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Desperate housewife star Marcia Cross began fertility treatment aged 44 and went on to give birth to twin daughters Eden and Savannah. But despite hailing her girls as 'a miracle', she has no illusions about having children later in life. When asked about being the 'poster girl' for older mothers, Marcia, who had a difficult pregnancy, revealed it is not a good idea.

She told Easy Living: 'Are you kidding? It's a miracle I have these two daughters. 'Your forties is not the time to be thinking about getting pregnant.' The 49-year-old, who looked stunning in a 1920's-themed shoot for the magazine, also revealed she began fertility treatment the day after her wedding to businessman Tom Mahoney - and didn't even go on honeymoon.

But while she became pregnant quickly, Marcia suffered from high blood pressure and was ordered to stay in bed in the last stages. She also developed pre-eclampsia and had to undergo an emergency C-Section.

The actress said:' I didn't have time to be scared. It all happened so quickly. But it worked out and I love being a mother. 'I like bringing the girls on set, but if I can't do that then the next day I feel I have to be uber-mum to make up for it. 'Then I'm exhausted and feel like I'm running in fumes. What I lack in energy, I have in wisdom.'

Marcia, who plays Bree Van de Kamp, was recently busy filming the last episodes of Desperate Housewives after eight seasons and will not be taking any acting roles in the near future so she can concentrate on motherhood - and eating. She said: 'I've had to watch my weight for the show and am looking forward to not having to think about it anymore.'

And despite turning 50 this year, Marcia's looks show little sign of waning. She credits her flawless skin to always removing her make-up and religiously wearing sun-screen. But she also revealed since having children, she rarely has time to exercise.

She doesn't however, rule out surgery. She said: 'We (on the set of Desperate Housewives) say we'll do anything as long as it doesn't involve a knife! 'I'd never say no to surgery in the future, because I feel like, as I get older, I'm going to face temptation more.' 'Turning 50 is huge... it's monumental. But not in terms of beauty. 'It's about recognising how precious time is.'

Article: 30th January 2012 www.dailymail.co.uk

Read more about getting pregnant and having a baby at www.prideangel.com

Auckland woman who wants a "dragon baby" appealed for sperm donors from across the country to step forward and help. Bevan Chuang, a single 30-year-old, wants to get pregnant this year so her baby is born in the Chinese year of the Dragon which is considered the most auspicious sign in the 12-year astrological cycle. The New Year was welcomed in on January 23 and will run until February 9 next year. According to Chinese astrology, dragon babies are destined to be wealthy and successful.

Chuang went public with her search earlier this month and has since been contacted by about 20 men. With just a couple of months to fall pregnant Chuang has made shortlist and will spend the next few weeks meeting the possible fathers. "About five or six of them are genuine, like they really want it because they understand where I'm coming from and they want to help me pursue what I want to do. "I've had people who are older that tell me they already have children but they just want to help me. "And then I have one single man who has been having trouble finding a partner so he just wants a child."

Potential fathers for her child have ranged in age from 27 to men in their 40s and offers had come in from around the country. "There's a few from the South Island, a couple from Christchurch, someone from Kaitaia - they're not all from Auckland." She said rather than conducting a formal interview she just wants to meet potential donors and find out what they're like. "The correspondence I have got so far has just been electronic, I haven't met these people."

She would also like the donor to be part of the child's life. Chuang, whose sperm donor quest has landed her on television and radio, said feedback from the public has been mixed. "It's been interesting to see the comments online, to see what people assumed was the motive behind it. "There are people, especially my friends, who are really supportive but there are people saying I wasn't being responsible or that I was selfish to have a child as a single woman. She said one person accused her of trying to get residency, but having a child here wouldn't entitle her to that anyway.

Chuang said it was English-speakers who were surprised at her request. "I think in China it's more acceptable because it's not uncommon that people want a child in this year." China is expected to see a five per cent increase in the birth rate this year as a result of couples trying to have dragon babies.

Are you looking for a sperm donor? or wanting to help single, lesbian and infertile couples? visit www.prideangel.com

If not – then perhaps you should! BioNews, published by the charity Progress Educational Trust (PET), is a free online publication providing balanced comment and news on assisted conception, genetics and embryo/stem cell research. Subscription is free and you can easily subscribe online. You'll receive a weekly email so you're up to date with all the latest research and news, and you can post comments online and debate topics with other subscribers.

If you do read BioNews, then you'll know that recent articles covered a fall in NHS-funded fertility treatment despite an increase in demand (' IVF Funding cuts spark access concerns' BioNews 640), results from a new study from the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge which shows that there is 'No negative impact for surrogate's own children' (BioNews 640) and coverage of a US legal case 'Lesbian woman in US who donated eggs to ex-partner granted parental rights over child.' (BioNews 639). Throughout 2011, BioNews also contributed to a number of debates on key topics such as the future of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and how to compensate egg and sperm donors.

If you're already a reader, hopefully you'll also know that PET has just launched the BioNews 2012 reader survey. The BioNews editors and PET staff are keen to understand readers' views of BioNews and, most importantly, how BioNews can be improved. So, PET needs as many people as possible to complete the survey: it's online, easy to complete, and should only take a few minutes of your time. There are four short sections: 'You and BioNews', 'BioNews content', 'BioNews design' and 'About you'.

Please do take a few minutes to complete the survey: the BioNews editors and everyone at PET cannot keep BioNews relevant without your input. This is also PET's opportunity to find out more about BioNews' readership, which helps to attract advertisers and inform grant applications, which in turn enhances the probability of funding - all of which means you can continue to enjoy BioNews as a free resource.

Read more about parenting options, IVF, sperm and egg donation at www.prideangel.com

TYING the knot in matching gowns, tiaras and hairstyles, lookalike lovers Anna Jones and Kirsty Cox were the picture of happiness But, a shadow of sadness marred the joy of the new Mrs and Mrs – they both dreamed of being a mum and feared it could never happen for them.

Anna, 28, and Kirsty, 23, loved caring for their little nieces and nephews but, unable to afford expensive fertility treatment, knew they would never be parents themselves. Until Anna’s sister Lorraine mentioned their plight to her hairdresser, Brian – and he agreed to help create their family.

With a sperm donor miraculously in place, the grateful couple decided to take it turns to try for a baby – expecting a long wait. But to their amazement Anna and Kirsty got pregnant within two weeks of each other, and gave birth just five days apart. Kirsty had daughter Scarlett-Marie, and then Anna produced son, Alfie. Now the pair are proud parents to two babies who are often mistaken for twins.

Beaming, Anna told the Mirror: “We are overjoyed. We’ve now got the perfect family although this time last year we thought we’d never have children of our own. “Brian has given us a wonderful gift and we are so grateful to him. It was a chance in a million that my sister’s hairdresser was thinking of becoming a sperm donor. “And the chances of Kirsty and I both getting pregnant at the first attempt must be pretty remote too!”

Anna and Kirsty, who live in Gloucester, had been together for six years but became civil partners in June 2010. Anna says: “It was the happiest day of our lives. But once we were married it brought home how much we wanted to be parents. “Every time my sisters’ children came to stay I’d tuck them into bed thinking, ‘I wish we could have a little one of our own’.

“We weren’t able to afford fertility clinics and knew we could be on the NHS waiting list for years. “We knew we’d make great parents, but told ourselves it probably wouldn’t happen and just had to accept it.” And that was that until sister Lorraine went to have her hair done and opened up to Brian.

Anna recalls: “Kirsty and I were watching TV when she got a text from Lorraine saying she’d found us a donor. “I thought Lorraine was just having us on and said, ‘Oh yeah?’ very sarcastically.” But moments later Anna’s phone rang. Anna says: “Lorraine told me her hairdresser was gay and understood how difficult it was for couples like us.” A week later Brian called round for tea.

Anna says: “He asked us loads of questions. Then he said we were lovely people and deserved the chance to be parents. “He didn’t want payment and he was happy to have no involvement in the child’s life if that’s what we wanted, so we knew there was no ulterior motive.” After a few more meetings and Brian proving he was in good health, the threesome agreed to start trying for a baby. But there was one problem.

Anna explains: “We both wanted to experience carrying a child and giving birth. So we decided it was fairest to take it in turns until one of us got pregnant.” The couple went online to learn how to artificially inseminate themselves using the donated sperm and a syringe, but when Brian arrived on the day were all nervous. Anna says: “We were giggling and kept chatting because we felt uncomfortable. But then I said, ‘Right, shall we get on with it?’ “I handed Brian a plastic beaker we’d bought especially for the job and Kirsty and I went into the bedroom and waited.”

Later, after they thanked Brian and he left, the couple agreed that Kirsty would go first and Anna did the insemination. Anna goes on: “Afterwards Kirsty lay on the floor with her feet up against the wall because we read that would increase the chances. I just thought this is never going to work.” A couple of weeks later Brian visited again for Anna. Then, a few days later Kirsty’s period was late. A first pregnancy test was negative, but the next day she did it again and was thrilled to find she was pregnant.

Anna recalls: “We were jumping around the kitchen with joy. We simply couldn’t believe this had happened on our first attempt.” Then two weeks later Anna started to get bad cramps. She says: “Kirsty kept joking that I was pregnant. But I thought ‘There’s no way.’ “But when my period didn’t arrive I did a test too. Positive. “We were in shock. I sent Brian a text telling him the news. He replied ‘Congratulations. I’m so happy for both of you’.

“When I went with Kirsty for her first scan the midwife thought we were sisters because we look so much alike.” And being pregnant together really strengthened their relationship. Anna says: “We got to feel each other’s bump when the babies started to kick. And it brought us even closer as a couple.” When Kirsty’s due date came and went they grew anxious. Anna says: “I kept telling her to hurry up because I was due soon.”

Anna and Kirsty wanted to be there for each other when the babies were born. But they became worried when the midwife told them they might go into labour at the same time. Anna recalls: “She said because we were two women living together our hormones were probably in sync.” At 16 days overdue, Kirsty went into hospital to be induced. Anna was by her side. Anna says: “She was squeezing my hand and I could feel my baby kicking. I was telling her to push but I felt scared because that was going to be me soon.” After 16 hours in labour, Kirsty gave birth to Scarlett-Marie. Anna says: “I held her and was laughing hard because she had little pursed lips just like Kirsty.”

Kirsty and Scarlett-Marie were kept in hospital for a couple of days before they could return to their home where Brian showed up at the front door with a huge bouquet of flowers in his hand. But later that day Anna started getting pains and the next day they were back at the hospital. Anna recalls: “This time around it was Kirsty holding my hand and telling me to breathe in and out.” After 48 hours in labour, Anna gave birth to her baby, Alfie. Anna says: “It was just absolutely amazing. Two babies born just five days apart.” Scarlett is now 11 weeks old and Alfie is just over 10 weeks.

Anna says: “We are loving every minute of being parents. We love watching them lying together and cooing to each other. It’s totally beautiful to see the bond between them. “And Brian visits the children almost every week. He is happy to be called Daddy, if that’s what we want. “When the children are older we will tell them that they were his amazing gift to us. We are just so grateful he helped us both become mums.” Brian’s name has been changed to preserve his anonymity.

Article: 23rd January 2012 www.mirror.co.uk

Lesbian? looking for a sperm donor? register for FREE at www.prideangel.com

She spent two years undergoing IVF treatment, and after four failed attempts thought she had lost all hope of becoming a mother So it’s little wonder Kate Silverton looks overjoyed as she shows off the baby she never thought she would have – conceived naturally within weeks of stopping the treatment.

The 41-year-old BBC presenter, who is married to Michael Heron, a former Royal Marine, gave birth to daughter Clemency in November, describing her pregnancy as a ‘miracle’. ‘I still can’t quite believe that she’s here,’ she said. ‘Seeing her smile melts me to the core. It’s the culmination of everything I ever dared imagine or hope for.

‘When I have her in my arms, feeding her in the early hours, with Mike sleeping by my side, I look down at her little face and still feel overwhelmed by what’s happened.’ ‘Whether it’s the beaming smile I get when I lean over her crib in the morning or when her bottom lip trembles if she’s uncertain about something, I just live for those moments now. She’s just adorable.’

Doctors warned Miss Silverton she would struggle to conceive naturally after she had to undergo surgery to remove one of her ovaries. She then underwent four rounds of IVF, but they all failed and the couple stopped the treatment – only for Clemency to be conceived naturally soon afterwards.

Miss Silverton said: ‘I’m not sure how this happened, but I will give thanks every day for the rest of my life that I have experienced giving birth and now have a daughter. ‘It’s heartbreaking to know there are so many couples out there who face the same difficulties as we did and I wish that I could spread some of our good fortune to them.’

The TV star has yet to hire any help with the baby insisting that she and Heron, 44, wanted to do as much as possible themselves. She said: ‘We chose not to have any help as we like the idea of working as a team with her, to learn as much as we could instinctively, although I admit it has been a rather steep learning curve.’ Miss Silverton wed Mr Heron in December 2010 at St Bride’s Church in Fleet Street – two years after they began dating.

Article: 23rd January 2012 www.dailymail.co.uk

Read more about help conceiving naturally at www.prideangel.com

Bye June has announced the premiere of their eagerly awaited new music video, “Shades of Purple.” The track from their album “My Life is an Independent Film” is available now at all leading digital retailers.

“Shades of Purple” is the first pop music video to employ the ancient art of shadowgraphy, or hand shadows. Bye June teamed with world-renowned shadowgrapher Mr. Sati Achath; Resulting in an innovative melding of state-of-the-art video technology and old world shadowgraphy, which created a unique and outstanding medium.

In addition, Bye June’s social message about civil rights in general and same sex marriage in particular is the premise of the video’s story. “We asked our fans to choose a track for a music video, and they voted online for this song. I am very pleased, since this song has deep meaning and an important social message. Also, we were fortunate to have Mr. Achath on our team, he truly brought the characters to life," says Gil Kline, Bye June’s vocalist. “Shadowgraphy is a very old art-form, and I am very excited to bring this art-form to a whole new generation. I fell in love with this project for the music, message and medium.” says Sati Achath.

Bye June is a socially conscious band originally from the Washington DC area. They released their first CD “My Life Is An Independent Film” in August 2011. Bye June is: Gil Kline: guitars, vocals, composition and lyrics *Gunner Sledgeski: drums * Daniel McGreal: Bass.

Sati Achath is a world-renowned shadowgrapher. His shadowgraphy has been featured on "The Late Show with David Letterman”, CNN, ABC, CBS, and many other television channels in the U.S. and abroad. He was also a quarter-finalist in NBC's 2008 America’s Got Talent contest.

For up-to-the-minute news and information about Bye June, please visit www.byejune.com

For more information, please contact: Gil Kline

For more information about gay parenting visit www.prideangel.com

Looking to start your family? Why not visit the Fertility World Show London?

Visit: Fertility World in Association with Fertility Road & Pink Parenting (www.pink-parenting.com)
Where: Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre in London, UK.
When: Friday 18th May 10AM to 5:30PM | Saturday 19th of May 10AM to 5:00PM
Cost: Admission Free – Register www.fertility-world.co.uk

Fertility Experts & Doctors will be speaking in the Fertility Road (www.fertilityroad.com) Seminar Theatre to provide you the best information and resources to start building your family.

Doctors and Fertility Experts will offer free group discussions and talks throughout the day… Discussions include:

- Maximizing your chances of getting pregnant
- Choosing a fertility clinic
- Going overseas for fertility treatment
- LGBT Parenting Options - The donor and surrogacy route - Natural methods to boost your fertility - Fertility information resources

Fertility World is in association with Fertility Road, Europe’s No.1 Fertility Magazine aimed at helping women and men on their path to parenthood. The Magazine provides useful information from healthy eating habits to lifestyle choices and answers to your questions, all written by leading doctors and fertility experts. Our goal is to make your journey down Fertility Road easier by offering the latest dos and don’ts on conception.

To register for FREE just click here.

Read more about gay parenting options and finding a sperm or egg donor at www.prideangel.com

A sperm donor from California admits he has never had sex, yet fathers 14 children. Trent Arsenault hit the headlines last December when his free sperm bank came under investigation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which threatened him with a $100,000 fine and up to a year in jail.

Now, the Fremont, California local who bills himself as having an ideal gene pool to father children, has revealed that he is a 36-year-old virgin. The revelation on Anderson Cooper's daytime show, Anderson, means that the self-confessed tech-geek, an expert in Silicon Valley, finds himself in the highly unusual position of never having had sex, but fathering 14 healthy offspring.

Speaking on the chat show, Mr Arsenault said: 'I coined this term "donor sexual" and I'll explain it means 100 per cent of my sexual energy is for producing sperm for childless couples to have babies. So I don't have other activity outside of that.'

An incredulous Mr Cooper asked: 'So you do not have sex?' 'I will probably be the 40-year-old virgin,' the donor explained. 'Except I'll have 15 plus kids' - a statement that bought with it applause from the audience to the confusion of the host.

The show saw the virgin dad meet one of his progeny for the first time as Analise, who turns two this week, walked onto the stage. A visibly emotional Mr Arsenault said the meeting was a 'a thrill.' The toddler is mothered by a lesbian couple who seemed overjoyed following the donor's decision to help them conceive.

'I'm trying to not get too emotional,' he said. 'I’m just extremely happy that she's healthy and in a loving home. I hope she has the gene of compassion and that her parents nurture that.' Via a website, he touts his sperm as being organic but a health expert on the show warned that his unusual approach to fatherhood opens the door to spreading viral diseases such as HIV.

Her fears echo those of the FDA which claims Mr Arsenault did not take precautions to prevent disease spreading and found him to be unlawfully manufacturing human cells. The agency issued a 'cease-and-desist order' in what is the first ever case of its kind involving a private sperm donor in the U.S.

Mr Arsenault said in the past that he is simply helping out childless couples in situation where the only other alternative would be sex with a stranger. He told Huffington Post: ‘I'm helping people in need... I'm not running a business here.'

Article: 17th January 2012 www.dailymail.co.uk

Looking for a known sperm donor to donate by personal arrangement? visit www.prideangel.com

A transgender man in Israel has reportedly become the first in the state’s history to give birth. Yuval Topper, 24 had his child at the Sheba Medical Center on Thursday of last week.
Topper underwent a sex change operation three years ago, Ynet news said. He was travelling to Jerusalem, but stopped to give birth in Tel Aviv.

Topper told the paper: “We preferred to go to Hadassah Mount Scopus, a hospital where we received excellent treatment in the past, but we were forced to head to Sheba as result of the birth’s quick progress. “The staff at the hospital treated us with dignity and consideration.”

Topper shocked medical staff in central Israel a few months ago after walking into an emergency room and informing doctors that he underwent a sex change operation and is pregnant. A patient at the hospital reporedly said: “Everyone was in shock. He looked like a man in every way and insisted that medical staff address him as a male.”

In 2010, American trans man Thomas Beatie gave birth to his third child. Mr Beatie, who was born female, had his first child in 2008 because his wife Nancy was unable to conceive.

Before starting a family, Mr Beatie had been on hormone treatments, but stopped taking them in order to resume menstruating and conceive through artificial insemination. Speaking to Oprah Winfrey in April 2008, he said: “I actually opted not to do anything to my reproductive organs because I wanted to have a child one day. I see pregnancy as a process and it doesn’t define who I am.”

Article: 16th January 2012 www.pinknews.co.uk

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender? wishing to have a baby, visit www.prideangel.com

Linda Layne a feminist medical anthropologist, spent decades of working on pregnancy loss, now deciding to work on happier topics—single mothers by choice and two-mum families. Linda is particularly interested in the DIY approach. (Her book 'Feminist Technology' would give you an idea why.) Linda is from the US but based in Cambridge this year (till July 2012), she would really like to hear from anyone who is willing to share their story with her.

Linda’s book: Feminist Technology
Is there such a thing as a 'feminist technology'? If so, what makes a technology feminist? Is it in the design process, in the thing itself, in the way it is marketed, or in the way it is used by women (or by men)? In this collection, feminist scholars trained in diverse fields consider these questions by examining a range of products, tools, and technologies that were specifically designed for and marketed to women. Evaluating the claims that such products are liberating for women, the contributors focus on case studies of menstrual-suppressing birth control pills, home pregnancy tests, tampons, breast pumps, Norplant, anti-fertility vaccines, and microbicides. In examining these various products, this volume explores ways of actively intervening to develop better tools for designing, promoting, and evaluating feminist technologies. Recognizing the different needs and desires of women and acknowledging the multiplicity of feminist approaches, "Feminist Technologies" offers a sustained debate on existing and emergent technologies that share the goal of improving women's lives.

Review:
"This coherent and integrated collection lays out the issues and questions of feminist technology, crossing a true range of disciplinary boundaries including science and technology studies, architecture, biology, and the social sciences." Barbara Katz Rothman, author of Recreating Motherhood: Ideology and Technology in a Patriarchal Society

Please contact Linda at ll427@cam.ac.uk . All stories can be kept anonymous if preferred. All comments and views are appreciated.

Alternatively you may contact Pride Angel for further information.

Buy the book 'Feminist Technology' through Amazon, just click here: Shop