Fertility Road Issue 14

THE WORLD'S NO.1 FERTILITY MAGAZINE 

ISSUE 14 | APRIL - MAY 2013 £3.95/€4.95 

YOUR PATH TO PARENTHOOD 

WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM 

• 

RELAX AND REVITALISE 

T R A V E L 

T O 

I L 

T R A N Q U 

• 

I T Y 

CLINIC 

CATCH-UP 

Nordica Lagos 

celebrate the 

clinic’s 10 year 

anniversary 

FIT FOR 

FERTILITY 

Lucy Miller on 

how exercising 

too much can 

harm conception 

ISSUE 14 WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM 

Africa, Awards 

and Adoption 

Charlize Theron 

EGG DONATION EXPLAINED NUTRITION LETTER FROM THE HEART

Know which ones will grow. 

Meet Eeva – the new Early Embryo Viability Assessment Test. 

Clinically proven to help your IVF team select the best embryo(s). 

Visit eevaivf.com/fr to find a clinic near you. 

Eeva is currently approved and available for use only in the EU. MKT 2159A

F E R T I L I T Y R O A D A P R I L - M A Y 2 0 1 3 

ISSUE 14 CONTENTS 

12 

12 

37 

26 

48 

Cover image © Chris Pizzello 

12 AFRICA, AWARDS AND ADOPTION 

After adopting a little boy, Jackson, last year, we fi nd more out about 

A-lister, Charlize Theron - her life growing up, her movie career, and 

how her charity has helped many in the fi ght against HIV and Aids. 

18 CREATING FAMILIES HAND IN HAND 

We catch up with Dr. Chantal Simonis at Wessex Fertility who 

explains why they have chosen to be one of the fi rst clinics in the 

world to offer the Early Embryo Viability Assessment (Eeva) test. 

20 TOO FIT TO GET FAT? 

Fitness expert Lucy Miller explains how you can keep fi t and how too 

much exercise can harm your chances when trying to conceive. 

42 EGG DONATION EXPLAINED 

Thinking about donating your eggs? Egg donor expert Jenny 

Currie answers all your questions and what you need to know. 

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: 

NUTRITION - LIGHT LUNCH 

Nutritional Guru, Annabel Karmel cooks up some more of her delicious 

recipes full of fertility boosting ingredients ideal for that light lunch. 

DETOX FERTILITY RETREATS 

We have found some great locations in Europe offering detox programs 

aimed at improving your well being and enhancing your fertility. 

CREATING LIFE IN LAGOS 

In the fi rst of our ‘fertility clinic catch ups’, we chat with Esther Odiete 

from Nordica Lagos who tells us about their clinic, what they offer 

patients and the Nordica way to Fertility. 

LETTER FROM THE HEART 

Jenni and Dale share their journey of fi ve years of fertility treatment, 

the tragic loss of twins, and fi nally the birth of 2 healthy boys. 

APRIL - MAY 2013 | WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM | 

03

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• 

• 

ISSUE 14 | APRIL - MAY 2013 £3.95/€4.95 

F E R T I L I T Y R O A D 

C O N T R I B U T O R S 

ISSUE 14 APR - MAY 2013 

CHECK OUT OUR NEW YOU TUBE 

CHANNEL FOR GREAT FERTILITY 

RELATED VIDEOS & INTERVIEWS 

YOUTUBE.COM/FERTILITYROAD » 

FERTILITY ROAD 

ISSUE 14 APRIL - MAY 2013 




RELAX AND REVITALISE 

T R A V E L 

T O 

GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR: 

PJ Mack 

CONTRIBUTING PUBLISHER: 

Jeff Crockett 

CONTRIBUTING MANAGING EDITOR: 

Giorgio Severi 

IT DIRECTOR: 

Tone Jarvis 

I L 

T R A N Q U 

I T Y 

ART EDITOR: 

Damian Browning 

CONTRIBUTORS: 

Emma Cannon, Jenny Currie, 

Louisa Ghevaert, Annabel Karmel, 

Lucy Miller, Chantal Simonis 

WEBSITE & ONLINE PRESENCE: 

Giraffic Media Ltd 

www.girafficmedia.co.uk 

EUROPEAN SALES: 

Susan Calatayud, Pier Minole 

ACCOUNTS MANAGER: 

Jennifer Gardner 

LEGAL ADVISOR: 

Buckworth Solicitors 

Berkeley Square House, Berkeley 

Square, Mayfair, London, UK W1J 6BD 

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The Magazine Printing Company using 

only paper from FSC/PEFC suppliers 

www.magprint.co.uk 

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: 

sales@fertilityroad.com 


CLINIC 

CATCH-UP 

Nordica Lagos 

celebrate the 

clinic’s 10 year 

anniversary 

FIT FOR 

FERTILITY 

Lucy Miller on 

how exercising 

too much can 

harm conception 

Charlize Theron 

Africa, Awards 

and Adoption 

EGG DONATION EXPLAINED NUTRITION LETTER FROM THE HEART 

CONTACT DETAILS: 

Mack Media Group 

Suite 27, Westcroft Court, New Road, 

Broxbourne, Herts EN10 7LT 

Tel: 0843 2895337 

Email: info@fertilityroad.com 

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER 

TWITTER.COM/FERTILITYROAD 


ISSUE 14 WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM 

Welcome to Issue 14 of Fertility Road. 

In this issue our celebrity feature focusses on Hollywood 

A-lister Charlize Theron and how she has been able to 

use her life experiences, both good and bad, by founding 

her own charity in Africa, which provides a free resource 

of information and prevention of HIV and Aids to schools, and how, by 

adopting her own little boy, Jackson, she has been able to accomplish 

her life-long ambition of having a family of her very own. 

Also, we chat with Wessex Fertility about why have embraced the 

new Eeva technology, the latest in intelligent imaging software that can 

measure and predict which embryos are more likely to grow to blastocyst 

stage, and we hear from fi tness fertility expert, Lucy Miller, who explains 

how over exercising can damage your chances of falling pregnant. 

Once again nutritional expert, Annabel Karmel cooks up some 

delicious recipes full of fertility promoting ingredients to help keep you 

on track, and Nordica Lagos shares their celebrations with us on their fi rst 

decade in helping couples from around the world struggling to conceive. 

So until next time why not kick back, relax and enjoy our magazine… Giorgio 

OUR WRITERS... 

OUR FERTILITY EXPERT... 

Emma Cannon practises complementary therapies and acupuncture 

and specialises in fertility and women’s health; gynaecology, IVF support, 

conception, pregnancy and postnatal care. She is Director of Emma 

Cannon Ltd and author of The Baby-Making Bible and You and Your Bump. 

www.emmacannon.co.uk 

OUR EGG DONATION EXPERT... 

Jenny Currie is the founder and owner of a dynamic, South African based 

egg donor agency, baby2mom. The online donor website, www.baby2mom. 

co.za was founded in 2007. Benefits include affordable egg donor services, 

immediate free access to detailed profiles of hundreds of egg donors and 

experienced guidance. 

Annabel Karmel is a nutritional expert, author and mum-of-three who works 

tirelessly to promote better education and greater awareness of what foods can 

help with a successful conception and pregnancy, and is on a mission to help women 

better prepare themselves for motherhood simply by watching what they eat. 

Louisa Ghevaert is internationally recognised as a leading expert in UK fertility 

and parenting law. Her expertise covers international and UK surrogacy, donor 

conception, co-parenting, embryo storage and testing, children and parenting. 

She is a partner with Porter Dodson, www.porterdodsonfertility.com. 

Lucy Miller is a personal trainer, nutritionist, children's fitness specialist and 

freelance journalist. She was previously the Nutrition and Fitness Editor at Men’s 

Fitness before working at Health & Fitness as their Fitness Editor. She loves nothing 

more than looking after her body and helping others to reach their goals too. 


05


N E W S , V I E W S & R E V I E W S 

CELEBRITY 

EGG FREEZING 

TREND 

THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF GOSSIP RECENTLY ABOUT CELEBS 

freezing their eggs, the latest is Ghost Whisperer star, Jennifer 

Love Hewitt who according to US Weekly, the star is looking at 

preserving her fertility at the young age of 34. 

JLH however has since laughed off the story on Twitter by saying 

”I’m insuring my boobs! I’m freezing my eggs! Nope I’m just 

shooting the new season of The Client List ! Now that isn’t made up.” 

Made-up story or not, it’s not a bad idea for a busy Hollywood 

actress in her mid 30’s to look into freezing her eggs, particularly 

when money is not an issue. Freezing your eggs is no guarantee 

that you will able to start a family at a later date, but it does offer 

some insurance. And because age affects fertility, the earlier you 

look into freezing your eggs, the more chance you have of success. 

Friends star Jennifer Aniston and Maria Menounous, actress 

and co-host of Extra, have also been rumoured to have frozen 

their eggs or looked into the procedure. 

© ABC Studios/Bob D’Amico 

FOOT SIZE OFTEN 

GROWS DURING 

PREGNANCY 

ACCORDING TO A NEW RECENT STUDY PREGNANCY 

can permanently change the size and shape of women’s 

feet, making them up to one shoe size larger and causing 

the arches to drop. Researchers at University of Iowa 

measured the feet of 49 women during their first trimester 

of pregnancy and again five months after their babies were 

born. Roughly 60-70 % of the women’s feet grew in length 

and in width, primarily due to a decrease in the height of 

the arch of the foot, admitting that the loss of arch height 

appeared to be permanent and non reversible. 

STUDIES SUGGEST 

THAT SPERM ARE 

HEALTHIER 

IN WINTER 

& EARLY 

SPRING 

IF YOU’RE TRYING FOR A BABY, 

a new study suggests that it’s best 

to try in winter and early spring, when men have healthier sperm. Israeli 

scientists studied samples from more than 6,000 men who were being 

treated for infertility between January 2006 and July 2009. Researchers 

found sperm in greater numbers, with faster swimming speeds, and fewer 

abnormalities, in semen made during the winter. The sperm declined 

steadily in quality from spring onwards, 

In animal studies, seasonal changes in sperm production and fertility 

have been linked to factors ranging from temperature, to length of daylight 

exposure and hormone variations, previous research found that global 

human sperm counts are falling, with theories ranging from a more 

sedentary lifestyle to the chemicals in the environment affecting sperm 

health. Writing in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, the 

researchers said that if there is a seasonal pattern, that knowledge may 

‘be of paramount importance, especially in couples with male-related 

infertility struggling with unsuccessful and prolonged fertility treatments.’ 

06 | WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM | APRIL - MAY 2013

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INTERNATIONAL 

YEAR OF QUINOA 

YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT EATING A NUTRITIOUS 

diet and living a healthy lifestyle is a great way to up 

your odds of conceiving. One of these fertility friendly 

foods is quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) which has been 

singled out as having high nutritive values and also a 

great source of protein. 

It has a light, fluffy texture when cooked, and its mild, 

slightly nutty flavour makes for a great alternative to 

white rice or couscous. Once considered a junk crop by 

the Spanish conquistadors, quinoa now comes with an 

air of gourmet, once available only in health-food stores 

and high-end groceries, this superfood has now found its 

place on the supermarket shelves. 

So popular is this grain, that the UN has now declared 

2013 to be the ‘International Year of Quinoa’ and is 

hoping quinoa can play an important role in eradicating 

hunger, malnutrition and poverty. 

For more info please visit www.fao.org/quinoa-2013 

Official figures show that in the past decade, a total 

of 4,899 children have been born following fertility 

treatment either to single women or lesbian couples. 

Which amounts to more than three births every day. 

THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN BORN WITHOUT A FATHER IN THE UK THROUGH FERTILITY TREATMENT 

BOOK REVIEW 

DELIVERING 

HOPE 

The Extraordinary Journey 

of a Surrogate Mom 

by Pamela MacPhee 

TEN YEARS AGO, PAMELA MACPHEE OFFERED TO BECOME 

her very own human biology experiment by carrying a baby 

for her cousin’s wife, who was devastated by infertility from 

cervical cancer. She went on to successfully deliver Hope, a 

healthy baby girl in May of 2000. Delivering Hope tells the 

story with all its highs and lows, stresses and happiness of 

a surrogate Mum. Previously published in 2009 it is now 

available on kindle and is a must-read for all those considering 

surrogacy, not only to better prepare them for the journey 

ahead, but to gain an insight into what offering the gift of a 

life can mean to couples who are unable to conceive. 

Available on Kindle from Amazon.co.uk 

MEN’S BODY 

ODOUR IS A 

TURN-ON 

FOR WOMEN 

RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF 

California, Berkeley, have discovered that a 

compound found in male sweat can cause 

a number of emotional and physiological 

changes in women. The male chemical 

androstadienone in sweat was found to 

regulate menstrual cycles and increase 

the release of luteinizing hormone, 

which plays an important role in 

stimulating ovulation. The male 

underarm odour also activates 

certain brain areas, improving 

woman’s mood and sexual arousal. 


Follow us @FertilityRoad 

to help you on your path to 

parenthood and for all the 

latest fertility related news, 

views and reviews :) #hope 

#inspiration #ttc #IVF 

FOLLOW US AT: 

TWITTER.COM/FERTILITYROAD 

THE NEW UPDATED PREGNANCY COMPANION® APP FROM 

OB/GYN PHYSICIANS CONNECTS PREGNANT WOMEN TO 

INFORMATION THEY CAN TRUST – ANYTIME, ANYWHERE. 

Eager parents-to-be are constantly seeking information, and 

most questions pop up outside of the doctor’s office. Pregnancy 

advice and exaggerated stories can come from friends, websites 

books and movies. The Pregnancy Companion App was conceived 

by two nationally-renowned OB/GYN physicians – Dr. Jan Rydfors 

and Dr. Aron Schuftan. Seeing pregnant patients searching for 

information online and on their phones, they realized that there 

THE 

was a need for an app that provided reliable, physician-authored 

pregnancy information. 

The Pregnancy Companion app includes a wealth of 

DA VINCI 

informative content and fun features for mums-to-be and their 

partners. Once an expecting mum enters her due date, the app 

CODE provides her with daily OF and weekly status updates for her baby 

and body. Most of these updates offer stunning 3D-animated 

videos and ultrasound images showing baby’s development. 

FERTILITY 

Other features help users check drug safety, stay hydrated, 

remember THE ‘GOLDEN appointments, RATIO’ OF 1.618, and WHICH even pack WAS their POPULARISED hospital bag. BY 

When Dan Brown’s a user novel, has The a question, Da Vince Code, she can could consult reveal which hundreds women of 

have pregnancy the most topics, fertile or wombs, take advantage according of to an a exclusive gynaecologist. Pregnancy 

Companion Dr Jasper feature Verguts, – “Ask from the the Docs” University – which Hospital enables Leuven users to in 

Belgium, submit questions theorised to that Drs. women Schuftan would and be most Rydfors. fertile Answers if they had are 

a posted uterus to of the perfect user community proportions frequently. – a womb where the ratio of 

length Pregnancy to width Companion is 1.618. He founded that by the physician ratio is partners around 2 Dr. at Jan the 

time Rydfors of birth and but Dr. decreases Aron Schuftan as women – age board-certified to 1.46. Verguts OB/GYN also 

found specialists the age who when both women have clinical are most faculty fertile positions between at the Stanford ages of 

16 University to 20 - the Medical ratio was Center, 1. and a private practice in Silicon Valley, 

CA. 1.618, Dr. Rydfors the golden co-wrote ratio the of the popular Fibonacci Obstetrics, sequence, Gynaecology named after and 

Italian Infertility mathematician Handbook for Leonardo Clinicians, Fibonacci, now in is its said sixth to edition. be the key Dr. 

to Schuftan everything has - a from special encrypting interest in computer using technology data, to the to numbers educate 

of and spirals empower on a patients. sunflower Their head shared and mission there has is been to help speculation pregnant 

that women Da Vinci access used reliable the sequence information as the on proportions the go, and of enjoy the Mona their 

Lisa’s pregnancy face. experience Many claim to the that fullest. the most aesthetically pleasing 

people www.pregnancycompanionapp.com 

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CRUZ 

SISTERS 

CONCEIVE 

IT’S ALWAYS REFRESHING TO HEAR A CELEBRITY OPENLY 

discuss the use of fertility treatment, and the most recent is 

Penelope Cruz’s younger sister, Monica, 35, who has admitted to 

using a sperm donor to conceive. Initially the model and actress 

kept the pregnancy a secret, but realised that she could shine a 

positive light on becoming a single mum through sperm donation. 

Monica recently said “To become pregnant, I turned to artificial 

insemination, I want to tell my story, so I can share my thanks to 

all those anonymous men out there that have helped many women 

like me, to have a child.” Monica hopes to encourage women who 

have doubts about sperm donation to look to her for inspiration. 

Meanwhile her famous sibling Penelope, is also currently pregnant 

with her second child with fellow Spanish actor, Javier Bardem. 

EMBRYOLAB IVF COMPETITION 

WINNERS ANNOUNCED 

CONGRATULATIONS TO 

ZOE & IAIN GILFILLAN 

WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS OF OUR COMPETITION IN CONJUNCTION 

with Embryolab in Thessaloniki. Zoe and Iain Gilfillan will be jetting off to the sunny 

shores of Northern Greece, staying at the Hyatt Regency while undergoing a full round 

of IVF worth £5,000. Check in with us in a later issue of Fertility Road where we will catch 

up with the couple to see how things went. And for those of you who entered, remember 

that Embryolab are offering a fabulous 20% discount on all treatments in their clinic. 

PEOPLE QUIT SMOKING TO 

BOOST THEIR FERTILITY 

IF YOU’RE A SMOKER AND YOU FANCY STOPPING TO BOOST YOUR FERTILITY, OR EVEN 

improve your sex life, you are not alone. The benefits of leading a smoke free life are 

well know so we’re not here to preach but the results of a recent online survey makes for 

interesting and inspirational reading. QuitFullstop.co.uk surveyed 2,000 of its members 

(an even split of men and women) to find out why they wanted to pack up the habit. 

40% of women stated that they wanted to stop for fears of long-term smoking 

having an effect on their skin and cause premature ageing. 25% of men said they had 

wanted to give up after having been diagnosed with some form of erectile dysfunction 

and more surprisingly 45% of women, and 10% of men said they want to quit because 

they were looking to start a family and wanted to be able to conceive naturally. 


REALITY TV 

STARS 

ADOPTION 

JOY 

CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE AND PREIMPLANTATION DIAGNOSIS 

DR. JENNIFER ARNOLD AND BILL KLEIN, STARS OF THE US 

reality TV show The Little Couple recently shared their happy 

news with all their fans, that they are finally to be parents, 

having just adopted their first son, William from China, who ike 

his new parents, suffers from dwarfism 

“We are thrilled to announce that we have adopted a 

beautiful young boy from China,” the couple told People 

magazine in a statement. “We are so proud to welcome William 

to our family and look forward to bringing him home.” 

Last year, viewers watched as Jen and Bill began to explore 

the option of adoption after going through the heartbreak of 

their surrogate suffering a miscarriage. 

“My entire life, even before I met Bill, I always thought, ‘Oh, I’d 

love to adopt a child who is another little person, and Bill and I 

talked about it after we got married, and I think we both realised 

we both wanted the same thing.” 

The five seasons of their reality show have left their fans in 

no doubt that Jennifer and Bill will make wonderful parents. 

Are you looking for information 

on infertility or would you like 

to meet others on their path to 

parenthood, then become a fan 

and LIKE our Facebook page 

and join our community. 

VISIT AND LIKE US AT: 

FACEBOOK.COM/FERTILITYROADMAG 

WE ARE YOUR GUIDES ON THE WAY 

TO A COMPLETE FAMILY… 

An experienced team of Sanatorium REPROMEDA 

is ready to find a solution for the infertile couples or 

couples, who are able to conceive spontaneously 

but not to carry the healthy baby. 

• More than 14 years of experience with 

infertility treatment 

• Leading experts on diagnosis of genetic issues 

• Fast introduction of new scientifi c knowledge 

into practice 

• Almost no waiting time for treatment 

• Extend database of egg and sperm donors 

• Individual approach to each couple 

ČSN ISO 15189 ACCREDITED 

Learn more by visiting our website: 

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or contact us on: pkalackova@repromeda.cz


C E L E B R I T Y S P O T L I G H T 

Born to be a mum, A-list celebrity and Hollywood star, Charlize Theron has 

put her sometimes difficult life experiences to good effect by founding a 

charity in Africa promoting the awareness of HIV and aids. And in 2012, 

after a two year process, she adopted her son Jackson, which finally allowed 

her to fulfil her dreams of having a family she could call her very own 

harlize Theron’s life story makes for extraordinary 

reading. Her unconventional childhood in South 

Africa, together with the death of her father at the 

hands of her mother and the loss of her chosen 

career as a dancer through injury are a far cry 

from the celebrity status she now enjoys as one of Hollywood’s 

most successful actresses. 

Charlize’s rise to success against this difficult backdrop and 

her refusal to be defined by the tragedy and grief that character- 

ized her early life mark out her tenacity and determination to 

live life to the full. Charlize’s Hollywood success against the 

odds, her charitable activism and her decision to adopt in 2012 

as a solo mother following the breakdown of her long-term 

relationship are proof that fortitude, passion and hard work can 

make dreams come true. 

Early years 

Charlize’s childhood was spent in South Africa, the daughter of 

a German mother and an alcoholic father. She grew up on a 

working farm outside of Johannesburg speaking Afrikaans. From 

an early age, Charlize demonstrated a passion for dance and aged 

13 her parents sent her to boarding school and she began her 

studies at the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg. 

Aged 15, Charlize witnessed her father physically attack her 

mother and threaten both her mother and herself while drunk. 

Her mother shot dead her father in front of her, 

which was legally determined to be self-defence 

and her mother was not prosecuted. 

Charlize struggled to come to terms with the 

WORDS BY 

LOUISA GHEVAERT 

death of her father and she created a long-standing story that her 

father had instead died in a car crash. The loss of a parent can be 

very difficult to deal with, but the circumstances of her father’s 

death when she was just 15 were devastating and traumatic. 

Charlize later explained in an interview with webzine 

IndieLondon that “It was a way, at the time, of explaining his 

death. I didn’t want to go in the reasons or the event itself. I have 

now come to terms with that and have been able to move on”. 

Family life as Charlize knew it disappeared forever when her 

father died. Charlize and her mother had to look to a different 

future together. Charlize later told IndieLondon “It made me 

realise that life deals you some really nasty cards and you just 

have to play them. I can remember thinking ‘I want other cards 

than these’. I walked away from that experience, knowing that I 

had two clear choices. I either drowned - or started swimming, 

very fast. Things had been really bad between my father and me”. 

Charlize and her mother stuck together and seized the first 

opportunity that came their way when Charlize was talent 

spotted by a modelling scout in Johannesburg the following year. 

It was a chance to escape their difficulties, travel and for Charlize 

to begin to make her own way in the world. » 

© Chris Pizzello 



13



Charlize’s diveristy as an actress is evident in roles 

such as Snow White’s stepmother, Queen Ravenna 

in Snow White & the Huntsman, as serial killer 

Aileen Wuornos in Monster, and as Meredith Vickers 

in Ridley Scott’s science fiction film Prometheus. 

“ 

Living in a country like South Africa 

where it was evident to me that violence 

against women and children was something 

that wasn’t going to go away, and as a 

matter of fact has just gotten worse ” 

– Charlize on her campaigns to end violence against women and girls around the world 

Move to America 

After a period modelling across Europe, Charlize moved to New 

York aged 18 to focus on dancer with the Joffrey Ballet School. 

However a knee injury shattered her dreams of becoming a 

professional dancer. She later told IndieLondon “All of a sudden I 

could no longer do the things that had been open to me for most of 

my life. I had been a flamenco dancer, too, so had an appreciation 

for all kinds of dancing. There is still a sorrow inside me about what 

happened and dancing remains a great love. I used to go to the New 

York City ballet by myself and cry. I know there is no possible way 

I can dance again at that level”. 

Once again, Charlize had to re-evaluate life and she later said of 

this time “I spent a winter in New York in a friend’s windowless 

basement apartment. I was broke, I was taking class at the Joffrey 

Ballet, and my knees gave out. I realized I couldn’t dance anymore, 

and I went into a major depression. My mom came over from 

South Africa and said ‘Either you figure out what to do next or you 

come home, because you can sulk in South Africa’. 

Following much soul-searching and the love and support of her 

mother, Charlize picked herself up again and moved to Los Angeles, 

where she decided to refocus her energies on becoming an actress. 

Cash-strapped Charlize then had a second lucky break when she 

was spotted by talent manager John Crosby following a run-in with 

a banker who refused to cash a cheque from her mother. 

Hollywood Success 

Charlize’s career as an actress quickly snowballed and she went 

from a non-speaking part in the film Children of the Corn III (1995) 

to leading roles in box-office hits like The Devil’s Advocate (1997) 

and The Cider House Rules (1999). Charlize then won critical acclaim 

for her gritty portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the film 

Monster (2003), for which she won the 2004 Academy Award for 

Best Actress, as well as a Golden Globe Award. Her Oscar win made 

her one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood and webzine 

AskMen named her the number one most desirable women of 2003. 

Charlize received further critical acclaim for her lead role in 

North Country (2005), for which she received Best Actress Academy 

Award and Golden Globe nominations and she went on to star 

in numerous films including Ridley Scott’s science fiction film 

Prometheus (2012) and Snow White & the Huntsman (2012). Charlize 

is also set to take the lead role in the forthcoming film adaptation 

of the Gillian Flynn novel Dark Places. 

Activism and social conscience 

Charlize has always had a strong social conscience and sense of 

compassion which stem from her own life experiences. She 

began working with a South African rape crisis centre in 1999 

and went on to found the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach 

Project which promotes HIV/Aids education for children and 

families in South Africa. 

In 2008, Charlize became the United Nation’s 10th peace envoy, 

following in the footsteps of US actors like George Clooney and 

Michael Douglas, to promote humanitarian work worldwide. She 

now campaigns to end violence against women and girls around 

the world saying of her work “This is something that has been very 

dear to me, and disturbing to me for a long time, being born and 

raised in a country like South Africa, living in a country where 

it was evident to me that violence against women and children 

was something that wasn’t going to go away, and as a matter of 

fact has just gotten worse”. 

» 

14 | WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM | APRIL - MAY 2013

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“ 

I’ve always been very honest in 

saying I wanted a family. I’ve always 

known I wanted a family, I’ve always 

been very aware of balance and, 

even before I had a child, my life 

always takes priority to my work. ” 

CHARLIZE THERON 

AFRICA OUTREACH 

PROJECT 

© Paul Weinberg/OAN/CTAOP 

Adoption and life as a solo mother 

In 2012, after an intercountry adoption process that took two 

years Charlize finally adopted a son, Jackson, as a solo mother. 

This followed the end of her nine year relationship with Irish 

actor Stuart Townsend in 2010, although adoption had been a 

long-term objective of hers since childhood. Charlize told 

Australia’s Madison magazine that her mother found a letter 

she had written as a child saying “‘Would you please take me to 

[an] orphanage so that I can go and adopt a baby?”. 

There has been a significant decline in the global number 

of intercountry adoptions since its peak in 2004. In 2004, 

approximately 45,000 intercountry adoptions took place but 

by 2010 the global total had fallen to under 30,000, partly 

attributed to a decline in eligible children following social 

and economic changes in countries like China, Russia and 

Guatemala and also work by developing nations to implement 

tougher domestic adoption regulations to retain children. 

Charlize’s decision to adopt a little boy from South Africa 

rather than create her family by other means publicly endorses 

intercountry adoption and the vital role adoption can play in 

giving opportunity and life chances to vulnerable children in 

need around the world. 

Charlize’s decision to adopt as a solo mother was also the 

product of her decision to prioritise having a family rather than 

waiting to find Mr Right. In an interview with Vogue, she said “I’ve 

always been very honest in saying I wanted a family. I’ve always 

known I wanted a family”. Charlize’s experiences as a mother 

have enriched her life and ensured that her work/life balance is 

firmly rooted in favour of her personal life saying “...Jackson is 

great. I’ve always been very aware of balance and, even before I 

had a child, my life always takes priority to my work”. 

Like Charlize, increasing numbers of single women are taking 

the decision to become solo mothers rather than hold out for their 

perfect life partner. The decision to start a family is always a big 

one, but it raises additional challenges for solo parents who carry 

the sole burden of parenthood. Solo parents must take extra care 

to ensure they legally secure their family unit, especially if they 

become parents through adoption or conception with a known 

donor, and ensure they put in place a valid Will to appoint legal 

guardians for their child and secure their child’s financial future in 

the event of their unexpected death. 

Charlize Theron’s commitment to live life to the full is 

impressive. Her passion for her work, her personal life and family 

and the welfare of others marks her out as an exceptional 

woman and role model who strives to make the world a better 

place for us all. 

CTAOP was created in 2007 by Charlize 

Theron in an effort to support African youth 

in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Although the 

geographic scope of CTAOP is Sub-Saharan 

Africa, the primary area of focus has been 

Charlize’s home country of South Africa. 

In collaboration with Oprah’s Angel Network, CTAOP provide funding 

to Mpilonhle, a community based South African non-profit organisation 

that offers mobile health services to secondary schools in the rural 

uMkhanyakude District of the KwaZulu-Natal Province, one of the 

most impoverished regions of South Africa. 

Mpilonhle provides HIV/AIDS preventive education, health 

screening, counselling, psychosocial support, voluntary HIV testing 

as well as home-based care and treatment for those who are infected. 

Other programs include peer counselling, computer literacy courses, 

food parcel distribution, and a sports and health curriculum. To date, 

Mpilonhle has supplied services to over 60,000 students, including 

more than 30,000 who have had individual health counselling sessions. 

With the general lack of roads, electricity, schools, hospitals and 

health clinics, as well as a lack of portable water and sanitation services, 

CYAOP have helped Mpilonhle to embarked on a more holistic 

approach to address the broader needs of the community in ways 

which have only worked to enhance their HIV prevention work. 

In early 2011, construction began on a collaborative community 

initiative called Home Field Advantage (HFA) which aims to bring 

clean water, sports fields, food gardens, community laundry basins, 

and non-contaminating toilet blocks to secondary schools. 

The generosity of CTAOP’s supporters, including the Annenberg 

Foundation, ONEXONE, Orange County Center for Living Peace, Red 

Granite Pictures and many others, enabled Mpilonhle to create hubs 

of activity at these schools that will allow their health services to reach 

beyond enrolled students to the community at large. To find out more 

about CTAOP and how you can get involved please visit our website. 

www.CharlizeAfricaOutreach.org 


17


N E W T E C H N O L O G I E S 

Eeva, the revolutionary new non-invasive test that uses intelligent software 

to help embryologists select which embryos will grow is now available 

throughout the UK and Ireland. Here we talk to Dr. Chantal Simonis, Medical 

Director at Wessex Fertility who are among the first fertility clinics in the 

world to offer the Early Embryo Viability Assessment (Eeva) test. 

Creating families 

hand-in-hand 

Please describe how embryo selection in normally 

performed in IVF clinics currently around the world? 

Embryo selection has traditionally involved a subjective 

assessment by the embryologist. A grading system is used, whereby 

the embryos are observed at certain stages of development (day 

2, 3 or 5) and are scored according to the number of cells they 

have, and whether these cells appear normal, or have excessive 

fragmentation. Some clinics may assess the embryos by taking a 

biopsy from either the egg of the early embryo – this allows the 

genetic components of the embryo to be assessed. However, the 

disadvantage of this invasive testing is that it may result in damage 

to the egg or embryo. 

What insights does Eeva provide to your team that 

is an improvement/benefit over not having Eeva? 

The advantage of Eeva is that we are able to assess the various 

crucial stages of embryo development. If an embryo divides at 

appropriate time intervals, it is more likely to be a viable embryo – 

in other words an embryo with a higher chance of implanting. Our 

embryologists are able to use the traditional method of grading the 

embryo on day 3 of development, but in addition, they can use 

information from Eeva to increase the chance of selecting a high 

quality embryo. 

What first attracted to you to the Eeva technology 

and why is it such a breakthrough for the IVF field? 

We were attracted to Eeva because it is a non-invasive way of 

selecting embryos for transfer. As it is non-invasive, it can safely 

be offered to most patients. The research undertaken at Stanford 

University has identified key factors during early embryo 

development that help predict which embryos will grow, and 

we wanted to utilize a technology that would not be harmful to 

the developing embryo. 

Ultimately, our goal is to achieve higher pregnancy rates for 

our patients, and we believe that Eeva will further increase our 

high success rates. It's a breakthrough for IVF in that we can 

continue to increase implantation rates, but without invasive, 

and very costly, procedures. 

How would you explain the benefits of Eeva to a 

patient and why should a they be interested in Eeva? 

Patients would be interested in Eeva mainly to utilize a 

technology that would increase their pregnancy rates and give 

them the best possible chance of realising their parenting dreams. 

However, Eeva has another advantage in that it aids the selection 

of a single embryo for transfer, thereby reducing the risk of a 

multiple pregnancy. 


Is there an example of where Eeva helped provide 

insight that you wouldn’t otherwise have had? 

It has been particularly useful to review the Eeva images 

on day 3, and compare the traditional methods of embryo 

assessment. On some occasions, an embryo may appear to have 

reached the right cell stage, - but reviewing the images has 

revealed that the embryo did not meet the cell division parameters 

at the correct time, and we have then not selected the embryo for 

transfer. We have continued to culture these embryos until day 5 

and have found a high correlation with failed blastocyst formation 

in these embryos. 

How can your patients learn more about Eeva 

if they are interested in this procedure? 

Wessex Fertility patients interested in Eeva can call us at 023 

8070 6000 to learn more. We also have a dedicated page on our 

website (www.wessexfertility.com/eeva). Additionally we have regular 

information seminars where we explain and discuss the use of Eeva. 

Our Consultants and Nurses also discuss the use of Eeva at Initial 

Patient Consultations and set up appointments. 

For more information about the technology behind Eeva, including 

the latest news and events please visit www.eevaivf.com.. 

About Eeva 

The new Eeva test is clinically proven to help embryologists better 

select viable embryos at an early stage. The test was developed based 

on research conducted at Stanford University, which discovered that 

correlations in early cell division timings and the underlying health 

of the embryo can help determine the viability of the embryo. 

At the heart of Eeva is intelligent software that reliably and 

consistently assesses critical and subtle differences in early embryo 

development. This data helps IVF clinicians determine an embryo’s 

viability and select the embryos with the highest potential for transfer 

or freezing. Eeva is designed to safely identify which embryos are 

most likely to develop to blastocyst stage – a critical stage in embryo 

development that typically happens on Day 5 or 6. With access to this 

unique information, an IVF team can more accurately select the best 

embryo(s) for transfer which could improve pregnancy chances. 

In a clinical study of 755 embryos, embryologists using Eeva 

in combination with their traditional methods were able to 

significantly improve their ability to correctly identify non-viable 

embryos (85% of the time when using Eeva vs. only 60% of the time 

when using traditional methods). 

The Eeva Test is also available at CRM London, GCRM in 

Glasgow, Hewitt Fertility Centre in Liverpool, Sims IVF in Ireland 

and is coming soon to Bourn Hall in Cambridge. 


19


F I T F O R F E R T I L I T Y 


Are your exercise habits helping or hindering 

your odds of conceiving? Lucy Miller finds 

out the facts that every woman should know. 

ARE YOU 

TOO FIT TO 

GET FAT? 

or most being too fit is not a concern. But I’m prime evidence that being 

too active and too healthy can affect your fertility. 

I’m an ex-national gymnast. From a young age it was drummed in to 

me that exercise and lots of it, is good, and so is having a low body fat. So 

since hanging up my leotard at the ripe age of 17, I carried on training – 

and hard. After training for marathons, duathlons, fitness competitions and the like, I 

continued to push and push my body to the extreme. For years it coped but it dawned on 

me two years ago that something wasn’t right. My periods completely stopped and I felt 

exhausted, irritable and unmotivated. I had overcooked it and burnt my body out – and 

was now paying the price. I wanted to start a family, and couldn’t. How and why did 

this happen? And when did a good workout become such a bad idea? 

Overdoing it 

According to research there is a very strong link between strenuous exercise and delayed 

conception. Whilst there is no substantial evidence, scientists have many a times linked a 

woman’s reduced ability to conceive to the ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ response, which occurs when 

the body perceives itself to be in danger. This is often triggered by intense exercise and 

results in the body releasing cortisol and adrenalin into the blood stream, to provide the 

body with that extra surge of energy needed to run from the ‘enemy’ and survive. 

Unfortunately, you’re body can’t distinguish the difference between stress caused by 

high-impact exercise or stress caused by danger, so it does what it needs to do to survive, 

which really stresses the body out, and in turn inhibits a women’s ability to conceive. 

There’s more researcher to back this up too. Scientists from the Norwegian University of 

Science and Technology found that women who performed high frequency, high-intensity 

exercise had a lower rate of fertility, because too much physical exhaustion saps the body 

of the energy it needs for a successful pregnancy. 

Exercise can also play havoc with your estrogen levels, the female hormone that plays a 

huge role in ovulation and menstruation. The good news is, that this particular study 

concluded that these negative effects of a punishing routine were not permanent, and the 

vast majority of women in the study had children in the end. 

» 


21


F I T F O R F E R T I L I T Y 

Exercise and babies 

‘When you are trying to get pregnant, you don’t want to overuse 

your energy,’ explains Dr Xiao-Ping Zhai, Founder of The Zhai 

Clinic (zhaiclinic.com). ‘You need your energy to support your 

body while trying to conceive.’ 

So how much exercise should we be doing? ‘The amount of 

exercise you do is very individualistic and depends on the 

woman’s weight and current fitness levels,’ says Zhai. ‘After 

exercise, you should feel great because it increases your oxygen 

intake, which improves your circulation, respiration and muscle 

condition. Exercise also stimulates your brain’s chemical 

reactions to change the way you feel, helping to combat anxiety 

or depression, relieve stress and improve concentration. If you 

don’t feel any different after exercising (not sweating or feeling 

energised), than you haven’t done enough, and if you feel 

exhausted and drained after, than you have done too much.’ 

‘This is not the time to train for a triathlon, or to try risky 

activities such as contact sports, downhill skiing and horseback 

riding as you could potentially hurt yourself and cause damage 

to your abdomen.’ She adds. 

Can you reverse the damage? 

Don’t fall for the mud-tasting Chinese herbs like I did, or the 

expensive pills and potions that claim to increase your chances 

of fertility, simply go back to basics and ‘get more cuddly’ as my 

fertility specialist put it. 

He, and many of the other personal trainers, acupuncturists 

and nutritionists told me that it was vital to reduce the intensity 

and duration of my exercise schedule (easier said than done), 

eat more food, especially green vegetables and complex carbs 

like brown rice and quinoa and RELAX more. Simply put, if your 

adrenal glands, (the glands in your body that produce the stress 

hormone cortisol needed to get you through physically stressful 

situations) have burnt out, then your hormone levels will be all 

over the place, especially you’re progesterone, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), 

and estrogen, the key hormones for fertility. 

I also spent a week at the Simply Healing Detox Retreat 

(simplyhealingcentre.com) where I had no choice but to relax 

and sleep – there was no gym there and exercise was restricted 

to thought-collecting country walks only. 

Here I finally leant that it was time to get off the rat race of 

life. My life like everyone else’s is fast faced but made extra 

stressful by unnecessary intense exercise sessions. So, I left my 

intense workouts at the door, and meditated, had holistic and 

abdominal sacral massages, and reflexology, to help get my body 

back into some sort of balance. After just a week it worked and 

since leaving I found out my womb lining, which was almost 

non-existent due to over-exercising and poor nutrition is back 

to its original thickness, and I’m ovulating again. 

I’m proof, that you can definitely reverse the damage of 

over-exercising and amenorra (the medical term for a lack of 

menstruation), but the key is to learn to listen to your body. You 

also need to eat lots of fresh, colourful food and cut down on 

exercise and try walking or swimming instead. You can still move, 

but just crank it down a bit – plus look at the positive, if you gain 

a few pounds who cares? If all goes to plan you’re be carrying 

more than a few pounds when you have a baby in your tummy. 

IMPROVE 

YOUR 

CHANCES 

OVULATION CALENDAR 

After absent periods or irregular periods you need to get back 

in tune with your body. Write down the date of your period, and 

then track your ovulation with an ovulation calendar. It’s also 

worth noting that your ovulation can be affected if your body fat 

percentage is less than 12 per cent or more than 30 per cent. For 

women between the ages of 20 to 40, a 19 per cent to 26 per cent 

body fat is considered good to excellent. 

REFLEXOLOGY 

Reflexology, involves manipulating the pressure points in your 

hands and feet. Practitioners claim the soles of the feet are like 

a mini map of the inside of the body and are linked to our inner 

organs and systems, including the fallopian tubes and ovaries. 

By massaging different points on the feet therapists claim they 

can unblock energy pathways in the body and so help the body to 

regain its natural balance and heal itself. It is also a great stress 

reliever and great for flushing out excess cortisol. 

COLD PRESSED PRIMROSE OIL 

The high content of the omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFA’s), Linoleic 

Acid (LA) and Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) in cold pressed 

primrose oil is great for fertility. It can help balance out your 

key fertility hormones, which in turn increases cervical fluid, the 

stuff needed carry the sperm freely through the cervix, help contract 

and relax the muscle tissue in the uterus (don’t have this 

if you think you could be pregnant) and soothe PMS. Get yours 

from solgar.com 

YOGA 

Regular yoga practice is great for regulating the body’s hormone 

levels. It’s also a well-recognized stress reliever and can fight anxiety 

and depression, all of which can accompany, and exacerbate, 

fertility problems. In fact – get to a class as soon as you can; a 

recent Harvard-based study found that women participating in a 

yoga and relaxation programmes nearly tripled their chances of 

conception. Find your local class at www. yoga.co.uk 

Lucy is a personal trainer, nutritionist and kid's fitness specialist. 

She was previously the Nutrition and Fitness Editor at Men’s Fitness 

before working at Health & Fitness as their Fitness Editor. She 

loves nothing more than looking after her body and helping others 

to reach their goals too. Find out more at www.lucymiller.me.uk 

22 | WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM | 

APRIL - MAY 2013

Follow us on 

Twitter @PinkParenting 

Facebook @PinkParenting 

www.pink-parenting.com/store

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K

Questions About 

Your Fertility? 

We Have Answers. 

About Boston IVF 

A global leader in cutting-edge fertility treatments, Boston 

IVF compassionately assists individuals and couples achieve 

their dream of starting a family. With more than 50,000 

babies born since 1986 and each of our physicians on staff 

at Harvard Medical School, we are one of America’s most 

experienced centres. 

Cutting Edge Treatments 

Our new Frozen Donor Egg Program allows for patients 

to perform a cycle within 1-2 months! Donors have already 

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have been frozen and are ready to be selected, so you can 

cycle at a time that works best for you. 

Other Services Include: 

• IVF with Donor Egg 

• Gender Selection 

• Same Sex Couple Options • Fertility Preservation 

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Your Personal Doctor 

Dr. Moragianni is a Clinical Instructor at 

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International Patient Program at Boston IVF. 

She speaks Greek, French, Italian and Albanian. 

International Concierge Service 

Dr. Moragianni is personally available to all of her patients via 

email and cell phone, to help answer their questions and 

guide their treatment in a highly compassionate manner. 

In addition to her direct access, our international 

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Receive answers quickly via Skype and 

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Our monthly online chats at bostonivf.com 

offer direct access to the country’s 

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Since 1986, Rhonda’s been a great 

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888.300.BIVF (2483) www.bostonivf.com 

Over 25 Years and More than 50,000 Babies. 

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D E T O X R E T R E A T S 

Detox 

Delights 

26 | WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM | APRIL - MAY 2013 »

If you think detoxing involves living 

on nothing but water for days, then 

secretly scoffing through a box of 

chocolates to cheer yourself up - think 

again. We have found some fantastic 

retreats guaranteed to fill you with a 

sense of wellbeing and revitalisation 

perfect for couples trying to conceive. 

SHA WELLNESS CLINIC 

» Alicante, Spain 

SHA Wellness is a world-wide pioneering clinic and medical hotel, 

focused on improving and people's health and wellbeing. This is achieved 

through the unique fusion of the best natural therapies, mainly from 

millenarian Eastern wisdom and the most advanced Western techniques. 

Situated near the picturesque town of Villa de Altea in Alicante, the 

clinic sits on a beautiful mountainside overlooking the Mediterranean. 

Spread over 2,000 square meters, this deluxe spa is divided into hydrotherapy 

and treatments zones. The clinic has 41 treatment rooms, and 

couple treatment suites, guests can also enjoy massages and treatments 

outdoors in a unique environment of private palapas located near the 

infinity pool. The SHA also offers a wide variety of detox programmes 

that take care of both the body and soul by combining ancient oriental 

techniques with modern advances in western medicine. This is the ultimate 

in spa experiences certain to leave you feeling in a fantastic fertile mind. 

LEARN MORE: www.shawellnessclinic.com 


27



SIMPLY HEALING 

» West Sussex, UK 

With over 12 years in successfully helping couples to conceive, 

Simply Healing, located in a beautiful 18th century country house 

and situated in the lush countryside of the South Down's offers a 

holistic approach with their new all inclusive Fertility Enhancement 

Detox Plan which is tailor-made for each of their guests to help 

optimise their chances of conceiving naturally and to support 

those undergoing fertility treatments. 

As well as promoting relaxation, the new programme aims to 

clear the body of toxins, chemicals, and negative thoughts, and to 

effectively restore balance and improve the overall mental and 

physical wellbeing of their guests. Couples will be treated in a 

warm and nurturing space by caring and highly experienced 

therapists. Simply Healing has also introduced ‘Fertility Days for 

Women’, a drop-in service for women at their time of ovulation to 

help enhance their chances of falling pregnant naturally. 

LEARN MORE: www.simplyhealingcentre.com 

DETOX INTERNATIONAL 

» La Alpujarra, Spain 

With detoxification being a well known and powerful step that can help 

enhance fertility, Detox International's retreats are perfect for any would 

be parent. Whether to overcome existing fertility problems or simply to 

be in the best of health for conceiving, their fertility programme is a truly 

integrated approach, looking at the whole person, and helping couples 

with fertility issues. Treatments include acupuncture, reflexology, juice 

fasting and colon cleansing and integrates diet, supplements and yoga, 

creating a programme to optimise the chances of a successful pregnancy. 

Located in the stunning foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Spain, this 

week long program also features talks and mini-workshops relating to 

fertility an wellbeing. Detox International's aim is to give the knowledge 

and naturopathic means to continue to care for one's health pre and post 

conception, essential for putting you on your path to parenthood. 

LEARN MORE: www.detox-international.com 


Simply Fertility 

Enhancement Detox 

What can you do to help yourself to enhance your 

chances of having a baby? Here at Simply Healing 

we are very proud of the fact that over the years we 

have had great success with our Fertility 

Enhancement Detox Plans that cover all aspects of 

cleansing your body from the inside and out and 

preparing you for conception. Natural herbal 

supplements, freshly prepared fruit and vegetable 

juices, detox soups and the magical potassium broth 

combined with the very best body treatments help to 

stimulate, rebalance and rejuvenate you. 

Get away for five days to a positive, nurturing, supportive 

environment that helps you to de-stress, detox and refocus all 

your energy on yourself. Our Detox programmes cater for couples 

as well as individuals so put yourself in a positive place now. 

The programme consists of a Nutritional Consultation, 

Hypnotherapy, Link Reflexology, Abdominal Sacral Massage, 

Colonic Hydrotherapy, Meditation plus a One to One Health 

and Lifestyle consultation. 

For more information see our website www.simplyhealingcentre 

or please feel free to call us and tell us your story so that we can 

offer you the very best advice. 

Move into the slow lane; 

give your body the best 

attention that you can. 

we were Voted Best Detox 

Retreat in the UK 

by 

It’s a million miles away 

from the stresses and strains 

of everyday life... 

“The staff at Simply Healing 

worked with care and dedication and 

it really has provided us with a lifechanging 

experience. The centre has 

been monumental in helping us to 

conceive our two beautiful boys after 

many years of trying.” 

Camilla & Alex 

All our programmes are second to none Essential Juice Detox Plan 

Inch & Weight Loss Juice Detox 5 Day Plan Weight Loss 7 Day Plan 

Fertility Enhancement Detox Plan Weekend Juice Detox Plan 

Call us on: 01403 822117 

www.simplyhealingcentre.com 

Alliblaster House, Hill House Lane, Rudgwick, West Sussex, RH12 3BD



DAY SPAS 

No time to travel abroad? Fear not, we have found 

some fantastic UK day spas guaranteed to give you 

that much needed break-away from your every day 

stresses and allow you to be pampered in style. 

GRACE BELGRAVIA 

» London, UK 

Just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of 

Knightsbridge is a new women-only members club with 

a difference, describing itself as an “exclusive private 

club for spirited, sophisticated, health-conscious women 

who want the very best”, the Grace Belgravia is not only a 

place to socialise and network, but it’s predominantly a 

holistic health spa, restaurant and nutrition service. 

Fitness, beauty, diagnostic and preventative medicine 

is all available under one roof and is dedicated to 

empowering and nurturing women through seven ages 

of life from young adulthood, through fertility, pregnancy, 

child rearing, empty nesting, menopause and ageing-well. 

LEARN MORE: www.gracebelgravia.com 

CHEWTON GLEN 

» New Forest, Hampshire, UK 

The luxury health spa at Chewton Glen hotel embodies the unique 

purity of a New Forest and coastal location. The staff at the spa 

based in Hampshire are dedicated to offering you a personalised 

service, offering holistic lifestyle programmes and indulgent spa 

experiences all delivered in the environment of a world-class retreat. 

Boasting Europe's biggest hydrotherapy spa pool, aromatherapy 

saunas and crystal steam rooms; there’s even an outdoor whirlpool 

should the mood take you. The spa treatment menu is indulgent and 

the well-equipped gym has all the Techno Gym kit you'd expect, 

plus Power Plates, as well as a programme of free fitness classes, 

including Pilates, Yoga and AquaFit - perfect for a day out with the girls. 

LEARN MORE: www.chewtonglen.com 

NIRVANA SPA 

» Berkshire, UK 

Imagine relaxing on a sun lounger in a spa with six pure, natural spring 

fed pools, with water clean enough to drink, creating that wonderful 

“holiday feeling”, that's exactly what awaits you when you arrive at the 

Nirvana Spa - an award-winning, 53-station hydrotherapy spa, providing 

all the benefits of a full body massage in luxurious surroundings. 

Try the plunge pools for a real spa experience; relax in the peaceful 

surroundings of the tepidarium; refresh your body with the monsoon 

showers and cleanse your skin with the aromatherapy sauna and steam 

experiences. The unique aqua facilities include the Dead Sea Floatation 

treatment pools and the grand Roman Room pool, take advantage of the 

extensive fitness facilities, with personal guidance available for your 

individual needs. Ideal for taking away the stresses of everyday living. 

LEARN MORE: www.nirvanaspa.co.uk 


Find out when you are 

at your most fertile. 

Fertility Detox Retreats 

the best start for a new life 

OvuSense TM 

takes you a positive step 

towards pregnancy by showing you 

exactly when you ovulate and when 

your chances of success are highest. 

Advanced Fertility Monitor 

Optimise your health and nutrition prior to conception 

Positively influence the future health of your family 

Improve your fertility naturally 

Holistic mind/body spirit approach 

Benefits for men and women, couples and individuals 

A natural approach to a healthier baby 

www.detox-international.com 

tel: +44 (0)845 1000 247 


NOW AVAILABLE 

ON ITUNES


C L I N I C C A T C H - U P 

In a new feature for Fertility Road we will 'catch-up' with a fertility 

clinic or agency and let them share with us all their latest news, 

success stories and plans for the future, first of all, Fertility Counsellor, 

Esther Odiete from Nordica Lagos tells us about the clinic's 10 year 

anniversary in April, their first set of quintuplets celebrating their 

1st birthday and their partnership with Fertility Treatment Support 

Foundation who are offering lucky couples free IVF treatment. 

Creating life 

in Lagos 

his year is a big year for 

all of us here at the clinic 

in Lagos as not only are 

we celebrating our first 

decade in helping couples achieve their 

dreams of starting a family, but we are also 

excited to be involved in the first birthday 

celebrations of the centre’s quintuplets. 

History of our clinic: 

Launched back on the 14th of April, 2003, 

Nordica, Lagos has now become one of 

Nigeria's leading and largest centres to offer 

first class assisted reproductive services to 

couples from all over the world who are 

fertility challenged. 

Nordica Fertility Centre was established 

in association with Nordica International 

which is based in Denmark and with 

constant access to the latest research 

findings and developments we collaborate 

with many notable IVF centres all over the 

World including IVI, Valencia Spain. We 

have been able to stay at the forefront of 

modern technology with the latest methods 

and treatment to achieve the best results 

for all our patients. Over the last 10 years, 

we are proud to have been able to offer an inclusive range of 

procedures, keeping up with the best in global standards in a calm, 

and family like environment with clinics in Lagos, Asaba and Abuja 

including an annexe at the old reservation area of Yaba, situated in 

the very heart of the Lagos metropolis. 

Our core values: 

Our philosophy is really simple. We believe in getting to know all our 

clients individually, in order to develop a treatment plan best suited 

for each couple - what we call the Nordica Way to Fertility. We also 

want to make sure that each treatment is as pleasant and fruitful as 

“ 

Our philosophy is really simple. 

We believe in getting to know all 

our clients individually, in order 

to develop a treatment plan best 

suited for each couple – what we 

call the Nordica Way to Fertility. ” 

possible, so we firmly believe that by adopting this level of consistency, 

team playing, responsiveness, innovation and confidentiality, we not 

only add greatly to each couple's well being, but ultimately, to the 

success of their treatment. 

» 



33


C L I N I C C A T C H - U P 

» 

The client-care approach we use includes tender loving care, 

prompt positive responsiveness, total customer satisfaction, 

giving hope even when infertile by giving quality service with 

pro-active staff services, all in a family-like environment. 

Our Managing Director, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, is a veteran 

Gynaecologist who spent 8 years at the Lagoon Hospital, Apapa 

in Lagos, as the leader in its gynaecological unit before starting 

at Nordica. He now heads a team of experienced Doctors, 

Embryologists, Nurses, Counsellors and Administrators, at our 

Clinics whom are all specially trained in every area of infertility. 

Services we offer: 

Our modern and up-to-date services includes comprehensive 

Gynaecological assessments, Endoscopic surgeries (Hysteroscopies, 

Laparoscopies, Laparoscopies and Myomectomies) IUI, 

IVF, ICSI, IMSI, TESA/PESA, LAH, Egg Donation, Sperm Donation, 

Embryo Donation, cryopreservation of sperm, eggs or embryos 

as well as PGD. 

Our laboratories are a safe haven for eggs, sperm and 

embryos, and with the use of our computerised quality control 

system, we are able to keep pictorial records of our patient’s 

embryos where we have the ability to analyse and select those 

with the best chance of becoming babies after transfer. 

Up until now Nordica has been the only IVF centre in Nigeria 

to commemorate with the world in celebrating March as 

‘Endometriosis Month’ with lot of exciting activities lined up 

each year for the month. 

Fertility Treatment Support Foundation 

Here at Nordica we understand the importance of conceiving a 

child but we are also aware that the affordability of these services 

for many may be one of the main causes of their concern. So to 

keep the dream of starting a family alive, we are so excited to 

be collaborating with FTSF, a not for profit organisation, targeted 

at providing fertility assistance to indigent Nigerians who, up 

to now, have not had the financial resources to undertake the 

fertility procedures needed to conceive. 

For more information on Nordica Lagos and its services please 

visit www.nordicalagos.org or to learn more about the Fertility 

Treatment Support Foundation visit www.ftsfnigeria.org as well 

as Endometriosis visit www.endometriosis-sgn.org 

Porter Dodson’s Fertility and Parenting Law team provides 

bespoke cutting edge legal help and solutions to people 

across the UK and abroad. We can help create, support 

and protect your much wanted family no matter where in 

the world you are based. 

The Team is headed by Louisa Ghevaert. 

Internationally recognised as a leading 

expert in UK fertility, surrogacy, parenting 

and children law, Louisa has pioneered the 

practice of fertility and parenting law in the 

UK. Her expertise covers international and UK 

surrogacy, donor conception, co-parenting, 

embryo storage, children and parenting, and 

gay and lesbian parenting. 

Contact Louisa Ghevaert 

Telephone: +44 (0)207 222 1244 

Email: louisa.ghevaert@porterdodson.co.uk 

@LouisaGhevaert 

www.porterdodsonfertility.com 

We offer the latest 

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N U T R I T I O N 

light 

Nutritional lunch 

Guru, Annabel Karmel shares 

a few of her own delicious recipes ideal 

for a light lunch, packed full of essential 

fertility boosting vitamins and minerals. 


37

F e R T I l I T y R O a d 


COLOURFUL 

TABBOULEH 

IngREdIEnTs: 

• 150g bulgur wheat 

• Juice of half a lemon 

• 2 tsp rice wine vinegar 

• 2 tbsp olive oil 

• Dash of sugar 

• ½ small cucumber 

• 1 bunch spring onions, 

finely sliced 

• 1 small bunch mint, chopped 

• 1 tomato, deseeded 

and chopped 

• 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds 

METHOd: 

1. Put the bulgur wheat into a saucepan. Pour over 300 ml cold 

water. Bring up to the boil. Cover with a lid, boil for one minute. 

Turn off the heat and leave to stand (still covered with a lid) for 

15 minutes until all of the liquid has been absorbed. 

2. Tip into a bowl. Add the vinegar, lemon, olive oil, sugar and 

season. Leave to cool. 

3. Add the remaining ingredients. Mix well and serve. 

Makes 3 Portions 


The Zita West 

Clinic 

CHICKEN SALAD 

WITH PEAS, ROCKET 

AND CHARGRILLED 

COURGETTES 

The The Zita West Clinic is is the the 

UK’s largest integrated 

clinic for for reproductive 

health, combining 

the the latest medical 

thinking with expert 

complementary treatments. 

Eating a combination of protein and vegetables at mealtimes is a 

good way to satisfy hunger pangs. This crunchy salad is perfect 

and the delicious dressing has a hint of chilli. We can’t promise 

it’ll bring on labour, but this quick, simple classic gives spicy and 

The nutritious kick. desire for a 

INGREDIENTS: 

• 2 chicken breasts, skinned 

child is one of life’s 

Marinade 

• Zest and juice of 1 small lemon 

• A driving pinch of dried chilli flakesforces 

• 1 clove garlic 


• 1 tsp honey 

• 1 sprig rosemary, finely chopped 

Each year, our our specialist team of of doctors, 

midwives, nutritional therapists and and 

complementary practitioners help help hundreds 

of of couples to to get get pregnant, both both naturally and and 

through assisted means - - most of of whom have tried 

previously CRGH has for for been months assisting and and years couples without with success. specialist 

We We advice also also help help and many treatment more, who who for are are over going twenty through years, 

FRENCH IVF, IVF, to to 

improve obtaining their outstanding chances of of success results, through which expert place preparation us 

and and as leaders support. amongst fertility clinics in the UK. 

Salad 

• 1 large courgette 

• 1 yellow pepper, de-seeded and sliced into thick wedges 

• 1.5 tbsp olive 

COUNTS 

oil 

• 25 g pine nuts, toasted 

• 1 bag rocketDECLINE 

• Half pear, peeled and cored and thinly sliced 

• 25 g parmesan cut into shavings 

Fertility, At CRGH conception, we provide pregnancy environment and and birth are are where whole-body you 

events will feel and and comfortable, an an integrated relaxed approach and to to supported preparing for for by them our can, can, 

we we experienced believe, pay pay team dividends, of staff, helping and to we to improve tailor every not not just detail just your your of 

fertility, your treatment but but your your pregnancy to suit your and and individual the the long long circumstances, 

term health and and 

potential giving you of of your your the very baby too. best too. chance of success. 

How WHY USE we CRGH? 

can help: 

Dressing 

• 2 tsp Dijon mustard 

• 1 tsp rice wine vinegar 


• 1 tbsp lemon juice 

• Pinch of sugar 

• Just • Just Pre-implantation decided to to try? try? Genetic Diagnosis 

• Boost State your your of the fertility Art and Laboratory and improve your Techniques 

your pregnancy 

• Phenomenal Success Rates 

• • Want to to know how how fertile you you are? are? 

• Individual Treatment Regimen 

Take Take our our tailor-made fertility MOT MOT 

• Donor Egg and Sperm Banks 

• • Finding 7-day-a-week it it difficult Service to to get get pregnant? 

METHOD: 

• Identify Centrally and and help Located help resolve your your problem 

1. Marinate the chicken, measure all the marinade ingredients 

• Planning A RECENT on having STUDY IVF? REVEALING A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN 

into a shallow dish and mix together. Put the chicken breasts 

Help Help sperm 

increase 

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with of of French 

clingfilm. success 

men should be considered a 

Bash with a rolling pin so 

health warning, and could be linked to environmental factors, 

• If IVF they are thinner. Put into the marinade. Cover and leave in the 

say fails its writers. The paper, published in the journal Human 

fridge for 30 minutes 1 hour. 

Help Help with Reproduction, with next next steps. calculated How How to to the move results on on after comparing 26,600 

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2. Slice the from courgette France’s into national thin ribbons. register Put on IVF. into a bowl with the 

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peppers. The samples, Add the taken olive from oil 126 and assisted toss together. reproduction Heat a technology grill pan, 

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centres when in hot, France, char between grill the 1989 vegetables to 2005 were until all soft from and men 

London WC1X LD 

golden. whose 

partners Transfer had into chosen a mixing IVF bowl because – leave either to their cool. fallopian tubes were 

t. Services 020 7837 2905 we we offer: 

blocked or missing, and the man’s sperm was not considered an 

t. 020 7837 3. Scatter 3675 the rocket a plate. Arrange the courgette ribbons, 

• Gynaecology issue in any • of Nutrition these cases. This • latter • Counselling point is important because 

f. 020 7278 peppers 5152 

many male 

and 

fertility 

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studies 

on top. 

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solely 

pine nuts 

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• e. Midwifery info@crgh.co.uk parmesan. • Mix Acupuncture all of the dressing • Massage 

men with pre-existing fertility problems 

ingredients 

which should 

together 

this study 

in a 

• Embryology a truer 

bowl. 

representation 

Pour • over Hypnotherapy salad. 

of wider • Fitness population as a whole. 

• Planning on having IVF? 

• If IVF fails 

VISIT AND LIKE US AT: 

FACEBOOK.COM/FERTILITYROADMAG 

• Suffering from recurrent miscarriage? 

• Gynaecology • Nutrition 

• Midwifery • Acupuncture • Massage 

• Embryology • Hypnotherapy • Fitness 

4. Heat The the researchers griddle, when note hot, that add as the far chicken. as they Cook know, for this about is 8 the to 

first 10 minutes, study to Zita turning find Zita a West over “severe half Clinics way and through. Ltd general Ltd Leave decrease to cool in a sperm little, 

concentration 

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and 

breasts 

morphology and Street, arrange 

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W1U W1U of the 

of a 

7LJ 7LJ salad. 

whole country 

over a substantial period”, urging that:”This constitutes a serious 

See us at THE FERTILITY SHOW / STAND 13 

Nov 4th & 5th 2011, Olympia, London 

Tel Tel 0207 0207 224 224 0017 0017 Fax Fax 0207 0207 224 224 0062 

www.crgh.co.uk 

www.zitawest.com 

public Makes health 2 Portions warning.” 

Are you looking for information 

on infertility or would you like 

to meet others on their path to 

parenthood, then become a fan 

and LIKE our Facebook page 

and join our community. 

SPERM 

TO TO MAKE AN AN APPOINTMENT: 020 7224 0017 

1 in 10 

Get expert 

women in the UK live 

fertility with PCOS, it’s the 

information 

leading cause of 

infertility in women 

and support 

online with 

Boots WebMD 

Let us support 

you in taking the 

first step. 

Do you have any of the following? 

irregular periods 

Visit Visit www.bootswebmd.com 

and and search search weight ‘fertility’. ‘fertility’. problems 

acne and oily skin 

mood swings 

hair loss 

excess hair 

If you do, then you could have Polycystic Ovary 

Syndrome (PCOS), and should make an 

appointment to talk to your GP 

Verity is the UK charity for women with PCOS, 

for more information and support: 

www.verity-pcos.org.uk 

blog.verity-pcos. 

org.uk 

twitter.com/ 

veritypcos 

facebook.com/ 

veritypcos 

youtube.com/ 

veritypcos 

Charity No.1097599 | Company No. 04404798 

verity-pcos.org. 

uk/forum 

feel good 

feel good



ELDERFLOWER JELLY 

This is a delicious fresh dessert, you could use a mixture of berry fruits 

instead of the peaches, pear and grapes if you want to mix up the fruit. If 

you have never used leaf gelatine, you will be surprised how it dissolves 

perfectly every time, so now making jelly recipes is really easy. You can 

buy leaf gelatine in most supermarkets. 

INGREDIENTS: 

• 300 ml (10 fl oz) elderflower cordial 

• 400 ml (14 fl oz) cold water 

• 6 leaves gelatine 

• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice 

• 125 g (4 ½ oz) mixed fruit, e.g. chopped peaches (tinned or fresh) 

and halved grapes, or a mixture of berry fruits 

METHOD: 

1. Mix the cordial with the cold water in a jug. Soak the gelatine for 

5 minutes in just enough cold water to cover. Meanwhile, warm 

100 ml (3 fl oz) of the cordial mix in a medium pan until hot but not 

boiling. Remove from the heat. 

2. Squeeze out any excess water from the gelatine. Stir the gelatine into 

the warm cordial until fully dissolved. Add the remaining cordial mix 

and the lemon juice, and stir well. You must add the remaining cordial 

to the dissolved gelatine and not vice versa, or it can cause the 

gelatine to go stringy. 

EATING FOR TWO 

BY ANNABEL KARMEL 

These 3 recipes are all taken 

from Annabel's latest book, 

Eating for Two, which is a 

complete guide to nutrition 

during pregnancy and beyond. 

The book assists expectant 

mothers throughout each 

stage of their pregnancy, 

offering tips and advice on 

what to eat and what to avoid. Included are the best foods to 

promote conception, ideas to avoid morning sickness and 

nutrition to combat sleeplessness, anaemia and heartburn. 

Annabel steers readers on a healthy and nutritional journey 

during pregnancy and even suggests meals to make and 

freeze ready for when baby arrives. 

Eating for Two by Annanbel Karmel, published by Ebury 

Press is available at Amazon.co.uk, RRP £12.99 

3. Divide the fruit among 4 small glasses and pour in the cordial mix. 

Chill overnight. 

Makes 4 Portions 

Preparation time: 10 minutes (plus chilling) 


Porter Dodson’s Fertility and Parenting Law team provides 

bespoke cutting edge legal help and solutions to people 

across the UK and abroad. We can help create, support 

and protect your much wanted family no matter where in 

the world you are based. 

The Team is headed by Louisa Ghevaert. 

It’s not surprising, you may need a little help. 

They’re the biggest shoes you’ll 

ever have to fill. fill. 



We offer the latest 

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9/24/12 11:34 PM


F U T U R E E V E N T S 

FUTURE EVENTS


E G G D O N A T I O N E X P L A I N E D 

Egg donation is an extraordinary, life-changing gift, that offers hope to 

women who previously thought they could never have children. But what 

is the process of receiving donor eggs and the legalities involved? Here 

egg donor expert Jenny Currie from baby2mom answers your questions. 

Egg Donation 

What are the chances of a successful 

pregnancy when using a donor egg? 

Egg Donation Programmes have a success rate of 

about 48%; however this figure can vary depending on 

sperm quality and uterine readiness. Embryos are individual 

beings, so even with perfect conditions, they may not 

develop into a baby. Egg donation is about giving a chance 

where there is no chance with the recipient’s own eggs. 

Is there a waiting list for donor eggs 

and if so how long is this likely to be? 

Depending on the specific egg donor agency with 

whom recipients are working, there should not be a 

waiting list for egg donors. The norm is that egg donor 

recipients are provided with immediate online access to 

a donor database of egg donors, with options to consider 

elements such as race, physical traits, reproductive 

information and personality traits. It may be that there 

is a waiting period for a specific profile of egg donor. E.g. 

in some countries there may be a scarcity of egg donors 

of a particular race group. 

Is there an age limit to be a donor 

egg recipient and if so why? 

South African egg donation guidelines for example 

emphasise that special consideration should be given to 

couples where the female recipient’s age is greater than 

50 years. For this reason some clinics enforce a cut off 

age of 50. This is to protect the health of the woman as 

she may not be medically suitable to carry a baby after 

this age, compromising her overall health. 


43


E G G D O N A T I O N E X P L A I N E D 

How long will it take to plan my donor 

program and what should my first step be? 

Typically, a two month period is required to plan a donor 

program. As menstrual cycles can be manipulated, the timing can 

really be planned to the recipient’s specifications. Usually donor 

programs are planned within a three month period, but with the 

consent of all parties, planning can extend beyond this time frame. 

So after the egg donor’s screening, recipients can be given exact 

dates to allow appropriate planning arrangements to be made. 

Is egg donation expensive, what are the costs 

for egg donation and what does this cover ? 

In addition to a regular IVF fee, additional costs for egg 

donation include screening assessments (psychological and 

medical) for the egg donor, ultrasounds for egg donors to assess 

egg development (this is in addition to the uterine assessment 

scans performed on the egg recipient), donor donation (which is 

commonly a fixed amount paid via the fertility clinic), possible 

donor travel costs (depending on the donor’s situation) and donor 

agency fees (to facilitate the egg donor program). Essentially egg 

donation is a very viable, feasible and affordable solution. 

Do I need to be medically confirmed to receive donor 

eggs and if so where do I go to get the required tests? 

To optimise the process for egg donation, women as recipients 

of donor eggs should have necessary medical tests. Men, whose 

sperm will be fertilising the eggs, should also have specific tests 

done. Recipients can submit required medical results to fertility 

specialists in person or online to confirm that their body is in an 

optimal space to receive donor eggs. 

Do I need to worry about the legal requirements 

and contractual obligations in the donor process? 

No, a professional egg donation agency will take care of any 

such details and ensures compliance with the legalities of the 

country as well as any governing guidelines. 

I've read online that I need to match my blood 

group to that of the egg donors, is this correct? 

No, matching of blood types does not influence the outcome 

at all. Blood groups are really provided for information purposes 

so that recipients have access to all information. 

Will and I meet my egg donor, is it 

possible to send my donor a message? 

No, egg donation is usually completely anonymous and 

confidential. The egg donor will not be able to trace the egg 

donation. In keeping with the anonymity, only childhood pictures 

of the donors, up to the age of 10 are provided. Unfortunately 

some egg donors do not have access to these, so no pictures will 

be available. The egg donor’s responsibility and participation ends 

on the day of egg retrieval with the full understanding that no 

further involvement is required, Most agencies are happy to pass 

on message, as long they remain anonymous. 

FOR MORE ARTICLES ON 

EGG DONATION VISIT 

FERTILITYROAD.COM » 

What screening is carried out on an egg donor, 

are there both physical and psychological tests? 

Full psychological assessments, blood tests and an internal 

ultrasound are performed. Hormonal blood levels are tested to 

confirm the egg donors’ suitability to produce good quality eggs, 

in addition HIV status is also checked. If a recipient elects for a 

donor to be tested for other aspects these can be undertaken. 

Professional egg donor agents do not recruit donors to their 

database if they have a medical history of predisposition to genetic 

disorders such as club foot, haemophilia, bipolar illness, etc. 

How do I select an egg donor, what should 

I be looking for, can I get help with this? 

Refer to the online egg donor database and consider what is 

important to you. For some recipients physical match is 

important. Other recipients elect to match personality, interests, 

academic, religious or other aspects. At the end of the day this is a 

personal decision and recipients are encouraged to be guided by 

their heart to select the right egg donor. The egg donor agent 

should be willing to assist with recommendations. 

Will I be able to breastfeed if I receive donor eggs, 

there is conflicting opinion on the internet? 

Of course recipients can and are encouraged to breastfeed. 

Other than the recipient’s ovary not producing the egg, all 

aspects about the pregnancy are the same. Breastfeeding actually 

encourages further bonding and provides the new infant with all 

required nutrition to start life. 

Should I select an egg donor with proven fertility, 

i.e. a donor who has donated successfully before? 

A careful screening of the ovarian reserve of the egg donor is 

more important than their fertility history. It is not necessary to 

select an egg donor who has a history of fertility; these facts are 

provided for information only. Every woman is different and 

every cycle is different. Egg donors may respond differently to 

artificial stimulation than to natural fertility. 

What happens if my egg donor is found not 

suitable, what are my options if this is the case? 

It may happen the egg donor is declined psychologically and 

or medically and these aspects can only be confirmed at the 

time of such professional assessments. These screenings are 

controls to give the recipient the very best of chance of 

conception with donor eggs. In the event of the donor not being 

advised to proceed, the egg donation agency will assist you in 

finding a new egg donor or you as the recipient can select a new 

egg donor from the database. 

Would my egg donor donate continuously, is there 

a limit or can they donate as many time as they wish? 

No, egg donors donate a maximum of 6 times or to the extent 

that 6 children are conceived of egg donation. 

Jenny Currie is founder and owner of dynamic egg donation 

agency baby2mom. For more information about egg donation in 

South Africa please visit www.baby2mom.co.za 

44 | WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM | 

APRIL - MAY 2013

need an Afro Caribbean egg there is no time limit on how long you can wait. 

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Coordinator and can find out more about our donor egg programme that has no 

waiting list even for Afro Caribbean eggs. 


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by Joint Organization Commission Accredited International 

by Joint Commission International


A S K T H E E X P E R T 

Fertility expert and best-selling author, 

Emma Cannon takes time out to answer 

our readers fertility related concerns. 

Expert Witness 

with Emma Cannon 

I have been on the Pill for a few years now and heard 

that the Pill can affect my fertility. Is this true? 

The pill is very interesting as there is some perceived wisdom 

that is preserves women egg count. I think this is a little simplistic 

and if it does so it does it at a cost. The cost is by exposing young 

people to more STI's in their 20's which leads to an increase in 

conditions such as Chlamydia and PID. There is also research to 

suggest that the pill changes women's physiology (specifically their 

smell) affecting their choice in a partner. These women then marry 

men who are not necessarily their most fertility compatible. The 

pill can also lead to post pill ammenhoea which is an extended 

period of time after coming off the pill when there no ovulation 

occurs. Acupuncture is extremely good at treating this. 

My sex life is really suffering from the baby-making 

process. It's got to the stage where I feel like we are 

just fitting sex into a small fertile window each month and 

is creating tension in our marriage do you have any advice? 

This is so common and not a day goes past when I don't have a 

woman in my clinic complaining that her sex life is in tatters. I think 

the quality of sex couples have now is suffering because of the time 

constants most of them are under. I continually tell couples that sex 

needs to be a bigger focus in their relationship. More time needs to 

be spent in the ritual of sex, as research suggests that women's 

arousal is heightened if more time is spent in the preparation. 

Women need to mentally focus on sex more; try thinking about it 

before returning home. Instead of thinking about what to have for 

dinner, think about the feeling of being together with your partner. It 

may sound old fashioned but our autonomic nervous system is hard 

wired to respond to certain impulses. Feeling cared for, secure and 

with someone who finds you sexually attractive is scientifically 

proven to heighten libido and make climax more likely. The better quality 

the sex, the more likely you are to want more and the more likely it is 

that you will conceive. So make sex the focus and not baby-making. 

We have had 3 cycles of IVF with perfect day 5 

blastocyst and still not had a positive pregnancy test 

yet. I feel like I might me pregnant for several days a week 

after embryo transfer but then it goes away. What can I do? 

This is so hard and my heart really goes out to you. IVF is so 

gruelling financially, emotionally and physically and to have done 3 

cycles and still not achieved pregnancy is hard. There are several 

things that can be done that may include implantation. Endometrial 

scratching, a mild trauma to the endometrium which brings about 

an increase in immune activity on the endometrium. This is done 

prior to IVF and research shows that this can increase in pregnancy 

rates. Acupuncture at the time of transfer has also shown promising 

results, it can also be beneficial during the entire IVF process. 

Some clinics use aspirin and other medication to thin the blood 

especially where there is underlying blood clotting conditions. This is 

a controversial area and some doctors now believe that the immune 

system (elevated natural killer cells) might contribute to failed 

implantation. Not everyone is in agreement with this and there is 

need for more research. There are many different treatments being 

used to potentially improve implantation rates and I suggest you do 

some research into these and discuss them with your clinic. 

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L E T T E R F R O M T H E H E A R T 

Jenni and husband Dale have endured so much to achieve their 

dreams of starting a family. Five years of treatment, including 19 

IVF attempts, followed by the tragic loss of twins at 19 weeks, but 

ultimately celebrating the healthy birth of boys, Taj and Kai. 

Jenni’s 

Story 

s a young adult, I never gave Before long, our dream of becoming a family appeared to be further 

much thought to becoming a from our reach than we ever anticipated. Although completely 

mother. Like most people, I baffled by my inability to become pregnant, I was undeterred 

assumed it would happen one and my determination unwavering. I never lost sight of my dream 

day when I met the right person but I was in to become a mother. As time went on, instead of becoming 

no rush. That all changed when I met Dale. 

letter from 

Within two years of meeting, we were 

married and talking about starting a family. 

Even though we had not been trying to 

conceive, we knew we would need medical 

assistance from the outset. Dale had been 

married previously 

the heart 

and had two children. He 

had undergone a vasectomy at the age of 30. 

Now ten years later, we were told that our 

best chance of conceiving would be with 

the assistance of fertility treatment. Initially, I 

took it for granted that I would be able to 

have a baby. I never gave any real thought to 

what I might have to go through to realise the 

dream of becoming a mother. Dale and I 

embarked on our IVF journey with absolute 

naivety and ignorance. I honestly thought I 

would have a baby after just one or two 

cycles, after all I was relatively young and 

very healthy. Why shouldn’t our treatment be 

successful? Oh how wrong I was! 

.....Cycle one.... Unsuccessful. 

.....Cycle two.... Unsuccessful. 

..... Cycle three, four, five, six, seven, eight, 

nine, and ten... All unsuccessful! 

despondent, I became more determined and more focused than 

I had ever been about anything in my life. I always knew Dale and 

I would have a family together. I pictured it in my mind and felt it 

in my heart – it was almost like a sixth sense. I knew was going to 

have a baby and I was not going to give up, ever! 

After five years of treatment and 13 unsuccessful cycles, we were 

starting to wonder if we would ever realise our dream of becoming 

parents. We had tried so many different approaches. Full stimulated 

cycles, min stimulated cycles, we had used Dales’ sperm, donor 

sperm twice, ICSI, TESA, had two cycles cancelled on the day of 

transfer because the embryos hadn’t survived the thawing process. 

And to top it all off, it had now become apparent that the problem no 

longer lied just with Dale; it appeared that my eggs had an inherent 

abnormality. Not the news I wanted to hear! 

By now, I was searching for answers beyond ‘modern medicine’. I 

started using natural therapies including acupuncture, Chinese herbs, 

homeopathy and chiropractic to increase my chances of becoming 

pregnant. My doctor lowered my medication dosage and on our 14th 

cycle, the news we had been waiting so long for – I was pregnant! 

Yes, finally pregnant! If this wasn’t exciting enough, the news got 

even better. At our first ultrasound our doctor pointed out two little 

‘blobs’ on the screen – Oh my goodness twins! Our dreams had come 

true in that one moment. Two children and no more IVF treatment. 

They say that women have a certain ‘glow’ about them when 

they are pregnant, but I didn’t just glow, I ‘illuminated’. My feet 


didn’t touch the ground when I walked; 

I floated. I was on top of the world. I felt 

as though we had finally been rewarded for 

all our hard work and now we would finally 

have our family and our IVF days would 

be over. I nurtured myself and my growing 

babies. I stayed fit and healthy, exercising 

regularly and ensuring I ate only the best 

food. I had waited so long to be pregnant 

and I was revelling in it. I loved telling people 

that I was expecting twins, they would 

all be so happy for me especially those who 

knew of our struggle. The prospect of welcoming 

two beautiful babies into our world 

consumed me. It became my every thought 

and filled my heart with such warmth. 

Finally our family would be complete. 

» What goes up must come down 

When I began bleeding at 19 weeks, I had 

no idea how my world was about to 

change. What started out as minor abdominal 

twinges, soon evolved into severe 

cramping and heavy bleeding. I managed 

to drive myself to hospital and was taken 

straight to emergency. By the time I was 

examined by a doctor I was fully dilated. I 

had gone into spontaneous labour and in 

the doctors own words, ‘there was nothing 

they could do’, I was going to have my 

babies that day. It wasn’t until Dale arrived 

at the hospital and I had to explain to him 

what was happening that the gravity of the 

situation hit me. We were about to endure 

the most harrowing and heartbreaking 

night of our lives and there was absolutely 

nothing we could do to stop it. 

“ 

Even though we experienced immense 

heartache along the way, I look back at the 

journey as the most wonderful thing that ever 

happened to me. I guess I am a ‘glass half full’ 

type of person and having that attitude got me 

As the babies were less than 20 weeks 

gestation, we were told there would be no 

medical intervention once they were born. 

When I asked the midwife if there was any 

chance my babies would survive the birth, 

she calmly replied, ‘No’. At that moment, 

I had two perfectly healthy babies inside 

me. My body was about to end their lives 

before they had a chance to take their first 

breath and it was out of my control. 

I begged the nursing staff to perform a 

caesarean, please don’t make me deliver 

them if it means they won’t survive, but 

that is not the way things are done. Six 

and a half hours after arriving at hospital 

I gave birth to our two little girls. So tiny, 

so perfect and so beautiful. As I held one 

of my babies in my arms, her tiny hand 

wrapped around my finger. I touched her 

skin and kissed and kissed and kissed her, 

telling her how sorry I was. This was all 

my fault. I looked over at my husband 

holding our second baby, he was crying so 

hard, it was the saddest moment of my life. 

My body had betrayed me, betrayed Dale, 

betrayed our babies and as a result we 

would never get the chance to know them. 

We would never hear them laugh or cry. 

We wouldn’t be able to watch them grow 

into little girls, or become young ladies or 

even hear them call us Mummy or Daddy. 

In that moment, all that we had struggled 

for had been ripped away. A little piece of 

us died that day along with our babies. We 

held them for a long time before we finally 

handed them over to the midwife for the 

last time. We named them Tia and Kirra. 

» Little Blessings 

We were emotionally shattered after the 

loss of our girls and found it difficult to 

think beyond that horrendous night, but 

we had to remain strong for each other 

and focus on the future. I yearned to be 

pregnant again. My body yearned for it and 

my heart yearned for it. Two months later I 

was back at my fertility clinic to try again 

using frozen embryos from the same ‘batch’ 

as the twins. We couldn’t believe it when 

one month later we got the call from my 

clinic that my pregnancy test was positive! 

It was the longest nine months of my life. 

I couldn’t relax until I was able to hold that 

baby in my arms and I did just that nine 

months later when I gave birth to my first 

son, Taj. Four IVF cycles and 3 and a half 

years later, I gave birth to my second child, 

another beautiful little boy named Kai. 

Dale and I both learnt so much about 

ourselves and the type of people we really 

are. We grew as individuals and as a couple. 

We forged some great friendships along the 

way and allowed the people that we cared 

most about become part of our journey. I have 

gained so much from my quest to start a 

family. Even though we experienced immense 

heartache along the way, I look back at the 

journey as the most wonderful thing that 

ever happened to me. I guess I am a ‘glass half 

full’ type of person and having that attitude 

got me through the toughest nine years 

of my life. I now spend my time with my 

amazing boys and remind myself everyday 

that I am so blessed to have them in my life. 

For more information on Jenni's path to 

parenthood or to purchase a copy of her 

book, please visit myivfblessings.com 

through the toughest nine years of my life. ” 49 

APRIL - MAY 2013 | WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM |


N O T F O R G O T T E N 

© Neanderthal Museum/H. Neumann 

“I CAN CREATE 

NEANDERTHAL 

BABY, I JUST NEED 

WILLING WOMAN” 

GEORGE CHURCH, A GENETICS PROFESSOR FROM HARVARD SCHOOL 

of Medicine in the US, has stated that it is possible to clone a 

Neanderthal baby from ancient DNA if he is able to find a willing 

surrogate, claiming that he could introduce parts of the 

Neanderthal genome to human stem cells and replicate them to 

create a foetus that could then be implanted into a woman. 

Speaking to the German news magazine, Der Spiegel, Prof. 

Church said “I have already managed to extract enough DNA 

from fossil bones to reconstruct the DNA of the human species 

largely extinct. Now all I need is an adventurous female human.” 

Prof Church helped start the Human Genome Project in 2003 

that has helped map human DNA and is very well respected in 

this field however this process is not legal in many countries 

and his comments will no doubt surprise many geneticists who 

believe that cloning humans should not be allowed. 

What are your thoughts? Why not drop us a line on twitter 

@fertilityroad. For more information on Neanderthal man please 

visit the Neanderthal Museum website www.neanderthal.de 

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publication does not necessarily represent policies or recommendations of Mack Media Group. This publication is not intended to be exhaustive. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, 

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Chromosome 

screening 

Screening for aneuploidy in an IVF cycle 

Screening for aneuploidy before embryo transfer 

in IVF optimises the likelihood that embryos 

with no identifiable genetic abnormalities are 

transferred. This aims to improve the chance of 

having a healthy baby, and a successful IVF cycle. 

www.chromosome-screening.org 

Why are chromosomes important? 

Many IVF cycles can result in disappointment as embryos fail to implant. This may be explained 

by having an incorrect amount of genetic material (known as chromosomes) in embryos being 

transferred. Missing or extra chromosomes in embryos is called aneuploidy. Whilst some 

aneuploid embryos can lead to the birth of a baby the majority of pregnancies with aneuploid 

embryos result in miscarriages. With advancing age a woman’s risk of aneuploidy increases. 

Clinicians believe this is the main reason why birth rates fall for women in their late thirties and 

early forties. 

Because we believe chromosomes are important in fertility we have created an educational 

website designed as a resource for individuals who want to find out more about chromosome 

screening. For further information go to www.chromosome-screening.org 

website is sponsored by BlueGnome Ltd

Proxeed ® Plus for normal sperm 

development, fertility and reproduction 

Proxeed Plus ® is a food supplement containing a specially formulated blend of L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine, 

vitamins, minerals including zinc and selenium, all balanced to help support a normal sperm development and 

meet men’s nutritional requirements. 

sigma-tau HealthScience, the makers of Proxeed ® Plus, is the specialist division of a leading international 

pharmaceutical company. For over 50 years sigma-tau has dedicated it’s research to understanding the role 

of human metabolism in maintaining health. 

Come & visit us in July 2013 at the ESHRE Congress in London at stand A18 

www.proxeedplus.co.uk 

PXD.UK.03.13.001

Fertility Road Issue 14

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