ICSI Explained: Success Rates, Risks and What to Expect

Sometimes, even the most advanced methods of assisted conception can benefit from an extra helping hand. Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a procedure that is performed as part of IVF which is designed to remove barriers which can prevent a sperm cell from fertilizing an egg. For many, particularly those affected by male infertility, it...

What are ovarian follicles?

Ovarian follicles play an essential role in a woman’s fertility – both in getting pregnant and during the early stages of pregnancy. If you’re hoping to have a baby, it’s useful to have an understanding of how these follicles work.  In this article, we’ll discuss what ovarian follicles are, how they’re measured, why they’re crucial...

What is a molar pregnancy?

Molar pregnancy, also known as a hydatidiform mole, is a relatively rare condition in which fertilisation takes place, but the resulting embryo has an incorrect or imbalanced number of cells in its genetic material and has no chance of developing into a baby. A molar pregnancy can happen completely by chance, and can be an extremely...

5 healthy foods that can help you get pregnant

Who knew that what you serve up on your dinner plate could have a bearing on becoming a parent? No amount of healthy fats, vegetables, or superfood smoothies can guarantee to get you pregnant, but it seems that what we eat really could have an impact. When it comes to how to get pregnant, while...

What is implantation bleeding?

Implantation bleeding can happen in early pregnancy. It can also be accompanied by mild implantation pain. If you’re not expecting to be pregnant, it could pass you by without you noticing.  You might even mistake it for early spotting ahead of your next period. But if you’re trying to get pregnant, it’s natural that you...

How do HIV and AIDS affect fertility?

The 1st of December marks World AIDS Day. On this day, it’s important we remind ourselves that this is still an ongoing pandemic, affecting nearly 38 million people globally every day.  In the UK alone, there are over 100,000 people living with HIV.  World AIDS Day is an opportunity to show our support for those...

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: 37 reasons not to lose hope

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s dedicated to highlighting and supporting women all over the world who are living with breast cancer. This year, the message from IVI is clear: becoming a mother after cancer is possible. Since starting our fertility preservation programme, “Becoming a Mother After Cancer”, we have helped 37 babies to...