Fertility

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#Fertility

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Caitriona O’Donnell and her daughter at home in Limerick city. Picture: Brendan Gleeson</p>

health and wellbeing

My complex fertility journey to have a baby after PCOS and endometriosis

Caitríona O’Donnell has endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome and knew she would need help to get pregnant. A new treatment targeting an overactive immune system ultimately led to the birth of her baby

<p>The largest portion of the free contraceptive scheme was spent on tablets, including the contraceptive pill and emergency morning-after pill. Picture: Andy Gibson </p>

news

HSE's free contraception scheme 'should be expanded'

<p>the HSE said the figure of 267 is 'consistent with international success rates'. File picture: Gareth Fuller/PA</p>

news

First full year of public service fertility treatment resulted in 267 pregnancies

Mothers of twins much more likely to have had fertility treatment than those who had single babies

news

Mothers of twins much more likely to have had fertility treatment than those who had single babies

'It gives people that extra chance': Couple welcome opportunity to get second round of free IVF

news

'It gives people that extra chance': Couple welcome opportunity to get second round of free IVF

Fertility rates in Ireland: Why are more and more women deciding not to have a child?

health and wellbeing

Fertility rates in Ireland: Why are more and more women deciding not to have a child?

Grieving Cork woman is being 'blocked' from having a child with dead husband

Grieving Cork woman is being 'blocked' from having a child with dead husband

Despite her husband’s written consent, Melanie Dineen is blocked from accessing public IVF to fulfil their shared dream

Wed, 21 May, 2025

Cork woman refused access to her dead husband's sperm, despite his written consent

Cork woman refused access to her dead husband's sperm, despite his written consent

The department of health said posthumous assisted human reproduction is not among the services currently funded in the public system

Fri, 16 May, 2025

IVF study

Call to relax limits on accessing fertility treatment

Criteria currently exclude same-sex couples, those who require the use of donor gametes, people who have one child already, as well as limits linked to residence, age and weight

Mon, 04 Nov, 2024

Baby clothes and white clouds on a clothesline, blue background

Fertility in Ireland: Why we are having fewer children, and having them later in life

Education, job prospects, an ageing population, housing costs... The causes of Ireland’s falling birthrate are far from simple

Sat, 31 Aug, 2024

Inside the Nicu: the Cork neonatal unit caring for thousands of tiny patients

Inside the Nicu: the Cork neonatal unit caring for thousands of tiny patients

Parents and staff speak with Irish Examiner Health Correspondent Niamh Griffin during her visit to Cork University Maternity Hospital

Fri, 30 Aug, 2024

Baby stock

Irish Examiner view: Delays in fertility treatment stressful when time is of the essence

Waiting times differ greatly between fertility hubs, suggesting chances of seeing a consultant depend on location, with this ‘postcode lottery’ being underlined by the presence of half of the hubs in the capital

Fri, 16 Aug, 2024

Mature couple holding hands at a doctors office

Delays in State-funded fertility treatments could threaten people's chances of starting a family

While the HSE says there is no 'average' wait time as every person will be different, its website says it can take up to three months to be seen by a specialist in a fertility hub

Thu, 15 Aug, 2024

Ratcliffe on Soar power station stock

Air pollution can cut the chances of having a baby with IVF by 38%

Groundbreaking research suggests that if women are exposed to air pollution before retrieving eggs during IVF, it reduces the odds of a live birth

Mon, 08 Jul, 2024

After 15 years of 'unexplained infertility' we had a baby girl — here's what happened

After 15 years of 'unexplained infertility' we had a baby girl — here's what happened

When Deirdre McArdle and her husband started trying for a family in their 20s, they never anticipated having difficulties. Some 15 years later, their daughter was born

Sun, 07 Jul, 2024

Assisted Human Reproduction Bill passes through Seanad

Assisted Human Reproduction Bill passes through Seanad

The AHR Bill will now be sent to President Michael D Higgins for consideration before it is signed

Wed, 26 Jun, 2024

Demand Surges For Weight Loss Drug Ozempic

Experts warn women to use effective contraception with drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic as claims of increased fertility arise

As the use of weight loss drugs has boomed, so too have reports of women falling pregnant while using such medications — known as GLP-1 receptor agonists

Mon, 27 May, 2024

Cork-founded firm Hertility sheds light on the impacts of vaping on fertility

Cork-founded firm Hertility sheds light on the impacts of vaping on fertility

The research on vaping falls under the third section of a report discussing advice on vices in the preconception stage of the fertility journey

Tue, 07 May, 2024

Parent Holding Hands with Child

Ireland has more people per household than other European countries, study shows

Study reveals average household size is strongly influenced by a high fertility rate and younger population

Wed, 01 May, 2024

Cute Little Caucasian Newborn Baby Lying in Bassinet in a Maternity Hospital. Portrait of a Tiny Playful and Energetic Child wit

Ireland's fertility time bomb: Falling population 'a dangerous territory' for society and the economy

Women are having children later in life or not having them at all, and this will ultimately have profound impacts on our world as we know it, writes Cianan Brennan

Sun, 24 Mar, 2024

Planet's falling fertility rates will 'transform the way we live', study says

Planet's falling fertility rates will 'transform the way we live', study says

The new figures, presented by the school of medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle and published by The Lancet, show the world becoming “demographically divided” in the coming decades due to a disparity in fertility rates in low-income countries compared to wealthier nations

Thu, 21 Mar, 2024

FAMILY Family Column 7

Delay to bill introducing IVF and miscarriage leave 'disheartening'

The Coalition has delayed by a year a bill that aims to provide leave for the 14,000 women in Ireland who experience pregnancy loss each year and the one in six couples who face fertility issues

Thu, 18 Jan, 2024

Cork hospital study reveals gaps in people's knowledge around fertility treatments

Cork hospital study reveals gaps in people's knowledge around fertility treatments

Less than one of four knew the total cost of one IVF cycle was just under €6,000

Thu, 18 Jan, 2024

Mature couple holding hands at a doctors office

Funding concerns as 127 couples referred for fertility treatment since September

Advocates say initial demand shows there may be a need for greater funding from Government, as HSE confirms €30m allocated to the service in 2024

Fri, 08 Dec, 2023

The ieBusiness Podcast: 'I believe the next 18 months is going to get even more difficult'

The ieBusiness Podcast: 'I believe the next 18 months is going to get even more difficult'

Lucinda Kelly talks about how her fertility journey pushed her to set up another company despite the demise of her previous start-up Popertee.

Listen | Sat, 11 Nov, 2023

Menstrual cycle tracker mobile app on the smartphone screen in the hands of a woman. Modern technologies for tracking women's he

Can we trust an app for pregnancy protection?

Hormone-free birth control is trending among lifestyle and fitness social media influencers, but experts warn that fertility-tracking apps do not work for every woman

Fri, 20 Oct, 2023

Fertility treatment delays 'will impact older women'

Fertility treatment delays 'will impact older women'

Leading fertility specialist is worried that the impact of age may not be fully understood

Sat, 07 Oct, 2023

Cabinet meeting

Referrals open today for State funded fertility treatment

Under the scheme, eligible women can receive treatment through approved private fertility clinics with the cost covered by the State

Mon, 25 Sep, 2023

CC COVID BRIEFING

HSE approves eight private clinics to deliver fertility treatments

The HSE advises anyone experiencing fertility issues to contact their GP as the first step, where initial testing can be done

Mon, 11 Sep, 2023

Graphic visualization of healthy human uterus, positive blue bright color of recovery, health of internal organs and detox.

S 'I had to work through my IVF': Struggling to juggle fertility treatment and work demands

Undergoing IVF treatment can be stressful, particularly when working full-time. New legislation to provide paid fertility leave of up to ten days will make a significant difference but it has yet to be passed by the Seanad

Fri, 08 Sep, 2023

Behind the bars

Eligible prisoners will be able to access IVF

Inmates entitled to the same medical services as medical card patients in the community

Fri, 11 Aug, 2023

Newborn

Q&A: Am I eligible for publicly-funded fertility treatment?

Here, we spell out the key details of Ireland's first publicly-funded fertility treatment programme and the criteria that will determine if prospective parents qualify

Tue, 25 Jul, 2023

Infertility: State paying for only one cycle of IVF will be 'a waste of money'

Infertility: State paying for only one cycle of IVF will be 'a waste of money'

'It’s a fantastic approach, I applaud it' a fertility coach says of the planned State-funded scheme. But she adds that, on average, couples need six cycles of IVF for success and paying for just one will be a waste

Tue, 25 Jul, 2023

healthy pregnancy. Side view pregnant woman with big belly advanced pregnancy in hands. mother waiting baby

Government funding for IVF a 'first step', says Stephen Donnelly

Couples will be limited to one cycle of treatment. Women over the age of 41 and above a certain body mass index (BMI) will not be eligible

Tue, 25 Jul, 2023

Baby boy taking first steps

Infertility: Cabinet set to approve publicly-funded IVF and IUI fertility treatments

Health Minister to bring memo to Cabinet on Tuesday, with the first schemes due to begin rolling out to eligible couples in September

Tue, 25 Jul, 2023

Being a solo mum by choice - the experience of fertility treatment

S Being a solo mum by choice - the experience of fertility treatment

Fertility treatments using donor sperm open the door for those who want to go it alone. We talk with two mothers who are delighted with their decision despite the challenges

Fri, 30 Jun, 2023

Mature couple holding hands at a doctors office

Ireland's first public fertility treatment programme to offer choice of 12 packages

There will be no limit on the number of clinics offering services and the application process will reopen every six months

Tue, 06 Jun, 2023

FAMILY Family Column 7

Irish MEP demands Government action to deal with 'heartbreak' of infertility

Dublin MEP Frances Fitzgerald calls on Government to fund fertility treatments, saying 'Ireland should not be bottom of the class' for access to treatments

Tue, 06 Jun, 2023

'We spent €40-€50k on IVF': Cork family highlights financial pressures of IVF

'We spent €40-€50k on IVF': Cork family highlights financial pressures of IVF

Mother who had two children through IVF calls for 'financial burden' on would-be parents to be lifted, calling on Government to give detail of plans for free service

Wed, 26 Apr, 2023

Everything you need to know about having a baby after 35

S Everything you need to know about having a baby after 35

Important steps you can take to boost the odds of conceiving according to fertility experts

Sun, 16 Apr, 2023

Woman holding pregnancy test feels hopeless about negative result

People 'getting into debt to pay for fertility treatment'

People relying on bank or credit union loans to pay for private treatment, which can cost up to €6,000 per round of IVF, advocate says

Wed, 05 Apr, 2023

Microscopic view of Sperm and egg cell

WHO finds 17.5% of adults experience infertility creating 'poverty trap' for many

World Health Organization found comparable levels of infertility across high-income, mid-income and low-income countries.

Tue, 04 Apr, 2023

New life

HSE to use private sector for rollout of publicly funded fertility treatments

Services due to be rolled out in September

Tue, 24 Jan, 2023

Microscopic view of Sperm and egg cell

Male infertility: How to help boost sperm quality

The decline in semen quality is accelerating worldwide, say scientists in a recent report. Geraldine Walsh explores new genetics research and asks experts about the steps men can take to boost their chances of becoming a parent

Fri, 13 Jan, 2023

I’m a paediatric doctor, but my job means I may never have children of my own

I’m a paediatric doctor, but my job means I may never have children of my own

As a non-consultant hospital doctor and a woman in her early 30s, when I try to picture the next five years and where starting a family might fit into that, I feel overwhelmed

Wed, 30 Nov, 2022

Eating for fertility: What you need to know and eat when planning to conceive

Eating for fertility: What you need to know and eat when planning to conceive

Offering practical advice around food, stress, sleep and exercise, author and nutritional therapist Charlotte Grand wants to help people prepare for conception

Thu, 15 Sep, 2022

Male Symbol With Alarm Clock

S What is the male biological clock and how can men protect and boost their fertility?

We know a woman’s ability to conceive diminishes over time, but a growing body of evidence shows that a man’s fertility is also impacted by age

Fri, 09 Sep, 2022

Why Conversations With Friends’ realistic portrayal of endometriosis is so important

Why Conversations With Friends’ realistic portrayal of endometriosis is so important

One of many women affected by the condition, Catherine Lough explains why it’s a rare relief to see the condition depicted on screen.

Thu, 26 May, 2022

Modern families: 'We spent €270,000 on IVF to become a family'

Modern families: 'We spent €270,000 on IVF to become a family'

Shifts in attitudes and improvements in fertility treatment have opened up the possibility of having children to more people. Three couples talk about their long journey to parenthood

Tue, 03 May, 2022

Support for employees who want to have children

Support for employees who want to have children

Vodafone's new pregnancy and fertility policy includes extended leave for those dealing with pregnancy loss

Tue, 19 Apr, 2022