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Infertility is a problem that afflicts more than a billion people across the world, which is why treatments such as IVF are so important. The procedure (in vitro fertilisation, to use it’s full name) involves the extraction of an egg from the woman's ovaries to be fertilised with sperm in a laboratory and returned to the woman’s womb. The goal is that the resulting embryo will then grow and develop into a foetus, blessing the parent or parents with a baby. However, success rates for IVF – as in, the percentage of treatments that result in a live birth – remain somewhat unencouraging: 32 per cent for women aged under 35; 25 per cent for women aged 35 to 37, with the numbers continuing to drop the older you get, according to the NHS. Nevertheless, a major new study has revealed a striking new finding which could help boost the hopes of countless aspiring mums and dads across the world. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter After analysing 3,657 frozen embryos over a period of eight years, researchers in Western Australia found that IVF was much more likely to work when eggs had been harvested in the summer. The team clarified that it didn’t seem to matter when the embryos were transferred to the mother’s womb, just when the eggs were collected. Indeed, the likelihood of babies being born when the eggs had been retrieved in the summer was 30 per cent higher than when they had been retrieved in the autumn, according to the scientists. The team also found that the temperature on the day of egg collection didn’t seem to have an impact on success rates, but the number of sunny hours did. Of the embryos they tested, those harvested on days that had the most sunshine were 28 per cent more likely to result in a live birth compared to the darkest and most overcast days. “Our study suggests that the best conditions for live births appear to be associated with summer and increased sunshine hours on the day of egg retrieval,” the study’s lead, Dr Sebastian Leathersich, of Perth’s King Edward Memorial Hospital, said about the paper, which was published in the journal Human Reproduction. Still, he noted: “There are many factors that influence fertility treatment success, age being among the most important. “However, this study adds further weight to the importance of environmental factors and their influence on egg quality and embryonic development." He further explained: “We effectively separated the conditions at the time of egg collection from the conditions at the time of transfer, demonstrating that environmental factors when the eggs are developing are as, if not more, important than environmental factors during implantation and early pregnancy.” The expert obstetrician and gynaecologist added: “Optimising factors such as avoiding smoking, alcohol and other toxins and maintaining healthy activity levels and weight should be paramount. However, clinicians and patients could also consider external factors such as environmental conditions.” Despite Dr Leathersich and his colleagues concluding that the temperature on the day of egg collection had little bearing on the success of the process, they also found that the temperature on the day of embryo implantation did make a difference. The chances of a live birth rate decreased by 18 per cent when the embryos were transferred on the hottest days (when average temperatures measured between 14.5C and 27.8C) compared to the coolest days (0.1C to 9.8C), and there was a small increase in miscarriage rates, from 5.5 per cent to 7.6. The finding that miscarriage rates were highest when embryo transfer took place on the hottest days is consistent with other studies showing higher rates of miscarriage in the summer months. “This suggests that the negative effects of high temperature are more likely related to early pregnancy rather than egg development,” Dr Leathersich concluded. When it comes to the disparity in success rates between eggs retrieved in summer and autumn, he and his team pointed out that melatonin levels could be at play. Differences in lifestyles between the winter and summer months may also play a role, he and his colleagues acknowledged. "It is possible that there are differences in activity, diet, and lifestyle in different seasons which could underlie the observed differences in live birth rates, though such data were not collected in this study," they wrote. "It is also possible that other environmental factors, including pollutants, may impact clinical outcomes." Whilst the study’s findings are compelling, Dr Leathersich and his team admitted that it did have its limitations. The research was done in hindsight, using eggs that had been frozen, then thawed, so it could not draw watertight conclusions. “Ideally, these findings should be replicated in other sites with different conditions and different treatment protocols to confirm the findings,” Dr Leathersich said. “It would also be interesting to look at the impact of season and environmental factors on sperm parameters, as this could have contributed to our observations.” He added: “We are now planning to analyse this same group of patients using air quality data, as there may be seasonal changes in exposure to harmful pollutants which could negatively affect reproductive outcomes. “Finally, given the huge increase in so-called 'social egg freezing' for fertility preservation and the fact that this group generally have flexibility about when they choose to undergo treatment, it would be very interesting to see if these observations hold true with frozen eggs that are thawed and fertilised years later. “Any improved outcomes in this group could have big impacts for women making decisions about their future fertility, but the long-term follow-up required means it is likely to be some time before we can draw any conclusions for this population.” Have your say in our news democracy. 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Nearly half (44%) of women experiencing menopause symptoms ‘suffer in silence’ at work, due to fears it could negatively impact their career. In a bid to hide symptoms, 48% say they would lie about why they needed a sick day, rather than saying menopause was affecting them, and 39% are still embarrassed to talk about the topic at work, according to a new survey by Lime Solicitors. The law firm polled 1,001 women who are experiencing or have experienced menopause or perimenopause. The research, carried out in April, also found 60% of respondents think their workplace should offer more menopause support, and less than a third (29%) of the women surveyed said they would feel comfortable asking for adjustments to help support them with menopause symptoms. “Our research shows that almost half the of women surveyed think going through menopause will negatively impact their career, which is why so many women suffer in silence,” said Neha Thethi, head of employment at Lime Solicitors. “It appears employers are failing an important part of their workforce by not providing the necessary support or creating a positive culture whereby people can raise concerns or issues with confidence. “To help dispel the stigma around menopause and empower women to speak freely and honestly about their experiences, we need menopause champions in all workplaces,” Neha added. How can employers help? “Menopause is a simple fact of life, and very much a reality in the workplace,” Paula Allen, global leader of research and total wellbeing, and senior vice-president at TELUS Health, told PA Media. While there has been a big increase in menopause awareness in recent years – with a number of celebrities, such as Davina McCall, shining a light on the topic, there’s still progress to be made. “It isn’t paid much attention in the workplace as a health issue, and therefore is rarely managed in a way that is optimum,” she added. She said, “eradicating stigma and inaction starts with education” – which can include “wellbeing sessions on all aspects of women’s health, including menopause, and training of managers on how to support employees with health needs”. Dee Murray, CEO of Menopause Experts Group, agrees awareness training is a key part of the picture. “Women who experience menopausal symptoms in the workplace are likely to need some support, or at the very least signposting, when they most need help,” said Murray. “Making sure line managers are trained, or at least have some basic knowledge, is hugely important. It’s also important to remember that those managers too may be experiencing menopause symptoms, or will do at some stage, if they are female. “Menopause champions – just like mental health first aiders – have become a vital part of the workplace for many women,” Murray adds. “Champions allow women to feel safe speaking out about symptoms that may be causing them extra anxiety and challenges at work. “Far too many women still feel embarrassed about discussing symptoms, and they must feel secure in the knowledge that they will not become the butt of the office jokes or judged about their symptoms, which can often be debilitating and very personal.” Workplace adjustments Allen said: “The good news is that even though menopause is a noteworthy health issue, the support needed from a workplace point of view can be quite simple. For example, menopause can cause drastic changes in body temperature, which can be addressed with fans, or by offering desks with windows or air conditioning vents close by. “Symptoms of menopause may also include insomnia, irritability and depressive symptoms, all of which have a physical base but can impact behaviour and mental wellbeing. With this, employees should take advantage of the personal support offered by their workplace through their Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and their Telemedicine provider if available.” A flexible approach Murray notes that flexible working can be an effective adjustment too. “Employers who offer flexible working hours and remote working will benefit in the longer term. Firms with Menopause Approved status find they have better retention of staff and are more competitive when it comes to recruitment too,” she said. “Those experiencing menopause are not always seeking special treatment, just acknowledgement and support to help them through what can be a tricky time.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Signs and symptoms of breast cancer as Amy Dowden reveals diagnosis Helen Flanagan says she spent her 20s ‘pregnant and breastfeeding’ Baby food and drink guidelines needed over sugar concerns, say health campaigners

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Unlike the prized WFH office chairs we know and love, the best dining chairs must cater to a wide range of butts (not just our own), coexist under one table, and look just as good as they feel. Depending on the eaters in your home, it's also good to consider if the dining chairs can handle the occasional food stain or are able to be doused in Scotchgard. All in all, each living space has different dining chair needs, and we've found a hoard of unique seats that measure up, according to rave reviews.