Posts Tagged ‘Pregnancy’
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011
It’s no secret that fertility treatments can elicit a host of emotional responses from the individuals and couples involved. That’s why it’s such a smart idea to really plan for the ways to deal with your feelings ahead of time.
Even if you are the most optimistic person in the world, it can be challenging to stay positive, especially if fertility treatments are proceeding slower than you’d like or if the options presented to you are not what you expected.
As you proceed with your investigation into the right fertility treatments for your situation, why not take the following factors into consideration?
1. Set up an appointment with a counselor.
Many therapists and counselors specialize in helping those who are undergoing fertility treatments. They can give you feedback on your (very normal) emotions as well as providing you with ways to get through difficult times.
2. Don’t define yourself by your infertility.
Many people fall into the emotional trap of thinking of themselves only in terms of their infertility. Remember that you are someone who has a lot to offer, and are not simply a man or woman who is having issues conceiving.
3. Be open about the way you feel.
Females and males who are undergoing fertility treatments can sometimes “shut down”, essentially pretending that their emotions aren’t happening or, alternatively, aren’t important. But they most certainly are!
4. Plan fun activities.
Don’t worry about fertility treatments 24/7! Start planning some fun activities to do alone and with your partner. Go out to eat, head for a hike in the woods, take a walk along the water… and reconnect with yourself and your relationship in a way that doesn’t have to do with pregnancy.
5. Stay on top of your emotions.
Finally, it’s critical to remain “on top” of your emotions. You may even want to start a journal so you can track how you’re feeling on a daily or weekly basis. This will help you achieve a stronger sense of confidence and poise throughout your fertility treatments.
Is Fertility Treatment Right For You?
Follow RSI on Twitter!
Join Our Group on Facebook!
Tags: Appointment, Counselor, Counselors, Couples, Difficult Times, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Emotional Responses, emotions, Feelings, Females, Fertility Treatments, Fun Activities, Infertility, Many People, Optimistic Person, Partner, Philadelphia Infertility, Pregnancy, Reading PA Infertility, Relationship, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Smart Idea, Stay On Top, Worry, Wyomissing PA Infertility
Posted in Fertility Treatments | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
What does the UK’s version of Big Brother have to do with infertility? Read on to discover the inside scoop….
Chantelle Houghton, 27, was a contestant on the show several years ago (2006) and has admitted that her obsession with being thin has hurt her chances to have a child without IVF treatment.
Noted Houghton to the BBC:
“Because of my obsession with food and my crash dieting when I had bulimia, I’ve ruined my chances of having a baby naturally.”
Though doctors have not said she absolutely cannot have children on her own, they have reportedly told Houghton she has “low fertility” and have suggested fertility treatments should she and current boyfriend Alex Reid want to get pregnant.
Houghton isn’t taking the discovery lightly and is now speaking out to raise awareness about the connection between eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia and binge eating on fertility.
It’s sad to hear Houghton say she blames herself, especially since eating disorders are not a deliberate choice. Yet it’s heartening to know that she’s trying to help others not become as obsessed with numbers on a scale or looking “a certain way” to fit unrealistic media standards.
If you have or have had an eating disorder, we at RSI, one of Philadelphia area’s premiere fertility clinics, recommend you undergo therapy (and hospitalization, if necessary) to control the condition before entering into fertility treatments.
Remember that there IS life and can be pregnancy after an eating disorder. But not until you get control of your health.
Follow RSI on Twitter and Facebook!
Tags: Abraham Munabi, Alex Reid, Anorexia Bulimia, Bbc, Big Brother, Binge Eating, Chantelle Houghton, Crash Dieting, Current Boyfriend, Deliberate Choice, Dr. Munabi, Eating Disorder, Eating Disorders, Facebook, Fertility Clinics, Fertility Treatments, Having A Baby, Hospitalization, Infertility, Obsession, Philadelphia Area, Pregnancy, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Scoop, Twitter
Posted in Hollywood and Stars, Infertility | No Comments »
Monday, July 11th, 2011
If it seems like “everybody” around you is getting pregnant, it can be difficult; this is especially true if you’re having difficulty conceiving. However, looks can definitely be deceiving, and they are in this case.
There are numerous factors that go into whether or not a couple conceives. Some considerations include, but are not limited to:
- Whether the woman is ovulating.
- Whether the man has issues with sub-fertility or infertility.
- The medications each person is taking.
- Medical histories of both parties.
- Age (for females, mainly, but may also be a consideration for males).
- Lifestyle habits.
- Weight and nutrition.
- Environmental and geographic concerns.
- Alcohol consumption.
- Stress levels.
- Prior pregnancies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, up to 15% of the American population who are within child-bearing age parameters may have fertility problems. That’s over 7 million individuals!
The bottom line is that if you’re not able to naturally conceive within six months of trying, you should talk to a physician. This is especially true if you’re a woman who is over 30. But don’t convince yourself that you’re alone; pregnancy doesn’t come to every couple in the timeframe they’d prefer. That’s why every case involving fertility issues needs to be addressed in an individualized fashion.
Follow RSI on Twitter and Facebook!
Tags: Abraham Munabi, Alcohol Consumption, American Population, Bottom Line, Centers For Disease Control, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, Fashion, Females, Fertility Issues, Fertility Problems, Infertility, Lifestyle Habits, Medical Histories, medications, Myth, Parameters, Pregnancy, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Six Months, Stress Levels, Timeframe, Twitter
Posted in Fertility Treatments, Myths & Misconceptions | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 25th, 2011
There are a lot of excuses that people who smoke use to justify continuing their habits:
It de-stresses me.
It’s a social thing.
I only smoke when I drink…
I’m addicted to nicotine and can’t quit.
I just like the feeling of it.
But no one ever says, “I smoke so I can get pregnant more easily.” That wouldn’t make sense… even to the most prolific smoker.
Smoking has long been known as a no-no during pregnancy, but it’s also been proven to negatively affect those going through fertility treatments. In males, smoking has been shown to lower testosterone and sperm count levels, two essential elements of fertilization. In females, smoking affects ova (eggs) and cervical mucus. Mix a smoking male and a smoking female together, and the implications for fertility issues are clear.
Even with the most up-to-date fertility treatments available, men and women who are smokers make it more difficult for them to have successful outcomes. Thus, it becomes important for them to stop smoking before fertility treatments begin.
How soon to begin a cessation program before fertility treatments start depends upon a number of factors. Consequently, you and your partner should converse with your fertility specialist to figure out when and how to quit. In the long run, it will not only help you increase your chances of becoming pregnant, but it will also give you a statistically better likelihood of living a longer, healthier life.
Follow us on Twitter!
Tags: Cervical Mucus, Cessation Program, Cigarette Habit, Eggs, Essential Elements, Female Fertility, Females, Fertility Issues, fertility rates, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatments, Fertilization, Likelihood, Men And Women, Nicotine, Pregnancy, RSI Infertility, Smoker, Smokers, Smoking Female, Sperm Count, Testosterone
Posted in Uncategorized | 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 »
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.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
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, September 28th, 2010
Melatonin, the compound that is found in the body and has been shown to help regulate sleep rhythms as well as increase some people’s resistance to conditions such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), may be a boon for women going through IVF treatments.
In fact, a presentation of a study at the World Congress of Fertility and Sterility strongly proved that females who were given doses of melatonin during IVF treatments were shown to double their chances at pregnancy.
The scientists who initiated the study feel that because melatonin is an oxidizer, it may help to mitigate damage to eggs that have been harmed. During their IVF treatmentstudy at Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, researchers discovered that women who were given melatonin more than doubled their chances of having an egg fertilized through the IVF process.
More research will be done, of course, but the findings could open the doors for stronger success rates among females undergoing IVF treatments.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Boon, Egg, Eggs, Females, Fertility And Sterility, IVF treatment, IVF treatments, Melatonin, Miracles, Oxidizer, Pregnancy, Resistance, Rhythms, School Of Medicine, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Success Rates, Sunny Skies, University Graduate School, World Congress, Yamaguchi University
Posted in IVF treatments | No Comments »
Friday, August 27th, 2010
If you’re trying to conceive a child and you’ve had difficulty in getting pregnant, you might actually be having sex too much. Though it seems counter-intuitive, having intercourse too frequently can lower the chances of natural conception occurring.
Why is the frequency such an issue? It all has to do with the man’s sperm count.
If a male is ejaculating on a daily basis, the viability of his sperm (as well as the amount of semen) may be reduced to a point where conception becomes more and more difficult. Thus, even if a woman is ovulating as expected, pregnancy has a lowered chance of occurring.
Obviously, the best way to find out “how much is too much” is to speak with your fertility specialist. He or she will help you come up with a plan that maximizes your opportunities to conceive.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Daily Basis, fertility specialist, Having Intercourse, Having Sex, Miracles, Natural Conception, Pregnancy, Rsi, Sperm Count, Trying To Conceive, Trying To Get Pregnant, Viability, Woman
Posted in Sex | No Comments »
Monday, June 28th, 2010
If you’re a woman in Ohio and you’ve just signed on with an employer, you might want to hesitate before starting IVF treatments. That’s because the Ohio Supreme Court ruled last week (in a 5-1 vote) that employers are within their rights to fire a relatively newly hired female who becomes pregnant.
Though many would sound the alarm that this ruling is discriminatory, the Court decided that it’s up to a company to figure out if maternity leave (or leave for pregnancy-related concerns) constitutes a firing.
From the Court’s point of view, if an employee is generally not allowed to take an extended leave of absence (as would occur with a pregnancy) until a certain time has passed (say, a year), then the pregnant employee could be terminated.
It’s a strange conundrum. On the one hand, the Court’s ruling could be seen as protecting the interests of employers. On the other hand, it gives women who want to become pregnant a reason to pause before seeking fertility treatments and medical attention for infertility lest they become jobless.
We’d love to know your thoughts on the matter… Both employees and employers are encouraged to chime in.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Chime, Conundrum, Court Decided That, Fertility Treatments, Infertility, IVF treatments, Lead, Leave Of Absence, Love Thoughts, Maternity, Medical Attention, Miracles, Ohio Supreme Court, Point Of View, Pregnancy, Pregnant Employee, Reason, Supreme Court Rules, Vote, Woman
Posted in Employment, In the News | No Comments »
