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Daily sex could improve sperm quality and boost your chances of becoming a father

A study conducted by Dr. Greening of Sydney IVF, a centre for infertility in Sydney, Australia, suggests that daily sex could enhance the genetic quality of sperm? and therefore the chances of conception? for infertile couples.

A pilot study on 42 men with substantial sperm DNA damage was initially conducted, and found that ejaculating every day for a week reduced the DNA fragmentation index — a measure of sperm damage – by 12 per cent. The study was then repeated on 118 men with above average sperm DNA damage. In 81 per cent of these men, DNA damage fell by 12 per cent while sperm DNA damage increased in the remaining 19 per cent.

Infertile women forced to wait until they are 39 before being offered state funded IVF

A new regulation has been launched by the NHS North Yorkshire and York primary care trust (PCT) which prevents women who are trying to conceive from being eligible for state funded IVF until they are between the ages of 39 and a half and 40.

As a result of the policy, only 16 women, mainly between the ages of 39 and a half and 40, underwent IVF treatment in the region of North Yorkshire last year, according to the PCT.

Blood test could predict your chances of IVF success

Researchers are developing a test to help women to predict their chances of getting pregnant using fertility treatment.

A team of researchers from Ireland are developing a test which may be able to help women and doctors to decide whether to continue with IVF after they have been unsuccessful.

The researchers have uncovered markers in a woman’s blood which predict the success or failure of IVF treatment. Their findings suggest that there is a clear difference between women who went on to get pregnant and those who did not.

Barriers to NHS fertility treatment in UK are forcing hundreds of couples to go abroad for IVF

Hundreds of British couples who are ineligible for IVF treatment in the UK are going to Europe to seek treatment, according to a Europe-wide study.

The study, conducted by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), examined patients at clinics in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. The findings revealed that 34% of British patients in the study were seeking treatment abroad due to problems with access to fertility treatment in the UK – more than any other nationality. Another commonly cited reason was lack of egg? donation in the UK. Almost two thirds of those taking part were over 40 years old and unlikely to be eligible for IVF on the NHS, meaning that they would have to resort to private treatment which can cost several thousands of pounds.