Posts Tagged ‘Fertility Concerns’
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
It’s no secret or surprise that stress can rear its head when it comes to couples and individuals facing fertility treatments. In fact, a recent report from the UK suggests that more than three quarters of those experiencing infertility or fertility issues rate their stress level as the highest they’ve ever had in their lives.
Again, this isn’t a shocking revelation; however, it does give pause as to how men and women going through fertility treatments can better cope with their situations.
Beyond the usual suggestions to relax, put the issue into perspective and eat well, we at the Reproductive Science Institute (located in Wyomissing and Chesterbrook, PA) have some other ideas as to how you can minimize the stress that can be attributed to dealing with fertility concerns:
1. Talk about your feelings with a trained professional. It’s never a good idea to hold in your emotions, especially when you’re undergoing a potentially life-changing experience. Whether you speak with a counselor, member of the clergy or a psychiatrist, it’s essential that you discuss what you’re feeling inside rather than allowing it to build.
2. Gather information and understand what’s happening… but try not to obsess. It’s always good to understand what’s about to happen; but sometimes, too much information can be a very bad thing for couples and individuals entering into fertility treatments. If you become too engulfed in data, you may unnecessarily increase your stress levels.
3. Be open and honest with your fertility specialist. Finally, it’s essential for you (and your partner, if applicable) to be honest with your fertility specialist. If something feels amiss or you have concerns, speak up. You’ll get your questions answered, and that will seriously help you automatically lower your stress levels.
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Tags: Chesterbrook Pa, Clergy, Counselor, Couples, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, emotions, Feelings, Fertility Concerns, Fertility Issues, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Infertility, Men And Women, Perspective, Philadelphia Area, Psychiatrist, Reproductive Science Institute, Shocking Revelation, Stress Level, Stress Levels, Stress Reduction, Three Quarters, Wyomissing Pa
Posted in Fertility Treatments, Stress | No Comments »
Monday, October 17th, 2011
Could there really be a switch that turns fertility on and off in women’s bodies? The answer is “maybe” according to an Imperial College London study that linked a protein to infertility.
The study, which appeared in the journal Nature Medical Sunday, found that SGK1 at extreme levels seems to negatively affect female fertility. Women with low SGK1 are at higher risk of having a miscarriage, whereas women with high levels of SGK1 are more likely to be infertile.
This protein enzyme may provide a way for fertility specialists and scientific researchers to be able to essentially turn some women’s fertility “on” if it’s been “off” due to very low or high SGK1.
The study’s leaders are suggesting that perhaps blocking SGK1 altogether could help some women who are having fertility issues. Alternatively, for couples who wish to have no children, SGK1 could even be considered for a different contraception method than, say, the pill or IUD.
While only time will tell how far this finding will go, it’s promising for many reasons, including the hope that fertility specialists will have more options to provide women and their partners who are trying to have a baby.
If you’ve had fertility concerns, we invite you to contact the Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) for an initial consultation.
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Tags: Contraception, Contraception Method, Couples, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Extreme Levels, Female Fertility, Fertility Concerns, Fertility Issues, Fertility Specialists, Fertility Treatment, Imperial College London, Infertility, Initial Consultation, Iud, Journal Nature, London Study, Nature Medical, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Protein Enzyme, Reading, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Trying To Have A Baby, Wyomissing
Posted in Fertility Issues In the News | No Comments »
Monday, October 10th, 2011
If you’ve ever had surgery or trauma (as in tearing) in or on any part of your reproductive system or (sometimes) in areas surrounding your reproductive system, you may end up with pelvic, abdominal or other adhesions.
In essence, adhesions are a form of scarring that can occur. Sometimes, the adhesions are quite small and unnoticeable. In other cases, however, adhesions can pose problems, especially when it comes to fertility concerns. Many women even experience secondary infertility as a result of adhesions from their first or last childbearing occurrence.
So how do you know if adhesions could be a contributing cause of your fertility issues? For many women, adhesions accompany pain. Or they’ve been having unprotected sex regularly for six or more months without getting pregnant. Obviously, only a trained medical specialist can help you determine if adhesions exist. And if they are, you can proceed to either look for alternatives to natural conception or try surgical methods to reduce or remove adhesions.
Obviously, you need to examine the possibilities thoroughly. And that’s where a reproductive specialist who has an exemplary background can help you make the right choices for your fertility needs.
If you are within driving distance of Philadelphia or Reading, Pennsylvania, we suggest you consider setting up an appointment with The Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) of Suburban Philadelphia to talk about adhesions, fertility and other similar medical concerns.
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Tags: Abdominal Adhesions, Abraham Munabi, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Driving Distance, Fertility Concerns, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatment, Having Unprotected Sex, Infertility, Medical Concerns, Medical Specialist, Natural Conception, Occurrence, Possibilities, Reading Pennsylvania, Reproductive Science Institute, Reproductive Specialist, Reproductive System, Right Choices, Rsi, Secondary Infertility, Suburban Philadelphia
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Friday, July 15th, 2011
“Just relax and go with the flow! That’s how you’ll get pregnant!”
“If you’d calm down a little, you’d be able to get pregnant in no time.”
“I wish you would take it easy, for goodness’ sake. That’s your real problem. Go on vacation and you’ll come home pregnant!”
Unfortunately, those sentences are indicative of the advice that far too many individuals and couples dealing with fertility concerns hear. To be sure, the comment isn’t meant to be hurtful, but it does tend to send the wrong message. In a nutshell, it’s just not true.
Don’t get us wrong – stress can absolutely be a contributing factor to fertility problems. However, relaxation is not typically a one-size-fits-all solution. Though being able to enjoy “down time” does contribute to a healthier attitude, mindset and, sometimes, outcome, it’s complementary to fertility treatments, not a treatment in and of itself.
The next time someone makes this type of statement to you, there are a few choices:
1. Say nothing. Just smile and nod.
2. Tell the person that your fertility is not any of their business.
3. Reply, “I’m glad that worked for you.”
Whatever you do, don’t assume that you’re under any obligation to believe this myth. It’s an old wives tale, which means it’s best left to the annals of history.
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Tags: Annals, Attitude, Calm Down, Choices, Couples, Facebook, Fertility Concerns, Fertility Problems, Fertility Treatments, Goodness Sake, Mindset, Myth 3, Nutshell, Obligation, Old Wives, Pregnant, Relaxation, Reply, Sentences, Smile And Nod, Stress, Twitter
Posted in Myths & Misconceptions | 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, June 22nd, 2010
Straight from the University of Virginia comes a home test that might just make it easier for men with fertility concerns to gauge their sperm counts from the comfort of their own homes.
Called SpermCheck Fertility, the University of Virginia’s new technology has received FDA approval and should be available in pharmacies in late 2010.
SpermCheck Fertility requires only a few drops of semen in order to test sperm count and has been deemed to be relatively accurate overall.
This is an amazing breakthrough in helping males dealing with fertility issues, as it gives them a greater power. It will be interesting to see how it’s used over the next year or so…
RSI… helping miracles happen.
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Tags: Add New Tag, Breakthrough, Fda, Fda Approval, Fertility Concerns, Fertility Issues, Home Test, Miracles, New Technology, Pharmacies, Semen, Sperm Counts, University Of Virginia
Posted in Male Infertility | No Comments »
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.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
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Tags: Couples, Definite Reason, Experiences, Family Member, Fertility Concerns, Fertility Treatments, Fraction, Group Member, Infertility, Infertility Issues, Infertility Support Group, Men And Women, Miracles, People, Personal Issues, Safe Haven, Sorts, Sounds, Stressors, Worries
Posted in Support | 1 Comment »
