Fertility Blogs

a blog by Kim Griffiths, March 25, 2013

Many women diagnosed with cancer are able to overcome the disease due to advances in cancer therapy. However, those undergoing chemotherapy often suffer compromised fertility as the treatment impacts ovarian reserve and uterine receptivity to embryo implantation. One of the most common types of cancer found in women of reproductive age is leukemia.

a blog by Kim Griffiths, March 22, 2013

A study published in the journal Nature in October 2012 discussed the new, seemingly sci-fi, technique that could help couples prevent genetic conditions from being passed down from mother to child. Scientists at Oregon Health and Sciences University suggested that a small amount of DNA from a donor could be transplanted into the intended mother’s egg to replace her faulty DNA, and then combined with the sperm of the intended father. If you’re still following, that means the child would be biologically related to three parents: two mothers and one father. The process would be very similar to in vitro fertilization (IVF) with egg donation, but the mother would have her own eggs transferred back into her uterus.

News has surfaced this week that the UK has taken a step toward becoming the first country to permit the donor DNA transplant. The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has stated that there is no evidence of safety concerns with this remarkable technology, though ethical concerns have been voiced; the benefits appear to outweigh the risks.

a blog by Serena H. Chen, M.D., IRMS Reproductive Medicine at Saint Barnabas, March 21, 2013

Can you lower your child’s risk for a birth defect just by taking your vitamins? A provocative new study was recently published in the February 13, 2013 issue of JAMA – The Journal of the American Medical Association - demonstrating a dramatic 40% lower risk of autism in children born to women who took Folic acid supplementation from 4 weeks prior to conception through pregnancy. Folic acid, or Folate is a type of B vitamin. The study was done in Norway and looked at over 85,000 children born in 2002 through 2008 and followed through March 31, 2012. At the end of the study children ranged in ages from 3 to 10 years old, average 6.4 years. About 270 of these children had a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Only 0.1% of the children whose mothers took Folic acid were affected while 0.21% of children who were not exposed to Folic acid during pregnancy had a diagnosis of ASD. While this study does not establish a causal relationship between Folic acid use during conception and pregnancy and autism, this new data, and the fact that Folic acid supplementation is known to lower the risk for neural tube defects (a potentially serious, sometimes fatal birth defect) makes taking your vitamins much more compelling.

Let’s face it, not everyone can afford one, let alone two or more IVF cycles. But Cleveland Clinic Fertility Center is doing their part to help childless couples who have had a failed IVF cycle build their families. According to Dr. Cynthia Austin, Director of the In Vitro Fertilization Program at Cleveland Clinic, the concept behind their Harboring Hope Fund is this: Some women have good reason to be successful but were just unlucky with their first IVF cycle. For those patients, who also meet certain financial criteria, the program allows them to do a second cycle free of charge.

a blog by Kim Griffiths, March 19, 2013

The egg donation process can be quite involved and many patients are disappointed to find they are placed on a waiting list to receive donor eggs, and must coordinate their treatment cycle with that of the egg donor. The process could take anywhere up to ten months to find a donor and complete a fresh donor egg cycle. One New Jersey fertility clinic has partnered with NW Cryobank to make the donor egg process more convenient.

a blog by Kim Griffiths, March 17, 2013

A young woman who received the first successful uterus transplant is now planning for pregnancy via frozen embyro transfer.

Derya Sert was just 21 years old when she received the uterus of a cadaver donor last year. Sert was born without a uterus and would have had to rely on a gestational surrogate to carry a pregnancy for her. However, research efforts in Turkey allowed Sert to undergo the organ transplant and has prompted similar research in other parts of the world.

a blog by Kim Griffiths, March 15, 2013

Did you know men have healthier sperm in the winter and spring? I didn’t, but I wonder if that is the reason my in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle in April 2010 was successful.

A new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology examined semen samples of 6,455 men, between January 2006 and July 2009, who were being treated for male factor infertility. Researchers found higher count, higher motility, and fewer men exhibiting morphology problems when the sample consisted of sperm made in the cooler months. A sperm production cycle takes approximately three months, so sperm produced in the fall was likely collected in the winter and sperm produced in the winter was likely collected in the spring. Sperm quality showed a steady decline into the summer and fall months, sperm which would have been produced in the spring and summer months.

a blog by Catherine Arizan, March 13, 2013

As anyone who has begun the process of treatment for infertility knows, navigating the complicated world of insurance coverage can be overwhelming. Mandated versus non-mandated states, deductibles, percentage co-pays … the factors that decide whether or not your treatment will be covered – and if so, how much - are almost infinite. The biggest factor that people overlook, however, is their employer.

a blog by Kim Griffiths, March 8, 2013

Many women who are trying to conceive turn to tracking ovulation as a means of predicting their most fertile time. Charting Basal Body Temperature (BBT) is one of the more common and most accurate ways of predicting ovulation.

Basal Body Temperature (BBT) is the base temperature of your body after a period of rest. A woman charting her BBT would do so first thing in the morning after getting a minimum of four hours of sleep. She would then record her temperatures on a graph and watch for a slight increase of 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which would suggest she is ovulating. After a few months of charting BBT, a woman will notice a pattern in her menstrual cycles and be able to predict the time of month at which she ovulates.

Are you going to enter Ferring Pharmaceuticals Heart to Heart Video Contest? The theme is “Every Step of the Way,” and the grand prize is $15,000 towards your child's education.

a blog by Claire, March 3, 2013

Sean Lowe, better known as The Bachelor, planned to become a sperm donor just a few years ago. According to reports, Lowe offered to donate sperm to help his sister and her husband become parents.

a blog by Kim Griffiths, February 27, 2013

The spring season is often a reminder of new life and new beginnings. Holidays like Easter, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day focus on the family; babies and new life in particular. It can be a difficult time of year for couples coping with infertility.