Sperm cells and an egg

What Role Does Sperm Play In The Success Of IVF?

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This week Dr Simone Rofena, our medical consultant in Reproductive Medicine talks to us about male infertility and the role sperm plays in IVF.

50% of the reasons for a couple’s infertility is down to male infertility which is very important in the couple’s diagnostic. There are three parameters we assess when considering the capability of a sperm to fertilise an egg.

  1.     Sperm count

The sperm total account must be over 15 million to be considered normal.

  1.     Motility

Motility of the sperm is also important and we would be happy with 40% of sperm having progressive motility.

  1.     Morphology

When we analyse sperm, we look at the head, neck and tail. Morphology can affect any of these three parts, so for a sperm to be considered normal they must be normally shaped.

 

There are several things that can be done to contribute to improving sperm count, motility and morphology. For example:

  • Good Lifestyle
  • Good Nutrition
  • Supplements

Often when men get poor results on a seamen analysis they worry they might not be able to conceive a baby but try not to worry too much as it only takes one good sperm to create a pregnancy.

For weekly tips, advice and wisdom on natural fertility and IVF, subscribe to our  Fertility Show on YouTube.

Book now

Consultations are available at out Clinic in London or via Video Conferencing from the comfort of your own home.

Connect with us

Call us on 0808 196 4060 or email us at clinics@zitawest.com

 

pregnant woman holding bump

Pregnant from IVF… What next?

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In this week’s Fertility Show, I’m talking about what happens after becoming pregnant from IVF.

Many of the women I see have had years of fertility issues, so naturally they know all about fertility, but not a huge amount about pregnancy.  So once you become pregnant from IVF, what do you do next?

It is important to try and manage your mindset through this difficult but exciting period so that pregnancy joy doesn’t give way to anxiety. Here are 3 tips to help you in the next steps of your journey:

  • Look after yourself: Taking time to rest and take it easy is essential in the first few months of pregnancy. Learning to relax as much as possible is the best way to take care of you and your baby.
  • Take care of your mind set: Try to find ways to stop the worry and anxiety you’re feeling. This could involve looking at deep breathing, meditation and counselling if you feel you need additional help.Also make sure you are registered with a GP early on so you know you have back up in case something goes wrong.  
  • Give into your cravings:  When you were going through IVF you were probably eating good things to nourish yourself, and when you become pregnant this shouldn’t stop. You might start having cravings for carbs and foods that aren’t always good for you. But it’s important that you give in to what your body craves because you will need carbs for energy and your diet will improve as time goes on.   

For weekly tips, advice and wisdom on natural fertility and IVF, subscribe to our Fertility Show on YouTube.

Book now

Consultations are available at our Clinic in London or via Video Conferencing from the comfort of your own home.

Connect with us

Call us on 0808 196 4060 or email us at clinics@zitawest.com

 

ZIta West

Four supplements to take for pre conception & pregnancy

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Over the last 30 years, I’ve worked with thousands of couples and have seen first hand the impact poor nutrition can have on fertility.

Ideally, we’d get all the nutrients we need through diet alone, but I understand that’s not always the case when you lead a busy life. That’s why I developed my range of supplements for male and female fertility, pregnancy and postnatal health.

When I created the supplement collection, I wanted to make sure it would cover every stage of pregnancy, from preconception, trying for a baby, through pregnancy and the postnatal period and beyond.

Today I’m sharing four products you should use for preconception and pregnancy:

Fertility and Preconception Supplements

Vitafem: Vitafem, a premium multivitamin and multimineral supplement, is a simple, effective way for women to support their fertility and ensure they are getting the essential nutrients they need while preparing for pregnancy.

Vitamen: For the guys, we have Vitamen, a clever combination of the vitamins and minerals that are most important for healthy sperm. Its unique formulation is the result of our many years of experience in helping thousands of men get into the best possible nutritional shape prior to conception

During Pregnancy

Vital DHA: DHA plays a critical role in the development of a baby’s brain during pregnancy and early infancy, and Vital DHA has been designed to help protect both partners’ DNA from oxidative damage during preconception as well as to support normal fertility and healthy sperm production. It also helps post-pregnancy.

Vitamin D Spray: 70% of men and women tested at our clinic have less than optimum levels of Vitamin D, which plays a critical role in reproductive health. My easy to use, Vitamin D booster is sprayed directly onto the tongue, and has been designed to provide additional support for your intake of this vital micro-nutrient.

Book now

Consultations are available at our Clinic in London or via Video Conferencing from the comfort of your own home.

Connect with us

Call us on 0808 196 4060 or email us at clinics@zitawest.com