Posts Tagged ‘Females’
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011
It’s no secret that fertility treatments can elicit a host of emotional responses from the individuals and couples involved. That’s why it’s such a smart idea to really plan for the ways to deal with your feelings ahead of time.
Even if you are the most optimistic person in the world, it can be challenging to stay positive, especially if fertility treatments are proceeding slower than you’d like or if the options presented to you are not what you expected.
As you proceed with your investigation into the right fertility treatments for your situation, why not take the following factors into consideration?
1. Set up an appointment with a counselor.
Many therapists and counselors specialize in helping those who are undergoing fertility treatments. They can give you feedback on your (very normal) emotions as well as providing you with ways to get through difficult times.
2. Don’t define yourself by your infertility.
Many people fall into the emotional trap of thinking of themselves only in terms of their infertility. Remember that you are someone who has a lot to offer, and are not simply a man or woman who is having issues conceiving.
3. Be open about the way you feel.
Females and males who are undergoing fertility treatments can sometimes “shut down”, essentially pretending that their emotions aren’t happening or, alternatively, aren’t important. But they most certainly are!
4. Plan fun activities.
Don’t worry about fertility treatments 24/7! Start planning some fun activities to do alone and with your partner. Go out to eat, head for a hike in the woods, take a walk along the water… and reconnect with yourself and your relationship in a way that doesn’t have to do with pregnancy.
5. Stay on top of your emotions.
Finally, it’s critical to remain “on top” of your emotions. You may even want to start a journal so you can track how you’re feeling on a daily or weekly basis. This will help you achieve a stronger sense of confidence and poise throughout your fertility treatments.
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Tags: Appointment, Counselor, Counselors, Couples, Difficult Times, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Emotional Responses, emotions, Feelings, Females, Fertility Treatments, Fun Activities, Infertility, Many People, Optimistic Person, Partner, Philadelphia Infertility, Pregnancy, Reading PA Infertility, Relationship, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Smart Idea, Stay On Top, Worry, Wyomissing PA Infertility
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Monday, September 19th, 2011
“Do I look fat in this?”
It’s a common phrase, especially in western culture where extra pounds are seen as verboten! There’s no doubt about it – many women complain about the weight, but what plenty with infertility issues don’t ever consider is the size of their ovaries.
However, researchers have shown that ovaries can be “fat”, or, more to the point, “fatty”. And the heavier/larger the ovaries are, the harder it can be for females to conceive without intervention from a fertility specialist.
Fatty ovaries have a tendency to be found in women who are already obese or in those who have diabetes. Because of the additional fatty acids contained within the ovaries, conception is made problematic. Essentially, fertilization cannot occur because fat is being metabolized at a faster-than-normal rate.
A recent study looked at this phenomenon by testing the ovaries of cows. Though not all animal research translates to humans, the British scientists who headed this one have emphasized their certainty that findings are pertinent for humans as well as bovines.
So is a “fat” ovary a definite cause of your infertility? Without a comprehensive checkup from a reputable fertility specialist, like those found at the Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, PC (RSI), it is really impossible to say. Yet it is wise to lose weight if your BMI is greater than 25 or lands you into a “clinically obese” category, regardless of whether your ovaries are contributing to your infertility issues or not.
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Tags: Animal Research, Bmi, Bovines, British Scientists, Common Phrase, Cows, Definite Cause, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fatty Acids, Females, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Fertilization, Infertility, Infertility Issues, No Doubt, Ovaries, Ovary, Philadelphia Infertility, Reading PA Infertility, Reproductive Science Institute, Suburban Philadelphia, Western Culture, Wyomissing PA Infertility
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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.
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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, August 12th, 2011
If you’re accustomed to sipping a morning cup of coffee (or two… or more), you might not be happy to hear that some fertility specialists are suggesting that caffeine can be problematic for women undergoing fertility treatments.
This warning comes from a recent research study carried out in theUnited Statesat Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. During the study, it was noticed that caffeine appeared to reduce muscular activity in the fallopian tubes of mice. Unfortunately, the lessened muscular activity had an effect on the natural contractions that move ova (eggs). Thus, the ova could not make it to a prime location within the uterus in order to be fertilized.
Though the study hasn’t been conducted on humans, it’s having a huge impact thanks to the implications.
Of course, giving up that java isn’t easy, especially if you have a “Starbucks habit” like so many other Americans!
To assist you in your quest to prepare your body for fertility treatments by reducing or eliminating your caffeine intake, we’d like to share some tips that have worked for other females in your situation:
- If you’re accustomed to drinking a lot of caffeine, don’t stop “cold turkey”. Taper off gradually to avoid withdrawal.
- Don’t forget that more than a cup o’ joe contains caffeine! Soda, chocolate and coffee-flavored ice cream can pack a caffeinated wallop, too!
- If you find yourself missing your morning routine, switch to decaf. You’ll still get the benefit of having a mug of rich coffee.
Wondering if fertility treatment is right for you?
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Tags: Caffeine Intake, Cold Turkey, Contractions, Cup Of Coffee, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fallopian Tubes, Females, Fertility Specialists, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Habit, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins University School, Johns Hopkins University School Of Medicine, Mice, Muscular Activity, PA Infertility, Patient Appointment, Philadelphia Infertility, Prime Location, Reading, Rich Coffee, School Of Medicine, Starbucks, Uterus, Wallop, Wyomissing, Wyomissing Infertility
Posted in Fertility Treatments, Health and Nutrition | No Comments »
Friday, August 5th, 2011
As if women needed another reason to deal with eating disorders, a new British research study has concluded that females with eating disordered pasts tend to have trouble getting pregnant quickly… or at all. Thus, many women who had anorexia and/or bulimia may find themselves turning to fertility treatments later in life.
During the study, UK scientists tracked over 11,000 mothers and discovered that those who had experienced eating disorders lagged behind in conceiving by about six months. Mathematically, this led many to seek fertility treatments.
So what does this mean for you if you have a history of anorexia or bulimia and you want to have children now or in the future?
1. Get your eating disorder under control before attempting to conceive. This is healthy for you, your relationship with your partner and your future child(ren).
2. Seek fertility treatments sooner rather than later if you’re having trouble getting pregnant. And don’t assume “the worst”. Sometimes, a round of a drug like Clomid (which helps to regulate ovulation) can be all that’s needed to get your body on track.
3. Connect with a counselor when you do become pregnant, as the weight gain associated with pregnancy can be a trigger for someone with an eating disordered past.
Fortunately, former anorexics and bulimics have many choices when it comes to having kids of their own. Visit a fertility specialist such as the Philadelphia region’s Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) for more information on your options.
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Tags: Anorexia Bulimia, Anorexics, Bulimics, Child Ren, Clomid, Counselor, Dr. Munabi, Eating Disorder, Eating Disorders, Females, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatments, Future Child, Ovulation, PA Infertility, Pasts, Patient Appointment, Philadelphia Region, Reading, Reproductive Science, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Track 3, Uk Scientists, Weight Gain, Wyomissing Infertility
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Friday, July 22nd, 2011
For women, especially those under 40, a diagnosis of breast cancer is difficult enough to hear. But when compounded with the fact that she might not be able to retain her fertility after undergoing chemotherapy, it can be doubly devastating.
Realizing this, researchers have begun medical treatments on younger females who have early stage breast cancer to suppress the women’s ovaries. Using triptorelin, physicians in an Italian study have successfully been able to help breast cancer victims stave off early menopause, a common side effect of chemotherapy. Patients in the study were able to potentially avoid permanently losing their fertility, enabling them to possibly have children naturally in the future.
The use of triptorelin to reduce the rate of early menopause in subjects by greater than 17 percent made waves throughout the international fertility treatment community, especially after the Italian study was made public earlier this week by the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Of course, it’s important to note that results haven’t been confirmed long-term and are only the tip of the iceberg. Cautions oncologist Lucia Del Mastro, the study’s leading author, in an article widely spread throughout the Internet:
“This strategy [of using triptorelin] increases the probability of ovarian function maintenance but it doesn’t assure the fertility.”
Still, it’s a happy prospect for women who have been given the devastating news that they have breast cancer and who want to have children later in life.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, American Medical Association, Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Victims, Chemotherapy, Chemotherapy Patients, Diagnosis Of Breast Cancer, Dr. Munabi, Early Menopause, Facebook, Females, Fertility Treatment, Italian Study, Journal Of The American Medical Association, Mastro, Medical Treatments, Menopause, Oncologist, Ovaries, Probability, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Stage Breast Cancer, Tip Of The Iceberg, Triptorelin, Twitter
Posted in Cancer, female 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 »
Monday, July 11th, 2011
If it seems like “everybody” around you is getting pregnant, it can be difficult; this is especially true if you’re having difficulty conceiving. However, looks can definitely be deceiving, and they are in this case.
There are numerous factors that go into whether or not a couple conceives. Some considerations include, but are not limited to:
- Whether the woman is ovulating.
- Whether the man has issues with sub-fertility or infertility.
- The medications each person is taking.
- Medical histories of both parties.
- Age (for females, mainly, but may also be a consideration for males).
- Lifestyle habits.
- Weight and nutrition.
- Environmental and geographic concerns.
- Alcohol consumption.
- Stress levels.
- Prior pregnancies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, up to 15% of the American population who are within child-bearing age parameters may have fertility problems. That’s over 7 million individuals!
The bottom line is that if you’re not able to naturally conceive within six months of trying, you should talk to a physician. This is especially true if you’re a woman who is over 30. But don’t convince yourself that you’re alone; pregnancy doesn’t come to every couple in the timeframe they’d prefer. That’s why every case involving fertility issues needs to be addressed in an individualized fashion.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Alcohol Consumption, American Population, Bottom Line, Centers For Disease Control, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, Fashion, Females, Fertility Issues, Fertility Problems, Infertility, Lifestyle Habits, Medical Histories, medications, Myth, Parameters, Pregnancy, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Six Months, Stress Levels, Timeframe, Twitter
Posted in Fertility Treatments, Myths & Misconceptions | No Comments »
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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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Alternative Lifestyles, Comprehensive Solution, Dr. Munabi, Experiences, Facebook, female infertility, Females, Fertility Clinics, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatments, Infertility, Infertility Cases, Male Infertility, Medical Clinics, medical intervention, Myths, Phenomenon, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Same Sex Couples, Secondary Infertility, Twitter
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Friday, May 6th, 2011
You may not have heard of the syndrome commonly called “Fragile X” (also known as Escalante’s syndrome or Martin-Bell syndrome), but one of its manifestations can be infertility in females with the condition.
Fragile X typically causes inherited mental impairment, sometimes obvious and sometimes not. Everything from severe mental disabilities to mild autism can fall under the Fragile X umbrella. Thus, some who are afflicted with Fragile X may be unaware they have the condition.
Physical features of those with Fragile X or FXPOI vary; some have long faces, double-jointed thumbs and/or flat feet. But there are plenty of others who have the syndrome but show no such attributes.
Women in particular may have few of the typical Fragile X symptoms or characteristics, mainly because of their second X chromosome. In essence, their other X chromosome (ostensibly healthy and strong) keeps them from having signs.
It’s the same case for females who have FXPOI, or Fragile X-Associated Primary Ovarian Insufficiency, although some iteration of FXPOI usually raises its head sooner or later. Generally, FXPOI leads to menstrual and ovarian concerns which, in turn, create fertility issues if the individual later tries to have children.
If you’ve been having difficulty becoming pregnant and suspect that Fragile X or FXPOI may run in your family, it’s best to get a physician’s viewpoint. Then, you can proceed with more knowledge about the ideal ways for you to go about growing your family.
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Tags: Attributes, Escalante, Facebook, Females, Fertility Issues, Flat Feet, Fragile X, Infertility, Iteration, Long Faces, Manifestations, Martin Bell, Mental Disabilities, Mental Impairment, Mild Autism, Physical Features, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Twitter, Umbrella, Viewpoint, X Chromosome
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