Male Infertility No Longer a Taboo

Many of you had probably heard that June is the national male heath month, but did you know that male infertility is a leading cause in about one-third of infertility cases?

How Many Embryos Should One Transfer: The IVF Dilemma

It is common knowledge that assisted reproduction methods, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF), when successful, often result in multiple pregnancy. Some wonna-be-moms, in fact, want to have twins or triplets, especially those who have tried to conceive for a long time—after all, having more than one baby at the same time seems to compensate for the many months or years lost in waiting. Doctors, however, frown at such possibilities. The optimal outcome of an assisted reproduction, they say, is a singleton pregnancy.

Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS):

Why You Should Do It

Many factors can sabotage the success of infertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). A woman might respond poorly to ovarian stimulation, develop eggs that fail to fertilize, or produce embryos that are chromosomally abnormal. Her uterine lining might not be thick enough to support implantation, or there might be some other cause of failed implantation, such as damage to oocyte/embryo during unfreezing or transfer. The egg retrieval and embryo transfer procedure too can fail—sometimes due to the doctor’s lack of experience but more often due to uterine contractility. Of all of these factors, however, chromosomal abnormality is the one that controls the success of the majority of cases.

Can Stress Contribute to Infertility?

Stress has become an everyday constant for many individuals. Work, personal life, and other responsibilities keep us awake at night, force us to develop unhealthy habits, and disturb our moods. Add to these the anxieties of trying to get pregnant, and you will see a fair portrayal of many women today. Could this stress affect one’s ability to conceive? In my experience, the answer is: quite possibly so. Many researchers, however, disagree.