In this deep sleep-dive, Senior Yoga Instructor Sarah Manning shares her full toolkit for restoring sleep, supporting hormone balance, and optimising fertility.
The importance of fertility nutrients (and the best supplements for egg & sperm health)
Today on The Ribbon Box’s blog we hear from Proceive about the relevance and importance of nutrients and fertility supplements when trying to conceive and for optimal egg and sperm health. They also provide us with an amazing nutrients checklist. Developed by nutritional fertility specialists to support the body, Proceive provides functional, comprehensive and evidence-based [...]
Why B vitamins, including Folate, are essential when TTC
When you're trying to conceive, it's important to give your body the nutrients it needs to prepare for pregnancy. Alongside a fertility-friendly diet, fertility specialists recommend taking a high quality prenatal to supplement any missed essential vitamins and minerals when trying to get pregnant. Wondering what supplements to take when TTC? Fear not; we've teamed [...]
Why we still love the BBC’s fertility podcast Sex, Drugs & Lullabies
Natalie and Amanda both went through IVF around the same time—without knowing each other’s struggles. For this series, they’ve come together to explore the highs and lows of fertility treatment in this compelling BBC podcast.
Can you get emotional while ovulating? From feeling tearful to increased anxiety, here’s what can happen
You’re roughly halfway through your cycle – you may have even confirmed ovulation with a urine or saliva test if you’re trying to conceive (TTC) – and suddenly you’re feeling tearful. Or anxious. Or both. Ugh. But why? Let’s unpack.
6 Things You Didn’t Know About How Zinc and Vitamin D Affect Fertility
Conception vitamins, and two star players to get you started Making sure you are getting the right nutrients in the right quantities helps your body prepare to conceive. Two important conception vitamins and minerals when trying to get pregnant are zinc and vitamin D. But do you know why these are important nutrients and how [...]
Parenting / Life After Baby Loss
In case you missed it, headteacher Lisa Sharrock - find her on Insta as Still a Mama - recently wrote for us about trying to conceive and pregnancy after baby loss. This week, Lisa shares sensitively with us how she has been coping with life following her baby loss, what it has felt like and [...]
Adoption – How Becoming a Foster Mom Changed My Life
At The Ribbon Box, we love sharing real-life stories and alternative routes to parenthood, so that we can better inform people’s decisions and options. We had the pleasure of sharing Rebekah Walker’s journey of foster care and adoption, to mark National Adoption Week – 12th-18th October. Hear how one important decision and phone-call changed her [...]
Supplements which tackle that insulin resistance factor, in PCOS
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) brings with it a host of troublesome symptoms and some women don’t realise they have PCOS until they’re trying (and failing) to conceive. Fortunately, there are things you can do to improve your chances of getting pregnant with PCOS, including taking high-quality fertility supplements with specific ingredients.
Top 5 recommended exercises for improving fertility
Exercises for fertility - choose what works for you Moderate exercise has been known to provide numerous health benefits, including improvement to fertility through reducing cortisol levels and improving ovulation and circulation of blood to the reproductive organs. But, when going through clinical fertility treatments such as IUI or IVF, women are often advised to [...]
TTC for the first time? An OB shares 5 expert pointers
Words by Poppy TTC for the first time is exciting (and a little terrifying). It’s natural to feel overwhelmed with questions and concerns, so we picked up with pre-conception and pregnancy supplement experts, Beli and maternal fetal specialist Dr. Steve Rad to go over your top FAQs. Are you good-to-go with a fertility supplement? Beli’s [...]
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 [...]
Your ultimate guide to at-home insemination
At-home insemination: where does it 'fit in'? If you’re trying to conceive (TTC) and it’s taking longer than expected, chances are you’ve already started building your DIY fertility toolkit. You might be tracking ovulation, monitoring your hormones, switching up your lifestyle, and loading up on supplements - all very doable at home. For heterosexual couples, [...]
Things I wish I knew before IVF – from self-appreciation to self-gifting (these products are so beautiful)
Of all the IVF tips, being kind to yourself is everything Gift yourself love, during the holidays. It’s one of the pivotal things I wish I knew before IVF came and shook my world, from top to bottom. Maybe because it sounds so simple, I rarely take it as seriously as I should, or urge [...]
Sex while TTC – let’s reframe it
For many, many people, the realisation dawns around two months in to trying to conceive (TTC). You’ve come off birth control, or stopped actively preventing a pregnancy. You ‘tried’ – how weird that can sound – last month, but your period arrived as normal. You’re here. You’re ready to go. But wow – it feels [...]
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 [...]
Your TTC tool kit – 9 easy tweaks to get winter-ready
Winter fertility, unpacked This article is sponsored by Fairhaven Health. Different seasons call for tailored strategies, especially when we’re on a TTC journey. At FHH, we like to reassess every six months or so, looking at our lifestyle habits, supplement protocol and shopping lists. Right now, we’re busy shoring up for the cold and flu [...]
5 sexual wellness apps we’d give a spot on our home screen
Are you having enough sex or too much? Is your sex drive too low or too high? Everywhere we look, we seem to be told we’re not having enough sex and we need to have more, more, more! But honestly, between ovulation tracking, fertility appointments and IVF meds, getting in the mood when trying to [...]
Missed The Fertility Show This Year? Catch Up Here
Each year, there are events the The Ribbon Box team looks forward to. The Fertility Show is one of them. After a few years' hiatus due to Covid, The Fertility Show was back earlier this month bursting with an impressive line-up of exhibitors and speakers to help you get pregnant. Fertility clinics and specialists from [...]
Trying for a baby? These are the best sex positions for conception
The best position to get pregnant - is it a thing? There's nothing like ovulation predictor kits, fertility trackers and the stress of TTC to stop sex from being sexy. Plus, all of the Googling. Is there really a best sex positions TTC guide in all that scrolling which has the answers? Whether you've been [...]
Trying to conceive? Here’s how to look after your vaginal microbiome
If you're trying to conceive, you're probably following recommended advice to prepare your body for pregnancy. Following a fertility-friendly diet? Check. Cut out cigarettes and alcohol? Yep! Taking a high-quality preconception supplement? Absolutely! But did you know you can boost the chances of conception and healthy pregnancy by supporting your vagina's microbiome? TRB has teamed [...]
Can I Use my Own Eggs for Fertility Treatment in my 40s?
At The Ribbon Box, we know there are so many reasons a woman might want to get pregnant in her 40s. Perhaps she's tried throughout her 30s with little success. Maybe she's been focusing on her career or finding a desirable relationship within which to build a family. She might be attempting a second, third [...]
Are You Doing Everything You Can to Try to Conceive?
We asked our fertility community: What have you tried when TTC? Your answers flooded in. Following a fertility-friendly diet? Of course! Taking fertility supplements? Yep. Timed intercourse? Yes. Applying conception gels? Check. Quit smoking and drinking? You bet. Tracking fertility and ovulation? Absolutely. For some of us, we’ve tried all this and more to conceive [...]
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 [...]
Gut Health – Why is the Mediterranean diet so good for fertility?
Given food and diet is so important for fertility, we have turned to our expert fertility nutritionist partner, Milena Mastroianni from Root and Leaf Nutrition, to hear about the importance of a Mediterranean diet when trying to conceive. Over to Milena www.rootandleafnutrition.com | @rootandleaf.nutrition The Mediterranean diet has been the subject of many nutritional studies [...]
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 [...]
“I was Chasing an Orgasm to Get Pregnant” – and Other Efforts TTC
We all know that trying to get pregnant can be a stressful and upsetting time. Negative pregnancy tests, the arrival of periods, well-meaning but irritating friends and family asking: "Are you pregnant yet?" When sex isn't making a baby and the financial and emotional commitment of fertility treatment isn't an option (or perhaps not yet), [...]
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 [...]
Trying to Conceive in 2022? Here’s What Men Should be Doing Now
Are you wondering how a man can tell if he's fertile and what a man should do before trying for a baby? Unfortunately, there aren’t many signs or symptoms of male infertility, so following advice on improving sperm quality is an important step in boosting fertility and getting pregnant faster. Today, we turn to Legacy [...]
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 [...]
Does Being on The Pill Harm Fertility? And Your Other Fertility Questions Answered
We grow up being told that "no question is a silly question" and whilst this might seem true in the classroom, it can be hard to remember as an adult, when we're meant to know Things (with a capital "T"). Fortunately, at The Ribbon Box, we maintain that there's no such thing as a silly [...]
How to Have a Healthy Relationship with Social Media when TTC
We've all been there: Deleted social media, loved the serenity, felt curious about what our friends are doing and downloaded it again. Repeat six months later. At The Ribbon Box, we're aware online content can be triggering. Whether we see a news article about someone for whom contraception failed time and time again, when celebrities [...]
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 [...]
6 fertility books to pop on your reading list
Here at TRB HQ, we know from super personal experience that when starting any kind of health, fertility or IVF treatment journey, we tend to want to sniff out all of the extra help and information we can get - beyond the clinic's dry information leaflets! Taking to Google, we quickly realised it's a pretty [...]
How to Make Sex Fun When Trying to Conceive
Between the ovulation tracking and the pregnancy tests, it can easily feel like sex becomes a chore when TTC. Many in our FHH community wonder how to make sex more fun when trying to conceive and we know how difficult it can be to enjoy sex when you’re focusing on getting pregnant. Working with your [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Reclaim Your Trying to Conceive Story
The grief of trying to conceive with no clear vision of how things might turn out is unimaginable. Alice Rose was initially unsure about how to deal with her grief and turmoil caused by infertility struggles, but she knew she wanted to make things better not just for herself but for everyone going through their [...]
Male Supplements For Fertility – Why it’s Time to Swap Your Multivitamin for a Men’s Prenatal
When it comes to preparing your body for conception (whether trying to conceive with fertility help or naturally), it’s vital to get your body in tiptop shape - and we’re not just talking about the women here, men too! It takes two to tango and therefore both parties need to think about leading a [...]
Considerations When TTC Naturally to Help Faster Conception
When trying to conceive naturally, you could be in it for the long haul. Some people expect to conceive immediately, which is statistically not usually the case. Conception is a process of sperm 'being in the right place at the right time' and it is completely normal not to have the desired result right away. [...]
Advice to my Younger and Infertile Self
Fertility Help Hub know just how arduous that road to fertility can be. For this reason, blogger, Jess Veit, shares words of advice to her younger self as she underwent IVF treatment. Read on to find out what Jess's thoughts for those undergoing IVF or any other fertility treatments. Words by Jess Veit The other [...]
Creating Super Sperm with Supplements and Superfoods
Learning about how diet and lifestyle changes can improve sperm health is a great way to actively consider how your day-to-day actions can affect your fertility when trying to conceive. Making these little tweaks may have an impact on your fertility, especially if you were unaware of these tips. To guide you in the right [...]
3 Things You Need To Know About Sperm
Trying to conceive naturally but need some fertility advice? The Ribbon Box have just the thing for you. twoplus have created a conception guide device that is used during intercourse, to assist in transporting sperm successfully to the vagina for better chances of fertilisation. Read on to find out how the twoplus conception guide actually [...]
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 [...]
Top of the pops – the UK fertility supplements you love (and why)
When TTC, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet is often recommended to improve fertility, as nutrients found in food can improve reproductive health. But some nutrients are harder to find in our diets and so getting the right daily intake of these nutrients is not always possible through food alone. Fertility supplements can reassure you [...]
Eating Out Tips for Anyone TTC
As the world is opening up and we are beginning to tentatively venture out to restaurants again (for the first time in many months), it may seem tempting to abandon healthy eating resolutions and let go a bit. For those of us trying to conceive or going through fertility treatments like IUI and IVF, and [...]
Top 5 U.S. Fertility Supplements for Men and Women
Spoiler—your fertility supplements may not be doing as much as you think. In an unpleasant twist, both the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Paediatrics have reported that many of the popular prenatal vitamins being marketed to women don’t actually meet adequate nutrient levels for choline, folate, vitamin D, magnesium and iodine. That [...]
