The hot flashes that bedevil many women going through menopause appear to originate in specific brain areas, scientists say.
Month: August 2013
Misinformation About Conception
Eileen Loh on the myths — and the truths — about conceiving
A Friendly Sperm Donor is a Costly One
For prospective parents put off by the idea of obtaining sperm from a stranger via a sperm bank, the alternative of using a donor from one’s circle of acquaintances is an expensive affair. To have the donor certified, recipients must pay up to 50,000 kroner. The same goes for egg donors.
IVF, Embryos, and Choices
Undeniably, we all make choices about our bodies — who we share them with and the steps we take to get pregnant (or not) — and we all live with the consequences. I knew this, yet I was still envious of my friends who simply stopped their birth control, waited a few months, and then headed to the doctor to learn what magic had taken place. They didn’t have to struggle with the endless array of decisions that were plunked rather unceremoniously in front of my husband and me in the form of a ream of paperwork we had to complete once we decided to proceed with IVF.
Produce Woolly Mammoth Stem Cells, Says Creator of Dolly the Sheep
Sir Ian Wilmut proposes an alternative method as a possible means of creating a mammoth–or a hybrid. Such research could lead to major biological discoveries and advances.
Progressives Abandon Stand that Women Control Their Own Bodies and Eggs
Should women’s reproductive rights be subject to legislative oversight? The Genetic Literacy Project reports.
Implementing Health Reform: Contraceptive Coverage Litigation Moves Toward The Supreme Court
Litigation challenging the Affordable Care Act preventive services rule
continues its march toward the Supreme Court. This requirement has been
challenged by over 60 lawsuits filed across the country by religious
organizations and employers that object on religious grounds either to
contraceptives generally or to specific contraceptives — like Ella or
Plan B — that operate after the fertilization of an egg by a sperm.
Fertility Doctors Get New Guidelines on Maximum Number of Embryos to Transfer
No more than a single embryo should be transferred at a time in most younger women undergoing assisted-baby making, according to new guidelines for the nation’s for-profit fertility industry aimed at minimizing multiple births.
Increase Your Pregnancy Odds …
In high school, sex ed teachers may have told you that you could easily get pregnant any time you had unprotected sex. Now that you’re actually trying to conceive a baby, you might be second-guessing their warning. In some situations, it takes more than just throwing out your birth control to get pregnant. The better you understand your menstrual cycle the more likely you’ll be to identify your fertile window and increase your chances of conception:
The Average Menstrual Cycle
The average woman will have a 28-day menstrual cycle, with ovulation occurring around cycle day 14. However, there are wide variances in the normal cycle. According to Womenshealth.gov, a normal cycle can last anywhere from 21 to 35 days long, and ovulation can occur anytime between cycle day 13 and cycle day 20. After an egg is released and ovulation occurs, women who have a normal cycle will have a period within 14 to 16 days. If you’re thinking about trying to conceive, consider keeping a calendar of when you get your period each month to understand what the normal cycle length is for you.
Signs of Ovulation
Ovulation is notoriously difficult to predict, largely because it does not always occur on the same day each month. Keep an eye out for signs of ovulation as you approach the middle of your cycle each month. Some women feel cramping around the time that they ovulate, while others will notice a change in cervical mucus. According to the Mayo Clinic, cervical mucus becomes clear and slippery just before ovulation occurs. It is sometimes said to resemble a raw egg white. Take note of your cervical mucus consistency throughout the month to help you have an idea of when you’re going to ovulate.
Chart Your Fertility
Charting is a great way to identify your own personal cycle patterns and discover when your fertile window is each month. If you chart for several months, you will often notice that a pattern emerges. According to Womenshealth.gov, there are three main methods for charting your fertility:
- Test your basal body temperature using a basal body thermometer
- Calculate ovulation using an online ovulation calculator
- Track your cycle by monitoring your cervical fluids
Consider combing all three methods to get an accurate idea of when you’re most likely to conceive each month.
Causes of Infertility
Many factors contribute to infertility, including age, general health disorders and environmental surroundings. According to Womenshealth.gov, the most common cause of infertility is a woman’s failure to ovulate each month. Web MD notes that there are a variety of treatments available to treat infertility. There are fertility drugs on the market designed to stimulate ovulation. In addition, women can undergo fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization. During in vitro fertilization, eggs are removed from the woman and a male partner donates sperm. The egg is fertilized and then subsequently implanted into the woman’s uterus resulting in pregnancy. If you feel you may have fertility issues, set up an appointment with your doctor.
Yours or Mine?
By Melissa B. Brisman, Esq. and Nancy M. Hartzband, Esq.
Couples may want to think about their cyropreserved (frozen) embryos, to be sure that they are on “the same page” and that their intentions for future use and …