The main IVF hint is to pamper yourself! An IVF cycle is a very stressful thing and anything that helps you through it without harming a potential baby is okay!
• Decide ahead of time where and how you want to get news each day for how much medication to take, etc. This is especially important on the big days of finding out about fertilization and pregnancy test. Those days can be tough if things don't go well! You might want your partner or a good friend around!
• Rest is very important, even before transfer. All those developing eggs are taking up a lot of space and energy.
• Try to get to know the people who are treating you so you aren't just another patient.
• It may help to make a friend or two who is at the clinic for IVF, too.
• Bring a book, magazine, or hand-held game with you to appointments. You might be there for a while.
• Make sure they do a mock transfer prior to the actual embryo transfer. This is not fun, but it is necessary they know the depth of your uterus so they know where to put the embryos.
• Do whatever it is you need to do to make this manageable for you. (Naps, backrubs, favorite foods, etc. Be very good to yourself during this time.)
• Small amounts of alcohol will probably not adversely affect you or your eggs, but caffeine has been shown to affect fertility, even in small amounts, so try to avoid it.
• Buy a good, up-to-date fertility book and try to find out as much as you can about the IVF process beforehand. There are always new advances, so try to keep up with the changes in techniques.
• Always ask your RE [Reproductive Endocrinologist] a lot of questions about your progress, what the numbers mean, etc. That is what they are there for! Also, you should be able to get copies of anything in your file (like your follicle growth and E2 [Estrogen] test results and fertilization report). The more knowledgeable you are, the more likely they are to openly share information and take time to explain.
• It can be very comforting to find someone, either in cyberspace or in person, who is in a similar situation (factor, cycle) you can share stories and progress with.
• Try to keep a very flexible schedule the week before the pregnancy test. Some people start their periods early and are stuck somewhere where they cannot just be alone and grieve.
• Start taking a prenatal vitamin prior to your cycle. At the minimum, you should take 400mcg of folic acid daily for three months before conception to reduce neural tube defects such as spina bifida. The FDA suggests 800 mcg during pregnancy, so it is best to look for a prenatal with that amount.
• Some clinics believe a diet that is high in protein and low in salt and potassium can help you avoid hyperstimulation. Gatorade is a poor choice of fluid to drink to prevent/control hyperstimulation because it contains large quantities of salt. Water or Pedialyte is best, in quantities recommended by your RE. At a certain stage of OHSS, too much fluid can be detrimental.
• Remember that some people get very uncomfortable and even have a lot of pain as the ovaries are stimulated. This may get worse as the follicles ripen. Loose clothing may help.
• Don't worry about your weight unless you are tracking it for hyperstimulation purposes. Unless you hyperstimulate, most of the weight gained during an IVF cycle usually disappears once your period starts and if you are lucky enough to get pregnant your weight won't matter anyway!
• If you are not taking birth control pills the cycle previous to your IVF [in vitro fertilization], be sure to use birth control (no matter how ridiculous it may seem). Usually, you will start Lupron before you would know if you conceived or not and Lupron is very dangerous to a developing baby.
• The extra fluid your developing follicles are taking up and being NPO [nothing by mouth] before retrieval can sometimes cause constipation. Increasing your consumption of fiber and fluids as you approach egg retrieval may help alleviate this.
• Don't talk to your partner too much about his role. This may cause him extra anxiety during an already stressful time and the extra stress can aggravate the performance anxiety men suffer on the day of retrieval.
• If this is your first IVF [in vitro fertilization], be conservative about the number of blastocysts or embryos you transfer, especially if they are of very good quality. You may find fertilization was your big hurdle, and now that is complete you are on your way!
• If you have had more than one failed IVF, consider changing clinics, especially if your doctor doesn't have a change in protocol planned.
• Remember all cycles are not alike. Using the exact same protocol on another attempt even at the same clinic can lead to different results.
• Some clinics use medications to prevent embryo rejection (low dose corticosteroids, etc.) which may help your chances of success. Check with your clinic to see if they think it would make a difference for you.
• Always repeat the directions for medication to the nurse and get your E2 [estrogen] level. If something seems wrong or unclear, ask for clarification.
• Prior to the stimulation part of your cycle, make sure you and your partner discuss how many embryos or blastocysts you plan to transfer. (While remembering your plan may have to change because of circumstances of the IVF!) If you think you will have extra embryos beyond what you want to transfer to avoid high order multiple risks, decide whether you will freeze them or discard them. Decide whether you would consider selective reduction. These are not things to discuss under pressure right before transfer!
Read more: General IVF Hints
© Copyright 1996, 2000, 2001 Rachel Browne. Use and copying of this information are permitted, provided: 1) no fees or compensation are charged for use, copies, or access to this information and 2) this copyright notice is included intact.
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
It Starts with the Egg:How the Science of Egg Quality Can Help You Get Pregnant Naturally, Prevent Miscarriage, and Improve Your Odds in IVF
by Rebecca Fett
-- Whether you are trying to conceive naturally or through IVF, the quality of your eggs will have a powerful impact on how long it takes you to get pregnant and whether you face an increased risk of miscarriage.
Poor egg quality is emerging as the single most important cause of age-related infertility, recurrent miscarriage, and failed IVF cycles. It is also a major contributor to infertility in PCOS.
Based on a comprehensive investigation of a vast array of scientific research, It Starts with the Egg reveals a groundbreaking new approach for improving egg quality and fertility.
With a concrete strategy including minimizing exposure to toxins such as BPA and phthalates, choosing the right vitamins and supplements to safeguard developing eggs, and harnessing nutritional advice shown to boost IVF success rates, this book offers practical solutions to will help you get pregnant faster and deliver a healthy baby.
Paperback: 304 pagesClick to order/for more info: It Starts with the Egg
Start reading It Starts with the Egg on your Kindle in under a minute!Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Northeast Assisted Fertility Group, Inc. -- an alliance of leading independent third party reproduction professionals -- has launched a blog. It is intended to address the complexities of third-party reproduction (egg donation and surrogacy). Using a combination of opinions and hard data, the NAFG blog is a valuable resource to anyone following trends in fertility treatment.October 20, 2008 -- The Northeast Assisted Fertility Group (NAFG) blog, provides up-to-date information on the complexities of third party reproduction (egg donation and surrogacy): AssistedFertilityBlog.com
The goal of this blog is to separate myth from reality in these controversial branches of fertility treatment by providing sound information and data, reasoned opinion, practical advice, and inside knowledge based on real-life experience.
The blog's target audience includes egg donor recipients and egg donors, surrogates/carriers, intended parents, fertility industry professionals and advocates, media, and the public at large. The content is timely and updated frequently, easy to search, and written in a clear, accessible style.
Themes covered include issues such as the economy and the United States Presidential election, as well as practical guidance for those considering using an egg donation program or donating eggs for the first time.
Other entries will consider the ethical, legal, psychological, political, financial, and practical aspects of being an egg donor, a surrogate mother or intended parent.
As infertility literature has become a genre in its own right, the blog will review and recommend books to enrich our understanding.
The blog's main contributor is Katherine Benardo, gestational carrier/egg donor program manager of NAFG. According to Benardo,
there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding surrounding these topics, both within the general public as well as those experiencing infertility. The blog will respond to the sensationalism with accurate information, and offer support to those going through fertility treatment.
The blog also features special guest contributions from assisted fertility attorneys and other industry professionals, as well as those who have created their families through surrogacy and egg donation.
Users will be able to subscribe to the Assisted Fertility Blog via email or RSS, including personalized sites such as My Yahoo!, MyAOL or iGoogle. The site is optimized for seamless integration with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Digg, and other popular social media websites.
Anyone interested in following trends related to fertility treatment is encouraged to take advantage of this invaluable resource by visiting the blog and joining the discussion. Everyone involved in these fields has their own unique experience and point of view.
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
But I Don't Feel Too Old to Be a Mommy! The Complete Sourcebook for Starting (and Re-Starting) Motherhood Beyond 35 and After 40by Doreen Nagle
-- The first and only book to fully address the concerns of the ever-growing but greatly ignored the audience of literate, educated women who have delayed motherhood.
In this comprehensive work, women who are considering parenting in their 30s, 40s, and later - whether for the first time or starting over-will find all the information they need to make informed choices.
Complete with quotes from medical experts, later-in-life moms, and their kids, this one-stop book will calm the doubts and fears of women considering motherhood after 35 and beyond 40 by providing supportive yet realistic information.
Paperback: 275 pagesClick to order/for more info: But I Don't Feel Too Old to Be a Mommy!
Start reading But I Don't Feel Too Old to Be a Mommy! on your Kindle in under a minute!Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
The Council of Physicians and Scientists, an invitation-only event sponsored by IntegraMed (integramed.com), concluded their annual conference following three full days of discussion about the emerging technologies and trends in fertility care.More than 100 reproductive endocrinologists, lab directors and scientists attended the 16th annual conference which was held in Dallas, Texas.
“We are proud to be in our sixteenth year with C.O.P.S.” said Joe Travia, C.O.P.S. Vice Chairman and Senior Vice President, Eastern Region for IntegraMed Fertility.
“By bringing together the nation’s thought-leaders in reproductive endocrinology, we remain on the forefront of advancements that support our commitment to provide patients the best possible fertility care and treatment options at our IntegraMed Fertility centers.”
C.O.P.S. is co-chaired by Dr. John A. Schnorr, of the Southeastern Fertility Center, located near Charleston, SC.
This year we focused on three transformational technologies and topics that we are confident will positively impact the future of fertility,said Dr. Schnorr.
The three trends in fertility treatment are:
1. Improved pregnancy rates with decreased multiple rates through metabolomics.
With metabolomics, embryo quality can now be evaluated non-invasively to more accurately measure their quality. In doing so, only the most viable embryo needs to be transplanted rather than multiple embryos, thus improving pregnancy rates while significantly reducing the instances of multiples through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
2. Use of vitrification technology to successfully freeze eggs.
One of the most exciting and long-awaited advances in fertility preservation is the ability to successfully freeze eggs via a technology called vitrification. Through vitrification, eggs are plunged in liquid nitrogen and instantly frozen, ensuring that this largely water-based cell does not form crystals that would expand and disrupt the egg's membrane.
Dr. Schnorr predicts that within the next three to four years about 25% of all fertility preservation will utilize vitrification.
3. Improvement in the evaluation and treatment of severe male-factor infertility.
Today 40 percent of infertility problems are attributed to the man. Procedures to improve the evaluation, risk assessment and treatment of severe male-factor infertility were discussed.
C.O.P.S. embraces the spirit of collaboration and the exchange of ideas. Collectively we can accomplish more than we would ever be able to achieve individually,concluded Dr. Schnorr.
That's what C.O.P.S. is all about.
About C.O.P.S.:
Sixteen years ago, IntegraMed formed the Council of Physicians and Scientists (C.O.P.S.) as a means for physicians and scientists from the IntegraMed Fertility Network, as well as specialists within the field of reproductive endocrinology from around the world, to meet and learn about advancements in fertility care. Physicians and scientists can earn Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits while at C.O.P.S.
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Surviving In-vitro Fertilization: IVF Stories and Inspiration from the Women who have been thereby Karen Daniels
-- True IVF stories and inspiration from the women who have been there.
In-vitro fertilization is not a journey you need to take alone.
The women in this book who share their stories, thoughts, and lessons learned, have been in the IVF trenches - some for long periods of time.
We call them the IVF veterans.
They've struggled, cried, laughed, and inspired.
Let their experience guide you through the process, and use their knowledge and tips as a beacon of insight for your own journey.
In-vitro fertilization is, on your best days, a journey empowering you toward your ultimate goal of being a mom.
Paperback: 117 pagesClick to order/for more info: Surviving In-vitro Fertilization
Start reading Surviving In-vitro Fertilization on your Kindle in under a minute!Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
 |
| Photo Credit: by Cold Clock, by Marcelo Gerpe |
Measuring AMH alone may be misleading as high levels occur in conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome, and therefore AMH levels should be considered in conjunction with a transvaginal scan of the ovaries to assess antral follicle count.
In view of its potential use to assess a woman's ovarian reserve and future fertility, measurement of AMH is sometimes called the biological Body Clock Test.
It also has the potential to rationalize the program of ovulation induction and decisions about the number of embryos to transfer in assisted reproduction techniques to maximize pregnancy success rates whilst minimizing the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
Read More: Anti-Müllerian hormone
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition:The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health
by Toni Weschler
-- For any woman unhappy with her current method of birth control; demoralized by her quest to have a baby, or experiencing confusing symptoms in her cycle, this book provides answers to all these questions, plus amazing insights into a woman's body.
Weschler thoroughly explains the empowering Fertility Awareness Method, which in only a couple minutes a day allows a woman to:
• Enjoy highly effective, scientifically proven birth control without chemicals or devices
• Maximize her chances of conception or expedite fertility treatment by identifying impediments to conception
• Increase the likelihood of choosing the gender of her baby
• Gain control of her sexual and gynecological health
Paperback: 512 pagesClick to order/for more info: Taking Charge of Your Fertility
A tiny, six-legged critter that suspends all biological activity when the going gets tough may hold answers to a better way to cryopreserve human eggs, researchers say.
Tardigrades, also called water bears, can survive Himalayan heights or ocean depths as long as they have moisture.
When they don't, they produce a sugar, trehalose, slowly dehydrate and essentially cease functioning until the rain comes, says Dr. Ali Eroglu, reproductive biologist and cryobiologist at the Medical College of Georgia.
Tardigrades are not alone in their amazing ability to outlast adverse conditions. A type of brine shrimp, often called a sea monkey, comes back to life with water.
The Baker's yeast Dr. Eroglu uses when he bakes bread with his children does as well. Similarly, arctic wood frogs use the sugar, glucose, to tolerate frigid temperatures until the summer thaw.
While humans don't naturally produce trehalose, researchers think they can use it to safely preserve human eggs – and those of endangered species – giving better options to young women facing cancer therapies that may leave them infertile and others who simply want to delay reproduction.
Our hypothesis is when we introduce sugars into cells and into oocytes, we can protect them against freezing-associated stresses,says Dr. Eroglu, who received a $1.2 million grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to continue pursuing his hypothesis.
We also hypothesized if we used trehalose, we also could use conventional cryoprotectants, which can be toxic, in lower concentrations to minimize their toxicity while maximizing overall protection.
Pilot data show it works like a charm, at least in mouse eggs. Researchers injected eggs with trehalose, cooled them to liquid nitrogen temperature, thawed them and exposed them to sperm. They got healthy babies at a similar rate to unfrozen controls.
We were very excited,says Dr. Eroglu, whose work has prompted desperate calls from young cancer patients wanting to preserve their eggs.
We got very good development rates, then we transferred the embryos to foster mothers and got pups that were completely healthy.In fact, those pups had healthy pups. His limited testing in human eggs indicates they also can be preserved and thawed safely using this approach, however further research is needed to pursue clinical applications.
The NIH grant enables him to use monkey eggs, which are similar to human eggs, to find the optimal mix of sugar, conventional cryoprotectants and freezing to maximize egg preservation. Collaborators at Emory University are providing the eggs and at the Georgia Institute of Technology are developing a mathematical model to predict cooling rates while avoiding destructive intracellular ice formation. Dr. Eroglu also is working with the MCG Section of Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility and Genetics In vitro Fertilization Program to obtain discarded eggs that failed to fertilize.
Dr. Eroglu looks for a better way because current approaches are fraught with problems. Scientists have been freezing human eggs for about two decades but not very successfully.
Embryo cryopreservation is relatively successful, but to freeze oocytes, we have to overcome many hurdles,he says. A major problem is the protective, exterior jelly coat of an egg doesn’t freeze well. The jelly coat protects the egg from mechanical stress and serves as a receptor for sperm. Sperm must pass through the coat then penetrate the interior plasma membrane. As soon as a single sperm penetrates, it triggers intracellular signaling that transforms the coat into a hard, impermeable structure and with good reason: if multiple sperms penetrate, chromosomal abnormalities result. Interestingly, traditional freezing, even with cryopreservatives, can cause these problems and more. The jelly coat hardens, making it impossible for sperm to get through the traditional way.
You don’t have this issue with an embryo because fertilization already has occurred,Dr. Eroglu says.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection came into use in 1997 to help overcome the hardened jelly coat but other problems persist. Chemical stress, freezing or warming can disrupt the egg's mechanism for dividing chromosomes – babies get half their chromosomes from mom and half from dad – so they don't line up as they should. In addition to hardening the jelly coat, cold stress can change intracellular signaling resulting from sperm penetration. Lipids or fats in the egg can fuse and the membrane can become leaky.
The bottom line is only about 1-5 percent of eggs develop to term after standard cryopreservation techniques, which include a combination of slow freezing in conjunction with low levels of cryoprotectants such as dimethyl sulfoxide, or rapid freezing with more cryoprotectants.
Dr. Eroglu says the sugars, which help protect the natural structure of proteins, enable the use of warmer temperatures and fewer cryoprotectants. He uses the tried and true intracytoplasmic sperm injection approach to deliver sugar – instead of sperm - to eggs before cooling. One of his ultimate goals is to design sugars that can easily penetrate the egg’s membrane, but at least for now, tardigrade sugars seems to work just fine in mice.
One of his many hopes is that freezing embryos won't always be necessary, whether it's a human or an endangered species. Rather, eggs and sperm – which have been frozen successfully for decades – can be kept apart until fertilization is desirable. This could preclude the controversy of destroying unused embryos and perhaps the debate over embryonic stem cells, he says.
Eggs, which can reprogram cell function by turning genes off and on, can produce cells that can become essentially anything, Dr. Eroglu says. If he can better understand how they do this, regular body cells might be reprogrammed in a test tube to embryonic-like stem cells for therapeutic use.
Source: Durable Critters Providing Insight For Human Egg Preservation
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
You Can Get Pregnant Over 40, Naturally II: Overcoming infertility and recurrent loss in your late 30s and 40s naturallyby Sandy Robertson
-- After years of infertility and failed fertility treatments, Sandy Robertson developed an all-natural pregnancy protocol leading to the birth of her daughter at the age of 44.
In this new expanded edition, she shares her research including over 100 references.
She explains how she:
- Overcame recurrent miscarriage
- Conceived multiple times of the age of 40 with one Fallopian tube
- Balanced hormones
- Increased pelvic circulation
Paperback: 248 pagesClick to order/for more info: You Can Get Pregnant Over 40, Naturally
Shady Grove Fertility Center recently released in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates for the year ending December 2011. The data is based on the pregnancy and delivery results of 4,489 fresh IVF cycles and 1,096 frozen embryo treatment cycles, making Shady Grove Fertility the largest IVF Center in the United States.Shady Grove Fertility has published these detailed statistics since the IVF Center opened in 1991. Dr. Michael Levy explains, “One of our primary goals is to help patients make more informed decisions about their infertility treatment and care. The statistics are broken down by number of cycles by age and pregnancy rates which allows patients to get a better sense of their individual chances of delivering a baby through treatment.”
The major highlights of the 2011 statistics include:
• 62% clinical pregnancy rate and a 45% delivery rate per embryo transfer for women under 35 years of age.
• 48% clinical pregnancy rate and a 38% delivery rate per embryo transfer inclusive of all age groups.
• 63% clinical pregnancy rate and a 46% delivery rate per embryo transfer for IVF using donor eggs.
• 57% clinical pregnancy rate and a 45% delivery rate per transfer for patients using a frozen embryo (FET) to conceive in all age groups.
“One of the most exciting clinical advances over the last five years has been in the area of egg and embryo vitrification. Vitrification is the process employed in the laboratory to freeze eggs and embryos. An increased ability to freeze extra embryos from an IVF cycle can reduce the subsequent course of IVF treatment necessary to achieve a pregnancy. These frozen embryos can be thawed at a later date in a treatment called Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) thereby making more efficient use of all the embryos from the original cycle.”
This is significant because FET cycles require less medication and a shorter timeframe to complete than a fresh IVF cycle, and at a fraction of the cost to the patient. With the advancement of vitrification, the pregnancy and live birth rates are very comparable to traditional fresh IVF cycles giving patients another simpler treatment option should they not be successful with the fresh attempt or for patients that are successful and want to further grow their family in the future.
Not everyone going through a fresh cycle will have embryos to freeze, however Shady Grove Fertility data shows that more than 40% of patients had average of 3.2 good quality blastocyst stage embryos to freeze. The clinical pregnancy rate per frozen embryo transfer (FET) is 57% across all age groups and the live birth rate per frozen embryo transfer across all age groups is 45%.
“The improved FET success rates are especially beneficial for patients paying out of pocket for treatment and for patients participating in the Shared Risk 100% Refund program,” states Dr. Levy. “The Shared Risk program allows patients to pay one flat fee for up to six fresh IVF cycles and unlimited available FET cycles and receive a 100% refund if they do not take home a live baby as a result of treatment.”
Another less obvious benefit of having the new and very successful option of using frozen embryos is a lower twin and high-order multiple birth rate. Patients are more open to transferring fewer, often just one, embryos when they know they can pursue additional treatment with any available frozen embryos.
“Shady Grove Fertility began an initiative in 2002 known as elective single embryo transfer (eSET), specifically to reduce the number of twin and multiples pregnancies. Due in part to our exceptional laboratory techniques, we are now able to provide patients with an uncompromised chance of pregnancy while nearly eliminating the risk of twins or triplets,” explains Dr. Levy.
“While the numbers presented in our reports are critically important to us and to our patients, our success at providing high quality ethical and personalized care to our patients is equally important,” says Dr. Levy. “Our physicians, nurses and staff are dedicated to helping our patients achieve their goal of a healthy pregnancy and thus a healthy baby.”
For a more detailed explanation of Shady Grove Fertility’s success rates please visit our website. Prospective new patients can call 888-761-1967 to schedule and appointment or speak directly with one of our new patient specialist.
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Shady Grove Fertility Center is the largest and one of the most progressive fertility and IVF Centers in the United States, producing pregnancy success rates that are consistently higher than the national averages. Twenty-five reproductive endocrinologists, as well as PhD scientists, geneticist, and over 450 highly specialized staff care for the thousands of local, national and international patients who seek treatment through the Center each year. Shady Grove Fertility conducts clinical research in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health and is part of their subspecialty training Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology. In addition to participating with 22 insurance plans, Shady Grove Fertility innovated a number of treatment and financial programs, such as Shared Risk 100% Refund Program, Multi-Cycle Discount Option for IVF, Shared Donor Egg, International Donor Egg, and Shared Help, to make treatment more affordable for more couples. Shady Grove Fertility is Celebrating 20 Years and 27,000 Babies Born. Shady Grove Fertility is a member of the Attain Fertility Network.
SOURCE: Shady Grove Fertility Center
Photo credit: shadygrovefertility.com
All rights reserved
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Grade A Baby Eggs: An Infertility Memoir
by Victoria Hopewell
-- Victoria Hopewell was a forty-something divorced clinical psychologist when she met and married a longtime bachelor whose ninety-year-old parents were anxiously waiting for a grandchild.
Problem was, even though Victoria had two young daughters from a previous marriage, her intense desire to create a baby with her new husband was thwarted by her own body.
Her eggs were aging faster than her healthy hormones and youthful appearance would suppose.
Desperate to bear a child, willing to undergo every procedure from Lupron shots through egg harvesting and in vitro fertilization (IVF), she is blocked at every corner of medical protocol from achieving her dream of a successful pregnancy.
Finally she journeys toward acceptance of using a donor egg, much to the dismay of her growing daughters.
But no eggs are available, and she is placed on a lengthy hospital wait-list. Victoria and her husband then embark on a surrealistic egg hunt to find their own donor.
Follow her insider's account of the hidden world of egg donation-where women's eggs are bought and sold over the internet and a beautiful model with high SATs and a prior successful donation commands the highest prices.
Paperback: 214 pagesClick to order/for more info: Grade A Baby Eggs
Start reading Grade A Baby Eggs on your Kindle in under a minute!Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
For couples trying to conceive using the in-vitro fertilization technique, a new study suggests that using frozen embryos rather than the fresh embryos increased the probability of having a healthier pregnancy and welcoming a baby.
Scientists of the University of Aberdeen including Dr. Abha Maheshwari, studied the data gathered from 11 international studies including 37, 000 IVF pregnancies.
They studied both the pregnancy cases where fresh embryos were implanted into the mother's womb and those where the embryos were frozen.
The researchers found that using stored embryos reduced the risk of bleeding during pregnancy, premature birth, and giving birth to underweight baby by a third.
The risk of the baby passing away closer to the end of the pregnancy was also reduced by one fifth.
Read more
Photo credit: growingyourbaby.com
All rights reserved
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
The Everything Fertility Book: All you need to know about fertility, conception, and a healthy pregnancyby Nicole Galan
-- Infertility can be a frustrating and heartbreaking disorder compounded by complicated treatments and so-called miracle cures on the market.
But couples who have trouble conceiving need all their options laid out in one convenient guide.
In this book, you'll find the medical and holistic information you need to conceive and bear a happy, healthy child.
With this authoritative and friendly guide, getting pregnant doesn't have to be a stressful process. Armed with knowledge and reassurance, you will be ready to make the choices that work best for you and start you family, today.
Paperback: 304 pagesClick to order/for more info: The Everything Fertility Book
Start reading The Everything Fertility Book on your Kindle in under a minute! Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Rockville, MD (July 11, 2012) -- Families can be built in many ways, and these days, more families are relying on donor eggs to have children. According to the CDC, donor egg usage has nearly doubled in the United States since 2000, increasing 80.5 percent.To meet demand, an entire new industry has emerged – egg banks. Donor Egg Bank USA is the nation's only frozen donor egg program to be developed through a collaboration of more than 100 reproductive specialists throughout the United States.
Donor Egg Bank USA was created to assist fertility patients in their dream of having a baby with the added convenience of a quicker, more affordable treatment process.
Using donor eggs allows women who cannot produce their own viable eggs the opportunity to carry and deliver a child. During the process, donor eggs are retrieved from a donor, fertilized with a partner’s or donor's sperm, and then implanted into the womb of the waiting mother-to-be.
In the past, traditional egg donor methods required first synchronizing the donor's and recipient's menstrual cycles, and then retrieving eggs and transferring fertilized embryos. The necessity for synchronization results in significant time delays and uncertainties. In a traditional cycle, there is no guarantee the donor will pass the screening process as regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or have a successful cycle.
An innovative fast-freezing technology called vitrification has transformed fertility treatment capabilities, making the viability of frozen eggs nearly equal to that of fresh eggs. Today, eggs can be collected, frozen, and banked, making them immediately available to recipients who select them from a donor database.
Using frozen eggs allows couples to pursue treatment immediately, without the uncertainties associated with traditional donor egg treatment and at a time convenient to their schedule.
A traditional fresh donor egg cycle can cost up to $38,000 and take up to 12 months to complete. A frozen egg cycle can be completed in one to two months for typically less than half the cost.
Donor Egg Bank USA offers patients the same success rates as most traditional (fresh) donor egg programs, but the process is more affordable and much quicker,says Heidi Hayes, CEO of Donor Egg Bank USA.
We work with some of the most well-recognized physicians and centers in the fertility field to provide the highest possible success rates for patients.
The ability to offer patients immediate access to frozen donor eggs has transformed the approach to family building through egg donation,says Michael Levy, MD, of Shady Grove Fertility.
Working with frozen donor eggs streamlines and shortens treatment while offering a significant cost-savings.
Using frozen eggs allows for a wider donor selection when compared to working with a traditional fresh egg donor. In addition, families who choose to use donor eggs through Donor Egg Bank USA receive the added financial security of a 100% Assured Refund Plan™, which offers a full refund if the couple does not deliver a baby.
Photo credit: donoreggbankusa.com
All rights reserved
###
Donor Egg Bank USA is a frozen donor egg program developed through the collaboration of more than 100 of the country's top reproductive specialists and available at more than 55 locations throughout the United States and Canada.
Donor Egg Bank USA offers immediate access to a broad donor egg pool and uses advanced freezing technology to produce success rates similar to traditional (fresh) donor egg programs. Using frozen eggs from Donor Eggs Bank USA requires less time than a fresh donor egg cycle (1-2 months versus 3-12 months in a traditional cycle), and is more affordable.
Donor Egg Bank USA offers the financial security of a 100% Assured Refund Plan™ if a couple does not deliver a baby. Donor Egg Bank USA offers frozen egg fertility options to couples nationally and across the globe. For more information: www.donoreggbankusa.com
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
It Starts with the Egg:How the Science of Egg Quality Can Help You Get Pregnant Naturally, Prevent Miscarriage, and Improve Your Odds in IVF
by Rebecca Fett
-- Whether you are trying to conceive naturally or through IVF, the quality of your eggs will have a powerful impact on how long it takes you to get pregnant and whether you face an increased risk of miscarriage.
Poor egg quality is emerging as the single most important cause of age-related infertility, recurrent miscarriage, and failed IVF cycles. It is also a major contributor to infertility in PCOS.
Based on a comprehensive investigation of a vast array of scientific research, It Starts with the Egg reveals a groundbreaking new approach for improving egg quality and fertility.
With a concrete strategy including minimizing exposure to toxins such as BPA and phthalates, choosing the right vitamins and supplements to safeguard developing eggs, and harnessing nutritional advice shown to boost IVF success rates, this book offers practical solutions to will help you get pregnant faster and deliver a healthy baby.
Paperback: 304 pagesClick to order/for more info: It Starts with the Egg
Start reading It Starts with the Egg on your Kindle in under a minute!Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Caderina is 22 year-old Biological Science major at Arizona State University, who lives an active lifestyle and loves to hike. Caderina is one of the many thousands of young women on a growing list of egg donors choosing to help women and couples struggling with in-fertility. She shares excerpts from her journal for other women considering being an egg donor.
“The thought of helping someone who is struggling with in-fertility gives me a feeling of joy, but on the other hand, I know I am going to have to inject myself with shots and that terrifies me. I just have to remind myself why I am doing this. I know I would be so thankful if someone went through this for me,” Caderina adds.
It’s estimated one in seven couples experience in-fertility and that 100,000 children have been born from donor eggs in the U.S. since 1984, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to Phoenix-based The World Egg Bank, the largest combined fresh and frozen donor egg agency in the nation, it’s unknown how many egg donors exist in the U.S. at any given time. However, at The World Egg Bank an average of 100 women a week applies to donate their eggs. But only about five are chosen, according to Rebecca Shippe, donor coordinator at The World Egg Bank. The World Egg Bank has a rigorous screening program that begins with an application process on the company’s website, theworldeggbank.com.
“Caderina was chosen by The World Egg Bank because she met all genetic, physical and psychological screenings,” says Shippe. “It is important women do their research before deciding on whether they want to be an egg donor.”
While it is extremely rare, some donors drop out well into the process. “It’s unfortunate when donors apply and they think it’s going to be a quick buck. If they choose to withdraw from the process it can cause so much pain for the recipient. It is a huge emotional burden and strain on the recipient’s relationship,” adds Shippe.
The World Egg Bank typically pays a donor $3,000 -3,500 for her time and labor, not for her eggs. As to how many times a woman can donate her eggs, The World Egg Bank adheres to the guidelines presented by The American Society of Reproductive Medicine of six cycles per donor. Typically, most donors complete one or two donations, according to The World Egg Bank.
“I can’t stress how important it is for donors to be committed to the process. They must be dependable and committed to following through with the protocol. The egg donation process involves planning, expense for the recipient, effort, and emotional investment,” says Diana Thomas, CEO and Founder of The World Egg Bank.
“If you think about what all is involved, the financial compensation is really not the incentive. I had to take time off work, get up early to go to appointments, give myself shots or have my mother help me, and then plan for the day of retrieval, which I then had a day or two of recovery. I am normally very active. I work out everyday. I hike. I run trails. I had to change my lifestyle for a few weeks,” says Caderina.
For Caderina, while there were some inconveniences, it was the most rewarding experience and she says she would consider doing it again. “It’s a great opportunity for one woman to help another woman,” she says.
Caderina advises women considering being an egg donor to do their research and be weary of ads that offer large amounts of money for donating eggs.
“If you feel like it’s right in your heart, then go for it. Your body produces eggs all the time that are just thrown away each month. If you can empower another woman’s life through the gift of motherhood, than that is the ultimate gift of life. When people ask me if I’m emotionally attached? I say, I don’t think about it being my child. The child grows in the other person’s stomach. That is the child’s mother. I have nothing to do with the nurturing. The whole labor process goes through another woman,” Caderina says.
In the U.S., it is reported approximately 7.3 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 will experience some form of in-fertility, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Signs of in-fertility can be difficult to detect. Many of these women are not aware they may have a problem until they try to start a family. A growing number of these women are waiting until later in life to plan for a family. But as a woman ages, the quality of her eggs are compromised. Therefore, more and more women are choosing to use another woman’s eggs to achieve pregnancy.
Caderina’s final journal thoughts: "Never in a million years did I think I would inject myself with medication and I did. I faced my fear of needles while trying to end the fear of another woman who fears the opportunity of having children. I did what I would want someone to do for myself. Family is the most important thing in my life. Giving a person the gift of a child and creating a family is the greatest feeling in the world. Although some don’t agree with the egg donation process, I believe it is a process of giving a gift to another. Growing up I was always taught to treat others how you would want to be treated. When I was considering doing a cycle that is what came to mind. I would hope if I faced the issue of in-fertility, someone would want my dream of children to come true and help me just the way I helped.”
Photo credit: Caderina Carrizosa
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TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Having Your Baby Through Egg Donationby Ellen Sarasohn, Evelina Weidman Sterling
-- A comprehensive book for people considering parenthood through donated ova, and those supporting them.
It takes readers through the decision-making process, focusing on questions they are likely to be asking themselves, including: Are we candidates for egg donation? Will it work?
How much does it cost? How do we find a donor?
How do we talk about our decision with others? How will we tell our children? Ethical questions related to egg donation are also examined:
Can a donor truly have informed consent Is it ethically correct for donors to receive payment, and, if so, is the payment for 'time and effort' or for their eggs?
Hardcover: 384 pagesClick to order/for more info: Having Your Baby Through Egg Donation
Start reading Having Your Baby Through Egg Donation on your Kindle in under a minute!
Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
One of the busiest fertility clinics in all of Canada, the Calgary Regional Fertility Program sees about 3,000 new couples each year and performs more than 1,000 cycles of IVF annually.
The only clinic that's busier is in Quebec, where the government provides partial coverage for the treatment.
Alberta couples must pay out of pocket for fertility treatments, which range from $350 for artificial insemination to upwards of $13,000 for IVF.
Although egg donation is permitted in Canada, it can only be done for altruistic purposes and donors can only be reimbursed for their expenses.
For many couples, securing an egg donor under these conditions isn't possible and the Calgary fertility clinic sent about 75 couples to the U.S. for treatment last year.
Read more
6 January 2012 - New research presented today at the British Fertility Society Annual Meeting shows that babies born using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) from frozen embryos are heavier and have longer gestation periods than babies born using ART from fresh embryos. This suggests that frozen embryo transfer may lead to healthier babies, as birth weight and gestation period are positively related to successful birth outcomes and long-term health.Suzanne Cawood and her team at the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health in London studied whether gestation period and birth weight varied between babies born following fresh embryo transfer compared to those born after frozen embryo transfer. They measured the weight at birth and gestation length of 384 infants born after fresh embryo transfer and 108 infants born after frozen embryo transfer. All pregnancies measured were singleton babies (i.e. no multiple pregnancies were included in this study).
Single babies born from frozen embryo transfer were significantly heavier at birth compared to those born from fresh embryo transfer (253g heavier; p less than 0.001). Babies from frozen embryos also had a significantly longer gestation period compared to those from fresh embryos (0.649 weeks longer; p=0.01). The percentage of babies born with a low weight (less than 2500g) was significantly lower following frozen compared to fresh embryo transfer (3.7% vs. 10.7%; p=0.024). These findings suggest that transferring frozen embryos may lead to healthier babies (i.e. higher birth weights and longer gestation periods) than transferring fresh embryos. The reasons behind these findings are unclear and the team now intend to carry out further research on this issue and to investigate if other factors such as pregnancy complications or birth defects vary in frequency between fresh and frozen cycles.
Lead researcher, Miss Suzanne Cawood, Deputy Head of Embryology at the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health, London said:
“For all assisted reproduction technologies, it is important that we ensure the procedures promote optimal health in the resulting children throughout their lives.
“Our study suggests that babies born from frozen embryos have a significantly longer gestation period and are significantly heavier at birth compared to babies from fresh embryos. This is important because prematurity and low birth weight are both risk factors for poorer health later in life and are linked to higher rates of behavioural and learning difficulties. This means that resulting babies may potentially be healthier if frozen embryos are transferred rather than fresh embryos.
“The reasons behind these findings are not yet fully understood, but one possibility may be that there is a difference in the uterine environment between fresh cycles, when embryos are transferred soon after the eggs have been collected, compared to frozen cycles when the uterus has not been stimulated in the days before transfer. However, further research is needed to test this hypothesis.”
When a woman undergoes ART, she is given fertility drugs to stimulate her ovaries to produce more eggs than usual. The eggs are then fertilised with sperm to produce embryos. Currently, usually one or two of these embryos are transferred back into the womb three to six days after egg collection. If there is a surplus of healthy embryos, some may be frozen for use in subsequent ART treatment if needed. This means that the embryos are stored at -196°C, before being thawed to 37°C for use.
The 2010 HFEA national records using data collected from all fertility clinics shows that the pregnancy rate for fresh embryo transfer from a woman’s own eggs is 33.4% compared to 22.8% for frozen embryo transfer1.
1 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Fertility treatment in 2010: trends and figures
http://www.hfea.gov.uk/docs/2011-11-16_-_Annual_Register_Figures_Report_final.pdf.
The British Fertility Society is a national multidisciplinary organisation representing professionals practising in the field of reproductive medicine. The British Fertility Society is committed to promoting good clinical practice and working with patients to provide safe and effective fertility treatment.
Photo credit: mirichi
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
50 Things You Can Do Today to Increase Your Fertilityby Sally Lewis and Nim Barnes
-- Practical advice and a holistic approach to help you conceive, including simple dietary and lifestyle changes and do it yourself complementary therapies.
In this accessible and informative guide, Sally Lewis explains how age, sexual infections, diet, excess weight, stress, and anxiety affect fertility.
Teaching how to discover the best time for conception; understand the link between body, mind, and fertility; and manage stress and relax to prevent anxiety, this is the ultimate guide to increasing the likelihood of conception at any age.
Paperback: 128 pagesClick to order/for more info: 50 Things You Can Do Today to Increase Your Fertility - US | CDN | UK
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