Posts Tagged ‘Males And Females’
Friday, September 16th, 2011
For couples undergoing fertility treatments, deciding when, whether and/or with whom to share their journey can be difficult. Yet an interesting study from the University of Iowa has revealed that it may end in a socially, scientifically predictable decision.
The study looked at couples who had been through fertility treatments and evaluated the people with whom they talked about their experiences. The findings, published in the Journal of Applied Communication Research as well as the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships were definitely interesting:
When the woman was the person with the fertility issue, the couple tended to tell a great deal of people, including their family and friends. However, when the man had the fertility problems, the couple was less likely to talk about it.
The study’s authors used their data to make a conclusion that social mores surrounding expectations of males and females in western culture may have something to do with their reactions and actions. For instance, they suggested that women might be under pressure to explain why they didn’t have children by a certain age; consequently, they would be justifying their childless statuses. For men, this stigma wasn’t quite as strong; in fact, they might be hesitant to say they were undergoing fertility treatments for fear of it adversely affecting the way they were perceived by those around them.
Of course, these results are based on conjecture and every partnership is unique. Plus, there are many factors involved in the “to tell or not to tell” decision. However, the University of Iowa research has given way for further dialogue and investigation to be held on the topic.
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Tags: Certain Age, Conjecture, Couples, Dialogue, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Family And Friends, Fertility Issue, Fertility Problems, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Iowa Research, Journal Of Applied Communication Research, Journey, Males And Females, Nbsp, Personal Relationships, Philadelphia PA Infertility, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Social Mores, Statuses, Stigma, University Of Iowa, Western Culture, Wyomissing PA Infertility
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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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Monday, July 18th, 2011
A new strain of gonorrhea that’s resistant to traditionally-used antibiotics could have widespread implications when it comes to fertility. And this development is concerning physicians and scientists around the world.
The “superbug” (as the media has been dubbing it) strain was first found in Japan and is classified as H041. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has even jumped on the bandwagon, issuing a warning that includes the serious admonition:
“While antibiotics can successfully treat gonorrhea, over time the bacteria has developed resistance to several of these drugs … CDC now recommends only one class of antibiotics, called cephalosporins .. however, findings from the recent analysis signal the potential for resistance to cephalosporins, the last line of defense for treating gonorrhea.”
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in general have long been causes for infertility (temporary or permanent) in both males and females, but gonorrhea has, until now, shown itself to be curable. However, if the new H041 strain enters into the population in earnest, issues faced by couples today and in the future could become more problematic.
To protect yourself from gonorrhea and other fertility-stealing STDs, it’s important to:
1. Always use protection, even during oral sex.
2. Get yourself tested if you (or your partner) have had more than one sexual partner in your lifetime.
3. Contact your doctor or fertility specialist immediately ff you think you may have been exposed to an STD.
Remember – it may seem embarrassing to admit to having an STD, but it won’t go away on its own. Thus, it’s up to you to take care of your health, for your – and your fertility’s – sake.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Admonition, Antibiotics, Bacteria, Bandwagon, Cdc, Center For Disease Control, Couples, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, fertility specialist, Infertility, Lifetime, Males And Females, New Strain Of Gonorrhea, oral sex, Physicians, Reproductive Science Institute, Resistance, Rsi, Sake, Scientists, Sexual Partner, sexually transmitted diseases, Superbug, Twitter
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Friday, March 25th, 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.
- 16. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) – According to the Centers for Disease Control, PID is an “infection of the uterus (womb), fallopian tubes (tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus) and other reproductive organs that causes symptoms such as lower abdominal pain”. PID is a symptom of an STD and is often a cause of ectopic pregnancies.
- 17. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) – PCOS is a common hormonal disorder affecting women. A female with PCOS typically has enlarged ovaries that contain many cysts. Infertility and PCOS often go hand-in-hand.
- 18. Scarred Ovaries – If a female’s ovaries have become scarred due to surgeries, infections or other problems/conditions, the ovaries may not function properly.
- 19. STDs – Many STDs (like Chlamydia) essentially “steal” fertility. However, a good amount of adults do not realize they carry STDs. This is one of the reasons reproductive health physicians will frequently test both partners for STDs at the beginning of their fertility journey.
- 20. Stress – Though stress might not last forever, it can be a contributor to infertility. Because the body often “shuts down” unneeded systems during stress, males and females can find themselves unable to have children when going through times of great, prolonged anxiety.
- 21. Thyroid Problems – The thyroid gland helps regulate hormones; consequently, an undiagnosed thyroid problem can be to blame for infertility in women.
- 22. Toxins and Poisons – It’s long been known that there are several toxins and poisons that create conditions for infertility. Some items to watch out for include lead, mercury and certain plastics/polymers.
- 23. Treatments for Cancer – Radiation and chemotherapy can leave men and women infertile. That’s why some females (even those who do not desire to have a child in the near future) choose to have their eggs removed and cryo-preserved in the hopes that they can be fertilized later.
- 24. Uterine Fibroids – Fibroids are small “lumps” that develop inside the uterus. Though benign, they can make the uterine environment a place where conception cannot easily take place without intervention.
- 25. Vaginal Lubricants – Certain vaginal lubricants may contain spermicides or ingredients that can contribute to infertility.
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Tags: Cancer Chemotherapy, Centers For Disease Control, Chlamydia, Common Hormonal Disorder, Control Pid, Dr. Munabi, Ectopic Pregnancies, Enlarged Ovaries, female infertility, Infection Of The Uterus, Infertility, Infertility In Women, Lower Abdominal Pain, Male Infertility, Males And Females, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Reproductive Organs, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, STDs, Thyroid Gland, Thyroid Problem, Thyroid Problems
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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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Tags: Causes Of Infertility, Crohn S Disease, Dr. Munabi, Endometriosis, female infertility, Fertility Problems, Fertilization, Genetic Conditions, Health Specialist, Hostile Cervical Mucus, Infertility, Low Sperm Count, Male Infertility, Male Sperm, Males And Females, Malnutrition, Ovulation Disorders, Pain Discomfort, Reproductive Health, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Sperm Motility, Y Chromosome
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Monday, March 21st, 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.
- Adhesions – Adhesions inside a female’s body may be the result of surgery or may occur naturally. When adhesions are present, the body cannot function at full capacity. In the case of infertility, adhesions may prohibit the sperm from fertilizing the egg, create issues in the fallopian tubes or hinder fertilization in other ways.
- Age – After 35, a woman is much more likely to struggle with fertility issues. In fact, some women lose their fertility levels in their early 30s. And most women in their early 40s will find it very difficult to conceive naturally without medical intervention.
- Behavioral Factors – For both men and women, behavioral factors such as smoking cigarettes, cigars and marijuana; drinking excessive amounts of alcohol; and taking prescription or illegal drugs can contribute to infertility.
- Blocked Fallopian Tubes – If a woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked, a necessary part of conception cannot occur.
- Cancer – There are many types of cancer in both males and females that can contribute to infertility, including colon cancer, testicular cancer, uterine cancer, stomach cancer and cervical cancer, among others. Even if the cancer is successfully defeated, fertility may be compromised or destroyed.
- Congenital Abnormalities – Some individuals are born with congenital abnormalities which limit or prohibit fertility. Often, these people do not realize they have these issues until they try to have a child.
- Damage to the Male Genitals – The male genitalia includes many parts and if any are significantly injured, infertility can result. The good news is that some injuries can be reversed and only temporarily affect fertility.
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Tags: Behavioral Factors, Cancer Testicular, Cervical Cancer, Colon Cancer, Congenital Abnormalities, Fallopian Tubes, female infertility, Fertility Issues, Fertility Levels, Fertility Treatment, Illegal Drugs, Male Genitalia, Male Genitals, Males And Females, medical intervention, Smoking Cigarettes, Stomach Cancer, Testicular Cancer, Types Of Cancer, Uterine Cancer
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Monday, April 26th, 2010
If you’re tired of hearing you just need to “relax” or “take a vacation” to get pregnant, you’re not alone.
Millions of men and women throughout the United States each year deal with infertility and it’s very rarely a case of them being too “stressed out” to conceive. That’s why it’s so important for males and females struggling with fertility issues to go to a physician who’s been trained in the area of reproductive health.
Remember: If it were as easy to get pregnant as going on a trip or taking a day off to get to the spa, we’d all know it and do it. But it’s not that simple.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
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Tags: Day Spa, Fertility Issues, Going On A Trip, Infertility, Males And Females, Men And Women, Men Women, Miracles, Myth, Pregnant, Relax, Reproductive Health, United States
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