Dietary Supplement Boosts IVF Hopes

By Kathleen

A small study indicates that the supplement dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) can boost fertility in older patients. During the study patients who took DHEA during an IVF cycle produced more eggs and higher quality embryos. It boosted pregnancy rate from 11% to 23% in this older patient population- aged 40 and above. DHEA is a hormone produced naturally by the body, where it is converted into the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone. It is unclear exactly how it influences egg production. DHEA can have negative side effects such as acne and excess growth of body hair. You may also have seen stories about DHEA in the news, as it has been found to have many possible uses, including treating depression. Although this is exciting news, it is important to discuss taking any supplements with your physician.

So, When Are You Going to Have Kids?

By Kathleen

This is a frequent question, which can sometimes start the moment you get married. It’s only natural for parents and grandparents to wonder why a young couple doesn’t have children after a few years, so it’s best not to feel like they are prying into your personal medical problems. For a couple experiencing infertility the answer can be complicated and painful. This article has some good tips for responding to this question. Ask yourself some key questions and have an answer ready so you are prepared for any occasion. My husband and I eventually told our family about our difficulties, but before that happened we had a canned response: “it will happen whenever it happens”. That followed by a forced smile and laugh usually put the issue to rest. If someone is being particularly prying, why not just take them aside and explain that “we haven’t decided yet if we’re going to have children”. That should keep them quiet without having to go into details.

Reducing Multiple Births

By Kathleen

Couples undergoing infertility treatments are obviously very aware of having no children, but they may not ponder what a successful IVF cycle sometimes brings- multiple births. Having more than one child may seem like a blessing but it is rarely something people would choose. Multiple births carry higher risks to both mother and child, as well as additional financial problems and increased stress on families. Traditionally, couples transfer several embryos during an IVF cycle to ‘hedge their bets’ in the hope that at least (and hopefully only) one would succeed. A negative side effect of this approach is multiple embryos implanting. Single blastocyst transfer, as outlined in this article, is a technique that can reduce or eliminate the chance of multiple pregnancies and has typically been offered to only younger patients in the US. Transferring a single blastocyst offers good chance for a successful implantation without the problems associated with a multiple pregnancy. Researchers examined this technique in older patients- over 35 years old. The patients had an ongoing pregnancy rate of 51% after the first trimester. It is important to note that this technique is only recommended in couples who have good embryo quality and a relatively good chance of becoming pregnant.

Infertility Drug CliffsNotes

By Kathleen

Once you’ve started an IVF cycle, you quickly become overwhelmed with all the various drugs that you are required to take at specific times. This little guide is a quick reference for most of those medications with some humor injected. I found it useful to learn more about these drugs as I was cycling, as it helped me understand how they work. There are many side effects of these drugs, from mood swings to changes in appetite, so its nice to know what you are getting into (not that you have much choice). About.com also has some excellent infertility drug resources, including tips on how to give injections.