Archive for the ‘Infertility’ Category
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011
If you’re interested in learning more about infertility, it’s important to first have a good amount of knowledge about the topic area.
Below, we’ve put together eight basic facts on fertility to help you get started. If you want to learn more, contact the Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) today to set up a consultation. And please understand that your case is unique to your situation. That’s why it’s so important to get advice from a reputable, experienced fertility specialist who can help you make decisions as to your reproductive concerns.
8 Basic Fertility Facts:
- Two-thirds of couples or individuals treated for infertility go on to have healthy pregnancies and children.
- One-third of women over 35 will experience some kind of fertility issue.
- In 2010, over 7 million American men and women sought help for their infertility issues.
- Ovarian cysts are the most common cause of infertility in females in the United States.
- Infertility statistics for 2011 have risen from those for 2010. This may be because of many factors, including couples marrying later in life and/or the willingness to seek out fertility treatments as opposed to adopting or simply not having children.
- 11.8 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 44 have impaired fecundity.
- 7.4 percent of married women can be clinically classified as infertile.
- In America, there are almost 2 million reported pregnancy losses each year. (This is compared with over 4 million live births.)
Sources: National Women’s Health Information Center, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Tags: American Men, Centers For Disease Control, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Disease Control And Prevention, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fecundity, Fertility Issue, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Having Children, Health Information Center, Infertility, Infertility Issues, Live Births, Married Women, National Women, Ovarian Cysts, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Pregnancy Losses, Reproductive Concerns, Reproductive Science Institute, Wyomissing
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Friday, September 30th, 2011
It’s called CoQ-10, and it’s heralded as an anti-aging vitamin/enzyme. Whether or not this veritable fountain of youth works is up for debate; however, Canadian scientists conducting research using the vitamin have discovered that it seems to be able to make “old” human ova (eggs) youthful. And this could be useful for females over 35 with fertility issues or who have simply delayed starting a family for personal reasons.
The Toronto research team has tried using CoQ-10 on animals (mice) and has had excellent success. In fact, team members are quite certain that this vitamin (which can be found over-the-counter) may one day help women in their late 30s and 40s have children using their own eggs. Even if they have to undergo IVF and/or IUI, they may be able to avoid getting donor eggs or using a gestational carrier.
The mice in the Canadian research project produced healthy offspring well into their midlife years. (In human years, they bred until about age 50.) Plus, the mice not only were able to conceive, but they looked healthier and younger than mice who were not injected with CoQ-10.
Noted study leader Robert Casper, senior scientist, Sinai’s Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute: “I don’t think it will delay the onset of menopause, but I do think it will improve the quality of eggs.”
If you’re a female and you’re interested in learning more about fertility treatments and techniques, contact a reputable fertility specialist like the Pennsylvania based Reproductive Science Institute.
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Tags: 40s, Canadian Scientists, Casper, Conducting Research, Coq 10, Donor Eggs, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Issues, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Fountain Of Youth, Gestational Carrier, IVF, Onset Of Menopause, PA Infertility, Personal Reasons, Philadelphia Infertility, Reading, Reproductive Science Institute, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Samuel Lunenfeld Research, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Study Leader, Veritable Fountain, Wyomissing
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Monday, September 19th, 2011
“Do I look fat in this?”
It’s a common phrase, especially in western culture where extra pounds are seen as verboten! There’s no doubt about it – many women complain about the weight, but what plenty with infertility issues don’t ever consider is the size of their ovaries.
However, researchers have shown that ovaries can be “fat”, or, more to the point, “fatty”. And the heavier/larger the ovaries are, the harder it can be for females to conceive without intervention from a fertility specialist.
Fatty ovaries have a tendency to be found in women who are already obese or in those who have diabetes. Because of the additional fatty acids contained within the ovaries, conception is made problematic. Essentially, fertilization cannot occur because fat is being metabolized at a faster-than-normal rate.
A recent study looked at this phenomenon by testing the ovaries of cows. Though not all animal research translates to humans, the British scientists who headed this one have emphasized their certainty that findings are pertinent for humans as well as bovines.
So is a “fat” ovary a definite cause of your infertility? Without a comprehensive checkup from a reputable fertility specialist, like those found at the Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, PC (RSI), it is really impossible to say. Yet it is wise to lose weight if your BMI is greater than 25 or lands you into a “clinically obese” category, regardless of whether your ovaries are contributing to your infertility issues or not.
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Tags: Animal Research, Bmi, Bovines, British Scientists, Common Phrase, Cows, Definite Cause, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fatty Acids, Females, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Fertilization, Infertility, Infertility Issues, No Doubt, Ovaries, Ovary, Philadelphia Infertility, Reading PA Infertility, Reproductive Science Institute, Suburban Philadelphia, Western Culture, Wyomissing PA Infertility
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Friday, September 2nd, 2011
If you’ve had difficulty getting pregnant, you’ve likely heard this one over and over:
“Just adopt a baby! Then, you’ll get pregnant right away… it happened to my [fill-in-the-blank]!”
While that type of story makes for great anecdotes, it isn’t statistically proven, nor is it something to count on if you’re struggling with infertility.
The truth is that infertility is a medical, not a social, condition. Though outside influences can have effects on whether or not a female can easily have a child, those influences do not include adopting.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with looking into adoption; in fact, we recommend it for the right couples who have the correct attitude about the process. However, it’s important to recognize that adoption isn’t the answer if you’re only doing it so you can somehow “reverse” your fertility issues. Doing so can lead to:
- Added stress thanks to the burden you’ve put upon yourselves in setting up unrealistic hopes based on the adoption myth.
- Discontent if you do not become pregnant after adopting a child.
- Negative decisions based on misinformation.
Again, there’s no reason not to look into adoption, but make sure you always do it for the right reasons. Infertility can’t be reversed by adopting a child, but it can often be overcome with scientifically proven methods such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI).
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Tags: Adopting A Child, Adoption, Anecdotes, Correct Attitude, Couples, Decisions, Discontent, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatment, Fertilization Ivf, Fill In The Blank, Infertility, Intrauterine Insemination, Misinformation, Myth, Nbsp, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Pregnant, Reading, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Stress, Truth, Vitro Fertilization, Wyomissing
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Wednesday, August 31st, 2011
For many couples, dealing with infertility can put so much of an emotional strain on their partnership that sex becomes difficult. Not only does this make getting pregnant naturally even more of a challenge, but it begins to erode some of the bond that they have every right to share.
Some of the more common feelings men and women sometimes have toward their sex lives during infertility include:
Fear – One or both may wonder “what happens if this doesn’t produce a baby… again?”
Anger – It’s not unusual for partners to be angry; after all, they didn’t “choose” infertility.
Frustration – This can lead to problems in the bedroom, especially with performance.
Depression – This culprit can make “getting in the mood” – or staying in a lovemaking mood – thorny.
Sadness – It’s tough to have sexual intercourse when you’re upset.
The good news, though, is that many couples going through sex worries during infertility get through this phase. Some of the best ways to overcome the negative emotions associated with conception woes can be:
- Talking about your feelings openly. It’s easier to deal with facts when they are out in the open.
- Making sex special and not just robotic. There’s no reason intercourse shouldn’t be romantic, even if it’s “scheduled” to take advantage of fertile times.
- Touching one another intimately even when you don’t plan on having sex soon. This can operate as mental foreplay so when you are in the bedroom, you feel more into the moment.
Remember that, above all else, infertility is no one’s “fault”. Talk to your infertility specialist, like the experts at the Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) outside of Philadelphia, for more ideas on how to keep your partnership strong during fertility treatments and fertility-related issues.
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Tags: Couples Sex, Culprit, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Emotional Strain, Fertile Times, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Foreplay, Having Sex, Infertility, Infertility Specialist, Negative Emotions, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Reading, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Sadness, Sex Couples, Sex Life, Sex Lives, sexual intercourse, Woes, Worries, Wyomissing
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Monday, August 29th, 2011
Sexually transmitted diseases may not be discussed much among adults, but they’ve slowly crept into medical charts of the over 25-year-old population. Though gonorrhea diagnoses have lowered over the past several years, cases of chlamydia are on the rise. And that’s a cause for alarm among women and men who want to have children.
STDs like chlamydia have been known to cause infertility in both males and females. Whether complete or partial infertility, they are “hidden” causes. That’s because, surprisingly, many STDs have no (or very few) warning signs or symptoms.
So what can you do to protect yourself? There are several options:
- Don’t have sex with any partners who have not been screened for STDs.
- Always wear protection during any sexual intercourse and either abstain from oral sex or use protection during those acts as well.
- If you have had unprotected sex, get tested.
While it’s understandable that you may feel embarrassed to talk about STDs with your primary physician or fertility specialist, it’s necessary to remove the possibility that your infertility may be exacerbated by an undiagnosed condition such as chlamydia.
And be assured that reputable fertility clinics, like the Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) on the outskirts of Philadelphia, are staffed with trained professionals who pass no judgment and only want to help you achieve your health goals.
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Tags: Chlamydia, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Clinics, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Health Goals, Infertility, Males And Females, Medical Charts, oral sex, Outskirts, PA Infertility, Reading, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, sexual intercourse, sexually transmitted diseases, Std Sexually Transmitted Diseases, STDs, Undiagnosed Condition, Unprotected Sex, Warning Signs, Women And Men, Wyomissing
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Monday, August 22nd, 2011
As one of the Philadelphia area’s premiere fertility clinics, The Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) tries to keep you informed and up to date about all things related to fertility treatments, infertility and similar topic areas.
This week, we’d like to share some of the fertility “buzz” from around the Interwaves. As always, if you’d like to discuss your specific situation, please contact our offices to schedule an appointment.
Belfast: A new fertility test from Lewis Fertility Testing is being marketed across the UK and Ireland, as well as the rest of the world. Backed by Ulster Bank, the fertility test claims to provide couples with faster ways to discover whether or not they are fertile. With the test, men and women would have the opportunity to know earlier whether or not it would be a smart idea to contact a fertility specialist.
New York: Could male hormones (androgens) be the key to successful fertility treatments in women? Researchers are studying whether a combination of specific male hormones and FSH may in fact boost a female’s fertility ability, especially in patients who suffer from PCOS.
Internet: The Journal of Reproductive Medicine has printed a piece suggesting that women with infertility may in fact often also have undiagnosed celiac disease. This is re-fueling the chicken-versus-egg debate between celiac disease and infertility. Some scientists say the two have little in common, others say one may feed the other. In the study, the authors noted: “Women with unexplained infertility are at increased risk of having undiagnosed celiac disease, which may be a potentially modifiable (and treatable) risk factor.”
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Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011
A research study recently published in the Pharmacological Research journal has scientists buzzing about the possibility that antioxidants could help infertile couples and individuals.
The study, headed by Oregon State University researcher Tory Hagen and Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (Spain) scientist Francesco Visioli, is based on the hypothesis that infertility often goes hand-in-hand with diseases such as high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. Consequently, Hagen and Visioli have concluded that the same antioxidants (e.g., lipoic acid) that help lower the chances of a man or woman having those conditions may also help those persons become less likely to be infertile.
This connection between nutrition and infertility is not a new one. For years, many fertility specialists have known that what goes into the body can have an effect on infertility. In fact, we at RSI, one of Philadelphia’s premiere fertility clinics, have blogged before about the topic. However, the published study has opened the doors for more in-depth research.
As Hagen said in a recent statement released to the press: “…the problem [infertility] is huge, and the data from laboratory studies is very robust, it all fits. There is evidence this might work, and the potential benefits could be enormous.”
All in all, it sounds like a promising path, and we’re all for changing diets and lifestyle habits to help improve fertility in our patients.
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Tags: Congestive Heart Failure, Diets, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, Fertility Clinics, Fertility Specialists, Hagen, Heart Failure, High Blood Pressure, Hypothesis, infertile couples, Infertility, Laboratory Studies, Lifestyle Habits, Oregon State University, Patient Appointment, Pharmacological Research, Promising Path, Reproductice Science, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Scientist, Tory, University Researcher
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Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
What does the UK’s version of Big Brother have to do with infertility? Read on to discover the inside scoop….
Chantelle Houghton, 27, was a contestant on the show several years ago (2006) and has admitted that her obsession with being thin has hurt her chances to have a child without IVF treatment.
Noted Houghton to the BBC:
“Because of my obsession with food and my crash dieting when I had bulimia, I’ve ruined my chances of having a baby naturally.”
Though doctors have not said she absolutely cannot have children on her own, they have reportedly told Houghton she has “low fertility” and have suggested fertility treatments should she and current boyfriend Alex Reid want to get pregnant.
Houghton isn’t taking the discovery lightly and is now speaking out to raise awareness about the connection between eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia and binge eating on fertility.
It’s sad to hear Houghton say she blames herself, especially since eating disorders are not a deliberate choice. Yet it’s heartening to know that she’s trying to help others not become as obsessed with numbers on a scale or looking “a certain way” to fit unrealistic media standards.
If you have or have had an eating disorder, we at RSI, one of Philadelphia area’s premiere fertility clinics, recommend you undergo therapy (and hospitalization, if necessary) to control the condition before entering into fertility treatments.
Remember that there IS life and can be pregnancy after an eating disorder. But not until you get control of your health.
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Monday, July 18th, 2011
A new strain of gonorrhea that’s resistant to traditionally-used antibiotics could have widespread implications when it comes to fertility. And this development is concerning physicians and scientists around the world.
The “superbug” (as the media has been dubbing it) strain was first found in Japan and is classified as H041. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has even jumped on the bandwagon, issuing a warning that includes the serious admonition:
“While antibiotics can successfully treat gonorrhea, over time the bacteria has developed resistance to several of these drugs … CDC now recommends only one class of antibiotics, called cephalosporins .. however, findings from the recent analysis signal the potential for resistance to cephalosporins, the last line of defense for treating gonorrhea.”
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in general have long been causes for infertility (temporary or permanent) in both males and females, but gonorrhea has, until now, shown itself to be curable. However, if the new H041 strain enters into the population in earnest, issues faced by couples today and in the future could become more problematic.
To protect yourself from gonorrhea and other fertility-stealing STDs, it’s important to:
1. Always use protection, even during oral sex.
2. Get yourself tested if you (or your partner) have had more than one sexual partner in your lifetime.
3. Contact your doctor or fertility specialist immediately ff you think you may have been exposed to an STD.
Remember – it may seem embarrassing to admit to having an STD, but it won’t go away on its own. Thus, it’s up to you to take care of your health, for your – and your fertility’s – sake.
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