Found yourself searching BCL6 positive forum threads at 2 AM? Increasingly, thanks to accessible testing and treatment pathways, you’re absolutely not alone.
Think you have IVF brain fog? It’s a real thing – and here’s what you can do about it
IVF brain fog – is it really a thing? She short answer is yes – but it’s one of the lesser discussed IVF side effects. Read on as we unpack why it happens, as well as some of our personal top tips for staying on top of it.
Got the IVF fear? I’ll run beside you, says Fiercely Fertile’s Angela Shaba
If you’ve dipped a toe into fertility, you’ll have read about the mind-body connection. What makes this aspect of TTC so powerful, and a turn-key for so many? Angela Shaba, PhdD, sports performance counselor, fertility warrior and founder of Fiercely Fertile, explains. Words by Angela Shaba, PhD The fertility mindset Fertility struggles. Infertility. IVF. There [...]
Is Celebrity Infertility Relatable?
We understand (in)fertility doesn't discriminate. But are celebrity infertility stories relatable? Words by Poppy Millar-Maher, featured images credit: Shutterstock.com. Shared Stories Opening up about difficulties conceiving, maintaining a pregnancy or sharing news of a miscarriage is admirable and takes a lot of courage, whether you're in the limelight or not. Recently, Idina Menzel opened up [...]
TTC at Thanksgiving, and Christmas – you’ve got this
TTC at Thanksgiving, Christmas or just about any big holiday can be difficult. It's front of mind for the team here at FHH, so this week we picked up with Dr Thais Varzoni, mental health counsellor at the amazing Brown Fertility for her tips on navigating a fertility journey, during the holidays. Catch our chat [...]
Fertility Clinics vs. Covid – Maria and Samuel’s Journey
Last year, The Ribbon Box ran a campaign offering eight couples or solo parents a free round of IVF. Maria* and Samuel* were successful applicants for our Fertility Clinics vs. Covid initiative. Here they share their story. *Names have been changed Over to Maria and Samuel… Mothering Instincts First and foremost, we would like to [...]
Our Fertility Journey to Our Sunset and Sunrise Babies
Fertility Help Hub wouldn't be what it is without our wonderful fertility community and sharing the richness and diversity of pathways to parenthood helps to make FHH an inclusive platform. Here, Shannon shares her and her husband's story of trying to conceive, fertility tests and treatment, surviving the 2WW and their sunset and sunrise babies. [...]
What You Can Do This National Infertility Awareness Week
This year's National Infertility Awareness Week is April 24-30. Founded in 1989 by Resolve: The National Infertility Association, NIAW aims to empower those trying to conceive and improve the conversation around infertility. But my goodness it's hard to feel empowered when struggling with fertility! And it feels impossible to muster the energy to educate others [...]
Is “Infertility” the Same as Having “Fertility Difficulties”? A Fertility Specialist Explains
Ever wondered what the difference is between “infertility” and having “fertility problems”? At The Ribbon Box, we constantly endeavor to raise awareness of infertility and the struggles people have trying to conceive. Today, fertility expert Dr. Samuel E. Brown (Founder of Brown Fertility) answers your questions about infertility and explains a common query our fertility [...]
A Doctor Told me to Break Up with my Husband because he’s Infertile
Anyone who's been candid with friends, family or strangers about trying to conceive knows that other people love sharing their advice and tips about how to get pregnant. But rarely are these suggestions novel, and they have a tendency to do more harm than good. For this year’s National Infertility Awareness Week, we’ve teamed up [...]
Infertility – The Infinite Loop of Hope and Heartbreak
Anyone experiencing infertility or fertility problems knows that the journey to parenthood can be an endless cycle of hope, disappointment and drawing on diminishing energy reserves. We know that going through fertility treatment requires a positive yet realistic outlook, which can be difficult to have when trying to conceive with no success. That's why we [...]
14 Tips for surviving Mother’s Day when TTC
When you're trying to conceive and not having much luck, Mother's Day is tough Mother's Day, when everyone is celebrating motherhood, can feel like a kick in the teeth - a reminder you're still not a mum. So how do you survive Mother's Day when you're TTC? We've asked our TRB community for top tips [...]
5 Speakers at The Fertility Show Who Can Help You Get Pregnant
At The Ribbon Box, we're so excited for this year's Fertility Show (see the website here). The line-up is bursting with talks from expert fertility specialists of top fertility clinics - all ready to help you understand your fertility struggles and learn how to boost your chances of getting pregnant. Today, Sophie from The Fertility [...]
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Living with Endometriosis
Are you part of the 41% in our fertility community living with endometriosis? If so, you might be aware of the common misconceptions about endometriosis and be familiar with some of the lesser-known aspects of this condition. If not, this article will help you learn more about endometriosis. At The Ribbon Box, we're constantly endeavouring [...]
A Hug Won’t Make My Infertility Disappear But It Helps Me Feel Seen
Living with (in)fertility is a reality many in our The Ribbon Box community face. Some find support and care from loved ones, others feel more isolated. While it's unlikely that friends and family mean to cause upset with comments about trying for a baby or fertility difficulties, it doesn't mean that some things people say [...]
Five Misconceptions About Endometriosis, Debunked
At The Ribbon Box, we know how common misconceptions are in the spaces of fertility and women's health, particularly when it comes to conditions impacting female fertility. As part of Endometriosis Awareness Month this March, we're looking at common misconceptions around endometriosis. During recent years, endometriosis has been a hot topic for raising awareness and [...]
7 Tips to Reduce Stress when Trying to Conceive
There's no denying that trying to conceive is stressful and the more difficulties we have, the more stressed we become and the harder it gets to fall pregnant. It's a vicious cycle and so many people in our community ask us: how can I reduce stress when I'm trying to conceive? The The Ribbon Box [...]
Suffering from fibroids? Bookmark this resource list
At The Ribbon Box, we know fertility problems can affect anyone - sometimes the cause is clear, other times not. In rare cases, complications arising from fibroids can cause infertility. The NHS reports around 1 in 3 women develop fibroids at some point in their life. Yet there is evidence to suggest that the rate [...]
Does Masturbation Cause Infertility?
Plenty of misconceptions fly around the fertility space and at The Ribbon Box, we always insist that no question is a silly question. Whilst we can say this, sometimes a question feels silly but we’re still curious whether there’s some truth in it. So, we’ve asked Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist, Dr Sergio Caballero at IVF-Life [...]
What Should I Consider Before Having IVF?
When embarking on fertility treatment, there are many things to think about. In fact, there are so many things to consider, it's understandable we forget some of these things on our fertility journeys. Fortunately, FHH's new fertility clinic partner, iGin, has rounded up key questions to ask before starting IVF. iGin is a highly-regarded fertility [...]
The Odds are Against Me – But I Still Have Hope
Our fertility community is always bursting with messages of hope and support (download our free app). Here, one member under the name "Solo Mummy Donor Conceived", shares her thoughts on hope and moving forwards. Over to Solo Mummy Donor Conceived (find her Instagram here). One year closes and another one begins... Time moving forwards is [...]
6 Common Misconceptions about Infertility
In the field of medicine, and fertility in particular, it seems there are countless old-wives tales, misconceptions and misunderstandings. This is why, at The Ribbon Box, we share expert advice to help you separate fertility fact from fertility fiction. Today, to shed light on some common misconceptions about infertility, we have Gynem Fertility Clinic in [...]
Egg Collection Left Me with PTSD: Here’s How I’m Overcoming It
Experiences of infertility, fertility treatment, difficulty TTC, recurrent miscarriage and everything else fertility-related can be incredibly stressful. That's why, at The Ribbon Box, we provide expert advice to guide you through your journey (see our experts here). We also know our community (download the free app) offers endless support to one another, especially during bleak [...]
Here’s How My Infertility Made Me Stronger
When we asked our FHH community (download the free app here) about fertility hopes for 2022, members approached us with longer stories of infertility and fertility treatment. Here, Paige shares her story about difficulty TTC, sadness of ending 2021 without a baby and hope for what 2022 brings. Over to Paige... My husband Chris and [...]
Fertility Hope for 2022
Christmas is a time for reflecting on the past year (and what a year it’s been…) and looking forward to the next. For many in our The Ribbon Box community (you can download the free app here), 2021 was characterised by failed treatment and disappointment. As always, we’re here for you and hope our shared [...]
Find Strength in Community – Download Our FHH App
When Founder Eloise started The Ribbon Box back in 2019, she wanted to create a community bursting with expert advice and an impressive network of fertility clinics to help people struggling with (in)fertility. Today, our community is stronger than ever and the fertility group chats that happen on Instagram (follow here) and through our free [...]
How to Have a Happy Holiday Season when Trying To Conceive
The holidays can be tough when trying to conceive or when you’re struggling with (in)fertility. Particularly at this time, speaking with people who are going through it can help. Join our free The Ribbon Box community (here) to connect with a caring network to help you cope with fertility struggles this holiday season. Today, the [...]
Is Celebrity Infertility Relatable?
At The Ribbon Box, we understand (in)fertility doesn't discriminate. Celebrities suffer from fertility struggles just like we do but is it a relatable struggle? Read on to find out... Words by Holly Pigache, featured images credit: Shutterstock.com. Shared Stories Opening up about difficulties conceiving, maintaining a pregnancy or sharing news of an abortion is admirable [...]
Causes and Treatment of Secondary Infertility
Secondary infertility is common and understanding the causes and treatment available is an important to help you conceive. Today, Belén de Luque at Clinica Tambre explains secondary infertility and IVF and support for those struggling to conceive the second time around. Tambre is a Spanish assisted fertility clinic located in the heart of Madrid. The [...]
Your Guide to HIV, AIDS and Fertility
As part of World AIDS Day, The Ribbon Box would like to raise awareness of the impact HIV and AIDS have on fertility. Advances in drug therapies for HIV mean that people can become parents through natural conception without passing on the virus, but these are more accessible in various parts of the world than [...]
How to share your pregnancy news with a friend (who’s trying for a baby) – kindly and thoughtfully
I love how our The Ribbon Box community is an excellent source for content ideas. Last week, a reader approached us asking for help telling her friend (who’s TTC) that she’s pregnant. This is a wonderfully caring question - and even if you’re not in this position, it can be helpful to know how to [...]
Should I Get a Second Opinion on my Fertility Treatment?
Whether you’re TTC or exploring fertility preservation options, you might be wondering whether to get a second, third or fourth opinion and discuss treatment plans, progress and hurdles with anyone who’ll listen (or was that just me?!). But how do you know when you should get a second opinion? And what if you’re given conflicting [...]
How to Cope with (In)fertility at Christmas
When you’re trying to conceive, the holidays can be tough and it can be hard to stay positive. But it needn’t be this way. (Our Fertility Squad members can help when you need some support - download the free app here). Counsellor Mollie Graneek, from Harley Street Fertility Clinic, shares her expert advice for people [...]
How to Enjoy Seasonal Festivities When Struggling to Conceive
Enjoying this time of year can be difficult when you are feeling low because of infertility issues. The Ribbon Box want to make sure that you are prepared for any difficult questions that relatives throw your way and we offer tips for finding joy during the holidays. Read on for our list of suggestions to [...]
Paths to Motherhood – Journeys Through Infertility & Baby Loss
No one can understand how a miscarriage feels until they have lived through it. As Katherine Hunter will go on to explain in todays The Ribbon Box article, learning the experiences of other women can be invaluable when it comes to healing. Read on to find out why hearing from other women about their experiences [...]
How DNA Testing Can Help You Get Pregnant Faster
DNA testing, what is it? How does it work and what can it do for fertility? Annette Presley, founder of the Get Pregnant Plan, eplains the process, to help our The Ribbon Box readers to have all the resources needed to make an informed decision about fertility treatment options. Read on to learn more about [...]
Navigating pregnancy with PTSD – Valerie’s story
Valerie candidly shares her personal trying to conceive journey, the trials and tribulations of navigating pregnancy, suffering with PTSD, and more. At a BBQ several weeks ago, one of my husband’s family members pointed at my stomach and asked if there was something I wanted to tell him. Incidentally, my stomach had the slightest of [...]
The Reality of Fertility #FertilityUnspoken
THE REALITY OF FERTILITY #FERTILITYUNSPOKEN WATCH EPISODE ONE - TRYING TO CONCEIVE We're excited to bring you the 1st episode in the series ‘The Reality of Fertility #FERTILITYUNSPOKEN’. This is a 5-part series with four women from across the globe with four different fertility journeys, who share the ups and downs…. Episode 5 will include people [...]
A Letter to Myself Before Infertility and Baby Loss
For NIAW (National Infertility Awareness Week) in the States, today we hear from Linny Stone, a certified relationship coach, who has actively advocated to help people create and maintain overall wellness, through a combination of holistic and mindset tools. Linny has personally suffered baby loss - four miscarriages - and has been diagnosed with APS [...]
Endometriosis and Infertility – Symptoms, Stages and Treatments by Laurel Fertility Care
As we should all be aware, March marks Endometriosis awareness month. With that in mind, we have asked trusted fertility clinic, Laurel Fertility Care (California, USA), to delve deeper into endometriosis stages, symptoms and of course treatments for endometriosis. We did an Instagram live, where we were joined by Dr. Collin Smikle, founder and Medical […]
