Posts Tagged ‘IVF’
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 »
Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
With so many in the media and out in the world talking so openly about fertility treatments these days, some acronyms and catch phrases are becoming commonplace. In particular, many people recognize the acronym IVF and the procedure it stands for — in-vitro fertilization.
But IVF is not the only kind of with fertility treatments available — not by a long shot! There are other avenues for couples to take in their journey toward conceiving a child with medical assistance. One such procedure, called intrauterine insemination, helps scores of people who are having trouble conceiving. It is less expensive than IVF, though its success rate is lower. Here’s a little bit more about IUI:
- How does IUI work? In the IUI procedure, a catheter containing washed sperm is inserted through the cervix. The sperm is then pushed into the uterus in the hopes of fertilization with an ovum.
- When does IUI take place? IUI is typically scheduled within 6 hours (before or after) of a woman’s ovulation. (hCG injections may be used to ensure ovulation.) Timing is critical because sperm can only last 24-72 hours and are typically considered less viable after 24 hours.
- Does it hurt? Most women report very little discomfort during the procedure.
- Who is IUI most suited for? Since the IUI procedure manipulates the placement of sperm, IUI may be very effective in cases of male infertility. Also, since the IUI procedure accesses the uterus directly, it may be a good choice for women who suffer from cervical mucus problems.
- What is the success rate of IUI? Success rates vary quite a bit. Some studies report the success rate to be as little as 4-8%; others claim it is closer to 20%.
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Tags: Catch Phrases, Catheter, Cervical Mucus, Cervix, conceiving a child, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Hcg Injections, in vitro fertilization, Intrauterine Insemination, IUI, Iui Procedure, Iui Success Rates, IVF, Male Infertility, Medical Assistance, mucus problems, Ovulation, Ovulation Timing, ovum, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Reading, sperm, Success Rate, Twitter, Uterus, Vitro Fertilization, Wyomissing
Posted in IUI | 1 Comment »
Friday, September 30th, 2011
It’s called CoQ-10, and it’s heralded as an anti-aging vitamin/enzyme. Whether or not this veritable fountain of youth works is up for debate; however, Canadian scientists conducting research using the vitamin have discovered that it seems to be able to make “old” human ova (eggs) youthful. And this could be useful for females over 35 with fertility issues or who have simply delayed starting a family for personal reasons.
The Toronto research team has tried using CoQ-10 on animals (mice) and has had excellent success. In fact, team members are quite certain that this vitamin (which can be found over-the-counter) may one day help women in their late 30s and 40s have children using their own eggs. Even if they have to undergo IVF and/or IUI, they may be able to avoid getting donor eggs or using a gestational carrier.
The mice in the Canadian research project produced healthy offspring well into their midlife years. (In human years, they bred until about age 50.) Plus, the mice not only were able to conceive, but they looked healthier and younger than mice who were not injected with CoQ-10.
Noted study leader Robert Casper, senior scientist, Sinai’s Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute: “I don’t think it will delay the onset of menopause, but I do think it will improve the quality of eggs.”
If you’re a female and you’re interested in learning more about fertility treatments and techniques, contact a reputable fertility specialist like the Pennsylvania based Reproductive Science Institute.
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Tags: 40s, Canadian Scientists, Casper, Conducting Research, Coq 10, Donor Eggs, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Issues, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Fountain Of Youth, Gestational Carrier, IVF, Onset Of Menopause, PA Infertility, Personal Reasons, Philadelphia Infertility, Reading, Reproductive Science Institute, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Samuel Lunenfeld Research, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Study Leader, Veritable Fountain, Wyomissing
Posted in Infertility | No Comments »
Friday, June 17th, 2011
No smoker will say, “Smoking cessation is easy!” However, most will admit that it’s a habit they wish they’d never adopted.
For individuals (especially females) who are trying to have a baby and are finding it difficult, smoking may actually be a significant part of their problems. That’s because tobacco can contribute to infertility; thus, fertility treatments may not work as they would normally be expected to.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, almost without fail, smoking has an adverse affect on a person’s fertility:
- In smokers, the prevalence of infertility is higher than in non-smokers.
- It takes smokers longer to conceive than it does for non-smokers.
- “Second hand” smoke exposure can be almost as bad for fertility treatment success as smoking itself.
- Smoking seems to increase loss of eggs and may even advance menopause.
- Smoking can make a woman’s eggs more prone to abnormalities.
- Smoking has been associated with spontaneous miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies.
- Smokers tend to undergone twice as many cycles of IVF (in vitro fertilization) as non-smokers.
If you’re serious about fertility treatments, it’s a great time (and reason) to stop smoking. There are plenty of smoking cessation programs available, and if you haven’t tried any lately, you may be pleasantly surprised by the abundance of options. Of course, you’ll want to address your smoking concerns and cessation desires with both your primary physician(s) and fertility specialist for maximum outcomes.
Good luck with your journey and stay strong along the way. Tobacco is an addictive drug, but it can be overcome.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Addictive Drug, American Society For Reproductive Medicine, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Infertility Treatments, IVF, Miscarriages, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Second Hand Smoke, Smoke Exposure, Smokers, Smoking Cessation, Smoking Cessation Programs, Smoking Concerns, Treatment Success, Trying To Have A Baby, Twitter, Vitro Fertilization
Posted in Fertility Info 101, Infertility | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 1st, 2011
Even if you’re having difficulty getting pregnant, you still have to prepare your body for the possibility of carrying a baby. Because it is a desire of yours, whether you’re actively trying to get pregnant at this time or not, it’s always better to be ahead of your game. And if you’re looking into or you are already planning on IVF or IUI treatments, it is especially important to begin preparing your body for pregnancy, even if those treatments aren’t yet scheduled or are scheduled for a few months out.
Therefore, we’ve put together a few suggestions on how to make your physical health and wellness a part of your daily routine:
Mental/Emotional “Exercise”
Stimulate yourself mentally every day. Read a little poetry (or, if you’re inclined, write a little poetry!). Do crossword puzzles or sudoku. Listen to classical music. Look up a new word every day and incorporate it into your vocabulary. Start to learn that language you’ve always wanted to learn (or pick up the language you started learning in high school or college). Try to do the math on paper before picking up the calculator to check yourself. Stimulate yourself on an intellectual level and you’ll tap into areas of your brain that perhaps aren’t being used regularly.
Spiritual
Spirituality doesn’t have to mean religion. It can simply be the feeling that you get when you take a walk in the woods and “commune” with nature. Or the way that certain piece of music reaches into the depths of you in a way you can’t explain. Maybe you meditate on words of wisdom in the morning and reflect on them throughout your day.
Find whatever it is that puts your body, mind and spirit in a peaceful place and, due to a lower stress level, you’ll be healthier overall and better prepared for fertility treatments.
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Tags: Body Mind And Spirit, Classical Music, Crossword Puzzles, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, Fertility Treatments, Few Suggestions, Health And Wellness, Intellectual Level, IUI, IVF, Mind And Spirit, Peaceful Place, Physical Health, Piece Of Music, Preparing Your Body For Pregnancy, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Stress Level, Twitter, Vocabulary, Walk In The Woods, Words Of Wisdom
Posted in female infertility, Health and Nutrition | No Comments »
Monday, May 30th, 2011
Even if you’re having difficulty getting pregnant, you still have to prepare your body for the possibility of carrying a baby. Because it is a desire of yours, whether you’re actively trying to get pregnant at this time or not, it’s always better to be ahead of your game. And if you’re looking into or you are already planning on IVF or IUI treatments, it is especially important to begin preparing your body for pregnancy, even if those treatments aren’t yet scheduled or are scheduled for a few months out.
Therefore, we’ve put together a few suggestions on how to make your physical health and wellness a part of your daily routine:
Nutrition
Don’t call it a “diet” because then you’re less likely to stick with it. Consider it a lifestyle change and plan on eating more fruits, veggies and whole grains. Your body will adjust to the tastes and you’ll find yourself craving less sugar, fats, etc.
The most important thing in your nutrition is balance. You want to include protein in your diet for energy (this doesn’t have to be meat, by the way – things like nuts and beans and eggs contain lots of protein, too). Whole grains are good for heart health and contribute to your fiber intake. Fruits and vegetables are the food group you need the most of for all of the vitamins and minerals and fiber that they provide. If you are eating plenty of protein, whole grains and fruits and vegetables, then it’s perfectly fine to eat a little bit of something you’re craving that might include fats and sugars. You just don’t want to overdo it on the less-than-nutritional types of foods, but you also don’t want to suppress your cravings altogether or they might show up stronger than ever. As mentioned earlier, if you’re filling up on healthier options, your cravings for the less healthy will more than likely begin to dwindle.
And if on a particular day you happen to fall off the nutritional bandwagon, so to speak, don’t stress out about it. Just resolve yourself to do your best again tomorrow. It’s really about your mindset and intentionally making the choices for healthier eating.
Continue reading our blog for another tip on how to prepare your body for a baby.
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Tags: Baby Ii, Baby Nutrition, Bandwagon, Cravings, Dr. Munabi, Fats, Few Suggestions, Fiber Intake, Food Group, Fruits And Vegetables, Health And Wellness, Heart Health, Infertility, IUI, IVF, Lifestyle Change, Little Bit Of Something, Most Important Thing, Physical Health, Preparing Your Body For Pregnancy, Protein Diet, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Vitamins And Minerals, Whole Grains
Posted in female infertility, Health and Nutrition | No Comments »
Friday, May 27th, 2011
Even if you’re having difficulty getting pregnant, you still have to prepare your body for the possibility of carrying a baby. Because it is a desire of yours, whether you’re actively trying to get pregnant at this time or not, it’s always better to be ahead of your game. And if you’re looking into or you are already planning on IVF or IUI treatments, it is especially important to begin preparing your body for pregnancy, even if those treatments aren’t yet scheduled or are scheduled for a few months out.
Therefore, we’ve put together a few suggestions on how to make your physical health and wellness a part of your daily routine:
Exercise
Now, exercise doesn’t have to mean running a marathon, or even going to the gym or having a gym membership. Just adding long walks or bike rides to your day can increase your heart rate and improve your cardiovascular performance levels. Some days you will be so busy that you think you don’t have time to do any form of exercise, but you could walk up and down the stairs a few times, or take the stairs instead of the elevator if you are in a multi-floored building, or park at the back of the parking lot so you have to walk a further distance. The American Heart Association recommends raising your heart rate for 30 minutes each day, which can even be split up into 3 different slots of 10 minutes if that’s what works best for your schedule.
If you need help getting yourself motivated to fit exercise into your routine, two tips for making it easier and more enjoyable:
- Mix up your routine. Don’t do the exact same workout regimen every day or you’ll quickly get bored. And maybe sometimes you can throw in a dance lesson or a swim at your local community center.
- Have an exercise buddy. Women always enjoy something more when they have someone to partake in it with them. See if your significant other or a co-worker or friend or family member is interested in fitting more exercise into their schedules too and there you have your exercise partner. Or, just as with the exercise routine, you could switch up exercise buddies throughout the week or just on occasion if that’s what works best for everyone’s schedules. The key is to make it something you look forward to, not dread.
Continue reading our blog for 2 additional tips on how to prepare your body for a baby.
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Tags: American Heart Association, Baby Exercise, Bike Rides, Co Worker, Dance Lesson, Dr. Munabi, Elevator, Exercise Buddy, Family Member, Few Suggestions, Gym Membership, Health And Wellness, Heart Rate, Infertility, IUI, IVF, Local Community, Long Walks, Performance Levels, Physical Health, Preparing Your Body For Pregnancy, Reproductive Science Institute, Routine Exercise, Rsi, Workout Regimen
Posted in female infertility, Health and Nutrition | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011
It was once believed that a woman who had a tubal ligation (commonly referred to as “getting your tubes tied”) was essentially “infertile” in the sense of being unable to conceive for the rest of her life. Now, though, doctors are often able to perform “reversals”, which is opening the door for women who have changed their minds about getting pregnant again.
In the United States, almost three-quarter of a million tubal ligations occur each year. And when left alone, they are approximately 99.5% effective as a method of birth control. In fact, about a third of married people using contraceptives choose tubal ligation as a means of ceasing to have any (or more) children.
However, as was mentioned before, years go by and partners’ desires as to how large of a family they want can change. In that case, it’s wise to look into either a tubal reversal, if possible, or in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
Surprised to hear that IVF would be used by someone who chose tubal ligation? It’s really not a huge surprise. IVF bypasses the risks associated with a tubal reversal (which is a surgical procedure) and also addresses additional fertility issues that may be of concern to the woman or her partner.
If you’ve had a tubal ligation and would like to have a child (or additional children), contact RSI, the Philadelphia area’s premiere fertility clinic, for a consultation.
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Tags: Birth Control, Consultation, Contraceptives, Desires, Doctors, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, fertility clinic, Fertility Issues, Infertility, IVF, Philadelphia Area, Reproductive Science Institute, Reversals, Rsi, Surprise, Tubal Ligation, Tubal Reversal, Tubes, Twitter, United States, Vitro Fertilization, Woman
Posted in female infertility | 1 Comment »
Monday, April 25th, 2011
“You’re getting fertility treatments? Oh my gosh! Are you ready to have triplets… or more?!? How on earth will you deal with that???”
It’s one of those innocent statements that often rolls off the tongues of friends and loved ones, but it’s only indicative of one fact – that the media has done a poor job of educating the public on what fertility treatments really entail.
First and foremost, it’s important to realize that just because you’re going to a fertility specialist does not necessarily mean you’ll have multiples. In fact, a very small percentage of people who go to reputable clinics like the Philadelphia area’s RSI for assisted reproductive techniques (ART) eventually have twins, triplets or more.
Secondly, not all fertility treatments have any (or much) bearing on multiple births. Sure, IVF is spoken about repeatedly on the Internet, television and radio. And IVF’s multiples rate is higher than for “normal” pregnancies (often said to be about 10x the normal rate.) But it isn’t the only fertility treatment on the market. Other fertility treatments, such as taking Clomid or similar drugs to essentially “jumpstart” ovulation, have a much lower rate of multiples (as low as 5% depending upon which medical journal/study you cite.)
In the end, it’s important to educate yourself (and your partner) and not make assumptions. You’ll no doubt hear the “multiples” comments several times over the course of your fertility treatment journey, but take heart in knowing that just because you consider ART, you aren’t guaranteeing you’ll need two or more cribs!
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Tags: Assisted Reproductive Techniques, Clomid, Cribs, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Internet Television, IVF, Jumpstart, Medical Journal, Multiple Births, No Doubt, Ovulation, Philadelphia Area, Poor Job, Pregnancies, Reproductive Science Institute, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Triplets, Twitter
Posted in Fertility Treatments, Myths & Misconceptions | No Comments »
Friday, March 18th, 2011
Martha Stewart is now a grandmother, thanks to the fertility treatments her daughter, Alexis, underwent.
Since 2007, Alexis had been trying to have a child using fertility treatments. Now, she’s become the mom to a baby girl.
The 45-year-old Alexis chose the surrogate route after investing time and dollars in a variety of fertility treatments, including IVF. After 3+ years of trying, she decided to opt for surrogacy when other means simply weren’t working for her.
As is typically the case in matters of conception and birth via surrogate, neither the donor nor the surrogate have been publicly named. There’s no information available as to whether Alexis knew either before the conception.
By all accounts, Alexis and Martha are thrilled. Said Alexis in a People magazine interview: “Having my own kid is the most important thing in my life.”
And on another happy note, Martha has decided NOT to embrace the moniker “Grandma”. Instead, her new grandbaby will be taught to call her “Martha”… like the rest of the world does!
We wish Alexis and Martha all the happiness in the world!
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Tags: 3 Years, Baby Girl, Daughter Alexis, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Treatments, Grandma, Grandmother, Happiness, IVF, Magazine Interview, Martha Stewart, Mom, Moniker, People Magazine, Reproductive Science Institute, Rest Of The World, Rsi, surrogacy, Variety
Posted in Fertility Treatments | No Comments »
