Fertility Road Issue 05

EUROPE'S NO.1 FERTILITY MAGAZINE 

ISSUE 05 | MARCH / APRIL 2011 £3.95/€4.95 

YOUR PATH TO PARENTHOOD 

CELEB 

NEWS 

FERTILITY NEWS 

AMONGST THE 

FLASHBULBS 

WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM 

THE CAPE OF 

GOOD HOPE 

The lowdown 

on surrogacy 

in South Africa 

Sarah Jessica Parker 

Surrogacy 

and the City 

ISSUE 05 


OVARIAN TISSUE FREEZING ZITA WEST Q&A ROMANTIC GETAWAYS

FERTILITY ROAD 

CONTENTS 

In this issue... 

15 

26 

46 

Sarah Jessica Parker photography © Zuma/eyevine 

52 

15 READY TO ROMANCE 

We have reviewed 3 great romantic getaways, with a chance 

to win 2 Eurostar tickets to Paris to help you on your way! 

22 OVARIAN TISSUE FREEZING 

Joanne Gardner and her twin sister are the only two people 

in the UK to have undergone Ovarian Tissue freezing. 

Experiencing the highs and lows, Jo tells us her story. 

26 SARAH JESSICA PARKER 

The Sex and the City star takes time out to reflect on mother 

hood, her struggles, and finding her ultimate happiness. 

30 THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE 

The Surrogate Agreement – Jennie Currie explains the 

process, programs and laws behind surrogacy in South Africa. 

37 EXPERT WITNESS: ZITA WEST 

The UK’s leading fertility expert and Fertility Road 

regular is back to answer your questions. 

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: 

CELEBRITY WORLD: 

Fertility news amongst the flashbulbs 

SAME SEX: 

Cynthia Nixon and her partner Christine Marinoni 

celebrate the birth of her son, Max Ellington 

NUTRITION: 

Cooking to Conceive with Colette Bouchez & Dr. Niels Lauersen 

FERTILITY ROAD SCIENCE: 

Ovarian Tissue Freezing, B-Daddy 

www.fertilityroad.com 

03

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CONTRIBUTORS 

Introducing the Fertility Road panel of journalists and experts… 


ISSUE 05 MARCH / APRIL 2011 




CELEB 

NEWS 


AMONGST THE 

FLASHBULBS 


Surrogacy 

and the City 

OVARIAN TISSUE FREEZING ZITA WEST Q&A ROMANTIC GETAWAYS 

ISSUE 05 – MARCH / APRIL 2011 

Group Publisher: 

Jeff Crockett 

Managing Editor: 

Giorgio Severi 

Business Advisor: 

Alessandro Severi 

Contributors: 

Colette Bouchez, Jenny Currie, Dr. Michael 

Dooley, Joanne Gardner, Sophy Grimshaw, 

Dr. Niels Lauersen, Karen Thayer, 

Dr. Sherman Silber, Zita West. 

Art Editor: 

Damian Browning 

Interim Sales Manager: 

Ms. J Watson 

European Sales: 

Susan Calatayud, Pier Minole 

Public Relations: 

Edith Collins 

Legal Advisor: 

W Burson & Co. 

Client Liason Officer: 

Debbie Hanson 

Printed by: 

Buxton Press 

Advertising Enquiries: 

sales@fertilityroad.com 

Contact details: 

Fertility Road Magazine 

Suite 318, Building 50, 

Argyll Road, London SE18 6PP 

Tel: 020 8316 8923 

Email: info@fertilityroad.com 



THE CAPE OF 

GOOD HOPE 

The lowdown 

on surrogacy 


Follow us on Twitter 

www.twitter.com/fertilityroad 

Welcome to the latest copy of Fertility Road. 

In this issue we have an exclusive interview with 

Sarah Jessica Parker and her chance for surrogacy. 

We've great ideas for that romantic getaway, a chat 

with Tony Reid, the creator of Fertility Friends – the 

biggest online fertility forum, plus news and reviews. 

Also, we have one woman's story on preserving her fertility with 

Ovarian Tissue Freezing, Cooking to Conceive and the lowdown on 

surrogacy in South Africa. There are some great prizes to be won in 

this issue, simply drop us an email with your details, and you could 

be the lucky winner of two tickets on the Eurostar to Paris. 

p.s. Make sure to put a note in your diary for the 15th and 16th April 

as the Fertility World Show comes to London's Olympia. With Doctors, 

fertility experts and a great line up of renowned speakers including 

Zita West and Professor William Ledger. So if you have any questions 

you want answering pop on down – we would love to see you there! 

Until then, kick back, relax and enjoy our magazine... Giorgio 

OUR FERTILITY EXPERT... 

Zita West is a renowned expert in her field, having successfully assisted 

thousands of couples through the trials and challenges of conception. 

Zita writes exclusively for Fertility Road, answering an array of reader 

questions and concerns, imparting the kind of knowledge that sees her 

regarded as the UK’s leading light in pregnancy and fertility. 

OUR SURROGACY EXPERT... 

Jenny Currie is the founder and owner of a dynamic egg donor agency, 

baby2mom, in South Africa. The 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. 

OUR WRITERS... 

Sophy Grimshaw is an entertainment, lifestyle and travel journalist based in 

London. She edits Hotline magazine for Virgin and is a freelance writer. Her 

interviewees have included Duran Duran, Mark Ronson, Rufus Wainwright, Kim 

Cattral, Jamie Oliver... and everyone from Peter Andre to Peter Tatchell. 

Dr. Michael Dooley is an NHS Consultant Gynaecologist. Previously he gained 

clinical and research experience working in London, Oxford and Southern Ireland 

and is currently the Director of the Poundbury Clinic in Dorchester which focuses 

on providing a pioneering integrated approach to women's health. 

Joanne Gardner has been a travel journalist and editor for over five years, writing 

features, news and analysis for a range of publications including consumer, 

trade and US Today. She has also undergone an amazing journey due to an 

early menopause and having to battle with infertility for several years. 

Dr. Sherman Silber M.D is a renowned pioneer in microsurgery and infertility and 

is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on fertility treatments. He is 

the author of three medical textbooks, five best-selling books, and has published 

more than 200 scientific papers on human infertility and reproduction. 


05


NEWS 

The latest developments from the fertility world 

BabyBoom? 

Tesco reports huge surge 

in pregnancy test kits 

Traditionally a baby boom tends to signify good times, stability 

and economic growth. But Tesco have announced that 2011 may 

be the first year to break this tradition. We may be in the middle 

of the worst ever recession that most of us can even remember, 

but a massive surge in pregnancy tests shows that there could 

be a baby boom heading our way. 

In the last two years demand for testing kits all over the UK 

has risen by a staggering 30% with approximately 3.5 million 

sold in 2010 alone according to the latest IRI data. At Tesco, 

which accounts for nearly a third of all of the UK’s pregnancy 

testing kit sold, the demand has continued into 2011. The rise 

in pregnancy tests has, however, been mirrored by a drop in 

demand for condoms. Experts believe the birth rate rises during 

tough economic times as couples stay indoors to save cash. 

ARE 

PESTICIDES 

WRECKING 

MEN’S 

FERTILITY? 

The difficulty of IVF or of any fertility 

issues is the hope and the shattered hope, 

the dream that it might happen this time 

and then it doesn’t happen. – Brooke Shields 

Recent studies have revealed that 

pesticides found on common fruit 

and vegetables could be causing 

untold damage to a man’s fertility, 

leaving him with low sperm count and 

poor sperm motility. 30 chemicals 

used in pesticides were found to 

interfere with the development of 

testosterone, the male sex hormone, 

vital for a healthy male reproductive 

system. Though the tests were done 

on cells in a lab, scientists behind the 

work say they cannot be sure that 

humans would be similarly affected. 

Pesticides have also been blamed 

for a host of ills from incurable brain 

conditions such as Parkinson’s 

disease to stunting the intelligence 

of the unborn child. 

Size DOES matter - at least 

when it comes to fertility! 

We’ve all heard the old saying – well there might be some truth in it after all! The 

area in question is a measurement between the anus and the scrotum, known 

as the anogenital distance, or AGD. A study printed in the journal Environmental 

Health Perspectives explains that the shorter the AGD, the more likely a man is 

to have low sperm count. Men who’s AGD is shorter than the average length, 

around two inches, have seven times the chance of being sub-fertile as those 

who have a longer AGD. ‘Sub-fertile’ means that a man has a sperm count of less 

than 20 million per millilitre. Research has shown that men in this category have 

about half the chance of conceiving as do men with normal sperm counts. 

Their studies did not explain what might cause certain men to have short 

AGD measurements, but from previous studies, possible links have been made 

to mothers who were exposed to certain chemicals during pregnancy. 

06 fertility road | march - april


NEWS 

The latest developments from the fertility world 

Health authorities warned 

not to cut IVF treatment 

At a time when Infertility costs are being cut by the NHS, a minister has insisted 

that infertility treatments must continue. Anne Milton, the Public Health Minister, 

said that all health authorities should still be able to provide IVF treatment for 

couples who are desperate to start a family, adding that without such treatments 

available, the inability to have a child could lead to mental health problems such 

as depression in childless couples. 

Mrs Milton, who has worked in the NHS for 25 years, was addressing the first 

meeting of the new All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infertility amid growing 

fears that access to IVF is being restricted across the country. Campaigners fear 

that increasing numbers of managers are lumping infertility treatment along 

with hair transplants and weight-loss operations as non-essential procedures 

that can be rationed in order to cut costs. At least 10 Primary Care Trusts in 

England have already suspended funding for infertility services until the end of 

the current financial year as part of cost-cutting measures. 

WOMAN 

GIVES BIRTH 

TO HER OWN 

GRANDSON 

A mother’s love hath no bounds. For Kristine Casey, 61, it meant 

giving the gift of motherhood to her infertile daughter by giving 

birth to Finnean, her own grandson in a Chicago Hospital. Her 

daughter is reported to have said “The idea of having a family 

member being open to doing this for us was so extraordinary” 

NEW RESEARCH SHOWS LIFE FERTILITY 

PROGRAMME DELIVERS ON EVERY LEVEL 

94% of clients agreed that pregnancy care charity, LIFE’s 

FertilityCare Programme (LFC) offers excellent levels of customer 

service. With a success rate equal to that of IVF but offering an 

altogether different experience, it places the couples relationship 

at the heart of treatment and often brings couples closer together. 

The audit of over 50 couples’ experiences on the programme, 

achieved some extraordinary results, most notably a satisfaction 

level of 99.5% for LFC clinic staff, 94% satisfaction level for their 

overall experience, 98% for waiting periods and 99% for clinic 

premises. The overwhelming majority (48 out of 51 couples) also 

said that information about LFC should be available at GP practices. 

‘The effects of infertility on a couple’s relationship can be 

devastating,’ says Ira Winter, the programme’s National Coordinator. 

‘Starting a family is something couples can take for granted, 

so the emotions they experience when problems arise can be 

a shock. 

“Of course, we can’t spare couples the underlying stress of 

infertility, but the treatment process allows more time for managing 

this. Even if the programme is not successful in overcoming the 

fertility problem, couples usually leave with answers as to the why 

they weren’t conceiving and this helps them to move on. 

www.lifefertilitycare.co.uk 

© iStockphoto.com / Jani Bryson 


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A unique product, B-Daddy ® contains Q10 and SelenoPrecise; 

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FERTILITY FINDS 

The latest gadgets, gismos, applications and supplements… 

B-Daddy - Pharma Nord 

B-Daddy is a combination nutritional supplement formulated 

to improve the likelihood of couples conceiving. It contains 

the essential trace element selenium, which has recently 

been recognised by the European Food Safety Agency as 

being important for maintaining normal sperm production, 

and coenzyme Q10, a vitamin-like substance, which has also 

been shown to improve sperm motility. 

B-Daddy will be officially launched at The Fertility World 

Show on 15 & 16 April at London’s Olympia. So whether 

you’re just starting out on the road to getting pregnant or 

have been trying to conceive for some time, you must visit 

the Fertility World Show and head to the B-Daddy stand 

(84) for special offers and information. 

For more information call FREE on 0800 591 756 or visit www.B-Daddy.org 

PRODUCT 

OF THE 

MONTH 

OvuView Android App 

- Sleekbit 

Deluxe Conception Kit 

- CycleBeads ® 

The Deluxe CycleBeads Conception Kit 

is designed to assist a woman in her first 

steps towards trying to conceive. The kit 

helps achieve a healthy, stress-free and 

quicker pregnancy. It also helps a woman 

determine if she is having trouble getting pregnant and track key information to 

share with her doctor. The kit includes a set of Deluxe CycleBeads® – a highly effective 

visual tool for tracking a woman’s cycle and identifying the fertile days. Deluxe 

CycleBeads are made of cat’s-eye stone, and come in three colours – aqua, mauve, and 

copper, also inluded is a fertility journal for tracking information, a two-month supply 

of folic acid for a healthy pregnancy, and a lavender-scented soy candle for relaxation. 

OvuView is the latest android app to 

be released by Sleekbit. It tracks and 

predicts your period, ovulation and 

fertility, using sophisticated symptothermal 

methods. This app can be used 

as an advanced birth control tool, or as 

a simple menstruation calendar. It also 

helps to avoid pregnancy using natural 

contraceptive methods. OvuView is free 

to download on any android phone, 

with big updates promised in the future. 

www.androidfreeware.net 

The Deluxe CycleBeads Conception Kit – $49.95 from www.CycleBeads.com 

WIN! 

We have three Deluxe Cyclebeads Conception Kits 

to give away to our lucky readers. To enter, simply 

email us your name, contact number and where 

your saw us to competitions@fertilityroad.com 

Entry closes on 20 May 2011. 



NEWS 

DOES 

STRESS 

AFFECT 

YOUR 

FERTILITY? 

Stress has often been linked to infertility for many 

years, but according to a recent research undergone 

at Cardiff University, it has been revealed that 

women who are trying to conceive via IVF or other 

assisted conception techniques do not reduce their chances if 

they are emotionally stressed out. 

The University conducted a large-scale review known as 

a meta-analysis, where the researchers looked at data from 

14 studies involving over three and half thousand infertile 

women from the United States, Australia, Britain, Belgium, 

Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Turkey, who were undergoing 

fertility treatments. 

All the women involved were assessed for stress and 

anxiety before their treatment started, and the research 

team, headed by professor Jacky Bovin, compared data for 

women who achieved pregnancy to those who do not. The 

women’s average age ranged roughly from 30 to 37 years 

old, and had been infertile for a range of 2.6 to 7.8 years. 

“Our results showed that emotional distress was not 

connected with whether or not a woman became pregnant” 

“We are not saying stress never has an effect on fertility 

treatment” Jacky tells WebMD. What she speculates might 

happen in stressed-out women undergoing fertility treatments 

is that the mechanism of suppression somehow turns itself off. 

“These findings should reassure women that emotional 

distress caused by fertility problems or other life events cooccurring 

with treatment will not compromise their chance 

of becoming pregnant” reported Professor Bovin. 

However, the studies that were included in the research 

did not explain how women were selected to participate, and 

therefore did not provide very clear information whether the 

population in these studies was a true representation of 

women receiving fertility treatment as a whole.

IVF new jersey FertIlIty center 

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We offer a full range of 

fertility treatments including: 

Egg Donation 

Gestational Carrier 

In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) 

Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) 

Egg Freezing 

The doctors and staff at IVF New Jersey welcome patients into 

a comfortable environment while providing personal treatment 

in our state of the art facility. We have been helping the same 

sex community build families for over 20 years. 

866-447-6411 

WWW.IVFNJ.com

FERTILITY ROAD | DuoFertility 

week’s advance notice of fertile days, giving 

plenty of time to arrange to be together. And you 

get the reassurance of seeing when you ovulate, 

so you know you are fertile. DuoFertility is so 

accurate and so sensitive it can even be used 

with great success by women with irregular 

cycles and hormone imbalance, even PCOS. 

If the DuoFertility Reader is plugged into 

your computer, the data is downloaded to 

DuoFertility’s Fertility Centre in Cambridge 

and analysed by fertility experts. If anything is 

wrong with your fertility, they can suggest 

appropriate next steps. Just as importantly, 

they’ll provide invaluable reassurance when all 

is well. Every user receives individual pro-active 

help and support from a highly-qualified fertility 

consultant who also acts as a fertility coach. 

Natural conception 

can be as effective as 

IVF, so don’t give up! 

As effective as IVF 

– at a fraction of the cost 

A comparison between pregnancy rates 

achieved with DuoFertility and those achieved 

with IVF has been presented at several major 

global fertility conferences. Six months’ use of 

DuoFertility produced results that were just as 

good as a cycle of IVF. Pregnancy rates in older 

women (37 years plus) and couples with ary infertility were particularly 

secondencouraging. 

You already know what it’s like to face significant fertility 

challenges. Your belief in a natural pregnancy may be 

faltering as you consider medical procedures such as 

IVF. Yet a recent clinical study showed that half the 

couples facing IVF could actually be helped to conceive naturally, 

with the same effectiveness as a cycle of IVF. Want to know more? 

Then please read on about the amazing successes that couples like 

you are achieving with an astonishing new fertility programme 

developed by scientists from Cambridge University. 

Their breakthrough uses new technology to automatically 

detect the physiological parameters that indicate ovulation. This 

makes it possible to accurately predict and confirm ovulation 

with no inconvenient measuring. It enables couples to understand 

their fertility with absolute confidence – and identify exactly 

when they are most likely to conceive. The name of this amazing 

UK invention is DuoFertility – and the potential it has to allow 

millions of couples to achieve a natural pregnancy has since 

made headlines around the world. 

A new level of reassurance – and convenience 

The heart of DuoFertility is a tiny sensor, worn as a patch under the 

arm. This takes thousands of readings every day. Every few days, 

perhaps just twice a week, all DuoFertility users have to do is 

download that data from the sensor to their hand-held DuoFertility 

Reader at the touch of a button. The DuoFertility Reader will show 

any fertile days in the week ahead. But if the Reader is now plugged 

into your computer, your complete fertility history is revealed. 

DuoFertility offers two major advantages over alternative systems 

that rely on measuring hormones in urine. You get up to a full 

Pregnant in 12 months - or your money back 

If you purchase DuoFertility for just £495, you have the same 

chance of getting pregnant offered by a cycle of IVF, you’ll enjoy 12 

months of expert support, have a complete fertility history – and if 

you don’t get pregnant after all this, you can get your money back!* 

Is DuoFertility right for you? 

DuoFertility is proving highly successful in unexplained infertility, 

PCOS, one blocked fallopian tube and in older women (aged 40+). 

It is also a highly successful adjunct to ovarian drilling and fertility 

drugs such as clomid – and in couples who have been through, 

are waiting for, or are between cycles of IVF. If you are not ovulating, 

if both your fallopian tubes are blocked or if your partner has an 

exceptionally low sperm count (

FEATURE | romatic getaways 

WORDS | JEFF CROCKETT 

READY TO 

ROMANCE 

We’ve chosen 3 romantic getaways 

to help you conceive by saying 

goodbye to your everyday stress 

and hello to being pampered, 

relaxed and ready to romance. 

Stratford-upon-Avon 

Stratford?? OK, so maybe this is not the first destination you 

think of for a romantic getaway, but the birthplace of William 

Shakespeare has plenty to offer. The feeling of love is in the air 

in the quaint village from the local tea shop Bensons that sells 

Love Potion no.9 Tea to the many romantic village walks and tours 

available. Most remarkable is your choice of hotel and Menzies 

Welcome Hotel is a choice that you won’t regret, especially if you 

stay in one of their new Spa Apartments. 

Just adjacent to the Spa Apartment is the Menzies Welcombe 

Spa, a beautiful oasis of peace and tranquillity in the rural heart 

of Warwickshire. Try the Finnish Sauna, Thermal Rooms, and 

Vitality Pool or treat yourself to The Quick Fix for £70, an ideal 

half-day Spa Day which includes a 30 minute stress relieving 

massage or relaxing facial. 

The Spa Apartments and Luxury Spa are a beautiful recent 

addition to the Manor House that was rebuilt in 1815, this house 

has had an interesting list of previous owners, including the likes 

of Sir Coombe Wagstaff, Sir George Otto Trevelyan and even 

Shakespeare himself. 

“The Romeo” Spa Apartment includes 2 upstairs bedrooms, a 

spacious living room and a beautiful kitchen that will inspires 

you to cook that special romantic meal. If cooking is not your 

thing you you can dine in the ornate, award-winning restaurant 

complemented by outstanding views over the beautiful Italian 

gardens and water features. 

Learn More: www.menzieshotels.co.uk / +44 (0) 1789 295252 

» 


15

We have over 1,700 Egg Donors and 

caring Surrogates across the United 

States and Canada available now. 

200 of our Egg Donors are repeat Donors. 

We do not charge a fee to view our 

Donor/Surrogate database. 

Because a high percentage of our clients are 

from foreign countries we have options for 

insurance offered through a reputable company. 

We do not collect any money until your Donor 

or Surrogate passes her medical screening. 

We work with all types of Intended 

Parents – Married, Single, Straight or Gay. 

We work closely with the finest IVF 

Centers all over the United States. 

We offer the Lowest Cost International 

Surrogacy Packages in the U.S. and Canada. 

1225 San Elijo Road, San Marcos, CA 92078 (760) 798-2265 

www.extraconceptions.com


Tuscany 

If passion & romance served with rustic food and fresh air 

sounds romantic, the Poudbury Clinic offers Fertility Retreats, 

which just may be the weekend away for you. Consultant 

Gynaecologist Michael Dooley has successfully treated hundreds 

of couples under his Fit for Fertility programme in London 

and Dorset. Time and time again, he has seen how fertility rates 

are significantly improved by changes in lifestyle, diet, attitude, 

exercise, stress management, and education. 

The idea for Fertility Retreats was a natural next step, offering 

couples or individuals the chance to get away from the stresses of 

everyday life, relax and become mentally and physically receptive 

to ways of improving fertility. 

Set in tranquil rural Tuscany over 3 nights, these retreats allow 

plenty of time to relax and eat well in beautiful surroundings, 

alongside a wide range discussions and private consultations. 

The Fertility Retreats are held from Thursday to Sunday at the 

Tuscan country resort of Monsignor Della Casa, set in stunning 

grounds with private pools and a luxurious spa. 

Learn More: www.fertilityretreats.co.uk / +44 (0) 1305 262626 » 


17

Fertility Plus offers a bespoke complete fertility service in the heart 

of London. We are ethical and unique as we offer a fixed price 

package for a full range of infertility investigations and fertility 

treatments to couples, same sex-couples and single women. 

We offer the following 

fertility treatments: 

ovulation induction 

intra-uterine insemination (IUI) 

using partner’s sperm 

intra-uterine insemination (IUI) 

using sperm donor 

in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) 

intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) 

sperm freezing 

surgical sperm recovery 

egg freezing 

egg donation 

surrogacy 

embryo donation 

for detailed information please visit our website 

www.fertilityplus.org.uk


Paris 

Paris is probably best known as the “City of Love”, from classic french 

bistros to the romantic riverside walks, Paris oozes romance. Best of all 

it’s an short trip on the Eurostar as it takes just over two hours. 

We recommend, for that special weekend away, to try the Hotel 

Pont Royal, located in the heart of the left bank of Paris in the famous 

Saint-Germain-des-Près district. 

Built as a home in 1750, this house greeted many famous writers, 

including François René De Chateaubriand, considered as the founder 

of Romanticism in French literature. 

Since 1923, the Hotel Pont Royal has combined charm and elegance 

to create a romantically inviting environment. The restaurant, developed 

by the famous chef Joël Robuchon is where you will enjoy refined 

cuisine in an original and modern setting. In the last century, the hotel 

was a hub for French and international literature, and has hosted Camus 

and Boris Vian, and painters like Miro, Chagall and Buffet. 

Located nearby are the Musée d’Orsay, the Louvre and the Champs 

Elysees where you can visit the exclusive boutiques, share a romantic meal 

up the Eiffel Tower or sample some truffles at La Maison du Chocolat. 

Whatever you decide to do, Paris will get you in the mood! 

Learn More: www.hotel-pont-royal.com / +33 1 42 84 70 00 

WIN! 

Thanks to eurostar, one lucky reader can win a pair of tickets to Paris!! 

To enter, please send contact details with ‘eurostar’ in the subject line 

to competitions@fertilityroad.com – Entry closes on 20 May 2011. 


19


CELEB NEWS 

Fertility news amongst the flashbulbs 

WORDS | SOPHY GRIMSHAW 

A-LIST 

FAMILY 

MATTERS 

Kylie recently spoke in an interview 

about her hopes of starting a family with 

her model boyfriend, Andres Velencoso. 

From the time she ‘married’ Jason 

Donovan on screen in an episode 

of Neighbours 23 years ago, Kylie’s 

lovelife has been the subject of 

keen interest and speculation. In recent 

years there have been unconfirmed rumours 

that she may have unsuccessfully attempted 

IVF, and in a new interview for Australian 

television she has talked about her hopes of 

starting a family with her model boyfriend, 

Spaniard Andres Velencoso. “He’s a natural 

with children,” she told friend and interviewer 

Molly Meldrum. “I always said, from 

ages ago, I imagine myself having children… 

Now we’ll just have to see. I’m not sure 

if that’s part of my future. But hey, there’s 

more than one way to skin a cat and I think 

it’s important for women to know that 

there are options available. Whatever means 

you use to have a family, if that’s your 

desire, then go for it.” 

Meanwhile, fellow Australian Nicole 

Kidman has been seen out and about with 

her new daughter, Faith Margaret, for the 

The musicians “darling daughter” Viva 

Katherine will be raised with the support 

of Wainwright’s partner, Jorn Weisbrodt. 

first time since welcoming the little girl via 

a surrogate (but from her own egg) on 28 

December last year. The actress, who is 

famously fond of keeping her personal life 

as private as possible, is so happy that she 

has also begun to open up to the press 

about how much the new arrival means to 

her and husband Keith Urban. 

Kidman, who hadn’t announced the 

pregnancy until after Faith was born, has 

gone on the record to say that Faith’s arrival 

has been “beyond thrilling” and that the 

struggle of trying to conceive her against all 

odds was “a rollercoaster ride”. Her new 

daughter’s first name felt appropriate, says 

Kidman, because: “We needed to have that 

through the whole pregnancy, that’s what 

it required: a lot of faith.” And her middle 

name was just as carefully chosen. “Margaret 

is my grandmother’s name. She had her last 

baby at 49, so she’s my inspiration.” Faith is 

a sibling to older sister Sunday Rose, Nicole’s 

biological child with husband Keith Urban, 

and Connor and Isabella, her adopted children 

with ex-husband Tom Cruise. 

Also busy with a new arrival is musician 

Rufus Wainwright, who is caring for his 

“darling daughter” Viva Katherine Wainwright 


Cohen, born in February. The child will be 

raised with the support of Wainwright’s 

partner of five years, Jorn Weisbrodt. Little 

Viva has an enviable gene pool: she’s music 

royalty two-times over. The baby’s mother 

is Lorca Cohen, daughter of legendary 

folk singer Leonard Cohen. And as Rufus’ 

daughter, Viva is the newest member of the 

Wainwright musical dynasty. Rufus’ father 

Loudon Wainwright III, and sisters Martha 

Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright-Roche 

are all singer-songwriters, as was his late 

mother, the Canadian folk star Kate 

McGarrigle. His daughter’s middle name, 

Katherine, is a tribute to her. 

On his official website, Rufus announced: 

“The little angel is evidently healthy, presumably 

happy and certainly very, very 

beautiful.” He also has a new nickname for 

boyfriend Jorn these days: “Deputy Dad”. 

Rufus is referring to himself as “Dad 

number 1”. Explaining that baby Viva will 

benefit from having three loving parents, 

Rufus later posted on his site: “In many of 

the articles announcing the birth of Viva 

Katherine Wainwright Cohen, Lorca Cohen 

is characterized as “the surrogate”. Of 

course, she is no such thing. She did not 

carry the child for someone else.” 

Speaking of gay dads, Elton John and 

partner David Furnish have already introduced 

their baby son Zachary (born on 

Christmas Day 2010 via a surrogate, as 

reported in Fertility Road) to the showbiz 

lifestyle. Zachary accompanied the couple 

to Furnish’s hometown of Toronto in March, 

where Billy Elliot, the musical for which 

John wrote the music, was opening in 

Amanda Holden 

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have 

recently welcomed Faith Margaret 

to the family via surrogate. 

Everyone I know seems to know 

someone who’s had IVF and got pregnant 

at 47, 48, 49... so I’m hopeful. I could never 

even have attempted five years ago 

because of my weight. - Tina Malone 

Canada for the first time. On Canadian TV, 

Elton let slip that the couple have been 

invited to the wedding of Prince William 

and Kate Middleton in Westminster Abbey, 

where he famously sang at the funeral of 

Princess Diana. We imagine they will be 

leaving baby Zachary safely at home with 

the nanny for that trip. 

Meanwhile actress Amanda Holden is 

returning to work and trying to move 

forward as best she can after the miscarriage 

that caused her to lose her baby seven 

months into her pregnancy. Holden plays 

Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical, at the 

Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London. She has 

one daughter, Lexi, who says helped her to 

find the strength go back to work: “Every 

picture she draws at the moment is me starring 

as Princess Fiona, She’s beyond excited.” 

Back in February a distraught Holden 

and her partner posted a message on her 

website to thank the public for “the thousands 

of messages of love and support during 

this horrendously dark time for us.” 

Another British actress, Shameless star 

Tina Malone has revealed that she is hoping 

to have IVF. She told Closer magazine 

that the motivation behind her dramatic 

weight loss of recent years wasn’t just to look 

better and be healthier, but also because 

she has hopes of falling pregnant. Having 

realised she was too seriously obese to even 

attempt IVF, Malone took charge of her 

health and lost ten stone over two years. She 

explains: “Everyone I know seems to know 

someone who’s had IVF and got pregnant 

at 47, 48, 49... so I’m hopeful. This is something 

I could never even have attempted five 

years ago because of my weight.” But the 

Celebrity Big Brother alumni accepts that 

nothing is certain when it comes to fertility 

treatment: “If it doesn’t happen, then so be it.” 

Finally: America’s lifetstyle guru Martha 

Stewart, who seems to have put her spell in 

jail firmly behind her, has become a grandmother 

for the first time. Martha’s daughter 

Alexis Stewart, 45, has welcomed a baby 

daughter with the help of a surrogate. 


21

FEATURE | ovarian tissue freezing 

GATEWAY TO 

PARENTHOOD 

America is leaps and bounds ahead of the UK when it comes to fertility 

treatment, particularly in the field of Ovarian Tissue Freezing. Jo Gardner 

and her twin sister Sarah are the only UK citizens to have undergone the 

procedure. Jo tells their story of her visit to the Gateway City – St.Louis. 

Nothing prepares a woman for the news that conceiving 

will be a challenge, but when you’re informed IVF 

isn’t plausible either, a sense of helplessness just 

adds to the hurt and confusion. 

That’s what happened to my twin sister when she got blood test 

results back from a relatively new test examining egg reserves. 

At the time Sarah was 34, but her fertility – the piece of paper 

concluded - was that of a 42-year old. We always knew mum had 

a long and traumatic menopause that started in her mid 40’s but 

neither of us realised it was genetic, or that we would suffer the 

same. If I’d have known sooner, would I have had children earlier in 

my life? Who knows, but having a choice is always preferable to not. 

With Sarah’s hormone levels through the roof, egg freezing and 

IVF were peddled as option without much chance of success. She 

was devastated. 

The Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) test bought form the 

states is now available in the UK, albeit privately. It took two 

years to get here, proving just how far behind we are when it 

comes to advancement in fertility treatment. 

Armed with this knowledge - and with an intrigue in DNA and 

genetics stemming from her job as a forensic scientist - Sarah started 

trawling the internet for the next step in US fertility treatment. My 

head, meanwhile, was firmly stuck in denial. 

When she stumbled upon Dr Sherman Silber at St. Louis Hospital, 

Sarah realised she’d struck gold. A pioneer in the fertility field, 

Dr Silber had a waiting list as long as his list of credentials, 

appearing on everything from Oprah to Joan Rivers with each 

ground-breaking milestone. It was certainly an impressive career, 

but could he help us? And if so, how? 

It was a start but there so was much to think about: we were 

both single, working women on average salaries, how much 

would treatment cost? How many times would we have to go to 

America? And would it be as painful as it would doubtless be 

emotionally draining? 

Not willing to give up, Sarah dropped Dr Silber an email explaining 

her situation. And waited. His reply came a few days later, filled 

with questions about how she’d heard of him and voicing empathy 

for her condition. He cleared his busy diary; she booked a flight. 

Finally onboard but not yet willing to go abroad for treatment, 

I tried two rounds of egg freezing – the first one resulting in just 

one egg, the second time yielding none at all, despite retrieving 

two. My heart broke. In January 2009, I agreed to undergo Ovarian 

Tissue Freezing too if Sarah’s initial trip proved successful. 

The science 

Ovarian Tissue Freezing (OTF) is a brand new procedure where a 

slither of tissue is taken from an ovary and frozen - to be reattached 

to the remaining ovary when the woman is ready to conceive. 

Dr Silber originally came up with the concept to help women 

have children after receiving treatment for cancer, ovaries failing to 

produce eggs following rounds of damaging radiation. 

Once the DNA is reattached, the remaining ovary mimics the 

age the woman was at the time the first ovary was removed, 

kick-starting it into producing eggs and taking the body further 

away from menopause. In most cases, the whole ovary is removed 

– the remaining one taking approximately a month to notice the 

absentee before doing the job of two, women continuing to have a 

period each month as usual. 


words | Jo Gardner 

St Louis bound 

St. Louis is admittedly an odd place to be holed up for three days 

on your own. Small, relatively unknown and not accessible directly 

– flights generally heading via Dallas – getting there takes a 

whole day. The town has a few shops conveniently laid out in a 

grid format, and bars and restaurants (the town hanging onto its 

blues roots with blues bars aplenty), but there’s not much else. 

And Sarah didn’t know a sole. 

Dr Silber’s assistant gave her a warm welcome – equally impressed 

as Dr Silber himself that she would come all the way from London 

to see him. Sat in a waiting room with hundreds of strangers all 

waiting for initial consultations, I’m sure she felt the same. While 

reading a wall filled with newspaper articles of happy parents all 

owing a debt of gratitude to Dr Silber. Sarah was called in. 

First step: an ultrasound to see how many follicles were visible 

on both ovaries – Dr Silber and his team believing this information 

to be more telling than an AMH test, hormones wavering too 

much to gain a sufficiently stable result. The Antral Follicle 

showed Sarah had 10 follicles, any less and the whole procedure 

would have been deemed fruitless. Back home and fully informed, 

I was ready to start my journey to Ovarian Tissue Freezing. 

Preparation 

Now a team, Sarah and I were an impenetrable force, working in 

unison to make sure we could have the operation together and 

supporting one another both emotionally and financially. No matter 

how much support you have around you, the path of infertility is a 

lonely one and I felt blessed to have someone who totally understood 

everything I was going through. Ironic really considering my 

Before the removed ovary is frozen, it’s sliced 

into approximately eight pieces, each representing 

two years of egg production. The more ‘slices’ Dr 

Silber can get from the ovary, the later a woman 

can potentially conceive, each one pulling her 

body back to the date the ovary was removed 

while simultaneous warding off the impending 

menopause. As an example, if the woman was 

34 when she had the procedure done, and eight 

slices were obtained and used, she would have a 

maximum of 16 further years in which to 

conceive once her periods had stopped, meaning she can have 

children until she’s 50. You could say the procedure stops the clock. 

Only nine woman had had the procedure done at St. Louis 

General Hospital at the time of Sarah’s visit, all those returning 

for the second-stage transfer succeeding to naturally conceive 

within two years. 

“As doctors, we have to find ways to help these women,” said 

Silber, quoting for the Daily Telegraph in November 2009. “As 

human beings we have to decide how to tackle a society that has 

forced women to delay motherhood to the point where many are 

missing out. We need to help them achieve their dream.” 

Working in the fertility field since 1974, Dr Silber’s impressive 

career includes the first successful vasectomy reversal in the 

1970s, the first testical transplant between twin brothers in 1979 

– the wife of the recipient going on to have five children – and 

the first successful Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection procedure 

(ICSI), a procedure that’s now readily available worldwide. 

It was all pioneering stuff and Sarah was suitably impressed. 

Ovarian Tissue Freezing is a brand 

new procedure where a slither of tissue 

is taken from an ovary and frozen - to be 

reattached to the remaining ovary when 

the woman is ready to conceive. 

mum’s early menopause now seems to be the reason she had twins 

in the first place – no traces of them further back in the family tree. 

With the date of May set, a busy six months ensued: booking 

time off work, buying flights, organizing somewhere to stay, 

purchasing hormones to be taken prior to the operation – some 

only available from the States – and trying to carry on with life 

as normally as possible, the date looming ever nearer. 

When the day came, we were already pumped with drugs and 

boarded a flight – a slight trepidation as to what we were about to 

do clouding any feeling of elation. Was it normal to have an ovary 

removed? Was this really the only path to being a mother? Why 

didn’t I just adopt like other infertile couples? More importantly, how 

do you get needles through customs without arousing suspicion? 

Injecting yourself is never fun and, that night, holed up in a 

Doubletree in the middle of St. Louis we took a painful shot in the 

stomach and slept, no enthusiasm for sight-seeing or chatting. 

The next day, the sun rose at the same time as my spirits, eager 

once again to get started. The next two days were a blur of » 


23

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FEATURE | ovarian tissue freezing 

CATCHING 

ON 

• The London Fertility Centre on Harley 

Street - one of the country’s best and 

most renowned fertility clinics- has been 

aware of Ovarian Tissue Freezing for 

approximately a year now, but is no 

nearer to offering the service to clients 

Science has moved forward since May 

2009 and Dr Silber is now working on a 

method using pressure to harvest eggs 

from the outer layer of the ovary. 

sitting in waiting rooms, meeting nice 

doctors, hearing how similar we looked, 

filling in forms and taking taxis to and from 

the hotel to the hospital. It wasn’t fun, but 

at least I had Sarah with me throughout. 

The operation 

The day of the operation finally came and 

the uneasiness that met our arrival into 

St. Louis again returned as I got dressed 

and ordered yet another taxi. 

Dressed in unflattering green hospital 

gowns, we were treated like royalty on 

arrival at the hospital, all the doctors and 

nurses in great spirits despite the early hour. 

Dr Silber interviewed us as another 

doctor captured the footage on video, today 

a momentus occasion for the hospital too, 

being the first UK twins to undergo this 

procedure. After quoting my name and 

date of birth what seemed like 100 times, 

I left Sarah in the waiting room and was 

wheeled into the operating theatre where 

Dr Silber got to work. 

As the left ovary had more follicles, Dr 

Silber made a cut approximately two inches 

above the pubic bone and an inch long, 

leaving, he told me before I went under, a 

slight scar that would disappear in time. 

The entire procedure took approximately 

an hour and I was brought round feeling 

extremely sick from the anesthetic. Sarah 

was suffering more from pain and was given 

small doses of morphine on request. Lying 

down in a private room, we slept. And slept. 

And slept, the nurses coming in routinely to 

check on us, never letting us feel neglected 

or imposing at any time. 

As dark started to fall, we were preparing 

to leave when a nurse asked if we would 

mind having a swab test done – Dr Silber 

convinced we were identical twins despite 

thinking for 36 years we were fraternal; 

our mum having had two afterbirths. Too 

tired to desist, we took a taxi back and 

rested for a couple of days. 

It was the evening during day two of 

recooperation when Sarah recognized the 

early telltale signs of a fever and rang the 

pager number of Dr Rosen who suggested 

we go to the Accident and Emergency room 

for monitoring. Wonderfully looked after as 

per the whole of our experience, Sarah was 

hooked up to every piece of monitoring 

equipment going while I mentally clocked 

up the cost in my head. Then Dr Rosen 

swung through the hospital doors, cutting 

short a Billy Joel concert that he and his 

wife were at for their anniversary, keen to 

check his new patient was alright. You 

wouldn’t get that kind of treatment in the 

UK, private or otherwise. 

Going forwards 

Life pretty much returned normal on landing 

back into the UK, receiving a few emails 

to check we were OK and relishing life 

without hormones or pending operations. 

• Fertility clinics in Japan, Belgium and 

Scotland are said to be near to offering 

the procedure too, but, as yet, no 

successful cases have been recorded 

• Denmark is on a par with America when 

it comes to Ovarian Tissue Freezing, 

successful cases of births following 

OTF now being recorded in the press 

• The issue of scientific advancement 

and testing isn’t the only one, some 

clinics feeling the whole process is too 

close to DNA manipulation for comfort 

and refusing to invest in it 

• The cost is another issue for most, each 

procedure costing over approximately 

£5,000. The second-stage transfer costs 

slightly less 

For more information visit 

www.infertile.com 

Science has moved forward since May 2009 

and Dr Silber is now working on a method 

using pressure to harvest eggs from the outer 

layer of the ovary – growing them in a petridish 

and giving us yet more hope for a life as 

mother (and aunt), the latter stages of IVF 

being possible through embryo transfer. 

It was a month after returning home that 

Sarah received the email containing the 

results of the DNA test we’d had done the 

day of the operation – emailing me excitedly 

and bamboozling me with science in the 

process. Dr Silber was right, we are, in fact, 

identical, meaning we can share ovarian 

slices in the event that either runs out, the 

child’s DNA being 50% mine if I were to 

rely on Sarah’s genes, or vice-versa. 

The news restored my faith in Dr Silber 

and his research and, despite not being a 

slam dunk (as he put so elegantly it), it has 

given me hope that one day my happy story 

will also be gracing the walls of Dr Silber’s 

office at St. Louis General Hospital. 


25

FEATURE | celebrity 

WORDS | SOPHY GRIMSHAW 


In a Fertility Road exclusive interview, Sex and the City star 

Sarah Jessica Parker reflects on how surrogacy completed 

her family. Having twins girls Marion and Tabitha, sibling 

to her first child James, was a long hard road for – but 

now, she says, the only hard part is saying goodbye to 

them when she has to leave to make a movie. 

In a 2004 episode of Sex and the City 

called ‘Catch-38’, Carrie (Sarah Jessica 

Parker) tells her new Russian boyfriend 

Aleksandr that she might like to have 

children – some day. “And when are you planning 

to have these children?” he asks her, surprised. 

He frankly remind her that she’s already pushing 

40, and is getting too old to see motherhood as a 

distant plan. (For good measure, he also throws 

in the info that he already has a daughter, and 

has no intention of becoming a father again). 

Compared to her usual kissing and cosmo-downing 

antics, Catch-38 wasn’t a cheerful SATC episode 

for Carrie. 

Beyond the fiction of the hit show, Sarah Jessica 

Parker has fought her own biological battles on 

the road to parenthood. The first time around for 

her and actor husband Matthew Broderick was a 

conventional pregnancy, resulting in the birth of 

her son James Wilkie Broderick in October 2002. 

It wasn’t quite ‘Catch-38’, but close; Parker was 

37 at the time of James’s birth. 

Asked to think back to that time, Sarah Jessica 

says: “The marriage was made stronger with the 

birth of our son. Having a child makes a marriage 

more romantic. It certainly did with ours.” In 

what way? “You have this new, wonderful thing 

in common that you love separately, and together, 

in a new way.” 

Living in New York, rather than the film industry 

capital LA, has also helped to keep their bond as 

strong as possible, claims Sarah Jessica (she 

doesn’t like to be called just Sarah), who has 

been married to Broderick since 1992. “We live in 

a city where the engine is not the entertainment 

industry. We’ve made decisions in our life that 

protect us from the glare and allow the relationship 

to be real,`” she says. “It’s great, awful, good, 

bad, disappointing, thrilling, you know all the 

things that a real marriage is and all the things 

that makes it a good one.” Incidentally, she says 

she regrets making the bold fashion choice of 

wearing a short black dress for their wedding: 

“If I had the chance to do it over, I’d wear white. 

I’d wear a beautiful, proper wedding dress, like 

I should have worn on the day…” 

At the time of James Wilkie’s birth – he was 

named after Broderick’s father, James, and the 

English writer Wilkie Collins – Sarah Jessica 

greeted reporters outside New York’s Lenox » 


27

I’m one of eight, so I’ve always 

wanted a big family, I tried and 

tried and tried to get pregnant, 

but it just was not to be. 

Hill Hospital and beamed, “He’s perfect.” She also joked about 

the media scrum surrounding her new parenthood; “It must be a 

slow news week.” 

For Parker and Broderick, becoming parents gave life new 

meaning – Broderick was “ecstatic” at his son’s arrival – but Sarah 

Jessica, in particular, didn’t feel that their journey was complete. 

“I’m one of eight, so I’ve always wanted a big family,” she 

explains. In time, the couple began to try for another baby – without 

success. “I tried and tried and tried to get pregnant,” she says 

with resignation, “but it just was not to be.” And that’s where 

things started to get a lot more complicated. 

If you know a little about Sarah Jessica Parker then you’ll 

already know that her path to parenthood didn’t end with 

welcoming son James. Determined to expand their brood and give 

him a sibling, the couple began to look into other options. Sarah 

Jessica doesn’t want to go into detail about how she found a surrogate 

to carry her fertilized egg for the couple’s next pregnancy, 

and it was hoped that the woman’s identity would be kept confidential 

(although sadly she was identified and chased relentlessly 

by US tabloid reporters). But she is open about the fact that her 

story could just as easily have been a case of adoption. “We pursued 

both adoption and surrogacy,” she shares. The latter triumphed 

simply because, “It was the surrogacy option that came up first.” 

Ahead of the 2009 pregnancy, Sarah Jessica carefully 

explained the situation and the nature of using a surrogate 

to her son James, now old enough to understand something 

of what was happening, so that he would feel involved. “We 

wanted to keep this quiet and so I wanted to be very careful 

about telling him so he wasn’t burdened with a secret. On 

the other hand, I wanted him to have time to adjust to the 

idea of sharing his mama and his papa,” she said at the time. 

The actress admits that “I always worry about everything 

being right, that’s kind of the way I function,” but being in 

the spotlight made navigating surrogacy perhaps even more of an 

emotional and logistical challenge for her and Matthew than for 

most couples. Gossip pages swirled with false rumors that he was 

having an affair, perhaps reading wrong meanings into the meetings 

and appointments he was attending relating to the new pregnancy 

plans, or perhaps simply making up the story from thin air. Without 

knowing that the couple were standing shoulder to shoulder facing 

the challenge of finally hoping to welcome a new baby via surrogacy, 

the tabloid press began to speculate that their marriage had in 

fact ended. They couldn’t have been more wrong. “Too many 

people speculate about my marriage,” notes Sarah Jessica. 

While some celebrity couples aim to reveal nothing of their 

surrogate’s pregnancy until the baby is born, as was the case with 

actress Nicole Kidman and her husband Keith Urban, Sarah Jessica 

decided, towards the end of the pregnancy, that she would be open 

about expecting via a surrogate. She couldn’t or didn’t want to 

keep it quiet any more, perhaps because of the intrusive nature of 

media interest in her and her husbands’ private life. She’d also 

heard some very good news: the couple were expecting twins. 

Marion Loretta Elwell and Tabitha Hodge were born to Sarah 

Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick via their surrogate in Ohio 

on 23 June 2009. The girls were happy and healthy if a few weeks 

early. The couple had rushed from New York to be present at their 

Interview courtesy of: IFA/ Bruno Lester 


irth. Sarah Jessica was then 44. Today, she says proudly of her 

two girls: “They could not be more different. One is constantly 

looking around and reaching out. My other [girl] is very serious 

and slightly withholding and aloof. They are about as unidentical 

as twins can be!” 

After the success of the surrogate pregnancy, the even greater 

challenges began. Now Sarah Jessica Parker is an in-demand 

working actor with three young children to care for in between 

filming commitments. How did she cope while making Sex in 

the City 2, for example? “It is complicated to balance the workload 

with spending time with the kids,” she admits. “Shooting 

Sex in the City 2 on location in Morocco was tough, and I had 

enormous regrets about it. I didn’t see my daughters for almost 

two months, with the exception of Skype. My son visited briefly, 

but the babies were too young for their shots. Still,” she says 

philosophically, “millions of working mothers have far more 

demanding days and the rewards are nowhere near what I’m 

Making Happy 

Beginnings! 

We always so wanted 

a larger family. It is such a 

blessing, and we are so 

lucky and privileged. 

given. And they don’t have the kind of help that I have if I need 

it.” It’s her husband and family’s support that has made all the 

difference, she says. “I’m allowed to be a working mother 

because I can leave my child with someone I trust and love.” 

Does she ever worry that with three children she has have taken 

on too much? “No, because we always so wanted a larger family. 

It is such a blessing, and we are so lucky and privileged.” 

Despite the hired help available to them, Parker aims to be as 

hands-on as possible. “I make my children’s food myself. We do 

our own grocery shopping, we go to the market ourselves, I do 

my laundry. We do a lot ourselves! If I’m not working, I take my 

son to school in the morning. By the time he’s dressed, I just 

have time to grab anything handy and run out the door. I also 

have two daughters in diapers who are drooling, teething and 

spitting up. You don’t want a designer outfit in that situation. 

So you just wear what’s appropriate to be a mother.” 

Of being a fashion icon she says “That’s not how I perceive 

myself” but she still loves to dress up sometimes, of course. “I 

love beautiful clothes and am privileged enough to have access 

to a lot them... but they are also are returned the next day. They 

are not mine. I am a working mother. And when I go out with 

my husband I can get ready in 20 minutes.” 

One of Parker’s newest career challenges is fashion related as 

she has been overseeing the Halston Heritage clothing line (a 

revival of an iconic 70s brand that was popular was the stars of 

the Studio 54 era), starting with the spring 2011 collection. “It 

is a lot of work. We’ll see how successfully I manage this” says 

Sarah Jessica cautiously. “Luckily, the Halston offices are about 

a ten-minute walk from my house.” 

As for her hopes for her children’s futures, Parker couldn’t 

care less whether they become movie stars or fashion designers 

or not. “I’m trying to not set up too much for them. When you 

have children, you’re just like, ‘Please God, let them be happy.’” 

Conceptions Center for Ovum Donation is an 

intimate, boutique-style egg donation agency 

that matches warm and compassionate egg 

donors to couples and individuals who need 

help building a family. 

Anyone struggling with infertility can realize their dreams 

of having children. We offer guidance, support and all 

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We acknowledge the importance of confidentially and 

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Our Hawaii connections make us ideal for serving 

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We have the commitment and reputation to listen, 

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we look forward to helping you build your family. 

Tel: (808)234-3059 

www.ConceptionsCenter.com

FEATURE | |travel for treatment 

WORDS | JENNY CURRIE 

The Cape of 

Following the announcements from both Elton John and Nicole Kidman 

introducing their new surrogate families, we take an in depth look at what’s 

involved in surrogacy abroad and how this might be the right choice for you. 

Surrogacy, the principle of one woman carrying a baby in 

utero for another person, is said to be as old as biblical 

days where a principle referred to as antiquity was in 

practice. In terms of Babylonian Law, the male could father 

a child with a surrogate mother in an attempt to save a marriage. 

Accordingly the concept of a woman carrying a child for another 

person has its origins as far back as man’s earliest days on earth. 

The need to procreate, the need to be a parent has and will always 

remain something significant for human beings. Surrogacy offers 

a solution for dilemmas where it physically is an impossibility to 

carry your own child. 

The most common form of surrogacy is gestational surrogacy. 

This is where the surrogate mother is only the carrier and none of 

her genetic material is used. Either the commissioning parent or 

her elected egg donor will contribute the eggs. This is also the 

more favoured surrogacy type. Infrequently traditional surrogate 

programs take place, mostly for economic reasons. In such cases, 

a process of artificial insemination takes place to fertilise the 

surrogate mother’s eggs. 

Traditional surrogacy carries risks of greater emotional attachment, 

increased difficulty to find a surrogate who is able to meet 

suitable requirements for surrogacy as well as being a good genetic 

match in terms of the gametes. There is also the psychological 

matter of greater bonding with the baby as the surrogate is carrying 

her own genetic material, making separation and giving the baby 

up that much harder. In terms of availability, a traditional surrogate 

is also required to be younger as younger gametes are required to 

a healthy pregnancy – making gestational surrogates more easily 

available. Legally, this may pose increased concerns. In South 

Africa, traditional surrogates can decide up to two months after 

the birth of the baby that they would rather not give this baby 

up. This major obstacle can create significant uncertainty and so 

actively discouraged for surrogate programs. 

Ultruistic surrogacy – the more prominent type of surrogacy 

worldwide is encouraged and viewed more ethically acceptable, 

advocating that woman come forward to help for no financial 

gain. Many people have felt quite strongly for the idea of “wombs 

for rent” within limits. But similarly there are strong views against 

not helping surrogates financially. The principles are supported by 

the logic that if a surrogate is giving such an amazing precious gift 

and availing herself in such a dedicated and committed fashion, it 

is equally appropriate to help her in a way that would be meaningful 

and significant for her. People in support of this would 

prefer a managed type of commercial surrogacy. 

Surrogate programs have come to the limelight of late as an 

increased acceptance of gay couples is both encouraged and 

promulgated into legislation – gay marriages, etc. The recent birth 

of Elton John’s offspring has certainly initiated some thinking and 

ideas for others in a similar situation. In South Africa, there are 

increasing gay couples coming forward seeking assistance of 

surrogate mothers. Similarly the understanding and support for 

single people wanting to have children is also understood. So as 

the modern world accepts people’s differences in human behaviour 

and dynamics, so artificial means to reproduce are embraced. 


Needless to say, surrogacy always attracts interest 

from people worldwide mostly because it really 

touches on human relations in such a significant way 

and always takes people’s breaths away. It is basic nature 

to want to know more and ask so many questions 

around it because it involves so many different elements. 

Most commonly bystanders want to know about the 

emotional aspects. Typically a surrogate woman has 

the profile of someone who wants to help. She may 

have seen or heard about the anguish and torment 

infertility can take, and for her conception and pregnancy 

may have been something that happened with ease or possibly 

without even planning. She is empowered if she can make such a 

difference. It may also give her the opportunity to be the centre of 

attention for a little while, although emotionally this requires 

management that not only will the child be the focus after birth, 

but her role will then become obsolete. These are all delicate 

matters that require careful assessment and consideration prior to 

her even proceeding. However, a surrogate mother is a woman 

who has understood these aspects, thought through them and 

still volunteered. A surrogate mother is also someone who is 

emotionally supported by friends and/or family emotionally and 

psychologically. Surrogate programs that fail even before starting 

are often as a result of an insufficient support structure. 

Surrogate mothers are required to meet some minimum requirements 

medically – good health and a strong uterus. Socially, 

surrogate mothers are very different people. It may be a wealthy 

Surrogate programs have come 

to the limelight of late as an increased 

acceptance of gay couples is both 

encouraged and promulgated into 

legislation – gay marriages, etc. 

established executive who has achieved so much and wants to 

share some of her blessings by availing herself as a surrogate 

mother. It may be a young lady who is a stay at home mom with 

no education and feels she can contribute positively by sharing her 

healthy uterus with another and carrying their baby or obviously a 

profile of someone in between these different ranges. The important 

aspect is that the surrogate and commissioning parent must be 

right for one another and this is a personal decision that only 

the parties to such a surrogate program can make. Commissioning 

parents may have specific requirements and only happy to proceed 

once they meet the right person for them. 

The significance of a surrogate program should not be 

underestimated. It may be that it takes a commissioning parent a 

few years to make a final decision and proceed to actually take this 

giant leep of having faith in someone else. Some couples really 

take their time and elect to have long periods between each » 


31

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FEATURE | travel for treatment 

should be established amongst the parties 

so that every one is protected and respected. 

Depending on the processes followed 

and the persons involved, up until 1 April 

2010, no formal legislation had been 

promulgated guiding people around 

surrogacy in South Africa. The only clear 

resolution was that the birth mother is the 

natural mother. This placed surrogacy 

agreements in a state of uncertainty. All 

surrogate programs through baby2mom 

since November 2009 were facilitated 

through surrogacy attorneys who submitted 

surrogate agreements to court, providing 

extensive control. In an attempt to 

facilitate quality and professional guidelines, 

the processing of a formal surrogate 

agreement, submitted the High Court was 

deemed the most appropriate process. 

Consequently the promulgation of legislation 

with an entire chapter dedicated to 

Surrogacy is a highly personal and 

surrogacy dictating specific procedures 

with controls was viewed with varying 

emotions. This aspect of law was not 

private matter and invokes varying emotions considered relevant for many years, so 

for the people involved. There are couples 

the sudden interest drew an element of 

surprise. Adding to that, it very clearly 

who cannot agree on surrogacy. 

stated the controls and requirements. The 

court orders were already actioned as part 

phase in a surrogate program. This may be to prepare themselves 

emotionally and/or financially. Other couples cannot proceed 

quickly enough and even source a second surrogate to run a 

parallel fertility course to their first surrogate. This would increase 

their chances for success with simultaneous fertility treatments, 

but so attract simultaneous costs associated with these control 

double programs. Often it can take the commissioning mom a little 

longer to accept the surrogate relationship and be in a position to 

succumb to relinquishing control to the surrogate mother – to 

accept that she has the health and strength of another woman’s 

uterus to carry her child. This is a major psychological aspect and 

requires significant soul searching before a female commissioning 

parent may be ready. But as people, we are all so very different, so 

the varying scenarios are all unique. 

Surrogacy is a highly personal and private matter and invokes 

varying emotions for the people involved. There are couples who 

cannot agree on surrogacy. Where a woman desperately wants the 

status quo to remain and can possibly accept the inability to 

conceive, she may not want to embark on a surrogate program. 

She may not want more children, but her partner is desperate and 

may even threaten the marriage because he feels so strongly about 

the desire and very need to proceed on the surrogate program. 

Alternatively, situations in the converse may arise as well. The best 

recipe for a successful surrogate program is where there is complete 

unanimity between commissioning parents, where both parties 

have the same objectives and aspirations in terms of the surrogacy, 

essentially where the dreams are in complete alignment. 

So it is no surprise that surrogacy can impact on a relationship. 

There is suddenly quite a significant other female carrying the baby, 

so she is very important. This aspect of the relationship requires 

of best practice surrogate programs applying ideal controls 

South African surrogacy is very well documented with the 

introduction of the Childrens Act effective as from 1 April 2010. 

This has very serious consequences and provides very clear 

guidelines to surrogate mother programs for both surrogates and 

commissioning parents. 

Prior to the legislation, the status of a surrogate agreement and 

surrogate program was quite uncertain leaving a feeling of 

uneasiness for all surrogate mother agreement parties. Without 

following best practices, a lengthy and expensive process of 

adoption was required. Fortunately for all South African surrogacy 

agreements, a reputable surrogacy agency was already following 

best practice processes to ensure appropriate controls. 

The implications for all parties are concise and although the 

process may be perceived as quite lengthy and onerous, the toolkit 

actually provides a well constructed step by step experienced instruction 

and facilitation. 

In accordance with South African legislation, the Children's Act, 

an entire chapter is dedicated to surrogacy. For surrogate mothers, 

there are clear guidelines pertaining to who may apply to become 

a surrogate mother. She must have a documented record of a 

successful pregnancy and have at least one child of her own. Her 

competence and clear understanding is also a factor and she is 

required to have domicilium in South Africa. 

For commissioning parents, the requirements are quite extensive. 

For starters, South African domicilium is required, a medical 

requirement supporting the need for surrogacy is needed and from 

a genetic perspective, the gametes of either both or one of the 

commissioning parents is needed to conceive the child. 

Before parties to a surrogate agreement need to start obtaining 

very careful assessment and clearly defined roles and boundaries necessary supporting reports, they need to have initial » 


33

FEATURE | travel for treatment 

agreement. Matters to be discussed include the type of birth, the 

nature of relationship during and after the pregnancy, the intimacy 

with which commissioning dad(s) will partake. The surrogate 

mom may not be comfortable with the dad attending internal 

scans and/ or being in the room when the baby is born. These are 

private moments and consensus is imperative. The type of care 

and attendance during the surrogacy pregnancy is also imperative. 

How the surrogate mom gets to appointments, obtains required 

medication, vitamins, prenatal care, maternity clothes is also an 

important area for discussion. In terms of the Childrens Act in 

South Africa, the surrogate mother can make the necessary 

decisions on terminating a surrogacy pregnancy (for medical 

reasons) but is required to consutl with the commissioning parents 

on this matter. These and all areas of the intricate surrogacy 

relationship require discussion, clarity and agreement. Often, 

Surrogacy, like any field, is a 

specialist area and invokes high 

emotions. A program of this 

nature is optimised if guided by 

professional bodies experienced 

in these elements 

people are reluctant to converse on sensitive matters, but open 

honest clear communication on all aspects is the best way to 

securing an optimal surrogacy partnership. 

The surrogate agreement, required to be facilitated by an 

experienced surrogate lawyer, requires necessary supporting 

documentation. For the surrogate mother, these include the medical 

approval of the surrogate to become pregnant and the psychological 

report. Her partner is also required to sign the surrogacy agreement. 

These independent reviews by specialist areas, also provide good 

segregation of duties and consequently good controls supporting all. 

Both parties of commissioning parents are needed to sign the 

surrogate contract. Reports required for surrogacy commissioning 

parents include the medical confirmation of the need for a 

surrogate to become a parent, psychological reports confirming 

and the report confirming at least one of the gametes will be used. 

In the event of only male(s) being the surrogate commissioning 

parent(s), confirmation is required of a female influence in their 

lives. Sometimes, even to approve the court order timeously, the 

judge may ask for a further report about the timing to apply a 

timely court response. 

The surrogate agreement along with necessary reports is 

submitted to the High Court for approval by the appropriately 

commissioned surrogate attorneys. Such approval relinquishes 

rights and responsibilities from the surrogate in favour of the 

commissioning parents. Such an approved surrogate agreement 

implies that the commissioning parent need not proceed with any 

further legalities. No administrative adoption is required and no 

further legalities are necessary. 

This court order relinquishes all rights and responsibilities from 

the surrogate mother and when the bay conceived of this type of 

treatment is born, the commissioning parents may immediately 

register the child in their name. So, a situation of absolute clarity, 

WHY GO 

ABROAD? 

Much has been made over the last few years about “fertility 

tourism”. There are clinics around the world that might take 

advantage of the overwhelming desire for couples that really 

want children, but there are also many that give a very high 

level of patient care and success. 

Thinking about treatment in Spain? Be sure to ask the clinic 

you are considering if they report their statistics to the Spanish 

Fertility Society. This is a voluntary process which means they 

are subjected to spot inspections. This will give you a greater 

reassurance that protocols and procedures are being followed. 

There is not the same framework in place for Greece, but 

feedback from many patients has been positive. As a fertility 

consultant, I work closely with many Greek fertility clinics to 

ensure an ethical and legal process is followed. 

Wherever you choose to go, you should look for excellent 

success rates, cutting edge technology, purpose built facilities 

as well as doctors and embryologists with a vast range of 

experience between them. Wishing you every success! 

Ruth Pellow - Fertility Nurse Specialist 

- info@ivftreatmentabroad.com 

is obtained and both parties get exactly what was agreed, with no 

options for a change of heart. The surrogate agreement will need 

to make provision for appropriate parental care in the event of 

something happening to the commissioning parents, as this parental 

responsibility will not automatically fall on to the surrogate mother. 

Her role is only for the in utero care of the unborn child. 

No fertility clinic may transfer embryos into a surrogate unless 

a court order is presented. Fertility treatments may be initiated, 

but the actual implantation can only happen with formal legal 

approval. This way all parties know where they stand. The court 

order is also valid for 18 months so the surrogate agreement 

between parties enables fertility treatments for this time. 

The Childrens Act is very clear regarding matters on surrogacy 

and failure to adhere to such may be deemed to be a criminal 

offence. South African surrogacy does not discriminate against 

any persons regardless of relationship status, race of sexual 

preference. It is however important to emphasise that a surrogacy 

agreements is facilitated by experienced surrogate attorneys or 

surrogacy lawyers who understand the process and requirements 

of judges approving these surrogate agreements. 

Surrogacy, like any field, is a specialist area and invokes high 

emotions. A program of this nature is optimised if guided by 

professional bodies experienced in these elements, those who 

understand the legislation, can refer to specialists for necessary 

reports, guidelines and advice. 

baby2mom Egg Donation Agency, works hand in hand with 

surrogacy attorneys who have a dedicated team of surrogate 

lawyers ensuring a smooth and efficient process for SA surrogacy. 

South Africa offers a controlled and structured process for 

surrogate agreements that can be facilitated with ease and 

completed in a matter of weeks. www.baby2mom.co.za 


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Q&A | zita west 

EXPERT 

WITNESS 

WITH 

ZITA WEST 

We’ve once again asked our resident 

fertility expert Zita West to answer 

questions sent in by readers to the 

Fertility Road website. If you have a 

question you’d like answered in the 

next issue, why not get in touch? 

Q 

I am 37 years old and I was told that one of my 

ovarian tubes was blocked. Is this going to affect 

my chances of falling pregnant despite my age? 

– Mary, 37, Bolton 

A 

Yes, you can get pregnant with one blocked fallopian tube, 

but because of your age you need to have a time frame of 

no more than 6 months of trying naturally providing you 

partners’ sperm is ok. Alongside this you should also see your GP 

and have fertility bloods taken. One valuable blood test is an AMH 

test. This test measures the anti mullerian hormone produced by 

the resting follicles in the ovaries. The higher the number correlates 

with a better egg reserve and a better fertility potential. Having this 

test is a good first step in helping you assess if you should move on 

to a more assisted route of fertility sooner rather than later. 

QI’m not ready for a family yet, but I would like to take 

fertility pills while I am on birth control? Is this ok? 

– Tanya, 24, Stratford-upon-Avon 

A 

No not at all. Fertility pills suppress ovulation. You need to 

ovulate to fertilise an egg. However if you are doing IVF, 

some clinics will put you on the pill for a short period of time 

prior to the start of an IVF cycle as part of their regime. 


37

Q&A | zita west 

Q 

What are the chances I could be pregnant? I’m 

47 years old, already have 2 children, have regular 

intercourse with my partner – unprotected – and 

am approximately 4 days late with my period, usually periods 

are regular but very short. 

– Megan, 47, Hove 

A 

The chances of getting pregnant at 47 naturally are 

very low. The reason your period is late is likely to be a 

hormonal shift and means that you are peri-menopausal 

this is the stage before the menopause. 

QMy Husband plays rugby at weekends. A few weeks 

ago he received a blow to his left testicle, which in 

turn became very swollen. We are in the middle of 

trying to start a family and I am now worried we might have 

lessened our chances. Is this possible? 

– Sara, 23 Brighton 

A 

Damage to the testes is always a concern, but the body 

has an amazing ability to heal. The hardest factor will be 

having sex at present. It is worth going to your GP and 

discussing and for you partner to be examined by your GP to see 

if he has done any damage. 

The chances of getting 

pregnant at 47 naturally are low. 

Late periods are likely to be a 

hormonal shift and that perimenopause, 

the stage before 

the menopause has started 

QWill having frequent, irregular periods affect my 

chances of conceiving? We have been trying for 

over year now and have had no luck as yet. I have a 

period every 2-3 weeks and my GP can only suggest going 

on the pill, which I don’t want to do. What do you suggest? 

– Nicola, 29, Stockton 

A 

The difficult factor we see with irregular cycles is knowing 

when your fertile time in the month is, and timing of 

sex as ovulation. It will vary month to month. You need 

to have fertility hormone bloods taken and also a progesterone 

test to see if you ovulating or not. Make sure you are having sex 

at least three times a week. If the sperm are good they will last 3 

to 5 days inside you ensuring that there are plenty of sperm ready 

to fertilise the egg. You need to have further investigations if you 

are not conceiving especially, if you are having sex on a regular 

basis and your partners’ sperm is fine. 

If you have any questions for our Expert Witness 

please visit www.fertilityroad.com 

Zita West has given specialist fertility 

and pregnancy advice for over 25 years, as 

a midwife, an acupuncturist, a nutritional 

advisor and as an author and consultant. 

She has also written numerous books on fertility 

and pregnancy, with her latest title - Zita West’s 

Guide to Fertility and Assisted Conception - now available. 

For more information on Zita, her London clinic or books, 

visit www.zitawest.com 

MORE 

ABOUT 

ZITA 

WEST 


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Visit the the Fertility World Show- 15 - 15 - 16 - 16 April 2011, London Olympia 

Trying for a baby? 

Problems getting pregnant? 

Considering fertility treatment? 

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If you If you are are planning to start to start a family a family but but are are having having difficulties 

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on on 15 15 - 16 - 16 April April at at Olympia London - the - the one one stop stop exhibition for for 

all all the the help, help, advice advice and and information you you need need to have to have a baby. a baby. 

- IVF - IVF & & fertility clinics from from the the UK UK and and abroad 

- Talks - Talks from from leading fertility experts 

- - Natural and and complementary treatments 

- - One-to-one advice from from fertility experts 

Seminars include: 

n n Maximising your your chances of of getting pregnant 

n n Choosing a a fertility clinic clinic 

n Going n Going overseas for for fertility treatment 

n How n How the the NHS NHS can can help help with with fertility costs costs 

n Same n Same sex sex fertility treatment 

n The n The donor donor and and surrogacy route route 

n n Natural methods to to boost boost your your fertility 

n n Fertility information resources 

Book your your FREE TICKET at at 

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In In association with with 

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More info at: at: www.fertility-world.co.uk

Fertility Road is running the ‘Fertility Road Seminar 

Theatre’, where Doctors and Fertility Experts will offer 

free group discussions and talks throughout the day... 

SCHEDULE – FRIDAY 15TH APRIL 2011 

10.45AM - 11.15AM 

Maximising your chances of getting pregnant 

– Ms. Zita West, Fertility Expert 

11.45AM - 12.15PM 

Third Party Reproduction - It takes a Village 

A comprehensive discussion of the medical aspects 

of third party reproduction including egg donation, 

gestational carriers, ivf and same sex couples 

– Dr. Treiser M.D., Ph.D., co-Founder, IVF New Jersey 

12.45PM - 1.15PM 

Traveling abroad for treatment 

– Dr. Mane, Fertility expert and Owner, 

The Origin International Infertility Center 

1.45PM - 2.15PM 

Supplements to improve sperm motiliy 

The benefits of supplements, particularly selenium 

and coQ10 for improving sperm motility and quality 

– Mr. Gareth Zeal, UK’s leading expert in the field 

of nutrition and naturopathy 

3.45PM - 4.15PM 

Co-parenting and using a known donor 

– Ms. Erika Tranfield, co-Founder, Pride Angel 

4.45PM - 5.15PM 

Boosting your Fertility Naturally 

– Dr. Michael Dooley, Consultant Gynaecologist, Fertility 

expert & Medical Director, The Poundbury Clinic 

* PLEASE NOTE THIS SCHEDULE MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE 

SCHEDULE – SATURDAY 16TH APRIL 2011 

10.45AM - 11.15AM 

Getting Fit for Fertility 

– Dr. Michael Dooley, Consultant Gynaecologist, Fertility 

expert & Medical Director, The Poundbury Clinic 

11.45AM - 12.15AM 

PCOS and what effect does your lifestyle have 

on your fertility? 

– Prof. William Ledger, Head of Academic Unit of 

Reproductive & Developmental Medicine, Uni. Sheffield. 

12.45PM - 1.15PM 

IVF/ICSI Failures 

Role of Egg donation & Surrogacy in India 

– Dr. Mane, Fertility expert and Owner, 

The Origin International Infertility Center 

1.45PM - 2.15PM 

Natural Conception 

A discussion on the myths and truths of improving 

the odds of natural conception for couples facing 

significant fertility challenges. 

– Dr. Oriane Chausiaux, Chief Scientific Officer 

11.45AM - 12.15PM 

Choosing an egg donor and Surrogacy Options 

– Ms. Erika Tranfield, co-Founder, Pride Angel 

3.45PM - 4.15PM 

How can you get the best out of the NHS in IVF? 

In these uncertain times, with NHS funding being 

withdrawn, how can you benefit from what the NHS 

offers and can private treatment be subsidised? 

– Dr. Anil Gudi, Consultant and Director Homerton 

Fertility Centre 

Book your free tickets now at www.Fertility-World.co.uk 

in association with Fertility Road www.FertilityRoad.com 

HOW TO GET TO 

FERTILITY WORLD 

LOCATION 

Olympia 2, Hammersmith Road, 

London W14. Olympia is located 

in the centre of London on 

Hammersmith Road, near 

High Street Kensington 

BY UNDERGROUND 

District Line service from Earls 

Court to Kensington Olympia 

BY TRAIN 

Kensington Olympia is serve 

by a daily shuttle service from 

Clapham Junction to Willesden 

and the Connex South Central 

Service from Gatwick to Rugby. 

BY BUS 

Olympia is served by routes 9, 

9a, 10, 27, 28, 49 & 391. All stops 

within easy walking distance. 

BY TAXI OR CAR 

Olympia is easily accessible 

from Central London and the 

West End. Parking is available 

(charged by the hour).

First 

Choice 

for IVF 

A sanctuary for people with difficulties conceiving, Bourn Hall 

Clinic made history by being first to offer IVF. Over 10,000 

babies have been born as a result of our pioneering treatment. 

Individual Treatment 

We offer bespoke fertility treatment to 

NHS and private patients. Our success 

rates and individual care are second to 

none. We have a reputation for treating 

difficult fertility issues and achieving 

results against the odds, including 

through the use of surrogacy. At Bourn 

Hall every patient’s journey is unique 

and you can be confident we will put 

you first at every step. 

We have two dedicated fertility 

clinics in Bourn, 20 minutes from 

Cambridge, and Colchester in Essex. 

Visit our web site for open days 

www.bourn-hall-clinic.co.uk 

Want to 

be a dad? 

Lesbian couples and single 

women are looking for genuine 

gay men willing to 

donate sperm 

by personal 

arrangement. 

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Register as a co-parent or sperm donor for free 

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SimpleSurrogacy.com

FEATURE | same sex parenting 

WORDS | GIORGIO SEVERI 

Sex And The City star 

Cynthia Nixon and her 

partner of seven years, 

Christine Marinoni, have 

welcomed baby Max 

into their family. 

© Brian Ach/AP/PA 

On 11 February, the world was 

introduced to the new born son 

of Cynthia Nixon and fiancée 

Christine Marinoni. With his 

strawberry blonde hair and bright eyes, it’s 

no wonder they want to show Max off. 

Cynthia shot to fame after becoming 

part of the famous four that was one of 

HBO’s greatest comedies ever written – Sex 

and the City. Miranda Hobbes is a careerminded 

lawyer with extremely cynical 

views on relationships and men, but is also 

Carrie’s best friend, confidante, and voice 

of reason. The birth of her son on the show, 

brings to light new issues for her workaholic 

personality, but her character eventually 

finds the perfect balance of her career, 

being single, and being a mother. 

This could not be further from the truth. 

As from before she could even remember, 

Cynthia admits that being a mother was 

the only thing in her life that she knew for 

sure as something she wanted to be. 

While filming her show, she found that 

being a mother in real life proved invaluable, 

and helped her play a better mother 

on screen. 

Adding realism to the show, she remembers 

a scene where it had been written in that 

Miranda was shoe shopping; 

“When Miranda was about eight months 

pregnant they wanted her out shopping 

for a great new pair of high heels.” I said, 

‘No, I have had two children and when 

you’re eight months pregnant... You can 

have her shopping for shoes, but a 

comfortable pair of shoes!” 

Off screen Cynthia is mother to daughter 

Samantha, 16, and son Charles Ezekiel, 9, 

both from her previous relationship with 

English professor Danny Mozes, which 

ended in 2003. 

In January of 2004 Cynthia met education 

activist Christine Marinoni and their 

relationship was kept private. Though after 

many reports and questions, in March of 

2008, Fox News in the US could confirm 

that they were indeed an item quoting 

Cynthia as saying; 

“I’m in a fantastic relationship. It’s been 

about four years and I couldn’t be happier” 

I’d been with men all my life and I’d 

never fallen in love with a woman. But when 

I did, it didn’t seem so strange. I’m just a 

woman in love with another woman. 

In May 2009, showing her support for samesex 

marriage, she attended a rally, with 

her partner, and announced in front of 

thousands of supporters that she and 

Christine had recently become engaged 

and that they planned to walk down the 

aisle together very soon. 

Cynthia was reported to say to fans, “We 

could go to Canada, and we could go to 

Connecticut, and we could even go to » 


43

FEATURE | same sex parenting 

FERTILITY 

PLANIT 

Fertility Planit is the fastest growing 

social network for people worldwide 

wanting to get pregnant and create a 

family. It works like a Facebook and 

Yelp for the global fertility community 

and it’s completely free to use. 

My daughter said that if you had to 

break it down, it looks like Christine would 

be butch and I would be femme... but once 

you get to know us it’s really the opposite. 

Iowa, but we don’t want to, we want to 

get married right here in New York City, 

where we live, and where our kids live!” 

Recently talking openly about her relationship 

with Christine she describes her 

journey as a very natural progression. 

“In terms of sexual orientation I don’t 

really feel I’ve changed... I’d been with 

men all my life and I’d never fallen in 

love with a woman. But when I did, it 

didn’t seem so strange. I’m just a woman 

in love with another woman.” 

Since dating Christine, Cynthia has 

revealed how her kids are so close to 

Christine. However, when Cynthia began 

to call her partner Mama Christine, her 

son started to experiment with a more 

traditional title of his own. 

“One morning we’re at breakfast and 

Christine is in the shower and Charlie says, 

‘Where’s Papa?’” she recalls. “My daughter 

said, ‘Papa? You mean Daddy?’ And he 

said, ‘No, Papa! Christine!’ He’d come up 

with this masculine name for her. It’s gone 

through a whole series of things.” 

Though Christine gave birth to Max 

Ellington, no details about his biological 

father are known as yet. 

“I feel like falling in love with her is 

part of being amazed at how she makes 

our family so much better.” The actress 

also admitted one of the reasons why 

she loves Christine, 43, is her “butchness”, 

describing her as a short man with boobs! 

On her sexuality, Cynthia reported; 

“It wasn’t something in me that was 

waiting to come out. It was like, this 

person is undeniable. How can I let 

this person walk by? Christine would 

probably kill me for saying this, but my 

daughter said one time that if you really 

had to break this down, it looks like she 

would be butch and I would be femme... 

but once you get to know us it’s really 

the opposite.” 

Cynthia often praises Christine saying 

that part of her charm is that she is 

so amazing with the kids, and with the 

arrival of Max has made their family 

truly complete. 

Sign up with a business profile or personal 

profile, using an anonymous screen 

name if you wish. Express and share 

views on your page with updates, news 

and links. Do international searches in 

the Shopping, Opinion and Connect 

sections for resources, unbiased User 

reviews and like-minded Friends. If you 

have a business that supports fertility, 

then create your own ad on FP and be 

part of the FP Shop. You can set your 

spending limit as low as $.10/click and 

$1.00/day. Questions? Please get in touch: 

info@fertilityplanit.com. 

www.fertilityplanit.com 


FERTILITY ROAD | Oregon Reproductive Medicine 

INTELLIGENT PROFILE 

UNITED 

STATES 

OF 

DONORS 

One of the most eminent infertility centres in the United 

States is experiencing a new following - European 

gay couples wanting to have a baby. 

Oregon Reproductive Medicine, located on the 

West coast in Portland, has nearly unmatched pregnancy success 

rates, likely the reason that same sex couples are choosing to start 

or grow their families at the Northwest centre. 

Oregon Reproductive Medicine’s four physicians, all specialists 

in reproductive endocrinology, work with patients from all over 

the globe in their well-known donor egg programme. 

“About half of our patients who want to have a baby via 

donor egg are from outside Portland,” Brandon J. Bankowski, 

MD, MPH, says. 

While Oregon is a popular tourist destination for international 

travellers, Bankowski believes that patients are coming to Portland 

for one reason, and it isn’t to see the Pacific Ocean! 

“They want success. That’s patients’ number one priority 

regardless of where they live in the world. And in their research 

about success rates, IVF, donor egg and gestational surrogacy 

programmes, they find Oregon Reproductive Medicine,” John S. 

Hesla, MD, says. 

The most recent data available from the US government shows 

that donor egg pregnancy success rates at Oregon Reproductive 

Medicine are nearly 80%, placing them near the top of all US 

infertility centres. 

European gay couples, often unable to proceed with using a 

donor’s eggs and surrogate in their home countries, are more and 

more looking to the United States for options. In the past, many 

patients selected centres in New York City and Boston because of 

their proximity to Europe. But today it’s common for these future 

dads to look closer at the data available through www.SART.com and 

base their selection on where they are most likely to have success. 

“It is a big decision to proceed with using a donor and working 

with a surrogate in the United States. So it’s imperative that patients 

do their homework and select a practice that is most likely to make 

their dream come true, and at a cost they can afford,” Jonathan 

Kipp, marketing director at Oregon Reproductive Medicine, says. 

Oregon Reproductive Medicine’s costs are often appealing to gay 

and straight European patients. The centre’s price plans are typically 

lower than infertility centres in larger US cities. Compensation for 

egg donors and surrogates also tends to be more affordable in 

smaller US cities, Kipp says. 

Some gay couples visiting Portland to become parents are 

nervous at first. After all, they are not only about to become 

parents but they are in a foreign country. 

“But they soon realise that being at Oregon Reproductive 

Medicine in Portland, Oregon, is about the best place they could be 

to move forward with their dream of a baby,” Kipp says. “We are 

confident that they’ll fall in love with Portland while they experience 

our unmatched personalised care.” 

Portland, home to a sizeable gay population including many 

couples with children, is considered one of the most gay-friendly 

cities in the US. 

“We are always happy to welcome our European patients,” Hesla 

says. “We not only have the opportunity to introduce them to an 

amazing part of the United States, but we get to watch their 

biggest dream come true. It doesn’t get better than that.” 

If you would like additional information about Oregon 

Reproductive Medicine’s services, or are interested in 

scheduling an appointment, contact: 

2222 NW Lovejoy. St., Suite 304, Portland, Oregon USA 97210 

Phone: 877-567-4994 or 503-274-4994 

www.oregonreproductivemedicine.com 


45

FEATURE | nutrition 

WORDS | COLETTE BOUCHEZ & DR. NIELS LAUERSEN 

Whether you’re trying to get pregnant naturally or looking to boost the success 

of your next IVF or insemination, Green Fertility authors Colette Bouchez and 

Dr. Niels Lauersen say eating foods high in essential fatty acids known as Omega 3’s 

can optimize your chance for conception. 


Omega 3: The Fat That Boosts Fertility 

While not all fats are created equal – and some are clearly bad for 

your health – when it comes to getting pregnant one group of fats 

is so important without them you could not conceive. They’re 

called Omega 3 fatty acids and they are key to achieving healthy 

ovulation and reducing the risk of miscarriage in women and 

boosting healthy sperm production in men. 

But unlike other nutrients which the body can make on its own, 

omega 3 fatty acids have to come from food. And among the 

richest sources is cold water fish such as the haddock filet featured 

in this recipe. Here you’ll get a heaping portion of one of the best 

types of omega 3 fatty acids available – a compound known as 

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) a direct source of omega 3 which the 

body can put to immediate use to aid fertility. 

In addition, the roasted tomatoes provide a generous supply of 

vitamin C, and lots of lycopene, two antioxidant nutrients that not 

only improve egg quality in women, but are essential to sperm 

production in men. 

If fish is not one of your favorite foods you can still get a generous 

supply of omega 3’s from this recipe for flax seed and walnut 

blueberry muffins. Both the flax and the walnuts are loaded with a 

natural compound known as AL A – alpha linolenic acid – which 

the body converts to DHA. Plus, the blueberries are packed with 

amazing natural compounds known as “anthocyanins”, which help 

reduce inflammation body-wide, and in doing so benefit nearly 

every aspect of reproduction. In women this includes balancing 

hormones related to egg production and ovulation, and in men 

increasing production of healthy sperm while decreasing levels of 

defected sperm - which naturally increases the chance for conception 

and reduces the risk of miscarriage. 

So try the muffins for breakfast and the fish for dinner several 

times a week for a couples fertility boost that can’t be beat! 

BrOiled SeaSOned HaliBuT wiTH Quick 

& eaSy rOaSTed TOmaTOeS – ServeS 2 

Garlic powder, dill weed and grape seed oil give this halibut a zesty, 

flavorful punch while the roasted tomatoes add a touch of sweetness 

for a meal that satisfies your taste buds while boosting your fertility! 

Ingredients 

• 1 pound of halibut fillet, cut in two pieces. 

• 1 lemon, quartered 

• Grape seed oil for brushing 

• ¼ teaspoon sea salt 

• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder 

• 1 teaspoons dill weed 

• 4 firm vine ripe tomatoes, 2 red, 2 yellow 

• 1 half onion, finely chopped 

• 1 clove of garlic finely chopped or mashed. 

• ¼ cup olive oil 

• 1 tsp coarse salt 

• ½ teaspoon black pepper 

To Prepare Easy Roasted Tomatoes with onions and garlic: 

1. Pre heat oven to 450 degrees. 

2. Cut tomatoes in half and use a spoon to remove the seeds 

and flesh, leaving the walls of the tomato in tact. 

3. Lightly grease a baking sheet with olive oil or an olive-oil 

cooking spray. Arrange tomatoes face down on the baking sheet 

and drizzle tops with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. 

4. Roast at 450 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes until tender. 

Remove from pan. 

5. In a separate fry pan, sauté onions and garlic in grape seed oil 

until tender; sprinkle inside roasted tomatoes before serving. 

To Prepare Quick & Easy Halibut: 

1. Preheat a broiler and coat a baking sheet or broiling pan with 

grape seed oil. 

2. Rinse the fish and pat dry. Place on the greased pan, and brush 

tops with grape seed oil or coat with a butter flavored cooking 

spray. Squeeze the juice from the lemon wedges over the entire 

fillet, sprinkle with salt, then garlic, then dill. 

3. Broil for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until the fish 

appears white and can easily flake with a fork. If your fish is very 

thin, broil 12 to 15 minutes; if it’s very thick, 20 to 22 minutes. 

Optional: 

Honey Mustard Fish Sauce:Combine 2 TBSP of Dijon Mustard 

with 3 TBSP of Honey; mix and drizzle on fish. 

Serve fish and tomatoes alone, or with an green leaf salad. 

» 


47

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FEATURE | nutrition 

Recipes: Colette Bouchez/Niels Lauersen, MD 

BlueBerry Flaxseed MuFFins 

– MaKes 12 MuFFins 

Start your day with a nutrient-packed muffin that works fertility 

magic with a combination of flax seed and walnuts (omega 3s), oats 

& whole wheat (fiber) & blueberries (loaded with antioxidants). 

Ingredients: 

• ¼ cup finely milled, ground flax seed 

• 1 cup wild blueberries 

• ¾ cup quick cooking oats 

• 1 cup lowfat buttermilk 

• 1 cup whole wheat flour (oat flour if you have a wheat allergy) 

• 1 teaspoon baking powder 

• ½ teaspoon baking soda 

• 1 teaspoon salt 

• 1 egg 

• ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce 

• ¾ cup brown sugar 

• ½ cup crushed walnuts for topping 

To Prepare: 

• Preheat oven to 375°F. 

• Line a muffin pan with paper liners. 

1. Wash and dry the blueberries. In a mixing bowl, use a fork to 

gently combine oats and buttermilk, and let stand at room 

temperature for approximately 5 minutes. 

2. In a second mixing bowl, use a fork to combine flour, ground 

flax seed, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. 

3. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric beater to combine the egg, 

applesauce and brown sugar. Beat at medium speed for 3 minutes. 

Blueberries are packed with 

amazing natural compounds 

known as “anthocyanins”, which 

help reduce inflammation bodywide, 

benefiting nearly every 

aspect of reproduction. 

4. Using a large spoon or spatula, gently fold in the oat-buttermilk 

mixture. When combined, stir in the flour mixture being careful 

not to over mix. Batter should be thick and slightly lumpy. The 

final step is to gently fold in the blueberries, making certain 

they spread throughout the mixture. 

5. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and top with a sprinkle of crushed walnuts. 

6. Bake 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center 

comes out clean. 

An award winning international journalist, author and fertility 

researcher for over two decades Colette Bouchez is one of the 

most significant voices in women’s health reporting today. 

She is the co-creator of the internationally acclaimed website 

GettingPregnantNow.org, and the author of 10 books on 

women’s health including two international best sellers on 

infertility co-authored with renowned fertility expert Dr. Niels 

Lauersen. Their latest book is Green Fertility: Nature’s Secrets 

For Making Babies. 

Together they are credited as the major force behind the 

growing “Green Fertility” natural conception and Green IVF 

movements in America. 

To learn more about their pioneering work in developing 

natural solutions for optimizing pregnancy potential visit 

www.GreenFertility.com 


49

FEATURE | fertility friends forum 

WORDS | GIORGIO SEVERI 

Fertility Road recently caught up with Tony Reid, 

founder of the website “Fertility Friends” for a 

coffee and a chat about why he created one 

of the best fertility forums on the net. 

SURFING FOR 

SUPPORT 

FR: So Tony – good to meet you – fancy telling our readers 

a bit about your website and where they can find you? 

TONY: Great to meet you too! Sure, let me start by saying that 

the main aim of Fertility Friends is to provide friendship and support 

to people affected by all forms of infertility, the effects of the 

assisted conception processes, pregnancy loss and through the 

joys and fears of subsequent pregnancy and parenting. 

Fertility Friends was created entirely by volunteers and is still 

run by volunteers and we are proud to say that we are a totally 

independent resource. We also promote the development of selfhelp 

groups or other forms of support amongst people living with 

infertility. You can find our website at www.fertilityfriends.co.uk, 

anybody can sign up and use our resources for FREE! 

FR: Sounds like something our readers would love 

– why did you create your forum? 

TONY: Back in 2001 my wife and I were tackling the prospect of 

IVF treatment. At the time there was not much out there and we 

didn’t know anyone going through treatment, so looked online, 

hoping to connect with other couples who understood what 

we were going through. But we quickly discovered that there was 

a clear lack of online based support for couples, particularly 

those living in the UK. The only resources we could find were on 

American websites. However getting answers to questions with 

time zones getting in the way was more frustrating than supportive. 

IVF is painful enough, but the time zone differences meant 

waiting up to 6 hours for an answer to a post. 

This is when I threw around the concept of building an online 

support group for the UK. One evening in March 2001 I decided 

to play around with a few ideas that I had in my head and started 

to build something. Although, due to treatment and life getting in 

the way, the website was not fully realised until January 1st 

2002, with a public launch on January 11th 2002. 

FR: Can you tell our readers what they can expect to see on 

Fertility Friends; will they be able to find information posted 

by professionals as well? 

journey, or some are just going through a rough spot, and just want 

to voice their feelings. Other members have chosen alternative 

routes such as adoption and some have simply used us to find 

closure. Because of the huge size of our user base – visitors are 

sure to find someone with the same questions – and most likely, 

the answers to their questions. 

Our forum covers every conceivable (pardon the pun) area you 

could imagine with nearly 300 boards, from specifics – that cover 

treatment such as IVF, ICSI, FET through to international treatment at 

foreign clinics and of course, being a UK website, we also have areas 

specific to UK counties. Our popular areas include treatment diaries. 

In addition to the public areas, we also offer private areas for 

sensitive issues such as weight loss, relationship problems, and 

post natal depression. 

We have a team of registered nurses and professionals who 

answer fertility related questions on treatment and parenting. 

Gamble and Ghevaert have their own area where they answer 

questions on Fertility and Parenting Law. Human Resource specialists 

who answer questions on work related problems to do with treatment 

and Pharmacists who answer drug related questions. 

FR: So what do you think is your secret to your success? 

TONY: Our community is what makes our forum such a success, 

that – and the volunteer team that manage it. Currently our team 

is made up of 92 volunteer moderators and we have an additional 

26 currently going through training, which is a 3 month boot 

camp where they are brought up to speed with online law, our 

moderating methods, rules and our general philosophy. 

FR: Fantastic Tony, and finally what plans are in store for 

Fertility Friends? 

TONY: We are always thinking of great new ideas to improve 

Fertility Friends and offer more to our members. However we 

keep our plans top secret – Sorry, but my lips are sealed. 

TONY: Fertility Friends is a huge community of fertility patients, 

with over 400,000 visitors each month using our forums, galleries 

and chat rooms. Some members are just about to start their fertility 



What does Boston IVF do? 

A global leader in cutting-edge reproductive technologies 

and exceptional patient care, Boston IVF compassionately 

assists individuals and couples achieve their dream of 

starting a family. With more than 30,000 babies born 

since 1986 and each of our physicians on staff at Harvard 

Medical School, we are among America’s most experienced 

fertility centres. 

What services does Boston IVF provide? 

If you live outside of the USA and have questions about your 

fertility, Boston IVF has answers. Couples from all corners 

of the globe travel to Boston IVF to achieve their dream of 

building a family. Through a combination of appointments, 

phone consultations and local care, international patients 

can meet with our renowned fertility specialists. 

How can Boston IVF help? 

Boston IVF is a leader in reproductive science and has a 

history of “fi rsts” – including the first donor egg pregnancy 

and the first IVF/ICSI baby in New England. Our cuttingedge 

reproductive endocrinologists specialize in all aspects 

of fertility services, including: 

• IVF with donor egg 

• Same sex couples options 

• Gestational surrogacy 

• PGD 

• Embryo adoption 

• Second opinions & difficult cases 

Logistics 

Located just 14 miles from Boston’s Logan International 

Airport, Boston IVF will assist in securing reservations 

at a hotel close by to make sure your stay is as convenient 

and relaxed as possible. Call to inquire about our 

International Travel Package which includes 

discounted rates at local hotels. 

Length of stay 

We will help to coordinate all the necessary testing with 

the help of your doctor at home. Generally, most trips 

to our clinic last approximately two weeks. 

The city of Boston 

During your stay you will have the opportunity to tour 

the world-class city of Boston. Rich in history, culture and 

countless five-star restaurants, Boston is renowned as a 

“must-see” vacation destination. Your hotel concierge can 

assist you in experiencing what our great city has to offer. 

How can patients initiate a 

fertility evaluation at Boston IVF? 

Simple actually. Our Patient Liaison, Rhonda Gannon, 

is available by phone or email Monday to Friday to speak 

with individuals who have questions about their fertility 

or would like to schedule an initial consultation. 

Rhonda can be reached by calling 001 781-434-6500 

or via email by going to www.bostonivf.com 

and clicking on our Ask Rhonda page 

Helping build families for over 25 years 

www.bostonivf.com


GUIDES/ALTERNATIVE 

Helping you plan for every stage of your journey... 

WORDS | SUSAN COOKE 

THE NEW FERTILITY 

‘RELAXACISE’ 

You make time for eating right, exercise and taking your vitamins for 

health. Now it’s time to make a new habit involving relaxing the body 

for health and ultimately your fertility, Susan Cooke tells us more. 

Scientists continue to learn more and more about a 

powerful connection between the brain and body, and 

the importance of finding ways to lower our heart rate 

for even a small amount of time each day. Just like 

we exercise our bodies and increase our heart rate to improve 

circulation, reduce stress and lose weight, we 

need to exercise our minds and use relaxation to 

lower our heart-rate to also improve circulation, 

reduce stress and lose weight. This might even 

been called “Relaxacise!” in the future. 

For those trying to conceive, Relaxacise can be 

something you can do each day just for you – and 

you deserve it! We know that stress is one of those 

all pervasive elements that affects our reproductive 

health. And when we find ourselves with the 

unfortunate negative result month after month, 

we feel less and less in control of our bodies, our 

lives and our future and stress increases and compounds the 

problem. For many, stress can cause our bodies to be become outof-balance 

from a hormonal perspective and this can cause issues 

with our monthly cycle, ovulation or any other numerous problems 

that could plague our fertility. 

What are we to do? How do we “Relaxacise”? We actually have a 

great deal to learn from Monks who practice Buddhism. They are 

masters at relaxation and meditation and can literally regulate 

their own body temperature, among other amazing physical 

feats. Monks have been well known to be in freezing temperatures 

Relaxacise can be something you 

can do each day just for you – and 

you deserve it! We know that stress 

is one of those all pervasive elements 

that affects our reproductive health 

with only their robe on their bodies and have steam rising 

from their skin. They are masters in their use of their brains. They 

also have evidence of significantly greater brain activity, called 

gamma wave activity, in areas associated with learning and 

happiness, according to a recent study. Gamma waves involve 


mental processes including attention, memory, learning, and 

conscious perception. 

The good news is we do not need to become a monk to begin 

this wonderful restorative and healing process. We are also 

not suggesting to become a couch potato or shirking your 

responsibilities. What we are suggesting is that you need to 

exercise your brain, dedicating time, energy and focus to calm 

the body, which can positively impact our endocrine system that 

handles our hormones and reproductive capability. 

For those who don’t like to break a sweat with exercise, you 

will love integrating this healthy process into your daily routine. 

It’s about peace. It’s about deep relaxation. It’s about using the 

most powerful organ in your body to help your body find 

balance and make its way back to health: your brain. 

Circle + Bloom’s fertility mind-body audio programs make it 

easy to take 15 minutes each day to Relaxacise. The programs 

have been created based on the scientific research around the 

mind-body connection and are endorsed by numerous medical 

doctors, including Dr. Bernie Siegel. They are unique because 

they track to the daily changes your body goes through during 

your reproductive cycle, they also have a program designed to 

be specifically used during an IVF/IUI cycle. 

We asked Joanne Verkuilen, Founder of Circle + Bloom 

to give us a few suggestion on how to get started with 

Relaxacise, here are her recommendations: 

1Just like with exercise, schedule your Relaxacise into your 

daily routine. Commit between 10 – 20 minutes per day. If 

you need to, start with only 5 minutes and then work up to 

10 or more as you desire. 

2Find a quiet place and consider having relaxing music 

playing softly. This should be your time, when you will not 

be disturbed. Either sit with your back straight, recline or 

lie down. But make sure to position your body the same way 

each time. You will find that you will enter into deep relaxation 

quicker if you condition your body and its response by using the 

same posture each time. 

3Start your session with deep breathing exercises. While you 

deep breath, make sure to expand your abdomen cavity as 

far as it will go, and try to hold it there, and then take just 

as long to slowly exhale. Try to concentrate on your breathing 

during this time to quiet your thoughts as much as possible. 

4Progressively move through your body parts with relaxation 

in mind. Using your mind– with your eye’s closed – go 

through each body part, either starting with your feet, or 

head and work your way throughout your entire body saying 

the words “relax” or “heal” or “become quiet and heavy” – or 

whatever words that make sense to you. 

Top foods to eat to 

boost your fertility! 

A healthy weight and well-balanced diet for both 

men and women before you conceive will boost 

your fertility, ensure you are at the best of your 

health during pregnancy and make sure that you 

have the energy you will need when your baby 

finally arrives. 

Laura McLoughlin, 

Tesco Diets Nutritionist 

What’s important? 

Folate 

Why? Helps prevent neural tube defects in your developing 

baby. Foods: A 400mcg daily folic acid supplement, leafy 

green veg, beans and citrus fruits. 

Iron 

Why? Boots your iron stores to prepare for increased iron 

needs during pregnancy. Foods: Red meat, pulses, dried 

fruits and leafy green vegetables. 

Vitamin C 

Why? Improves iron absorption in your stomach and boosts 

immunity. Foods: Citrus fruits, kiwi fruits, berries, peppers 

and leafy green vegetables. 

Calcium 

Why? Essential for your baby’s development and helps to 

protects mother’s bones. Foods: Dairy, leafy green veg, dried 

fruit, sesame seeds, beans and chickpeas. 

Alcohol 

Cutting it out will boost fertility, remove any alcohol related 

risks when you do get pregnant and limit your intake of 

“empty” calories for a healthy weight. 

Special Offer for Fertility Readers! 2 weeks 

extra free* 

If you are looking to follow a healthy, balanced diet, we offer 16 

personalised diet plans and support from nutritionists to help 

you every step of the way. To find out more and get 2 weeks 

extra free go to www.tescodiets.com/fertility today. 

*10 weeks for the price of 8 at a cost of £2.99 per week. To avail of this offer you must go 

*10 weeks for the price of 8 at a cost of £2.99 per week. To avail of this offer you must go 

through www.tescodiets.com/fertility 

Above all, make sure that this time is enjoyable for you. It might 

feel like a chore at first, but speaking from experience, this time 

for yourself can open up a whole new world inside yourself. 

And then sit back and reap the positive benefits within your 

physical body as well as your feelings of control, overall wellbeing, 

and your life!

Giving Nature a Helping Hand 

At Benenden Fertility Centre we pride ourselves on being a caring organisation. We 

understand that you expect a personal approach to your fertility treatment and have 

invested in a state-of-the-art Centre, enabling us to combine pioneering techniques 

and tailor-made solutions which address your specific needs. 

Set in the heart of Kent and part of the award 

winning Benenden Hospital Trust, the 

Fertility Centre’s beautiful surroundings 

help to make your visits here as 

relaxing as possible. 

Services offered 

•In vitro Fertilisation (IVF) 

•Testicular Sperm Aspiration- 

TESA and Testicular Sperm 

• 

Extraction TESE 

Intrauterine inseminination 

•Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm 

Injection (ICSI) 

•Frozen Embryo Transfer 

(FET) 

•Surgical Sperm Retrieval 

•Fertility Drugs 

•Sperm freezing and 

• 

Embryo Freezing 

Blastocyst Transfer 

To find out more information please call: 01580 24 24 25 

or visit: www.benendenfertilitycentre.org.uk


GUIDES/FITNESS 

Helping you plan for every stage of your journey... 

WORDS | MICHAEL DOOLEY 

FIT FOR 

FERTILITY 

‘Fit for Fertility’ is a programme designed 

to ensure that couples attain maximum 

fitness, both physical and psychological, 

before embarking on natural or assisted 

conception, aiming to improve their 

chances of success. 

An integrated approach involving conventional and complementary 

medicine is individually tailored for each 

couple depending on their needs. During the pathway 

to pregnancy several practitioners will be working together to 

provide the utmost benefit for the couple. These may include 

acupuncturists, nutritionists and counsellors as well as conventional 

medical doctors. 

If surgery is required we work with a team of surgeons to offer 

the most appropriate care. The first step is to plan the journey 

giving the couple complete control over the type of treatment 

they require providing a positive attitude to the way forward. To 

this end they will need to ask themselves several questions which 

may influence the direction of their journey, such as: 

• Are you or your partner worried that you have not yet conceived? 

• Have you been unsuccessful in getting pregnant for over a year? 

• Do you have irregular periods? 

• Are your periods painful? 

• Have you or your partner been in a previous relationship 

in which attempted conception did not occur? 

• Has your partner suffered any testicular injury in the past? 

• Has your partner had any testicular surgery? 

• Have you had any major abdominal surgery? 

• Are you over 35 years of age? 

• Have you ever had an ectopic pregnancy? 

• Have you noticed any milk being discharged from your breast? 

• Do you have diabetes, Cushing’s disease or a thyroid disorder? 

• Are you overweight or underweight? 

• Are you and your partner unable to make love on a regular basis? 

• Have you ever had pelvic inflammatory disease, eg, chlamydia? 

• Has your partner ever had mumps? 

• Does your partner have difficulty in making love or have 

problems with ejaculation? 

Once all these questions have been addressed an individually 

tailored pathway can be embarked upon with hopefully a positive 

outcome. Along the pathway to pregnancy, the following needs to 

be taken into consideration: 

• Positive thought. This means that even adverse outcomes can 

give you an alternative way forward. 

• Team work. It is important to have a good support network 

including family, friends and health professionals. 

• Exercise. Fertility can be affected by too little or too 

much exercise. 

• DR AID. This is a key part of the programme in helping 

you plan your journey: 

Diagnosis of your problem – if any 

Review of the options for treatment 

Agreement on your treatment plan/journey 

Implementation of your plan 

Demonstration that your plan is working 

• Stress management 

• Lifestyle issues 

• Education 

• Goal setting 

• Appropriate surgery 

With the help of the above plan a positive attitude can be achieved 

which, in turn, will hopefully provide a positive outcome. 

Michael Dooley is a Consultant Gynaecologist and Director of The 

Poundbury Clinic which provides a balance of conventional medicine 

alongside complementary therapies. for more info please visit 

www.thepoundburyclinic.co.uk 


55

FERTILITY ROAD | Origin International Fertility Centre 

INTELLIGENT PROFILE 

The massive benefit offered by the hysteroscopy makes it almost 

mandatory in every patient before IVF and certainly in patients 

with repeated IVF failures and recurrent miscarriages. The procedure 

does not involve any cut on the stomach, nor any pain and is 

performed on a daycare base. In India, this can cost as little as £300. 

The role of 

advanced 

endoscopy 

in improving 

ivf success. 

Every effort must be made to maximize the chances of 

success in an IVF treatment. Failure of IVF treatment is 

a mental, physical and financial disaster. Maximum 

success is possible by thorough preparation of the couple 

prior to undertaking treatment. It is vital to define the exact cause 

of the infertility and to explain this to the couple along with the 

possible treatment options. Various tests are available which 

include blood tests of the couple, semen tests, ultra sonography and 

endoscopy. Endoscopy includes Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy. 

The role of Hysteroscopy in the success of IVF 

A Hysteroscopy is conducted under general anaesthesia. This 

enables diagnosis and at the same time, surgical improvement of 

the womb is also possible. It helps in detecting abnormalities at 

the neck of the womb, which can affect the procedure of embryo 

transfer. It can remove abnormalities inside the womb such as 

polyps, fibroids, adhesions and even womb defects from birth 

(Septum). These abnormalities not only decrease the success of 

IVF but, can also lead to miscarriages. The lining of the womb is 

an important factor affecting the success of IVF. This can be 

evaluated at this time. The hysteroscopy is followed by gentle 

curetting (scraping) of the lining of the womb. This is sent for 

microscopic assessment to the pathology department. Infection 

and hormonal abnormalities in the lining of the womb can be 

diagnosed and then treated, thereby improving the success of IVF. 

Improving IVF success rates with Laparoscopy 

A Laparoscopy involves putting a telescope measuring 5 to 10 

mm in diameter through the navel into the stomach. This helps 

us to visualise the reproductive organs (including the uterus, the 

fallopian tubes, the ovaries and the rest of the pelvis and abdomen) 

on the screen. Additionally, three small cuts of 5mm length may 

be required on the stomach to insert other instruments that are 

needed during the laparoscopy procedure. 

A proper transvaginal sonography is crucial to diagnose tubal 

disease, ovarian abnormalities, uterine factors and other pelvic 

abnormalities that can adversely affect an IVF cycle. Tubal disease 

includes infections that lead to fluid collection within the tubes 

(hydrosalpinx), the ovaries may have cysts and the uterus may have 

fibroids and polyps. If the ultrasonography has detected any of the 

above abnormalities, a laparoscopy becomes necessary to improve 

the outcome of the IVF cycle. If the tubes are infected and filled with 

fluid, they have to be disconnected from the uterus. If not, the 

unhealthy fluid can prevent the implantation of embryos in the cavity 

of the womb. It is important to ensure that both ovaries are free and 

located normally so that they are well accessible for the egg collection 

procedure. Ovaries can be adherent due to adhesions resulting from 

conditions such as endometrioisis, pelvic infections and previous 

surgeries. In these situations, a laparoscopy can help in the breakdown 

of these adhesions and free the ovaries. Before starting an IVF cycle, 

cysts in the ovaries need to be removed. These could be simple cysts, 

endometriotic cysts or even complex cysts such as dermoids. This 

improves the success of the IVF treatment. If the uterus has fibroids 

which are large (>4cm) and if they are located within the cavity or 

near the lining of the womb, then it may be advisable to remove 

them. These advanced procedures need special skills and are only 

performed in highly specialised units. 

Most women recover quickly from this procedure and are well 

and mobile within 48 hours. The majority of women are able to 

go home the next day. Major surgical procedures may need an 

extra few days for full recovery. A slight discomfort maybe felt in 

the stomach for first few days after the operation. 

A laparoscopy is a very commonly performed operation, but 

possible complications can include: bowel injury, bladder injury 

and vessel injury. These are very rare complications that affect less 

than 1 in 1000 patients. Complications are increased in patients 

with risk factors such as previous surgery with a midline vertical 

incision or repeated previous abdominal surgery. 

The hysteroscopy procedure is useful for almost all patients 

undergoing IVF treatment, but a laparoscopy is only needed 

in certain circumstances. With the help of modern technology, 

improved instrumentation, better imaging systems and more 

reliable energy sources, the chances of having a successful IVF 

treatment is greatly improved. 

The Origin International Fertility Centre 

Opp Hiranandani Meadows, Off Pokhran Rd 2, Thane (W) 400610, 

Mumbai, India. Tel: 0091-22-21712345/40, Fax: 0091-22-21712341 

info@theoriginfertility.com - www.theoriginfertility.com 


Delivering 24 chromosome 

aneuploidy screening 

The formation of an egg or a sperm with the correct quantity 

of genetic material is a complex process that can result in 

the incorrect number of chromosomes in a fertilised egg, 

a condition termed aneuploidy. 

With increasing maternal age a woman’s chance 

of suffering aneuploidy-related miscarriage increases 

significantly. In addition, many scientists believe that failure 

of IVF cycles is highly correlated with aneuploidy. 

24sure uses advanced molecular techniques which are 

now widely used in cytogenetics. These methods have 

been adapted to screen oocytes and embryos for 

aneuploidy prior to implantation. 

24sure is developed by 

BlueGnome Ltd, a leader in 

the field, and is now available 

through leading IVF centres 

in over 15 countries. 

For more information see 

www.24suretest.com 

BlueGnome, Cambridge, UK 

email: info@24suretest.com 

toll free US: 1-800-418-9656 

international: +44 (0) 1223 844441

SCIENCE | ovarian tissue freezing 

The Science behindOVARIAN 

TISSUE FREEZING 

Having read the fascinating journey of Joanne Gardner and her twin sister, 

the only two UK residents to have undergone Ovarian Tissue freezing, 

FR contacted Dr. Sherman Silber for the science behind the procedure. 

A 

successful case of human ovarian tissue transplantation 

between monozygotic (MZ) twin sisters discordant for 

premature ovarian failure (POF) was first reported in 

2005. Menstrual cycles resumed after 4 months, and 

spontaneous pregnancy occurred after the second ovulation, leading 

to the birth of a healthy child. 

Subsequently, a consecutive series of seven more successful cases 

was reported for a total of eight, all demonstrating ovulatory cycles 

with normalized FSH levels. Spare ovarian cortical tissue from the 

donor ovary was cryopreserved for future grafting as a backup in 

case the first transplant became depleted of follicles and ceased to 

function. In a ninth case a different technique was used, microvascular 

transplantation of a whole ovary, and this too led to a prompt 

return of normal cycles, pregnancy by natural conception, and the 

delivery of a healthy child. Thus far, 15 pregnancies and 12 healthy 

babies have resulted from these cases, none of whom required 

immunosuppression. 

Normal serum FSH and regular menstrual cycles returned by 

5 months after surgery in all cases, both fresh and frozen. Fifteen 

spontaneous pregnancies were established leading to twelve 

healthy live births. All three frozen tissue transplants conceived 

spontaneously, one delivered, and two were ongoing. Oocyte 

survival with slow freezing was 42% and after vitrification it rose 

to 89%. Ovarian transplantation in humans is a robust procedure, 

even after cryopreservation, vitrification might prove to be more 

effective than slow freezing. In the case of the twins, we now 

have evidence of long-term ovarian function, suggesting that a 

substantial reserve of follicles survives in fresh cortical grafts 

despite being subjected to lengthy ischemia compared with 

vascular transplantation. 

We have also found that slow freezing may cause significant loss 

of oocyte viability but with the vitrification technique for cryopreservation 

there is no oocyte loss. Therefore, the freezing and 

grafting of ovarian tissue for preservation of fertility in cancer 

patients has now been perfected and should be routinely practiced. 

The Cryopreservation procedure 

For slow freezing, after enucleating medullary tissue with a 

scalpel dissection, the cortex was pared down manually to an 

ultrathin translucent shell with a thickness of less than a millimeter. 

Tissue for cryopreservation was divided into multiple strips and 

transferred to cryovials after equilibration and then cooled at a 

controlled rate. Thawing was achieved quickly by agitating the 

vials in a warm water bath. 





Ovarian transplantation in 

humans is a robust procedure, 

even after cryopreservation, 

vitrifi cation might be more 

effective than slow freezing 

If the tissue used had thickened by contracting after thawing, 

it was pared down once again to less than 1 milimeter 

under an operating microscope with microsurgical scissors 

before the transplantation takes place. 

The chief significance of this long-term study of ovarian 

tissue transplantation is not so much for the twins who are 

discordant for POF, which will always be rare, but for young 

cancer patients needing fertility preservation. Ovarian tissue 

banking for a future transplantation provides another fertility 

option for these patients, and sometimes the only one available. 

At least 1 in 250 women of reproductive age is a cancer 

survivor, and nowadays 90% of them become long-term 

survivors depending on the type of disease. 

However, their treatments are likely to reduce their fertility 

or in some cases, render them completely sterile. Most such 

women with cancer are anxious to preserve their potential 

for having children genetically related to them rather than 

resorting to eggs from an unrelated donor or adoptions, 

which are not always available or desirable. 

While pediatric patients may not understand the full 

implications of cancer treatment for future parenthood, fertility 

preservation is equally important for them, as they do not 

have the option of using IVF technology for oocyte or embryo 

banking. Another indication for fertility preservation is ageing, 

particularly for women with a family history of POF, but also 

for those with normal ovaries who are increasingly postponing 

childbearing. 

The uterus does not seem to play a significant role in this 

age-related decline, as evidenced by the high pregnancy rates 

in women of advanced reproductive age who use oocytes 

donated by younger women. 

Whereas the twin series involved histo-compatible donor 

tissue instead of an autograft, and healthy individuals rather 

than cancer patients, this is the largest series of ovarian 

transplants to date with the largest number of pregnancies 

and live births. It provides rare information for guiding fertility 

preservation practices and counseling patients about the 

likelihood of success. All the surgical procedures and analyses 

of spare biopsy tissue were approved by the Ethics Review 

Committee and the Institutional Review Board of St. Luke’s 

Hospital, and both donors and recipients gave their written 

informed consents. 

Dr. Sherman Silber is based at The Infertility Center of St. Louis, 

Missouri. For more information about his procedures 

please contact the center on (314) 576-1400 or visit 

www.infertile.com 

WANTED 

FREELNACE 

ADVERTISING 

SALES EXECUTIVE 

VIBRATION MEDIA 

KEY OBJECTIVES 

To sell display advertising from your home over or other 

location within one (or more, if required) of Vibration Media’s 

titles/projects. Working to volume and revenue targets, 

the role involves selling direct to clients and to advertising 

agencies. The role-handler is expected to working within 

the framework of targets and publishing deadlines, actively 

source new revenue streams, and positively represent both 

Vibration Media and it’s corresponding commercial brands 

at all times to build strong relationships. 

We are always looking for enthusiastic people to join us. 

If you feel that you can add to our success and want to be 

appreciated for your effort, send a CV and a brief overview of 

what you believe you can add to info@vibrationmedia.co.uk 

WWW.VIBRATIONMEDIA.CO.UK 






CELEB 

NEWS 


AMONGST THE 

FLASHBULBS 


Surrogacy 

and the City 


THE CAPE OF 

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The lowdown 

on surrogacy 


OVARIAN TISSUE FREEZING ZITA WEST Q&A ROMANTIC GETAWAYS 

ADVERTISE 

HERE! 

CALL US ON 

+44 (0)208 316 4323 

OR E-MAIL US AT 

ADVERTISING@FERTILITYROAD.COM

Choice or 

Chance? 

We consider some of the choices 

facing would-be parents when 

selecting an IVF clinic. 

Last year, Professor Robert Edwards was awarded the Nobel 

Prize for Medicine. Together with Patrick Steptoe, he 

developed the treatment we now know as in vitro fertilisation 

(IVF). Since then, nearly four million babies have been born 

using IVF. 

One of the most diffi cult choices confronting couples as they 

begin the journey towards creating a family is the selection 

of a clinic. Factors infl uencing that decision include value for 

money, the proximity of the clinic to home and, of course, 

good success rates. 

Choosing the right clinic. 

However, it is important for clinics and parents to not only 

have the best possible chance of getting pregnant, but to 

remove as many practical pitfalls as they can. The last thing 

anybody would want is a repeat of September 2009, when 

Carolyn Savage, from Sylvania, Ohio, gave birth to a healthy 

baby boy who was not her own. She had been implanted with 

the embryo of another couple in February of that year. 

The heartache of this story was felt keenly by both couples – 

and will be understood by many readers, who know from their 

own experiences how much emotional energy is invested in 

every IVF attempt. Clinicians also understand this, and that’s 

why many of them take steps to avoid the possibility of a 

mix-up in the laboratory. 

Here in the UK, over a quarter of all cycles are monitored by 

a system called RI Witness. It uses Radio Frequency 

Identifi cation (RFID) technology to monitor all critical work 

carried out in the laboratory, thus creating a complete record 

of a patient’s cycle. It locks the patient’s identity to their 

sperm, eggs and embryos at every step of the treatment 

cycle, and warns clinical staff if a patient sample comes into 

proximity with samples from another patient. The system 

is designed to give everyone peace of mind that the best 

possible processes are being employed. 

“Every stage of the IVF process 

is continuously monitored and 

recorded in a patient log. That is 

immensely reassuring for both 

patients and clinicians.” 

Jane Pritchard, CRMF Sheffi eld, UK 

Background Information 

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), UK’s 

independent regulator of fertility treatment and research said 

332 incidents were reported in 2008/9, but pointed out this 

represented less than 1% of more than 50,000 cycles carried 

out. 

The BBC said incidents ranged “from technical failures to 

serious mix-ups including the wrong sperm being put with the 

wrong egg”. 

The BBC reported that a number of experts in the 

industry have called for tagging systems to be made 

compulsory at all clinics. 

25th of April 2010 at 19.30, BBC 5 Live 

The value of this technology is evident, as no one would 

want to see anything stand in the path of the happiness that 

Edwards’ and Steptoe’s work has brought to so many people. 

For a list of IVF clinics in the UK and Ireland that use the 

RI Witness system, visit: 

www.research-instruments.com/clinics 

 

- Witness

SCIENCE | selenium & Q10 

THE 

GREAT 

SPERM 

RACE 

Swimming upstream slowly? By taking 

Selenium and Q10 on daily basis you can 

improve the motility of sperm cells and 

increase the chances of a successful pregnancy. 

According to recent studies, it has been revealed that 

around one man in twelve suffers from male infertility, 

making up 50% of all couple related infertility cases in 

the UK. Often, the main reason for this is because the 

man is not able to produce enough healthy sperm for conception 

to take place. 

Most studies of sub fertile men have tended to concentrate on 

possible toxic factors in the diet, environment and workplace as 

potential factors, but it is only in the latter part of the twentieth 

century, that the deficiency of a key micronutrient called Selenium 

in human diets has been linked to immotile, deformed sperm and 

infertility. 

Selenium is a vital mineral that we get from our food and is 

integral to the functioning of certain proteins that are known to 

protect against DNA damage in cells as the sperm with damaged 

DNA, are much less capable of fertilizing the egg. 

Because sperm contains more selenium than other human cells, 

the highest concentrations are found in sexual glands and semen. 

Sperm cells are particularly dependent of selenium, as this nutrient 

is required for proper functioning of proteins in the tail that 

enables the sperm cell to swim forward. 

For that reason sexually active men need more selenium, as each 

ejaculation consumes a large quantity of selenium. Having sufficient 

selenium in the body is a good way of ensuring a normal, 

healthy sperm production. At the same time, it supports the body’s 

immune function where selenium also plays a vital role. 

It is not just how many sperm a man produces that is important, 

but also a matter of how well sperm is functioning. 

Selenium is a vital mineral 

that we get from our food and 

is integral to the functioning of 

certain proteins that are known 

to protect against DNA damage 

in sperm cells. 

This is where B-Daddy can help... 

Pharma Nord UK, is one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of 

preventive dietary supplements and herbal remedies, prepares to 

launch its latest all natural supplement, containing a special 

patented formula (manufactured in Denmark) with organically 

bound selenium. 

Each B-Daddy capsule contains 50mg of selenium (Seleno 

Precise®) and 50mg of Coenzyme Q10. 

Q10 is a vitamin-like nutrient that is present in all human cells, 

and is vital to the production of energy all over the body, including 

sperm. Low Q10 levels can be a contributing factor to problems 

such as sluggish or lazy sperm. 

For more information about how to maximise your chances of 

a successful pregnancy, please visit the B-daddy website at 

www.b-daddy.org 

WIN! 

Pharma Nord UK is giving 20 lucky readers the chance to win a months supply of B-Daddy 

– their latest all natural supplement to increase selenium and CoQ10 levels levels in sperm cells. 

To enter, simply email us your name and contact number to competitions@fertilityroad.com 


61

READER STORY | letter from the heart 

LETTER 

FROM THE 

HEART: 

KARIN’S 

STORY 

‘‘ 

Karin Thayer talks to Fertility Road 

about her infertility, willing herself 

pregnant and starting Fertility Planit 

It was my doctor in Copenhagen who told me over the 

phone that my FSH levels were so high I had reached the 

FSH cut off for their clients that they were willing to treat. 

Devastated by what he was telling me, I asked what he 

thought about using an egg donor, but was advised that donors 

were in short supply etc. and that my best option was to try a 

clinic in Greece! The final blow came when the doctor advised 

me that adoption would be near impossible because of my age 

and that I was a single parent. 

He finished by saying that there was nothing more that he 

could do to help me and then wished me luck. 

So that was that. There I was, almost 39 years old, and after 

3 years of failed fertility treatments, mounting debt, the loss of 

two natural pregnancies and the ending of a close relationship, 

I was being told by my fertility specialist that there was no longer 

any point in helping me to get pregnant. 

The end of my world? 

I thought of the huge chunks of my modest journalist’s salary 

I’d spent on years of travelling to Denmark, the complexities of 

arranging “shared care” fertility treatment with a hospital in 

Leeds, the debt I was saddled with from buying fertility drugs 

and undergoing IVF and IUI treatments. 

All the time I had conversations with friends and family 

members playing through my mind. 

“Fertility doesn’t last forever, you know.” 

“Why didn’t you just start in your 20s with one of those nice 

guys who liked you?“ 

“There’s more to life than having a baby, move on!” 

“No one tells us our eggs are dried up after 35, but I wish 

they would!” 

“How did a girl like you end up being single and childless at 

your age?” 

I felt exhausted and deflated as I sat in the living room of 

my 8th floor apartment in Leeds, phone still in my hand, I 

looked out at the grey skyline of my adopted home, this 

industrial but endearing Yorkshire city. Was I destined to never 

become a mother? 

I had explored the UK for fertility treatments, but due to the 

high costs and the shortage of sperm donors, I decided to go 

© Larra Anderson 


abroad to Copenhagen. I started going to the Danish Fertility 

Clinic, and then changed to the Copenhagen Fertility Center. 

Copenhagen is a magnificent, open minded city, full of 

charming neighbourhoods and beautiful people. I got to know 

it very well and can offer recommendations for the best value 

bike rentals and the yummiest Sunday brunches. In total I 

went through two IVF treatments and four IUI treatments 

there. I later travelled home to San Francisco and had 1 IUI 

treatment there to. 

Yet despite my rigorous, supplemental program of meditation, 

positive thinking, giving up alcohol and caffeine, exercising 

regularly, going to acupuncture and hypnotherapy sessions, taking 

expensive vitamin supplements and eating a mostly vegetarian 

diet, none of my fertility treatments were ever successful. 

Sven is someone I’ve known for over 20 years. He’s a talented 

interior decorator who lives in Hamburg, Germany. He’s well 

adjusted, free spirited and he’s gay. Sven can make me laugh in 

any circumstance and I always feel lighter, sexier and totally 

relaxed when I’m in his company. 

In the past we had talked about the possibility of him being 

my donor and even being a co-parent, but had never reached a 

firm conclusion. The door was still open. So during my birthday 

visit, after I told him the Danish clinic had given up on me, he 

generously offered, on the spot, to be my sperm donor. I was 

ecstatic at the prospect and couldn’t believe my luck that I was 

ovulating at the time. 

Two weeks later I started to feel exhausted and nauseous and 

decided to take a home pregnancy test. It came back positive! 

How starting my website 

was my saving grace 

Deeply disappointed each time a fertility treatment 

did not produce a pregnancy, I realised that I didn’t 

have the luxury to sit and grieve my disappointments. 

What I felt most important, in my late 30s, 

was to give my quest to start a family everything I 

had with the fertility I still had left. 

So after each failed treatment, I continued to save 

money, juggling my work schedule as a journalist 

with blood tests, scans and trips overseas, and to keep 

up with my healthy lifestyle regime I had set for 

myself, all the while feeling isolated and frustrated. 

As a single woman living in a foreign country, I 

didn’t have the usual support network of a partner, family and 

close friends around me. Instead, I would scour the web for 

resources and online support. What I yearned for was an 

efficient, modern, international website for all of my fertility 

needs. I wanted the ability to stay anonymous, to search by 

location or keyword for unbiased user reviews, resources and 

like-minded new friends. I also wanted to see adverts and 

special offers from services specific to a chosen region, and not 

in some unrelated part of the world. 

So, after much deliberation, in 2009 I decided to create the 

very website I never found. I decided to call it Fertility Planit and 

it’s like Facebook, but for the worldwide fertility community, 

bringing together patients, businesses and fertility resources all 

together in one place. 

The design and development of the site quickly gained 

momentum. And as I focused all of my free time and energy into 

creating my site, I felt a tremendous surge of satisfaction. This 

shift in transforming my negative energy into positive energy, 

forgetting myself by transferring my focus from my own worries 

to helping others, had a profound effect on bringing my mind, 

body and spirit into balance. I found myself feeling empowered, 

opening up to possibilities, and getting to a place where I’d be 

ok no matter what the future held. 

And then I got lucky 

In the Summer of 2010, having reached the end of my fertility 

treatment budget, and after taking some time to recover from the 

news that I was “untreatable,” according to my doctor, I decided 

that I would plan myself a really fun birthday. And for me, having 

a lot of fun usually involves spending some time with Sven. 

While it was not my first choice 

to “fly solo” into motherhood, I’m 

overjoyed about becoming a Mum 

and wish that I’ll be able to welcome 

a partner and perhaps his children 

into our family one day too. 

I couldn’t believe it. Finally I was pregnant and I’m now 

expecting to give birth to a baby boy in April 2011. I still view 

this as a miracle. 

Taking infertility into my own hands 

Sure I could’ve done without the tremendous financial expense 

and emotional anxiety of going through years of fertility treatments 

and discouraging results. However, it’s precisely those 

experiences which have led me to embrace the most wonderful 

present circumstances. 

I realise now that when a woman puts her mind to fulfilling a 

dream, she conjures a mighty powerful force. In my case, this 

force fuelled the discipline and hard work necessary to keep on 

trying to conceive and to launch my own business. In the process 

of bringing the website to life, I found the courage to pursue all 

of my options for creating a family. 

While it was not my first choice to “fly solo” into motherhood, 

I’m overjoyed about becoming a Mum and wish that I’ll be able 

to welcome a partner and perhaps his children into our family 

one day too. 

I encourage anyone who wants a child to consider what the 

priority is – is it about getting pregnant or becoming a parent? 

Sometimes we can’t do both. But I’m convinced that if we want 

to create a family, we can. It may just mean embracing a journey 

we never could have imagined. 

For more information on Fertility Planit please contact Karin via 

email at karin.thayer@fertilityplanit.com or visit her website at 

www.fertilityplanit.com 


63

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SUBSCRIBE TO FERTILITY 

ROAD TODAY AND SAVE! 

Fertility Road is Europe’s number one fertility magazine, aimed at guiding women and men on the 

path to parenthood. Its lifestyle-feel is a breath of fresh air in an industry sometimes obsessed with 

science, and in each issue we offer you the stories behind top celebrity names, plus advice, information 

and stimulating features from some of the UK’s most accomplished fertility writers, tackling issues 

ranging from health, diet, finance and travel, through to law, exercise and same-sex parenting. 

We showcase the latest developments and present your heartfelt and often optimistic stories. 

SUBSCRIBE NOW! You can subscribe by emailing subscriptions@fertilityroad.com or by following 

the ‘Subscribe Now’ link online at www.fertilityroad.com. Alternatively cut out this form and send 

it in the post to the address listed, attaching a cheque or postal order for the relevant amount. 

Yes, I would like to subscribe to Fertility Road magazine 

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THE CAPE OF 

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The lowdown 

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from Fertility Road, via email and SMS please tick this box 

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64 fertility road | march - april 

*International subscriptions with incur a small shipping charge, please see www.FertilityRoad.com for details.


BOOKS 

Our review of the latest fertility titles… 

The Inadequate Conception 

- Lori Green LeRoy 

Out now, £9.49 

Whether a couple needs two attempts to get 

pregnant or two hundred, most can relate 

to calculating menstrual cycles and trying 

to decipher ovulation test sticks. And 

there can be plenty of funny incidents and 

awkward and absurd moments along the 

way, whether trying to get sperm to meet 

egg involves candlelight and Barry White 

or Petri dishes and blastocytes. 

The Inadequate Conception tells the 

author’s and others’ real-life stories of trying 

to find two lines on a pregnancy test with a 

different behind the scenes look at infertility. 

Writer Lori Green LeRoy recaps both 

her own and many other infertile madcap 

journeys from the crazy stuff you try, the 

humiliation you suffer at the doctor’s office, 

the money you keep doling out, and how 

ridiculous this whole rollercoaster ride can 

be alongside the pain and tears. Sometimes 

you have to laugh to keep from falling apart. 

She explains of her book that “It’s kind 

of like sitting around a warm fire sharing 

infertile war stories with your closest 

friends. I laughed out loud many times and 

recalled some forgotten humiliation of my 

own while writing this book” 

PCOS and Your Fertility 

- Colette Harris and 

Theresa Cheung 

Out now, £11.00 

Recent studies show that many women 

with PCOS get pregnant and give birth to 

healthy babies, once they get some key 

symptoms under control by balancing 

underlying hormone levels, in many cases, 

without fertility drugs. 

This book is designed to help you 

maximise your chances of being able to 

get pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy. 

If you have PCOS, fertility is a big issue 

and chances are that you have questions 

about fertility buzzing around in your 

head: Am I fertile? What can I do to get 

pregnant? I’ve been trying for monthswhat 

next? Will Fertility drugs help me? 

Whether you’re trying to get pregnant, 

wondering about your chances of having a 

child in the future, or worrying about 

what on earth to do next, this book can 

help. Written by two women with PCOS at 

different stages of their fertility journeys, 

it will help you answer those unique PCOS 

questions, as well as give you the impetus 

to take action to boost your chances of 

fertility with simple self help strategies. 

Pink for a girl 

- Isla McGukin 

Out now, £8.49 

Pink for a Girl is an emotionally honest 

account of one woman’s experience of 

unexplained infertility that will strike an 

emotional chord with the one in six couples 

that experience fertility problems. 

“Knowing that you’re not alone can be 

a lifeline, knowing that someone – somewhere 

– knows exactly what you’re going 

through, knows exactly how you feel” says 

author Isla McGuckin. 

This book will also help to promote 

discussion between partners who are 

finding it difficult to name their feelings 

surrounding their own infertility. It will 

also prove invaluable for the friends, family, 

doctors and therapists of those couples; 

people who may have no idea of the depth 

and complexity of emotions surrounding 

the issue. 

At its most fundamental level, Pink for a 

Girl is a story about the writer coming to 

terms with infertility and about creating 

your own happy ending, and realising that 

even though life is seldom perfect, it can 

still be fantastic. 

Pink for a Girl is sometimes funny, 

sometimes sad, but always real. 

WIN! 

We have copies of the above titles to give away to 15 lucky winners, drawn at random. 

To enter, simply email your name and contact number to competitions@fertilityroad.com, 

stating your top two preferences of books. Entry closes on 20 May 2011. 

www.fertilityroad.com 65

FERTILITY ROAD | 

not forgotten 

Former Hollywood actress, sex symbol & 

founder of World Adoption International 

Agency – Jane Russell died February 28 

2011 at her home in California at age 89. 

Known for her films: Gentlemen Prefer 

Blondes with Marilyn Monroe, and The 

Paleface with Bob Hope, Jane Russell was 

discovered by eccentric billionaire Howard 

Hughes, who cast her in his 1943 western 

The Outlaw. Russell was a famous pin-up 

girl in the 40’s and 50’s, but her acting 

career faded by the 60’s. “You couldn’t 

go on acting back then if you were an 

actress over 30,” she mentioned in a 1999 

interview. 

An earlier abortion left Jane Russell 

unable to bear children which inspired her 

to become an outspoken pro-lifer and 

adoption advocate, founding the World 

Adoption International Agency. This agency 

has since gone on to aid in the adoption 

of thousands of children globally. 

Neither this publication nor its contents constitute an explicit endorsement by Vibration Media of the products or services mentioned in advertising or editorial content. The editorial content in this 

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

Vibraton Media shall have any liability for errors or omissions. Readers who have questions should consult their healthcare providers or other competent sources of information and guidance. 

© All copyright Vibration Media unless otherwise stated. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. 

© Allstar/Cinetext/RKO Radio Pictures 


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Fertility Road Issue 05

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