Lifestyle factors are influencing family health

Many people are leaving it later in family life to have a child, according to one expert, who said that "inequitable social criteria" could stop many older couples getting access to some NHS treatment.

Clare Lewis-Jones, chief executive of Infertility Network UK, said that more mature couples need to know that IVF does not have a guaranteed success rate and when women are over 35 the success rate declines rapidly.

"We are aware that many couples are leaving it till later in life before trying to conceive and with the possibility that lifestyle factors may be affecting our fertility, more couples will find they have trouble conceiving," she said.

The expert added that infertility is emotionally and physically devastating to couples' family health and they must be supported.

Research from the University of St Andrews and Edinburgh University has shown that women lose 90 per cent of their ovum by the age of 30.

Alice Rowe

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Date Posted: 28/01/2010

National Lottery sports funding can help with family health

People trying to improve their family's health should encourage youngsters to get involved with sport from an early age, because they are likely to continue the activities into their later life.Karen Rothery, chief executive of British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS), said that £10 million of funding from the National...

Date Posted: 12/03/2010

Complementary therapies can improve family health

People wanting to improve their family's health should consider complementary therapies, according to one expert, who said they can help boost a person's general fitness and wellbeing.Mr Michael Dooley, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, said that complementary therapies can help people to give up negative parts of their diet, such as...

Date Posted: 11/03/2010

Mental health 'needs to be addressed'

People thinking about their family health need to ensure that they address any mental illness concerns they may have, according to one expert.Lucie Russell, director of campaigns at YoungMinds, said that having good mental health is very important for most people, but yet people are reluctant to talk about it."As...

Date Posted: 09/03/2010