Dragon Babies In the Making!

Surely, you've seen this recently? The Chinese New Year has arrived, and this year, deemed The Year of The Dragon by Chinese astrologers, is supposed to be especially auspicious for having babies.

The Wall Street Journal says that "dragon babies" -- those born from now until February 9, 2013 -- are supposed to be strong, smart, and lucky. Quite a combination! What parent wouldn't want those things for their child? Even if you think astrology is nothing more than silly fun...

But here's the modern twist on an ancient tale: Couples are actually taking advantage of assisted reproductive technology to boost their chances of getting pregnant with a Dragon Baby. In the article, one egg donation agency reports they've increased the number of donors with Chinese ancestry to prepare for an expected rise in intended parents.

What we're talking about here is a new kind of family planning, people taking full advantage of the availability and increasing reliability of fertility treatment success, even if there are no fertility problems. "But Dr. Kristiansen," you're wondering, "isn't IVF for fertile people going to extremes?" IVF is the most direct means of assisted conception for many people, but artificial insemination can work as well for some.

So if you want to have a Dragon Baby, you need to institute a plan and aim for conceiving by mid-May of this year. My staff at Houston Fertility Center will be happy to assist -- even if you think astrology is just for fun.

~ Dr. Sonja Kristiansen M.D.

Image: Naypong / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Infertility E-Books - More Snake Oil?

The other day I opened an email from a website making helpful claims for women with PCOS. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is very common, not just among infertile women. Untreated PCOS is linked to infertility and to more serious, chronic conditions involving cardiovascular health. There are many well-established websites about PCOS, some that are backed by medical institutions, to which I refer my Houston Fertility Center patients. So I took a quick look at this relative newcomer site to judge its reliability as a patient education resource.

Quick red flag: If the words "cure" or "miracle" appear on a treatment website, be very wary. (I won't credit the site by linking to it in this post.)

Fortunately, there are many other reputable websites that educate and support patients with PCOS. But what I found especially disturbing about this one (and there are others out there) is their tactic of making money from the dissemination of medical information that's already available to consumers for free. That's the miracle of the Internet.

Before you're tempted to spend your money on e-books, email "programs" or newsletters, or even virtual face-to-face counselors who claim to have cures for PCOS -- or any other cause of infertility -- stop and do your research first. Investigate the authors, as well as the company marketing the products and services. Even more importantly, connect with the many available patient groups (like PCOSChallenge) who can tell you what you need to know and offer you support and tested resources, too.

DIY Artificial Insemination Just Adds to Infertility Stress

Gone are the days of uninformed consumers and all-knowing experts. Now with just a flip of the webpage, you can find step-by-step instructions on everything from remodeling a bathroom to getting pregnant with artificial insemination. DIY conception used to be the only means available for people who couldn't get pregnant "the old fashioned way." It's a real good thing we've come a long way from those days.

But have we? It turns out there's an underground, online market for sperm, where women can access prospective biological fathers for their children without the intervention (and guidance, and screening, and medical and legal protections) of reproductive professionals.

Newsweek's Tony Dokoupil called one related website "a weird blend of Facebook, Match.com and a traditional sperm bank" in this article for ABC News.

"What's wrong with the DIY approach to getting pregnant, Dr. Kristiansen?"

Here's a quick list of why I think you and, more importantly, your potential children are far better off going the more conventional routes to accessing sperm for getting pregnant:

Without standard controls by the Food & Drug Administration and the policies and procedures of reputable clinics like the Houston Fertility Center, you risk transmission of infectious diseases and genetic conditions, to both the mother and child.

Engaging in activity within this level of intimacy, even if sexual intercourse isn't on the agenda, with people whom you've only "met" online is simply not as safe as using professional services.

Agreements made between individuals about level of parental responsibility and involvement in the child's life may not be binding without proper legal representation and execution.

If you've found the whole process of getting pregnant stressful, just imagine the additional burden that comes with using what amounts to be an unknown substance to conceive. Worry about the cost of artificial insemination? It just doesn't compare to worrying about your personal safety and your child's health and future.