Diagnosing Infertility

Infertility issues can definitely feel daunting. So many people get pregnant easily or even accidentally, so why isn’t it working for me? Is there something wrong with me?

Absolutely not! Don’t stress yourself out because that just makes it harder! Calm down, look at the abundance of options you have, and go from there. We can make a plan.

The first step is to look at the possible causes of infertility in women, because narrowing that down can help streamline the treatment and options to get you the family of your dreams.

Female Infertility

Ovulation: If you read our When to Conceive a Baby post, you know that it’s possible to have your period without actually ovulating (without actually releasing an egg, necessary for conception). An irregular period could be the sign of an ovulation issue. Managing body weight, taking fertility drugs, or using in vitro fertilization (IVF) are possible solutions.

Endometriosis: Stars like Jamie King and Lena Dunham deal with Endometriosis, a condition where the woman’s uterine lining grows in places it shouldn’t (check out Lena Dunham’s personal essay about her experience with endometriosis). Surgery can help to remove the unwanted tissue as well as open the fallopian tubes. Fertility drugs and IVF are other possible solutions.

Egg Quality: This often connects to a woman’s age. Both the quality and amount of eggs than a woman can produce begins to decline after age 35, which is why it’s suggested that women who can’t conceive after 6 months of trying naturally should consult with a specialist. There are no symptoms for this, and many women have found success with IVF using donor eggs.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: In addition to her endometriosis, actress Jamie King deals with PCOS as well. This condition means that the follicles in the ovaries never reach maturation and cannot release the eggs. It can be caused by a hormone imbalance and can be treated with lifestyle modifications, medication, surgery, or IVF.

Tubal Issues: Your fallopian tubes are like a two-way highway. They allow the sperm to reach your egg and your egg to reach your uterus. Any problems here make it exceedingly difficult because of the small window for conception. Possible treatments include surgery and IVF.

Unexplained Infertility Problems: A doctor may diagnose unexplained problems if there’s no obvious symptom or issue inhibiting conception. Many believe this occurs because of the subtle differences in each reproductive symptom, things like follicle development, sperm function, or the way the eggs are fertilized. Lifestyle factors also contribute to fertility in a big way, so changes to that could be a possible treatment along with fertility drugs and IVF. This can happen in men or women.

Types of Tests

Ovulation Predictor Kits/Charting Basal Body Temperature: Remember when you tracked your temperature every morning to anticipate when you were ovulating? That’s this first step. There are also over-the-counter tests that predict your ovulation for you.

Blood Tests: A blood test can check plenty of levels that contribute to fertility, like luteinizing hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estrogen, etc.

Hysterosalpingogram: Say it three times fast! It’s actually just an x-ray that can check on your fallopian tubes to make sure there are no blocks or damages. It can also check in on your uterus to check for damage like scar tissue or fibroids.

Laparoscopy: It’s an outpatient surgery to check for things like endometriosis. It’s most helpful to women with pelvic pain or disease.

Transvaginal Ultrasound: An ultrasound probe allows the doctor to check on your follicles and make sure your ovaries can release your eggs properly. They can also check for ovarian cysts or fibroids.

Hysteroscopy: A tiny camera can investigate through your cervix to make sure there are no fibroids or polyps on your uterus.

Your next step is to see what treatment options are right for you after talking with your doctor.

Written by: Joanna Hynes

Everything You Need To Know To Answer The Question: "Am I Ready To Have A Baby?"

When you Google “Am I ready,” the first suggestion is “Am I ready for a baby?” followed by “for a dog,” “to date,” and “to buy a house.” All are valid questions, but can Google give you the answer? Well, Parents thinks they can answer, “when can I get pregnant?” in eight simple questions. Take the quiz here.

Sure, the quiz covers the big questions for you and your partner: emotional readiness, financial stability, religion, but what about your health?

My Physical Health

So, what’s the best time to get pregnant? The actual physical time? Women experience a gradual decline in fertility in their 30s with a harsh decline starting at 37. After 40, there’s a pretty steep drop in chances of getting pregnant, but don’t panic! There are plenty of options, and it’s still very possible to have the family of your dreams.

Doctors suggest seeking fertility treatment if you’re over 40 and decide it’s time to have a baby. If you’re over 35 and have been unsuccessful at naturally conceiving for six months, it might be time to see a fertility specialist. If you’re under 35, you can try for up to a year before having to see a specialist. Don’t worry; even healthy, fertile couples can spend up to a year trying to get pregnant. This is a marathon, not a sprint (just like parenting).

Make sure you maintain a healthy lifestyle so your body is ready. Get yourself to a healthy weight, limit your alcohol consumption and quit smoking. You should take pre-natal vitamins and multi-vitamins.

The Ins and Outs

How do you know when to conceive? You have to get the timing just right. Once you’re ovulating, the egg only stays alive in the uterus for about 24 hours, and the sperm can live in the female reproductive system for about 72 hours (or longer).

The first step is to track your ovulation cycle.  Ovulation typically begins 14 days after the first day of your period. At this time, your temperature will usually rise ½-1 degree when at rest, so take your temperature every morning before getting out of bed to keep track of it. This slight temperature increase means ovulation is happening, and you want to prepare before. Keeping track of your ovulation cycle means you can anticipate your ovulation date in the future; it’s not a green light to conceive now.

If you don’t see any changes in temperature, consult your doctor. You may not be ovulating, even though you’re getting your period. If your period is irregular, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s harder to get pregnant; it simply means it’s more difficult to track these cycles. You can either have sex regularly throughout the cycle or track the following physical changes.

Your body has it’s own way of telling you it’s ovulating. In addition to the slight increase in temperature, you may experience “fertile mucus,” which is increased vaginal discharge. It’s wetter than usual and feels like egg whites. If you notice this for two days in a row, it may be ovulation. You could also experience slight cramping in your stomach, typically on one side. This is your egg readying to leave the ovary. You may also experience an increased libido.

So you decided you’re ready, and that’s great! Doctors recommend having sex every other day during your ovulation cycle. Everyday certainly couldn’t hurt, but it might lead to decreased sperm count per ejaculation.

The best time to have sex is at night because you should lie down after. If you lie down for about 20 minutes, it should prevent the semen from leaking into the vagina.

The Men

If it’s been awhile, it’s a good idea to ejaculate once before the ovulation cycle begins. If there’s been a long wait before releasing, there can be a build up of dead sperm, and we want the agile, fertile guys.

The ladies aren’t alone on maintaining their physical health. Men too should cut back on alcohol and tobacco, maintain a healthy weight, and try to implement key nutrients in their diet (nutrients like vitamins D and C, calcium, zinc, and even men can take folic acid). Lastly, avoid excessive heat (hot tubs, warm laptops, etc.), which can kill sperm.

Keep in mind that it takes about three months for new sperm to mature, so all these healthy tips should be considered long term for the men. 

My Mental Health

The last (and possible most important) thing to consider when trying to conceive is the status of your mental health. Have you ever heard the phrase, “If you can’t be happy on your own, you won’t be happy in a relationship?” The same goes for the relationship with your child. Children depend on you for everything, so you need to be self-sufficient before you can provide for a little one. If you have any extreme insecurities (whether it be about work, your partner, or yourself), you need to come to terms with them to ensure you don’t project those onto your child.

Take a good look at your history. Your parents can be a great case study. What did they do well and where could they improve? Did they provide? Did they support your dreams? Did they make fun of you when you were feeling vulnerable? Avoid the petty teenage scuffles in this reflection – it happens to the best of us.

If you had any experience with child abuse growing up, remember that parenting could trigger some of those feelings. It’s an ongoing process, so make sure you’re taking care of yourself.

Finally, ask yourself why you want to have a baby. If it’s because you think you’re supposed to or because your partner wants one, maybe it’s time to reevaluate.

Having a child isn’t easy, and it’s a huge decision to make. Being ready isn’t just about knowing the how’s and the why’s of conception, it’s also about evaluating the who’s and determining whether you and your partner are in the right stage of life to bring a child into the world. It’s one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make, and it’s important to evaluate every side of it!

Written by: Joanna Hynes

How To Know When You're Ovulating

Whether you are trying to conceive or not, it always helps to know when you are ovulating. The American Pregnancy Association states that ovulation occurs when a mature egg is released from the ovary, pushed down the fallopian tube, and is available to be fertilized. Ovulation usually occurs for four to five days midway through a woman’s menstrual cycle.

Women have a fertility cycle that lasts five days because that is the average lifespan of a male’s sperm when inside of the female body. All women are different, some may experience ovulation symptoms and others none at all. Tracking your ovulation is simple and is the best way to know when to conceive.

Take a look at these five common signs of ovulation:

1.     Listen to your body.

Many women have said that right before the ovulation period, they experience a few sharp pains or cramps in the lower stomach. Don’t worry though, as this is completely normal. Pay attention towards the middle of your menstrual cycle for this warning sign.

2.     Look for changes in body temperature.

While this requires more preparation to notice the difference, it can be very accurate when it comes to timing. Try taking your temperature each morning before you get out of bed. To do this accurately you will need a basal thermometer because they are more susceptible to slight temperature changes. During ovulation your body temperature should drop, and increase steadily until your fertility cycle has come to a close.

3.     Get up close and personal with your cervical mucus. 

For the more adventurous women out there you can keep an eye on your discharge. Around the time of ovulation a woman’s cervical mucus will turn clear. When the cervical mucus resembles an egg white and can be stretched farther than an inch without breaking, it is safe to say the woman is in her fertility cycle.

4.     Mind your spotting.

This can occur right before ovulation as the uterus sheds a layer of blood preparing the body for conception. Though this may not be the most effective way to judge, as it does not occur in all women.

5.     Keep a calendar.

Last but not least, keeping a calendar can also be a very effective way to track ovulation. After a few months of tracking your ovulation, the calendar can be very accurate depending on how normal the menstrual cycle is.

Written by: Maren Burns

The Best Online Resources For Infertility

According to RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, one in eight couples in the U.S. of childbearing age has trouble either becoming pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. This statistic helps drive home the point that infertility deserves a great deal of respect and attention. Infertility is something many couples struggle with, and something that several are ashamed to seek help for. If you’re struggling with infertility, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone! We’ve put together a list of some of the best online resources packed with helpful FAQs, fertility specialist choices and treatment options for couples struggling with infertility.

RESOLVE.

One of the largest organizations dealing with infertility is RESOLVE. RESOLVE assists both men and women by providing a wealth of current information from access to support groups all over the nation to infertility treatments. 

Reproductivefacts.org.

This site offers a selection of videos, brochures, factsheets and answers to FAQs. There’s also a useful guide on addressing the challenges of conceiving. ASRM (The American Society for Reproductive Medicine) runs the site as a way to keep the public informed about reproductive health with a heavy emphasis on fertility assistance options.  

The Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Affiliated with ASRM, the mission of SART (The Society for Reproductive Medicine) is to define and uphold the standards for ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) procedures. They also serve as a resource for individuals and couples looking for credible fertility specialists and treatment clinics in their area. Featured on their site is a helpful list of FAQs addressing fertility solutions from IVF to genetic testing.

The CDC.

The Center for Disease Control provides information about the various possibilities available through ART and a list of available treatment providers. They are also the nation’s holding tank regarding ART success rates for individual clinics.  

Womenshealth.gov.

It’s the official site for the Office of Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If you search the topic “tips on getting pregnant,” then you will be directed to a list of pages for further information. 

Getting pregnant isn’t as easy as shelving birth control, but from ART to surgery to egg donors, there are a number of solutions and options available for couples struggling with infertility that can be found with just a few clicks of the mouse. 

Writer: Cindy Stephens

The Shocking Prevalence Of Infertility In The United States

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant but can’t, you might start to think you’re the only one feeling the infertility struggle. It may seem like everyone is posting about their new little (sometimes surprise of a) bun in the oven all over social media, but according to the CDC you’re actually not alone. It turns out that, “12% of women in the US ages 15-44 experience the difficulty of getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term”—you just wouldn’t know since this 12% most likely isn’t posting about the infertility struggle for the world to see.

In addition to this population of women struggling with infertility, there’s an underrepresented population of men who also struggle with it. The CDC also reported that, “7.5% of all sexually experienced men younger than age 45 reported seeing a fertility doctor during their lifetime,” of that 7.5%, “18% were diagnosed with a male-related infertility problem.” This might be news to you (as most people don’t originally think so), but infertility isn’t just a woman’s health issue.

Since conception is a process composed of multiple steps, infertility can be caused from any incompletion or incorrect execution of any one step. Here’s a quick crash course on reproduction: The first step is the release of an egg from a woman’s ovaries. Then after a trial of baby making, the man’s sperm joins with the released egg to become fertilized. The fertilized egg then continues down the woman’s fallopian tube to her uterus where it becomes attached/implanted to her uterine wall that would be the baby’s home for about nine months. Although a majority of these steps has to do with proper functioning of a woman’s organs, the man’s sperm also plays a huge role and could contribute to overall infertility too.

Most experts recommend trying to conceive for a year before reaching out to a doctor, but feel free to check out more about infertility solutions and treatments to get your infertility questions answered by visiting our Infertility Resources for Patients.

Written by: Jordan Rawlinson

The 3 Step Guide To Baby Making

Everyone knows that the best way for a man to get a woman pregnant is by setting up some sweet smelling candy-coated candles, placing a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon on the bathtub shelf (shampoo can take a hike!) and whistling off a few charming anecdotes to help foster the sensual mood.

Kidding.

Women would never go for this. I should know. I have been a woman for twenty-nine years, and only half these tricks work some of the time. Although if we’re being honest, a few jokes wouldn’t inhibit your potential lovemaking skills, men.

To all my Ladies out there! Attention!

There will probably come a time in your life when you get to the stage where you want to get pregnant. For some people, that never happens. For people like me, that stage got here like 10 years ago and is still waiting to be fulfilled. Regardless of where you’re at in this stage, though, whether you’ve been trying to create a love child for years or you’re just now ready to start, there’s one major thing you need to understand:

This getting pregnant business is hard. It takes a lot more than simply letting your man woo you and hoping it works out. It’s a largely scientific process, and it requires patience…a lot of it.

I know patience, especially when equated with sexuality and starting your own family, is tough and totally overrated.

You’re probably thinking, “I don’t want to learn about patience. What I really want to become is—pregnant!” I get that, and I’ve got your back. I’m going to lay out the three-step baby-making plan for you now. You can thank me later.

Step 1: You must stop using that horrific, sometimes magical stuff labeled Birth Control!

Let’s say you’ve been taking those cute, little vehement Birth Control pills since your high school days. Well, in case you were wondering, it may take your body some time to start ovulating in regular cycles once you stop taking your medication before it will begin to become primed for pregnancy. Sounds sexy, right? For many women it can take less than a month to get everything back on track, but it’s not uncommon to need to stop taking your birth control up to a full year before you start trying to conceive.

Still with me? Onward women!

Step 2: Figure out those Fertile Days!

You must figure out when that Egg of yours is egging you on. (I know, my jokes are fabulous.) Seriously, you need to know the days when your eggs are ready to sprout and grow into fertile little minions. This timing is crucial to becoming pregnant.  Dr. Osawe, board certified OBGYN at Health Quest Medical Practice, advises patients to “Know your cycle. Keep track of when you’re ovulating and have sex the day before, the day of, and the day after. Timing is really important.”

Step 3: Become the Master of your Menstrual Cycle!

Another dilemma is those darn menstrual cycles. Pain in the stomachs! However, if you can identify and understand your menstrual cycle, it will help you to better know when you are ovulating. A woman's cycle will begin on the first day that she will notice bright red blood, not just spotting. It will also end on the day before the next cycle begins. A cycle can take 21 to 35 days or more, depending on the individual.

Getting pregnant isn’t always easy, but it’s important to remember that it’s still supposed to be fun. As long as you make sure to master these basic steps, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to sit back and enjoy the process. So get to it, Ladies! Understand those ovulation cycles, teach your men how to be romantic beasts, make sure to remain patient, and go make some sweet love! Tonight, if you’d like…

6 Celebrity Couples Who Have Struggled With Infertility

Infertility, as defined by the World Health Organization, is “a disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of unprotected sexual intercourse.” Though infertility is a disease that can be reversed, it is not always an easy and successful process. It can happen to anyone, of any background, with any health issues and because of this fertility treatments include a variety of methods.

Infertility can be a touchy subject, but people like celebrities do not have the luxury of keeping their personal lives a secret. Many celebrities that have been affected by infertility use their voice to speak on the issue and bring light to the different alternatives to natural birth.

Here are six celebrity couples that have overcome infertility and gone on to have children through the use of In Vitro Fertilization (an embryo transfer process), surrogacy, and adoption.

Chrissy Teigan + John Legend: This couple went through many years of unsuccessful attempts at pregnancy. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) proved to be very successful as Chrissy was able to hold the child and is due to give birth to their daughter within the next year.

Courtney Cox + David Arquette: After multiple miscarriages Courtney looked to IVF to aid her infertility and this eventually led to the birth of her daughter Coco.

Jaime King + Kyle Newman: Jaime went through 5 miscarriages before turning to IVF treatments, where she then faced more difficulties and 26 rounds of unsuccessful IVF treatments. Against all odds Jaime then gave birth to her son naturally.

Sarah Jessica Parker + Matthew Broderick: Sarah’s story is a bit different than the others. Having had one child naturally, Sarah then fell infertile and looked to a surrogate to hold her twins!

Giuliana Rancic + Bill Rancic: Giuliana and Bill tried for about a year and when she finally became pregnant she unfortunately had a miscarriage. Later realizing the miscarriage was due to the fact that she had cancer, the couple turned to surrogacy as well.

Deborra-Lee Furness + Hugh Jackman: While always planning on adopting children the Jackman’s also wanted biological children. After trying IVF treatments they realized it wasn’t going to work and looked to adoption. They now have two adopted children, Ava and Oscar.

Written by: Maren Burns