How Preimplantation Genetic Testing Can Help You Advocate for Your Future Family
Planning for a family can take a physical, emotional, and psychological toll on prospective parents. Infertility can leave us feeling like many questions go unanswered. I know one of my main ones was, “Why is this so difficult for us and, seemingly, so easy for so many others?” When I was going through infertility in the mid-2010s, I didn’t know. All I learned, in the end, was that my eggs were prematurely aged, and my embryos did not reach the blastocyst stage. Only a few short years ago, there weren’t as many options as there are...
The Mental Load of Infertility Is Heavy. Consider This Your Sign To Let Some of It Go.
Trying to conceive has a way of taking over your life, especially once you’ve hit the point of infertility. You go home to find an entire drawer in your bathroom devoted to ovulation kits and pregnancy tests. You look at your calendar and wonder how you’ll fit in all the appointments alongside work and personal commitments. You cringe through conversations about when you’ll “finally” have kids. You reconfigure your social media feeds to block out pregnancy announcements and updates. And you juggle a mental load that’s crushing…and largely underrecognized. That mental load begins mounting before...
IVF and Gender Selection: Everything You Need To Know
Going through an IVF cycle comes with a lot of questions and many things that are out of a couple’s control. But for all of the details that are out of a person’s hands, there are a few that they may actually have a say in. For instance, if you're undergoing fertility treatments in the United States, you may have the option to select the gender of your baby. Gender selection, or family balancing, is possible as part of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process. IVF and Gender Selection Couples may want to pursue gender...
Is It Okay To Travel During IVF?
A fertility journey is full of unknowns, but there are certain things that you can have contingency plans for. For instance, traveling. While going on vacation or jet-setting around the world may be the last thing on your mind during IVF, sometimes last-minute travel plans can't be avoided. Planning ahead will help you feel more equipped to handle last-minute trips, unexpected events, or maybe even a spur-of-the-moment getaway with your partner. Can You Travel During IVF? Unfortunately, the answer to whether or not it's okay to travel during fertility treatments is not a simple...
In the past few years, there’s been a whole new level of awareness where the possibility of egg freezing is concerned. That’s thanks in part to influential people who have opened up about their own experiences: Celebrities and influencers have discussed the freedom egg freezing has given them — some have even taken the public behind the scenes by documenting the process of freezing eggs and what it really entails. The choice to preserve fertility has been normalized thanks to the people who have shared their own journeys, and that’s a wonderful thing. Some may...
How Do You Know If You Have Endometriosis?
Before diving in, it will probably be helpful to define endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar, but not identical, to the lining of the uterus is found elsewhere in the body. According to EndoWhat?, this tissue creates lesions that may cause pain, inflammation, and organ dysfunction and may lead to infertility. Endometriosis is most often found in the pelvis but has also been found in the bladder, bowels, diaphragm, lungs, and kidneys. Each month, endometrial tissue grows inside the uterus to prepare for the fertilization and implantation of an egg. If the egg does...
Can Marriage Survive Infertility? What a Couples Counselor Wants You To Know
It’s no secret that major, or sometimes even minor, life transitions and challenges can put a lot of stress on relationships. Infertility is one such stressor that can take its toll on both partners, wearing away at their patience, intimacy, and healthy habits. So, Can Marriage Survive Infertility? Couples counseling can help that. It can help you both feel seen, heard, and understood, so that it doesn’t feel as though you are on opposite teams but representing the same jersey and fighting for your future together. Keep reading for some ways you and your partner...
How Much Does It Cost to Freeze Your Eggs?
If you know you want to have children in the future — or if you simply want to keep your reproductive options open — egg freezing can be an empowering way to preserve your fertility health. When considering egg freezing, it’s normal for individuals to ask questions like: “What does the egg freezing process entail?", "How do I assess my fertility health?" and "How much do fertility treatments cost?" Dr. Katherine L. Palmerola, MD, FACOG, is a double board-certified OBGYN and REI Physician at IVFMD. Every day, she helps individuals tackle fertility-related questions, particularly around egg freezing. ...
5 Period Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore
26% of the global population menstruates; and yet, women's period symptoms are often played down, ignored, or dismissed as 'normal.' You know your body better than anyone else, so what are some menstrual cycle red flags to look out for? From absent or irregular periods to severe pain and everything in between, we’ve come up with a list of 5 period symptoms that you shouldn’t ignore. Period Warning Signs You Shouldn't Ignore 1. Skipped or Absent Periods While the most obvious possibility for a missed period may be pregnancy, there are other causes that could...
Age and Fertility: What's the Connection?
Age is often brought up in conversations around female fertility. The number “35” will get thrown around, and while it is a crucial age, it’s also important to understand why 35 has become the benchmark for discussions around fertility (and infertility). According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, there is a sharp decline in fertility throughout a woman's 30s. “For healthy couples in their 20s and early 30s, around 1 in 4 women will get pregnant in any single menstrual cycle,” explains the ACOG. “By age 40, around 1 in 10 will get...