Women using hormone-releasing skin patches, implants, vaginal rings were more likely to develop clots, study finds
Month: May 2012
Maine’s Highest Court Rules That District Courts Have Authority To Make Parentage Determinations In Gestational Surrogacy
Last week, Maine’s Supreme Judicial Court addressed for the first time the issue of parentage in a gestational surrogate birth, finding that the District Courts have authority under existing law to determine who a child’s parents are when the child is conceived through ART and then carried and delivered by another person.
IUD’s Most Effective Emergency Contraception
“Emergency contraception” has almost become synonymous with “morning after pill.” But another type of emergency contraception — the placement of an intrauterine device — is even more effective.
Montana Judge Says Contraceptive Ban Violates Teens Privacy
A Montana judge has struck down the state’s ban on prescription birth control coverage for teenage girls enrolled in its low-income health insurance program
New Fertility Monitoring Service Boasts Remarkable Success Rate
While some parents are able to have a baby the old-fashioned way, for other Bay Area couples, getting pregnant can become difficult and stressful as careers delay parenthood and biological clocks tick away.
Eating yoghurt could make men more virile (finds a study on ‘swaggering’ mice)
Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found male mice fed the vanilla-flavoured dessert had a certain ‘swagger’ when they walked.
Grandma Explains Breast Cancer Fertility Link
A University of Utah team found that mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene, which raise the risk of women having breast and ovarian cancer are also linked to greater fertility.
What Is The Process For Fertility Testing?
Nine out of ten couples with a female partner under the age of 35 who are actively trying to get pregnant succeed within one year. The chance of a pregnancy is about 20% per month. For couples who fail to achieve pregnancy after one year (and for women over the age of 35 after 6 months) fertility testing is recommended to identify any obstacles that could prevent pregnancy.
A full medical history and physical examination can reveal problems related to pelvic surgery, cancer treatment, or menstrual disturbances that cause infertility.
Fertility testing is done to rule out specific problems in four areas:
Sperm Testing
For approximately one out of four couples, the quality or quantity of the male partner’s sperm is the underlying cause of infertility. Semenalysis can reveal issues with the sperm count, the motility of sperm (its ability to swim), and the morphology (shape) of the sperm.
Ovulation
For women with a history of irregular menses who do not ovulate regularly, underlying medical conditions may be the cause of low fertility. Common problems include thyroid imbalances, high levels of a hormone called prolactin, or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Blood tests and ultrasound exams are used to diagnose these conditions.
Uterus and Fallopian Tubes
Fallopian tubes that are closed can interfere with fertility by making it impossible for an embryo to reach the uterus. Causes of blockage may include previous pelvic surgery or complications from STDs. The uterus may also contain fibroids or polyps that limit the chances of pregnancy. An exam called a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is used to detect structural problems with the fallopian tubes and uterus. It involves the injection of a contrast dye into the cervix to make the patient’s internal reproductive organs visible in x-rays.
Eggs
The quality and quantity of a woman’s eggs plays a vital role in fertility. Egg quality cannot be determined with fertility testing, but it is strongly correlated with age. The quantity of eggs can be estimated using blood tests such as the FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and AMH (anti-mullerian hormone). AFC (antral follicle count) is an ultrasound test that can also assist in estimating the number of eggs available.
After IVF Some Couples Get Pregnant Without Help
Despite the label of being “infertile,” some couples who have tried fertility treatments are later able to have a baby naturally, according to a new study from France.
Early Menopause a Redflag for Bone Health
Women who reach menopause early are at significantly greater risk for osteoporosis and bone fracture later in life, a Swedish study has found.