Posts Tagged ‘Stress’
Friday, September 2nd, 2011
If you’ve had difficulty getting pregnant, you’ve likely heard this one over and over:
“Just adopt a baby! Then, you’ll get pregnant right away… it happened to my [fill-in-the-blank]!”
While that type of story makes for great anecdotes, it isn’t statistically proven, nor is it something to count on if you’re struggling with infertility.
The truth is that infertility is a medical, not a social, condition. Though outside influences can have effects on whether or not a female can easily have a child, those influences do not include adopting.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with looking into adoption; in fact, we recommend it for the right couples who have the correct attitude about the process. However, it’s important to recognize that adoption isn’t the answer if you’re only doing it so you can somehow “reverse” your fertility issues. Doing so can lead to:
- Added stress thanks to the burden you’ve put upon yourselves in setting up unrealistic hopes based on the adoption myth.
- Discontent if you do not become pregnant after adopting a child.
- Negative decisions based on misinformation.
Again, there’s no reason not to look into adoption, but make sure you always do it for the right reasons. Infertility can’t be reversed by adopting a child, but it can often be overcome with scientifically proven methods such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI).
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Tags: Adopting A Child, Adoption, Anecdotes, Correct Attitude, Couples, Decisions, Discontent, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatment, Fertilization Ivf, Fill In The Blank, Infertility, Intrauterine Insemination, Misinformation, Myth, Nbsp, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Pregnant, Reading, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Stress, Truth, Vitro Fertilization, Wyomissing
Posted in Infertility, Myths & Misconceptions | No Comments »
Friday, July 15th, 2011
“Just relax and go with the flow! That’s how you’ll get pregnant!”
“If you’d calm down a little, you’d be able to get pregnant in no time.”
“I wish you would take it easy, for goodness’ sake. That’s your real problem. Go on vacation and you’ll come home pregnant!”
Unfortunately, those sentences are indicative of the advice that far too many individuals and couples dealing with fertility concerns hear. To be sure, the comment isn’t meant to be hurtful, but it does tend to send the wrong message. In a nutshell, it’s just not true.
Don’t get us wrong – stress can absolutely be a contributing factor to fertility problems. However, relaxation is not typically a one-size-fits-all solution. Though being able to enjoy “down time” does contribute to a healthier attitude, mindset and, sometimes, outcome, it’s complementary to fertility treatments, not a treatment in and of itself.
The next time someone makes this type of statement to you, there are a few choices:
1. Say nothing. Just smile and nod.
2. Tell the person that your fertility is not any of their business.
3. Reply, “I’m glad that worked for you.”
Whatever you do, don’t assume that you’re under any obligation to believe this myth. It’s an old wives tale, which means it’s best left to the annals of history.
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Tags: Annals, Attitude, Calm Down, Choices, Couples, Facebook, Fertility Concerns, Fertility Problems, Fertility Treatments, Goodness Sake, Mindset, Myth 3, Nutshell, Obligation, Old Wives, Pregnant, Relaxation, Reply, Sentences, Smile And Nod, Stress, Twitter
Posted in Myths & Misconceptions | No Comments »
Friday, April 15th, 2011
“I felt like I wasn’t a ‘real’ woman.”
That type of comment is repeated over and over on fertility-related blogs around the Internet. Without a doubt, it illustrates just how much of a toll female infertility can take on a woman’s self-image.
Never mind the fact that women are talking more openly about the issue of their female infertility problems than ever before; there’s still a sense that a woman who wants to have a child should be able to without any issues.
It all can add up to incredible amounts of stress… which only perpetuates and amplifies the issue at hand.
In our experience, women with female infertility often come to our clinic with feelings of embarrassment, anger and/or shame. But what we try to get them to realize is that:
- It’s not their fault. Female infertility happens… and it can even happen among women who have already had a child. (In that case, it’s called secondary infertility.)
- It’s not “selfish” to ask for help. Some women feel concerned that asking for medical attention somehow is selfish, but it’s not. It’s actually reasonable, especially if the tests for female infertility uncover other conditions that need to be addressed (like endometriosis or an STD.)
- We are not here to pass judgment. As reproductive health specialists, we’re not looking at women as somehow “less than they should be” because of their infertility. Instead, we’re helping them solve a problem with care, understanding and expertise.
If you’ve been feeling depressed or ashamed because of your female infertility, we encourage you to come to RSI for a no-obligation consultation. You’ll find our clinic warm and inviting… and that just might be the catalyst for helping you move forward.
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Tags: Anger, Blogs, Catalyst, Doubt, Embarrassment, Endometriosis, Feelings, Female Infertility Problems, Infertility, Issue At Hand, Judgment, Medical Attention, Obligation Consultation, Psyche, Real Woman, Reproductive Health Specialists, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Secondary Infertility, Self Image, Shame, Stress
Posted in female infertility | No Comments »
Monday, October 4th, 2010
If you undergo IVF treatments, there are many suggestions you’re likely to hear: rest well, eat healthily, keep stress to a minimum… but until now, no one has likely told you to head to Starbucks.
According to researchers who have been studying a side effect that about a third of women get from IVFtreatments, that cup o’ joe may be the ticket.
The complication that’s being studied is a result of ovary over-stimulation. The technical name for the condition is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and symptoms run from mild (e.g., bloating, abdominal pain) to severe (e.g., life-threatening blood clots).
To counteract the development of the condition, British researchers have been doing tests with caffeine. And lo and behold — caffeine seems to have a neutralizing effect upon the body when it comes to ovary over-stimulation.
So what does this mean for you?
Although the findings are preliminary, they at least suggest that you may not have to give up your morning java break during IVF. And that’s music to the ears of coffee lovers everywhere.
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Tags: Abdominal Pain, Blood Clots, British Researchers, Coffee Cup, Coffee Lovers, Ears, IVF treatments, Miracles, Music, Ohss, Ovary, Rsi, Starbucks, Stress, Success
Posted in In the News, IVF treatments | No Comments »
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
There’s nothing innately funny about fertility problems, but that doesn’t mean that keeping a sense of humor isn’t critical to getting through them. In fact, it’s mentally and physically very healthy to be able to laugh on a regular basis.
Interestingly, the basic physiological changes that occur when a person laughs may have a significant impact on his or her being able to increase the chances that a fertility procedure works.
For instance, because humor reduces stress, a woman may be more relaxed when undergoing IVF. Her body may hold itself less rigidly, meaning that the fertility procedure takes place more efficiently with less pain. And who knows? A relaxed body could be more conducive to a better result.
The same holds true for men. If a male has been told that he *must* perform sexually on certain days of the week or month to maximize the chances of fertility occurring, that’s a huge stressor. Being able to find the humor in the situation keeps the mood in the bedroom from turning sour. It also keeps him from being unable to get “in the mood” or even ejaculate.
With this being said, fertility problems absolutely aren’t a walk in the park. They aren’t fun. They aren’t light-hearted in and of themselves. But being able to put them into perspective may just be what the doctor ordered.
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Tags: Days Of The Week, Fertility Problems, Fertility Procedure, Funny, IVF, Laughs, Light Hearted, Miracles, Perspective, Physiological Changes, Sense Of Humor, Significant Impact, Stress, Stressor, Walk In The Park
Posted in Humor | 1 Comment »
Sunday, January 31st, 2010
Research has proven that stress plays a critical role in the success of any fertility treatment, especially IVF. But how can you relax when all you can think about is whether or not you’ll be able to conceive?
If you’re having difficulty calming your mind and your body, try these tips to de-stress before and during your IVF treatments:
- Lay off (or significantly reduce) your intake of caffeine. It might “wake you up”, but it can also make you agitated.
- Get a good night’s sleep. Rest is one of the most beneficial “gifts” you can give yourself.
- Take up a relaxing hobby. Some individuals like to scrapbook, others like to knit. Some cook, some read, some write… the list goes on and on. Do whatever calms you and allows you to focus your energies in a positive direction.
- Learn to meditate. You don’t have to be spiritually-inclined to embrace the powers of meditation.
- Try yoga pre-IVF. Yoga, when performed correctly, can prep your body, heart and soul.
- Eat healthfully. If you’re investing in IVF, yo u must invest in your nutrition, too.
- Stay away from toxic people. Though this can be easier said than done, whenever you have the choice, choose to avoid persons who want to bring you down.
What methods have you used to de-stress during your fertility treatments? We’d like to know!
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Tags: Calming Your Mind, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, IVF treatments, Meditation, nutrition, Sleep, Stress, Toxic People, Yoga
Posted in IVF treatments | No Comments »
Monday, October 12th, 2009
In the October 12th edition of LA Times, Shari Roan writes about how stress or worrying can affect IVF success. The article states: ”A study in the October issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility found that women who “let go” of their worries about becoming pregnant during in vitro fertilization treatment were more likely to become pregnant.
The study examined 88 women as they went through IVF treatment. The women’s emotional coping strategies were measured. For example, researchers tried to determine how much the women thought about or worried about the outcome of their treatments and how much they felt they needed to persevere. “Letting go” was defined as being emotionally disengaged from the process and distracting oneself from the treatment.
Of the 88 women, 21 became pregnant. But those who had the highest scores reflecting a “letting go” attitude were 88% more likely to become pregnant compared with women who tended to worry and ruminate about the treatment.” You can read the entire article by clicking here.
It is estimated that one out of every six couples in the United States is coping with infertility issues. At RSI, we understand that the mere thought of not being able to have children can be emotionally taxing and may even make many people feel something is wrong with them.
That’s why we’ve developed this free report: Emotional Effects of Infertility. When you discover ways to cope with the emotional effects of infertility, you will reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. Download your copy of this report http://www.rsiinfertility.com/freereports.html
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Tags: anxiety, Attitude, Coping Strategies, Coping With Infertility, Couples, Emotional Effects, Fall Newsletter, Feelings, Fertility And Sterility, Infertility, Infertility Issues, La Times, Miracles, Pregnant, Pregnant Women, Reduce Stress, Rsi, Shari Roan, Stress, United States, Vitro Fertilization, Worries
Posted in female infertility, Fertility Issues In the News, Health and Nutrition, Stress | No Comments »
Friday, July 31st, 2009
There is no shortage of blogs and websites purporting to have the “cure” for infertility. Unfortunately, many couples and individuals dealing with this personal, stressful issue can easily become pulled into the notion that all infertility can be somehow ”solved” through potions, lotions and pills.
Though there is nothing innately wrong with many of the natural ways to combat infertility, such as maintaining a healthy diet or engaging in yoga to keep anxiety levels to a minimum, some of the supposed miracle “cures” do nothing but waste time and money.
If you’re dealing with infertility, the best way to go is that of education.
Contact a trained fertility specialist like those at RSI and find out what he or she has to say. (Afterwards, feel free to contact another for a second opinion, as is your right.) From there, you may want to consider implementing holistic ways to help with your infertility (or the by-products of infertility, such as depression.) But please don’t assume that there’s any one “answer”; often, there are many alternatives and options… and therefore no magic infertility cure-all pill.
Tags: Couples, holistic, individuals, Infertility, miracle cure, Stress
Posted in Infertility | No Comments »
Friday, July 24th, 2009
Couples dealing with infertility issues often underestimate the effects of stress on their relationships. Even partners with a strong, “we’re in it together” attitude can experience periods of anxiety as a result of their inability to conceive.
If you’re in a relationship and you’ve been unable to get pregnant, it’s critical not to allow infertility to ruin your bond.
(As an interesting side note, some studies have suggested that the stress of infertility can be an enormous contributing factor to the infertility itself, a kind of “Catch-22″ scenario.)
Below are three ways for you and your significant other to get through your infertility issues:
1. Don’t make infertility the “elephant under the rug” no one talks about. Some couples tiptoe around the issue of infertility, all the while boiling below the surface. Instead, acknowledge the problem and move forward as a team.
2. Don’t accuse one another. Infertility isn’t anyone’s fault; consequently, if your partner is infertile, it is unacceptable to treat him or her badly. Period.
3. Don’t define yourselves by your infertility. The fact that you are having difficulty conceiving does not mean you are any less of a couple or any less of individuals. Infertility is only one aspect of your relationship, not your entire relationship.
Tags: inability to conceive, infertile, Infertility, Infertility Issues, Stress, unable to get pregnant
Posted in Stress | No Comments »
Friday, July 3rd, 2009
In a recent Times of London article, Australian researchers announced that the key to boosting men’s sperm counts might lie in the number of times they have sex each week or month.
According to a study, males who had sex every other day had a more substantial sperm count than those who did not. This seems to contradict the age-old notion that for men to boost their sperm count and quality, several days’ abstinence is needed.
Obviously, each couple’s fertility issues are unique; however, as the researchers of the study noted, having sex every other day probably isn’t going to harm sperm counts. Additionally, it could be a good way to release any built-up stress between partners struggling with infertility.
Tags: Abstinence, Fertility Issues, Having Sex, Infertility, Sperm Count, Sperm Counts, Stress, Times Of London
Posted in Male Infertility, Sex | No Comments »
