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A new medical test for women who want to check their biological clocks is debuting in Chicago amid concerns about its usefulness and enormous interest in the consequences of delayed childbearing. Called Plan Ahead, it is the first fertility test that purports to measure a woman's "ovarian reserve"—how many good eggs she has available for conception. The $350 test will be marketed to women who are contemplating when to have children and who want to recognize any potential biological limitations. Dr. Benjamin Leader, chief medical officer for the company marketing the test, Repromedix, compares it to checking the gas gauge on a car to see how much is left in the tank.

Tags: fertility, test, eggs, children, ovarian on 2008-04-30 -All Annotations (0) -About

more fromwww.chicagotribune.com

I found a fantastic article about how diet affects infertility. The article mainly addresses ovulatory infertility and there was no study on male factor infertility, although some of the same dietary concepts might apply to men too. To recap (with my commentary), the article states that there is a difference between fast and slow carbs. If you’re like me, then giving up potatoes might be an inconvenience, but if it means you can improve your ovulatory infertility than DO IT. The article continues to discuss animal versus plant protein. With ovulatory infertility, the study suggests that protein derived from plant is more helpful to ovulation than is animal protein. The higher the animal protein the more likelihood of infertility issues. The higher the animal protein the less occurrence of ovulation issues. So while you’re trying to become pregnant, eat less meat and more vegetables high in protein. My favorite part of the article deals with dairy (one of my favorite foods)…the article suggests having one full-fat dairy food serving per day. They state that a pint should last about two weeks with two half-cup servings per week. Just yesterday I was feeling guilty that I take my twin girls to Baskin Robins every Tuesday for Two-for-Tuesdays. Little did I know that I was helping their ovulatory fertility by doing so - do you think it works on 3 1/2 year olds? Somehow I doubt it. The article wraps up with the role of body weight, BMI and exercise. Weight is a determining factor in so many diseases and I wasn’t surprised to see it mentioned here. I know skinny and heavy people who had no problems getting pregnant while the perfectly fit (as this article describes) unable to conceive. So, I agree that it plays a part, but its one of the many, many pieces of fertility issues. Seems that regular exercise actually improves more than just your overall health, it helps with ovulatory fertility too.

Tags: fertility, infertility, ovulation, ovarian on 2008-04-29 -All Annotations (0) -About

more fromwww.commonvoice.com

Millions of women struggle with infertility and many of them turn to medications or medical procedures for help. In our Healthy Living report, why new research shows many of these women could improve their odds of getting pregnant simply by changing what they eat. A comprehensive study of thousands of women shows those who derive the majority of protein in their diet from animal sources can have trouble conceiving. “The more animal protein you take in the more problems you seem to have with ovulatory dysfunction,” said Dr. Keith Blauer. And swapping out animal proteins for vegetable proteins such as beans, tofu and nuts can improve the odds. “By changing the protein to vegetable protein you can improve ovulatory function,” said Dr. Blauer. Protein was just one recommendation from this study.

Tags: fertility diet, infertility, fertility on 2008-04-29 -All Annotations (0) -About

more fromwww.kutv.com

David Beckham, 32, told a US TV show earlier this week that his superstar wife wanted to extend her brood now the Spice Girls tour has finished. He told Ellen DeGeneres: “We’re working on it. We’re very family orientated, so we’ve always wanted a big family, which was weird because when we first got together we never even discussed how many children we wanted. “But it’s worked out that we want a big family and we love kids so it’s worked out perfect.” And David’s dad also confessed that his famous son “really wants a girl.” Red chillies are recommended because they “’spice’ things up in the fertility department by increasing the flow of blood around the body, ensuring that the reproductive system gets a healthy supply,” according to website askbaby.com. “Chillies also stimulate endorphin production which means that more fertility boosting, stress releasing, happy hormones circulate around your body.”

Tags: posh spice, fertility diet, red chillies, showbiz, beckham, gossip, fertility on 2008-04-28 -All Annotations (0) -About

more fromwww.showbizspy.com

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am writing in regard to the letter from the woman diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome. I was diagnosed with Stein-Leventhal syndrome after many futile fertility treatments. My doctor performed an ovarian wedge surgery, and six months later I was pregnant. I conceived a second child 21 months after that. I think polycystic ovary syndrome and Stein-Leventhal syndrome are the same. Why don't I ever read about the ovarian wedge surgery for infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome? — L.F. Doctors Stein and Leventhal first described polycystic ovarian syndrome in 1937, and the name became Stein-Leventhal syndrome. Now it's most often called polycystic ovary syndrome. Those two doctors pointed out the salient features of the syndrome: enlarged ovaries studded with cysts, loss of menstrual periods, and obesity. Infertility was another common feature. Doctors Stein and Leventhal also championed the surgical treatment of this syndrome — removal of a wedge of the ovary. The operation worked for some reason, but that reason wasn't appreciated until more recently. Removing the wedge decreased the production of male hormone, which is the basis of the syndrome. Now that new information has shown that an overproduction of male hormone is the important cause of the syndrome, there are many medicines that can be used to treat it. The wedge removal isn't necessary. For one thing, it almost always caused only a transitory drop in male hormone production. For another, it was often associated with the formation of adhesions. Taking medicines is much easier than having surgery and is a more reliable way to treat this illness, which now is known to have many features that were unrecognized in bygone years. One of those features is insensitivity to the action of insulin.

Tags: polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility, fertility, ovarian on 2008-04-27 -All Annotations (0) -About

more fromwww.southcoasttoday.com

About ten percent of women in the United States face some difficulty getting pregnant. Fortunately there are many options available to help overcome infertility, including acupuncture. Michele Sweeney is enjoying the best job she said she's ever had, being mom to three-month-old Brodie. Because she is in her early 40s, doctors advised Sweeney try in-vitro fertilization right away. She did twice and it did not work. "It's the emotional part that's the hard part. It's very hard when you see friends around you getting pregnant without any assistance and you're spending all kinds of money and time and it's a huge commitment, and at the end of all that you don't have a pregnancy," she said.

Tags: accupuncture, infertility, fertility on 2008-04-08 -All Annotations (0) -About

more fromwww.wcbd.com

According to the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) 2002 National Survey on Family Growth, 1.2 million of the estimated 62 million women in their reproductive years – that's two percent – have had infertility-related medical appointments; 10% have received infertility services. The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) reports that most infertility cases – 85%-90%, in fact – are treated with conventional medical therapies (medication or surgery.) But for some, in vitro fertilization and other Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) are needed to try and conceive. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) How does it work: Intrauterine insemination, also known as artificial insemination, involves a woman being injected with washed and treated sperm from her husband or a donor during ovulation. During this time, she must also take fertility drugs to stimulate egg production. Couples may try IUI if there is a problem with low sperm count or mobility, or another unexplained infertility condition. How much does it cost? Costs associated with IUI's vary, as with other procedures, and are dependent on how many cycles a woman goes through and whether the sperm is donated, as well as additional costs associated with medication, ultrasounds and monitoring. Ranges for IUI cycles can be anywhere from the mid $300's to the $1000's, and, as with all infertility treatments, eligibility for insurance coverage depends on where you live, the clinic you are visiting and your insurance carrier.

Tags: donor egg, IUI, IVF, infertility, fertility, sperm on 2008-04-05 -All Annotations (0) -About

more fromwww.sheknows.com

This year's National Infertility Day (NID) conference recognises 30 years of IVF by welcoming as our opening speaker Professor Robert Edwards, who alongside his late colleague Sir Patrick Steptoe was one of the pioneers of IVF. In addition we are delighted to also welcome Professor Andre Van Steirteghem, the pioneer of intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) which gave the chance of a child to those affected by male infertility. The conference will take place on 19th July 2008 at The New Connaught Rooms in central London. We have the most distinguished list of more than 30 other speakers delivering talks on subjects ranging from medical areas such as donor issues, male and female infertility and new developments including in vitro maturation and the issue of single embryo transfer. We will also cover related topics including nutrition, Chinese medicine, adoption, surrogacy and much more. There will also be a session looking at what to do if treatment fails.

Tags: chinese medicine, ivf, infertility, fertility, invitro on 2008-04-05 -All Annotations (0) -About

more fromwww.medicalnewstoday.com

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine now have a clearer understanding of why synthetic estrogens such as those found in many widely-used plastics have a detrimental effect on a developing fetus, cause fertility problems, as well as vaginal and breast cancers. Preliminary results of the study will be presented at the 2008 Society for Gynecologic Investigation (SGI) Annual Scientific Meeting held March 26-29 in San Diego, California. The study was led by Hugh S. Taylor, M.D., professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Science and section chief of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Yale School of Medicine. Past research shows that exposure to the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) alters the expression of HOXA10, a gene necessary for uterine development, and increases the risk of cancer and pregnancy complications in female offspring. The team sought to understand why a developing female fetus exposed to DES might develop uterine cancer and other problems years after exposure. Even though DES is no longer on the market, the authors chose to study its effects to gain insight into how similar synthetic estrogens might work.

Tags: estrogens, fertility, fertility problems, synthetic estrogen on 2008-04-02 -All Annotations (0) -About

more fromwww.news-medical.net

Fertility Physicians of Northern California (FPNC), a private medical practice dedicated to helping people facing infertility, announced today that its founder, David Adamson, MD, has taken office as President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the nation's leading organization for reproductive medicine and science. Dr. Adamson assumed the presidency at the 8,000 plus member society's annual meeting in October 2007. He previously served a year as the organization's president-elect. In his term as president, Dr. Adamson will be Chairman of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors, and lead the world's largest organization of reproductive professionals in all aspects of its educational, scientific and advocacy missions. Dr. Adamson is a sought-after clinician and researcher. He is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, surgeon, and Director of Fertility Physicians of Northern California, in San Jose and Palo Alto, in addition to serving as Adjunct Clinical Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine and Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine.

Tags: adamson, endocrinologist, fertility, reproductive medicine on 2008-04-02 -All Annotations (0) -About

more frombiz.yahoo.com

Are men speed-dialing infertility by talking for hours a day on their cell phones? A new study suggests that might be the case, but before potential papas ditch the devices, they should know that lead author Ashok Agarwal says the data are "quite preliminary." Cell phones emit radiofrequency electromagnetic waves. Scientists have reported potential adverse effects of the waves on the brain, heart, endocrine system and DNA, Agarwal, director of the andrology lab at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and his co-authors write in the journal Fertility and Sterility.

Tags: app.com, fertility, infertility, sterility on 2008-04-02 -All Annotations (0) -About

more fromwww.app.com

After a failed attempt at in vitro fertilization, an unsuccessful frozen embryo transfer and other fertility treatments, Caren Harvey and her husband, Paul, were emotionally, physically and financially exhausted. Three years earlier, fertility treatments and surgery had made the couple's dream of having a baby a reality. Perhaps, they decided, a second child was not to be. "We were devastated," says Harvey, 38, of her last unsuccessful attempt at a frozen embryo transfer. "Do we give up? What do we do? Do we just embrace our one baby and be happy, or do we try for another child and continue to torture ourselves?" The Harveys decided to try once more. But this time, they used an ancient Chinese medical procedure as part of their treatment. They credit the birth of their second daughter, Brooke Judith, born in January 2007, to acupuncture — at least in part. "We thought it was a little quirky at first," recalls Harvey. "I'm a nurse, so this felt very odd to me. Western medicine is very traditional; then you walk into an office, and this beautiful soft music is playing and she's looking at my tongue and telling me what [my body] is lacking. I know it [acupuncture] made a dramatic change. I really wish I had done this before I tried anything else."

Tags: acupuncture, fertility, infertility, treatments on 2008-03-29 -All Annotations (0) -About

more fromwww2.tbo.com

Free Workshop For Infertility Winthrop-University Hospital will offer a free workshop, "When Hope is Not Enough," for women and their partners who are frustrated in their efforts to have a baby. The program will be held on Monday, April 7, 2008, at 6:30 PM at Winthrop's Community Outreach Center, located at 101 Mineola Boulevard in Mineola. Couples can learn how they can optimize their chances of conceiving a child from Linda Sung, MD, a specialist in Reproductive Endocrinology and In-fertility. Dr. Sung will discuss how infertility is defined, what couples can do about it, and the latest information on treatment options. "There are many treatments available for fertility, but it's important to individualize the treatment according to the needs of couple," she said. A question and answer period will be included in the lecture. Parking and the entrance are in the rear of the building. Admission is free, but seating is limited; refreshments will be served. Reservations are required. To reserve your seat, please call 1-866-WINTHROP. Winthrop is a member of Spirt of Women(r), a coalition of American hospitals and healthcare providers that ascribe to high standards of excellence in women's health, education and community outreach.

Tags: clinic, fertility, infertility on 2008-03-29 -All Annotations (0) -About

more fromwww.gcnews.com