Doctor launches fertility website aimed at Irish couples

A UNIQUE fertility website was launched yesterday aimed at Irish couples experiencing difficulties having children.

The site www.infertility.ie provides prospective parents with information and advice on how to get pregnant.

Its creator, Dr Declan Keane, said there was not enough information circulated in Ireland specifically aimed at helping couples cope with infertility and providing information.

"It's aimed not just at those experiencing infertility or problems but also every couple that's looking to start a family," he said.

"The site gives general medical advice and provides details of what couples should be looking at.

"There are other websites worldwide but they are often commercial they are looking to give you information about what their clinic offers and it's more geared towards end of the line treatment costly technologies.

"A lot of these are also based in the US, UK or Australia. But we're talking about Ireland which has different social political, cultural guidelines."

Dr Keane, a senior embryologist at the Morehampton Fertility Clinic in Dublin, said there were a myriad of difficulties stopping couples from conceiving.

He said most were looking for a diagnosis, to find out whose fault it was and what the contributing factors were.

"These days more people are educated, more people are less likely to accept they will never have children," he added.