In recent months we have been seeing many patients who have not become pregnant after cycles of treatment with egg donation in clinics where they were “ensured” a high number of eggs or even a certain number of blastocysts. Offering or ensuring many eggs or blastocysts leads to worse pregnancy rates, because in order...
Fertility Experiences Archive
Passion for football starts before birth
As you already know, thanks to Babypod we are carrying out research studies about foetal response to different voices and tunes. In these studies, we have proved that foetuses can barely hear any noise coming from outside, but they can hear from week 16, when they measure 11 centimetres, only if the sound comes...
Anti-Müllerian hormone: What is my ovarian age?
The age stated on the ID does not always meet the age of the ovaries. When we talk about the pregnancy chances per cycle, we doctors refer to the ovarian age, and it is important that you are aware of it because it marks the level of your reserve of good eggs. To know...
The forest of embryos: a forest, a tree, a life
Some days ago, I had the chance to visit one of the projects of Institut Marquès I feel more proud about: The Forest of Embryos. Right in the middle of the mountains of Mare de Déu de la Roca, in Mont-roig del Camp (province of Tarragona), over 500 oaks symbolise the greatness of life...
Embryos have the capacity to self-repair from their second day of life
We have made a discovery about the beginning of life! We have assessed that embryos have the capacity to self-repair from the second day of life. We have presented this discovery at the most important congresses on Assisted Reproduction, as it completely changes the way embryos are assessed in In Vitro Fertilisation treatment. In order...
What can I do to increase the pregnancy chances in an IVF?
Patients always ask us what kind of lifestyle, medication, alternative therapies, etc. In short, what can they do by themselves to achieve better results. However, the truth is that, statistically, there is not a serious study that validates everything that has been tried up to date. My position so far has been thinking...
Our cutting-edge technology in IVF gets to the Imperial College
When we talk about the latest technology related to IVF we tend to think about cutting- edge technology or in novel equipment for laboratories. We go a step further. We have incorporated technology to everything we do, inside and outside the laboratory. This has caught the attention of the media and of scientists from...
Motherhood is a right, not a duty
The International Women’s Day was established in favour of equality, justice, peace and the development of women. Our laboratories have gone purple in order to claim for one of the main achievements of feminism: “Being a mother is a right, not a duty”. Years ago, a woman might have wanted to be a mother...
International day of women and girls in science
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring the 11th February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Although the proportion of women with higher education is increasing, there are still very few who devote their professional lives to research. Moreover, it is not because of a lack of talent or will...
Sperm quality and chemical toxics
“Toxics are breaking our balls”. Under this motto, we want to alert about the environmental pollution caused by chemical toxics, which is the main cause of the worsening of the males’ sperm quality. Our scientific studies confirm it: they show that the causes classically attributed to this worsening (such as stress, tight pants, alcohol,...