Surrogacy 101

When Infertility Becomes a “Guy Thing”

How Men Can Combat Declining Fertility Trends

When infertility strikes, it can be a massive source of stress for couples, and many are too quick to assume it’s a female issue.

Alarmingly, the average sperm count for adult males has decreased by 50 percent since 1938 and is currently declining at a rate of 2 percent each year, according to a study in the British Medical Journal. Stress, exposure to environmental toxins and diets deficient in key vitamins and minerals are likely to blame.

“It’s a fact that one in six couples will have difficulty conceiving, but many aren’t aware that almost half the time, it’s the male who is the cause of the problem,” said fertility expert, Dr. Amos Grunebaum. “When couples address this issue, it’s been my experience that the woman is the first to see a specialist to determine her fertility status. It’s a little more difficult to get the man on board with doing the same thing. Some men just don’t want to acknowledge that they may have a fertility problem. As such, they are more reluctant to get tested and I have seen a lot of men delay seeing a specialist or even avoid it completely.”

Unfortunately, Dr. Grunebaum can confirm these disturbing statistics as he has seen sperm counts decline in his 25+ years of practice.  

“From my experience, low sperm count is one of the primary reasons that couples have a difficult time conceiving,” said Dr. Grunebaum, also a medical health advisor for Fairhaven Health (www.fairhavenhealth.com). “Quite simply, the fewer sperm a man produces, the lower the likelihood that one will successfully fertilize the egg.”

However, according to Dr. Grunebaum, there are a variety of ways men can help improve their reproductive health.  

“A diet rich in antioxidants such as Vitamins C, E and Zinc can go a long way in improving sperm health. Exercising regularly plus limiting caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco intake can also help a great deal,” he added.

While low sperm count is known to be a major cause of infertility, for many men, visiting a doctor or clinic to have a sperm analysis done can be a daunting task.

“The testing process itself can be a little embarrassing and even more so when faced with the prospect of exposing their condition to the doctor, nurse or office staff,” he added.

Fortunately, there is now a way to test for low sperm count in the privacy of one’s own home. A new product from Fairhaven Health, the SpermCheck Fertility Test, accurately confirms if a man has a normal count (20 million per milliliter). The test can be completed in a matter of minutes and retails for around $35. Should the SpermCheck at-home test confirm a low count, it’s generally a good indicator that he should see a specialist to help further diagnose the problem.

“There are many benefits from determining early on if sperm count is a problem for you,” Dr. Grunebaum said. “The sooner an issue is pinpointed, the sooner proper treatment can be started. Treatments for male infertility typically include lifestyle changes, vitamin, mineral or herbal supplementation, prescription medication, or even surgical procedures. But before any of that can begin, the couple has to be able to communicate and agree to take action.” 

About Dr. Amos Grunebaum

Dr. Grunebaum is a New York based physician who is double-board certified in obstetrics/gynecology and maternal-fetal medicine (high-risk pregnancy). He is recognized as one of New York's foremost Ob/Gyns as evidenced by his regular inclusion in Castle Connolly's "Top Doctors: New York." Dr. Grunebaum has helped formulate a number of products for Fairhaven Health, a leading manufacturer of products to help couples conceive.

A Great Symposium for Infertility and Reproductive Professionals: START ART

Infertility is a challenging and rewarding field of nursing, and one that is evolving rapidly and dramatically, requiring nurses and other healthcare practitioners to constantly remain current with the latest state-of–the ART technology. Those in practice, as well as nurses in transition, accept that this ever changing arena requires an ongoing commitment to pursue new information, techniques, and best practices. And, equal in priority, is the IVF nurse’s sensitivity to parents’ quest to create families and the fragility of early embryonic life.

 The Annual REI Nursing Congress: Scientific & Therapeutic Approaches To Assisted Reproductive Technology (STARTARTSM) provides a unique and comprehensive educational opportunity, featuring critical updates on the latest advances in reproductive medicine, from procedures and protocols to psychosocial and legal issues. The goal of this Congress is to provide late-breaking information and cutting-edge techniques to improve ART outcomes - a goal that is matched by the IVF nurses’ skills, compassion, and caring that make this field so remarkable.

This activity is intended for the education of nurses, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals specializing in reproductive medicine and assisted reproductive technology. (It's great for surrogacy and egg donation agency owners too!)

During lunch on both Thursday, August 4 and Friday, August 5, participants will have the opportunity to join accredited sessions of interactive roundtable discussions. Topics will be posted at the meeting registration desk, where participants may sign up for discussions of issues of special interest. A moderator or faculty member will lead each group. (I am, once again, planning to lead a round table on the topic of Gestational Surrogacy.)

Register HERE https://www.123enroll.com/STARTART

I hope to see you there!!

 Sharon

All About the Seattle Sperm Bank by Sharon LaMothe

My Tour of the Seattle Sperm Bank

A common shipping container

You would think that with my long history, over 11 years, in the Assisted Reproductive Technology world I would have visited a sperm bank by now. I mean, I have been invited into surgical units and witnessed egg retrievals, I have been invited into labs and watched eggs being fertilized in a number of ways, I have been present at MANY embryo transfers, and had the privilege to behold the miracle of birth via surrogacy more times then I can remember, so you would think that I would have knocked on the door of one or two sperm banks by now!
The Seattle Sperm Bank located near the University of Washington, which is the American division of the European Sperm Bank based in Denmark. Gary Olsem and one of the lab technicians, Christina, was kind enough to invite me to tour the bank and then answered some very pressing questions that I had collected from Facebook and current clients.

I started my tour with Christina whom I had met previously at the ASRM conference that was held in Denver in October of this year. I was brought into a room that had a few tanks in it and instantly started asking questions! They were a lot bigger then I though but had guessed correctly that this was what the sperm was shipped in. So here are the shipping facts: People purchase usually 2-3 vials at a time but the same container can hold 10-25 vials. (not that you would want to order that many and in a moment I will tell you why!) Shipping to the East Coast is $150.00 2 day FedEX and that includes the return trip. There is a $50.00 extra fee for over night. I actually asked if many people need over night shipping and Gary told me that I would be surprised at how many women called needing their shipment yesterday. "Don't they PLAN ahead?" "Apparently not." These containers will keep the sperm frozen for up to 3 weeks and NO, you can not take them out of the container and pop them into your freezer at home. That would be just a waste of money.

New Sperm Samples

The men on the Seattle Sperm Banks long list of eligible donors are between the ages of 18 and 39. Really the 18 year olds are few and far between (to my delight) however no donor is required to have a psychological evaluation. None. Why is this? Apparently because the procedure is no where near as in depth as that of your egg donor. (However it's not only about procedure but that is for another blog). There are 3 hoops that these gentlemen have to jump through. The first is the initial screening and meeting which includes a free sperm analyst and most of those don't make the first cut. Not that they are infertile themselves but if their sperm doesn't freeze well or make the thaw then its just not worth it to take the risk. Some may have some very real male factor infertility and they are told what the issues are and are referred to a mental health professional at that point. So basically these men have had a free semen analyst and it ends there. No, they did not get paid yet.

The second hoop is a meeting that ends with yet another semen sample and a full education of how the program works. This is also unpaid and requires more forms, questionnaires and paper work. FDA guidelines are followed to the T.

Storage Containers

The third hoop and last meeting before becoming a "real sperm donor". An Audio Interview is done, a personality test is taken, baby photos are shared, and Blood work is required, STD testing, a sperm deposit that will be kept in storage and this is also when money exchanges hands. How much money you may ask? $40.00. Yes...that is Forty Dollars, American. And another $20.00 in about six months once everything is cleared. So how much can you actually make being a sperm donor? Well, through the Seattle Sperm Bank you are allowed to 'help' 25 families and you can donate up to 3x per week. (Although most just donate once per month.)

Speaking of 'helping families' 25 donations seems like a large number but lets remember that there are no regulations and although the ASRM has guidelines on egg donation of only 6 donations per donor there are no guidelines for sperm donors. (and if there are, they are incredibly hard to find compared to egg donor compensation and donation guidelines which pop up at the touch of a button...) I asked if there were any thoughts to how many families in one location that would could be helped by a single donor and found that it depends on location. If you live in the UK then it would be 10 donations for the entire United Kingdom. Australia, 5 donations and so on. So it seems that each country has its own thoughts on the matter.

A frozen 'cane' with vial of sperm

Lets get down to the nitty gritty...how much does it cost to start your family using sperm from the Seattle Sperm Bank is quite reasonable. Depending on how you are going to do it....IUI (Intrauterine Inseminations) through your clinic the cost is $490.00 per vial (washed sperm) and for at home inseminations its $390.00 ICI (unwashed sperm) and that includes the cost of the insemination kit! Most people order 2-3 vials at a time. So lets see, if you are ordering 3 vials, and live on the east coast AND are doing in home inseminations then the cost would be $1320.00 which would include your shipping and handling charges. Now remember, there are no guarantees that this is going to work the 1st round. (or the 2nd or the 5th) Would it be cheaper to go to a clinic and do IUI under a Reproductive Endocrinologists care? In the long run, perhaps so. You would be paying for IUI's at the clinic however you would be monitored and if medications were needed then you would find that out and, believe it or not, a RE knows what he/she is doing! Plus, timing is everything!

One frozen vial on a 'cane'

Just for the fun of it I asked about directed donation and how much it would cost to store sperm. The storage fees are $75.00 per month and $350 per year. Not to bad if you don't have to wait long.

Remember when I stated that these containers could hold up to 25 vials? I wanted to mention that you do NOT want to order any more sperm then you can use in a cycle unless you have a place to store it near your home. Remember that the containers only keep the sperm frozen at the ideal temperature for up to 3 weeks....after that all bets are off. Or you could have a party and the SSB will ship several different donors sperm in one container and you can share the cost.

I wanted to thank Gary Olsem for all of his time and Christina for answering my endless questions.

If any of my readers would like more information please contact:
Gary Olsem
Seattle Sperm Bank LLC
4915 25th Avenue NE, Suite 204
Seattle WA 98105
Ph: (206) 588 1484
Fax: (206) 588 1485
Email: info@seattlespermbank.com

Surrogacy and Embryo, Sperm, & Egg Donation: What Were You Thinking?: Considering IVF & Third-Party Reproduction by Theresa M. Erickson: A LaMothe Book Review

I was very excited to receive my copy of Surrogacy and Embryo, Sperm, & Egg Donation: What Were You Thinking?: Considering IVF & Third-Party Reproduction by Theresa M. Erickson. What I expected was a book filled with guidelines and tips for those who are venturing for the first time into the unknown territory of Third Party Family Building and I was not disappointed!

 

Education and research is key when considering any third party reproduction route and there are several books out on the market that can assist Intended Parents in making a sound decision. But along with reading books like Surrogacy and Embryo, Sperm, & Egg Donation: What Were You Thinking? visiting website's and researching all options, it is wise to surround oneself with seasoned professionals in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology. Theresa Erickson is one of those highly sought after reproductive attorneys that can provide sound advice and guidance just as she provides in her books.

 

Surrogacy and Embryo, Sperm, & Egg Donation: What Were You Thinking? is divided into four 'fertility options' as stated in the title but there is so much more to be discovered here. With chapters on Disclosure, Reproductive Tourism, Agency vs Independent and Online Matching, Trust and Escrow Accounts, and much more, this book is a must read for any Intended or Recipient Parent considering working with a third party to build their family.

 

About the Author Theresa Erickson:

 

Theresa M. Erickson is one of the few attorneys in the United States who practices exclusively in reproductive and family formation law. The managing partner of Erickson Law, APLC, she is also the Founder and Chair of Conceptual Options, The Surrogacy and Egg Donation Center, and lives in San Diego, California.

Twins X3 by Fran Pitre: A LaMothe Book Review

Now here is a book I could not put down! Twins X3 by Fran Pitre is a story not to be missed. Fran is very candid when retelling the tale of her life thus far. Did she use Assisted Reproductive Technologies? Yes she did, as far as the Catholic Church would allow, using a slew of medications and finally GIFT (gamete intrafallopian transfer.) She talks about the difficulty of becoming pregnant, having premature babies, her relationships with her in-laws and other family members, her bouts of anxiety and depression.  While it's like reading a personal journal, Fran explains, in detail, just what each medical procedure is, why she and her husband decide to try it or why they didn't (think IVF), and how it is to live with three sets of twins. At the end of the book she even has parenting tips. Throughout each chapter are photos of her family and although they are not the best quality you can certainly relate better to these very real life characters. This book is obviously written from the heart not only to chronicle her own life story but, it seemed to me, a huge book (545 pages) of Thanks! Fran thanks everyone from the medical staff, hospital nurses, friends, relatives and teachers often throughout her story. Let's face it, when you are pregnant with one set of twins and have two sets at home, you need a lot of help!

 

Anyone struggling with infertility, a parent with children or a Catholic that has questions regarding fertility treatments would surely find something to relate to in Twins X3 by Fran Pitre.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A note from Fran herself!

 

Dear Sharon,

I wanted to email you a personal reply to thank you for such a wonderful review of my book. Your review truly brought me to tears. My hope is that with your advice through this review, your readers will be inspired to read my book and know that they are not alone in their journey through infertility, and will learn that childless couples really can become parents and see their dreams become reality.

As a side note, I gathered by your statement of the "not-the-best-quality photos" that you unfortunately must have received one of the copies from a printing run where the printing calibration was off. I had noticed this on a few copies, notified Xlibris (my publisher/printer), and was guaranteed that from that run on, each book had crisp, clear photos. Since then, I received a shipment where the photos were perfect ... and that's coming from myself as a graphic designer.

I just want to tell you that in regards to your review so that your readers don't expect anything less than the best product should they decide to purchase a book.

Again, thank you so much for your warm, supportive, very positive review of my book!

Blessings,
Fran Pitre
author: TWINS x 3

Making Babies: The Definitive Guide to Improving Your Fertility and Reproductive Health by Jason Jackson N.D. ~A LaMothe Book Review

Some books that come to me in the mail don't hold much of a surprise for me. They are just what they seem, at least if you judge the book by it's cover. Making Babies: The Definitive guide to improving Your Fertility and Reproductive Health by Jason Jackson N.D. certainly has a lot more to offer then I expected. To start, Jason Jackson runs a successful Natural Medicine practice from Brisbane, Australia. He has lectured and consulted extensively on numerous health topics throughout Australia and overseas. Mr Jackson specializes in reproductive health and infertility and is recognized as one of Australia's leading Naturopaths in this area and is an authority in the field of Clinical Nutrition and Herbal Medicine.

 

The introduction is what really captured my attention: "Over the thousands of years that humans have been able to reproduce, it has been only the last fifty years or so in the industrialized world, with its nutrient-depleted foods, genetically engineered agriculture, chemical processing, drugs, radiation and pollution, that we are now observing massive impacts on our ability to bear offspring, particularly in affluent Western societies." The last fifty years?

 

With chapters on Male and Female Reproductive Overviews, Preparing for Conception, Stress and Fertility, and yes, Medically Assisted Reproductive Technology (which is considered 'Plan C') I found that Jason Jackson was very adept at covering everything that one would need to know to do just that, Make Babies.

 

What I was really happy about were the detailed black and white photos depicting not only the human anatomy but also of fibroids, PCOS, IVF Procedure and quite a few more that add value to each chapter.

 

I recommend Making Babies The Definitive Guide to Improving Your Fertility and Reproductive Health by Jason Jackson N.D.  as a guide to your fertility wellness as well as a great infertility resource.

If at First You Don't Conceive: A Complete Guide to Infertility from One of the Nation's Leading Clinics by Dr. William Schoolcraft, MD, HCLD: A LaMothe Book Review

  If at First You Don't Conceive: A Complete Guide to Infertility from One of the Nation's Leading Clinics by Dr. William Schoolcraft, MD, HCLD, will not be available for release until March 16, 2010 but I have had the pleasure of receiving an advanced copy and highly suggest that you pre-order yours now!

There are two hundred and sixty five pages in If at First You Don't Conceive: A Complete Guide to Infertility from One of the Nation's Leading Clinics and each and everyone of them are worth reading. If you have just found out that you have a problem with fertility, this must be the first book you read. Not only does Dr. Schoolcraft talk about being your own best advocate he writes about the most common fertility challenges, the most common solutions for those challenges and covers the emotional challenges as well. I love the fact that he includes stories from his patient's which makes you feel connected to what this book is all about, validation, education, support and solutions.

If you are not familiar with Dr. WILLIAM SCHOOLCRAFT, MD, HCLD, he is a fertility specialist and researcher and is the director of the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine.


Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/

Dr. Jacobs talks about IVF

Why Do IVF?


Many patients I have seen who have failed to conceive using Clomid, and think IVF is the automatic next step. Not so. Clomid really is not associated with a good pregnancy rate. There are other protocols which do work better. Of course, for those who need it, IVF is one of them.

There are really 3 medical indications to do in vitro fertilization (IVF). One is for tubal damage. Tubal damage most commonly results from either previous infection or prior tubal ligation. Efforts at repairing the fallopian tubes usually results in may result in tubes that are open, but they are still damaged. If a fallopian tube is damaged, there is a significant risk that any pregnancy which may occur will be a tubal pregnancy. That is life threatening. Since IVF bypasses the tubes, there is no increased risk of tubal pregnancy.

A second reason to perform IVF is for severe male factor issues. If sperm are not formed properly, or they do not swim adequately, or if there are just too few of them, they need help to fertilize an egg. Once we have eggs in the embryo lab, we can literally inject sperm into eggs (ICSI). There is still no guarantee that fertilization will be achieved, but in the vast majority of the cases in which we perform ICSI, we are able to produce good embryos. Our pregnancy rates with ICSI are very nearly that of straight forward IVF.

Some newer technology now enables us to detect, in embryos, inherited diseases carried by one or both future parents. The first such inherited disease to be detected in embryos was cystic fibrosis. Today, there is an extremely long list of genetic diseases which can be diagnosed in embryos, and avoid having children stricken with those abnormalities. We have to remove one of the cells from a day 3, 6 to 8 cell embryo. Removing a single cell does not jeopardize the embryo, when the biopsy is performed by a skilled embryologist. There are now 2 different techniques to examine the DNA of the embryo and compare it to the DNA of the parents. The older technique is polymerase chain reaction (PCR). That is the same technology highlighted in some of the TV crime shows. The second technique is referred to as micro array analysis. Material from a single cell taken from an embryo is placed in a tiny well, in what amounts to a computer chip, and the chemistry of that cell can be analyzed. Once it is determined which embryos are identified which are not affected by the disease in question, normal embryos can be placed in the uterus of the intended mother.

Finally, there is a non-medical reason to consider IVF. Many patients do not have any insurance coverage to help pay the expenses of fertility treatment. At least in our practice, both the cost of 4 cycles of using FSH to stimulate ovaries and performing IUI and 1 IVF cycle are about the same. Also, the pregnancy rate for a single IVF cycle is about the same as for 4 IUI cycles. If we do not achieve a pregnancy with IUI, the next treatment protocol to try is IVF. A few of my patients have felt it more cost effective to skip efforts at IUI, and just do IVF. Although I do not encourage that practice, I find it difficult to argue with the logic. I those circumstances, I have acceded to their requests.

IVF is certainly a very useful tool to help a couple achieve a pregnancy. With improved technology and understanding of the physiology of embryos, our pregnancy rates have become extremely good, and I expect them to improve more. It is, however, important to keep things in perspective. IVF is just 1 more tool, and should not be the only tool.

Dr. Jacobs is a Reproductive Endocrinologist, practicing in Carrollton, Texas, a northern suburb of Dallas. He completed his residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and remained at that institution to become its first fellow once Baylor achieved accreditation for an advanced training program in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Jacobs has served on the faculty of several medical schools and was director of Reproductive Endocrinology at Texas Tech Health Science Center in Amarillo. Currently, in addition to his clinical activities caring for infertile patients and those with recurrent pregnancy loss, he is Chairman of the IVF committee at Baylor Medical Center in Carrollton.
Barry Jacobs, M.D., 4323 M. Josey Lane, Suite #201, Carrollton, TX 75010 www.texasfertility.comPhone: 972-394-9590 Fax: 972-394-9597

 

For more articals please visit Infertility Answers, Inc.

http://infertilityanswers.org/

Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (PCAW)

Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (PCAW)

September 20 - 26, 2009

The PCEC organizes hundreds of free screening sites for men across the country each year during PCAW which, has resulted in nearly 4 million men being provided with early detection for prostate health isuues. Prostate cancer is nearly 100% survivable when detected in its earliest stages, men should "Choose to Know" their risk for the disease and "Know to Choose" treatment options, including watchful waiting after speaking with their doctor.

Screening Site Locator

 

Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/

Infertility Answers~ Research Your Options Here

If you are considering Egg or Sperm Donation, Surrogacy or Embryo Donation, research is KEY! There are so many facets to the Third Party Family Building journey that it's imperative that those seeking to be donors or surrogates do their research as well as Intended Parents looking for the services offered from women advertising themselves as "good candidates". You can find information regarding these issues and more, including medical and legal concerns world wide, on Infertility Answers, Inc. http://infertilityanswers.org/ This easy to navigate site is perfect for those just starting to understand the complexities of Third Party Family Building.

 

Wishing you all the best!

Sharon LaMothe

Study finds link between older fathers and lower IQ scores in children

It seems now the age of the fathers (or the age of the sperm, depending on how you look at this) is under scrutiny. I have seen several research articles on the effects of male age factor on children. Below is one of many...your thoughts? Sharon http://infertilityanswers.org/ Study finds link between older fathers and lower IQ scores in children

Katy Sinclair Progress Educational Trust 16 March 2009   A study by researchers at the University of Queensland, Australia, appearing in the journal PLoS Medicine, has found that children of older fathers perform less well in a range of cognitive tests than children born to younger fathers. The research, led by John McGrath, studied data from intelligence tests taken by 33,437 children born between 1959 and 1965 in the US. The tests focused on memory, learning and concentration skills in the children at the ages of eight months, four years and seven years. McGrath stated, 'the offspring of older fathers show subtle impairments on tests of neurocognitive ability during infancy and childhood'. It was previously thought that the mother's age had more effect on a child's abilities and intelligence, but the data found that children born to older mothers did well on the tests. The researchers have concluded that as men age the cells that produce sperm are subject to genetic mutations, whereas the mother's eggs are formed while still in the womb, and are therefore protected from mutation until they are used. Other recent studies have shown a link between fathers over the age of 35 and health problems in children, such as birth deformities, cancer, and conditions such as autism and schizophrenia. James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, has publicly speculated whether his age when he became a father to his son Rufus had a causal impact on Rufus' diagnosis of schizophrenia. Watson has commented that 'I worry that I was 42 with Rufus. I read that the frequency of schizophrenia goes up with the age of both parents'. In the developed world the age at which both men and women are having children is increasing; in 1993, 23 per cent of births in England and Wales were to men aged 35 to 54 years old, but this had increased to 40 per cent by 2003. While genetic factors are considered important, the research team also took socioeconomic factors into account, with the potential for older fathers to provide better access to education and healthcare.  Dr Allen Pacey, a fertility expert at the University of Sheffield, took a sobering view, stating that 'the author's observation that most neurocognitive outcomes is also reduced in the children of older fathers provides a further piece of evidence to remind us that nature intended us to have our children earlier in our lives than we currently are'.

Twin boys procreated from 13-year-old sperm

When I was at the ASRM conference the  beginning of last week, I had the chance to hear the founder of Fertile Hope, Lindsay Nohr Beck, speak on the importance of preserving fertility before going through cancer treatments. Below is a perfect example, although out of Taiwan, for doing just that. I hope that this story spreads HOPE for a future family to others facing the difficult challenges of cancer treatments!

 

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

Twin boys procreated from 13-year-old sperm      
Taiwan News 
 
A pair of twin boys procreated from 13-year-old sperm were delivered slightly more than a month ago, marking a major step forward in Taiwan's development of artificial reproductive technology, medical sources said Friday.

"The birth was a record in Taiwan, " said Tseng Chi-jui, dean of Taipei Medical University's College of Medicine, who concurrently heads the school's Center for Reproductive Medicine and Sciences. Never before had a case involving such a long period of time between the freezing of male sperm and procreation been reported in Taiwan, Tseng said.

The father of the twins, identified only by his family name Chen, had to have his sperm frozen in 1995 due to testicular cancer, according to Tseng.
Then a 23-year-old college student, Chen, with his family's support, had his sperm cryopreserved at Taipei Medical University Hospital's sperm bank before undergoing an operation for his cancer and receiving follow-up chemotherapy.

Chen later overcame the cancer, but his ability to produce sperm was never recovered. After getting married early this year, he and his wife wanted to have their own child and so they went back to the samples that had been frozen for 13 years.
With the help of assisted reproduction technology, the mother gave birth in early October to a pair of healthy twin boys at 37 weeks, with one weighing 2,100 grams and the other 2,700 grams, Tseng said.

Tseng, an artificial insemination expert, recalled that he used in vitro fertilization to cultivate four ovas fertilized with Chen's unfrozen sperm, but only two of those eggs reimplanted in his wife's womb survived and grew into babies. Noting that cryopreserved human sperm tend to show a loss of mortility (the number of sperm that are active or moving) after defreezing, Tseng said that he had to employ intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) technology to more precisely fertilize Mrs. Chen's eggs.

Thanks to progress in cryogenics and artificial reproductive technologies, Tseng said those suffering from serious illnesses and facing treatments that may make them infertile or those suffering from sperm anomalies can have their sperm cryopreserved for future procreation.    

CVS Caremark Corp is offering discounts of about 30 percent on fertility treatments

If you haven't heard of the new CVS discounts on fertility medications, please read below!

 

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

 

CVS Caremark Corp is offering discounts of about 30 percent on fertility treatments

 

 

CHICAGO (Reuters) – CVS Caremark Corp said on Monday it is offering discounts of about 30 percent on fertility treatments to couples struggling with infertility and high medication costs.

The program is aimed at patients who do not have fertility medication health insurance coverage or who have exhausted their benefits for fertility medications.

CVS said about 7.3 million U.S. women and their partners, or about 12 percent of the reproductive-age population, are affected by infertility, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"On average patients will receive about 30 percent off for the cost of their medication," said Joan O'Rourke, vice president of strategic operations at CVS Caremark Specialty Pharmacy.

Patients must pay a $10 fee to enroll in the program, which includes services such as counseling and education.

While the program was launched in February, CVS is promoting it at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine's annual meeting this week.

Under a separate plan launched on Sunday, shoppers can get 90-day prescriptions for more than 400 common generic medications for $9.99 each at CVS drugstores when they pay an annual fee of $10.

About 45.7 million Americans were uninsured in 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

(Reporting by Jessica Wohl; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

Q & A: My fiance' smokes marijuana every day ...Could that cause him to be infertile?

Q: I had a question about infertility. My fiance' smokes marijuana every day and I'm totally against that. Could that cause him to be infertile? We want to have children, and have been trying for a long time. But have had no luck as of yet.

 

A: From the little bit I know, Dr's and OBs want both the male and female not to be taking any recreational drugs or drinking alcohol before and during pregnancy and while breast feeding. 

 

In other news, it is the male that may need to worry about his sperm while smoking pot! Read below the article from About.com and perhaps you might want to have his sperm tested. Male fertility testing costs a lot less then female testing and if you rule out Male Factors now it is easier to see what the next step should be!

 

Share this with him and Good Luck!

Sharon LaMothe

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

 

Men who smoke marijuana frequently have significantly less seminal fluid, a lower total sperm count and their sperm behave abnormally, all of which may affect fertility adversely, a new study in reproductive physiology at the University at Buffalo has shown.

This study is the first to assess marijuana's effects on specific swimming behavior of sperm from marijuana smokers and to compare the results with sperm from men with confirmed fertility. Marijuana contains the cannabinoid drug THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is its primary psychoactive chemical, as well as other cannabinoids.

Marijuana Affects Male Sperm

Results of the study were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine in San Antonio.

"The bottom line is, the active ingredients in marijuana are doing something to sperm, and the numbers are in the direction toward infertility," said Lani J. Burkman, Ph.D., lead author on the study. Burkman is assistant professor of gynecology/obstetrics and urology and head of the Section on Andrology in the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. UB's andrology laboratory also carries out sophisticated diagnosis for infertile couples.

Sperm Swimming Too Fast, Too Early

"We don't know exactly what is happening to change sperm functioning," said Burkman, "but we think it is one of two things: THC may be causing improper timing of sperm function by direct stimulation, or it may be bypassing natural inhibition mechanisms. Whatever the cause, the sperm are swimming too fast too early." This aberrant pattern has been connected to infertility in other studies, she noted.

Further research in the andrology laboratory showed that human sperm exposed to high levels of THC displayed abnormal changes in the sperm enzyme cap, called the acrosome. When researchers tested synthetic anandamide equivalents on human sperm, the normal vigorous swimming patterns were changed and the sperm showed reduced ability to attach to the egg before fertilization. Only about 10 laboratories in the U.S. perform this array of sperm function tests.

Testing for Sperm Count

In the current study, Burkman received seminal fluid from 22 confirmed marijuana smokers and subjected the samples to a variety of tests. The volunteers reported smoking marijuana approximately 14 times a week, and for an average of 5.1 years.

Control numbers were obtained from 59 fertile men who had produced a pregnancy. All men abstained from sexual activity for two days before the lab analysis.

The samples from both groups were tested for volume, sperm-count-per-unit of seminal fluid, total sperm count, percent of sperm that was moving, velocity and sperm shape.

Smokers Had Less Sperm

Results showed that both the volume of seminal fluid and the total number of sperm from marijuana smokers were significantly less than for fertile control men. Significant differences also appeared when HA and velocity, both before and after washing, were assessed, the study found.

"The sperm from marijuana smokers were moving too fast too early," said Burkman. "The timing was all wrong. These sperm will experience burnout before they reach the egg and would not be capable of fertilization."

Risky for Borderline Fertility Men

Burkman noted that many men who smoke marijuana have fathered children. "The men who are most affected likely have naturally occurring borderline fertility potential, and THC from marijuana may push them over the edge into infertility," she said.

As to the question of whether fertility potential returns when smokers stop using marijuana: Burkman said the issue hasn't been studied well enough to provide a definitive answer.

"THC remains stored in fat for a long period, so the process may be quite slow. We can't say that everything will go back to normal. Most men who have borderline fertility are unaware of that fact. It's difficult to know who is at risk. I definitely would advise anyone trying to conceive not to smoke marijuana, and that would include women as well as men."

Men and Infertility Testing

 

When the plan was to get pregnant last year and that doesn't happen, the first thing that many women do is assume that its HER fault. I have talked with so many women who have decided just to "look into" the possibility of surrogacy because she isn't getting pregnant or had one or two miscarriages but has never visited an infertility clinic! "I just wanted to know how much it costs, just in case I need to go this route" one woman told me recently. I asked her if her husband had been tested. "Tested for what?" FOR WHAT? Why it never crossed her mind that her husbands sperm might be the reason that she wasn't getting pregnant is beyond me. There must STILL be this stigma out there that if the woman isn't getting pregnant there must be something wrong with HER.

 

The easiest and least expensive of all infertility tests can be done on the male partner first. And I highly recommend that he is tested before another dime is spent on any female infertility testing. Here are a few things that can be found out about the male partner before panic sets in and dollars are flying out the window!

 

The basic semen analysis measures these factors:

• Semen volume. This is the amount of semen you produce during ejaculation. Based on World Health Organization guidelines, 2-5 milliliters is considered normal.

• Sperm concentration. This measure, also called sperm count, is the number of sperm in a given amount of semen. Normal is more than 20 million sperm per milliliter.

• Sperm motility. This is the ability of the sperm to move. A normal result means at least 50 percent of the sperm can move forward.

• Sperm morphology. This is the shape of the sperm. Under one system of measurement, at least 30 percent of the sperm should have a normal shape.¹ Under a different, stricter set of criteria for morphology, at least 14 percent of sperm must meet the standards to be considered sufficient.

 

Even though a male whose semen is below normal on one or more of these tests may lower the chances of making his partner pregnant it doesn't mean that its impossible. Because semen analysis results can vary from one sample to another, the doctor may ask for at least 3 samples spaced a few weeks apart. 

 

Sharon LaMothe

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

Male Infertility And Diabetes Linked; Excess Sugars In The Body Have Direct Effect On Sperm Quality

Another potential 'Male Factor' to consider when going through infertility testing....

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

Male Infertility And Diabetes Linked; Excess Sugars In The Body Have Direct Effect On Sperm Quality

Medicare Thailand Diabetes in men has a direct effect on fertility, a scientist told the 24th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Dr. Con Mallidis from Queen's University, Belfast, UK, said that, despite the prevailing view that it had little effect on male reproductive function, the Belfast group had shown that diabetes caused DNA damage in sperm. There are possible cures for diabetes available now, Stem cell therepy is showing incredible results for treating diabetes. For information on this look at www.stemcells21.com The increase in the numbers of diabetics diagnosed at a young age has coincided with worldwide concerns over male fertility, he told the conference. "But this is not simply a coincidence," he said. "We have shown for the first time that diabetes adversely influences male fertility at a molecular level." The scientists studied semen samples from men with diabetes who were receiving insulin therapy. On initial routine microscopic examination the semen samples appeared normal, apart from a slight decrease in volume. "But when we looked for DNA damage, we saw a very different picture," said Dr. Mallidis, adding that this is not part of a routine semen analysis. "Sperm RNA was significantly altered, and many of the changes we observed are in RNA transcripts involved in DNA repair. And comparison with a database of men of proven fertility confirmed our findings. Diabetics have a significant decrease in their ability to repair sperm DNA, and once this is damaged it cannot be restored." Transcription is the synthesis of RNA under the direction of DNA, and is the first step towards gene expression, where the information from the gene becomes a product such as a protein translating the genetic information into a cellular function. If there are errors in transcription, there will also be errors in the function of the gene. "We were particularly interested to see a fourteen-fold decrease in the expression of a protein called ornithine decarboxylase, which is responsible for the production of spermine and spermidine, compounds responsible for cell growth that help stabilise the structure of DNA. We also found that spermatogenesis 20, a factor unique to the testis and whose function remains unknown, was greatly increased. Taken together, these factors indicate clearly that having diabetes has a direct influence on the health of semen." Sperm DNA quality is known to be associated with decreased embryo quality, low embryo implantation rates, higher miscarriage rates, and some serious childhood diseases, in particular some childhood cancers. Over the years possible causes for sperm DNA fragmentation have been suggested but to date the exact mechanism for the damage remains unknown, say the scientists. "We found a class of compounds known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the male reproductive tract. These are formed as the result of glycation (the addition of sugar)," said Dr. Mallidis, "and accumulate during normal ageing. They are dependent on life style - diet, smoking etc - and in many diabetic complications are centrally implicated in DNA damage. We believe that they play a similar role in the male reproductive system." The scientists intend to follow up their work by trying to determine how AGEs cause and contribute to DNA damage. They believe that they may have uncovered a new role for AGEs, and that their influence goes far beyond diabetes and its complications. "We must now try to develop strategies to protect sperm, and to diminish the accumulation of AGEs," said Dr. Mallidis. Such strategies could involve changes in diet, disrupting a step in the formation of AGEs, or increasing the body's protection against AGEs, possibly through the use of dietary supplements. "Finally, there is spermatogenesis 20. What does it do, how does it do it, under what circumstances and why? Why is it so greatly increased in diabetics? We need to find answers to all these questions," said Dr. Mallidis. With IVF costs soaring throughout western countries, Aisa is looking to be a very good option.

Biological Clocks Tick for Men, Too

Biological Clocks Tick for Men, Too

Men's Fertility Plummets in Late 30s, Early 40s

By ELIZA BROWNING
July 7, 2008

A new study shows that a man's fertility starts to fall in his mid 30s, providing more evidence that like women, men, too, have a kind of biological clock that can play a big role in a women's chances of getting pregnant.

New research suggests that men may become less fertile as they reach their late 30s.

(Getty)

Researchers in France found that a male's fertility starts to decline as he enters his mid-30s and is significantly lower if he is over 40.

The study included more than 12,200 couples being treated for infertility at the Eylau Center for Assisted Reproduction in Paris. The women were given intrauterine inseminations, or IUIs, also known as artificial inseminations, where sperm is inserted into the uterus when the woman is ovulating. This type of treatment is typically given to couples if the woman has no fertility problems.

Scientists monitored more than 21,000 of these procedures between January 2002 and December 2006 and recorded rates of pregnancy, miscarriage and births.

If a woman was over 35, the rate of pregnancy was lower. This was expected: maternal age has been long been linked to a couple's rate of pregnancy and chances of miscarriage.

But the study also found that if the father was in his late 30s, the chances of a successful pregnancy went down. Ten percent of treatments led to pregnancy in fathers over 40.

The father's age also affected rates of miscarriage. If a father was over 34, the miscarriage rate was 16.7 percent. Between the ages of 35 and 39, it went up to 19.5 percent. And if the father was older than 44, it jumped to 32.4 percent -- which means nearly one-third of the pregnancies ended in miscarriages.

Researchers said the problems were likely the result of DNA damage and fragmentation in sperm, which can lead to pregnancy failure and miscarriage.

Dr. Peter Schlegel, chairman of urology at the Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, works at the Male Center for Reproductive Medicine. He told ABC News it is possible that there is a link between DNA damage and age.

"As men get older, there is an increase in the risk of having that fragmented DNA," Schlegel explained.

The findings were presented today at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference in Barcelona, Spain, and represent the strongest evidence to date that age can affect male fertility.

Dr. Stephanie Belloc, who presented the study, said, "This research has important implications for couples wanting to start a family."

Belloc went on to report that although gynecologists have always placed emphasis on maternal age, now paternal age will increasingly become a factor in reproductive medicine.

"The message was to get pregnant before the age of 35 or 38, because afterward it would be difficult. But now the gynecologists must also focus on paternal age and give this information to the couple," she said in her presentation.

The U.S. Census Bureau, which compiles national health statistics, does not publish data on the age of first-time fathers, according to Andy Hait of the Census Bureau, but a handful of reproductive studies show that the average ages of men having children is going up.

In 2003, the number of fathers between the ages of 35 and 39 went up 18.7 percent from a decade earlier, according to a report released on births for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Information on the age of the father is not recorded as much as the age of mother, as it's often not entered on birth certificates for unmarried women or women less than 25 years old.

Schlegel told ABC News it is becoming increasingly common for males to be treated for infertility.

"Couples are older when they try to have children than they were in the past, so it's a more common situation for us to encounter," he said. Schlegel also said there is more research to be done on how male age affects embryos and birth defects.

Schlegel went on to say the relationship between age and male fertility is not a new concept but has been masked by the focus on the connection between female fertility and age.

"The changes in male fertility rates, as they relate to age, are not as dramatic as in female fertility rates -- which are massive and marked," said Schlegel, "but there is a clear link between age and male fertility."

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

Lack of sperm means some UK couples can't get treatment

Lack of sperm means some UK couples can't get treatment

Dr Kirsty Horsey Progress Educational Trust 30 June 2008 [BioNews, London] The number of recorded sperm donations in the UK has fallen to the lowest level since anonymity was removed from donors in April 2005, say officials. Figures published in the Times newspaper show that there was a decline of about 20 per cent in the number of treatments in the year between 2005 and 2006. In 2005, 2,727 women were treated using donated sperm, whereas in 2006 it was only 2,107. The data also show that there was a concurrent decline in egg donation, including on 'egg-sharing' schemes: the number of treatments on these, where women receive discounted IVF in return for a proportion of their eggs, which are then used to treat other women, fell by 40 per cent. Some clinicians worry that if patients cannot get the treatment they need in the UK, they will travel abroad for it. Following a change to the law that came into force on 1 April 2005, people conceived using donated egg, sperm or embryos in the UK will now be able to ask for identifying information about the donor when they reach the age of 18. Since this change to the law came into effect, many have considered it to be a reason behind a shortage of donors, although others, such as the National Gamete Donation Trust suggest there may be other reasons, such as lack of awareness. Speaking on the 'Today' programme on BBC Radio 4 last week, Dr Allan Pacey, an andrologist and secretary of the British Fertility Society (BFS), said there are some logical reasons for the latest figures. He explained that the number of men donating sperm had recently remained about constant - but added that the men concerned might be putting more conditions on the use of their sperm than previously. While fewer men are donating to sperm banks, for use by potentially recipient, the actual number of men donating sperm has risen slightly. But many of these 'new' donors are men donating specifically to a single friend or couple. When donating to a sperm bank, a man's sperm may be used to treat up to 10 different women - but if donors put their own restrictions on who can be treated then this will inevitably mean that a rise in the number of donors does not equate to a rise in the number of people being treated using donated sperm. 'After the change, men were more reluctant to allow a greater number of women to receive treatment', he explained, adding: 'Couples are bringing a friend of the family as their own donor and that donor is only giving the donation specifically to them'. Dr Evan Harris MP said that 'the Government and the HFEA have been saying everything is fine, but it isn't. There was no good reason for removing anonymity, which has led to a catastrophic drop in the number of patients treated by donor insemination'. He added that 'there was always a huge risk that this would happen, diminishing the capacity of both the NHS and private clinics to treat infertility. There are probably now thousands of untreated couples who may be forced abroad, or into the unregulated sector'.

A baby girl born using frozen sperm from father killed by cancer FOUR years ago

A news article from March was so interesting to me that I thought I would post it on Father's Day and share it with you! Frozen sperm does work! 

Happy Father's Day!

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

The baby girl born using frozen sperm from father killed by cancer FOUR years ago

By LUKE SALKELD
Last updated at 08:16 20 March 2008

Her father couldn't be there when she was born. And he won't be able to watch her grow up.

But Jaimie-Rose Roberts, born four years after his death, will still be a Daddy's girl.

James Roberts, who died from cancer at 33, had always dreamed of adding to his family.

As he battled his illness, he and his wife Lisa, who already had a son together, decided to have his sperm frozen to ensure they could have more children after his treatment.

Scroll down for more...

Joy: Lisa Roberts proudly hugs Jaimie-Rose, conceived through her dead husband's frozen sperm

Last week, Mrs Roberts fulfilled their dream on her own after a course of IVF treatment that doctors had warned had only a 20 per cent chance of working.

"She's amazing," she said as she held her week-old daughter in her arms.

"I hope James is looking down on us with a smile on his face.

"I wish he was here to see her because I know he would be so happy.

"She's just beautiful.

"I can't believe that something so lovely can come from something so tragic."

The couple's son, Cameron, is now seven.

He is delighted to be a big brother and suggested his little sister's name as a tribute to their father.

Lisa and James Roberts had been married for six years when he was diagnosed with a cancerous leg tumour.

They were warned that treatment would leave him infertile so he had his sperm frozen for future use and signed over ownership to his wife.

"He was really pleased about the medical technology to store his sperm for us to have more babies in the future," Mrs Roberts said.

Scroll down for more...

Together: Lisa and husband James Roberts

"James always wanted a family - he always wanted children, he loved children.

"We had been trying for three years before Cameron. He was so excited when he was born.

"He was a great dad and a great husband."

Sadly, Mr Roberts's tumour spread despite the chemotherapy treatment and he died in hospital with his wife by his side in October 2004.

Mrs Roberts concentrated on bringing up their son at the family home in Chepstow, Gwent, and waited more than two years until she felt strong enough to go through with the IVF treatment.

"I suddenly felt it was the right time," she explained.

"I used our savings of more than £4,000 to cover the cost because I couldn't think of anything in the world better to spend it on - I know James would have approved."

Doctors told her that only one of the ten resulting embryos was viable, dramatically cutting her chance of becoming pregnant.

"They told me not to hold out much hope, saying there was just a 20 per cent of me getting pregnant.

'But it was amazing. It worked straight away - something inside me knew it always would. I had a feeling it would be fine.

"I took lots of pregnancy tests which were all positive before I could believe I was having James's child. Cameron came to the scans with me - taking the role James had when I was expecting him. We read all the baby books together."

Jaimie-Rose was born a week ago by caesarean section weighing in a healthy 6lb15oz and is back at home with her mother and brother.

"It was Cameron who suggested calling her Jaimie after their daddy. He was adamant about it,' Mrs Roberts said.

"He's been fantastic and so supportive. He is so proud of his little sister - knowing that she is also from his daddy."

Mrs Roberts is not the first widow to become pregnant using her late husband's frozen sperm. Because her husband gave his permission, however, she avoided the legal anguish of the Diane Blood case.

Mrs Blood's husband Stephen was unable to give his consent for the procedure before he died of meningitis in 1995. She eventually won a lengthy legal battle and has since had two sons.

War-bound soldiers are banking their sperm in CNY

It seems that we are always looking at what the female is doing in regards to protecting her fertility...the Intended Mother...the 'woman' factor. So to change things up, read below! 56 men....soldiers in fact, may not be many, but this is just one sperm bank. Interesting idea who's time has come? Comments please!

War-bound soldiers are banking their sperm in CNY

By Dave Tobin

Staff writer

Before male soldiers head to war zones, some are taking an extra precaution: They freeze their sperm.

Staff Sgt. Clifton Brown, of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, served in Iraq in 2003-2004 and left in April for Kuwait. Before leaving for Kuwait, he went to CNY Fertility Center in Syracuse and banked his sperm.

He would have done it before going to Iraq, if he had known what he knows now, he said in an email from Kuwait.

Brown is one of at least 56 soldiers who have banked sperm at the CNY Fertility Center since 2005, said Dr. Robert Kiltz, who runs the center. They are motivated by a range of concerns: the risks of dying, losing fertility or encountering toxins that could alter their DNA. Others have pre-existing fertility issues or don't want to delay plans for a family.

Read the rest of the story here: War-bound soldiers are banking their sperm

Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net

Get Your Sperm Moving

I believe that when we think or speak of infertility we are focusing on the female aspect more often then not...and that the "cure" will be from the help of females: Egg Donors and Surrogates or an IVF procedure or IUI etc. Well, I found this article, below, that focuses on the male factor. My personal advice as an agency owner has always been to have the male tested before anything else is done. (Unless you know for a fact that its a female infertility issue such as born without a uterus etc.) Men can be tested at a much lower cost then testing for a woman and often, if there is a problem, the solution might be cheaper when it comes to treating the condition.

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net 

Posted Saturday, February 16, 2008 11:03 AM

Get Your Sperm Moving

Newsweek

  Illustration: Mark Matcho for Newsweek

By Karen Springen

Like many couples, Brian Delaney, 35, and his wife, Daniela, 34, turned to in vitro fertilization after failing to conceive on their own. But after five attempts and an investment of $150,000, IVF failed them as well. Then Brian saw a male-infertility specialist, Columbia University’s Dr. Harry Fisch, who discovered that Brian’s low sperm production could be corrected through microsurgery. Three months later, Daniela was pregnant. Last November she delivered a baby boy, Harrison.

Long overlooked, male infertility has become a fruitful field of research. Doctors now know that, when a couple fails to conceive, the problem lies with the man as often as with the woman. And as the Delaneys learned, recent advances have dramatically improved experts’ understanding of how to diagnose, treat and prevent the condition. “Anything that makes the body unhealthy—a disease, toxins, excessive alcohol—will hurt fertility,” says UCSF urologist Paul Turek. “But most of these things that hurt fertility are reversible.” Some tips for men:

Prune your prescriptions. Among the commonly prescribed medicines that can affect fertility or libido are SSRI antidepressants like Prozac, beta blockers for hypertension, alpha blockers like Flomax (used to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate), the stomach-ulcer drug Tagamet and pain medications like morphine and oxycodone.

Men who are trying to conceive should also avoid using anabolic steroids and testosterone creams and injections because they shut down the body’s production of testosterone and sperm. “The body loves it, but the testicles hate it,” says Turek. “They say, ‘Well, there’s plenty of testosterone. I don’t need to make testosterone or sperm myself’.”

Have more sex. It sounds obvious, but some busy couples don’t make enough time for it. During ovulation—about 10 to 18 days after a woman’s period starts—couples should have sex every other day to “optimize sperm motility,” says Fisch, who is also the author of “The Male Biological Clock.” After five days without sex, a man has a higher volume of fluid, which dilutes the concentration of sperm and makes them less active.

Stay fit. Doctors are seeing more men with obesity-caused infertility. Fat converts testosterone to estrogen, and obese men (or those with a waist circumference of more than 40 inches) are more prone to erectile dysfunction. Men with type 2 diabetes, often associated with obesity, are more prone to low testosterone levels, which negatively affect libido and sperm production.

Doctors can prescribe anti-estrogens like Clomid, used to increase egg production in women, to stimulate testosterone production and, in many men, sperm production.

Stay cool. Heat can damage sperm cells, so stay out of hot tubs, avoid putting your laptop on your lap and don’t sit for long periods of time with your legs crossed or pressed together, says Dr. Peter Schlegel, chairman of urology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York. There’s also some evidence linking cell-phone radiation with altered sperm cells in men, so don’t “live on the cell phone,” and keep the device in your jacket or holstered to your belt rather than in your front pants pocket, he says.

See a urologist. “Even those men who we considered to be sterile in the past, we almost always can treat them now,” says Schlegel. Urologists can provide treatments such as vasectomy reversals and outpatient microsurgery for conditions like blocked ducts, scarring from STDs and varicoceles, a type of varicose vein.

Men who want to boost their fertility should also quit smoking, cut back on alcohol, avoid illegal drugs (especially marijuana) and exercise regularly. “Anything that improves medical health is likely to improve sperm,” says University of Illinois at Chicago andrologist Craig Niederberger. Then be patient. “In the world today, people want to act too quickly. ‘We tried for two months, we didn’t get pregnant, we want IVF’,” says urologist Robert Oates, director of male reproductive medicine and surgery at Boston University School of Medicine. Sometimes “try, try again” comes with its own rewards.