Surrogacy 101

Please vote for me....Peoples Health Blogger Awards: Ends Dec. 15th

Sharon LaMothe http://surrogacy101.blogspot.com

Infertilitys Common Thread

Thank You to April Sosbe for bringing this movement to my attention! Become a part of a  community....read below....

Sharon

 Pomegranates, a longstanding symbol of fertility, serve as a strong analogy to those suffering through infertility. Though each pomegranate skin is unique in colour and texture, the seeds inside are remarkably similar from fruit to fruit. Though our diagnosis is unique—endometriosis, low sperm count, luteal phase defect, or causes unknown—the emotions, those seeds on the inside, are the same from person to person. Infertility creates frustration, anger, depression, guilt, and loneliness. Compounding these emotions is the shame that drives people suffering from infertility to retreat into silence.

In addition, the seeds represent the multitude of ways one can build their family: natural conception, treatments, adoption, third-party reproduction, or even choosing to live child-free.

The pomegranate thread holds a two-fold purpose: to identify and create community between those experiencing infertility as well as create a starting point for a conversation. Women pregnant through A.R.T., families created through adoption, or couples trying to conceive during infertility can wear the thread, identifying themselves to others in this silent community. At the same time, the string serves as a gateway to conversations about infertility when people inquire about its purpose. These conversations are imperative if we are ever to remove the social stigma attached to infertility.Tie on the thread because you’re not alone. Wear to make aware.

Join us in starting this conversation about infertility by purchasing this pomegranate-coloured thread (#814 by DMC) at any craft, knitting, or variety store such as Walmart or Target. Tie it on your right wrist. Notice it on others.

Paz also created a write up that people could place on blogs, bulletin boards, and email forwards:

For anyone who has ever had a miscarriage, struggled with pregnancy, and all things infertile...there is a movement upon us that you might want to join. It's rather simple actually: a discreet ribbon on your right wrist to signal to others that they are not alone in their struggles.

As someone who has had 5 m/c but am currently 5 months pregnant (YEAH), I wonder who looks at my big belly with sadness because they are in the month-to-month struggle. I mentioned to a friend that I wished there was some secret nod or international sign as if to say, this belly was hardwon. Well, she posted this quandary on her blog (http://www.facebook.com/l/87232;www.stirrup-queens.blogspot.com/) and the response has been quite overwhelming...and a movement has been born!

The pomegranate-colored thread holds a two-fold purpose: to identify and create community between those experiencing infertility as well as create a starting point for a conversation. Women pregnant through any means, natural or A.R.T., families created through adoption or surrogacy, or couples trying to conceive during infertility or secondary infertility can wear the thread, identifying themselves to others in this silent community. At the same time, the string serves as a gateway to conversations about infertility when people inquire about its purpose. These conversations are imperative if we are ever to remove the social stigma attached to infertility.Tie on the thread because you’re not alone. Wear to make aware. Join us in starting this conversation about infertility by purchasingthis pomegranate-coloured thread (#814 by DMC) at any craft, knitting, or variety store such as Walmart or Target. Tie it on your right wrist. Notice it on others. Just thought I would pass the word along!

Lastly, we have a graphic people can add to their side bars in order to get the word out (and create a link to this post or a similar one so people understand what Infertility's Common Thread is about). Feel free to take and place on your blog or create your own in order to get the word out to others:http://www.facebook.com/l/87232;photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4171/3241/200/Thread.2.jpg

How to Protect Yourself From Bankruptcy and Medical-Bill Disaster

By Meryl Davids Landau
From Health magazine

It’s a fact of life: Everyone gets sick at times. The scary thing is that illness or medical bills cause nearly two-thirds of all bankruptcies, according to a study from Harvard Medical School. And in 78 percent of cases, the person goes bankrupt despite having health insurance. “Typically, it was a relatively brief illness that led to bankruptcy,” says study co-author David U. Himmelstein, MD, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Here’s how to protect yourself.

Never let your policy lapse.
It’s tempting to forgo insurance premium payments if you’re jobless. But “not having insurance is as risky as not wearing your seat belt,” warns Atlanta financial planner Mary Claire Allvine, co-author of The 7 Most Important Money Decisions You’ll Ever Make. “It takes only one accident or illness to financially ruin you.” Thankfully, the federal government will, in most cases, pay 65 percent of your COBRA bill for nine months if you’re laid off this year.

Budget for health care like you do for gas.
Factor your annual deductible, doctor-visit fees, and drug co-pays into your budget, Allvine says. Divide what you pay in a typical year by 12 to see what to save monthly. And use your employer’s flexible-spending benefit, so you can pay for uncovered medical expenses with pretax dollars.

Get to know your policy.
You’re more likely to get claims covered when you strictly follow your insurer’s requirements, says Erin Moaratty, chief special-projects officer at the nonprofit Patient Advocate Foundation in Newport News, Virginia. Read your policy thoroughly to see what the rules are for seeing out-of-network doctors, getting preapproval for procedures, etc.

Check your disability coverage.
Find out if you have this important insurance from your employer (most offer it). Even if you do, many companies pay only 60 percent of your salary should you become unable to go back to work, so consider getting a supplemental policy that makes up the other 40 percent. Compare quotes from different companies at eInsurance.com.

View healthy living as a money matter.
See a doctor even for small issues to avoid bigger, costly problems down the line. Eating right, exercising, and quitting smoking are also smart ways to save.

Don’t take “no” from your insurer.
“Appeal every claim that is denied,” Moaratty advises. “In our experience, a majority of denials are eventually overturned.” In some cases, fixing a simple coding error (via a quick call from your doctor) will do it. If that doesn’t work, craft a written appeal with care, working with your MD and following the timetable spelled out in your policy. This is important not only because it can help you win, but also because, if you don’t appeal and later want to sue in court, you’ll be limited to arguments you raised in your appeals.

Enlist an ally.
Consider hiring a medical advocate who knows the ropes, so you don’t have to battle your insurance company’s or hospital’s billing office alone. Fees vary, but start your research at the Medical Billings Advocate of America’s Web site. For free guidance, go to the Patient Advocate Foundation’s site.

Negotiate with your doctor and hospital.
If you get a huge bill, ask for the billing or finance department (not your doc) and tell them what you can afford. Most will slash fees for the promise of a speedy payment or set up a payment plan. “The best time to do this is early in the process, “ Moaratty explains. “Once it goes to a collection agency, you’ll have fewer options.”

Get cash to pay your medical expenses.
Many charities and organizations offer financial aid to those who can’t pay their health-related bills. Click here for a sampling of companies, hospitals, and non-profits that can help you cut your costs.

Exercise During Pregnancy Keeps Newborn Size Normal

Exercise During Pregnancy Keeps Newborn Size Normal

Low-impact aerobics safe, beneficial throughout pregnancy, study suggests.

Along with keeping mom healthy, regular exercise during pregnancy helps prevent excessive newborn weight, a new study shows.

Published in the October issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Norwegian researchers found that the odds of delivering a too-big baby dropped by as much as 28 percent in women who exercised regularly in their second and third trimesters during their first pregnancy.

"Women often adopt healthier habits before and during pregnancy, like stopping caffeine use. This study suggests that adding exercise to that list may be icing on the cake," said Dr. Robert Welch, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Mich.

Known medically as fetal macrosomia, a heavier birth weight poses a risk to both the baby and the mother. If a baby weighs more than 8.8 pounds, the risk of delivery problems, C-sections, postpartum hemorrhage and low Apgar scores all increase, according to background information in the study. Larger birth weights have also been associated with an increased risk of obesity later in life, according to the researchers.

The study also reported that the number of too-big babies appears to be on the rise, while the number of women exercising during pregnancy is on the decline.

To measure what effect regular exercise has on newborn weight, the Norwegian researchers reviewed data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study. That database included information on nearly 37,000 women, whose pregnancies lasted at least 37 weeks.

All of the women were pregnant with one child. Two-thirds of the women were normal weight, and 20 percent were overweight, but not obese.

Exercise information was gathered at weeks 17 and 30 of the pregnancies. In women who'd never been pregnant before, 43 percent said they exercised three times a week or more before pregnancy. In women who'd previously been pregnant, 32 percent said they exercised three times a week or more.

By the 30th week of pregnancy, 25 percent reported never exercising, and 19 percent said they exercised one to three times a month. Twenty-nine percent reported exercising one to two times weekly, while 24 percent said they were exercising three or more times each week.

Pre-pregnancy exercise didn't seem to make a difference in a baby's birth weight, but exercise during pregnancy did. In women who'd never been pregnant before, those who were exercising at least three times a week had a 28 percent reduced risk of a large birth weight baby, while those who were still regularly exercising at 30 weeks had a 23 percent decreased risk of having a too-big baby.

The effects of exercise didn't appear to be as consistently beneficial in women who'd already had children. When these women danced or participated in low-impact aerobics, they also reduced the likelihood of delivering a large baby, but when they swam or trained in fitness centers, the benefit disappeared.

Although the study wasn't able to address why this was so, Dr. Steven Allen, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Scott & White Healthcare in Temple, Texas, said it may be that this may be a risk factor that's less modifiable in subsequent pregnancies, or "they may not have had enough exercise."

Allen said that while exercise during pregnancy is definitely a good idea, these findings might be different if done with a different population. For example, American women are likely more ethnically diverse and have different average body-mass index levels.

But, in any case, Allen said, "Exercise should be encouraged for everyone who's healthy enough to do it. Exercise shouldn't be discontinued just because you're pregnant."

Allen added that research in the United States has also shown that women who exercise are less likely to have preterm deliveries.

Welch cautioned that as women progress in pregnancy, they should avoid any exercise that has them lay flat on their back, because this can restrict blood flow to both baby and mom. Also, contact sports are out, as is anything where falling might be likely, such as horseback riding.

He said he tells his patients to keep their heart rate to no more than 120 beats per minute during exercise. This allows you to get an aerobic workout, but isn't so much that it might shunt blood away from the baby, Welch explained.

SOURCES: Robert Welch, M.D., chairman, obstetrics and gynecology, Providence Hospital, Southfield, Mich.; Steven Allen, M.D., chairman, obstetrics and gynecology, Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, Texas; October 2009 Obstetrics and Gynecology

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Acupuncture, By: Teri Calandra, L.Ac & Kristine Ward, L.Ac

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Acupuncture, By: Teri Calandra, L.Ac & Kristine Ward, L.Ac

I love the fact that there are so many options for us to explore in regards to complimenting IVF treatments. Please read below and article from my guest bloggers Teri Calandra and Kristine Ward. Your comments are always welcomed!

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Acupuncture
By: Teri Calandra, L.Ac & Kristine Ward, L.Ac
South Loop Acupuncture: Chicago, IL

Acupuncture has been the primary medical system in China for thousands of years. Many people are aware of the benefits of acupuncture for stress reduction, addictions, and pain management. However, most people are still in the dark about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as an adjunct to woman’s health and infertility.

Traditional Chinese Medicine includes acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and Tui Na (a type of Chinese medical massage). For the purposes of IVF and TCM the most beneficial combination is acupuncture and Chinese herbs. In addition, diet and lifestyle changes may also be recommended by the TCM practitioner.

Infertility and Traditional Chinese Medicine

It is important to mention that the diagnoses of conventional pathologies (such as infertility and polycystic ovarian syndrome) are not within the scope of practice for a licensed acupuncturist. Chinese Medicine views the inability to become pregnant and sustain pregnancy as a symptom of a number of different patterns that can be treated.

The accepted statistic of infertility according to the World Health Organization is that one in seven couples has difficulty in getting pregnant. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be conducive for increasing your IVF success rates, sustaining pregnancy, decreasing aches and pains, decreasing stress, and easing labor and delivery.

Chinese Medicine is also able to help with male infertility. It is recommended to combine acupuncture and Chinese herbs to increase sex drive, and increase the quantity and viability of seminal fluid.

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture?

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complete medical system for diagnosis and treatment. The individual is seen as an integrated whole. Every part, process, thought, and emotion within the individual is considered in terms of its contribution to the healthy functioning of the whole person. Each disease and disorder is not seen as an isolated event but as an outward manifestation of the whole person being out of balance.

Acupuncture is able to influence health and sickness by stimulating certain meridians or, “energy pathways” along the body. These “energy pathways” are stimulated using single use needles that are as thin as a hair. The goal of acupuncture is to put your body into a state that allows it to heal itself.

TCM (acupuncture & Chinese herbs) can also utilize stress reduction techniques that can have an effect on subtle and non-mechanical reasons for infertility. Irregular ovulation, low sperm counts, or undiagnosed causes respond the best to a combination of TCM and IVF treatments. IVF is the best means to obtain pregnancy in cases of tube blockage. However, acupuncture is able to keep the body in a homeostatic state to maintain the body as nurturing environment for the embryo. (Lyttleton 379)

The following are just a few of the many articles and books that support acupuncture and IVF.
- W. Paulus, M.D., M. Zhang, M.D., I. El-Danasouri, Ph.D., E. Strehler , M.D., and K. Sterzik,M.D, “Influence of acupuncture on pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy”, Fertility and Sterility, Vol. 77, No. 4, Apr. 2002
o “The analysis shows that the pregnancy rate for acupuncture group is considerably higher than for the control group (42.5% versus 26.3%”
- Johnson, D “Acupuncture prior to and at the embryo transfer in an assisted conception unit-a case series”, Acupuncture in Medicine: Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp 23-8, Mar. 2006
o “This was a success rate of 57.7% compared with 45.3% for patients in the IVF unit not treated with acupuncture”
- Liang L. O.M.D., Ph.D, L.Ac. 2003 “Acupuncture and IVF” Blue Poppy Press, Boulder , CO
- Lyttleton J. 2004 “Treatment of Infertility with Chinese Medicine” Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, UK
- Zhi-Qiang C, Li-Yun L. 2008 “Male and Female Infertility” People’s Medical Publishing House, Beijing, China

Teri Calandra and Kristine Ward both have a background in massage therapy, and graduated from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine with their Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine. They are both NCCAOM board certified and are licensed through the state of Illinois. Teri and Kristine have been working together since 2005, and they co-own South Loop Acupuncture in Chicago. South Loop Acupuncture offers acupuncture, Chinese herbology, and Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination (NAET). Together they have combined specialties in woman's health, digestive, and respiratory disorders, musculoskeletal dysfunctions, and allergies. Both practitioners have a strong belief that where one medicine leaves off the other picks up. They believe that it is important to work with all medical modalities in order to offer the greatest care to the patient.

Sharon LaMothe Will Be Attending the ASRM Meeting in Atlanta, GA Oct 17-21st

 

I will be attending the annual American Society for Reproductive Medicine meeting in Atlanta GA! If you are in the area and would like to meet please contact me at the cell number below. I will be arriving late Saturday evening October 17th and leaving the afternoon on October 21st. I am looking forward to all of the great educational opportunities offered and meeting other professionals within the Infertility field. I will blog about what I observe and learn when I return.

 

I look forward to seeing you there!

 

Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/
727-458-8333

Get ready for Make A Difference Day! Oct, 24th. 2009

You don't have to be a part of a contest to be motivated to Make a Difference! October 24th is Make a Difference Day. Read more about it below!

Sharon

 

What is Make A Difference Day?

Make A Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others -- a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Everyone can participate. Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. The next event is Saturday, October 24, 2009.

Guide to the Day, creating and launching a project: Download a PDF brochure

Millions have participated. In 2008, 3 million people cared enough about their communities to volunteer on that day, accomplishing thousands of projects in hundreds of towns.

Your project can be as large or as small as you wish! Look around your community and see what needs to be done. Or let the Idea Generator help you find a project idea to help your community.

After participating Oct. 24, please send in an entry form so you will be counted among the millions of volunteers and be considered for an award.

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Who takes part in Make A Difference Day?

Anyone. Young and old, individuals and groups, anyone can carry out a volunteer project that helps others. It might be as ambitious as collecting truckloads of clothing for the homeless, or as personal as spending an afternoon helping an elderly neighbor or relative. USA WEEKEND features volunteers and their projects in articles and photos.
PROJECT IDEAS, INCLUDING IDEA GENERATOR

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How do awards help charitable efforts?

Each year in April, hundreds of good deeds done on Make A Difference Day are selected for honors, headlines and charitable donations.

$10,000 to 10 projects
Newman's Own provide $10,000 donations to the charities of each of 10 national honorees.

These 10 honorees will be spotlighted in an April 2010 issue, coinciding with National Volunteer week, and here on this Web site.

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What are the rules?

If you want to participate, just help someone else on the next Make A Difference Day, Saturday, October 24, 2009.
If you cannot participate on Saturday for religious reasons, you may do your project on Sunday.

If you volunteer regularly, great! On Make A Difference Day, give an extra push to your ongoing volunteer activity. For example, expand your regular tutoring by creating a special event for the students, such as a trip to the library where they volunteer, or the recruitment of new students.

If you don't volunteer now, here's an occasion to get started. You could clean up an elderly neighbor's house, or organize your block to replant and repair a local park. You could visit lonely, institutionalized kids or the elderly. You can join in on someone else's project listed on this Web site.

If you need more than one day for your project, still plan to do a good part of your volunteering on Make A Difference Day. For example, if you are rebuilding a community soup kitchen, you may have to do some wiring the week before or some painting the week after, but a significant part of the construction needs to take place on that Saturday.

If your volunteers are together only Monday-Friday (such as schools and workplaces), still plan to do a good part of your volunteering on Make A Difference Day. For example, if students collect food for the homeless during the school week, get a special group of students and teachers together on Saturday to hand-deliver the food to homeless people or a shelter. If it rains or snows, Make A Difference Day goes on. If your project is outdoors, have a contingency plan, or forge ahead.

If you are an employee of Gannett, HandsOn Network or USA WEEKEND carrier newspapers, you are invited to participate in Make A Difference Day, but you are ineligible for awards.

If you are selected to receive an award, you must sign releases. The top-10 honorees participate in an awards ceremony.

If you are not in America, we still invite you to participate. Thousands of employees of multinational corporations have volunteered on Make A Difference Day. A large group of Moskovites participated a few years ago. U.S. military personnel stationed overseas are regular Make A Difference Day volunteers too.

If you participate but don't send in an entry form, we can't consider you for awards and can't count you among the millions of people who simultaneously reach out to help others.

Click here to read more: http://www.typepad.com/site/blogs/6a00e55060d36c883400e55060d36f8834/post/compose

Tubal Problems

Thank you once again, Dr Jacobs, for providing such valuable information on Tubal Issues. If any of my readers would like to contact Dr. Jacobs directly, his information is at the bottom of this post!

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

 

 

 

Tubal Problems

 

 

 

 

 

Fallopian tubes are necessary for the retrieval of the egg at the time of ovulation and for the ability of a living embryo to reach the uterus, where a pregnancy is carried until labor and delivery. 

 

 

The fallopian tubes, long structures which resemble straight brass horns, play a critical role in reproduction.  They have a very complex and delicate structure designed to retrieve an egg at the time of ovulation, conduct sperm to the end of the tube near the ovary, where fertilization is to occur, nourish the new embryo and conduct it to the uterus.  That is a huge responsibility. 

 

Let’s begin with packing up the egg.   The end of the fallopian tube next to the ovary consists of a large array of delicate finger like projections called fimbriae.  The fimbriae are anchored to the bell shaped end of the tube called the ampulla.  It is the ampulla where fertilization takes place.  The remainder of the fallopian tube, called the isthmus, has a very narrow channel or lumen.  The lining of the tubal lumen consist of 2 cell types.  The secretory cells provide the nutrients for the embryo resulting from fertilization of the egg.  The other cells have microscopic hair-like projections called cilia.  The cilia beat in rhythmic fashion and propel the embryo to the uterus.  A number of agents can damage the cells and structures and impair tubal function. 

 

There are 2 infections, which are epidemic that can damage fallopian tubes.  Both Chlamydia and gonorrhea infect the lining of fallopian tubes causing scarring.  The fimbriae scar together, so that they will not function to pick up an egg.  As the infection progresses, scarring of the fimbriae can totally block the end of the tube near the ovary.  When the tube is blocked at the fimbriated end, the nutrient secretions from cells of the tubal lining collect.  If the infection is not adequately treated in a timely manner, the infection in the closed space of the blocked tube becomes an abscess.  Even if no abscess forms, the cilia of the tubal lining are damaged and cannot propel an embryo to the uterus.  In the circumstance that cilia are damaged a pregnancy will attach to the tube and produce a tubal pregnancy.  Tubal pregnancy can require emergency treatment, or can become fatal. 

 

There are other forms of tubal blockage.  One form of tubal blockage can usually be easily remedied.  Cells which cover surfaces are continually produced and the replaced cells are shed.  The portion of the fallopian tube which traverses the uterine wall, the intramural portion, has a lumen about the size of the tear duct you can see at the inner corner of your eye, near your nose.  It seems as though shed cells sometimes block the channel in the intramural segment of the tube.  That is easy to fix.  The other tubal blockage can be difficult to identify.  It is called salpingitis isthmica nodosa (S.I.N.).   The best way to describe it is like a sieve partially blocking the lumen of the isthmic portion of the fallopian tube.  During studies to determine if the tube is open, the dye can go through to give the appearance that the tube is OK.  Sperm can get through to the egg, but the embryo cannot traverse the tube to the uterus.  The result is a tubal pregnancy.  Instead of having a baby, a woman with a tubal pregnancy must have treatment to destroy the pregnancy in the fallopian tube.  A tubal pregnancy is life threatening.  If an examiner knows what to look for, salpingitis isthmica nodosa can usually be identified, and disaster averted. 

 

OK, there is a self inflicted tubal problem.  It is tubal sterilization.  At one time it was only accomplished by cutting out a section of each fallopian tube and tying the stumps.  Although a few programs, mostly OB-GYN generalists, try to reopen tubes after “tubal ligation”, today, it is probably better to by-pass the tubes with in vitro fertilization (IVF). 

 

Tubal problems are a fairly common finding when evaluating an infertile couple.  Today, in stead of surgery, we have much better and more effective tools to deal with tubal infertility.  If fallopian tubes are badly damaged, we can bypass them.  Today, we do not even need fallopian tubes.  We have in vitro fertilization (IVF).              

 

 

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/

STUDY DEMONSTRATES EFFICACY OF NEW SUPPLEMENT IN HELPING PREVIOUSLY UNSUCCESSFUL IVF

I wanted to pass this bit of information along to my readers....if you have any questions about this product, please contact the phone number offered below!

 

Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.

 

STUDY DEMONSTRATES EFFICACY OF NEW SUPPLEMENT IN HELPING PREVIOUSLY UNSUCCESSFUL IVF

PATIENTS ACHIEVE PREGNANCY

In an August 2009 publication at the Society of Reproductive Biology, the authors reported on a study in which 17 of 18 women who had prior failed IVF, achieved a successful IVF outcome (defined as a positive chemical pregnancy and clinical pregnancy) through integrating

Total Fertility with a subsequent IVF treatment. Patients selected for participation in the study had, on average, two prior failed IVF attempts in which Total Fertility was not a part of their treatment plan. Further study is underway to provide more support for the product’s efficacy.

The specific supplement, Total Fertility™, Coast Science, San Diego, California, has been designed to encourage blood flow and improve egg and embryo quality. The patients who were selected to participate in the study had on average, two prior failed IVF attempts and a mean age of 36.4 years.

“With this ground breaking news, it is our hope that fertility specialists will use Total Fertility as a standard of preparing patients for fertility treatment. With the challenging economy, it is extremely important that every measure of preparation is taken to insure the best possible outcome in the first cycle of fertility treatment. Total Fertility can be taken by all patients trying to conceive a healthy baby,” said Bruce J. Thomsen, Chief Executive Officer, Coast Science.

Coast Science is a leader in nutritional science and has designed Total Fertility as an easy to swallow capsule for IVF patients and women preparing for fertility treatment. It can also be taken as a prenatal vitamin following IVF. Coast Science has several other products, including the Male Fertility Supplement, Coast MFS, scientifically formulated and established to improve overall sperm quality. Coast Science also has a family of nutritional supplements for men, women, and children intended for optimum health.

Contact:

sales@coastscience.com

877‐237‐3748

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

 

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