Posts Tagged ‘Endometriosis’
Friday, November 18th, 2011
The doctor who developed the Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy procedure, which eliminates endometriosis while keeping the cervix in place, is working on a variation of the diagnostic procedure that uses new light technology to better pinpoint areas of endometriosis and therefore remove it more efficiently and effectively.
Dr. Tom Lyons, medical director of the Center for Women’s Care & Reproductive Surgery in Atlanta, is working with Dr. Chuck Miller in Chicago and Dr. Herman Barreuto in Baltimore to study whether the use of different colors of light helps detect endometriosis better than the traditional white light of the laparoscope.
The FDA-approved diagnostic study is using Olympus’s Narrow Band Imaging (NBI).
“We will first look at the disease area with white light, marking areas that we see is diseased with laser dots, then with NBI to see if that expands our visualization of diseased areas,” Dr. Lyons said in a recent press release. “With inflammation from endo, an area will be more vascularized (more blood vessels) and possibly we can more easily detect disease. We will then biopsy the area.”
We’re excited to see what this study finds in terms of better diagnostic services for women with endometriosis.
Is Fertility Treatment Right For You?
Follow RSI on Twitter!
Join our Group on Facebook.
Tags: Chuck Miller, Colors Of Light, Diagnostic Procedure, Diagnostic Study, Diagnostic Tool, Different Colors, Diseased Areas, Dr Chuck, Dr Tom, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Endometriosis, endometriosis treatment, Fertility Treatment, Hysterectomy Procedure, Laparoscope, Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy, Light Technology, Narrow Band Imaging, Nbi, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Reading, Reproductive Science Institute, Reproductive Surgery, Rsi, Tom Lyons, Wyomissing
Posted in Endometriosis | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
If you’ve been having difficulty becoming pregnant naturally and you’ve never been tested for endometriosis, it may be time.
Endometriosis is a common cause of female infertility, but it’s often undiagnosed. That’s because endometriosis symptoms mimic PMS and other female-related conditions that do not affect fertility.
Some of the symptoms associated with endometriosis include:
- Pelvic pain, especially right before and during menstruation.
- Pain during sexual intercourse.
- Pain during yearly pelvic examinations.
- Pain during bowel movements.
Obviously, the type and intensity of pain experienced by women varies. For some, it’s nagging; for others, it’s excruciating. And because endometriosis is so undiagnosed, numerous individuals who have female infertility issues don’t ever realize the true cause of their fertility problems.
That’s one of the reasons it’s so critical to choose a reproductive health specialist, like those at Philadelphia and Reading Pennsylvania area’s Reproductive Science Institute (RSI), to examine your particular case. If it is determined through testing that you have endometriosis, your fertility specialist may recommend assisted reproductive techniques (ART) such as IVF and IUI to help you get pregnant.
Remember – the first step is diagnosis. From there, treatment can begin.
Endometriosis Statistics:
- Over 5.5 million American women are estimated to have endometriosis.
- About 30-40% of females with endometriosis suffer from infertility.
- Endometriosis is one of the top three causes of infertility in America.
Is Fertility Treatment Right For You?
Follow RSI on Twitter!
Join our group on Facebook.
Tags: Bowel Movements, Causes Of Infertility, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Endometriosis, Endometriosis Symptoms, female infertility, Fertility Problems, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Health Specialist, Infertility Issues, Intercourse Pain, IUI, Menstruation Pain, Pain During Sexual Intercourse, Pelvic Examinations, Pelvic Pain, Pennsylvania Area, Reading PA Infertility, Reading Pennsylvania, Reproductive Science Institute, True Cause
Posted in female infertility | No Comments »
Friday, September 9th, 2011
For women who want to have a child, the number “35” seems to be almost magical. After all, it’s the age that people anecdotally agree upon as the point where a woman’s fertility begins to decrease. Yet that’s really not the “whole story”.
While female fertility does tend to wane faster after 35, there are many women who have trouble conceiving in their late 20s and early 30s. So for a woman, waiting until the “magic number” may not be the best idea.
Why are some women infertile before 35? There are a whole host of reasons, including:
- A pre-existing condition of the reproductive system, such as PCOS or endometriosis.
- A bout of cancer as a child, teen or young adult.
- An undiagnosed or diagnosed sexually transmitted disease (STD) like chlamydia.
- A problem with regular ovulation.
- The medications the woman is taking.
This is why most fertility specialists, like those at the Philadelphia area’s Reproductive Science Institute (RSI), recommend that women of any childbearing age not adopt a “wait for years” mentality. Typically, women should be able to become pregnant within six months of trying (e.g., having regular sex without protection.)
Whether you’re in your late 20s or your late 30s, you need to be aware of the facts. Will your fertility lessen as you age? Absolutely. But the numbers indicate that up to 7% of females are infertile by the time they reach their 30th birthdays. That’s why it’s critical to get assistance and medical advice sooner rather than later.
Is Fertility Treatment Right For You?
Follow RSI on Twitter!
Join Our Facebook Group!
Tags: 30th Birthdays, Childbearing Age, Chlamydia, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Endometriosis, Female Fertility, Females, Fertility Specialists, Fertility Treatment, Magic Number, Medical Advice, medications, Mentality, Number 35, Ovulation, Pcos, Philadelphia Area, Philadelphia PA Infertility, Reading PA Infertility, Reproductive Science Institute, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Reproductive System, Rsi, Six Months, Wyomissing PA Infertility, Young Adult
Posted in female infertility, Fertility Treatments | No Comments »
Friday, April 29th, 2011
Hooray! It’s National Infertility Awareness Week from April 24-30, 2011!
In celebration, we at RSI, one of the Philadelphia area’s most reputable fertility clinics, would like to share some facts about fertility treatments, assisted reproductive techniques and other pertinent tidbits:
- The world’s first IVF birth was in 1978 in England.
- The first American IVF birth was in 1981 (30 years ago!)
- In some countries, fertility clinics will not allow certain couples to go through procedures because of age, sexual orientation and other factors. Thus, a phenomenon called “fertility tourism” has sprung onto the international scene.
- Not all fertility clinics accept patients in same-sex relationships. (RSI does.)
- Fertility clinics aren’t just for those over 35 or 40… many younger people are now seeking fertility treatments, especially if they have been trying to have a child unsuccessfully for six months or more.
- In-vitro fertilization (IVF) may get a lot of press, but it only represents about 5-10% of the procedures handled by fertility clinics.
- About 10% of all couples have trouble with fertility at some point. (This includes secondary infertility.)
- Endometriosis is a large contributing factor for many women; ironically, a good number of females do not realize they have this condition until they go to fertility clinics.
- Men and women have an equal chance of being infertile.
- STDs (especially those which have been undetected) are an increasing problem for those wishing to become pregnant.
- Even if you’ve had a child once, you can experience “secondary infertility.”
- The stigma of fertility treatments has been greatly reduced; consequently, more couples (and singles) are making appointments at fertility clinics in an effort to have children.
Follow RSI on Twitter and Facebook!
Tags: April 24, Couples, Dr. Munabi, Endometriosis, Facebook, Females, Fertility Clinics, Fertility Treatments, Fertilization Ivf, Infertility, Infertility Awareness, National Infertility Awareness Week, Phenomenon, Philadelphia Area, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Same Sex Relationships, Secondary Infertility, Sexual Orientation, STDs, Stigma, Twitter, Vitro Fertilization
Posted in Fertility Treatments, In the News | 1 Comment »
Friday, April 15th, 2011
“I felt like I wasn’t a ‘real’ woman.”
That type of comment is repeated over and over on fertility-related blogs around the Internet. Without a doubt, it illustrates just how much of a toll female infertility can take on a woman’s self-image.
Never mind the fact that women are talking more openly about the issue of their female infertility problems than ever before; there’s still a sense that a woman who wants to have a child should be able to without any issues.
It all can add up to incredible amounts of stress… which only perpetuates and amplifies the issue at hand.
In our experience, women with female infertility often come to our clinic with feelings of embarrassment, anger and/or shame. But what we try to get them to realize is that:
- It’s not their fault. Female infertility happens… and it can even happen among women who have already had a child. (In that case, it’s called secondary infertility.)
- It’s not “selfish” to ask for help. Some women feel concerned that asking for medical attention somehow is selfish, but it’s not. It’s actually reasonable, especially if the tests for female infertility uncover other conditions that need to be addressed (like endometriosis or an STD.)
- We are not here to pass judgment. As reproductive health specialists, we’re not looking at women as somehow “less than they should be” because of their infertility. Instead, we’re helping them solve a problem with care, understanding and expertise.
If you’ve been feeling depressed or ashamed because of your female infertility, we encourage you to come to RSI for a no-obligation consultation. You’ll find our clinic warm and inviting… and that just might be the catalyst for helping you move forward.
Follow RSI on Twitter!
Tags: Anger, Blogs, Catalyst, Doubt, Embarrassment, Endometriosis, Feelings, Female Infertility Problems, Infertility, Issue At Hand, Judgment, Medical Attention, Obligation Consultation, Psyche, Real Woman, Reproductive Health Specialists, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Secondary Infertility, Self Image, Shame, Stress
Posted in female infertility | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 23rd, 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.
- 8. Dietary and Weight Issues – Obesity and malnutrition are serious contributors to infertility. Any adult above or below normal BMI levels may find him- or herself unable to have a child without assistance from a reproductive health specialist.
- 9. Endometriosis – Not only is endometriosis a painful condition experienced by hundreds of thousands of women, but it’s also one of the leading causes of infertility. Ironically, many women with endometriosis do not realize they have the condition (despite the pain/discomfort associated with it) until they experience fertility problems.
- 10. Genetic Conditions – Carrying an extra X or Y chromosome can lead to infertility in both men and women.
- 11. “Hostile” Cervical Mucus – A woman’s cervical mucus may actually be considered “hostile” to the sperm of her partner. Essentially, this means the mucus does not allow fertility to take place because it sees the sperm as an invader. There are numerous treatments to handle this type of situation.
- 12. Low Sperm Count and/or Motility – If a male’s sperm count is too low OR if his sperm do not have the power to get to the egg, infertility will likely result.
- 13. Medical Conditions – Some medical conditions such as diabetes and Crohn’s disease are contributing factors to infertility in both males and females.
- 14. Medications – Some medications may inhibit fertility in those taking them; therefore, it’s critical to always understand possible side effects when trying to have a child.
- 15. Ovulation Disorders – Ovulation is critical to fertility. If a woman’s body is not ovulating on a regular basis, there will either be a) no egg for the sperm to fertilize or b) an egg available for fertilization only some of the time. Fortunately, there are prescription medications like Clomid that can help women ovulate.
Find out if Fertility Treatment is Right for You!
Follow RSI on Twitter!
Tags: Causes Of Infertility, Crohn S Disease, Dr. Munabi, Endometriosis, female infertility, Fertility Problems, Fertilization, Genetic Conditions, Health Specialist, Hostile Cervical Mucus, Infertility, Low Sperm Count, Male Infertility, Male Sperm, Males And Females, Malnutrition, Ovulation Disorders, Pain Discomfort, Reproductive Health, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Sperm Motility, Y Chromosome
Posted in Infertility | 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.
Follow RSI on Twitter!
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 »
Friday, February 4th, 2011
Maybe you’ve known that you have endometriosis ever since you started menstruating as a girl and have always dealt with painful periods. Or maybe you didn’t realize that you have endometriosis until you began trying to get pregnant and found that it could be the cause for your struggles with fertility. Whatever your experience, it is never pleasant to deal with, but there are options for endometriosis treatment or infertility treatment.
If you’re reading this and you don’t really know what we’re talking about, endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue that normally lines the uterus (the endometrial tissue) grows around other organs where it isn’t meant to be. Most often, these include the ovaries, fallopian tubes, outer surface of the uterus and other abdominal organs. The extra growth of this tissue can bleed during menstruation, which is the reason for painful periods. Scar tissue can also develop, causing disruption in the way that that organ functions. This is the most typical reason for cause of infertility with women who have endometriosis.
The most common treatment for endometriosis is through hormone therapy and, morse specifically, birth control in many cases. If you are a woman who is wanting to get pregnant in the near future or has already been trying to get pregnant, this type of treatment is obviously not a good choice for you. There is a laparoscopic surgery you could opt for, or many women with endometriosis and fertility issues have been helped by way of IVF. If you have struggled with infertility and are just beginning to explore your options, or if you have further questions about endometriosis, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Follow RSI on Twitter!
Tags: Abdominal Organs, Birth Control, cause for infertility, cause of infertility, Disruption, Endometrial Tissue, Endometriosis, endometriosis treatment, Fallopian Tubes, Fertility, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatment, Hormone Therapy, Infertility, Infertility Treatment, IVF, Laparoscopic Surgery, Morse, Organ Functions, Outer Surface, Painful Periods, Pregnant, Scar Tissue, Uterus
Posted in Endometriosis | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
Infertility 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.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Antidepressants, Counselor, Emotional Discomfort, Emotional Responses, Endometriosis, Experiences, Feelings, Fertility Treatments, Financial Concerns, Infertility, Miscarriages, Pcos Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Personal Journal, Psychological Pain, Psychological Perspective, Psychological Way, Support Group, Women And Men, Women Men
Posted in Infertility, Stress | No Comments »
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
In one of our posts from last October, we sent our congratulations to “Top Chef”‘s Padma Lakshmi. Lakshmi struggled for many years with endometriosis, which can cause infertility in some women. Fortunately, she was able to conceive and gave birth to a baby girl Saturday evening (February 20).
Lakshmi’s experience shows how infertility linked to endometriosis can and does affect women representing all walks of life, including superstars. Although statistics aren’t widely available, rates of infertility among women with endometriosis range from 30-50%.
If you think you might have endometriosis (or you know you do) and you want to have a baby, it’s important to work with your doctor to give you the best chance to conceive despite your medical condition.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Baby Girl, Endometriosis, Infertility, Medical Condition, Padma Lakshmi, Statistics, Top Chef
Posted in Facts and Figures, Fertility Issues In the News, Television | No Comments »
