What does a high viral load mean for COVID-19?
“Viral load” and “viral shedding” are popular medical terms lately that have caused many confusions. Some think that a higher viral load makes the infected individual sicker, whilst others think that it makes the individual more infectious. Which one is correct? What is viral load? After an individual is first infected with COVID-19, the virus […]
What Happens to Your Leftover Embryos After Fertility Treatment?
Many people who go through the process of freezing their eggs for the purpose of IVF find that after they successfully have a child or a few children, they do not know what to do with the leftover embryos. When you’re spending all that time and effort in just getting pregnant, you don’t think about […]
Things that working parents should know about children getting sick
You finally return to work after a lengthy maternity leave. You try to be super organised: you get a place at the daycare centre near your house, and coordinate your child’s daily drop off and pick up with your hubby. Then something unplanned hits you like a ton of bricks: your child’s first winter season […]
Top 5 tips for Christmas when trying to conceive
To help you through the busy upcoming Christmas period, here are our top tips on how you can prepare your body for conception. 1. Take a prenatal vitaminIt is advisable to start taking a prenatal vitamin three months before trying to conceive. This is to make sure the woman’s folic acid, iron and vitamin D […]
Top 7 Tips for Exercise during Pregnancy
Many women now like to exercise during pregnancy and for many there is no reason at all why they shouldn’t. There is, however, some information and knowledge that is good to have under your belt when deicing what is right for you. Making changes whilst pregnant can also benefit your post-birth recovery and rebuild. Maintain […]
Tubal Infertility Tests & Treatment Explained
Your fallopian tubes play a crucial role in the fertilisation process, acting as a safe pathway to the uterine cavity and the meeting place for the sperm and egg. If you are having difficulty falling pregnant, your fertility specialist may identify the fallopian tubes as a possible cause of infertility. Tubal Factor Infertility refers to […]
Understanding the Connection: The Contraceptive Pill and PCOS
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects 1 in 20 women of childbearing age, characterised by hormonal imbalance and metabolism problems. The relationship between the contraceptive pill and PCOS is a subject of interest and importance for many women dealing with this condition. The Role of the Contraceptive Pill in Managing PCOS The […]
Understanding the menstrual cycle and hormone-based contraceptives
Hormonal management of contraception is built on the knowledge of hormonal changes during a menstrual cycle. Each cycle is typically 28 days on average, and can be divided into the follicular phase, the ovulation day and the luteal phase. At each stage, the balance between gonadotrophin-releasing hormones and sex hormones is dynamically tuned. The gonadotrophins […]
The role of mitochondria in egg quality and ageing
The female egg is the largest cell in the human body and the richest in mitochondria – the energy powerhouse for all of our cellular activities. The egg is tasked with many energy-demanding activities, including ensuring the correct amount of genetic materials passed down to our offspring. Interestingly, the inheritance of mitochondria is tightly maternal. […]
The E Word: Endometriosis – Do I Have It?
Endometriosis is a painful chronic disease that affects millions of women worldwide. It occurs when the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows in other places such as the ovaries, cervix, bowel, fallopian tubes, along the pelvis, or even on your intestines. When this lining breaks down – as it does in the uterus to […]