03/11/2009 by yourgreatlife.

Part Two: Coming upon a Crossroads, What You Need To Make Your Decisions

The first crossroads is likely to be when you decide to see the doctor because, despite your efforts, you have not conceived.   It isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, or culture, to expose their intimate life to the scrutiny of doctors or undergo blood tests and scans, checking for something “wrong.”  Some uninformed men may be unwilling to provide a semen sample, for fear of what the results may suggest about his manliness.

Both the woman and man may feel some anxiety about whose family line may be to “blame” for their inability to become pregnant.  If this pertains to you or your partner, you must cast these outdated stigmas aside and take some relatively simple tests to discover the cause of your infertility.  If having a baby is your ultimate goal, your value system may have to adapt to accept the help that modern medicine and technology offer.

The second crossroads is deciding whether to pursue more invasive medical investigations and/or treatment.  With a clear diagnosis and readily available treatment, it is easier to decide what to do because the options are more clearly set out.  Your personal life may present the deciding factor: your relationship, finances, career, religion or emotional wellbeing may all be taken into consideration.  Many couples have to contend with unexplained infertility, where early test results were ambiguous.  If you (or your doctor) are operating in the dark, it won’t do much for your confidence.  In this case, the dilemma about which treatment to pursue may be decided by not knowing what else to do. 

Whatever your decision, the most important factor is agreement between the partners, not only because cooperation, understanding and support are vital to keeping stress levels down, but also because it could mean the difference between having a genetic child or not.  From the point that you choose assisted conception you enter a different world; one where your daily life centres on the fertility clinic. For working men, the clinical, inconvenient scheduling, financial and sexual aspects of trying to conceive while being treated, put them into unfamiliar territory and cause stress.  Women will physically experience all of that, and possibly, mood swings, pain, invasive procedures and fear that time is running out as well. 

The decision-making shifts to:

• Are you happy with the doctor/clinic you started with?
• Should you try less invasive treatment first, or go straight to IVF?
• Should we try complementary therapies before, or alongside, traditional medical treatment?
• How will you pay for your treatment?
• When should you begin treatment?
• Can this be managed around your work and/or other obligations?
• How many embryos do you want to implant? 
• How many times will you undergo treatment?

These questions may have the two of you at a new crossroads every week. While some people may sail through and others agonize, it’s more likely that some decisions will bring up unexpected issues.  Pay really close attention how you are both functioning.  Your emotional state is important: Do either of you feel stressed, resentful, guilty, desperate, depressed, or hopeless?  Is one of you leaning one way and the other in another direction?  Are you fighting? That is where mutual respect, communication and agreement come into play.

Lisa Marsh is a Fertility Coach working with people on all aspects of fertility, including female and male infertility, pregnancy loss, assisted conception, alternative means of family-building and menopause.  Visit her blog http://yourgreatlife.typepad.com or her website http://yourgreatlife.co.uk for more information.  For coaching, email lisa@yourgreatlife.co.uk

Posted in doing things differently, female fertility, Fertility Treatment, Assisted reproduction, Life Coaching, infertility investigations, Asking for help, fertility coach, Marriage, Getting Pregnant, Trying to Conceive, Fertility Tests, Male Fertility Issues, Pregnancy, Infertility, Alternative Therapies & Fertility, IVF, Fertility, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

01/11/2009 by yourgreatlife.

Part One: How Do You Function as a Couple? 

Infertility is no picnic. There are months or even years of suspecting a problem, opening up about it, asking for help, educating yourselves about issues, medical terms, finding acceptance and making decisions about how to proceed.  It’s not entirely straightforward for most couples.  How can it be, unless you are incredibly agreeable, immediately find the right doctor and receive an unequivocal diagnosis and solution?  Often, I get annoyed by the over-used term “fertility journey,” but it fits here too perfectly to cast aside, as I describe various crossroads you may reach on the way to creating your family.  A crossroads, in this context, is one of those times when you have to stop and deliberate a big decision that will affect the way you pursue parenting and its success.  You may have a possible diagnosis, a medical opinion, and/or the opinions of family, friends and forum members to contend with, fighting for attention in your head.  You have to pay attention to what your body is telling you as well.  Primarily, if you are in a relationship, you must come to an agreement with your partner at each of several crossroads. 

How will you get through these rather large bumps in the road? For the most part, that will depend upon how your relationship already works.

For a couple whose communication skills are quite healthy, facing these decisions may not be too difficult. Secure in their relationship, they may sit down together and have private, peaceful conversations every step of the way.  They will lay out the pros and cons very efficiently, really listening to each other and reading the subtext (that which is not actually spoken) to arrive at a decision that both find acceptable.

The couple who do not talk about much may just launch into medical investigations and treatment without much forethought.  That may seem unbelievable, considering the physical, emotional and financial costs, but it works for some.  This is the couple that knows they want children, want their “problem fixed” and allow their doctor to run the show. “It seems like everyone is having fertility treatment these days,” so why shouldn’t they? One concern is that if they don’t talk about huge issues like fertility treatment, they may not know when they need to be supportive of each other.

Where one person in the relationship is clearly dominant, the person who is in the power seat makes most of the decisions and their partner follows the lead.  When it comes to fertility issues, I would lay a bet down that the woman is making the decisions. This is actually more effective than you might think, in that traditional relationships assign matters of health, wellbeing and family planning to the woman. Her man goes off to work, doesn’t accompany her to the doctor’s office and understands the need for scheduling tests, scans, injections, sex and, well, life.  She only has to tell him where and when to show up to fulfil his parts of the equation. 

 Finally, there are the couples who discuss EVERYTHING in minute detail, who I divide into two camps:1)  The couple who talk about everything with each other and everyone else. Copious research, note-taking, question-asking, Google-obsessing, and forum-hopping is normal for them, but they do finally come to a decision and eventually take a step forward and 2) The couple that goes round and round the issues in circles, saying “What do you think? No, you say what you want first. Please just tell me what you want to do. Maybe we should discuss it more.”  This couple is in danger of losing valuable time in getting their treatment started or moving on to the next available spot with the clinic.

This is Part One of a Series. Please look for the next Part: Coming upon a Crossroads, What You Need To Make Your Decisions.

Lisa Marsh is a Fertility Coach working with people on all aspects of fertility, including female and male infertility, pregnancy loss, assisted conception, alternative means of family-building and menopause.  Visit her blog http://yourgreatlife.typepad.com or her website http://yourgreatlife.co.uk for more information.  For coaching, email lisa@yourgreatlife.co.uk

Posted in Guest blogger, Assisted reproduction, Male Infertility, fertility coach, infertility investigations, Asking for help, Fertility Treatment, Male Fertility Test, Infertility, Trying to Conceive, Fertility, IVF, Getting Pregnant, Fertility Tests | No Comments »

26/03/2009 by admin.

Have you visited Access Diagnostics new google checkout fertility website yet

It is very quick and easy to navigate with the same low prices on fertility tests and fertility products, and great service we know you expect

Click here to visit Access Diagnostics NEW fertility website for fertility information, pregnancy tests, ovulation tests, fertility tests, fertility supplements, Pre-Seed and lots more fertility products

Posted in LH Tests, Ovulation Microscopes, Pregnancy Supplements, Fertility Test Site, Ovulation Kits, Tests for Health Professionals, Ovulation Tests, Pre-Seed Lubricant, Fertility, Pregnancy Tests, Zita West, Vitamin & Mineral Supplements, Male Fertility Test, Fertility Tests | No Comments »

03/02/2009 by admin.

Hi,

Hope everyone is coping with the snow !

 Access Diagnostics 5% coupon code for February 2009 is save

Click here to visit Access Diagnostics Fertility Test Site

Coupon is valid until the end of Feb and gives a 5% discount on goods

Posted in Fertility Test Site, Fertility Supplements, Fertility Tests | No Comments »

06/01/2009 by admin.

Hi everyone .

Hope you all had a good christmas and new year.

 Access Diagnostics have a 5% coupon code valid until 14th January 2008

 The coupon code is value

Posted in Fertility Test Site, Fertility, Fertility Tests | 1 Comment »

18/11/2008 by admin.

Use this Coupon Code to save 5% when shopping for pregnancy tests, ovulation tests, pre-seed, fertility tests & lots more fertility products

Use coupon code reward  to receive a 5% discount when spending over £5.00 on goods.

Coupon valid until end of November 2008. Online Coupon may be used multiple times. Please feel free to pass this coupon code on to your family, friends, colleagues etc. Only one discount is applied per order

Click here to visit Access Diagnostics Fertility Site

Posted in Early pregnancy tests, Fertility Test Site, LH Tests, Male Fertility Test, Sex Education, Pregnancy Tests, Fertility Tests | No Comments »

14/11/2008 by admin.

Simply place your order before the end of Nov 2008 to attract Free Standard 1^st Class UK Delivery on all products when you spend over £25.

Click here to visit Access Diagnostics Fertility Test site for FREE Delivery offer

Posted in Fertility Test Site, Ovulation Tests, Pregnancy Tests, Trying to Conceive, Fertility Tests | No Comments »

03/11/2008 by admin.

A survey recently carried out by Norwich Union Healthcare revealed that only five percent of men were aware they might have a lower sperm count than average. Many men may be too embarrassed to get their sperm checked by their GP or at a fertility clinic and for them a home male fertility test can be a useful screening test that can be used in the privacy of their own home.

Research has found a rising number of men are now being treated for reduced fertility. Some studies show average sperm counts have fallen by more than half and although the causes are uncertain experts suspect lifestyle factors such as alcohol and drug use, lack of exercise, smoking and obesity as well as environmental factors may be to blame for this alarming increase in the figures.

With 1 in 4 couples suffering from fertility problems and some experts predicting this to increase to 1 in 3 in the near future, the problem of male subfertility needs to be addressed.

The FertilityScoree home male fertility test allows men to check the quality of their sperm in the privacy of their own home simply and quickly. It measures the amount of motile sperm (sperm that are able to move freely) concentration within minutes and can give a strong indication as to the quantity of motile sperm in the sample, which is one of the most accurate indications of sperm quality and quantity.

The home test is positive if it represents 20 million sperm per ml, which is the cut off quantity recommended by the World Health Organisation between fertile and infertile. In a clinical study the FertilitySCORE Home Male was shown to be 93% accurate in identifying semen samples containing 20 million or more motile sperm per ml. Click here to for more information or to buy home male fertility test (home sperm counts) visit Access Diagnostics Fertility Test site

Posted in Male Fertility Test, Fertility Tests, Male Fertility Issues | No Comments »

29/10/2008 by admin.

How accurate is  the Clearblue fertility Monitor ?

The Clearblue Fertility Monitor was launched a couple of years ago under the Clearblue range of fertility products. The Clearblue fertility Monitor is 99% accurate at detecting the fertile period in each monthly cycle. It identifies peak and high fertility days to maximise the chance of conception and builds up a detailed picture of your unique hormone cycles.
The Clearblue fertility Monitor is unique in that it gives unmistakable results- the monitor interprets the results for you and displays these in words

Clearblue Fertility Monitor can maximise your chances of becoming pregnant by reliably indicating the days of your cycle when you are most likely to conceive.

Most home ovulation tests identify the 2 peak fertility days during a woman’s cycle by detecting the surge in luteinising hormone (LH) that triggers ovulation. The Clearblue Fertility Monitor not only shows these 2 peak fertility days, but ALSO identifies additional ‘high fertility days’ when you can conceive.

Is the Clearblue fertility Monitor suitable for me ?

The Clearblue Fertility Monitor is suitable for women whose natural cycle normally lasts between 21 and 42 days. The earliest you can begin to use the Monitor is the first day of your next cycle (but not before).

Certain medical conditions and medications can adversely affect the performance of the Clearblue Fertility Monitor. Women who have menopausal symptoms, polycystic ovarian syndrome, impaired liver or kidney function, are pregnant or have recently been pregnant (even if not carried to full term), may get misleading results.

Similarly misleading results may be obtained by women using antibiotics containing tetracyclines, hormonal treatments (e.g. hormonal contraception, hormone replacement therapy), fertility treatments containing human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) or Luteinising Hormone (LH), or any treatment that might affect their cycle. Clomiphene citrate may elevate estrogen levels and this may result in High Fertility being declared early in the cycle and more High Days being displayed, and in some cases the Monitor may not show Peak Fertility even when ovulation occurs.

The manufacturer recommend that women taking clomiphene citrate consult their doctor for advice before using the Clearblue Fertility Monitor. Always read the manufacturers instructions for any medication that you are taking before conducting a test.

Women who have recently been breastfeeding, using hormonal treatments (e.g. hormonal contraception, including emergency contraception, fertility treatments, hormone replacement therapy), or any other treatment that might affect their cycle, may wish to wait until they have at least two natural menstrual cycles in a row (each lasting 21-42 days), before using the Clearblue Fertility Monitor.

Women who have recently been pregnant (even if not carried to full term) may still have hCG in their bodies. HCG can adversely affect the performance of the Clearblue Fertility Monitor. Therefore they are advised to wait until they have had at least two natural menstrual cycles in a row (each lasting 21-42 days), before using the Clearblue Fertility Monitor.

How do I use the Clearblue Fertility  Monitor ?

The Clearblue fertility Monitor uses test sticks whci are available in packs of 20 tests.

On the first cycle 20 sticks will be used, and in subsequent cycles an average of 10 test sticks are used.

The majority of women will need 10 Test Sticks in each subsequent cycle. However, women with irregular or long cycles may have to use 20 Test Sticks each cycle in order to detect their most fertile time.

How does the Clearblue Fertility Monitor Predict my fertile time ?

The Clearblue Fertility Monitor detects the days in each cycle when you are most fertile, and are therefore more likely to get pregnant.

It monitors the hormones: estrogen and lutenising hormone (LH).

High estrogen is associated with the appearance of ‘fertile mucus’, which is thin and slippery. Sperm can swim more easily through this mucus and can survive in it for several days. If you make love during this time, there may still be sperm present several days later, when you release an egg. When the Clearblue Fertility Monitor detects a rise in estrogen, it displays High Fertility status.

A high estrogen level triggers the surge of LH. Ovulation normally occurs 24 to 36 hours after the LH surge when the follicle ruptures, releasing an egg. Detection of the LH surge indicates that you are about to release an egg, and you are at Peak Fertility.

Where can I buy the Clearblue Fertility Monitor ?

When buying the Clearblue Fertility Monitor make sure you also purchase test sticks and batteries as they are not included with the digital monitor pack.

Click here to Buy the Clearblue Fertility Monitor online from www.buyclearblue.co.uk  

The Clearblue fertility Monitor is also widely available in chemists & pharmacies.

Posted in LH Tests, Fertility Monitor, LH Surge, Ovulation Tests, Clearblue, Fertility Tests | 2 Comments »

21/10/2008 by admin.

Home male fertility test kits have been available to buy for nearly 5 years. Male fertility test kits start from under £20 and offer the user all the convenience of a complete home test with results in under half and hour.

We think the best of the bunch is FertilityScore as this tests both the sperm count and screens the motility of the sperm present. Without a test for motility, the sample count may be good, but the fertility poor, with many dead or inactive sperm which will never result in a pregnancy.

All tests work to the WHO recommended count of 20 million sperm per ml . Above this level is considered high enough to result in pregnancy normally. A sperm count of less than 20million/ml is considered low, and male fertility may be reduced and conception take longer, even if the motility is 100%.

FertilityScore is also the only test which works on the complete ejaculate. This is important as sperm clumping and other inconsistencies can affect the result, if only a sample of the male ejaculate is collected for testing.

FertilityScore also includes 2 complete tests. The tests are performed at 7 to 10 day intervals. Again the importance of this is that the count and quality of sperm in ejaculates varies. It is therfore vital to test at least 2 samples over a period of time, to determine that a healthy fertile count is being achieved and maintained. Two positive results are a good indicator of healthy male fertility with high confidence ratios that the donor should be able to father kids normally.

The home male fertility test offers these advantages

• Cheap and easily available without waiting
• Privacy
• Accurate results in under 1/2 hr
• Determine if there is a male problem and fast track professional help

The last advantage is critical. Most fertility centres and Drs will not consider investigating male fertility issues until the couple have tried for at least 12 months (if female < 35 years) By home testing, a low or imotile sperm problem can be brought for early investigation and treatment.

FertilityScore Male Fertility Test is available from online retailers and good pharmacies

Posted in Male Fertility Test, Fertility Tests, Male Fertility Issues | No Comments »

19/10/2008 by admin.

Just repeated my home FSH urine test as could not wait until Thursday, and this time it is negative. Am unsure what this means-does it just mean I have ovulated very late this month ? I will repeat it again on Thursday-luckily I have a pack of ten tests.

I’ve been doing lots of research on FSH levels and their significance.

 I will post some useful links later

Posted in FSH, Fertility Tests | No Comments »

15/10/2008 by admin.

I have just checked my FSH level using a home urine FSH test, and it is elevated.

I did it about a year ago and it was negative. Howver I am 45 years old and have been having some flushes, which I had put down to stress. Now I am wondering if it is my hormones changing.

The test instructions say to repeat the test in 7 days, and if this is elevated this is significant. I will let you know how I get on. I have put it in my diary for next week. The test was very easy to perform and the result appeared within minutes.

 After getting this positive result I decided to research FSH levels and their significance

 First thing I found out is it could just mean I’m ovulating-phew. FSH rises sharply to stimulate the ovaries to release an egg-hence Follicle Stimulating Hormone.

As I did not write down my LMP (last period) I do not know if this is the case , although it does seem ages ago and I thought I was pre-menstrual, as have been quite snappy !

Other possible causes I found are that my FSH levels may be elevated due to declining ovarian reserve (not many eggs left in my ovaries). In this scenario the FSH is elevated in an attempt to kick start the ovaries-in my case it could be flogging a dead horse. MY cycle has been fairly erratic recently which is why I stopped writing them down.

Click here for more information on home FSH tests or to buy

Posted in Menopause, FSH, Fertility, Trying to Conceive, Fertility Tests | No Comments »

13/10/2008 by admin.

This is a very honest and open account of the authors experience in freezing her eggs, including her fertility MOT, and all the tests, injections egg extraction and then the final freezing of the eggs

Pending Mr Right’s arrival, I had my eggs frozen. But will putting a baby on hold be worth it?

Fleur Britten

At age 34, I’m having a panic attack. I might be biologically ready for procreation — past ready, even — but, emotionally, I’m committed to my career, not to The One. I’m still asking, which One? I exist in that “30 is the new 20” generation: perfection-seeking, commitment-phobic and no way near ready. But I need to insure against finding myself in a Tracey Emin moment, choked by my childlessness at 40. Twenty-three per cent of women born in 1973 won’t have had children by the time they hit 45. By which time it might be too late. I need to put my fertility on ice, before it runs out on me. So I’m having my eggs frozen.

Click here to read the full story

Posted in IVF, Egg Freezing, Fertility, Fertility Advice, Trying to Conceive, Fertility File, Fertility Tests | No Comments »

03/10/2008 by admin.

Episode 4

First shown on 30th Sep 2008, Channel 4.

Anna has a fertility test

37 year-old presenter Anna Richardson came off the contraceptive pill 2 years ago. Despite her relatively clean-living lifestyle, she and her partner haven’t yet conceived a baby. Anna visits fertility and pregnancy guru Zita West for advice and a fertility test.

 Click here to watch the feature on fertility if you missed it

Posted in Fertility File, Trying to Conceive, Fertility Tests | No Comments »

25/09/2008 by admin.

Just found these useful webpages from the BBC website on fertility issues. Covers such issues as assisted conception, fertility facts, ethical issues in fertility treatments, specialist advice. You can even have fertility advice sent straght to your mobile phone !

 Click here to visit the BBC Fertility Pages

Posted in Fertility File, Fertility Tests | No Comments »

18/09/2008 by admin.

Access Diagnostic New Fertility Site has a DISCOUNT coupon code for 6.5 % discount on goods until end of September 2008
Use it quick before it expires

The coupon code is AD

Posted in Fertility Tests | No Comments »

13/09/2008 by admin.

MALE FERTILITY TESTS

Home Male Fertility Tests-What should we do if the result comes back low?

First thing to say is don’t panic. A low sperm count does not mean you can not conceive it may just make it more difficult. However you do need to go and see your doctor now for examination & further sperm tests-this is very important.

Some of the following factors may be worth considering while you are waiting for the appointment to see the doctor.

1) Was the sample ideal? Did you follow the instructions precisely? It may be worth repeating to check this. Cooling the sample or a delay in performing the fertility test can alter the number of active sperm, and give a false result.

2) High testes temperature. Sperm are made in the testes which are in the scrotum. This is the body’s way of keeping the testes slightly cooler than the rest of the body which is best for making sperm. It is often advised for men who have a low sperm count to wear loose fitting underpants and trousers and to avoid very hot baths, saunas, etc. This aims to keep your testes slightly cooler than the rest of your body, which is thought to be good for sperm production. It is not clear whether these measures improve a sperm count, but they seem to be sensible. Also best not to let him sit with his laptop on his groin !

3) Smoking can affect the sperm count. If you smoke, you should stop completely for optimum sperm production.

4) Alcohol. More than 16 units per week (equivalent to about 8 pints of normal strength beer or 16 small glasses of wine) may interfere with optimum fertility.

5) Drugs and medicines. Most do not interfere with sperm production, but some may do. These include: sulphasalazine, nitrofurantoin, tetracyclines, cimetidine, colchicine, allopurinol, some chemotherapy drugs, cannabis, cocaine, and anabolic steroids. They are always finding new drugs that can affect sperm. If you have a low sperm count, tell a doctor if you take any drugs or medicines regularly

More info on home male fertility tests

Posted in Male Fertility Test, Fertility Tests, Male Fertility Issues | No Comments »