Philipp Marx
Founder of RattleStork
Philipp Marx is a founder of RattleStork and a former international sperm donor. He writes from first-hand experience about sperm donation, co-parenting, and alternative paths to parenthood.
Before founding RattleStork, Philipp donated sperm in several countries. That experience showed him how differently people approach donor conception, trust, personal boundaries, and co-parenting.
At RattleStork, he combines that perspective with publicly available sources and practical guidance for donors, recipients, and prospective co-parents. His personal experience is not a substitute for medical or legal advice.
Articles by this author
Total published articles:191
Home insemination in the UK: timing, safety, and legal basics
A practical guide to home insemination, from ovulation timing and fresh sperm handling to safety and UK legal basics.
How long do sperm live? Real timelines in the mouth and saliva, in air, on skin, in water, and in a condom
Most people are not asking a biology question, they are trying to judge a specific situation: sperm in the mouth, semen drying on skin, a condom, water, or a cup.
Pregnant from pre-ejaculate? Risk without ejaculation, facts on fertile days and protection
Starting question: can you get pregnant from pre-ejaculatory fluid alone, without ejaculation inside the vagina.
Blue balls: symptoms, duration and relief
Blue balls and testicular congestion: what the discomfort feels like, how long it lasts, what may help, and when testicular pain needs urgent care.
Egg Donation in the UK: Process, Costs, Success Rates, Risks, and the Legal Framework
Egg donation can be the most realistic route to pregnancy for some people, but in the UK it is never only a medical decision.
Co-Parenting: Definition, Common Setups, Day-to-Day Life, Communication and Planning
Co-parenting means sharing parenthood intentionally, without a romantic relationship being required.
Semen analysis: process, preparation, understanding results, and next steps
A semen analysis is the standardised lab assessment of a semen sample and is often the first test when male fertility issues are suspected.
Pre-implantation Genetic Testing 2025 - Pathway, Costs and Law in the United Kingdom
Pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) allows embryos created in an IVF or ICSI cycle to be analysed for genetic conditions before being transferred into the uterus.
COVID‑19 vaccination and male fertility: Can it make you infertile?
What research and semen analyses tell us about COVID‑19 vaccination, male fertility, and unvaccinated donor sperm.
In vitro fertilisation: IVF steps, timeline, success rates and costs explained
In vitro fertilisation, usually called IVF, is a medically guided fertility treatment with clear steps but many decisions: protocol choice, timing, transfer strategy, safety management and budget.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection: ICSI Steps, Who It Helps, Success Factors, Risks and Costs Explained Clearly
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, often called ICSI, is a specialised form of in vitro fertilisation developed primarily to overcome significant male factor infertility.
Intrauterine Insemination: IUI Steps, Success Chances, Timing, Risks and Costs Explained Clearly
Intrauterine insemination, or IUI, is an established fertility treatment.Intracervical insemination: ICI process, timing, success rates, safety, costs and differences from IUI, IVF and ICSI
Intracervical insemination, or ICI, is a form of artificial insemination in which a semen sample is placed close to the cervix and fertilisation still takes place inside the body.
Assisted reproduction in the United Kingdom 2025: methods, success rates & costs
“Assisted reproduction” isn’t a single procedure but a toolkit.
Linea nigra in pregnancy – why it happens and what helps
Linea nigra is a darker line down the middle of the tummy that can appear during pregnancy.
Implantation: When it happens, how long it takes, and what symptoms are realistic
Implantation is one of the most searched topics during the wait after ovulation.
Luteal phase deficiency: causes, symptoms and evidence-based treatment
Luteal phase deficiency means progesterone is too low or too short-acting in the second half of the menstrual cycle; it is often discussed as “luteal insufficiency”.
Understanding cervical mucus: recognising fertile days and warning signs
Cervical mucus changes throughout the menstrual cycle.
Ovulation explained: finding your fertile days, signs and tests
Your chance of pregnancy clusters into just a few days per cycle.
LH surge and ovulation tests: find fertile days with confidence
The LH surge is an important timing signal around ovulation and helps you plan fertile days more realistically.
Breast growth and breast pain in pregnancy: causes, tips and FAQs
If your breasts feel tight, tingly or tender to the touch during pregnancy, that is often part of normal changes.
Understanding surrogacy: the process, parenthood, costs and risks
How surrogacy works, the roles people take on and the questions to resolve about parenthood, costs and risks.
STIs and sperm donation: screening, testing, and genetic risks explained simply
Donor screening is mainly about reducing the risk of STIs and other infections, and lowering certain genetic risks before treatment.
Vasectomy reversal: procedure, success chances, costs and alternatives
A vasectomy reversal is microsurgery that reconnects the vas deferens after a vasectomy.
Tubal reversal after sterilisation: success rates, procedure, and alternatives
Tubal reversal is surgery that aims to make the fallopian tubes open again after sterilisation so that pregnancy can be possible again.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and trying to conceive
PCOS is a common hormonal and metabolic pattern that can affect your periods, skin, weight, and fertility.
Chlamydia in 2025 - Impact on Fertility, Symptoms & Effective Prevention
Chlamydia is the most common curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) .
Fertility & Religion 2025: How faith traditions view sperm donation, egg donation, IVF/IUI and surrogacy
This overview explains how major faith traditions today approach sperm donation - with attention to origins, lineage, openness versus anonymity, family roles and identity rights.
Worldwide birth rate decline: fertility crisis, reasons, and solutions
A declining birth rate means that the average number of children per woman (the total fertility rate) has been falling for decades in many countries.
The biological clock and having children
What changes at 30, 35 and 40, what fertility tests can tell you, and how to consider having children without unnecessary pressure.
Coming off the pill: how to plan the transition safely and without panic
If you want to come off the pill, a clear plan helps more than alarmist advice.
Female infertility: causes, assessment, and treatment explained clearly
When pregnancy does not happen despite trying to conceive, a clear plan helps more than guesswork.
Male infertility: causes, diagnostics and modern treatment options
Unfulfilled desire to have children is for many couples one of the most stressful phases in life - and yet the image that the problem “is usually the woman’s” persists.
Delaying menopause: evidence-based strategies for diet and lifestyle
Many people wonder whether you can delay menopause and what really affects the timing.
Get pregnant faster: what really helps and when to seek medical advice
If you want to get pregnant faster, good timing matters far more than internet myths.
Preterm birth: causes, warning signs and treatment
A preterm birth is a birth before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy.
Miscarriage: signs, diagnosis and what happens next
Understanding early and missed miscarriage: what symptoms can and cannot tell you, careful diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and support.
Male fertility as you get older
What age, stress and lifestyle mean for sperm, having children later in life, fertility investigations and applying to donate sperm.
Pavel Durov: sperm donation and his inheritance pledge
More than 100 children, by his own account: Durov's public statements about sperm donation, an IVF offer and inheritance—and the unanswered questions.
How do I explain to my child they were conceived through sperm donation?
Sperm donation means using sperm from a donor to make a pregnancy possible.
The History of Sperm Donation - From Secret Experiments to the DNA-Test Era
Sperm donation is now routine for single mothers, LGBTQ+ couples and heterosexual couples facing male infertility.
At-Home DNA Kits 2025 - Your Guide to Genes, Law & Privacy
A home DNA kit now costs little more than a cinema ticket yet can answer questions such as Where do my ancestors come from?
Sperm Donation in Islam 2025: Nasab, Marriage, Donor Anonymity, Legal Schools & Country Practice
Whether sperm donation is permissible in Islam is assessed differently across legal schools and countries.
Sperm Donation & Family-Building in Christianity 2025: Teachings, Tensions and Practice in Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant Traditions and Free Churches
Christian churches share the conviction that human life has dignity and that marriage and family deserve protection.
Transporting semen at home: pack the sample safely, keep it close to your body, and hand it in on time
If a semen sample is collected at home, three things matter most: a sterile pot, a short direct journey, and protection from temperature extremes.
Ovulation Trackers Compared: LH Tests, Temperature Trackers, Rings and Apps
Ovulation trackers are tools that narrow down fertile days using hormones, temperature, or observable body signs.
HIV self-test: how reliable home testing is, when it works, and what a negative result actually means
An HIV self-test can give quick reassurance or a clear reason to seek follow-up, but only if you use it at the right time and read the result properly.
Which of us should carry the pregnancy? How lesbian couples can decide fairly and medically sensibly
Deciding who will carry the pregnancy is rarely something you can settle on feeling alone.
Reciprocal IVF: process, role choices, odds, and legal questions in the UK
In reciprocal IVF, one partner provides the eggs and the other becomes pregnant.
Home insemination kits: contents, benefits, risks - what really helps
Home insemination kits are sets intended for a single use at home: a syringe without a needle places the sample near the cervix.
Ovarian stimulation: how it works, which medicines are used, the risks involved, and what really matters in IUI, IVF and ICSI
Ovarian stimulation does not automatically mean producing lots of eggs.
Natural Insemination: Does It Actually Give Better Chances?
Natural insemination means trying to conceive through unprotected sex with a donor.
Questions to ask before private sperm donation
24 questions to help you discuss health, motivation, previous donations and contact, then weigh up the answers.
How do I ask someone to become my sperm donor?
Asking someone to become a possible sperm donor is deeply personal, sensitive, and often tied to a lot of uncertainty.
Social freezing: freezing your eggs – process, success rates, risks, costs and alternatives
Social freezing means freezing your eggs earlier in life so they can potentially be used later in fertility treatment.
Dating as a single parent: clear start, safe boundaries, steady progress
Dating can work without overwhelming your everyday routine.
Semen: structure, volume and quality
Semen explained: its composition, sperm production and fertilisation, normal variations and warning signs. With medical context for semen analysis results and supplements.
Supplements When Trying to Conceive: An Honest Guide to Folic Acid, Iodine, Vitamin D, Coenzyme Q10 and Inositol
If you search for fertility vitamins, you quickly end up on product pages with long ingredient lists and oversized promises.
Private sperm donation: Which health checks are sensible and what should you insist on?
Health checks can reduce the risk of infections and unexpected medical problems. They cannot eliminate it entirely. This is not a pessimistic view, but the essence of diagnostics: tests have limits, and something may change between the time of testing and the donation.
Could my child develop mental illness if I have mental health problems?
Many people with depression, anxiety, ADHD, trauma, or severe mental illness know the thought: What if I pass this on to my child?
Stress and trying for a baby: How mental health and your cycle relate
How stress may affect ovulation and periods, what mental health conditions and medicines can mean, and when support is useful.
Testicular torsion: symptoms, time window and what to do immediately
In testicular torsion, the testicle twists around the spermatic cord. The spermatic cord contains blood vessels and the vas deferens. If the blood supply is cut off, the testicular tissue can be damaged within a few hours.
Undescended testicle in children: causes, diagnosis, treatment, and why timing matters
An undescended testicle means one or both testicles are not permanently in the scrotum.
Is there an age limit for fertility treatment?
There is no single age cut-off that applies everywhere.
Loneliness during pregnancy: why it happens and what actually helps
Loneliness during pregnancy can feel deeply out of place, especially because people often expect happiness, excitement, and closeness.
Penis Size: The Average, Normal Range, and Country Myths
Reliable measurement data shows both an average and a wide normal range. It also explains why many men feel too small and why country rankings claim more than the evidence supports.
Do Women Prefer Large Penises? What the Studies Actually Show
Studies do not reveal one ideal size. Moderate tendencies exist, but preference, perception, and sexual satisfaction are different questions.
Longer or thicker penis: What actually matters during sex?
Small surveys mention girth somewhat more often than length. In practice, arousal, comfort, and how two bodies fit together matter more.
Micropenis: Definition, Measurement, Causes, and What Actually Helps
Diagnosis is based on stretched penile length, age-specific reference values, and the complete clinical picture. Treatment options depend strongly on age and cause.
How to Measure Your Penis: Length, Girth, and Stretched Penile Length
A clear guide to erect length and girth, plus the important difference between those measurements and stretched penile length in a clinical examination.
Latex-free or latex: burning after condom use, what is harmless and what is a warning sign?
Burning or itching after condom use is common.
Condom broke or slipped off: what actually matters now
A condom that tears or slips off is a contraception failure and can mean pregnancy risk and a risk of sexually transmitted infections.
Erectile dysfunction and erection firmness
Understand erection firmness, possible causes and effective treatments, and prepare for a discussion with your doctor.
Sex during pregnancy: safe, flexible, and without pressure
Sex during pregnancy is possible in most uncomplicated pregnancies.
Taste of semen
Why semen can taste bitter or salty, whether you can improve the taste, and what to know about pineapple, diet and swallowing.
Curious questions about semen: colour, smell and myths fact-checked
Why does semen smell different, can it run out and does it glow under black light? Curious questions and myths, fact-checked.
Coming too early: What really helps with premature ejaculation and when assessment makes sense
Premature ejaculation is common, but that does not make it easy to talk about.
Coitus interruptus: effectiveness, risks and what the data really say
Coitus interruptus means that the penis is withdrawn from the vagina shortly before ejaculation so that the ejaculation occurs outside the vagina. Colloquially it is called the 'pull-out' or 'withdrawal' method. The aim is to keep sperm away from the vaginal area.
Is Homosexuality Inherited? If the Father Is Gay: What Research Shows About Children of Same-Sex Parents
A gay father or lesbian mothers do not automatically make a child gay or lesbian.
Condom sizes: Which one fits, how to measure and whether sizes are the same worldwide
A condom should sit securely without constricting. If it is too loose, there is a higher risk of it slipping or coming off. If it is too tight, it often causes pressure, reduced sensation and increased friction, which places greater strain on the material. Many failures may appear to be a quality problem but are often, in practice, a combination of fit, friction and small application errors.
At-home sperm tests: how reliable are they?
At-home sperm tests do exist.
Paternity Test: Process, Accuracy, Consent, and Important Differences by Country
A paternity test can answer important questions, but it is never just a simple DNA comparison.
Understanding porn addiction: when porn and masturbation become a problem
Is very frequent porn use already an addiction? Control and consequences matter most, including effects on relationships, erections, sperm and trying to conceive.
Immunology in pregnancy: what is actually proven
Online it often sounds as if the immune system inherently rejects a pregnancy and only needs to be calmed down. Medically, it is more complicated: pregnancy succeeds not despite but with a finely tuned immune response. This article explains what is properly supported by evidence, where diagnostics have limits, and why many immune treatments in fertility care are viewed critically.
Blood in the urine: causes, warning signs and what to do now
Finding blood in the urine is naturally worrying.Blood in semen: causes, warning signs and what to do next
Blood in semen can seem more alarming than it is medically speaking.
Pain after sex: common causes, warning signs and what to do next
Pain after sex is not automatically an emergency, but it is also not something you should keep brushing aside.
Unexplained infertility: What it means and what usually comes after the basic fertility work-up
Unexplained infertility does not mean there is no issue.
Azoospermia: When no sperm are found in the ejaculate
Azoospermia means that no sperm are detectable in the ejaculate.
Ectopic pregnancy: causes, symptoms and what really matters medically
In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilised egg does not implant in the womb but usually in the fallopian tube. Medically, it is classed as an extrauterine pregnancy — that is, a pregnancy outside the womb.
Superfetation: Can you become pregnant again during an ongoing pregnancy?
Superfetation means that after a pregnancy has already started, another ovulation, fertilisation, and implantation would happen.
Twins, Triplets, and Multiples: Real Chances, Risks, Care, and Better Choices
A multiple pregnancy is not an exotic outlier, but it is also not simply a singleton pregnancy with extra babies added on.
Understanding superfecundation: How fraternal twins can begin in the same cycle
Superfecundation sounds dramatic, but biologically it is mostly a question of timing within the same menstrual cycle.
PrEP for HIV: effectiveness, how to take it, side effects, testing and cost
PrEP can reduce HIV risk very substantially when the dosing plan, testing and medical follow-up all fit together.
Biochemical pregnancy: early positive test, early bleeding, and what matters next
A positive test followed by bleeding or a negative retest a few days later can be deeply unsettling.
Antibiotics in pregnancy and while trying to conceive: what is actually proven and what remains myth
Many people take an antibiotic while trying to conceive or in early pregnancy and immediately worry about implantation problems, miscarriage, or harm to the baby.
Are my breasts still growing? What is normal in puberty and when to get checked
Breast development often starts earlier than expected, progresses unevenly, and does not finish at the same age for everyone.
Are my labia normal? What variety, asymmetry and symptoms mean
Labia do not all look the same.
How does masturbation really work? Body knowledge, comfort, and honest answers without shame
For many people, masturbation is a normal part of sexuality, yet very few topics carry this much uncertainty, comparison, and outdated myth.
How does sex work? A clear guide to consent, what to expect and protection
Sex is a shared process where consent, clear communication, a comfortable pace and protection from pregnancy and infections matter most.
Sex positions and getting pregnant
Sex positions and conception: the theories about gravity and penetration depth, what research supports, and what makes a practical difference.
How Long Does Sex Last? Average Length, Studies, and Why Minutes Are Rarely the Main Answer
Many people want to know how long sex lasts on average.
How often do people have sex? Average, age, relationships and the key figures
Many people want to know how often people really have sex.How many sexual partners does a person have in their lifetime? Real figures, country comparisons and context
This article is deliberately about concrete numbers, not vague internet claims. In the data used here, Germany comes out at roughly 3 to 4 lifetime partners at the median, the US at 4 to 5, and Great Britain at 4 to 6, which makes the figures especially useful for readers in the UK who want a realistic benchmark rather than internet noise. France stands out with noticeably higher averages. On top of that, there are clear figures for the last year, for the upper end of the distribution, and for the reason average and median often tell completely different stories.
Vaginal discharge explained: what is normal, what stands out, and when to get it checked
Vaginal discharge is not automatically a problem.
Do I have a sexually transmitted infection? A calm assessment after sex, a one‑night stand and condom mishaps
Many people initially respond to intimacy with unease. The body feels different; you suddenly notice every twinge, every moisture, every smell. That's normal.
How do I reach orgasm? What actually helps, what creates pressure, and when support makes sense
A lot of people look for one trick that will finally make orgasm happen.Am I gay, lesbian, or bi? Understanding orientation without pressure or rushed labels
The question Am I gay, lesbian, or bi often hits hardest when feelings, fantasies, and closeness no longer fit neatly into your old self-image.
Heartbreak: Why breakup pain can feel so brutal and what really helps
Heartbreak can take over the whole day: the first thought when you wake up, a heavy feeling in your chest by afternoon, and rumination again at night instead of sleep.
Am I pregnant? A calm reality check on symptoms, timing and tests
Many people experience 'Am I pregnant?' not only as a medical question but as a feeling: 'I need certainty now.' That's precisely why symptom lists alone are so unhelpful. They rarely bring clarity and often make people worry more.
Puberty timing: Too early or too late? What’s still normal and when to seek help
Puberty brings visible changes. Voice, body shape, breast development, facial hair, acne, body odour, body hair, growth spurts and mood all change. Because it seems to start earlier or later in others, it's easy to quickly feel that something is wrong with you.
Breastfeeding in the first week: getting started, colostrum, milk coming in, cluster feeding and common issues
The first breastfeeding week is often more intense than expected: very little sleep, a baby who wants to feed frequently, and a body that is still adjusting.
Postnatal period after birth: physical changes, recovery, and warning signs
After the birth, body and routine are both resetting.
Caesarean Section: Preparation, What Happens, Recovery and Warning Signs
A caesarean section is a birth by operation.
Birth injuries: perineal tears, stitches, healing and warning signs
Perineal tears, stitches and other birth injuries usually heal well. This guide helps you understand your recovery and recognise warning signs in time.
Afterpains after birth: why they happen and when it's too much
Afterpains are cramp-like lower abdominal pains in the postnatal period caused by the uterus contracting and returning to its pre-pregnancy size after birth.
Lochia: what is normal, how it smells, how much bleeding is alright, and when to get it checked
Lochia is part of normal healing after birth.
Being Ill During Pregnancy: Colds, Fever, Medicines, and When to See a Doctor
Catching a cold in pregnancy, running a temperature, or being knocked flat by a stomach bug often feels worse than usual because circulation, sleep, breathing, and fluid balance are more easily unsettled.
Caffeine in Pregnancy: How Much Coffee Is Safe and What Changes When You Are Breastfeeding
Coffee in pregnancy is not simply a matter of yes or no.
Blocked milk duct (milk stasis): causes, quick relief and when to get it checked
A blocked milk duct can feel like sudden pressure, pain, and a hard lump in the breast, often right when you want to breastfeed or express.Mastitis while breastfeeding: symptoms, treatment, antibiotics, and when to get medical help
Mastitis is more than a painful blocked duct.
First period: what is normal, what makes the start easier, and when to get checked
The first period is called menarche.
Pelvic floor after birth: symptoms, recovery and when physiotherapy is helpful
After birth the body often feels different from what you expected.
Diastasis recti after pregnancy: what is normal, what helps, and when to seek help
Diastasis recti is common after pregnancy and birth.
Baby Blues or Postnatal Depression: Differences, Warning Signs, and What Helps Now
After childbirth, strong emotions are common and do not automatically mean something is wrong.
Haemorrhoids in the postnatal period: what really helps and when to get help
Haemorrhoids after birth are common and can be sore and irritating in the weeks after delivery, especially when sitting and during bowel motions.
Thyroid and trying to conceive: TSH, symptoms, and sensible testing
Unclear thyroid blood tests are common when trying to conceive and should be interpreted carefully.
Pain during sex after birth: when it can feel good again, why it hurts, and what helps
Sex after birth rarely has a fixed restart date.
Stretch marks after pregnancy: causes, what to expect, and what genuinely helps
Stretch marks are changes in the middle layer of the skin and are very common after pregnancy, but for many they still feel personal.
High blood pressure after childbirth: warning signs, blood pressure readings, and when to seek urgent help
High blood pressure can also start after childbirth or worsen during the postnatal period.
Vaginismus explained: causes, symptoms and what tends to help
Vaginismus is an involuntary protective response in which muscles around the vaginal opening or the pelvic floor tighten when penetration is expected or attempted.
Bladder infection after sex: why it happens and what actually helps
Burning when passing urine, urgency, or pressure over the bladder shortly after sex often points to a bladder infection after sex.
Breastfeed or not: medical differences, safe alternatives, and a realistic decision without pressure
Breastfeeding has medical benefits, but it is not the only way to feed a baby well.
Erection problems when trying for a baby
When erection problems affect trying for a baby: reduce pressure together, seek support early and understand the options for conceiving.
Nominal width of condoms: meaning, conversion and how to find the right size without a calculator
The nominal width is a measurement in millimetres that describes the width of a condom when laid flat. It is not a body width, not a diameter and not an obscure laboratory number, but a packaging specification that makes it far easier to compare products than labels such as Standard, Regular, Large or XL.
Blowjob: Oral sex without pressure – consent, hygiene, protection
A blowjob is oral sex on a penis, and it is only good when everyone involved feels safe and respected.
Cunnilingus: Oral Sex on Women Explained Clearly and Realistically
Cunnilingus, often simply called going down on someone, means oral sex on the vulva.
Foreplay: ideas, communication, desire and safety without performance pressure
Foreplay is not merely a quick lead-in before penetration.
Petting: closeness without sex, understanding risks and setting boundaries
Petting can create closeness without penetration, but it often brings up the same questions: what counts, where are the boundaries, when does pregnancy risk become real, and which sexually transmitted infections can still be passed on?
STIs from Blowjobs: What the Real Risk Is and How to Protect Yourself
You can catch a sexually transmitted infection from a blowjob.
Can Oral Sex Make You Ill? Cunnilingus and STIs Explained Without the Drama
People often search for getting ill from oral sex or STIs from cunnilingus and hope for a simple answer.Starting the contraceptive pill: how to choose a formulation and begin safely
The contraceptive pill is hormonal contraception that can prevent pregnancy very reliably when taken correctly.Morning after pill: what to do now, how it works, and when to test
The morning after pill is emergency contraception after unprotected sex or a contraception accident.
How many eggs does a woman have? Ovarian reserve, ovulation, and age explained
Women are born with a finite ovarian reserve that declines over life.
Hymen: what it really is and why it proves nothing
Many people look for information about the hymen, also called the vaginal corona, and wonder whether you can tell virginity from it or whether it always tears and bleeds the first time you have sex.
Co-Parenting Across U.S. State Lines: What Changes in Practice and How to Keep It Workable
Living in different states does not automatically make co-parenting fail, but it does raise the stakes. Parentage, decision-making, travel, money, and relocation all need clearer rules when a plan has to work across state lines. If you are used to a single national family-law system, the U.S. patchwork shows why detailed drafting matters so much. This guide focuses on the pressure points that usually break a weak agreement and the defaults that make a long-distance plan easier to live with.
PEP after a possible HIV exposure: what matters in the first 72 hours
PEP is an emergency medical step after a possible HIV exposure.
How to use a condom properly: a step-by-step guide
A condom works best when you put it on before the first contact, leave room at the tip, roll it all the way down, and remove it carefully afterwards. The steps are simple, but the small details decide safety, comfort, and whether it stays in place.
Dysorgasmia: When orgasm hurts or feels blocked
Dysorgasmia is uncommon, but distressing for those who experience it. It refers to pain during or straight after orgasm, or to an orgasm that feels blocked, unfamiliar, or somehow not quite right. This article sets out the common patterns, explains possible causes, and shows when assessment and treatment make sense.
In-vitro gametogenesis: what IVG can do, where its limits lie, and why it has not changed fertility treatment yet
In-vitro gametogenesis, or IVG, is the research effort to create eggs or sperm from stem cells in the laboratory. It sounds like a major answer for people facing severe infertility, but today it remains a research field with serious safety, quality, and ethics questions.
Vasectomy: procedure, what to expect, risks, and aftercare
A vasectomy is a small surgical procedure for permanent contraception.
HIV: What you should know about transmission, symptoms, testing, and treatment
This guide explains HIV clearly and without panic: what the virus is, how it spreads, which symptoms can appear, how tests should be interpreted, and why modern treatment changes so much.
HIV in Everyday Life: What Really Matters After a Diagnosis in the UK
This article is for people living with HIV after diagnosis in the UK and looks at what really matters in daily life, relationships, work, travel, and self-image.
Male contraception: condoms, vasectomy and hormonal options side by side
For now, male contraception is mostly condoms or vasectomy.
Endometriosis and Fertility: When It Affects Conception and What Helps Next
Endometriosis can make conception harder, but it does not always lead to infertility.Understanding the AMH level: what does it really say about fertility and trying to conceive?
AMH is a useful clue when you want to understand ovarian reserve and plan fertility care.Checking fallopian tube patency: HSG, HyCoSy, the process, discomfort and what the test can tell you
When pregnancy is taking longer than expected, checking the fallopian tubes is often a sensible next step.The Two-Week Wait: Symptoms, Progesterone, Test Timing and What Not to Overinterpret
The two-week wait is the stretch between ovulation and the point when a pregnancy test is actually worth trusting.
Letrozole when trying to conceive: what it does, how treatment usually runs, side effects, and when it is used
Letrozole is often used in fertility care when ovulation is irregular or needs a targeted push.Clomifene or Letrozole: What Is the Difference in Cycle Treatment and Ovulation Induction?
Clomifene and letrozole are both used when a cycle needs support or ovulation needs to be triggered on purpose.
Embryo Transfer During IVF and ICSI: What Happens, Timing, What to Do Afterwards, and Realistic Expectations
Embryo transfer is the last visible step in IVF or ICSI treatment, but the part that really matters is preparation, timing, and the calmer period afterwards.Embryonic development day 1 to day 5: what morula and blastocyst actually mean
The first five days after fertilisation can sound very technical in fertility treatment.
Talking about using donor sperm
Conversation examples for family, friends, nursery and everyday life: find words for your family’s story and decide what stays private.
Why are testicles so sensitive? Causes, warning signs and what helps now
Testicles often react more strongly to touch, pressure and pulling than many people expect because their position, nerve supply and free suspension make them especially sensitive.
Vulva and vagina: the difference explained clearly
Vulva and vagina are often mixed up in everyday language, even though they are not the same thing.
Is phimosis serious? When it can be normal, when you should see a GP, and what helps
Phimosis is not automatically a problem.
When the plan falls apart: How to regroup after a fertility, donor, or co-parenting setback
When a fertility, donor, or co-parenting plan falls apart, it helps to name the break clearly, sort the options sensibly, handle the conversations without letting them turn into a row, and move to the next concrete step.
Ghosting when trying for a baby: when a contact suddenly disappears
If a contact vanishes while you're trying for a baby, it is not just disappointment.
Donor siblings and DNA tests: what families should keep in mind early
Donor siblings are genetically related children who grow up in different families.
Carrier screening before sperm donation: when genetic testing is worth doing
Carrier screening, or carrier testing, can be worth doing before sperm donation, but only when the question is clear.Sexting, Nudes and Privacy: the Practical Guide to Consent, Passing On, and Digital Traces
For many people, sexting is already part of dating, relationships and casual intimacy.
Pregnant again after birth: fertility and the gap between pregnancies
How soon pregnancy can happen again, what interval may be sensible, and what breastfeeding, caesarean birth, contraception and testing mean for your plans.
Contraception After Birth: Which Methods Are Realistic and When
After birth, the body does not settle back into its old rhythm straight away.
Late period but not pregnant? Common reasons and when to see a GP
If your period is late, pregnancy is the first thing many people think about.
Pregnant without penetration? Petting and anal sex explained
Petting, anal sex, fingers or semen on the skin: which contact can lead to pregnancy, and when emergency contraception or a test is useful.
Pregnant after what seemed like a period? Understanding bleeding in pregnancy
You cannot have a true period during pregnancy, but you can bleed. What matters is the pattern, accompanying symptoms and medical assessment.
Spotting before your period: what it can mean and when to seek help
Spotting before your period usually means only a small amount of blood, but there can be quite a few different reasons for it.
Fertility, Chance, and Hope When Trying for a Baby: What Your Chances Really Mean
When people talk about fertility, chance, and hope when trying for a baby, three different layers often get compressed into one sentence.
Pubic Hair Removal and Pubic Hair: Sexual Satisfaction, Body Image and the Real Risks
Pubic hair removal is common and is often linked to cleanliness, attractiveness, or partner preferences.
How deep is the vagina?
How a longer penis fits, what changes with arousal, and why sex can feel too tight, too loose or too deep.
Does a Large Penis Make Pregnancy Happen Faster? Size, Sex, and Fertility
Normal differences in length and girth do not make pregnancy more likely. Sperm, timing, ovulation, and functional ejaculation are what matter.
Sperm donation in the U.S.: process, costs and laws
A practical U.S. guide to choosing donor sperm, comparing bank and known-donor routes, understanding screening and state law, budgeting the full process and protecting your future family.
Sperm donation in the Philippines: private donors and clinic access
Private sperm donation in the Philippines: LGBTQ+ access, sperm banks, legal parenthood, costs, screening and planning with a known donor.
Sex for the first time: preparation, positions, pain, bleeding and protection
A complete guide to sex for the first time: readiness, consent, preparation, positions, pain, bleeding, protection and warning signs.
DNA fragmentation and the DFI test
DNA fragmentation despite a good semen analysis: what the DFI value means, when testing may help, and how age, sperm donation and egg cells fit in.
Sperm donation in Germany
Sperm donation in Germany: costs, the donor register, private donation and paternity. Understanding the voluntary limit of 15 families.
Sperm cramps: How an internet meme turns into a health question
From a TikTok joke to a health question: the background to the sperm cramps meme, AI's possible role and why the expression is not a diagnosis.
Alcohol, nicotine and cannabis: from trying for a baby to breastfeeding
How alcohol, nicotine, cannabis and anabolic steroids relate to sperm, pregnancy and breastfeeding: risks, evidence, tests and practical support to stop.
Sperm donation: unexpected exclusions worldwide
Dengue vaccination, tropical travel or a genetic test: the diseases and unusual circumstances affecting sperm donation worldwide, the reasons for exclusions and recent changes.