Drug hope for male infertility

New research suggests that combining a common fertility drug with vitamin E can improve male sperm counts and increase pregnancy rates.

Researchers at Cairo University used clomiphene citrate (sometimes known by the brand name Clomid), which is often given to women to help them ovulate, along with vitamin E in their trial. Sixty men with fertility problems took part in the study, and half were given clomiphene citrate and vitamin E for six months whilst the others were given a placebo. The results showed that the men who had taken the combined drugs had higher sperm motility and concentration. The pregnancy rate for partners of these men was considerably higher at 37%, whilst the pregnancy rate for the partners of men who'd had the placebo was just 13%.

The scientists say more research is needed but in the meantime you can read more about the study in Fertility and Sterility. You will need to scroll down the page to get to the relevant research.

Cause of IVF failure?

Scientists in Australia think they may have discovered what could cause some IVF cycles not to be successful. Researchers at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane discovered that sometimes the liquid in surrounding eggs in their follicles is infected with bacteria, and that this made IVF less likely to succeed. Their initial findings have led to an ongoing larger study to look into this. You can find out more about the results so far at www.news.qut.edu.au

New book out TODAY

My new book, The Complete Guide to IVF , is out today, published by Piatkus. If you're considering IVF, having iVF or just want to know more about the subject I hope it will be really helpful.

I spent far too long researching it, partly because I found it absolutely fascinating to spend time behind the scenes at fertility clinics and to have the opportunity to quiz consultants, fertility nurses, embryologists and counsellors about their perspective on the subject, at the same time as talking to many patients. I hope that has paid of in terms of the detailed information the book contains. I don't have a scientific background myself, and I think in many ways it was an advantage when it came to writing this book. I had to get people to simplify their explanations so that I could understand them and was never ever afraid of asking really stupid questions which means it is certainly written in a way that makes the sometimes complex treatments very simple to understand.

I hope you'll enjoy reading it - and do get in touch via my website www.katebrian.co.uk if you want to know more.

Talking and telling

The Donor Conception Network are organising more of their special 'Talking and Telling' workshops for anyone who has children conceived using donor eggs and/or sperm. The last series of workshops were hugely successful and the Network is now offering places in London, Southampton, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol and Sheffield, There's a special course in Central London for single parents only, and another for parents who have children of eight and over. You can find out all the details, and pick up a booking form at www.donor-conception-network.org

The risks of using surrogacy agencies

If you needed any warning of the potential pitfalls of entering into surrogacy arrangements without legal advice, an article in the New York Times provides just that.

The paper reports that a California-based surrogacy and egg donation agency that had taken tens of thousands of dollars from would-be parents has closed, taking their money with it.

The agency had clients and surrogates not only in the US, but also in other parts of the world. It is estimated that up to two million dollars may have gone missing. You can read more in the New York Times article.

No word from the HFEA..

Despite some of the frightening stories in the media over the last few days about the increased risk of defects for babies born after IVF treatment, there has been no reassurance for patients on the HFEA website. Many of the papers have quoted the HFEA, but it seems that providing patient information on this issue is less of a priority than talking to the media.

I rang the HFEA press office this morning to ask when some advice to patients would be put up on the website, and was told that it would possibly happen later today. Nothing seems to have appeared yet. This is despite the fact that the HFEA must have known that this story was about to hit the papers since Friday at the latest.

It is easy to forget how frightening stories like this can be for people who are having fertility treatment, and allowing journalists to run wild with the story without a word of reassurance to patients is singularly unhelpful. If you are concerned, the HFEA have apparently found time to tell The Independent that " some of the potential risks needed further investigation and, when the new advice comes into full use from October, it will be pointed out that the majority of IVF babies are born health".

I hope that patients won't have to wait until October to receive this reassurance directly from the HFEA.

PCOS and your emotions

There's an interesting all-day workshop for anyone who can get to Birmingham this Saturday, looking at the emotional aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS.

If you have PCOS, you will find it an interesting day and speakers include a psychologist, a hypnotherapist and a nurse. You can find out more about the workshop here, at www.verity-pcos.org,uk