IVF Mania

Earlier this month, Neil and Monique Ward hit the headlines for their determination to conceive. It took them 25 years, 21 attempts, two donated eggs and a staggering £100,000 but their efforts resulted in much longed for twin baby boys.

They do not regret their decision or perseverance for a moment, but their story has highlighted the fertility treatment available to those that can afford it. It is unlikely that the couple would have ever fulfilled their dream of becoming parents if their treatment had been left to the NHS and it's limited resources.

Nowadays, pretty much anyone, whatever their circumstances, can reasonably hope to conceive if their pockets are deep enough, and at times it seems that we are in the grip of procreation fever.

Single or gay, young or old, if you have the money there will be a clinic that can accommodate you.

Last November was the first time the multi-million-pound IVF industry displayed the full array of its wizardry under one roof. Visitors to the Fertility Show at Olympia, in London, were exposed to the wide array of fertility treatments available.

From choosing a child's gender, to screening out genetic abnormalities, or renting a woman's womb cheaply in India, there is a resource for every fertility requirement. One can even choose a sperm donor who has graduated from Yale, or pick one resembling your favourite celebrity, in the hope of securing attractive characteristics for your offspring.

In an article in the Times newspaper this week, IVF mania has been explored by a woman who has experienced it first hand. Follow this link to the full article: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article7003036.ece

Find a sperm donor father

A site has been created which helps those looking for their sperm donor fathers.

Although the most likely route of tracking a donor lies with the Donor Sibling Registry, other sites have been introduced in the hope of assisting the offspring of donation.

In one such site, you will find many people searching for their donors, along with photos of themselves and a detailed explanation of the clinic where their mothers received a donation and which year.

The owners of the site encourage anyone who has been a sperm donor in the past to check out the site, enter the details of where they donated and when, and see if there are any grown offspring which correspond with these details.

To visit the site follow this link: http://www.searchingformyspermdonorfather.org/

Donating sperm as a way to make money in a bad economy?

How many of those who donate sperm do it for financial gain? Here in the UK there is little financial compensation, however in the US some clinics offer up to $150 for each donation.

Here a news channel covers the story of young men in America donating as a way to make money in a bad economic climate.

We hear from a doctor at the Fairfax cyrobank who explains the process of selection for donors and why the clinic pays so much for each sample given.

Follow this link to see the news item: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T5z_EeMbQE

Documentary about anonymous donor conception

Anonymous sperm donation. The gift of life or a social experiment gone wrong?

According to critics, children born from anonymous sperm donations are denied the right to their own identity. They grow up confused and alienated, with a key piece of their life missing.

Others cite cases of siblings meeting by chance, not realising they're related.

But outlawing anonymous sperm donation, like some European countries have done, often leads to a fall in donors. How do you reconcile the rights of donors with the rights of their children?

Here a documentary examines these issues.

Follow this link to the documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNgBT_MeMUo

Brad and Angelinia - too many babies spoils the relationship?

With Hollywood's golden couple Brad and Angelina reportedly splitting this week, the world is questioning why all was not as perfect as it appeared on the surface.

Along with their humanitarian efforts, Brad and Angelina, or Brangelina as they are often called, are most famous for the extraordinary number of children they have had during the 5 years they have been together.

With Angelina already having one adopted son, Maddox when she met Brad, the couple have gone on to have another 5, as well as Brad adopting Maddox. With three biological and three adopted children, many have said it was too much too soon for their relatively new relationship. Surely the introduction of one or two children brings about massive changes and time constraints, but with six children all under the age of 10, it seems it has proved too much for this glamorous twosome.

A rotation of six nannies are used, so that the children do not grow attached to any one nanny, but even with this outside help, the cracks are beginning to show due to hectic family life.

It has also been reported that it was Angelinas obsession with adopting children which has lead to Brad wanting out. Having had twins less than a year ago (some reported via IVF) Ange now wants to adopt yet another child. Reportedly Brad thinks it is too soon for the rest of the children - and for him it seems.

Only time will tell whether the pair will reconcile and stay together, but if not they will apparently share custody of the children, who will live with Angelina.

iPhone application 'translates a baby's cries'

A new application on the iPhone claims to translate babies cries so that parents can understand what they want and need.

The Cry Translator application, which costs £17,99, is said by its designers to be 96 per cent accurate in interpreting cries of distress from babies.

The programme uses the iPhonee's microphone to receive the sound, analyses it, and displays information about what it means on the screen.

Researchers led by Dr Antonio Portugal Ramírez, a Spanish paediatrician, developed the project after finding that babies' wails could be broken down into five separate categories.

They learned that all babies, regardless of the language they are exposed to at home, have the same distinctive cries to indicate whether they are hungry, annoyed, tired, stressed or bored.

Parenting experts said they feared the technology on the Apple phone could discourage mothers from relying on their instinct and experience.

Some believe there is nothing scientific about the so called interpretations, whilst others reviewing the application online swear by it and claim it has helped enormously with knowing what their baby wants.

Fertility Doctor Will Let Parents Build Their Own Baby

Imagine if you could choose your baby the same way you pick out a new outfit from a catalogue. Perhaps some blue eyes, a bit of curly hair, and why not make her tall, lean and smart? One fertility doctor now says that this is a possibility at his clinic.

Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg has already helped thousands of couples choose their child's gender at his fertility institutes in Manhattan and Los Angeles. Within six months, he says, the clinic will offer a new service: allowing couples to select the physical traits of their babies.

Steinberg says he cannot promise that people will get their selections, but claims he can dramatically increase the probability, to about 80% certainty.

What do you think of the concept? Should selection of' designer babies' be illegal and physical traits be left to nature? Or perhaps you can't see the harm in allowing couples to choose?

For more info follow this link: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=6998135&page=1

When a surrogate mum asks for her babies back

A set of twins was born to a surrogate mother in Michigan. The surrogate mother gave the twins to a couple who covered her medical expenses for carrying the babies, but then she decided she wanted the twins. Who should get the babies?

Neither the birth mother or the adoptive parents are biologically related to the twins. The sperm and the eggs came from anonymous donors. This is a situation that's testing the boundaries of a field known as third-party reproduction, in which more than two people collaborate to have a baby.

After two miscarriages and five failed rounds of in vitro fertilization, Scott and Amy Kehoe looked into surrogacy. The Michigan couple purchased eggs and sperm from an anonymous donor and connected with Shelley Baker who agreed to carry the baby and gave birth to twins.
But at the hearing to transfer guardianship, Baker learned that Amy Kehoe, 41, was arrested for minor cocaine possession and diagnosed with an unspecified psychotic disorder nine years ago. Baker was upset by the information but allowed the Kehoes to adopt the babies.

A month later Baker changed her mind. She wanted the babies back.

Kehoe says that she was upfront with Baker about her past, and Kehoe's psychiatrist declared Kehoe fit to be a mother, saying she had taken her medication faithfully for nine years and never missed an appointment.

But because Michigan is one of five states where surrogacy contracts are not recognized, the Kehoes had to return the babies to Baker. (California is one of six states that allows individuals and couples to enter into surrogacy contracts; click here to see all state laws.)

Amy Kehoe told GMA that the Bakers' actions are a case of legal "kidnapping."

"It took me a long time to just come to the decision. ... They're our babies," Baker told GMA. "We had to take our babies back."

Melissa Brisman, a reproductive lawyer who has handled about a thousand surrogacy cases, told GMA that she believes the babies belong with the Kehoes, even though Baker says she didn't know about Amy Kehoe's medical and criminal history.

"It doesn't justify her keeping the babies," Brinsman told GMA. "She was still compensated for her expenses, she still agreed to hand the babies over. She just became judgmental of ... their ability to parent without all that much evidence. It was almost like she ... just decided that because this person had a mental illness, that meant she couldn't handle the children."

What do you think?

Should a surrogate mom have the right to ask for her baby back? Is this a case of legal kidnapping?

Fertility problems lead to low self esteem

A study reported by Stockhouse has shown that unsurprisingly fertility problems can affect self esteem in both men and women, and can also lead to problems in a relationship

While women describe themselves as feeling 'flawed' men used the word 'inadequate' to describe their feelings when having trouble conceiving.

The study also found both sexes tried to hide such feelings from their partner and the entire process and stress of seeking fertility treatment often lead to problems and sometimes breakdowns in a relationship.

The study points out that there are resources available to those experiencing difficulties and making full use of these will help with difficult emotions and communication during fertility consultation and treatment.

For more info on this study follow this link http://miscarriage.about.com/b/2010/01/23/study-fertility-problems-affect-self-esteem.htm

Mum tells of battle to get IVF treatment

A woman has spoken out about her battle to receive IVF treatment on the NHS.

Despite working for the NHS for more than 15 years, when Siobhan McLernon was referred for fertility treatment after finding out she could not have children at age 39, she was told to come back in a year, which would mean she was over 40 and would not be treated.

Siobhan was even asked why she had waited so late to get treatment and was made to feel as though the problem was her fault.

After assessing their options Siobhan and her partner decided to fork out £4000 for private fertility treatment. She is furious that in order to have a child she had to borrow money and had previously believed the NHS would help.

To hear more of this story follow this link: http://www.suttonguardian.co.uk/news/4864730.Mum_tells_of_battle_to_get_IVF_treatment/

Woman concieves with help of iPhone

A woman in Glasgow has revealved how an i phone application helped her to concieve.

Doctors couldn't find any reason why she had not been able to get pregnant, and when Lena received the i phone for her 30th birthday she typed in 'get pregnant' and downloaded 5 applications.

The application which she credits with helping her conceive is a free menstrual calender which will use statistical analysis information about her menstrual symptoms to display her most fertile days during her cycle.

A new application is set to be launched called 'PMSbuddy' which allow not only women but also their partners to know when they are on their period!

For more on this story follow this link: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20100125/glaswegian-concieves-with-help-iphone.htm

Men have to give written consent for their sperm to be used after death

This year a woman gave birth to a baby after using sperm from her dead husband.

Doctors took the sperm when her 30 year old husband died unexpectadly during a routine operation.

This case was widely debated, and similar cases have been featured in the media and on this blog.

In response to the outcome of the case the HFEA changed its forms that couples are asked to fill in to give their consent for their sperm or eggs to be used during IVF treatment.

These now specifically ask men if they agree to their sperm being used after they die.

The case had echoes of that of Diane Blood, who fought a long court battle to use sperm obtained from her husband, Stephen, while he was in a coma.

In that case, however, Mrs Blood had her husband's verbal consent for his sperm to be used.

Fertility fear for men?

Recent reports show that 85% of men who apply to be sperm donors are rejected because of poor quality seamen. After further screening just 3.6% of sperm from donors was used from conception.

An article which examines this trend has gone on to explain that this has led to shortages in the UK and women searching on the Internet for sperm to be imported from abroad or via unregistered donors they meet online

There is much debate over the lack of options for would be parents, however how much thought has been given to the men behind the statistics, who offered to donate only to be rejected.

With three quarters of donations being rejected on the basis of seamen quality, this must place a great deal of stress and unease on the men who are informed their sample does not make the grade.

Most of these would be donors will likely never have problems conceiving with their partners, yet their failure to qualify as a donor must make them anxious of this fact.

Perhaps if they are aware of the statistics it is a factor putting many men off donating, for fear of rejection and the anxiety which will come arm in arm with that.

For more info follow this link: http://www.webmd.boots.com/news/20100122/buying-sperm-online-to-beat-donor-shortage

Can foods aid fertility?

Everyone knows the substances which we should not consume when pregnant - cigarettes, alcohol, even caffeine has been listed as a substance which could induce miscarriage.

But how many of us have heard the concept that some foods can make us more fertile? Some nutritionists in the US are suggesting that foods such as broccoli, sprouts, beans and fish can help women with ovulatory dysfunction, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome.

For more info about these claims follow this link: http://www.usaweekend.com/10_issues/100124/100124fertility-foods.html

Does homosexuality have to be an evolutionary dead end?

An issue addressed in the Guardian newspaper today was the evolutionary impact of being homosexual.

In an advice column a gay man voiced his concerns about not producing any offspring before he died. The concern was not with wishing to become a father, but with perpetuating his genes and carrying on his blood line. This man felt an evolutionary need to po create and was questioning whether registering as a donor at a sperm bank would be more efficient in evolutionary terms.

To see his letter and the advice given on the issue follow this link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/jan/20/evolution-biology

Lawyer in Minnesota has developed a fertile niche area

A lawyer in Minnesota has been specialising for nearly two decades in reproductive assistance.

Steven Snyder has made this area of law into a niche practice, and has helped many would be parents to achieve their dream within the security of the law.

Snyder believes much of the law surrounding reproductive assistance must be updated as there are many loopholes which cause problems.

He uses the example of sperm donation, where the law insulating donors from parentage only applies when the donation is given to married couples. But 60 percent of the people using sperm donations today are single women, or same-sex couples who are not married.

Snyder believes many who embark on the journey of fertility assistance are not aware of the implications and problems that could arise from the inadequacy of the current law.

For more details of Snyder's work follow this link: http://www.finance-commerce.com/article.cfm/2010/01/20/Local-lawyer-has-developed-a-fertile-niche-area-Snyder-guides-wouldbe-parents-through-assisted-repro

Child of a stranger

Those embarking on the journey of sperm donation may one day be faced with the reality of a child who does not know their biological father.

For those who choose anonymous donation via a licenced clinic, the offspring will now be able to trace their donor once they reach the age of 18.

The change in the law regarding donor anonymity has been long debated. However for those who were conceived many years prior to this law, the chances of them tracing their donor remain slim.

Whilst the donor sibling registry offers some hope of making contact, the majority of donor offspring never trace their donor.

Child of a Stranger blog was set up by a lady who is the grown offspring of one such donor in the US.

Here she provides a frank insight in to the emotional and physiological repercussions of not knowing a biological father. She has agreed with us to share the link to her blog, in the hope of sharing her experience with those thinking of using sperm donation in order to conceive.

Follow this link for her personal blog: http://childofastranger.blogspot.com/

Woman, 59, becomes oldest person to be offered IVF at UK clinic

A 59-year-old woman has become the oldest person ever to be offered fertility treatment by a British clinic.

Doctors at the private London Women’s Clinic on Harley Street, one of the most successful IVF units in the country, have agreed to help Susan Tollefsen conceive.

Mrs Tollefsen and her husband already have a two-year-old child, conceived at a Russian clinic after she was refused treatment in the UK because of her age.

Doctors in the UK have since agreed that Mrs Tollefsen is healthy and that her daughter could benefit from a sibling.

There are now calls for an upper age limit for fertility treatment to be enshrined in law, rather than simply a guideline.

To find out more about this story follow this link:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1243839/Woman-60-oldest-person-given-IVF-treatment-British-clinic.html#ixzz0cvuvadsU

Sperm under a microscope...

Ever wondered what sperm looks like under a microscope? Website http://www.fertilityformen.com/ claim to provide fertility testing for men in the comfort of your own home - by using a microscope to view sperm motility.

The videos they posted on you tube provide an interesting insight in to sperm motility under the microscope lens. Here you can view the difference between immobile, non-progressive, slowly motile, and rapidly motile sperm.

Follow this link for the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rauO_M9tb4

Man in Knoxville to run sperm bank from his house....

A man in Knoxville, US, has applied for permission to run his two-story home as a duplex and to use it for home-based business allowing him to perform, telemarket and teach music, and to coordinate fertility services.

The Knoxville planning commission will decide today whether to give permission to David Perkins, but local residents are not happy about the proposals.

The plans include the home owner running two fertility businesses from his home, which Perkins currently runs over the Internet.

One of the businesses is called Family Building LLC, he describes it as a referral service for couples trying to conceive. All referrals are conducted by telephone and computer but procedures are conducted in proper facilities, he said.

The other fertility business is called Jewish Egg Donor whereby he arranges for women to donate their eggs and the sperm donor is Perkins himself.

When asked to justify his proposals Perkins said "The Torah commands us to be fruitful and multiply."

For more info on the story follow this link http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/01/13/Tenn-man-wants-to-operate-sperm-bank/UPI-55011263429622/

Housework damages sperm count?!

Russel Howard's News program draws attention to humorous news stories and last night's episode was no exception.

Russel examined the story which appeared in the news earlier this year which suggests housework can affect a mans sperm count.

Researchers at Stanford University, California, exposed male volunteers to electromagnetic fields – high doses of which are produced by all electrically charged objects, including refrigerators and vacuum cleaners – and found such exposure could double the risk of having poor-quality sperm.

To find out more about this rather unusual study follow this link http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1227813/Sorry-darling-I-vacuuming-It-damage-sperm-count-The-best-excuse-men-housework.html

What do all of you think? Was this research conducted by housework shy men or do you find some sense in the findings?

To know or not to know

Should offspring of sperm donors have the right to know the identity of their donor? This has been a long held debate and it is suggested that it is a case of whose rights are going to be privileged - the donor or the offspring.

In the UK since 2005 offspring have the right to know the identity of their donor once they reach the age of 18. As many point out this has led to far fewer coming forward to donate. The reason often cited is that offspring may make financial demands of the donor once they know their identity.

However Dr. Ian Mitchell, a professor of pediatrics and bioethics at the University of Calgary believes that allowing donors to donate anonymously simply to increase numbers of donations is not a good enough reason. He says “you are bypassing the ethical argument and going straight to the pragmatic argument."

To see further debate on this issue please follow this link: http://www.cmaj.ca/earlyreleases/11jan10-disclosing-the-identity-of-sperm-donors.dtl

Manchester to get National Sperm Donor centre

A National sperm donor centre is being set up in Manchester's St Mary's hospital.

It has won the chance to run a pilot scheme after all licensed fertility clinics in England were invited to tender for the centre.

The centre's launch later this month will be backed up by a major promotional campaign to increase the number of donors. Its creation follows recommendations from the British Fertility Society.

Donor's will be able to donate sperm at their local hospital which will then be shipped to St Mary's hospital and frozen.

For more info please follow this link http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/health/s/1188568_manchester_to_get_national_sperm_donor_centre

Women may be paid thouands for donating eggs - where does this leave sperm donors?

Women could be paid hundreds or even thousands of pounds to donate their eggs to infertile couples, under plans to be considered by the fertility watchdog. The move was outlined in the Telegraph newspaper and if implemented will change the current laws which state only expenses may be paid to donors.

With the changes being considered, many will be wondering where this leaves sperm donors - who currently donate for free or a very small nominal fee.

What do you think about the notion of women being paid for their eggs? Do you think this is morally wrong or will it encourage more donations and ultimately help those who need eggs?

For more info on the proposals follow this link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6769277/Women-may-be-paid-for-eggs-fertility-watchdog.html

Another donor being sued for child support - this time in Canada

Yesterday's post focused on a past case in the UK whereby a sperm donor blurred the lines between donor and father, and was being held financially accountable for his children.

Today has seen the emergence of a similar case, this time in Canada, where the friend of a lesbian couple donated sperm and went so far as to draw up a legal contract consenting to the adoption of the child by the birth mothers lesbian partner and holding the couple to be the child's only parents.

However, the lesbian couple points out that over time the donor acted inappropriately for a donor, visiting with a frequency they found intrusive and referring to the child as his son.

Now they are suing him for child support claiming that if he acts as a father he must face up to his responsibilities.

Thus far the donor cannot be reached and has not launched a defence.

Follow this link for more details of the story http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/couple+sues+sperm+donor/2406839/story.html

Lesbian mother explains why sperm donor must pay to raise children

Donor dad Andy Bathie and his children

A lesbian mother has defended the Child Support Agency's decision to make a sperm donor pay to raise her two children.

Fireman Andy Bathie was a friend her former lesbian partner and stepped in with an offer to donate sperm when the couple were considering visiting a private clinic for a donation. He donated for the couple twice, via home insemination, resulting in two children.

It was decided that he would have no responsibility over the children and he talked of having a legal contract drawn up outlining this. However, as Terri Arnold, the children's mother points out, over time he changed his mind and began taking an active role as a father, including having his daughter stay at his house, and taking paternity leave from work. In addition to this he had his daughter call him daddy, not 'Uncle Andy' as had previously been agreed.

Things changed after the second child was born with a disability, Bathie began withdrawing his role as a father, leading his four year old daughter to question when she would next see "daddy".

Having now split from her lesbian partner, and with the CSA threatening to cut her benefits unless she named her children's father, mother Terri explains she had no choice in demanding that he provide for his children financially. She claims that he walked away from his disabled son and a daughter who saw him as her father.

However Bathie claims that being forced to pay £450 a month towards the children is stopping him being able to afford to have his own family. He describes the children as "another couples children" and has launched a legal appeal, thought to be the first of it's kind in the UK, to overturn the decision to make him pay child support.

For the full story and photos please follow this link: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23425407-why-fireman-sperm-donor-must-pay-to-raise-our-children-by-lesbian-mother.do

Workshop for those considering sperm donation

A workshop will be held this Thursday in New York, advising those interested in sperm donation, egg donation or surrogacy.

The workshop will be run by psychotherapist Patricia Mendell and will examine the complex choices which are faced for those seeking fertility treatment.

Many aspects will be covered, including the psychological impact of treatment, legalities of anonymous or known donors, and how to select a sperm bank or agency.

As well as offering information the workshop will put people in touch with those going through a similar experience.

To find out more about the event please follow this link http://www.patriciamendell.com/considering.htm

Behind the scenes at a sperm bank

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a sperm bank? A video has examined what happens to sperm once a deposit has been made - how it is stored, frozen and shipped.

The edge, a channel on You Tube has provided us with an insight behind the scenes. Despite their light hearted take on the issue, the video has some interesting information from a doctor who works at the clinic, and we see first hand the careful handling of frozen sperm.

Follow this link to watch the video in full: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dIJO2_pJfI

Revenge of the Sperm Donors

Have complex legal cases affected the long held rights of sperm donors? An article in the Huffington Post has examined the changes which have seen assumptions about sperm donation rebuffed.

The recent Irish case which saw a sperm donor for a lesbian couple given parental rights has been a slap in the face to all lesbian parents. In addition to this the case could make men wary of sperm donation and where they stand legally regarding the paternity of resulting children.

This case is not the first to have changed our assumptions about the legalities of sperm donation. A number of women have succeeded in making their sperm donors liable for child support, and 2005 saw the introduction of a new law which means sperm donors no longer have the anonymity they had previously. Resulting children have the rights to obtain the identification of their donors once they reach the age of 18.

These trends have done much towards undermining the 'no strings attached' tradition of sperm donation and the rights of the vast majority of sperm donors. The irony is that potential altruistic sperm donors will be put off donating for fear of future repercussions.

For the full article on this topic please follow this link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-m-appel/revenge-of-the-sperm-dono_b_404479.html