Are Simple Fertility Treatments Pointless?

A few weeks back, the news was all about a UK study that pronounced simplistically that Clomid with IUI is ineffective for treating infertility. Of course, we know there's more to it than that.

Part of the problem is the media's often too quick with inaccurate, alarmist headlines. They may need to squeeze too much info into too small a space. It also may be that a lot of reporters just don't understand the complexities of infertility treatment.

If such a thing as a "magic pill" to promote pregnancy existed, the whole world would be entirely different. The truth is that clomiphene citrate (Clomid is only one of the drug's brand names) works for some, but not for most. The same might be said of intrauterine insemination (IUI).

A number of large studies, both single-center and collaborations of different fertility clinics, have demonstrated the limits of clomiphene citrate (CC), with and without IUI.

Should patients completely bypass this treatment option?

Contrary to what headlines would imply, there's simply no one answer for everyone. A thorough diagnostic process is a must, even in cases that -- once the results are in -- will call for very minimal medical assistance.

For each and every fertility patient, time is valuable. All should keep in mind that infertility treatment does not get easier or less expensive as the woman ages. I strongly advise against spinning your wheels (and spending your money) on too many cycles of CC/IUI.

Technorati Tags: infertility treatment,infertility research,clomid,iui,studies,effective medicine

Hurricane Ike Not a Problem For Patients' Fertility Needs

 

Hurricane Ike may have paid a visit to Houston, but I'm happy to report that Houston Infertility Clinic did not lose power. That means our staff is available. We were able to perform a scheduled egg retrieval on Monday, just two days after Ike roared through the Gulf Coast.

Additionally, our cryopreservation units never ceased functioning.

Ironically, though Hurricane Rita in 2005 didn't result in as much widespread damage to Houston, Houston Infertility Clinic was without power for a week after that storm. We prepared in advance (just as we did last week for Ike) by conducting embryo transfers earlier than scheduled to allow patients to evacuate.

This time, patients who were in mid-cycle were still able to stay on track.

Thank you to my staff for the dedicated extra efforts toward ensuring the safety of our patients' treatment cycles and the embryos they create.

Might be interesting to see if any babies named "Ike" are born in mid-2009!

Technorati Tags: hurricane ike,infertility clinic,cryopreservation,frozen embryos,hurricane rita,texas,weather

A Key to Ovulation Found In Brain

According to this Reuters article at Revolution Health, intriguing research being published in the Journal of Neuroscience points to a protein molecule in the brain as being essential to kick-starting ovulation.

Explaining the origins of infertility to patients isn't always easy. Often by the time I see someone in my office, they're frustrated, sad, and sometimes angry about all they've tried unsuccessfully to have a baby. They come to me wanting relatively simple answers to "why?" and "how?" Unfortunately, I can't always give those simple answers.

Keeping up with research in medical fields on the outer edges of reproductive endocrinology can sometimes increase my reference list, so to speak, to help patients grasp all the possibilities that may apply to their situation.

This latest research finding is one of many that are building to a more complete understanding of how the tiniest parts of the brain can have very big consequences in a person's life.

Technorati Tags: infertility,ovulation,brain research,kisspeptin,journal of neuroscience,medical studies