Posts Tagged ‘Physicians’
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.
Follow RSI on Twitter and Facebook!
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
Posted in Infertility, STDs | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 20th, 2011
Have you been considering undergoing fertility treatments? If so, make sure the reproductive health clinic you choose has the following 10 attributes:
- Clean, inviting, state-of-the-art facility with highly accredited physicians and staff.
- Clinic has a comprehensive, educational website.
- Clinic offers numerous fertility treatment services.
- Clinic offers surrogacy, egg donation and other options.
- Clinic has worked with hundreds of individuals and/or couples.
- Clinic’s laboratory is CLIA approved.
- Clinic’s laboratory is certified and accredited by The College of American Pathologists (CAP) and The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).
- Clinic has higher-than-national-average success rates.
- Clinic offers appealing hours that fit with your lifestyle and schedule.
- Clinic’s team is constantly on the cutting edge of reproductive health medicine.
Follow RSI on Twitter!
Tags: American Society For Reproductive Medicine, Art Facility, Asrm, Attributes, College Of American Pathologists, College Of American Pathologists Cap, Couples, Cutting Edge, Educational Website, Egg Donation, fertility clinic, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Health Clinic, Health Medicine, Lifestyle, Physicians, Reproductive Health, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, State Of The Art, Success Rates
Posted in Fertility Treatments | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 18th, 2011
Star Guiliana Rancic isn’t mincing words when she tells the media that her thin frame has nothing to do with her inability to conceive a child. And she does make some excellent points, the main being that there are plenty of women her size (both on TV, in print, in movies, etc.) and smaller who wind up having a baby after successful rounds of IVF. However, the truth of the matter is that weight MAY affect infertility; it just depends upon the situation.
It would be great if weight could be “blamed” for infertility, but it simply isn’t the only aspect affecting fertility issues. Infertility is a complex, personal matter, which is why it’s important to get help from a fertility specialist as early as possible. Each person’s body – male or female – reacts uniquely, so each infertility treatment has to be customized as much as possible. For some individuals, weight will be a large factor; for others, it will have less impact.
Not being Rancic’s physicians, we cannot say for sure why her IVF treatment hasn’t helped her achieve a pregnancy that ended in a child. (Early last year, she had a miscarriage.) And, truth be told, she was asked to gain some pounds to prepare her body, which does somewhat weaken her message. Still, she’s entitled to her own opinion and we’re certain she’s discussed the matter with her fertility specialist.
We hope that Rancic’s 2011 includes an addition to her family, whether through IVF or other fertility treatment options.
Follow us on twitter!
Tags: Early Miscarriage, Fertility Issues, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Having A Baby, Infertility, Infertility Treatment, IVF treatment, Personal Matter, Physicians, Pregnancy, Thin Frame, Treatment Options, Truth Of The Matter, Weight Doesn
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.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
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 »
Friday, September 24th, 2010
Call it “fertility tourism” or “reproductive tourism” if you like… but don’t take it lightly. That moniker might make traveling to a foreign country for fertility treatments sound chic, but the results can be anything but.
Recently, clinics around the world (especially those in Europe, the Middle East and North America) have been raising flags of concern over the increase in individuals and couples who are willing to travel great distances to get fertility treatments.
Some go because they think they’ll save money; some go because they are deemed too old to get fertility treatments in their country of origin; some travel because they are denied access to get fertility treatments in their homelands; and some simply want to work with physicians who won’t ask the tough questions that need to be asked. Whatever their reasons, it’s becoming a bigger and bigger concern.
The problem isn’t that people are exercising their freedom to go wherever they choose; that’s perfectly acceptable. The conundrum is that they are doing it for the wrong reasons. And they’re putting their health — and the health of any child(ren) conceived through fertility treatments they get abroad — at potential risk.
It’s important to always weigh your options when it comes to choosing a fertility treatment provider and not take any aspect of the journey lightly. If you’re tempted to go overseas, you may simply need to get a second, third or even fourth opinion at home.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Conundrum, Country Of Origin, Couples, Distances, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Flags, Freedom, health, Homelands, Journey, Middle East, Miracles, Moniker, North America, Physicians, Tough Questions, Tourism, Treatment Provider, Vacations
Posted in Fertility Issues In the News | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
How do you know if a fertility specialist is right for you? It’s a good question to ask, especially given the fact that you’ll be discussing intimate lifestyle details with him or her on a regular basis.
Though the following list is not all-inclusive, it will give you a good starting point for determining if the fertility specialist you’re considering is the perfect one for your needs:
1. Does the Fertility Specialist Show You Respect?
Your experiences with your fertility specialist should be positive, and that starts with him or her showing you respect.
2. Do You Like the Fertility Specialist’s Office?
Does the office space seem clean to you? Do you feel comfortable there?
3. Does Your Fertility Specialist Make You Wait Inordinate Amounts of Time?
Though it’s not unusual for all physicians, including fertility specialists, to run behind from time to time, if you feel you’re constantly waiting… and waiting… and waiting… you may not be getting the service you deserve.
4. Does Your Fertility Specialist Take Your Questions Seriously? Does He/She Answer Them Promptly?
Have you ever had the experience of asking your fertility specialista question and receiving a rude or non-existent response? If so, you may want to consider switching to a reproductive health science professional who will treat your concerns seriously.
5. Does Your Partner Like the Fertility Specialist?
If you love your fertility specialist but your partner doesn’t, it may cause difficulty down the road. While this isn’t a definitely “deal breaker”, it’s absolutely something you need to consider.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Experiences, fertility specialist, Fertility Specialists, Good Question, Good Starting Point, Health Science Professional, Inordinate Amounts, Lifestyle, Love, Miracles, Office Space, Partner, Physicians, Reproductive Health, Respect
Posted in Fertility Info 101 | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
If you’re a woman who is either seriously overweight OR underweight, you may want to get your diet in check before moving forward with fertility treatments.
Weight plays a definite factor in how well a woman’s body will respond to all types of fertility treatments, from Clomid to IVF. So it’s important to prepare if you predict that fertility treatments will be in your future.
How can you make sure your weight is in line? BMI is often used by physicians as a measure of how appropriate your weight is based on your height. While it’s not always perfect (if you have a lot of muscle mass or are unusually short or tall, the results can be skewed), it’s a good starting point.
Another measure can be just how you look and feel. Most people in the obese and underweight categories are aware that their bodies are out of proportion from where they should be. In this case, a diet and exercise regimen may be warranted.
As with all lifestyle change programs, it’s a good idea to talk with your family doctor first. Explain to him or her that you’re going to be considering fertility treatments and that you want your weight to be in your favor, not against you. Then, you can proceed as he or she suggests.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Bmi, Clomid, Diet And Exercise, Diet Exercise, Exercise Regimen, Family Doctor, Fertility Treatments, Good Starting Point, Lifestyle Change Programs, Lot, Miracles, Moving, Muscle Mass, Obese, People, Physicians, Plays, Proportion, Woman Body, Woman S Body
Posted in Weight Gain and Loss | No Comments »
Friday, June 25th, 2010
From India comes word that a 66-year-old woman who was previously childless has given birth to triplets. Because of her advanced age, she used IVF treatments in order to reach her dream of becoming a mother.
Though there are well-wishers from around the world who send nothing but good thoughts her way, there are others who believe having a child (not to mention triplets) at 66 has serious ethical concerns. This is compounded by the fact that a 72-year-old who gave birth to her first child about a year-and-a-half ago at age 70 is now dying.
At RSI, we spend a great deal of time analyzing all aspects of any woman or couple’s physical, psychological and emotional states before proceeding with IVF treatments. In our experience, there is definitely a fine line between when fertility treatments are warranted and when the time has passed for such measures.
This is one of the reasons we encourage women and men dealing with infertility (or what they believe to be infertility) to connect with us sooner rather than later. We’ll give sound advice not dictated by intentions to get media attention… and we’ll always be straightforward with recommendations. It’s what we do as ethical physicians in the reproductive health science field.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Becoming A Mother, Emotional States, Ethical Concerns, Fertility Treatments, Good Thoughts, Health Science, Infertility, IVF treatments, Measures, Media Attention, Miracles, Mom, Old Woman, Physicians, Reproductive Health, Science Field, Sound Advice, Triplets, Well Wishers, Women And Men
Posted in In the News | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
In the not-so-distant future, twice-weekly injections of a hormone could help women struggling with infertility have children without resorting to more invasive fertility treatments.
Recently, physicians in the UK experimented by giving infertile women shots containing the hormone “kisspeptin”. Shots were given twice a week and, in some cases, helped the women conceive within two months.
According to the physicians, the women they treated reported no side effects.
Although this is definitely a promising possibility for many women who have fertility issues, it’s not a solution for females whose infertility is not caused by a hormone imbalance. In those cases, kisspeptin would have little to no effect on infertility.
The role of kisspeptin shots in fertility treatments is scheduled for further study. We’ll bring you more as statistical data become available!
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Females, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatments, Hormone Imbalance, infertile women, Infertility, Physicians, Statistical Data, Women Issues
Posted in In the News | No Comments »
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
Posted in Hostile Cervical Mucus | No Comments »
