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Posts Tagged ‘Fertility Treatments’
Monday, March 8th, 2010
5 Fertility Myths - Debunked!
Myth #1: If I’ve had one child naturally, I can easily have another.
Actually, numerous women experience “secondary infertility” every year, which is infertility after the female has already had a child.
Myth #2: Infertility is mainly a woman’s issue.
Not true. Men and women have an equal chance of being infertile.
Myth #3: Fertility treatments are always expensive.
There are many fertility treatments that are quite economical and may even be covered partially by insurance.
Myth #4: IVF is the only fertility treatment.
Though IVF does get a lot of press, there are plenty of other ways to successfully treat infertility.
Myth #5: No one can really tell why men and women are infertile.
Certainly, there are cases when infertility baffles even the most knowledgeable reproductive health specialists. But in the majority of cases, the cause of infertility can be uncovered.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
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Tags: Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Infertility, Insurance, IVF, Men And Women, Myths, Reproductive Health Specialists, Secondary Infertility
Posted in Myths & Misconceptions | No Comments »
Friday, February 12th, 2010
Do you know your BMI (body mass index)? If not, it might be a good idea to find out if you’re trying to have a baby.BMI is a method of determining whether you’re at a weight that is healthy for your frame (judging by height). Though it can be somewhat skewed if you are very short or excessively tall, it’s typically a decent indicator for people of average height, which is the majority of the population.
In terms of fertility, your BMI should fall in the normal weight category, which is 18.5-24.9, to give you the best chances of success. So the closer you can get to that range, the better off you’ll be. (For a quick BMI calculator, check here.)
So how does BMI affect fertility? In a nutshell, if you’re underweight, your body may not be producing enough hormones to create an internal environment that’s conducive to regular ovulation and menses.
On the other end of the scale, if your BMI shows you to be overweight or obese, additional health problems (like early onset of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.) can make conception difficult.
Though having a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 won’t assure that you’ll be able to conceive naturally or with fertility treatments, you’ll be at a much better starting point weight-wise.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
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Tags: Bmi Body Mass Index, Bmi Calculator, Bmi Index, Body Mass Index, Cholesterol, Diabetes, Fertility Treatments, Health Problems, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Hormones, Internal Environment, Menses, Ovulation, Trying To Have A Baby, Weight Category
Posted in Health and Nutrition | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Many women feel they are somehow “inadequate” if they are having difficulty conceiving children. But if they’re over 30, they need to consider that fertility is definitely a “numbers game.”
Recent research has shown that by the age of 30, women have about a 1 in 5 chance of getting pregnant during their cycles. Thus, without any other complications or problems, the success rate is only 20%. (Compare that with a much higher success rate for women in their early twenties.)
To make matters more complicated, that statistic dips to a 1 in 20 chance (or 5%) by the time the woman is 40.
Though the numbers may be sobering, it’s important to remember that age is a natural process; therefore, it’s critical for women not to “kick themselves” for waiting to conceive.
Fortunately, many women have found that through a variety of fertility treatments, they can improve upon those statistics. It’s just a matter of working with a reproductive health specialist who understands how to evaluate and, when possible, maximize a female’s fertility.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
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Tags: Female Fertility, Fertility Treatments, Health Specialist, Reproductive Health, Rsi, Statistic, Statistics, Success Rate
Posted in Statistics | No Comments »
Sunday, January 31st, 2010
Research has proven that stress plays a critical role in the success of any fertility treatment, especially IVF. But how can you relax when all you can think about is whether or not you’ll be able to conceive?
If you’re having difficulty calming your mind and your body, try these tips to de-stress before and during your IVF treatments:
- Lay off (or significantly reduce) your intake of caffeine. It might “wake you up”, but it can also make you agitated.
- Get a good night’s sleep. Rest is one of the most beneficial “gifts” you can give yourself.
- Take up a relaxing hobby. Some individuals like to scrapbook, others like to knit. Some cook, some read, some write… the list goes on and on. Do whatever calms you and allows you to focus your energies in a positive direction.
- Learn to meditate. You don’t have to be spiritually-inclined to embrace the powers of meditation.
- Try yoga pre-IVF. Yoga, when performed correctly, can prep your body, heart and soul.
- Eat healthfully. If you’re investing in IVF, yo u must invest in your nutrition, too.
- Stay away from toxic people. Though this can be easier said than done, whenever you have the choice, choose to avoid persons who want to bring you down.
What methods have you used to de-stress during your fertility treatments? We’d like to know!
RSI… helping miracles happen.
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Tags: Calming Your Mind, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, IVF treatments, Meditation, nutrition, Sleep, Stress, Toxic People, Yoga
Posted in IVF treatments | No Comments »
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010
It’s kind of ironic — plenty of couples struggling with fertility issues hesitate to get any help with their fertility concerns.
Their fears come in a number of different varieties. Below are four of the most common reasons for not contacting a reproductive health specialist:
- Knowing means having to address. For some people, the reality of knowing what’s wrong will mean they’ll have to address those facts… and that can be tough for certain personality types.
- A worry about cost. The media has made it seem as if all fertility treatments are expensive; however, this isn’t the case. There are many avenues to conception that are extremely economical. It all depends on your particular situation.
- Fear of retribution from a partner. Women and men who are struggling with infertility may have a fear that a partner will be accusatory of it’s discovered that they are the “source” of the problem. While this is not always a founded fear, if you are in a relationship where you are too scared of your partner to uncover the truth, you would be wise to undergo a serious amount of couples counseling to work on your partnership before embarking on a journey to have children.
- Confusion about how to start. Luckily, this is an easy solution — simply pick up the phone and contact a reputable clinic like RSI. It’s really that straightforward.
Don’t allow the unknown to keep you from addressing your fertility concerns. Remember that it’s always better to have all the facts than to languish in the dark.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
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Tags: Avenues, Confusion, Couples, Easy Solution, Fears, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatments, Health Specialist, Infertility, Journey, Miracles Happen, Partnership, Personality Types, Relationship, Reproductive Health, Retribution, Rsi, Truth, Women And Men, Worry
Posted in Infertility | 1 Comment »
Saturday, January 16th, 2010
Recently a woman in the United Kingdom who is 59 years old (some sources say 60 years old) went through IVF to conceive a child. The egg (from a donor, as she’s post-menopausal) was fertilized using her partner’s sperm.
As you might imagine, her story has created quite a stir internationally. Some people feel she’s too old to give birth, while others feel it’s a personal decision and age shouldn’t matter if you’re healthy and financially stable.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject.
In your opinion, how old is too old to undergo fertility treatments?
RSI… helping miracles happen.
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Tags: 59 Years, Egg Donor, Fertility Treatments, IVF, Love, Miracles, Personal Decision, Post Menopausal, Rsi, United Kingdom, Woman
Posted in Fertility Issues In the News | No Comments »
Friday, January 15th, 2010
Have you hesitated to consider investigating fertility treatments because you’re worried about the potential cost? Then you’re not alone. Many individuals and couples assume they “can’t afford it” and decide not to pursue their dreams of having a child.
Fortunately, there are numerous ways to pay for fertility treatments that won’t render you penniless. Consider these methods that others have successfully tried:
- Buy special infertility insurance. There are some insurance companies that now offer insurance packages for fertility treatments. In fact, yours might have an option that you don’t know about.
- Don’t start with the most expensive treatment. When considering fertility treatments, don’t assume you’ll need the most costly treatment. Ask your doctor for choices.
- See if your fertility treatments are tax deductible. Check with your accountant and see if you can deduct fertility treatment costs off your taxes. This can be a great help.
- Take out a special loan for fertility treatments. There are loans available to individuals and couples who intend to undergo fertility procedures. This can help tremendously if you qualify.
- Ask for help from family members. Though you probably don’t want to rely too heavily on your family, if you have a close-knit relationship with your parents and they’ve offered assistance, you might want to consider taking it.
- Talk with your reproductive science specialist’s office about payment options and alternatives. At a clinic like RSI, we often handle inquiries about payment options and we’re happy to explain the different routes people have taken. You never know until you ask.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
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Tags: Accountant, Choices, Couples, Dreams, Family Members, Fertility Procedures, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Infertility, Infertility Insurance, Inquiries, Insurance Companies, Insurance Packages, Loans, Miracles, Payment Options, Reproductive Science, Rsi, Science Specialist, Special Loan
Posted in Financial Issues | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
 Egg donation is a very personal choice many individuals and couples make when seeking assistance in conceiving a child. Because every egg donor program varies from clinic to clinic, it’s important to make certain that yours gives you the most options.
What are some of the options you’ll want to investigate? Consider these, for starters:
- Diversified Egg Donor Listing. You deserve as many options as you need, so it’s critical to pick an egg donor program that offers you choices such as the ethnic diversity of the egg donor (including African-American, Jewish heritage, etc.)
- Experienced Medical Team. Believe it or not, all reproductive science specialists are not quite as “specialized” as you might think. Thus, it’s critical to find a team that has plenty of expertise in this area.
- Young Egg Donors. Many clinics will allow donors up to 35+; at RSI, we consider age 32 the “cap” for our egg donors.
- Extensive Egg Donor Profiles. You should be able to find out quite a bit about your egg donor at your reproductive science clinic. If you feel you’re not getting enough information, it’s probably an indication that you’re at the wrong place.
- No Waiting List. Better clinics have no egg donor waiting list. That means you have fewer delays in reaching your goal of a healthy baby.
- Couples/Individuals Choose Egg Donor. You should be able to choose the egg donor you prefer, and RSI supports that wish. However, it’s important to note that some clinics will want to choose for you.
- Competitive Price. As always, you need to work with a reproductive science specialist who understands that fertility treatments should be priced competitively.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
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Tags: American Heritage, American Jewish, Cap, Choices, conceiving a child, Couples, Couples Seeking, Donor Egg, Donor Profiles, Egg Donation, Egg Donor Program, Egg Donors, Ethnic Diversity, Fertility Treatments, Jewish Heritage, Medical Team, Miracles, Reproductive Science, Rsi, Science Specialist, Science Specialists, Starters, Waiting List
Posted in Egg Donation | 1 Comment »
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 »
Friday, December 18th, 2009
Rumor would have us believing that women are putting off their fertility treatments until the latest possible time in their lives, but that seems to be a myth. A recent survey of over 700 women showed that 88% were under age 35 when they first sought treatment for their fertility issues.
This shows that many women (and men) are recognizing the signs that they might need help (e.g., not conceiving naturally after trying for about a year to get pregnant, a series of ectopic pregnancies, endometriosis, STDs). It’s a good development, as it gives individuals and families more time to work with reproductive science specialists to address their fertility issues.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
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Tags: Address, Endometriosis, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatments, Miracles, Myth, Pregnant, Reproductive Science, Rsi, Science Specialists, Signs, STDs, Women And Men
Posted in Facts and Figures | No Comments »
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