
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

What causes fertility problems in men?
Being diagnosed as infertile is often just the start of a long journey in which 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

Exactly how common is infertility?
Although we know a lot of people suffer from infertility, it has been difficult for experts to agree on exactly how many people are unable to naturally conceive. Infertility is sometimes defined in different ways and measured using different assumptions, so scientists are often measuring slightly different values when trying

Skinny jeans: a fashion fad threatening your health
These days, it’s hard to look far without seeing a pair of tight or ‘skinny’ jeans. The advent of these jeans came in the 1950s, with pioneers like Elvis Presley paving the way for the new fashion fad. Since then the beacon has been taken up by celebrities ranging from

Female DNA: the culprit behind some cases of male infertility?
Unexplained infertility is a frustrating diagnosis to receive. After all the stress and upset of all the appointments and tests, couples should at least be able to expect to be given a concrete reason for why it is they’re having trouble conceiving. But sadly, this isn’t the case. For 20-30%

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

Unlikely partners: blood type and IVF success rate
When undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF), there seems to be one million and one things that can influence the chance of success. The factors at play include age, specific type of infertility, the length of time a couple has been trying for a baby and the number of IVF cycles

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