In her article ‘IVF for same-sex couples’ October 9), Claire Axiak, a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, stated that: “For infertile couples, access to IVF treatment is the only option to conceive a much-wanted child.” No, that is not the case. Maryln Glenville, a leading nutritionist in the UK, says that a natural approach to infertility can come into play. One has to look deeper at causes of infertility – at lifestyle factors, nutritional deficiencies and even emotional elements.

“The natural approach to fertility,” she says, “is and has been enormously successful, largely because fertility is multi-factorial, meaning that there are many, many elements that can be at the root of fertility problems. A study conducted by the University of Surrey showed that couples with a previous history of infertility who made changes in their lifestyle, diet and took nutritional supplements had an 80 per cent success rate,” she said.

She adds: “Given that the success rate for IVF is around 25 per cent, it’s worth considering these options.”

Furthermore, to help infertile couples have children, besides strengthening the fostering and adoption services, we can, and should, activate, now, the Healthy Lifestyle Law of 2016. The law establishes and ensures an inter-ministerial lifelong approach favouring physical education and healthy balanced diets for a healthy lifestyle. In article 5.1. (g), the Advisory Council on Healthy Lifestyles to be set up by the law has the duty to “encourage a lifelong approach, from conception till old age, to physical activity and a healthy lifestyle”.