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Your trusted space for guidance and support on your journey to parenthood.

Whether you're a solo mother, same-sex couple, or a couple needing fertility assistance, we’re here to offer insights, resources, and stories that empower you.

Explore with us as we make the path to building your family a little clearer and a lot more supported.

Latest blog posts

8 min. read

Semen Retention: What Is It, How Does It Work, and Is It Healthy?

Semen retention is the practice of intentionally avoiding ejaculation by refraining from masturbation and sexual intercourse. There is no strong evidence that semen retention benefits sperm quality, the likelihood of conceiving or general health. This article provides an evidence-based overview of sperm retention, details the sperm lifecycle, and explains the purported benefits and risks.
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5 min. read

Involuntary Childlessness: Meaning, Causes and Ways Forward

Involuntary childlessness refers to the situation where someone wants to have children but cannot because of circumstances beyond their control. These circumstances can include infertility or reproductive health conditions, relationship status, age-related fertility changes, unsuccessful fertility treatment, financial barriers, or other lifestyle considerations.
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6 min. read

10 of Our Favourite Children’s Books About Donor Conception & Diverse Families

Research shows that talking to donor-conceived children about their origins as early as possible is beneficial for their well-being and self-identity. It is important to recognise that you don’t need a perfect explanation. Instead, you want stories that make space for yours and allow children to see themselves and their families in print.
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8 min. read

What Does CMV Status Mean When Choosing a Sperm Donor?

CMV status is one of several factors to consider when choosing a sperm donor, and all European Sperm Bank donors are tested as part of the screening process. We discard all donations made by donors with an active CMV infection, and also allow you to filter donors by their CMV status. This enables you to choose an appropriate donor should your fertility clinic advise you to avoid CMV-positive donors, and ensures the risk of transmitting CMV to a donor sperm recipient or unborn child is extremely low.
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5 min. read

How to balance parenting and full-time work – tips for single parents

Single parents can balance work and parenting by creating realistic routines, setting boundaries, seeking more flexibility, building support networks, and recognising that they need to constantly work at maintaining that balance.
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8 min. read

IVF for single women: Your path to parenthood starts here

Single women can receive IVF treatment using donor sperm in many countries around the world. It is an increasingly popular option for women who want to have a child on their own terms, without a partner.
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10 min. read

ICSI vs. IVF: Understanding the key differences

This guide helps you understand the key differences between two fertility treatments IVF and ICSI. Learn about success rates, costs and which factors to consider before getting treatment. Whether you are considering ICSI or looking for alternatives to IVF, we are here to help you make an informed choice on your path to parenthood.
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8 min. read

Geriatric Pregnancy: What Are The Risks of Advanced Maternal Age?

Geriatric pregnancy is an outdated term that refers to a pregnancy in which the mother will be 35 or older at the expected date of delivery. Today healthcare professionals more commonly use advanced maternal age or simply refer to pregnancy at 35 or older.
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8 min. read

Healthy Sperm: What It Means and How to Improve It

Healthy sperm refers to sperm cells that are well-shaped, move in a straight line at a good speed and occur in sufficient numbers to support fertilisation. Sperm health is affected by lifestyle, health and genetic factors, and is an important determinant of male fertility.
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6 min. read

Sperm Morphology

Sperm morphology refers to the size, shape and structure of sperm cells, and is one of the main indicators of sperm quality. It is one of the factors measured in semen analysis to assess male fertility.
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8 min. read

Trying to Conceive: How to Improve Your Chances of Getting Pregnant

If you are trying to conceive, there are practical, evidence-based steps you can take to improve your chances of getting pregnant. This includes understanding your fertile window, making healthy lifestyle changes and knowing when to seek medical advice. While no guidance can guarantee pregnancy, and successfully conceiving depends on various fertility factors, the advice here is designed to ensure you are well informed. For some, taking a proactive approach can make the journey to parenthood feel more manageable.
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7 min. read

How Long Does It Take to Get Pregnant?

How long it takes to get pregnant varies considerably, with it happening quickly for some people and taking longer for others. Many healthy couples conceive within a year of regular unprotected sex, but many others need more time or fertility support. Every person's fertility journey is unique, so it's important to avoid comparing your experience with anyone else's or putting pressure on yourself or a partner to conceive within a specific timeframe.
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