Advice | Guides, Developments & Fertility Tips

Kelly Da Silva on ‘Coping with Fertility Treatment’

Kelly Da Silva is a Fertility Support Expert and founder of The Dovecote: Childless Support Organisation. Inspired by her own personal experience of infertility, miscarriages and involuntary childlessness of over a decade, Kelly now supports people at any stage of their fertility journey and beyond. Sharing knowledge, strategies, research and tools gained through her own personal journey, Kelly offers a range of support helping others dealing with the challenges of childlessness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iuIdGSiJMY For more information on The Dovecote: Childless Support Organisation, visit: Facebook Twitter Instagram - Kelly Da Silva Instagram - Dovecote Org

Dr Ed Coats on ‘Fertility Inequalities’

Dr Ed Coats is a Reproductive Medicine & Surgery Consultant working in Oxford and London and is the co-founder of Total Fertility. Ed will discuss the NICE recommendations for fertility treatment, the differences in NHS funding geographically and the postcode lottery that exists across the UK currently. Increased healthcare rationing means more and more patients are potentially have to self-fund fertility treatment and in the future. Ed will explain more about fertility inequality and how to start looking for a fertility clinic near you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqHHuWxnwYQ

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…

‘Conceivable’ Jheni Osman and Dr Ed Coats on IVF – Webinar

'Conceivable' Jheni Osman and Dr Ed Coats on IVF - Webinar Women's health charity Wellbeing of Women recently hosted another excellent webinar where Jheni Osman and Dr Ed Coats discussed what Osman had learnt during her career both as an experienced science journalist and as someone who has been through the IVF process herself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Meg9qM7uG08 Video Transcription Janet: Hello, everybody, I am Janet Lindsey, from Wellbeing of Women, I’m going to wait a few minutes before we start. I’m just looking at the bar at the bottom of my screen and it tells me that participants are joining at this very moment. So, let’s give it a couple of minutes, and we’ll wait for more people to join. I’m working remotely from home, so, that’s London for me in Clapper. What about my two lovely panelists? What about you, Jheni? Jheni: I’m in Bristol, at home in my small but cozy office. Janet: Small is good. Dr. Ed: I’m in Oxford Janet, today. Ja…

1 in 20 Babies Born Via IVF in Australia

The latest report by The University of New South Wales, Assisted Reproductive Technology in Australia and New Zealand 2018 found that during 2018, 14,355 babies were born via IVF which represents one in twenty of all babies born in Australia. With 84,064 initiated IVF cycles and 14,355 babies born, this gave a live birth rate per embryo transfer of 27.3%. This is significantly greater than the one in fifty of all babies born in Britain. It is estimated that in the last 40 years, more than eight million babies have been born through IVF globally.

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…

Dr. Ed Coats Features on Channel 4 NHS Heroes: Fighting to Save Our Lives

Total Fertility co-founder Dr. Ed Coats features in the upcoming Channel 4 documentary, NHS Heroes: Fighting to Save Our Lives, this Wednesday the 6th May at 9pm. https://youtu.be/JLG0SmYTpqA This special documentary follows a number of NHS workers both at home and at work as they continue the struggle of balancing home lives and their hospital duties during the Coronavirus pandemic.

IVF Treatments to Begin Again After Lockdown

Just announced in the last few hours, fertility clinics will be allowed to open again after the 11th May following the suspension of all treatments on 23rd May. The fertility regulatory body the HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) will first need to be assured that each clinic, both NHS and private, can provide safe and effective treatment including restrictions with regard to social distancing and the effective use of PPE. Increasing the number of fertility treatment related consultations performed over the telephone or via video consultation is an obvious avenue to pursue for IVF clinics across the UK to minimise face-to-face interactions. We will update this post as we learn more.

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 Pregnancy

By: Dr. Ed Coats As the Coronavirus pandemic surges on, there will be many concerned about the impact that this new virus may have on pregnancy. We wrote about Covid-19 and Fertility Treatment recently with so much uncertainty in the months ahead for those trying to conceive. Those trying to conceive, newly pregnant or perhaps more established in pregnancy will be anxious to understand what lies ahead. We wanted to address the facts and what we know so far about Covid-19 and how to prepare mentally and physically for the months ahead. The Current Situation The latest coronavirus (Covid-19) began in Wuhan, Hubei province in late 2019 and since then has spread globally. There has been a massive effort to gather data from those infected to help understand how it affects us all. Pregnancy is a unique state that needs specific attention as the immune system’s response to infection can differ. On 16th March the UK Chief Medical Officer categorised pregnant woman as a…

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…

Wellbeing of Women Charity Challenges 2020

Wellbeing of Women have a number of exciting challenges lined up for 2020 in the UK and abroad. This is a chance to have an adventure in the outdoors and raise some valuable funds for women's health. Contact Wellbeing of Women directly via the email address provided for more details.

Jurassic Coast Challenge 5 - 7 June 2020

Machu Picchu Challenge 18 - 27 September 2020

Wellbeing of Women Events