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How Does PCOS Affect Fertility?

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Posted by RobynNazarRN on May 2, 2013 at 2:15 pm

Can you get pregnant with PCOS? Does PCOS decrease your fertility? What are the treatment options for PCOS?

Dr. Norbert Gleicher, infertility expert at the Center For Human Reproduction, New York, discusses Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and its effect on infertility. He also answers these common questions listed above, which are often asked by women, with PCOS, who are trying to conceive.

To see more educational videos about infertility issues and treatment options, visit the CHR Youtube channel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Premature ovarian aging: what is it and is it treatable?

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Posted by Health News Watch on December 6, 2012 at 10:55 am

One of the reasons an IVF center may tell a women she is suffering from infertility and subsequent failed IVF is due to diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). This may be caused by premature ovarian aging, or, simply by the female aging process. But what exactly is premature ovarian aging?

  • Premature ovarian aging

Ovarian aging is the final step in menopause. It is a process that starts with a decrease in follicle numbers leading to cycle irregularity, which eventually leads to natural sterilization. It is signified by the ending of the women’s menstrual cycle. The process is gradual, and, while the follicle numbers decrease there is also a decrease in the quality of the female eggs.  As a woman enters further into the ovarian aging process it becomes more difficult, although not impossible, to conceive.

Women do no undergo this change in fertility at the same age. Some women can conceive into their fifties while others productive life span is prematurely ended in their 30’s. This is called premature ovarian aging. Reasons for these variation in age are not clear. Research has been completed that would signifies that genetic, metabolic and endocrine factors are involved, however we are far from understanding the full picture.

Women do not just find it difficult to conceive due to early onset of ovarian aging. In the western world, woman find it difficult to conceive due to the fact that average age for child birth has increased dramatically in the last 50 years. Fertility medicine in the west has been challenged not only by premature ovarian aging, but also by the fact that women want to conceive later in life when their ovarian activity is decreased.

This leads to the question:

  • What is modern medicines solution to this problem?

A recent supplement has been receiving attention in both medical research and the media. This supplement is called dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). A type of steroidal hormone, DHEA naturally occurs in both men and women. Secreted by the adrenal gland, this hormone peaks for women in their 20’s and gradually decreases as they get older.

For women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) due to premature ovarian aging or solely due to increased female age, DHEA has been proved to benefit the ovarian environment.

Taken as a supplement before IVF, DHEA, appears to decrease IVF failure in women with DOR. A systematic review carried out by The Center for Human Reproduction in 2011 associated DHEA with higher embryo counts, higher quality embryos, improved fertility treatment results and decreases in miscarriages.

  • Precautions

Although this agent is used by of third of IVF centers globally some precautions must be taken before commencing this hormonal treatment.

DHEA is a hormone. Not all women with DOR have low DHEA levels. Taking a hormone without testing the natural occurring body levels first can be detrimental for both a women’s general health and her fertility health. If a women’s already has high levels of DHEA and takes more synthetic supplements of DHEA it can actually stop ovulation and give undesirable side effects such as acne and facial hair.

DHEA can be bought over the counter in the United States, however, it is much safer for a women to  make an appointment with an IVF center so her pre-IVF treatment with DHEA can be monitored by a health care professional.

DHEA is a great development in the fertility field. And the future looks bright as researchers quote that there are many more agents waiting to be discovered that can benefit the ovarian environment.

DHEA, is just the tip of the iceberg.

This video by the Center for Human Reproduction, experts in DHEA use, further explains the uses and benefits of DHEA. Enjoy some interactive learning!

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What Causes Male Infertility?

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Posted by Health News Watch on August 10, 2012 at 3:20 pm

male infetility treatmentApproximately one in ten couples in the United States are unable to conceive children and male infertility accounts for half of these cases. According to researchers at Stanford University, infertility evaluations have traditionally focused on women, mostly because women tend to seek gynecological care, but men tend to be reluctant to seek infertility-related advice from their doctors.

Male infertility can be caused by a wide range of disorders including hormonal disturbances, physical problems and also psychological problems. In the majority of cases, the condition is caused by testicular damage resulting in the inability for testicles to produce sperm.  Another leading cause of male infertility is low sperm production or poor sperm quality.

From erectile dysfunction to damaged sperm ducts, there are many disorders that can inhibit a man’s ability to reproduce, but new forms of male infertility treatment are available. Regardless, prevention methods do exist. Male fertility experts say a man’s ability to reproduce is strongly linked to his overall health. Men who live a healthy lifestyle are more likely to produce healthy sperm.

The following is a list of lifestyle choices that negatively impact male fertility:

  • Smoking can significantly decreases both sperm count and sperm cell motility.
  • Prolonged use of marijuana and other recreational drugs.
  • Chronic alcohol abuse.
  • Anabolic steroid use can cause testicular shrinkage and infertility.
  • Overly intense exercise produces high levels of adrenal steroid hormones which cause a testosterone deficiency resulting in infertility.
  • Inadequate vitamin C and Zinc in the diet.
  • Tight underwear increases scrotal temperature which results in decreased sperm production.
  • Exposure to environmental hazards and toxins such as pesticides, lead, paint, radiation, radioactive substances, mercury,  benzene, boron, and heavy metals.
  • Malnutrition and anemia.
  • And don’t forget: Excessive stress can reduce fertility.

Modifying these behaviors can improve a man’s fertility and should be considered when a couple is trying to achieve pregnancy.

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What are the steps involved in egg donation?

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Posted by Franco Cignelli on June 29, 2012 at 9:58 am

Egg DonationEgg Donation NY helps couples with infertility issues start and build their families.

For a variety of reasons and conditions, some couples are unable to conceive a child, mostly because the woman can not produce good quality eggs.

As a result, couples have experienced significant emotional and financial strain while trying to conceive a child on their own. In many cases they look to egg donors to make their dreams come true.

Through the process, egg donors receive the same kind of individualized attention and clinical vigilance as recipient couples. Since egg donation is a complicated medical process, donors’ safety is taken very seriously.

A typical egg donor process involves:

Application
The first step in the egg donation process is the completion of a confidential questionnaire that assesses mental and physical health.

Screening
After reviewing the application donors are contacted and undergo a lengthy screening process, both physically and psychologically. If the medical profile and family history are sufficient the donor will be referred to a physician to assess psychological and medical profile. After the consultation, a physical examination including laboratory tests will be performed. Upon satisfactory results of these tests, a stamp of approval is given.

Matching
When approved as an egg donor, information is entered into a egg donor database. A wish list is submitted by a potential recipient couple identifying desired traits. When an appropriate match is found, donor characteristics are anonymously presented to the recipient couple. A recipient couple may accept or reject the egg donor. Once a match is made the egg donation cycle begins.

Egg Donation
Ovarian stimulation begins. The average donor cycle lasts 3 to 5 weeks from the beginning of injectable medication until the day of retrieval.

Egg Donation NY offers online and telephone consultations about your fertility questions, including information on FSH hormone, IVF, and many other treatments and conditions.

 

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Does wearing tight underwear cause male infertility? New research says no

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Posted by Franco Cignelli on June 13, 2012 at 7:46 am

Male InfertilityContrary to popular belief, new research published in Human Reproduction, says that unhealthy lifestyles have little impact on sperm quality and male infertility.

Infertile men are often told my doctors to radically change their lifestyle habits, but the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield suggests otherwise.

Current guidelines advise doctors to warn infertile men about the risks of smoking, alcohol consumption and recreational drug use, in addition to the dangers of being overweight and wearing tight underwear.

But research is now showing that common lifestyle choices make little difference to male fertility, based on how many swimming sperm men produce.

The study involved 2,249 men from 14 fertility clinics around the UK. The men completed detailed questionnaires about their lifestyle.

The information was then compared between 939 men who had low numbers of swimming sperm and a control group of 1,310 men who produced high numbers.

The research found that men who produced low numbers of swimming sperm were 2.5 times more likely to have had testicular surgery, twice as likely to be of black ethnicity, and 1.3 times more likely to be in manual work, not wear boxer shorts, and not have already fathered a child.

The use of recreational drugs, tobacco and alcohol, as well as weight measured by body mass index (BMI), had little effect.

These finding can potentially change the current advice given to men about how they might improve their fertility and suggests that many common lifestyle risks may not be as important as previously believed.

However, experts suggest that, despite their study findings, it’s important for men continue to follow sensible health advice and watch their weight, stop smoking and drink alcohol in moderation.

In the meantime scientists will continue developing an effective male infertility treatment.

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The ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of embryo adoption

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Posted by Franco Cignelli on May 29, 2012 at 7:57 am

Embryo adotptionEmbryo donation, known as embryo adoption from the donor embryo recipient’s perspective, refers to when the embryos that are left over from one couple’s in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle are donated to another couple.

The donor embryo is placed into the recipient’s uterus with the hope that it will result in a successful pregnancy. The child belongs to the woman who carries it to term and who gives birth, but his or her genetic traits are those of the embryo donor.

Embryo donors are carefully screened for health problems and genetic diseases prior to the retrieval of eggs and sperm to create the embryos when they are undergoing IVF. In addition, donors may be rescreened at the time of embryo donation. Donor egg recipients also must undergo medical screening and testing.

IVF treatments often leave an excess of embryos, which the individual or couple may freeze for future frozen embryo transfers. Once it is decided that their family is complete, there may still be frozen embryos available.

Embryo donation is a developing field where success rates are measured by live births per embryo transfer, depending on the embryo’s quality, the egg donor’s age, the number of embryos transferred and the embryo’s developmental stage when frozen. According to the National Embryo Donation Center, the organization’s live birth rate with embryo donation is 50%.

Choosing embryo donation is also more cost-effective. According to RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, the average cost of embryo donation ranges from $2,500 to $4,000, while the average cost of an IVF cycle is $12,400.

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What you need to know about endometriosis and infertility

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Posted by Franco Cignelli on May 11, 2012 at 8:47 am

Endometriosis and infertilityEndometriosis is hard to pronounce, let alone understand. What’s even more uncertain is how endometriosis and infertility are connected. Here is a quick break down on the subject.

What is endometriosis?

Every month, your ovaries release the hormones estrogen and progesterone that make the endometrium grow thicker for the anticipation of an egg. If you get pregnant, the fertilized egg attaches to the endometrium and starts to grow. If you do not get pregnant, the hormone levels drop and the endometrium breaks down, and your body sheds the tissue during your menstrual period.

With endometriosis, the endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus in other parts of the body, like the lower abdomen or pelvis (the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the ligaments that support the uterus, the outer surface of the uterus, on the outside of the intestines, and on the lining of the pelvic cavity).

Adenomyosis is the name of endometrial tissue growing within the uterine muscular walls . The growths of endometrial tissue outside the normal location are usually not malignant or cancerous.

The problem with these growths is that the tissues begin to behave like normal endometrial tissue. They build up each month, break down, and cause bleeding. But unlike the lining of the uterus, the blood from these growths does not leave the body. This internal bleeding inflames the surrounding areas and forms scar tissue that makes it more difficult to get pregnant.

How does endometriosis affect fertility?

Even women with a mild to moderate form of the disease are able to conceive. Infertility is more common in women with severe forms of the disease, but the reasons are not completely understood. They may include scar tissue within the pelvis that may distort normal structures, such as the fallopian tubes that transport the eggs from the ovaries. Perhaps too much estrogen may have a negative effect on ovulation, fertilization of the egg, including implantation of the embryo. More study is needed.

How is endometriosis treated?

Endometriosis treatment may provide pain relief, stop the progression of the disease, and preserve or restore fertility. If your only concern is to reduce pain and bleeding, you can take hormone medication that will stop ovulation and shrink the lesions. The problem is that this therapy also prevents pregnancy.

If you want to get pregnant laparoscopy can cut out and remove adhesions and scar tissue that causes pain or infertility. Doctors can also use a laser beam or electric current to destroy them, as well as remove cysts found in the ovary. The symptoms of endometriosis usually improve if you become pregnant.

Have a question about endometriosis and infertility? Don’t hesitate to ask or discuss in the comments section your own experiences living with the disease.

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Get the facts about National Infertility Awareness Week April 22 – 28

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Posted by Franco Cignelli on April 24, 2012 at 9:12 am

National Infertility Awareness Week April 22 - 28 -- Get the facts!National Infertility Awareness Week® (NIAW) began in 1989 with a goal to raise awareness about infertility and to encourage the public to understand their reproductive health.  During the week tell the world (or Facebook and Twitter) that people with infertility matter and ask them to help you spread the word. To guide you through a few ins and outs, here are some easy facts to get you started.

What is infertility?


Infertility is a disease or condition of the reproductive system often diagnosed after a couple has had one year of unprotected, well-timed intercourse, or if the woman has suffered from multiple miscarriages and is under 35 years of age. If she is over 35 years old, it is diagnosed after 6 months of unprotected, well-timed intercourse. After a diagnosis many couples begin infertility treatments.

Who gets it?


Infertility is a medical problem. Approximately 30% of infertility is due to a female factor and 30% is due to a male factor. In the balance of the cases, infertility results from problems in both partners or the cause of the infertility cannot be explained.

What are the risk factors?

Weight, age, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), Tubal Disease, Endometriosis, DES exposure, smoking and alcohol

What are the signs and symptoms?


Often there are no signs or symptoms associated with an infertility problem. Listen to your body and get regular checkups. Early detection and treatment are often critical to achieve successful pregnancies.

How is infertility treated?


Medical technology now offers more answers and treatment options to men and women trying to conceive a child. From hormonal treatments, ovulation induction and Intrauterine insemination to more advanced technologies like in vitro fertilization, ICSI to surrogacy, egg/sperm donation and even embryo donation.

What medications are used?


There are a variety of medications used to treat infertility. It is important to understand the medications and what their purpose is and to speak with your physician about the medications that will be used in your specific treatment plan.

What is artificial insemination?


It is a procedure used for couples with unexplained infertility, minimal male infertility, and women with cervical mucus problems. The procedure uses the husband’s or donor’s sperm, washing and treating the sperm, and then injecting it into the woman during the time of ovulation.

What is In Vitro or IVF?


In vitro fertilization (IVF) gets its name from the fact that fertilization occurs outside of the woman’s body, in a lab dish instead of a woman’s fallopian tubes. Typically, a woman will use ovulation stimulating drugs to produce an excess number of eggs. These eggs are surgically removed from the woman and fertilized in dish with sperm. If fertilization takes place, the physician transfers the embryo(s) into the women’s uterus.

All this week help spread the word about infertility through social media platforms like facebook and Twitter. There are many infertility treatments available for hopeful parents struggling with this condition and it’s important for them to know that they’re not alone.

 

 

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What you need to know about DHEA

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Posted by Franco Cignelli on April 23, 2012 at 2:01 pm

DHEAWhat is DHEA?
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a natural steroid hormone produced primarily by the adrenal gland located on top of the kidneys, as well as in the reproductive organs and brain. When DHEA is released into your bloodstream, your body uses it to make testosterone and estrogen.

DHEA has been studied for its effect on the reproductive system, mental function, mood, longevity, autoimmune disease, muscle growth, cancer, cardiovascular health and more. However, most recently it has drawn attention due to its beneficial effects on fertility.

DHEA and fertility
DHEA is believed to play a unique role in preserving the number of healthy eggs a woman has in her ovaries. Around 35, stress, genetics and other lifestyle factors can also play a role in declining DHEA production, resulting in a diminished quantity of high-quality eggs available and making natural conception very difficult.

Research shows that DHEA may help maintain healthy levels of insulin-like growth factor, which prevent ovarian aging; maintain normal levels of androgen hormones that control ovarian function and; improve the chromosome quality of eggs, which increases the likelihood of pregnancy.

DHEA treatment 
A growing number of fertility clinics have begun to use synthetic DHEA supplements as a part of their treatment program for women with aging ovaries, such as diminished ovarian reserve, repeat miscarriages and ovarian failure. According to a 2010 study published by Tel Aviv University, women who were given DHEA supplements were three times more likely to become pregnant.

Is DHEA safe?
Despite the growing interest in DHEA treatment, there is little known about the long-term use of DHEA on infertile women. The quality of DHEA products that are available at the local vitamin stores cannot be guaranteed for effectiveness or safety.

There have been no serious side effects reported with DHEA use. A recent survey estimated that approximately 25% of fertility clinics worldwide are now using DHEA.

Consult your doctor to learn more about DHEA supplements.

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Should women be allowed to sell their eggs for money?

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Posted by Franco Cignelli on March 30, 2012 at 8:03 am

Egg donationWomen? Egg Donation? Cash? Under Canadian law, buying and selling of eggs is illegal.

And yet, there are Canadian women who are able to earn thousands by donating their eggs. A recent Globe and Mail article reported that a young Canadian woman claims to have earned $5,000 by donating her eggs to a couple that wanted a baby. She used the money to help pay for post-secondary education.

So how is this allowed to happen? The answer is quite clear: No one is enforcing the law, which has allowed agencies that specialize in this practice to continue undeterred and unpunished.

Many ethics experts have argued for years over the merits of allowing egg donation and payment to female donors.

On one hand, there are potential health concerns involving the donors, as well as questions over the moral and ethical debate over making money by selling one’s eggs. Canadian law says that embryo donation and egg donation should be an altruistic decision, but critics say that this is an impossible-to-determine expectation.

Another argument is that the government has no business in the matter. Women should be able to sell their eggs if they want. In other words, if there’s a demand for eggs and people are willing to supply them, why stop them?

This debate is heating up in Canada with many pundits saying that Canada either needs to take action by enforcing the laws that are in place or rescind the restrictions on egg donation.

We’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out.

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