Navigating Family Gatherings

Navigating Family Gatherings

Fertility treatments can be stressful and emotionally draining for couples who are trying to conceive. Failed stimulation cycles, failure to fertilize, repeated failed IVF cycle and miscarriage can cause serious emotional fatigue and before you know it you are touching the boundaries of depression, maybe you have already stepped over that line.  Family gatherings, such as holidays, baby showers and…

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Screening an Egg Donor

Screening an Egg Donor

From starting the egg donation process to the aspiration of egg will typically take 3-4 months.  Of course, with complications this time frame can be extended.  It is highly doubtful that ANY first-time egg donor will complete the process in less than 3 months. Patience can be a virtue. Click here to read for FREE

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Understanding Blood

Understanding Blood

Although it is something, we all take for granted, many of us know very little about the complexities of this precious fluid – blood.  In particular, understanding its role in Third Party Reproduction can be even more critical, so it pays to educate yourself in advance of your journey. The components of our blood and their purpose are also fascinating.…

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Understanding Reproductive Hormones

Understanding Reproductive Hormones

Hormones are natural substances produced in the body.  Hormones act as “messengers” around the body, which travel through the blood stream and cause physical and chemical functions and processes within the body to occur. When it comes to understanding the female reproductive system, the ovaries and pituitary gland play major roles.  The ovaries make most of the estrogen and progesterone…

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IVF Terminololgy

IVF Terminololgy

The world of IVF can sometimes appear to be a different language.  Aneuploid embryos, GnRh antagonists, oocytes and intracytoplasmic sperm injects can hardly be considered everyday words!  There is no need to become fluent in the language of IVF, but here is a quick guide to the more common terminology you may encounter. See the rest HERE

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10 Steps to Screening a Surrogate

10 Steps to Screening a Surrogate

Surrogacy is an arrangement often supported by a legal agreement, whereby a woman agrees to become pregnant, carry the pregnancy and deliver the child, all of this for another person or persons, who have always intended to be the parents or parents of the child. Click here to read for FREE

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All About sperm

All About sperm

Many different medical conditions and other factors contribute to fertility problems, and often there is a combination of causes.  Overall, one-third of fertility problems are caused by male reproductive issues, one-third by female reproductive issues, and one-third by unknown factors.  While 7% of the male population is affected by infertility, sadly, the subject of male infertility is rarely discussed openly, mainly due…

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Getting Pregnant after a Miscarriage

Getting Pregnant after a Miscarriage

What is a miscarriage? A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy that occurs before the 20th week of gestation.  A miscarriage can happen for many reasons, including: Problems with the baby’s chromosomes can contribute to 50% of losses. Women over the age of 40 years are at a higher risk of pregnancy loss. Problems with reproductive organs such…

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Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic Pregnancy

What is an Ectopic Pregnancy? Fertilization normally occurs in the fallopian tube and then the smooth muscle contractions and the ciliary beat within the fallopian tubes assisting the fertilized egg in its journey into the uterus.  (Cilia are microscopic hairs-like projections at the end of the fallopian tubes that beat rhythmically at a frequency of 3.46Hz as they sway!)  In…

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Asthma & Pregnancy

Asthma & Pregnancy

Asthma and Pregnancy Asthma is the most common of the chronic disease that can cause complications in pregnancies.  About 1% of pregnant women have asthma. Even if your asthma is well-controlled prior to getting pregnant, it does not mean it will stay that way during pregnancy.  In about 1/3 of women, asthma can worsen during pregnancy, mainly during the first…

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