Posts Tagged ‘Fertility Issues’
Wednesday, September 28th, 2011
News from India has many men who work in the IT industry asking themselves if their chosen careers may contribute to their male infertility. A recent survey of those in the software industry has discovered that many men who attempt fertility treatments with their wives discover that they are the cause of the reproduction issues.
Though the survey doesn’t explain exactly why a higher-than-normal finding seems to exist in the IT world, there could be many sociological and environmental factors, including:
1. A stressful environment.
The IT industry is highly competitive, requiring long hours. As with any job where intensity and drive are the standard expectations, an IT professional may be living such a hectic lifestyle that he is unable to find time to have a regular sexual relationship with his female partner.
2. Obesity.
IT professionals often work in offices in front of computers day-in, day-out. This leads to a more sedentary than normal existence, which can contribute to weight issues. Obese men are known to have more fertility issues than are those of average weight.
3. Poor habits.
Long hours may lead some men to drink or smoke. Both lifestyle choices can be contributors to male infertility. Additionally, any kind of drug use (even some over-the-counter medications) can become problematic for men seeking to father children.
4. Radiation from technology equipment.
Though some scientists have felt that the notion of radiation from technological items is too minimal to have an impact on male infertility, others are cautious about dismissing the notion out of hand. After all, some cases have shown that being around such items can have effects on health.
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Tags: Drug Use, Environmental Factors, Female Partner, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Hectic Lifestyle, Infertility, Intensity, Lifestyle Choices, Male Infertility, Many Men, News From India, Obese Men, obesity, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Poor Habits, Reading, Reproducive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Reproduction Issues, Rsi, Sexual Relationship, Software Industry, Stressful Environment, Technology Equipment, Wyomissing
Posted in Male Infertility | No Comments »
Monday, September 12th, 2011
Many times, women who have trouble conceiving immediately assume the worst; but often, something as simple as getting them ovulating regularly can solve their fertility issues.
Ovulation occurs when the ovum is released from one of the ovaries. Typically, this happens mid-cycle; however, there are some women for whom it happens infrequently or at a different time of the month. Thus, they try to have a child, but at the inappropriate moment.
Making it even tougher to diagnose this as the heart of your fertility issues, the signs of ovulation may or may not be present. Commonly, those include any or all of the following symptoms:
- Change in vaginal fluids making them take on an “egg white”, stringy appearance. (This should not be confused with a yeast infection or STD, which can cause thick, foul-smelling discharge.)
- Change in basal body temperature. This is the temperature of your body, typically taken by women in the morning before they get out of bed. Those females who use the “rhythm method” of birth control often keep a chart of their basal body temperatures so they recognize when they need to abstain from sexual intercourse.
- Light spotting or cramping. As a woman’s hormones shift, she may experience bleeding or muscle contractions. Bloating and breast tenderness can also accompany ovulation.
So what happens if you can’t be certain you’re ovulating? First, it’s a good idea to go to a fertility specialist or your gynecologist. He or she will help you figure out if you’re ovulating regularly.
Next, if you discover that you are not ovulating, a fertility specialist can prescribe medications to help your body “reset” itself. Drugs such as Clomid are used for this purpose and have had excellent results for females with fertility issues across the world.
Finally, if testing uncovers that you do not ovulate at all and you are unresponsive to medications like Clomid, other fertility options will be presented for your consideration.
If you’d like to discuss this topic further and you live in or within driving distance of Wyomissing or Chesterbrook, we invite you to make an appointment with the Reproductive Science Institute (RSI).
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Tags: Basal Body Temperatures, Bloating, Body Temperature, Breast Tenderness, Clomid, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Issues, fertility specialist, Gynecologist, Inappropriate Moment, Irregular Ovulation, Mid Cycle, Muscle Contractions, ovum, Philadelphia PA Infertility, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rhythm Method Of Birth Control, Rsi, sexual intercourse, Signs Of Ovulation, Time Of The Month, Times Women, Vaginal Fluids, Wyomissing PA Infertility, Yeast Infection
Posted in female infertility, Fertility Info 101 | No Comments »
Friday, September 2nd, 2011
If you’ve had difficulty getting pregnant, you’ve likely heard this one over and over:
“Just adopt a baby! Then, you’ll get pregnant right away… it happened to my [fill-in-the-blank]!”
While that type of story makes for great anecdotes, it isn’t statistically proven, nor is it something to count on if you’re struggling with infertility.
The truth is that infertility is a medical, not a social, condition. Though outside influences can have effects on whether or not a female can easily have a child, those influences do not include adopting.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with looking into adoption; in fact, we recommend it for the right couples who have the correct attitude about the process. However, it’s important to recognize that adoption isn’t the answer if you’re only doing it so you can somehow “reverse” your fertility issues. Doing so can lead to:
- Added stress thanks to the burden you’ve put upon yourselves in setting up unrealistic hopes based on the adoption myth.
- Discontent if you do not become pregnant after adopting a child.
- Negative decisions based on misinformation.
Again, there’s no reason not to look into adoption, but make sure you always do it for the right reasons. Infertility can’t be reversed by adopting a child, but it can often be overcome with scientifically proven methods such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI).
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Tags: Adopting A Child, Adoption, Anecdotes, Correct Attitude, Couples, Decisions, Discontent, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatment, Fertilization Ivf, Fill In The Blank, Infertility, Intrauterine Insemination, Misinformation, Myth, Nbsp, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Pregnant, Reading, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Stress, Truth, Vitro Fertilization, Wyomissing
Posted in Infertility, Myths & Misconceptions | No Comments »
Friday, July 29th, 2011
If you’re a man who has been told (or who believes) he has male infertility, it may be wise to make some lifestyle changes. Though such changes may not alter the infertility enough to enable you to conceive without reproductive technology assistance, they have been shown to make your body produce better quality sperm to be used during such procedures as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Working with your fertility specialist, you may be asked to make some or all of the following daily habit modifications. Be open to them; they are meant to combat the effects of male infertility, not to make your day-to-day experiences difficult!
1. Smoking cessation – Smoking has been known to reduce the quality of sperm, so if you’ve been looking for a reason to quit, now is the perfect time.
2. Reduction or elimination of alcohol consumption – Alcohol may contribute to male infertility, so opt for another drink while you’re working with a fertility specialist.
3. Elimination of drugs – Obviously, illegal drugs are not to be taken under any circumstances, but some over-the-counter medications may also be counterproductive to dealing with fertility issues. Make sure you let your fertility specialist know everything you’re taking so he or she can make recommendations.
4. Reduction of intercourse or ejaculation – Though it might seem counterintuitive, it’s not necessarily a good idea to ejaculate every day. Depending upon what your physician suggests, you may be asked to have sexual intercourse on a very strict schedule, thus increasing the chances that your sperm will be more viable.
5. Reduction of stressors – This can be easier said than done, of course. But it’s important for men and women struggling with infertility to reduce the stressors in their lives as much as they realistically can.
6. Modification of exercise habits – It’s been shown that excessive exercising can be harmful to sperm quality, and some exercises, such as cycling, have been linked to male infertility (due to pressures on the testes.)
7. Reduction of weight – Though weight plays more of a role in female infertility than it does in male infertility, it’s still a good idea to lose extra pounds, especially if your BMI has reached a rating that would qualify you as extremely overweight or obese.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Alcohol Consumption, Dr. Munabi, Exercise Habits, Fertility Issues, fertility specialist, Fertilization Ivf, Illegal Drugs, Infertility, Lifestyle Changes, Male Infertility, Perfect Time, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Reproductive Technology, Rsi, sexual intercourse, Smoking Cessation, sperm, Stressors, Strict Schedule, Success Rates, Technology Assistance, Time 2, Vitro Fertilization
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Monday, July 25th, 2011
Recent findings in the area of male infertility may help explain why some men are subfertile or infertile.
Researchers from the University of California, Davis, have announced that a recent fertility study has shed light on the occurrence of a protective “coat” that wraps around sperm. The protein-based coat shields the sperm as they attempt to reach an egg; however, without the coat, they are left vulnerable.
The fertility study was conducted on 500 Chinese couples; birth rates among the couples were significantly lowered if the protein coating did not exist in the males.
Men with a missing sperm coating likely have the condition genetically. In fact, the University scientists are suggesting that up to 1 in 5 men may be without the protein protection, thus leaving them open to male infertility.
To combat the effects of the gene mutation, experts are suggesting the usage of assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI). With IVF or IUI, the potentially-hazardous journey of the sperm to the egg is eliminated, therefore upping the chances of a successful conception.
Because the findings are new, no tests have been developed. However, it’s a topic that we at RSI, one of the Philadelphia area’s premiere fertility clinics, will be following closely in the months to come.
Male Infertility Facts:
- 30-40 percent of all couples’ fertility issues can be related to male infertility factors.
- Each year, there are approximately 2 million new cases of male infertility in the United States.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Birth Rates, Chinese Couples, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, Fertility Clinics, Fertility Issues, Fertilization Ivf, Gene Mutation, Hazardous Journey, Infertility, Intrauterine Insemination Iui, Male Infertility, Occurrence, Philadelphia Area, Protein Coating, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Shields, Twitter, University Of California Davis, University Scientists, Vitro Fertilization
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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 »
Friday, July 1st, 2011
There are many considerations to make when you’re struggling with infertility. Depending upon what type of fertility treatment you decide to undergo, one of those considerations may be to seek out legal assistance.
Lawyers can be an asset to individuals and couples, but only if they fully understand the complexity (and legal issues) surrounding fertility issues.
To help you make wise choices, here are several points to remember when hiring an attorney for your fertility matters:
1. Make sure the attorney you choose has experience in the area you need.
Many lawyers handle aspects of fertility treatments, but not all of them have wide-ranging experience in all types of fertility issues. Whether you need someone to help you with adoption, donor egg, surrogacy or other considerations, make sure you find someone who can represent you well.
2. Reproductive law is a very specific area right now – find someone who has immersed him- or herself in it.
It may be wise for you to hire an attorney who has made reproductive law a passion, rather than someone who does “reproductive law on the side”. Look to work with a lawyer whose other areas of law complement reproductive law.
3. Interview all prospective attorneys before making any decisions.
Don’t choose an attorney in haste. You will be paying serious money for representation, so make sure you get the best person you can afford. If a lawyer balks at being “interviewed”, move on.
4. Look for a track record and ask for referrals.
Attorneys who have a long track record of helping individuals and couples with fertility treatment and reproductive law issues will be happy to share their successes. Look at their numbers and ask for referrals to other clientele, then ask those clientele pointed questions that pertain to what you need.
5. Don’t be bullied.
Finally, it’s critical to understand that you needn’t accept any kind of verbal “pushiness” from your attorney. If you feel like you’re being bullied or “talked down to”, it’s time to find better representation.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Adoption, Areas Of Law, Attorneys, Clientele, Complement, Complexity, Couples, Donor Egg, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Haste, Infertility, Legal Assistance, Referrals, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Serious Money, Several Points, Successes, surrogacy, Wise Choices
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Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
The term “varicoceles” may not be a household word, but for men, having the condition can lead to male infertility, among other medical problems.
Simply put, varicoceles are enlarged veins located in the testicles. (Think of the term “varicose veins”, which has a similar sound to it as “varicoceles” due to the etymology of the words.) Those enlarged veins cause a noticeable, soft, lumpy mass. They also contribute to conception difficulties. And a recent release from top U.S. researchers suggests that varicoceles may even stifle testosterone production, leading to other issues like depression, higher risk of heart attack and more.
So how many males have this condition? Some researchers suggest the figure could be as high as 15%, though a large number of men have no idea that they are afflicted with the condition. The onset of varicoceles seems to be puberty, but may come at any time during a man’s life.
Typically, until intense discomfort or male infertility symptoms arise, varicoceles aren’t touched, though a cadre of surgeons is pushing for men to address their varicoceles with a varicocelectomy. (Interestingly, physicians are more concerned with the low levels of testosterone associated with varicoceles than with fertility issues.) Varicoceles can be addressed using microsurgical techniques which have been proven to be lower in risk than ever before and quite effective.
If you’re concerned that you or your partner could have varicoceles, it’s important to contact your primary doctor and/or a reputable fertility specialist like those at Philadelphia area’s RSI clinic.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, conception difficulties, Dr. Munabi, Etymology, Facebook, Fertility Issues, fertility specialist, Heart Attack, Household Word, Infertility, Male Infertility, Medical Problems, Philadelphia Area, Puberty, Reproductive Science Institute, Risk Of Heart Attack, Rsi, Similar Sound, Testicles, Twitter, Varicocelectomy, Varicoceles, Varicose Veins
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Monday, June 20th, 2011
Weight can have a significant affect on fertility rates, especially for women.* And a recent report which was unveiled and talked about at the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) meeting adds more credibility and increased understanding to and about the options available for obese women suffering from infertility.
During a nine-year study, women who were deemed clinically or morbidly obese and then lost weight due to bariatric surgery were closely followed. At the end of the study, all the women who were tracked (and who had a desire to become pregnant) were able to conceive after losing the excess weight. This held true even for those with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), giving tremendous hope to the hundreds of thousands of females suffering from PCOS and weight-related fertility issues.
(The average age of the women in the study was 32. Therefore, it should be noted that obese females who are older than 32 may have more trouble conceiving even after bariatric surgery.)
However, in the end, it’s important to accept that if you are a woman with PCOS and/or are clinically obese (BMI of more than 25), connecting with a fertility specialist like those at RSI is essential. Remember that if you’re having trouble conceiving, the answers to increasing your fertility rates may lie in a host of solutions.
* Don’t forget that being underweight can be as problematic in terms of conception as being overweight.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Bariatric Surgery, Bmi, Conception, Credibility, Desire, Dr. Munabi, Excess Weight, Facebook, Fertility Issues, fertility rates, fertility specialist, Hundreds Of Thousands, Infertility, Obese Females, Obese Women, Ovary, Ovary Syndrome, Pcos, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Study Women, Twitter
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Monday, May 23rd, 2011
“Going Green” has become a buzzphrase around the globe, at least among English-speaking countries. But glysophate, an herbicide, may just make plants greener… and infertility rates higher. Hence, “going green” with glysophate could be dangerous.
A recent Reuters news report links glysophate (found in the top selling weed killer in America) to potential fertility issues in the human population. Earthjustice, an environmental organization, is even calling for a glysophate ban internationally, though it’s not likely without a shut-down from the EPA.
To add fuel to this fire, only this past January, a respected, retired Purdue University scientist and professor noted that there seemed to be a connection between glysophate and spontaneous abortions (and infertility) in a variety of farm animals. The University prof concluded that glysophate could be just as harmful to people.
To be fair, the manufacturers of glysophate disagree vehemently and tout their product’s friendliness to animals and humans. Though it’s a weed killer that is so commonly used that it’s tough to avoid it, they say that it’s not a contributor to fertility issues in animals or humans.
What does that mean for you? If you’re trying to become pregnant, it may be worth your while to avoid using any products on your garden or lawn that contain glysophate. That way, you’ll at least be avoiding additional contamination.
Again, the evidence seems to be circumstantial at this point in time; however, we’re devoted to bringing you reports of potential contributors to and education about environmental issues and infertility.
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Tags: Dr. Munabi, English Speaking Countries, Environmental Issues, Environmental Organization, Facebook, Farm Animals, Fertility Issues, Friendliness, Going Green, Herbicide, Human Population, Infertility, News Report, Point In Time, Purdue University, Reproductive Science Institute, Reuters News, Rsi, Selling Weed, Spontaneous Abortions, Twitter, University Scientist, Weed Killer
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