How a patient’s ethnic background affects her chance of pregnancy, especially with IVF, is a fascinating yet poorly studied area of research. According to a 1995 national survey of family growth, non-Caucasian married women were more likely to experience infertility than Caucasian married women, yet these same non-Caucasian women were less likely to receive any...
Category: Education
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Dr. Michael Kamrava and the Octuplets
Well, it has finally happened. The infamous octomom fertility specialist, Dr. Michael Kamrava, has been formally charged with negligence by the California Medical Board. The case has been handled as a type of sideshow by the media, and indeed, there are many aspects of it—single mom, 14 kids from IVF, all conceived with donor sperm,...
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5 Things You Should Know About Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
1. PCOS is a Common ConditionPCOS is one of the most common causes of irregular menstrual periods. It’s a chronic condition that occurs in about 5 to 10 percent of women. It causes irregular menstrual periods and high levels of male hormones in women. These elevated levels can cause excessive hair growth in areas such...
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5 Things You Should Know About Recurrent Miscarriages
1. Three or More in a Row is “Recurrent”The technical definition for recurrent miscarriages or “recurrent pregnancy loss” (RPL) requires three or more consecutive losses of recognized pregnancies before the 20th week or 5th month of pregnancy. Currently it is not clear whether very early pregnancy losses diagnosed by sensitive pregnancy tests and not by...
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Testing for Downs’ Syndrome and Other Abnormalities in Early Pregnancy
Abnormalities in early pregnancy are a common fear among parents-to-be. Here are a few suggestions for how you can test for them. For Women Under 35: 1) Triple Screen: This is a blood test that is done between 15-20 weeks. The test screens for Down’s syndrome and Spina Bifida, two common birth defects. The test is...
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5 Things You Need to Know About Exercise-Induced Amenorrhea
When you stop having monthly periods, it is known as amenorrhea. Here are five important exercise-related facts involving the condition…: 1. Exercise Causes Amenorrhea When the Body Enters a “Starvation State”When women stop having monthly periods (“amenorrhea”) due to excessive exercise, there’s a problem. It is not just the amount of exercise that influences the...
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Cesarean Section By Choice: The Cons
Traditionally, the decision to deliver a baby by cesarean section (C-section) was made by a woman’s obstetrician. It was based purely on medical reasons such as a baby in the “breech” position (head-up, bottom-down) or a cervix that wouldn’t fully dilate. These days, women realize that there are other potential reasons to favor a C-section...
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Smart Shopping for Lubricants When Trying to Conceive
Up to one half of sexually active couples use some kind of vaginal lubricant during intercourse. It’s a common misconception that lubricants not containing spermicide are okay to use in couples that are trying to conceive. Unfortunately, there is now reason to believe that many of these lubricants have harmful effects on sperm, thus potentially...
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DIY: How to improve your chances of getting pregnant
At HRC Fertility, we provide our patients with information that will help them to give birth to healthy babies. If you’re looking to get pregnant, here are a few tips that can increase your chances of success… First, you need to be aware of the “fertile window” – the 6-day-long period during your menstrual cycle...
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Sperm Should Be Waiting For The Egg
Myths about the best timing and frequency of sex when trying to get pregnant can lead to unnecessary stress. Even when a couple is trying to conceive, they do not need to have sex every day and there is no need to drop everything and rush into bed at the exact moment of ovulation. Since...