We believe sharing stories can provide support and comfort. Read stories that have been generously shared by our clients and staff…
By Karen Buckingham, Repromed Fertility Doctor
Should I freeze my eggs or not? Today, women are becoming increasingly aware that this could be a reassuring option for them but egg freezing is a decision that requires careful consideration and realistic expectations. We thought it would be useful to give a detailed overview of the pros and cons and some insight into the likelihood of achieving a future successful pregnancy.
By Teresa Gudex, Repromed Dietitian
It is a fact that your regular eating habits can impact fertility by affecting ovulation, egg and sperm quality, implantation, pregnancy rates, as well as health during pregnancy and of your child. Weight-loss is the most common topic when it comes to diet and fertility – but did you know you can make changes to your diet to positively impact fertility without weight-loss? This is what we call your ‘fertility diet’ which is about improving your chances of successfully having a healthy baby.
More people are eating gluten free and feeling better for it. But have you ever wondered if you have Coeliac Disease? Coeliac Disease is relatively common around the world and in New Zealand, it is estimated that one in 70 people have this condition.
What’s interesting is that around 80% of people with Coeliac Disease are completely unaware they have the condition. It’s possible to have ‘silent’ Coeliac Disease: when a person has Coeliac Disease without any of the typical gut symptoms or vitamin deficiencies that usually lead to a diagnosis.
What has rarely been spoken about in the past is the potential link between Coeliac Disease and fertility.
As we head into a new year, now is a great time to pause and reflect on where things are at with your body and your health. Here at Repromed our aim is to assist you in optimising your fertility for the coming year. There are several lifestyle changes that you can make that are proven to influence or enhance your chances of getting pregnant, whether you’re male or female.
As we approach the end of the year, it is timely to reflect on the many milestones and achievements at Repromed.
We have now completed 5 years of being a provider of publicly funded services in the Northern Region and we are delighted with the results we have achieved and the level of service we have provided. All our public funded clients receive exactly the same high quality of treatment and same wrap-around care and support throughout their IVF treatment, as our private clients.
Christmas is one of those times of year that presents both excitement and challenges for most people. For those who are trying to conceive the increased time spent with friends and family can bring up a variety of feelings.
Repromed counsellor Lani Eagle has some tips for dealing with the festive season.
We understand that fertility treatment can be a daunting and sensitive issue, we make it a priority to provide clear and realistic information, so our clients know what to expect every step of the way.
We are lucky to have four Mandarin speaking members in our Repromed team so during treatment for our Mandarin speaking clients, nothing is lost in translation.
Watch this short video about what makes us different:
Watch this short video about what makes us different:
My husband and I met and married when we were very young, so infertility was something that hadn’t crossed our minds. We never dreamed it would take us 14 years to have a baby!
When a year went by and I wasn’t pregnant, I was worried something was wrong with me so we started having lots of tests. Finally, I had diagnostic laparoscopic surgery done and discovered I had endometriosis. After surgery, the chance of pregnancy is 60%, and I believed that my prayers were being answered and this surgery would be the golden ticket to curing infertility. But it wasn’t to be.
My husband and I had been together for nine years when began our fertility journey. We had known from the beginning of our relationship that we both wanted to start a family ‘someday’, but we were at the point in our lives where we just enjoyed our work life and spending time together. We weren’t in a rush.
I met my partner when I was 31, and we fell head over heels. We both knew we wanted kids and it’s strange, because although I had been diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis, I was somewhat relaxed about having kids. A part of me suspected we could have trouble because of my history with this, but on the other hand I thought I had plenty of time. You read about celebrities having babies in their 40’s or later so I thought that when I was ready, we would pop a few kids out and life would be grand! How wrong we were!
Did you know that it takes around three months for sperm to mature in the testes before they’re ready to successfully fertilise an egg. That’s why pre-game day conditioning can make all the difference to your sperm’s quality, for the best shot at egg fertilisation. During this time, your health can affect your sperm’s quality, for better or for worse.
Becoming a mother has always been the most important thing I have wanted to experience in my life. Due to endometriosis and other complications, I had tried unsuccessfully to have my dream realised for 12 long years, and it has been an incredibly difficult and heart-breaking journey for me. It’s unbelievable what I went through, to see where I am today.
I had always had a feeling something wasn’t quite right, it was just this strange feeling that I would have problems, a sixth sense I guess. There was no real reason for it.
We had been trying to conceive for over 6 months without success and decided to get some tests done. We were getting older, I was 36 at the time, and rather than waste another 6 months I rang my Doctor and made an appointment. The tests weren’t good. It basically looked like I had no eggs left and I was going into early menopause. What a bombshell.
Fertility and conception are private and often vulnerable topics, but those that are keen to start a family will have a lot of questions. How long should you try to conceive before consulting a fertility specialist? What options are available? How does your age or your partner’s age (if applicable) fit into the picture?
Knowing the facts can help to shed light on where you stand on your fertility journey and give a clearer path forward as you make decisions. Read on as Repromed founder and Medical Director, Dr. Guy Gudex answers the most common questions around fertility and conception.
