Fertility Road Issue 04

EUROPE'S NO.1 FERTILITY MAGAZINE
ISSUE 04 | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2011 £3.95/€4.95
YOUR PATH TO PARENTHOOD
ZITA
WEST
EXCLUSIVE
READER
Q&A
WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM
DOWN'S
SYNDROME
The tests explained
NEW YEAR
NEW YOU
Fitness, health
and fertility
“Having children
Jo Joyner
ISSUE
is a gift”
04 WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM
COOKING TO CONCEIVE CO-PARENTING FERTILITY CONSULTANTS

FERTILITY ROAD
CONTENTS
In this issue...
46
24
37
Cover image © Brendan O’Sullivan/ScopeFeatures.com
52
16 NEW YEAR, NEW YOU
How to ensure you get the most out of your
New Year fertility pledge
20 DOWN’S SYNDROME
Fertility Road puts some numbers behind the science
to explain the testing procedure in full
24 JO JOYNER
The Eastenders star speaks exclusively to Fertility Road
in a full-length interview that reveals her path to parenthood
37 EXPERT WITNESS: ZITA WEST
The UK’s leading fertility expert answers your questions
in her regular Fertility Road slot
40 FAMILY AND CO.
Hazel Davis examines the growing trend
of challenging the traditional family model
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
FERTILITY ROAD SCIENCE:
Genetic counselling, Cranial osteopathy
CONSULTANTS FOR CONCEPTION:
Behind-the-scenes with Lotus Blossom
NUTRITION:
Cooking to conceive with Dr Marilyn Glenville
CELEBRITY WORLD:
Fertility news amongst the flashbulbs
www.fertilityroad.com
03

The Zita West
Clinic
The The Zita West Clinic is is the the
UK’s largest integrated
clinic for for reproductive
health, combining
the the latest medical
thinking with expert
complementary treatments.
Each year, our our specialist team of of doctors,
midwives, nutritional therapists and and
complementary practitioners help help hundreds
of of couples to to get get pregnant, both both naturally and and
through assisted means - - most of of whom have tried
previously for for months and and years without success.
We We also also help help many more, who who are are going through IVF, IVF, to to
improve their chances of of success through expert preparation
and and support.
Fertility, conception, pregnancy and and birth are are whole-body
events and and an an integrated approach to to preparing for for them can, can,
we we believe, pay pay dividends, helping to to improve not not just just your your
fertility, but but your your pregnancy and and the the long long term health and and
potential of of your your baby too. too.
How we can help:
• • Just Just decided to to try? try?
Boost your your fertility and and improve your your pregnancy
• • Want to to know how how fertile you you are? are?
Take Take our our tailor-made fertility MOT MOT
• • Finding it it difficult to to get get pregnant?
Identify and and help help resolve your your problem
• • Planning on on having IVF? IVF?
Help Help increase your your chances of of success
• • If If IVF IVF fails fails
Help Help with with next next steps. How How to to move on on
• • Suffering from recurrent miscarriage?
Help Help to to find find a way a way through
Services we we offer:
• • Gynaecology • • Nutrition • • Counselling
• • Midwifery • • Acupuncture • • Massage
• • Embryology • • Hypnotherapy • • Fitness
Zita Zita West Clinics Ltd Ltd
37 37 Manchester Street, London W1U W1U 7LJ 7LJ
Tel Tel 0207 0207 224 224 0017 0017 Fax Fax 0207 0207 224 224 0062
www.zitawest.com
TO TO MAKE AN AN APPOINTMENT: 020 7224 0017
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
through www.tescodiets.com/fertility
2
D
w

ISSUE 04 | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2011 £3.95/€4.95
04 WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM
FERTILITY ROAD
CONTRIBUTORS
Introducing the Fertility Road panel of journalists and experts…
EUROPE'S NO.1 FERTILITY MAGAZINE
YOUR PATH TO PARENTHOOD
ZITA
WEST
EXCLUSIVE
READER
Q&A
COOKING TO CONCEIVE CO-PARENTING FERTILITY CONSULTANTS
ISSUE 04 - JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2011
Group Publishers:
Jeff Crockett, Giorgio Severi
WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM
DOWN'S
SYNDROME
The tests explained
NEW YEAR
NEW YOU
Fitness, health
and fertility
“Having children
ISSUE
Jo Joyner is a gift”
Welcome to the new issue of Fertility Road, Europe’s number one
fertility magazine. First things first, how are the New Year’s resolutions
going? Well, if they’re less ‘going’ and more ‘gone’, remember that
getting yourself in the best physical and emotional shape for starting
a family is an ‘all year round’ task! So to help you retain momentum,
we’ve put together an extensive guide that will not only offer advice
on what pledges to make, but will aim to solve the bigger problem -
namely, how to stick to them!
We’ve got brilliant interviews with Jo Joyner and our resident fertility
expert, Zita West, and present the usual cross-section of features,
encompassing everything from the issues surrounding Down’s
Syndrome to the emotional plusses and minuses of co-parenting.
Fertility Road aims to inform and inspire in a way that is direct, honest
and empathetic, whilst breaking down the science by being written in
good old-fashioned plain English. So we hope you’ll enjoy the issue, and
look forward to seeing you again in two months... James Evans, Managing Editor
Business Advisor:
Alessandro Severi
Managing Editor:
James Evans
Contributors:
Kelly Rose Bradford, Hazel Davis,
Carrie Dunn, Andy Greeves, Siobhan O’Neill,
Johanna Payton, Cathryn Pugh, Zita West
OUR WRITERS...
OUR 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.
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
www.fertilityroad.com
Follow us on Twitter
www.twitter.com/fertilityroad
Hazel Davis lives with her partner and two dogs in West Yorkshire. She writes
on a variety of topics for The Guardian, The Independent, Daily Mail, Financial
Times, Practical Parenting, Early Years and the music press. She has a particular
interest in lesbian and gay parenting and fertility issues and sings in a choir.
Andy Greeves is based in Dorset and works as Marketing & PR Officer for
the Bournemouth-based Anglo-European College of Chiropractic. His interest
in fertility issues stems from his mother Janet, who is alternative medicine
practitioner, so Andy has heard many happy pregnancy stories as a result!
Siobhan O’Neill is a mum to five-year-old Una and 11-month Aoife. As a writer
she specialises in features about parenting, health and nutrition. As a mum she
specialises in cuddles, snotty noses and messy dinner times. She has written on
the rollercoaster that is parenthood and pre-parenthood for a variety of titles.
Johanna Payton is a journalist, author and broadcaster who has been writing
about fertility, pregnancy and parenting since her son, Eliott, was born six years
ago. Her features have been published everywhere from Grazia to Maternity &
Infant magazines. She has conducted interviews whilst changing nappies!
Kelly Rose Bradford is a writer for the Daily Mail and Daily Express, and a
specialist in parenting and family matters. A huge fan of babies, home-birthing
and cloth nappies, she does not however weave lentils or hug trees. Kelly is
mum to seven-year-old William.
Carrie Dunn is a freelance journalist who has written for publications including
The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, Cosmopolitan and Pregnancy Baby
and You. When she’s not writing, she will be found at the theatre, at the
cricket, or playing World of Warcraft!
www.fertilityroad.com
05

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FERTILITY ROAD
NEWS
The latest developments from the fertility world
Baby born from embryo
frozen for over 10 years
© www.worldwidefeatures.com
Lisa and Adrian Shepherd from Willenhall, West Midlands, are
celebrating the unlikely birth of their third child, Ryleigh – who
is a triplet despite being born 11 years later after her two sisters.
The Shepherds had twins Megan and Bethan in August 1999
after a successful course of IVF treatment. The couple had initially
hoped to give birth naturally following their wedding in 1994, but
Lisa was diagnosed with endometriosis and polycystic ovarian
syndrome, preventing the possibility of natural conception.
At the time of Megan’s birth, the couple opted to keep 12
of Lisa’s healthy embryos frozen with a view to a possible
pregnancy in the future. It was at the start of 2008 that Lisa
and Adrian made the decision to try for another baby, a move
backed by their children. Nearly two years on, Ryleigh Shepherd
was born on November 20, 2010, weighing in at 7lb 10oz.
Funding for the couple’s IVF treatment was provided by
Walsall Primary Care Trust. After 18 months on a waiting list, they
were referred to Midland Fertility Services in nearby Aldridge.
Lisa, who is a 37-year-old hotel sales manager, recently spoke to
the media about her delight at the birth of baby Ryleigh.
And as she explained to the Birmingham Mail, Megan and
Bethan are equally ecstatic at having a little sister.
“Both girls were all for us trying for another baby and they adore
their little sister,” she said. “They are like two extra mums.
“We knew there was a good chance the IVF treatment
wouldn’t be successful and we tried to prepare for that. We’re
absolutely delighted at the birth of Ryleigh.”
Amazingly, there are cases of embryos being used successfully
after being frozen for as long as 20 years. A 42-year-old woman
in the US gave birth to a baby boy last October after her embryo
had first been stored in 1990.
TIGHT
RESTRICTIONS
ON HUMAN
EMBRYO
RESEARCH
COULD BE
LIFTED
The UK’s leading medical advisory body
NICE (National Institute for Health and
Clinical Excellence) has published a review
of rules and regulations that govern medical
research in this country. Many scientists have
complained of a ‘red tape’ culture in research,
which they believe is halting or delaying
various medical advancements being made.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley says
he supports NICE’s suggestions for the
introduction of a new body which will speed
up applications by scientists to conduct research and also make Britain a more attractive venue for drug companies and other
organisations to carry out trials. NICE proposes the creation of the Health Research Agency, which would be a so-called ‘onestop-shop’
for scientists seeking to gain approval for research. The current system sees researchers having to contact various
NHS trusts for permission to recruit patients, which can delay progress by months.
Crucially, the NICE report calls on tight restrictions on human embryo research to be lifted. The review suggests ditching the current
‘special status’ embryos, which would reduce the lengthy application and consultation process in place currently. The current status
can make it difficult for research to be approved in the first place, with permission only granted if work is deemed to be “necessary
for the health of humankind”.
The ‘Rawlins Review’ also recommends that the new agency takes over the current responsibility of the Human Fertilisation
and Embryology Authority and Human Tissue Authority, which are set to be disbanded. Andrew Lansley told the House of
Commons that: “National regulation and local governance of health research are too complex and scattered across too many
different bodies. The government welcomes the report and will consider carefully how to implement its recommendations.”
www.fertilityroad.com
07

FERTILITY ROAD
NEWS
The latest developments from the fertility world
‘HOW MANY
EMBRYOS
SHOULD I
TRANSFER?’
Andy Greeves explores
IVF’s age old dilemma
Deciding on how many embryos to transfer during IVF
remains the most difficult decision for patients and
doctors alike throughout a treatment cycle.
If numbers alone counted for anything, then the
choice between returning one or two embryos would be a no
brainer. Implanting two embryos almost doubles the chance
of having a baby to 42% likelihood, compared to just 27%
likelihood if only one is transferred*.
The early years after IVF’s development in 1978 saw the birth
of many twins and triplets, as doctors transferred multiple embryos
wherever possible in patients to increase the chances of pregnancy.
Sadly, many subsequent multiple births posed problems for both
mother and babies alike.
We now know that twins and triplets born through IVF are far
more likely to arrive prematurely than single babies and, in the
case of multiple births, at least one baby is likely to weigh less than
5lbs. Premature birth and low birth weight can lead to lifelong
health problems for some babies and, at worse, can prove fatal.
Clinics in the UK are permitted by law to transfer no more than
two embryos and some countries across Europe, including
Finland and Sweden, only allow single embryo transfer. Despite
measures to limit the number of multiple births through IVF
because of the implications, the number of women that give birth
to twins or more stands at one in five across Europe.
In 2003, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
(HFEA) estimated that 126 IVF babies who died during that year
would have survived had they been singleton babies. A study, led
by Yacoub Khalaf of Guy’s Hospital, London, in 2007, found that
IVF can be just as effective with one embryo as two.
Khalaf allowed embryos to develop in culture for five days,
rather than the usual three days, before transfer to the womb.
Nearly 200 Guy’s Hospital patients were treated using the method
with nearly 100 births. The chances of clinic patients having a
successful pregnancy rose from the national average of 35% to
41% in Khalaf’s under-35 patients, while he reduced the multiple
pregnancy rate from 37% to 19%.
“It is a myth that single embryo transfer has to lower the success
rate,” Khalaf commented at the time. “If you select the right patients,
and use blastocyst transfer, it can be just as good. We believe firmly
that a twin pregnancy is not an ideal outcome. People think it is two
for the price of one, but the risks are real and we see heartache time
after time. I would encourage every clinic to look at our results.”
Despite Khalaf and the HFEA’s findings, transferring more than
one embryo into the womb remains commonplace in fertility clinics
in the UK. Indeed, it is estimated that 90% of treatment cycles
in Britain involve the transfer of two embryos. The overriding
assumption amongst patients and medical professionals seems to
remain ‘two is better than one’ as far as embryo transfer goes.
A study recently published in the British Medical Journal has
again brought in to question the safety of multi-embryo transfer
for mother and babies. The research pooled the results of 1,367
women across Europe, who took part in trials comparing single
embryo with double embryo transfer.
While the trial saw an increase in the number of babies born
through double embryo transfer compared to single (42% v
27%), it also emphasised the problems that can arise through
double embryo transfer.
In total, 30% of babies born in this trial from double embryo
transfer were born prematurely compared to just 13% of single
embryo transfer IVF babies. After taking natural factors like the
mother’s age and weight into account, the risk of prematurity in
double embryo transfer rose to 33%. 28% of babies were also
born using double embryo transfer, while only 8% of single embryo
babies were.
Many experts, including fertility scientists Peter Braude at
King’s College, London, and William Ledger of Sheffield University,
are calling on the UK government to outlaw double embryo
transfer in IVF treatment. Mohamed Taranissi, Medical Director
of the Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre (ARGC) in
London, disagrees however. Taranissi believes that banning double
embryo transfer would reduce the number of twins born
through IVF only slightly, but would significantly reduce the
number of babies born through the technique overall.
For the average couple using IVF, the debate over double embryo
transfer compared to single embryo transfer can be confusing.
While opinion as to which technique to use remains divided, what
should be remembered is that pregnancy rate is only one aspect to
think about when weighing up your options. The health and wellbeing
of mother and babies is an equally vital consideration.
* Figures from McLernon DJ, Harrild K, Bergh C et al (2010) ‘Clinical effectiveness
of elective single versus double embryo transfer: meta-analysis of individual patient
data from randomised trials’.
08 fertility road | january - february

FERTILITY ROAD
FERTILITY FINDS
The latest gadgets, gismos, applications and supplements…
Pregnancy Companion iPhone App
The Pregnancy Companion iPhone App is the first all-encompassing iPhone application
for women expecting a new baby. It’s beautifully designed, and organised in a very fun,
easy to use way that will inform and enlighten you on your path to parenthood.
Pregnancy Companion is written and designed by two board-certified
obstetricians with over 25 years of experience and more than 8,000
deliveries. It offers week-by-week illustrated updates on developmental
changes in you and your baby, a built-in calendar, extensive answers
to pregnancy-related questions and ‘at-a-glance’ lists of what to
expect and prepare for during different stages of your pregnancy.
There’s also information about nutrition, drugs, safety, weight,
plus alternative therapies; and for when the big moment arrives,
comprehensive lists detailing what to buy for your baby. This all-inone
app is available now.
PRODUCT
OF THE
MONTH
Price 65p from iTunes or visit www.pregnancycompanionapp.com
First Response
- Early Result Pregnancy Test
The First Response Early Result
Pregnancy Test enables you to get your
result quicker than you would with any
other pregnancy kit. It is so sensitive that
most pregnant women have enough of
the pregnancy hormone, hCG (human
chorionic gonadotropin), to be detected
as early as six days before the day of
your missed your period. First Response
detected hormone levels consistent with
pregnancy in 62% of women six days
before the day of missed period, and in
78% of women five days before. For early
alert, First Response is true to its name!
Price 2-pack for £7 from all good chemists
Kush
- Breast Support
The Kush Breast Support is now available
in the UK following its launch in the US.
Kush is used as a non-invasive comfort
and support in the breast area for
women with C-Cup or larger breasts
(both natural breasts and implants)
and who sleep on their sides. Kush is
suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding
women, and is endorsed by US plastic/
reconstructive surgeon Dr Peter L Tucker,
MD, and chiropractic physician Henry E
Rice. Kush is available in three sizes and
seven colours.
Price £29.99 plus p&p from
www.thekushcompany.com
The Diet Plate
- Portion control made easy
It is well documented that carrying too
much weight can affect fertility, though
Diet Plate is portion control made easy.
After all, being the right weight for your
height will give you the best chance
possible of becoming pregnant or getting
onto the NHS list for IVF treatment. Diet
Plate is a weight management solution
consisting of a portion control plate and
bowl, in female, male and child versions,
which is calibrated to give you the right
proportions of food groups and just the
right amount of calories.
Price £21.99 plus £3.99 p&p from
www.thedietplate.com
10 fertility road | january - february

FERTILITY ROAD
NEWS
‘SAVIOUR
SIBLING’ IVF
THERAPY USED
FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN UK
Anine-year-old girl from the UK, born with a rare
form of anaemia known as ‘Fancomi’, has been
saved from the life-threatening disease through
the use of IVF.
The girl was born with Fancomi anaemia, after
inheriting it from her parents who were unknown carriers
of the faulty gene. She developed bone marrow failure as a
result. A worldwide search was unsuccessful in trying to find
her a suitable bone barrow donor and tests on her older
brother proved that he was unsuitable.
The family, who wish to remain anonymous, discovered
that embryos could be screened to find a potential suitable
donor match for the girl. Doctors at the Care Clinic in Nottingham
did exactly that and after overcoming selected legal hurdles,
the couple were able to proceed with the birth of a so-called
‘saviour sibling’.
Upon the birth of their new baby boy, doctors stored
umbilical cord blood - which contains stem cells and recently
collected bone marrow - from him to give to his sister. The girl
is recovering in hospital at Addenbrooks in Cambridge and is
expected to be back at school in the near future.
This case is a first in the UK. In 2003, Michelle and Jayson
Whitaker from Derbyshire travelled to the United States to
carry out the same practice as British law prevented it at the
time. They needed a ‘saviour sibling’ to prevent the death of
their son, who also had a dangerous form of anaemia.
Simon Fishel, Managing Director of the Care Clinic, told The
Guardian: “We are delighted at this outcome for this family. This
is absolutely a positive life-giving medicine... Many specialists
do not know that this procedure is available in Britain – patients
are told to have more children and that with luck one might be
a suitable donor, or they are told they have to go abroad.”
The clinical procedure cost £10,000, which was paid for by
the couple’s local primary care trust.
Get expert
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IV

FERTILITY ROAD | DuoFertility
AS EFFECTIVE AS
IVF, AT A FRACTION
OF THE COST
Exciting new research offers renewed hope
to couples wanting a natural pregnancy…
Fertility Road readers who are considering IVF would
have been very interested in some amazing research from
DuoFertility that hit the headlines at the end of 2010.
A paper presented at the prestigious 2010 World
Association of Reproductive Medicine Annual Congress revealed
99 couples using DuoFertility who had either previously undergone
IVF or who were awaiting their first IVF procedure, demonstrated
pregnancy rates after six months of use that were as good as a
cycle of IVF, and at a fraction of the cost. Not surprisingly, this
was picked up by the national media and widely reported, as the
implications are potentially exciting, both for couples with fertility
problems and for the NHS.
One particularly interesting part of the research was that pregnancy
rates in older women (age 37 and over) appeared to be higher
with DuoFertility than with IVF. This may be due to the reduced
physiological stress of using DuoFertility compared to hormonal
downregulation and stimulation induced during a cycle of IVF.
A further interesting finding was that women with secondary
infertility (namely, women who had previously had one or more
child) also had significantly higher pregnancy rates with DuoFertility
than with IVF (28.5% compared to 21.5% for a cycle of IVF). This
may be, in part, because DuoFertility maximises the chances of
natural conception, which of course relies on the couple being at
least partially fertile. In the case of secondary infertility, more often
than not, fertility is likely to have already been proven.
This research is particularly encouraging in light of the length of
time taken for the typical UK couple to receive NHS-funded IVF -
three years (for cases of unexplained infertility).
It means couples can use DuoFertility whilst
waiting for IVF with their chances of conceiving
being at least as good as for the IVF procedure
itself. DuoFertility is also considerably less
invasive and less stressful compared to a cycle
of IVF, and much less costly.
DuoFertility was developed by Cambridge
University scientists who invented a new way
to detect and analyse the physiological
parameters that determine when a woman is
most fertile up to a week in advance, as well
as confirming that ovulation has occurred.
Because it is fully automated it cuts out the
need for time-consuming measuring. Better
still, by removing any human error it provides
extremely accurate results even in women with
irregular cycles or with hormone-imbalance
conditions like PCOS.
At the heart of the unique DuoFertility
approach is a tiny sensor worn under the arm as
a patch. This minute sensor takes thousands of
precise readings throughout the day. Every few
days this data is downloaded to the handheld
reader at the touch of a button and fertile
days can be seen up to a week in advance. The
reader can also be plugged into a computer,
allowing your complete fertility cycle to be
seen on screen – including fertile days and
confirmation of ovulation.
Every time you download data to your computer,
it downloads securely to the DuoFertility
Fertility Centre where it is analysed by DuoFertility’s team of
highly-qualified fertility consultants. This means every DuoFertility
customer has access to fertility experts who know their fertility
cycle in great detail and can act as fertility coaches to provide
invaluable, personalised help and support. Every user also receives
a comprehensive fertility report which provides detailed insights
into their fertility cycle. This should prove invaluable in discussing
fertility with doctors and specialists.
So confident are the makers of DuoFertility in their system that
they offer a ‘get pregnant in 12 months or your money back’
guarantee, subject to standard conditions (see product information
for more details). So the best-case scenario is that you could soon
be enjoying a natural pregnancy as DuoFertility is proven to be at
least as effective as IVF at a fraction of the cost. DuoFertility’s
team of highly qualified fertility consultants will be pleased to
answer your questions - why not get in touch now?
DuoFertility is available direct from the company via their website.
Fertility Road readers will not only enjoy individual support from a highlyqualified
fertility expert, but should also be eligible for the unique
DuoFertility money-back guarantee. www.duofertility.com/FertRd
The help and support you need to get pregnant - naturally
12 fertility road | january - february

FERTILITY ROAD
CELEB NEWS
Fertility news amongst the flashbulbs
A-LIST
FAMILY
MATTERS
Paying someone to put little
needles in you may seem crazy,
but Mariah Carey swears that
she has acupuncture to thank
for her twin pregnancy.
After a miscarriage in 2008, 41-year-old
Carey and husband Nick Cannon have
struggled to get pregnant again. Recently,
she has been taking the hormone Progesterone
to boost fertility and increase her chances
of carrying a pregnancy to full term, and has
combined that with Chinese medicine.
That has meant daily acupuncture treatments
“all over her body,” reveals Cannon.
“I think it helped her quite a bit, because it
was a good de-stressor.” Carey confirms
that it helped her to relax: “I was getting
acupuncture, like, once a day at least. It
was on a schedule, everything. For the first
time in my life, I spent time in one place.”
In fact, Carey credits last issue’s cover
star Celine Dion – also a Chinese medicine
devotee - for prompting her to try acupuncture
to help her get pregnant. “Celine was
talking about acupuncture. I used to get
acupuncture, and I had
never thought of it
with regards to the
‘trying to conceive’
situation,” she says.
Whatever you think of alternative medicine
(and irrespective of the fact medical experts
are yet to find scientific evidence to suggest
that it makes a difference to the chances of
a pregnancy succeeding or not), it certainly
seems to have worked for them – they’re
having twins this spring. Seeing his wife’s
face when they learned the treatments had
worked “was priceless,” Cannon says. “We
definitely cried. We still cry all the time. It’s
an emotional journey.”
Another journey of a different kind
reached its culmination on Christmas Day,
when rock legend Sir Elton John and husband
David Furnish became the parents
of a baby born to a surrogate mum from
another woman’s donor egg in the USA.
According to friends, the couple have
agreed that they will be equal parents, and
will not be announcing which of them is the
biological father, though they may tell little
Zachary if the question arises in the future.
They had previously looked into adopting
two HIV-positive babies from the Ukraine,
but were blocked because the country does
not recognise same-sex marriage, so instead
they are now putting their efforts into
finding the boys another loving home.
14 fertility road | january - february

The pair said, via a spokesperson: “We
are overwhelmed with happiness and joy
at this very special moment. Zachary is
healthy and doing really well, and we are
very proud and happy parents.”
And it appears that Elton and David have
been seeking advice on parenting from
celebrity friends who faced their own fertility
issues - Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband
Matthew Broderick, who had their toddler
twins Marion and Tabitha by a surrogate
mother. “Sir Elton and David had become
extremely interested in surrogacy by the
time they spoke to Sarah and Matthew,” a
friend of the couple said. “Even so, they
were able to give them an insight into how
they coped with a high-profile surrogacy -
both the ups and the downs.”
Singer Ricky Martin is another with
twins by a surrogate – he had his twin
boys Matteo and Valentino via surrogacy
in 2008, and has been talking about how
fatherhood has changed him.
“When you are young you are open to
taking risks and are not afraid of anything,”
he says. “Now my priorities are
different. I have children and they are the
most important thing in my life.”
He loves being a parent so much that
he’s now considering extending his family.
“Even though I started with surrogacy,
adoption is probably my next step,” said
the 38-year-old, who had considered adopting
a child before the birth of his babies.
And it seems actor Neil Patrick Harris
and his partner David Burtka are the latest
to welcome twins born via surrogacy. The
How I Met Your Mother star announced the
Neil Patrick Harris & David Burtka
IVF can be stressful for the woman with
all the hormone injections and procedures.
When the fi rst attempt didn’t work, I said to
Penny, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll keep trying’
- Rod Stewart
birth of Gideon Scott and Harper Grace by
tweeting that: “All of us are happy, healthy,
tired, and a little pukey.” He’s since revealed:
“We found an egg donor anonymously
through a hilarious process of looking at
people’s profiles, and then an amazing
surrogate who had helped same-sex couples
before. And then we inserted two eggs,
one with my sperm, one with David’s
sperm and they both took.”
Model and former Strictly Come Dancing
star Penny Lancaster announced at the end
of last year that she and husband Rod
Stewart needed three cycles of IVF to get
them pregnant again.
Stewart says: “IVF can be stressful for
the woman with all the hormone injections
and procedures. When the first attempt
didn’t work, I said to Penny, ‘Don’t worry,
we’ll keep trying’.”
The pair are already parents to a little
boy, Alastair, and had tried for two years
to give him a brother or sister. They’re now
expecting a baby in March and Lancaster
says: “Our son’s happiness made all the IVF
treatments worthwhile.”
But not everyone ends up with a happy
end result, and it unfortunately seems that
the considerable and sometimes unrelenting
pressures of IVF were enough to bring
about the end for Katie Price and husband
Alex Reid.
Katie said recently, “It is a struggle. My
hormones are up and down and I don’t like
needles. My body’s gone through too much.
I know I’m lucky to have three beautiful
children, and if we aren’t successful in our
IVF attempts then we’ll adopt.”
But Alex’s apparent desperation to father
through IVF appear to have loaded excessive
strain on the marriage. He had stated that
having babies (up to four) were the first
thing on his mind when he married the
former model.
www.fertilityroad.com
15

FEATURE | health
WORDS | RICHARD ALDHOUS AND ANDREW LOOSELY
16

There has never been a better time to
really get your body in perfect fertile shape.
New Year’s resolutions often fall by the
wayside because there is no definite end
goal. But improving your body health and
wellbeing for the specific purpose of being
in the best possible shape for conception,
means potentially laying the foundations
for a pledge or resolution that is significantly
more real and long-lasting than the Atkins
diet or a trip to the gym. And the reward?
Well, let’s just say it will change your life…
Even the most important and determined
New Year’s resolutions can fail, and more
often than not it’s because a person’s
willpower finds itself dragged down and
beaten into submission.
Simply, to maintain willpower, you need to maintain
focus. If you are clear in your ambitions and have a
path that is obstacle-free and inviting, then you’re
giving yourself the best chance of achieving your goals.
Of course, temptation will always present itself – we
wouldn’t be human without this emotion – but given
the right planning, it can be pushed to the background
if your drive and determination is secure and certain.
To make that possible we’ve subverted the infamous
Seven Deadly Saviours to Seven Definitive Saviours.
First, we’ll leave Andrew Loosely, author of The Ultimate
Fertility Guide, to present his collection of New Year
fertility tips. Then we’ll describe a further seven ways
that will ensure you know how to stick to your pledges.
And if you’re flicking through this issue a few months
down the line, don’t let the fact that the year has
already started put you off, because good fertility
health and habits can be commenced at any time - it
just requires courage, conviction, and a constant belief
that you will achieve your aims…
»
www.fertilityroad.com
17

FEATURE | health
SEVEN NEW YEAR
FERTILITY TIPS
BY ANDREW LOOSELY
If you’re looking to have a baby in 2011, then this is a great time
to start making some resolutions to help increase your chances
of successful pregnancy.
Life generally tends to be a bit calmer after the hectic
Christmas celebrations so it’s a little easier to start reflecting on
areas in your life that you could change.
To help get you started I’ve listed the seven most important
tips for increasing your chances of successful pregnancy whilst
helping your body get in shape quickly.
Follow these tips as often as you can to improve your chances
of successful pregnancy.
1. Eliminate Stress
The number one contributing factor to infertility is stress. Avoid
it if and where possible, or change the way you approach it.
Persistent low-grade stress is the most harmful. Try to take some
time out for yourself every day and allow yourself periods where
you relax completely and calm your mind down so that you feel
at ease. Literally empty your mind of things to do, let it go quiet
and just drift. You could do this in the bath or just sitting down
somewhere peaceful and without interruptions.
Do this every day and you’ll quickly notice a difference in how
you feel. Try some simple meditation or fertility hypnosis CDs too.
2. Quit Smoking
We all know that smoking is bad for us but when it comes
to fertility issues its negative effects are even more
profound. Smoke decreases the oxygen level in your blood
and so less oxygen is carried to your cells. Without a good
supply of oxygen they cannot work properly. If your
body doesn’t work at its optimum level then, it
follows, you will reduce your fertility success too.
3. Reduce Alcohol Intake
Ideally, you should stop consuming alcoholic drinks at least two
months before actively trying for a baby.
There are many issues with alcohol when thinking about
improving fertility. One aspect is that it weakens your body’s
energy due to it being a poisonous substance. This means that
your body has to work extra hard to get rid of the waste from the
alcohol and this uses up more energy. The more energy you use,
the less energy there is for other functions within the body, and
so the reproductive system becomes less efficient.
4. Avoid Pain Relief Drugs
A recent study at Oxford University has shown that pain relief
drugs stop ovulation and therefore reduce the chances of
conception. Where possible, move to natural pain relief and use
treatments such as acupuncture to treat the cause of the pain.
5. Stay Warm
Keep your lower back, lower abdomen, legs and feet warm at all
times. Wear plenty of clothes so the skin in this area feels warm to
touch. This is a powerful principle of Oriental medicine and it works
very well. The reason for this is that when the lower abdomen and
lower body become colder, the blood cannot circulate as efficiently
through this area and the blood supply to the uterus is also impeded.
This normally results in pain at the beginning of your period.
Keeping these areas warm allows the blood to circulate more
freely and more efficiently to the uterus, which increases the
success rate of implantation.
6. Go Organic
Eat organic food where possible, particularly meat, to avoid harmful
pesticides and growth hormones that upset your natural hormone
balance. Sadly, our food and water today is quite contaminated and
many people are not aware that this is a contributing factor towards
unexplained infertility.
Our bodies absorb the growth hormones in non-organic meat and
this causes our own hormone levels to come out of balance. This
negatively affects the reproductive system and reduces the chances
of pregnancy.
Our bodies are simple and need natural and clean foods that
are not laden with synthetic, manmade chemicals. Eat organically
to redress the balance.
7. Reduce Carbs
Try to reduce your intake of simple carbohydrates
- flour-based foods such as pasta and bread.
These products convert to sugar rapidly in the
body and cause problems with your blood sugar
level, which affects your insulin level. This is linked to
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and of course diabetes, along
with other issues relating to infertility or conception problems.
All vegetables contain carbohydrates (but a complex
type which are good for you). Just eat lots
of vegetables, particularly green leafy ones
and some red and white meat too, for a
completely natural and balanced meal.
18 fertility road | january - february

5. Rate Your Progress
Mentally ‘download’ progress every couple of days, and
again at the end of each week. Go back to your original
aims and ensure that you are where you want to be.
If you are falling behind, construct a plan so that you
are able to catch up. While it’s important not to be too
harsh on yourself, the reality is that you are the only
person who can really help you achieve what you want.
6. Offer Yourself Rewards
Your resolutions may be depriving you of some things
you have come to know and enjoy, but that shouldn’t
prevent you from giving yourself a pat on the back in
other ways. List a set of potential incentives, and award
yourself one at the end of each significant milestone.
The tips on the previous page should help you avoid the more damaging
factors in your environment and lifestyle. However, knowing what to
improve and being able to stick to it are two very different things. Here is
our guide to ensuring you can maintain to your new regime:
1. Be Ambitious
The glass is always half full, and positive thinking will do your fertility hopes
no harm at all. Think big, picture your ultimate aims, and always come back
to that image when you feel things might be going against you. Dreams and
aspirations are inspiring and the things that motivate us to get out of bed each
morning. Write these down and discuss them with a partner or friends.
7. Talk to Others
In 2011, the global communication angles are greater
than ever. Support is available at every turn, with people
spread all across the world experiencing similar emotions
to yours. Always be willing to reach out and share your
experiences. While the empathy is undoubtedly good for
others, it is ultimately the most rewarding for yourself.
2. Take It One Step at a Time
While it’s important to be ambitious, you must be realistic at the same time. The
best way to achieve this is to segment your hopes so that you can tackle them
in bite-sized chunks. Create action steps and address each one individually –
what do you need to do to overcome this; where and how will you begin?
3. Set a Time
It’s human nature to let things drift, so be determined and
stubborn in setting yourself deadlines which need to be
adhered to. You need to constantly remind your subconscious
that this is a set process of goal-setting and goal-hitting.
4. Chart Your Progress
The best way to record and interpret your efforts is to note down your
progress at every step. Create lists, charts, graphs… whatever works for you,
but ensure you keep material up-to-date as a constant reminder of the
journey you are on.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
To find out more about The Ultimate Fertility Guide,
visit www.naturalfertilityexpert.com
TELL US
ABOUT YOUR
EXPERIENCES:
We’d be delighted to hear how your New Year’s resolutions go this year. No
matter what stage of the process you are at, our readers would love to share in
your experiences along the way. If you’d be interested in documenting your year
ahead, please write in to Fertility Road magazine at editor@fertilityroad.com
www.fertilityroad.com
19

FEATURE | Down’s Syndrome
It’s a fear of every parent-to-be, where a single additional
chromosome can make a life-changing difference. Hazel Davis
breaks down the science behind the Down’s Syndrome tests...
You’ve been trying for what feels like 100 years to
have a baby. When you finally make it the elation is
indescribable. You did it. You got there! But as any
parent will tell you, the fertility worry was nothing
compared with every other worry to come - screening being the first.
If you’re over 35, chances are your doctor or midwife will have
talked to you about the possibility of screening for Down’s Syndrome.
Down’s syndrome is defined by the presence of an extra
chromosome (number 21). Around one in every 500 babies is
born with Down’s Syndrome.
Many parents-to-be decide not to take the tests at all and accept
whatever hand fate deals them. Others want the test for peace of
mind and others will make a big decision based on the results.
Anyone who’s ever endured the tests (this author being no
exception) will know that they can be a veritable minefield of
confusion and panic. The sonographer will tell you that they are
“only an indication” and so you gravitate towards forums populated
by people who toddle on with scare stories and (invariably) lower
nuchal fold measurements than yours. Now and again someone will
wander on and say, casually, “Of course all my scans were fine and
I now have a healthy, happy Down’s Syndrome baby”. Gulp.
A nuchal translucency (NT) test is a screening test that estimates
the risk of your baby having Down’s Syndrome. Diagnostic tests,
such as CVS or amniocentesis, will give you a definite diagnosis
(though these carry a small risk of miscarriage).
The NT scan looks at the collection of fluid under the skin at the
back of the baby’s neck. It’s usually measured between 11 and 13
weeks (after 14 weeks this excess fluid may have been absorbed).
Many Down’s Syndrome babies have been shown to have an increased
amount of fluid. An NT measurement of up to 2mm is considered
normal at about 11 weeks and up to about 2.8mm by 13 weeks
and six days. The NT normally grows in proportion with the baby.
Currently the NT scan is only offered routinely in some NHS
antenatal clinics. Very few hospitals offer the NT scan combined
with the blood test. Those that do often don’t factor in the nasal
bone (tests have showed that the presence of a nasal bone
decreases the risk of Down’s Syndrome).
Professor Howard Cuckle is Adjunct Professor of Obstetrics and
Gynaecology, Columbia University, New York, USA, Emeritus
Professor at the School of Medicine at the University of Leeds and
director of Genome Ltd (Leeds Screening Centre). He has been
doing Down’s Syndrome screening for 20 years and testing in the
first trimester for the last decade.
He says, “We like to use as many markers as possible and there are
around 20 or 30 of these, some of which only have a small benefit.
Our policy is that if you can afford it, why not use them all?”
The most powerful marker is the nuchal translucency (NT)
thickness but, says Professor Cuckle, “all of the markers are relatively
poor, it’s just that NT is the best. You make progress by
combining them.”
20 fertility road | january - february

words | Hazel Davis
© Science Photo Library
The old wives’ tale is that only older mothers
give birth to Down’s Syndrome babies but, says
Professor Cuckle, age is the worst marker of all. The
risk does increase exponentially with age but on its
own it’s not enough. The risk associated with age,
he explains, is probably to do with aging female sex
cells. “You use up your best cells first and you have a
diminishing pool of cells as you get older”.
Next to the NT measurement, the strongest markers
are the biochemical markers. The strongest of these
being PAPP-A (pregnancy-associated plasma protein
A) and free-beta hCG. And it’s these which are used in
the combined test along with the AFP and uE3 (slightly weaker
markers). In a foetus with Down’s Syndrome, PAPP-A levels are
roughly halved, hCG levels are doubled, the NT is increased by
two thirds and AFP and uE3 are reduced by a quarter. All these
things, says Professor Cuckle, vary independently of each other
and have to be added together to make any sense.
Studies have shown that these biochemical markers can
vary according to a number of factors. For example, serum
marker levels tend to be decreased in heavier women and
increased in lighter women. AFP levels tend to be about
20% higher, free ß-hCG levels about 10% higher and PAPP-A
levels about 60% higher in Afro-Caribbean women than in
Caucasian women.
The old wives’ tale is that only
older mothers give birth to Down’s
Syndrome babies but age is the worst
marker of all. The risk does increase
exponentially with age but on its
own it’s not enough.
Free-beta-hCG levels tend to be about 10% higher and uE3
levels about 10% lower in women who have become pregnant
as a result of IVF compared with non-IVF pregnancies. AFP and
uE3 levels tend to be low in women with insulin dependent
diabetes mellitus and PAPP-A and free-beta-hCG levels tend to
be about 20% lower, with inhibin levels about 60% higher in
women who smoke.
At the Leeds Screening Centre, Professor Cuckle and his
colleagues have developed a Contingent Screening Test, whereby
if the results are abnormal then you stop there and have a CVS.
If they’re normal then there’s no point doing any more. This is
thought to be cost effective and also allows prospective parents to
be reassured in the first trimester.
»
www.fertilityroad.com
21

FEATURE | Down’s Syndrome
around the same time with the NHS test
suggesting I had a 1:15 chance of Down’s
Syndrome and the private scan indicating a
1:42,000 chance. The shock of the different
results aside, I was so relieved I had gone
for the second scan otherwise I may have
made a rash decision.”
However, Professor Cuckle warns against
having two tests. “If you’ve had an abnormal
result, ‘regression to the mean’ (if a variable
is extreme on its first measurement, it will
tend to be closer to the average on a second
measurement) means that you’re likely to
get a better result the second time, even in
the same lab. It’s really best to use all that
information together.”
And you have to weigh up exactly what
you’re going to do with all this information
when you get it. If whether your baby has
Down’s Syndrome has no bearing on how
you continue your pregnancy is it worth
putting yourself through unnecessary
stress ‘just so you know’? If you are going
to make life-changing decisions based on it,
then you (and your partner) need to be very
clear on them before you embark. How you
felt before pregnancy could differ radically
once you have been carrying for 10 weeks.
And then there’s the effectiveness of the
scans and people giving the scans. Position
of the foetus is important when measuring
the NT, says Professor Cuckle, and should
not be too close to the uterine wall as this
can cause confusion. Where the sonographer
puts the electronic callipers and how
they measure is also important. Moreover,
nuchal fluid comes and goes and can have
completely gone by 14 weeks.
“There is a degree of subjectivity in a
screening test too,” says Professor Cuckle.
“NHS screening is routine stuff but private
screening is usually done by foetal specialists
and use more markers.”
Which begs the question, what’s the
point of having a scan which doesn’t look
at all the markers? Well, says Professor
Cuckle, “it’s better than not doing anything”.
However, he does feel the NHS needs to
improve its service: “At the moment they
should be doing more contingent screening.
More advanced ultrasound (such as checking
for nasal bone) or some more biochemistry
is needed.”
As anyone who’s had these tests will
know, once you’re in the system it’s hard to
relax. Professor Cuckle agrees, “It’s like
There is a degree of subjectivity in a
screening test, NHS screening is routine
stuff but private screening is usually done by
foetal specialists and use more markers.
having leaky gutters in your house. They
may not have been a problem for 10 years
but once you know about them you wish
you’d never started. Most people offered
these tests take them, then if they get a
positive (for Down’s) result they start to
worry and have an invasive procedure
which turns out to be negative. Then they
wish they’d never bothered. You’re bound
to feel it was never worth doing.”
Five months pregnant Kelly Baker, 34,
from Huddersfield, had a high nuchal fold
reading (3.3mm) at her NHS combined
test scan. “The sonographer said it was
higher than she would like but to wait for
the blood results. Because I couldn’t bear the
thought of waiting two weeks to find out, I
went for an additional private combined
test. The two sets of results came back
Thirty-seven-year old Cheshire-based mumto-be
Sarah Swinton thinks that testing
can add unnecessary stress when it’s not
needed. “I took all the tests I possibly could.
I was given a very high chance of Down’s
Syndrome so, after weeks and weeks of
worry I had an amniocentesis which turned
out to be fine and now I have a healthy
baby boy. I am angry with myself for having
any of the tests and wish I had just had
faith instead.”
What is clear is that, much like every
other aspect of pregnancy and parenting,
what is right for one couple may not be
right for another, but presenting yourself
with as many options as possible is
undoubtedly the best thing – only then
can you move forward with confidence
and, where allowed, contentment.
www.fertilityroad.com
23

FEATURE | celebrity
words | Andy Greeves
24 fertility road | january - february

POSITIVE
MOTHERLY
ATTITUDE
Two years ago Jo Joyner was at a difficult junction on the
‘Fertility Road’, having discovered that IVF was her and partner
Neil Madden’s only viable means of having a baby of their own.
The couple’s determination and positive thinking during an
emotion period was to be rewarded with two little miracles – twins
Edie and Freddie – who were born in December 2009. Fertility Road
talks exclusively to the EastEnders actress about her IVF journey.
© Brendan O’Sullivan/ScopeFeatures.com
From an early age, Jo Joyner learned there was
real value in the old saying that ‘strength comes
through adversity’.
“When I was a child, my father was diagnosed
with leukaemia,” she recalls. “It was a very scary time
for the family, but what strikes me looking back is his
determination to get better. My father is a very practical
and logical businessman and the last person that you
would think would trust ‘blind faith’. When he was ill
though, that’s exactly what he did. He adopted this mental
approach where he constantly thought and talked about
how he was going to get better.
“He pulled through and is now fit and well. I have to
say I took a lot from his positive mental approach, even
though I was only a kid.”
Within minutes of meeting Jo, it’s obvious that the
influence of father Peter has had more than just a passing
impact on her life. The actress radiates warmth and remains
upbeat even when discussing difficult personal issues,
most notably her and her husband’s difficulties in starting
a family of their own.
“We had been trying to get pregnant for a number of
years but from the outset, we knew it would be difficult,”
says Jo.
“Neil had a problem with one of his testicles which
was injured during childhood, and that was a potential
obstacle from the start.
“After a few years when I was struggling to conceive, we
went along to see a specialist to look into the problem
further. After a number of tests we were given the news
that IVF would be our only option if we wanted to have a
baby of our own. While we were fairly clued up on the
possible problems we may have been facing, you never
expect someone to turn around and tell you that your
only option is to have IVF treatment.”
The news was tremendously upsetting. Jo contemplates
back over the vast array of emotions the couple went
through in the immediate aftermath of being told of their
limited childbirth options.
“The news was difficult to take. We were obviously both
frightened and deflated, as a couple, but you carry with
you as well individual emotions, thoughts, and feelings.
You fight through problems together, but there is a lot of
self-contemplation, definitely. My husband held the belief
that he would be able to change the problem we had, that
everything would be alright and that we wouldn’t need
IVF. I, on the other hand, realised we would absolutely
have to go down the IVF path if I wanted to get pregnant.
I was resigned to that fact right from the start.”
After receiving the news in August 2008, Jo and Neil
began looking for more information on the issues of fertility
and IVF. What struck them was the lack of material available
on the subject, along with a raft of misassumptions that
people often made. »
www.fertilityroad.com
25

FEATURE | celebrity
“I remember looking for a publication like
Fertility Road during my initial experiences
with IVF but to no avail,” she recalls. “I couldn’t
believe how difficult it was to find anything
on the topic of fertility, bar Robert Winston’s
fantastic books. Everything else was formal
material that was available from the NHS and in
the fertility clinics. Obviously nobody approaches
this as a light-hearted topic, but I would have
welcomed something like this magazine back then,
something that feels a lot more personable and real.
“Another thing that struck me in the
early stages was how much people assume
they know about fertility issues and how,
most of the time, this knowledge is completely
wide of the mark. I think there is
an over-assumption, even in the medical
profession, that fertility issues always lie
with the women. In this case and so
many others, they can lie with the man,
or even both partners.
“At the time, I remember a number
of people saying things like, ‘you are very
young to have IVF’. I found such comments
very frustrating. You have IVF treatment because it is a physical
requirement and that is irrespective of your age at the time.
There is a general misconception and prejudice that IVF is only
for women who were ‘too busy’ to have a baby in their twenties
or thirties, and that women over 40 are the only ones that have
it. Of course, that is complete nonsense and it would be good if
there was greater understanding of the real
reasons for needing IVF.
“Lots of people also say to me that now
I’ve had a baby through IVF I should be able
to conceive naturally. That’s another misunderstanding,
because while pregnancy can
improve conditions like Endometriosis and
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, it was not the
solution for the problem Neil and I had.
“Of course, I just smile politely when people
say these kinds of things. You don’t want to go
in to the finer details of the issues we had.”
Christmas 2008 was a significant moment
in Jo and Neil’s journey. By now, the couple had made decisions
regarding their next move as far as IVF and the potential of
starting a family.
“It was decided around then that we would be pursuing IVF in
the New Year. That Christmas was one of hope and positivity as
we focused on what we could achieve over the next 12 months.
For many years I’d longed to do the simple family things at Christmas
like putting stockings out for my little ones. I felt robbed of
that in a way. I remember standing at the top of our garden and
talking to Neil about how 2009 would be a lucky year for us.
“We threw a massive party at the end of 2008 as we’d made the
conscious decision this was the last year we would be able to throw
an ‘adult gathering’, and the following year we’d have a baby to
look after instead. That felt like a seminal moment.”
Of all dates, it was Mothers’ Day in 2009 when Jo underwent her
first IVF treatment at London’s Lister Hospital. As she was childless
and under 35 at the time, she qualified for
treatment on the NHS. With a long waiting list,
the couple opted for private treatment though
as both believed time was of the essence.
At the start of their journey, Jo and Neil
agreed they would only use IVF up to a
certain point and were open to adoption if
they were ultimately unable to have children
of their own.
“We had discussed adoption and agreed
that we didn’t have to have ‘mini me’s’. Neil
and I said that we would have a few attempts
at the IVF treatment and if it didn’t
work, we would look to adopt instead. I
think it’s always important to go into these
things with a number of plans – we had
these, and we were comfortable.
“I had seen examples on the internet where
women appeared to lose sight of quite what
they were doing, either because the process
was so long, or through hormonal imbalances
and the flux of emotions experienced through
the IVF process. There were women I’d read
about who were on their eighth or ninth treatment
cycle. Neil and I knew from the outset that wasn’t for us.
“We talked about the fact there was a one in three chance of
our treatment being successful. Therefore, we needed to have a
few attempts to guarantee we’d done everything in our powers
for me to try to get pregnant. After three attempts though, I was
adamant that I would stop the treatment and adopt instead.
There is a general misconception
and prejudice that IVF is only for women
who were ‘too busy’ to have a baby in
their twenties or thirties, and that women
over 40 are the only ones that have it.
Of course, that is complete nonsense.
“I told Neil that he would have to be strong and would need to
remind me that if I got caught up in the emotion and hormonal
train of thought that three attempts were what we agreed and I
had to stick to that.
“I think I’m quite a logical thinker and I didn’t want anything
to cloud what I believed was an informed decision that both Neil
and I had made.”
Despite having had her fertility treatment privately, Jo says
she would have been more than happy to undergo IVF on the
NHS had it been available sooner. She believes IVF to be a right
that should be open to wide range of women, not just the few,
and is perplexed at the cuts to UK fertility services in 2010.
“The budget restraints on the NHS have been very drastic.
There are certain trusts now which only administer IVF treatment
to women exclusively between the ages of 30 and 35.
Some don’t even offer treatment at all.
»
26 fertility road | january - february

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FEATURE | celebrity
Jo with Eastenders on-screen fiancé Greg played by Stefan Booth
“Offering treatment to a very tight age range is very disappointing.
Again, we see a stereotypical attitude emerging
here. The message that is being sent out is that women aged
under 30 are too young to decide that they want a family, and
that those over 35 are ‘past it’. That’s a dreadful message.”
Jo underwent an IVF treatment known as ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic
sperm injection), which works by injecting a single
sperm cell directly in to an egg. She has vivid memories of her
emotions and feelings during the process, one that, thankfully,
would result in the birth of twins Edie and Freddie.
“The years that we went through prior to going down
the IVF route were a million times more scary than the IVF
procedure itself,” she says. “I’ve always been something of a
control freak and the IVF treatment at least offered the hope
that I could shape my own destiny. If I followed what I was
meant to do, we had a chance of me getting pregnant, whereas
there was no chance beforehand.
“I’m not a particularly squeamish person, but of course
no-one really likes needles. I did the short protocol and from
what I understand now, I think I went down the best route.
Diabetics have to inject themselves every day, as do people
with other illnesses. After a while, it just becomes a part of
your routine.
“Towards the end of the process, you do start to feel a bit
like a junkie, albeit with none of the perks! You’re like a human
pin cushion, injecting yourself and having various blood tests.
After a while that can become painful. All along the process
though, you keep thinking ‘I’m doing this because I have to’.
That helps you keep focused, despite the hardship.
“I don’t think I ever got worried about the physical
or emotional aspects of injecting myself, until the
very final day I had to do it when I totally fell apart.
I think I’d bottled everything up and often when
you see the end in sight with something, suddenly
the raw emotion comes out. My husband had to do
my last injection, but that was my only major issue
throughout the process.”
It was around nine weeks after finishing the treatment
that the couple were told the magical news that
Jo was pregnant. As her father had taught her decades
ago, the power of positive thinking was to prove crucial
to the actress in securing another happy outcome.
“I did a lot of positive thinking throughout the
process; I suppose you could almost call it visualisation.
I remember after the initial IVF treatment, I’d
sit in the bath and picture my embryos dividing. I
had positive thoughts about the embryos being
strong, about everything working as it should; it
was quite empowering in a way.
“I’m a big believer in the power of the mind and
think you can make yourself ill through negative
thinking as much as you can help make yourself
well through positive reflection.”
Another source of positivity for Jo throughout the
experience was her husband Neil.
“Neil was absolutely fantastic throughout the entire
process. He was very supportive and we needed
each other to come through it, as it was hard going at times.
“He felt helpless in some respects and kept saying ‘I wish I
could take a hit [injection] for the team’. In usual circumstances,
it is difficult for a man to watch his partner go through pregnancy,
as there is the obvious pain and discomfort associated.
It’s a situation where men have to take a bit of a backseat and
that can be very worrying for them.
“Going down the IVF line is like having a protracted labour
in a way, as every step is hard for the man watching on and
there’s rarely a let-up in that.
“Neil had these feelings of helplessness but was a rock for
me. Hopefully I was able to support him too.”
After a few months, Jo and Neil’s pregnancy delight was
doubled when they received news they were due to become
parents to twins.
“It’s a bizarre thing to say, but I had this real gut feeling we
were going to have twins. I went along for the ultrasound scan
and so it proved. There were two little faces showing up on the
screen, although worryingly only one heartbeat at the time.
“We were told about Disappearing Twin Syndrome, where
basically one foetus suddenly aborts at the early stage of the
pregnancy. Apparently this is quite a common phenomenon
in both normal and IVF pregnancies. We had to go back for
another scan a few weeks later to see if we were going
to have one child or two. I remember having this utter
confidence in the time leading up to the scan that we were
on for twins and I was right.
“It wasn’t until we finally had this second ultrasound scan
(after 12 weeks) that it was confirmed we would be having
© BBC
28 fertility road | january - february

Jo with co-star Lisa Millett in the new three-part BBC comedy Candy Cabs.
© BBC/Splash Media Tv
Having children really is a gift,
and it does involve frustration and
heartache, but I promise the rewards
are worth it many times over.
twins. That feeling of real adulation, which you’d usually get at the
start of a normal pregnancy, suddenly came over me. I think you
do a lot of holding your breath throughout the IVF process and you
are always taught to be cautious. In the whole experience, this was
the first time we could really let go a bit and celebrate.”
Jo worked on EastEnders up until the 33rd week of her pregnancy.
“I was happy to keep moving and working as I was in good
health,” she smiles. “It was only really four or five weeks before
the birth that I really felt like I had to calm things down. People
ask me how I managed to learn lines during this time, but that
was a doddle. The real challenge was managing to stay on my feet
on set while waddling around like a duck!”
Despite 14 weeks of morning sickness, which she describes
as being like “a three-month hangover,” Joyner did not seek any
alternative therapies to assist with the side effects of IVF or the
pregnancy.
“I didn’t use complementary therapies, unless you
count burgers and other junk food! To be fair though, I
was working through most of my pregnancy and it was
probably only a lack of time that prevented me from
exploring alternative treatments. I know they can help
a lot of people.”
On December 7, 2009, Jo gave birth to Edie and
Freddie by Caesarean section in a two-hour labour.
Both twins were healthy, though weighing in slightly
below the average weight for newborns at 5lb 11oz and 6lb 11oz
respectively. The family have just spent their second Christmas
together and already Jo is noticing that the twins have distinct
personality traits.
“They are like chalk and cheese, they really are,” she jokes.
“Edie is a typical girl and is very precise and neat in everything
she does. She likes to be quite independent and tries to do things
for herself, whereas Freddie sits there with his mouth open and
expects everyone to run around looking after him! You can really
see their personalities coming out – it’s hilarious, but ultimately
very special, and we know how lucky we have been.
“Having children really is a gift, and it does involve frustration
and heartache, but I promise the rewards are worth it many times
over. People should always stay positive and believe that things
will work, because you never know what difference that positive
attitude can have...”
www.fertilityroad.com
29

FEATURE | travelling for treatment
Travelling for treatment:
FERTILITY
CONSULTANTS
30 fertility road | january - february

Why putting your faith in recognised experts could be the
most important decision you make…
While the age of the internet and email
has made our lives easier to a degree
that would have been unimaginable
some 20 years ago, it has at the
same time brought with it a mass of information that,
at times, makes the pursuit of clarity considerably
more difficult.
And while we’ll undoubtedly accept any source – be
that online or anywhere else – when looking up the
weather forecast or the latest films at the cinema, in
the case of fertility, it’s essential not only that the
information we’re given is concise, understandable and
relevant, but that we can invest the same kind of trust
in it that will be shown in us by our offspring.
It is for that reason, and many others, that more and
more people suffering the problems of infertility are
employing the services of fertility consultants.
All across the world, these specialists work to break
down complicated and overwhelming choices that
In general, how big is the
fertility consultancy industry?
In the US, where we are based, the infertility industry
is a $4billion a year industry. The need for patient advocacy
has grown substantially over the past decade. I also
find that with more choices, advanced technology and
greater resources, clients are willing to pay costs upfront
as they understand that by streamlining the journey
through egg donation and surrogacy, they can save substantial
costs, valuable time and emotional energy.
What are the typical concerns
that people come to you with?
Situations vary, but typically in egg donation, clients
are seeking that special candidate that suits their criteria,
shares similar qualities, or matches ethnic backgrounds
and intelligence.
In surrogacy arrangements, my clients are typically
seeking a candidate who they feel they can develop a
I went through my own infertility
struggle. I really had to navigate the ups
and downs of the infertility process alone,
and I was totally overwhelmed, lost,
emotionally and physically spent, and just
knew there had to be a better way…
- Mindy Berkson, Lotus Blossom Consulting
need to be made throughout the infertility journey,
offering guidance and support at a time when their
expertise is needed most.
Fertility consultants work to guide a way through
the confusing statistics and excessive costs, while at
the same time helping families over the emotional
stumbling blocks that often present themselves. With a
fantastic and established network of physicians, agencies
and legal specialists, the aim is to leave clients in a
controlled and calm frame of mind – after all, aren’t
those the best conditions in which to conceive?
We chatted to Mindy Berkson, creator of Lotus Blossom
Consulting, about the role of the assigned fertility expert
in 2011, and found out the real reasons behind why
and how an increasing number of patients are putting
their faith in the consultation process…
strong bond with and is someone they feel able to
trust; one who is committed to the process and perhaps
has her family’s support and encouragement throughout
her journey.
With IVF, most of my clients want to understand the
whole process - what questions they should be asking
their physicians, IVF success rates and how to emotionally
and financially deal with the situation.
International clients are always concerned about
the US healthcare system and how to identify health
policies to help mitigate financial risk factors.
Do you have a ‘typical’ client?
My typical clients are women who have consciously
chosen to delay childbearing for advanced education
and career, and having found the right partner, »
www.fertilityroad.com
31

You could be wrong; so wrong about conception challenges,
about the right remedies and the possibilities at your disposal.
At Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos we see a child as the
greatest gift that life can bestow; it brings the most
exquisite joy that one will ever know.
That’s why we help couples believe, conceive, and deliver
this great gift. All you may ever say is ‘thank you’ as you
break down in tears of pure joy at the sight of your baby
We are Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos.
• Comprehensive Gynaecological Assessment • Endoscopic Surgery • In Vitro Fertilization • Surgical Sperm Retrieval • Egg Donation
• Artificial Insemination • Embryo Donation • Laser Assisted Hatching • Sperm Donation • Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
Contact Details:
• 106 / 108 Norman Williams Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Tel: 01-4617023-4, 01-4610858, 08037360870,
08030778074, 0808NORDICA, Fax: 01-4610858.
• 6, Turton Street, Off Commercial Ave, Sabo-Yaba,
Lagos. Tel: 01-7913537, 01-7744893
• 5 Erhuvwu Club Street, Off Summit Road, by Havilla
Hotels Asaba, Delta State. Tel: 056-871371
email: info@nordicalagos.org
web: www.nordicalagos.org
It’s time to say “ahhhh”
SOMETHING YOU CAN DO EVERY SINGLE DAY
TO HELP SUPPORT YOUR FERTILITY JOURNEY.
Egg Donation Agency
Professional
International
Egg Donor
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www.circlebloom.com
www.baby2mom.co.za

FEATURE | travelling for treatment
they then have trouble conceiving. I also have several clients
- both single men and single women, as well as same sex couples
- choosing to explore their own family building options.
What is the process?
There is no set process that I follow as each of my consultations
are customised to meet the needs of each couple. My style, just as
it would be with many other consultants, is to be very hands on,
and I spend a considerable amount of time getting to know
my clients before making referrals and gathering appropriate
resources for each situation. One consistency that I find with all
my clients is that throughout our work together we address
the financial, physical and emotional aspects associated with
exploring surrogacy, egg donation and IVF treatment in general.
How do you gather the information
in order to pass it on to clients?
I found my passion for this industry based on my personal
experience through infertility, but I truly built my niche company
through my deep-seeded background in venture capital. I used
this experience to build strong strategic alliances with egg donor
and surrogate recruiting agencies nationwide, creating mutually
beneficial referral sources with physicians and cultivating relationships
with attorneys, insurance agents, financial and estate
planners and immigration attorneys nationwide.
These positive and fruitful relationships have enabled me to
build networks and teams of unbiased professionals all across the
US to offer my clients the best resources all under one umbrella.
What quality control mechanisms
do you have in place?
The most relevant and important quality control mechanism
that I have in place is my ability to vet the recruiting agencies
that I drive significant business to. I require each agency to put
exclusive clauses in their agency contracts. These clauses (exclusive
to LBC clients) state that if, when selected, the surrogate or egg
donor does not pass psychological or medical clearance, then the
agency will refund LBC clients the agency fee. Without these
clauses, I am not willing to work with an agency, as I feel they
should always stand behind their recruited candidate.
This core value has enabled me to:
• work closely with top notch recruiting agencies
• exponentially expand the pool of available egg donor
and surrogate candidates for my clients
• match close to criteria, especially difficult to identify
ethnic donors
• match both surrogates and egg donors typically within
a timeframe of less than two weeks
• mitigate financial risk factors often inherent in agency contracts
What are the advantages of
going to a consultancy rather
than a fertility specialist direct?
Fertility specialists are medical professionals. It is important to
get a diagnosis and a treatment plan from a reproductive endocrinologist.
With this plan, resources for egg donation, surrogacy
and all the ancillary pieces then need to be accomplished prior to
beginning a treatment plan.
In my experience, it is essential to carefully build the foundation
financially, physically and emotionally as the process tends
to be overwhelming.
Most clients do not know what questions to ask and, of course,
this limits the knowledge they gain to make informed medical
choices. It is important to set parameters for treatment and also a
budget that includes the end family building goal.
These important decisions comprise realistic expectations,
help to maximise the chance of success and minimise financial
expenditure. This is the information and education that I
provide for my clients in helping them accomplish their pathway
to parenthood.
What other services do you provide?
The services of a consultant are very comprehensive and individualised
to meet the needs of each client, from beginning to birth.
The vast majority of my practice is supporting surrogacy
arrangements which may also include using an egg donor. My
work involves identifying a candidate to meet criteria in a state
that supports friendly surrogacy laws, researching and garnering
various insurance policies or plans to help mitigate financial
risk, and working to analyse this coverage to meet my client’s
individual risk adversity. I also work closely with financial and
estate planners to set a plan to pay for treatment costs.
Simultaneously, I liaise with attorneys to establish the framework
that needs to be drafted in contracts. While the vast majority
of my work is accomplished prior to embryo transfer, I am
available to facilitate and address any issues that may arise during
the pregnancy and after the birth.
How successful has the consultancy been?
My consultancy has been very successful with annual growth
exceeding 30% in year three, 45% in year four and, last year,
growth exceeded 55% from the previous year. In addition, I have
helped to conceive over 440 babies and over 70 percent of my
clients have delivered, or are currently pregnant. At this very
present moment, I have 48 clients expecting.
What are the core values that you hold?
My values have always been to identify the best unbiased resources
that suit my clients’ individual needs - for example, a particular
diagnosis may lead me to refer one physician over another.
Another example is in planning and preparing for a surrogacy
arrangement, whereby I will only share profiles of candidates from
states where I know I can get my client’s name on the birth certificate
at birth or shortly thereafter. Important factors that may affect this are
if the couple is legally married, if it’s a same-sex arrangement, or
whether the embryos created donor gamete.
It seems that the age of the fertility consultant is now, in the US
and globally. The internet is a fantastic resource for sourcing an appropriate
consultant who can assist with many of the demands outlined
above. For more information on Lotus Blossom Consulting,
head to www.lotusblossomconsulting.com
www.fertilityroad.com
33

FERTILITY ROAD | IVF New Jersey
INTELLIGENT PROFILE
MAKING
LITTLE
MIRACLES
COME
TRUE
Starting a family can be one of life’s greatest gifts,
but the complex nature of conception is often
not thought about until there is a problem.
What should a woman do to maximise her
chances of becoming pregnant, and at what point should
she see a doctor?
According to Dr. Susan Treiser MD, PhD and Co-Director
of IVF New Jersey, a full service fertility centre, women
need to be proactive. Dr. Treiser and her team have helped
thousands of patients from around the world achieve their
dream of becoming parents through the latest fertility
treatments. And that’s no surprise, seeing as IVF New
Jersey has among the highest success rates in the United
States according to the Centre for Disease Control.
Latest breakthroughs include in vitro fertilization (IVF)
with Intra Cyto Plasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) for male
infertility. Normally, a man would need a set amount of
sperm to complete in vitro fertilization successfully. With ICSI,
doctors can now use a very small quantity of sperm – or biopsy the
testicles and then use the sperm they collect to do the procedure. Dr.
Treiser explains, “This was such a great discovery for men having
fertility problems. In the past, a minimum number of sperm were
needed, and if men could not create that amount then they could
not succeed with in vitro which made options limited.”
For infertility in women who are often older, where egg quality
and quantity has diminished, using an egg donor with their
husband’s sperm is another option. This procedure allows women
to actually carry their baby through a pregnancy.
“Often, the experience of carrying the pregnancy means so much
to the future mother that using an egg donor is the best solution,”
says Dr. Treiser.
A Gestational Carrier, often referred to as a surrogate mother, is
another option for women who have had their uterus removed, or
have a medical condition that does not allow them to carry a
pregnancy, but still have functioning ovaries. In this situation, the
women’s eggs and the husband’s sperm would be implanted into the
Gestational Carrier. The child is therefore totally genetically linked
to the parents, and the foetus is not linked to the carrier at all.
Same sex couples also have more options, according to Dr. Treiser,
“We are working with same sex couples and in the past we could
only use donor sperm. Now males can use an egg donor and their
own sperm, and females can use donor sperm.”
IVF New Jersey also offers an egg freezing programme. Egg
preservation can be thought of as an insurance policy for women
who know that one day they want children, but who are presently
without a partner or simply not ready for a baby.
IVF New Jersey offers state-of-the-art treatment in a private,
comfortable environment only minutes from New York City. They
strive to provide first-class service without a first-class fee.
IVF NJ has four convenient locations
in Short Hills, Somerset, Hamilton,
and Freehold, New Jersey, and
patient monitoring is also available
in New York City. For additional
information please call
1-800-IVFNJ-44 or visit
www.ivfnj.com
34 fertility road | january - february

Visit the Fertility World Show - 15 - 16 April 2011, London Olympia
Visit Visit Visit the the Fertility the Fertility World World Show Show - - 15 - 15 - 15 - 16 - 16 - April 16 April April 2011, 2011, London London Olympia
Olympia
Trying for a baby?
Trying for a a baby?
Problems getting pregnant?
Considering fertility treatment?
Save Save £5
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Book Book your
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If you are planning to start a family but are having difficulties
If you If If getting you you are If are you are planning pregnant, are planning to to
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the but are having Fertility are having having difficulties
World difficulties Show
getting getting on 15 getting pregnant, - 16 pregnant, April then then
at then Olympia you then you you must you must London visit must visit visit the the visit - the Fertility the the one Fertility stop World World exhibition Show World Show Show for
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IVF fertility clinics from the UK and abroad
- IVF -- IVF IVF & - fertility IVF & fertility & fertility clinics clinics clinics from from the from the the UK UK the UK and and and UK abroad
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Seminars Seminars include:
include:
n Maximising n n Maximising your your chances your chances of of getting of of getting of getting pregnant
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n How n How nthe How the the NHS NHS the NHS can NHS can can help can help with help with fertility with fertility fertility costs
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at at at
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In association In In In
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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
Hi there - we have been trying for a baby for
three months now and I have still not fallen
pregnant. I was thinking that I would be well on
the way to pregnancy by now, so am wondering how long
we should wait. I am 27, and have led a drama-free life.
– Amy, 27, from Winchester
A
At 27 you are still young. On average it can take a
couple six months to conceive. What you and your
partner can do is look at your lifestyle and, if required,
make changes in terms of your diet, weight, alcohol
intake and exercise.
Furthermore, to help increase your chances of conception,
it is good to have an understanding of your fertile time.
Many young women that I see at the clinic - especially those
who have been on the pill for a long time - do not have a
great understanding of their cycle. It is important to note
your cervical secretions and understand that your fertile
window is six days in total - five days leading up to ovulation
and one day after.
Also, the sperm can survive inside of you three to five days,
so if you are having sex at least three times a week you are
ensuring that there is enough sperm in the fallopian tubes. If
you are still not pregnant after another three or four months it
may be worthwhile having a check-up with your doctor.
www.fertilityroad.com
37

Q&A | zita west
Q
My friend has just undergone a successful pregnancy
via IVF and was blessed with triplets. I know that
the chances of having twins is a lot higher, and
wondered if the chances of having triplets or more is just as
high. I am going to be starting IVF shortly, and would love the
chance to have triplets.
– Dana, 30, from Sittingbourne
A
A twin pregnancy is hard on many women and has its
risks. And the health risks for a triplet pregnancy are even
higher for you and your babies.
Many IVF clinics are now putting only one embryo back after
transfer to reduce the risk of a twin pregnancy. It is much safer for
you and your pregnancy to have one embryo put back at a time.
Don’t underestimate the difficulties you will encounter if you are
pregnant with triplets.
Q
My husband and I are just about to start the IVF
process and are very excited. I am however somewhat
‘glass half empty’ at the moment having experienced
a year of physical problems - everything from persistent viral
illnesses to pulled hernias. I am feeling fragile at a time when
I need to be strong. How can I shake this mental barrier that
seems to have developed out of physical problems?
– Kirsty-Anne Butler, 37, Croydon
A
Your mindset and mental preparation is very important
when it comes to preparing for IVF. You need to decide,
given the physical problems you have encountered this
year, whether you are physically ready to begin an IVF cycle,
and that your relationship is stable.
I understand that at 37 you might feel like you are running
out of time, but it may be worth while waiting a couple of
months - which isn’t long in the scheme of things - to ensure
that you’re not physically run down. Ultimately, you need to be
emotionally strong before embarking on a cycle.
Also look at your diet and ensure that you are getting adequate
vitamin D for a healthy immune system. To overcome
your fragile state of mind think about meditation, visualisation,
yoga and therapies such as hypnotherapy or acupuncture,
which may help you to relax and strengthen your mindset.
A twin pregnancy is hard on
many women and has its risks.
And the health risks for a triplet
pregnancy are even higher for
you and your babies.
And ensure that you are getting adequate rest - never underestimate
the power of a good night’s sleep to get the body and mind
back on track.
Q
I am now about to max out a third credit card in
pursuit of IVF success. It has become an addiction
and a part of my life I don’t want to have to admit
might never be fulfilled, but I don’t feel as though I can stop.
Is my debt (£20,000) normal, or to be worried about?
– Vera Olatunde, 36, Birmingham
A
I’m always concerned when I hear that a couple are
putting IVF on their credit cards as this can often create
more anxiety and stress, which is not healthy for the
mind or body. You need to discuss with your IVF doctor what
your chances of success are as you may have underlying issues
that are affecting you from having a successful cycle. It’s never
worth getting into debt.
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
38 fertility road | january - february

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
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We work with all types of Intended
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www.extraconceptions.com

FEATURE | co-parenting
WORDS | HAZEL DAVIS
The laws for same-sex parenting changed last year. Ring out the bells.
But what if you’re in a happy same-sex couple but still want a father or
mother-figure in your child’s life? For some gay couples, the obvious
answer is co-parenting.
Co-parenting can involve two, three or four parents
who wish to have a child together. In a co-parenting
agreement each parent shares responsibility for the
child’s upbringing. It means that gay or single men
who wish to become fathers can serve more of an active parental
role than just being a sperm donor. It also means that lesbian
couples can have a male figure in their child’s life.
But, as with anything outside ‘the norm’, the process can be
fraught with difficulty.
One of the most important factors to consider is who the legal
parent of the child is. In UK law the birth mother will always be
listed as one of the child’s legal parents. But the second parent
can vary according to whether the mother is single or in a civil
partnership. If you’re to be the second parent, there are measures
you can take.
Anne-Marie Hutchinson OBE is a solicitor specialising in surrogacy
and assisted birth law at Dawson Cornwall. She thinks it’s
important to get this straight before conception.
“Agree what your respective roles will be before you start the
whole process,” she says, “both in parental responsibility and
financial responsibility terms”. It’s worth bearing in mind that
no agreement before birth is binding but, says Hutchinson, “a
properly constructed agreement will carry some weight (unless
an exceptional event takes place like the sperm donor didn’t disclose
something important like an illness or criminal history).”
An unmarried father will not have paternal rights unless he is
named on the birth certificate (as from 2003) or is granted those
rights by the legal parent. If he later applies, the court will apply
the ‘best interest’ and this can be time-consuming, so it’s better to
work this out beforehand. It’s worth bearing in mind that the
mother can apply for maintenance, a lump sum or even a property
settlement from the father if he is an unmarried father.
It’s advisable, says Hutchinson, for the parents to make a will
and decide what to do with any inheritance. If the agreement
is that the legal father isn’t going to make provision then it’s
important to leave a note stating this in the event of any claim.
40 fertility road | january - february

The civil partners of the legal parents have no rights
over the child but they can be acquired by a Parental
Responsibility Agreement conferred by the legal
parents. If they aren’t civil partnered and are cohabiters,
the child needs to have lived with them for 12 months
before a claim can be made.
Hutchinson says that, though not legally an issue,
it’s a good idea to decide at this stage things like
religion, whether all parents agree on matters of
education, etc. “It just irons out difficulties later on.”
Or, she adds, “You may have a new co-parent joining
in at a later date so you should state what status any future
parents would have. It’s not romantic but it’s very important.”
Simon Craddock is a partner specialising in family at Brethertons
solicitors. He says, “I had a case where the parent with
day-to-day care of the child was not the biological parent. This
led to a court dispute as the biological parent wished to impose
their rights as the only parent with parental responsibility. To
complicate matters further there was an international element.
This created difficulties as the child was living abroad with the
non-biological parent.”
The key to avoiding problems like this, agrees Craddock, “is
for the couple at the outset to define how they are going to hold
parental responsibility. This is normally by way of a shared residence
order/adoption.”
The key to avoiding problems is
for the couple at the outset to define
how they are going to hold parental
responsibility. This is normally by way of
a shared residence order/adoption.
Often the immediate joy that a newborn child brings, together
with the understandable fatigue, means that going to a lawyer to
cement such arrangements is often seen as unnecessary, costly
and may create doubts about the relationship. Such planning,
however, says Craddock, “will save a lot of long-term heartache
for some unlucky couples who separate.”
For many gay men, co-parenting is the best answer.
Rob Spriggs is a 43-year-old musician from London. He is father
to two-year-old Matilda whom he ‘shares’ with Matilda’s birth
mother Ella and her partner Kate.
“I have known I was gay from about the age of six,” he says,
“but I didn’t come out until I was 25. Part of this was because
I always wanted children. It never occurred to me that it would
be possible to have children in my position.”
»
www.fertilityroad.com
41

A Caring Approach
to Egg Donation
Physician-recommended Beverly Hills Egg Donation continues
to be one of the most highly regarded egg donor agencies
in the industry.
Our “one agency fee until you’re pregnant policy“, in-person
donor screenings and weekly cycle updates have made us one
of the most successful egg donation agencies in the world.
All ethnicities
Well screened
donors
Doctor
recommended
Specialized
assistance
for international
clients
Professionals providing personal
care to clients – worldwide
To learn more, visit www.bhed.com
or call us at US (310) 601-3132.

FEATURE | co-parenting
CORION
FERTILITY
CLINIC
The Corion Fertility Clinic is a state of
the art clinic in Mumbai, India, known
for its excellence in donor egg IVF and
gestational surrogacy with a success
rate of more than 70% for Donor Egg
Surrogacy, and more than 50% for IVF
cycles with Surrogacy.
We talked for about three years before
doing anything and maybe we shouldn’t
have waited so long, but you do really need
to make sure you communicate.
The clinic is also renowned for being LGBT
friendly and offers its services to single
as well as gay and lesbian parents.
Dr. Kaushal Kadam is the Medical
Director of Corion and has been running
the Surrogacy programme for the last
five years. With her wealth of knowledge
and her empathic approach, she has
helped many patients from all over the
world return home with a family.
You can find out more about the Corion
Fertility Clinic at the website below,
alternatively, write to Dr. Kadam at
drkaushi@gmail.com. As she says, "At
Corion, our patients are taken lovingly
'from Conception to Cradle'."
www.corionfertilityclinic.com
Rob met Kate 10 years ago and became good friends with her and
her then-partner. They approached him and asked him if he was
interested in having a child with them. “I said yes and it was going
to be something we’d look at in the future,” says Rob. The couple
split and it never really happened. Kate met Eleanor and after
some time together considered a family and asked Rob again. Kate
was going to be the carrier but medical complications and two
years of trying meant that Ella ended up being the birth mother.
The trio didn’t enter into the decision lightly. Says Rob, “We went
to a gay parenting support group for six months just to thrash the
idea about. We really wanted to make sure it was a good idea and we
didn’t want to ruin our own relationship. I also didn’t, at the time,
know any children of gay parents and how it would affect the child.”
Rob’s partner of 11 years, who is based in Leeds, came along to
some counselling sessions when he was in the capital too though he
didn’t want the same level of involvement as a parent. Says Rob, this
was tricky to negotiate but they eventually managed: “I think Dennis
wasn’t sure where he’d fit into the arrangement and he maybe thought
I was being coerced but eventually he saw what it meant to me.”
Rob’s involvement in his child’s life is such that he was present at
the birth, lived with the couple for a month before Matilda was born
and until recently when he moved, was just a 10 minute walk away.
“It was good for us as a family to be a unit,” he says. “Obviously it
had its difficulties but it did work. It was amazing to be there all
the time and if I had just come in for some of the week I would
have felt like an intruder.” Now Matilda stays with him two nights
a week and they do things together as a family at weekends.
Rob, Kate and Ella drew up a parenting agreement. “We knew
it wasn’t legally binding,” says Rob, “but we all signed it. We put
in all the stuff we could possibly think of, we looked at other
people’s and went online.”
What’s clear is that if the couple breaks up, everyone will
remain part of Matilda’s life. But there still remains a blurred area
for the non-birth parent.
Says Rob, “The law’s really good for single-sex couples but I am on
the birth certificate as the father. Kate isn’t. If she was to adopt
Matilda, which we have discussed, then I would have to relinquish
my role as parent. That’s a tricky one to deal with.”
One of the most beneficial things for the family has been their
regular monthly parenting meetings. Says Rob, “It sounds a bit silly
but communication is key. We talk about everything; what’s been
good, what’s been difficult. Everything. It really helps clear the air.”
He recommends that to any prospective co-parents, and counselling.
“If you can involve someone else in the discussions then
it’s really helpful.”
Talking is key, he says, “Some of it is of no use at all. We talked
for about three years before doing anything and maybe we
shouldn’t have waited so long, but you do really need to make
sure you communicate.”
For Rob, Kate and Ella, the arrangement has worked really well
and they are planning to have a second child: “It’s really the most
amazing thing I have ever done and I am so grateful.” »
www.fertilityroad.com
43

FEATURE | co-parenting
TAKE
PRIDE
Erika from Pride Angel, a dedicated
resource for matching sperm donors,
egg donors and co-parents
worldwide, explains the dos and
don’ts of choosing a reputable
sperm donor website.
Sperm donor websites are increasing in popularity with
many people now searching for a sperm donor or
co-parent online. This has been fuelled by the shortage
of donors within the UK, along with many NHS authorities
cutting back on IVF treatment, and many trusts refusing to fund
treatment for single and lesbian couples. Are these websites really
a health risk or a personal choice that could benefit the welfare of
any future children and parents?
Using a known sperm donor
There has been a social and cultural shift in recent times towards
women wishing to meet a known donor. Some may say this is
because of high fertility costs, or maybe the shortage of donors.
Others state it is because women are thinking of their children’s future
in that they would rather personally meet a likeminded individual
who is happy to stay in touch as an uncle-type figure, omitting the
longing of their child to meet an unknown donor. There has been
extensive research to show that children who know the identity of
their donor and the truth about their conception from an early age
are more secure with their own identity as they become adults.
Anonymity law and future children
The change to the anonymity law in 2005 was certainly a positive
thing for donor-conceived children, allowing them to trace the
identity of their donor at the age of 18. However, we are still to really
discover the effect this will have on the thousands of children who
may be wanting to meet their biological father in the future. They
may find that the donor is simply not interested in being contacted.
There is also the worry that the donor may not be the kind of
person the mother would wish for their child to meet - after all,
she may have only received basic details such as height and eye
colour by which to choose her donor originally.
There is also the real concern of genetic attraction
which especially affects parents and children who have
never met before adulthood. The effect of this could be
potentially catastrophic.
When these effects do come to the forefront in the
year 2023 - 18 years after the new law was introduced in
2005 - will it be decided that children were better off not
really getting this information? Would it not therefore be far
better for donor-conceived children to have known of their
donor from the beginning?
Websites working alongside fertility clinics
Sperm donor websites assist in the much needed recruitment
of donors, and help bring together co-parents and the creation
of alternative families in a way in which clinics are less able.
By working alongside the authorities and regulated clinics, websites
can therefore provide a much needed service, providing
they are educating their users about any health risks and legal
considerations.
A spokesman for the HFEA is advising people to only use sperm
donor websites which direct their users to a licensed clinic, ensuring
that complete health screening is completed and that a record of
the donor’s name is kept on file.
Choosing a reputable sperm donor website
When choosing to use a sperm donor website to find a donor
or co-parent it is important to ensure that they are providing the
necessary health screening and legal advice, as well as directing
users to regulated fertility clinics for treatment.
Pride Angel is one of the leading worldwide connection sites,
with over 4,500 members, primarily aimed at the gay and lesbian
community. They are dedicated to providing quality information
regarding health screening and fertility law in a user-friendly way.
All our profiles are continually screened to ensure users are
not offering ‘natural insemination’ or requesting an ‘anonymous’
donor. Nor is payment for donations allowed to be offered or
requested. If any donor attempts to contact more than 10 different
recipients, an email is automatically sent, highlighting the ‘no
more than 10 lives birth law’ in the UK.
We are committed to providing a user-friendly service, whilst
ensuring that we do everything within our power to make it a
safer environment for our members. We also offer email support
for users requiring help and further information.
Users should never consider using a donor who offers natural
insemination, even if they offer artificial insemination as well. The
health risks of such ‘promiscuous’ donors is too great.
Unfortunately, there remain a number of connection services
that do not monitor profiles and restrict messages, encouraging
prolific donors. These factors are really important to consider
when choosing a connection service to find a known donor
or co-parent.
Good sites provide the ultimate gift without which co-parenting
arrangements would not happen, while many lesbian couples
and gay men would not have the chance to experience the joys
of parenthood.
For more information regarding finding a co-parent, health
screening, home insemination and fertility law visit and
register for FREE at www.prideangel.com.
44 fertility road | january - february

FERTILITY ROAD | California Fertility Partners
INTELLIGENT PROFILE
A PARTNERSHIP
THAT COUNTS...
For many, the prospect of travelling abroad to combine the
promise of raising a family with the opportunity to relax
is an exciting one. And with the first considerations
always being quality, care and professionalism, many
believe that the US offers something that cannot be found elsewhere.
Certainly, when you have a clinic that boasts 25 years experience
yet is based in the sun-drenched, fashionable and fantastically
cultural city of Los Angeles, it is a combination that is really
quite unique.
To enable a couple to truly envelop themselves in a life-changing
trip means slipping into an environment that heightens the senses,
offers a distraction from the scientific and emotional stresses, and
provides an experience that is truly one to remember.
With that in mind, California Fertility Partners firmly believe that
they have cracked the combination code. It’s a clinic that undertakes
extensive surrogacy and egg donor options, and one that has
always focused attention on the lesbian and gay parenting market,
calling upon experience at the highest level of family planning.
For Dr. Guy Ringler, one of the co-partners of the practice, and
recipient of the American Fertility Association’s Visionary Award
for 2010, believes the clinic’s Los Angeles base represents something
rather special.
“Patients arriving in Los Angeles from around the globe will find
an exciting cosmopolitan city with something to offer everyone.
From the mountains to the seashore, the area provides a physically
beautiful landscape, the finest in art, music, shopping, restaurants,
and a creative community filled with passionate people from many
diverse backgrounds.
“But it’s our longstanding reputation for excellence and a
commitment to providing high quality care in a personalised and
caring environment that makes us stand out. In short, it’s important
to work with people who care about you and
your success. We do that, always.”
Dr. Ringler’s attention to detail and commitment
to providing the highest quality of care possible
results in some of the highest pregnancy rates
possible today. Factors such as the young age of
egg donors, closely monitored ovarian stimulation,
thorough screening of gestational carriers,
excellent culture conditions, and meticulously
conducted embryo transfers all contribute to his
high level of success.
It’s thanks to this that Dr. Ringler has been
able to help gay patients from around the world
achieve their dream of having children through
his care.
“The acceptance of gay parenting in our society
continues to improve,” he continues. “Twenty
years ago the path to parenthood for gay men
was uncharted and there were few resources
available to help individuals find their way.
“Today, thanks to the work of many dedicated
professionals in the fields of reproductive law,
reproductive medicine, and support organisations,
there are established treatment protocols and
legal foundations to allow all individuals the
opportunity to build families.”
Dr. Ringler and his colleagues work with
some of the finest egg donor, sperm donor, and
surrogacy agencies in the United States. All candidates undergo
extensive medical, psychological and genetic screenings before
treatment calendars are planned.
That’s why California Fertility Partners has been one of the
leading centres for reproductive medical care in the United States
for over 25 years. And it explains too why the base’s physicians
and scientists are internationally recognised for their expertise,
not to mention a reputation for providing the highest quality and
personalised care.
Guy continues, “As societal acceptance evolves, the demand for
high quality reproductive care by gay men and women increases in
the United States and around the world. All patients at California
Fertility Partners find an atmosphere of warmth and caring from
their initial visit until graduation to their obstetrician.
“Each patient is assigned to their own specially trained nurse to
help guide them through the treatment process and to assist in
communication between all parties. An organised team of caring
professionals at all levels helps to ensure the finest care and the
best treatment outcome.
“At California Fertility Partners all exams and procedures are performed
by your physician, not a technician or someone unfamiliar
with your case. This sets us apart from other centres and allows for
greater attention to detail and continuity of care. It’s this edge,
along with a fantastic outer environment, that really makes us a
perfect choice for couples.”
To find out more, call California Fertility Partners on 001 310 828
4008, contact Dr. Ringler directly at GRingler@aol.com or head to
www.californiafertilitypartners.com
www.fertilityroad.com
45

FEATURE | nutrition
WORDS | DR MARILYN GLENVILLE PHD
Since there are recognisable and widely published links between good eating and
good health, we asked leading nutritionalist Marylin Glenville to showcase for us
two recipes that are packed full of nutrients and perfect for male and female fertility.
46 fertility road | january - february

One of the most important nutrients for fertility is zinc.
It is vital for the health and maintenance of the
reproductive hormones in men and women. It is
found in high concentrations in the sperm, being
used to make the outer layer and tail.
A number of ingredients in these two recipes contain good amounts
of zinc including salmon, lentils, onions, beetroots and seaweed.
The salmon and walnuts also contain good levels of Omega 3
fats which are important for fertility. Omega 3 fats can prevent
blood from clotting inappropriately and so can be beneficial to
women who have problems with implantation or recurrent
miscarriage. For men, semen is rich in prostaglandins, hormonelike
substances produced from these fats. Research has shown that
men who have problems with abnormal sperm tend to have lower
than normal levels of beneficial prostaglandins.
Good levels of antioxidants are important for healthy eggs and
sperm and especially important if the woman is over 35, as
antioxidants can help with improving the quality of the eggs.
Antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamin E, zinc and selenium
are high in all the coloured vegetables included in these recipes
including carrots, sweet potatoes and beetroots, and there are also
antioxidants in the sesame seeds and garlic.
The B vitamins including folic acids are important for fertility, as
well as having a healthy baby. In these two recipes they are found
in the sweet potatoes, seaweed, salmon, lentils and parsnips.
One of the most important
nutrients for fertility is zinc. It’s vital
for the health and maintenance
of the reproductive hormones
for men and women.
The seaweed flakes are a ‘super food’ in that they contain good levels
of certain trace minerals including zinc, manganese, chromium and
selenium, as well as macro minerals such as calcium, magnesium,
iron and iodine. If you buy the flakes they are easy to use and can
be sprinkled on rice, pasta or porridge.
My recommendation is always to buy organic where possible
and then you do not need to peel the root vegetables - they can just
be washed. Many of the nutrients are concentrated under the skin
so you get more goodness from those foods. But in addition, you
are reducing your exposure to xenoestrogens (‘foreign oestrogens’)
from the pesticides used in the growing of the vegetables which
can have a negative effect on fertility for both men and women.
As you can see, with just two delicious recipes you can be making
a big impact on your fertility by providing many of the fertilityboosting
nutrients that your body needs to help you conceive. »
www.fertilityroad.com
47

FEATURE | nutrition
HERBED QUINOA SALAD WITH
ROASTED VEGETABLES – SERVES 4-6
SEARED SALMON WITH GREMOLATA
– SERVES 4
© Christine Bailey
This is aromatic herb flavoured quinoa topped with sweet roasted
vegetables and a garlic herb dressing. Dubbed the ‘supergrain’,
quinoa is an excellent protein-rich, gluten-free grain and makes
a delicious alternative to rice or couscous. This is a perfect Mediterranean
inspired dish, wonderful for picnics and packed lunches.
Why not top it with a little herb Greek yogurt for added effect?
• 180g/6oz/generous ¾ cup of quinoa grain
• 500ml/16floz/2 cups of homemade vegetable stock,
or use a vegan low salt bouillon powder
• 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
• 2 courgettes thickly sliced at an angle
• 2 red onions, cut into large chunks
• 2 red, 2 yellow peppers, cut into quarters
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1-2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 6 tbsp of olive oil
• A handful of chopped basil leaves
Yogurt dressing
• 150ml Greek yogurt
• 2 tsp of lemon juice
• 1 tbsp of chopped basil leaves
1. Place the quinoa and bouillon powder in a pan and cover with
the water. Bring to the boil then simmer covered on a low heat
for 15 minutes. Take off the heat and leave to stand for a further
10 minutes.
2. Mix together the oil and garlic.
3. Heat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6. Place the vegetables in a
large roasting tin and drizzle over half the oil. Season with a little
black pepper and roast for 40 minutes until the vegetables are
tender and slightly charred.
4. Make the yogurt dressing by mixing together the yogurt, lemon
juice and chopped basil. Season to taste.
5. Break up the quinoa with a fork and spoon on to a serving platter.
Place the roasted vegetables on top and drizzle over the remaining
garlic oil. Scatter with basil leaves and top with a little herb yogurt.
Gremolata is an Italian mixture of parsley, lemon zest and garlic. It
is a wonderful punchy flavouring for fish dishes, quick to prepare
and full of antioxidants. This works perfectly with oily fish such as
salmon but is equally delicious drizzled over vegetables.
Storage: Prepare the gremolata in advance and store in the fridge until
required. Leftover salmon can be kept in the fridge for one or two days.
• Large handful of fresh flat leaved parsley, finely chopped
• Juice and grated zest of 1 lemon
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 4 salmon fillets, with skin
• 8 red and yellow cherry tomatoes, halved
1. Mix together the parsley, lemon juice and zest, garlic and 2 tbsp
of oil in a bowl.
2. Pour a little oil over the salmon fillets and season with black
pepper. Heat a frying pan until hot. Sear the salmon, skin–side
down for 2-3 minutes until golden. Turn over and cook for a
further 4-5 minutes until cooked through.
3. Place the tomatoes in a bowl and coat with a little of the
gremolata. Spoon on to a serving plate and top with the salmon.
Drizzle the remaining gremolata over the salmon.
Dr Marilyn Glenville PhD is the UK’s leading nutritionist
specialising in women’s health. She is the Former President of
the Food and Health Forum at the Royal Society of Medicine
and the author of a number of internationally bestselling
books including Getting Pregnant Faster, Fat around the Middle
and The Natural Health Bible for Women.
Dr Glenville works in a gynaecology clinic in London and also
in Tunbridge Wells. If you are interested in a consultation, you
can contact Dr Glenville’s clinic on 0870 5329244, or by email
at health@marilynglenville.com.
For more information go to www.marilynglenville.com
www.fertilityroad.com
49

INTRODUCING...
FertilityWorld
Fertility Road is proud and excited to announce
that we have partnered up with the Destination
Health Show in London Olympia on the April 15
and 16 2011 to bring you Fertility World, where
we have a dedicated area of the show discussing
all matters of fertility and conception.
As a visitor to the show you
will be surrounded by some
of the leading clinics from
around the world who
specialise in fertility
treatments, with experts
on hand to answer your
every question.
Fertility In partnership World withis a part of
coming April 2011.
BOOK
TODAY
SAVE
£5
DestinationHealth

Fertility Road is also running the ‘Fertility Road
Seminar Theatre’, where doctors and fertility
experts will offer free group discussions
and talks throughout the day...
• Maximising your chances of getting pregnant
• Choosing a fertility clinic
• Going overseas for fertility treatment
• How the NHS can help with fertility costs
• Same-sex fertility treatment
• The donor and surrogacy route
• Natural methods for boosting fertility
• Fertility information resources
So make sure you put us in your diary, and we look forward
to meeting you at the show! For more information please visit
www.destinationhealth.co.uk or www.FertilityRoadShow.com
or contact us on info@fertilityroad.com - 0208 316 4323
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).

FERTILITY ROAD
GUIDES/ SUPPLEMENTS
Helping you plan for every stage of your journey...
WORDS | CATHRYN PUGH
WHAT
SUP?
Taking supplements before
and while you are trying
to conceive can boost your
chances of having a healthy baby.
Scientific research has shown that male and female fertility
can be increased through the use of supplements. Many
experts also agree that even a so-called ‘healthy diet’
may not contain the nutrients we require. For women,
hormonal balance is important for regular ovulation and taking
supplements can ensure you have normal menstrual cycles,
which will increase the chances of conception. For men, healthy
sperm formation, quality and motility are central to reproductive
wellness and male fertility.
Many supplements are packaged up in fertility support formulas
such as Sanatogen or FertilAid, of which there are different types
for men and women. Most have the same basic ingredients – zinc,
selenium and other vitamins - which all play an important role
in fertility.
Zinc is the nutrient that has been analysed the most in relation
to conception, as it is necessary for a woman’s body to attract and
hold the reproductive hormones oestrogen and progesterone. It
also improves the quality of a man’s sperm. A zinc deficiency can
cause chromosome changes in both a woman and her partner,
leading to reduced fertility and an increased risk of miscarriage.
Vitamins C and E are powerful antioxidants and vitamin E in
particular has been linked with an increase in fertilisation rates for
couples undergoing IVF treatment, when the man has taken it.
Studies show that vitamin C enhances sperm quality, protecting
sperm and the DNA within it from damage. Some research has
indicated that certain types of DNA damage in the sperm can make
it difficult to conceive in the first place, or it can cause an increased
risk of miscarriage if conception does take place.
Long known to safeguard the health of the unborn baby, by
reducing the risk of spinal cord defects and premature labour, Folic
Acid which is a form of vitamin B, is now thought to also aid
conception. A study involving more than 18,000 women in the
US showed those who took it regularly had a 40% lower risk of
suffering problems producing eggs - the second biggest cause of
female infertility. In fact, all of the B vitamins are essential to get
the body ready for conception. Research has shown that giving B6
to women who have trouble conceiving increases fertility and vitamin
B12 has been found to improve low sperm counts.
Another supplement that improves the quality of a man’s sperm is
the antioxidant, selenium. It maximises sperm formation and makes
them stronger. It also benefits women, as it helps to protect their
body from highly reactive chemical fragments called free radicals.
For this reason, selenium can prevent chromosome breakage, which
is known to be a cause of birth defects and miscarriages.
In addition to nutrient supplements, herbal treatments are aimed
at restoring hormone imbalances, and encouraging ovulation if it is
not occurring. The herb of choice for increasing fertility is Agnus
Castus or ‘Chasteberry’. In one study, 48 women diagnosed with
infertility took Agnus Castus daily for three months. Seven of them
became pregnant during that time and 25 of them regained normal
progesterone levels. It is particularly helpful for those women with
high prolactin levels, because it stimulates the proper functioning of
the pituitary gland which controls the hormones.
However, Agnus Castus is not recommended for everyone. If you
are using drug treatments or going through assisted conception
(such as IVF) don’t take any herbs unless they are recommended by
a qualified practitioner.
The important thing to remember is that there are numerous
supplements that couples can take to try to boost their fertility, but
treatment plans do need to be adjusted to suit your individual
needs. It also takes at least three months for immature eggs to
mature enough to be released during ovulation, and the same
amount of time for sperm cells to develop ready to be ejaculated.
This means that when trying to improve your fertility, you need to
start taking supplements and looking after yourself properly at
least four months before conceiving.
52 fertility road | january - february

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FERTILITY ROAD
GUIDES/FINANCE
Helping you plan for every stage of your journey...
Clinical trials
You may be eligible to participate in clinical trials. These trials are
closely monitored by doctors and are one great way to get in on
treatments that you might otherwise not be able to afford. Speak
to both your insurance company and to your fertility specialist
about possible options.
Using the experience of others
It has never been easier to gain insight and intelligence from other
people, thanks to the internet. Financing fertility does require a lot
of research, but talking to others who have undergone infertility
treatment can be done quickly and effectively, and may lead to
some considerable savings along the way.
While financing fertility is undoubtedly difficult to plan, it can
also be notorious to stick to, particularly when the emotional
lure of a family means the heart overrides the head.
But if you can agree on a timeframe and points along the
path that you won’t go past, then the aspect of financing for
fertility need not be the scary monster that it is sometimes
portrayed as. Here are some key guidelines…
Budget
You’ll budget for the roof over your head, for food, travel and
holidays, and fertility should be the same. Of course, costs will
largely depend on the type of treatment and fertility testing
involved and you won’t know what really lies ahead until you
see a fertility specialist in order to understand what treatment is
necessary and the fees involved. Such fees would involve those
associated with fertility tests, diagnostic (advanced) procedures,
fertility medications, fertility procedures for male-factor fertility
and assisted reproductive procedures, and don’t rule out additional
sums, such as hospital fees, consultation costs, plus screening
charges prior to infertility treatment.
Your fertility specialist may be able to refer you to an appropriate
financial counsellor.
Financial Assistance
It is important to perform research and look into any financial coverage
or assistance that may be available to you. Something like IVF
is rarely covered by insurance options, but rather than assume that
avenues are blocked, it’s worth researching the possibilities.
Some health insurance policies cover selected fertility procedures
but not others – for instance, many health insurance plans will help
finance aforementioned fertility test costs and diagnostic procedures,
but only about a quarter of all insurance plans will cover ART.
And for couples worried about the added cost of multiple births,
some insurance schemes will pay out in the instance of twins,
triplets or even greater numbers arriving into the world.
Using the NHS or going private?
The NHS offers couples seeking infertility treatment one fertility
financing option. However, there are certain eligibility criteria
that couples must meet in order to get funding from this type of
infertility insurance.
As ever though, waiting lists are a big issue, along the speed of
supplementary and additional procedures. In addition, infertility
coverage that will be available under the NHS will largely depend
on the criteria presented by the respective Primary Care
Trust in the region. This, in turn, means that fertility financing by
the NHS still largely varies, and is dependent largely on location.
It is because of this that about three quarters of infertile couples
choose to go private.
But the NHS is looking to more stringently implement the guidelines
set forth by NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence),
which ensure that patients will be offered up to three cycles of IVF
or ICSI on the NHS, if they fulfil the following criteria:
• The woman is aged between 23 and 39 years of age
at the time of treatment.
• Either partner has had fertility problems for three years or more.
• Either partner has a diagnosed infertility problem such
as a blocked fallopian tube or an absence of sperm.
Partial treatment coverage by the NHS can still decrease fertility
costs significantly, as well as other treatment fees. This means that
there could be a significant decrease in the total cost of infertility
treatment packages including the cost of fertility drugs, scans and
consultations. With NHS funding, infertility treatment costs are
typically reduced by £1,000 to £2,500.
Reach out to family and friends
Family help is often the solution for many couples. If you are comfortable
doing so, express your financial difficulties and your needs
with family members. Know your facts before you do - including
how much money you would need for fertility treatments, and for
what length of time. Then, see if anyone is willing to help. But
remember, the price of fertility treatment is only ever a rehearsal to
the forthcoming costs of raising children!
www.fertilityroad.com
55

FERTILITY ROAD
GUIDES/ ALTERNATIVE
Helping you plan for every stage of your journey...
But take note, self-fertility to the reproductive organs must only
be performed before pregnancy and not during your period, and
techniques must be done correctly, so it’s worth reading up in
detail or taking expert advice on exactly how it will benefit you,
because everybody reacts differently.
The recognised massage techniques
in self-fertility massage are as follows
• Chi Nei Tsang
• Deep Tissue Massage
• Myofacial Release
• Acupressure
• Reflexology
• Castor Oil Therapy
MY
MASSAGE
THERAPY
Massage is one of the best natural remedies to
eliminate those feelings of stress and anxiety so
associated with fertility, and has been scientifically
proven to trigger the release of endorphins – the
body’s natural pleasure providers.
Even gentle stroking can be used to produce feelings of comfort
and wellbeing, while a deeper massage can help you to relax,
affecting positively body systems so as to control heart rate, blood
pressure, respiration and digestion.
Relaxation – and the reduction of stress hormones such as
cortisol and norepinephrine, which weaken your immune system
– is crucial in the battle to maintain a body that is in its best
fertile state, and massage is a great way to restore peace of mind
throughout a potentially fraught time in your life.
Fertility massage (as shared massage or self-massage) encompasses
several complex massaging techniques, the combination
of which can have a tremendously beneficial effect in terms of
increasing blood flow and nutrients to the organs, mainly due to a
freeing of tissues that can become overgrown and cause obstructions,
for instance in the fallopian tubes.
It can also help relieve symptoms that result from a painful
menstrual cycle, not to mention the knock-on effects of cysts,
fibroids and endometriosis.
Many women report immediate positive after-effects, though
given that you are putting your body through a cleansing period,
there can result complaints in terms of a slightly heavier period,
soreness, or increased bowel movements. But in the grander
scheme of things, these are merely indicators that your body is
ridding itself of old adhesions, clogged matter and blood clots.
There are a number of oils typically associated with fertility,
including clary sage, lavender and tea tree. You should always
seek advice before using an oil though given potential allergies or
There are a number of oils
typically associated with fertility,
including clary sage, lavender
and tea tree. You should always
seek advice before using an oil
though given potential allergies
or breathing complaints.
breathing complaints, and oils should always be diluted in a carrier
oil such as apricot kernel oil, sunflower oil or sweet almond oil.
More and more alternative oils have come onto the market
over the course of the last decade, each aimed at different areas
of the body and each providing varying levels of impact and
relief, depending upon your requirements. These range from the
use of basil (an invigorating fragrance that helps in staying alert
and clearing the mind), to ginger zingiber (a traditional Chinese
remedy that has a warming effect and aids digestion) to neroli
(AKA orange blossom, which is calming and soothing during
times of stress), or good old-fashioned rose (known as the ‘queen
of oils’ for its affinity to the female system and sweet floral aroma).
Finding the right oil is essential in creating a massage therapy
that works for you and your circumstances. There are countless
reference sources available, but remember to consult expert
advice at whatever stage of the fertility journey you are at, to
ensure that you choose something that is tailored to you, and will
offer maximum therapeutic impact.
56 fertility road | january - february

HARLEY STREET FERTILITY CENTRE
MAURITIUS
HAVE YOUR TREATMENT AND HOLIDAY ON A TROPICAL ISLAND!
Fertility Problems?
Having difficulty in conceiving?
Repeated IVF failures?
Why not enjoy the sunshine and
beautiful beaches in Mauritius while
having your fertility treatment in total
confidentiality?
Why pay more in Europe, when you can
have the same expertise and
technology including a 10-day holiday
in a tropical paradise?
The Centre is headed by Dr Rajat Goswamy,
FRCOG, who has been providing IVF
treatments since 1982 in UK and is renowned
for innovations in IVF, Ultrasound and Keyhole
surgery. He and his international team have
been providing fertility treatments on the
island since 2002.
The Centre takes great care in providing a high
standard of services using the latest
techniques, in a caring, relaxed and supportive
environment maintaining privacy and dignity.
Harley Street Fertility Centre
Address : Georges Guibert Street Floréal
Telephone : (230) 686 2525 - Fax : (230) 697 85 72
Email : hsfcmauritius@intnet.mu
The Centre provides a wide spectrum of Fertility
treatments including:
• IVF - In Vitro Fertilisation
• ICSI - Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection
• Assisted Hatching
• Testicular Sperm Extraction
• Aneuploidy screening
Success rates at the Centre for these treatments
have been consistently above 40 %
• Laparoscopic Surgery for
Endometriosis
and Polycystic Ovaries (PCO)
• Hysteroscopic Surgery for fibroids, polyps, and
intra-uterine rine adhesions
These keyhole surgical procedures are
performed at
Fortis Clinique Darné.
Pregnancy rates following these procedures match
those obtained with the artificial reproductive
techniques listed above.
For further information about us, and on treatment
packages which include hotel accommodation, visit
our website : www.harleystreetfertility.comww.harleystreetfertility.comw

SCIENCE | genetic counselling
WORDS | AMY VANCE
GENETIC
COUNSELLING
EXPLAINED
Amy Vance, MS, GCC, and founder
of Bay Area Genetic Counselling
explains the importance of genetic
counselling and family history risk
assessment for ovum donors.
What is Genetic Counselling?
Genetic counselling is the process of helping people understand
and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications
of genetic contributions to disease. This process integrates:
• Interpretation of family and medical histories to assess
the chance of disease occurrence or recurrence.
• Education about inheritance, testing, management,
prevention, resources and research.
• Counselling to promote informed choices and adaptation
to the risk or condition.
• The purpose of the genetics consult for ovum donors
• Ovum donors are typically screened through the use of a
family history questionnaire as part of their profile, usually
focusing only on first degree relatives and grandparents.
The majority of questionnaires omit half-siblings, nieces,
nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Most gamete donor programmes do not utilise genetic counselling
services for family history risk assessment (hereafter called genetic
risk assessment, or GRA) and do not obtain a three generation
pedigree (family history). If a donor has a positive genetic test result,
many donor agencies do not refer for genetic counselling and do not
adequately address the implications for the donor and her family.
The benefits to intended parents
Having a thorough review and interpretation of the family medical
history helps ensure that intended parents have not only complete
information but also interpretation of potential risks to their offspring.
A copy of the family tree is provided to the intended parents for
their records. For a couple using an anonymous gamete donor,
this may be the most detailed information they receive about the
medical history of their offspring’s family.
Sometimes there is new information that comes up during the
genetics consult that was not elicited by the profile, or there is
a genetic test result on the donor which is positive. These are
difficult circumstances that, on occasion, lead to the intended
parent deciding not to go forward with the donor. Knowing this
information prior to a pregnancy and having the opportunity to
make decisions accordingly is important.
Risk assessment includes:
• Donor’s pregnancy history
• Donor’s health history
• Family history of mental retardation or birth defects
• Personal or family history of stillbirth/miscarriage/
neonatal death
58 fertility road | january - february

ISSUE 04 | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2011 £3.95/€4.95
04 WWW.FERTILITYROAD.COM
Specific conditions occur
more commonly in different
ethnic groups. All are inherited in
an autosomal recessive fashion,
both parents have to be carriers
for the same condition in order
to have an affected child.
Why is ethnicity important?
In almost every population or ethnic group, certain genetic
conditions occur more frequently than in the general population.
Once a genetic mutation occurs in an individual or population,
it is conserved from generation to generation over many
years as people mate and marry with partners from the same
geographic region or racial background as themselves. Specific
conditions occur more commonly in different ethnic groups. All
are inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion, meaning that
both parents have to be carriers for the same condition in order
to have an affected child. The only way to know if someone is a
carrier for a recessive disorder is to have carrier screening.
Why don’t all ovum donors have
a genetic risk assessment?
There are currently no regulations requiring a genetics consultation/family
history risk assessment for ovum donors. In
my practice I have attempted to promote awareness and
utilisation of the GRA for ovum donors.
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In summary, family history risk assessment for ovum donors
by a genetic counsellor using a three generation pedigree
provides enhanced information to the ovum donor programme
to allow them to better screen their donors. It allows recipient
couples to make informed decisions about potential genetic
risks prior to donor selection and pregnancy and allows them to
take advantage of technology such as PGD. It enhances the
quality of service that is provided to the intended parent. At
this time, some donor agencies do provide a GRA for matched
donors. This information may be collected and provided to
the IVF doctor for review with the intended parent or sometimes
it is provided to the intended parent.
Intended parents can empower themselves by asking their
donor agency/IVF centre whether a GRA has been performed,
and whether they can obtain a copy for their records. If a
GRA has not been performed, intended parents can
request that this occur. If more intended parents see the
value in the GRA and request that it be done, it may become
standard practice in the future.
Bay Area Genetic Counselling provides risk assessment to
gamete donors and all couples undergoing IVF at Zouves
Fertility Centre. Contact Amy at amy@bayareagc.com or by
calling 001 415 453 4384 www.bayareagc.com
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SCIENCE | osteopathy
THE GOVERNING
BODY
Osteopathy is the treatment of muscles, ligaments, nerves
and joints in assisting the body’s natural healing ability.
It involves gentle, manual techniques in order to ease
pain, reduce swelling and improve mobility. It can
also alleviate backaches during pregnancy, emotional problems,
exhaustion, impotence, infertility, and menstrual pain along.
Cranial osteopathy, concentrated on the skull, has in the past
been reserved for helping babies and children after the experience
of birth, or those of other ages suffering skull injuries. Yet increased
research into alternative therapies suggests that this technique
could have huge benefits for couples looking to start a family.
Cranial osteopaths work on detecting stress points, releasing
energy from these areas in order to bring about relief. This subtle
type of osteopathic treatment uses gentle techniques to release
stresses within the body and the head. It uses the body’s ‘Involuntary
Motion’ - a rhythmical shape change present in body tissue.
All types of osteopathic therapists are trained to feel subtle
body motions and they can easily locate areas where there are
restrictions or congestions.
Osteopathy in preconception
There are many specialist osteopaths, and the best of those will
quote up to a 25% success rate for treatment leading to an overcoming
of fertility problems. The belief is that your body can be
slightly twisted and misaligned, something which can make muscles
‘catch’ on arteries, thereby blocking the flow of blood and hormones.
Of course, many women do fall pregnant despite these twists
and catches, but for others, unexplained infertility has been
alleviated. And even those who don’t fall pregnant can find that
unbalanced hormones and misalignments in something like the
neck can have effects on longstanding pains in the body.
Osteopathy and acupuncture
Osteopathy and acupuncture are both closely linked in that one is
said to lead naturally to the other, due to the shared relationship
and movement of the body and blood flow, something that can be
obstructed by posture and alignment.
Evidence suggests that there is a strong connection through the
middle of the body which can become unaligned through childhood
illness, accidents or stress. If uncorrected, it can exacerbate problems
in other areas of the mid-line, most notably the pelvis, where the
reproductive system is based. This is why people with infertility
issues are likely to notice positive changes through this therapy.
And remember, osteopathy can be either on the area or via the
use of cranial point contact, which realigns the plates of the skull.
Osteopathy for mothers
A mother slowly adapts to carrying 20lbs of baby, water and
placenta during pregnancy, and this obviously places a great strain
on the body that can manifest itself in a number of different ways.
Osteopathic treatment has, for some patients, been shown to
alleviate stresses in the following ways:
• In helping the body cope with the increasing weight
of the baby and fluid.
• In preparing the mother for the demands of labour.
• In assisting the mother’s recovery after the pregnancy and delivery.
• In helping to limit the pressure of post-birth lifting, carrying and
general strains on the spine and pelvis at a time when the body
is fragile and trying to adapt back to its pre-pregnancy state.
• In helping to reduce other aches and pains, plus Sciatica
and Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction
Finding a good Osteopath
As always, word of mouth is one of the best ways to source any
specialist, particularly when it comes to alternative therapies.
Otherwise, consult an official body such as the General Osteopathic
Council.
A good osteopath will recommend abandoning treatment if
the patient does not feel any considerable improvement after
three or four sessions, though a large percentage of patients
report impressive benefits throughout all stages of the fertility
and pregnancy progress.
www.fertilityroad.com
61

READER STORY | letter from the heart
‘‘
LETTER
FROM THE
HEART:
PALI’S
STORY
Pali Panesar, 39, had 13 cycles
of IVF before surrogacy provided
her dream result…
I
am
39 and my husband, Swarn, is 42, and the path to
parenthood has been a 12-year journey for us, but one
that finally gave us a happy ending in 2010.
Right back at the start, around the time of the Millennium,
we tried as couples do, each month hoping for the right
result and expecting everything to click. A year or so passed, and
with nothing happening we realised it was time to visit our GP.
Our inability to fall pregnant was unexplained, and the longer it
went on the further away my dream of three children seemed
to become. I had a couple of procedures, a laparoscopy and a
hysteroscopy, but with nothing really prevailing.
We had to move on, so went private and took our first IVF
cycle when I was 31. We were hopeful and positive that it would
produce a good number of eggs. I had quite a large dropout rate
but still had quite a few to transfer.
Nothing happened the first time, but on cycle number three I
actually did fall pregnant, only to suffer a heartbreaking miscarriage
at 11 weeks. I picked myself back up again and continued along
the road taking different treatments and, after cycle eight, changed
clinics from where I had been in Harley Street, visiting Cyprus and
north India, yet continued to encounter negative results.
It was tough going. After so many disappointments, the idea
of surrogacy came along, as did adoption. I had got to the point
where I thought ‘I just cannot physically do any more’. Anyone
who has been through this will know the emotions involved –
the time off work, the trauma, the depression, each time believing
and hoping. I was long past the point of my dream scenario of
wanting three children; just one would be a blessing.
After attending meetings about adoption we didn’t think
we were ready to jump onto that ladder. Given that my
husband and I are Indian, the adoption agency made it clear
that they would rather place babies with parents who have their
similar cultural and religious background. We felt we were at a
disadvantage because there are very few Indian babies in the
UK who come up for adoption.
The idea of international adoption actually led us on to
thinking about surrogacy. We’d ruled it out before but now
weren’t so sure we should. We did a bit of soul-searching and
answered a few honest questions. I think that has to be done,
whoever you are. You have to ask yourself what you are prepared
to do, and what lengths you are willing to go to in order to
achieve it. Of course, there are so many questions, and you can’t
expect to have all of the answers all of the time, but with the
support of our families we felt this was right for us.
62 fertility road | january - february

We started our research, and India seemed the best option. The
internet was brilliant for giving us a broad cross-section, with
specialist sites such as www.surrogacy.co.uk offering a really
good handle on what surrogacy is about, the mindset involved,
and what goes into it. A number of the American sites were
useful, while the British Embassy in India’s online resource
issues a paper that serves to answer a lot of queries.
We spoke to a few clinics and got the lowdown - it was pretty
much the same thing everywhere. But then we were pointed in
the direction of the The Origin Fertility clinic in Mumbai. It was
a new clinic, just three years old, but owners Dr Mane and
his wife were educated and had practised in the UK. Now
even though I’m of Indian blood, I’m a UK-born citizen, and I
know that communication across languages and cultures can
sometimes be difficult. I knew that I couldn’t take that chance
whereby we lost the ability to communicate properly with our
specialists. Using Origin cleared that obstacle.
I actually work in a healthcare company so, in addition, I
knew Origin were affiliated with all the correct bodies in the
UK, and I was happy to put my faith in them.
In some parts of India they believe that the practitioner
knows everything, and that is that. It’s not an attitude that I
could live with given how personal IVF is. In the UK we have
freedom of speech and we can ask questions of the practitioner
at every step along the way - that’s the way we work. If
someone tells you to take three tablets a day, you need to have
the right to ask them why. But Mumbai is very modern, and
the clinic was very Western in its approach. Our consultant
spoke perfect English, his standards were very British, and he
Dr Mane shapes his team based
on his own values. He gave me
and my situation so much time and
listened to everything that I wanted.
operated with a complete set of standards that had to be
followed by everyone he affiliated with. It was such a relief.
And when, after my initial emailed enquiry, Dr Mane picked up
the phone to discuss my situation, I was amazed – what consultant
rings you back from just an email? It was amazing! We had a
conversation for an hour, and given that I was, that day, on my way
out to India for an unconnected matter, I arranged to make a
diversion so that I could visit the clinic. I was still in a big mess
emotionally, and cried a lot when I spoke to them, but we talked
around all the different things. By the end of my visit though I was
convinced I would take my cycle there. We were back on the road.
That was in November 2009, and in February of last year we
went out and did the cycle, using my eggs and a surrogate
mother. It went very well and we were fortunate in that we now
have beautiful twin boys, Ariyan and Jaiden. Although there
were small complications during the pregnancy, everything was
managed fantastically - I couldn’t have hoped for a better end.
Immediately after the procedure, and not knowing what was
going to happen, I remember writing in Origin’s guestbook that
no matter what happened, it was the best treatment cycle I’d
ever had. The attention to detail was incredible and it was
all about my circumstances, not those of others who had
done identical treatments.
Dr Mane shapes his team based on his own values. He gave
me and my situation so much time and listened to everything
that I wanted, to the point that when the twins were due. He
and our surrogate allowed us to be present at the birth.
It was a perfect end to a long journey. To do 13 cycles was
unlike me - I’m not an obsessive person, but with hindsight, I
realise how much I wanted it. We felt as if we had
everything else we needed in life, yet this was the
one missing piece of the jigsaw. We wouldn’t have
forgiven ourselves if we hadn’t done everything
within our power to try to fulfil our dreams.
The support we’ve had away from the clinic was
incredible as well - I’ve got very loving sisters and
they were a pillar of support for me. At times I
couldn’t even talk because it was so close to home,
though through the heartache and the counselling,
I’ve learned that your problems aren’t as bad as you think they
are – you have other things in life and sometimes you need to sit
up and make sure you look at the bigger picture. It’s easy to say
that after the event, and at the time you feel as though you’re a
failure, but it is true.
Infertility is a disability but it isn’t an obvious one. Sometimes
I’d wish that the consultant would come out and give a definite
reason as to why I couldn’t hold on to a pregnancy, but that was
never there. As long as you get to the point though where you
accept you have to try a different route, and as long as you’re
willing to attempt everything that’s within your reach – from
IVF to Chinese herbs and Indian potions – then do so, because
you never know what might happen... and the rewards are better
than you could ever imagine.
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
www.fertilityroad.com
63

HEALTHY NATION 2011 – 2-4 MARCH 2011 – KIEV, UKRAINE
The Second International Medical Tourism exhibition comprises
both the tour life & new life that demonstrate trends in the
medical services market in Ukraine and abroad.
Healthy Nation is supported by Cabinet of Ministers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of
Health, Ministry of Tourism, etc. in Ukraine. The event is the part of the Concept-State
targeted social program Healthy Nation during 2009-2013 years! The program targets
the rise in living standards of Ukrainian nation and its longevity.
Each section of the exhibition includes vast scientific program: seminars and conferences,
master classes of domestic and foreign experts in 11 modern conference halls that can each
accommodate upto 500 delegates, and located in the International Exhibition Center.
The event is obligatory to visit for most of the doctors, specialists and officials in the
healthcare and related fields due to the imperatives of Ministry of Health of Ukraine
and profile Associations.
EMAIL: INFO@TREEX.COM.UA
WWW.TREEX.COM.UA
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64 fertility road | january - february

FERTILITY ROAD
BOOKS
Our review of the latest fertility titles…
Fit for Fertility
- Michael Dooley
Out now, £6.95
One in six couples have problems conceiving
and many more suffer the pain of miscarriage.
Much of the advice they’re given is
misleading or negative and IVF is often
presented as the only option. In fact, it’s
been shown that an integrated approach
to fertility treatment can achieve the same
success rates as IVF, without medical intervention,
worry and expense.
This is Michael’s approach and is based
on his hugely successful Fit for Fertility
programme that combines changes to lifestyle,
good nutrition and complementary
therapies. Fit for Fertility will allow the
reader to self diagnose and tailor their
programme according to their needs.
His Poundbury Clinic in Dorset also offers
fertility retreats – call 01305 262626.
The Everything ® Fertility Book
- Nicole Galan, RN
Out now, £10.99
Infertility can be a frustrating and heartbreaking
disorder compounded by complicated
treatments and so-called miracle cures
on the market. In The Everything® Fertility
Book, couples can find the medical and
holistic information they need to conceive
and bear a happy, healthy child all in one
convenient guide.
It includes information on the side effects
of the latest fertility drugs, yoga exercises
that aid fertility, birth rates associated with
various treatments and coping methods for
dealing with loss.
With this guide, getting pregnant doesn’t
have to be a stressful process. Armed with
knowledge and reassurance, couples will
be ready to make the choices that work
best for them.
The Fertility Diet
- Jorge Chavarro, Walter
Willett and Patrick Skerrett
Out now, £17.99
The Fertility Diet reveals the latest scientific
findings from The Nurses’ Health
Study II, confirming that diet has a major
impact on fertility. It is based on eight recent
studies which comprise one of the
largest and longest-running investigations
into women’s health in America.
The study, for which approximately
18,000 nurses trying to become pregnant
provided extensive information about their
diets, lifestyles, health, reproductive histories
and personal lives, has revealed some
major surprises, and this book documents
them in detail.
The Fertility Diet reveals that what you
eat and how active you are can definitely
stack the reproductive deck in your favour.
The Ultimate Fertility Guide
- Andrew Loosely
naturalfertilityexpert.com
For the first time, after nine years of treating
couples for fertility issues, Andrew Loosely
reveals his successful fertility secrets. He
explains the most important aspects for
preparing your body for conception and
some of the common elements that may
be stopping you from having a baby.
In a simple step-by-step programme, you
will discover how to take control of your
fertility plus learn some of the treatments
that Andrew uses to produce a current success
rate of 79% positive pregnancy in his clinics.
Andrew strongly believes that to allow
your body to conceive there are seven key
areas that need to be in place. These are
revealed to you in this detailed guide.
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 February 28, 2011.
www.fertilityroad.com 65

FERTILITY ROAD |
not forgotten
It’s April 1955, and in an Apache Indian reservation north of Tucson, Arizona, in the United States, a 13-year-old
girl is the centre of a gathering to celebrate her coming of age.
She is called Little Cornflower, and is the latest in a long line of subjects who have had rites carried out,
stemming from the legend of the famous White Painted Woman, an Apache Goddess.
The four-day ceremony, conducted under the desert skies, welcomes townsfolk from all around, each
bringing gifts of food. Little Cornflower is accompanied by her sponsor, a woman appointed by her family who
has trained her in the rituals for many months. At one points she is blessed by the shaman, or medicine man. Her
hair is sprinkled with pollen, the symbol of fertility, and she kneels on the sacred white deer rug.
The US government actually made this ceremoney illegal from the start of the 1900s, and it stayed that way
until the publication of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act in 1978.
Neither this publication nor its contents constitute an explicit endorsement by Vibration Media, or by LRN 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 or LRN Media. This publication is not intended to be exhaustive. While every effort has been
made to ensure accuracy, neither Vibraton Media nor LRN 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.
66 fertility road | january - february

iCandy pear multi-mode system
Growing with your family...
Over 20 practical combinations in 1 Patent Pending
www.icandyworld.com

COST – LOW / SUCCESS – HIGH / WAITING – NIL
CHOICE OF DONOR AND SURROGATES – MAXIMUM
Helping dreams come true!
At The Origin International Fertility Centre we’re proud to be able to offer
the expertise and experience of British doctors, working with the world’s best
fertility technology. Our clinic, already the largest in India, is rated in the top
15 worldwide and, as well as being fully air-conditioned, offers WiFi throughout.
The clinic was featured in the BBC World News due to it’s popularity.
Surrounded by the intense cultural draw of Mumbai, The
Origin International Fertility Centre is a brilliant
destination for tourists... and for parents-to-be.
Services under
one roof include:
IVF/ICSI
Egg Donation
Surrogacy
Sperm Banking
Embryo donation
Laser Hatching
Blastocysts Transfer
Embryo Freezing
Male factor treatment
Vasectomy/Tubectomy reversal
Advanced Laparoscopy to
treat Fibroids, Endometriosis,
Tubal disease, Polycystic Ovaries
Advanced Hysteroscopy to treat Polyps,
Septum, Adhesions, Tubal disease
The Origin Centre • Opp. Hiranandani Meadows • Off Pokhran Rd No 2 • Thane (W)-400610 • Mumbai • INDIA,
tel: 02079936377, 00912221712345/40 • fax: 00912221712341 • email: info@theoriginfertility.com
www.theoriginfertility.com