Becky’s Blog
28 Aug Two week wait: 10 great tips for IVF patients
The two week wait. Read the IVF forums and you’ll see what an emotionally difficult time it is. For those who find it tough, there are ways to cope and even to improve your chances of a positive pregnancy result. Based on our own experience, and those of our patients, these are our top 10 tips for surviving the two week wait.16 Jul Which fertility forum should I join?
A fertility forum can be a useful source of information, and interaction, for couples trying for a baby. Some forums focus on general infertility. Others on general pregnancy. A select few specialise in IVF. So which fertility forum is best? Based on content quality, range of topics and user experience, these are are the top five fertility forums out there.30 Jun Acupuncture: does it really improve fertility?
Does acupuncture really improve fertility? For 10 years or so, press reports have suggested it might. Fertility forums are stuffed with threads debating the matter. So what’s the truth? Here are the key facts on acupuncture and fertility – based on the latest and most trusted research studies.03 Jun Egg retrieval – 10 tips to improve the outcome
Egg retrieval – a key moment in your IVF cycle. Your eggs, specifically their quality and quantity, affect your chances of getting, and staying, pregnant. So what should you do to make your egg retrieval a success? Based on our experience, that of our patients and the best medical research, read our 10 tips to improve the outcome of your egg retrieval.19 May Your semen analysis – all you need to know
A semen analysis is essential if you’re trying for a baby – conventionally or with IVF. 30 per cent of fertility problems are male-factor. But for a lot of men, providing a semen analysis, let alone understanding the results, is a challenge. So here’s everything you need to know about your semen analysis. And what the results actually mean.07 May Epigenetics: can IVF affect your baby’s genes?
Epigenetics is a branch of science that's increasingly relevant to pregnancies. And IVF pregnancies – especially using donor eggs or donor sperm. Why? Because epigenetics looks at the way lifestyle factors might affect your baby’s genes. If you have a donor-egg child, it could mean she takes after you, after all.16 Apr PCOS? Read our 10 tips to boost your fertility
Got PCOS? You’re not alone. Polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormone disorder, affects around 1 in 10 women. It also affects fertility – sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. Menstrual problems, weight issues and long-term health problems are common. Plus, not all pregnancies are plain-sailing when you’ve got PCOS.01 Apr Over 45? Donor eggs are now the norm, says HFEA
Women over 45 are, for the first time, opting for donor eggs over their own. That statistic was published in the HFEA’s latest report on fertility treatments in the UK. It’s a clear sign that donor-egg IVF is gaining acceptance. And so it should be.13 Mar Folic acid: top 20 foods to eat during pregnancy
Folic acid – it’s essential before and during pregnancy. So why do only 1 in 3 women take a folic-acid supplement when trying for a baby? Even after getting pregnant, that figure only rises to 62 per cent - in the UK at least. Here’s why you need folic acid before and after conception, followed by our shortlist of the top 20 folic-acid foods you should be eating.