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Posts Tagged ‘Health Specialist’

Endometriosis and Female Infertility

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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Before You Take Fertility Drugs, Make Sure You Ask These Questions

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

As you prepare for an upcoming trip to your fertility specialist (and we hope that your preferred reproductive health specialist is one of the doctors at RSI!), it’s important to have a list of questions on hand should he or she suggest you or your partner take fertility drugs.

Some of the queries you’ll want to consider include the following:

  •   How often do you prescribe these fertility drugs to patients? 
  • What side effects are common with these types of fertility drugs?  Have your patients reported any other side effects?
  • What are the contraindications with these fertility drugs?
  • How much will the fertility drugs cost?  Are there generic versions to save money?
  • What will the fertility drugs do? 
  •  How long will I have to take the fertility drugs?
  • Will taking these medications affect anything that I currently do?
  • Are there foods or drinks I should avoid while taking these fertility drugs?
  • If I do not take these drugs, what will happen?  What would my other options be?

By being a smart, prepared patient, you’ll leave your reproductive health specialist’s office feeling better educated than when you came in.  And it will also give your physician an opportunity to help you understand more about your unique situation.

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Secondary Infertility – Why Is It So Tough on Families?

Monday, April 18th, 2011

For couples who are without any children and who are trying to become pregnant, it can be difficult to understand why partners facing secondary infertility* are so upset.

(*Secondary infertility is, quite simply, infertility after having successfully conceived a child or children.)

 The truth of the matter is that whether or not you have a household full of children or you’ve been relegated to caring for furry, four-legged “kids”, infertility can still be emotionally difficult.

If you’ve been having issues getting pregnant even though you’ve been pregnant before, it’s time to see a reproductive health specialist to talk about secondary infertility.  Stop listening to the negative people who say you’re “selfish” to want more children; if having a larger family is your goal, it’s reasonable to find out why you’re not conceiving naturally.

As for the reasons behind secondary infertility, there are numerous possibilities to explain the problem.  Some, like ovulation issues, are relatively easy to address.  Others, like the case of a woman who has entered into menopause earlier than expected, may require medical action.

Regardless, it’s important to recognize that secondary infertility is a condition that a) can be addressed and b) shouldn’t be ignored if the couple truly wants more kids.

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Why Won’t He Talk about His Male Infertility?

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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25 Contributors to Male and Female Infertility, part 2

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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Don’t Buy into the Myths about Fertility, part II

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

Today, we’re dispelling three myths about fertility based on fertility information (or should we say MISinformation) widely available (unfortunately) via the World Wide Web.  Check yesterday’s blog post for the first part of this two-part series.

 Myth #3:  If You Adopt, You’ll Get Pregnant 

Again, this is one of those “old wives tales” that would be nice if it were true.  But it’s really just anecdotal and has no bearing in science.  Has this happened for some couples?  Absolutely.  Has it not happened for others?  Of course.  So to make the assumption is to set yourself up for disappointment.

 

Myth #4:  I Can Buy Fertility Drugs on My Own 

Please don’t go online and buy “fertility boosting” drugs from unknown sources!

 

First of all, you don’t have any idea what these drugs contain.  (Some are harmless, some are not… but the majority are NOT what you think you’re buying.)  Secondly, if you haven’t been to a reproductive health specialist, you should not try to diagnose your infertility.  And finally, you will be wasting your money and potentially losing precious time. 

Myth #5:  I’m Too Young to See a Fertility Doctor

If only more individuals and couples would come to reproductive health specialists EARLIER rather than later!

There’s no reason to feel that you’re not “old enough” to be infertile.  If you’re under 35 and have been trying to get pregnant unsuccessfully for 6-12 months, make an appointment.  You’ll never know until you ask questions!

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New IVF Update from Celine Dion

Friday, July 9th, 2010

As we’ve blogged about before, Celine Dion recently announced that she was pregnant with twins after undergoing six rounds of IVF treatment.

A few days ago, 19-weeks pregnant Dion announced the gender of her twins, and it’s baby blue all the way!  Two boys will be joining the family (mom, dad and 9-year-old big brother who was also conceived after fertility treatments) at the end of the year.

Reportedly, Dion is thrilled with the outcome of her IVF journey, which she has admitted in the past hasn’t been simple.

A Little Bit of Info about IVF…

IVFstands for in vitro fertilization, a medical process whereby a human egg (ova) is fertilized by a human sperm outside the womb.  The fertilized egg is then transferred to the womb of the mother (or, in cases where a woman cannot carry a child to term because of complications, an approved surrogate.)

The rate of success during IVF varies widely depending on a number of factors, including the age of the mother, the ability of the reproductive health specialist, the health of the parents, etc.   However, thanks to medical improvements, live birth rates continue to increase around the world.

  • RSI… helping miracles happen.
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  • Having Trouble Conceiving? It Could Be Asherman’s Syndrome.

    Friday, April 30th, 2010

    Asherman’s Syndrome isn’t a commonly discussed condition… yet.  Lately, it’s been getting a lot of press because doctors have connected it to infertility, a problem faced by millions of individuals around the globe.

    Asherman’s affects women, not men, and is described as:

    “…an acquired uterine condition, characterized by the formation of adhesions (scar tissue) inside the uterus…”  (From  http://www.ashermans.org/)

    With proper treatment, many women are able to reproduce naturally; however, nothing can be done without a diagnosis.

    If you’ve been experiencing infertilityand know (or suspect) you have Asherman’s Syndrome, contact a reproductive health specialist for a more in-depth analysis.

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  • Fertility Really Can Be a Matter of Age

    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.

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  • Don’t Let Fear Stop You from Addressing Your Fertility Concerns

    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.

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