A growing chain of Chinese herbal medicine CHM) clinics - all based in GPs’ surgeries in North London - is claiming a 50-80% success rate with infertility. (Orthodox IVF treatments claim around 20% success at present.) The CHM clinics insist that prospective patients have all the relevant orthodoxl medical tests before attending and stress that CHM is not effective against ‘mechanical problems’, such as an underdeveloped uterus or a damaged Fallopian tube. CHM can be used, however, to boost sperm counts, revitalise sperm and eggs. Combinations of up to 20 herbs may be given, based on each couple’s individual needs. Tai Chi is often recommended as a complementary practice to reduce stress, which is often a major factor in infertility.

Contact: TCM Healthcare Fertility Clinic, Silver Street Surgery, 159 Silver Street, Edmonton, London N18 Tel.: 0208 556 8843

Ed.- Fertility treatment based on diet and lifestyle changes is offered by the organisation Foresight. An analysis of two years of their work 1990-92 show that 89% of the 204 couples with infertility problems who had approached them for advice or therapies had produced healthy babies, and 30 of the 46 couples where IVF had previously failed were successful on the next IVF attempt after adopting Foresight procedures.

For further information contact: Foresight, 28 The Paddock, Godalming, GU7 1XD (large 31p SAE please).

The book Planning for a Baby, by Belinda Barnes & Suzanne Gail Bailey is available from our mail order service, Lifeworks, cost £9.00 + £2 p&p.