Fertility Blogs

a blog by Claire, August 14, 2012

A recent study at the Drexel University School of Public Health found that people with a combination of obesity and vitamin D deficiency were at increased risk of insulin resistance, which is, of course, bad for fertility and for overall health.

The researchers analyzed data on serum vitamin D levels and indicators of insulin resistance and diabetes from 5,806 respondents to a major national health survey, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They found that while obese individuals with healthy levels of vitamin D had insulin resistance approximately 20 times more often than the overall study population, obese individuals whose serum vitamin D was low had insulin resistance about 32 tines more often than the overall study population.

a blog by Beth Hartog, M.D., Damien Fertility Partners, June 25, 2012

When you are considering pregnancy, be sure to consider your oral health — it just may be the key to a healthier pregnancy.

Gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums; dental caries, commonly known as cavities; and periodontitis, a severe form of gingivitis when inflammation of the gums extends to all of the supporting structure of the tooth, all negatively impact pregnancy. A connection between preterm birth (which results in low birth weight infants) and dental infections has been supported in recent research studies. There is some conflicting data, but the evidence of a link is mounting.

When you're trying to boost your fertility or get pregnant faster, it's common to get advice to eat fruits and vegetables, exercise in moderation, limit alcohol and stop smoking.

a blog by Serena H. Chen, M.D., IRMS Reproductive Medicine at Saint Barnabas, October 16, 2011

To read more of the IRMS Are You Trying to Conceive? blogs, CLICK HERE.

I recently read a very interesting article by Rossi et al. “Effect of Alcohol Consumption on In vitro Fertilization,” published in the prestigious journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in January 2011, volume 117, pages 136 to 142.

The authors looked at more than 4,700 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles in more than 2,500 couples. Couples were given questionnaires to fill out regarding their alcohol consumption at the time of the IVF cycle start, not during the IVF cycle or pregnancy. The primary outcome that the authors were interested in was the live birth rate after IVF. They found that for men or women undergoing IVF, drinking four or more drinks per week prior to an IVF cycle is associated with a 48 percent higher risk for failed fertilization and a 21 percent lower chance for a live birth.

a blog by Serena H. Chen, M.D., IRMS Reproductive Medicine at Saint Barnabas, June 3, 2011

We all know that smoking is bad for you. Smokers are at high risk for cancer, heart attack and stroke, among other things. However, when you are trying to conceive, quitting smoking is especially critical.

a blog by Michelle Ottey, PhD, Director of Operations, Fairfax Cryobank and Cryogenic Laboratories, Inc., April 19, 2011

In a recent article in Fertility and Sterility, research was published confirming that higher age, along with lifestyle factors such as stress, smoking and alcohol are all factors that negatively affect semen quality. Different factors cause lower sperm count, lower semen volume, lower motility, etc. All of these parameters matter when it comes to characterizing a sperm sample as healthy.

a blog by Joanne Verkuilen, Founder, Circle+Bloom, March 3, 2011

Like Bill Clinton’s famous campaign line, “It’s the economy, stupid,” scientists are now debunking the popular genetic theory of biology. The debate is currently raging over the relative influence of genes compared to the “environment,” or how our senses play a role in the expression of our cells.

a blog by Anna Pyne, LAc, MSOM, FABORM, Pulling Down the Moon, September 16, 2010

Soaking your feet in warm water for 15 minutes a night is a simple, effective way to de-stress and relax after work. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is quite beneficial to your fertility health as well.

a blog by Deborah Moore, March 15, 2010

I saw a clip of the ladies from The View interviewing Giuliana Rancic, an entertainment reporter for E! News who married one of the Apprentices I think (I don’t watch reality TV!). She’s 35, and she and her husband have been trying for at least a year to get pregnant. They realized they need help and are preparing for the IVF process.

[Watch Giuliana and Bill on The View.]

While the majority of the interview was a civil and friendly discussion of the couples’ struggles, host Whoopi Goldberg ranted later that Guiliana just needed to “put on a few pounds,” with the implication that this would solve all their problems.

a blog by David Kreiner, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., Feb. 10, 2010

The most shocking thing I’ve experienced in my 30 year career in Reproductive Endocrinology has been the consistent “resistance” among specialists to treat women with obesity. This “resistance” has felt at times to both me and many patients to be more like a prejudice. I have heard other REI specialists say that it is harder for women to conceive until they shed their excess weight. “Come back to my office when you have lost 20, 30 or more pounds,” is a typical remark heard by many at their REI’s office. “It’s not healthy to be pregnant at your weight and you risk your health and the health of the baby.” Closing the door to fertility treatment is what most women in this condition experience.

A new article appearing in Medical News Today, “Obese Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment Advised Not To Attempt Rapid Weight Loss”, suggests that weight loss just prior to conception may have adverse effects on the pregnancy, either by disrupting normal physiology or by releasing environmental pollutants stored in the fat. The article points out what is obvious to many who share the lifelong struggle to maintain a reasonable Body Mass Index (BMI): Weight loss is difficult to achieve. Few people adhere to lifestyle intervention and diets which may have no benefit in improving pregnancy in subfertile obese women.

a blog by Beth and Tami of Pulling Down the Moon

When we are trying to conceive, it is important to maximize our body’s ability to get rid of environment we live in is filled with substances that can negatively impact fertility. Pesticides used on factory farms mimic our reproductive hormones and modern building materials and cleaning compounds can trigger allergic responses and promote inflammation in the body.

Add to that the stress hormones and the hormone medications that are part of fertility treatment and it’s easy to imagine that our body’s detoxification capacity can be overwhelmed!

So what do we mean when we talk about “detoxification capacity”?