When a patient of mine recently moved to California, she asked me to refer her to a specialist who could continue her care. Drs. Vaughn, Hansard, Burger, and I have each noticed that when we provide our patients with a couple of names, they frequently ask us why we chose those particular specialists over many others in the same area.
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There are few things that are as pressured as having to collect a specimen for an intrauterine insemination, or IUI. Not only are men expected to collect a specimen on demand, but then they get graded on the quality of it! Here are a few pointers on helping to make “the deed” a little less stressful.
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Many of us are already aware that there are many factors, such as heat, that can affect sperm counts. So what happens when it’s the day of the IUI and the male partner has a fever?
The short answer is… nothing.
At least not immediately anyway. The truth is that a fever today will likely not affect the sperm needed for an IUI now.
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You’re ready to devote your time, emotional reserves, and discretionary income to getting pregnant. Up until now, your physical discomfort has been at the hands of skilled and ultra-competent healthcare professionals. You’ve endured blood draws, vaginal ultrasounds, and possibly even laparoscopic day surgeries. But that was different. Now it’s you or a significant other who will literally stick it to you.
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40% of Infertility is Caused by the Male Partner
When evaluating couples who are having difficulty conceiving, it is not uncommon to find that the male partner may have an abnormal semen analysis. In fact, 40% of the causes of infertility are due to the male.
It is very important to take a medical history from the man in the intial appointment.
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Up until recently, infertility was an intensely private matter. Women would go to great lengths to hide their challenges…which unfortunately led many to believe that infertility was a rare phenomenon. A refreshing thing has happened in the last 5 to 10 years. We have become more open about the issue of infertility – and many women are coming forth with their own stories.
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Clomiphene citrate (Clomid, Serophene) is an oral medication that has been used for induction of ovulation for almost 40 years. Over the last 20 – 25 years it also has been used for superovulation to increase the chance of conceiving in women who are ovulatory. Commonly, intrauterine insemination (IUI) is combined with this medication.
Clomiphene is a very weak estrogen that attaches to the estrogen receptor in the hypothalamic-pituitary area.
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It is well known that a woman’s age has a large impact on her fertility. However, what impact does a man’s age have on his partner’s fertility and pregnancy? Recent research tells us that the father’s age impacts these issues, though the overall effect is quite modest compared to the effect to that of the mother.
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I think it is important for patients to understand that you do have a choice regarding where you decide to seek your fertility treatments. I received a phone call from a patient, just recently, that really stood out in my mind and really inspired me to convey the message of why it is important to do your “homework” when selecting your fertility center.
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I have seen so many patients this week of age over 43 desiring fertility that I decided it would be useful to write a blog about it. Unfortunately many women as well as their primary care providers or even obgyns are unaware of the profound impact of a woman’s age on fertility. As a woman gets older,
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