does now for 10,000 people after this round of hiring. All the analytics staff will be based in Cambridge, in large part hired from the town’s universities. The DuoFertility monitor has gained the approval of the US medical regulator, the FDA, and the company is marketing it to the obstetricians and gynaecologists American women typically visit rather than GPs. “Our experience with the FDA was not nearly as bad as some of the rumours suggest,” said Dr Husheer. “They seemed pretty responsive to us because our device is non-invasive and we have a lot of field data from using it in Europe.” Article: 13th November 2012 www.telegraph.co.uk

Artist Grayson Perry to paint portraits of modern alternative families

Joe Evans an arts documentary producer is currently working with the Turner-prize winning artist Grayson Perry on a new series about portraiture for Channel 4. For this series, Grayson wants to capture the truth about modern British identity by doing a series of portraits of people whose stories tell us something important about whom we are now. To make the portraits, Grayson will spend time with his subjects, talking in detail about their lives, and really trying to understand who they are. The portraits Grayson makes will form part of an exhibition which we hope will tour several major art galleries around Britain. Joe is seeking to contact couples or individuals embarking on the search for an egg or sperm donor, and who ultimately would like co-parent with the donor. If you are about to embark on this journey, are interested in this project, and feel comfortable discussing the possibility of us documenting your experiences for TV, then please do email joeevans@senecaproductions.com or contact us at Pride Angel for more information. If you would like to watch the last series we made with Grayson Perry for Channel 4, it is available to view here: www.channel4.com Article: 11th November 2012 Joe Evans

British comedy series about becoming a surrogate for your gay best friends

Fyrian Films bring you their first project - The first British gay web series and winner of Raindance’s Best Web Pilot Competition in 2011. The Vessel features a young, talented British cast: Phillip Whiteman (InkHeart), Lily Brown (The Friday Night Project) and Giovanni Bienne, with guest star appearances from Robin Soans (The Queen) and Louise Jameson (Dr. Who, Eastenders) as well as award winning stand up comedian Shazia Mirza. "I saw the pilot of The Vessel at Raindance late last year and for me it ticked all the boxes: a persuasive story line, commanding performances and created with a cheeky style that has 'Raindance' all over it" - Elliot Grove, Founder of Raindance Film Festival Synopsis: Rory and Mike want to have a baby together. This is where their best friend Kim comes in. Over ten episodes and nine months we follow Kim as she helps this unconventional family bring a new life into the world. But with boyfriends, exes and conservative grandparents on the scene plus some fiery pregnancy hormones – will Kim come to regret her decision? Is she really ready to give up her body, career, love-life, tennis lessons and, of course, the baby…? The series embraces the topical subject matter of same sex parenting and surrogacy and is filmed ‘Peep Show’ style from Kim’s (the surrogate) point of view you get to see all of the action through the surrogate’s eyes never getting to see her face or reactions. We want the audience to be able to identify with what must sound to most of them like a very alien experience. To make this look as natural as possible we decided to film every episode as a single continuous take – a snapshot into the lives of these three complicated characters. To maintain this sense of reality every episode is shot as a single continuous take and the dialogue stays fresh and spontaneous through improvisation. Web series continue to proliferate and challenge the popularity of their television counterparts. This medium provides a platform for independent producers and writers to create their own work free of controlling studios and commissioners - no matter how small the budget or how crazy the idea. Producing the series in this way certainly brought its own challenges but it allowed us the freedom to tell a different story in the way, we think, works best. We invite you to take a look through the eyes of The Vessel. "The Vessel is original and genuinely funny." - Rupert Bryan, CEO Motion Picture House Broadcast Schedule: - Episode 1 will be released at 8pm on Sunday 21st October. - Each episode will be released weekly on Sunday nights at 8pm from the above date with the season finale on 23rd December - just in time for Christmas! Please place links to our website social networking sites: www.thevesselseries.com, https://twitter.com/thevesselseries, http://www.facebook.com/TheVesselSeries For any producer, director or cast interviews and photos please get in touch here: info@thevesselseries.com

Planet London - the ultimate guide to lesbian London

Planet London the ultimate guide to lesbian London is a listings and lifestyle website aimed at lesbians in London. We have been running since March 2011, however we originally came up with the concept a couple of years before. We realised how hard it can be to find out, with any sense of accuracy, to find out what events and other social activities are going on for lesbians and bi women in London. The print listings are often not detailed enough as they are monthly publications, and online listings were often years out of date or leading to non existent websites. The lesbian community scene in London changes fast, and on hearing many of our friends bemoan the fact “there was nothing on for them” that night, when in fact there could be 10 or 12 events to choose from, we decided to get to work and launch Planet London – as a one stop shop that brings all the up-to-date information about events and social activities for lesbians and bi women of London in one easy place. Our main feature is our events calendar. We work tirelessly online and with our event organiser contacts to ensure this is as up to date as possible, listing as many of the events as we can find (new and regular) so women know what’s out there for then. This is a major part of our mission as well as working in partnership with the community to deliver the knowledge. We supplement the calendar with further information through our listings, features and reviews to help women make decisions about what social activities might suit them. The site has grown and evolved over the last 20 months, and we are building the lifestyle content to reflect the interests and needs of our visitors. Developments over the last year or so include a film review blog, a section on different aspects of starting a family and a super blog that is available on Kindle as well as making as much use of social media as possible (you can follow us on twitter @PLanetLondon or Facebook via). We are very proud of the fact we have a grass roots foundation and have come up out of the lesbian and bi women’s community in London. We are always keen to hear feedback and new ideas for content on the site – so please get in touch via social media or admin@planet-london.com

Single man becomes a Dad through Surrogacy in UK

Yesterday's ITV Daybreak featured Kyle Casson, a single dad who Natalie Gamble Associates are proud to be working with on his journey to become the first single parent through surrogacy in the UK. Well done to Kyle for speaking out so bravely, and for being such a great a champion for solo dads. Kyle spoke characterically warmly about his plans to be a father. He has always wanted children, and wants to do it in his twenties (with active grandparents) rather than waiting for a partner who may not come along. He has planned things carefully, is financially secure, has the enthusiastic support of his family, and has a surrogate who wants to help him. You can see Kyle talking about his story on ITV Daybreak here. So what does the law say? The law in the UK has never made it illegal to enter into a surrogacy arrangement as a single father. But it doesn’t make it easy either. Most parents through surrogacy (including gay dads and unmarried couples) can apply for a ‘parental order’ after their child is born. This is an order made by the family court which gives the intended parents a new birth certificate and extinguishes the responsibilities of the surrogate mother. Single parents are not, however, eligible to apply. This means it is perfectly legal for Kyle to have a child through surrogacy in the UK, but the normal solution for families created through surrogacy (designed to give lifelong security and certainty for the child) is not available. He will have to get creative with using law designed for other purposes to secure his family and resolve the position of his surrogate – adoption being the best alternative to a parental order if the family court will agree to help. Natalie Gamble Associates (NGA) call to action On behalf of Kyle and the increasing numbers of solo prospective dads NGA are advising (some going abroad for surrogacy, others entering into co-parenting arrangements. NGA call for parental orders to be made available to solo parents. The law has already been extended, in 2008, to allow gay dads and unmarried couples to apply, and it is now time to allow single parents to apply too. This would bring the law into line with adoption law, which allows single parents to become adopters, and with reproductive law for women which was specifically amended in 2008 to allow solo mums to conceive through donor insemination. NGA frequently see heartbreaking cases caused by the denial of surrogacy to single parents. A change to the law would benefit not only prospective solo dads like Kyle, but also single women who have survived cancer and need the help of a surrogate to carry their child, and widowed fathers who want to use embryos in storage, just as widowed mothers are able to do. And what do we say to people (like the lady on Daybreak with Kyle this morning) who say that such solo parents who want to have children are selfish? Well, wanting to be a parent is something most human beings experience, so it comes down to whether children suffer harm if raised without a mother and a father. This is an old question for non-traditional families, and the answer (backed by long research, including by the Centre for Family Research at Cambridge University) is that children in deliberately created non-traditional families (including solo parent families) have good outcomes, and are in a very different position from children whose parents have separated. It is the quality of the relationships which matters, and not the gender or number of the parents. Article source: 5th November 2012 www.nataliegambleassociates.co.uk

Olympic winner tops Independent's Pink List 2012

Olympic gold medalist Nicola Adams tops this year's Pink List. More than 1,500 people voted for the influential lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who make Britain safer, fairer, better and more entertaining. More than 250 nominees' names were run past the panel of judges: two magazine editors, a teacher and LGBT schools adviser, a film maker, a charity CEO, and the Chief Executive of Stonewall. They wrestled with the knotty question of who was most influential in 2012. Not surprisingly, sports people are high on the list. 1 (new entry) Nicola Adams Olympian Nicola Adams punched her way into the history books this year, becoming the first woman ever to win an Olympic medal in boxing. Since the 30-year-old flyweight from Leeds floored China's Ren Cancan to win the gold she has become an inspiring role model for young people in Britain and around the world. Rarely seen without the smile that is now emblazoned on billboards and buses around the country, Adams is modest, hard-working and friendly. Everything, in short, that you would hope from a sporting hero. Adams, who is bisexual, persevered with the sport for more than a decade when representing her country — let alone getting an Olympic medal — was not an option for girls. This year, her talent and charm have won over many of the chauvinists who queued up before the Games to say that putting a woman in the ring was "unnatural". "It's amazing to be on top of a list of such inspiring and influential people," Adams said. "Thanks to everyone for their continued support." 2 (4) Clare Balding Presenter and author Ordinarily, being queen of the Olympics, a best-selling memoirist, champion of women's sport and darling of Twitter would be enough for a number-one slot. We love her, and her partner, Alice Arnold. We hope she'll be chuffed to come second to a London 2012 gold medallist. 3 (re-entry) Peter Tatchell Legend Last year the Pink List committed the unforgivable error of forgetting the veteran campaigner. He forgave us with typical good grace. Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, he has tackled neo-Nazis, President Mugabe and the British parliament. Indefatigable, brave and unforgettable. 4 (new entry) Lee Pearson Paralympic equestrian He told The IoS that he prepared for the Paralympic Games with curry, Malibu and Coke, but that didn't stop Pearson from taking home his 10th gold medal from four summer Olympics. At London 2012, the MBE also added a bronze and a silver to his trophy cabinet. 5 (new entry) Carl HesterOlympic equestrian One of the most established dressage riders in the country, Carl Hester worked with Charlotte Dujardin and Laura Bechtolsheimer to win Britain's first Olympic dressage gold in the team event. He also made history as the only Team GB Olympian to be "out" at the time of the Games. 6 (judge) Greg Barker Climate-change minister Conservative MP who is defending the interests of the green movement inside DECC against anti-wind farms minister John Hayes. Barker is also chairman of the 2020 group of Tory MPs, who want David Cameron to return to the progressive centre and stand up to the Conservative right. 7 (10) Heather Peace Actress The actress and musician acquired a cult following after appearing in the BBC drama Lip Service as a lesbian police officer. She received more public nominations than anyone else on this list. Her first album, Fairytales, was released in May and she is now filming Waterloo Road. 8 (new entry) Nick Grimshaw Radio DJ The exceptionally likeable presenter officially became the biggest deal in radio when he took over the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show in September. That the newly-out Mancunian replaced former Stonewall Bully of the Year Chris Moyles makes his ascent all the sweeter. 9 (re-entry) David Laws Cabinet office minister Reinstated to Government in September after being forced to resign over his expenses in 2010, Laws, whose responsibilities include schools policy, attends Cabinet and is close to both Michael Gove and Nick Clegg — making him a key influence on the coalition. 10 (new entry) Luke Anderson Winner, Big Brother 13 Anderson rose to prominence as a hugely popular winner of Channel 5's Big Brother 13. While in the house, Anderson revealed he had been born a woman and hoped that his appearance on the show "will help to show trans guys that you can lead a normal life". Read the full 101 most influential LGBT figures in Britain.

Fertility Show London 3-4 Nov 2012 - Alternative Parenting Seminars

Thinking of having a baby? Finding it difficult to get pregnant? Want to know how fertile you are? Considering IVF? Looking for a sperm or egg donor? Looking for some answers? Whether you’re just thinking about starting a family or have been trying for ages, find out what you need to know at The Fertility Show this weekend. Seminars for single women, lesbian couples and gay couples considering surrogacy Sunday 12.30-13.15 Legal update for single women and lesbian couples starting a family What happens to the children when lesbian parents split up, what impact does inclusion on the birth certificate for non biological parents make, what rights do known donors have to get involved in their children's lives? Natalie Gamble, prominent lesbian mother of two and campaigner for legal rights for lesbian and single fertility patients, and colleague Sarah Wood-Heath, both of leading fertility law firm Natalie Gamble Associates, address some of the emerging legal issues for alternative parents in this fast developing area of family law. Sunday 14.30-15.15 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 Natalie Woods, a lesbian patient of Carole’s who became a mother after treatment and is also a fertility counsellor, goes into some of the issues discussed in counselling as well as providing a patient’s perspective. Sunday 15.30-16.15 Single women and lesbian couples – what to tell the kids. For single mums and lesbian couples using donated sperm or embryos to start a family, questions about whether or not there is a dad in the family precipitate earlier and faster enquiries about their child's genetic origin, and not just from their children. Single mum and fertility coach, Caroline Spencer, talks through how she dealt with questions arising from donor conception whilst Kim Watson, MD of Diva Magazine and a lesbian parent, tackles the issues for children with “two mums”. Surrogacy Sunday 10.45-11.30 Overseas surrogacy Surrogacy offers hope to couples for whom treatment doesn't work, to women who cannot carry a pregnancy, and to gay couples seeking a family of their own. But UK laws on recruiting surrogates are quite restrictive leading many to search overseas, with India the world's number one destination for surrogacy. Dr Rina Agrawal, a Consultant in Reproductive Medicine in the NHS and private sector who has individually managed over 5000 cycles of IVF and has dual medical accreditation in both the UK and India has worked with British patients who have found surrogates in India. She explains how to go about it, what's involved and some of the risks. Sunday 13.30-14.15 Surrogacy arrangements UK law says a surrogate mother is the child's legal mother and if she's married, her husband is the child's legal father, regardless of biology. This creates a range of complex legal issues and a lack of legal status for prospective intended parents in this fast evolving area of law and practice. As more people go abroad for surrogacy without any certainty they will be able to navigate a safe path home with their surrogate born child after the birth, cases of stateless and parentless children stuck in legal limbo hit the headlines. What is the legal pathway through domestic and international surrogacy? Louisa Ghevaert, a leading expert in fertility and parenting law and partner at UK solicitors Porter Dodson, goes through the issues. Pride Angel are exhibiting at stand 61, so why not come and have a chat with us about your parenting options.

Gay sperm donor forced to pay child maintenance by CSA

The Guardian recently reported about a gay man who donated his sperm to enable a lesbian couple to have two children. He was never named on their birth certificate and had no role in their upbringing, however he is being forced by the Child Support Agency to pay for their support – 13 years after the first child was born. Mark Langridge, who has been with his partner for 16 years (and in a civil partnership for the last five), has called on the government to review the law after the CSA suddenly demanded that he start paying £26 a week for two children he technically fathered over a decade ago. He has had no contact with the family since 2004, but the CSA said that he has to either pay up, or take a DNA test to show that he is not their natural father. His story will send shivers down the spine of any man who was asked to donate their sperm by a childless woman in the 90s. Back then it was impossible for women to use official sperm banks unless they had a male partner – something that is no longer the case. Changes to the law mean that if Langridge made the donation today in similar circumstances he wouldn't be financially liable for the children, and he has called for the law governing this area to be applied retrospectively. It is thought that there are several other men caught up in the same position. He understands that the non-biological mother in the pair continues to live near the former family home, and to see the girls at weekends, in the same way, he says, any other divorced or separated parent would – even though they were never civil partners. Yet the CSA is not chasing the other mother for support payments. Natalie Gamble, founder of Natalie Gamble Associates, the UK's foremost experts on fertility law, says the law in this area changed a few years ago. "Had the donation taken place after April 2009, or through a clinic, the law would have viewed his responsibility very differently. In that case he would not be deemed the father, provided the consenting couple to which he was making the donation were in a civil partnership, or his donation to the couple was through a licensed clinic. The fact that it was made on a private basis before that date means the law is very clear. He is considered the father." Natalie Gamble Associates are specialist lawyers who have advised on cases like these for many years (including the case of Andy Bathie, which received worldwide press coverage back in 2008). They say ‘We know that the law on this is black and white – whether you are financially responsible depends on whether you are legally the ‘father’. A sperm donor is the legal father, whether or not he appears on the birth certificate, unless: - he donates his sperm through a licensed clinic (without planning an ongoing role if he knows the recipients), or - he donates to a married couple, or - he donates, after April 2009, to a lesbian couple who are civil partners. In all other cases (including private donations to single women, unmarried couples and lesbian couples before April 2009) there is no financial protection for sperm donors. It often shocks people to learn that any verbal or written agreement that the donor would have no financial responsibility is completely irrelevant. Should the law be changed? Mark Langridge certainly thinks so. The law is particularly cruel in his case, since in 1998 and 2000 it would have been difficult for him to have donated to the mothers via a clinic to give him financial protection, and the law did not then (as it now does) hold both lesbian mothers legally and financially responsible. The key message to others has to be to take care before acting as a private donor. Make sure you structure things to protect yourself (by only donating to a married/civilly partnered couple or via a clinic) or at the very least that you understand the risk you are taking. Read more about being a known sperm donor.