Posts Tagged ‘Fertility Problems’
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.
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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
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Friday, September 16th, 2011
For couples undergoing fertility treatments, deciding when, whether and/or with whom to share their journey can be difficult. Yet an interesting study from the University of Iowa has revealed that it may end in a socially, scientifically predictable decision.
The study looked at couples who had been through fertility treatments and evaluated the people with whom they talked about their experiences. The findings, published in the Journal of Applied Communication Research as well as the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships were definitely interesting:
When the woman was the person with the fertility issue, the couple tended to tell a great deal of people, including their family and friends. However, when the man had the fertility problems, the couple was less likely to talk about it.
The study’s authors used their data to make a conclusion that social mores surrounding expectations of males and females in western culture may have something to do with their reactions and actions. For instance, they suggested that women might be under pressure to explain why they didn’t have children by a certain age; consequently, they would be justifying their childless statuses. For men, this stigma wasn’t quite as strong; in fact, they might be hesitant to say they were undergoing fertility treatments for fear of it adversely affecting the way they were perceived by those around them.
Of course, these results are based on conjecture and every partnership is unique. Plus, there are many factors involved in the “to tell or not to tell” decision. However, the University of Iowa research has given way for further dialogue and investigation to be held on the topic.
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Tags: Certain Age, Conjecture, Couples, Dialogue, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Family And Friends, Fertility Issue, Fertility Problems, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Iowa Research, Journal Of Applied Communication Research, Journey, Males And Females, Nbsp, Personal Relationships, Philadelphia PA Infertility, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Social Mores, Statuses, Stigma, University Of Iowa, Western Culture, Wyomissing PA Infertility
Posted in Fertility Treatments | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011
It’s no secret that male infertility is taking as much prominence as is female infertility in the scientific race to find solutions for fertility problems in couples.
At the Reproductive Science Institute (RSI), conveniently located outside Philadelphia, we strive to stay on top of the latest developments to help those with male infertility conditions. Recently, there’s been a lot of press from an Asian study about the possibility of creating viable “test tube” sperm in a laboratory setting.
Fertility researchers in Japan used mice for their trials and were able to replicate sperm artificially within a ten-week period using stem cells from the mice. The sperm, once verified as viable, were implanted into mice testes, later removed, and then used to fertilize ova.
Mouse babies created from this sperm were not only conceived, but were born healthy. Those babies eventually grew to adulthood and reproduced as well, suggesting that the artificial sperm had no negative repercussions on the fertility of those babies who were conceived from them.
The breakthrough is a fascinating peek into the opportunities that fertility specialists have when it comes to combating male infertility. However, it’s important to note that while this research has caused some small earthquakes, it hasn’t produced any tsunamis in terms of watershed fertility treatment methodologies.
As this story develops, RSI will, of course, keep you in the loop. Until then, if you or your partner are/is suffering from male infertility symptoms, we urge you to contact us for an initial consultation.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Adulthood, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Earthquakes, female infertility, Fertility Problems, Fertility Specialists, Fertility Treatment, Infertility, Infertility News, Initial Consultation, Male Infertility, Methodologies, Mice, Negative Repercussions, pa fertility clinic, PA Infertility, Peek, Prominence, Reading, Reproductive Science Institute, Rhonda Hearns, Stem Cells, Test Tube, Tsunamis, Watershed, Wyomissing
Posted in Male Infertility | No Comments »
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 »
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
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Wednesday, April 13th, 2011
You want to go to a reproductive health specialist and discuss fertility problems you and your partner have had. But whenever you bring up the subject, he becomes defensive and refuses to attend even an exploratory meeting with a physician… let alone hear you out.
What gives?
For many men, especially those who were raised in families where infertility and reproductive health were “verboten” issues, discussing topics like this can be extremely difficult. And for other men, there can be an overwhelming fear that they might be facing male infertility.
What many men simply don’t realize is that male infertility is quite common. In fact, just as many fertility problems can be caused by male infertility factors as female infertility factors! But that can be little relief for the wife or partner of the man who won’t even discuss going to a doctor.
If you’re with someone who finds the male infertility discussion difficult, there are a few routes you can take.
First, you can make an appointment on your own to see a reproductive health specialist who can assist you in getting some information.
Next, you can get in touch with a counselor who might be able to give you advice on broaching the subject of male infertility.
Finally, you may just have to be patient but direct. If you both want children and you haven’t conceived naturally (though you’ve been having sexual intercourse regularly and without protection) in a 6-12 month period, there’s something amiss. That could be the bare fact that gets him to attend an appointment in the hopes of getting one step closer to a solution.
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Tags: Appointment, Counselor, female infertility, Fertility Problems, Having Sexual Intercourse, Health Specialist, Infertility, Male Infertility, Many Men, Overwhelming Fear, Reproductive Health, Reproductive Science Insitiute, Rsi
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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.
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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
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Thursday, January 27th, 2011
Male infertility is a topic that’s becoming more mainstream in the media as well as widespread in terms of how it’s being studied. Consequently, there’s a growing amount of evidence (both anecdotal and some scientific) that antioxidants may indeed help men dealing with fertility issues.
New Zealand scientists have been conducting studies on the topic of how to assist men with their fertility problems. As a result, they have developed a theory that taking antioxidants (e.g., vitamin E, zinc) can help guys dealing with male infertility.
To be sure, the men that were studied were not entirely infertile. They had sperm healthy enough to fertilize an egg, but their sperm counts were lower than normal. However, when they began to take doses of antioxidants, their sperm counts increased. The New Zealand researchers have suggested this is proof that their theory is sound; other scientists aren’t convinced.
So… does this mean it’s time for men to OD on antioxidants?
Not really.
But even if the hypothesis is hogwash, men with male infertility can and will still benefit from taking better care of themselves… and that may just include adding appropriate amounts of antioxidants into their daily diets.
FYI… 10 FOODS HIGH IN ANTIOXIDANTS
Apples
Plums
Blueberries
Red kidney beans
Pinto beans
Cherries
Pecans
Artichokes (cooked)
Cranberries
Russet potatoes
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Tags: Apples, Blueberries, Cherries, Cranberries, Diets, Fertility Issues, Fertility Problems, Hypothesis, Infertility, Mainstream, Male Infertility, Pecans, Pinto Beans, Red Kidney Beans, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Russet Potatoes, Sperm Counts, Vitamin E, Zealand Researchers, Zealand Scientists, Zinc
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Monday, November 29th, 2010
Scientists in Brazil have come across an interesting finding. During their research involving teen boys with varicocele, a widening of the veins located in the scrotum, they realized that those boys were quite possibly more apt to have trouble getting their future partners pregnant.
The reason for the likely infertility is two-fold:
1. Variocele can lead to lowered quality of sperm.
2. Variocele can lead to shrinking of the testicles.
Current Brazilian studies indicate that about 15% of males over the ages of 15 have varicocele. Additionally, research from Brazil has concluded that about 1/3 of men experiencing infertility have some form of varicocele and about 4/5 of men experiencing secondary infertility (e.g., those who have fathered a child at least once before) have a form of the testicular condition.
As a result, Brazilian physicians and scientists are suggesting that teens with varicocele undergo surgery to remedy the mostly-harmless testicular condition in order to preserve their fertility. Of course, this is a subject best handled in families, as any surgery brings with it potential complications. Still, it’s an interesting development and one that could lead to children for men with varicocele who might not have been able to father a child without medical intervention.
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Tags: Brazil, Brazilian Studies, Current, Fertility Problems, Infertility, Lead, medical intervention, Miracles, Physicians, Rsi, Scientists, Scrotum, Secondary Infertility, Teen Boys, Testicles, Varicocele, Variocele, Veins
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Monday, August 23rd, 2010
There’s nothing innately funny about fertility problems, but that doesn’t mean that keeping a sense of humor isn’t critical to getting through them. In fact, it’s mentally and physically very healthy to be able to laugh on a regular basis.
Interestingly, the basic physiological changes that occur when a person laughs may have a significant impact on his or her being able to increase the chances that a fertility procedure works.
For instance, because humor reduces stress, a woman may be more relaxed when undergoing IVF. Her body may hold itself less rigidly, meaning that the fertility procedure takes place more efficiently with less pain. And who knows? A relaxed body could be more conducive to a better result.
The same holds true for men. If a male has been told that he *must* perform sexually on certain days of the week or month to maximize the chances of fertility occurring, that’s a huge stressor. Being able to find the humor in the situation keeps the mood in the bedroom from turning sour. It also keeps him from being unable to get “in the mood” or even ejaculate.
With this being said, fertility problems absolutely aren’t a walk in the park. They aren’t fun. They aren’t light-hearted in and of themselves. But being able to put them into perspective may just be what the doctor ordered.
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Tags: Days Of The Week, Fertility Problems, Fertility Procedure, Funny, IVF, Laughs, Light Hearted, Miracles, Perspective, Physiological Changes, Sense Of Humor, Significant Impact, Stress, Stressor, Walk In The Park
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