Posts Tagged ‘ovum’
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 »
Monday, October 3rd, 2011
For many women, irregular (or non-existent) ovulation is a contributing factor to their female infertility. But it’s interesting to note that not all ladies understand how the ovulation process works.
To help better understand this potential cause of female infertility, we’ve put together a quick timeline to help you become better informed on ovulation and its relationship to fertility issues.
What Is Ovulation? During ovulation, an egg (ovum) is released from one of a woman’s two ovaries. The egg is typically referred to as “mature”, meaning it’s ideally ready for fertilization.
The egg travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus, the lining of which has thickened enough to allow a fertilized egg to implant. If the egg becomes fertilized and implants, pregnancy results. If the egg is not fertilized, a menstrual period begins.
When Does Ovulation Occur? Ovulation generally occurs 12-16 days after the start of a woman’s last period. Thus, if a woman’s period began October 5, she would likely ovulate sometime between October 17 and 21.
During this window (and for a few days after), a woman is considered most fertile. This means if she has unprotected intercourse, she has the best chance of becoming pregnant for that menstrual cycle.
How Do You Know if Your Ovulation Is “Off”? Ironically, many women do not ovulate or ovulate infrequently and never realize it. Though they may skip periods or have a longer-than-average cycle between the times they menstruate, they may not associate their difficulties with ovulation.
Tests to determine if you’re ovulating can be performed by a fertility specialist, which will enable you to decide how to best proceed with fertility treatments.
What Are My Fertility Treatment Options? If it’s discovered that you are not ovulating at all or are ovulating at irregular rates, medication can be given to either start ovulation or regulate it. Other fertility treatments like IVF and IUI can be used if your body is unresponsive to the medications or you have serious side effects.
Where Can I Get More Information? If you’d like further info on female infertility and you are within traveling distance to Philadelphia or Reading, Pennsylvania , please consider contacting the Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) for an appointment to discuss your options.
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Tags: Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Egg, Fallopian Tube, female infertility, Fertility Issues, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Fertilization, Implants, Infertility, Last Period, Medication, Menstrual Cycle, Menstrual Period, Ovulation Tests, ovum, Philadelphia Infertility, Reading PA Infertility, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Timeline, Treatment Options, Unprotected Intercourse, Uterus, Wyomissing PA Infertility
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Monday, September 12th, 2011
Many times, women who have trouble conceiving immediately assume the worst; but often, something as simple as getting them ovulating regularly can solve their fertility issues.
Ovulation occurs when the ovum is released from one of the ovaries. Typically, this happens mid-cycle; however, there are some women for whom it happens infrequently or at a different time of the month. Thus, they try to have a child, but at the inappropriate moment.
Making it even tougher to diagnose this as the heart of your fertility issues, the signs of ovulation may or may not be present. Commonly, those include any or all of the following symptoms:
- Change in vaginal fluids making them take on an “egg white”, stringy appearance. (This should not be confused with a yeast infection or STD, which can cause thick, foul-smelling discharge.)
- Change in basal body temperature. This is the temperature of your body, typically taken by women in the morning before they get out of bed. Those females who use the “rhythm method” of birth control often keep a chart of their basal body temperatures so they recognize when they need to abstain from sexual intercourse.
- Light spotting or cramping. As a woman’s hormones shift, she may experience bleeding or muscle contractions. Bloating and breast tenderness can also accompany ovulation.
So what happens if you can’t be certain you’re ovulating? First, it’s a good idea to go to a fertility specialist or your gynecologist. He or she will help you figure out if you’re ovulating regularly.
Next, if you discover that you are not ovulating, a fertility specialist can prescribe medications to help your body “reset” itself. Drugs such as Clomid are used for this purpose and have had excellent results for females with fertility issues across the world.
Finally, if testing uncovers that you do not ovulate at all and you are unresponsive to medications like Clomid, other fertility options will be presented for your consideration.
If you’d like to discuss this topic further and you live in or within driving distance of Wyomissing or Chesterbrook, we invite you to make an appointment with the Reproductive Science Institute (RSI).
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Tags: Basal Body Temperatures, Bloating, Body Temperature, Breast Tenderness, Clomid, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Issues, fertility specialist, Gynecologist, Inappropriate Moment, Irregular Ovulation, Mid Cycle, Muscle Contractions, ovum, Philadelphia PA Infertility, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rhythm Method Of Birth Control, Rsi, sexual intercourse, Signs Of Ovulation, Time Of The Month, Times Women, Vaginal Fluids, Wyomissing PA Infertility, Yeast Infection
Posted in female infertility, Fertility Info 101 | No Comments »
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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Thursday, February 25th, 2010
For couples just entering the world of infertility treatments, the variety of acronyms may seem a little overwhelming. In this article, we’ll talk about intrauterine insemination, typically abbreviated as IUI.
What is It?
IUI is a procedure whereby 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?
IUIis 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 IUI Hurt?
Most women report feeling very little discomfort during IUI.
Can the Sperm “Fall Out” after IUI?
The sperm that has been injected into the uterus will remain there. Women do not need to go on any kind of “bed rest” post IUI.
What is the Success Rate of IUI?
Success rates are quite variable. Some studies quote numbers of as little as 4-8%; others claim the success rate is closer to 20%.
What Can We Expect to Spend on IUI?
The costs of IUI will depend on your unique situation and where you go for treatment. Therefore, you should connect with your fertility specialist for more information.
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Tags: bed rest, Catheter, Cervix, fertility specialist, Fertilization, Hcg Injections, Infertility, Infertility Treatments, Intrauterine Insemination, Iui Success Rates, Ovulation Timing, ovum, sperm, Success Rate, Uterus
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Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
The term “hostile cervical mucus” may not be one you hear every day, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be a factor if you’ve been unable to naturally conceive a child.
All women have cervical mucus. What makes some cervical mucus “hostile” is its thickness. Typically, cervical mucus helps sperm pass through the cervix at various times during a woman’s ovulation. However, hostile cervical mucus prevents the sperm from travelling to the ovum. Thus, the chances of pregnancy reduce greatly.
Hostile cervical mucus can be caused by a number of factors, including:
- Poor nutrition
Over-the-counter and prescription medications
Use of Clomid
Abnormal sperm
Not enough estrogen
Fortunately, there are ways for physicians to help women counteract hostile cervical mucus, rendering the condition less problematic.
How do you know if hostile cervical mucus could be to blame for your infertility problems? Only a fertility specialist can tell for certain, so it’s important to make a call today.
Tags: Abnormal Sperm, Cervix, Chances Of Pregnancy, Clomid, Estrogen, fertility specialist, Hostile Cervical Mucus, Infertility, Infertility Problems, Ovulation, ovum, Physicians, Poor Nutrition, Prescription Medications
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Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
According to Marie Claire, there’s a new problem facing couples trying to conceive — super sperm.
Researchers are now investigating what they deem to be sperm which are so aggressive and eager that they essentially over-fertilize each ovum. Consequently, the egg never fully develops and conception is thwarted.
Though this isn’t necessarily a mainstream theory on why so many men and women deal with infertility issues, it’s likely to be one that will carry weight if future evidence backs up these “super sperm” claims.
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Tags: fertilize, Infertility Issues, ovum, super sperm
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