I'd really like to be able to give my patients an easy how-to for getting around their fertility issues. And people who are desperate to finally get pregnant and become parents are easy prey to reputed quick fixes. Fortunately, long gone are the old days of the tonic seller with ridiculous promises. But today's marketing techniques, finely-tuned with psychological research data, can be pretty convincing even to educated fertility consumers.
Take the idea of fertility supplements.
Granted, research studies linking nutrition and fertility have boomed in the last few years. What you eat is indeed a key factor in how you feel and how your body functions, even when it comes to fertility. Every qualified dietitian will tell you that the best source of health-promoting nutrients is food. Supplements are considered a back-up plan, and in some cases, their effectiveness is unproven.
In a Los Angeles Times article, Chris Woolston, aka The Healthy Skeptic, discusses two popular supplements: FertilAid for Men and FertilityBlend for Men. Both are promoted as providing nutritional enhancement for male fertility, specifically, sperm motility and count.
It's a good article that balances the claims of the supplements' makers with commentary by male fertility specialists. The important take-away message that eager-to-be-dads need to hear: supplements can be good for your health, but they aren't miracle cures.
And by the way -- the very same can be said for women, supplements, and fertility.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
There's More to Healthy Babies Than Good Eggs
We tend to focus on the very key component of viable egg cells in assisted reproductive technology. There's no doubt that "good eggs" are needed to make conception and pregnancy happen. A piece of the pregnancy puzzle that doesn't usually get as much attention is the impact of uterine health.
It makes sense, of course, that once an egg is fertilized, the resulting embryo needs a healthy place to implant and grow. The lining of the uterus, known as the endometrium, is that place. In cases of women with average to good fertility levels, the endometrium is primed for implantation by a variety of hormones relaying through her body. It's all part of the menstrual cycle. [Here's an explanation of how the endometrium works.] Timing is crucial -- both in natural and assisted conception -- because the lining is re-created and either used or sloughed off through menstruation on a cyclical basis, approximately every 28 days. If a woman's hormones are imbalanced, the result is sometimes an endometrium that's not ready to receive and nourish a conceived embryo. This can be a type of infertility.
We administer endometrium-enhancing medications -- such as progesterone supplementation -- to some patients, regardless of the assisted reproductive technique they're using to conceive. Ultrasound monitoring is used to view and gauge the health of the uterine lining, just as we use ultrasound to see how well a woman's ovaries are ovulating. Still, there's more to solving the pregnancy puzzle, and researchers have recently unveiled a new potential key.
A study of mice has resulted in the newly discovered connection between a protein called Hand2 and the control of the uterine lining's proliferation. The researchers' findings could eventually lead to more ways for fertility experts to help patients who have endometriosis or previously unexplained infertility.
Answering the question, "Why can't we get pregnant?" requires attention to many variables within each patient's situation. The responsive functioning of a woman's uterus is increasingly becoming the focal point of research. After all, there's a lot more to having a baby then simply creating an embryo.
~ Sonja Kristiansen
It makes sense, of course, that once an egg is fertilized, the resulting embryo needs a healthy place to implant and grow. The lining of the uterus, known as the endometrium, is that place. In cases of women with average to good fertility levels, the endometrium is primed for implantation by a variety of hormones relaying through her body. It's all part of the menstrual cycle. [Here's an explanation of how the endometrium works.] Timing is crucial -- both in natural and assisted conception -- because the lining is re-created and either used or sloughed off through menstruation on a cyclical basis, approximately every 28 days. If a woman's hormones are imbalanced, the result is sometimes an endometrium that's not ready to receive and nourish a conceived embryo. This can be a type of infertility.
We administer endometrium-enhancing medications -- such as progesterone supplementation -- to some patients, regardless of the assisted reproductive technique they're using to conceive. Ultrasound monitoring is used to view and gauge the health of the uterine lining, just as we use ultrasound to see how well a woman's ovaries are ovulating. Still, there's more to solving the pregnancy puzzle, and researchers have recently unveiled a new potential key.
A study of mice has resulted in the newly discovered connection between a protein called Hand2 and the control of the uterine lining's proliferation. The researchers' findings could eventually lead to more ways for fertility experts to help patients who have endometriosis or previously unexplained infertility.
Answering the question, "Why can't we get pregnant?" requires attention to many variables within each patient's situation. The responsive functioning of a woman's uterus is increasingly becoming the focal point of research. After all, there's a lot more to having a baby then simply creating an embryo.
~ Sonja Kristiansen
Friday, February 11, 2011
Does Race Really Impact Fertility Treatment Success?
When a single research study looks at tens of thousands of ART procedures, the conclusions can be quite meaningful. Such a study received attention by Reuters this week with the headline "Weight, race tied to fertility treatment success".
Besides bolstering what we already know about weight and fertility, the study published in Fertility and Sterility determined that both failure to achieve a pregnancy and failure to achieve live birth are significantly more likely among non-white ethnicities. This finding was in light of adjusting for body mass index (BMI).
Unfortunately, since limited data was available to the researchers, their final conclusion about the difference in treatment success between white women (the reference group, having accounted for nearly 25,000 of the total 31,672 transfers researched) and black, Hispanic, or Asian women is that more studies are needed to discern reasons: "Future research should focus on clarifying the underlying causes of these disparities."
Having provided fertility care for over a decade now in a very ethnically diverse metropolitan area, here are my thoughts on possible connections between race and fertility treatment success numbers:
First, we know from past research that people from certain communities are not accessing fertility care as often as other groups. Financial reasons may seem to top the list, but the truth is that for some groups, there exist tremendous taboos against infertility treatment. Another related reason -- especially for Hispanic or Asian couples -- is language barrier.
That's one of the reasons Houston Fertility Center is hosting free Spanish-language educational opportunities -- to remove the language barrier as an obstacle to seeking fertility care. We hope, too, that our culturally diverse staff will be able to help curious couples feel comfortable enough to ask questions and find out about their family-building options.
Trying to determine what affects success rates based on ethnicity is not as simple as it may seem on the surface. For example, if the study did not include a breakdown based on how many patients used donor egg or not, we might see their results as skewed. That's because donor egg use is highly likely in older, white mothers-to-be and has an impact on success rate numbers.
I applaud researchers who undertake large-scale studies, and I look forward to future findings that can assist medical professionals like myself in our mission to truly make the finest fertility care accessible. In the meantime, the Houston Fertility Center staff and I will continue to reach out beyond our clinic doors to extend family-building services to all.
Besides bolstering what we already know about weight and fertility, the study published in Fertility and Sterility determined that both failure to achieve a pregnancy and failure to achieve live birth are significantly more likely among non-white ethnicities. This finding was in light of adjusting for body mass index (BMI).
Unfortunately, since limited data was available to the researchers, their final conclusion about the difference in treatment success between white women (the reference group, having accounted for nearly 25,000 of the total 31,672 transfers researched) and black, Hispanic, or Asian women is that more studies are needed to discern reasons: "Future research should focus on clarifying the underlying causes of these disparities."
Having provided fertility care for over a decade now in a very ethnically diverse metropolitan area, here are my thoughts on possible connections between race and fertility treatment success numbers:
First, we know from past research that people from certain communities are not accessing fertility care as often as other groups. Financial reasons may seem to top the list, but the truth is that for some groups, there exist tremendous taboos against infertility treatment. Another related reason -- especially for Hispanic or Asian couples -- is language barrier.
That's one of the reasons Houston Fertility Center is hosting free Spanish-language educational opportunities -- to remove the language barrier as an obstacle to seeking fertility care. We hope, too, that our culturally diverse staff will be able to help curious couples feel comfortable enough to ask questions and find out about their family-building options.
Trying to determine what affects success rates based on ethnicity is not as simple as it may seem on the surface. For example, if the study did not include a breakdown based on how many patients used donor egg or not, we might see their results as skewed. That's because donor egg use is highly likely in older, white mothers-to-be and has an impact on success rate numbers.
I applaud researchers who undertake large-scale studies, and I look forward to future findings that can assist medical professionals like myself in our mission to truly make the finest fertility care accessible. In the meantime, the Houston Fertility Center staff and I will continue to reach out beyond our clinic doors to extend family-building services to all.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Los tratamientos de fertilidad: No hay ninguna razón que el idioma sea una barrera
Desde la fundación, de Houston de 1836, el ambiente y cultura ha sido enriquecido una variedad de etnias y nacionalidades.
He estado al servicio de los tratamientos de fertilidad necesidades de otros países por muchos años. Ahora, el personal del Centro de Fertilidad de Houston se enorgullece de ofrecer jornadas de puertas abiertas para la gente que quisiera hablar sobre las opciones de creación de la familia en español.
Hemos estado conceintes que huestros pacientes que solo hablan y entienden espanol experiementantan una mayor sensación de aislamiento cuando se trata de la búsqueda de atención médica especializada. HFC siempre ha mantenido personal bilingüe para que nuestros pacientes de la fertilidad puedan ser plenamente informados a los participantes e interactivo en su tratamiento.
A partir de febrero, el Centro de Fertilidad de Houston tendra jornadas de puertas abiertas en nuestra ubicación 9055 Katy Freeway. Individuos y las parejas pueden hablar con nuestro personal sobre los problemas de fertilidad común, ¿cómo se hacen diagnósticos y opciones de tratamiento. Nota que no Habra una evaluacion especifica para cada paciente. Sino que contestaremos preguntas de una manera general. Con el fin de preservar un ambiente cómodo, cada jornada de puertas habiertas sera limitado a sao cinco parejas, de modo RSVP son necesarias. Se servirán refrescos.
Por favor llame al 713-862-6181 para más información y para confirmar su asistencia. La siguiente jornada de puertas habiertas sera el 15 de Febrero, a la 1:30 a 2:30 de la tarde.
No hay ninguna razón que el idioma sea una barrera en obtener atención de alta calidad de la fertilidad. Espero la oportunidad de continuar serviendo los habitantes de Houston en sus tratamientos de fertilidad.
********************************
Fertility treatment: There is no reason for language to be a barrier
Since its founding in 1836, Houston's culture and ambience has been richly flavored by an incredible variety of ethnicities and nationalities.
I've been serving the fertility treatment needs of families from other countries for many years. Now, the staff of Houston Fertility Center is proud to offer regularly held open houses for people who'd like to talk about family-building options in Spanish.
We've known for a long time that our Spanish-speaking patients can experience a greater sense of isolation when it comes to seeking specialized medical care. HFC has always maintained bilingual staff so that our fertility patients can be fully informed, interactive participants in their treatment.
Beginning in February, Houston Fertility Center will host free open houses at our 9055 Katy Freeway location. Indiviuals and couples can talk with our staff about common fertility problems, how diagnoses are made, and treatment options. We should note that evaluations of patients' specific cases will not be discussed at the open house, but we'll be happy to answer questions in a general manner. In order to preserve a comfortable setting, we'll be limiting each open house to only five couples, so RSVP's are necessary. Refreshments will be served.
The next Spanish-language open house will be on Tuesday, February 15, from 1:30 to 2:30 PM. Please call 713-862-6181 for more information and to RSVP.
There is no reason for language to be a barrier to accessing high quality fertility care. I look forward to continuing opportunities to serving the fertility treatment needs of all Houstonians.
He estado al servicio de los tratamientos de fertilidad necesidades de otros países por muchos años. Ahora, el personal del Centro de Fertilidad de Houston se enorgullece de ofrecer jornadas de puertas abiertas para la gente que quisiera hablar sobre las opciones de creación de la familia en español.
Hemos estado conceintes que huestros pacientes que solo hablan y entienden espanol experiementantan una mayor sensación de aislamiento cuando se trata de la búsqueda de atención médica especializada. HFC siempre ha mantenido personal bilingüe para que nuestros pacientes de la fertilidad puedan ser plenamente informados a los participantes e interactivo en su tratamiento.
A partir de febrero, el Centro de Fertilidad de Houston tendra jornadas de puertas abiertas en nuestra ubicación 9055 Katy Freeway. Individuos y las parejas pueden hablar con nuestro personal sobre los problemas de fertilidad común, ¿cómo se hacen diagnósticos y opciones de tratamiento. Nota que no Habra una evaluacion especifica para cada paciente. Sino que contestaremos preguntas de una manera general. Con el fin de preservar un ambiente cómodo, cada jornada de puertas habiertas sera limitado a sao cinco parejas, de modo RSVP son necesarias. Se servirán refrescos.
Por favor llame al 713-862-6181 para más información y para confirmar su asistencia. La siguiente jornada de puertas habiertas sera el 15 de Febrero, a la 1:30 a 2:30 de la tarde.
No hay ninguna razón que el idioma sea una barrera en obtener atención de alta calidad de la fertilidad. Espero la oportunidad de continuar serviendo los habitantes de Houston en sus tratamientos de fertilidad.
********************************
Fertility treatment: There is no reason for language to be a barrier
Since its founding in 1836, Houston's culture and ambience has been richly flavored by an incredible variety of ethnicities and nationalities.
I've been serving the fertility treatment needs of families from other countries for many years. Now, the staff of Houston Fertility Center is proud to offer regularly held open houses for people who'd like to talk about family-building options in Spanish.
We've known for a long time that our Spanish-speaking patients can experience a greater sense of isolation when it comes to seeking specialized medical care. HFC has always maintained bilingual staff so that our fertility patients can be fully informed, interactive participants in their treatment.
Beginning in February, Houston Fertility Center will host free open houses at our 9055 Katy Freeway location. Indiviuals and couples can talk with our staff about common fertility problems, how diagnoses are made, and treatment options. We should note that evaluations of patients' specific cases will not be discussed at the open house, but we'll be happy to answer questions in a general manner. In order to preserve a comfortable setting, we'll be limiting each open house to only five couples, so RSVP's are necessary. Refreshments will be served.
The next Spanish-language open house will be on Tuesday, February 15, from 1:30 to 2:30 PM. Please call 713-862-6181 for more information and to RSVP.
There is no reason for language to be a barrier to accessing high quality fertility care. I look forward to continuing opportunities to serving the fertility treatment needs of all Houstonians.
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