Answers about a Menstrual Cycle How long ago did you have your last period? How long did it last? These may sound like standard questions at any doctor’s appointment, but for your fertility specialist, the answers to these questions can offer numerous clues into your...
When people hear the word “infertility” they often assume a woman is unable to get pregnant. But there is another kind of infertility that is just as heartbreaking if not more so: recurrent miscarriage. Recurrent miscarriage, also known as recurrent pregnancy loss, is...
One way at-risk couples can increase their chances of having a healthy baby is through pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Fertility specialists use PGD in conjunction with in vitro fertilization (IVF) to assist in choosing embryos with the best chance of...
A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is a common tool used to diagnose female infertility. During an HSG test, an iodine-based dye is introduced through the cervix, and x-rays are used to track the movement of the dye through the uterus and fallopian tubes. By viewing the flow...
Don’t Let Infertility Struggles Define You Infertility may be the most painful thing you experience in this life. Not only is it heart-wrenching, but it can last a long time, double-digit months or even years. Infertility is a ruthless foe. And when you are in battle...
A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is a common tool used to diagnose female infertility. During an HSG test, an iodine-based dye is introduced through the cervix, and x-rays are used to track the movement of the dye through the uterus and fallopian tubes. By viewing the flow...
If you’re learning about ovarian reserve and how it relates to treatment for infertility, you may have read that a diminished ovarian reserve may make you a “poor” candidate for IVF. You may also be wondering just how many egg-producing follicles you need to be...
So you have your appointment scheduled with a fertility specialist. This is an exciting time! You are on the road to getting answers and creating a plan for your fertility future. Here are some things you can do personally to make sure the first few steps of that...
Are you over 40 and want to get pregnant? You are not alone, but you are definitely in the minority. The CDC reports that in 2015, 11 births per 1000 were to women between the ages of 40 and 44 (up 4% from the previous year and the highest rate since 1966). The rate...
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right? Maybe for some people. But when you are dealing with infertility, the holidays can be extremely difficult, especially when you see friends and family enjoying these special times with their babies, young children or...
If you are reading this, is very likely that you may have recently received a diagnosis of infertility. Maybe you have been scouring the Internet for information to help you on the journey you are about to face. You aren’t alone. Let us help you get started with some...
When you are trying to conceive and doing your research on the subject, you will often come across the phrases “well-timed intercourse” or “timed intercourse.” The two statements mean the same thing, but what do they actually mean? Well-timed intercourse simply refers...
Many women can predict when they will ovulate by charting their menstrual cycle. If your cycle is not regular, however, it can be more difficult to ascertain when you will ovulate next. Here are a few ways to predict ovulation. Chart your periods. If your cycle is...
It’s not a term you hear anymore, but artificial insemination as a treatment for infertility is still very widely practiced. It has a new name: intrauterine insemination (IUI), and it is an excellent low-tech treatment for some types of infertility. What is the...
Often our blog is directed primarily at couples facing infertility, but this time we want to invite a different audience in as well: potential egg donors. Learning about egg donors, who they are, and how they are chosen may help infertile couples feel more comfortable...
Folic acid, the synthetic form of folate, has long been lauded as one of the most important supplements for preventing birth defects. This B vitamin, when taken in daily dosages of 400 mcg before conception, can reduce the incidence of neural tube defects like spina...
If you are undergoing in-vitro fertilization, it can feel like the IVF journey is completely out of your control. But there are some things you can do to help your doctors help you. Did you know certain foods can improve or hinder your chances of getting pregnant via...
When couples have trouble getting pregnant, many erroneously assume they’ll have to go straight to In Vitro to have their baby. But IVF is considered an advanced fertility treatment, and many infertility problems can be successfully treated in more basic ways. Get on...
A study released in July of this year found that female cancer survivors are one third less likely getting pregnant after cancer than women in the general population. Researchers pulled the medical records of 23,201 girls and women in Scotland up to age 39 who had...
If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for several months without success, you may want to try using an ovulation predictor kit. This is a great, non-invasive first step to taking control of your fertility. Ovulation predictor kits work by measuring the luteinizing...
Hysterosalpingogram A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is a common fertility test that helps our fertility specialists determine if there are abnormalities in your Fallopian tubes or uterus. It is a special kind of live action x-ray known as fluoroscopy. HSG can help...
Female infertility can be due to many different issues or conditions, hormone issues, ovarian reserve, blockages in the Fallopian tubes, or issues with the uterus itself. Conception and pregnancy involve a delicate balance of many different hormones, each with...
Intrauterine Insemination, also known as “IUI” is a low tech form of fertility treatment that couples may use to increase the likelihood of pregnancy. An IUI cycle typically begins with ovarian stimulation, this means that the female partner may take medications to...
You may have heard that your chances of getting pregnant are affected by your ovarian reserve. But what does that actually mean? The ovarian reserve is a guestimate of the number of healthy eggs a woman has left in her ovaries which may respond to fertility treatment....
PCOS stands for polycystic ovarian syndrome PCOS is caused by a hormonal imbalance in your body and may interfere with normal ovarian function making it difficult to become pregnant. Approximately 5-10% of women of childbearing age have PCOS. If your physician...
As many as one in eight couples of childbearing age will experience infertility. Infertility is a complicated health issue that can result from many different factors, and it often takes some testing to discover the underlying cause or causes. There are four types of...
Not everybody meets Mr. Right in their twenties. Couple that with career, travel and financial goals, and many women find themselves postponing childbearing to their thirties or forties. Of course our “biological clock” doesn’t care how our love life is going, and it...
If you are wondering if you’ve been trying “long enough,” here are some things to consider. Our doctors recommend you consult a fertility specialist if: 1. You’ve been trying to conceive for a year with no luck. That’s if you are under 35. If you are 35 to 39, seek...
When you make the decision to try and conceive, it seems like babies are popping up everywhere you look. While you cautiously count down the days until you can take your first pregnancy test (the dreaded two week wait), all over social media people are celebrating the...
Like many medical conditions, infertility is something that generally will not get better without medical treatment. In fact, the longer you wait to get an accurate diagnosis, often the lower your chances are for a successful pregnancy. It is not unusual for those...
It’s that time of the year that so many of us enjoy!…The holiday season! For many of us however, who are struggling with fertility this time of year might be just slightly less enjoyable. At FTC we are cognizant of the emotional and psychological implications that...
A recent study conducted by the University of Colorado suggests that in some instances women who’s diet includes certain types of foods including fish that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids may have an increased chance of pregnancy. Many associations have been made...
In most instances, frozen embryo transfers (FET’s) cycles can be less costly than what are known as fresh embryo transfers, with medication and clinical visits usually amounting to less of an expense, as their is no requirement for egg retrieval , fertilization, or...
Like many undergoing infertility treatment or considering IVF, you may be hyper sensitive to the types of foods in your current diet. While research sows that certain “healthy’ foods such as those containing omega 3 fatty acids can be helpful for those trying to...
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a very common cause of female infertility. However, many women, with help from their doctors, are able to overcome the condition and go on to become pregnant and deliver healthy babies. Doctors aren’t sure what causes PCOS, but it...
If you are experiencing infertility, don’t wait to see a fertility specialist. Sometimes a simple, non-surgical diagnostic tool, such as an HSG X-ray, can give you the answers you need to take control of your fertility. Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is a radiology...
Couples who have trouble conceiving a child on their own often look to adoption as a “plan B.” They imagine joyfully holding their adopted newborn in their arms, but they also worry about the birth mother’s prenatal habits, whether she might change her mind about the...
Can acupuncture increase your chances of getting pregnant? In a word, yes! To be more accurate, acupuncture may not be able to cure your infertility problems, but it can reduce the stress associated with infertility, increase blood flow and sperm production, and even...
When couples face the word “infertility” many of them immediately jump to the conclusion that they will need high tech interventions such as IVF in order to conceive. The truth is that a very small percentage of couples struggling to get pregnant will need this...
Sometimes getting pregnant takes time. Your friends and family tell you to “relax,” “be patient” and “enjoy trying.” But when all of your friends are happily celebrating their pregnancies and you are looking at a negative pregnancy test (again), it may be time to take...
Not pregnant yet? Wondering if it could be due to infertility? Are you at risk? Is your partner? Is it time to see a fertility specialist? Trying to conceive can be stressful when things don’t go according to plan. Pregnancy is a result of a number of complicated...
While your struggle with infertility is personal and private in nature, it is sometimes difficult to “draw the line” when it comes to sharing information about your fertility issues with family, friends and loved ones. Because the stress we put on ourselves while...
As hopeful mothers to be, we often forget that we need to make sure that we too, are a priority. Family, work responsibilities and other realities of “life” often take first precedence, so making time to take care of our emotional, mental and physical wellbeing is...
Unfortunately, in most cases fertility problems won’t resolve themselves with out some type of intervention. Often times, waiting to seek out treatment may make it more difficult to achieve a successful pregnancy. Take our fertility questionnaire and see if further...
Dealing with infertility can be stressful, to say the least. Those of us who are seeking fertility treatment probably already know that stress might play a roll with regard to fertility. Concrete data in this area is not abundantly available, however some research...
The Zika virus is making headlines across the country and across the world, mainly because the Zika virus has been closely linked with microcephaly, a condition that causes babies to be born with an underdeveloped brain. Unlike what some may have heard, the Zika...
Technological advancements in fertility therapy, including low-tech approaches have yielded positive results for those struggling with infertility. Often, those struggling with infertility look towards so called “high-tech” methods of assisted reproduction, including...
Could Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) or Premature Ovarian Failure Syndrome (POF) be the cause of my infertility? If you are asking yourself that question, don’t wait any longer before getting an answer. If you are diagnosed with PCOS or POF, Dr. Craig has the...
There are three major advantages to having an HSG X-Ray at the Fertility Treatment Center. The physicians at FTC use a “Soft Technique” which causes minimal discomfort compared to techniques used at most other facilities. If indicated, oil contrast is used to further...
Hysterosalpingogram X-ray The hysterosalpingogram x-ray is a valuable fertility test used primarily to determine whether fallopian tubes are open. It is both a diagnosis test and a fertility therapy. Pregnancy rates are often doubled or tripled for several months...
Why hasn’t this couple achieved pregnancy? While IVF is an effective form of infertility treatment, what many don’t know is that IVF can also be an invaluable diagnostic tool. It is the only “test” that allows fertility doctors to diagnose one or more of the following...
Recurrent Miscarriage One of the more common reproductive disorders we treat at all of our offices is a condition known as recurrent miscarriage syndrome.Recurrent miscarriage syndrome has been recognized by medical science for centuries. However, only in the last 30...
