Most couples have a lot of questions and concerns about starting infertility treatment.  Is it me?  Is it my spouse?  What will we need to do?  What tests will the doctor request?  Will we ever have a baby?  How long will it take?  The list of questions and worries seems endless. Besides these types of questions, many couples worry about the actual treatment that is recommended, including the various medications to be taken, the daily injections that may be required, the physical response to taking daily injections, and so on.

As you are considering the need for possible infertility treatment, it is important to do some initial research to increase your awareness and understanding of the entire process. From choosing your reproductive specialist to getting ready for your first appointment or starting medication, understanding the process will make it much easier for you to move through the steps.

After testing has been completed and the doctor has determined a diagnosis, the physician will discuss and implement a treatment plan with you. There are several different options for medication, depending on your situation.

The following are all used for ovulation induction, helping your ovaries prepare and mature several eggs for ovulation:

A combination of follicle-stimulating hormone and human menopausal gonadotropin may also be prescribed as part of the treatment plan.

Once you start the prescribed treatment plan, regular blood testing and ultrasounds are usually required. Typically, your physician will let you know when you have two to three mature egg follicles in the ovary and when to begin having intercourse.  Your physician may even suggest a procedure known as intrauterine insemination (IUI).  This procedure involves using a small catheter to put the sperm through the cervix directly into the uterus.

If you have a few unsuccessful cycles, or if the doctor thinks it is a more appropriate treatment choice, in vitro fertilization (IVF) might be recommended.  IVF is a more invasive procedure and it involves a higher dosage of follicle-stimulating hormones and human menopausal gonadotropin.  The higher dosage of medication is necessary to help you produce many more than two to three eggs.  Another medication is usually required to shut off the surge of hormones that causes a mature egg follicle to release its egg during ovulation. Once you have a number of mature egg follicles, your physician will prepare you for egg retrieval and embryo transfer.

Going through infertility treatment usually requires that you learn how to do injections for yourself.  It is initially intimidating for most people, but it is not difficult and most women quickly get used to this necessary procedure.

Undergoing infertility treatment can be tough. Make sure that you have caring support in place throughout the treatment process; support can come from family, friends, or even a professional if necessary.  As stated earlier, the best thing you can do is educate yourself.  Know what to expect, learn about your options, and find an infertility clinic with good success rate statistics.  You will also want to make sure that you are comfortable with your reproductive specialist and the infertility clinic staff.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get a second opinion.

Since 1997, the physicians at the Center of Reproductive Medicine (CORM) have safely provided the highest pregnancy success rates for thousands of patients in the Clear Lake and greater Southeast Texas area.   At CORM, our professional staff is committed to providing the highest quality reproductive medicine and care for each patient.  If you would like to speak with an reproductive specialist, please contact the Center of Reproductive Medicine today!

While infertility impacts men and women in different ways, most couples experience the struggle in much the same way. This is due to the fact that men and women have been traditionally trained to feel, think, and act in different ways.

Women are typically thought of as the emotional caretakers of the relationship.  Many women often feel responsible, not only for their own and their partner’s feelings, but also for anything bad that happens within the relationship.  In some situations, women try to repress feelings; when this happens, their emotions can become so strong that they feel as though they are spiraling out of control.

Many women in a relationship affected by infertility shelter their husbands from their own feelings of despair and failure by taking much of the responsibility for the treatments upon themselves.  Doctors and specialists often suggest that men attend appointments with their wives.  Many couples, however, express concerns about issues such as income loss, childcare, use of time, etc., so often women will attend the actual appointments alone.  While these concerns are significant, they may also serve to protect potential fathers from their own responsibility in the conception process.  They also may protect men from their own feelings, which may become more intense with each step in the medical process.

Men are typically not as comfortable as women in expressing their emotions. It is important to keep this in mind, realizing that men are trained to take control, to make decisions, and to think without being sidetracked by emotions.  Men often feel anxious or amazed by the intensity of their partner’s emotions as well as an inability to work with and understand their own feelings.  Feelings of failure are often difficult to deal with or accept.  Most men will focus their energy back into their work, a place where they feel they can have more success.

As a result of taking responsibility for the emotional impact of the infertility, a woman often experiences intense feelings, such as pain, anger, fear, etc.  Women often receive verbal messages or non-verbal cues that her way of dealing with things is in some way dysfunctional or “crazy.”  This messaging often breeds a feeling of anxiety and deep depression.  These feelings can be wild and uncontrollable at times.  As feelings spill out, a woman may not know how to ask for what she needs, especially from the husband she is struggling so hard to protect. Many women feel like there is a pendulum swinging from one side to another.  The pendulum goes from a sense of yearning for an emotional connection/interaction at one moment to withdrawing emotionally from her husband, especially if she thinks she has disappointed him.

Men find themselves in a situation where, no matter how well they’ve been trained to solve the puzzle or fix a problem, they are unable to make the circumstances better for their partner.  As a result, men may give off messages that their partner is “too” emotional or sensitive, hoping that this will calm her down.  Of course, the wife usually hears this as criticism of her coping and caretaking skills rather than as a communication of her husband’s fears.

This may be a time when many couples hold on to each other for dear life.  Both partners feel that they’ve failed in the most basic of all roles and responsibilities, reproduction. Couples are hesitant to admit problems in their marriage, thinking that if coping with infertility is difficult, then maybe their marriage might well be a failure.

Thankfully, it is possible for couples to help each other balance what they are thinking and feeling as they move through their struggles together on their path toward parenthood. During this intense journey together, many questions may arise: How do I get what I need from my partner?  How can I provide support for my partner during this difficult time?

Here are some suggestions to help both partners during the infertility process:

• Understand and remember the psychological and emotional differences between women and men.
• Appreciate the fact that there is no right or wrong way to feel. Becoming in touch with your feelings will help you know what you need. Once you can identify your needs and feelings, telling your partner, clearly and specifically, how to help you will bring you closer together.
• Be sure to find out from your partner what he/she needs rather than just deciding that you can/cannot give it.
• Communicate openly with each other.

Share more in the process of treatment. Share the stress and the joy, as well as your unique perspectives/experiences of infertility.  It will certainly give you the support needed to help balance the intensity of the process and it will hopefully bring you closer together as you develop a deeper respect for each other…

Finding support when dealing with infertility is an absolute must, and friends and family can lend some of that support. While they may not be able to give the perfect kind of support, some support is better than none, at least most of the time. The question isn’t so much ‘should you tell friends and family members,’ but more so ‘to whom should you open up?’ Considering the pros and cons of telling particular people can help you make the best choice. You want to tell those people who you know will support you, not those who might not understand and might make you feel worse.

The Benefits of Sharing

“Wanna-be” grandparents can be pushy sometimes, especially if they think you are actively choosing not to have kids. If you tell them that you are trying but having problems, hopefully they will stop pushing the issue.  One advantage of sharing news of your infertility problems with some family members is that they will most likely stop asking those uncomfortable questions, such as “When are you going to have kids?” These kinds of questions can be quite difficult to hear, especially at family get-togethers.

Telling your friends about your infertility issues can help when awkward situations, such as baby showers, baptisms, and baby birthday parties arise.  It’s completely normal to feel uncomfortable about attending a baby shower or other baby-related parties, and many women coping with infertility turn invitations down. Friends will probably be more understanding if they know about your infertility.

Possible Pitfalls

Of course, there are some possible pitfalls to sharing. People understandably don’t always know how to react to delicate information like this. It is not that your friends and family don’t want to be helpful, they are just not sure how to do so.

Some may react in an “I know all about it” or “let me fix it” way, giving you all the research studies they have found and sharing all the stories they have heard. Others may try to make you feel that there’s an easy solution. Friends may tell you not to worry or to just try IVF, not knowing how expensive and invasive some procedures can be, or that IVF is not a guaranteed solution.

Some friends can become extra uncomfortable, being afraid to tell you anything about their pregnancy or new babies.  In some ways, it’s better than having to listen to them talk on and on about their own pregnancy or babies.  On the other hand, it introduces a huge elephant in the room so that everyone is afraid to talk about pregnancy or anything at all that is related to babies.

Deciding Who to Tell

With these benefits and possible pitfalls in mind, how do you decide exactly who to tell?  Telling your parents may be a good idea, but only if they are not the type to react with blaming or excessive advice giving. You most likely have a pretty good idea by now whether or not telling your parents is the best thing to do.  You will have to ask yourself which is easier; dealing with the occasional “when are you going to have kids” question, or possibly listening to how all of this is “your fault” because you waited too long to start your family?

Often, the best family support comes from siblings, or maybe even a cousin with whom you have a relaxed and caring relationship. The whole idea is to find a few family members that you feel comfortable confiding in; you will want someone you can call on a bad day, or to make understanding eye-contact with at those family gatherings when an inappropriate or difficult comment is made.

You know your friends best, and you can probably quickly check off who not to tell.  You certainly love your friends dearly, but there are just some friends who don’t do well in sticky social situations, and there are others who just feel the need to give way too much advice. Keep in mind that you don’t need to feel obligated to tell someone just because he or she is a good friend. It’s entirely possible that your best friend isn’t the best person to confide in; a good friend at work might just be the perfect person to give you the kind of support you need.  Make choices based on what is best for you, and not based on who you think deserves to know.

Support from Other Couples Dealing with Infertility

It’s also very important to have support from others who understand infertility.  One of the most important benefits of participating in a support group is a decrease in the sense of isolation many people feel when they are experiencing infertility.  A local support group or an online infertility community are both great resources to consider.  Even though your friends or family members may be good listeners, you will probably find that you need to talk with others who get what you are saying or feeling because they have been there themselves.  You can ask the staff at your infertility clinic for information regarding local support groups; they may even have information regarding online communities that have been helpful for other patients.  CORM holds a peer-led Support Group on a monthly basis at our Webster location that is open to women, men, and couples who are confronted with varying degrees of challenges dealing with their infertility journey.

Another great resource for help in finding the right support group can be found on the National Infertility Awareness website… RESOLVE.ORG

Telling friends and family about your infertility can be beneficial.  Just choose who you are going to tell carefully.  Remember that, even though they truly do want to support you and understand your situation, it may be difficult for them having not gone through the same challenges that you are facing.

If you are experiencing problems getting pregnant, the caring and professional staff at the Center of Reproductive Medicine are available to answer your questions and to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.  Our experienced infertility doctors will work closely with you to choose the best fertility program for your individual reproductive needs.

The question is this – how do you find someone who will be able to help YOU?  There are many different reasons why you might seek a counselor; depending on the reason, you may need to find a therapist that has special training and experience in infertility.

When looking for the right counselor to work with, be sure to keep the following in mind:

Ask for Recommendations

Check with your physician, your OB/GYN, or your reproductive specialist.  Even if your doctor hasn’t recommended that you seek help from a counselor, he/she most likely will be a fine resource for finding a local counselor who has experience with infertility.

Make Sure the Therapist Is Licensed

While this may seem obvious, there is a definite difference between a trained therapist and what’s known as an “infertility coach” or “infertility consultant.” If you’re struggling with anxiety and depression, or if your doctor requires that you see a therapist, you need someone who is a licensed mental health professional. You should look for someone with a graduate degree in an area of mental health, such as psychology or social work, and make sure that he or she has a license to practice in your state.

Make Sure the Therapist Is Educated in Infertility Issues

If you’re seeking a counselor to help deal with the emotional issues only, you may or may not need someone with special training in infertility counseling.  You may find it more beneficial, however, to seek help from someone who has expertise in infertility counseling.  If you need to see a counselor because your doctor requires you to see someone before a particular treatment, or if you are struggling with options and decisions, then you absolutely need someone with special training.

Oftentimes, women will seek counseling assistance regarding available options and decision-making.  Finding a therapist who is knowledgeable about reproductive medicine is important because you will want someone who can explain options in a non-biased way.  Most of the time, a therapist with specialized infertility knowledge will share information in an educational style or format.  At that point, they will help you process the information presented, so you can make decisions regarding which treatment option feels right for you.

Interview and Ask Questions

Before you start working with a therapist, ask detailed questions about his/her training, services, and experience. It will be extremely important that the counselor you choose is someone you feel comfortable talking to and working with.

Make a list of questions before your initial consultation.  You might include some of the following questions on your list:

• Do you have specialized training in infertility?  Are you knowledgeable about the medical side of infertility?
• What experience do you have with infertility, professionally or even personally?
• Do you have any clients who are dealing with infertility?
• Would you be willing to write up a report for my fertility doctor? (This may be required by your doctor.)
• After sharing your reasons for seeking a counselor, be sure to ask him/her if they think they can help you.

If It’s Not Working, Don’t Be Afraid To Find Someone Else

In order for the relationship with a therapist to work well, the therapist should provide a safe environment for you to share your thoughts and feelings about your infertility journey.  A safe and understanding environment gives you a chance to work through your feelings and to understand why you feel that way, so you can determine how you want to move forward.  A therapist is not going to make your decisions for you; they

will not tell you whether or not you should go with IVF, use donor eggs, or move on to adoption.  The therapist’s role is to help you express your needs, concerns, emotions, and goals, and further clarify your thoughts.

You will want a therapist who will help you to feel empowered to make decisions, but certainly not one who makes you feel like they are judging the decisions you make.  If you do not feel comfortable with your therapist or if you do not feel like the patient/therapist relationship is working for you, you can always make the decision to end the connection.  Know that sometimes, it just doesn’t work out and you can find a therapist that will help you in a way that is meaningful and works well for you.

Determining and tracking your fertility signs can be a complicated, and seemingly mysterious, process.  For women with regular menstrual cycles, it is fairly easy to determine the peak fertility point in their monthly cycle.  As you make one of life’s most wonderful decisions to start a family or have additional children, you will want to determine your own personal “fertility clues” by charting specific signs at home.

Most women are fertile for only a couple days each month midway through their menstrual cycle.  Ovulation most often occurs 14 days before bleeding in women with regular cycles, but for those women with hormone imbalances, they can experience post-ovulatory phases that are longer or shorter than two weeks. There are some women who have clear signs and clues when fertility is approaching and then happening, but many others have a difficult time determining the changes that happen in their bodies throughout the month.  If you are finding that your “fertility clues” are difficult to determine, or if you are having difficulty becoming pregnant, our fertility specialists at the Center of Reproductive Medicine in Houston are dedicated to examining and investigating the specific cause of your fertility concerns.

The following are the three fertility signs most often charted by women at home:

Ovulation Prediction Kits

The beginning of ovulation can be detected by the surge of LH or luteinizing hormone. This is the final hormone to peak before ovulation, prompting the rupture of the ovarian sac that releases the egg. Ovulation prediction kits show the presence of LH in your urine, indicating that you will likely ovulate within 12 to 24 hours. LH is not completely released at one time, but rather rises and falls for one or two days. One of the downsides of these kits is that they are not capable of confirming or pinpointing ovulation precisely, so you may already be fertile before your test indicates a positive. Another concern is that you can have an LH surge but not actually ovulate. To ensure the best results when using an ovulation prediction kit, be sure to follow the instructions and recommendations included with your kit, especially the information regarding the best time of day to test your urine with the indicator sticks.

Basal Body Temperature

Your body’s resting temperature usually is lower during the first two weeks of your cycle before ovulation.  Estrogen keeps the BBT low.  Immediately following ovulation, the follicle that encased the egg starts producing progesterone, “turning up the heat” a half-degree or more until you begin bleeding. This temperature rise lets you know that ovulation has occurred.  If your BBT stays higher after your menstrual period is due, it could be a very early indicator of pregnancy. When you are tracking your BBT, you must consistently take your temperature first thing every morning before you talk, eat, or get out of bed. It is best to use a glass thermometer that shows larger degree increments. Writing down each day’s reading will give you an accurate picture of your BBT throughout your monthly cycle. Digital thermometers can be used, but may not be as accurate.

Cervical Mucus

The fluid in your cervix changes throughout your menstrual cycle. The presence and quality of the fluid is determined by the amount of estrogen in your bloodstream. For most of your cycle, the cervix is very acidic and unfriendly to sperm.  About the time of ovulation, however, the cervix becomes more alkaline, providing a friendlier environment for sperm.  At this point in your cycle, the cervical fluid is similar to semen, allowing sperm to move about freely and to stay active as they wait for an egg. Mucus is typically dry or absent during the week of your menstrual bleeding, however in the second week of your cycle, the mucus becomes wetter. The mucus develops a sticky quality and becomes more like a creamy substance. The fluid then turns slick and often stretchy; when it looks and feels like raw egg whites, that is your signal that you have reached the peak fertility point in your cycle.  Once the egg is released, cervical fluid will usually dry up fairly quickly.  After ovulation, mucus production slows and becomes drier and thicker in the third week.  Pre-menstrual systems occur in the fourth week and then bleeding occurs. Beginning on the first day of your cycle (when bleeding starts), you can check your cervical fluid. Examine your vaginal opening a couple of times a day with clean fingers (before you urinate), looking for signs of sticky, creamy, or slippery fluid.  You can check with toilet paper, but your observations may be less accurate.

Chart your fertility signals and make notes each day throughout the month.  It is best to track at least two signs, if possible, since more information often leads to additional clues.  As you chart your fertility indicators, record any breast tenderness, vaginal sensations, ovulatory pain, changes in libido, mood swings, cramping, breakthrough bleeding, or other symptoms that may be linked to ovulation.  This information will be useful if, or when, you work with a fertility specialist.

If attempting to track your fertility becomes too difficult with irregular cycles or inconsistent cervical fluid checks, and you have been trying to become pregnant for more than 12 months, it is time to schedule a consultation with a fertility specialist.  The fertility specialists at The Center of Reproductive Medicine are ready to help you uncover the mysteries surrounding your fertility.  Our physicians and professional staff at CORM are dedicated to helping you achieve a successful pregnancy.  Call us today at (281) 332-0073 to schedule an appointment.

Advances in the treatment of cancer have led to extraordinary improvements in the long-term prognosis of patients.  Unfortunately, a complication of these increasingly effective cancer therapies is reproductive failure resulting in a man’s temporary and even permanent infertility or sterility.

Cancer treatment negatively impacts sperm quality, which often leads to infertility.  Patients may have to undergo radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery as part of their cancer treatment program.  Each of these treatments has harmful and destructive effects on sperm production or emission and can thus contribute to infertility.  Certain types of cancer may also affect sperm quality even prior to the beginning of treatment.

Before beginning treatment for cancer, it is important that you fully understand that your therapy may cause infertility.  If you’re a man, however, you should also be aware that there are a number of technologies available to help you preserve your fertility.  Your options may include the following:

Sperm Cryopreservation

Sperm cryopreservation is a term usually used to describe the freezing and storage of a sperm sample and it is also sometimes referred to as sperm banking.  It is considered to be an extremely effective way for men to retain their ability to become a father in the future and it is widely available in most countries around the world.

The sperm sample is most commonly retrieved from three separate sessions of self-stimulation.  It is subsequently frozen at very low temperatures for many years or until you are ready to use it.   Men may be candidates for sperm banking, even if they have very low sperm counts.

Once you are ready to start a family, your frozen sperm can be used to fertilize an egg cell using one of several different procedures, including intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF), or introcytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

It is usually recommended to collect the sperm before the start of any cancer treatments in order to get the best sample with the healthiest sperm cells.  Following your cancer diagnosis, you should begin discussing the possibility of sperm banking with your doctor as soon as possible.

Testicular Shielding During Radiation Therapy

During radiation treatments, shields are often used to decrease the amount of radiation delivered to the testes. This may or may not be possible, depending on the area of your body that will receive radiation.  If you do not require direct radiation to the testicles, however, shielding can definitely reduce the amount of radiation exposure and may prevent some fertility issues.

Testicular Tissue Cryopreservation

The purpose of testicular tissue cryopreservation, known as testicular tissue freezing, is to return sperm-producing frozen tissue to the body after therapy. This method is still in an experimental phase.

Testicular Sperm Extraction:

With testicular sperm extraction, a surgeon will remove a sample of tissue from the testicles under local anesthesia.  The tissue is examined and any sperm cells present are collected and frozen for future use.  The frozen sperm are then used to fertilize egg cells in the same way as sperm banking.  The testicular sperm extraction process is also recommended to men who are unable to produce sperm by ejaculation due to primary testicular failure or a non-reconstructed vasectomy.

While there is the potential for your cancer treatment to cause you to become sterile, there are a number of options to help you to keep your ability to father a child in the future.  It is important that you discuss your options with your physician early for the best fertility preservation outcomes.

Take control of your fertility and make an appointment with one of our compassionate and highly trained reproductive specialists.  CORM serves the greater southeast area of Texas with full-service fertility clinics in Webster and Beaumont using the latest techniques and procedures to help patients achieve the gift of new life.  The professional staff at the Center of Reproductive Medicine will work closely with you to choose the most appropriate fertility program for your individual reproductive medical needs.

The cost of fertility treatment, for many couples experiencing infertility, can be daunting, making their dreams of parenthood seem far out of reach.  At the Center of Reproductive Medicine (CORM), we want all our patients to feel confident about their ability to grow their families, regardless of their financial situation or insurance coverage.  Our experienced, caring fertility specialists are always happy to work closely with patients, helping them choose the correct and affordable fertility program that meets their individual reproductive medicine needs.  Over and above insurance coverage and financial plans, there are additional savings that may be available through tax deductions.

This is the time of year when most people are thinking about taxes – waiting for W-2 wage statements and 1099 forms, scurrying to get receipts and documents together, making appointments with accountants and tax consultants and so on, in order to minimize their tax bill and maximize their potential refunds.  You know the drill and the April 15th deadline.  Did you know, however, that there is an IRS rule that allows folks to itemize and deduct medical expenses that exceed 10% of their adjusted gross income from their annual income tax bill?  Many infertility patients may be able take advantage of this important medical deduction.  For patients paying out-of-pocket for fertility treatment, itemizing medical deductions can result in a significant refund of the money paid for the necessary treatments.  While the cost of fertility treatments may be very intimidating, treatment is actually more affordable than couples imagine, once they realize that they are paying with pre-tax dollars and may be eligible for a tax refund.

To make the most of the tax deductions allowed by the IRS for medical expenses, consider these tips:

Save All Medical-Related Receipts

Save each and every one of your medical invoices and receipts, including the ones you think you won’t need, because infertility treatments are just part of the amount that may be deductible.  Often, patients are surprised to learn the various types of expenses that may qualify as a medical deduction.  Of course, you should consult your tax advisor for specific guidance on your individual circumstances, but here is a list of expenses that you may be surprised to know are deductible:

• Co-payments/Co-insurance
• Fertility treatment fees that are paid out-of-pocket
• Laboratory fees
• Prescription medications
• Travel expenses for trips related to medical care including mileage, tolls, parking, hotels, and meals

As the IRS rules may change from year-to-year, be sure to check the IRS website for the most thorough and up-to-date information on medical expense deductions.

Keep A Detailed Log of Expenses

There is always the possibility that your tax return will be chosen to go through an IRS audit.  Keeping a detailed record of when each expense occurred is important in the event you are contacted to validate your specific deductions. The actual IRS form used to itemize deductions does not provide a place to explain why medical expenses are higher than average or more than usual.  Therefore, if you are contacted by the IRS, detailed records may be needed to back-up your deductions. The more accurate and detailed your records, the better prepared you will be to provide the necessary information to an IRS auditor.

Health Savings Accounts &Amp; Flexible Spending Accounts

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) provide additional choices for patients to pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses with pre-tax dollars.  Employers who offer FSA/HSA plans allow employees to save a portion of their pay in a special account specifically earmarked for medical expenses. The money that is saved in these accounts is not taxed.  If the money saved in an HSA or FSA account is not large enough to cover all of the medical expenses in a given year, the remainder can still be itemized as deductions.

If you are currently undergoing treatment, have already completed your treatment or you are just in the process of researching treatment, the IRS’s rule on deducting medical expenses can help you.  Itemizing medical deductions or using an FSA account will require some diligence, attention to detail, and possibly some extra paperwork, but it may save you thousands of dollars in taxes in the long run.

Keep All of Your Records for Seven Years

The IRS has the authority to request supporting documentation for your tax returns for up to 7 years after you file them.  Keeping your receipts and detailed records during this period of time will allow you to provide the necessary documentation if, and when, it is requested.

Forget to Itemize Medical Expenses Last Year? It’s Not Too Late!

If you had fertility treatment expenses last year and failed to deduct them, you can file IRS form 1040X to amend previous tax returns to include these medical deductions.  Form 1040X must be filed within three years from the date of your original return or within two years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later.

It is important to remember, however, that each patient’s circumstances are unique.  Consult with your personal tax advisor to determine how the medical deduction rules may apply specifically to you.

Using these tips, along with the suggested and affordable programs outlined by a fertility specialist at CORM, can put infertility treatment costs within your reach.  Now is the time to maximize your tax deductions to minimize your tax bills.  Your dreams of parenthood can become a reality!

It is often the case that, as couples are making the decision to expand their families, they also decide to make personal commitments to improve their overall health.  Many people presume that exercising will improve not only their health, but also their fertility.  While exercising has many great benefits, unfortunately that is not the complete story.  As with other things in life, sometimes too much of a good thing is not really so good at all, including exercise.

Studies have shown that “too much” exercise may actually decrease a woman’s fertility. This applies to women who exercise to the point of lowering their weight levels below the healthy range, and even to women who maintain a normal weight and continue to get regular menstrual cycles.

It is also important to understand, however, that obesity can also lead to lower fertility.  To fight obesity, a combination of a healthy diet and moderate exercise is needed. Regular, balanced exercise is known to lower stress, which is particularly important when trying to cope with infertility.

So, the question is this… How much exercise is too much?  Some studies have shown that more than seven hours per week of vigorous aerobic exercise has been associated with ovulatory infertility.  In women undergoing in vitro fertilization, four or more hours of strenuous exercise weekly over a period of several years has been associated with unsuccessful outcomes.  These studies seem to show that too much exercise can impair ovulation.

One possible result of too much exercise is a luteal phase defect.  The luteal phase is the time period between ovulation and a woman’s expected period.  This time period, also known as the “two week wait,” is normally between 12 and 16 days.  Unfortunately, a shorter luteal phase can interfere with getting pregnant.  Typically, progesterone levels stay high during this time, allowing a fertilized egg to attach itself to the uterine lining.  Lower levels of progesterone are known to interfere with a fertilized egg implanting, which can lead to infertility.

Another potential reason for infertility brought about by over-exercising is that the hormones responsible for regulating the female reproductive system are changed in ways that tamper with ovulation. It is possible that exercise-induced infertility is brought about by changes in leptin levels, a hormone that regulates appetite and metabolism.  If your appetite is low, you may not eat enough, which can interfere with regular ovulation.

In considering the eating habits of women who exercise more than 7 hours per week, it is quite possible that they are more likely to restrict their diet.  Not eating enough healthy fats, losing weight rapidly, or weighing below the recommended weight guidelines for your height can affect ovulation.

While too much exercise is a problem for some women, there are more women with the opposite problem – not enough exercise, leading possibly to obesity.  Research shows that fertility is often impaired when a woman is overweight.  The good news is that losing just 10% of your current body weight has been shown to improve fertility in women who are overweight.  If your BMI is over 27, and you’re trying to lose weight, you shouldn’t shy away from exercise.  Just don’t overdo it.

Exercise has many advantages, and taking control of your body can be uplifting and empowering, especially if you are struggling with infertility.  The bottom line is, however, that if you are trying to conceive, and your typical routine involves seven hours or more of strenuous exercise each week, such as running, fast cycling, swimming, or aerobics classes, you may want to cut back.  Consider replacing some of your more intense workouts with gentler forms of exercise.  For example, instead of taking a high-power aerobics class every day, you can alternate some of your workouts with a casual walk or a yoga class.  You’ll still get to enjoy moving your body, but you won’t be overtaxing your system.

The good news is that with a change in your exercise program, you can improve your chances of getting pregnant.  If you still have trouble getting pregnant, it may be time to make an appointment with a reproductive specialist.  If you are looking to take control of your fertility, make an appointment with one of our compassionate and highly trained infertility doctors.  CORM serves the greater Houston area with full-service fertility clinics in Webster and Beaumont.  The professional staff at the Center of Reproductive Medicine will work closely with you to choose the most appropriate fertility program for your individual reproductive medical needs.

For women and men grappling with infertility, the start of the New Year may have signaled an optimistic, new beginning.  On the other hand, ringing in 2013 may have served as a painful reminder that your goal of parenthood has not been met.  No matter which side of the spectrum you are on, you are not alone.

As the New Year marches forward, you may find yourself dreading yet another round of IVF or you just might be looking forward to a new treatment plan. Regardless of what 2013 brings for you, here are a few simple resolutions that might help you reach your ultimate goal of a successful pregnancy.

Probably the most common resolution that is made at the beginning of each new year involves weight loss.  Many folks put losing weight as their top goal every year.  Feeling better and fitting into clothes in the back of your closet is certainly one reason to consider losing weight.  Losing weight has also been proven to help women increase their chances of conception; studies have shown that women can increase their chances of success with fertility treatment, and decrease the rate of miscarriage when they shed a few pounds.

One study, from the University of Sheffield, monitored obese women who were not ovulating. Researchers found that those who lost 5% of body weight increased blood flow to the womb by 19% and, in fact, a significant portion of the population regained spontaneous ovulation.

For women with a high BMI, the idea of losing several pounds to achieve pregnancy can be disheartening. Setting up reasonable goals, starting with just 5% weight loss, and then increasing to 10%, will make it easier to stick with a weight loss resolution.  As you work toward achieving this important goal, you will automatically increase your chances of conception.

Motivation to make dietary changes, along with finding emotional support during weight loss, is important. Consider seeking support from your friends, relatives, clinicians, or even a support group.  Diet with a friend and remember that the most consistent weight loss is usually achieved by following a regimented, low-calorie diet, rather than following the latest diet craze.  This resolution could be as simple as eating more fruits and veggies, or it could include starting a regular workout program.

As a woman ages, her chances of conception naturally begin to decline.  Women who are under 35 should have a complete infertility workup after 12 months of unprotected intercourse if they have not been able to get pregnant. Women over 35 should be evaluated after only 6 months.

While we may not be able to control the impact of aging on fertility, the odds of success greatly improve the earlier a patient begins the diagnostic process.  Every month, the aging process is marching forward, so it’s best to follow the recommended guidelines about when to seek an evaluation… Don’t put it off!

Approximately 30% of all women in their reproductive years smoke cigarettes. Studies show that women who smoke typically experience a delay in conception.  For women who smoke, there is up to a 54% higher chance that conception will take a year or longer compared to nonsmokers. The same studies show that the delay in conception correlates directly with the number of cigarettes smoked daily.  The bottom line is the more cigarettes smoked, the more chemicals enter your body, thus raising the rate of follicular depletion and lowering the estrogen in your body.

Even with infertility treatment, smoking can make conception more challenging.  Smokers may need more medication for ovarian stimulation, produce fewer eggs for retrieval, have an increased number of canceled cycles, and have more cycles with failed fertilization compared to non-smokers.

Smoking does not only impact a woman’s fertility.  Smoking cigarettes can cause a decrease in the three main factors that determine a man’s sperm quality:

• Sperm count – an average 22% decrease in men who regularly smoke
• Morphology – the shape of the sperm
• Motility – the ability of the sperm to swim forward and penetrate the egg

Studies have shown that damage is not necessarily permanent and may vary by amount and length of time you have been smoking.  Based on research studies, benefits from quitting smoking can be seen in approximately 2-3 months.  In fact, much of the reduction in fertility rates can be completely reversed within a year after quitting this habit.  The earlier you stop smoking while trying to conceive, the better.  Counseling and encouragement are essential for those that need to kick the nicotine habit.

You might consider cutting back on your alcohol consumption.  Alcohol can impact a couple’s ability to conceive more than you might think.  Compared to women who consume no alcohol, women who consume a moderate amount (up to 5 drinks per week) show a decrease in their fertility.  Women who consume more than 10 alcoholic drinks per week show an even greater decrease in their chances of conceiving on a given cycle.  Since there is no confirmed “safe” threshold of consumption, the US Surgeon General recommends complete abstinence from alcohol for women planning to get pregnant, throughout conception, and during pregnancy.

Excessive alcohol consumption in men may also impact their fertility.  Men who consume large quantities of alcoholic drinks (5 or more drinks) may have lowered testosterone levels and reduced sperm quality and quantity.  For men, decreasing the amount of alcohol consumed can quickly reverse these side effects.

In some European countries, like the Netherlands, the government health service pays for all fertility treatment. Even though patients in these countries don’t have the stress related to the financial burden of paying for treatment, one study showed that 62% dropped out of treatment after 3 cycles of IVF treatment. When asked why, most couples gave the primary reason as stress-related.

If couples understand upfront that the diagnosis process and fertility treatments are often stressful, they can be more in tuned to the situation.  Many reproductive specialists suggest a variety of different resources to help couples cope and control stress levels, such as joining a support group, trying yoga or meditation, or seeking the help of an infertility counselor.

Another way to reduce stress is to laugh often and laugh out loud.  There’s nothing wrong with having fun and joy in your life.  It’s not fattening and it won’t stop you from getting pregnant.  Funny movies and television shows are more than just a diversion. They can definitely reduce stress and they are often a lifesaver when times seem tough.  Laugh with your partner and laugh with your friends.  Laughter CAN be your best friend!

The good news is that by tackling these resolutions starting now (some are simple and some may be more challenging), you can improve your chances of conception.  If you and your partner are having trouble getting pregnant, find a reproductive specialist sooner than later.  If you live in the greater southeast area of Texas, the Center of Reproductive Medicine can help you achieve your goal of building a family.  While you are working on your New Year’s Resolutions, the professional staff at CORM will work closely with you to choose the most appropriate fertility treatment program for your individual reproductive medical needs.

WE THANK YOU!

We are so grateful for the chance to make a difference,
however great or small,
in helping you build your family