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Taxonomy term

Diagnosing PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is an androgen excess disorder that affects between 5 percent and 10 percent of all women. PCOS is a syndrome, not a disease, which means that it is a collection of physical findings and symptoms that suggest a common disorder.

Regional Microsites:

Philadelphia

Subjects:

PCOS

Infertility and Mother's Day Coping Strategies

Celebrating your own mom may work, but if not, take a day for yourself

Sunday, May 13, 2012 is — Mother’s Day. Unlike Valentine’s Day, which focuses on the couple, this commercialized day can be one of the hardest days for a woman coping with infertility.

“Mother’s Day can be a double whammy,” says Andrea Mechanick Braverman, Ph.D., a Pennsylvania health psychologist who specializes in infertility counseling. “Another anniversary of a year gone by without a baby — and a holiday that specifically excludes you.”

Read more about Infertility and Mother's Day Coping Strategies

Embryo Banking for Delayed Child-Bearing and Poor Responders

April 18, 2013

Embryo banking, also known as embryo stockpiling or staggered in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment offered to women who wish to bank embryos to delay child-bearing, anticipate having surgery which may interfere with the timing of an embryo transfer, or women who have demonstrated a poor response to traditional stimulation cycles.

Depending on the number of mature eggs retrieved, a woman could complete one or several cycles of ovarian stimulation with fertility drugs, sometimes back to back. A fertility doctor can then freeze the embryos for future use or allow the pool of embryos to undergo one round of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to test for genetic abnormalities. For women with a history of pregnancy loss and poor response to ovarian stimulation drugs (typically those of advanced maternal age or with ovarian reserve issues), this technique is both cost and time efficient and delivers an increased chance of successful pregnancy.

Putting Life On Hold During Fertility Treatment

April 4, 2013

Oftentimes when we are in the trenches of fertility treatment, we tend to put our lives on hold to focus solely on the goal that seems most important to us at the time. We may lose touch with friends or family, lose sight of our hobbies or interests, and forget to take the time to treat ourselves.

ASRM Guidelines on Blastocyst Culture and Transfer

March 11, 2013

From the fertility patient perspective, it is sometimes difficult to understand the reason a fertility doctor would recommend a day three versus a day five embryo transfer during an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. Typically, healthy embryos that are cultured until day five reach the blastocyst stage. Embryos transferred on or around day three are cleavage stage embryos. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has released updated guidelines on blastocyst culture and transfers in the March 1, 2013 edition of Fertility and Sterility to help fertility doctors and patients understand the current recommendations.

Fertility Nurse of the Month: Anne Wendel, RN, BSN

March 2013

Anne Wendel, RN, BSN, is described by one of her colleagues as “experienced, hard-working, upbeat and compassionate.” She is the Clinical Coordinator and Manager of the IVF Procedure Team at Main Line Fertility in Bryn Mawr, PA. She is also the Co-coordinator of the center’s Oncofertility Preservation Program. Fertility Authority is pleased to recognize Ann Wendel as Nurse of the Month.

Pennsylvania Women's Health Company Says 'The Stork' Is The First Step in Trying to Conceive

January 18, 2013

Introduced in December 2011 by Rinovum Women's Health, The Stork is a device meant for couples to safely perform insemination in the privacy of their own homes. Pittsburgh Inventor and CEO, Stephen Bollinger, says the technique allows for a high concentration of semen to be delivered just outside the opening of the uterus. The product is not yet approved by the FDA.

Video: What is Comprehensive Chromosomal Screening?

Regional Microsites:

Philadelphia

Subjects:

Genetic Testing

Media:

Ask the Expert

How do you know if your embryos should have Comprehensive Chromosomal Screening?
Dr. Jackie Gutmann of RMA Philadelphia explains what is Comprehensive Chromosomal Screening.

Video Transcript

Video: What is Unexplained Implantation Failure and How is it Treated?

Regional Microsites:

Philadelphia

Subjects:

IVF Failure

Media:

Ask the Expert

If you've experienced Unexplained Implantation Failure, you may be searching for information and treatment options. Dr. Jay Schinfeld of Abington Reproductive Medicine explains the diagnosis and how it is treated.

Video Transcript

Philadelphia Fertility Clinic Joins the Oncofertility Movement with Fertility Preservation Program

December 13, 2012

When it comes to fertility preservation for cancer patients, the field of oncofertility has advanced leaps and bounds over the years. Particularly as the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) lifted the experimental label from egg freezing for medical reasons in 2012, the procedure is becoming more widely practiced.