Surrogacy 101

3 Ways to Save on IVF Costs By Guest Blogger Amanda Rondez

IVF is a multi-step laboratory procedure that helps in the successful fertilization of an egg outside of the body, mimicking natural fertilization and encouraging a normal pregnancy and childbirth to occur.

The rate of success for one cycle of IVF varies, depending on the age of the female. The average IVF patient goes through two cycles of IVF, meaning the total cost of IVF is typically between $40,000 to $60,000. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of IVF costs, including procedures and medications. 

The combination of procedure costs, medications, and multiple cycles can add up to be quite expensive. Here are three ways to manage IVF costs.

• 1. Check if your insurance covers fertility procedures

• It is important to speak to your insurance provider to discuss the specifications of your coverage as coverage for IVF costs varies greatly depending on company, state, and plan.

As of August 2020, 19 states have mandated fertility insurance laws with 13 of them including IVF coverage. Each state has different coverage, and depending on the company, an insurance plan may not be bound to fertility insurance laws.

The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans released results from a 2018 survey that found 31% of employers with 500 or more employees offer some form of fertility benefits. 

2. Apply to a fertility financing program

If your insurance does not fully cover the cost of IVF, there are other ways to reduce expenses. Many programs and non-profit organizations provide financial support options to those struggling with infertility.

Reproductive Medical Associates (RMA) has an extensive IVF program and fertility financing services that connect couples to a variety of different lending and payment plans. The National Infertility Association has also compiled a list of infertility financing programs.

Grants through non-profit organizations are another mode of financial support. Well-known non-profits in the infertility community include Parental Hope, BabyQuest, Cade Foundation, and Bundled Blessings. Receiving a grant is not guaranteed as there is an application process, but it doesn’t hurt to apply. 

3. Use coupons for fertility medications: 

From birth control pills to follicle-stimulating hormones such as Follistim and Gonal-F, medications are a large part of the total cost of IVF.

The first step in saving money on medications is speaking to your insurance company or referring to your plan’s drug formulary to see if the medications are covered.

If they are not covered, there are still options to reduce drug costs, such as savings cards, coupons, and patient assistance programs. You can contact the drug manufacturers and ask about coupons or patient assistance programs or search for them online. For instance, the Compassionate Care Program by EMD Serono can save eligible patients up to 75% off Gonal-F.

SingleCare is a prescription savings card that also reduces the price of many IVF medications. See a full table of IVF medication coupons here.

Amanda Rondez
singlecare.com | rxsense.com
99 High Street, Suite 2800 | Boston, MA 02110
e: arondez@rxsense.com

"Sassy Surrogate" from Colorado Surrogacy Answers Your Questions About Medical Qualifications

Dear Sassy Surrogate

Hi Readers! I’ve received a lot of questions recently from surrogates who are frustrated when they get turned down by a fertility clinic or by an agency for a health issue that doesn’t seem that serious. I really empathize with you. It’s so hard to put yourself out there to do this beautiful, selfless thing for someone else and then be turned down for something outside of your control. It can feel like an unfair judgment on your health or life. But keep in mind that agencies typically only accept a small percentage of candidates, and fertility clinics accept an even smaller percentage. For them it’s about giving intended parents the absolute best chance for a good outcome, so being really picky is part of the process. Your desire to do this for someone else remains beautiful and inspiring, but it might take some time to find the right fit of clinic/agency/IP. Here are a couple of questions on this topic I’ve received recently. Take heart, and keep those questions coming! - Sassy

Dear Sassy: I had a boyfriend 15 years ago who gave me genital warts. I haven’t had a flare-up for 10 years, and my OB has said that it’s not an issue for me when being pregnant or delivering, unless I have a flare-up, and that I can take medications to help prevent a flare. But I’ve recently been denied by a fertility clinic for just that reason. What’s up with that? I am so eager to be a surrogate and I feel really upset about this. – Frustrated in Franktown

Dear Frustrated: That is really frustrating! I get it: a diagnosis of HSV-2 or genital warts isn’t fun, but it’s also not the end of the world. And your OB is right that it is generally very low risk when it comes to being pregnant and delivering. However, it’s also true that fertility clinics can be very strict about HSV-2 and will sometimes deny working with a surrogate who has it. This is because there is a (slight) risk of passing the disease on to a fetus in utero or during delivery. For this reason, some agencies won’t approve a candidate because it’s hard to get a clinic to approve the candidate. There are agencies and clinics that do accept candidates who have had HSV-2, as long as intended parents are aware of the risks. I really hear you. It feels terrible to be turned down by an agency or clinic for something that doesn’t seem like that big of a risk, and it can feel like a judgment. But it’s not at all a judgment call– fertility clinics, agencies and IPs are all working a risk game, and some will take bigger risks than others. HSV-2 isn’t that big of a risk in the scheme of things, and you may find a different clinic or agency that will be less stringent on this particular diagnosis.

Dear Sassy: I have 3 kids, great pregnancies and deliveries with all of them. But during my second pregnancy I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I never had a high blood sugar reading other than the days of the hour glucose tolerance tests, and I never took medication for it. I just ate well and stayed active (like I did with my other pregnancies). A friend of mine who wanted to be a surrogate was denied by an agency for having had gestational diabetes. Now I’m afraid I’ll be denied, but my OB had said it wasn’t a big deal, and that I probably didn’t actually have gestational diabetes. How I do move forward with my dream to become a carrier for another family? – Healthy and Dreaming

Dear HAD: One of the challenges about being a surrogate is that your health history (specifically your written health history, like medical records) is picked over with a fine-tooth comb, and things that wouldn’t normally be a big deal for your own pregnancy become a big deal for a surrogacy pregnancy. Some agencies and fertility clinics will work with surrogate candidates who had diet-controlled gestational diabetes, and some won’t because the risk is greater that you will text positive for gestational diabetes in future pregnancies. As it is impossible to prove that you didn’t have gestational diabetes (though it may be probably in your OB’s eyes), stricter fertility clinics may turn you down, and agencies that work with stricter fertility clinics may turn you down, too. When you start on your journey of finding an agency or self-matching, make sure everyone knows you had a gestational diabetes diagnosis. Some agencies may accept you and just not match you with IPs who are using a more strict clinic. Don’t be discouraged! There is still the chance to find the perfect family to work with. It just might take a little more effort to find the right agency and fertility clinic.

Colorado Surrogacy [www.coloradosurro.com] loves to support gestational carriers of all types: Sassy, sensational and splendid. Their entire team [https://www.coloradosurro.com/meet-the-staff] loves to provide support and encouragement through journeys of all types.

Surrogacy 101 Included in Top 10 Surrogacy Blog Contest for 2019

Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for their favorite blogs! Surrogacy 101 took 7th place and I am happy and honored to be included in the top 10! If there is a topic you would like to see addressed in Surrogacy 101 just let me know! Many thanks to MySurrogateMom.com and David Bull for holding the contest and congratulations to my fellow participants! There are some great blogs out there offering a ton of information on surrogacy and other family building options. Click the link at the bottom of this post to see which blogs should be on your reading list!

 

The moment you understand that you will need the help of surrogacy to create the family you wish, so much can be scary and emotional. And when you start looking for information about surrogacy, you will realize that there are so many resources out there that it is natural to feel overwhelmed. Going through this by yourself can feel lonely at times, and that is normal. For this reason, we have decided to help you by researching the best surrogacy blogs and creating a list of the top ten surrogacy blogs for 2019!

 

These blogs were nominated by our readers, pre-selected based on content quality and how often they are updated, and finally ranked by your more than 3,000 votes in our contest, The Top Surrogacy Blog Awards 2019. We want to thank all of you for your participation in the process, from the initial nominations to the vote.

 

Before announcing the top 10 surrogacy blogs, remember that education is fundamental when pursuing surrogacy; the more you know, the better prepared you will be for what lies ahead. Research, read, learn, and ask!

 

And now click here for  the Ultimate List of Top Ten Surrogacy Blogs!

 

 

 

Is Infertility Really That Common? Then Why Does No One Ever Talk About It? A Blog Post by "Sassy Surrogate" of Colorado Surrogacy

Dear Sassy Surrogate- I don’t know what to do!!! I have been trying to conceive for a very long time and can’t get pregnant. I want to be a mom so much. I hear people say that infertility is common but if that is true, why does no one ever talk about it? Is it my fault I can’t get pregnant? I feel so alone.

From - Sad and Alone

Dear Sad and Alone -

I am so sorry for what you are going through. It is true that “7.4 million women, or 11.9% of women, have ever received any infertility services in their lifetime. Approximately one-third of infertility is attributed to the female partner, one-third attributed to the male partner and one-third is caused by a combination of problems in both partners or, is unexplained.” https://resolve.org/infertility-101/what-is-infertility/fast-facts/ This is an issue that affects a high number of both men and women, yet so many people suffer in silence.

I struggled with infertility for over five years. We went through years of unsuccessfully “trying” to get pregnant on our own, over a year of attempting artificial insemination (IUI) and then years of IVF treatment until we were blessed with our daughter. I spent most of that time feeling ashamed and like a failure. I felt inadequate and that my inability to get pregnant meant that there was something wrong with me. I was too embarrassed to talk about it or tell anyone about the pain we were going through. I did not want people to feel sorry for me, yet I spent every day feeling sorry for myself. The grief and sadness were so intense that I isolated myself and felt even more alone. I felt as if I were the only one in the world going through these feelings and experiences. At that time, it felt like everyone around me and everywhere I went people were either pregnant or had a baby (and then getting pregnant again). I had a hard time being happy for friends and family who were having babies and even started resenting going to baby showers. I did not like the person I had become. These feelings added to my shame and isolation. Where was that 11.9% of women when I needed them? Why did I feel so alone when others were clearly also experiencing the same things? We blame ourselves and shame ourselves into isolation instead of reaching out and seeking the support we need.

Now I share my experiences and struggles with everyone. I reach out to anyone I hear might be dealing with any sort of infertility. I never want anyone else to feel alone and isolated like I did. I want them to feel supported and to know they are not the alone in their feelings, emotions and struggles. It is important to spread the word, to let others know it is okay to talk about, to let people know that opening up about infertility can feel good. The more openly people are able to discuss their struggles, the less alone people feel and the more others will feel okay to open up themselves. The more women (and men!) support others who are struggling with infertility, the less alone they will feel and the more they will understand that no matter what, it is not their fault, there is nothing to be ashamed of and that they are not a failure. We need to help stop the stigma that surrounds infertility and the best way we can put an end to it is by talking about it. The more people share their experiences the more they learn and the more people can use each other as resources.

Another important way to destigmatize infertility is to understand that infertility is a medical condition, and like many medical conditions, it is one that might require medical assistance and treatment. Making it a medical condition takes the personal blame and shame out of it and can make it easier to discuss and seek treatment. Science has made many advances and there are many alternatives to help couples seeking fertility treatment to get pregnant. For example, there are fertility drugs, IUI, donor sperm and donor egg, In vitro fertilization, Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, donor embryos, surrogacy and more. The opportunities for couples to become pregnant is so much higher than in past years. Let’s talk about it and share our experiences!

At the time I was experiencing infertility, I wished for a crystal ball. I needed to “know” that at some point I would be a mom, that my dream would come true. I did not mind (although unpleasant) the treatments, the appointments, the shots, etc. It was the unknown that was the most painful and difficult to bear. It is important to keep reminding yourself that you should not lose hope. You will find your path. Hopefully along the way you can seek support. The support is out there. Always remember you are not alone! The path to parenthood, whether IVF, surrogacy, egg/sperm donation, adoption, no longer matters once you hold your baby in your arms; the pain and uncertainty of the journey fades away and is replaced by a joy and love you never could have even imagined.
Colorado Surrogacy [www.coloradosurro.com] loves to support gestational carriers of all types: Sassy, sensational and splendid. Their entire team [https://www.coloradosurro.com/meet-the-staff] loves to provide support and encouragement through journeys of all types.

I’m Not Giving Birth. Why Would I Need a Doula? Guest Post By Patience Elizabeth of Colorado Surrogacy

It’s finally here. The day your baby is being born.

You’ve been working toward this day for years!

You’re so excited and yet still very nervous. You want to be there for the birth but also want to be very respectful of the one who has been carrying this baby for you.

But this is still the birth of your baby. You’re going to be in a highly emotional state.

The medical providers are there to support the GC in making sure baby and the birthing person are okay. If the GC has a doula, that professional is there to focus on the emotional and physical support of the GC.

To every professional in that room you are secondary. Unless you have a doula for you.

Most people think of doulas as support for the person who is giving birth. But there are many kinds of doulas. Antepartum doulas, postpartum doulas, sibling doulas, bereavement doulas, and abortion doulas.

There are 3 ways a doula can help you as Intended Parents.

1. Preparing for the Birth

There are many things you will have no control over. But you may be surprised what you can be a part of and the many ways to make this birth your own.

A doula can discuss with you and your gestational carrier what the options are and what everyone is comfortable with.

You may have talked about general concepts in the legal process but you will want to plan for the specifics.  A doula can help you navigate that conversation to make sure you and the GC have your needs and desires heard through these discussions and decisions.

A few things you will want to discuss:

• When and where will you join the GC during labor
• How often will you be updated if you’re not there (and who will be doing the updating!)
• Will you be an observer or have a more hands on role
• If medical issues arise how will information be shared and discussed
• If there is a c-section who will be in the operating room
• Who will hold baby first
• Who will cut the umbilical cord
• Who will do the first feeding and how will it be done
• What newborn procedures do you want done or delayed

2. Support during Labor and Delivery

One of the main benefits of a doula is their knowledge of the process you’re going through.

Studies have shown that just having a doula present in the room during a birth improves the birth outcome.

That is pretty astonishing.

A doula who is there for you, the Intended Parents, will make sure you understand what is happening in the birth. They will help you know what’s normal. They will help you with timelines. When it’s a good time to rest or eat and when it’s time to stay close because baby will arrive soon.

Doula’s are there as your guide. Having a doula there for you during labor and delivery allows you to be present in your experience without needing to worry if what you’re doing is right or wrong.

3. Postpartum transitions

Once the baby is here you will be learning to care for your baby. Newborns really are different from every other stage of childhood and require a completely different set of skills. On top of that you are learning who you are as a parent.

A postpartum doula can help you understand your new baby’s needs and make sure you are getting the care you need during this time of transition as well.

This is especially important in the first weeks when everything is so new and intense. With a newborn it can be very difficult to find time to eat a meal or take a shower.

A postpartum doula is there to cook a meal, hold the baby so you can rest, or just to answer questions about soothing and settling baby down.

You’ve been wanting this baby and to grow your family for a long time. The dream and the reality of a new baby can often look very different from each other and a doula can help.

A doula is there to help you navigate this important time in your life. Most of us hire experts to guide us though important undertakings like buying a house or doing our taxes. Make sure you have birth and newborn professional by your side though this once in a lifetime experience.

Patience Elizabeth is a doula, childbirth educator and Case Manager for Colorado Surrogacy [www.coloradosurro].  She loves to talk all things birth and babies and excitedly supports families through their entire gestational surrogacy journey.  You can listen to Patience talk about her experience dealing with loss as a gestational carrier here [https://soundcloud.com/iwtpabiy/episode-6-dealing-with-loss-as-a-gestational-carrier-patience-bleskan]

 

Ohhhh I Love a Great Contest! Please Nominate YOUR Top Surrogacy Blogs!! Hosted by MySurrogateMom.com

(Of course I would love it if you would enter Surrogacy 101 as your blog choice!)

Just add your favorite surrogacy blog and let the games begin! It's a great way to share information and award the best 10 surrogacy blogs out there! ;-)

Today, we are announcing our contest to help us choose the top ten surrogacy blogs. Don’t miss your chance!

Who made you smile? Offered support and advice? Encouraged you to make a big change? Provided first-class surrogacy content? Share the love and help us identify the best surrogacy blogs.

On April 19, 2019, the MySurrogateMom team will pick 30 blogs for the finals. The winners of the competition (who will made our top ten surrogacy blog list) will be determined by a general vote. Voting will be available from April 19, 2019, to April 30, 2019. Follow to us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, for the contest results!

Click here and Please Submit your Nomination!

Competition Rules

A blog is defined as a web page with dated entries.

The competition is open both to individual surrogacy bloggers and professional blogs operated by companies.

Nominations and votes are anonymous.

All nominations will be reviewed by the MySurrogateMom team and are subject to approval.

Winners will be chosen by the public.

E-mail addresses are required to vote.

Key Deadlines

Complete the form below to nominate a blog. Hurry up! Nominations will be accepted until April 18, 2019.

On April 19, 2019, the MySurrogateMom team will pick 30 blogs for the finals. The winners of the competition (who will made our top ten surrogacy blog list) will be determined by a general vote. Voting will be available from April 19, 2019, to April 30, 2019.

Follow to us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, for the contest results!

The MySurrogateMom Awards is a non-profit project to award the best surrogacy blogs. If you have questions about the contest, please contact us.

 

Navigating Judgement for Being a Surrogate: Guest Post by "Sassy Surrogate" and Colorado Surrogacy

 

 

Dear Sassy Surrogate,

How do you navigate the judgement of others when you want to become, or already are, a surrogate?  People can be mean and sometimes not aware that their comments can be hurtful.  I am wanting to help a family achieve their dreams, but am concerned with the misconceptions and perspectives of other people around me. 

Sincerely, Wanting to do the right thing

 

Dear Wanting,

Have you ever been judged negatively for giving an unusually thoughtful gift to someone? Perhaps for behaving in a selfless manner or for just being an overall generous and giving person? NO? So, then why would people judge a woman for being a gestational surrogate and providing someone with the greatest gift imaginable… the gift of parenthood?? But it does happen and there are ways to deal with, and understand, these negative reactions.

We all trust our doctors and it can be an even more difficult struggle when they have a negative opinion of our decisions. Women wanting to be gestational carriers have sometimes encountered situations in which their doctors do not support their decision to be a gestational carrier. In some cases, they may simply be trying to make sure you have all the appropriate information, have researched thoroughly and that you understand and are aware of the risks in being a gestational carrier. However, if the negative opinions are deeper and of a more personal nature, it might be important to find a healthcare provider who supports you and your decision. They play too important a role during your pregnancy to not feel supported.

Some people express concern about how your biological child/ren may be affected by your decision to be a gestational carrier. Our experience shows that children are very resilient, often more so than we, as adults, are. There are many age-appropriate books that discuss this issue that can be read together with your children to help them understand the process. It is also important to engage them in the process from the beginning so that they know that the child you will be carrying is not going to be their baby brother or sister. Being honest and willing to talk with them, even showing pictures of the IPs if you are able, helps everyone throughout the process. You can always request for your children to have counseling sessions during the pregnancy and even after the delivery, if you feel like they need additional help working through this process. You can be confident that you will be teaching them generosity, selflessness, modeling the gift of giving and living a truly altruistic life by your actions of providing the intended parents with the greatest gift in the world…. their very own baby.

Lack of support from close friends and family may be the most challenging hardship to deal with. Gestational carriers need to be able to depend on their support network during their pregnancy. However, it is unrealistic to think that no one in your life will have an opposing viewpoint. Some shaming might be a result of miscommunication, curiosity or misinformation. We encourage using that opportunity to educate them and share your reasons for becoming a gestational carrier but in the end being willing to agree to disagree. Another area of misunderstanding can stem from the lack of understanding of the difference between traditional surrogacy versus gestational surrogacy. They may be worried about the emotional impact your decision might have on you if they believe that you are biologically related to the baby you are carrying. This is easy to clarify. For those who continue to be less than enthusiastic about your choice, you may have to limit the time spent with them during your pregnancy or agree to focus your relationship on other topics during this time. All you can do is offer information and share your reasons for believing this is the right decision for you and your family. 

Everyone, including friends and family, is entitled to their opinion and, believe me, people will have them and don’t hesitate to express them. The important thing is that if you decide to be a gestational carrier you feel confident in your decision knowing that you are changing lives, building families, and playing a large role in helping dreams come true. Hopefully, in most cases, you will be celebrated rather than shamed.

Colorado Surrogacy[www.coloradosurro.com] loves to support gestational carriers of all types: Sassy, sensational and splendid.  Their entire team [https://www.coloradosurro.com/meet-the-staff] loves to provide support and encouragement through journeys of all types.

Rainbow Surrogacy-Navigating Surrogacy After Pregnancy Loss a Guest Post by Shoshannah Ingersoll of The Surrogacy Program

One of the most tip-toed around subjects when navigating surrogacy is coping with pregnancy loss. It is undoubtedly a painful and uncomfortable subject for so many people. This unspoken sorrow touches the lives of Intended Parents and Surrogates alike, and it is long past time to break the uncomfortable silence and have an honest conversation about this experience. Many Intended Parents choose surrogacy after having experienced devastating losses.  Likewise, Surrogates will have sometimes experienced loss themselves, or could experience it during the course of their surrogacy journeys. The pain of pregnancy loss is very real and persistent. It often colors the experience of the Intended Parents and Surrogates, adding to their anxiety as they go through the surrogacy process.

Getting to the Other Side of the Rainbow as a Team:

• Be a United Front: The loss impacts the Intended Parents and the Surrogate alike, being able to lean on each other will bring you closer together. This experience can be the one that divides the relationship between Intended Parents and their Surrogates, or it can be a unifying tragedy that brings them closer and deepens their resolve on their shared journey.

• Avoid Placing Blame: Despite doing all the right things, loss happens sometimes. It is an awful truth, and no amount of “what if” will undo the reality of the situation. Intended Parents may feel guilt for their Surrogate having to physically experience this, and the Surrogate may be feeling guilt that the pregnancy was not viable. It is hard enough without guilt being assigned. Instead take the time to feel the many feelings that come up, allow space for these feelings and find a safe space for processing these feelings whether it is with the agency, a friend, a therapist etc. 

• When Trying Again- Be Cautiously Optimistic: While you may all be feeling defeated and more nervous for the next attempt at pregnancy, it is important not to lose the hope and joy that is still there. Tomorrow’s events can’t take away the happiness you felt today, but if you don’t stop to feel that happiness the moment may pass you by. So celebrate every little milestone with at least cautious optimism, remember we are never without hope. 

• Celebrate the Sweet Victory in the End: Whether your journey has taken years, or what feels like a lifetime, when you finally reach the end of your journey and that beautiful rainbow baby has arrived it will be one of the most poignant moments of your lives. It is completely normal to feel a broad range of emotions from the greatest joy to the deepest sorrow. Intended Parents and Surrogates alike should be kind to themselves and one another at the completion of the journey, allowing room for all these emotions. Celebrate the miracle of the birth, and the beauty of all the perseverance that made it possible.

About the Author:

Shoshannah Ingersoll is the Surrogate Match Coordinator at The Surrogacy Program and a proud 3x Gestational Surrogate having delivered three rainbow babies. For more information please visit: https://www.eggdonation.com/becoming-a-surrogate/top-surrogacy-agency call 818-506-9300 or email [email protected] .

Photo Credit: Linger Photography: http://www.lingerphotography.com/

 

Double Embryo vs Single Embryo Transfers = Two for the Price of One? From the Family Inceptions Blog

If you are an Intended Parent and want to learn more about surrogacy and all it involves, click here!

For many intended parents, the choice to transfer two embryos, as opposed to one, seems obvious. Not only would it seem that doing this doubles your chances at achieving pregnancy, it also seems that having two children at once would complete your family in a more expedient way that also offers more value for your dollar.

While the ultimate decision will be between your doctor, your surrogate, and yourself, we wanted to talk a moment to bust a few common myths surrounding double embryo transfers.

Likelihood at Achieving Pregnancy
It only makes sense, right?
Two embryos have twice the odds of achieving pregnancy as one does, right?

Turns out, this is a myth.

Read the rest of this piece by clicking here!

Please visit the Family Inceptions website for more information on Surrogacy and Egg Donation for our Intended Parents.

 

Are You An Ideal Egg Donor? From the Family Inceptions Blog

Become a Family Inceptions Egg Donor TODAY!

Five Things That Will Make You an Ideal Egg Donor
Becoming an egg donor is a big decision! It’s a choice that will benefit you significantly in exchange for a minimal amount of our time, while also changing the world for a family in need.

Perhaps the biggest part of becoming an egg donor is meeting the requirements.
In general, these include:

• Being between the ages of 18-30,
• Be a non-smoker,
• Be drug-free,
• Be generally healthy,
• Have a BMI of 28 or below,
• Have regular periods,
• Not on Depo-Provera birth control,
• Willing to undergo physical, psychological, and medical screenings,
• And be willing to be available for 3-6 months.

Pretty simple, right? So if those are the baseline requirements for any egg donor, what makes a GREAT egg donor? Here are our top five attributes that will make you an elite egg donor.

1. You’re Flexible
Being an egg donor means a lot of short-term notice. Once you’re ready to enter our database, you could be selected at any time. For some donors, selection can happen right away. For others, there could be weeks or months spent waiting. Once selected, however, you’ll need to have flexible availability that lines up with the intended parent's timeline. Having fewer blackout dates makes you a better candidate.

2. You’re Responsible
Part of your egg donation journey includes making and keeping a series of doctors’ appointments. It is important for your health, as well as for the health of the eggs that you will be donating, that you’re consistent and reliable about keeping these appointments. In addition, it’s important to take your medication at the same time every day. This can greatly impact your entire process, so it’s crucial that you’re dependable in your journey.

3. You Have Integrity
And by this, we mean that you need to be an honest, trustworthy person. Intended parents are putting a lot of faith and trust in your actions. The future of their family begins with you. Being a woman of integrity, a woman with high moral standards will make you an exceptional egg donor. You’ve been entrusted with a great responsibility as an egg donor, and it’s important to recognize that.

Read the rest of this article and get started on your life empowering journey today, by clicking here.

If this post describes you click here and the link will bring you to the Egg Donation section of our Family Inceptions website!

Family Inceptions; The First Full Service Surrogacy Agency in Washington State! From the Family Inceptions Blog

Please visit our About US page on Family Inceptions to learn about the rest of our growing team!

Family Inceptions is excited to always be growing. First launched as a way to provide surrogacy services to the South East in 2008, founder and CEO Eloise Drane has evolved and grown Family Inceptions into an international business. Now, a decade into changing the world one family at a time, Family Inceptions is excited to share that 2019 may just be our biggest year yet!

On top of relocating to a new office location in Georgia – where this all began− FI is excited to share with you that we will now have a strong west coast presence, as well. With the opening of a new home base in 2018, near Seattle, Washington, Family Inceptions is making strides forward in providing excellent customer service on both coasts.

Our Washington presence is spearheaded by Sharon LaMothe. Like Eloise, Sharon is a past two-time surrogate. After delivering TWO sets of twins for intended parents, Sharon decided to follow her passion into the assisted reproduction field. In 2003, Sharon opened up the doors of her own surrogacy agency, “Surrogacy Consultants of Florida.” It was this agency that inspired Eloise, and eventually, it was Sharon who would mentor and guide Eloise as she founded Family Inceptions.

Sharon is very involved in the assisted reproduction community, serving on many boards and speaking with authority to many of the most well-known names in the ART field. She played an active role in the Washington Parentage Act that made compensated surrogacy agreements legal in Washington State and has also participated on many boards including:
• Fertility Within Reach,
• Fertile Action,
• OBGYN.net,
• The Pregnancy Corner,
• AFOMO, and
• Parents via Egg Donation

Sharon is an avid surrogacy blogger and currently a member of the ASRM and Seattle Tacoma Area Reproductive Society (STARS). Sharon has spoken on surrogacy to major national organizations including RESOLVE, ASRM, American Fertility Association, SMART ART, START ART, Fertile Dreams, AATB, Microsoft, and was recently invited to speak on Surrogacy in the USA in Beijing and Inner Mongolia.

Sharon joins Family Inceptions as our COO and is looking forward to growing our West Coast presence.

Sharon will be joined in the Evergreen State by Mandy Storer. Also a two-time surrogate, Mandy has a background in marketing, broadcasting, and public relations. Another surrogacy blogger, Mandy’s story caught worldwide attention back in 2013. She joined the assisted reproduction field in 2014 and has been invited to speak about her experiences both domestically and internationally. Passionate about the matching process and the surrogate experience, Mandy will be lending her wordsmith services to Family Inceptions as she joins us in the capacity of Communications & Events Manager.

Sharon and Mandy are excited to meet the women of Washington! If you’re interested in learning about surrogacy or if you think you may be a great candidate, click here to contact us. We can set up an in person meeting and walk you through our Family Inceptions program. 

National Infertility Awareness Week: My Turn To #Flipthescript and #Talkabouttrying

In the interest of National Infertility Awareness Week I thought I would take the time to share my story of personal struggle becoming pregnant with my second child. Secondary infertility is no joke and when you had no troubles becoming pregnant with your first (wanted but not planned) you go into that phase of adding onto your family thinking that it will be as easy as stopping your birth control pill. Not so, at least not for me!

My son was 3 in 1989 when my husband and I decided to add a number two in the child category of our family of four. I say family of four because we had my elderly grandmother living with us at the time. (She was in our care from age 89 to age 100 but that is another story.)

 

When I didn't get pregnant as planned that first year of trying, I decided to ask my OBGYN about my options. (Notice I say "my" options because my husband was never involved! No one asked him to come to an appointment nor was his sperm tested....it was decided that it must be a problem with me!) She told me not to worry and gave me a couple of prescriptions including clomid. Needless to say to those of you who have taken clomid, life's a bitch and I was the biggest one in my house! It did nothing good for my attitude nor for getting me pregnant. Taking my basal body temperature Every Single Day on top of it all just made matters worse and me sinking further into a funk.

 

I finally gave up on that avenue of procreation. My OB said that I could go to a fertility clinic but that would have cost money we didn't have and, honestly, I now had my hands full with a 4 year old and a 94 year old! I stopped everything and simply lived my life with flashes of what might have been while I taking care of my friends children on occasion. My in-laws often asked when we were going to give our son a brother or sister until one day I just snapped and told them that no other siblings were on the way and to please stop asking! (I think that is the polite version of my reply.)

 

Fast forward to 1995 when on vacation in Las Vegas/ CA/ Grand Canyon with my in-laws, their friends and our son. My husband, son and I rented a car and broke away from our main group to visit California and I started to get sick. Really ill and miserable, I made noises about finding a clinic to give me something, anything, so I could finish our trip. My husband insisted that I must be pregnant and he and my then soon to be 9 year old went to the nearest drug store to buy a pregnancy test. (and a rose and some chocolate and a blueberry muffin...) It had been a LONG while since I had taken a home pregnancy test and, certain I was NOT pregnant, that this was all food poising! I had my son read the box while I went into the bathroom to pee on the stick. When I came out wondering what I was supposed to look for (no easy + sign or spelled out results like it is now) my son looked at the test and then fell off his bed dramatically, like a teenager who just realized his girlfriend was pregnant! "You ARE pregnant, MOM" he shouted! And then, "You didn't 'you know'!!??" worried that his father and I had had sex while he was in the same room on our vacation. I was in shock and my husband was smug and I couldn't even think how in the world this could have happened.

 

We welcomed our daughter in 1996, a few months less than 10 years between our two kids. No miscarriages, or stillbirths but the haunting monthly (or bi-monthly or quarterly)  proof that I had failed to provide a sibling for our son slowly diminished as I threw myself into caring for our family of 5 (my grandmother passed away in 1999).

 

After my daughter was born I did feel a connection to those who couldn't have children at all or struggled with secondary infertility. Which was why, I think, volunteering (after a medical exam and discussion) to be a gestational surrogate for friends of ours in Florida, (who struggled having their first and wanted a sibling), was not such a shock for my husband. We both knew just how that felt. Long story short, I was able to be a surrogate twice and that changed my life forever. From secondary infertility survivor to gestational carrier to working with a third party reproductive attorney to agency owner to consultant, I have been able to touch so many lives and share my story with hundreds of hopeful intended parents and surrogates over the past 20 years. 

 

National Infertility Awareness Week is a time for me to reflect on why I do what I do and to come out and #flipthescript and #talkabouttrying. 

Let's all come together, not just for NIAW but everyday and talk about these issues. You are not alone and neither am I! Let's not have one more person feel segregated and misunderstood. We all have important stories to share. Thank you for reading mine!

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#SurrogacyMyth: You can't become a Gestational Surrogate if your tubes are tied

Many women have said “I would love to be a surrogate but I have had my tubes tied.” They are very surprised to learn that, indeed, a tubal ligation will not prevent them from helping a couple become a family!

A tubal ligation is a permanent form of birth control, true.  After this procedure has been performed, an egg cannot move from the ovary through the tubes (a woman has two Fallopian tubes), and eventually to the uterus. Also, sperm cannot reach the egg in the Fallopian tube after ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary.) To become a Gestational Carrier, where you are not using your own eggs or tubes and therefore a woman can become a surrogate even if her tubes have been tied. (You cannot become a traditional surrogate where you would be using your own eggs.)

If this is the only thing holding you back from becoming a surrogate, I suggest that you find an agency and see what else you need to do to qualify as a gestational carrier. You will be glad you did!

Please Join Me!
https://www.facebook.com/SharonLaMothe

http://twitter.com/SharonLaMothe  

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#SurrogacyMyth: It doesn't matter how over weight you are, you can still be a surrogate mother/gestational carrier

I cannot express how much it pains me to tell someone with a BMI of 36 that she is not qualified to become a surrogate mother especially when she is qualified in every other way! I know agency owners feel the same way. Many times, a wonderful woman, mother of 4, loves being pregnant, mid 30s, responsible and caring, no medical issues other than she is overweight is rejected because she needs to lose 30 lbs. Who made up these “rules”? The Reproductive Endocrinologist and the findings within the fertility community! And why, you ask? Because, for Intended Parents, surrogacy is their last best shot at having a family of their own and statics show that overweight people often don’t do as well via IVF as women within the normal range.

A high BMI indicates obesity:

A standard medical definition of "normal" body weight is a BMI of about 18.5 - 24.9

A BMI under 18.5 indicates that the person is "underweight"

A BMI of 25.0 - 29.9 indicates that the individual is "overweight", but not obese

A BMI over 30 indicates obesity

A BMI over 40 indicates extreme obesity

Obesity is associated with increased risk for several serious disease processes and that isn’t good for the surrogate or the baby she is carrying. The suggestion I often give out to women in the mid 30 BMI range is to start changing their eating profile and make some lifestyle changes. I hate saying “diet” because this weight has to stay off and healthy choices have to be maintained throughout the pregnancy. Give yourself 3-6 months to lose the weight and then try applying again to the agency of your choice.

Please Join Me!
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#SurrogacyMyth: You can be a surrogate even if you have never been pregnant

I have heard women say “Since I don’t want children of my own, I would be the perfect surrogate” or "I don’t want my own baby but I do want to experience pregnancy” or “I know I want children later but I want to be a surrogate now”. To all these women, if I feel they would be qualified, I say “What about egg donation because you are not qualified to be a surrogate”. Many sighs of disappointment and questions of “why not”? (Are you digging the quotes?)

Here are the main reasons that someone who has never had a baby should not be a surrogate:

*There is no previous experience with pregnancy and birth. No one knows what complications this body may have.

*Not sure if there would be any fertility issues

*No personal knowledge of the discomforts of pregnancy

*No personal knowledge of the pain of the birthing process

*Possible emotional issues through out

I have heard of surrogates without previous pregnancy experience be successful but that is almost always for a family member. Some clinics or doctors will make an exception in these cases. Again I remind my readers that the surrogacy process is costly with the Intended Parents investing thousands and thousands of dollars and having someone that has proven that she can carry and give birth to at least one healthy baby is an important part of the process.

Please Join Me!
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#SurrogacyMyth: Intended Parents have no right to know their surrogate's medical history

 

Once all parties make the beginning steps toward becoming part of a surrogacy arrangement, separately or together, all of past medical issues will be revealed. (At least the ones that have to do with pregnancy, fertility, any transmitted diseases, depression etc.) Everyone has to sign medical waivers and the surrogate will know the back ground of the IPs just as the IPs will know the medical background of their surrogate. The RE/clinic will also have records pertaining to past pregnancies of the surrogate or IVF cycles involving the Intended Parents. Nothing can be secret or sacred when the health of the surrogate is at stake or the best chances for the embryo. If you have something to hide then surrogacy in the USA is not for you.

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#SurrogacyMyth: 2nd hand cigarette or pot smoke is not a concern during a surrogacy pregnancy

This is a total myth as everyone knows how dangerous second-hand smoke is to pregnant women as well as other adults and children. If you are exposed to second-hand smoke during pregnancy, both you and your baby are put at risk. Some of the health conditions associated with being exposed to second-hand smoke are a miscarriage, low birth weight, early birth, learning or behavioral deficiencies in your child, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Third-hand smoke is the residue left behind by cigarettes on furniture, in rugs, in paint, etc.  Third-hand smoke can stick around for months or years. If a place smells like smoke, even if no one is currently smoking, it is a safe bet there is tobacco residue there. You can read more about second and third hand smoke and pregnancy here: http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/second-hand-smoke-and-pregnancy/

All Surrogacy agreements have a non-smoking clause or at the very least a clause that states the surrogate will follow OBGYN’s orders/guidelines and in those orders is to not expose yourself to smoke or pollution of any kind (within reason) besides cigarette and marijuana smoke there are the chemical fumes from mani and pedicures, some hair dyes, and gasoline fumes to name a few sources.

Some women who want to become surrogates have partners or husbands who smoke. Even if they state they will only smoke outside the home, there is still that chance of 3^rd hand smoke in the car and on clothing. The best bet is to have everyone in the home to be non-smokers.

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Surrogacy 101 Blog in Feedspot Top 50 Surrogacy Blogs

I received this message yesterday: 

"My name is Anuj Agarwal. I'm Founder of Feedspot.

I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog Surrogacy 101 has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 50 Surrogacy Blogs on the web. 

http://blog.feedspot.com/surrogacy_blogs/

 

I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 50 Surrogacy Blogs on the internet and I’m honored to have you as part of this!"

 

It's always nice to be validated and acknowledged and making the top 50 on the Internet for Surrogacy is pretty awesome! I hope that my dear readers also feel that the information found on Surrogacy 101 is helpful and easy to understand! I appreciate your continued support!

 

 Thank you!

Sharon LaMothe

LaMothe Services, LLC

http://LaMotheServices.com

LaMothe Surrogacy Consulting

http://LaMotheSurrogacyConsulting.com

InfertilityAnswers

http://InfertilityAnswers.org

Handmaid’s Tale: Separating Fertility Fact from Fiction by Jennifer “Jay” Palumbo

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/handmaids-tale-separating-fertility-fact-from-fiction_us_59626fc3e4b0cf3c8e8d599d

Today I am sharing a great article from the Huffington Post written by Jennifer “Jay” Palumbo Writer, Public Speaker, Infertility and Women's Rights Advocate!  I was selected to participate in reading the 1985 version of the Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and then we discussed it during a Skype session and again on a phone conference AND then we answered more questions via email. Follow the link to see what we all thought about this controversial piece. If you also have read the book I know that we all would love to hear your take on it!

Here is one of my quotes (STRONG thoughts about this book and how it relates to Surrogacy): SHARON: I think they are very far from reality of surrogacy as it stands today here in the United States. Even in India, this would not be called surrogacy. This is rape. This is enslavement. This is kidnapping. This is inhumane.

Handmaid’s Tale: Separating Fertility Fact from Fiction

Below, some of my friends (who also happen to be fertility professionals) discuss the book based on the questions I put together after finally reading it. The questions below are more fertility focused but still hit on so many big issues. If YOU have read the book, I also hope you’ll share your comments below. For now, let me introduce you to the members of the book club! They are:

Sharon LaMothe - Surrogacy Expert

Annie Kuo - Principal of Emerald Fertility Consulting

Carrie Van Steen - Fertility Coach & Patient Advocate

Lisa Rosenthal - Strategic Content & Advocacy Lead at Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut; Founder of Fertile Yoga: Fertility Activist

Me (Jennifer “Jay” Palumbo) – Your hostess who is a Freelance Writer, Infertility/Women’s Rights Advocate and a Marketing Strategy & Communications Consultant

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#SurrogacyMyth: If you are a gay couple you don't need a full medical checkup before you look for a surrogate mother

This is going to be a short post. If you are gay (or a single male) and are considering expanding your family via surrogacy, you need to have a full medical checkup first. If you are using your own sperm then you need a full Semen Analysis. Why? Because you don’t know how healthy your sperm is. A semen analysis measures three major factors of sperm health:

the number of sperm

the shape of the sperm

the movement of the sperm, also known as “sperm motility”

Doctors will often conduct two or three separate sperm analyses to get a good idea of sperm’s health. According to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), the tests should be conducted at least seven days apart and over the course of two to three months. Sperm counts can vary on a daily basis.

Why go through all the work and expense of finding your egg donor, a gestational carrier or a traditional surrogate when you don’t know if you will also need a sperm donor or a little help with the egg fertilization? Look at your own health first and then move forward with the family building process.

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#SurrogacyMyth: Qualified women who want to become Gestational Carriers are so easy to find

Searching for someone to help you build your family is never easy no matter what you read in the magazines or online.  Because of the long list of requirements and qualifications, even the most warm hearted and kind women can be rejected for seemingly the simplest reasons. This makes it very difficult to find the right surrogacy candidates even for agencies. Think of it this way: First, the age group of 21-38 (sometimes through 40 depending), then only those who have had an uncomplicated pregnancy and birth are considered. Out of that group, healthy weight and lifestyle (BMI below 30, nonsmokers or drinkers, no STD’s or medical issues such as depression etc.) will continue on. The field is narrowed even further with only those women who are not on state or federal assistance and have their own transportation.

Now, if the woman you are looking for has passed all of these hurdles she still needs to pass a psychological and medical evaluation. More importantly she has to WANT to be a surrogate. Most women do not. They are raising their own families and/or have a career to consider. Or they hated being pregnant. These women may not have husbands or partners who would be supportive of the whole idea of surrogacy. Even if a woman wanted to be a surrogate and met every requirement listed above, if she lives in a state that criminalizes surrogacy, you are both out of luck.

On top of all of these guidelines, requirements, stipulations and so on….there are the “wish lists”. Intended Parents may want a woman who lives locally to them or at least in the same surrogacy friendly state, they may want someone who is of the same religion or race, or they may want someone who will follow a certain diet like vegan or vegetarian for example. They may want a “stay at home mom” or someone without very young children. How about a woman who has her own insurance that allows surrogacy arrangements? And what about her base fee? Low compensation in order to save money? Or maybe money isn’t a issue and the IPs are wanting someone who has been a surrogate before. Not just an experienced surrogate but a successful surrogate. Oh! And someone who would be willing to carry twins! The list can grow very long.

Let’s not forget the surrogate’s side of things. She has her own ideas on who she carries a baby for. She may want a couple who are gay….or not. She might consider carrying for someone who is single or International. She will want her husband or partner to like the Intended Parents too. She might want someone who will allow her to keep in touch after the birth, pump breast milk, or she has visions of lifelong friendship. Maybe she has plans for the money she will make as a surrogate so she is asking for top compensation for her services. She might sign on with an agency or feel like she can “go independent” with no representation. The surrogate’s list can be very long too!

Now I know I haven’t listed all possibilities but this post is just to highlight why finding a surrogate mother, gestational carrier is anything but easy. However, don’t give up hope! Keep your wish list short and your expectations reasonable. You can hire an agency to help you but know that it’s not usual for you to find a match in a week or even a month. These things take time and patience. Surrogacy is not for the faint hearted but for those who persevere.

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Awesome New App: FertiCalm Created by Dr. Alice Domar and Dr. Elizabeth Grill

Wednesday I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Alice Domar speak on the topic of "Reducing the Burden of Care" at the Seattle Tacoma Area Reproductive Society’s meeting (STARS) in Seattle.  What a great subject especially for those in the fertility field who have set out to help their patients and clients navigate the process of infertility treatments and, at the same time, maintaining a positive mind set. Dr. Domar introduced this great phone app that she helped design called FertiCalm. http://www.ferticalmapp.com This app can be used by women who need coping techniques in everyday situations. (Alice says they are currently working on an app just for men.)

Coping for Every Situation…Any time, Any Place, Anywhere. FertiCalm provides a variety of more than 500 custom coping options for over 50 specific situations which have the potential to cause distress throughout the family building journey located right on your phone.

Dr. Domar and Dr. Grill, the creators of this app, are reproductive psychologists with over 45 years combined experience, at two of the most prominent infertility centers in the US. They provide counseling for women, men and couples as they work to build their families and saw an unmet need. Many people don't have the time, money, or geographical access to see a therapist specially trained in infertility counseling. While FertiCalm is not substitute for treatment with a licensed therapist or psychologist, FertiCalm serves as a helpful resource for women in the exact moment they feel distress, whenever and wherever they are, by providing them with coping techniques for many common social scenarios faced by women on their family building journey.

Check it out and let everyone know what you think! Please leave feedback here, in the comments section!

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Want to Have a Baby One Day? Be Careful Who You Vote for This Election By Guest Blogger Stephanie Levich

An astounding 1 in 8 American couples will experience problems having children during their lifetimes, making infertility one of America’s greatest unsung medical epidemics. Unfortunately, the vast array of drugs and procedures available to help couples with fertility issues, including inseminations and homeopathic remedies, do not always work.

There is, however, a treatment that does work: in vitro fertilization (IVF). During my close to 15 years as a fertility consultant and through my own personal experience with IVF, I have discovered IVF to be a veritable miracle technique, enabling thousands of people, myself included, to overcome the heart wrenching diagnosis of infertility.

Imagine for a moment eagerly trying to start your family only to learn that you are a 1 in 8 and the only way for you to have a biological child of your own is through IVF. I was faced with this exact reality. Fortunately, we live in a time where options like IVF are available. But here's the scary reality: one of our presidential candidates is lobbying to end the existence of IVF. As someone who, not only helps clients have children through IVF, but is also a parent because of IVF, I take this very personally.

Ted Cruz released a chilling video last week which zealously showed his support for fetal "personhood" where zygotes would be considered legal "persons" and would therefore be granted full protection by the U.S. Constitution. “I enthusiastically support that resolution and, as president of the United States" he asserts, "I pledge to you that I will do everything within my power to end the scourge of abortion once and for all, that I will use the full constitutional power and the bully pulpit of the presidency to promote a culture of life, that I will sign any legislation put on my desk to defend the least of these, including legislation that defends the rights of all persons, without exception other than the life of the mother from conception to natural death."

Cruz, like others in his party, grounds his opinion in a conservative, theological belief that human life begins at conception. But the implications of these beliefs for those needing to undergo the IVF process to have a family are alarming. In an IVF cycle, numerous eggs are retrieved with the hope that a good number of healthy embryos will be created. Generally, any embryos that are not transferred are frozen. By granting full constitutional rights to embryos, fertility doctors would not be permitted to retrieve more than one or two eggs per IVF cycle. This would not only decrease success rates significantly, but would also make an already expensive process more cost prohibitive to patients because they would be required to undergo multiple retrieval procedures. Patients would also be subjected to increased medical risks for each egg retrieval they would be required to undergo.

Thankfully, the picture is much brighter on the democratic side. Hillary Clinton embraces the widespread belief shared by most fertility professionals, that human life begins at fetal viability or birth. In 2015, while responding to the nationwide firestorm surrounding abortion rights and employer-financed contraception, Clinton remarked that, “deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed” so as to grant women proper access to “reproductive health care.”

Unlike other national politicians, Clinton seems to view access to family planning methods within the larger context of women’s rights. In an extensive interview she gave last year to The Des Moines Register, Clinton noted that, “The Republicans have made it clear in recent years that they are not only opposed to abortion, which they have been for quite some time, they are increasingly opposed to family planning and contraception. This is a direct assault on a woman’s right to choose health care.”

For Clinton, access to family planning methods is a matter of personal freedom. As not only a fertility consultant, but also a grateful parent thanks to IVF, I couldn't agree more. IVF allows people to experience the joy of parenthood. All Americans, especially any American with hopes of starting a family one day, should bring their fertility concerns to the voting booth, demanding that politicians not only get behind but also protect this miracle technology.

 

 

Stephanie Levich is the Founder of Family Match Consulting, LLC,which assists clients in finding their perfect egg donor and surrogate candidates. Stephanie has been named one of America’s Top Entrepreneurs Under the age of 30 by Inc. Magazine and has been featured in various publications including Valley Life, and ForbesWoman. She is very grateful for the miracle of IVF which helped bring her to her very proudest accomplishments: her two beautiful children.

 

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Check Out Dr. Michael Feinman's New Website for Those Who Experienced Failed IVF in the Past: IVF Implantation Failure Clinic

Please Don't Use This to Prank ANYONE on April Fools Day--The Always Positive Pregnancy Test

Frankly, when I saw this Always Positive Pregnancy Test I thought what a horrible joke to play on anyone. And then I remembered why I was thinking that...because I work with infertile couples all the time! People who have been trying for years to have a baby of their own and now have to go even one step further and work with a surrogate. Or an egg donor. Or both! It will never be the "Right Time" to use this test. (That can be activated by any liquid to show up positive). Please think before you play any pranks like this because it's never fun to be on the is she/isn't she roller coaster ride. 

Check Out Dr. Michael Feinman's New Website for Those Who Experienced Failed IVF in the Past: IVF Implantation Failure Clinic

Implantation Failure is often a misunderstood area of IVF (in vitro fertilization). There are many couples and singles who are desperate to conceive a child and often turn to the Internet for answers where there is much misinformation and impossible promises by those wanting to take advantage of vulnerable patients.  

There are several aspects that contribute to implantation failure and these issues could involve the uterus, the embryos, or the combination of how the embryos react to the uterus.  

Dr. Michael Feinman is a renowned Reproductive Endocrinologist who has performed one of the first transvaginal ultrasound guided egg retrievals in America and the first in New York. He also developed one of the first anonymous egg donor programs in the world, at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York in 1987, and has been featured on the cover of the New York Times and ABC Evening News. Dr. Feinman is the medical director of HRC and has spent his career assisting his patients with their goals of building a family.

This website, IVF Implantation Failure Clinic will share just a little of how Dr. Feinman can assist you and will hopefully encourage you to call his offices and speak directly with him on how he can help you achieve the dream of having a family of your own no matter the issues you have faced in the past. 

Starting TODAY:Infertility Busters for the Stressful Holiday Season Tele-Summit! Fertility Advise That Actually Works!

 

Time is ticking!!Join me for Infertility Busters for the Stressful Holiday Season Tele-Summit! Fertility Advise That Actually Works! Starting TODAY – Infertility Busters, so you can Create the family you want! 

Just a quick reminder that I’m providing you with FREE access to a very special virtual event, Infertility Busters for the Stressful Holiday Season Tele-Summit! 

22 of the world’s top Infertility experts are joining together to give you guidance that really work how to grow your family with mind/body/spirit balance this Holiday Season? Advice that is tested and true…and actually works! 

I’m thrilled to be included in the panel and I can’t wait share the strategies and tips that have helped many of my clients grow their families. (I will be speaking on Surrogacy: Working with Family and Friends!) 

Register Now by clicking HERE and you’ll get immediate access to an amazing bonus gift!!  

There’s no cost to you and the tips you’ll receive would cost you THOUSANDS of dollars to secure on your own.  

So don’t delay, grab your spot now.  

P.S. Don’t miss out on amazing guidance that really works. 

 

You are Invited! Infertility Busters for the Stressful Holiday Season Tele-Summit starting December 9- December 18th and it's FREE!

 

Let’s get real! I’m so excited to extend a FREE invitation to you for the Infertility Busters for the Stressful Holiday Season Tele-Summit starting December 9- December 18th.

Are you frustrated with family and friends giving you advice that proves they just don’t understand what you are going through? Are you sick of trying to navigate the treatment options that promise the baby you want only to give you a big debt and no baby?

What if you could hear from some of the world’s leading Infertility experts and get their best advice on how to grow your family with mind/body/spirit balance? Advice that is tested and true…and actually works! Now imagine having access to all of them for free! (I will be talking about working with family members or friends as your surrogate! Valuable information here PLUS you will get a free hour of one on one time with ME!)

This is exactly what my colleague (and fertility thought leader) Renee Waggener at Xtraordinary Fertility has done with the Infertility Busters Tele-summit!– a virtual event like no other! 

And I’m thrilled to be a part of it! I’m joining a team of 22 amazing experts with fantastic advice you can use right away! Together we’re helping thousands of women struggling with infertility throughout the globe who are ready to feel less stress this Holiday season. 

This is my personal invitation to join me and get the best wisdom, inspiration and support to guide you into more confidence, clarity, and connection to spirit, family and yourself this Holiday season. 

Starting Dec. 9th  continuing through Dec. 18th , you’ll have access to incredible experts who will all share their personal journey’s with serving the infertility community and give you some tips you can use right away. 

Don’t miss out -http://www.marketerschoice.com/app/?Clk=5347753 to register now!

There’s even an incredible free gift available immediately when you register. 

Sharon LaMothe

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What Do *I* Think About Social Surrogacy?

Question: What Do You Think About Working With Two Surrogates at a Time?

Friend: "I will be your surrogate!" Intended Parent: " Ahhhhhh No, Thank You!"

Join Me for Infertility Busters for the Stressful Holiday Season FREE Tele-Summit December 9th - December 18th!

 

Let’s Bust open Infertility! Join me and 22 of the world’s leading Infertility experts for the: 

Are you frustrated with family and friends giving you advice that proves they just don’t understand what you are going through? Are you sick of trying to navigate the treatment options that promise the baby you want only to give you a big debt and no baby? 

What if you could hear from some of the world’s leading Infertility experts and get their best advice on how to grow your family with mind/body/spirit balance? Advice that is tested and true…and actually works! Now imagine having access to all of them for free! 

This is exactly what my colleague (and fertility thought leader) Renee Waggener at Xtraordinary Fertility has done with the Infertility Busters Tele-summit!– a virtual event like no other!

Starting Dec. 9th continuing through Dec. 18th , you’ll have access to incredible experts who will give you some tips you can use right away.

Don’t miss out - http://www.marketerschoice.com/app/?Clk=5347753 to register now! 

Infertility Answers~ Research Your Options Here

There are many reasons why you might be looking for an alternative way to create your family and Infertility Answers is designed to assist you in that very personal decision. If you are considering Gestational Surrogacy, Traditional Surrogacy, using an Egg or Sperm Donor or even Embryo Donation then we welcome you! Infertility Answers even has a section dedicated to pregnancy issues! As you read through this site you will find information that addresses these topics and so much more.

The Infertility Answers Mission...  

... is to assist you, as Surrogate, Donor or Intended Parent, to learn all you can about Third Party Reproduction so an informed decision can be made. Perhaps you have been frustrated at your attempt to gain knowledge through agencies, clinics or attorneys. Having your basic questions answered here will help you ask the right questions when the time comes to put your Assisted Reproduction plan into action.

CDC Releases Final National Public Health Action Plan for the Detection, Prevention and Management of Infertility

 

On July 16th the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the final version of its National Public Health Action Plan for the Detection, Prevention and Management of Infertility.

 

The National Action Plan developed over the course of seven years and began with an ad hoc working group that the CDC formed in 2007 to examine the scope of activities that were happening across the federal agency that were devoted to infertility. The working group was tasked with identifying gaps and opportunities in public health surveillance, research, communications, programs and policy development in this area. That assessment led to the publication of a white paper outlining the need for a national action plan on infertility and subsequently a 2008 symposium in which ASRM and approximately 60 other stakeholders participated. A draft National Action Plan was released in May 2012. ASRM provided input at each step of process under which the National Action Plan was developed and will continue to be involved as the National Action Plan is implemented.  

 

The goals of the National Action Plan are to:

 

• Promote healthy behaviors to maintain and preserve fertility;

 

• Promote prevention and early detection and treatment of medical conditions that can threaten fertility; and

 

• Reduce exposures to environmental, occupational, infectious and iatrogenic agents that can threaten fertility.

 

The National Action Plan is available at www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/Infertility/PublicHealth.htm.

 

The CDC will host a Public Health Grand Rounds on August 19, 2014 on infertility.

For more information please see www.cdc.gov/cdcgrandrounds.

 

 

Come Join Me at A Family Of My Own Conference in Orlando September 7th!!

I will be speaking with several others on the topic of third party family building...This is a not to be missed FREE event! 

Let’s Talk about Making Parenthood Possible!

The Largest Family Building Event in Florida

Whether You’re Hoping for your First or Next

In One Day Discover Your Options

Sunday, September 7, 2014
9:00am – 3:00pm

The conference is returning to Orlando with an expanded schedule of the most up-to-date topics and must-know family building information. 

This FREE event will offer you an opportunity to meet many speakers, specialists and professionals in the fertility and adoption field and ask questions one-on-one.

More than 15 Educational Sessions to choose from throughout the day.  Attend as many or as few as you like!

Exhibit Hall – Attendee Specials - Giveaways!

Topics include:

What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting: Infertility Basics and Beyond

Common Infertility Concerns: Endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Immune Disorders

Getting Fit for Fertility: How Nutrition and Health affect Men and Women’s Fertility

Modern Family Building with Third Party Reproduction: Sperm and Egg Donation, Surrogacy

Men’s Reproductive Health

The Latest, Successful Reproductive Surgery Options for Women and Men

Financing Fertility Treatments: Know Your Insurance/Prescription Plans, Other Finance Programs, Questions to Ask

Adoption Basics and Must Ask Questions: Starting Your Adoption Journey

Adoption Options: Domestic / Open / Closed / International / Transracial and Transcultural / Foster / Social Media

Openness in Adoption: A Candid Discussion with Adoptive Parent and Birthmom

Sunday, September 7, 2014

9:00am – 3:00pm 

Westin Lake Mary

2974 International Parkway
Lake Mary, FL 32746 (map)

 

Polycystic Ovaries by Dr. Barry Jacobs

Polycystic Ovaries

 

 

One of the most common findings when a couple enters a practice with the complaint of difficulty achieving a pregnancy is polycystic ovaries, or PCO.  Sometimes the condition is referred to as PCOS or PCOD, adding either syndrome or diseases after PCO.  I am not sure we can truly classify the problem as a single entity by declaring it a disease or syndrome.  We know of at least 2 causes of the problem.

The majority of women with PCO are insulin resistant.  By that, I mean that their cells do not respond adequately to insulin, so they must make extra insulin to keep blood sugar normal.  No, that does not mean they are diabetic.  However, people who are insulin resistant are at greater risk to become diabetic.  They are also at greater risk for heart attack and stroke.

On of the things insulin does very well, even in people who are insulin resistant is to convert the carbohydrate they eat into fat for storage.  The more fat they have stored, the worse their insulin resistance; the higher their insulin levels rise in response to a carbohydrate load, and the faster they convert carbohydrate to fat.  It’s s vicious circle.  We have to break the circle.  I strongly recommend my insulin resistant patients drastically cut their carbohydrate consumption to 30 grams a day. 

In addition to carbohydrate restriction, I prescribe a medication called Glucophage (metformin).  It will decrease carbohydrate absorption from the intestine and increase the response of her cells to insulin.  We also know that women with PCO have a lesser risk of miscarriage if they are taking Glucophage, and women who are insulin resistant have a lesser risk of developing gestational diabetes, if they are taking Glucophage. 

The side effects of the medication are related to the inhibition of carbohydrate absorption from the intestine.  The carbohydrate remaining in the intestine draws water into the intestine and the bacteria in the intestine make gas, when they eat the carbohydrate.  The result is diarrhea, cramping and gas.  Carbohydrate restriction decreases the symptoms.  The other side effect, if patients really follow the protocol, is weight loss.  Most of my patients like that side effect.

The other known cause of PCO is a deficiency of an enzyme in the adrenal gland.  The enzyme involved is called 21-hydroxylase.  It is part of the pathway to create cortisone.  There are 2 known molecular variants of the enzyme abnormality.  One is relatively mild, and the other more severe.  It requires 2 copies of the gene to make the enzyme – one from each parent.  If a woman has 2 abnormal copies of the gene, and one is a mild version, she will have a condition which will be clinically described as PCO.  Adding a low dose of steroid at bed time will help.  If one gene is a severe variant, and her pregnancy inherits that one and a severe abnormal copy from her husband, the child will have a condition called adrenogenetal syndrome.  If it is a girl, she will have ambiguous genetalia.  Both boys and girls are at risk to be salt wasters and have severe disorders of blood chemistry.  Diagnosis is critical.  These gene abnormalities are among the most common known, and are present, in at least a carrier state, in at least 5% of some ethnic groups.

Ovulation induction to help achieve a pregnancy for women with PCO can be assisted using treatments such as Glucophage or steroids, if indicated, but alone, neither is usually adequate.  There are specific medications available for ovulation induction.  The oldest, and to my thinking the worst, is Clomid.  Far better is the group of products that are pituitary hormones which cause development of the ovarian follicles which contain eggs.  The use of these medications is safest if done by a Reproductive Endocrinologist.    

 

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.com
Phone: 972-394-9590 Fax: 972-394-9597

What is a Mock Cycle/Endometrial Biopsy?

In order to assess the uterus for implantation an endometrial biopsy may be performed on a mock cycle.

Purpose: Assure normal uterine development for Embryo implantation

Endometrial Biopsy

Background

The uterine lining, or endometrium, undergoes a specific sequence of changes after ovulation during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in order to develop a receptive environment for the developing embryo.  Estrogen followed by progesterone secretion by the ovaries is crucial for the proper development of the lining.  Abnormalities of uterine lining development, or luteal phase defects, may be documented with an endometrial biopsy.  The may be associated with abnormal implantation.

Patient Protocol

1. Call the office with the onset of menses.

2. Call the office to schedule the biopsy 18 days later.

What to Expect

The biopsy is somewhat like a pap smear.  After introducing a speculum into the vagina, the cervix will be wiped with betadine to cleanse it.  A small catheter is then introduced into the cervix and the biopsy is performed.  It takes a few seconds.  If you would like, you may take some Anaprox or your RE can give you a local anesthetic.

Most patients tolerate the procedure well and feel it is similar to the HSG.

 

Over the Counter Sperm Test Provides Incomplete Information to Measure Male Fertility

Last April, Walgreens and CVS began selling the SpermCheck Fertility test, a $39.95 over the counter test that determines whether men have a normal sperm count. Fertility experts share that there are other critical factors such as motility (movement characteristics of sperm) and morphology (appearance of sperm) as equally important which are not tested. Additionally, the test measures a normal sperm count at 20 million or more sperm per milliliter of semen while the industry standard for optimal fertility is 15 million, potentially causing unnecessary concern for men with a negative test result. When taking the test, men who test positive for 20 million or more per milliliter of semen see a reddish line in their test results, while those who have less than 20 million per milliliter do not see a result. The test is 96 percent accurate and will be sold at 7,800 stores across the US in April.  

Dr. Ed Marut, Medical Director of Fertility Centers of Illinois, is concerned men will be misguided with their test results. “SpermCheck Fertility exploits the reluctance of men to be evaluated for their fertility properly and may give couples a false sense of hope or cause unnecessary anxiety. The test gives a very simplified result without taking into account additional health conditions. A negative test result may really be normal, while a positive test tells nothing of the other critical parameters of a real semen analysis, such as motility and morphology. Men need to receive a thorough, accurate semen analysis interpreted by a reproductive endocrinologist to accurately maximize chances of pregnancy success.” 

In order to understand male fertility, it is critical to understand the main components involved, which are illustrated below. Couples are also encouraged to complete basic testing for fertility if they have trouble conceiving. Fertility Centers of Illinois offers a fertility check-up for couples which includes bloodwork and a semen analysis evaluated by a board certified reproductive endocrinologist for $90. 

Sperm Health: What Men Need to Know 

• Sperm Count:

It is critical for men to have a healthy sperm count for optimal fertility. Men with at least 15 million sperm per milliliter are well within a normal, healthy sperm count. The average human ejaculate contains about 180 million sperm (66 million/ml), but some ejaculates contain as many as 400 million sperm.

• Morphology: (appearance)

A healthy sperm has an oval head and long tail, allowing for the sperm to be propelled forward effectively. When a sperm has a small, large, misshapen, crooked or tapered head, its ability to fertilize an egg is decreased. Sperm with tails that are doubled, curled or kinky are also unlikely to fertilize an egg. Fertile men have a normal shape and structure to 14 percent of their sperm, but at least four percent is thought to be the lower limit of fertilizing capacity.

• Motility: (movement)

The ability of a sperm to propel itself and move forward is imperative to successful conception. Sperm that are immobile, slow or have inhibited motility due to morphology abnormalities are unable to reach the egg for fertilization. Fertile men have 40 percent or more of their sperm exhibiting healthy motility.

Men with a lower sperm count, low morphology or low motility may need the assistance of reproductive endocrinologists to optimize fertility odds. This can be accomplished through a variety of infertility treatment methods such as methods such as semen processing for intrauterine insemination and In Vitro Fertilization using ICSI (the injection of a sperm into an egg.)

# # #

Fertility Centers of Illinois, S.C., is one of the nation's leading fertility treatment practices, providing advanced reproductive endocrinology services in the Chicago area for more than 30 years.  FCI physicians, embryologists and support staff are stringently chosen based on educational background, medical skills and their ability to collaborate. With a team of 11 nationally and internationally recognized reproductive physicians who treat thousands of patients each year, the practice has earned a reputation for overcoming hard-to-solve fertility issues. FCI is dedicated to medical and clinical excellence and continues to invest in the latest technologies and research. FCI offers a comprehensive range of fertility treatment options including intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization, donor egg, gestational carrier, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis, as well as extensive resources to address financial and emotional needs. Fostering a culture for continuous innovation has made FCI home to the annual Midwest Reproductive Symposium which attracts experts in the field of reproductive endocrinology from around the world.  FCI has 10 offices conveniently located throughout the Chicagoland area (Buffalo Grove, Chicago/River North, Crystal Lake, Glenview, Highland Park, Hoffman Estates, Lindenhurst, Naperville, Oakbrook Terrace, and Orland Park). FCI is a member of the Attain Fertility Network which provides discounted fertility treatment programs. For more information visit www.fcionline.com

 

Followers of LaMothe Surrogacy Consulting Can Win a FREE Reproductive Wellness CD donated by Sara Rector MFT!!

We are so lucky to be able to offer the followers of LaMothe Surrogacy Consulting for NIAW a FREE Reproductive Wellness CD donated by Sara Rector MFT!! Scroll down for more information on this awesome give-a-way!

How you can WIN: You can "LIKE" our facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/LaMotheSurrogacyConsulting?ref=hl LaMothe Surrogacy Consulting and then comment and "Like" the item that you want to win. Although there are new items every day, you can enter to win each and everyone. The contest ends at midnight on April 27th and all winners will be notified by April 29th!

Sara Rector MFT is a Marriage Family Therapist who has personally experienced infertility. In the last 10 years she has been worked successfully with individuals, couples and groups experiencing infertility and has released a series of audio presentations designed to share her therapy program techniques, strategies, and insights with her listeners. Sara's CD and MP3 therapy programs are a convenient way to utilize Sara's infertility support therapies in the comfort of your own home. 


You can learn more about these CD's here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36L0xH8Ysqg and the winner will be able to choose the one that best works for his/her situation. Please Like this post and name the CD that you would most like to win: Relationship Issues and Infertility, Transition To Ovum Donation, He Said She Said The Male & Female Experiences of Infertility, Healing Pregnancy Loss or How to Use the Power of Positive Intention Conception.

When do you believe life begins?

When does life begin for YOU? What are the beliefs that back up your reasons for choosing a time frame where life is sacred and you take notice? In this article there are several "categories" to consider. I know which one I believe is the start of life for me...what about you?

 

 

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

 

Post originally written by Spencer Price.
----------------------------------------------

It is the most fundamental question about life itself – “When does life begin?” And though some offer myriad arguments based upon political, ideological, or emotional grounds, the answer is actually quite simple, obvious, and indisputable – life begins at conception. The contrapuntal question, for those who oppose that notion is, “If not then, when?”

There are many reasons why some people argue against such an elemental biological truism concerning the beginning of life – political expediency, ideological conviction, or the cognitive and emotional discomfort experienced by many supporters of abortion on demand when forced to face the reality that abortion results in the termination of innocent human life.

The question of when life begins can be posed in both a biological and theological context. In either case, however, the answer is the same – life begins at conception. Of course, theological constructs can be readily discounted by those not ascribing to similar religious beliefs. On the other hand, biological constructs, being based in reproducible science, cannot be as readily ignored. The notion that life begins at conception is a fundamental precept of the biological sciences disputed by few, if any, scientists. In fact, the dispute over the question of when life begins originates not within the scientific community at all but, rather, among non-scientists possessing purely personal, non-objective, motivations.

Those who argue against conception as the beginning of life suggest that a newly conceived embryo cannot live outside the mother’s womb and, therefore, is not a separate entity. The embryo, according to their reasoning, isn’t a separate life but, rather, simply a part of the mother herself and, therefore, not sufficient to constitute life. However, the birth of Louise Joy Brown on July 25, 1978 irrefutably disproves this argument. Known as the world’s first “test tube” baby, Ms. Brown was conceived in vitro (in glass). This process, referred to as in vitro fertilization, has since been repeated countless times resulting in the births of many thousands of healthy babies.

In spite of the obvious evidence, however, many critics continue to argue against conception, known as the genetic theory, as the beginning of life. Emerging from these myriad arguments are alternative theories of when life begins:

Embryologic theory (14 days) – the idea that life begins at gastrulation – the point at which the embryo forms two distinct layers, one of which yields the internal organs with the other yielding the placenta.

Neurologic theory (6 – 24 weeks) – the idea that life begins when the brain produces measureable brain waves.

Ecological theory (25 – 27 weeks) – the idea that life begins when the fetus can live outside the mother’s uterus.

Birth theory (28 – 36 weeks) – the idea that life begins at birth (also known as parturition).

Awareness theory (18 months) – the idea that life begins only when an infant gains self awareness, usually by 18 months of age (after parturition).

Most of these theories are espoused not by scientists but, rather, by non-scientist advocates of abortion.

Though many activists dismiss conception as the beginning of life, a newly conceived embryo possesses most of the generally accepted criteria that describe life – it has organization, undertakes metabolism, maintains homeostasis, grows, responds to stimuli, and adapts to its environment.

The truth is that the core of the abortion advocacy argument isn’t scientific at all but, rather, political and philosophical. Abortion advocates support an essentially untenable position – that abortion on demand is perfectly reasonable, moral, and without emotional and social consequences. However, the fact that most , if not all, people inherently believe life begins at conception whether or not they are willing to admit it means that individuals and society in general must bear the tremendous burden that comes with knowing abortion results in the termination of innocent life.

It is important to note that, although abortion advocates have made progress through the U. S. court system, the majority of Americans are now pro-life. A Rasmussen poll released on May 5, 2009 demonstrated that 58 percent of Americans now believe abortion is morally wrong most of the time. Recently released polls by Gallup, Pew, and Fox News yielded similar results.

Still, it should be remembered that the abortion debate is not a question of science, but of morality and, therefore, that particular debate continues. The notion of when life begins, however, is a question of science and it is a question that science has been able to answer conclusively – life, says science, begins at conception. But, then again, that’s the same thing Christianity has been saying all along.

To read a more detailed discussion of this topic, please visit Spencer’s “Essay” section at conservativecommentaries.com.

Please Join Me at A Family of My Own Conference at the Wyndham Glenview Suites in Glenview, Illinois September 29th!

Do you know someone trying to have a Family of their Own? Find out how to make it possible
by joining me, Sharon LaMothe of LaMothe Surrogacy Consulting, and get all the
information you need to become a family at Family of My Own Fertility & Adoption Conference on Saturday, September 29 at the Wyndham Glenview Suites.

This is the premier event in Illinois that will bring together top medical professionals and
industry experts in one room for one day.  

Couples who are trying to start a family, but have questions, reproductive health and adoption experts will be available to answer questions on the latest advances in fertility as well as adoption. In addition, the business expo will feature
leading companies that will showcase products and services relevant to fertility and adoption. Sponsors of the event to date include aParent IVF, Fertility Centers of Illinois, InVia Fertility and Walgreens and to register for the event visit www.AFamilyofMyOwn.com

NCHS Issues Data Brief on Increase in Twin Births via the ASRM

Today, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) released a data brief on the increase of twin births over the last three decades. Among the key findings reported by the NCHS:  

 

• In 2009, 1 in every 30 babies born in the United States was a twin, compared with 1 in every 53 babies in 1980.

• The twin birth rate rose 76 percent from 1980 through 2009, from 18.9 to 33.3 per 1,000 births.

• If the rate of twin births had not changed since 1980, approximately 865,000 fewer twins would have been born in the United States over the last three decades.

• Over the three decades, twin birth rates rose by nearly 100 percent among women aged 35–39 and more than 200 percent among women aged 40 and over.

• The older age of women at childbirth in 2009 compared with three decades earlier accounts for only about one-third of the rise in twinning over the 30 years. The remaining increase is assumed to be from an increase in the use of infertility treatments.

 

The report highlights the impact that the rise in the rate of twins has had on perinatal health and rates of preterm birth and low birthweight.

 

To view the data brief, go to:  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db80.htm

 

On Fertile Ground, Healing Infertility by Helen Adrienne LCSW: A LaMothe Book Review

On Fertile Ground, Healing Infertility by Helen Adrienne LCSW is truly a great addition to any fertility professionals lending library and a wonderful asset for anyone going through infertility. I especially liked The Lifestyle Profile, and The Self-Esteem check list which includes a beliefs inventory. You don't have to be infertile to appreciate many of the chapters in this book. Helen addresses the impact infertility can have on a marriage and relationships with family and friends. With real life examples and an intimate look at the medical and emotional process I felt that On Fertile Ground had something that everyone could relate to. Easy to read for minds that are often overwhelmed, this book offers some very real help and solutions for coping with infertility.

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

Sharon LaMothe of Infertility Answers and LaMothe Services to Attend the ASRM Meeting in Denver

The American Society of Reproductive Medicine is holding it's 66th annual meeting in Denver this month! I will arriving in Denver Sunday the 24th and staying until Wednesday the 27th. I am thrilled to be attending the Opening Ceremony Sunday evening and networking with some of the most hard working and knowledgeable professionals in the Infertility Field. Some of the  seminars I will be attending include Open Vs Closed Gamete Donation, Wrinkled Parents; Medical, Ethical and Psychological Issues of Parenting at an Older Age, and Infertility as a Public Health Priority. There are so many opportunities to meet people that I have "friended" on Facebook or accepted into my network on LinkedIn. If you would like to meet with me, just send me an e-mail at [email protected] or give me a call at 727-458-8333.

 

As for MY clients that I consult with, please know that I attend these events, meetings and seminars around the country so that I can share what I have learned with you through my blogs, posts, and conversations. In this time of social networking, spending hours online and answering e-mail,  I believe that it is so important to have face-time with clients and other professionals in this ever growing field of infertility.

 

Please contact me if you plan to be attending the ASRM or visiting Seattle, WA where my offices are located. If you need my consulting services remember that our first conversation is free so that we can assess how best to use my expertise to help you reach your goals.

 

I hope to hear from you soon or better yet meet you in person!

Sharon LaMothe

727-458-8333

Your Period and Cycling Through the Decades by Stacie Colino

 
As you get older, your period, like the rest of your body, evolves. Here’s what to expect.

In Your 20s

Your biggest concern is probably cramps, since they tend to be worse when you’re younger. The culprit: the prostaglandins that your body produces to stimulate contractions in your uterus in order for the lining to shed, explains David Plourd, MD, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. Head off pain by taking an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen just before your period arrives or at the first sign of cramps.

In Your 30s

If you’ve had a baby, it can take 6 months or longer for your period to get back into a groove. Don’t rely on breastfeeding as birth control unless you’re doing it 100 percent exclusively; you can get pregnant even if your period hasn’t come back. Fortunately, menstrual cramps usually ease up after childbirth.

By your late 30s your cycles may become shorter as fertility starts to drop off (the most dramatic decline is from ages 35 to 40). “Your cycles may go from, say, 30 days to 27,” says Barry Witt, MD, medical director of the Greenwich Fertility Center in Connecticut.

In Your 40s

PMS can get worse and your periods may become unpredictable, thanks to hormonal changes as you inch closer to menopause, Dr. Plourd explains. You’re less likely to ovulate, but don’t ditch the birth control. “The second-highest unintended pregnancy rate is in women in their 40s,” notes Dr. Plourd.

In Your 50s and Beyond

Chances are your periods are coming less frequently, if at all. Once you’ve gone a full year without one, you’re officially in menopause (the average age is 51½). That means PMS symptoms are history! Birth control will also be a thing of the past, but if you have a new partner, don’t forget condoms: The rate of STDs is increasing in people age 45 and older. If vaginal thinness and dryness becomes a problem, you can use try vaginal moisturizers and lubricants or vaginal estrogens, which thicken the vaginal wall to combat oversensitivity.

Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle by Stacie Colino for Womans Day

 You’re probably all too familiar with how your period affects your mood and cravings (hello, once-a-month chocolate fest!), but your period is just one part of your monthly menstrual cycle and a snapshot of how well your body is functioning. “Regular periods with no unusual symptoms mean your hormones are working properly, which bodes well for other parts of your body,” explains Nanette Santoro, MD, professor and chair of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Colorado at Denver.

On the other hand, irregular periods may mean that you don’t have enough estrogen, a hormone that’s essential not only to your reproductive system and fertility, but also to the health of your heart and bones. Too-low levels can affect your risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and even diabetes.

The important bottom line: All those hormonal changes your body goes through affect just about every aspect of your mental and physical health—for good and sometimes not-so-good. To help you understand it all, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide, starting with a rundown of what’s really going on during your monthly cycle.

Days 1–5: Your Period!

The good: The worst of PMS is over. Levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone drop, and some symptoms, especially breakouts, subside.

The not-so-good: You’ve got cramps and the crankies, and generally don’t feel like yourself thanks to low hormone levels. The cramps are caused by chemicals called prostaglandins, which your body produces to prompt contractions in your uterus so the lining will shed. For some women, prostaglandins can also cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and even flu-like achiness, says Dr. Santoro.

Some studies have also revealed that reaction time may be longer (e.g., you may be slower to react when the car in front of you takes a sudden left turn), so be extra-cautious. And exercising may feel more strenuous than usual.

Who knew? “Many writers and artists have reported in their journals that they have more creative ideas during their periods,” says Joan Chrisler, PhD, a professor of psychology at Connecticut College who has researched women’s menstrual experiences.

Days 6–13: Feel-Great Days

The good: Estrogen levels start to rise as your ovaries gear up a “mature” egg for ovulation. This increases concentrations of feel-good brain chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine, and enhances blood flow to the brain. You’re likely to feel better mentally and perform better physically. One study found that swimmers have their fastest times on the eighth day of their cycles; other studies suggest that cross-country skiers perform better around now. This may be because estrogen helps your muscles better absorb glucose, a sugar in your blood that provides your body with fuel.

The not-so-good: Since your estrogen levels are rising, nothing negative to report here.

Who knew? You may be better able to read other people’s facial expressions and emotional states during this phase.

Days 14–15: Pregnancy Alert

The good: Call it Mother Nature’s way of making sure the species survives: Your sex drive is the highest the few days around ovulation, probably because this is when you’re most fertile. “It’s best to have sex within 24 hours of ovulation, since ideally you want the sperm to be waiting when the egg comes down,” says Dr. Santoro. If you’re using an ovulation kit and seeing high levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine, expect ovulation to happen about 36 hours later. So get busy! (Or not, if a baby’s not in your plans.)

The not-so-good: Be careful while you’re playing sports. Research has found that women’s knee joints tend to be looser during ovulation, which could make you vulnerable to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Who knew? Twenty percent of women can actually feel when they ovulate. They may get slight cramping called mittelschmerz, from the German for “middle pain.”

Days 16–28: Prep for PMS

The good: Your body burns an extra 100 to 300 calories per day the week before your period, so if you’ve ever felt hungrier during that time, it’s for a good reason. Try to get your fill of extra calories with healthy protein-carb combos, like 1 Tbsp of peanut butter on a whole-wheat pita, or a handful of nuts with a few whole-wheat pretzel sticks.

The not-so-good: An initial rise in progesterone can cause your skin to produce more oil, making you pimple-prone. As you get closer to your period, progesterone and estrogen levels drop, causing mood changes and concentration problems. About a week before your period, fatigue, cravings, breast tenderness and bloating get into full swing. In fact, water retention could cause a 3- to 5-pound gain. Cutting back on salt (it makes you retain water) and doing moderate exercise (which helps increase the production of feel-good endorphins) can ease symptoms, says Diana Taylor, RNP, PhD, director of the PMS Symptom Management Program at the University of California, San Francisco. Migraines can crop up just before—and during—your period because of the drop in estrogen. “We often give women who get migraines an estrogen patch for a day or two before their periods as a preventive measure,” explains Diana Dell, MD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and obstetrics-gynecology at Duke University Medical Center.

Who knew? If you crave chocolate, it could be because it has magnesium, which you lose as estrogen levels start to dip.

All About Sperm Antibodies by Dr. Barry Jacobs

It is possible to develop antibodies to sperm.  Almost always, sperm antibodies are generated by the man producing the sperm.  Most commonly, sperm antibodies are generated after vasectomy.  The areas of the testicles where sperm are formed, and the entire tract that delivers the sperm as ejaculate is immunologically isolated from the rest of the body.  Proteins on the surface of sperm are never in contact with the body to either be recognized as part of “self” or, under normal conditions, be deemed as foreign material.  Performing a vasectomy interrupts the normal barrier between the portion of the body which produces sperm and conducts them to the exterior at the time of ejaculation.  Once the barrier is breached, the body’s immune system discovers a new set of proteins, and believes them to be foreign invaders.  Therefore, the immune system begins to make antibodies.  Antibodies are large proteins which attach to sperm, and can interfere with motility or cover the head of the sperm, so as to interfere with the acrosome reaction. 

To explain the last term, the sperm head is covered by a packet of enzymes called the acrosomal cap.  As part of the process the sperm undergoes to be able to fertilize an egg, the outer membrane of the acrosomal cap breaks down, releasing the enzymes.  Enzymes of the acrosomal cap change the membrane covering the sperm head behind the acrosomal cap allowing the sperm head membrane to fuse with an egg cell membrane.  Once fusion of these 2 membranes occurs, the boundary between sperm head and egg disappears, and chromosomes of the sperm enter the egg to fertilize it.  If the sperm head is covered by antibodies, none of these processes can occur.

Trauma to the male reproductive tract can also cause a defect in the barrier between the sperm production area and the immune system.  Men are vulnerable to sports injuries.  Occasionally, a testicle can twist on its blood supply.  The result can be painful loss of a testicle, but even if the testicle can be saved, there is likely to be damage.  Even less commonly, a testicle my not descend from the fetal abdominal cavity into the scrotum.  In addition to the increased risk of developing an aggressive cancer, if not surgically corrected, there is potential for injury to the structure of the testicle.

How do we go about testing for antibodies?  The really reliable test is a kit available to specialist in male fertility.  It is the ImmunoBead® test.  Antibodies to the 3 basic groups of human antibodies are coated on microscopic latex particles.  A suspension of these latex particles are incubated with sperm form the male patient.  If there are antibodies on the sperm, the latex particles are caused to clump together by antibodies to the antibodies on the sperm.  This direct ImmunoBead® test is very sensitive and specific for antibodies made by a man to his own sperm.

Very rarely, a woman will make antibodies to her husband’s sperm.  The cause of such circumstance is highly speculative.  We really do not know the cause.  There is a test for that.  If a woman does have antibodies to sperm, those antibodies will be in circulation in her blood.  If we incubate her serum with donor sperm that are known not to have antibodies, her antibodies will attach to the donor sperm.  Now, we can perform an ImmunoBead® test to look for antibodies.

Problems with sperm antibodies can be overcome.  By far, the most reliable way to do that is to use the technologies of in vitro fertilization (IVF).  If we remove sperm and eggs to the laboratory, antibodies a woman may make to her husband’s sperm will not have a chance to attack the sperm.  Just performing intrauterine insemination to bypass cervical mucus is not very reliable.  Antibodies will be in her uterus and fallopian tubes, too.  Much more commonly, the man has produced antibodies to his own sperm.  In such a case, it will likely be necessary to really help the sperm by literally injecting them into the eggs.  This process is called intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection or ICSI.  ICSI is commonly performed today for a variety of male factor issues.  

We have come a long way from the early days of the Franklin-Dukes test to try to identify problems related to antibodies to sperm.  We have a much better understanding of the problems, and much improved means of treatment.  Even so, many myths endure, often delaying meaningful management.    

 

      

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.com
Phone: 972-394-9590 Fax: 972-394-9597

What is Implantation Bleeding?

 
I hear this question again and again and there are several places on the web that offer pretty much the same answer I have pasted below. I have always been upset with RE's and their nurses for not warning Surrogates or anyone going through IVF that implantation bleeding may happen...this bleeding can occur even while becoming pregnant naturally. I hope that this calms some fears!

If you are trying to get pregnant, you may hear about implantation bleeding. The term implantation bleeding implies that you would see the amount of blood that you typically see with your period, but this generally isn't the case when you are experiencing implantation. Implantation bleeding occurs when an egg has been fertilized and implants into the lining of the uterus. Because the lining uterus is made up of blood, there can be a bit of blood expelled in some women.

Implantation will appear before you expect your period and many people mistaken it for spotting before their period begins. As mentioned before, most women do not experience a full on bleeding with implantation. Instead, they may experience a bit of spotting in their panties or even some pinkish or brown discharge. This usually is usually not a flowing type of blood, so if that is what you are experiencing it might be better to assume that you have your period. If you happen to get a positive pregnancy test and you are experiencing a flow of blood you might want to get in touch with your doctor to ensure that all is well.

Because there is typically so little and it is before you would expect your period it would be normal to think you are just getting ready to start your period. But, if you are attempting to get pregnant and you know that you ovulated and you had sex around that time it might be a good indication that you are in fact pregnant. Of course, you can't confirm pregnancy with the presence of a bit of blood, but it may be a very good indication that you'll get a positive pregnancy test in the very near future.

It's important to remember that you will usually experience implantation a week or more before you would expect your period, depending on when you ovulate. Also, if you don't happen to see any spotting around this time you shouldn't assume that you aren't pregnant. While a big deal is made about implantation bleeding in a lot of books and all over the Internet, there are actually very few women that actually report experiencing the phenomenon. This could be because most of us assume that we are just spotting before our period starts or it could just be so little blood that it goes unnoticed.

Implantation bleeding is something that many women assume that they will experience, but generally doctors believe that it is the exception not the rule. Knowing this, you probably shouldn't watch for implantation bleeding. Because you know that it does happen every so often you also do not need to be alarmed if you do experience it!

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.org

How to Treat Secondary Infertility by Guest Blogger Tania Tod, RN

Secondary infertility is described as a couple that has naturally conceived a child and is not able to do so again.  The condition is not as uncommon as people might think and just because of having one child naturally does not mean it will happen again just as easily.  When couples have been trying to conceive  a second child, the thought of secondary infertility may not have even entered their mind. 

There are millions upon millions of couples in the country that have to face an enduring and heartbreaking battle with secondary infertility.  The problem generally remains a silent and unacknowledged condition and until more research is done, the battle to treat it will continue.  Physicians are not exactly sure of how to treat secondary infertility and until more advances are made, many of the methods used to treat primary infertility will be the standard protocol for handling the condition. 

When a couple goes through the emotional battle surrounding secondary infertility, it can take awhile for the reality to sink in and hit home.  Feelings of jealousy, failure, anger, grief and depression are very common and must be handled in order to not influence the existing child.  When thinking of conceiving a second or third child, the couple must consider every possible angle and whether or not they are ready to make the emotional, financial and personal commitment required. 

When trying to conceive an additional child and going through secondary infertility, a couple may not experience the same consideration or attention as the first time, which could be hard to deal with.  The long term goal of any couple experiencing secondary infertility is to one month get a positive result on a pregnancy test.  When this finally happens, the couple will feel a sense of elation and joy at finally embracing the reality of their dream of having a second baby is finally coming true. 

For a couple that has had an ongoing battle with secondary infertility, there will be many different things which must be dealt with.  In order to better increase the chances of conception, it is important for a couple to find a physician that knows how to treat secondary infertility.  When everything is taken into consideration regarding secondary infertility, a couple should never give up hope that with medical treatment pregnancy is entirely possible.  Through finding the best care possible, secondary infertility can become a thing of the past and a couple can soon welcome a new baby into the family.

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 "Tania Tod is RN, working as certified Personal Fitness and Aerobic Trainer for the past 9 years. She has entered a road of trying to conceive a baby, and her newest blog is Trying To Conceive where she shares her thoughts and experience with the world."

Girlfriend to Girlfriend, A Fertility Companion by Kristen Magnacca~ A LaMothe Book Review

 

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read Girlfriend to Girlfriend after reviewing Love & Infertility: Survival Strategies for Balancing Infertility, Marriage and Life (2004) last year. Girlfriend to Girlfriend, A Fertility Companion by Kristen Magnacca was published in 2000 but the story and insights are still relevant today. Kristen shares her own infertility journey along with her frustrations and experiences and at the end of each chapter she shares tips that she learned along  the way. Some examples are learning to temper your optimism and remain hopeful, be your own advocate, having a fertility game plan, and nurturing yourself before during and after every procedure and surgery. Thoughout the entire book, Kristen tells you like it is and at the very end something magical happens, she is pregnant! And because she is pregnant, don't expect information on how to move past being childless and onto the land of acceptance. That just isn't part of this book...at least not from a personal prospective.  

 

Kristen Magnacca, is an author, speaker and consultant who over the last decade has had a wide range of experiences with both individuals and organizations. Kristen has developed the reputation as a valued resource and an expert on helping companies, individuals and couples clarify what matters most to their success and then creating the plan of action for achievement.

 

Girlfriend to Girlfriend, A Fertility Companion by Kristen Magnacca is a great read especially if you feel the need for extra support  while you are going through your own treatments. Knowing someone who has actually walked the path of infertility and won while learning from that experience can be invaluable as well as inspiring and comforting.

 

 

Reasons for Secondary Infertility by Guest Blogger Tania Tod, RN

 
The reasons why a couple can conceive and have a baby the first time and experience secondary infertility are unclear at the present time.  Most people think that once they have conceived a child, it should be just as easy the second time, but this is not always true.  Reasons for secondary infertility in a couple trying to conceive a second or third child are unclear, but the problem can account for more than 60% of all infertility cases.

Secondary infertility is medically defined as the inability to naturally conceive or sustain a pregnancy to term after experiencing one or more children previously.  A recent scientific study confirmed that approximately 3.3 million women experience secondary infertility which is an increase over previous statistics which sited 2.7 million females.  Unlike a couple facing primary infertility, people facing secondary infertility are less likely to seek infertility treatments  in order to alleviate the problem.

Reasons for secondary infertility are never clear cut and precise, it could be related to a physical problem for either the man or the woman or it could be idiopathic in nature.  Only after consulting with a medical professional and undergoing testing for the problem can couples determine what is keeping them from becoming pregnant.  Medical professionals that have no previous experience treating secondary infertility may not have the right training to help a couple and this may result in a delay of receiving the proper type of assistance.

If a couple has been trying to conceive a second child after naturally conceiving a first, the reasons could be due to secondary infertility.  Some of the causes of secondary infertility may be due to the same reasons that cause primary infertility or because of something else.  If there have been physical changes between the couple since the last baby was conceived, it could be preventing them from becoming pregnant.

It is always advisable for a couple to see a fertility specialist when having trouble conceiving a baby.  If a woman is under the age of 35 years old and has been having regular sexual intercourse and not using birth control and not become pregnant, it is probably time to see a medical professional to figure out why it is not happening.  If a woman is over 35 and has been trying to get pregnant for more than six months, an appointment with a specialist should occur sooner rather than later.  Because secondary infertility is a mostly unrecognized problem, it is important for it to be addressed as quickly as possible in order to keep any further issues from going untreated and preventing conception.

 

Tania Tod is RN, working as certified Personal Fitness and Aerobic Trainer for the past 9 years. She has entered a road of trying to conceive a baby, and her newest blog is Trying Tt Conceive where she shares her thoughts and experience with the world.

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.

Chinese Herbs & Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) By Teri Calandra and Kristine Ward

China has been using herbs to treat diseases for thousands of years. While there are many current studies that show the benefits of using Chinese herbs and acupuncture, it is hard to argue with millennia of trial and error. Gynecology and women's health are two of the oldest branches of Chinese Medicine. Consequently, formulas geared toward fertility and women's health have been finely-tuned and modified for modern times. The use of multiple herbs comprise a formula. The formulas are developed to treat diseases by treating the whole pattern. It is very rare that a single herb is recommended by itself. The reason for this is to prevent any single herb from "over doing it". For example: if you have a thin light period of shortened duration, a healthy period can be accomplished by taking a formula geared toward nourishing and moving blood. There may be three herbs in a formula that focus on nourishing but one or two that are going to keep your cycle regular.

Chinese herbs are all natural and are essentially berries, roots, twigs, nuts, and seeds. The herbs help to enhance the effects of the acupuncture treatment. They also treat the presentation on a deeper level, and often help a person to obtain gynecological health and increase the chances of pregnancy faster. Herbs/ formulas can be taken in the form of raw (which have to be cooked then the strained liquid drank), granules (powdered herbs dissolved in warm water and drank), pills, or tinctures (herbs steeped in wine or alcohol). For more information regarding different types of formulas and dosage please see http://southloopacu.blogspot.com/.

That can Herbs do for ART?

A common question is, "Are herbs safe to be taking with my already prescribed medications?" Chinese herbs have been around for a long time. When a well trained practitioner of Chinese Medicine and Herbs recommends a formula to someone we generally know what kind of reaction to look for. We are taught to recognize the possible reactions associated with each individual formula, as well as education in conventional medications and hormone therapy (ex. Clomid). You should not have adverse reactions on any formula. If you do, it means that it is not the right formula for you, or that it has to be adjusted to your needs. Unfortunately, there are not many studies out there that show herb vs. drug interactions. However, because we know what our formulas do, and because we are treating underlying conditions, we can take into account what your medications do and build a formula around your current medications. Generally speaking, being treated with acupuncture and Chinese herbs, before starting your conventional fertility treatments, menstrual cycles are often regulated within three to six months. Once your cycle is regulated your chances of getting pregnant will increase in conjunction with your conventional fertility treatments.

All dose changes of drugs are decided by you and your primary physician. NOT YOUR ACUPUNCTURIST. For those on multiple prescriptions, we will work with you and your medical practitioner to ensure the highest quality of health care.

For more information please contact South Loop Acupuncture

719 S. State St unit 3
Sago, IL 60605
office 312.554.8116
fax 312.554.8117
www.southloopacu.com

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