Category Archives: Infertility
Why Infertility is Becoming a Crisis for American Women
The U.S. is in the midst of a prominent decline in child birth rates. Look: Ten years ago, the typical American woman had about 2.1 children. Today, she has about 1.77 – a decline in fertility being felt across the country. Bottom Line: Infertility is a challenge facing American women that needs more attention and awareness from society as well as the government. While infertility is rampant in the U.S., there’s still no government support to fund costly fertility treatments – such as IVF – opines Dr. John Zhang in a recent Fortune Magazine article addressing the crisis.
Dr. John Zhang on America’s Infertility Crisis
Ninety percent of couples who need IVF give up because it is costly and they don’t have an insurance company who covers the treatment, says Dr. Zhang. IVF treatments cost an average of $12,000 with the added expense of fertility medications ranging between $3,000 and $5,000.
According to Dr. Zhang, the U.S. Government still considers IVF to be an experimental procedure, even though millions of babies have been born using this phenomenal Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). All research and clinical trials have been privately funded since the first IVF baby was born in the U.S. in 1981.
Dr. Zhang on Fertility Preservation for American Women
Dr. Zhang promotes awareness of female fertility preservation beyond just a funding perspective. The Doctor envisions a future where all American women take proactive steps to preserve their fertility. Ladies ages 25 to 35 should freeze their eggs if they don’t have plans to have a family in the next five to ten years, opines Dr. Zhang.
Fertility Preservation Leaders
Over one million babies have been born using Cutting-Edge ART fertility treatments in the U.S. As of 2015, approximately 68,000 babies were born using IVF or other ART fertility treatments – an overall success rate of 32 percent.
At New Hope Fertility Center, we provide all-encompassing cryopreservation techniques for protecting the fertility of both women and men.
- Egg Freezing (oocyte cryopreservation)
- Embryo freezing and future Frozen Embryo Transfer procedures
- Ovarian Tissue Freezing
Read more: Why Infertility is Becoming a Crisis for American Women
How Is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Managed During IVF?
In continuing to post about some of my unique and interesting cases, this article will address my standard practice of care in the treatment of patients who are suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) after undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Read more: How Is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Managed During IVF?
Infertility Misconceptions
Giving birth to a healthy baby is a common dream. Unfortunately, not all women can achieve pregnancy naturally. There are many misconceptions and questions about infertility.
Ovaries: The Source to Maintaining Your Youth
The uterus is the cradle of life where the fetus is conceived and grows. So where does the fetus come from? The fetus is created by a man (his sperm) and a woman (her eggs). Where are eggs produced? Eggs are created in the ovaries. Ovaries are small walnut-like organs that are one of the main organs of a woman’s reproductive system.
Under what circumstances do I need IVF treatment?
At New Hope Fertility Center in New York, I have encountered a few couples who, after a few years of trying to conceive and no infertility tests done, come and tell me that they wanted to do and are ready for an IVF treatment. When this situation happens, we explain to patients that not all infertile couples need to do IVF. First, we will need to check the semen quality. If it is poor quality, the woman does not need to have a tubal patency test undergoing IVF treatment. If the semen quality is poor, the sperm does not have the ability to naturally fertilize the egg. On the other hand, if the semen quality is good, the woman will need to have a tubal patency test. If the tubes are normal, they may consider artificial insemination; if the tubes are abnormal (or blocked), they may need IVF treatment.
Read more: Under what circumstances do I need IVF treatment?
Dr. Zhang’s Pick of the Month: Who can benefit from PGS?
According to research, the miscarriage rate increases as a woman gets older. Women who are undergoing IVF treatment can benefit from Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS). PGS evaluates an embryo to determine if it has the correct number of chromosomes. Having too many or too few chromosomes is evidence of a genetic defect. This test does not look for specific diseases, rather it aims to identify embryos that have an abnormal number of chromosomes. As a woman ages, the chance of her having embryos with an abnormal number of chromosomes rises.
Read more: Dr. Zhang’s Pick of the Month: Who can benefit from PGS?
Is Early Pregnancy Bleeding a Sign of a Potential Miscarriage?
Seeing that you’re bleeding during early pregnancy can be extremely alarming. Often, a woman’s first thought is that there’s a serious problem or that she’s having a miscarriage. Bleeding during the early stages of pregnancy is common and typically not indicative of a major issue. However, because it can be an indication of an issue, it is important to see your doctor as soon as possible to verify the health and safety of yourself and your growing baby.
Read more: Is Early Pregnancy Bleeding a Sign of a Potential Miscarriage?
What does it mean to have the best in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment?
With IVF treatment, best treatment does not exist; only the most appropriate treatment is available from a leading medical provider. The IVF treatment program most suitable to your individual needs is considered the best treatment.
Read more: What does it mean to have the best in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment?
What is Ovarian Tissue Freezing?
Fertility preservation is growing in popularity for a number of reasons. Women of today are waiting longer to start a family. Some women aim to achieve their personal goals before starting a family. Other women are looking to become established professionally and then have children. Another group of women may need to preserve their fertility for a medical reason. Advancements in fertility medicine have allowed for a new method of fertility preservation – ovarian tissue freezing.
Ovarian Tissue Freezing Explained
A woman’s eggs are located in the outer layer of her ovaries. During ovarian tissue freezing, the outer layer is removed from the body. This layer contains a large number of eggs that have not yet matured. Once retrieved, the layer is divided into strips and is frozen to be used later. When a woman is ready to have children, the retrieved tissue is placed back into the body and is able to function normally. This allows a woman who otherwise may have difficulty becoming pregnant with her own eggs to start a family.
Benefits of Ovarian Tissue Freezing
With traditional fertility preservation methods, such as egg and embryo freezing, mature eggs are retrieved after a cycle that uses fertility medication. There is a limited number of eggs that can be achieved via this method, with an average of 10 mature eggs being retrieved during a single cycle. When ovarian tissue freezing is done, hundreds of eggs can be retrieved and frozen at one time. There is no need for fertility medication and no need to wait while the cycle progresses.
Further Advancements in Treatment
The field of fertility medicine is continually improving. Great strides are being made in the specialty of in vitro maturation. This process would allow eggs to be matured in a laboratory setting. When this technology becomes widely used and understood, it would avoid the need to transfer the ovarian tissue back. Instead, the IVF process could begin as soon as a woman is ready.
For additional information on ovarian tissue freezing or to learn about your options for fertility preservation, please contact a member of the New Hope Fertility Center team today. Please click the link below to enter your information and New Hope will contact you, or simply call 212-517-7676. Thank you.
Collecting a Sperm Sample – How Does it Work?
Fertility treatment is often thought of as a woman’s issue. This is partially due to the fact that women have more working parts in their reproductive systems. Additionally, women are more likely to talk about fertility concerns with their friends and family. Men play a vital role in the fertility process. However, they may be unprepared for what it means to provide a sperm sample.
