Archive for December, 2009
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
Are you planning on having a child in 2010? If so, you may want to take some steps to make sure you give yourself every chance of greeting 2011 with a baby (or a baby on the way.)
What can you do to get yourself prepared? Depending upon your situation, there are a number of items you should consider, including the following:
- Stop smoking.
- Stop drinking alcohol.
- Stop taking any illegal drugs.
- Stop taking any prescription drugs (if possible) that may hinder fertility.
- Start (or continue) a moderate exercise program.
- Stop using any form of birth control.
- Get checked for any kind of STDs. (They often have no symptoms and can be an unrealized cause of infertility.)
- If you’ve had infertility problems, get assistance from a reputable reproductive science specialist.
- Eat a diet that’s high in vitamins and lower in saturated fats.
- Try to de-stress whenever possible.
- Start having sex every three days or so (except during menses) to maximize your chances of natural conception.
- If you’ve decided to consider surrogacy, start checking out clinics that can assist you in finding a surrogate.
- Men may want to start wearing boxers. (Some studies have shown that briefs can cause sperm efficacy problems.)
- Males may also want to be careful when using cell phones. (Cell phones placed in laps can possibly affect sperm quality and counts.)
- If you’re considering IVF and you’re employed, you may want to look into your rights when it comes to time off or short term disability leave (if necessary).
- For couples looking to conceive through the donation of a viable egg, it makes sense to connect with a clinic that offers a well-respected egg donor program.
Happy New Year to you! Feel free to contact RSI to help you make your baby dreams a reality!
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: 2010 resolutions, Baby Dreams, Baby On The Way, Egg Donor Program, Exercise Program, Fertility, Happy New Year, Having Sex, Illegal Drugs, Infertility, Infertility Problems, Menses, Moderate Exercise, Natural Conception, new year's resolutions, Prescription Drugs, Reproductive Science, resolutions for 2010, Saturated Fats, Science Specialist, Short Term Disability, STDs, Stop Drinking Alcohol, Stop Smoking
Posted in Holidays | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
The phrase “420 friendly” is often used to denote people and websites that are open to the casual use of marijuana (cannabis). However, for those couples trying to conceive, it’s a good idea to halt any drug use, including that of marijuana.
Many studies have made a connection between marijuana use and subsequent male and female infertility issues. Although some pro-marijuana groups feel that the evidence should be challenged, the medical community generally feels that results of studies are strong enough to support the notion that anyone who wants to have a child should halt all use of marijuana.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: 420 friendly, cannabis, Couples, couples trying to conceive, Drug Use, female infertility, Fertility, Groups, Infertility, Infertility Issues, Male Infertility, marijuana, Marijuana Cannabis, Marijuana Studies, Medical Community, Miracles, Notion, People, Phrase, Pro Marijuana, Rsi, Trying To Conceive, Use Of Marijuana
Posted in Drug Use | 1 Comment »
Saturday, December 26th, 2009
There are tons of myths surrounding when and how often couples who are trying to get pregnant should have sex.
For instance, some of these misconceptions include:
- A woman should have sex on day 14 of her menstrual cycle.
- A woman should have sex within three days of ovulation.
- When a woman’s BBT temperature is highest, it’s time to have intercourse.
- Couples should have sex as many times around a woman’s period of ovulation as possible.
So what’s wrong with these commonly-held beliefs? A few things:
- Most women don’t have a standard cycle, which can be a huge problem if they’re trying to have sex at the “right” time. It’s better for them to have intercourse once every three days (about two days less than the average length of time that sperm can live in a woman’s body).
- Tracking BBT can definitely be a good way to try to get pregnant, but it’s not an exact science. Again, if you’re having sexual intercourse regularly, you’ll naturally increase the chances for conception around the time of the highest BBT reading.
- Though there’s nothing wrong with having a great deal of sex, it doesn’t necessarily translate to having a child. Sperm counts may be low, ovulation may not have taken place, etc.
The bottom line? Don’t buy in to all the “information” you’ve heard regarding infertility. Though much of it has a basis in science, it isn’t as accurate (or applicable) as you might be led to believe.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Bbt, Bottom Line, Couples, Days Of Ovulation, Exact Science, Having Sexual Intercourse, Infertility, Length Of Time, Menstrual Cycle, Miracles, Misconceptions, Myths, Right Time, Sex, sperm, Temperature, Translate, Woman
Posted in Myths & Misconceptions | No Comments »
Thursday, December 24th, 2009
If you’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease (or if you have the disease and don’t realize it), you could be facing fertility problems.
Celiac disease is a disease of the digestive tract. Those who have it typically experience bouts of gastrointestinal distress, including bloating, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. It’s estimated that there are over 2 million persons thought to have celiac disease in the U.S.; those who have been diagnosed must opt for a gluten-free diet to combat their problems.
Two of the more intriguing (and sometimes overlooked) symptoms of celiac disease which may be overlooked are infertilityand frequent miscarriage. Although it’s true that those symptoms can be associated with a wide range of medical concerns, it’s advisable to get checked for celiac disease if you’re having trouble conceiving and cannot pinpoint the reason. If nothing else, you’ll rule out a potential source of infertility.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Celiac Disease, Diarrhea, Digestive Tract, Experience Bouts, Fertility Problems, Gastrointestinal, Gastrointestinal Distress, Gluten Free Diet, Infertility, Medical Concerns, Miracles, Miscarriage, Nausea, Nausea And Vomiting
Posted in Celiac Disease | 2 Comments »
Monday, December 21st, 2009
Reviews are in for “Did You Hear about The Morgans?” In general, they’re not pretty, but the evaluations of movie critics are beyond the scope of this article.
The real problem with the script may be that, once again, infertility is thrown into the mix as a catalyst for “marriage problems”. Hollywood’s view of infertility seems to be as a writing device; consequently, it’s rarely treated with any kind of genuine regard but rather glossed over.
In reality, though, infertility is so much more complex. It’s also highly personal, generating more discussions than simply film-style “We can’t have a baby” ones.
It would be nice to see a mainstream movie appear that honestly deals with the layers of infertility instead of using it as some kind of technique to explain away marital difficulties.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Catalyst, Did You Hear About The Morgans, Evaluations, Film Style, Genuine Regard, Hollywood, Infertility, Mainstream, Marital Difficulties, Marriage, Marriage Problems, Miracles, Movie Critics, Rsi, Scope
Posted in Fertility Issues In the News | No Comments »
Saturday, December 19th, 2009
In a rather unusual story from Canada, two sisters who are involved in a field that involves adult sex toys are concerned that chemicals that have been banned (at least in Canada) from other items are allowed in adult bedroom products.
Two of the chemicals in question are bisphenol A and phthalates, which some claim are linked to medical concerns including infertility. Other chemicals (many of which are commonly found in sexual lubricants) have also been deemed potentially dangerous by some scientists.
Though this shouldn’t be cause for extreme measures, couples who use bedroom devices to enhance their romantic activities may wish to consider the materials from which those items are manufactured.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Adult Products, Adult Sex Toys, Adult Toys, Bedroom Products, Bedroom Toys, Canada, Chemicals, Couples, Extreme Measures, Infertility, Medical Concerns, Miracles, Romantic Activities, Scientists, Sexual Lubricants, Two Sisters, Unusual Story
Posted in Fertility Issues In the News | No Comments »
Friday, December 18th, 2009
Rumor would have us believing that women are putting off their fertility treatments until the latest possible time in their lives, but that seems to be a myth. A recent survey of over 700 women showed that 88% were under age 35 when they first sought treatment for their fertility issues.
This shows that many women (and men) are recognizing the signs that they might need help (e.g., not conceiving naturally after trying for about a year to get pregnant, a series of ectopic pregnancies, endometriosis, STDs). It’s a good development, as it gives individuals and families more time to work with reproductive science specialists to address their fertility issues.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Address, Endometriosis, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatments, Miracles, Myth, Pregnant, Reproductive Science, Rsi, Science Specialists, Signs, STDs, Women And Men
Posted in Facts and Figures | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
Recent reports have suggested that Asian-American women may have more trouble conceiving than their Caucasian counterparts.
With all elements being relatively equal — where the women come from, their ages, their lifestyles — Asian-American females had fewer successful pregnancies (naturally or through IVF) than did Caucasians.
What isn’t clear is why this seems to be the case. Could it be that Asian-American women are typically small in stature? Could it be something that Asian-Americans tend to eat or use for medicine (such as herbs or foreign foods)?
The good news is that Asian-Americans CAN conceive; it just might take a bit longer for them than for a Caucasian friend.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Click here to Download our Fall Newsletter
Tags: American Females, Asian American Women, Asian Americans, Asian Females, Asian Women, Caucasian, Caucasians, Counterparts, Elements, Fall Newsletter, Herbs, Infertility, IVF, Lifestyles, Medicine, Miracles, Pregnancies, Stature
Posted in female infertility | 3 Comments »
Saturday, December 12th, 2009
Soy is being used more and more often in everyday products. While many vegetarians, vegans and otherwise nutrition-conscious individuals are thrilled about this fact, others, especially those with fertility issues, are becoming wary of what seems to be a soy overload.
The problem is that soy can “mimic” the female hormones. And some researchers have found that this is causing a boost in infertility in both men and women.
So should you quit drinking or eating soy? Although there are no definitive answers, it’s a good question to ask your reproductive health specialist.
Tags: Conscious Individuals, Definitive Answers, Everyday Products, Fall Newsletter, Female Hormones, Fertility Issues, Good Question, Health Specialist, Infertility, Men And Women, Miracles, nutrition, Reproductive Health, Rsi, Soy, Vegans, Vegetarians
Posted in Health and Nutrition | 1 Comment »
