infertility and ways to treat it

infertility | help and info

help and info

For more information about IVF, see our feature the high cost of the gift of life.

You can also find out more about the alternative therapies mentioned above in our complementary medicine section.

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organisations

British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA)
69 Division Street
Sheffield S1 4GE
Tel: 0114 263 1448
E-mail: info@bica.net
Website: www.bica.net
BICA is the only professional association for infertility counsellors and counselling in the UK. It is committed to the total well-being of people with fertility problems before, during and after treatment and of those who choose not to undergo any kind of medical intervention. To find details of a local counsellor, click on 'Counselling Requests'.

Donor Conception Network
PO Box 7471
Nottingham NG3 6ZR
Tel: 020 8245 4369 (opening hours vary, answerphone available)
E-mail: enquiries@dcnetwork.org
Website: www.dcnetwork.org
The DC Network is a self-help group for parents with children conceived by donor insemination or egg donation  and those contemplating or undergoing treatment. It offers advice and support from parents whose own children were conceived by donor insemination.

Fertility UK
Bury Knowle Health Centre
207 London Road
Headington
Oxford OX3 9JA
E-mail: admin@fertilityuk.org
Website: www.fertilityuk.org
Fertility UK provides comprehensive information to the general public and health professionals on all aspects of fertility awareness and natural family planning for women and couples. You can also search the website for a local NHS fertility awareness practitioner.

Foresight: The Association for the Promotion Of Pre-Conceptual Care
178 Hawthorn Road,
West Bognor,
West Sussex PO21 2UY
Tel: 01243 868001
Website: www.foresight-preconception.org.uk
The association promotes the importance of good health and nutritional status in both parents before conceiving a baby. The website contains a number of helpful articles and you can send away for a free information pack by sending an SAE to the address above.

Infertility Network UK
Charter House
43 St Leonards Road
Bexhill-on-Sea TN40 1JA
Advice line: 08701 188 088
Evening counselling line: 08701 188 088 (Mon-Fri 7.30pm-9.30pm)
Website: www.infertilitynetworkuk.com
A national network for those experiencing fertility problems, offering face-to-face and telephone support and information at regional and national level. By writing to I N UK (with an SAE to the address above) members can request a medical opinion on their condition or treatment received. Various factsheets and other sources of information are available on the website.

websites

IVF-infertility.com
www.ivf-infertility.com
This website is designed by infertility specialists primarily for couples who are experiencing difficulty in having a child, who think that they might need medical help. Contains information on infertility, including treatments, legislation plus helpful addresses.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)
www.hfea.gov.uk
A statutory body which regulates, licenses and collects data on fertility treatments such as IVF and donor insemination, as well as human embryo research, in the UK. The website contains various patient guides on the subject of infertility and a 'Find a Clinic' search facility.

reading

	Alternative Infertility Treatments by Nicky Wesson (Vermilion, 1997) This guide explains how to improve fertility naturally through diet, exercise and relaxation techniques, and how to detect ovulation to maximise the opportunities of conception. It also describes the benefits of existing therapies such as acupuncture and reflexology. Get this book
	Your Essential Infertility Companion by Anna Furse (HarperCollins, 2001) This is a comprehensive guide to available IVF treatment. It contains information on: how the reproductive system works; the different causes of fertility problems; the drug and treatment options available; the medical technology and how it works; details of self-help and complementary medicine to help with fertility; IVF, infertility and relationships. It also provides a guide to every UK clinic and hospital offering IVF. Get this book
	Male Infertility: Men talking by Mary-Claire Mason (Routledge, 1993) This book explores how men react to the diagnosis of male infertility, how they are affected emotionally and socially by a diagnosis of male infertility, and covers the past and present medical management of male infertility. Get this book

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