Fertility

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#Fertility

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Patients carry most of the burden of navigating work and fertility treatment themselves. They arrange early-morning scans before work, make up hours in the evenings after work, and decide, case by case, whether or not to tell their manager. File picture</p>

comment-analysis

If fertility treatment is healthcare, why are people using their holidays to access it?

While the State now funds some fertility treatment in Ireland, employment law hasn’t caught up

<p>In 2024, a total of 613 women aged under 20 gave birth, which is a 50% decrease from the number in 2014. Picture: iStock</p>

news

Women are having children older, with a surge in over-45s giving birth – CSO

<p>The regulator was set up under the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 to regulate fertility treatments. Picture: iStock</p>

politics

Regulator for fertility services plans to start selecting board by end of year

Frozen egg in ice cube. 3d illustration

health and wellbeing

The fertility freeze: What egg freezing tells us about the future of family planning

Young couple sleeping back to back in their bed

advice

Sex File: Trying for a baby is starting to feel like a chore

Man, thinking and married in bedroom at house with stress, anxiety and problem of secret from cheating on sleeping woman. Frustr

news

40% of infertility issues are linked to men’s health

I was told I would never father children — these lifestyle changes made it possible

I was told I would never father children — these lifestyle changes made it possible

When a couple is struggling to conceive, the immediate focus is often on the woman. However, a male factor is the likely reason in half of all cases, strengthening the case for testing men sooner

Fri, 11 Sep, 2026

Emma deSouza: Fertility options for women still don't provide real choices

Emma deSouza: Fertility options for women still don't provide real choices

Public policy must catch up with real-life barriers and give women genuine choices about reproductive futures

Wed, 02 Sep, 2026

Irish Examiner view: Urgent need to address Ireland's population issues

Irish Examiner view: Urgent need to address Ireland's population issues

CSO figures make clear that the Government has urgent problems to tackle

Mon, 31 Aug, 2026

Tracy Clifford announces pregnancy with 'little miracle baby'

Tracy Clifford announces pregnancy with 'little miracle baby'

The broadcaster, who has previously opened up about her fertility journey, announced the news on Thursday

Thu, 27 Aug, 2026

Professional dermatologist examines face of teenage girl with magnifying glass in her office.

Women's health isn't only about fertility — we deserve to be well

Women deserve to live healthy lives, receive timely treatment and have their concerns taken seriously, whether they decide to have children or not, writes Senator Erin McGreehan

Tue, 18 Aug, 2026

I'm an obstetrician-gynaecologist — here are six tips worth knowing

I'm an obstetrician-gynaecologist — here are six tips worth knowing

Consultant obstetrician gynaecologist Breffini Anglim O’Regan, whose subspeciality is in urogynaecology and pelvic floor reconstructive surgery, The Coombe Hospital, Dublin

Sun, 02 Aug, 2026

I was struggling to conceive, and was always tired — I had an underactive thyroid

I was struggling to conceive, and was always tired — I had an underactive thyroid

Thyroid disorders can easily go undiagnosed, with symptoms such as fatigue, low mood and weight gain often attributed to other health issues. It took mother-of-three Michelle Audley years to learn that her underactive thyroid was hindering her ability to conceive

Fri, 24 Jul, 2026

I got a blood test to learn how much microplastics are in my body — and how it could affect my fertility

I got a blood test to learn how much microplastics are in my body — and how it could affect my fertility

David Cox is planning to start a family with his partner, but is concerned about the impact of tiny plastic particles on his fertility, so he decides to undergo a pioneering blood test

Fri, 17 Jul, 2026

Ireland’s birth rate falls 18% in a decade as fertility rate drops to record low

Ireland’s birth rate falls 18% in a decade as fertility rate drops to record low

New CSO data highlights declining fertility, later motherhood and an ageing population across the State

Tue, 02 Jun, 2026

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

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

Fri, 13 Mar, 2026

ANITA KUCSERA

S 'The baby had been missed in an earlier scan — I was pregnant after five years trying'

I know in my heart I’ve been gifted a miracle – there was no other understanding of that situation

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

'It’s almost dystopian': I was diagnosed with endometriosis after two decades of pain

'It’s almost dystopian': I was diagnosed with endometriosis after two decades of pain

More women are speaking out about endometriosis, an inflammatory disorder that is often diagnosed only because of debilitating, heavy periods or problems conceiving. Recent medical developments, however, are offering hope

Fri, 27 Feb, 2026

HSE's free contraception scheme 'should be expanded'

HSE's free contraception scheme 'should be expanded'

HSE data shows that, excluding general appointments, costs came to €31,396,464 last year. This included costs for contraceptive items of €16,472,479

Fri, 23 Jan, 2026

Claire Malone: Before getting bloods done ahead of IVF, I did a pregnancy test...

S Claire Malone: Before getting bloods done ahead of IVF, I did a pregnancy test...

Transplanted reluctantly to County Louth just days after becoming a first-time mother, the actor and singer Claire Malone was sure she could never live anywhere but Dublin, where she’d been a busy girl-about-town. She describes the journey to finally feeling she had truly come home

Fri, 23 Jan, 2026

pension - cube with letters, money sector terms - sign with wooden cubes

Raising taxes not the only solution to 'pensions timebomb', Oireachtas committee told

All of the experts at the budget oversight committee agreed that higher levels of migration will be necessary to sustain the population as time passes.

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

Bonnie Ryan announces pregnancy after two-year fertility journey

Bonnie Ryan announces pregnancy after two-year fertility journey

Bonnie Ryan and her husband, John, will welcome their little one this year

Fri, 02 Jan, 2026

Portrait of a crawling baby

Ireland must boost births and welcome immigrants to sustain economy – NESC

National Economic and Social Council says 'Migration can only ever be a complement to, but cannot substitute for, domestic fertility or workforce participation strategies'

Mon, 29 Dec, 2025

Pregnancy testing kit stock

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

So far this year each of the six fertility hubs averaged 600 referrals monthly

Mon, 13 Oct, 2025

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

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

Higher proportion of mothers of twins reported having concerns about some aspects of their baby’s behaviour and development compared to the mothers of singletons, CSO data shows

Fri, 26 Sep, 2025

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

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

On Monday, the Government announced couples who already have a child and meet all other access criteria for the publicly funded assisted human reproduction treatment will be eligible for a free treatment plan

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

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

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

National Women's Health Survey 2025: Women making the choice to delay or not to have children for economic, health, and social reasons, are affecting fertility rates

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

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