Posts Tagged ‘Infertility’
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
A new analysis of 15 controlled studies has found that a woman’s BMI has a relational effect on her fertility, with obesity associated with significantly worse pregnancy outcomes compared with women with a normal BMI.
It has long been believed that a woman’s general health can and does affect her ability to conceive, and to carry the baby to full-term, but past studies have been inconclusive in showing a direct link between obesity and infertility. However, according to this meta-analysis, obesity puts a mother-to-be at greater risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes when she conceives through in vitro fertilization.
Of the eight studies that reported clinical pregnancy rates among women undergoing assisted reproduction, 40.5 percent of obese women achieved pregnancy, compared with 43.8 percent of women of normal weight. Six studies reported live births, and those two were lower among obese women — the live birth rate was 23 percent among obese women and 25 percent among normal weight controls. Miscarriages occurred in 21.9 percent of obese women compared with 19.3 percent of normal controls.
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Tags: Assisted Reproduction, Birth Rate, Bmi, Fertility Treatment, General Health, Infertility, IVF, Live Birth, Live Births, Meta Analysis, Miscarriages, Obese Women, Obesity And Infertility, Pregnancy Outcomes, Pregnancy Rates, Risk, Success Rate, Vitro Fertilization
Posted in Health and Nutrition | No Comments »
Monday, December 5th, 2011
If you’re considering surrogacy as a potential option for expanding your family due to issues of infertility, there are some things you should consider before moving forward. Gestational surrogacy — where a woman agrees to carry embryos that were formed using in vitro fertilization using the eggs and sperm of the intended parents — is a unique and relatively new process that comes with a number of emotional issues.
For women who cannot carry their own baby, the opportunity to still have a child that is biologically their own is a dream come true. But the connection between the surrogate and the child is a unique one. The surrogate, also known as the gestational carrier, may not believe it will be difficult for her to hand over your baby to you after giving birth, there already have been legal actions taken in some cases that underscore the reality that it can be difficult for a woman to relinquish all ties to the baby they carried in their womb.
Sometimes the gestational carrier is a sibling or close friend to one of the intended parents. While this can bring an even deeper meaning and joy to the process, it also means there will be an ongoing social connection between everyone involved, including the surrogate and the child.
Gestational surrogacy is a beautiful, amazing possibility in one’s fertility journey, but it is one that should be carefully considered by all involved beforehand. Talk to your partner about all your concerns, and keep in mind that we have counseling services available to help you and your partner work through some of the emotional issues that comes with such a decision.
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Tags: Counseling Services, Deeper Meaning, Eggs, Embryos, Emotional Issues, Fertility Treatment, Gestational Carrier, Gestational Surrogacy, Giving Birth, Infertility, Journey, Legal Actions, Nbsp, Partner Work, Sibling, sperm, Surrogate, Ties, Vitro Fertilization, womb
Posted in surrogacy | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011
Here at Reproductive Science Institute, we like to stay on top of the latest in fertility research, and a breakthrough was disclosed last week that we thought was interesting and exciting enough to share.
In a study conducted on mice, researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel produced sperm cells from mouse testicular germ cells. The research was conducted by Professor Mahmoud Huleihel. “It may open strategies for infertile men who cannot generate sperm, and/or pre-pubertal cancer patients at risk of infertility due to radiotherapy,” Huleihel said. Results of the study were published Nov. 7 in the Asian Journal of Andrology.
The fact that science is creating sperm cells from germ cells is thrilling, particularly for the hope and promise it gives to infertile men who have dreams of fathering their own biological children. We will continue to follow this and other exciting research in the field of fertility, and bring our readers the latest news directly from the labs.
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Tags: Asian Journal, Ben Gurion University, Ben Gurion University Of The Negev, Biological Children, Cancer Patients, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Exciting Research, Fertility Research, Fertility Treatment, Germ Cells, infertile men, Infertility, Journal Of Andrology, Mahmoud, Male Infertility, Mice, PA Infertility, Pennsylvania Infertility, Reproductive Science Institute, Researcher, Rsi, Science Cells, Sperm Cells, University Of The Negev, Wyomissing
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Monday, November 21st, 2011
How much do women know about common fertility issues? Perhaps not as much as you might think.
In a recent survey sponsored by biopharmaceutical firm EMD Serono Inc., with investigators from RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, more than 50 percent of the 1,000 women questioned failed to correctly answer at least seven out of 10 basic fertility questions.
The questions that stumped many of them had to do with infertility as it relates to age and how long it may take to get pregnant at ages 20, 30, and 40. That’s not surprising, given the boon of health and beauty products that purport to keep a woman looking and feeling young as she ages. The problem is, there’s no magic anti-aging tonic for a woman’s reproductive system, which does continue to decline with time, making it considerably harder for a woman to conceive at 40 than at 20.
Researchers found that women think they can easily conceive into their late 30s and early 40s because celebrities make it look so easy. What they don’t realize, however, is that celebrities often call on fertility treatments, including in-vitro fertilization, donor eggs and surrogacy, to increase their chances of having a baby later in life.
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Tags: 40s, Boon, Celebrities, Donor Eggs, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Decline, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Having A Baby, Health And Beauty, Health And Beauty Products, Health Products, Infertility, Investigators, National Infertility Association, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Reading, Reproductive System, Serono Inc, surrogacy, Tonic, Vitro Fertilization, Wyomissing
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Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center have been studying the long-term consequences of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and have found that repeated bouts of the disease can double a woman’s risk of infertility.
PID is a complication of sexually transmitted infections and is marked by the inflammation of the reproductive organs. It can cause chronic pelvic pain and ectopic pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PID affects more than 800,000 women in the U.S. each year, and one in 10 of those women develops infertility.
The new research conducted by those at Johns Hopkins explored whether long-term effects of PID had changed in recent years along with changes in PID-causing pathogens and new treatments. The research showed, however, that long-term effects of PID are still serious when it comes to a woman’s fertility. In the study, women with recurrent PID were nearly twice as likely to report infertility as women who never had another PID flare-up after initial PID treatment.
If you’ve had recurrent PID episodes, there might be damage to your reproductive organs that is getting in the way of you conceiving a child. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss your unique health situation and your fertility treatment options.
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Tags: Bouts, Centers For Disease Control, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Chronic Pelvic Pain, conceiving a child, Disease Control And Prevention, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Ectopic Pregnancy, Fertility Treatment, Flare Ups, Health Situation, Infertility, Johns Hopkins, PA Infertility, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Pid, Philadelphia Infertility, Reading, Reproductive Organs, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, S Center, sexually transmitted infections, Study Women, Term Consequences, Those Women, Treatment Options, Unique Health, Wyomissing
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Monday, November 7th, 2011
The decision to undergo fertility treatments is a complex and difficult one. You have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally before embarking on such an important, life-changing journey. But once you have your heart, body and mind set on the goal of getting help with your fertility issues, the last thing you want to worry about is the way to finance that medical assistance your family needs to make its dreams come true.
Some couples avoid the talk of seeking fertility assistance simply because they believe the cost of fertility treatments is too much for them to handle. While it’s crucial to plan for the financial aspect of fertility treatments, there are several options for financing that can help make your dream a reality. Your financing options include:
- Insurance. The first place to start is with your insurance coverage. Fertility benefits vary by insurance provider as well as employer. Some plans cover laboratory services only, while others provide extensive coverage. Few plans provide full coverage for fertility treatments, but you don’t know how much coverage you can count on until you ask.
- Credit card. If you have been a loyal customer in good standing, your credit card issuer may increase your line of credit (sometimes at a reduced rate) that you can use as part of your fertility financing plan.
- Assets and investments. You may be able to use a home equity line of credit, or take a loan against your 401K or other investment.
- Grants. Nonprofit organizations such as B.U.M.P.S Inc. (http://www.yourbump.org) raise money and award grants to assist couples in need of financial assistance for fertility treatments.
- Savings. Many couples dip into their savings to help fund treatments.
We understand that cost is a major factor in your infertility plan. If you have already identified your treatment options and are comparing prices, please contact our financial counselor at 610-981-6000.
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Tags: Award Grants, Comparing Prices, cost of fertility treatments, Credit Card Issuer, Dollars And Sense, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Equity Line Of Credit, Fertility Assistance, fertility benefits, fertility financing, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Financial Aspect, Financial Counselor, Financing Infertility, Financing Options, Funding Infertility, Home Equity Line, Home Equity Line Of Credit, Infertility, Insurance Coverage, Insurance Provider, Investment Grants, Laboratory Services, Loyal Customer, PA Infertility, Plan Assets, Reading, Wyomissing
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Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011
If you’re interested in learning more about infertility, it’s important to first have a good amount of knowledge about the topic area.
Below, we’ve put together eight basic facts on fertility to help you get started. If you want to learn more, contact the Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) today to set up a consultation. And please understand that your case is unique to your situation. That’s why it’s so important to get advice from a reputable, experienced fertility specialist who can help you make decisions as to your reproductive concerns.
8 Basic Fertility Facts:
- Two-thirds of couples or individuals treated for infertility go on to have healthy pregnancies and children.
- One-third of women over 35 will experience some kind of fertility issue.
- In 2010, over 7 million American men and women sought help for their infertility issues.
- Ovarian cysts are the most common cause of infertility in females in the United States.
- Infertility statistics for 2011 have risen from those for 2010. This may be because of many factors, including couples marrying later in life and/or the willingness to seek out fertility treatments as opposed to adopting or simply not having children.
- 11.8 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 44 have impaired fecundity.
- 7.4 percent of married women can be clinically classified as infertile.
- In America, there are almost 2 million reported pregnancy losses each year. (This is compared with over 4 million live births.)
Sources: National Women’s Health Information Center, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Tags: American Men, Centers For Disease Control, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Disease Control And Prevention, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fecundity, Fertility Issue, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Having Children, Health Information Center, Infertility, Infertility Issues, Live Births, Married Women, National Women, Ovarian Cysts, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Pregnancy Losses, Reproductive Concerns, Reproductive Science Institute, Wyomissing
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Monday, October 31st, 2011
As we’ve noted here before, up to a third of all cases of infertility between couples can be attributed to male infertility factors. But how much do you really know about this condition?
To help you understand male infertility a little better, we’ve amassed a series of statistics and facts:
• In the United States, around 6 percent of men aged teen to midlife have fertility difficulties. Outside of the United States, especially in developing countries, that figure can be significantly higher.
• Up to 71 percent of males who are diagnosed as infertile have infections, many of which are caused by untreated sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like chlamydia.
• Up to 90 percent of male infertility causes can be traced back to low sperm count. (Again, that low sperm count can be the result of many different issues, including an undiagnosed STD.)
• One in 25 males has a low sperm count. (This may or may not lead to male infertility, as the determining factor is whether or not the sperm are healthy and viable.)
• Blood tests and semen analysis are the most popular ways to determine the cause of male infertility.
• Some sources suggest that male infertility may be more prevalent than female infertility, although this hypothesis is heavily debated in the fertility specialist community.
If you’re interested in learning more about male infertility and you’re in the Philadelphia or Wyomissing, PA areas, please contact the Reproductive Science Institute today for an appointment. We’d be happy to discuss and evaluate your unique situation.
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Tags: Appointment, Blood Tests, Chlamydia, Couples, Developing Countries, Diseases, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, female infertility, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Hypothesis, Infertility, Infertility Causes, Low Sperm Count, Male Infertility, Pa Areas, PA Infertility, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Infertility, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Statistics, United States, Wyomissing, Wyomissing Pa
Posted in Male Infertility | 1 Comment »
Friday, October 28th, 2011
Gay and lesbian couples who are seeking fertility treatments are often concerned with several issues, including but not limited to:
- How they will be treated by a fertility specialist.
- What their options are depending upon their infertility issues.
What the legal ramifications of fertility treatments will be, especially given that they may not be “legally” married in the eyes of the government.
That’s why it’s so critical for them to connect with a reproductive services team that understands the emotional, social and financial considerations for couples with “alternative lifestyles” who are looking into fertility treatments.
At suburban Philadelphia’s Reproductive Science Institute (RSI), we have a deep understanding of and consideration for all individuals and couples who come through our doors, no matter if they are in heterosexual or homosexual relationships. To us, that’s not important, nor should it be. What is important is that we help them achieve their goals in the most practical, pragmatic way that we can using our many years of expertise in assisted reproductive techniques.
If you’re involved in a stable gay or lesbian partnership and you’d like to discuss fertility treatments such as in-vitro fertility (IVF), donor egg/sperm, intrauterine insemination (IUI) and/or gestational surrogacy, please contact us at (610) 981-6000 for an appointment. We’re happy to help.
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Tags: Alternative Lifestyles, Assisted Reproductive Techniques, Couples Seeking, Donor Egg, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Financial Considerations, Gay And Lesbian Couples, Gay Couples, Gestational Surrogacy, Homosexual Relationships, Infertility, Infertility Issues, Intrauterine Insemination Iui, Legal Ramifications, Reproductive Science Institute, Reproductive Services, Suburban Philadelphia, Vitro
Posted in Alternative Lifestyles | 1 Comment »
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
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