Mumsnet Talk

So what do we think?

Is there really porn in fertility clinics? I asked DH and he said there was a copy of FHM or something. What sort of level of porn do you mean?

Dh was given a jar and led into a medical storage cupboard. Or do you think that the boxes of latex gloves were meant to be stimulating?

I'm easy about it.
In the andrology place where DP did the tests a couple of years ago, you could bring your own "material" (there was a DVD player apparently) or your partner, but not much was provided. DP said there was only a tattered copy of some gadget magazine called Stuff, which was profoundly unerotic.

Oh.... I have no experience but I was listening to the radio and got the impression that mags were on offer....

fine

MrNC said there were a few Playboy-type mags when he was sent to a cubicle to produce a sample, but he thought they were left by a previous patient. And earplugs would have been more useful, given the cubicle next door was in use...

Message withdrawn

You have to bring it in super quickly, though, and kept warmish. Within 30 mins? We couldn't have done that, it was 45 mins on the bus to the clinic. <feels that line should be in an Alan Bennett play>

AvrilHeytch, usually timing is fairly essential for IVF and ICSI, but if it is just a sperm count if might be different. Once we were past the first test, we never had the option of bringing a sample from home.

fairly relaxed if it is reasonably tame. I can't remember what dh did or whether there was 'material' available. It always amazes me they are able to produce to order tbh - and can understand that a little 'help' might be needed.

DH had to produce a sample once at the clinic and he said there was a range of magazines there - no idea how "hard" the material was.

Whilst I wouldn't be impressed to find that material at home I can see how being forced to do it to order in a clinic is a situation in which visual stimulation might be helpful. Clinic was private if that makes a difference.

@ AxisofEvil
As long as it's private clinic porn. Standards are there to be upheld.

yes there is porn. Also gay porn.

My DH said when he was in the NHS clinic we used there there was a printout from Wikipedia all about Katherine Jenkins. Different things turn different people on.

Not necessary, shouldn't be provided.

Not necessary, shouldn't be provided.

I don't see there is any need at all. Use your imagination, bring a pic of your OH on your phone.

This pernicious incorporation of porn into mainstream society should not be validated by it being embedded in medical services.

And how insulting to men - presuming that they can only orgasm to female exploitation!

sizpercent - well quite . What I'd been trying to say (clearly not very well) is that I could imagine there being more policy restrictions on this kind of thing in the NHS given it is state funded.

I don't see how its necessary either.

Maybe its a timing thing more than anything else... there are a limited number of rooms and they want to get them through the system quickly. It might be more likely if porn is provided rather than having to rely on imagination, particularly if they're feeling a bit stressed.

DH said there were some Playboy type magazines but he wasn't sure whether they'd been provided by the NHS or abandoned by earlier occupants of the room. It was certainly around though.

What is the problem with it? That the NHS shouldn't spend money on pornographic material? Perhaps the men should be responsible for providing their own if that is the case. I should imagine that most men have at least 1 dirty magazine or could afford to spend about £1 on one. I can't imagine that the porn provided is extreme.

Here's an article on it

Truthfully, according to DH , to have to produce a sample to order into a small cup in a room where everyone knows what you are doing is difficult enough. If anything can make it easier, then it should be provided.

Yeah but porno magazines are v offensive.

When a friend of mine had IVF, she and her DH wanted her to join him in the cubicle and assist him. The clinic staff said no. Porn, however, was provided.

So apparently getting off to a picture of some other woman was more acceptable than your wife helping you out.

But seriously - if the men would like some additional help (and who wouldn't, under those circumstances), shouldn't it at least be an option for their partner to provide it?