In a groundbreaking study, Yale School of Medicine researchers and colleagues at the University of Oxford have identified the chromosomal make-up of a human egg.
This discovery may soon allow them to avoid using abnormal -- or aneuploid -- eggs during infertility treatments, and instead to pick eggs healthy enough for a successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle.
The results are published in the May issue of the journal Human Reproduction.
Only a few oocytes (eggs) per IVF treatment cycle are able to produce a pregnancy because many eggs have the wrong number of chromosomes.
If the egg is missing a chromosome or has an extra chromosome, this is referred to as aneuploidy. This problem increases as women age.
Oocytes are surrounded by cells, called cumulus cells, which regulate and assist the process of egg maturation.
In this study, Yale Fertility Center director Dr. Pasquale Patrizio, and Dagan Wells of the University of Oxford studied genes expressed in the cumulus cells.
They were able to identify a set of genes less active in cells, which is associated with abnormal eggs.
They characterized two genes -- SPSB2 and TP5313 -- and found the expression of these genes was consistently underrepresented in cumulus cells surrounding abnormal eggs, while these same genes were normally expressed in eggs with the correct number of chromosomes.
The identification of these genes in cumulus cells can serve as a novel, non-invasive marker to identify abnormal oocytes and thus ultimately improve IVF success rates,said Patrizio, professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale.
We can use cumulus cells surrounding the eggs to gain insight into the health of an egg. These cells are now able to inform us about the chromosomal makeup of an egg. This can help us know if it is the 'right egg' to be fertilized and produce a baby.
This finding opens up the possibility of a safe, effective, and inexpensive way of identifying healthy eggs, potentially lowering the risks of miscarriage and Down syndrome,said Wells.
By conducting these tests before eggs are fertilized, ethical concerns about an analysis of human embryos are avoided.
Other authors on the study include Elpida Fragouli, Amy E. Lager, and Umit A. Kayisli.
Wells is supported by the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford; the work was also supported by a grant from Gema Diagnostics, Inc.
Story Source: The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Yale University. The original article was written by Karen N. Peart.
Journal Reference: Alteration of gene expression in human cumulus cells as a potential indicator of oocyte aneuploidy
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
The Insider's Guide to Egg Donation: A Compassionate and Comprehensive Guide for All Parents-to-Beby Wendie Wilson-Miller and Erika Napoletano
-- In their search for alternative means for building a family, those who face infertility turn to the nearly 500 reproductive specialty clinics across the United States.
While egg donors enter into the picture for a variety of reasons, every reason has the same desired result: a family to call one’s own.
Same-sex and single-by-choice parents are more prevalent than ever in the fertility industry, and there is no definitive, up-to-date guide to help families of all types approach egg donation, especially these niche groups. Resources are fragmented, true regardless of the family structure.
The Insider's Guide to Egg Donation is the first how-to-handbook helping families of all types navigate the less talked about but widely practiced egg donor landscape with a warm and friendly tone, giving those in search of a different kind of stork the answers and information they need as they begin to research family-building options.
Paperback: 280 pagesClick to order/for more info: The Insider's Guide to Egg Donation
Start reading The Insider's Guide to 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.
Mini-IVF (also known as micro or minimal stimulation IVF) is similar to conventional IVF in the procedures used during treatment.As with IVF, you have monitoring throughout the cycle, an egg retrieval, fertilization in the lab of the egg and sperm, and embryo transfer.
What's different is how much medication is used to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs.
While typical IVF aims to produce several eggs for retrieval, mini-IVF uses weaker medications or lower doses of medications to produce only a few eggs.
It may also be done without any ovarian stimulating drugs.
Because lower amounts of fertility drugs are used, the cost per cycle is lower, and the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is reduced.
Read more: What Is Mini or Micro IVF?
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Zita West's Guide to Getting Pregnantby Zita West
-- A pioneer in the field of fertility, Zita West's programme is invaluable for couples trying to conceive.
Harley Street's most popular fertility expert and favorite consultant to celebrity clients guide the reader through a process of vital physical and mental preparation.
The book is for every couple trying to conceive and has fascinating advice taken from Zita's 20 years of experience as a midwife and 7 years as an acupuncturist.
It provides a structured, easy-to-follow step-by-step programme, complete with case studies and enormously detailed questionnaire.
The guide includes details on:
• when and how often to have sex
• what can prevent fertilization and conception
• everything you need to know about sperm and ovulation
• nutrition, supplements, and herbs
• complementary therapies such as acupressure, lymphatic massage, and hypnotherapy
• how to overcome stress and other emotional blocks to pregnancy
• PCOS, endometriosis and other health issues
• tests and procedures if there is a problem
• and much much more.
Paperback: 400 pagesClick to order/for more info: Zita West's Guide to Getting Pregnant
Start reading Zita West's Guide to Getting Pregnant 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: Health.Heraldtribune.com |
One in every 30 babies born in the U.S. is a twin — an astounding increase over the last three decades, according to a government report issued Wednesday. In 1980, only 1 in every 53 babies was a twin.
When people say it seems like you see more twins nowadays, they are right,said Joyce Martin, an epidemiologist who co-authored the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
About 7 percent of all births for women 40 and older were twins, compared to 5 percent of women in their late 30s and 2 percent of women age 24 or younger.
Read more: Older mothers, fertility treatments driving a big increase in twin births
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
The Fertility Codeby Dermot O'Connor
-- The Fertility Code program delivers a powerful and practical step-by-step approach for those who wish to give themselves the best chance of starting a family.
As many as 500,000 couples in the UK and Ireland actively seek help with fertility, such as IVF treatment each year. While some are legitimate candidates, many have been proven to just need proper lifestyle and fertility advice and assistance in order to conceive.
The Fertility Code is designed for these people, and for those who need more serious intervention, to optimize their fertility. There are a variety of factors that can contribute to preventing a couple from having a baby.
This is why it is important that a fertility plan should address as many of these potential issues as possible. Through many years' experience of helping thousands of couples to become parents, Dermot O'Connor knows that such a plan must be easy to understand, easy to implement and genuinely effective.
The Fertility Code combines the best of both Eastern and Western medicine to provide a comprehensive guide to conceiving successfully and carrying a baby to full term.
It details the optimum plan to enhance fertility, and delivers a proven strategy, incorporating the key elements consistently utilized by the couples Dermot has helped:
• Fertility Awareness Strategies
• The psychology of fertility
• Optimum nutrition for conception and pregnancy
• The importance of detoxification
Paperback: 224 pagesClick to order/for more info: The Fertility Code
Start reading The Fertility Code on your Kindle in under a minute!Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
The average age of women becoming mothers has risen in the United States, and in the last 20 years, a few women have even entered motherhood in their 60s.
By implanting embryos produced by in-vitro fertilization using egg cells donated by younger women, women who have passed menopause can become pregnant and give birth.
A new study of 101 women age 50 and older who had children using donated eggs reveals that pregnancy at this age carries about the same risks as similarly induced pregnancies in younger women.
The study is the largest one to date looking at pregnancy in post-menopausal women.
Read more: Pregnant Women Over 50 Do Pretty Well Study Finds
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babiesby Randine Lewis
-- Infertility affects one out of six couples today.
Dr. Lewis presents a groundbreaking alternative approach to infertility, explaining how she used traditional Chinese medicine to treat her own infertility, successfully conceiving and giving birth to two children.
In Lewis's experience, women who have undergone three to six of the of the dietary changes, herbs and acupuncture treatments become pregnant with no further effort.
Lewis intersperses her somewhat technical examination of the program with anecdotes about her patients, weaving in discussions on diet, herbal supplements, acupuncture, older women and problems related to infertility.
Paperback: 320 pagesClick to order/for more info: The Infertility Cure
 |
| Photo credit: hello in there!, by Adrienne Bassett |
While over 82 percent of the 168 survey respondents are generally aware that there are a number of procedures performed on their eggs after retrieval, only 8 percent are aware that many IVF clinics use slaughterhouse-derived animal extract products (from bovine and ovine sources) to treat eggs prior to the ICSI procedure.
More than 89 percent of respondents do not know that the use of animal extract products may have a potential impact on the outcome of an IVF cycle, such as fertilization rates and quality of embryos, for example. Fifty-seven percent of IVF procedures performed in the U.S. are ICSI or include ICSI.
Source: ARLINGTON, Va., and SAN DIEGO, Oct. 27, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/
Full article: Inciid.org
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Pregnancy Miracleby Lisa Olsen
-- A 279-page, instantly downloadable e-book presenting a 5-step, sure-fire, 100% guaranteed, clinically proven holistic and ancient Chinese system for permanently reversing your infertility and your partner's infertility disorders and getting pregnant quickly, naturally and safely within 2-4 months without drugs, dangerous surgeries, side effects, or expensive infertility treatments.
It's probably the most powerful infertility reversal system ever developed, and currently the best-selling e-book of its kind on the entire Web!
Here's what the author Lisa Olson had to say about her incredible program:
After 14 years of trial, error, and experimentation, I finally discovered the answer to infertility and developed a fool-proof system to getting pregnant the natural way - no drugs, or surgery necessary.
It took a lot of research to get to where I am today, to know exactly what works and what doesn't. Yes, after desperate trial and error, countless of useless treatments, disappointments, and agony, a simple holistic system opened the door to my new and much brighter life of motherhood.
I was also excited to see that my other infertility related symptoms had diminished. After years of waiting, I was finally free from Infertility! I have become a proud mother of two.
And now I'm finally revealing my secrets in this new 'encyclopedia' of pregnancy called, Pregnancy Miracle.
I will be your own personal coach, take you by the hand, and lead you through the lousy advice, hype and gimmicks... and directly to the sort of inner balance perfection that will end your battle with infertility forever and help you become a proud mother of your healthy children.
Click to order/for more info on this helpful program:
Pregnancy Miracle
 |
| Photo credit: The O Face!, by Anissa Thompson |
This focus reflects a common approach to reproduction. Reproductive rights are often framed as a matter of individual autonomy and freedom from government interference in personal procreative decision making.
For most Americans, reproductive freedom means the right to choose. Discussion about the ethics of reproduction tends to center on the morality of the choices people make.
If we focus too intently on whether or not the McCaugheys made the right decision when they chose to have seven more children, we miss far more critical issues raised by reproduction-assisting technologies.
We should not be asking whether the McCaugheys contravened a moral consensus but what a moral social policy regarding fertility enhancement would be.
At present, there are disturbing race and class disparities in policies concerning childbearing. The current consensus on the use of reproductive technologies appears to treat white middle-class couples and poor minority families in stark contrast.
The fertility business serves primarily white people even though blacks have a higher infertility rate.
White women seeking treatment for fertility problems are twice as likely as black women to use high-tech treatments, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Many black Americans were troubled by the celebration accompanying the birth of the McCaughey children, who are white, when compared with the media's disregard of a black couple in Washington, D.C., who conceived six babies (without medical intervention) at about the same time.
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Hannah's Hope: Seeking God's Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage, and Adoption Lossby Jennifer Saake
-- Hannah's heart beat with a mother's love long before she was blessed with a child.
Through the years of waiting and longing, her gentle heart was nearly crushed under the weight of grief.
You can meet Hannah in the pages of 1 Samuel, chapters 1 and 2.
The Bible says she was
barren,and we know she suffered heartache, anguish, and grief because of her empty arms. Perhaps you do too.
Hannah's Hope is for all who long for a child yet to be conceived, grieve for a baby too soon passed from the womb, or have lived through the no-man's-land of failed adoption.
It is intended as a guide to assist you in making wise decisions as you struggle through your grief.
And by the end of the journey, God may surprise you by the ways He uses to answer your heart's cry.
Compassionately written by a woman who knows well these painful struggles, Hannah's Hope will direct you to the Source of strength, whose name is
the God of all comfort.
Paperback: 160 pagesClick to order/for more info: Hannah's Hope
Start reading Hannah's Hope on your Kindle in under a minute!Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
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.
###
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.
As a passionate advocate of making family wishes come true, IVF New Jersey Fertility Center is helping active U.S. military personnel and veterans by offering significant discounts on fertility treatments and subsidized medications.
Due to the risks of being on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, more than 1,800 U.S. military members have incurred injuries affecting the reproductive tract. While the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does the best they can, they are unable to cover the costs of in-vitro fertilization for veterans, which averages between $12,000 and $15,000.
This is an ongoing discount because the affects of their injuries are also ongoing,says Jane Tervooren, IVFNJ Markeing Director.
When many of these young men and women were deployed, they didn’t leave their dreams of having a family behind. We’re just thrilled that we are able to contribute in some way to help them grow their families when they return.
The topic of providing fertility services to U.S. military has been covered by several major media sources, including the Associated Press. It’s a real need that IVFNJ was well-aware of before the headlines. Their fertility experts have a history of working with these men and women, with positive testimonials going back several years. The program will continue to service these personnel at their five convenient locations throughout the Northeast.
IVF New Jersey Fertility Center has helped patients from across the globe and boasts one of the highest success rates in the United States. They have successfully matched more than 2,000 recipients through their egg donation program. Their physicians have received international industry recognition for their work as well as publicity on the Today Show and New York Magazine. But their main sources of inspiration come from many heart-warming success stories, several of which can be read on their website.
We understand that it’s humbling enough to have to come to a physician’s office and discuss infertility, much less having to add a need for financial assistance on top of that,says Tervooren.
What we want these service men and women to know when they arrive at our office, is that we are honored to have a chance to serve them. For all they’ve done for our country, this is really a program for our benefit because it gives us a chance to give back.
For active U.S. military personnel and veterans to participate in this offer, they need only make an appointment with one of IVF New Jersey’s five locations.
About IVF New Jersey Fertility Center:
IVF New Jersey Fertility Center was founded in 1990 with the goal of creating a fertility practice that combines the best of big-city medicine with the personalized care of a private setting. For the past 22 years, IVFNJ has helped bring thousands of babies to couples in the metropolitan region and throughout the world. IVFNJ’s unique cutting-edge facilities allow the physicians to perform all standard infertility diagnostic and treatment procedures under one roof, all in a comfortable, private, non-hospital setting. IVFNJ is one of the largest fertility centers in the nation with some of the highest success rates in the U.S. according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). For more information visit IVFnj.com.
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Pregnancy Miracleby Lisa Olsen
-- A 279-page, instantly downloadable e-book presenting a 5-step, sure-fire, 100% guaranteed, clinically proven holistic and ancient Chinese system for permanently reversing your infertility and your partner's infertility disorders and getting pregnant quickly, naturally and safely within 2-4 months without drugs, dangerous surgeries, side effects, or expensive infertility treatments.
It's probably the most powerful infertility reversal system ever developed, and currently the best-selling e-book of its kind on the entire Web!
Here's what the author Lisa Olson had to say about her incredible program:
After 14 years of trial, error, and experimentation, I finally discovered the answer to infertility and developed a fool-proof system to getting pregnant the natural way - no drugs, or surgery necessary.
It took a lot of research to get to where I am today, to know exactly what works and what doesn't. Yes, after desperate trial and error, countless of useless treatments, disappointments, and agony, a simple holistic system opened the door to my new and much brighter life of motherhood.
I was also excited to see that my other infertility related symptoms had diminished. After years of waiting, I was finally free from Infertility! I have become a proud mother of two.
And now I'm finally revealing my secrets in this new 'encyclopedia' of pregnancy called, Pregnancy Miracle.
I will be your own personal coach, take you by the hand, and lead you through the lousy advice, hype and gimmicks... and directly to the sort of inner balance perfection that will end your battle with infertility forever and help you become a proud mother of your healthy children.
Click to order/for more info on this helpful program:
Pregnancy Miracle
1. Does the couple really need IVF? We look at whether they really do and offer holistic alternatives if needed.
2. Preparation - The lead up to the cycle is vital and couples need to look at five areas: medical tests and investigations, nutritional and lifestyle assessment, mental and emotional well-being, relationships, and stress management techniques. We offer all of these under one roof.
3. An individual approach - Attention to detail on every level. Ours is not ‘one blanket fits all’ policy.
4. Mind set – This is really key getting women to feel positive and prepared mentally. This is addressed at the clinic through hypnotherapy and counseling sessions.
5. Nutrition and lifestyle assessment - We offer this to all our clients as part of our package, ensuring that they are in optimum health prior to embarking. We look at micro-nutrient status, vitamin D and essential fatty acids.
6. Male factor fertility - This is often overlooked at clinics, but we know it can be crucial.
7. Relationship - The dynamic of a relationship has an important factor in fertility. Helping the couple to cope through what is often a stressful time,
8. Relaxation - We offer relaxation therapies and stress reduction techniques, as well as acupuncture, hypnotherapy and counseling.
9. Supplementation - We know that eggs and sperm are damaged by lifestyle factors creating free radical damage. We offer supplementation with antioxidants, and Omega three can improve this to produce healthier sperm and eggs.
10. Implantation failure and Immune factors - In the first year many of our couples have had up to 10 failures due to immune issues. Three or more miscarriages, three failed IVF attempts with good embryos, or a family history of immune issues; thyroid or endometriosis can all be reasons for implantation failure. We combine this with a holistic immune program.
New Integrated IVF at Zita West assisted fertility (ZWAF) is the winning formula for successful pregnancy.
Our first year results:
New figures released by the Zita West Assisted Fertility Clinic reveal that a different approach to IVF greatly improves the chance of pregnancy. The first 13 clients have now delivered their babies despite having had 60 failed IVF cycles between them at other clinics.
Our statistics:
During October 2011 to August 2012 we carried out 155 embryo transfers. We achieved a positive pregnancy rate of 61% for women under 38 years of age, 46.4% for women aged 38 to 39 and 28.8% for women aged 40 to 44. All of the results are per fresh embryo transfer.
How we achieved them:
The ZWAF Team attributes the success to fostering a caring environment which considers clients individually.
Women want a calm, relaxing, non-medical environment - not a conveyor belt system,says Zita.
Our clinic takes an individual tailored approach looking at the whole picture. We look at five key areas – medical, nutrition, lifestyle, emotional well-being and the relationship with their partner. Preparation is the key and we use therapies such as hypnotherapy and acupuncture alongside other mind-body therapies.
The Clinic also has top medical director George Ndukwe, who has pioneered approaches for implantation failure and reproductive immunology.
I have always believed in holistic approach to IVF and have been a huge advocate of the Zita West approach,explains George.
Having the opportunity to join forces is very exciting. We have perfected the art and science of IVF and it is more than just getting the sperm and eggs together. Preparation is the key to successful IVF. Looking and testing for nutritional status, (we are the only clinic in the UK, to offer a Nutritional and lifestyle assessment as part of our ivf package)as well as addressing mind-set and stress reduction are key factors.
Source
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Zita West's Guide to Getting Pregnantby Zita West
-- A pioneer in the field of fertility, Zita West's programme is invaluable for couples trying to conceive.
Harley Street's most popular fertility expert, and favourite consultant to celebrity clients, guides the reader through a process of vital physical and mental preparation.
The book is for every couple trying to conceive and has fascinating advice taken from Zita's 20 years of experience as midwife and 7 years as an acupuncturist.
It provides a structured, easy-to-follow step-by-step programme, complete with case studies and and enormously detailed questionnaire.
The guide includes details on:
• when and how often to have sex
• what can prevent fertilization and conception
• everything you need to know about sperm and ovulation
• nutrition, supplements and herbs
• complementary therapies such as acupressure, lymphatic massage and hypnotherapy
• how to overcome stress and other emotional blocks to pregnancy
• PCOS, endometriosis and other health issues
• tests and procedures if there is a problem
• and much much more.
Paperback: 400 pagesClick to order/for more info: Zita West's Guide to Getting Pregnant
Start reading Zita West's Guide to Getting Pregnant on your Kindle in under a minute! Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
As the head of Midwest Reproductive Center (MRC), Dr. Dan Gehlbach works to diagnose and treat couples struggling to conceive. Recently, Dr. Gehlbach began crusading for the Family Act of 2011, a critical piece of legislation that would offer a tax credit for infertility treatments related to IVF, in vitro fertilization. To show his support, Dr. Gehlbach has contacted Republican Kevin Yoder, the 3rd Congressional district representative.
Through his efforts at MRC, Dr. Gehlbach helps patients overcome physical, hormonal and age-related barriers to getting pregnant. One hurdle that is often challenging for couples to rise above is the financial impact of fertility treatment.
"Most people don’t realize how expensive these treatments can be," explained Dr. Gehlbach. "This bill would ease some of the financial burden."
Of particular concern are military families, who have government-issued insurance. The TriCare plan usually only covers the costs of infertility treatment at a military base. While some private fertility clinics accept this particular plan, many military families must take on the added expenses themselves.
Dr. Gehlbach, who is a West Point graduate, passionately believes in supporting the men and women who give so much for this country. "Those serving in our armed forces regularly put their lives on the line for our freedoms and endure the agony of separation from loved ones. I don’t want anything to prevent these heroes from having the children they desire."
With the Family Act of 2011, couples undergoing infertility treatments would receive a $13,360 fertility treatment tax credit. This bill is similar to the current adoption tax credit, which gives $13,000 per adopted child. National infertility groups like RESOLVE have offered support for the proposed legislation.
Gehlbach explained why this tax credit is so important. "Because fertility treatments aren’t covered by many insurance plans, a fertility tax credit would assist with the costs of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other related therapies."
If the bill passes, the Family Act of 2011 would give eligible taxpayers a credit of 50 percent of qualified infertility treatment expenses incurred during the tax year. Eligible costs would include expenses related to IVF as well as treatments to preserve reproductive health in advance of medical procedures that may impact fertility, such as cancer treatment. The credit would cap at $13,360 per year.
For Stephen and Traci Linville, this bill would have helped offset the costs of conceiving their 18-month-old daughter. After surgery to correct male infertility failed, the Linvilles underwent in-vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) following a testicular biopsy. With TriCare, they had no coverage, so the couple borrowed money for their infertility treatment.
Stephen served 22 years in the Army, and the couple still has TriCare insurance, which means they will incur similar expenses when they try for a second child later this year.
“It was such a high cost for us,” Traci explained. "I’m not sure how other people do it. We had to decide where we were going to sacrifice in other areas financially to afford treatment. A bill like this would have lessened our stress and financial burden."
Dr. Gehlbach has taken the lead by reaching out to Representative Yoder, and he is also encouraging staff members and patients to contact their Senators and Representatives in support of this bill. To encourage activism, the Midwest Reproductive Center Facebook page provides a link that patients can access for letter writing.
“By contacting our Senators and Congressional Representatives, we are making our voices heard so that our elected officials know that this tax credit is important,” said Dr. Gehlbach. "The Family Act of 2011 could provide the means for many Americans, not just military families, to begin or expand their families."
Estimates suggest that one in eight couples – or over 7.3 million Americans – experience male or female infertility. Through advanced diagnostic techniques and proven therapies, including fertility preservation, IVF and ICSI, Dr. Gehlbach has helped thousands of Kansas City area residents overcome infertility.
"Struggling to conceive is difficult enough. We want to make the process as easy as possible for people to realize their dreams," Dr. Gehlbach said.
###
About Midwest Reproductive Center
With over 60 years of combined experience, Dr. Dan Gehlbach and the team at Midwest Reproductive Center have created a world-class fertility clinic that serves residents of Olathe, Kansas City, Lawrence, Jefferson City and beyond. Dr. Gehlbach has helped hundreds of patients in the Kansas City area address their infertility issues and achieve successful pregnancies. For more information about the clinic, please visit http://www.midwestreproductive.com.
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Motherhood After 35: Choices, Decisions, Optionsby Maggie Jones
-- How is having a baby different for women in their late thirties and early forties?
If you're between 35 and 45 and trying to have a baby, or have already conceived, here's the reassurance you need ... and the facts you've been waiting for.
Maggie Jones evaluates the advantages as well as the risks of later motherhood.
Whether you are considering your first pregnancy after 35 or are starting a
secondfamily later in life, Motherhood After 35 is written with you in mind.
The author describes simply and clearly how to have the healthiest pregnancy possible and the options available.
Paperback: 192 pagesClick to order/for more info: Motherhood After 35
 |
| Photo credit: Raw Justification, by makelessnoise / Brian |
The reports come in advance of the first annual meeting of the International Society of Natural Cycle Assisted Reproduction (ISNAR).
The world's first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, born in 1978, used an IVF procedure which collected the woman's eggs during ovulation making the most of her natural cycle.
The use of high dose drugs has increased as older women, with less chance of success, are seeking treatment for infertility.
It is believed that one in twenty IVF patients suffer some side effect from the drugs used, this can range from pain and bloating to kidney damage.
Full article: BioNews.org.uk
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Motherhood After 35: Choices, Decisions, Optionsby Maggie Jones
-- How is having a baby different for women in their late thirties and early forties?
If you're between 35 and 45 and trying to have a baby, or have already conceived, here's the reassurance you need ... and the facts you've been waiting for.
Maggie Jones evaluates the advantages as well as the risks of later motherhood.
Whether you are considering your first pregnancy after 35 or are starting a
secondfamily later in life, Motherhood After 35 is written with you in mind.
The author describes simply and clearly how to have the healthiest pregnancy possible and the options available.
Paperback: 192 pagesClick to order/for more info: Motherhood After 35
Infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization might have more success if the procedure is performed in the spring.
Research published in July's Gynecological Endocrinology found the rate of fertilization was significantly higher in spring than any other season, though time of year had no effect on pregnancy rates. Natural reproduction also varies with the seasons; it is believed the number of hours of sunlight in the day and temperature variations affect fertility.
Researchers compared seasonal fertilization rates in 1,932 women who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI, in Brazil from 2005 to 2009. ICSI involves the injection of a single sperm directly into an oocyte, or unfertilized egg, outside of a woman's body.
Subjects were organized into groups according to the timing of oocyte retrieval: 435 were assigned to winter, 444 to spring, 469 to summer and 584 to autumn. Fertilization, the fusion of sperm and egg to form an embryo, was assessed 18 hours after ICSI.
The rate of fertilization was 73.5% in spring, 68.7% in summer, 67.9% in winter and 69% in autumn. Ovarian response to ICSI hormone treatments, a measurement of estrogen concentration per number of retrieved oocytes, was higher in spring compared with other seasons, tests showed. Following fertilization, one to three embryos were transferred into the woman's uterus.
The procedure resulted in an average pregnancy rate of 33% for all seasons.
Study: Seasonal variability in the fertilization rate of women undergoing assisted reproduction treatments
Source
Photo credit: wsj.com
All rights reserved
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
In Vitro Fertilization: The A.R.T. of Making Babies( Assisted Reproductive Technology )
by Geoffrey Sher, Virginia Marriage Davis, Jean Stoess
-- This clearly written technical handbook guides couples who are trying to conceive in determining whether they are eligible for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in selecting the program that will help them achieve the best results.
It describes in detail the anatomy and physiology of conception and the steps required for realizing it in the IVF procedure.
In addition to providing accurate information, the practitioner authors address emotional, financial, physical, and moral-religious issues involved in the decision to conceive with medical assistance.
Despite its experimental reputation and persistent high cost, IVF is an appropriate option for many of the estimated 3.3 million infertile couples in the U.S. today, so this specialized manual speaks to a rather large audience of potential users.
Paperback: 312 pagesClick to order/for more info: In Vitro Fertilization
Popular Posts
-
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her reproductive system shuts down and her reproducing days are over... or are they? For s... -
Found this on Women Over 40 With High FSH : TheFertilitycure.com -- I am sure many people here are very familiar with Randine Lewis... -
Photo credit: Tea Cup , by Saxon ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: The effect of caffeine consumption on fertility was examined prospectively in 210... -
Photo credit: Yvonne , by Duane J A woman who is over age 43 or 44 years old, will often be turned away from any chance at assisted repr... -
Newborn baby , by Joelle Inge-Messerschmidt/Photographybyjoelle.com In the Infertility Support forum on TCOYF's [Taking Care of You... -
Found this post by Ally (Ocelot Cub) on FertilityFriends.co.uk : Ally wrote: I have collected a number of success stories from ladies w...
Recent Comments