Fertility Blog

Written by Professor Brian Lieberman, of Manchester Fertility Services

  • 27th
    Jan
    2012

    Lean on me - why our support is crucial when you go through IVF

    We’ve had some fantastic news here at Manchester Fertility Services. One of our fertility nurses – Sharon Bannatyne – has made it through to the national finals of the Claire Rayner Patient’s Choice Awards.

    Sharon was nominated by one of our patients for the award, which is designed to recognise healthcare professionals who go the ‘extra mile’.

    Her nomination is a great testament to Sharon and indeed the entire team here, because at this clinic we put a lot ...

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  • 19th
    Jan
    2012

    IVF and over 40? New study reveals multiple pregnancy risk is lower

    Since the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority set new guidelines aimed at reducing the number of IVF multiple births to just 15 per cent by April this year, infertility clinics – both private and NHS – and actively been working to achieve a reduction through Single Embryo Transfer (SET).

    SET is where only one embryo is transferred per cycle in good IVF prognosis patients. And at Manchester Fertility Services, we’ve always reached this decision in consultation with our...

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  • 10th
    Jan
    2012

    Can you ever predict miscarriage? What's new from the British Fertility Society Annual Conference

    The British Fertility Society held its annual conference last week and our team was in attendance. One of the major headlines to report from the conference is the news that it may now be possible to identify if you’re at a higher risk of miscarriage in pregnancy.

    The risk of miscarriage is generally at its highest during the first 12 weeks, known as the first trimester. This is when the embryo goes through major growth to officially become a healthy foetus. But this is when misc...

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  • 9th
    Jan
    2012

    Do IVF clinics really exploit the infertile?

    There was much debate in the media recently following claims by Lord Robert Winston that many IVF clinics in the UK – both private and NHS -  are exploiting the infertile and ‘ripping off desperate couples’ by charging much more than what he says is the actual cost of treatment.

    When you research a fertility clinic, which we always recommend you thoroughly do before embarking on any treatment, you will notice unsurprisingly that fees vary widely between providers. But thi...

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  • 3rd
    Jan
    2012

    New year, new baby? Top tips for finding the right IVF clinic for you

    If 2012 is the year you’re hoping to have a baby through infertility treatment such as IVF, it can be hard to decide which fertility clinic is the right one to choose for your treatment.

    With many clinics seemingly showing high success rates and claiming that only they have the expertise to help you, it’s difficult to work out exactly which one to go to.

    Here are some useful tips you should consider before choosing a fertility clinic:

    Don’t read too much into results: Don&rs...

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  • 20th
    Dec
    2011

    Think before you eat - does diet really affect your chances of getting pregnant?

    We will all be over indulging this week. Christmas isn’t only the time for giving, it’s the time for excess as we all eat and drink much more than usual.

    But if you’re hoping to have a baby in 2012 – whether through assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF or naturally - a healthy diet and lifestyle should be at the top of your New Year’s resolutions list.  Or should it?

    A new study has shown that women going through IVF who take a pregnancy vitamin suppl...

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  • 19th
    Dec
    2011

    Having children in your 40s - what's the reality?

    Celebrity magazines are full of stories about older stars who’ve easily had children later in life. But what’s the reality behind the headline?

    Having children in your 40s isn’t impossible. But statistically, it’s unlikely to happen naturally. Purely because once you’re in your 40s, your egg quality simply isn’t good enough anymore. And more often than not, if you do get pregnant it’s more likely to result in complications or end in miscarriage than a h...

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  • 9th
    Dec
    2011

    Over 40 and want IVF? What you need to know

    New figures released by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has revealed that one in five IVF cycles performed in 2010 were on women aged over 40.

    The number of older women now seeking IVF has almost doubled in the last 13 years. The average age of women having IVF has also increased, from just over 33 years old in 1991 to just over 35 years old last year.

    What this tells us is that more women are now having fertility treatment later in life. But when statistics show that fertilit...

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  • 1st
    Dec
    2011

    MFS patients to benefit from new 'EmbryoGlue' to maximise chances of pregnancy

    Once an embryo is transferred back into the uterus following IVF, you can never guarantee it will successfully implant for pregnancy. But we’re excited to announce that Manchester Fertility Services is the first fertility clinic in the North West to use a new embryo transfer medium, that is aimed at promoting embryos implantation.

    The new product called ‘EmbryoGlue’ has been created specifically to encourage successful implantation of embryos.

    EmbryoGlue helps because it cont...

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  • 22nd
    Nov
    2011

    IVF Success - Why it's important for men to be healthy too

    A woman’s fertility is known to be linked to health factors including weight and lifestyle, but now a new study has shown just how important it is for men to be healthy too if they’re about to undergo infertility treatment with their partner.

    Researchers in Brazil found that the motility and concentration of a man’s sperm can be affected by diet and weight.

    In their study of 250 men, whose partners were all undergoing Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment – ...

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