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Archive for the ‘female infertility’ Category
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 »
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.
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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 | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Home fertility tests. What could be simpler? Like over-the-counter pregnancy tests, they can give you all the information you need to know how to maximize your fertility, right? Unfortunately, the reality isn’t so cut and dry for most couples. And those who rely solely on home fertility tests to help them navigate their issues with infertility may simply be wasting their dollars.
As physicians who specialize in reproductive health will tell you, infertility isn’t a one-size-fits-all concern. What helps one woman conceive might do nothing for another. And therein lies the problem with at-home fertility kits.
Because these fertility kits measure only one area involved in fertility — ovulation — they cannot provide the necessary personalization you deserve. After all, they’ve been designed with an “average” consumer who simply needs to understand when she’s ovulating in order to conceive in mind… and that might not describe your case.
This isn’t to say that you can’t try a home fertility test; in fact, you can do whatever you desire. But know that if you haven’t been able to naturally conceive within 6-12 months after ceasing all birth control, it’s a good idea to shift gears and head to a fertility specialist for a one-on-one examination.
(There’s a good article on the About.com site regarding at-home fertility tests, in case you’d like to further educate yourself. Otherwise, consider these kits as potential tools but don’t waste time and money on them if you haven’t been able to get pregnant. It’s much better — and financially prudent – to head to a physician instead.)
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Tags: 12 Months, Birth Control, Couples, Fall Newsletter, fertility specialist, Fertility Tests, Gears, home fertility kit, Home Fertility Test, Infertility, Miracles, Ovulation, Peace Of Mind, Personalization, Physicians, Potential Tools, Pregnancy Tests, Reproductive Health, Time And Money, Waste Time
Posted in female infertility | No Comments »
Saturday, October 31st, 2009
As reported by Rob Waters at Bloomberg.com, Reijo Pera, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford, near Palo Alto, California, discovered three genes involved in germ-cell creation that are missing or defective in infertile males. For the current research, she and her team engineered a protein that glows green when those genes are present, signifying a germ cell.
Reijo Pera said the technique would allow her to take patients’ own stem cells and make full-fledged sperm cells and, eventually, egg cells, which could be used for in vitro fertilization procedures. Her goal is to use her new methods to study infertility in a laboratory dish and hunt for drugs that could correct it.
“I’m hopeful that in two to five years we’ll be better able to understand and diagnose infertility,” providing some answers to the 30 percent of infertile couples that never find out what went wrong, she said. Click here to read the entire article.
Infertility is a medical condition and deserves a thorough and competent medical evaluation. The professional staff at Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, P.C. welcomes the opportunity to be a resource to you.
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Tags: Cell Creation, Current Research, Egg Cells, Fall Newsletter, Germ Cell, Glows, infertile couples, Infertile Males, Infertility, Laboratory Dish, Medical Evaluation, Obstetrics And Gynecology, Obstetrics Gynecology, Palo Alto California, Professional Staff, Reijo, Reproductive Science Institute, Sperm Cells, Stem Cells, Suburban Philadelphia, Vitro Fertilization
Posted in IVF treatments, Infertility, Male Infertility, female infertility | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
The American Fertility Association conducted a 15 question survey concerning basic fertility facts. One out of 12,382 respondents answered the questions correctly.
Brenda stokes writes about the 10 Common Fertility Myths in an article published on www.babyzone.com . We’ve compiled a few highlights:
Myth #1: The pill reduces fertility.
No evidence shows that the consistent use of birth control pills affects future fertility. Because they remain in a woman’s system for around 24 hours at a time, birth control pills never make much of an impact on the body’s ability to reproduce. If anything, using the pill or one of its hormonal counterparts such as the patch or the ring can actually help fertility in some women. “Birth control pills have to be used to treat and reduce symptoms of disorders such as endometriosis, which is a factor in infertility,” says Dr. Brasner.
Myth #2: Ovulation occurs on day 14.
While the typical menstrual cycle is 28 days, not every woman is typical. In fact, many women have a cycle that lasts from 21 days up to as many as 35 days, says Dr. Singh. To calculate your day of ovulation, count backwards 14 days from the last day of your cycle. It very well could be day 14, or day 12, or day 20. You can also try more sophisticated methods for predicting your patterns and days of ovulation. Try tracking your basal body temperature, watching for changes in your cervical fluid, or testing your saliva or urine for the presence of chemicals indicating ovulation is near.
Myth #3: Fertility problems begin at age 35.
Facts show that fertility changes throughout a woman’s life and doesn’t suddenly decline when she turns 35. Rather, many women reach their fertile peak in their early twenties, says Dr. Shari Brasner, MD, author of Advice From a Pregnant Obstetrician: An Inside Guide. This is an age when most women aren’t even considering having children yet, says Dr. Brasner. But just because you’re not thinking about children doesn’t mean your biological clock isn’t ticking. Knowing and understanding this from early adulthood can prevent a lot of heartbreak later on and give you realistic expectations about your chances of conceiving.
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Tags: 28 Days, Basal Body Temperature, Birth Control, Birth Control Pills, Day Of Ovulation, Days Of Ovulation, Dr Singh, Endometriosis, Fertility Problems, Having Children, Infertility, Menstrual Cycle, Myth 2, Myth 3, Obstetrician, Question Survey, S System, Saliva, Shari Brasner, Sophisticated Methods
Posted in Facts and Figures, female infertility | 3 Comments »
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
Scientists believe that smoking may impair fertility by as much as 30%.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, nicotine and other toxic chemicals in cigarettes impede fertility by interfering with the body’s ability to make estrogen, a hormone integral to regular ovulation, and can make women’s eggs more vulnerable to genetic abnormalities.
Fertility.com lists some of the ways smoking can undermine female fertility:
- Restricted blood flow to the genitals, contributing to vaginal dryness and other sexual problems.
- Decreased egg counts due to destruction of eggs in the ovaries before the eggs reach maturity.
- Alterations in the release of hormones.
- Decreased fallopian tube motility and tubal disease.
- Decreased ability of an embryo to implant.
Women who want to be as healthy as possible while trying to conceive should stop smoking immediately. Support Groups, Hypnotherapy, Acupuncture, Nicotine Patches and Chewing Gum are all popular methods for kicking the smoking habit.
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Tags: American Society For Reproductive Medicine, Blood Flow, Chemicals In Cigarettes, Chewing Gum, Estrogen, Fall Newsletter, Fallopian Tube, Female Fertility, female infertility, Genetic Abnormalities, Genitals, Motility, Nicotine, Nicotine Gum, Nicotine Patches, Ovaries, Ovulation, Sexual Problems, Smoking Habit, Toxic Chemicals In Cigarettes, Vaginal Dryness
Posted in female infertility | 1 Comment »
Friday, October 16th, 2009
Choosing a fertility clinic can be a difficult task. After all, whatever decision you make you will have to live with for a very long time.
To be of assistance, we’ve outlined five areas for you to take into consideration when determining the right fertility clinic for you.
Philosophy: When you visit the their website, is their patient philosophy clearly stated? Does it appeal to you? Does the organization require its members to follow ethical guidelines? Does the clinic have age limits for treatment?
Review Success Rates: Deciphering success rates can be tricky as not all clinics format their success rates in the same way. Call and ask which of the success rates applies to you.
Range of Services Offered: What services are offered and how often are they done? Are they familiar with the latest technologies?
Medical Director: How long as the Medical Director been there? This is a good indicator of the strength of leadership.
Scheduling Flexibility: Is the clinic open evenings, weekends, and holidays? This is especially important for certain courses of treatment.
Women over age 35 or who have a history of three or more miscarriages; men with a poor semen analysis; and couples who have tried for at least two years to get pregnant, should plan on seeing a fertility specialist, recommends Resolve, an infertility support group.
If you or someone you know is in the process of choosing a fertility clinic, we invite you to contact us. We welcome the opportunity to answer your questions and be of service to you.
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Tags: Choosing a Fertility Clinic, Couples, Ethical Guidelines, Fall Newsletter, fertility clinic, fertility specialist, Flexibility, Infertility, Infertility Support Group, Leadership, Long Time, Medical Director, Miracles, Miscarriages, Open Evenings, Philosophy, Semen Analysis, Success Rates, Weekends And Holidays
Posted in Infertility, female infertility | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
It’s common for couples who have been trying to conceive without success to immediately think the reason for infertility stems from the female. Before you jump to any conclusions and before you’ve gone through testing and received treatment recommendations from a board qualified reproductive endocrinologist consider the following:
According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, one-third of infertility cases are female factor infertility, one-third are male factor, and the remaining third involve problems on both sides, or unexplained causes.
A few common causes of male infertility:
Male infertility accounts for approximately 40% of the 2.3 million diagnosed infertility cases in the United States. For this reason, when a couple is experiencing difficulty in achieving pregnancy, a complete semen analysis is a relatively simple and inexpensive test that should be done in the beginning phase of testing.
The semen analysis may even be done without a consultation. Treatments for male infertility depend on the specific cause of the infertility and have included surgery, medical treatment and microscopic insemination techniques.
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Tags: Achieving Pregnancy, American Society Of Reproductive Medicine, Causes Of Male Infertility, Cigarette Smoking, Excessive Alcohol Consumption, Excessive Exercise, Excessive Stress, Fall Newsletter, Female Factor Infertility, female infertility, Inexpensive Test, Infertility, Infertility Accounts, Infertility Cases, Insemination, Low Sperm Count, Male Hormones, Semen Analysis, Treatment Recommendations, Unexplained Causes
Posted in Infertility, Male Infertility, female infertility | No Comments »
Monday, October 12th, 2009
In the October 12th edition of LA Times, Shari Roan writes about how stress or worrying can affect IVF success. The article states: ”A study in the October issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility found that women who “let go” of their worries about becoming pregnant during in vitro fertilization treatment were more likely to become pregnant.
The study examined 88 women as they went through IVF treatment. The women’s emotional coping strategies were measured. For example, researchers tried to determine how much the women thought about or worried about the outcome of their treatments and how much they felt they needed to persevere. “Letting go” was defined as being emotionally disengaged from the process and distracting oneself from the treatment.
Of the 88 women, 21 became pregnant. But those who had the highest scores reflecting a “letting go” attitude were 88% more likely to become pregnant compared with women who tended to worry and ruminate about the treatment.” You can read the entire article by clicking here.
It is estimated that one out of every six couples in the United States is coping with infertility issues. At RSI, we understand that the mere thought of not being able to have children can be emotionally taxing and may even make many people feel something is wrong with them.
That’s why we’ve developed this free report: Emotional Effects of Infertility. When you discover ways to cope with the emotional effects of infertility, you will reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. Download your copy of this report http://www.rsiinfertility.com/freereports.html
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Tags: anxiety, Attitude, Coping Strategies, Coping With Infertility, Couples, Emotional Effects, Fall Newsletter, Feelings, Fertility And Sterility, Infertility, Infertility Issues, La Times, Miracles, Pregnant, Pregnant Women, Reduce Stress, Rsi, Shari Roan, Stress, United States, Vitro Fertilization, Worries
Posted in Fertility Issues In the News, Health and Nutrition, Stress, female infertility | No Comments »
Friday, October 9th, 2009
“Model, author, and Emmy-nominated Padma Lakshmi confirms that she is carrying her first child after years of struggling with endometriosis, a cause for which she has co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America,” the rep tells Us of Lakshmi, 39.
As outlined on the FAQ page of our website: Endometriosis is the growth of endometrial tissue, which normally lines the uterus, in other parts of the body. Endometriosis typically grows in the abdominal cavity and most often attaches to the ovaries, fallopian tubes, outer surface of the uterus, bowels, or other abdominal organs. Endometriosis growths, called implants or lesions, often bleed during menstruation, causing pain. They may also develop scar tissue (adhesions) that can interfere with an organ’s normal function. Scar tissue can also cause pain and difficulty becoming pregnant (infertility). The diagnosis of endometriosis is usually made by ultrasound and is verified by surgery through a procedure called laparoscopy.
Endometriosis can be treated with medicines or with surgery to remove implants and scar tissue. Infertility caused by endometriosis can sometimes be successfully treated with surgery, fertility drug treatment and assisted reproduction. The common forms of assisted reproduction include intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization. Additional frequently asked questions on this topic can be found at: http://www.rsiinfertility.com/FAQ.html
RSI provides comprehensive services in both male and female infertility and reproductive gynecological treatments. Our team is dedicated to providing the highest quality of medical care with respect and compassion.
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Tags: Abdominal Cavity, Abdominal Organs, Adhesions, Assisted Reproduction, Bowels, Comprehensive Services, Diagnosis Of Endometriosis, Endometriosis, Fall Newsletter, female infertility, Fertility Drug, Implants, Infertility, Intrauterine Insemination, Lesions, Outer Surface, Ovaries, Padma Lakshmi, Rsi, Scar Tissue, Top Chef, Ultrasound, Uterus, Vitro Fertilization
Posted in Fertility Issues In the News, Infertility, female infertility | 1 Comment »
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