The Béa Blog
National Infertility Awareness Week 2023
National Infertility Awareness Week® (NIAW) is almost over, but what have we learned this year? NIAW is a movement founded in 1989 by RESOLVE, with the mission to empower people and change the conversation around infertility. Its purpose is to educate the public about reproductive health and reduce the stigma that comes with fertility problems by talking about them openly.
Creating a positive workplace for fertility
Let's cut right to the chase. If you're an employer – regardless how big or small – here’s what you can do to support your employees.
Masculinity, virility and infertility
The unspoken toll of the toxic masculinity on men. A quick Google search or skim through your Instagram feed would probably leave you with the sense that infertility is a female health issue, experienced by – and talked about by – women.
BMI: The problem with simplifying health
Seemingly, BMI is one of the simplest and most accessible ways to quickly calculate an individual’s health. It is commonly used in fertility, to calculate if an individual could benefit from losing weight, which in turn can help increase fertility. However, many call into question the accuracy of this measurement.
Tick, tick, tock, goes the biological clock (or so they say)
The so-called biological clock has been referenced in almost every soap opera and sitcom since the 70s. The concept of a biological clock is based on the idea that we all have a ticking clock – or for some a ticking time bomb – inside of us, that we become increasingly aware of throughout our twenties and into our thirties.
To steam, or not to steam, that is the question... We have a new well-being motto: “Just because Gwyneth Paltrow does it, doesn’t mean you should.” Vaginal steaming – a.k.a yoni steaming – is an alternative health remedy which involves...
If you’ve been trying to conceive and it hasn’t happened as quickly as you’d like, Mother’s Day can feel like rubbing salt in a fresh wound.
Fertility Treatment Options: greater choice and transparency required
Why the fertility treatment options currently on offer in the UK aren’t enough. The pandemic has made us acutely aware of the passage of time. But no one will have felt the loss of a year more keenly than those waiting for or undergoing fertility treatments.
Single Parents: it's time to drop the "single" in "single mum"
Is it time to drop the "single" in single mum? Regardless of their relationship status, parents are parents and they deserve to be respected for it, not shamed. “Single mum” has traditionally connoted poverty and lack of support. But the term...
Toxic positivity and infertility
Because you wouldn’t tell someone with a broken arm to “just think positive”.
Many of us remember our sex-ed classes in school, being asked to put a condom on a banana (or something of a similar shape) and being warned about teenage pregnancy. While some were lucky, and experienced a fairly neutral and informative class, others found the experience quite harrowing.
We all know the drill. You say, “Let’s have a baby!” and BOOM, one baby, right on schedule. Right? Wrong.
How many eggnogs can your eggs handle?
It’s been a long year. You’re ready to kick back and have some fun at last. Office parties, Christmas markets, putting up the tree… fuelled by mulled wine in a ridiculous mug…
You can draw boundaries. You can take steps to stay sane. But what if you just want to let rip? How to handle the Christmas fertility trolls (with no filter)
Having fertility troubles can be exhausting and it's often difficult to put on a brave face at work.
Got a love-hate relationship with resolutions?
New year’s resolutions are like Black Friday deals. No matter how hard you try to ignore them, they have a habit of sneaking up on you. If you’re feeling the urge to make some resolutions for the new year and you’ve got your sights set on starting a family, we’re here to remind you to have compassion for yourself.
Pineapple tattoos. Pineapples printed on baby-grows and nursery wallpaper. Pineapples in social media profiles and hashtags. What’s going on?
Fertility-proof your relationship
Let’s be honest, relationships can be hard work and external factors can really impact your relationships whether it’s your work, your family or your finances. When you’re trying to conceive this can impact your relationship with your partner and it can add additional stress.
Every December it’s the same old story. You're catching up with friends or family from home. One of them takes a deep breath. "So, everyone, I have some news!"
Make boundaries your superpower
Do you have a creeping sense of dread about being peppered with baby questions this Christmas? We hear you. The secret to coping is to protect yourself by managing the conversation from the outset. Read on for our suggestions.