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OVUM: Revolutionising Fertility with Science, Sustainability, and Support

When Jenny Wordsworth, founder and CEO of OVUM, decided she was ready to start a family, she never anticipated the challenges that would come her way. Like many women, she assumed that the path to pregnancy would be straightforward. However, as time passed and her efforts to conceive were met with disappointment, Jenny realised there was much more to fertility than what was taught in school. Navigating the fertility journey can be overwhelming, with a sea of products and advice that often leave women feeling more confused than empowered. OVUM was born out of this very frustration, aiming to redefine the fertility landscape with a focus on scientifically-backed products, ethical practices, and genuine support for those on the path to conception. With 1 in 6 people facing infertility globally, infertility is becoming one of the biggest global health problems of the 21st Century. So let’s explore the two flagship products that set OVUM apart from the crowd: the OVUM Time to Conce…

Top 10 Fertility Apps By Popularity

The popularity of apps to help with fertility, pregnancy and timing has grown significantly in recent years. Combining personal health information with data driven models can assist in the timing prediction and suggested regime in order to fall pregnant. The iPhone fertility apps as found in the App Store listed below are focused predominantly on the timings of ovulation but we will run an additional article in the near future on apps that focus on fertility support, an area which is garnering huge investment to ensure individuals or couples going through fertility struggles have the full support they need. The Mira Ovulation Tracker is more accurate way of tracking ovulation using urine samples daily to analyse hormone levels. #1 - Flo Period & Ovulation Tracker - 123k ratings - 4.7 out of 5 rating #2 - Clue Period, Ovulation Tracker - 92k ratings - 4.7 out of 5 rating #3 - My Calendar - Period Tracker - 28.7k ratings - 4.8 out of 5 rat…

Understanding Home Fertility Tests

Home Fertility Testing has become increasingly popular in recent years. Many of the commonly undertaken fertility tests are now available over the counter or purchased online. The marketplace is overflowing with different options from predicting ovulation to assessing your partner’s sperm using a smartphone. We look at some of the commonly performed tests and try to help you understand when home fertility testing has a place. In the UK around 80% of couples will conceive within a year of having regular sexual intercourse when a woman has regular menstrual cycles. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends beginning fertility diagnostic tests at this point if there has been no success after a year of trying to conceive. It is important to obtain as much information as possible about your fertility if you are having difficulties conceiving. Many people are checking their fertility early by using fertility tests that can be performed at home, rather than…

Covid-19 Vaccination, Fertility and Pregnancy

By: Dr. Ed Coats As the Covid-19 pandemic grumbles on into its second year so much has changed. There have been more than 100,000 coronavirus associated deaths and we are in yet another national lockdown. The UK has led the way in the development and approval of Covid-19 vaccines and over 10 million people have received their first dose. It has been a challenging 12 months though for patients needing fertility treatments and for clinics trying to work through the crisis. Due to the wider pressures on the NHS from Covid-19, several IVF clinics located on NHS sites have had to temporarily close their doors to patients, who have had to pause their treatments. We all hope the option of vaccination will help steer things back towards normal. There are currently three different Covid-19 vaccines approved for use in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The first to be approved was the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in December. The first woman in…

12 Tips to Optimise your Fertility over The Festive Season

2020 has been a long and fatiguing year with multiple National lockdowns due to Covid-19. Fertility patients have endured an incredibly stressful year as their plans have been turned upside down with fertility clinic closures. This climate has added uncertainty to an already difficult journey. It has been a tragic year for those who have lost family and friends but a difficult year for those trying to start a family or endured pregnancy loss alone and isolated. Our new modern ways of working and socialising though means our lifestyles will probably never feel the same again. Fertility clinics have adapted wonderfully well in most cases to help keep patients plans alive. Finally as a vaccine is now on the horizon, we find ourselves hurtling into the season of excesses, merriment and trying to plan 2021. Total Fertility want to help you a spring into the New Year feeling energised, optimistic and ready to plan the next steps of your fertility journey. Today is the 12th day …

Jennifer Saunders calls attention to ‘chronically underfunded’ women’s health research

Jennifer Saunders warned BBC Radio 4 listeners today that women’s health research is “chronically underfunded” as she delivered her first Charity Appeal on the station. On Sunday 29th November, the comedian said that "reproductive health doesn’t always receive the attention or investment it deserves” as she expressed her support for Wellbeing of Women, a charity that invests in women’s health research. Telling the story of Amy, whose ovarian cancer tumour was the size of a mango by the time it was detected when she was just 36, Jennifer explained that the lack of priority given to women’s health research means that women are suffering in silence. “Women play such an incredibly important part in our society; we make up more than half of our population, after all,” she said. “Yet many women’s health issues are often overlooked.” She explained that Amy’s cancer is particularly difficult to treat as it has become resistant to chemotherapy, a common occurrence with ovari…

Jheni Osman on “Fertility Education”

Jheni Osman is a science journalist, author and presenter. She is adept at making tricky science topics understandable and entertaining to non-experts. She is the former editor of the award winning science and technology magazine “BBC Science Focus’. She is also a former Great Britain Tennis player who played at Junior Wimbledon. Jheni’s personal experiences of infertility led her to write the book “Conceivable” teaching patients everything they need to know about fertility and IVF. Jheni is passionate about raising awareness around Fertility Education. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFRmZPEOoq8 Follow Jheni on her website & on Twitter

London Lockdown Round 2 and Lessons from Covid-19

UPDATED: 1ST NOVEMBER 2020 A second wave of coronavirus was inevitable but are we better prepared a second time? Faced with no better choice we are now just days away from a second lockdown in England. After much criticism of government strategy on managing the virus we follow in the footsteps of France, Belgium, Wales and other neighbouring countries that have already done this. Whilst the weeks and months ahead still offer uncertainty for life in general, many embarking on IVF treatment will wonder what lies ahead for them. Fertility clinics have adapted well and most have returned to a new way of normal. However, several months after the easing of the first lockdown, the UK economy is straining to restart. It feels as though we are still picking up the pieces from the effects of the first wave of coronavirus, and without drawing breath we are facing a further 4-weeks of economic inactivity. So what does Round 2 mean for fertility clinics and your access to tr…

The Age Old Question of Age

By: Dr. Ed Coats “How old is too old to have a baby?” is a really common question I frequently get asked in clinic and by friends and colleagues alike. There has been a lot written on the topic of ageing and fertility, and there is no doubt that age is one of the single most important factors to consider when looking at chances of natural success and with fertility treatments. Ageing eggs and sperm can both have an impact on fertility but at different stages. "Most women believe their chances to conceive naturally declines at the age of 35, but this is not accurate". Most women believe their chances to conceive naturally declines at the age of 35, but this is not accurate. At birth a female fetus has around 5 million eggs stored in the ovaries and by the time menstruation starts around 10% of these remain. Numbers continue to fall as an egg is recruited from a pool of follicles each menstrual cycle, so that by the age of 37 there are about 25,000 eggs r…

Coronavirus & Pregnancy Webinar

Coronavirus (Covid-10) & Pregnancy Webinar with Dr. Ed Coats The COVID-19 pandemic has left many expectant mums feeling uncertain about the months ahead. Dr Ed Coats, Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and accredited sub-specialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, talks here about COVID-19 and pregnancy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wn4O8KFlAE Video Transcription Janet Lindsay: Welcome to the first “Wellbeing of Women” webinar. I hope we've got a full audience today. I'm Janet Lindsey, and I am the CEO of Wellbeing of Women. Thank you so much for joining us today. And also thank you to our brilliant speaker, Mr. Ed Coats who's consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Royal United Bath Hospital, and he's also a specialist in fertility. Before we start, I would like just to cover a little bit of housekeeping. We are recording this so if you want to turn off your video, now is the time to do so. We are also askin…

Coronavirus (Covid-19) and My Fertility Treatment

By: Dr. Ed Coats As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the globe and remains a serious threat to all our lives many will be wondering what lies ahead for my fertility treatment. One thing that is certain is that uncertain times lie ahead for both patients and clinics. It is hard to give concrete advice in such a rapidly changing landscape, but at the time of writing this article this is where we are. We will update this article as new developments occur. COVID-19 is the seventh coronavirus to transfer from animals to humans and specifically this type of virus attacks the lungs and airways. It can be fatal to the older generation and those with co-existing medical illnesses. However, it is not exclusive to this group and the novel nature of this new virus is disconcerting. As the scientists and experts search for a suitable vaccine and the epidemiologists work on tactics to suppress the virus the rest of the world watch and wait. Just this week Fertility Organisations arou…

Will the egg freezing limit be extended?

The growing popularity of women choosing to freeze their eggs if they are at present not ready to have children or the circumstance don't allow it, is evident in the numbers: 2012 - 395 egg freezing cycles 2013 - 551 egg freezing cycles 2014 - 677 egg freezing cycles 2015 - 1069 egg freezing cycles 2016 - 1171 egg freezing cycles 2017 - 1462 egg freezing cycles In the space of 6 years there has been a four-fold increase in the numbers of cycles undertaken. The 10 year limit on the amount of time that eggs and sperm can be kept for was set in 1990 and understandably the reliability of egg freezing and thawing techniques has improved significantly in 30 years. A minister for the Department of Health, Caroline Dinenage said: "Although this could affect any one of us, I am particularly concerned by the impact of the current law on women's reproductive choices," "A time limit can often mean women are faced with the heart-breaking decision to destroy their frozen …