We have started organising workshops about sexuality and eroticism for couples who want to become parents. When the pregnancy does not arrive, the couple’s sexual desire and intercourse frequency tend to decrease, what is counterproductive. When you decide that you want to get pregnant, it is important that you do not neglect your couple’s...
Topics to reflect on Archive
Egg donation: risks of false advertising
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...
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...
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...
When does life start?
This year, during my Christmas speech I spoke about when do we believe that human life begins. Always with the music as a backdrop, this year we have celebrated a party based around ABBA’s music. As I said, in this party I took the opportunity to reflect on “When does life begin?”: When does life start? When exactly does a human...
Claiming women’s freedom to decide
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending a meeting organized by the well-known magazine Marie Claire on the occasion of its thirtieth anniversary in Spain. They gathered 30 exceptional women in different fields. In my case, I was present as a representative of medical science. Together with them, I was able...
The price of an IVF
The results of a centre only have value if they audited by health authorities. According to the study “The price of having a baby by assisted reproduction”, based on results audited by health authorities and budgets of different clinics, Institut Marquès is the best positioned. Our patients do not want an IVF cycle; they...
The Embryo Adoption Increases
The Embryo Adoption Programme of Institut Marquès has come of age. Since 2004, more than 2,000 children have been born thanks to this pioneering idea. The first babies are now 18 years old and more and more patients are coming to our assisted reproduction clinic to have a child by adopting an embryo. I think...
Surrogate Motherhood
Surrogate motherhood is a very important and controversial subject which can be contemplated from very different angles. When there is some news about reproduction, the media usually call me to discuss about them. Sometimes I read material that I have written ten years ago and I am surprised at how my opinion has changed....
Postmortem Assisted Reproduction
I’d like to share some thoughts on postmortem assisted reproduction from an article I recently wrote for Interfunerarias. It’s about the “genetic legacy” some people leave at death: sperm or embryos that remain frozen can be used by the widow or widower depending on their personal circumstances and the law they are submitted to. It’s...