Scottish funding - not good news for smokers or overweight women

Well, yes it's still great that Scotland is investing in fertility services, but the announcement was swiftly followed by the news that in Fife anyone who was overweight or who smoked would not qualify for treatment.  The weight rule applies solely to women who have a BMI, or body mass index, of 30 or above but the smoking ban applies to both partners.

This kind of rationing is often presented as being only sensible because we know that smoking affects IVF outcomes and that being obese can affect fertility - why not restrict treatment to those for whom it is most likely to work? The problem is that all kinds of medical treatments are more likely to be successful for average-sized non-smokers, and yet rationing in many other areas would be seen to be out of the question.

It's yet another example of the way that couples with fertility problems are judged - and divided into those who are deemed to be deserving of treatment and those who are not.

Improving your chances of IVF success

Anyone going through fertility treatment wants to try to maximise their chances of success, and a number of new reports out today suggest that there are some lifestyle factors that can make a real difference.

The first report looked at caffeine consumption, and found that women who drink five or more cups of coffee a day reduce their chances of getting pregnant after IVF by a shocking 50%. Up until now there have been conflicting results from investigations into caffeine consumption, but this new study was a large one, following up nearly 4,000 women who'd had IVF or ICSI. Interestingly, for women who drank coffee but consumed fewer than five cups, the coffee didn't have any effect.  So, there's no need to cut out your wake-up coffee altogether, but just make sure you limit your consumption.

The second study looked at consumption of saturated fats, and found that women who had a higher than average intake didn't have as many mature eggs ready for collection in IVF treatment. This was a far smaller study, but showed that different types of fat had different effects.  The doctors who carried out the research said it was too early to make any firm recommendations to patients, but as it's not good to eat lots of saturated fats anyway, this may perhaps emphasise that healthy eating when you're trying to conceive may make a difference.

The final study looked at smoking, and found that it affected the environment in the Fallopian tube and uterus, which may explain why women who smoke are more likely to have ectopic pregnancies.  The vast majority of women who get as far as fertility treatment have already given up smoking because it reduces the chance of success and increases the risk of miscarriage - but this new research provides yet more evidence of the way smoking can damage your fertility.

All of these research projects are interesting, but perhaps not entirely surprising as they sum up what we may well have suspected already - that moderation, common sense and a healthy diet can make a difference when it comes to IVF success.

Are men putting their fertility at risk?

There was an interesting piece in the Evening Standard this week about the way in which men's lifestyles can put their fertility at risk. We hear so much about women risking their fertility by delaying starting their families or by dieting or by not doing this or doing too much of that. It's good to hear some home truths about male fertility for a change.

The piece was based on a talk Dr Allan Pacey is due to give at The Fertility Show this weekend, explaining how drinking, smoking, recreational drugs and processed foods have led to an increase in male infertility - and unlike women, many men are apparently reluctant to change their lifestyles.

In nearly half of all couples with fertility problems, there is a male cause and it seems that age can make a difference to male fertility too. It's alcohol, poor diet, smoking and drugs such as cannabis and cocaine that can have a really serious impact for men - so if you want a baby, it'sn not just the female partner who should be starting on a health kick...