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Posts Tagged ‘12 Months’

Don’t Buy into the Myths about Fertility, part II

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

Today, we’re dispelling three myths about fertility based on fertility information (or should we say MISinformation) widely available (unfortunately) via the World Wide Web. Check yesterday’s blog post for the first part of this two-part series.

Myth #3: If You Adopt, You’ll Get Pregnant

Again, this is one of those “old wives tales” that would be nice if it were true. But it’s really just anecdotal and has no bearing in science. Has this happened for some couples? Absolutely. Has it not happened for others? Of course. So to make the assumption is to set yourself up for disappointment.

Myth #4: I Can Buy Fertility Drugs on My Own

Please don’t go online and buy “fertility boosting” drugs from unknown sources!

First of all, you don’t have any idea what these drugs contain. (Some are harmless, some are not… but the majority are NOT what you think you’re buying.) Secondly, if you haven’t been to a reproductive health specialist, you should not try to diagnose your infertility. And finally, you will be wasting your money and potentially losing precious time.

Myth #5: I’m Too Young to See a Fertility Doctor

If only more individuals and couples would come to reproductive health specialists EARLIER rather than later!

There’s no reason to feel that you’re not “old enough” to be infertile. If you’re under 35 and have been trying to get pregnant unsuccessfully for 6-12 months, make an appointment. You’ll never know until you ask questions!

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Tags: 12 Months, Appointment, Assumption, Bearing, Buy Drugs, Couples, Disappointment, Dr. Munabi, Fertility, Fertility Doctor, Fertility Drugs, Fertility Myths, Health Specialist, Infertility, Misinformation, Myth 3, Myths, Old Wives Tales, Online Drugs, Precious Time, Reproductive Health Specialists, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Web Check, World Wide Web
Posted in Myths & Misconceptions | No Comments »

FAQs about Secondary Infertility

Friday, January 28th, 2011

Secondary infertility is a topic about which we at RSI are often asked. So we thought we’d put together a handy FAQ guide to help you understand this area of reproductive science.

1. What is secondary infertility?

Secondary infertility occurs when a woman or couple has been able to have one (or more) child naturally but finds herself/themselves unable to conceive again. Thus, they experience fertility issues a “second” time around.

2. Who is at risk for secondary infertility?

Secondary infertility can happen at any time, although the older the woman, the stronger the chances are that she will experience it. For instance, women over 35 who have had regular, unprotected sex for 6-12 months and have not gotten pregnant are usually considered to have problems with fertility.

3. Are there any psychological side effects to secondary infertility?

Secondary infertility can be extremely frustrating for couples; thus, it can take a toll on the marriage or relationship. Though all fertility issues can be troubling, parents of children who wish to have more can become particularly angry, disheartened or depressed when going through secondary infertility.

4. What are the causes of secondary infertility?

There are no specific causes to secondary infertility; truly, there can be a whole host of issues at stake. That’s why it’s important for the couple to go to a place like RSI to discover what’s really going on.

5. How many people have had secondary infertility?

Though there aren’t any exact ways to measure the couples who experience secondary infertility (as some do not reach out for assistance and are therefore untracked), it is estimated that at least one million couples in the United States are currently going through the condition.

If you would like to know more about secondary infertility for yourself, please schedule an appointment for a consultation with RSI.

Tags: 12 Months, Appointment, Consultation, Couples, Disheartened, Fertility Issues, How Many People, Infertility, Marriage, One Million, Parents, Philadelphia Infertility, Psychological Side, Relationship Issues, Reproductive Science, Reproductive Science Institute, Risk, Rsi, Second Time, Secondary Infertility, Stake, United States, Unprotected Sex
Posted in Infertility | No Comments »

What You Need to Know about Secondary Infertility

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Secondary infertility isn’t something that most people used to talk about; after all, if you’ve been able to conceive once, shouldn’t you be able to do so again? The answer, of course, is “no”. Fortunately, the media is finally shedding light on this subject that causes so many couples pain and confusion.

Foremost, it’s important to understand that there can be a number of reasons for secondary infertility, such as:

1) If a woman who has conceived in the past is now trying to conceive with a different partner, he may have undiagnosed fertility issues.

2) If a woman conceived several years ago, she may now be at a point in her life when it’s difficult for her body to have a baby naturally.

3) If a man or woman has experienced health issues (e.g., cancer treatments, serious weight loss/gain), he or she may have compromised fertility.

So what can be done about secondary infertility?

First, it’s important to acknowledge it. If conception hasn’t occurred in 6-12 months of trying, going to a fertility specialist could be the best possible move.

Secondly, it’s critical to understand that it’s not anyone’s “fault”. It simply is a medical fact that you’re having trouble conceiving.

Finally, it’s not a sign that you’ll never have children. In fact, here at RSI we’ve been able to help couples dealing with secondary infertility have more babies.

Tags: 12 Months, Array, Babies, Cancer Treatments, Confusion, Couples, Fertility Issues, fertility specialist, Health Issues, Infertility, Medical Fact, People, Rsi, Secondary Infertility, Trying To Conceive, Weight Loss
Posted in secondary fertility | No Comments »

Dealing with Infertility at Holiday Time

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Infertility is stressful no matter what the calendar says, but it can be particularly difficult during the holidays. For many couples, this time of year becomes a reminder of their pain rather than a celebration of their lives together.

If you are dealing with infertility, here are 10 ways to handle uncomfortable feelings and situations:

Don’t tell yourself you must be happy all the time. Allow yourself to feel sorrow, joy and any other emotion. Bottling it up will only make it worse.
Don’t give up on the holidays. If you’ve had a particularly rough year (e.g., IVF that didn’t work, a miscarriage), you can still celebrate the good things about your past 12 months.
Don’t blame your partner for your holiday-related stress. It’s easy to point fingers, but remember that words can hurt. Instead, be supportive of one another.
If you want to talk about your infertility issues with a friend, go ahead. But if your friend wants to talk about your infertility and you don’t, feel free to tell him or her that you’re uncomfortable.
Don’t turn infertility into the “elephant in the room” that everyone tiptoes around. You don’t have to make a big deal out of it, but if you want to discuss it or acknowledge it, that’s fine, too.
Know that some people may be unsure how to approach you during the holidays, especially those with babies. You may have to reach out to them.
Speaking of reaching out, it can be amazingly comforting to volunteer at holiday time. Not only will it take your mind off your own issues, but it will enable you to do something good for others.
Set a steady pace leading up to (and out of) the holidays. Don’t rush around and make yourself crazy. It will only make you more likely to experience stress.
If you feel unhappy around maternity or baby items, avoid certain stores and store departments when shopping for the holidays.
Exercise during this season. It’s good for your body, mind and soul.

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Tags: 12 Months, Babies, Baby Items, Celebration, Couples, Digg, Elephant, Emotion, Happy All The Time, Holiday Time, Holidays, Infertility, Infertility Issues, Maternity, Point Fingers, Reminder, Sorrow, Steady Pace, Store Departments, T Rush, Time Of Year, Tiptoes, Uncomfortable Feelings
Posted in Holidays | No Comments »

Relying on Home Fertility Tests? Get a Professional Opinion for Peace of Mind.

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.)