GP Rob says: For the best chance of healthy sperm, a man shouldn't smoke or use recreational drugs. Ideally he should also refrain from consuming alcohol, or keep consumption to a minimum.Eating healthily is imortant, as sperm need vitamins A, C and E, and the minerals zinc and s...

if screening tests (such as the triple test, or nuchal scan) show that your baby is high risk for Down's.An amniocentesis test may also be recommended if you already have a child with Down's or other genetic/chromosomal abnormality, or if there is a family

Oxford researchers are giving hope to would-be-parents with an embryo test that could increase future IVF pregnancy success rates from 30 to 100 per cent.At the moment many cycles of IVF do not lead to pregnancy because of chromosomal abnormalities

is capable of being tested beyond routine semen analysis and basic hormonal control. ‘For instance, what is a normal sperm? How is it that ICSI can still work with non-mature and apparently morphologically abnormal sperm? ‘Why does conception still occur

the better-known symptoms of stiff neck, dislike of bright lights and a rash that doesn't fade when pressed.The Red Flag symptoms are: Pain in limbs Perishing cold hands and feet Pallor/abnormal colour However, not all children will get all these symptoms

. The sperm of older men is more likely to appear abnormal, which is linked to fertility problems. Men whose sperm seemed normal had a 22% increased chance of becoming a father compared to those with less healthy looking sperm.It was previously thought

abnormality. In a small number of cases, there is a complication during labour that leads to the baby dying during delivery, but these cases are increasingly rare due to advances in foetal monitoring during labour. Even if the cause of death is identified

for the healthy development of your baby, particularly in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. It helps to reduce the risk of neural tube defects, which are abnormalities in the development of the brain and spinal cord, such as spina bifida.It's recommended all women

), your age and blood test information to estimate your risk of having a baby with Down’s syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities. If you’re expecting twins, check if they’re likely to share a placenta or have one each. A shared placenta means

.Doctors will ususally wait until there have been three miscarriages to determine whether the woman has an underlying medical condition.There are many reasons for miscarriage, including hormonal factors, polycystic ovaries and structural abnormalities of the uterus