IVF on the NHS? You’re better off abroad
Getting IVF on the NHS is tougher than ever. This blog is a regular critic of the poor provision of IVF services on the NHS. Over 60% of IVF applications are refused by the NHS. So patients pay over the odds for rip-off private treatment. We’re now seeing fees of £8,000 and upwards for a […]
Blastocysts: 10 things IVF patients should know
Blastocysts have an image problem – and not just because they sound like a bad day at NASA. Should IVF patients transfer one or more? Is it a good idea to culture embryos for five days, not three? Are multiple births more or less likely? Here’s our round-up of the top 10 things you need […]
Should Parents Tell Children They Were Donor Conceived?
In its report on donor conception, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics talks about ‘information sharing’. That means when and how to tell your child they were donor conceived. It makes some good points. But ethical arguments don’t always take account of the real world. Where, in that 200-page paper, does it actually celebrate the wonderful […]
IVF treatment in Europe? You’re in safe hands.
Legal protection for IVF patients in Europe is impressive. It’s in a different league, for example, to cosmetic surgery, which still attracts some cowboy operators. Not so for IVF. Strict EU laws on fertility treatment, plus well-regulated industry practice, have been evolving for 30 years. If you choose to have an IVF cycle at a […]
Farewell Bob Edwards, visionary IVF pioneer
The death of British IVF pioneer Bob Edwards marks a life that changed the lives of millions. Since 1978, the year Edwards presided over the first IVF baby, over six million babies have been born thanks to the techniques he developed. The role of his colleague, the laparoscopy expert Patrick Steptoe, should also not […]
Stress: does it affect IVF outcomes?
Stress and IVF. We’re always told the two don’t mix. Clinics say take it easy, before and after your treatment. Friends keep a respectful distance. But the truth is, stress and anxiety don’t seem to affect IVF outcomes that much. But read on.
Does PGT-M (Previously PGD) Improve IVF Success Rates?
PGD, now known as PGT-M (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic Disorders), is an important option for couples with a known inherited genetic condition. It allows embryos created through IVF treatment to be tested before transfer, helping reduce the risk of passing specific genetic disorders to a child. While PGT-M has transformed treatment for many families, […]
Stillbirth – the risks for pregnant women
Stillbirth is perhaps the most profoundly upsetting of all all fetal deaths. Research has found that IVF pregnancies don’t lead to significantly more stillbirths than natural pregnancies (but a 2019 study did question this). Can you do anything to reduce the chance of a stillbirth?
Vitamin D: good or bad for pregnant women?
Recent studies on vitamin-D levels in pregnancy appear to contradict each other. One, from the University of Bristol, said maternal vitamin-D levels don’t affect the child’s bone health. A second, from the University of Calgary, said low levels cause pregnancy complications. A third study, from 2018, looked at vitamin D and IVF treatment. It […]
Czech donor eggs: the EU’s best-kept secret?
Mention donor eggs abroad and many people think of Spain. But there are other places in the EU to have donor-egg treatment. Like the Czech Republic. It’s the best-kept secret in the IVF world: cheaper than everywhere else, but offering fabulous care. We know, because that’s where we went.