Archive for the ‘Infertility’ Category
Friday, July 1st, 2011
There are many considerations to make when you’re struggling with infertility. Depending upon what type of fertility treatment you decide to undergo, one of those considerations may be to seek out legal assistance.
Lawyers can be an asset to individuals and couples, but only if they fully understand the complexity (and legal issues) surrounding fertility issues.
To help you make wise choices, here are several points to remember when hiring an attorney for your fertility matters:
1. Make sure the attorney you choose has experience in the area you need.
Many lawyers handle aspects of fertility treatments, but not all of them have wide-ranging experience in all types of fertility issues. Whether you need someone to help you with adoption, donor egg, surrogacy or other considerations, make sure you find someone who can represent you well.
2. Reproductive law is a very specific area right now – find someone who has immersed him- or herself in it.
It may be wise for you to hire an attorney who has made reproductive law a passion, rather than someone who does “reproductive law on the side”. Look to work with a lawyer whose other areas of law complement reproductive law.
3. Interview all prospective attorneys before making any decisions.
Don’t choose an attorney in haste. You will be paying serious money for representation, so make sure you get the best person you can afford. If a lawyer balks at being “interviewed”, move on.
4. Look for a track record and ask for referrals.
Attorneys who have a long track record of helping individuals and couples with fertility treatment and reproductive law issues will be happy to share their successes. Look at their numbers and ask for referrals to other clientele, then ask those clientele pointed questions that pertain to what you need.
5. Don’t be bullied.
Finally, it’s critical to understand that you needn’t accept any kind of verbal “pushiness” from your attorney. If you feel like you’re being bullied or “talked down to”, it’s time to find better representation.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Adoption, Areas Of Law, Attorneys, Clientele, Complement, Complexity, Couples, Donor Egg, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Haste, Infertility, Legal Assistance, Referrals, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Serious Money, Several Points, Successes, surrogacy, Wise Choices
Posted in Infertility, Legal Considerations | No Comments »
Monday, June 27th, 2011
On Tuesday, June 21, 2011, it was announced that Disney/ABC Television Group and The American Fertility Association (AFA) would be working together in a limited fashion. Briefly, Disney/ABC has given the AFA an unrestricted educational grant to help the organization further its infertility prevention program.
The AFA currently has an online Infertility Prevention Handbook, which the Disney/ABC grant will help the AFA promote to educate people around the country about risks, choices and other information related to infertility. Currently, the AFA tries to get its Infertility Prevention Handbook to as many individuals as possible as a main part of its mission.
Though the amount of the Disney/ABC grant has not been publicly disclosed, it has been described in press releases as “generous”.
Like the AFA, the Reproductive Science Institute (RSI), one of the Philadelphia area’s premiere fertility clinics, also maintains a site with a plethora of in-depth, up-to-date patient resources. We invite you to look through our many webpages to find out more about infertility and the options available to you.
Remember that reputable infertility information should always be gleaned from trustworthy sources. There’s a lot of misinformation on the Internet; that’s why it’s always critical to make your final decisions with the help of a fertility specialist.
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Tags: Abc Television, Abraham Munabi, Afa, Dr. Munabi, Educational Grant, Facebook, Fertility Clinics, fertility specialist, Final Decisions, Infertility, June 21, Misinformation On The Internet, Patient Resources, Philadelphia Area, Plethora, Prevention Handbook, Prevention Program, Reproductive Science Institute, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Television Group, Trustworthy Sources, Twitter
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Friday, June 17th, 2011
No smoker will say, “Smoking cessation is easy!” However, most will admit that it’s a habit they wish they’d never adopted.
For individuals (especially females) who are trying to have a baby and are finding it difficult, smoking may actually be a significant part of their problems. That’s because tobacco can contribute to infertility; thus, fertility treatments may not work as they would normally be expected to.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, almost without fail, smoking has an adverse affect on a person’s fertility:
- In smokers, the prevalence of infertility is higher than in non-smokers.
- It takes smokers longer to conceive than it does for non-smokers.
- “Second hand” smoke exposure can be almost as bad for fertility treatment success as smoking itself.
- Smoking seems to increase loss of eggs and may even advance menopause.
- Smoking can make a woman’s eggs more prone to abnormalities.
- Smoking has been associated with spontaneous miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies.
- Smokers tend to undergone twice as many cycles of IVF (in vitro fertilization) as non-smokers.
If you’re serious about fertility treatments, it’s a great time (and reason) to stop smoking. There are plenty of smoking cessation programs available, and if you haven’t tried any lately, you may be pleasantly surprised by the abundance of options. Of course, you’ll want to address your smoking concerns and cessation desires with both your primary physician(s) and fertility specialist for maximum outcomes.
Good luck with your journey and stay strong along the way. Tobacco is an addictive drug, but it can be overcome.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Addictive Drug, American Society For Reproductive Medicine, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Infertility Treatments, IVF, Miscarriages, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Second Hand Smoke, Smoke Exposure, Smokers, Smoking Cessation, Smoking Cessation Programs, Smoking Concerns, Treatment Success, Trying To Have A Baby, Twitter, Vitro Fertilization
Posted in Fertility Info 101, Infertility | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
Infertility may be a medical condition, but it has far-reaching consequences, especially psychologically. Many women and men who have been diagnosed as permanently or temporarily infertile suffer from emotional experiences like depression (mild to severe), anger, guilt and more.
Though these types of responses to infertility are completely understandable – and expected –, they can also be difficult to accept and handle.
According to an article released by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, it’s important for all individuals and couples (when applicable) to stay in touch with their psychological states when going through fertility treatments. If any of the following warning signs appear, counseling should be pursued immediately:
- disinterest in activities that used to be enjoyable
- depression that’s beyond “the blues”
- problems with relationships (e.g., partner, family members, friends, colleagues)
- inability to finish responsibilities
- sleeping too much or too little
- trouble focusing
- weight changes
- use of drugs/alcohol to “numb” the pain
- suicidal thoughts
- alienation of oneself from family, friends, etc.
- constant feelings of bitterness, pessimism or worthlessness
Again, these are not uncommon response, especially when the journey to have a baby includes challenges. However, it’s critical that those undergoing treatments for infertility be open with their fertility specialists about their psychological/emotional states in order to be at their strongest during treatment.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Alienation, American Society For Reproductive Medicine, Disinterest, Dr. Munabi, Emotional Experiences, Emotional States, Facebook, Fertility Specialists, Fertility Treatments, Infertility, Little Trouble, Partner Family Members, Pessimism, Psychological Aspects, Psychological States, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Suicidal Thoughts, Twitter, Uncommon Response, Warning Signs, Weight Changes, Worthlessness
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Friday, June 10th, 2011
Researchers are always looking to determine the “ideal” numbers when it comes to IVF (in vitro fertilization) success. And it would seem, according to recent reports issued by the U.S.’s National Institute of Health and the medical journal Human Reproduction, that 15 is truly a “magic” number when it comes to the egg retrieval cycle of IVF.
Using information gathered from almost half a million IVF cycles performed in the UK, researchers discovered that live birth rates seemed to be achieved for those from who 15-20 eggs were retrieved. (Fewer and greater numbers of eggs resulted in a sharp decline of live births.)
In an internationally-released quote, Dr. Arri Coomarasamy, a clinical reader and consultant in reproductive medicine and surgery, University of Birmingham, notes that: “Our data show that around 15 eggs may be the best number to aim for in an IVF cycle in order to maximize the chances of a live birth while minimizing the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which is associated with a high number of eggs, usually over 20.”
At RSI, we are committed to giving patients who trust in our fertility clinic’s superb reputation the greatest potential for IVF success. If you have questions regarding the IVF process or any other fertility treatment options, don’t hesitate to give our highly qualified staff a phone call today.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Birth Rates, Dr. Munabi, Egg Retrieval, Facebook, fertility clinic, Fertility Treatment, Fertilization Success, Half A Million, Human Reproduction, Institute Of Health, Ivf Cycle, Ivf Cycles, Live Birth, Live Births, Magic Number, National Institute Of Health, Ohss, Reproductive Medicine, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Twitter, Uk Researchers, Vitro Fertilization
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Wednesday, June 8th, 2011
Does ethnicity have anything to do with infertility and IVF success? There have been numerous studies to determine if there is a link between a person’s “family tree” history and whether or not he or she is likely to have more fertility treatment problems than others.
The good news is that for those of Hispanic origin, IVF success shouldn’t pose any greater problem than it would for non-Hispanic fertility treatment patients, according to a recent report released by Reuters Health in May, 2011.
The study was conducted (and findings issued) by researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas. Hundreds of Hispanic women (most of whom were Mexican-American) who had undergone IVF over a period of 10 years were analyzed and tracked. In the end, 26% of those in the study became pregnant, the same percentage as their non-Hispanic counterparts. (It should be noted that the causes of infertility for Hispanics and non-Hispanics did have different causes, though that’s a topic for another study.)
The study corroborates a study from 2010 that had relatively similar findings.
The news is met with optimism from Hispanic females who might be concerned about their statistical chances of conceiving children through the IVF process. And if you’re one of the millions of Hispanic individuals looking for a reputable fertility clinic in the Philadelphia area, we encourage you to give RSI’s team a call to schedule a consultation.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Causes Of Infertility, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, Family Tree History, fertility clinic, Fertility Treatment, Health Science Center, Health Science Center San Antonio, Hispanic Females, Hispanic Origin, Hispanic Population, Hispanic Women, Philadelphia Area, Reproductive Science Institute, Reuters Health, Rsi, San Antonio Texas, Statistical Chances, Texas Health Science, Texas Health Science Center, Twitter, University Of Texas Health Science Center, University Of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
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Wednesday, May 25th, 2011
As you prepare for an upcoming trip to your fertility specialist (and we hope that your preferred reproductive health specialist is one of the doctors at RSI!), it’s important to have a list of questions on hand should he or she suggest you or your partner take fertility drugs.
Some of the queries you’ll want to consider include the following:
- How often do you prescribe these fertility drugs to patients?
- What side effects are common with these types of fertility drugs? Have your patients reported any other side effects?
- What are the contraindications with these fertility drugs?
- How much will the fertility drugs cost? Are there generic versions to save money?
- What will the fertility drugs do?
- How long will I have to take the fertility drugs?
- Will taking these medications affect anything that I currently do?
- Are there foods or drinks I should avoid while taking these fertility drugs?
- If I do not take these drugs, what will happen? What would my other options be?
By being a smart, prepared patient, you’ll leave your reproductive health specialist’s office feeling better educated than when you came in. And it will also give your physician an opportunity to help you understand more about your unique situation.
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Tags: Contraindications, Doctors, Dr. Munabi, Drinks, Drugs Medications, Facebook, fertility specialist, Generic Versions, Health Specialist, Infertility, Money, Opportunity, Partner, Queries, Reproductive Health, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Smart, Twitter, Types Of Fertility Drugs
Posted in Drug Use, female infertility, Infertility | No Comments »
Friday, May 20th, 2011
According to a variety of rather shocking statistics, a good many married Americans are engaged in infidelity. But could their cheating be driving infertility? Perhaps, especially if they are engaging in unprotected sex with one or more partners.
More so than the emotional and psychological outcomes of infidelity, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) could severely affect a man or woman’s ability to have children naturally. Unfortunately, STDs aren’t easily spotted.
Many STDs, including Chlamydia and gonorrhea, are running rampant in the United States. Yet it’s not uncommon for them to have zero warning signs. This means an affair that took place years ago could have a lasting affect on both individuals’ fertility rates well into the future.
If you are one of the up to half of all married persons who has engaged in infidelity and is now trying (unsuccessfully) to have a child with your partner, it’s important to get tested for an STD. Many STDs can be cured (or at least controlled), but only if they’re diagnosed… and the earlier, the better.
Contact a fertility clinic like RSI to schedule an appointment and find out if you may be an STD carrier. Beyond infertility consequences, it’s important for you to know for the sake of your health.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Appointment, Cheating, Chlamydia, Consequences, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, fertility clinic, fertility rates, Gonorrhea, Infertility, Infidelity, Psychological Outcomes, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Sake, sexually transmitted diseases, Shocking Statistics, Std, STDs, Twitter, Unprotected Sex, Warning Signs
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Monday, May 9th, 2011
“New cure for infertility!”
“Cure your infertility once and for all!”
“New secrets to curing infertility revealed!”
In the reproductive health science industry, we hear it all – the claims of cures, the offers of “secret tricks”, the tell-all missives from “gurus”. But the truth of the matter is that there is no single “cure” for infertility.
Now, before you become upset or unhappy, please know that there are ways to overcome infertility in many cases. At RSI, one of the Philadelphia area’s most reputable fertility clinics, we perform “miracles” every day. But there is not one cure-all for all types of infertility.
That’s one of the reasons it pays to be very cautious – and scientific – when it comes to your reproductive health. If you’ve been having trouble conceiving, you need to see a specialist, not just read a book or buy a tonic or vitamin. Every case is 100% unique; thus, the way to work around different forms of infertility varies accordingly.
P.T. Barnum said that there was someone willing to give up his money born every minute… and P.T. Barnum took advantage of that willingness. Others will try to operate similarly and separate you from your finances in an effort to sell you a “cure” that simply doesn’t exist.
It would be amazing if there really were a one-stop-shopping method to treating infertility. However, there is not. But there ARE answers… and there IS hope! Come to RSI for a consultation and find out what your options are before falling prey to snake oil.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Consultation, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, Fertility Clinics, Gurus, Health Science Industry, Infertility, Infertility Cure, Miracles, Missives, P T Barnum, Philadelphia Area, Prey, Reproductive Health, Reproductive Science Institute, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Snake Oil, Tonic, Truth Of The Matter, Twitter, Ways To Overcome Infertility, Willingness
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Friday, March 25th, 2011
Ever wonder what causes or contributes to a woman or man’s infertility? Our 3-part series takes a brief look at 25 factors that can result in infertility for males and females.
- 16. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) – According to the Centers for Disease Control, PID is an “infection of the uterus (womb), fallopian tubes (tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus) and other reproductive organs that causes symptoms such as lower abdominal pain”. PID is a symptom of an STD and is often a cause of ectopic pregnancies.
- 17. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) – PCOS is a common hormonal disorder affecting women. A female with PCOS typically has enlarged ovaries that contain many cysts. Infertility and PCOS often go hand-in-hand.
- 18. Scarred Ovaries – If a female’s ovaries have become scarred due to surgeries, infections or other problems/conditions, the ovaries may not function properly.
- 19. STDs – Many STDs (like Chlamydia) essentially “steal” fertility. However, a good amount of adults do not realize they carry STDs. This is one of the reasons reproductive health physicians will frequently test both partners for STDs at the beginning of their fertility journey.
- 20. Stress – Though stress might not last forever, it can be a contributor to infertility. Because the body often “shuts down” unneeded systems during stress, males and females can find themselves unable to have children when going through times of great, prolonged anxiety.
- 21. Thyroid Problems – The thyroid gland helps regulate hormones; consequently, an undiagnosed thyroid problem can be to blame for infertility in women.
- 22. Toxins and Poisons – It’s long been known that there are several toxins and poisons that create conditions for infertility. Some items to watch out for include lead, mercury and certain plastics/polymers.
- 23. Treatments for Cancer – Radiation and chemotherapy can leave men and women infertile. That’s why some females (even those who do not desire to have a child in the near future) choose to have their eggs removed and cryo-preserved in the hopes that they can be fertilized later.
- 24. Uterine Fibroids – Fibroids are small “lumps” that develop inside the uterus. Though benign, they can make the uterine environment a place where conception cannot easily take place without intervention.
- 25. Vaginal Lubricants – Certain vaginal lubricants may contain spermicides or ingredients that can contribute to infertility.
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Tags: Cancer Chemotherapy, Centers For Disease Control, Chlamydia, Common Hormonal Disorder, Control Pid, Dr. Munabi, Ectopic Pregnancies, Enlarged Ovaries, female infertility, Infection Of The Uterus, Infertility, Infertility In Women, Lower Abdominal Pain, Male Infertility, Males And Females, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Reproductive Organs, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, STDs, Thyroid Gland, Thyroid Problem, Thyroid Problems
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