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Posts Tagged ‘Experiences’

5 Fertility Myths – DEBUNKED!

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

You’ve heard them all… those fertility myths that abound on the Internet. But sometimes, information seems logical or acceptable; therefore, it’s hard to tell what’s accurate from what’s incorrect.

Below are 5 fertility myths that we’ve decided to bust:

1. Infertility Is a Woman’s Problem.

While it may be that females are often more vocal about their infertility experiences, men actually contribute to infertility just as much as women do. In fact, approximately one-third of all infertility cases can be attributed to female infertility; one-third to male infertility; and one-third to unknown/unidentifiable causes.

2. If You’d Relax, You’d Get Pregnant

Though it is definitely a great idea to focus on de-stressing when going through fertility treatments, it’s also not a comprehensive solution for conception. Many problems, such as PCOS, do not go away on their own, regardless of how relaxed you are. Instead, you need medical intervention.

3. Fertility Clinics Will Not Want to Treat Those with Alternative Lifestyles

Actually, people with alternative lifestyles are being accepted more and more by American fertility clinics. In fact, RSI has a special webpage devoted to discussing options especially for same-sex couples.

4. Infertility Only Happens after 35

Though the majority of fertility patients are, indeed, older than 30, it is possible to be infertile at any age.

5. If I’ve Had One Baby, I Can Have More

Many women are shocked by secondary infertility, the phenomenon of being unable to conceive after successfully having one or more children. There are numerous reasons that a female may be having trouble getting pregnant again; that’s why it’s important to seek help from a fertility specialist.

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Celebrities and Assisted Reproductive Techniques

Monday, December 27th, 2010

Celine Dion.  Giuliana Rancic.  Neil Patrick Harris.  They’ve made headlines the past year as they’ve openly discussed their experiences with assisted reproductive techniques (ART).

In Dion’s case, her fertility treatments may have been long and uncomfortable, but she recently gave birth to twins and is reported to be happier than ever.

For Rancic, fertility treatments haven’t provided her with a child yet, but she and her husband are hopeful that they can still conceive.

Harris and his male partner opted for surrogacy to fulfill their dreams of becoming dads.

Thanks to the openness shared by celebrities like Dion, Rancic and Harris (through their publicity managers, of course), men and women have a better understanding of what IVF, IUI, egg donation and surrogacy are all about. 

Though no one who hasn’t been through the experience of infertility can truly appreciate the challenge of the journey, having Hollywood’s elite tell their stories does provide a much-needed opening for discussions about ART.

Our question to you is this:

Does reading about stars’ difficulties with their fertility help you in any way?

Choosing the Right Fertility Specialist

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

How do you know if a fertility specialist is right for you?  It’s a good question to ask, especially given the fact that you’ll be discussing intimate lifestyle details with him or her on a regular basis. 

Though the following list is not all-inclusive, it will give you a good starting point for determining if the fertility specialist you’re considering is the perfect one for your needs:

1.  Does the Fertility Specialist Show You Respect?

Your experiences with your fertility specialist should be positive, and that starts with him or her showing you respect.

2.  Do You Like the Fertility Specialist’s Office?

Does the office space seem clean to you?  Do you feel comfortable there?

3.  Does Your Fertility Specialist Make You Wait Inordinate Amounts of Time?

Though it’s not unusual for all physicians, including fertility specialists, to run behind from time to time, if you feel you’re constantly waiting… and waiting… and waiting… you may not be getting the service you deserve.

4.  Does Your Fertility Specialist Take Your Questions Seriously?  Does He/She Answer Them Promptly?

Have you ever had the experience of asking your fertility specialista question and receiving a rude or non-existent response?  If so, you may want to consider switching to a reproductive health science professional who will treat your concerns seriously.

5.  Does Your Partner Like the Fertility Specialist?

If you love your fertility specialist but your partner doesn’t, it may cause difficulty down the road.  While this isn’t a definitely “deal breaker”, it’s absolutely something you need to consider.

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  • Giuliana Rancic’s IVF Journey Chronicled

    Saturday, April 24th, 2010

    Giuliana Rancic has been extremely open about her fertility journey, specifically her experiences undergoing IVF.

    The star is now 35 and recently told an AOL reporter that she’s hopeful that she will “have some good news to report soon”.

    Rancic is undergoing her first round of IVF.  No doubt she will let fans and media know of the outcome.

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  • Show Support for Infertility Awareness This Week!

    Friday, April 23rd, 2010

    Did you know that April 24-May 1, 2010 is National Infertility Awareness Week® (NIAW)?

    If you want to show your support for this condition that affects millions of men and women in the United States alone, why not start by doing one or more of the following things?

    1. Blog about your infertility journey.  Many bloggers have found great release and relief in (typically anonymously) blogging about their experiences.
    2. Learn all you can about infertility.  There are many myths and misconceptions out there.  Education is the key to sorting through all the hype.
    3. Be a good friend to a person or couple dealing with infertility.  You don’t have to say anything to your friend(s), of course.  Just be there.  Infertility can make someone feel very alone.  Make sure your loved one knows you’re there for support.

    How will you observe National Infertility Awareness Week?

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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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  • Is a Support Group Right for You?

    Saturday, January 9th, 2010

    For many individuals and couples going through infertility issues and the stressors often associated with fertility treatments, the answer is clear — join a support group.  Whether it’s online or in person, this kind of community often becomes a “safe haven” of sorts for men and women dealing with infertility matters.

    However, that doesn’t mean that a support group — OR that every support group — is going to fit the bill for you.  If you’re not sure if you want to join a group, ask yourself these questions:

    • Do you feel comfortable talking about your (or a partner’s) infertility matters or — even if you don’t discuss your own personal issues — hearing about others’ fertility concerns?  If the answer is “no”, a support group might be extremely uncomfortable for you.  However, you may find one-on-one therapy to be valuable.
    • Are you willing to devote time to a support group?  Maybe a support group sounds great theoretically, but you honestly know that you’ll spend a fraction of the time you should on attending meetings, whether in person or virtually.  Though that isn’t a definite reason not to join, it may hinder your experiences as a support group member.
    • Are you willing to allow yourself to be open to a group setting?  Some people simply do not wish to be around those they do not know while discussing their personal issues.  Of course, if you can bring a trusted friend or family member with you to your group, you may be able to alleviate some of those worries.

    Remember that regardless of whether or not you’re currently ready for an infertility support group, you can always change your mind in the future.  After all, it’s your experience to share… or not.

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  • Dealing with Miscarriage

    Friday, January 8th, 2010

    Miscarriages are often extremely difficult to accept, even when they occur relatively early (e.g., in the first few weeks of pregnancy) after conception.  Depression, weight gain, hormonal imbalances, cramping, bleeding and other physical and psychological side effects can all be a part of a miscarriage.

    If you’re dealing with miscarriage, though, it’s important to remember that you’re ultimately in control of how you deal with your situation

    Always remember that:

    • The miscarriage isn’t your fault.  It’s highly unlikely that you could have done anything to change it.  You aren’t being “punished” for past sins.
    • An early miscarriage isn’t anyone’s business.  If you didn’t tell people you were pregnant, you are under no obligation to talk about the miscarriage with them.
    • You can ask someone else to tell people if you have a miscarriage after you’ve announced your pregnancy.  You don’t have to make phone calls yourself if you have a miscarriage and numerous people knew you were pregnant.  A good friend or relative will probably be happy to take on this task for you.
    • It’s okay to grieve.  Even if you miscarry very early into your pregnancy, it’s all right to feel sad!  Others might not understand your feelings, but they don’t have to — you have a right to feel grief.
    • You don’t have to have sex again right away.  Many times, people will try to encourage you by telling you to “have sex soon” and “get pregnant again“.  Though they feel they are being helpful, they cannot force you to try again until you’re ready.
    • Know that you’re not alone.  If you do talk to friends about your miscarriage, you may be surprised to discover that they’ve had similar experiences.  Miscarriages might not be generally discussed, but they are more common than you might think.
    • It’s okay to move on with your life.  Regardless of your miscarriage, it’s fine to laugh, to move on and to connect with people.  Everyone’s reaction is different, not better or worse than another.
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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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    Fertility Issues after Giving Birth

    Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

    tn_img_6027A recent article from the UK’s Birmingham Post did an excellent job of explaining why women who have been able to conceive naturally without fertility treatments may one day find themselves dealing with infertility.

    In the story, the author discusses the experiences of Sarah Jessica Parker, the Hollywood star who recently  discovered that she was no longer able to become pregnant even though she had conceived without problems previously. 

    The phenomenon, “secondary infertility,” can happen for a number of reasons including the age of the woman, a switch in partners and potential medical problems.  Regardless of the “whys”, it can still be a devastating experience for any couple who assumed they would be able to naturally conceive.

    The upshot, though, is that there are alternatives for women who want to have children, including fertility treatments.  Although becoming pregnant may take a bit longer than expected, in many cases, it can still be a reality.