This month sees the lauch of a new book on IVF, this time with a difference it brings together the highly specialised medical world of IVF and complimentary therapies. I'm pleased to say that I contributed the quotes on homeopathy. 

Last year I was contacted by author Kate Brian of 'The Complete Guide to Female Fertility' and 'In Pursuit of Parenthood' now mother of two children after IVF. Kate was researching her lastest published book 'The Complete Guide to IVF' to include a chapter on 'Complimentary Therapies and IVF'. We discussed a recent case of a woman who had produced 14 embryos from a single harvest of 16 eggs after a short course of homeopathic treatment prior to IVF.Kate wanted to find out if men were taking part in treatment, regretably the answer was very few. Given the recent evidence that homeopathy can improve sperm density, motility and the general health of men then it may go some way to reducing the need for IVF in the first place. 

I've read my copy to find that homeopathy fairs better than most therapies, the feedback from medical staff and parents-to -be is encouraging. The non invasive treatment by homeopathy coupled with its hands off approach during IVF means that the therapy alllows the IVF drugs to work without while calming the woman. As relatively low cost treatment at around £50 per month, it is affordable where acupuncture may incur a monthly bill of as much as £400 in London. 

I hope that more couples try homeopathy before the embark on a course of IVF, as they may just save themselves the difficult journey through medical procedures and financial strain. If IVF or ICSI is their only hope then perhaps homeopathy will a difference to when they become parents and can start to enjoy life again.