Posts Tagged: infertility

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27
Oct 10

What To Do When You’re Not Getting Pregnant

Let’s face it, getting pregnant is not always as easy as it sounds. As many stories as you have heard about unplanned pregnancies, getting pregnant should be easy right? You learned sex ed around the 5th grade, but what they didn’t tell you is approximately 1 in 10 couples will experience infertility for one reason or another and that most couples do not get pregnant the first month of trying. If you are finding it more difficult than you thought to get pregnant, we have some suggestions for you.

1. Try a recipe for sex

There are quite a few of them out there. A recipe for sex is basically a list of days to have sex on to try to get pregnant. My personal favorite is having sex on days 9, 11, 12, 14, & 16 of your cycle. Of course if you don’t have a 28 day cycle this one probably won’t work for you. Another plan is having sex every other day starting about day 10 of your cycle.

2. Try fertility charting

Fertility charting involves taking your temperature at the same time every morning before getting out of bed. You also observe for signs of ovulation and chart your cervical mucous pattern. Charting can help determine if you are ovulating and help you to pinpoint when ovulation is occurring.

3. Use ovulation prediction kits (OPKs)

You can buy ovulation prediction kits at your local pharmacy or you can find them even cheaper if you purchase them online. A day or two before you ovulate, your body produces a surge of luteinizing hormone, LH. OPKs work by detecting this LH surge. Follow the directions that come with your kit to determine how to read the test strips, what time of day to test, and also what day of your cycle you should begin testing. OPKs cannot confirm ovulation, but they can help you predict ovulation before it occurs. Used in combination with fertility charting, they are very effective in determining ovulation.

4. Get to an ideal weight

Many women do not want to hear this one, but being overweight or underweight can affect your fertility. Women who are significantly underweight or exercise excessively often lose their period all together. It makes perfect sense then that if you are significantly overweight your fertility would be affected as well. Losing weight if you are overweight is one of the best things you can do to improve your fertility. Sticking to a sensible diet and increasing your weight if you are underweight will also help. Weight issues can also affect your partner’s sperm, so if your partner is over or underweight encourage him to reach his ideal weight.

5. Check out your medicine cabinet

Certain medications can affect fertility. Talk with your doctor about the medications that you and you partner take. Even over the counter medications can cause problems. For example, medications such as tetracycline, erythromycin, and cimetidine can reduce a man’s fertility.

6. Try Instead Softcups?/strong>

Although no formal research has been done on it, many women have claimed success from using them. Instead Softcups?are inserted and placed close to the cervix after intercourse to help hold semen close to the cervix.

7. Try a supplement

There are many over the counter supplements now that may aid in fertility including Vitex, FertiliAid, and FertiliTea. Vitamin B6 may also be helpful with improving your chances of getting pregnant. Men should take a daily multivitamin and women should start taking prenatal vitamins when they begin trying to conceive.

8. Check your position

The best sexual position for trying to conceive is with the woman on the bottom. It may also be helpful for her to lay on her back after intercourse with her knees to her chest for fifteen minutes.

9. Talk to your doctor

Although many doctors will not investigate infertility until you’ve been trying for a full year, many will and even those that are more conservative with treatment may be able to offer you valuable insight and suggestions. Your doctor can give you and your partner a full workup to check for potential causes of infertility. There are many treatments available including Clomid, IUI (Intrauterine Insemination), and more. Your doctor can also look at related health issues that may be affecting your fertility such as thyroid disorders and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Even infections and viral illnesses can cause problems getting pregnant. Your doctor can work with you to come up with a plan for you to get pregnant.

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6
Oct 10

Infertility Doctors and Specialists – How They Can Help You

Having a baby and taking a new generation forward is one of one of the most joyous events of human life. After all, this is what some of us yearn for – to have a family and transform a house into a home. Unfortunately there are many couples that have been married for more than a decade but have not been able to have a baby due to health factors or simply due to infertility.

Infertility is basically the inability of a person, particularly a woman (as it has been always presumed that women and not men are infertile) to conceive. However, there are many medical studies indicating that the percentage of infertility in men is on the rise and that it is no longer just a woman’s health issue.

If you have failed to conceive after a year of all your efforts, you should known that it is time to see an infertility specialist to get tested. There are many remedies and treatments for infertility today. Infertility doctors and specialists have been very successful in helping couples solve their infertility problems.

Infertility may not be just limited to a medical complication. It may also be a social issue that many couples will need to confront. Couples are suggested to seek help from their infertility doctors and get the necessary examinations and evaluations done before the proper type of treatment can be considered. In most of the cases the male is sent for testing first considering the fact that the tests and diagnosis for a female is very expensive. If the male partner is devoid of any problems only then will the female partner be put through the necessary tests. The infertility doctors include specialists like urologist, gynecologist, endocrinologist and internist.

Infertility specialist suggest that couples experiencing difficulty in conceiving should not be overly concerned as there are many treatments available today. If your age is in the positive age group, which means the couple is under 35, chances of getting pregnant are high. However, you may need to learn about the proper timing for having sexual intercourse to improve your chances of conceiving. As couples move above the age of 35 their chances of getting pregnant in the next 6 months begin to diminish with age. Nonetheless, there are some younger couples that have failed to conceive and they’re many cases of older couples conceiving. So, the point is, don’t give up trying.

Research has identified various causes of infertility and there are certain factors that actually pose greater risks in males than females. Most of these are associated with lifestyle and can be corrected over time. Some of the most common factors effecting infertility are age, increased body weight or obesity, genital infantilism, inflammation, STDs, alcohol, excessive smoking, endometriosis, tubal diseases, stress and anxiety.

Experts suggest that there are many different ways to overcome infertility today. You can still get pregnant if you know how to deal with infertility. Get educated and be patient. For more detailed information, visit your nearby infertility doctor.

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2
Oct 10

What is the Best Time of the Month For a Woman to Get Pregnant

If a woman wants to conceive, is there a best time of the day to conceive? What about the best time of the month? Obviously, if you want to get pregnant, frequency is good. The more sex you have the better. But, if for some reason, you can’t have sex every day, there are some times that are more advantageous than others. Morning, noon, or night – doesn’t matter, but what does matter is the time of the month.

When a woman is menstruating, the chances of her getting pregnant are about twenty percent for the average couple. Couples having problems, however, can have a much more difficult time trying to conceive. For them, every possible advantage helps.

If a woman wants to have a baby, the best time of the month for her to have sex is when she’s ovulating. Ovulation is the part of the woman’s menstrual cycle where an egg within the ovary has been made available to be fertilized. Normally, once an egg has been released from the ovary, it only has twenty-four hours in which it can be fertilized. After that it is no good. In rare cases, however, multiple eggs are released. If more than one egg is released, it’s possible for one or more of the eggs to be available for fertilization after the twenty-four hour period. Regardless, approximately one day once ovulation has taken place, no matter how much sex a woman has, the odds of her getting pregnant are virtually zero, until her next cycle.

On the other hand, when a man and woman have sex, sperm can stay alive in the vagina for as long as three days. This means that a woman can have sex up to three days before she ovulates and still get pregnant – because the sperm from three days ago may still be alive and healthy.

Practically, this means that if a woman doesn’t want to have sex every day of the month in order to get pregnant, she has other options. Since active sperm can stay in her vagina up to three days, she can have sex every other day of the month and still be almost certain that sperm will be available to the egg once she begins to ovulate. Because of the length of time that sperm can survive, she also has an average chance of conceiving even if she has sex every third day.

The day a woman is the most fertile is the day she ovulates. If there is already a healthy amount of sperm in the ovaries when the egg is released, there is a good chance that the egg will be fertilized and the woman impregnated. There are many methods that a woman can use to determine if she is ovulating – from medical tests to keeping a manual ovulation calendar. But if she doesn’t want to go through all of the trouble, she can simply have sex as much as possible and be guaranteed that at least one of those times will coincide exactly with her ovulation.

Because of the societal pressures today and because in many relationships both partners are working, many couples find it hard to find the time to be together for moments of intimacy. Even so, having sex three or more days a week is the best chance for a couple to just about guarantee that they hit her peak fertility period at some point. It may be hard to believe but, after all, millions of years ago before medicine was invented, having sex regularly was the method that all couples used to become pregnant.

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16
Sep 10

Are You Trying to Conceive? Tips and Secrets on How to Conceive Naturally With Guaranteed Results!

Many women across the globe often face the dilemma when trying to conceive, how to adapt and get ready for a new life with a baby. But, unforeseen forces sometimes bring unexpected results ending in tears and endless hospital appointments. To prepare, you must know how to increase fertility in both sexes.

Let’s face it, there are many obstacles that can stand in a couple’s way of conceiving a child. But, as long all of woman’s reproductive organs are intact, telling her that she cannot have a baby, under any circumstances, is wrong!

The key is to understand what is blocking conception and how to get your body and health into tip top conception-shape by observing the following:

The Kidney system connects and encompasses other important organs and systems such as the reproductive, neurological, skeletal and endocrine systems. Stimulating kidneys restores levels of the FHS which controls ovaries and production of oestrogen, which in turn, lead to development of healthy follicles and eggs.

The spleen, digestion and immunological system -The spleen controls the production of several hormones that are affecting woman’s ability to conceive and to carry baby to full term. Imbalances in its work capacity are often caused by a high intake of Sugar, Refined Carbohydrates and Greasy food.

Heart and spirit encompass the mind. Thus, sudden, emotional bursts to a weak heart might isolate the uterus from much needed nourishment.

The liver and gallbladder -The liver is directly responsible for ovulation and, together with the gallbladder, controls the hormonal and reproductive systems. Thus, if they are operating poorly the uterus is turned into a hostile place for fertilized eggs.

The Uterus in Chinese stands for ”the palace of the child” and to achieve its role it must be in full connection with the rest of the organs.

If you pay close attention to your health and implement this natural approach, benefits will be evident within 2-4 months.

This can safely lead to conceiving a healthy baby.

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9
Sep 10

Still Looking For Signs of Infertility? Well I’m No Doctor, But

Legitimate signs of infertility may be difficult to pinpoint without first seeing a doctor. The good news is, you may not actually be dealing with infertility. Trying to conceive is not always a simple process for a lot of couples. That is because there are several factors involved in this delicate conception process. There are several medical tests that your doctor can perform to determine your level of fertility. There are also procedures and products that your doctor may suggest prescribing to you in an effort to help you get pregnant.

One procedure your doctor may perform is to test you for the presence of cervical mucus. Cervical mucus serves an important role in the conception process. It enables your partner’s sperm to make it all the way to your egg which is not possible if there is little or no mucus present. Another problem would be if your cervical mucus is too acidic. Your cervical mucus needs to be alkaline. Acidic mucus will kill the sperm before they make it to your egg.

When a doctor checks your cervical mucus, he/she will check to see if it is clear or curdled. If it is curdled, your doctor will more than likely advice you that there is little, if any, chance of getting pregnant. Your chances of getting pregnant are much better if your cervical mucus is clear and sort of sticky.

Before you start to ponder the thought that possibly you or your partner might be exhibiting signs of infertility, be sure that you have been having unprotected (natural) sex for several months or even up to a year. Even if couples don’t have any troubles with infertility, getting pregnant may take a long time. Couples may have unprotected sex for up to 8 or 10 months before getting pregnant.

After you have allowed yourselves this waiting period, if you still have not been able to get pregnant, visit your doctor to get his/her advice as to what you should do next. However, don’t worry. Focus on your dream of you and your partner becoming the parents of a precious baby.

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28
Aug 10

Fertility Centers help Arrange Infertility Financing

When most couples find that their health insurance benefits will not cover infertility treatments they turn next to personal savings or, worse yet, retirement savings. However, many patient advocacy groups and clinics offer additional options for dealing with the increasing financial costs of infertility treatment by working one on one with individuals to find personal solutions. Infertility consulting companies also provide viable solutions to explaining options and offering comfort and security throughout the process.

Some clinics offer a 搒hared risk program.?Details differ from clinic to clinic and program to program, generally you must meet specific qualifications to be included. Usually the determining factors include age, health, pregnancy history, diagnosis, and many others. In a shared risk program patients pay one flat upfront fee for a treatment plan that may include up to several cycles. If you are successful after the first cycle, the clinic keeps the fee. If you are unsuccessful after all cycles, you may receive a partial refund. The fee is more than the cost of one cycle, but is extremely beneficial if you need more than one to have a baby. Be sure to have your Attorney and Financial Advisor look over any program before expending your resources.

Another type of program is offered by a Bank. The Family Fee Plan is a specific loan arrangement offered through the Bank at a number of clinics nationwide. Similar to a bank or credit card loan, the Family Fee Plan is essentially an unsecured loan whose amount and rate is determined by your credit score. Other options, such as a home equity loan may be less expensive. Consider any line of credit carefully and consult your Financial Advisor.

Of course the best money is the money you do not have to pay back. Some interest groups and clinics offer scholarships and grants for those seeking treatment. As with shared risk programs, there are certain qualifications which must be met in order to be eligible. Scholarships and grants are generally given out yearly and are highly competitive. If you qualify, it is absolutely worth the time to apply.

Explore as many options as you can instead of placing all of your hope into one program. By caring for your infertility financing issues and exploring many options you will increase your chances of finding the funding to make your dreams of your own child come true.

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22
Aug 10

How You Can Be on Your Personal Path to Pregnancy

Does it seems like getting pregnant for others is as easy as 123 but for you it will never happen? Do you want to know what the secret is to getting pregnant? Well here is the secret: There is no secret, you simply need to know your body.

You can dramatically improve your chances of getting pregnant by not only learning your body but the signs that your body give you every month. You must first understand the cycle of events that occur in your body every month. Once you understand your body cycle then you must learn when you are ovulating. This can take anywhere from 6 months to a year and can be very tricky, so be patient. There are many ways to figure out when you are ovulating, a few ways are counting the days of your menstrual cycle on the calendar, watch your cervical mucus, taking your body’s basal temperature, and knowing when to have sex.

Maybe your significant other has a low sperm count or maybe the sperm is so slow that it dies before it has a chances to fertilize your egg. Your significant other can increase the number of healthy sperm in his semen by avoiding heat and tight fitting shorts or pants. He also needs to stay at a healthy weight and avoid tobacco, illegal drugs and excessive alcohol. You both need to take your vitamin. For you a prenatal vitamin and folic acid and for him a multivitamin.

With some patience and dedication you will be well on your way on your personal path to pregnancy.

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11
Aug 10

Overcoming Infertility the Natural Way

If you think that only some complex medical intervention such as IVF can help you to solve your fertility problems, then you could be wrong. Your nutrition, diet and lifestyle may be the real obstacles that are preventing you from realizing your dream of having a beautiful, healthy baby. In this article I would like to share with you some natural “fertility secrets” that can help you to conceive.

Even if you indeed, do elect to use IVF, fertility drugs and other treatments, the common-sense diet and lifestyle suggestions that I mention will still help you to make sure that the treatment is successful. So let’s take a look at foods and substances that you should avoid as well as supplements that can increase your chances of conceiving.

Alcohol

Alcohol has been linked with many physical and psychological ailments, and it is closely associated with both male and female infertility. According to one study, if you drink less than five glasses of wine per week you are twice as likely to conceive as a woman who exceeds that level of alcohol consumption. To be on the safe side, it would be better to avoid any alcohol consumption for three months while you are trying to conceive.

The research supporting alcohol reduction and abstention for men is just as compelling. Alcohol consumption has been linked with lower sperm counts, increased percentage of abnormal sperm and a lower proportion of motile sperm. So, if you want to have the best possible chance of conceiving, then it would be advisable for both husband and wife to drastically reduce or refrain from alcohol consumption during a three month period.

Caffeine

Here is another common substance that is linked to both male and female infertility. Several studies show that consuming as little as one cup of coffee per day can reduce the chances of conceiving by 50 per cent. In males caffeine plays a similar role in contributing to infertility. Caffeine consumption has been linked to lower sperm counts, abnormalities in sperm and motility problems.

If you wish to tackle the problem of caffeine you have to look beyond tea and coffee. There are other foods that contain caffeine such as soft drinks, chocolates and energy drinks. As with alcohol it is best to abstain from caffeine-containing foods for a period of three months.

Smoking

The evidence linking tobacco with female infertility is clear, and smoking has even been linked to the premature onset of menopause. Similarly for men the increased consumption of cigarettes has been directly correlated with lower sperm counts, sperm abnormalities and motility issues. As with alcohol and caffeine, the message is clear: if you are serious about conceiving, then refrain from smoking and give your body the best chance of doing its work.

I’ve pointed out some of the main things to avoid while trying to conceive, now let’s look at some supplements that have been shown to be helpful in overcoming infertility.

Folic Acid

Folic acid is a B-vitamin and it is one of the important building blocks of DNA and RNA, the genetic substances that are the base of life. Along with vitamin B-12, folic acid is helpful in making sure that a baby’s genetic material is correct. Folic acid is best taken along with other B-vitamins, as all of the vitamins in this group play a role in aiding fertility. If your husband is suffering from a low sperm count, then vitamin B-12 is an option, as it has been shown to increase sperm counts.

Zinc

Like folic acid, zinc plays a big role in building the basic human genetic material, and its contribution to fertility has been widely studied. A deficiency of zinc either in the male or female can result in chromosome damage, or increase the chances of miscarriage. Zinc is especially important for men as it is an important building block of sperm. Some studies have also shown that a reduction of zinc in a man’s diet will result in a lower sperm count. Zinc supplements are thus recommended for both partners of a couple trying to conceive.

Selenium

Selenium is an anti-oxidant that may play a big role in preventing chromosomal damage associated with both miscarriages and infertility. Selenium protects against highly reactive free-radical chemical compounds that are linked with a number of health problems as well as with infertility. As with folic acid and zinc, selenium is important in male fertility. High levels of selenium in blood have been shown to correlate with a high sperm count. Once again, the message is clear; selenium is a valuable supplement for both husband and wife.

I have just given a glimpse at the lifestyle and dietary factors that play a huge role in fertility. If you can avoid the foods and substances that contribute to infertility and take the supplements that bolster reproductive health then you will have taken an important step towards your goal of having a healthy baby.

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11
Aug 10

Tubal Ligation Reversal – Questions Before the Surgery

If you have been considering a tubal ligation reversal but have questions, you have found the right place for answers. In this particular article, we will address a couple questions about the preparation for the surgery and about what is done in the surgery itself.

What do I need to give the surgeon before surgery?

You will find that the tubal reversal doctor will want to review your tubal ligation operation records. He needs to know the method of sterilization and what length of tubes were left. This helps him know how to proceed. If that cannot be provided, then your surgeon may want to do an exploratory look before actually starting the surgery.

In addition, you will need some blood work done no longer than about 90 days before the surgery, though the closer it is to the actual operation day, the better. This lab work will basically check on your health.

What’s that going to cost?

Maybe nothing if you can get your health insurance to pay for it. You will need to find out from the specific surgeon you choose if that lab work is part of the fee you are paying him. Be specific and get it in writing if he says it is included. But if you must pay it yourself, it should be under $200, maybe even less. It will depend upon where you are.

I have only one tube left. Should I even try?

It depends upon what a records review shows about that one tube. But if it can be repaired, then certainly go ahead with the surgery. Getting pregnant might take a little longer as you will have to wait for that side’s turn, but it can and does happen.

I have had a previous c-section. Can the incision be made there?

Yes, it can. You should, however, know just how invasive the surgery is when done by the doctor you choose. Ask him how big an incision he makes will be. I’d also want to know just how experienced he is at this surgery. Presumably, a very experienced tubal reversal doctor will make only as big an incision as necessary. You will want one that makes the smallest incision possible to do the work rather than one that just cuts you wide open, so to speak.

Is my weight going to be a problem?

For your own safety during the surgery and during the recovery after wards, you will want to have a BMI of less than 35. So if you are overweight or obese, then, yes, your weight will be a problem. It can lead to pulmonary problems among others as well as increased risk of infection. However, you may find a surgeon who will do the surgery for more money.

What is all this about suturing two or three layers?

It has to do with the three layers of the fallopian tubes. The innermost layer has cilia that move the egg along to the uterus. If stitches are made in it to hold your tubes together, there is going to be scarring. Do you have any scars on your skin where you have no feeling? I do. Do you want that in the most important layer in your tubes?

However, the middle layer is made up of muscle and connective tissue. This is the layer that is the strongest to hold the tubes together and is the most important in allowing the two pieces to heal back together. The outer layer is a thin covering and is stitched as well. So basically, you will want a surgeon who sutures the two outer layers during your tubal ligation reversal surgery.

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11
Apr 10

IVF Counseling Can Be Both Educational and Beneficial

Couples who have trouble conceiving often face mountains of stress. In some cases, this may affect their relationship and can be emotionally draining for some people. Furthermore, with piles of information being thrown at them, understanding infertility treatments and procedures such as in vitro fertilization, or IVF, can be exhausting. For this reason, many clinics offer IVF counseling to help their patients understand the treatment. Some clinics also offer emotional support for couples struggling with infertility.

Each clinic may differ in the type and scope of IVF counseling offered. Some clinics may not offer it at all, so it is important for couples interested in this procedure and the counseling service to speak to a medical professional at a clinic in their area. This will help them determine if the clinic offers this service and will provide them with more information about the service if it is offered. These counseling services may offer support to couples trying to cope with the stress and emotion that infertility may bring to couples. It also can help patients as they go through the in vitro fertilization process so that they understand what each new phase involves.

In short, the IVF process combines the woman’s eggs with the man’s sperm in a sterilized glass dish in a laboratory. The woman may be required to take drugs to stimulate her ovaries to produce several mature eggs. When the time is right, the eggs are extracted from the woman for fertilization in the lab. The eggs are left to be fertilized in the dish which contains a nutrient medium. It may then be placed in an incubator for roughly 48 hours before the embryos are placed in the woman’s uterus. In most cases, only a couple of embryos are used to avoid multiple births. The rest may be frozen for use at a later date.
The success rate of in vitro fertilization will vary depending on the couple’s unique case. Older women may face a lower success rate, while younger women may be more successful. In addition, the success rate for IVF differs on the clinic selected for treatment, but typically ranges between 10% to 38%. However, individual clinics may be higher.

Couples interested in IVF counseling will find more information from a medical professional at a clinic in their area that offers in vitro fertilization and a counseling service. These services have helped other couples manage their infertility problems and have been instrumental in providing information about the IVF procedure and what couples should expect before, during and after the procedure.

Justin, a writer in the health field, suggests you visit Boston IVF due to them being regarded as one of the best in ivf counseling probably due to having some of the top fertility doctors from Harvard Medical School. Learn how infertility treatment can help families achieve dreams.

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