Posts Tagged ‘Miscarriages’
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, September 26th, 2011
Polycystic ovary syndrome (commonly abbreviated as “PCOS”) isn’t a medical condition that’s discussed every day, which is one of the reasons so many fertility clinics have supported a movement to make September PCOS Awareness Month. However, it’s important to realize that PCOS, a common cause of infertility in women, is a condition that should be considered year-round.
Ironically, a good many women are unaware that they have PCOS, as symptoms can be mild to practically invisible. For instance, in the early stages of the condition, a woman may simply have missed or irregular menstrual periods, acne, oily skin and/or depression. Because these can be signs of very typical female issues (including PMS), many women have no inkling that PCOS is the culprit.
As PCOS develops further, women may experience weight gain, another natural phenomenon that isn’t necessary a cause for instant alarm. Some females also have problems with their breathing, including sleep apnea.
When PCOS is usually discovered is after a woman has repeated miscarriages or difficulty in getting pregnant. It’s at this point reproductive specialists like those at Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) must make a thorough evaluation.
Could you have PCOS? Perhaps. And if you’ve had any of the abovementioned symptoms, especially those relating to reproduction, we urge you to contact your primary care physician or set up a consultation at a reputable fertility clinic.
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Tags: Awareness Month, Care Physician, Culprit, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, fertility clinic, Fertility Clinics, Fertility Treatment, Infertility, Infertility In Women, Inkling, Irregular Menstrual Periods, Medical Condition, Miscarriages, Natural Phenomenon, Oily Skin, Ovary, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Reading, Reproductive Science Institute, Reproductive Scienece Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Reproductive Specialists, Rsi, Sleep Apnea, Weight Gain, Wyomissing
Posted in Pcos | 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 »
Friday, May 13th, 2011
A miscarriage occurs when a pregnancy ends of its own accord somewhere before 20 weeks of gestation. Unless a miscarriage occurs very early along in a pregnancy, the woman typically experiences a number of recognizable symptoms, including cramping and bleeding. Where a miscarriage is suspected, a woman is typically taken immediately to a doctor or the ER.
Following a miscarriage, many women feel emotionally depleted. This is understandable; not only have they lost a child, but their bodies are forced into a sudden (and intense) hormonal change. A shift of this type can create a host of psychological outcomes, including depression, mania, anger and moodiness.
Miscarriages occur in about 10-25% of all pregnancies, according to national statistics. But are they indicators of female infertility?
The short answer is: not necessarily.
Because of the commonality of miscarriages, one (or even two in a row) does not mean a woman is incapable of carrying a child to term. It simply means she did not carry that pregnancy to term. A miscarriage occurs for many reasons; thus, there is no reason to immediately assume female infertility is the “culprit”.
With that being said, a miscarriage isn’t a medical experience to be ignored. If you have had a miscarriage and you continue to have difficulty becoming pregnant, you may want to connect with a reputable fertility clinic such as the Philadelphia area’s RSI.
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Tags: Commonality, Culprit, Early Pregnancy, Facebook, female infertility, fertility clinic, Infertility, Medical Experience, Miscarriages, Moodiness, National Statistics, Own Accord, Philadelphia Area, Pregnancies, Pregnancy Miscarriage, Psychological Outcomes, Recognizable Symptoms, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Short Answer, Twitter, Weeks Of Gestation
Posted in female infertility, Miscarriage | No Comments »
Monday, February 7th, 2011
A couple in Plano, Texas just celebrated the 1st birthday of their twin daughters. After years of facing infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss, they finally achieved their dream of becoming parents through a somewhat unique method. They used a gestational carrier, which is like surrogacy in the sense that another woman carries a couple’s baby for the term of pregnancy for them. Gestational carriers differ from surrogacy in that the pregnant woman and the baby or babies she is carrying do not share any biological connection. A surrogate mother’s own eggs are contributed to the baby she carries. When a couple opts to use a gestational carrier, an embryo is created of his own sperm and her own egg(s) and the embryo(s) are then placed into the uterus of the gestational carrier by way of IVF.
This couple’s journey included five miscarriages of pregnancies achieved through intrauterine insemination (IUI). At the recommendation of their fertility doctor, they took the route of using a gestational carrier and have been overjoyed with the results! They took advantage of the laws in Texas that allowed them to utilize this method of assisted reproductive technology. The laws vary in every state regarding surrogacy and are even more strict when it comes to gestational carriers. We congratulate this Texas couple on their success and joy over their one-year-old daughters!
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Tags: Assisted Reproductive Technology, Becoming Parents, Biological Connection, embryo, Fertility Doctor, First Birthday, Gestational Carrier, Gestational Carriers, Infertility, Intrauterine Insemination Iui, IUI, IVF, Miscarriages, Plano Texas, Pregnancies, Pregnant Woman, recurrent pregnancy loss, surrogacy, Surrogate Mother, Texas Couple, Twin Daughters, Uterus
Posted in In the News, surrogacy | No Comments »
Thursday, January 20th, 2011
Looking for some fertility statistics as you begin or continue your journey through the maze of information out there about the topic of reproduction? You’re in luck!
We’ve gathered together a number of them to help you as you research fertility treatments and look for answers.
In the United States:
- 7.3 million women (ages 15-44) have fertility issues; this represents 11.8% percent of the female population.
- Consistent miscarriages may be a sign of infertility in women.
- 2.1 million married women (ages 15-44) have been able to become pregnant for 12 consecutive months of trying; this represents 7.4% of married women.
- The majority of women and men’s fertility issues are treatable.
- Two-thirds of couples who are treated for infertility are able to conceive.
- Prescription medicines and surgical procedures are the two most common ways that American couples use to combat their infertility situation.
- One-third of all fertility cases stem from issues with the female; one-third from issues with the male; and one-third from unknown causes.
- Embryos can be frozen for over a decade while still remaining viable.
- Ovulation rates lower significantly each year after a woman turns 35.
(Information sources: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. National Library of Health)
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Tags: American Couples, Centers For Disease Control, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Disease Control And Prevention, Dr. Munabi, Female Population, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatments, Infertility, Infertility In Women, Information Sources, Married Women, Maze, Miscarriages, National Library Of Health, Ovulation, Prescription Medicines, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Surgical Procedures, Two Thirds, Women Ages, Women And Men
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
Infertility can be physically uncomfortable, especially if it’s associated with conditions like endometriosis and PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). But it can be equally painful in a psychological way.
Below, we’ll look at some of the common causes of psychological pain as it is related to infertility as well as how to combat that pain.
Common Causes of Emotional Discomfort Regarding Infertility
- Feeling “guilty”.
- Being pressured to “just relax”.
- Being around people who are able to easily conceive.
- Being asked about having a child.
- Being treated differently by a spouse or loved one.
- Dealing with financial concerns about fertility treatments.
- Handling the loss of miscarriages.
Ways to Deal with Infertility from a Psychological Perspective
- Talk to a therapist or counselor about your problems.
- Join a support group of other women/men in similar situations.
- Don’t define your life by your ability to naturally conceive.
- Only talk about your infertility when YOU want to talk about it.
- Look into options as far as fertility treatments are concerned.
- Take antidepressants (if indicated by a physician.)
- Eat right and exercise regularly.
- Treat yourself well and not as a “victim”.
- Write about your experiences in a personal journal (or even an anonymous blog.)
- Read other women and men’s experiences with infertility.
Don’t ignore your feelings or they will well up and spill over. Instead, acknowledge your emotional responses to infertility and do everything in your power to manage those responses.
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Tags: Antidepressants, Counselor, Emotional Discomfort, Emotional Responses, Endometriosis, Experiences, Feelings, Fertility Treatments, Financial Concerns, Infertility, Miscarriages, Pcos Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Personal Journal, Psychological Pain, Psychological Perspective, Psychological Way, Support Group, Women And Men, Women Men
Posted in Infertility, Stress | No Comments »
Saturday, March 13th, 2010
As part of our newest series, Fertility Info 101, we’re offering information about PCOS.
PCOS Defined:
PCOS stands for “polycystic ovary syndrome”. Women with PCOS have issues with their hormones and tend to grow benign cysts on their ovaries, ultimately causing problems with menstruation. As a result, PCOS can create issues with fertility.
How Many Women Have PCOS?
Statistics on PCOS vary, since some women do not get treatment. However, out of every 100 females, around 6-7 are likely to have or develop PCOS.
What Are Common PCOS Signs and Symptoms?
Some of the more common signs and/or symptoms of PCOS include:
- Unexplained weight gain.
- Acne.
- Repeat miscarriages.
- Extra facial and body hair.
- High cholesterol.
- Stroke.
- Diabetes.
- Irregular menstruation.
- Problems becoming pregnant.
How is PCOS Treated?
PCOS is treated through a mixture of home remedies (exercise, eating right, controlling weight) and, sometimes, hormone-balancing medications.
Can a Women with PCOS Get Pregnant?
Women with PCOS can and do get pregnant. However, it is important that they be a) diagnosed and b) under the care of a specialist throughout their journey to conceive.
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Tags: Acne, Benign Cysts, Body Hair, Cholesterol, Females, Fertility, High Cholesterol, Hormones, medications, Menstruation Problems, Miscarriages, Ovaries, Ovary, Ovary Syndrome, Pcos, Pregnant Women, Unexplained Weight Gain
Posted in Fertility Info 101 | No Comments »
Saturday, February 20th, 2010
A recent article caught our eye. It discussed the potential connection between celiac disease and infertility.
In the Food Consumer piece, entitled “Can Foods Contribute to Infertility?“, the author explains:
Infertility seems to be more common in women with untreated celiac disease. Other gynecological and obstetrical problems may also be more common, including miscarriages and preterm births.
For men, problems can include abnormal sperm — such as lower sperm numbers, altered shape, and reduced function. Men with untreated celiac disease may also have lower testosterone levels.
The article goes on to explain celiac disease and several excellent ways to deal with it.
If you’re interested in the topic, it’s definitely worth a look.
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Tags: Abnormal Sperm, Celiac Disease, Infertility, Miscarriages, Obstetrical Problems, Preterm Births, Rsi, Testosterone, Testosterone Levels
Posted in Health and Nutrition | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
This article about egg donation recently caught our eye. Rather than looking from the point of view of an individual or couple, the piece tells the story from the egg donor‘s experience.
As Cathy Sidaway, a three-time egg donor, explains her desire to be one of the countless “Samaritans” for childless couples:
“I know about the heartache infertility causes… My cousin has endometriosis, and it’s been torturous for her. Another friend had seven miscarriages and was desperate for the family other people have quite easily…”
Thanks to the selflessness of women who choose to become egg donors like Sidaway (who receives zero remuneration for her good deeds according to the article), hundreds of babies will be born into loving families in the coming year.
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Tags: Babies, Childless Couples, Egg Donation, Egg Donor, Egg Donors, Endometriosis, Good Deeds, Infertility, Infertility Causes, Loving Families, Miscarriages, Remuneration, Samaritans, Selflessness
Posted in Egg Donation | No Comments »
