Congratulations to Robert Edwards

It is wonderful news that Professor Robert Edwards, the IVF pioneer, has finally been awarded a knighthood in this year's Queen's birthday honours. It is hardly surprising that the work of the man who changed the lives of so many has been recognised, but it is surprising that it has taken so long. The award comes closely after the Nobel Prize for Medicine awarded to Professor Edwards last year. Maybe, four million babies down the line, the establishment has finally woken up to his amazing legacy - and to the fact that the UK led the way in this field with the birth of the first ever IVF baby in 1978. Congratulations to a truly brilliant and inspirational man.

Varicoceles linked to lower testosterone levels

Varicoceles, which are dilated or enlarged veins in the testicles, are a common problem for men. They've been linked with male fertility problems for many years, but new research has shown that they can interfere with the production of testosterone. Lower levels of testosterone can have an impact on men's energy levels and muscle strength as well as affecting fertility.

As many as fifteen percent of men have varicoceles, but no medical action is usually taken unless they are painful or thought to be causing infertility. However, the new research suggests that it may be a good idea to opt for microsurgery earlier rather than later in order to prevent future problems.

To read more about the research, visit http://weill.cornell.edu

Precious Babies

I've had the cover through this week for my new book, Precious Babies, which is out in October. There's something about seeing the cover for the first time that makes a book seem real and I'm so excited about this one. I've wanted to write something aimed at those who are pregnant, or new parents, after infertility ever since I first discovered I was pregnant after my second cycle of IVF. The joy that I felt was tempered with a terrible sense of fear that it couldn't possibly be real, that I couldn't possibly be so lucky and that something was bound to go wrong. Nothing did - but I spent nine months worrying - and in retrospect that seems such a shame. There's nothing anyone can do to change the natural concern you feel when you conceive after experiencing infertility, but by acknowledging the feelings, I hope that this new book can at least make help make those fears fade a little.

The book also covers parenting from birth right through to teens, as I really do believe that the experience of infertility often changes the way we feel about being parents. The parents I spoke to felt very strongly that they were less likely to take their children for granted, and recognised that they sometimes set themselves impossibly high standards to follow as parents. Of course, the experience of infertility fades fairly rapidly, but many of those I spoke to felt that their infertility had ended up changing them for the better, and that they truly appreciated how very blessed they were to have their children.

I hope that Precious Babies addresses many of the issues that concern parents, and I've included expert views and advice throughout in order to ensure that it can offer a rounded view to anyone who has finally been successful after spending some time trying to conceive. You can find out more about the book here