Your Partners on the Path to Parenthood

You might think fertility problems have obvious symptoms, like irregular periods or abdominal pain. However, many causes of infertility have no indicators you can see or feel yourself. For example, low sperm count or blocked tubes can be completely symptom-free. Testing is often the only way to get the answers you need.

Can you naturally influence the likelihood of having a boy or girl? The Shettles method says by having sex closer to ovulation you're more likely to have a boy – because male Y-sperm are speedier and more likely to reach the egg first. Whereas, female X-sperm are hardier and outlive male sperm – so having sex a few days before ovulation makes it more likely you'll have a girl. It's an interesting theory, but it's not backed up by science. Modern studies using DNA-tagged sperm have shown no significant difference in swimming speed, lifespan, or fertilisation rates between X and Y sperm. In reality, the race is far more about sheer luck.

If you're diagnosed with slow swimmers, there's lots of treatment options that can help. However, which treatment we recommend will depend entirely on what exactly's causing the issue. That's why it's essential to come in for a consultation so we can determine the best next steps for you personally.

Why are weight-loss drugs like Ozempic causing unexpected pregnancies? Ozempic doesn't directly affect your fertility per se, however, it can have indirect effects. It can affect how the body absorbs oral contraception, which has lead to unexpected pregnancies for those on the pill. Also, by assisting with insulin sensitivity and weight loss, it can influence your reproductive hormones indirectly and therefore naturally kickstart ovulation and lead to conception – especially for those managing conditions like PCOS/PMOS. However, while it may improve fertility for some, we don't currently prescribe it to patients solely for this purpose. Much more research needs to be conducted into the safety of taking Ozempic while pregnant.

You might think you need to wait for your body to 'detox' from the pill before you can get pregnant. The truth is, your natural fertility usually returns very quickly. Many people conceive within 1-3 months. For others, it may take longer – up to a year – but this is still considered a normal timeframe. In short, it's perfectly safe to start trying for a baby immediately after stopping the pill.

This is what makes all our efforts worth it. Giving the best medical care and advice available is essential. But equally important is the compassion and emotional support it's delivered with. We take a great deal of pride in how supported our team makes our patients feel throughout their fertility journey. If you're struggling with fertility, please don't hesitate to get in touch 💙

Has there been a global decrease in sperm count? Dr Sarris addresses the recent research that suggests ‘forever chemicals’ are causing a male fertility crisis.

It’s easy to become stressed when trying to conceive. And annoyingly, it’s easy to become stressed about being stressed! But the important thing to remember is that infertility is rarely caused by stress alone. Try to give yourself and your body patience during this period. Where possible, dedicate time to activities that ground you and always reach out for support when you need it.

Did you know that when you were a tiny embryo, every time your cells divided, they had to copy 3 billion letters of DNA (without error, most of the time)! That’s like perfectly retyping the entire English Wikipedia from scratch every few hours… Without a single typo. It's nature's incredible copying machines 🧬

Female infertility is generally defined as not conceiving after a year of regular, unprotected sex. There are many different reasons why you may be struggling to conceive. Often, a discussion of your medical history and a pelvic ultrasound scan is enough to diagnose the cause and agree on a treatment plan. If the cause remains unclear, we may recommend further investigations like hormone testing or a fallopian tube assessment. Our goal is always to give you clear answers and a personalised plan.