Learn more about Balance Fertility:
Balance Fertility is a partnership between Reproductive Biologist and Nutrition Scientist, Grace Dugdale, and internationally renowned fertility specialist, world expert in PCOS and Professor of Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Adam Balen. We offer a fully integrated medical, dietary and lifestyle diagnostic and consultation service for reproductive health and wellbeing for both men and women.
At Balance Fertility, we believe in offering evidence-based natural and holistic approaches to optimising your reproductive health, with the best that the latest advances in modern medicine can bring, to help you achieve health, balance and fertility.
Any symptom or health problem has underlying biological factors that contribute to the condition – factors that we can influence through changes to our diet, lifestyle and nutrient status. This is the starting point for The Balance Fertility approach. We look at what might be causing your reproductive health and fertility concerns and, based on a thorough investigation into your medical history and assessment of your symptoms, offer a series of diagnostic tests that help us to pinpoint the problem areas that we can work on. This allows us to offer a personalised programme for your individual health needs. Through a range of specific evidence-based dietary and lifestyle changes that we advise based on your test results, we empower you to take control of your health and wellbeing and optimise the various factors that can influence your condition. Only then do we consider the appropriate medical intervention that may be necessary. Optimising your wellbeing prior to any treatment allows you to fully benefit from your medical care and ensure any investment in medical treatment is both needed and also maximised in order to help you achieve the best outcome.
Because our reproductive biologists, nutrition scientists and medical specialists work in close cooperation, you can rest assured that your care is fully integrated, evidence-based and medically approved by leading experts.
Grace Dugdale
Grace Dugdale is a reproductive biologist and nutrition scientist with a background in molecular biology & genetics and extensive experience in reproductive health. She has spent many years researching biological function in sex and fertility and has a number of research special interests in relation to fertility: in particular metabolic health, the microbiome, mitochondrial function, epigenetics, foetal programming and the optimisation of embryonic development through modifiable factors in the father and mother. Via a path of interdisciplinary research, Grace has been able to develop both extensive knowledge and a unique approach to addressing fertility issues in men and women.
This research has led to the development of an evidence-based fertility and preconception care programme for both men and women trying to conceive that considers the numerous modifiable factors that impact both male and female fertility, and also the health of the baby born. The focus is on diagnostic, personalised medicine to assess the many underlying health factors that can contribute to difficulties conceiving. Grace takes a systems biology and preventative medicine approach in relation to maternal-fetal health via therapeutic targets related to cellular ageing and underlying biological dysfunction.
Grace runs a fertility and preconception care clinic at The Nuffield Leeds Hospital, and will soon be launching clinics in Harrogate and London. She also devised and intermittently runs a free fertility and preconception care course in Leeds for men and women who are trying to conceive. The course was launched at Leeds Fertility and empowers couples to take control of their own health through dietary and lifestyle factors that can impact reproductive success and the future health of the child. Since lifetime health starts before conception through the impact of environmental factors on parental gametes (that is the eggs and sperm) and maternal underlying biological function, Grace is passionate about making a difference to future generations and public health through her work.
Grace is a member of the London Epigenomics Club and attends the All Party Parliamentary Group for Sexual and Reproductive Health, whilst actively maintaining her continuing professional development in reproductive medicine and biology through regular attendance at courses and conferences. Grace is also a public speaker and has given talks on sex and science at events such as Latitude, Festival No 6, Salon London and the Harrogate Literary Festival, as well as appearing on numerous TV and radio programmes to talk about reproductive health, sex and fertility.
As a campaigner in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, and sexual abuse and exploitation, Grace is passionate about promoting good quality sex, relationship and fertility education, gender equality, and healthy attitudes towards sex and reproduction in young people. As such, she is a regular mentor for both the South Bank Centre’s International Day of the Girl and Women of the World Festival, as well as contributor to the British Fertility Society’s Fertility Education Initiative.
She is a member of The British Fertility Society and The European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology.
Adam Balen
Professor Adam Balen, is a full-time National Health Service (NHS) consultant and is the Lead Clinician at Leeds Fertility, one of the largest assisted conception units in the UK. His special interests include all aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), assisted conception, paediatric and adolescent gynaecology and disorders of sexual development.
Adam was Chair of the British Fertility Society until January 2018, a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Infertility Guidelines Committee and Chair of the WHO Expert Working Group on the management of PCOS. He also sits on the Council of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London. He is past Chair of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology’s (ESHRE’s) Special Interest Group on Reproductive Endocrinology and is a member of the ESHRE Fertility Awareness Committee.
Adam is the author of 13 books and more than 220 peer-reviewed papers. His books include Infertility in Practice (4th edition 2014), Current Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (2010) and Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (2018).
As Chair of the British Fertility Society, Adam created two new national task forces: Fertility Preservation UK to ensure nationwide provision for those who require fertility preservation, and The Fertility Education Initiative to improve the provision of education to young people about all aspects of reproductive health, including factors that may influence their future fertility. He is also Chair of the NHS England IVF Pricing Development Expert Advisory Group.
Please look at www.AdamBalen.com to read his blog and follow him on Twitter @BalenAdam.
Making a Difference
Adam and Grace both are passionate about promoting women’s health and the importance of educating everyone about their health, wellbeing and fertility. As Chair of the British Fertility Society, Adam founded The Fertility Education Initiative to educate young people and those of reproductive age about their fertility. Both Grace and Adam are actively involved in this ongoing project to develop educational materials and raise awareness about fertility. You can find out more by visiting www.fertilityed.uk
Grace devised and runs a free preconception care and fertility course for men and women who are trying to conceive that provides detailed, evidence-based information for patients on the many factors that are under our control that impact our health and fertility. This course is available free of charge for those who cannot afford private consultations. Adam is heavily involved in this course also and gives of his time freely to support this unique initiative.
Adam also chairs the NHS IVF pricing group that aims to promote fair funding of IVF on the NHS. He campaigns tirelessly for this cause and cares deeply about equitable access of treatment for all and an end to the ‘post-code lottery’.