What should you do if you cannot get pregnant?
If you ask five people, they may all give you different advice about trying to get pregnant. So my first recommendation is that you listen to what everyone tells you and as a couple you decide what is...
A mothers letter to her Tom Boy daughter
I found this article really moving and inspiring so I have posted it under inspiring stories. It is refreshing that we are moving in the right way to allow people to express their gender identity in...
88 yr old Iva, this year’s oldest London Marathon runner
Iva Barr is this year’s oldest marathon runner at the age of 88, with this being her 20th time running in London. She is really proving to the world that age need not be a barrier when it comes...
Success of delivery not dependent on presence of consultant at birth
A statement has been released by the Royal College if Obstetrics and Gynaecology that “Maternal and neonatal outcomes are not affected by whether or not a senior obstetrician (a consultant) is...
Study suggests women with BRCA1 mutation may have lower ovarian reserve
New research published today has suggested that the BRCA1 mutation (which increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer) could also decrease the ovarian reserve. The ovarian reserve, which refers...
Number of women freezing their eggs triples in 5 years.
“The report by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the first to track trends in egg freezing, shows rising numbers of women attempting egg storage, in the hope of starting a family...
What is the most difficult part of being a working Mum?
Athena Swan was developed to help working parents in higher education juggle work and home life; “recognising advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for...
NHS accused of pressuring women into having a natural birth over a C-Section
The human rights charity ‘Birthrights’ has claimed that women under NHS care are pressured to have a natural birth instead of a caesarean section and sometimes have to beg in order to...
Good news! New study suggests female fertility is less affected by childhood chemotherapy than mens
A new study by the Lancet has suggested that female fertility is less affected than male fertility by exposure to chemotherapy as a child. But it does suggest that it is still important to think about...
Genetic testing: finding out about our genetic origin
Today I have published a paper titled: The end of donor anonymity: how genetic testing is likely to drive anonymous gamete donation out of business. Joyce C. Harper; Debbie Kennett; Dan Reisel....
Mother hears dead son’s heartbeat in transplant recipient for first time
A mother has heard her son’s heartbeat for the first time since his death after she met with the man who received his heart in a life-saving transplant operation. Lisa Swanson’s 18-year-old son...Adele speaks out against the pressure to breastfeed
The famous singer defended moms who decide not to breastfeed, saying “It’s hard. Some of us can’t do it”. Adele, whose son Angelo is 3 years old, made her comments after celebrity chef Jamie...
What age should you start to try for a family?
The age of first conception is increasing worldwide. This is the average age women have their first child. In the UK it is just over 30 and is increasing every year and will continue to increase...
Paternity test for sale on the high street in the UK
There is an increase in the use of direct to consumer (DTC) genetic testing. Last year I took the 23 and Me genetic test which told me some information about my genes. You can buy this test in the...
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson: the first UK doctor
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was the first Englishwoman to qualify as a physician and surgeon in Britain. The department I work in is called The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s...
Moms are crowdfunding for maternity leave money
New moms are turning to crowdfunding for maternity leave in the United States. The USA does not guarantee the new mothers paid maternity leave if they don’t work for the government. After giving...
Joyce Harper talks about fertility awareness
Led by several members of the British Fertility Society, a group of professionals are meeting on 15th April 2016 to discuss fertility awareness and what we can do to improve education for teenagers....
Father’s diet can impact offspring
A father’s diet can strongly affect his offspring, according to a study published in the journal Science. The health of the father may play a more significant role that has traditionally been...
