Blog

The IVF postcode lottery

by Nishma Zafar | 12th November 2018

The IVF Post Code Lottery – NHS Treatment Availability Due to the overwhelming demand in the NHS and an extremely stretched budget, some CCGs (Clinical Commissioning Groups) across the UK, who decide how to allocate the funds they have available for healthcare across a region, are making the difficult decision to reduce or even completely stop the provision of fertility treatments. They are also imposing new restrictions on who can access IVF treatments which are outside The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. We are already more than aware that the NHS is unfortunately not equipped
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The Future of Fertility?

by Nishma Zafar | 24th October 2018

The Future of Fertility? I read an article in The Guardian this week which amazed me but at the same time left me a little troubled for what the future may look like for reproduction. Scientists and researchers are constantly working on new ways to improve and advance IVF techniques, but some people may argue this latest research may be taking it slightly too far. The article was with regards to some research which is currently being carried out where scientists are making steady progress towards creating human sperm and eggs using ordinary cells and believe that by 2040,
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Fertility MOT’s

by Nishma Zafar | 12th October 2018

What are Fertility MOT’s Fertility MOT’s are becoming increasingly popular in the industry with fertility clinics offering them almost like a health check for women wishing to assess their capability to conceive. These MOT’s usually consist of a baseline scan with antral follicle count (AFC) and an Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH), which a consultant will use to assess their ovarian reserve. These tests can cost anywhere up to around £300. Although these tests are definitely relevant, some consultants argue that they aren’t enough to paint a full picture on an individual’s / couple’s fertility. Having worked in the industry for
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Embryo Donation – an interesting subject

by Nishma Zafar | 8th October 2018

Embryo Donation – an interesting subject I recently listened to a documentary on the BBC, The New Face of Reproduction and as part of the programme they highlighted a charity organisation that I had not come across; The Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program which is a division of Nightlife Christian Adoptions. I found the idea pretty interesting, so I thought I would share it with you in my blog this week. What is Embryo Donation? Embryo donation is when somebody accepts an embryo that has already been generated using someone else’s gametes (sperm and egg). The embryo is then transferred and
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IVF and the NHS watch our Video

by Nishma Zafar | 27th September 2018

Let’s make IVF costs clear to patients!

by Nishma Zafar | 10th September 2018

Let’s make IVF costs clear to patients! Nick Montague, Director of Assured Fertility calls for the costs for IVF treatment to be simpler and transparent We live in a complicated world, and IVF is no exception. Despite the fact that the industry has been in existence for over 40 years, it still creates real confusion amongst patients as to which treatment they need, which add ons they should be having and how it will costs as a grand total. Take a look at the price list of an IVF clinic and you will be presented with a
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IVF techniques working in the Animal Kingdom!

by Nishma Zafar | 7th September 2018

I came across an article this week that reported a lioness in South Africa has given birth to the worlds first assisted conception cubs. This article stood out to me as I go on my very first safari in Tanzania in a few weeks and it made me think of how different a safari could look if some of the animals weren’t in existence anymore. It really is incredible to think that fertility treatment can offer hope to saving species threatened by extinction across the world and researchers are confident that this breakthrough could do just that. Experts at the
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What is Endometriosis?

by Nishma Zafar | 3rd September 2018

What is Endometriosis? Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissues that normally line the inside of the womb (endometrium) start to grow outside of the womb lining. This tissue can grow in virtually any part of the body but is most commonly found on the inner wall of the abdomen and pelvis, the outside of the womb, the ovaries, fallopian tubes and intestines. Endometriosis and Fertility It is estimated that 1 in 10 women are suffering from endometriosis and unfortunately many remain undiagnosed. Whilst it is most common in women around their reproductive age, it can occur from
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Are Celebrity Pregnancies Spreading Misconceptions about Pregnancy Later in Life?

by Holly Scott | 28th August 2018

In today’s society, where many can become obsessed with social media and celebrity culture, we have to ask ourselves whether fertility is being fairly represented within the media or whether it is in fact being distorted with many celebrity pregnancies in later life being publicised. Celebrity pregnancies are always highly reported on, often making the front covers of the news we see around us every day, so it makes sense that this sort of coverage influences our perceptions of fertility. Confusing messages? Doctors have suggested that the disproportionately large number of celebrities who get pregnant during their forties might be
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Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS) in IVF

by Holly Scott | 21st August 2018

Is Pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) beneficial in IVF? Pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS), also called PGT is a technique for testing whether embryos have any problems with their chromosomes, which is thought to be the most common reason why IVF treatment fails. During PGS, also known as PGT, a single cell or a small number of cells is / are removed from the embryo and the DNA in these cells is then tested to see whether the embryo has any chromosomal abnormalities. Until now, there hadn’t been many significant trials run on PGS to show clinicians whether the test could improve
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