Becky’s Blog

08 Mar Freezing your eggs – should you do it?

Posted at 12:04h in IVF by Becky Saer 0 Comments

Egg freezing – it’s everywhere at the moment. Clinics are promoting it heavily. Facebook and Apple are offering it to their female employees. Magazine features are publishing real-life stories. So is freezing your eggs really a good idea? Here’s a reality check.

10 Feb OHSS during IVF – 7 ways to reduce the risk

Posted at 15:16h in IVF by Becky Saer 0 Comments

OHSS, or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, is a potentially serious side effect of IVF. One in eight IVF cycles leads to OHSS, with varying degrees of seriousness. If you’ve got PCOS, you need to take particular care. The good news? The risks of OHSS can be reduced by competent clinics – and you. Read our seven key tips.

25 Jan Ovarian cysts: are they dangerous?

Posted at 10:00h in IVF by Becky Saer 2 Comments

Are ovarian cysts dangerous? Generally, no. But some cysts that grow on the ovaries can affect your fertility and conception chances. Others, when combined with fertility drugs, can be a serious risk to your health.

18 Jan Why NHS GPs are failing IVF patients

Posted at 21:08h in Comment by Becky Saer 5 Comments

Is GP care for IVF patients declining? We think it is. The NHS postcode lottery, tighter criteria for treatment (a third of GPs don't want to fund IVF at all) and an increasingly obstructive attitude are creating a difficult environment. While most of our fertility patients are well looked after by their GPs, a growing number report sub-standard care.

11 Jan Uterine fibroids – 10 things you should know

Posted at 14:24h in Comment by Becky Saer 5 Comments

Uterine fibroids – they sound scary. But are they really a barrier to pregnancy? As medical conditions go, uterine fibroids are majorly misunderstood. We think it’s time to set the record straight. So these are the top 10 things you should know about uterine fibroids.

12 Dec Transvaginal ultrasound: 8 reasons to have one

Posted at 17:10h in IVF by Becky Saer 16 Comments

Ultrasound examination in the Operating Room

An ultrasound scan is a key pregnancy procedure. Most pregnant women have their first scan at 12 weeks' gestation. But not everyone gets pregnant, and there may be a physical reason why. An ultrasound scan (whether trans-vaginal or trans-abdominal) is a safe and effective way to check your reproductive organs are in good shape.

08 Dec Chemical pregnancy – 10 things you should know

Posted at 14:40h in Medical news by Becky Saer 42 Comments

What exactly is a chemical (or biochemical) pregnancy? Like other pregnancy failures, it’s a clunky name that doesn’t really describe the situation (see blighted ovum – the most ineptly named miscarriage ever). So here are 10 things you should know about a chemical pregnancy.

18 Nov Blighted ovum – the silent miscarriage?

Posted at 10:04h in Comment by Becky Saer 1 Comment

A blighted ovum is an early pregnancy failure. Strictly speaking, it’s a miscarriage. But that’s confusing: a blighted ovum exists before any bleeding happens. It’s often spotted late, or not at all. So a blighted ovum is sometimes called a silent miscarriage. One in two early miscarriages are due to a blighted ovum – it’s that common.

23 Oct Intralipid infusions during IVF: hype or help?

Posted at 06:32h in Comment by Becky Saer 42 Comments

Are intralipid infusions helpful during IVF treatment? No, if you believe fertility guru Robert Winston. He tweeted: ‘Intralipids are peddled for so-called immune infertility. Yet another remedy being used without real evidence it works.’ Is he right? Let’s take a close look at intralipids to see if they work for fertility patients or not.

06 Oct Estrogen – why do fertility patients need it?

Posted at 17:33h in IVF by Becky Saer 102 Comments

Estrogen supplements during IVF? They’re sometimes prescribed. And they’re essential for women having donor eggs, donor embryos or frozen-embryo transfers. So why do some doctors, and the leaflets in the packs, scare fertility patients by claiming estrogen can be dangerous during pregnancy? It's hardly the best news to give would-be mums. Here’s the truth about the role estrogen plays before and after fertility treatment.