The Béa Blog

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. 

One of the topics we’re often asked about from our customers is the difference between The Béa Applicator and the syringes. It makes sense when there are a lot of brands offering insemination syringes as their main hardware, and only Béa with a custom device. Read on as we break it down.

Feel like you’re being directed to the most expensive wine bottle on the menu (*ahem, IVF*)? These 5 questions are for you. Be bold, be brave, and feel completely entitled to ask your fertility clinic in your first consultation.

Recently we’ve had a few questions surrounding lubricant. Whether it needs to be used with the Béa Treatment, what ingredients to look out for, and what the difference is between non-spermicidal and sperm-friendly lubricant. This article will explore all of this, a lubricant (lubricated?) deepdive, if you will. Let’s go. 

Cervical mucus is the female body’s in-built sperm processing laboratory, opening each and every menstrual cycle for one precious fertile window, and it plays a pivotal role in successful conception and delivery of healthy sperm to the egg. In this article, we will cover what cervical mucus is in more detail, how it helps people get pregnant, and what it does for sperm during conception.   

Join us as we chat to the Fertility Foundation. The charity providing financial help for those that need it most, and advocating for chance within the industry.

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…

When it comes to preparing for pregnancy, and indeed the pregnancy itself if successful, there are many factors to consider. One crucial element that is often talked about in the TTC community is the importance of folic acid. There's lots of noise out there, so let us break it down for you. Read on to find out why pregnant and TTC women should take the supplement, what type we should be taking and the foods that contain it naturally. Why do pregnant people need to take folic acid in the first place?  It’s recommended to take folic acid as soon as you start trying for a baby (the NHS says ideally 3 months before ) and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy as it can reduce the risk of birth defects known as neural tube defects, including spina bifida. While the risk of developing neural tube problems cannot be eliminated completely, it can be greatly reduced (by up to 70%) by taking folic acid.  What type of folic acid should we take? Folic acid can be taken as a supplement of 400 micrograms daily. Some people are advised to take a higher dose if they have a higher risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect (spina bifida). Methylfolate is a bioavailable form of folic acid - which means it’s well absorbed by the body and doesn’t need interactions with other vitamins for quick uptake. There are a lot of brands out here, but if you’re looking for a recommendation from us, we’d go with the Ovum Time to Conceive® supplement – it has the right amount of methylfolate. Methylfolate supplements can be expensive, much more so than normal folic acid supplements. If this is a concern, don’t worry – normal folic acid is also recommended by the NHS and is just fine for getting the job done. Pregnancare before conception has the right amount of folic acid you need when trying to conceive and is often recommended by doctors, so is effective and affordable.  What foods contain the most folic acid?  The natural form of folic acid is folate, and it’s found in many foods. Good sources of folate include dark, leafy green vegetables (think kale and spinach), broccoli, chickpeas, lentils and kidney beans. However, it's difficult to get the amount of folate recommended for a healthy pregnancy from food alone, which is why it's important to take a supplement.  Looking for more tips on how to optimise your preconception health and boost your chances of getting pregnant?  Look no further than our no nonsense guide to getting pregnant. Click here to sign up and receive the FREE guide in your inbox today. 

CoQ10 has to be one of the most asked-about supplements here at Béa, so in true Béa style, we couldn’t resist doing a deep dive. We got curious. What’s the deal with CoQ10? Does it actually work? So many of our Béa users take CoQ10, and many of those have conceived too, so  there’s probably some correlation right? Read on to find out… Erm, WTF is CoQ10? CoQ10 is the shorthand for coenzyme Q10, a naturally occurring antioxidant present in the body. CoQ10 is part of the chain of electron transport molecules in the mitochondria (basically, your cells). In short, CoQ10 helps provide energy to cells, and has antioxidant properties, which means it ‘scavenges’ free radicals - these are the particles in the body that are damaging to cells. It is thought that CoQ10 supports reproduction as it requires a lot of energy, thus the principle role of CoQ10 transporting energy to cells, is how it helps. CoQ10 has some interesting data behind it to suggest it improves egg quality. Does CoQ10 actually improve egg quality?  Honestly? Yes. There is compelling evidence that shows taking CoQ10 does actually have a positive impact on ovarian reserve (the eggs remaining in your ovary). In one study, taking CoQ10 orally via a tablet created a better environment for follicle development. This was a small study that didn’t record impact on pregnancy outcome, only follicle development. A broader meta analysis showed that CoQ10 tended to be more effective as an antioxidant than myo-inositol (we’ll deep dive on that one soon) and other vitamins when compared to placebos  – it showed more advantages and changes in study participants given CoQ10, when other participants given other supplements only showed small improvements. In the same meta-analysis, women with diminished ovarian reserve showed a clear benefit from taking CoQ10, especially those who were under age 35.    How much CoQ10 should I take?  A meta-analysis of multiple studies concluded that the optimal dose of CoQ10 if being taken to improve pregnancy rate is 30 milligrams per day for 3 months prior to intercourse or fertility treatment. Interestingly, better results were achieved in the group with a lower dose, so there’s no need to take more than 30 milligrams. Continue to take this dose whilst trying to conceive.  I’ve heard CoQ10 helps IVF outcomes, is this true?  There is a bigger body of research looking into the effects of CoQ10 in those undergoing IVF or ICSI. Whilst one study shows that CoQ10 is effective in improving outcomes in women undergoing IVF or ICSI with DOR, more data is needed to be sure. A larger meta-analysis showed that CoQ10 improved the clinical pregnancy rate for women undergoing fertility treatment – particularly showing an improvement in pregnancy rate for women with PCOS. Some limited data suggests that taking CoQ10 before IVF or ICSI can improve ovarian response to the hormones used for stimulation prior to egg collection in women with poor ovarian reserve.  Does CoQ10 help sperm?  Yep! It’s an equal opportunity antioxidant… Some studies show that taking CoQ10 for 6 months improves sperm motility and morphology, and supports the production of seminal plasma (essentially, semen) and healthier sperm function.  So, is taking CoQ10 worth it?  In a word, yes. Whilst more research is needed, all of the data we see suggests that CoQ10 does have a positive impact on fertility. Certainly, none of the studies conclude that taking CoQ10 does any harm, and the majority of studies conclude that it’s worth taking CoQ10.  Where do I get the best CoQ10 supplement?  Our gals over at OVUM have got you. Their Time to Conceive® fertility supplement includes:  OVUM’s patented formulation of MicroActive® CoQ10. It is designed to be more readily absorbed (it’s 3.7x more bioavailable than regular CoQ10) and is known to improve egg quality and subsequent fertilisation rates by reducing DNA-damaging levels of free radicals. MTHFR-Friendly Methylfolate. This can be utilised by your body immediately to help regulate ovulation and boost egg production. Superior to folic acid, it is also suitable for those with the MTHFR genetic variant. a potent blend of antioxidants in precise doses to help prevent oxidative stress, known to age ovaries. It’s also ideal for those with unique fertility issues such as PCOS, low ovarian reserve, irregular cycles, or DOR. It's also beneficial for those who've suffered pregnancy loss, as it aims to counter DNA abnormalities linked to early pregnancy loss. Shop OVUM’s Time to Conceive® Supplement here For a limited time, take 15% off your order with code BEA15 (one use per customer, valid on subscriptions and one-time purchases, only valid on the first subscription order). Offer ends 11:59pm, Thursday 31st October. 

As we enter September, and the last stretch of Summer, many of us will be coming out of a TTC break - we’ve enjoyed the sunshine, holidays and spending time with loved ones, and taken away the pressure of trying to get pregnant. But taking our foot off the brakes and getting back into the TTC swing can lead to a lot of dread, wondering how this time things can be different. So, we’ve put together some tips to help you get back into the swing of things, with a refreshed and rejuvenated approach to boost your confidence, hopefully feeling a little less disheartened.  What do I do if I’m dreading being TTC again? Don’t forget you. Jumping back on the TTC train can take so much focus and energy on trying to get pregnant that we often forget the things we do for fun. Dates. Cinema. Catching up with friends. Don’t put things off, and maybe start making long-term plans that don’t focus on whether or not you may be pregnant. Keep doing the things you love that make you feel like you, that you treasured over the summer! How do I protect my mental health as I start trying again? Taking a break can sometimes be the best thing you can do for your mental health. To keep riding that lovely post-break mental health glow? Make time for self care. It’s the most important thing you can do, is look after your mind. Meditation, yoga and journaling often come up as fertility-friendly ways to practice self care. If listening to heavy metal and staring at the walls is how you relax, you do you. The point is not what you do, but that you do it.  Going back to being TTC feels lonely, how do I avoid that? This one’s easy – find people on the journey who you connect with, who’s stories and experiences make you feel less lonely. Join a support group. In fact, come join us – we run monthly group sessions at Béa for free and you can sign up for the next one here. We have a great sense of humour but we also know how hard this journey is. Join our free group sessions, you might crack a wry smile, you might even laugh, and you’ll definitely leave feeling a little less lonely. I’m dreading timed intercourse, it’s so stressful. What can I do? If our coach Sandy ran for any kind of office her slogan would be “Make Sex Great Again”. This one’s from her… Timed intercourse (TI) (if this is an option for you) is a chore, we get it. Something we’ve heard works is being spontaneous with intercourse outside of the fertile window. It won’t improve your chances of conceiving, but it does help you reconnect with your partner. Laughing about it can also help. Just take a second to recognise how absurd it is that once a month you’re tapping your watch and looking at each other for sex. Samantha Jones would be so lucky… Alas, peeing on a stick is not a gateway to hot sex, so recognise it for what it is, and try to laugh. Humour can take the edge off and put TI firmly in its place as a funny and odd thing we do to get pregnant, rather than the main narrative of our intimate lives. Another hot tip? Avoid timed intercourse altogether by using the Béa Applicator. Yep. We designed the Béa Treatment so that no intercourse is needed. And we’ve heard from our lovely users that using Béa takes away the stress of the “baby-making sex” and intercourse can go back to that fun and intimate activity you share with your partner.  If you do nothing at all, make sure you just cover the basics to give you your best chance.  Test for ovulation. Studies have shown that urine ovulation tests can increase the chances of getting pregnant. (We know this isn’t for everyone and sometimes testing can cause more stress - you need to do what’s right for you!) Read our guide on ovulation tracking here. Exercise regularly. Daily exercise can help maintain a healthy weight, increase blood circulation and improve blood sugar levels. This can help increase your energy levels and release feel-good hormones.  Try to eat a balanced diet. A well-balanced diet can help maintain a healthy weight while providing the appropriate intake of vitamins, fibre and protein, which is beneficial for egg and sperm quality. Take essential supplements. Folic acid and vitamin D are important for females when trying to conceive. Men and women should consider taking multivitamins, they won’t replace a healthy diet but can ensure you’re getting the nutrients you need for egg and sperm health. Read our Preconception Health guide for top tips on which supplements to start with here. Stop smoking. Stop smoking and stop any recreational drug use. These activities are strongly linked with reduced fertility potential and quitting is one of the best things you can do for your fertility.  The tips above are all in our Preconception Guide, written by the brilliant Sandy (our resident and ward-winning fertility coach) and designed to give you a no-fuss, no-bullshit guide to the most important things you can do to improve your chances of conceiving. You won’t find any fluff about fertility teas and baby dances in there. Just clear, simple tips, rooted in evidence. Enjoy! 

Are you thinking about taking the next steps on your fertility journey and considering IVF? We know it can seem overwhelming, intimidating and even a little scary - we’re here to help. You’re not alone, and you’re not wrong in feeling those things. There’s a reason we believe IVF should be the last step in your fertility treatment pathway – it’s invasive, it’s gruelling, and for so many people it can be both really exciting, and a bit sh*t when you’re going through it.  To help you feel more prepared for your first appointment, and for your IVF treatment in general, we asked Sandy - our Lead Fertility Coach and Embryologist, with over a decade of experience - to put together an article that will help you understand what to expect, what are the red and green flags to look out for when choosing a clinic, and what questions you may want to ask in your initial consultation. She’s really gone to town here, so we hope it helps.   In this article: Section 1: What can you expect in your first appointment? Section 2: What questions should you be asking in your first appointment? Section 3: IVF clinic green flags Section 4: IVF clinic red flags Section 5: Resources for more information What can you expect from your first appointment? During your first visit/initial consultation with a fertility specialist, they will review your medical history and any previous investigations or treatments you may have had. They may ask questions related to your menstrual cycle, reproductive health and sexual health. This could include if you have painful periods, if you experience pain during intercourse or if you’ve ever had a sexually transmitted infection. This will help them determine what investigations need to be performed to see if there’s an underlying cause of infertility/delay in getting pregnant. Here’s what you should do to prepare: bring results of any previous investigations make notes of any medications you or your partner are taking make a note of your/your partner’s last period and any symptoms experienced   What questions should you be asking in your first appointment?; We’ve really gone to town here to help you feel as prepared as possible: What additional investigations might I need before proceeding with treatment? What treatment option is the best for me and why?  What are your success rates for patients my/my partner’s age?  What could my chances of success be based on my age/fertility background (to help manage expectations)?  What can we do to prepare to increase our chances of success?  What additional support do you offer (nutritional, holistic, counselling)?  How long until you can start treatment/are there wait lists?  What time of day are appointments typically offered (to help balance work/life)?   Green flags 🤩 (great signs!) Free counselling. Going through any type of TTC journey can be strenuous, clinics that offer free counselling are at the top of our list. Friendly staff. Your experience in the clinic will be based on the outcome of your treatment, but also how you felt when going through treatment. Kind, caring and knowledgeable staff can make a huge impact. Transparent pricing. Treatments and treatment add-ons can get expensive. If the clinic provides a clear and detailed estimate, consider this a huge green flag. Good success rates. Success rates should be used as a rough guide and not a prediction, but if the clinic is consistent with the national average, and transparent about their success rates, this is a great start. Good patient rating. There are multiple ways to check this: the HFEA, Fertility Mapper and Google reviews are a good starting point.    Red flags 🚩 (things to watch for) Poor communication. Going through treatment requires a lot of communication with your clinic and care team. When this is lacking, it can make you feel anxious, cause unnecessary stress or concerns about the outcome of your treatment, which doesn’t help anyone get pregnant. Your care team dismisses your concerns. It’s easy to go down a Google rabbit hole and try to figure out what’s going on in your body. Your care team shouldn’t feel threatened by this, instead, they should act as a filter and a guide so you know what to trust and not trust online. Your care team feels distracted. IVF clinics can be busy but long delays or multiple interruptions during appointments can be a sign of issues with the number of staff and subsequently the quality of the care you’ll receive. No preparation before starting treatment. We’ve had customers tell us that clinics tell them to “Google IVF process” to prepare. Big red flag. Fertility care should be a collaboration between your clinic and you as a patient.   If you want more information than the clinic is giving you, where can you go? The UK charity Fertility Network UK. They have free resources and guides: https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/learn-about-fertility/treatment/ The HFEA (human fertilisation and embryology authority). They’re the regulatory body in the UK and gather data from clinics for publications (think pregnancy rates and trends) and also offer support resources: https://www.hfea.gov.uk/  Béa. We may offer a home insemination treatment, but we’ve also created guides and free resources for a range of different fertility conditions or treatment types to support all family forming ways: https://beafertility.com/blogs/fertility-library/in-vitro-fertilisation-ivf   Understanding IVF treatment add-on options When going through IVF, you may be offered a treatment add-on to improve your chances of having a baby. Treatment add-ons are supplementary treatments that can be performed during your IVF cycle. For most patients, having a routine cycle of fertility treatment is effective without using any treatment add-ons. As treatment add-ons come at an additional cost, you are not only a patient, but you also become a consumer paying for parts of your treatment. This can be really difficult to navigate, so we’ve put together this guide to help you.  Which treatment add-ons are available? Assisted hatching Assisted hatching is a laboratory process where embryologists use a laser, chemicals or a needle to create a hole in the zona, the outer layer of the embryo. Assisted hatching is meant to encourage the process of implantation in the uterus. This may be offered if there’s an indication of the embryos having thick zonas, or in cases where multiple embryo transfers have taken place without implantation. It is safe to perform on the embryos.  The HFEA says: "We cannot rate the effectiveness of this add-on at improving the treatment outcome as there is insufficient moderate/high quality evidence." Elective freeze all An elective freeze all cycle is a cycle of IVF where an embryo transfer does not take place; instead, all good quality embryos are frozen and an embryo transfer is planned for a different cycle. The procedure is safe. The HFEA says: "On balance, it is not clear whether this add-on is effective at improving the treatment outcome." Endometrial receptivity assay (ERA) ERA is a test that is meant to find the optimal time for an embryo to be transferred into a woman’s uterus for the embryo to implant, known as the window of implantation. ERA involves taking a biopsy of the endometrial lining of the uterus and testing the tissue to determine the optimal window to hopefully improve the chances of a successful implantation.  The HFEA says: "There are potential safety concerns and/or, on balance, findings from moderate/high quality evidence shows that this add-on may reduce treatment effectiveness." Endometrial scratch Endometrial scratching is a procedure performed by your doctor where the lining of the uterus is scratched using a small sterile plastic tube. The theory is that this procedure triggers the body to repair the site of the scratch, making the womb lining more receptive to an embryo implanting. There is a small risk of infection as it is an invasive procedure, but it is otherwise considered safe.  The HFEA says: "On balance, it is not clear whether this add-on is effective at improving the treatment outcome." EmbryoGlue EmbryoGlue is a hyaluronate enriched medium that is used at the time of embryo transfer. It contains hyaluronan, a component which is usually present during implantation, and the theory is that the enriched medium promotes implantation, to improve chances of having a baby. EmbryoGlue is a safe treatment. The HFEA says: "On balance, it is not clear whether this add-on is effective at improving the treatment outcome." Immunological tests and treatments One theory widely shared for unexplained infertility is that the cause may be the patient’s immune system. A range of tests and treatments may be offered, but the treatments involved could have a serious impact on the patient’s immune system. Because there is no evidence that any immune cells ever do prevent a pregnancy, there is no reason for any patient without an immunological disease to take these therapies. The HFEA says: "There are potential safety concerns and/or, on balance, findings from moderate/high quality evidence shows that this add-on may reduce treatment effectiveness." Intracytoplasmic morphologic sperm injection (IMSI) IMSI is a sperm selection method used in ICSI. The technique involves using a microscope to view sperm under very high magnification, over x6000, compared to standard ICSI which uses x200 and x400. This is a safe add-on that allows embryologists to view detailed images of sperm. Scientific reviews suggest that IMSI could be beneficial in specific situations such as previously failed ICSI attempts. The HFEA says: "We cannot rate the effectiveness of this add-on at improving the treatment outcome as there is insufficient moderate/high quality evidence." Intrauterine culture Intrauterine culture uses a device that allows the patient to carry their embryos in the uterus for several hours during early development before the embryos can be transferred or frozen. The theory is that the embryos will develop better in a more natural environment as opposed to an incubator in the laboratory. There are no known risks to the treatment.  The HFEA says: "We cannot rate the effectiveness of this add-on at improving the treatment outcome as there is insufficient moderate/high quality evidence." Physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI) PICSI is a technique used to select sperm to use for ICSI treatment. It involves placing sperm with hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural compound found in the body. PICSI identifies sperm that can bind to HA and these sperm are selected to be injected. It is a non-invasive test used on sperm prior to ICSI and considered to be safe.  The HFEA says:  "On balance, the findings from moderate/high quality evidence shows that this add-on has no effect on the treatment outcome." Pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) PGT-A involves checking embryos for abnormalities in the number of chromosomes. Embryos with an abnormal number of chromosomes have less chance of developing into a baby and carry an increased risk of miscarriage. PGT-A identifies embryos that are unsuitable for fertility treatment. Embryologists perform a biopsy on the embryos to remove cells that can be tested for any chromosomal abnormalities. In some cases, the cells may not yield a result, or have a mix of both normal and abnormal chromosomes. There is a small risk that the biopsy can cause damage to the embryo, but it is otherwise considered safe. Some studies show that it can reduce the risk of miscarriage in older patients.  The HFEA says: "There are potential safety concerns and/or, on balance, findings from moderate/high quality evidence shows that this add-on may reduce treatment effectiveness" for improving chances of having a baby.  The HFEA also says: "On balance, findings from high quality evidence shows this add-on is effective at improving the treatment outcome" for reducing the chances of miscarriage. Time-lapse imaging  Time-lapse imaging is available through an incubator with a built-in camera that takes thousands of images of embryos while they’re growing. It allows for uninterrupted culture and it gives a continuous view of each embryo as it develops, rather than just viewing them once a day. Time-lapse incubation and imaging is safe and does not carry any additional risks to the embryos in culture or children born from them. The HFEA says: "On balance, the findings from moderate/high quality evidence shows that this add-on has no effect on the treatment outcome." Artificial egg activation Artificial egg activation is a laboratory process where embryologists use a chemical called calcium ionophore in order to attempt to improve fertilisation rates. This method may be offered if there has been a previous cycle where fertilisation has failed with ICSI. There’s not enough information to show if the procedure carries a risk of abnormal embryo development. The HFEA have removed artificial egg activation as it should only be used in specific circumstances. 

Here at Béa HQ, we've been talking a lot about transparency and trust recently. We know both play a major part in the decision-making process around fertility treatments, alongside reviews and hearing from voices other than ours (we're obviously a bit biased). That's why, we decided to include Net Promoter Scores (NPS), as a measurement of the experience we can offer you. Stick with us, this is going to get much spicier than you think. 🌶   So, NPS it is ✔️    What actually is NPS? Essentially, when someone uses the product, how likely are they to recommend it to others? You can recommend something enthusiastically (called ‘promoters’🙌), lukewarmly (called ‘passives’👍), or with a negative recommendation, i.e., “don’t use this” (called ‘detractors’👎).    Your NPS = % promoters – % detractors   Easy stuff. Our first port of call – go find a reference NPS so we know how we’re comparing. Ideally, you want your NPS to be around 80 (that’s really good, the highest it can be is 100).    So off we went to find the average NPS of fertility clinics. And what we found blew my mind. Thanks for sticking with me...😏   Fertility clinics NPS is -21.3. Yep, negative twenty one. For reference, the average NPS in healthcare is +34 (and that’s quite low). So fertility clinics are a full 55 points lower than the standard in healthcare. Errr… wtf? 🤯   How did we end up with an industry that is growing insanely quickly – and making record profits whilst at it – with a customer experience that is so bad it’s less than 0? Why is the clinical fertility experience so bad? What can we do to make it better? And if we’re going into an IVF or IUI treatment, what can we do to protect ourselves and advocate for our own experience? We have more questions than answers at this point, we're afraid we're still reeling from -21.3… But we will be back with answers on how to make sure you get the best out of your clinical experience. 

If you haven't already seen it, the HFEA released a report last week, and boy do we have a lot to say about it.    The standout statistic this year is the average age at which patients are starting IVF in the UK: officially over 35. Julia Chain, chairwoman of the HFEA, said, “Our data shows the average age of patients starting treatment for the first time is now nearly six years older than the average age at which women in England and Wales gave birth to their first child.”   Note the use of the word ‘patients’. Not ‘women’. Patients.    Then came the headlines.  The Times: ‘Leaving it too late? Average age of starting IVF passes 35’. Sky News: 'Average age of women starting IVF passes 35'. The Times (again, because apparently the first headline wasn’t bad enough they needed a spicy subhead): ‘Women are jeopardizing their chance of having babies, regulator warns.’ Erm. WTF? When did women become at fault here? Because let me make one thing clear: women are not delaying IVF because they want to. Women are not delaying IVF because they’re busy doing other things. Indeed, as the HFEA report goes on to say, “There are several possible factors for this including the knock-on effect of delays across the NHS due to the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in gynaecology, which has likely led to delays in some patients accessing fertility services.” She went on to say that long NHS wait times and lack of funding for NHS treatment meant women were having to delay starting treatment. Because we’re busy saving (or, as some notable commentators put it, “being narcissistic”). Vicky Spratt wrote a beautiful piece in Refinery29 on this, I highly recommend you check it out.  Whilst we’re here, let’s talk about NHS funding. This has fallen, from 40% of cycles in 2012 down to only 27% – the lowest it’s been since 2008. During COVID alone NHS funded IVF cycles fell by 7%. NHS funding is also strictly limited, with many parts of the UK limiting availability of IVF to women under… 35. So… with the average age of women starting IVF at 35, and a 2 year waitlist for NHS fertility care… we’re… screwed? 

Manning our Customer Support inbox, we've noticed something: the most frustrated complaints we get are always written by the male partner. Our worst reviews are left by men, sometimes whilst their female partner is talking to our care team and giving us positive feedback in private.  While our CEO, Tess, was musing over this one morning her partner, (whose blunt feedback is as lethal as it is brilliant) interrupted with, “Tess, you don’t get it. Men are sidelined in this journey. They don’t really have a role, their one role (producing sperm) is frankly objectifying, and so when they finally find something they can do (e.g., write a complaint to Béa), they turn up the volume to 10/10 because it feels so good to finally be able to do something.” He then adds, “The Béa Applicator is large and phallic, and you are very ‘power to the vaginas’, neither of which help.” He’s right. Men are sidelined in this journey, and their female partners who can often feel so alone. Here’s what’s weird about this sidelining – men get new sperm every 74 days, and lifestyle changes have a significant impact on sperm health and male fertility, over and above the impact of lifestyle changes on egg health. If anything, the changes men can make are even more important, and yet we perceive them not to be because the medical interventions in fertility are so heavily oriented towards the female side.  For those conceiving in a heterosexual couple, getting pregnant is a team sport. This email will barely scratch the surface of what men can do to be more involved and is the beginning of our work in this, so please forgive the lack of depth. We’re working on it. For now…  Get a sperm test every 10-12 weeks. Here’s information on how to read the results 👉 Sperm Testing. Keep testing regularly as you make lifestyle changes because giving up cycling for a while really does help (apologies to the MAMILs here).  Get on the sperm education train. Get informed on male infertility so you can know more about how to get involved. Or just go to our Male Infertility resource hub 👉 All about sperm Do the research for both of you. One thing we hear from our female users is that being TTC feels like a full time job, with a significant mental overload. It’s exhausting, and is the one area you can really make a difference. There’s a lot of noise out there, sifting through it is hard work (we know, we did it for you and collated the best evidence-based information 👉 here). If you do decide the Béa Treatment is right for you, use it together. We hear incredible and positive stories from our users about how they’ve used the treatment as a pair, how the male partner did the insertion part of the treatment and how that helped them feel actively involved. My favourite was a woman whose husband does a Digestive biscuit run for what I like to call ‘Cervical Cap Snacks’ – the snacks we hear users enjoy whilst they’re chilling with the cervical cap in place…  Finally, talk to someone. Talk to us, talk to your partner, talk to a friend. This journey is lonely, feeling on the sidelines makes it lonelier for everyone. Shame, guilt, fear, exhaustion – these are all emotions that are so unique to you, and so universally experienced by all men as they travel complex paths to parenthood. If you need to talk, email us. I speak to would-be users all the time and it’s the best part of my job and I love it – hit reply and ask to chat, I will always call you back.  This is a shallow list, and we know it. We’ll get better, and we’ll keep in touch on this as we find more and more ways for the incredible men on this journey.

One thing we didn’t expect to see 9-months after the Ozempic storm hit was #OzempicBabies taking over. We're lifting the lid on this new social hashtag and asking the questions 'What on earth is an Ozempic Baby?' 'Does Ozempic make us more fertile?'

Does cooling one's balls really improve sperm quality? Is it time to reclaim and redefine the term ‘blue balls’ in fertility? The short answer is…maybe. We've taken a deep dive into how temperature affects sperm quality, so you don't have to.

The day has finally come. OUR VERY FIRST BÉABY HAS ARRIVED!! 

While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to looking after your mental health, it is so important, especially while trying to get pregnant. We know how tough it can be navigating the journey with life's pressure. Our Lead Fertility Coach, Sandy Christiansen has laid out some options you may want to explore to find out what works best for you.

Acupuncture for fertility is the only complementary therapy recognised by the HFEA, and evidence suggests it can be helpful in supporting fertility journeys. We spoke to Lora from Circe Health to find out more about this ancient therapy. 

Let's dive right in shall we? Family planning – it doesn't matter if you want to have one child or three it's important to know when you need to start trying. Of course, everyone is different. There are lots of factors at play.

Freezing your eggs is seen by many as an insurance policy – allowing people to delay having children while they focus on different aspects of their life. Some are unsure if it’s right for them as egg freezing is expensive, invasive and does not guarantee a future pregnancy. Here we’ll explore what egg freezing involves, how much it can cost and what risks are involved.  What is egg freezing? Egg freezing is a method of fertility preservation, where eggs are collected and stored in order to try and have a family in the future. Frozen eggs can be thawed and used in fertility treatments at a later time.  When is egg freezing suitable? Egg freezing can be a suitable treatment option for both medical and non-medical reasons. You could consider egg freezing if: you have a medical condition or need treatment that may affect your future fertility (such as chemotherapy or are starting a long-term medication which can negatively affect fertility)   you are worried about your fertility or you are not ready to have children yet (also known as elective or social egg freezing) you are undergoing fertility treatment and do not wish to fertilise all of your eggs for ethical or religious reasons you are undergoing gender transition from a female to a male How is egg freezing performed? The step-by-step process: 1. Go to a fertility clinic for a set of fertility tests This is likely to include an AMH test, an internal ultrasound scan to assess your ovarian reserve and a blood test. 2. Have a consultation with a doctor Your fertility specialist will review the results of your investigations and help create a plan for treatment. You will also be required to sign consents for your treatment. This is an important step, as the consents are there to protect you and your eggs, and they will indicate how long you want your eggs to be stored. You will have a lot of paperwork from the clinic and be sure to ask your doctor or nurse if there is anything that doesn’t make sense.  3. Hormone stimulation The hormone stimulation stage of the egg freezing process involves daily injections of medication called gonadotropins. These drugs encourage your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. The stimulation process lasts for roughly 2 weeks. 4. Monitoring During the stimulation, you will attend the clinic for ultrasound monitoring every 2–3 days to ensure that your ovaries are responding well to the medication. It’s possible to have blood tests during this time as well. The dosage of the medication is subject to change based on how your ovaries are responding. Once the follicles in your ovaries have reached an appropriate size, you’ll be given a trigger injection (the final injection to help the eggs mature) and your egg collection will be scheduled.  5. Egg collection The egg collection generally takes place under sedation and you will need to fast in advance of the procedure if this is the case. Your clinic will inform you of when to stop eating, what medications to take and when to arrive at the clinic. The eggs are collected from the follicles in your ovaries using a long needle and transvaginal ultrasound scan. The fluid from the follicles is collected in test tubes that are passed to the embryologist in the laboratory, who will find the eggs under a microscope. The final number of eggs is confirmed once all follicles have been emptied and all test tubes have been checked. 6. Egg freezing You will receive an update from the laboratory on how many eggs are mature and have been successfully frozen. It is recommended to take the day off from work and give yourself some recovery time. Your nurse should let you know what medication to take for pain relief if you need it.  What are the costs of egg freezing? The average cost of an egg freezing cycle in the UK is around £3,350. This will often include the cost of the consultation and investigations, but it can vary from clinic to clinic, so be sure to get an estimate from your clinic. The medication for the hormone stimulation and the annual storage fee are often additional costs. When freezing eggs, you might not be thinking of the cost of using them in the future, but we’ve included it in this table: Average cost of egg freezing in the UK Egg collection and freezing (1 cycle) £3,350 Hormone stimulation medication £500–£1,500 Egg storage (per year) £125–£350 Thawing, fertilisation and transfer £2,500 Total cost of 1 cycle of egg freezing, 5-year storage and thawing £6,975–£9,100   Are there any risks involved? Risks with egg freezing include side effects from the hormone stimulation medication, like headaches, nausea, hot flushes, mood swings and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). There is also a risk that the treatment might not work when using your frozen eggs and a pregnancy can not be guaranteed. Your fertility specialist will work with you to determine the number of eggs to freeze and should convey any additional risks to you.  How successful is egg freezing? Egg freezing treatments are increasing in number, however, the utilisation rate is still low. The utilisation rate refers to the number of people that are ready to have treatment with their own frozen eggs. One recent study has shown that only 6% of women have returned to have treatment with their frozen eggs. Success rates will highly depend on your age and the number of eggs you freeze. For patients aged 35 years or younger, about 15 mature eggs are needed for an anticipated 85% chance of future live birth, with more eggs required as patients age. You should discuss the number of eggs you should be aiming to freeze and the likelihood of success with your fertility specialist.  Additional information Two recent studies showed that most people that had frozen their eggs went on to conceive naturally. However, despite not needing them, the vast majority of people (91%) reported having no regrets over their decision to freeze their eggs and nearly everyone (98%) said they would recommend the process to a friend.  References: HFEA – Egg freezing 

Problems with ovulation are among the most common causes of fertility issues in females. If an egg is not released from the ovary, then it can’t get fertilised in order to make a baby. While it may be concerning if you’re not ovulating regularly, there is a treatment available that could help encourage ovulation in order to get pregnant through intercourse. Here we’ll explore the treatment called ovulation induction and how it works.  What is ovulation induction? Ovulation induction is a medical treatment that helps encourage ovulation if you’re not ovulating regularly. Reasons for not ovulating might be due to stress, PCOS, thyroid hormone imbalance or irregular menstrual cycles. The two main types of ovulation induction are:  Oral medication Medications like Clomid, tamoxifen or letrozole act by increasing the production of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) which stimulates follicle growth and ovulation.   Daily injections of gonadotropins Drugs like Menopur or Gonal F contain FSH which stimulates follicle growth.  You might require ultrasound scans to monitor the response in your ovaries and will be informed of when to have intercourse for the best chances of conceiving.  What are the risks of ovulation induction? Response to the treatment is very individual and sometimes cycles may be cancelled if the response is insufficient or too strong. If you respond well to the treatment, your doctor may recommend continuing treatment for up to six consecutive cycles.  Some medications can cause undesirable side effects like bloating, nausea, headaches and hot flushes. Always consult with your doctor if you have any concerns regarding the medication.  References: NHS – Treatment for infertility  NHS - Ovulation induction