Archive for the ‘Infertility’ Category

Causes of Infertility Aren’t Always Complicated

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

For many couples, hearing the word “infertility” brings forth assumptions of serious problems that cannot be easily remedied.  However, for many people, infertility is only a temporary state and can be reversed, especially if the problem is one of irregular ovulation.

Many women do not realize that they are ovulating at inconsistent intervals.  Regardless of the reasons for their problems, the end result is an inability to become pregnant due to sperm being unable to essentially “connect” with an egg.

Reproductive health science specialists will be able to determine if a woman is ovulating regularly; if not, she can try a number of different ways to get her body to a regular rhythm through a variety of means, including diet, exercise and medication.

Remember that infertility is only a symptom.  Until the problem comes to the forefront, it’s just a diagnosis and shouldn’t cause immediate bells of alarm or worry.

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  • Privacy and Infertility

    Friday, July 23rd, 2010

    If you’ve experienced or are experiencing infertility, you probably have a deep understanding of how difficult it can be to deal with issues related to your personal privacy.

    To help you plan for success in this area, try some of these suggestions:

    → If you don’t want lots of people to know about your infertility problems, only tell one or two trusted friends or family members.  Don’t feel you have to announce it.  This is your personal situation and there’s no need to feel guilty about that.

    → When someone asks why you don’t have children “yet”, you are under no obligation to tell him or her that you are having fertility issues.  You can simply smile.  If they get pushy, you’re well within your rights to tell them it’s not something you wish to discuss.

    → If you are going to a fertility specialist, you can always tell your co-workers, friends or family members that you are headed “to the doctor”.  That way, they won’t know any more than you want them to know.

    Remember that you’re in charge of your privacy when it comes to your infertility.  You owe no one an explanation unless you wish to disclose what you’re experiencing.

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  • Is Your Job a Source of Your Infertility?

    Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

    More and more individuals who are dealing with infertility are looking into their work histories to determine an environmental cause for their problems… and some are discovering that past jobs may have contributed to their issues involving conception.

    Namely, workers who were (or are) exposed to chemicals like toxins and pesticides over long periods of time may find that they can become infertile as a result of the exposure.  (This seems to be especially true for males.)

    Although there is little you can do after-the-fact, it’s a good reason to be very careful about the working environments you accept, especially if you have the choice to go elsewhere.  Certain chemicals cause irreversible harm to sperm and other reproductive body systems.

    And if you wish to go the legal route to receive compensation for infertility that has been potentially caused by toxic working conditions, know that there are lawyers who specialize in this kind of lawsuit.  However, be aware that you may end up fighting your current or past employer for years, which could end up causing emotional problems, marital stress and financial issues. 

    Link Found Between Pollution and Infertility

    Thursday, May 13th, 2010

    Could the very air you breathe day-in, day-out be contributing to your level of fertility?  Some researchers are convinced that pollution can cause infertility, especially for females, and they’re doing studies to prove it.

    According to The Daily Telegraph, a 7-year study of U.S. women who underwent IVF were tracked.  Each person’s zip code was evaluated for the daily levels of pollution, as determined by the nitrogen dioxide concentrations in the air. 

    The conclusion?  For every extra (over and beyond the norm) unit of nitrogen dioxide the women took in during the 7 years, their fertility rates were cut by up to 24%.

    So does this mean that women who want to conceive a child through fertility treatments have to move to a more suburban or rural area?  The study’s findings would lean in that direction; however, it’s not a realistic solution for most people.   Besides, there are many other potential reasons for infertility, and although the pollution connection is strong, it is still only hypothetical.

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  • Picking the Right Fertility Treatment for You

    Friday, May 7th, 2010

    Every individual or couple’s fertility journey is unique.  Some eventually turn to surrogacy; others are able to naturally conceive after one round of Clomid.  That’s why it’s important to remember that there’s no upshot to comparing yourself to someone else.

    Many people become convinced that they know what will “work” for them before they ever even step foot in a fertility specialist’s office.  They’ve done their research (which is great!), they’ve talked to plenty of folks, and they’re sure they know the best route to take.

    But without a careful and comprehensive analysis (both physical and emotional) of their individual conditions, no fertility treatment can be pinpointed as “the one”. 

    In the end, it’s best to do your homework and investigate different types of fertility treatments.  That way, you can come to your appointments with knowledge.  Yet it’s equally as critical to have an open mind.  Depending upon what your physician tells you, your ideal fertility treatment may not be what you originally expected. 

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  • Having Trouble Conceiving? It Could Be Asherman’s Syndrome.

    Friday, April 30th, 2010

    Asherman’s Syndrome isn’t a commonly discussed condition… yet.  Lately, it’s been getting a lot of press because doctors have connected it to infertility, a problem faced by millions of individuals around the globe.

    Asherman’s affects women, not men, and is described as:

    “…an acquired uterine condition, characterized by the formation of adhesions (scar tissue) inside the uterus…”  (From  http://www.ashermans.org/)

    With proper treatment, many women are able to reproduce naturally; however, nothing can be done without a diagnosis.

    If you’ve been experiencing infertilityand know (or suspect) you have Asherman’s Syndrome, contact a reproductive health specialist for a more in-depth analysis.

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  • Be Careful of Wasting Money on So-Called Fertility “Cures”

    Thursday, April 15th, 2010

    It’s disheartening to see the amount of advertisements preying on women and men dealing with infertility.  Far too many make impossible promises, such as the products and services that claim to be able to “cure” any infertility.

    This falls directly under the “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” label.

    First, understand that infertility isn’t a one-size-fits-all condition.  Therefore, no manufacturer or company can possibly make guarantees, especially without a medical evaluation.

    Second, remember the adage that “a fool and his money are soon parted.”  We’re not suggesting you’re a fool, of course.  But you don’t want to make a foolish decision, especially with your finances.

    Third, some of these infertility “cures” on the market can be downright harmful.  Many are so-called “medicines” that have not been approved for safety or ingredients.  Taking this kind of product could actually compound your problems.

    Let’s face it — if fixing infertility was as easy as buying a product on the Internet or spending cash on a certain service, we would all know about it and be using this method to treat infertility.

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  • When Infertility Hurts… Psychologically

    Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

    depressed-galInfertility can be physically uncomfortable, especially if it’s associated with conditions like endometriosis and PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).  But it can be equally painful in a psychological way.

    Below, we’ll look at some of the common causes of psychological pain as it is related to infertility as well as how to combat that pain.

    Common Causes of Emotional Discomfort Regarding Infertility

    • Feeling “guilty”.
    • Being pressured to “just relax”.
    • Being around people who are able to easily conceive.
    • Being asked about having a child.
    • Being treated differently by a spouse or loved one.
    • Dealing with financial concerns about fertility treatments.
    • Handling the loss of miscarriages.

    Ways to Deal with Infertility from a Psychological Perspective

    • Talk to a therapist or counselor about your problems.
    • Join a support group of other women/men in similar situations.
    • Don’t define your life by your ability to naturally conceive.
    • Only talk about your infertility when YOU want to talk about it.
    • Look into options as far as fertility treatments are concerned.
    • Take antidepressants (if indicated by a physician.)
    • Eat right and exercise regularly.
    • Treat yourself well and not as a “victim”.
    • Write about your experiences in a personal journal (or even an anonymous blog.)
    • Read other women and men’s experiences with infertility.

    Don’t ignore your feelings or they will well up and spill over.  Instead, acknowledge your emotional responses to infertility and do everything in your power to manage those responses.

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  • Don’t Let Fear Stop You from Addressing Your Fertility Concerns

    Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

    It’s kind of ironic — plenty of couples struggling with fertility issues hesitate to get any help with their fertility concerns. 

    Their fears come in a number of different varieties.  Below are four of the most common reasons for not contacting a reproductive health specialist:

    • Knowing means having to address.  For some people, the reality of knowing what’s wrong will mean they’ll have to address those facts… and that can be tough for certain personality types.
    • A worry about cost.  The media has made it seem as if all fertility treatments are expensive; however, this isn’t the case.  There are many avenues to conception that are extremely economical.  It all depends on your particular situation.
    • Fear of retribution from a partner.  Women and men who are struggling with infertility may have a fear that a partner will be accusatory of it’s discovered that they are the “source” of the problem.  While this is not always a founded fear, if you are in a relationship where you are too scared of your partner to uncover the truth, you would be wise to undergo a serious amount of couples counseling to work on your partnership before embarking on a journey to have children.
    • Confusion about how to start.  Luckily, this is an easy solution — simply pick up the phone and contact a reputable clinic like RSI.  It’s really that straightforward.

    Don’t allow the unknown to keep you from addressing your fertility concerns.  Remember that it’s always better to have all the facts than to languish in the dark.

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  • Television Infertility vs. Real Infertility

    Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

    If you watch much television, you’ll realize that infertility is a commonly-used script device.  It’s especially handy on soap operas or dramas because it adds another dimension to a character and/or couple.  However, it’s rarely portrayed in a real light.

    Below, we’ve taken a look at TV infertility versus Real Life infertility.  The differences are quite obvious.

    • TV Infertility:  The woman is typically the infertile one.
    • Real Infertility:  In real world cases, about a third of infertility cases are because the female is infertile, a third is because the male is infertile and a third are caused by other specific reasons.

     

    • TV Infertility:  When it suits writers, infertility can suddenly “right” itself.
    • Real Infertility:  As most people who have experienced infertility realize, infertility doesn’t usually reverse itself.  It’s just not that easy.

     

    • TV Infertility:  Characters with infertility either treat it casually or super-dramatically.
    • Real Infertility:  In everyday life, people deal with infertility in a number of ways.  Though some are at the extremes, most are in the middle — they have good days and bad days.

     

    • TV Infertility:  A true “diagnosis” is never discussed.  It’s as if the infertility is a mystery.
    • Real Infertility:  Although infertility sometimes is a mystery to physicians, there are many ways to pinpoint the causes of infertility. 

    We’d like to hear your experiences on this topic.  What have you noticed (pro or con) about the treatment of infertility on TV versus what happens in real life?

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