Archive for the ‘female infertility’ Category

How Old is Too Old for Fertility Treatments?

Saturday, June 5th, 2010

From India comes a news story that has raised many eyebrows:  A mom gave birth. 

Why is this such a big deal, you ask?  Because the woman in question is 58.

This brings us back to a serious topic of debate around the globe:  When is a woman too old to receive fertility treatments?

Though there doesn’t seem to be one definitive answer, there does seem to be a general consensus in the medical community that by a woman’s late 40s, the risks begin to significantly outweigh the potential fertility treatment outcomes.  And by “risks”, we can mean serious (even fatal) consequences.

Of course, the “appropriate” age may not always be directed by the scientific community, but by social mores. 

So we ask you:  When is a woman “too old” for fertility treatments?

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  • Fertility News from Around the Interwebs

    Saturday, May 29th, 2010

    Here’s a round-up of some of the latest fertility-related news from cyberspace:

    LIGHT WAVES COULD IMPROVE SPERM PRODUCTION

    In Israel, fertility specialists have been experimenting with visible light rays in an effort to increase the quality of sperm production.  Oxygen is emitted from these visible light rays and would appear to make sperm more mobile.  Hence, IVF treatment results have been improved.

    Although this is a form of radiation, the sperm did not incur DNA damage.  More studies have been planned.

    ONCOFERTILITY HELPS PRESERVE FERTILITY FOR FEMALE CANCER PATIENTS

    In women who experience cancer, part of the side effects of treatment can be infertility.  Thus, oncofertility doctors and specialists have taken center stage recently to help females receive better options when it comes to preserving their fertility.

    To tackle this topic, a nationwide group of clinicians and researchers have formed the Oncofertility Consortium.  It’s a great step forward for those who become victims of cancer, especially at an early (i.e. child-bearing or pre-child-bearing) age.

    FOOD NETWORK STAR MAY HAVE ARRANGED FOR WIFE’S WOULD-BE MURDER BECAUSE OF HER INFERTILITY

    In a strange twist, Juan-Carlos Cruz, the Food Network chef who allegedly tried to arrange his wife’s murder using a “hit man”, may have done so because his wife was infertile.

    The case against Cruz is still in preliminary phases, so time will tell if this rumor is true.

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  • Infertility Isn’t Only a Woman’s Issue

    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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  • Conception Myths

    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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