The Béa Blog

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.

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

There’s a lot of waiting involved when trying to conceive. Waiting to test for ovulation, waiting for ovulation, waiting to have intercourse or waiting to inseminate – waiting to just be pregnant already. But many say the hardest wait is the two-week wait – the (eternal) wait for when you can test for pregnancy. We’ve included some tips for how to cope during this time.  Stay busy Some people will want to stay busy with work, others may want to have activities planned to stay occupied. Wanting to test for pregnancy may be a feeling always lingering in the back of your mind – but staying busy can help the time pass faster.  Get support from people who understand Having someone to talk to can help you cope. This could be through online forums or social media, fertility support groups, a fertility coach or a licensed BICA counsellor who specialises in fertility issues.  Try to avoid testing early The result of your pregnancy test might not be reliable if you test too early. It can be incredibly tempting because you think you might find out quicker, but it’s important to wait, as you could be disappointed by a false negative result. Try to avoid testing before the recommended day as described by the kit you’re using.  Explore relaxation techniques Relaxation techniques can help manage anxiety and lower stress levels. You could explore yoga, Pilates, meditation, acupuncture or journaling to help you unwind. Any type of self-care that can help you de-stress can be beneficial during the two-week wait.  Be kind to yourself This can be a really difficult time that might make you feel anxious, stressed or worried. It’s a time when you really can’t do anything besides wait until your pregnancy test. There’s nothing you can do to increase your chances of getting pregnant and please know that your worries won’t negatively impact your chances of getting pregnant. Don’t be hard on yourself if you’re feeling concerned – it’s completely normal!  Check out our Guide to Pregnancy Testing for more information. But be aware that many of the symptoms associated with early pregnancy are very similar to those you may experience when your period is about to start. 

What an exciting week it's been at Béa, our long-awaited efficacy results are here!  39.28% pregnancy rate over 3 Béa Treatment cycles Here’s a deeper dive into the data:  56 users participated in the Research Edition study.  All users completed up to 3 treatment cycles with their Béa Treatment Kits. 22 pregnancies were reported.  Here’s what we can tell you about those 56 users:  Average age of the carrier: 37.6 Percentage of females with gynaecological conditions (endometriosis, PCOS, etc.): 42.9% Percentage of males with semen abnormalities: 30.4% Percentage of users who have been TTC for more than 12 months: 60.0% Percentage of users who have tried IVF or IUI prior to Béa Treatment: 9.1% We feel strongly about being transparent and clear in how we report our pregnancy rate, and we commit to updating this efficacy data and sharing it with you every time we get new information from new users.  This efficacy data we have here is really encouraging, and we will always champion realistic and responsible marketing for this technology. And so it feels important to state one thing very clearly: ICI will not work for everyone. Our commitment to you is to be realistic and transparent, and support every single family as they navigate their journey after Béa. There are no guarantees in fertility, and many of us on this journey will need IVF. Béa is not – and will never be – the only treatment for many. It is just the first step.  We built Béa with the belief that we all deserved safer, simpler, more affordable fertility treatment options – that crucial first step. As I sit here reflecting on what this 39% means, the feeling I feel most right now is a deep sense of pride. I am proud of my team, who pour their hearts into their jobs and care more than anyone I know. I am proud of our first users, who gave us their trust, and kept giving it even though we weren’t always perfect in the early days. I’m proud of the change we’re driving in the fertility industry. ICI works. It needs to be brought back into the fertility treatment pathway, and I couldn’t be prouder to be leading the change we all so deeply deserve. Here's to every single one of those 56 first Béa users who trusted us with their journey - my deepest gratitude to you all.    Hear more from Tess below:

A new survey released for National Fertility Awareness Week has found that thousands of Brits are turning away from IVF to seek alternative fertility treatments. Thousands of Brits are turning away from IVF to explore different fertility treatments as they struggle to conceive Half (51%) of fertility patients want treatment options that they can carry out at home, with many having already tried to access support on the NHS or privately Two-fifths (40%) of patients want cheaper treatment options, with the high cost of clinical care, including IVF, proving an inhibitive barrier for many The research, carried out by fertility experts Béa Fertility as part of their mission to close the fertility data gap, surveyed over 4,000 UK adults who are currently trying or struggling to conceive and are open to exploring new treatment options.The survey found that 46% of respondents are actively “looking for something new to try” on their fertility journey; whilst more than half (51%) want access to treatments they can carry out at home. These findings come amid fresh scrutiny of the significant inequalities in access to IVF, and advancements in new care alternatives - including at-home sperm and hormone testing, and pioneering treatments such as Intracervical Insemination (ICI). Nearly half of fertility patients want cheaper treatment optionsTwo-fifths of the people surveyed said they wanted access to cheaper fertility treatment options. In the UK, a single round of IVF can cost up to and above £5000. Other treatments, such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) also carry a high fee, and clinical consultation and support can pose additional costs. People want new options after years of fertility struggles More than half (58%) of respondents had already been trying to conceive for more than two years before exploring new treatment options. Two-fifths (40.9%) had undergone fertility investigations on the NHS and more than 1 in 10 (14%) had tried IVF.When asked why they were considering different methods or treatments, one-third (36%) cited looking for an option that meant they didn’t have to join a waitlist. Others reported having been excluded from treatments on the NHS, with some failing restrictive eligibility criteria for reasons including their age and BMI.Access to traditional treatments such as IVF and IUI is particularly inhibitive for minority groups including single parents, LGBTQ+ couples and those experiencing secondary infertility.Same-sex female couples are currently required to self-fund at least six rounds of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) before they can qualify for IVF on the NHS. Heterosexual couples have to have been trying to conceive naturally for two years to reach the same threshold.Tess Cosad, CEO and co-founder at Béa Fertility, comments:“While up to 1 in 6 of us will experience problems with our fertility, seeking effective and affordable treatment in the UK remains a minefield for many. Inhibitive costs, lengthy wait lists and an NHS postcode lottery are making traditional treatments like IVF increasingly difficult to access. Around 55,000 people in the UK underwent IVF or donor insemination in 2021, according to the HFEA - yet 3.5 million people are estimated to be struggling with fertility across the country. We desperately need safe and effective alternative treatments for those struggling to access IVF, or for when it’s not a viable option.”Dr Hannah Allen, NHS GP and women’s health expert, comments:“As a GP I see countless patients struggling to navigate their fertility treatment and care options. It’s often equally difficult for us as doctors to help these patients to access the right support, thanks to growing pressure on resources and lengthy wait times for care. It’s not a surprise, therefore, that many fertility patients are seeking alternative treatment options. We need to make sure these alternatives are safe and can provide the necessary level of wraparound support to help patients achieve a healthy pregnancy. As these treatments become increasingly popular, doctors must also be prepared to help guide patients in navigating and choosing the best option for them, and supporting them to use it safely.”Béa Fertility is on a mission to close the data gap surrounding infertility. The company is currently carrying out the world’s largest at-home fertility treatment study to support advancements in the development of early-stage fertility interventions and accelerate its mission to build accessible fertility treatments for all. Béa Fertility released its first at-home fertility treatment earlier this year. About the survey The data was collected by fertility experts Béa Fertility from a survey of 4,110 UK adults who registered interest in alternative fertility treatments by completing an Online Consultation on the Béa Fertility website. The purpose of the survey was to gain insights into the demographic, needs and challenges being faced by individuals trying to conceive in the UK, to bridge the significant gap in existing fertility data.

The inescapable truth is that fertility treatments are becoming increasingly expensive and inaccessible for many. NHS-funded treatment in England is dictated by a postcode lottery and cuts to funding mean that only 32% of the country’s IVF cycles and 6% of IUI cycles are funded by the NHS.