fertilisation

Ladies, listen up! Top tips for healthy sperm
Would-be parents often ask if there is anything they can do to get sperm into tip-top condition. Here, top sperm expert Allan Pacey, Professor of Andrology at the University of Sheffield, gives his top ten suggestions to encourage your man to produce the best he can: Stop him smoking It’s

IVF: the danger of ectopic pregnancy
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) has come a long way since the first successful procedure in 1987 resulted in the birth of the first IVF baby, Louise Brown. Now – 37 years later – there are over 5 million IVF babies and the procedure has been getting more advanced and more

What causes fertility problems in women?
Being diagnosed as infertile is often just the start of a long journey where a couple strives to become parents. As if the diagnosis isn’t devastating enough, often the reasons given for the diagnosis are confusing and peppered with complicated medical terms. This medical jargon can just make the emotional

Antioxidants, Reactive Oxygen Species and your Fertility
Sperm have a pretty tough time. They begin life in the testes, where – after a gruelling 74 days on the production line – they wind their way through coiled tubes to reach the prostate gland. It’s from here that sperm will be ejaculated during sex. They’re catapulted at a

IVF: influencing your baby’s gender?
It’s something every expectant couple will spend hours milling over. Will we be having a girl or a boy? The question may spark many discussions. Names, nursery colours, finding out now vs. waiting until the birth. One thing is for sure; the mystery of it all is very exciting. For

How to pinpoint ovulation
Some time ago, the most reliable way of determining when you’re ovulating was practicing your math skills with a calendar and a pen. Needless to say, this method is not exactly accurate and is definitely not the best way to try and maximise your chances of conceiving. Nowadays, you don’t