Posts Tagged ‘Infertility’
Wednesday, September 14th, 2011
There has been a great deal of press recently over the realization and acceptance of cancer treatments during early childhood and adulthood as a contributor to female infertility. As a consequence, girls and women who choose to undergo radiation and chemotherapy treatments are often counseled as to their options regarding their future fertility.
But what about the men and boys with cancer?
Not surprisingly, male infertility can be exacerbated or caused by cancer treatments, especially if they’ve been given drugs such as melphalan, ifosfamide, cyclophosphamide and/or procarbazine. (Those medications have high alkaline levels.) And if they’ve needed to undergo surgery or targeted radiation to their reproductive organs as a result of cancer, they may be left without healthy sperm. Sometimes, male infertility can even come about from treatments to other areas of the body, such as the abdomen or brain.
So what are men with cancer who wish to have children later in life to do?
First, it’s important to tackle the cancer as a primary concern. Though male infertility may be a consideration, it is not the most pressing one. The cancer needs to be handled foremost. However, it’s definitely recommended that all men (or parents of boys) discuss how their treatments could have lasting effects on their fertility.
Next, if a man who has had cancer (even if it was as a young child) is having difficulty conceiving with his partner, it’s critical that he be upfront about his medical history with their fertility specialist. That way, the specialist can initiate tests to determine if the infertility is related to previous cancer treatments.
Finally, it’s not the end of the world. Many fertility specialists have found success with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a process that requires only one sperm for fertilization. There are other options as well, including the use of viable sperm donors.
If you’d like to learn more about male infertility matters as they relate to cancer and other conditions and you are within traveling distance of Wyomissing or Chesterbrook, we invite you to set up a consultation with The Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, P.C. (RSI) today.
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Tags: Abdomen, Adulthood, Cancer Treatments, Chemotherapy, Chemotherapy Treatments, Cyclophosphamide, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, female infertility, fertility specialist, Fertility Specialists, Fertilization, Healthy Sperm, Infertility, Male Fertility, Male Infertility, Medical History, Melphalan, Philadelphia PA Infertility, Procarbazine, Reproductive Organs, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Sperm Donors, Sperm Injection, Wyomissing PA Infertility
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Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
For couples undergoing fertility treatments, stressors can sometimes seem quite overwhelming. On one hand, any change in a partnership can be challenging, but on the other, infertility shouldn’t lead to the dissolution of a relationship.
To help you keep your commitment strong throughout fertility treatments, we’ve come up with seven suggestions. Feel free to leave a comment if you have others that have worked for you!
1. Don’t make infertility the “center stage” of your relationship. If all you do is talk about not being able to conceive, it will overtake your time together.
2. Make plenty of time to be together as a couple. Go to the movies, take a walk in the park, stay overnight in a nice hotel… doing so will strengthen your bond and help rejuvenate you both.
3. Spend time apart with friends. Everyone needs and deserves some space. Making plans to hang out with people other than your significant other will help you recharge.
4. Talk about your emotions as you’re undergoing fertility treatments. It’s important not to make fertility treatments the “elephant in the room”. Be open about your feelings and you’ll reap the rewards.
5. Go to a counselor if the strain becomes too great. Don’t allow your relationship to simply become more and more strained. If it’s gotten to a serious point, seek out help. (Often, your fertility specialist can assist you in getting a referral.)
6. Eat well and exercise, even if you don’t feel like it. The healthier you are inside and out, the easier it will be to handle anything that comes your way. (And working out can be yet another “to do” item you can enjoy together!)
7. Take it day by day. When times are a bit challenging, it’s sometimes helpful to remember that “this too shall pass”. Each day is another opportunity to learn, grow and love.
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Tags: Center Stage, Counselor, Couples, Dissolution, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Elephant, emotions, Feelings, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Great Don, Infertility, Nice Hotel, Partnership, Philadelphia Infertility, Plenty Of Time, Reading PA Infertility, Referral, Relationship Help, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rewards, Rsi, Stressors, Walk In The Park, Wyomissing Infertility
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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
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Wednesday, August 31st, 2011
For many couples, dealing with infertility can put so much of an emotional strain on their partnership that sex becomes difficult. Not only does this make getting pregnant naturally even more of a challenge, but it begins to erode some of the bond that they have every right to share.
Some of the more common feelings men and women sometimes have toward their sex lives during infertility include:
Fear – One or both may wonder “what happens if this doesn’t produce a baby… again?”
Anger – It’s not unusual for partners to be angry; after all, they didn’t “choose” infertility.
Frustration – This can lead to problems in the bedroom, especially with performance.
Depression – This culprit can make “getting in the mood” – or staying in a lovemaking mood – thorny.
Sadness – It’s tough to have sexual intercourse when you’re upset.
The good news, though, is that many couples going through sex worries during infertility get through this phase. Some of the best ways to overcome the negative emotions associated with conception woes can be:
- Talking about your feelings openly. It’s easier to deal with facts when they are out in the open.
- Making sex special and not just robotic. There’s no reason intercourse shouldn’t be romantic, even if it’s “scheduled” to take advantage of fertile times.
- Touching one another intimately even when you don’t plan on having sex soon. This can operate as mental foreplay so when you are in the bedroom, you feel more into the moment.
Remember that, above all else, infertility is no one’s “fault”. Talk to your infertility specialist, like the experts at the Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) outside of Philadelphia, for more ideas on how to keep your partnership strong during fertility treatments and fertility-related issues.
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Tags: Couples Sex, Culprit, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Emotional Strain, Fertile Times, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Foreplay, Having Sex, Infertility, Infertility Specialist, Negative Emotions, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Reading, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Sadness, Sex Couples, Sex Life, Sex Lives, sexual intercourse, Woes, Worries, Wyomissing
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Monday, August 29th, 2011
Sexually transmitted diseases may not be discussed much among adults, but they’ve slowly crept into medical charts of the over 25-year-old population. Though gonorrhea diagnoses have lowered over the past several years, cases of chlamydia are on the rise. And that’s a cause for alarm among women and men who want to have children.
STDs like chlamydia have been known to cause infertility in both males and females. Whether complete or partial infertility, they are “hidden” causes. That’s because, surprisingly, many STDs have no (or very few) warning signs or symptoms.
So what can you do to protect yourself? There are several options:
- Don’t have sex with any partners who have not been screened for STDs.
- Always wear protection during any sexual intercourse and either abstain from oral sex or use protection during those acts as well.
- If you have had unprotected sex, get tested.
While it’s understandable that you may feel embarrassed to talk about STDs with your primary physician or fertility specialist, it’s necessary to remove the possibility that your infertility may be exacerbated by an undiagnosed condition such as chlamydia.
And be assured that reputable fertility clinics, like the Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) on the outskirts of Philadelphia, are staffed with trained professionals who pass no judgment and only want to help you achieve your health goals.
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Tags: Chlamydia, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Clinics, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Health Goals, Infertility, Males And Females, Medical Charts, oral sex, Outskirts, PA Infertility, Reading, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, sexual intercourse, sexually transmitted diseases, Std Sexually Transmitted Diseases, STDs, Undiagnosed Condition, Unprotected Sex, Warning Signs, Women And Men, Wyomissing
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Friday, August 26th, 2011
Sialyl-lewis-x.
No, it’s not some strange name for a new alternative band. It’s a sugar chain found on the outer shell of ova. It may also be the key to binding the sperm and egg to allow fertilization to begin.
As everyone learns in high school, the egg (ovum) is fertilized by one fortunate sperm. That sperm not only has to be plucky and strong, but it also has to have the right kind of proteins on its head to push through the egg’s outer shell and start the process of conception.
The problem has been that researchers weren’t quite sure what molecular structures made the process go smoother… until now.
Scientists are seriously contemplating as to whether or not sialyl-lewis-x might make an ovum’s surface “stickier”. Thus, if the sperm that’s most likely to “stick” to that surface is introduced, conception can happen faster.
To help illustrate the point, picture a golf ball covered in glue. If a piece of material also covered in a glue-like substance were to be adhered to the golf ball, it would likely stick. But if a piece of material that had been coated with an oily substance were adhered to the ball, it would probably fall off.
So how can these “sticky situations” be encouraged in the laboratory setting? Scientists are dabbling in various ways to create sperm that better attach themselves to the gluey outside of eggs, including with medications.
It’s a real boon to the science of male infertility and we at RSI, one of the Philadelphia region’s most reputable fertility clinics, are eager to find out more as the months go by.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Alternative Band, Boon, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Clinics, Fertility Treatment, Fertilization, Glue, Golf Ball, Infertility, Male Infertility, Molecular Structures, Oily Substance, Outer Shell, ovum, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Philadelphia Region, Process Of Conception, Proteins, Reading, Rhonda Hearns, sperm, Sticky Situations, Strange Name, Sugar Chain, Wyomissing
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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
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Monday, August 22nd, 2011
As one of the Philadelphia area’s premiere fertility clinics, The Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) tries to keep you informed and up to date about all things related to fertility treatments, infertility and similar topic areas.
This week, we’d like to share some of the fertility “buzz” from around the Interwaves. As always, if you’d like to discuss your specific situation, please contact our offices to schedule an appointment.
Belfast: A new fertility test from Lewis Fertility Testing is being marketed across the UK and Ireland, as well as the rest of the world. Backed by Ulster Bank, the fertility test claims to provide couples with faster ways to discover whether or not they are fertile. With the test, men and women would have the opportunity to know earlier whether or not it would be a smart idea to contact a fertility specialist.
New York: Could male hormones (androgens) be the key to successful fertility treatments in women? Researchers are studying whether a combination of specific male hormones and FSH may in fact boost a female’s fertility ability, especially in patients who suffer from PCOS.
Internet: The Journal of Reproductive Medicine has printed a piece suggesting that women with infertility may in fact often also have undiagnosed celiac disease. This is re-fueling the chicken-versus-egg debate between celiac disease and infertility. Some scientists say the two have little in common, others say one may feed the other. In the study, the authors noted: “Women with unexplained infertility are at increased risk of having undiagnosed celiac disease, which may be a potentially modifiable (and treatable) risk factor.”
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Celiac Disease, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Female Fertility, Fertility Clinics, fertility specialist, Fertility Test, Fertility Testing, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Infertility, Journal Of Reproductive Medicine, Male Hormones, pa fertility clinic, PA Infertility, Pcos, Philadelphia Area, Reading, Reproductive Science Institute, Rhonda Hearns, Risk Factor, Rsi, Smart Idea, Test Men, Topic Areas, Treatment News, Unexplained Infertility, Wyomissing
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Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011
A research study recently published in the Pharmacological Research journal has scientists buzzing about the possibility that antioxidants could help infertile couples and individuals.
The study, headed by Oregon State University researcher Tory Hagen and Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (Spain) scientist Francesco Visioli, is based on the hypothesis that infertility often goes hand-in-hand with diseases such as high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. Consequently, Hagen and Visioli have concluded that the same antioxidants (e.g., lipoic acid) that help lower the chances of a man or woman having those conditions may also help those persons become less likely to be infertile.
This connection between nutrition and infertility is not a new one. For years, many fertility specialists have known that what goes into the body can have an effect on infertility. In fact, we at RSI, one of Philadelphia’s premiere fertility clinics, have blogged before about the topic. However, the published study has opened the doors for more in-depth research.
As Hagen said in a recent statement released to the press: “…the problem [infertility] is huge, and the data from laboratory studies is very robust, it all fits. There is evidence this might work, and the potential benefits could be enormous.”
All in all, it sounds like a promising path, and we’re all for changing diets and lifestyle habits to help improve fertility in our patients.
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Tags: Congestive Heart Failure, Diets, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, Fertility Clinics, Fertility Specialists, Hagen, Heart Failure, High Blood Pressure, Hypothesis, infertile couples, Infertility, Laboratory Studies, Lifestyle Habits, Oregon State University, Patient Appointment, Pharmacological Research, Promising Path, Reproductice Science, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Scientist, Tory, University Researcher
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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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