Archive for the ‘Fertility’ Category

Jigsaw now the ‘go-to’ for donor conceived families

By Stuckey • October 27th, 2020

The Keogh Institute was established in 1983 by the late Professor Ted Keogh. Professor Keogh established the first sperm donor service in Western Australia for families where the man’s sperm count was zero or too low for natural conception. The legislation surrounding the anonymity of sperm donors has changed over the years and the ability of donor conceived children to be able to find their biological father and/or half-sibs has also changed. Now in WA, donor-conceived people (conceived on or after 1 December 2004) will be eligible for identifying information when they turn 16 years of age. This year the […]

A message from the Medical Director

By Stuckey • March 27th, 2020

At The Keogh Institute our prime concern is your health in this climate of the Covid 19 pandemic. Therefore, our specialist endocrinologists will cease face-to-face consultations for the time being and will consult with you by phone, FaceTime or Skype. We will try to phone you at the allotted time for your consult. If we are running behind please be patient. We will ring you. They will have access to your results as normal and any request forms or prescriptions will be posted out to you. Our Clinic Nurse in Charge, Peta Redfern, will field your clinical enquiries as usual […]

Sperm Donation: A priceless gift

By Stuckey • December 9th, 2015

When we think of Christmas, we think of giving and of family. It is for this reason that we would like you to think about sperm donation. Sperm donation is one of the most priceless gifts someone can give. It is giving hope and granting someone’s dreams.  It is, as one former recipient put it, ‘bringing joy into a dark place’. Many recipients of sperm donation would never have the chance to have a family without donors. They usually have no other medical or technological solution. Although, adoption is often suggested, improved social and economic conditions mean very few children (less than twenty a year) […]

Don’t forget sperm storage in male to female gender transition

By Stuckey • September 2nd, 2015

At the Keogh Institute we believe that every person has the right to procreate. Transsexual people undergoing gender transition to their desired gender undergo hormonal and surgical treatments. These treatments can lead to the irreversible loss of their reproductive potential. In particular, the process of hormone therapy is known to decrease fertility. In male to female transition, the number of viable sperm reduces gradually. Within a few years of treatment there will be no detectable sperm and  ultimately this will become irreversible. As people are undergoing gender transition earlier the issue of the effects of this treatment  on their fertility is becoming an even […]

What is AMH and how is it useful

By Stuckey • May 17th, 2015
What is AMH and how is it useful

When a girl is born she has thousands of undeveloped follicles (eggs) in the ovary. Obviously these don’t all go on to become mature and ovulated during her lifetime. The majority of them fizzle out and never become a mature egg. Egg development goes through stages – 1. Primordial follicles (the undeveloped bank of eggs). 2. Antral follicles (half-developed eggs) and 3. Mature or dominant follicles. It is the  mature follicles that go on to be ovulated, normally one at a time. The process of which eggs go on to be developed and ovulated  is controlled by a hormone called […]

Timing sex for the ‘fertile window’

By Stuckey • March 3rd, 2015

For the best odds of a pregnancy occurring sex needs to occur during the ‘fertile window’ of the menstrual cycle.  The fertile window refers to the period of time up to 6 days before when the egg is released from the ovary (ovulation).  Having sex during this time and particularly in the three days before ovulation and on the day of ovulation increases the likelihood that a pregnancy will occur. To calculate the day when ovulation occurs however can be tricky as ovulation occurs 14 days before a period starts and requires knowledge of your cycle. Many women find it […]