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Archive for February, 2010
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
For couples just entering the world of infertility treatments, the variety of acronyms may seem a little overwhelming. In this article, we’ll talk about intrauterine insemination, typically abbreviated as IUI.
What is It?
IUI is a procedure whereby a catheter containing washed sperm is inserted through the cervix. The sperm is then pushed into the uterus in the hopes of fertilization with an ovum.
When Does IUI Take Place?
IUIis typically scheduled within 6 hours (before or after) of a woman’s ovulation. (hCG injections may be used to ensure ovulation.) Timing is critical because sperm can only last 24-72 hours and are typically considered less viable after 24 hours.
Does IUI Hurt?
Most women report feeling very little discomfort during IUI.
Can the Sperm “Fall Out” after IUI?
The sperm that has been injected into the uterus will remain there. Women do not need to go on any kind of “bed rest” post IUI.
What is the Success Rate of IUI?
Success rates are quite variable. Some studies quote numbers of as little as 4-8%; others claim the success rate is closer to 20%.
What Can We Expect to Spend on IUI?
The costs of IUI will depend on your unique situation and where you go for treatment. Therefore, you should connect with your fertility specialist for more information.
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Tags: bed rest, Catheter, Cervix, fertility specialist, Fertilization, Hcg Injections, Infertility, Infertility Treatments, Intrauterine Insemination, Iui Success Rates, Ovulation Timing, ovum, sperm, Success Rate, Uterus
Posted in IUI | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
The term “hostile cervical mucus” may not be one you hear every day, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be a factor if you’ve been unable to naturally conceive a child.
All women have cervical mucus. What makes some cervical mucus “hostile” is its thickness. Typically, cervical mucus helps sperm pass through the cervix at various times during a woman’s ovulation. However, hostile cervical mucus prevents the sperm from travelling to the ovum. Thus, the chances of pregnancy reduce greatly.
Hostile cervical mucus can be caused by a number of factors, including:
- Poor nutrition
Over-the-counter and prescription medications
Use of Clomid
Abnormal sperm
Not enough estrogen
Fortunately, there are ways for physicians to help women counteract hostile cervical mucus, rendering the condition less problematic.
How do you know if hostile cervical mucus could be to blame for your infertility problems? Only a fertility specialist can tell for certain, so it’s important to make a call today.
Tags: Abnormal Sperm, Cervix, Chances Of Pregnancy, Clomid, Estrogen, fertility specialist, Hostile Cervical Mucus, Infertility, Infertility Problems, Ovulation, ovum, Physicians, Poor Nutrition, Prescription Medications
Posted in Hostile Cervical Mucus | No Comments »
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
In one of our posts from last October, we sent our congratulations to “Top Chef”’s Padma Lakshmi. Lakshmi struggled for many years with endometriosis, which can cause infertility in some women. Fortunately, she was able to conceive and gave birth to a baby girl Saturday evening (February 20).
Lakshmi’s experience shows how infertility linked to endometriosis can and does affect women representing all walks of life, including superstars. Although statistics aren’t widely available, rates of infertility among women with endometriosis range from 30-50%.
If you think you might have endometriosis (or you know you do) and you want to have a baby, it’s important to work with your doctor to give you the best chance to conceive despite your medical condition.
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Tags: Baby Girl, Endometriosis, Infertility, Medical Condition, Padma Lakshmi, Statistics, Top Chef
Posted in Facts and Figures, Fertility Issues In the News, Television | No Comments »
Saturday, February 20th, 2010
A recent article caught our eye. It discussed the potential connection between celiac disease and infertility.
In the Food Consumer piece, entitled “Can Foods Contribute to Infertility?“, the author explains:
Infertility seems to be more common in women with untreated celiac disease. Other gynecological and obstetrical problems may also be more common, including miscarriages and preterm births.
For men, problems can include abnormal sperm — such as lower sperm numbers, altered shape, and reduced function. Men with untreated celiac disease may also have lower testosterone levels.
The article goes on to explain celiac disease and several excellent ways to deal with it.
If you’re interested in the topic, it’s definitely worth a look.
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Tags: Abnormal Sperm, Celiac Disease, Infertility, Miscarriages, Obstetrical Problems, Preterm Births, Rsi, Testosterone, Testosterone Levels
Posted in Health and Nutrition | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
This article about egg donation recently caught our eye. Rather than looking from the point of view of an individual or couple, the piece tells the story from the egg donor’s experience.
As Cathy Sidaway, a three-time egg donor, explains her desire to be one of the countless “Samaritans” for childless couples:
“I know about the heartache infertility causes… My cousin has endometriosis, and it’s been torturous for her. Another friend had seven miscarriages and was desperate for the family other people have quite easily…”
Thanks to the selflessness of women who choose to become egg donors like Sidaway (who receives zero remuneration for her good deeds according to the article), hundreds of babies will be born into loving families in the coming year.
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Tags: Babies, Childless Couples, Egg Donation, Egg Donor, Egg Donors, Endometriosis, Good Deeds, Infertility, Infertility Causes, Loving Families, Miscarriages, Remuneration, Samaritans, Selflessness
Posted in Egg Donation | No Comments »
Monday, February 15th, 2010
Are you one of the numerous women whose periods don’t fall neatly into any kind of a 28-35 day cycle? If so, you may have difficulty becoming pregnant.
During a woman’s menstrual cycle, one (usually) egg is released from the ovaries. If the egg isn’t fertilized within 24 hours, it is no longer viable. Thus, within several days, menses occurs. However, if your period isn’t happening on a predictable basis, it can be tough to figure out when the best time of the month to conceive would be. (Remember — it’s a smaller window of opportunity than you might think!)
This is where a reproductive science specialist can help tremendously. Your physician can prescribe pharmaceuticals to help regulate your menses, thus increasing your chances of naturally getting pregnant.
If you’ve been trying to have a baby for over six months and haven’t been able to conceive (without using any kind of birth control), it might be worth a trip to a fertility specialist.
Don’t immediately assume that you’ll have to invest a lot of money, either. Many couples whose only problem is the woman’s irregular cycle have found great success for an extremely economical investment.
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Tags: Best Time, Birth Control, Couples, Economical Investment, Egg, fertility specialist, Irregular Menstruation, Menstrual Cycle, Miracles, Ovaries, Periods, Pharmaceuticals, Reproductive Science, Science Specialist, Time Of The Month, Trying To Have A Baby, Window Of Opportunity, Woman
Posted in Menstruation | No Comments »
Friday, February 12th, 2010
Do you know your BMI (body mass index)? If not, it might be a good idea to find out if you’re trying to have a baby.BMI is a method of determining whether you’re at a weight that is healthy for your frame (judging by height). Though it can be somewhat skewed if you are very short or excessively tall, it’s typically a decent indicator for people of average height, which is the majority of the population.
In terms of fertility, your BMI should fall in the normal weight category, which is 18.5-24.9, to give you the best chances of success. So the closer you can get to that range, the better off you’ll be. (For a quick BMI calculator, check here.)
So how does BMI affect fertility? In a nutshell, if you’re underweight, your body may not be producing enough hormones to create an internal environment that’s conducive to regular ovulation and menses.
On the other end of the scale, if your BMI shows you to be overweight or obese, additional health problems (like early onset of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.) can make conception difficult.
Though having a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 won’t assure that you’ll be able to conceive naturally or with fertility treatments, you’ll be at a much better starting point weight-wise.
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Tags: Bmi Body Mass Index, Bmi Calculator, Bmi Index, Body Mass Index, Cholesterol, Diabetes, Fertility Treatments, Health Problems, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Hormones, Internal Environment, Menses, Ovulation, Trying To Have A Baby, Weight Category
Posted in Health and Nutrition | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
It’s no secret that megastar Celine Dion has gone through IVF treatments in the past. In fact, she’s been quite vocal about her experiences. But for Dion, as happens for many women, a latest round of IVF treatments have ended in a miscarriage.To Dion’s credit, however, she’s not going to give up hope. Though she’s headed back to Las Vegas for more entertaining, she still has thoughts of conceiving a baby on her mind.
As Dion noted in a recent interview, she’s going to keep attempting IVF “until it works”.
We wish her much luck and applaud her for her positive attitude and willingness to discuss this personal situation.
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Tags: Celine Dion, Conceiving A Baby, IVF treatments, Las Vegas, Megastar, Miscarriage, Positive Attitude
Posted in Fertility Issues In the News | No Comments »
Monday, February 8th, 2010
Too often, people tend to think of infertility as being a female issue. Though this is probably due to the fact that women are the ones carrying the children, there’s as much of a likelihood that a couple’s inability to conceive is a male problem as that it is a female one.
Statistics vary on how often couples’ conception problems are related to female issues as opposed to males — some sources say a third of fertility problems is due to the female’s infertility, a third is due to the male’s infertility and a third is due to unknown circumstances. Other sources have the figures at 40%, 40% and 20%. But the crux of the studies show that men have just as much chance of having infertility issues as do women.
It’s time to stop thinking of infertility as something that’s primarily related to women. Truly, it’s a condition that’s “equal opportunity”.
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Tags: female infertility, Fertility Problems, Infertility, Infertility Issues, Male Infertility, Rsi, Statistics, Woman Issue
Posted in Male Infertility, female infertility | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Many women feel they are somehow “inadequate” if they are having difficulty conceiving children. But if they’re over 30, they need to consider that fertility is definitely a “numbers game.”
Recent research has shown that by the age of 30, women have about a 1 in 5 chance of getting pregnant during their cycles. Thus, without any other complications or problems, the success rate is only 20%. (Compare that with a much higher success rate for women in their early twenties.)
To make matters more complicated, that statistic dips to a 1 in 20 chance (or 5%) by the time the woman is 40.
Though the numbers may be sobering, it’s important to remember that age is a natural process; therefore, it’s critical for women not to “kick themselves” for waiting to conceive.
Fortunately, many women have found that through a variety of fertility treatments, they can improve upon those statistics. It’s just a matter of working with a reproductive health specialist who understands how to evaluate and, when possible, maximize a female’s fertility.
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Tags: Female Fertility, Fertility Treatments, Health Specialist, Reproductive Health, Rsi, Statistic, Statistics, Success Rate
Posted in Statistics | 1 Comment »
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