Latest Posts
August 20, 2018 9:03 am
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), or Artificial Insemination, is a type of fertility treatment that involves the direct insertion of sperm into a woman’s womb (uterus) using a thin catheter. The main purpose of Intrauterine Insemination is to increase the number of sperm that reach the fallopian tubes, thus increasing the chances of fertilisation. It is a very low risk procedure. The process is usually performed just before ovulation and takes around 10 minutes. It is normally pain free, although you may experience some minor cramping, not dissimilar to period pains. Before the insertion, the semen is prepared in a lab to ensure only the best quality sperm is used. Semen contains more than just sperm, so it has to be “washed”... View Article
August 13, 2018 11:37 am
A recent article in the Times newspaper by journalist Harry Wallop featured Concept’s Medical Director, Dr Kamal Ojha in a fascinating investigation into male fertility. Data shows that in this modern world, fertility is dropping at an alarming rate (see previous news items on Concept’s website). A study cited in the article coming from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem states that sperm counts have dramatically reduced from 92.2 million sperm per millilitre, to just 66.4 million. Dr Ojha suggests a few possible causes of this terrifying drop in sperm count: obesity, smoking, plastics, preservatives and even soy. Is nothing safe anymore? One might be reminded of the comically unending list, written by the Daily Mail, of substances that cause cancer... View Article
July 27, 2018 1:21 pm
When you’re eager to have a baby but you’re struggling to conceive naturally, it can be tempting to contact the first fertility clinic you stumble across and proceed with treatment as quickly as possible. However, when you’re spending a lot of money, it’s important to ensure you’re investing your money wisely. We’d like to help you understand what you should be looking for when seeking a private fertility clinic. Just remember, a little research goes a long way! Factors to Consider When Choosing a Fertility Clinic: Are You Eligible? At Concept Fertility, we do not exclude patients who have a lower than average probability of a successful pregnancy. In other words, if our patients have a chance of success we... View Article
July 18, 2018 9:40 pm
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) is a procedure whereby a single sperm cell is injected into an egg cell. In natural conditions, the sperm would use chemicals located in the head to bore through the egg’s “shell”. It is technically an IVF procedure as it is performed ‘in vitro’ (literally means ‘in glass’, contextually it means ‘within a test tube’). As you may have gathered, ICSI should mostly be used in cases where it is the male who is subfertile. The procedure of injecting a sperm into an egg bypasses the natural process. This procedure was perfected quite recently, with the first human pregnancy generated by ICSI being in 1991. It brought with it a revolution in the... View Article
July 13, 2018 10:09 am
As you age, the likelihood that you will naturally conceiving a child reduces because the number and quality of your eggs drops. Egg freezing, therefore, is a fantastic option if you wish to preserve your fertility and, in some ways, stop the biological clock. There are various reasons why you might consider having your eggs frozen. Here are a few: You might not feel ready to start a family but would like to in the future. Perhaps you would prefer to focus on other aspects of your life at present, such as your career or education, or you haven’t found ‘Mr Right’. You might be undergoing treatment for an illness such as cancer, which will likely affect your fertility. You... View Article
July 3, 2018 12:20 pm
A recent study involving men who experienced early life trauma has displayed surprising results. It involved 28 Caucasian men, all of whom had experienced some form of abuse or neglect as a child. The results suggest that as the amount of early trauma increased amongst participants, so did the reduction in microRNAs. This is an example of the type of information found on the internet that should not be taken at face value. Psychologists have known for a long time that traumatic experiences can lead to behavioural problems in offspring, but there has been little understanding as to why. With only 28 participants, the results of this research are inconclusive and could simply be coincidental. For example, the participants could... View Article
June 25, 2018 11:19 am
With regards to fertility, women have always had a clear cut-off point, commonly known as the menopause. Men, on the other hand, have never been given a rough age in which they will no longer be able to conceive a child. As a result, research surrounding the topic is fairly sparse. At a recent event dedicated exclusively to male fertility, the topic of age was addressed. The first speaker at the event was Professor Allan Pacey from the University of Sheffield. He pointed out the lack of data surrounding the matter and discussed a study from the year 2000, which focussed on 8500 couples and suggested that men under 25 were significantly more fertile than men over 40. It has... View Article
June 13, 2018 6:52 pm
When it comes to female infertility, the most common culprit is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. This condition affects 1 in 5 women, of whom 75% experience infertility. PCOS affects fertility by increasing the levels of testosterone, creating ovarian cysts, causing irregularities in the menstrual cycle and misregulation of sugar. This is truly a catastrophic disease, however this may not be the case for so long. Sufferers of PCOS usually have higher counts of a hormone known as ‘Anti Mullerian Hormone’ (AMH). It must be stated now that this is sort of a chicken – egg scenario, as the scientific community are still investigating which causes the other. Does high AMH levels cause PCOS or vice versa. For the unacquainted... View Article
May 22, 2018 4:25 pm
The uterus, also called the womb, is where a baby grows during pregnancy. It is shaped like a pear and joined to the walls of the pelvis by flexible ligaments that enable it to tilt forward and backward. If your uterus is anteverted, it means it is tilted towards the front of the abdomen. Your uterus can also tilt backwards, which is referred to as a retroverted uterus. The vast majority of women don’t actually know what direction their uterus tilts. However, a pelvic exam or ultrasound will help you find out. If you have an anteverted uterus and are struggling to conceive a child, it is likely due to another fertility issue, since the shape or tilt of your... View Article
May 7, 2018 3:47 pm
A recent observational study published by BMJ Open suggests that mums-to-be should cut out caffeine while pregnant, as the findings show that it is linked to excess weight gain during the child’s early years. It passes rapidly through tissues, including the placenta, and takes the body longer to dispose of during pregnancy. The study included almost 51,000 mother and infant pairs, all of whom were previously involved in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study between 2002 and 2008. Using a specifically adapted Food Frequency Questionnaire, the pregnant women were asked to quantify their food and drink intake, from around 255 items, including caffeine. Highly caffeinated items included things like coffee, black tea, energy drinks and various sugary snacks. After... View Article
