Author: katie-heath

Egg Freezing – Is It Right for You?

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Having a baby has to be when the time is right, and in recent years egg freezing has allowed us to be more in control of when that time is. For those who want to preserve their fertility and keep their family planning options open, egg freezing is becoming increasingly popular. Although it was once thought of as ‘niche’, it’s now a widely available fertility preservation treatment.

You may be focussing on your career, waiting until you find the right partner, dealing with medical issues, or are just not ready to start a family yet – whatever the reason, egg freezing could offer flexibility and reassurance until you are ready. However, this is a big decision and understanding that there are limitations as well as benefits is important before you decide whether it’s for you.

What is egg freezing?

Egg freezing is a fertility preservation treatment that involves collecting and freezing a woman’s eggs for use later. By freezing eggs when they are younger (and potentially higher quality) it gives the option to use them in fertility treatment in the future.

The frozen eggs can be thawed, fertilised with sperm in a lab through IVF treatment, and then transferred into the uterus. Freezing technology over the last few years (especially the introduction of vitrification) have improved the survival rate of eggs after thawing, making egg freezing more effective and reliable than ever before.

Why are more people opting for egg freezing?

There’s been a historical shift in the last half century, with the average age of a first time parent rising from 23 in the 1970s to 31 today. This shows us that we are choosing to start families later in life. While many aspects of health can be managed or improved over time, female fertility declines with age. The number and quality of eggs decreases with time, particularly after the mid-thirties, which can make conception harder.

Egg freezing gives the opportunity to preserve younger eggs while they are still available and although this doesn’t guarantee a future pregnancy; it does increase the options available later on.

For those battling medical conditions, egg freezing may be their only option if they wish to have a family later. For example, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can affect fertility, as can surgery for conditions like endometriosis. In these situations, egg freezing can play an important part in fertility preservation or planning.

What does the egg freezing process involve?

Although treatment plans are tailored to individual cases, the egg freezing process itself generally follows a series of steps which have been well established for a while. The process will start with a fertility assessment (this could include hormone blood tests and an ultrasound scan). These investigations give a clearer picture of ovarian reserve and overall fertility health.

The next step would involve taking hormone medication for around two weeks. For the best chances of successful egg harvest, multiple eggs need to be produced. Medication stimulates the ovaries to produce several mature eggs rather than just one egg which is usual during a menstrual cycle. Monitoring is then needed to decide on the right time for egg collection.

Once the eggs are ready, they are collected during a short procedure carried out with the patient under sedation, and using ultrasound a specialist retrieves the eggs from the ovaries. Most patients can go home the same day. The collected eggs can then be assessed, frozen, and stored.

Does egg freezing guarantee future fertility?

Egg freezing does preserve eggs for future use, but it sadly won’t guarantee a successful pregnancy. Success will depend on the age at which the eggs were frozen, the number of eggs, and their overall quality; younger eggs usually have a bigger chance of creating healthy embryos, which is why fertility specialists often advise women to think about egg freezing sooner than later.

It’s not just egg quality alone though. Overall health and wellbeing, sperm quality, and uterine health can all have an influence when the time comes to thaw frozen eggs.

What are the benefits of egg freezing?

Egg freezing has given women more choice and flexibility. As mentioned earlier, there are no guarantees, but it can give reassurance that there are options in the future.

The treatment can be a lifeline for people who know that they want children but are not yet ready. It can also give peace of mind for those who might be facing medical treatments that could affect fertility. At a time when female empowerment is at a high, this choice allows us to make informed decisions when thinking about our reproductive futures.

Are there any downsides to think about?

As with any medical treatment, there are things to think about beyond the procedure itself. Commitment is needed, both financially and physically, and sometimes more than one cycle is needed to freeze enough eggs.

Hormone medications can also cause some side effects like bloating, fatigue, headaches, or mood changes. These symptoms are usually mild and don’t last, but they can affect you day to day during treatment.

Is egg freezing right for you?

The decision to freeze your eggs is very personal, and there is no right or wrong answer. Everyone is different; some feel it’s a valuable way to preserve future fertility choices for family planning, and for others it may not feel necessary based on their individual circumstances.

The most important thing is that you have accurate information about your fertility and understand what egg freezing can and can’t achieve. A fertility assessment will give you insight into your reproductive health helping you to make a decision about your next steps.

At Surrey Park Women’s Clinic, we have fertility specialists who provide fertility assessments and advice to help you understand your options. Whether you’re just thinking about egg freezing or are ready to take the first steps in treatment, getting expert guidance will help you make the choice that feels right for you.

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Fibroids – When Are They a Problem, and What Are the Options?

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Fibroids are one of the most common gynaecological conditions for women, but they are quite often misunderstood; many women are surprised when they find out they have fibroids, especially as the condition can go for a long period of time without any noticeable symptoms. Whilst fibroids are usually benign, they can still have a big impact on a woman’s quality of life, fertility, and overall health and wellbeing.

Understanding exactly what fibroids are, when they become something to be concerned about, and the treatment options available can help women feel more confident about seeking medical advice and making informed decisions about their care.

 

What Are Fibroids?

Fibroids are growths that develop from the muscle tissue of the uterus. They can grow in the uterine wall, uterine cavity or grow on the outer surface of the uterus. They can vary in size, ranging from tiny growths that are barely visible on imaging, to larger masses that can affect the shape of the uterus. Some women have a single fibroid, whilst others may have several fibroids of different sizes.

Fibroids are extremely common during the reproductive years, and it’s thought that they are influenced by hormones like oestrogen and progesterone. It’s been estimated that up to 70-80% of women will develop fibroids by the age of 50, but most will never experience symptoms and may only discover their existence through routine appointments like pelvic examinations, pregnancy scans, or investigations for a completely unrelated health concern.

 

When Do Fibroids Become a Problem?

For lots of women, fibroids don’t cause any problems and therefore don’t need any treatment. But their size, number, and location can sometimes lead to symptoms that interfere with quality of life.

One of the most common issues with fibroids is heavy periods. Women might find that their periods last longer than usual too, and sometimes they can pass large blood clots. If this happens for a length of time it can lead to iron deficiency and anaemia which can cause fatigue, dizziness, and low energy levels.

Fibroids can give the sensation of ‘pressure’, which can feel uncomfortable. As they enlarge, they may create a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen. Some women may notice that their tummy appears bloated, swollen, or enlarged, especially if larger fibroids are involved. They can become painful, especially if they outgrow their blood supply; they can begin to degenerate which can cause sudden discomfort and pain.

 

The Impact of Fibroids

The location of a fibroid can affect the symptoms it causes; if a fibroid is near the bladder it may make you urinate more often, or persistently give you the feeling that you need to go. Others may press against the bowel, causing constipation, bloating, or discomfort in the abdomen.

Some women might also feel paid during intercourse, especially if fibroids are in a certain part of the uterus. These symptoms can have a negative effect on physical comfort, confidence,

relationships, and overall wellbeing, which makes it all the more important to get medical advice if they become more problematic or disrupt your daily life.

 

Fibroids and Fertility

Fibroids can occasionally affect fertility and pregnancy, but many women with fibroids conceive with no problems and go on to have healthy pregnancies. Sometimes fibroids can interfere with implantation, alter the shape of the uterine cavity, or increase the risk of complications like miscarriage, early labour, or difficulties during delivery.

For women who are trying to get pregnant or who have some experience of fertility challenges, a specialist assessment will tell you whether fibroids may be contributing to the problem and whether treatment could improve your chances.

 

How are Fibroids Diagnosed?

It’s usually quite straightforward to diagnose fibroids. If they are suspected by a healthcare professional, imaging is usually needed to confirm the diagnosis and show their exact size and location.

Ultrasound is usually the first investigation and can be carried out either through the abdomen or transvaginally, which gives greater detail. An MRI might be recommended in some cases, particularly when planning treatment or assessing larger fibroids. Further investigations using a small camera to investigate the inside of the uterus (hysteroscopy) can also be useful in some situations.

 

Do Fibroids Always Need Treatment?

If fibroids are small and not causing symptoms then the answer is no. Sometimes you have to ‘wait and see’ if any symptoms do occur, but regular monitoring allows time to assess whether the fibroids are stable or if changes have happened between check-ups.

For lots of women, reassurance and periodic reviews are all that are needed; it’s only when symptoms become troublesome, fertility is affected, or fibroids continue to grow that treatment should be sought.

 

Treatments for Fibroids

When treatment is needed, the most suitable one will depend on different factors including severity of symptoms, age, future fertility, and the size and location of the fibroids.

Medication is often used as an initial treatment to manage symptoms. Hormonal therapies can help reduce heavy bleeding, and other medications may temporarily shrink fibroids by altering hormone levels. These treatments aren’t usually a permanent fix, but they can give relief.

Fibroids can be removed using advanced keyhole surgery techniques, which offer many advantages over the traditional open abdominal approach including enhanced recovery, a shorter hospital stay and reduced scarring.

In cases where symptoms are severe and women have finished having children, a hysterectomy may be an option.

 

When Should You Get Medical Help?

You shouldn’t ignore symptoms that could indicate fibroids or any other underlying gynaecological condition. Heavy periods, ongoing pelvic pain, swelling of the abdomen, urinary symptoms, or difficulty in getting pregnant should prompt you to seek a medical assessment.

Early diagnosis can help prevent complications, improve symptoms, as well as making sure that treatment options can be discussed before those symptoms become severe.

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Improving Your Fertility and Lifestyle Changes That Could Help

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When you decide that you’d like to have a baby, there can be many overwhelming feelings. Whether you have been trying for some time or are still at the ‘thinking about it’ stage, positive lifestyle changes or tweaks can really help support your fertility health. There are lots of factors to consider, from age and genetics to any underlying medical conditions, so to maximise your chances of conceiving, positive lifestyle choices can play a significant role. It should be noted though, that lifestyle changes alone will not guarantee conception, they just help create the most supportive environment for fertility and overall reproductive wellbeing.

Understanding Your Fertility and Lifestyle

Fertility is largely linked to your overall health. For women it can be determined by hormone balance, ovulation, egg quality, and reproductive system health. For men, it involves sperm production, quality, and motility. And your lifestyle can affect all of these areas.

Medical assessments and/or treatments may sometimes be needed, but lots of people benefit from checking their health before or along with clinical investigations (like the ones offered at Surrey Park Women’s Clinic). Small but effective changes can help improve hormonal balance and support reproduction.

 

Maintain a Healthy Body Weight

One of the most well known lifestyle factors which can affect fertility is your body weight. Being too underweight or overweight can interfere with hormone levels and regular ovulation in women. For men it can affect testosterone levels and sperm quality.

Eating a balanced, nutrient rich diet and taking regular exercise will help you achieve a healthy BMI (body mass index). There is no need for extreme dieting or intense exercise routines, but rather healthy habits that support hormonal balance.

Whole foods like fruit and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and healthy fats can help regulate blood sugars which can support reproductive hormones. These healthy foods can also help keep energy levels steady throughout the day which will help reduce stress on the endocrine system.

 

Nutrition and Fertility Friendly Foods

A fertility friendly diet is all about balance and nourishment. Certain nutrients are important for reproductive health.

Folic Acid – good for early pregnancy development and egg health

Iron – this helps healthy ovulation and prevents deficiency related fatigue

Omega-3 fatty acids – good for hormone production and reducing inflammation

Vitamin D – good for reproductive hormone regulation

Including foods like leafy green, berries, oily fish, nuts and seeds, and legumes can help provide essential nutrients naturally. It’s equally important to stay hydrated.

 

Reducing Alcohol and Caffeine

Alcohol can impact fertility in a negative way for both men and women. Even staying within recommended limits can affect hormone levels and menstrual regularity. Reducing alcohol intake (or avoiding it completely) when trying to conceive can help improve chances.

High levels of caffeine are not good for us at the best of times, but they may also be linked to reduced fertility and can affect sleep quality, which in turn affects hormone balance. Monitor your caffeine intake – one or two cups of coffee per day is a moderate level and is often recommended.

 

Stop Smoking

Smoking is well known for potentially reducing your fertility. It has been linked to reduced egg quality, earlier ovarian ageing, and lower sperm quality in men. It can also increase the risk of miscarriage and other complications in pregnancy.

Reducing exposure to smoking and other toxins (pesticides, heavy metals etc) can support fertility.

 

Manage Your Stress

Stress won’t directly cause infertility, but chronic stress can interfere with hormonal balance which can then affect ovulation. It can also have an effect on sleep quality, overall wellbeing as well as libido.

Dealing with fertility can be an emotional time, and it’s important to know the impact it can have on you psychologically. There are techniques you can use to stay emotionally well; mindfulness, yoga and pilates, breathing exercises, and counselling can help keep your stress levels down. Feeling supported and well informed can make a huge difference during this time.

 

Regular Exercise

Regular Exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight, but it can also help support hormonal balance, and improve your circulation. But balance is essential. Excessive high intensity exercise might interfere with ovulation in some women, especially if they have low body fat or high stress levels.

Moderate exercise is best, such as walking, swimming, cycling, and yoga when you’re trying to conceive. Consistency over intensity!

 

Sleep and Rest

Being well rested always makes us feel better, and the quality of our sleep is important not just for wellbeing but for hormone regulation too. If you’re sleeping poorly, then the production of key reproductive hormones can be disrupted, including the ones that regulate ovulation and sperm production.

7-9 hours of quality sleep per night can help your overall hormonal health, so creating a calm sleep environment is beneficial. This may mean limiting screen time before bed, and limiting caffeine during the day.

 

Underlying Medical Factors

While positive lifestyle changes will all help with fertility, you should still recognise that medical investigation could be needed. Certain conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, thyroid disorders, or low ovarian reserve can all affect fertility and may need specialist assessment. Remember that fertility is complex; there’s rarely a single cause when conception takes longer than expected

At Surrey Park Women’s Clinic, we offer fertility assessments designed to provide clarity and guide you through the next steps. These may include ultrasound scans, hormone blood tests, and semen analysis where appropriate. Our consultant led approach makes sure that every patient receives care tailored to their individual needs and circumstances.

Every person’s fertility journey is different, and our teams work hard to try and provide positive outcomes for every patient. If you are concerned about your fertility or would like to understand more about your reproductive health, a consultation is an important step – you’ll get some clarity and peace of mind!

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Hormone Imbalances in Women and How They Can Affect Your Health, Mood, and Wellbeing

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When we think about women’s health, we nearly always think about hormones and how they affect it. From menstrual cycles to mood, energy levels to sleep quality, metabolism to skin health and bone density, hormones are at the heart of keeping the body in balance. When hormone levels are even slightly out of sync, the effects can be disruptive no matter a woman’s age, so knowing when to ask for help or support can make a huge difference in short term wellbeing as well as long term health.

 

What Is a Hormone Imbalance?

A hormone imbalance is when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream. Small changes in levels can have an effect on health and wellbeing with ranging symptoms. Common hormones involved in women’s health include oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones, and cortisol.

Shifts in hormones are a natural part of life, especially during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. But ongoing symptoms that start to interfere with your daily life may tell you that there is an underlying imbalance that might need medical attention.

How do Hormones Affect Female Behaviour?

Hormones can literally shape female behaviour by influencing her mood, energy, sleep, stress response and even confidence in social situations. As hormone levels change throughout the menstrual cycle, it’s known that women can experience changes in how they feel and behave throughout that month’s cycle. Keeping those hormone levels steady helps with emotional wellbeing and overall quality of life.

Common Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance

Symptoms from hormone imbalances can show themselves in different ways depending on which hormones are affected. Some of the most common are:

  • Irregular or heavy periods
  • Mood swings, anxiety, or low mood
  • Continual tiredness, fatigue, or low energy
  • Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
  • Irregular sleep patterns or disturbances
  • Low libido
  • Changes in the skin such as acne or dryness
  • Hair thinning or excess

Some of these symptoms are often overlooked or put down to stress or busy lifestyle, but they can be linked to hormonal issues which deserve proper investigation.

What is the Main Hormone That Affects Females?

When we think about hormone health, oestrogen is often the first one that comes to mind in connection with females. It’s important for reproduction, menstrual cycles, and overall

wellbeing. It does work hand in hand with other hormones like progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid hormones though, showing us that hormone health is a balancing act, and not just about one hormone on its own.

Types of Hormonal Conditions in Women

There are lots of conditions that come from hormonal imbalances, but not all treatments are the same. Here are some:

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PMOS)

PMOS is one of the most common hormonal conditions affecting women during their years of fertility. It can be linked with irregular periods, excess male hormone levels, and ovarian cysts. Women with PMOS may gain weight, find it more difficult to lose, have some skin issues like acne, and experience challenges with fertility.

Perimenopause and Menopause

As women approach menopause their oestrogen and progesterone levels fall. This can lead to symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats, mood changes, brain fog, and disruptions to sleep patterns. This is all quite normal, but the symptoms can vary in severity.

Thyroid Problems

An underactive or overactive thyroid can affect a woman’s energy levels, metabolism, and weight. She may feel overly tired or fatigued, sensitive to cold or heat, and her mood may shift. It can also cause changes in heart rate.

Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Changes in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle can cause both physical and emotional symptoms. In some cases, these symptoms can become severe (as seen with PMDD), which can have an impact on emotional and mental wellbeing.

Mental Health and Daily Life

Hormones are closely linked with how we are feeling and our mental health. Imbalances can interfere with neurotransmitters like serotonin, which affects mood, sleep, and emotional wellbeing. This explains why man women experience anxiety, irritability, or low mood along with any physical symptoms they may have.

In time, untreated hormone imbalances can affect your confidence, relationships, productivity, and quality of life. Seeing the connection between they physical and emotional symptoms and understanding it can help in finding the right support.

Diagnosing Hormone Imbalances

Getting an accurate diagnosis is important in getting the right treatment. This often involves:

  • Detailed medical history
  • Tracking symptoms
  • Blood tests to measure hormone levels
  • In some cases, ultrasound or further investigations

As hormone levels will vary between individuals, a personalised approach is always best.

Treatment Options and Support

Hormone imbalances are nearly always manageable with the right care or treatment. Each treatment will depend on the underlying cause and the severity of symptoms

Lifestyle and nutrition – Balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, good sleep, and stress management can all help hormonal health. Small changes can make big improvements!

Hormone Replacement Therapy – For women going through perimenopause or menopause, HRT can help balance or restore levels as well as reduce symptoms like hot flushes, mood swings, and sleep disruption.

Medical managements for conditions like PMOS – Medications to regulate cycles may be used to manage symptoms and support fertility if needed. Specialist women’s health care – Having access to women’s health services can make all the difference to somebody struggling with female hormone imbalance. At Surrey Park Women’s Clinic we offer a personalised, professional and innovative approach to treatment tailored to each patient’s precise needs.

When Should You Get Medical Help?

If you are having symptoms that are affecting your day to day life, it’s worth getting some professional advice or help. Early diagnosis can help symptoms from getting worse, and help you to get back a sense of balance and control.

You don’t need to wait until symptoms are severe; lots of women get guidance from the beginning of any hormonal change. Every person deserves quality of life, so why suffer?

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