The Doc Replies

Our expert answers your medical questions

I am a 36-year-old woman and struggling to conceive a baby. My partner and I are considering IVF but don’t know what’s involved. Can you advise?

You should go to see your GP who will take a full history from you to try to understand what is going on. It can normally take up to a year or more to become pregnant and many parts of the NHS will only consider couples for IVF if they have failed to conceive after two years. Your GP will probably give you a blood test to make sure you are ovulating regularly and check for any underlying conditions. A semen test will also be required from your partner. If those are normal, you may have to have a laparoscopy to check your fallopian tubes are not blocked. You may then be referred for IVF treatment depending on the outcome of those initial investigations. If you do require IVF and are referred, you will be going through a process where sperm is used to fertilise eggs outside the body before being returned to the womb. It may be your own eggs and your partner’s sperm, or donor eggs and sperm. There are quite a lot of variations.

Medication is involved to control the cycle and boost the egg supply. It is quite a stressful, invasive process and is physically and emotionally demanding. The success rate for a 36-year-old is around one in five. Talk it through with your GP. It’s not something to be undertaken lightly.

Can you reheat chicken, my wife is convinced it’s dangerous?

Yes you can, but with care. You need to cool it down as quickly as possible after cooking; not in the fridge but maybe covered on the window ledge with the window open. Fridge leftovers should be used within two days. Reheating properly is important and to make sure the food is heated evenly throughout and piping hot.

We live with my daughter who is coming home from hospital with our first grandchild. Is it safe to hold him in this current coronavirus climate?

You are probably at more risk from Covid-19 than your grandchild. So as long as you enjoy the same family “bubble” it is fine to hold him. Enjoy.

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