It’s #WorldChildlessWeek: maybe childlessness isn’t a choice

childlessness week is meant to raise awareness to an issue that you may be aware of. Just because someone doesn’t have children doesn’t mean they don’t want them, but it could mean they are unable to naturally. If a couple is trying hard to have a child and start their family the last thing they want to hear from anyone is a bunch of invasive, personal questions about infertility.

Why don’t you have children

When people ask questions like, “Why don’t you have kids yet?”, it is insensitive to the couple who may be trying hard to have children but are having fertility difficulties.

Of course there is no intended malice in the question, but they may be unaware that the person (or couple) that they are asking may be trying. Couples experiencing subfertility would like nothing more than to have a child, but unfortunately they are unable to without assisted fertility treatments or interventional measures such as fertility medicines.

You may be unaware

For these people the fact that they cannot have children is harsh enough, asking them why they don’t have children may only exacerbate any emotions they are struggling with on a very emotional period.

If someone cannot have children and they want to they are most likely dealing with some serious emotions. They may feel as if something is wrong with them or that they are undeserving of children. Of course these things are not true, but this may be how they feel.

Suffering in silence

Asking them questions about their childlessness is not only insensitive, but can be invasive no matter the intentions. Deciding on children is a personal choice and asking them questions about it may be an invasion of their privacy. Just don’t do it.


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Signs of Infertility You Didn’t Know About (But Should)

Often it seems that your body will try to tell you if something is wrong. Pain is an indicator of this, getting your attention to the affected area. If you burn yourself cooking, pain signals immediately let you know that has happened, and where on your body it has happened. But sometimes these indicators can be more subtle, and so often they will go unnoticed unless you know what to look for. For example, signs that could be telling you about fertility problems may go unnoticed because you don’t know what to look for.

Signs of infertility

Difficulties during menstruation such as experiencing pain during, a period that seems to never end, or failure to have a period can all be indicators of infertility. Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland) can attribute to infertility.

Thyroid

Your thyroid is responsible for producing hormones that control your ovulation and menstruation cycles, so if it isn’t working correctly this can lead to infertility. Signs of hypothyroidism are having cold hands and feet, constipation, dry skin, fatigue, and memory loss.

Obesity

Obesity is an indicator of potential fertility problems. If your BMI is 30-40 you stand a very good chance of experiencing infertility due to being overweight.

Leaks

Leaking nipples are another indicator of problems, (Hyperprolactinemia). Unless you are pregnant or just gave birth you should not be lactating. This comes from an excessive amount of the hormone prolactin.

PCOS

If you are a female, generally you shouldn’t have an excessive amount of facial hair. Very thin, fine fuzz is one thing, but if you need a shave then it’s likely that you have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). Another sign of this is that if you are losing hair from areas that you should have a lot, such as your scalp. Acne and problems with menstruation can also be indicators of PCOS.

STD’s

If you have a history of STD’s, specifically gonorrhea, you may have problems with fertility. The problem is that many women do not show symptoms of this STD. Symptoms can be pelvic pain, vaginal discharge, and bleeding mid cycle. If you have had unprotected sex and think you may be at risk, ask your OB to be tested.


To read more on female and male infertility and buy IVF medications at up to a 70% discount from our online pharmacy, check out our main blog at www.IvfPresciptions.com

 

 

 

Do You Gain Weight While Taking Vivelle Estradiol Patch?

Read any of the forums where women are currently taking any form of fertility med and you’ll see the inevitable discussion about weight gain while taking various meds, including Vivelle. Most of them are concerned at the weight gain, while others have indicated that they did not gain weight, or even lost weight. So what gives? Does taking fertility medications mean that you are going to gain a few pounds? And why does it cause weight gain in some, and not in others?

No Two Women React the Same on Fertility Medications
And that’s it in a nutshell. Each woman’s physical chemistry is different. In general, endocrinologists believe that what is happening is that in women who are peri-menopausal or menopausal, or where there is a hormonal imbalance to begin with, then there will be some weight gain. The key is to properly balance the progesterone to the estrogen levels. It’s a ratio thing, and not a numerical thing. This is because progesterone declines with age, moreso than estrogen. So, in some women whose estradiol levels are too high, in relation to their progesterone, then weight gain may result.

Why Patches are Better for Fertility Treatments
Most doctors agree that the transdermal patches, such as Vivelle, are a better delivery system because it bypasses the liver, and more closely mimics the uptake that nature intended. Plus, the bioidentical fertility medications (namebrand ONLY) are really key to maintaining the overall balance in the body. Buying generics will never leave you happy, and in the long run, could also be contributing to the weight gain.

Vivelle Experiences
Thebump.com
Patient#1: Her experiences with Vivelle were actually quite good. For the first time in many years she was able to sleep through the night, lost a bit of weight, and had energy. She is grateful for this particular fertility med.

Fertilitycentral. org
Patient#2: A woman reports that she was placed on the patch to increase the lining of her uterus, and that the Vivelle had increased it from a 5 to a 7. She changes the patch out every other day and is five weeks pregnant. As far as fertility medications go, she likes this one compared to others. She’s had very few side effects.

Fertilethoughts.com
Patient#3:  A patient is starting Vivelle for the first time and asks for advice from fellow forum posters. One woman responds stating that the glue is difficult to get off sometimes, but that she uses baby oil to remove it. Others state that they’ve been on them for several cycles and that as far as fertility meds go, there are almost zero side effects. 

Preventing Miscarriage with IVF

It is possible to have a miscarriage after an IVF treatment and it's heartbreaking when it happens to you.  After working so hard to conceive, the last thing you want to happen is to miscarry.  The older you get, the harder it is to get pregnant.  It's even harder to carry a pregnancy to full term.  Is there anything you can do about it?  The answer is yes.  You can take steps to help prevent a miscarriage with IVF.

Risk Detection

A good fertility clinic will run numerous blood tests on you before starting your IVF treatment to make sure there are no detectable issues.  There are standard tests they typically run, like LH and FSH.  Not all clinics check for the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which is a known cause of miscarriages.  Before you have an IVF treatment, insist that they perform a blood test for TSH, which can be medically treated.  Another test to insist on is a hysteroscopy.  This examination analyzes the uterine wall to see if there are problems, which can then be treated properly with IVF meds.  Having these tests done prior to the IVF may be uncomfortable or seem like an annoyance, but considering the expense of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), they are well worth the early detection.

IVF Drugs to Help Sustain Pregnancy

Progesterone injections are the most frequently prescribed IVF drug for maintaining the pregnancy.  It mimics the hormone your body naturally produces.  For anyone who has already had a miscarriage, your physician should automatically consider starting you on this medication.  If they don't, talk to them about including it in your IVF regimen.  Once you've been prescribed a progesterone injection, ask your fertility specialist where the best IVF pharmacy is near you.

Health Risks You Can Reduce With IVF Drugs

It's hard to see the health risks we create in our own lives.  However, you can do many things to improve your health on your own.  Restricting the amount of caffeine you ingest on a daily basis is important.  Avoid smoking, even second hand, as it is a known cause of miscarriages.  Reduce or eliminate how much alcohol you drink.  Don't take illegal drugs.  Do speak with your doctor before taking any kinds of medications, prescribed or otherwise, especially if you are taking IVF meds.  Stay away from infectious diseases.  Switching to a healthier diet, including healthy fruits and vegetables.  Try shedding excess pounds and adding some exercise to improve your body's overall condition.  Reduce stress whenever possible.

Patient IVF Experiences

community.babycentre.co.uk

Patient 1: This patient was terrified of needles, working herself into a bundle of nerves before the first injection.  Her partner assisted her by injecting the IVF medicine.  She was amazed to find there was only a slight sting when injected.  The rest of the shots were far easier and she found several ways to reduce the stinging sensation.  She feels her baby was very much worth the mild discomfort she experienced.

babycenter.com

Patient 2: This patient found the intramuscular injections were not nearly as painful as she expected and became easier after the first couple times she injected them.  As a result of using the infertility drug, she carried her baby to full term.

mamapedia.com

Patient 3: Tests confirmed that this patient had very low progesterone levels, so was prescribed intramuscular progesterone during both of her pregnancies.  She had a family member, who lived nearby, inject the fertility shots during the first pregnancy.  Her husband gave the fertility injections during the second pregnancy.  There were no further issues with the pregnancies and each baby was born healthy.