Posts Tagged ‘Diagnosis’
Wednesday, July 27th, 2011
For many men, taking the first trip to a fertility specialist can seem embarrassing or uncomfortable. That’s likely due to the media’s focus on female infertility rather than male infertility. However, it’s important for guys to be open to finding out why they’ve been unable to conceive.
Many individuals are surprised to learn that male infertility is the primary issue in at least one third of all cases of infertility between couples. (Some statistics report this number to be 40 percent or higher!) Just hearing this fact is calming for many male fertility patients, as it eases the psychological burden of them feeling like they are “alone” in their fertility struggles or that they “cannot perform”.
Still, it’s not unusual for us at RSI, one of the premiere fertility clinics in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area, to come against some resistance when men initially arrive at our facility. This is especially true when they have been brought by the women in their lives; for men, this can feel akin to being “pointed at” in a crowd.
Guys, the bottom line is this: We understand. Male infertility is one of our specialties; therefore, we are sensitive to the emotional considerations that accompany the diagnosis. If you’re feeling irate, standoffish, sad or uncomfortable, it’s okay. We as fertility specialists are not here to push you in one direction or another; we’re here to make sure you have all the facts and can proceed as makes sense for you and your significant other.
The upshot – and it’s a great one! – is that we’ve successfully helped many couples with their infertility issues, whether they stemmed from female infertility or male infertility. But it’s necessary for patients to take the first step and give us (or a preferred, reputable fertility clinic) a call.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Bottom Line, Courage, Diagnosis, Dr. Munabi, Emotional Considerations, Facebook, female infertility, fertility clinic, Fertility Clinics, fertility specialist, Fertility Specialists, First Trip, Infertility, Infertility Issues, Male Fertility, Male Infertility, Many Men, Philadelphia Pennsylvania Area, Psychological Burden, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Twitter, Upshot
Posted in Male Infertility | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 13th, 2011
Though it seems as if we say it at our fertility clinic again and again, people are still sometimes hesitant to believe (or perhaps accept) that males have just as much chance of being infertile as females.
Perhaps it’s because of the age-old idea that men are testosterone-filled to the point where they can’t help but be able to impregnate women. However, that’s a flat-out myth.
In the United States, studies have shown that 40% of the issues that fertility clinics like Philadelphia area’s RSI uncover are related to male infertility. To put that number in perspective, about 40% are due to female infertility. The remaining 20% falls under a category of impossible to diagnose at this time.
So what does this mean? First of all, it doesn’t mean men are somehow “at fault”; they simply have to be aware that they might have an issue if they and their partners have been unable to have children.
Secondly, it’s critical for men to put aside any embarrassment and get treated. Sometimes, solving a couple’s fertility concerns can be easier than they might expect. But without diagnosis, there’s no chance for a resolution.
This is why we emphasize some form of therapy in conjunction with fertility treatments. Therefore, partners can address their problems together and without judgment.
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Tags: Conjunction, Diagnosis, Embarrassment, Facebook, female infertility, Females, fertility clinic, Fertility Clinics, Fertility Concerns, Fertility Treatments, Infertility, Judgment, Male Infertility, Myth 2, Perspective, Philadelphia Area, Remaining 20, Testosterone, Twitter, United States Studies
Posted in Male Infertility, Myths & Misconceptions | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011
Women in your mid-to-late 30s… have you been experiencing any (or all) of the following symptoms?
- lowered sex drive
- unexplained weight gain (especially around your middle)
- hot flashes
- night sweats
- shorter- or longer-than-usual cycles between periods
- heavier-than-usual periods (sometimes including blood clots)
- more painful/uncomfortable periods than before infertility
If so, you may be surprised to learn that your body could be entering into perimenopause.
As the name suggests, perimenopause is the stage before full-blown menopause. Though it typically is seen in women who are approximately 40 years or older, it can absolutely affect those in their 30s. And because it is a result of changing hormone levels, fertility changes are to be expected during this phase of life.
Perimenopause can last anywhere from a few years to a decade, so it’s not an indication that menopause is “just around the corner”. With that being said, it can and does cause many couples to have issues when it comes to conception, so it’s important to get a diagnosis if you’re not getting pregnant within a few months of trying sans contraception.
If you feel that you might be entering into perimenopause, never fear. Go to a reproductive specialist and discuss your concerns. If you are perimenopausal, he or she can help you identify a variety of fertility treatments to give you the best chances of having a child naturally.
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Tags: Blood Clots, Conception, Contraception, Couples, Decade, Diagnosis, Fear, Fertility Treatments, Hormone Levels, Hot Flashes, Infertility, Menopause, Perimenopause, Periods, Reproductive Science Institute, Reproductive Specialist, Rsi, Sex Drive, Unexplained Weight Gain
Posted in Medical Conditions & Diseases | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011
Endometriosis is a relatively common disorder that afflicts approximately 5.5 million American women at any one time. A disorder affecting the genitalia, endometriosis is more than just an annoyance. In fact, females with endometriosis typically experience such symptoms as pain (e.g., severe cramps, intense bowel movements, discomfort during sex), very heavy vaginal bleeding, fatigue and, in a third of patients, infertility.
Ironically, infertility that stems from endometriosis may be misdiagnosed because not all women with the condition realize they suffer from it. Many simply assume that their pain is a “woman problem” related to menstruation rather than a problem that can cost them their ability to conceive. (This isn’t surprisingly, truly; for many females, endometriosis pain worsens during periods. Thus, the physical distress would seem to be connected to monthly bleeding rather than a condition of its own.)
Endometriosis typically worsens as women age, so early diagnosis is the best way to ensure that infertility treatments are attempted as soon as possible. However, even if a female with endometriosis is not diagnosed until later in life AND has been having fertility issues, she can still become pregnant through assisted reproductive techniques (ART).
Two of the most common treatments used to help those with endometriosis conceive are IUI (intrauterine insemination) and IVF (in vitro fertilization). Because these procedures position embryos directly into the woman’s womb, it becomes unnecessary for her body to go through all the other steps naturally associated with conception. Therefore, her chances of having a successful pregnancy are increased.
To learn more about endometriosis, infertility and other similar topics, visit RSI’s website today.
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Tags: 5 Million, American Women, Annoyance, Assisted Reproductive Techniques, Bowel Movements, Cramps, Diagnosis, Discomfort During Sex, Endometriosis, Fatigue, Females, Fertility Issues, Infertility, Infertility Treatments, Intrauterine Insemination, IVF, Physical Distress, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Vaginal Bleeding, Vitro Fertilization, womb
Posted in Endometriosis | No Comments »
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.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
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Tags: Assumptions, Bells, Causes Of Infertility, Couples, Diagnosis, Diet Exercise, Different Ways, Egg, End Result, Forefront, Health Science, Infertility, Intervals, Irregular Ovulation, Medication, Miracles, Reproductive Health, Rhythm, Science Specialists, Temporary State
Posted in Infertility | No Comments »
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.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
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Tags: Asherman S Syndrome, Contact, Diagnosis, Doctors, Globe, Health Specialist, Infertility, Miracles, Reproductive Health, Scar Tissue, Uterus
Posted in Asherman's Syndrome, Infertility | No Comments »
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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Tags: Causes Of Infertility, Days Tv, Diagnosis, Easy Tv, Everyday Life, Experiences, Extremes, Handy, Infertility, Infertility Cases, Miracles, Mystery, Physicians, Real People, Real World, Soap Operas, Suits, Television, Treatment Of Infertility, Watch Television, Woman
Posted in Infertility, Television | 1 Comment »
