Does ovulation affect your choice of clothing?

I'm fascinated by some new research which shows that women buy more daring clothes when they are ovulating and imagined it must be to make themselves look and feel more attractive to men. Apparently, the researchers found that outdoing other women was the key factor rather than a simple desire to impress the opposite sex.

The women who chose the more daring clothes were not only ovulating, but had also been shown photos of attractive local women. Apparently the effect wasn't the same when they were shown pictures of less attractive women, or those who lived thousands of miles away, and in these cases they didn't opt for the daring outfits.

The research was carried out by a team at the Carlson School of Management in Minnesota and published in the Journal of Consumer Research - you can read more at www.csom.umn.edu

Pregnancy after miscarriage

How soon can you try to get pregnant again after a miscarriage? The conventional wisdom has been that women should wait for at least six months, and some recommend waiting as long as eighteen months. However, others have always believed that trying to get pregnant again as soon as possible could in fact enhance a woman’s chances of recovery.

This new study in Scotland looked at the outcome of pregnancy in women who’d had a previous miscarriage. The women were divided into groups depending on how long they had waited to try to get pregnant again. The researchers at Aberdeen University found that those who had conceived within six months of an earlier miscarriage were less likely to lose another baby or to have an ectopic pregnancy, and they were also less likely to give birth prematurely or have a baby with a low birth weight.

The researchers concluded that it was probably unncessary for women to try to delay conception after miscarriage unless there are specific issues that may indicate it is necessary. You can read more about the research at www.bmj.com

Superdrug deal on IVF drugs

Anyone who has had fertility treatment will know that the cost of the drugs can send the total bill soaring, and patients are often advised to shop around to get a reasonable deal on the drugs they will need.

Now Superdrug has announced plans to dispense fertility drugs with no mark-up on the cost - and this will also apply to other privately prescribed prescriptions. This is due to come into effect right away so if you're about to start a treatment cycle, it is worth checking the price at Superdrug as well as any other outlet you may be considering. However, do keep in mind that when Asda announced a similar scheme for fertility drugs a while back, some NHS hospital pharmacies were cheaper - so do make sure you check!

You can read more about the Superdrug plans here

Reduced cost IVF for public sector workers

If you or someone you know (a friend or member of your family) work for or previously worked in the public sector then you may want to consider joining The Benenden Healthcare Society, a mutual society which has charitable status and provides healthcare to public sector employees. Unlike private health schemes, the Society is only open to those who work in certain fields, and costs just £1.50 membership a week. Those eligible include people who work for the civil service, armed forces, post office, registered charities, BT, local authorities, in state education, for the emergency services and the NHS.

Benenden Hospital in Kent is a subsidiary of the society and has charitable trust status. It provides healthcare for members of the trust. Originally founded in 1907 to treat postal workers with TB, today it provides care for a most medical and surgical specialities including infertility. Although IVF treatment cannot be offered free, it is subsidised and members who have been with the society for six months or more qualify for IVF at reduced cost.

More to Life Day - March 2011

For anyone who has imagined that they will have a family, contemplating a future without children can seem a bleak and lonely prospect. More to Life is a charity offering help and support to anyone who is involuntarily childless, whatever their path to that point may have been. Next year will see the first ever More to Life day, with speakers, information, advice and support on hand for an afternoon in Central London. The date has been set for March 19 2011 and we are now putting together a programme of speakers. You can find out about More to Life at www.moretolife.co.uk

Callling London ACeBabes!

Did you know that there is a special group for families who had to have help to have children? ACeBabes is for anyone who has experienced fertility problems and went on to get pregnant. It provides help and support during pregnancy and for parents- and also offers a great opportunity to meet others who have had a long path to becoming parents.

I'm organising an ACeBabes picnic in Greenwich Park in August for anyone who is pregnant after fertility problems or those who have been successful and their families. Do come along and join me and my own ACeBabes - details can be found here.

Endometriosis

It's a condition that is not often discussed despite the fact that it is thought to affect 176 million women around the world. Endometriosis occurs when cells which are like the spongy womb lining grow elsewhere, usually in the pelvic cavity. It can be very painful, can lead to heavy or irregular periods and may affect fertility.

Now, the first ever global study of the impact of endometriosis on society has been carried out, and has discovered that women who have endometriosis often have such severe symptoms that it affects their work productivity. The study looked at more than a thousand women from five continents and found that the impact of endometriosis was greater than expected. It impaired life quality in many areas ranging from housework to studying and exercising.

Another alarming fact thrown up by the research was the amount of time it took to get a diagnosis - often a wait of seven years from first seeing a doctor about symptoms to being diagnosed!

It is hoped that this study will help raise awareness of endometriosis and highlight the need for research into finding better treatments - you can read more about the study at www.eshre.eu