IVF At 50 Or More?

In the U.K., according to the Chairman of the Governments fertility authority, advanced age is not a sufficient reason to rule patients out for fertility treatment.  This decision raises all sorts of controversial opinion, as women attempt to get pregnant through IVF at an increasingly advanced age.  More...

Infertile patients of any age should be seen as individuals whose reproductive choices deserve respect, and doctors should not refuse treatment purely because they have passed the menopause, according to Lord Harries of Pentregarth, the former Bishop of Oxford and now the interim chairman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

Fertility Panel bishop blesses IVF for over-50s - Britain - Times Online

technorati tags:pregnant, ivf, infertility

Fertility Treatment Available for Single Women

A longstanding debate has been resolved by a vote on Friday in the UK, but that didn't stop the demonstrators from voicing their opposing opinions on the issue--whether it was necessary to be a male/female couple in order to receive fertility treatment.

Parliament voted on Friday in favour of a government bill to allow single women and lesbian couples to continue to have fertility treatment.

Helsingin Sanomat - International Edition - Home

technorati tags:fertility, pregnant

National Fertility Education Program

A landmark new report out of Australia has resulted in calls for a national education program to prevent infertility.  It seems that a substantial number of people surveyed did not know about the effects of age on a woman's fertility, with an even bigger misunderstanding about its effects on a man's.

The National Fertility Study shows that 88 per cent of men and 57 per cent of women between the ages of 30 and 39 reckon they will have children without any problem. They're wrong.

Ignorance a factor in infertility - National - theage.com.au

technorati tags:pregnant, infertility, fertility

Before You Make That Baby...

I just came across this article that has some valuable advice on what areas you might need to focus on before getting pregnant.  There's some really good tips here as we often forget the practical side when our minds get (emotionally) wrapped around the idea of having a baby!

Most couples don't just wake up one day and think, "Let's start a family now!" As much as some might wish their partners were that impulsive and enthusiastic, it's better to put some thought into this baby thing than to blindly jump into it. Preconception planning is just as important as prenatal care.

SunJournal.com - Babies on your brain?

technorati tags:pregnant, fertility, conception, infertility

Do You Dress Better When You're Fertile?

Okay, this article makes a point that seems a bit farfetched to me.  It seems women dress differently when they are ovulating, and by differently, they mean more attractively.  The only thing that makes sense to me is that your hormones rise when you're about to ovulate, which can increase your libido (nature's way of making sure you procreate!). So maybe that causes women to act/dress more sexy at this time of the month.  Read the article and see what you think..

A study of young college women showed they frequently wore more fashionable or flashier clothing and jewelery when they were ovulating, as assessed by a panel of men and women looking at their photographs.

Fertile women dress to impress, U.S. study finds - Yahoo! News

technorati tags:pregnant, fertility, ovulation

Alternative Therapies On The Rise

It seems that alternative therapies are being more widely accepted by mainstream fertility doctors, as they discover that pregnancy rates increase when women apply these techniques. I think many women have found this out already, but mainstream medicine is reluctant to adopt anything just based on anecdotal evidence. Without scientific proof, they will not encourage patients to try these alternative approaches. Luckily, this seems to be changing...

"It makes sense to add non-invasive techniques to traditional protocols as long as they are backed by scientific evidence," says King.

Three Complementary Infertility Treatments Boost Pregnancy Rates, Research Shows: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

technorati tags:pregnant, fertility, acupuncture

"Bio-Panic" Causes Increase In Fertility Treatment

A rather new phenomenon, called bio-panic (which stands for biological clock-panic) is causing increasing numbers of single women to seek fertility treatment to have a baby if they don't have an appropriate partner to have a baby with.

Many are suddenly realizing that this commitment-phobic man they are living with, who says he wants children 'at some point', cannot hear their biological clocks ticking," said the head of the British Fertility Society ethics committee, Dr. Gillian Lockwood.

United Press International - NewsTrack - 'Bio-panic' leads solo women to parenting

technorati tags:pregnant, fertility

New Fertility Gadget

Ahh...technology!  Another gadget enters the marketplace to help women trying to get pregnant.  This one tracks your cycle and alerts you to the time when you are supposed to be the most fertile. And what is this new gadget, you ask.  It's a phone....

Gizmodo.com

Mitsubishi D702iF Cellphone Tracks Fertility Cycle Gizmodo.com, Hungary - 21 hours ago This is the Mitsubishi D702iF cellphone for NTT DoCoMo. It is a pretty average clamshell phone, but it does include one unique feature. ...

technorati tags:fertility, pregnant

Oh Baby! Cost-Cutting Help for Couples Trying to Conceive

The changing age of the American family is a trend that has showed no sign of slowing. An estimated 11 million US couples are currently planning or trying to conceive, with birth rates for 35-44 year olds at their highest in more than 3 decades. While this decision is common, it's not without risk. 1 in 6 couples today will experience a delay or difficulty, and experts say it can take couples anywhere from 6 months to a year to conceive. It may take even longer for older couples, and that means more doctors' appointments, fertility tests, ovulation kits and home pregnancy tests -- all of which can really add up. There are ways to cut costs, like buying ovulation, fertility and pregnancy tests in bulk. Also, a first-of-its-kind refillable pregnancy test called "Confirm Clearly" has just been released to the market. With a refillable test, starter kits are about 15 dollars with refills less than 5 dollars each. So 8 tests will cost only about 45 dollars as opposed to the 150 dollars it would cost to buy traditional tests. This is just one of the many ways couples can save money. Cutting costs will also save you down the road. Once the happy day arrives, there will be diapers, formula and other costs coming your way, so saving as soon as possible is smart. Produced for Confirm Clearly

Work Hazards Effect Fertility

It's been documented that environmental toxins can have an impact on fertility, for both men and women.  Some new research looks at specific jobs that might be harmful if you're trying to get pregnant.

We have found that there is a tendency for farmers to have high levels of DNA damage and things such as mechanics maybe who are perhaps exposed to high levels of solvents," he said.

Some workers more at risk of fertility, researchers say. 06/10/2006. ABC News Online

technorati tags:fertility, pregnant, infertility

Vitamin C

There are many supplements available that can help in the effort to become pregnant.  Some are helpful for women--others helpful for men.  Some new research shows the benefits for men in taking Vitamin C to improve their fertility.

A new small study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food examined the effect of supplementing with vitamin C on men with infertility. The study consisted of 13 men aged 25 to 35 who supplemented with 1,000 mg of vitamin C twice daily for 2 months.

HealthSentinel.com

technorati tags:pregnant, fertility, vitamin+c

Fertile Foods

Nutrition is very important when trying to get pregnant, and this article takes a look at some of the foods that might help you to conceive...

6 FOODS TO EAT IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET PREGNANT EAT RIGHT ic WestLothian.co.uk, UK - 19 hours ago ... All women hoping to get pregnant are advised to take a folic acid supplement as it reduces the risk of birth defects in the baby. ...

technorati tags:pregnant, fertility

An IVF Alternative

Standard IVF can be very costly--mentally, physically, and financially.  For older women who are trying to get pregnant, there is an alternative called "natural IVF" which doesn't include all the drug injections that are normally used to stimulate multiple eggs and is therefore much less expensive.

Fertility treatment has given thousands the chance to have their own family. But a growing number of women, concerned about the potential risks of the drugs used, are choosing natural IVF instead.

IVF without the drugs | the Daily Mail

technorati tags:ivf, pregnant

Eggs For Sale

Advanced technology continues to offer new options to women trying to get pregnant.  Egg donation offers women who perhaps might be too old to conceive a child, the option to do so.  This article takes a look at one woman's story regarding egg donation from the egg donor's perspective.

Back in the old days, you did the deed and hoped for the best. But now there are more options and technologies available. These technologies are a blessing for folks unable to reproduce in the standard manner, but new methods have also spawned a bizarre new business -- selling human eggs.

The Daily News Online

technorati tags:infertility, pregnant, egg+donation

The Have's and the Have Nots

Interesting article about rising infertility and the social ramifications.  You really can't talk freely about your children in a room full of women of childbearing age, as the number of women who are childless or child-free by choice is rising.  More...

Today, you avoid mentioning children unless you are certain the woman before you has at least one. Otherwise, you risk a pregnant (so to speak) pause, a fearsome glare, even a tearful exit. Forget the mummy wars; far more vicious is the battle between the haves and have-nots.

The Observer | Comment | It's best to keep mum about babies

technorati tags:fertility, infertility, pregnant

Another Benefit of Prenatal Vitamins

It is fairly common advice to take folic acid before trying to get pregnant in order to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. New research suggests that taking prenatal vitamins in early pregnancy may also prevent the development of some brain tumors.

http://toronto.fashion-monitor.com/news.php/
health/2006092903prenatal-vitamins

technorati tags:pregnant, fertility

Too Much Exercise Can Hurt Fertility

This article looks at the consequences of extreme exercise on your ability to get pregnant through IVF.  While moderate exercise definitely has it's benefits, excessive cardiovascular exercise can cause subtle changes in the woman's body that can interfere with getting pregnant. 

Excessive exercise can stress a woman's reproductive system, causing her body to "protect" it from a pregnancy it's not prepared to maintain–perhaps by causing subtle hormonal changes, theorizes Mark Hornstein, senior researcher and clinical director of reproductive endocrinology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Why does the effect seem to wear off after 10 years? "We don't have a good answer for that," says Hornstein. "It may be that the body accommodates."

USNews.com: Health: Fitness and fertility

technorati tags:ivf, fertility, pregnant

Falling Fertility

This article is a "must read" if you are trying to get pregnant.  While it's a bit depressing to hear how fertility in general is plummeting, there is a lot of useful information hightlighting many of the things that can decrease your chances of getting pregnant.

Human fertility is in crisis....Sperm counts are in freefall, while sexually transmitted diseases and obesity - both of which seriously harm our ability to reproduce - are increasing. Our environment, stress and the vices we embrace all chip away at our natural fertility.

Fertility rights and wrongs - Pregnancy & IVF - Health In Focus - smh.com.au

technorati tags:pregnant, fertility

Avoid Pregnancy Related Diabetes

We're constantly hearing how good nutrition can improve your chances of getting pregnant, and also makes for a healthier pregnancy.  In keeping with this premise, increasing fiber intake can help prevent the development of gestational diabetes.  Read more..

If you're a woman planning to get pregnant, you might want to pump up your fiber intake. Doing so could make you less likely to develop gestational diabetesgestational diabetes, researchers report in the October edition of Diabetes Care.

Planning a Pregnancy? Eat Your Fiber

technorati tags:pregnant, fiber, gestational+diabetes

Rich Couples Choose Infertility Treatment

It's sad but not surprising to learn that couples who are trying to get pregnant base their treatment decisions on matters such as insurance coverage and income.  The data confirms that those with higher incomes, are much more likely to pursue more expensive treatment options, such as IVF.

By comparing these treatment options with information about the women’s income and insurance, Staniec and Webb found that low-income women were only 65 percent as likely as their richer counterparts to seek help for infertility.

Toronto Daily News - Infertility Treatment Often Chosen by Rich Couples - An infertile couple's income makes a difference in whether they pursue an expensive technology such as in vitro fertilization.   

technorati tags:ivf, infertility, pregnant