Posts Tagged ‘United States’
Monday, October 31st, 2011
As we’ve noted here before, up to a third of all cases of infertility between couples can be attributed to male infertility factors. But how much do you really know about this condition?
To help you understand male infertility a little better, we’ve amassed a series of statistics and facts:
• In the United States, around 6 percent of men aged teen to midlife have fertility difficulties. Outside of the United States, especially in developing countries, that figure can be significantly higher.
• Up to 71 percent of males who are diagnosed as infertile have infections, many of which are caused by untreated sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like chlamydia.
• Up to 90 percent of male infertility causes can be traced back to low sperm count. (Again, that low sperm count can be the result of many different issues, including an undiagnosed STD.)
• One in 25 males has a low sperm count. (This may or may not lead to male infertility, as the determining factor is whether or not the sperm are healthy and viable.)
• Blood tests and semen analysis are the most popular ways to determine the cause of male infertility.
• Some sources suggest that male infertility may be more prevalent than female infertility, although this hypothesis is heavily debated in the fertility specialist community.
If you’re interested in learning more about male infertility and you’re in the Philadelphia or Wyomissing, PA areas, please contact the Reproductive Science Institute today for an appointment. We’d be happy to discuss and evaluate your unique situation.
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Tags: Appointment, Blood Tests, Chlamydia, Couples, Developing Countries, Diseases, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, female infertility, fertility specialist, Fertility Treatment, Hypothesis, Infertility, Infertility Causes, Low Sperm Count, Male Infertility, Pa Areas, PA Infertility, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Infertility, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Statistics, United States, Wyomissing, Wyomissing Pa
Posted in Male Infertility | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
Could the decisions you make as a teen or young adult affect your fertility in later years? Absolutely, especially if you contract one of the many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that are rampant in the United States and abroad.
STDs may not be discussed in everyday circles; in fact, they are often relegated to a health education class or two. However, they can be (often silent) contributing factors to fertility difficulties in both men and women.
“I’d know if I had an STD!” people regularly say, affronted by the notion that they could possibly be carrying a condition that causes them to be unable to conceive a child. Yet many STDs do not carry any (or many) symptoms. In plenty of cases, men and women have no idea that they’ve had an STD for years until they come to a fertility specialist (like those at the Philadelphia area’s RSI clinic) and are tested as a part of routine examination.
This is why it’s so important for you to face facts. If you OR your sexual partner have ever engaged in any type of sexual activity (oral sex included) with another individual, you owe it to yourselves to get tested for STDs. Even if you’ve been together for many years, it’s critical for you to know. After all, many STDs can be either controlled or eliminated, but if you don’t know you have the problem, you cannot solve it.
Certainly, it’s a difficult topic to bring up, but if you’re having fertility issues, it’s worth knowing the answer to the question.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, ATS, Circles, Decisions, Diseases, Dr. Munabi, Education Class, Facebook, Fertility Issues, fertility specialist, Health Education, Inc., Men And Women, Notion, oral sex, Philadelphia Area, Routine Examination, Rsi, Sexual Activity, Sexual Partner, STDs, Twitter, United States, Young Adult
Posted in STDs | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011
It was once believed that a woman who had a tubal ligation (commonly referred to as “getting your tubes tied”) was essentially “infertile” in the sense of being unable to conceive for the rest of her life. Now, though, doctors are often able to perform “reversals”, which is opening the door for women who have changed their minds about getting pregnant again.
In the United States, almost three-quarter of a million tubal ligations occur each year. And when left alone, they are approximately 99.5% effective as a method of birth control. In fact, about a third of married people using contraceptives choose tubal ligation as a means of ceasing to have any (or more) children.
However, as was mentioned before, years go by and partners’ desires as to how large of a family they want can change. In that case, it’s wise to look into either a tubal reversal, if possible, or in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
Surprised to hear that IVF would be used by someone who chose tubal ligation? It’s really not a huge surprise. IVF bypasses the risks associated with a tubal reversal (which is a surgical procedure) and also addresses additional fertility issues that may be of concern to the woman or her partner.
If you’ve had a tubal ligation and would like to have a child (or additional children), contact RSI, the Philadelphia area’s premiere fertility clinic, for a consultation.
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Tags: Birth Control, Consultation, Contraceptives, Desires, Doctors, Dr. Munabi, Facebook, fertility clinic, Fertility Issues, Infertility, IVF, Philadelphia Area, Reproductive Science Institute, Reversals, Rsi, Surprise, Tubal Ligation, Tubal Reversal, Tubes, Twitter, United States, Vitro Fertilization, Woman
Posted in female infertility | 1 Comment »
Monday, February 21st, 2011
In the United States, our laws currently protect all egg donors and sperm donors with anonymity. People looking for donors for their future child(ren) look through a list of the donors that identifies them solely by characteristics that could be pertinent to the future parents.
In Australia, however, legislation is being looked over at this time which, if passed, would give more rights to the conceived child. At the age of 18 a donor-conceived individual would be allowed to identify their donor if they wished to, much like American laws for adopted children. On the other hand, donors would not be allowed to find their offspring. Separate rules would have to be put in place to deal with the situation regarding siblings and half-siblings as well. It is quite feasible that a donor would become the donor parent to more than one child, possibly from different families, and if they had their own offspring as well, all of those children would be biological half-siblings at least.
Everything is yet to be finalized as far as the laws regarding egg donation and sperm donation in Australia, but the situation certainly raises a number of opinions and ideas for discussion.
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Tags: Anonymity, Australia, Egg Donation, Egg Donor, Egg Donors, Future Child, Future Parents, Legislation, Offspring, Siblings, Sperm Donation, sperm donor, Sperm Donors, United States
Posted in Egg Donation, Europe, In the News | No Comments »
Friday, January 28th, 2011
Secondary infertility is a topic about which we at RSI are often asked. So we thought we’d put together a handy FAQ guide to help you understand this area of reproductive science.
1. What is secondary infertility?
Secondary infertility occurs when a woman or couple has been able to have one (or more) child naturally but finds herself/themselves unable to conceive again. Thus, they experience fertility issues a “second” time around.
2. Who is at risk for secondary infertility?
Secondary infertility can happen at any time, although the older the woman, the stronger the chances are that she will experience it. For instance, women over 35 who have had regular, unprotected sex for 6-12 months and have not gotten pregnant are usually considered to have problems with fertility.
3. Are there any psychological side effects to secondary infertility?
Secondary infertility can be extremely frustrating for couples; thus, it can take a toll on the marriage or relationship. Though all fertility issues can be troubling, parents of children who wish to have more can become particularly angry, disheartened or depressed when going through secondary infertility.
4. What are the causes of secondary infertility?
There are no specific causes to secondary infertility; truly, there can be a whole host of issues at stake. That’s why it’s important for the couple to go to a place like RSI to discover what’s really going on.
5. How many people have had secondary infertility?
Though there aren’t any exact ways to measure the couples who experience secondary infertility (as some do not reach out for assistance and are therefore untracked), it is estimated that at least one million couples in the United States are currently going through the condition.
If you would like to know more about secondary infertility for yourself, please schedule an appointment for a consultation with RSI.
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Tags: 12 Months, Appointment, Consultation, Couples, Disheartened, Fertility Issues, How Many People, Infertility, Marriage, One Million, Parents, Philadelphia Infertility, Psychological Side, Relationship Issues, Reproductive Science, Reproductive Science Institute, Risk, Rsi, Second Time, Secondary Infertility, Stake, United States, Unprotected Sex
Posted in Infertility | No Comments »
Friday, October 22nd, 2010
In news that pleasantly surprised fertility specialists around the globe and heartened would-be parents, an embryo that had been frozen for 20 years was used to fertilize a 42-year-old woman who could not conceive naturally. (The two-decade old embryo was from an unrelated donor.) The woman is a resident of the United States and gave birth in May to a healthy boy.
The news item raises some interesting questions, including how long an embryo can stay viable while frozen. Some fertility doctors speculate that 20 years isn’t even close to the length of time that’s potentially possible. One recent study even estimated that the passage of 40 years wouldn’t be a problem if the embryo had been stored correctly.
This gives great hope to women who decide to freeze their eggs at an early age if they know they are going to undergo a procedure such as radiation or chemotherapy which can rob them of their fertility. Using a surrogate, if necessary, they can use their own frozen embryos to create new life.
Tags: Chemotherapy, Decade, Eggs, embryo, Fertility Doctors, Fertility Specialists, Frozen Embryos, Globe, Interesting Questions, Length Of Time, Miracles, News Item, Old Woman, Parents, radiation, Surrogate, United States, Unrelated Donor
Posted in Egg Donation, In the News | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
It’s a terrific use of technology — iPhone users can now monitor their fertility treatments.
Though not being used widely right now, Australian scientists plan to have couples (and/or patients) monitor their IVF treatmentsusing their iPhones and/or Blackberries. This will enable the Australian fertility specialists to help the patients make sure they are keeping up with their injections, scans, blood tests, etc.
The original trial of this program was tried by 17 persons undergoing fertility treatments and was met with positive feedback.
No doubt it will soon be used in the United States as well, though likely on a somewhat limited basis at first.
It gives even more credence to the notion that “there’s an app for that”!
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Tags: Australian Scientists, Blood Tests, Couples, Credence, Fertility Specialists, Fertility Treatments, Iphone, Iphones, IVF treatments, Met, Miracles, No Doubt, Notion, Positive Feedback, Rsi, United States
Posted in Technology | No Comments »
Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
She would have been the oldest person ever to receive IVF treatment, but Britain’s Susan Tollefsen has decided that 59 is “too old”.
Tollefsen cites concerns about her health and age when asked about why she’s chosen not to undergo the procedure, even though she has been approved. She also worries about the future of her daughter, who was conceived by IVF three years ago.
Her suggestion to women her age? Tollefsen understands their desires to have a child, but cautions them not to “risk it”.
Most doctors and clinics in the United States will not perform IVF treatments on women over 50 (and some put this number lower) due to concerns for their safety and the safety of their babies.
Tags: Babies, British Woman, Desires, Doctors, health, IVF treatment, IVF treatments, Miracles, Oldest Person, Risk, Suggestion, United States
Posted in In the News, IVF treatments | No Comments »
Monday, April 26th, 2010
If you’re tired of hearing you just need to “relax” or “take a vacation” to get pregnant, you’re not alone.
Millions of men and women throughout the United States each year deal with infertility and it’s very rarely a case of them being too “stressed out” to conceive. That’s why it’s so important for males and females struggling with fertility issues to go to a physician who’s been trained in the area of reproductive health.
Remember: If it were as easy to get pregnant as going on a trip or taking a day off to get to the spa, we’d all know it and do it. But it’s not that simple.
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Tags: Day Spa, Fertility Issues, Going On A Trip, Infertility, Males And Females, Men And Women, Men Women, Miracles, Myth, Pregnant, Relax, Reproductive Health, United States
Posted in Myths & Misconceptions | No Comments »
Thursday, April 8th, 2010
The “mumps”, a disease characterized that’s been all-but-eradicated in the United States and Europe, the condition is making a comeback in teen boys in the British Isles. This has proven worrisome for doctors who have connected mumps in teens with serious problems including infertility.
The surge is the result of a shortage of the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine (MMR) during the ’90s. Many children at the time did not receive inoculation; thus, they are experiencing a “teen” version of the mumps, known as mumps orchitis.
This type of mumps causes painful swelling of the testicles, ultimately leaving some with lowered sperm counts. And a small percentage are left unable to have children.
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Tags: British Isles, Doctors, Europe, Infertility, Measles Vaccine, Miracles, Mmr, Mumps Orchitis, Rubella Vaccine, Sperm Counts, Teen Boys, Teen Version, Teens, Testicles, United States
Posted in In the News, Male Infertility | No Comments »
