The pandemic’s impact on stillbirth
It’s been almost an entire year that the world was challenged with the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic. Not only are vulnerable people and businesses affected, but also high-risk pregnancies. In the latest news article by world’s leading science journal “Nature“, we learn yet another disturbing trend: a sharp rise in the proportion of pregnancies ending in […]
The Real Cost of Cut-Price IVF
Australians are rightfully proud of their universal healthcare system, one which consistently ranks top 10 in the world. Medicare helps many Australians access doctors, specialists and other allied health professionals while also providing access to low-cost prescriptions and free public healthcare. One of the tenets of the Medicare system is bulk billing, which covers most […]
The Role of Killer Cell in Male Infertility
What role do natural killer cells play in male infertility? ‘Killer Cells’?…sounds like a title for a ‘B’ grade movie, what do they have to do with infertility? What are ‘killer cells’? As part of the human body’s natural immune system it produces cells which protect the body from invasion against disease and infections. These […]
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 […]
The effects of cannabis on pregnancy
More places are legalising cannabis with growing social acceptance and anecdotal evidence of its health benefits. In some places where cannabis is legal, it is even promoted as a safe treatment for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Cannabis is a general term for drugs like marijuana and other products made from the cannabis plant. It […]
The Egg Reserve (Anti Mullarian Hormone) Test
You are a successful female professional in your 30s. However, you still haven’t met the right partner to start a family. You wish to explore your options to increase the chances of having children in the future. Unlike something apparent such as fitness level, fertility is hard to pin down. Most women do not think […]
The Importance of Pelvic Floor Exercises for Pregnancy
Your pelvic floor is a group of ligaments and muscles that attach to the front of your pubic bone and the back of your tail bone from the base of your pelvis. The pelvic floor supports the bladder, uterus and bowel. A strong pelvic floor is especially important before, during and after pregnancy because it […]
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and female fertility
Regular check-ups for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) should be an essential part of your and your partner’s health. If you are looking to start a family, there is even more reason to make sure that there are no infections untreated. Some people think that there is no need to check for STIs because there is […]
Should I bother charting my temperature changes in the cycle?
Some lucky women may conceive almost as soon as they start trying, whilst for others it may take longer. One way to increase the probability of pregnancy is to track your fertility cycle covered in one of my previous blogs. An additional method is to chart temperature changes during the month using Basal Body Temperature. […]
Signs of nearing labour – more than waters breaking
Giving birth is not an uncommon scene in movies, so most people would know that a baby is near when the water broke. But did you know that there are many more tell-tale signs that a woman is nearing her labour? If you are pregnant right now, these are critical things to look out for […]