Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Friday, 19 December 2008
A tree for Christmas
If you're stuck for a last-minute Christmas present, you may want to consider dedicating a tree in the Fertility Forest.
The Fertility Forest is a joint venture between the Woodland Trust and Infertility Network UK, and anyone who has had any kind of brush with infertility is welcome to dedicate a tree in an area set aside on the Hucking Estate near Maidstone in Kent. It costs just £25 to dedicate a tree, and is open to everyone whether you are marking the decision to celebrate a new way of life without children, remembering a pregnancy loss or making a wish for the future. Others choose to dedicate trees to celebrate the arrival of long-awaited children, or grandchildren.
You can pay for a tree online and write your own dedication. There are more details on the Infertility Network UK website at www.infertilitynetworkuk.com
The Fertility Forest is a joint venture between the Woodland Trust and Infertility Network UK, and anyone who has had any kind of brush with infertility is welcome to dedicate a tree in an area set aside on the Hucking Estate near Maidstone in Kent. It costs just £25 to dedicate a tree, and is open to everyone whether you are marking the decision to celebrate a new way of life without children, remembering a pregnancy loss or making a wish for the future. Others choose to dedicate trees to celebrate the arrival of long-awaited children, or grandchildren.
You can pay for a tree online and write your own dedication. There are more details on the Infertility Network UK website at www.infertilitynetworkuk.com
Men wanted - donor fathers to share stories
Do you know any fathers of donor-conceived children who may be willing to talk about their experiences? The Donor Conception Network are looking for some fathers to help at their highly successful Talking and Teling workshops.
If you - or someone you know - is the father of a child conceived usng donor sperm, eggs or embryos, the DC Network would like to hear from you. You would need to be happy to talk about your experiences, feel comfortable with the way you have created your family and willing to share your stories. You will be paid for the work, and training is given. You need to be available for at least three Saturdays a year. If you want to know more, you can get in touch with the DC Network through their website, www.dcnetwork.org .
If you're thinking of using donor sperm, eggs or embryos to become a parent, you can find out more about preparing for parenthood and the courses run by the DC Network from the website, too.
If you - or someone you know - is the father of a child conceived usng donor sperm, eggs or embryos, the DC Network would like to hear from you. You would need to be happy to talk about your experiences, feel comfortable with the way you have created your family and willing to share your stories. You will be paid for the work, and training is given. You need to be available for at least three Saturdays a year. If you want to know more, you can get in touch with the DC Network through their website, www.dcnetwork.org .
If you're thinking of using donor sperm, eggs or embryos to become a parent, you can find out more about preparing for parenthood and the courses run by the DC Network from the website, too.
The risks of surrogacy overseas
More and more couples considering surrogacy are opting to do this overseas, where it can appear to be easier and cheaper, but the case of a British couple who recently ended up in the High Court to save their baby twins from life in a Ukrainian orphanage should give a warning of the dangers that can arise.
The couple had paid a Ukrainian woman more than twenty thousand pounds to act as a surrogate mother. However, the differing laws in the two countries meant that their twin babies were effectively left stateless and without parents. Under Ukrainian law, the surrogate had no responsibilities for the babies once they had been born, and the children had no right to residence in the Ukraine. However, under British law the surrogate and her husband were the children's legal parents, and this meant that the children had no right of residence in the UK either.
After a legal battle, the couple were awarded a parental order by the judge in the High Court and the children will become British citizens. However, the case illustrates the problems anyone who enters into a surrogacy agreement overseas can face, and why it is so essential to take legal advice before going ahead.
The couple had paid a Ukrainian woman more than twenty thousand pounds to act as a surrogate mother. However, the differing laws in the two countries meant that their twin babies were effectively left stateless and without parents. Under Ukrainian law, the surrogate had no responsibilities for the babies once they had been born, and the children had no right to residence in the Ukraine. However, under British law the surrogate and her husband were the children's legal parents, and this meant that the children had no right of residence in the UK either.
After a legal battle, the couple were awarded a parental order by the judge in the High Court and the children will become British citizens. However, the case illustrates the problems anyone who enters into a surrogacy agreement overseas can face, and why it is so essential to take legal advice before going ahead.
Monday, 15 December 2008
The Roman Catholic view
Pity any devout Catholics who are having problems getting pregnant - the Roman Catholic church has recently made clear that it is opposed to IVF as well as to embryonic stem cell research and the morning-after pill. One of the most difficult areas seems to be the freezing of embryos, where the Vatican says that not only is the destruction of frozen embryos wrong, but they should not be donated to other couples either, or used for research.
There are always ethical dilemmas when it comes to assisted conception, but many couples find that they soon forget any religious or moral qualms if they are offered a possible solution to the pain of infertility and childlessness. There's more detail on the Vatican's position here
There are always ethical dilemmas when it comes to assisted conception, but many couples find that they soon forget any religious or moral qualms if they are offered a possible solution to the pain of infertility and childlessness. There's more detail on the Vatican's position here
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
The dangers of second-hand smoke
We may be well aware of the impact smoking has on fertility, but now new evidence shows quite how damaging someone else's cigarette smoking can be.
According to research carried out at the University of Rochester Medical Centre, women who have been exposed to cigarette smoke for six or more hours a day have a 68% higher chance of experiencing fertility problems or suffering miscarriage. What's most alarming is the fact that this doesn't have to be smoke a woman is exposed to as an adult - those who grew up with parents who smoked have exactly the same risK. So, parents who smoke may be putting their children's future fertility at risk.
The research is published online, and you can find out more at the University website at www.urmc.rochester.edu
According to research carried out at the University of Rochester Medical Centre, women who have been exposed to cigarette smoke for six or more hours a day have a 68% higher chance of experiencing fertility problems or suffering miscarriage. What's most alarming is the fact that this doesn't have to be smoke a woman is exposed to as an adult - those who grew up with parents who smoked have exactly the same risK. So, parents who smoke may be putting their children's future fertility at risk.
The research is published online, and you can find out more at the University website at www.urmc.rochester.edu
Your chance to have a say
If you've found it hard to find answers to your questions when you've been comparing fertility clinics, now's your chance to have a say. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is interested in your views on how information about clinics is presented, and also on the new code of practice which includes information on the consent forms patients sign when they have IVF.
Most of us turn to the HFEA for information when we're looking for a fertility clinic, but not everyone finds it easy to access the information they want in the way that they'd like. The Authority is considering whether they should include information about the patient experience of clinics, and about safety and the quality of service. If you'd like to make your thoughts known, go to the HFEA website at www.hfea.gov.uk where you will be able to find out how to do this.
Most of us turn to the HFEA for information when we're looking for a fertility clinic, but not everyone finds it easy to access the information they want in the way that they'd like. The Authority is considering whether they should include information about the patient experience of clinics, and about safety and the quality of service. If you'd like to make your thoughts known, go to the HFEA website at www.hfea.gov.uk where you will be able to find out how to do this.
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