Posts Tagged ‘Miracles’
Friday, December 9th, 2011
Fertility treatments can seem like a miracle for couples that haven’t been able to conceive a child on their own. But such scientific miracles come at a price, and that cost often isn’t fully covered — if at all — by most health insurance providers. Couples who are struggling to make up the difference have some important folks on their side: Rep. John Lewis (Ga.), who just introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would provide eligible taxpayers a tax credit for the out-of-pocket expenses associated with fertility treatments.
The bill is co-sponsored by Rosa DeLauro (CT), William Keating (MA) and Richard Neal (MA) and is called Family Act of 2011. The tax credit would apply to expenses related to in vitro fertilization and treatments to preserve fertility for cancer patients.
The tax credit is modeled after an existing tax credit available to taxpayers who incur adoption expenses. It mirrors the Family Act, S 965, introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) in May.
This is an exciting development for families who could use the tax credit to help them leap over that last hurdle standing in the way of their dreams of growing their family.
Is Fertility Treatment Right For You?
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Tags: Adoption Expenses, Cancer Patients, Eligible Taxpayers, Family Act, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Health Insurance, Health Insurance Providers, House Of Representatives, John Lewis, Kirsten Gillibrand, Last Hurdle, Miracle, Miracles, Pocket Expenses, Richard Neal, Rosa Delauro, Tax credit, U S Senate, Vitro Fertilization
Posted in Financial Issues | No Comments »
Monday, May 9th, 2011
“New cure for infertility!”
“Cure your infertility once and for all!”
“New secrets to curing infertility revealed!”
In the reproductive health science industry, we hear it all – the claims of cures, the offers of “secret tricks”, the tell-all missives from “gurus”. But the truth of the matter is that there is no single “cure” for infertility.
Now, before you become upset or unhappy, please know that there are ways to overcome infertility in many cases. At RSI, one of the Philadelphia area’s most reputable fertility clinics, we perform “miracles” every day. But there is not one cure-all for all types of infertility.
That’s one of the reasons it pays to be very cautious – and scientific – when it comes to your reproductive health. If you’ve been having trouble conceiving, you need to see a specialist, not just read a book or buy a tonic or vitamin. Every case is 100% unique; thus, the way to work around different forms of infertility varies accordingly.
P.T. Barnum said that there was someone willing to give up his money born every minute… and P.T. Barnum took advantage of that willingness. Others will try to operate similarly and separate you from your finances in an effort to sell you a “cure” that simply doesn’t exist.
It would be amazing if there really were a one-stop-shopping method to treating infertility. However, there is not. But there ARE answers… and there IS hope! Come to RSI for a consultation and find out what your options are before falling prey to snake oil.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Consultation, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, Fertility Clinics, Gurus, Health Science Industry, Infertility, Infertility Cure, Miracles, Missives, P T Barnum, Philadelphia Area, Prey, Reproductive Health, Reproductive Science Institute, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Snake Oil, Tonic, Truth Of The Matter, Twitter, Ways To Overcome Infertility, Willingness
Posted in Infertility | No Comments »
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
A New Zealand-based financial institution, ASB, is issuing a series of “mea culpas” after backlash over an ad meant to spark interest in (not disgust over) their loans.
The advertisement showed a couple who couldn’t pay for their IVF treatment (which was unsuccessful.) Upon getting a loan from ASB, they not only could pay for another round of IVF, but they were also blessed with triplets.
Though ASB claims to have had no clue that the ads would strike such an angry chord with some viewers, they have vowed to be more sensitive later. However, they are not necessarily going to pull the ads.
We’re curious… do you think that an advertisement of this nature would have any effect on you?
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Tags: Advertisement, Asb, Backlash, Clue, Disgust, Financial Institution, Getting A Loan, IVF treatment, Loans, Miracles, Miracles Happen, New Zealand, Poor Taste, Rsi, Triplets
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010
From Tokyo, Japan, new findings are shedding light on some possible genetic links that can help doctors predict (and perhaps even overcome with the right interventions) infertility in their patients.
As with many studies of this nature, the research was conducted on mice. The mice were implanted with fertilized eggs, after which the gene that apparently created the ideal uterine environment for maintaining a pregnancy was isolated.
Without the gene’s presence, the Japanese researchers discovered that the fertilized egg could not properly be maintained by the host body. If the findings are able to translate to human females, it could assist reproductive health specialists in helping patients who are experiencing infertility.
Though more studies are expected to be conducted, it’s an exciting development in the science of infertility.
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Tags: Doctors, Egg, Eggs, Genetic Link, Genetic Links, Host Body, Human Females, Infertility, Interventions, Japanese Researchers, Japanese Scientists, Mice, Miracles, Pregnancy, Presence, Reproductive Health Specialists, Rsi, Science, Tokyo Japan, Translate
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010
On a regular basis (because, let’s face it… the data affects us in the States, too), we like to look outside our American borders and investigate what’s happening in fertility news.
Lately, our attention was caught by the results of a 2008 study that claims 6 percent of mothers from New Zealand use some form of fertility treatment to become pregnant. That figure shows how widespread the desire to seek out assistance to have a baby of one’s own has become.
The 6 percent figure comes from the “Growing Up in New Zealand” study which looked at 7,000 births. Of those 7,000 babies, 60 percent had been planned by their parents. And it was of these babies that fertility treatments had been used.
In terms of specific types of fertility treatment, the New Zealand women most commonly chose IVF, which costs an average of $11,000 dollars in that country.
Other interesting facts from the “Growing Up in New Zealand” study include:
· In 2009, the average age of women giving birth was 30. (In 1979, thirty years ago, the figure was 26.)
· In the “Growing Up in New Zealand” study, the average age of the mothers involved in planned pregnancies was 32. Comparably, the average age of the mothers involved in unplanned pregnancies was 28.
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Tags: American Borders, Babies, Births, Desire, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Global Fertility, Interesting Facts, IVF, Miracles, New Zealand, Parents, Pregnant, Rsi, Thirty Years, Unplanned Pregnancies, Women Giving Birth, Zealand Women
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, November 29th, 2010
Scientists in Brazil have come across an interesting finding. During their research involving teen boys with varicocele, a widening of the veins located in the scrotum, they realized that those boys were quite possibly more apt to have trouble getting their future partners pregnant.
The reason for the likely infertility is two-fold:
1. Variocele can lead to lowered quality of sperm.
2. Variocele can lead to shrinking of the testicles.
Current Brazilian studies indicate that about 15% of males over the ages of 15 have varicocele. Additionally, research from Brazil has concluded that about 1/3 of men experiencing infertility have some form of varicocele and about 4/5 of men experiencing secondary infertility (e.g., those who have fathered a child at least once before) have a form of the testicular condition.
As a result, Brazilian physicians and scientists are suggesting that teens with varicocele undergo surgery to remedy the mostly-harmless testicular condition in order to preserve their fertility. Of course, this is a subject best handled in families, as any surgery brings with it potential complications. Still, it’s an interesting development and one that could lead to children for men with varicocele who might not have been able to father a child without medical intervention.
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Tags: Brazil, Brazilian Studies, Current, Fertility Problems, Infertility, Lead, medical intervention, Miracles, Physicians, Rsi, Scientists, Scrotum, Secondary Infertility, Teen Boys, Testicles, Varicocele, Variocele, Veins
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010
In yesterday’s post, we discussed obesity and fertility. Today, we’re going to look at the opposite end of the spectrum — specifically eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.
Anorectics and bulimics often lose copious amounts of weight which can contribute to ammenorrhea (the loss of regular menstruation.) Those with severe eating disorders will often stop ovulating altogether, as their bodies are focused on survival. All nutrients are sent directly to the most important organs. (As you might guess, the ovaries are not included in that list.)
Even those who have overcome eating disorders may still face temporary (or sometimes permanent) infertility as a result of years of self-inflicted starvation through extreme dieting behaviors.
If you have or had an eating disorder and are trying to become pregnant, it’s important to get under the care of a fertility specialist who can help you healthily reach your goal of becoming a parent.
There’s no shame in your medical experiences; you simply need to address the realities of your situation before you can move on.
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Tags: Anorectics, Anorexia And Bulimia, Anorexia Bulimia, Becoming A Parent, Copious Amounts, Eating Disorder, Eating Disorders, Extreme Dieting, fertility specialist, Infertility, Medical Experiences, Miracles, Nutrients, obesity, Organs, Ovaries, Realities, Shame, Spectrum, Starvation
Posted in Weight Gain and Loss | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010
Obesity has become an issue that is constantly affecting Americans. Not only has it become problematic for children in school and the elderly, but it’s begun to take its toll on many women’s ability to have children.
Though obesity is often only part of the issue for a woman who is unable to conceive, losing weight can dramatically improve a female’s chances of having a child naturally either with or without fertility treatments.
The main problem, of course, is that dropping pounds isn’t easy; if it were, people would have no trouble getting down to manageable weights.
Thus, if you’re considering fertility treatments and you are clinically obese, it’s important for you to sit down with your physician or specialist and discuss options for slimming down.
Fortunately, you don’t have to look like a model to be at a healthier weight. Small changes in diet and exercise can have dramatic impacts.
Don’t allow your weight to keep you from the potential of becoming a parent. It’s almost 2011… make getting healthier so you can be the fittest parent possible one of your resolutions!
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Tags: Becoming A Parent, Children Obesity, Diet And Exercise, Diet Exercise, Dramatic Impacts, Elderly, Fertility Treatments, Infertility, Losing Weight, Miracles, Obesity And Infertility, Options, Resolutions, Small Changes, Weights
Posted in Weight Gain and Loss | No Comments »
Thursday, November 18th, 2010
Many women have been taught to believe that as long as they menstruate, they should be able to become pregnant. But in reality, nothing could be further from the truth, as fertility and menstruation do not necessarily go hand-in-hand.
What’s the problem? Well, there could be several that would affect fertility, such as:
- Irregular Periods. This can be caused by any number of issues, including not ovulating on a regular cycle. No or infrequent ovulation makes getting pregnant incredibly difficult, especially if couples are trying to “time” the conception.
- Periods That Aren’t Periods. Sometimes, what looks like a period really isn’t one at all and could actually be “spotting”. And frequent spotting should always be investigated by an OB/GYN to ensure that there isn’t a serious problem.
- Ovulation at Unusual Times. For some women, ovulation doesn’t take place when it’s “supposed” to (e.g., midway through a menstrual cycle.) This makes it tough to predict the most fertile time of the month for a female.
If you have been having difficulty getting pregnant, it’s time to see a fertility specialist. Even if you’re getting a period, it’s not an indicator that you “should” be able to get pregnant without any concerns.
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Tags: Couples, Fertile Time Of The Month, fertility specialist, Irregular Periods, Menstrual Cycle, Menstruation, Midway, Miracles, Ob Gyn, Ovulation, Time Of The Month, Truth
Posted in female infertility, Menstruation | No Comments »
Thursday, November 11th, 2010
If you’ve ever watched Trading Spaces, the phenomenal program that aired on TLC several years ago, you were no doubt mesmerized by the abilities of Vern Yip. And now he’s about to become a daddy… for the second time!
Yip and his partner worked with a surrogate to allow them to become parents again. And (through their media reps) it appears that they couldn’t be happier!
Of course, you don’t have to be a Hollywood star or a household name to consider surrogacy; in fact, it’s becoming more and more acceptable in America as the facts (rather than myths) of fertility issues begin to filter into the mainstream.
If you’re considering surrogacy or would just like to know more about the process, feel free to visit RSI at our Philadelphia area office. We’ll be happy to give you a consultation and help you determine if working with a surrogate is the best solution for you (and/or your partner.)
And, as we always say when we mention a “happy ending” for any person… we wish Yip and his family all the joys that parenthood can bring!
Tags: Best Solution, Consultation, Fertility Issues, Hollywood, Hollywood Star, Household Name, Mainstream, Miracles, Myths, No Doubt, Parenthood, Parents, Partner, Philadelphia Area, Rsi, Second Time, surrogacy, Surrogate, Trading Spaces, Vern Yip
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