Posts Tagged ‘Vitro Fertilization’
Friday, December 9th, 2011
Fertility treatments can seem like a miracle for couples that haven’t been able to conceive a child on their own. But such scientific miracles come at a price, and that cost often isn’t fully covered — if at all — by most health insurance providers. Couples who are struggling to make up the difference have some important folks on their side: Rep. John Lewis (Ga.), who just introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would provide eligible taxpayers a tax credit for the out-of-pocket expenses associated with fertility treatments.
The bill is co-sponsored by Rosa DeLauro (CT), William Keating (MA) and Richard Neal (MA) and is called Family Act of 2011. The tax credit would apply to expenses related to in vitro fertilization and treatments to preserve fertility for cancer patients.
The tax credit is modeled after an existing tax credit available to taxpayers who incur adoption expenses. It mirrors the Family Act, S 965, introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) in May.
This is an exciting development for families who could use the tax credit to help them leap over that last hurdle standing in the way of their dreams of growing their family.
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Tags: Adoption Expenses, Cancer Patients, Eligible Taxpayers, Family Act, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Health Insurance, Health Insurance Providers, House Of Representatives, John Lewis, Kirsten Gillibrand, Last Hurdle, Miracle, Miracles, Pocket Expenses, Richard Neal, Rosa Delauro, Tax credit, U S Senate, Vitro Fertilization
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Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
A new analysis of 15 controlled studies has found that a woman’s BMI has a relational effect on her fertility, with obesity associated with significantly worse pregnancy outcomes compared with women with a normal BMI.
It has long been believed that a woman’s general health can and does affect her ability to conceive, and to carry the baby to full-term, but past studies have been inconclusive in showing a direct link between obesity and infertility. However, according to this meta-analysis, obesity puts a mother-to-be at greater risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes when she conceives through in vitro fertilization.
Of the eight studies that reported clinical pregnancy rates among women undergoing assisted reproduction, 40.5 percent of obese women achieved pregnancy, compared with 43.8 percent of women of normal weight. Six studies reported live births, and those two were lower among obese women — the live birth rate was 23 percent among obese women and 25 percent among normal weight controls. Miscarriages occurred in 21.9 percent of obese women compared with 19.3 percent of normal controls.
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Tags: Assisted Reproduction, Birth Rate, Bmi, Fertility Treatment, General Health, Infertility, IVF, Live Birth, Live Births, Meta Analysis, Miscarriages, Obese Women, Obesity And Infertility, Pregnancy Outcomes, Pregnancy Rates, Risk, Success Rate, Vitro Fertilization
Posted in Health and Nutrition | No Comments »
Monday, December 5th, 2011
If you’re considering surrogacy as a potential option for expanding your family due to issues of infertility, there are some things you should consider before moving forward. Gestational surrogacy — where a woman agrees to carry embryos that were formed using in vitro fertilization using the eggs and sperm of the intended parents — is a unique and relatively new process that comes with a number of emotional issues.
For women who cannot carry their own baby, the opportunity to still have a child that is biologically their own is a dream come true. But the connection between the surrogate and the child is a unique one. The surrogate, also known as the gestational carrier, may not believe it will be difficult for her to hand over your baby to you after giving birth, there already have been legal actions taken in some cases that underscore the reality that it can be difficult for a woman to relinquish all ties to the baby they carried in their womb.
Sometimes the gestational carrier is a sibling or close friend to one of the intended parents. While this can bring an even deeper meaning and joy to the process, it also means there will be an ongoing social connection between everyone involved, including the surrogate and the child.
Gestational surrogacy is a beautiful, amazing possibility in one’s fertility journey, but it is one that should be carefully considered by all involved beforehand. Talk to your partner about all your concerns, and keep in mind that we have counseling services available to help you and your partner work through some of the emotional issues that comes with such a decision.
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Tags: Counseling Services, Deeper Meaning, Eggs, Embryos, Emotional Issues, Fertility Treatment, Gestational Carrier, Gestational Surrogacy, Giving Birth, Infertility, Journey, Legal Actions, Nbsp, Partner Work, Sibling, sperm, Surrogate, Ties, Vitro Fertilization, womb
Posted in surrogacy | No Comments »
Monday, November 28th, 2011
If you’re new to the world of fertility treatments or are just beginning your research into it, chances are you’re being inundated with acronyms, some of which you may not know. Here’s a big one that you’ll see often — ART. Assisted Reproductive Technology is nothing like the art you did in grade school, but it is an art form in its own right, one where science and technology work together to create a masterpiece — human life.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ART refers to fertility treatments that involve the handling of both eggs and sperm. This can include procedures in which eggs are surgically removed from a woman’s ovaries, combined with sperm in the laboratory, and returned to the woman’s body (in-vitro fertilization) or donated to another woman. ART does not include treatments in which only sperm are handled, such as intrauterine insemination or artificial insemination, or procedures in which a woman takes medicine only to stimulate egg production.
Since 1981, ART has been used in the United States to assist women in their quests to become pregnant. According to the CDC, today more than 1 percent of all infants born in the U.S. were conceived using ART. Are you interested in ART helping to create your own masterpiece? Contact us for an appointment to discuss your options.
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Tags: Appointment, ART, Art Form, Artificial Insemination, Assisted Reproductive Technology, Cdc, Centers For Disease Control, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Disease Control And Prevention, Egg Production, Eggs, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, in vitro fertilization, Intrauterine Insemination, Masterpiece, Medicine, Science And Technology, Technology Work, Using Art, Vitro Fertilization, Woman Art
Posted in Fertility Info 101 | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011
Sean and Carolyn Savage of Toledo, Ohio, introduced their twins Regan and Isabella to the world on NBC’s Today Show last week, bringing the Savages’ story of surrogacy and in-vitro fertilization full circle, with a happy ending — times two!
The Savages first made headlines in 2009 when, in a quest to expand their family of five to a family of six, Carolyn underwent IVF. But shortly after she became pregnant using the fertility treatment, they were shocked by the news that another couple’s embryo had been implanted — she was carrying someone else’s child. Carolyn decided to carry the baby, a healthy boy named Logan, to full term and return him to his biological parents. They wrote a book, “Inconceivable,” about their journey.
After Logan was born, Carolyn knew she couldn’t take her chances on another high-risk pregnancy (the couple has three older children) but still wanted to expand their family. So they turned to surrogacy to make their family dreams come true, and were blessed with twins, which their surrogate carried for them.
The Savages are an example of the miracle of modern medicine and what fertility treatments can do for a family. They are an inspiration and we wish them all the best with their five healthy children!
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Tags: biological parents, Carolyn Savage, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, embryo, Family Dreams, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, High Risk Pregnancy, Isabella, Logan, Miracle, Modern Medicine, Nbc, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Reading, Regan, S Child, Savages, surrogacy, Surrogate, Today Show, Toledo Ohio, Vitro Fertilization, Wyomissing
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Monday, November 21st, 2011
How much do women know about common fertility issues? Perhaps not as much as you might think.
In a recent survey sponsored by biopharmaceutical firm EMD Serono Inc., with investigators from RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, more than 50 percent of the 1,000 women questioned failed to correctly answer at least seven out of 10 basic fertility questions.
The questions that stumped many of them had to do with infertility as it relates to age and how long it may take to get pregnant at ages 20, 30, and 40. That’s not surprising, given the boon of health and beauty products that purport to keep a woman looking and feeling young as she ages. The problem is, there’s no magic anti-aging tonic for a woman’s reproductive system, which does continue to decline with time, making it considerably harder for a woman to conceive at 40 than at 20.
Researchers found that women think they can easily conceive into their late 30s and early 40s because celebrities make it look so easy. What they don’t realize, however, is that celebrities often call on fertility treatments, including in-vitro fertilization, donor eggs and surrogacy, to increase their chances of having a baby later in life.
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Tags: 40s, Boon, Celebrities, Donor Eggs, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Fertility Decline, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Having A Baby, Health And Beauty, Health And Beauty Products, Health Products, Infertility, Investigators, National Infertility Association, PA Infertility, Philadelphia Infertility, Reading, Reproductive System, Serono Inc, surrogacy, Tonic, Vitro Fertilization, Wyomissing
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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 »
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 »
Monday, August 8th, 2011
Giuliana Rancic of E! News and Fashion Police hasn’t kept quiet about her first two in-vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts, and she’s not keeping quiet now as she goes for the third try.
Despite setbacks, Rancic has kept her sense of humor, quipping, “I think third time’s a charm. I feel good about the third time!” This attitude is refreshing, especially given the fact that she experienced a miscarriage during her second IVF attempt.
(As an FYI, miscarriage is not uncommon; in fact, many women undergo several IVF rounds to healthily conceive a child. And Rancic’s own doctor is the one recommending a third try; again, we’re not in the least bit surprised.)
Having someone as visible as Rancic show the public what IVF is all about is a boon to fertility specialists and clinics, including the Philadelphia area’s Reproductive Science Institute (RSI). Not only does having her speak openly add a familiar face to fertility treatments, but it also helps squelch many of the commonly-held myths and misconceptions about IVF.
Rancic’s positivity has positioned her as a great role model for women who are undergoing fertility treatments. As she noted in a recent article: “It’s very easy to just be sad and feel bad… and get a lot of attention for it. Mourn, be sad. But then you have to look at the positive. There are so many things in my life…”
We look forward to hearing how Rancic’s next IVF treatment goes. Here’s hoping for all the best in the world for this optimistic star!
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, Boon, Dr. Munabi, E News, Familiar Face, Fashion Police, Fertility Specialists, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Treatments, Fertilization Ivf, IVF treatment, Jacob Mayer, Misconceptions, PA Infertility, Patient Appointment, Ph.D.; H.C.L.D, Philadelphia Area, Positivity, Reading, Recent Article, Reproductive Science Institute, Rhonda Hearns, Role Model, Rsi, Sense Of Humor, Setbacks, Third Time, Vitro Fertilization, Wyomissing Infertility
Posted in Hollywood and Stars, IVF treatments | No Comments »
Monday, August 1st, 2011
It’s been all over the news and it’s garnered a lot of publicity: A recent British study concluded that children born via in-vitro fertilization (IVF) appear to have stronger vocabularies than their unplanned counterparts.
It’s a controversial topic, of course. And it’s spurred a great deal of debate over whether these findings prove “nurture” is stronger than “nature” when it comes to early development of language skills in kids.
So what does that mean when we boil down the analysis? Read on…
Psychologists and psychiatrists are highlighting their theories that it isn’t IVF, per se, that’s increasing the vocabulary of the children who have been studied. Instead, it’s the socioeconomic background of those kids’ parents. Because the parents of IVF kids are generally financially stable, they have more options available to them in terms of how they raise their offspring.
In a nutshell, it’s a case of moms and dads of greater means being able to afford tutors, being able to take educational trips and being more “hands on” in terms of learning. Even more frequent jaunts to the library seemed to make a huge difference for the children who were part of the study.
Not surprisingly, this connection has some folks up in arms, especially among British sociologists concerned about the future of the UK’s kids from lower income families. Yet it’s an intriguing thought that planned pregnancies might result in children who are more significantly challenged academically.
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Tags: Controversial Topic, Counterparts, Development Of Language, Dr. Munabi, Educational Trips, Income Families, Jaunts, Language Skills, Moms And Dads, Nurture, Nutshell, Offspring, Patient Appointment, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Socioeconomic Background, Sociologists, Those Kids, Tutors, Vitro Fertilization, Vocabularies
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