Fertility
20 April 2006
Fertility is the state of being fertile, capable of producing offspring. In women is the ability to become pregnant, and in men it is the ability to make a woman pregnant.
Print resources
Journals
The BMA library stocks journals on this subject:
Fertility and sterility 1950-
Elsevier, ISSN: 0015-0282
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00150282
BMA location: R:B147
Sexuality reproduction and menopause 2003-
Elsevier, ISNN: 1546-2501
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/15462501
BMA location: B147
Books and reports
Some recent books in stock in the BMA library are listed below:
Balen AH, Jacobs H S. Infertility in practice. 2nd ed.
Churchill Livingstone, 2003
BMA location: WP 570
Braude P, Taylor A. ABC of subfertility.
BMJ Publishing Group, 2004
BMA location: WP 570
Jenkins J, Corrigan L, Chambers R. Infertility matters in healthcare.
Radcliffe, 2003
BMA location: WP 570
Westcott P. Fertility guide.
Vermilion, 2002
BMA location: WP 565
Audiovisual resources
Everyday miracle. BBC Television, 1998. 50 mins
Explores the human body's greatest achievement- its ability in the face of many obstacles to reproduce itself.
BMA location: BMA 1910V
Breaking bad news: infertility. Univeristy of Sheffield. 1997. 15 mins
Four patients with fertility problems recall their experiences when given the bad news.
BMA location: BMA 1954V
Infertility: part 1. Telemed Ltd, 1995. 15 mins
The issues surrounding subfertility and techniques of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and gamete intra-fallopian transfer (GIFT) are explored.
BMA location: BMA 1751V
Infertility: part 2. Telemed Ltd, 1995. 15 mins
The treatment of infertility requires patience by the GPs and infertile couples.
BMA location: BMA 1751V
Medical review: infertility. Telemed. 1995. 10 mins
A link has been established between acidic cervical mucus and infertility.
BMA location: BMA 1658V
Database resources
You should consult our reference factsheet on Medical Gateways for information on general portals and gateways.
MEDLINE Plus / PubMed
MEDLINE is a clinical medicine database, the largest of it's type in the world. BMA members can access it via the BMA library's MEDLINE Plus service free of charge. This enables online ordering and access to our full text journal collection.
Go to the MEDLINE Plus service here
Members of the public can access MEDLINE via the PubMed interface.
Web resources
Centre for Reproductive Medicine
Based at the obstetrics and gynaecology department of the University of Bristol since 1995, ReproMED has "pioneered the use of the Internet to support collaborative clinical care, research and education in the field of reproductive medicine".
http://www.repromed.org.uk
Fertility magazine
The mission of this monthly online journal is to bring the latest news on cutting edge science in human reproduction to fertility specialists and healthcare professionals.
http://www.fertility.com/
Fertility: NICE
NICE has issued a series of clinical guidelines on fertility assessment and treatment for the NHS in England and Wales.
http://www.nice.org.uk/cat.asp?c=104435
Fertility UK
Fertility UK is an educational service based in Oxford, offering instruction / counselling in Fertility Awareness and Natural Family Planning (NFP) for women / couples.
http://www.fertilityuk.org/
Infertility professionals (USA)
This US site aims to help reproductive and infertility professionals, including physicians, embryologists, nurses, donor egg services, surrogacy services, and clinic office managers. It has sections on clinical information, business management, and directories of products and services.
http://www.infertilityprofessionals.com/
IVF - Infertility.com
This website is designed by infertility specialists primarily for couples who are experiencing difficulty in having a child, and thinking that they might need medical help.
http://www.ivf-infertility.com/
IVF Net
IVF, infertility and embryology resources for scientists and patients. It contains lists of Internet conferences, latest jobs, clinics and image databases and an international events calendar. It hosts sites for ALPHA (scientists in reproductive medicine), and ACE (the Society of Clinical Embryologists).
http://www.ivf.net
Infertility Network UK
A charity formed by the 2003 merger of the organisations CHILD, the National Infertility Support Network and ISSUE, The National Fertility Association. They aim to support the needs of persons suffering from infertility; to advance public education about all aspects of fertility and infertility; to raise the profile of issues concerning fertility and infertility in the media; and to encourage further research into infertility and its various effects. The site contains a series of factsheets on the causes of infertility, treatments, adoption, and infertility-related organisations.
http://www.infertilitynetworkuk.com/
Other organisations and libraries
British Fertility Society
Helen Gregson or Lisa Tandey
British Fertility Society Secretariat
22 Apex Court
Woodlands
Bradley Stoke BS32 4NQ
tel: 01454 642217
fax: 01454 642222
email: bfs@bioscientifica.com
http://www.britishfertilitysociety.org.uk/
The British Fertility Society is a national multidisciplinary organisation representing professionals practising in the field of reproductive medicine.
HFEA - Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority
21 Bloomsbury Street
London
WC1B 3HF
tel: 020 7291 8200
fax: 020 7291 8201
email: admin@hfea.gov.uk
http://www.hfea.gov.uk/Home
The HFEA is a non-departmental Government body that regulates and inspects all UK clinics providing IVF, donor insemination or the storage of eggs, sperm or embryos. They also license and monitor all human embryo research being conducted in the UK.
Society for Reproduction and Fertility
SRF Business Office
Procon Conferences Ltd
Tattersall House
East Parade - Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG1 5LT
tel: 01423 564488
fax: 01423 701433
email: SRFSecretariat@procon-conferences.co.uk
http://www.srf-reproduction.org/default.htm
The Society aims to enhance the knowledge of reproductive processes and fertility in man and animals.
The Daisy Network
PO BOX 183
Rossendale
BB4 6WZ
email: membership&media@daisynetwork.org.uk
http://www.daisynetwork.org.uk/
Offers advice, information and support to those women suffering premature menopause (premature ovarian failure).
The National Endometriosis Society
50 Westminster Palace Gardens
1-7 Artillery Row
London
SW1P IRL
tel: 020 7222 2781
fax: 020 7222 2786
email: nes@endo.org.uk
http://www.endo.org.uk/
Founded in 1981, the National Endometriosis Society is a UK charity devoted exclusively to this disease.