Obese women are known to face difficulties in trying to get pregnant, usually taking a longer time to conceive, regardless of their age and regular menstrual cycle. Women who are obese have a greater risk of pregnancy-related problems. Obesity is found to damage a woman's embryos and stops them from developing further. Obese women may face alterations in their ovaries which could be one of the reasons that cause an egg's inability to become an embryo.
It is believed by the medical world that the characteristics of the eggs are determined by the environment in which they develop within the ovary. Obese women have unexpectedly high levels of fats and inflammation in the fluid surrounding the eggs, which affects an egg's capacity of developing. The accumulated fat in a woman’s body alters the sensitive metabolism of the egg that has an adverse impact on the embryo formation.
With an altered ovarian follicular condition and increased metabolite and androgen activity levels, obese women have enough reasons for their poorer reproductive systems. Obesity causes blood lipid changes and higher inflammation rate which can impact not only fertility but also a person's general health. According to studies, a woman is obese if she has Body Mass Index (BMI) that is more than 35.
Effects of obesity on fertility and pregnancy:
Obese women face major health risks during pregnancy. Obesity has been linked to the following infertility and pregnancy complications:
• Reduced ovulation rate
• Preeclampsia that is caused due to increased blood pressure during pregnancy
• Stillbirths
• Reduced chances of conceiving naturally
• Increased risk of miscarriage, pregnancy complications and congenital anomalies
• Long term affect on mother and child’s health
• Gestational diabetes
• Cesarean sections
• Pregnancy hypertension
Obesity can also lead to post-pregnancy complications such as urinary tract infections, endometrial infection, urinary incontinence and injuries that do not heal easily.
Possible Treatment Options for Obesity
There are a variety of obesity treatments available to women. Following are the recommended treatment options for obesity:
• Dietary therapy: the diet of the individual is modified and closely monitored
• Physical therapy: the individual is introduced to a moderate exercise program
• Behavior therapy:this includes correcting the eating disorder and other behavioral disorders of the individual
• Drug therapy: medications including drugs are provided in conjunction with physical and dietary therapy
• Obesity surgery: In some severe cases of obesity, gastric bypass surgery is also recommended
East Bay Fertility Center, Dublin, California offers counseling services not just to couples who are facing difficulties in conceiving but also to obese women with fertility issues. Our medical staff at East Bay Fertility Center helps you stay motivated throughout the infertility treatment. In addition to the infertility counseling services, we specialize in providing infertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization, insemination, Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, egg donation, gestational surrogacy.
Please visit our website www.ebfertility.com for details to know about different treatment options that we provide.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Myths Related to Infertility
Taboos and myths surround what is not completely understood, and infertility is no different. To better understand infertility, it is important to differentiate between myth and fact since infertility myths can cause emotional and mental stress to infertile couples and their loved ones.
Infertility by itself is a sensitive issue and when confronting with false information the situation becomes even more difficult to handle. Myths can be resolved with appropriate understanding and educating ourselves with correct information about infertility. Here are some of the common myths and
misconceptions related to infertility:
Myth: Infertility is a woman's problem
Fact: It is important for couples to realize that the causes of infertility are almost equally shared by female and male partners. The surprising factor concerning this myth is that infertility is a female problem in 35 percent of the cases, a male problem in 35 percent of the cases, a combined problem of the couple in 20 percent of cases, and unexplained in 10 percent of cases, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Thus it is critical that an infertility evaluation should involve both the man and the woman.
Myth: It is a personal failing
Fact: Infertility makes the affected person experience a sense of inadequacy that affects his or her self-esteem. Those that perceive the condition as a personal failing are advised to connect with others facing similar challenges, as well as consider professional infertility counseling.
Myth: Infertility is caused by stress
Fact: Being stressed is one of the reasons that most people believe that is causing infertility. In fact infertility is a medical problem, a condition of the reproductive system which by itself causes tremendous stress to the couple. Stress is a result and not a cause of infertility. So while yoga, going on vacation, and other de-stress options can improve overall well-being, these changes in lifestyle will not solve an infertility condition which requires medical intervention.
Myth: Infertility is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle
Fact: While a healthy lifestyle certainly helps at the time when you are trying to become pregnant, it does not cure infertility. Unhealthy lifestyles that include bad eating habits, smoking, drinking, and STD can affect fertility, but infertility is not the result of an unhealthy lifestyle.
Myth: Only older couples face infertility
Fact: With growing age, the ability to become pregnant decreases. The late teens and 20s are considered to be the peak fertile period for women. This starts dropping by the mid 30’s. But infertility does affect men and women of all ages. The good news is that majority of infertile patients do conceive with the appropriate treatment.
Myth: Infertility treatments end up resulting in twins or triplets
Fact: It is a fact that fertility treatment very often leads to multiple pregnancies. This is because fertility drugs stimulate the ovaries to produce more than one egg at the same time, increasing the chance of multiple pregnancies. However, the majority of women taking fertility drugs still have single pregnancy. With advanced treatment options, the risk of conceiving multiples is minimized.
East Bay Fertility Center Offers a Complete Mind-Body Experience for Fertility Couples
Dealing with infertility is in itself challenging and exhausting without having to deal with myths and falsehood surrounding the condition which would only aggravate anxiety. Finding the right physicians and counselors to guide you through this unfamiliar territory is very important.
East Bay Fertility Center, Dublin, California helps you break the “infertility walls” by providing personalized medical counseling and treatment for infertile couples. We provide comprehensive services for infertility and reproductive endocrine issues. Our experienced medical staff is headed by Dr. Ellen U. Snowden, Medical Director and physician who is Board Certified in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Endocrinology. She brings to her patients a rare and valuable firsthand empathy for the personal pain and emotional stress of dealing with infertility.
To know more about our treatment options and counseling sessions, please log on to our website www.ebfertility.com .
Infertility by itself is a sensitive issue and when confronting with false information the situation becomes even more difficult to handle. Myths can be resolved with appropriate understanding and educating ourselves with correct information about infertility. Here are some of the common myths and
misconceptions related to infertility:
Myth: Infertility is a woman's problem
Fact: It is important for couples to realize that the causes of infertility are almost equally shared by female and male partners. The surprising factor concerning this myth is that infertility is a female problem in 35 percent of the cases, a male problem in 35 percent of the cases, a combined problem of the couple in 20 percent of cases, and unexplained in 10 percent of cases, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Thus it is critical that an infertility evaluation should involve both the man and the woman.
Myth: It is a personal failing
Fact: Infertility makes the affected person experience a sense of inadequacy that affects his or her self-esteem. Those that perceive the condition as a personal failing are advised to connect with others facing similar challenges, as well as consider professional infertility counseling.
Myth: Infertility is caused by stress
Fact: Being stressed is one of the reasons that most people believe that is causing infertility. In fact infertility is a medical problem, a condition of the reproductive system which by itself causes tremendous stress to the couple. Stress is a result and not a cause of infertility. So while yoga, going on vacation, and other de-stress options can improve overall well-being, these changes in lifestyle will not solve an infertility condition which requires medical intervention.
Myth: Infertility is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle
Fact: While a healthy lifestyle certainly helps at the time when you are trying to become pregnant, it does not cure infertility. Unhealthy lifestyles that include bad eating habits, smoking, drinking, and STD can affect fertility, but infertility is not the result of an unhealthy lifestyle.
Myth: Only older couples face infertility
Fact: With growing age, the ability to become pregnant decreases. The late teens and 20s are considered to be the peak fertile period for women. This starts dropping by the mid 30’s. But infertility does affect men and women of all ages. The good news is that majority of infertile patients do conceive with the appropriate treatment.
Myth: Infertility treatments end up resulting in twins or triplets
Fact: It is a fact that fertility treatment very often leads to multiple pregnancies. This is because fertility drugs stimulate the ovaries to produce more than one egg at the same time, increasing the chance of multiple pregnancies. However, the majority of women taking fertility drugs still have single pregnancy. With advanced treatment options, the risk of conceiving multiples is minimized.
East Bay Fertility Center Offers a Complete Mind-Body Experience for Fertility Couples
Dealing with infertility is in itself challenging and exhausting without having to deal with myths and falsehood surrounding the condition which would only aggravate anxiety. Finding the right physicians and counselors to guide you through this unfamiliar territory is very important.
East Bay Fertility Center, Dublin, California helps you break the “infertility walls” by providing personalized medical counseling and treatment for infertile couples. We provide comprehensive services for infertility and reproductive endocrine issues. Our experienced medical staff is headed by Dr. Ellen U. Snowden, Medical Director and physician who is Board Certified in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Endocrinology. She brings to her patients a rare and valuable firsthand empathy for the personal pain and emotional stress of dealing with infertility.
To know more about our treatment options and counseling sessions, please log on to our website www.ebfertility.com .
Is the Recession Leading to Postponement of Parenthood Plans?
People are willing to spend whatever it takes to fulfill their dreams of having a family. But in these tough economic times, deciding to postpone having a child or adding to the family is a natural consequence as women struggle to hold on to their jobs and job prospects are uncertain. With the economy putting strain on finances, employers cutting benefits, savings dwindling and the cost of raising and educating children at an all time high, prospective parents are now filled with doubts about their ability to provide for children.
A fall out of the economic situation is that many people are losing their health insurance. The financial crisis is taking a personal toll on couples who have no option but to consciously decide to postpone parenthood till the economic downturn improves.
But there are many who advocate that parenthood decisions should not be tied to finances or economic cycles. There are optimists who suggest that in fact women who suddenly find themselves out of work without much chance of finding work in the near future might well decide that now is the time to have a baby.
Link between Recession and Birth Rates
Historically, the birth rate declines when there is a national crisis or recession. In the USA, during the Great Depression, the total fertility rate (TFR) reduced to 2.1 children per woman in 1936 and during the inflationary oil crisis decade of the 1970s the TFR set an all-time low record of 1.7. Obstetricians expect to see a drop in pregnancies in the coming months, especially among middle-class families with shrinking incomes.
Impact of Recession on Infertility Patients
But for most couples seeking infertility treatment, time is not on their side with those opting for treatment mostly in their 30’s. Most of them cannot wait for an economic recovery to happen, or for credit to free up as it could mean they may never have children, due to age-related declines in fertility. The economic recession may persist a few years, but for most couples with infertility issues, the biological clock does not stop tickling down.
How has the recession affected fertility clinics?
So far fertility clinics seem to have been untouched by the economic slide with consults for new IVF patients holding steady. It seems that people still hold family to be most important in their priority list in spite of the financial difficulties they have to deal with. Reproductive medicine is thriving despite the troubled economy, and most couples are ready to take on the physical, financial and emotional challenges that treatments bring about.
In the current scenario, there is an urgent need to devise solutions to make treatment more affordable and accessible for infertility patients. Some private clinics are offering money-back guarantees, where patients will receive a refund if they fail to conceive within three cycles of infertility treatment. Most health insurance does not cover fertility treatment and there is an urgent need to ease the financial burden of those who are opting for IVF and other infertility treatment towards their pursuit of having a baby.
Dublin, California based East Bay Fertility Center (www.ebfertiltity.com) has always empathized with couples struggling to find ways to finance their infertility treatment. East Bay Fertility Center offers in-house financing in order to make the cost of treatment affordable. East Bay Fertility Center also has arrangements with financial institutions that provide financing to their patients. Diagnostic testing and IUI (artificial insemination) may be covered by insurance depending on the diagnosis. Corporate discounts are also available and the cost for testing and treatment will be reviewed with each patient at the time of the free initial consultation.
A fall out of the economic situation is that many people are losing their health insurance. The financial crisis is taking a personal toll on couples who have no option but to consciously decide to postpone parenthood till the economic downturn improves.
But there are many who advocate that parenthood decisions should not be tied to finances or economic cycles. There are optimists who suggest that in fact women who suddenly find themselves out of work without much chance of finding work in the near future might well decide that now is the time to have a baby.
Link between Recession and Birth Rates
Historically, the birth rate declines when there is a national crisis or recession. In the USA, during the Great Depression, the total fertility rate (TFR) reduced to 2.1 children per woman in 1936 and during the inflationary oil crisis decade of the 1970s the TFR set an all-time low record of 1.7. Obstetricians expect to see a drop in pregnancies in the coming months, especially among middle-class families with shrinking incomes.
Impact of Recession on Infertility Patients
But for most couples seeking infertility treatment, time is not on their side with those opting for treatment mostly in their 30’s. Most of them cannot wait for an economic recovery to happen, or for credit to free up as it could mean they may never have children, due to age-related declines in fertility. The economic recession may persist a few years, but for most couples with infertility issues, the biological clock does not stop tickling down.
How has the recession affected fertility clinics?
So far fertility clinics seem to have been untouched by the economic slide with consults for new IVF patients holding steady. It seems that people still hold family to be most important in their priority list in spite of the financial difficulties they have to deal with. Reproductive medicine is thriving despite the troubled economy, and most couples are ready to take on the physical, financial and emotional challenges that treatments bring about.
In the current scenario, there is an urgent need to devise solutions to make treatment more affordable and accessible for infertility patients. Some private clinics are offering money-back guarantees, where patients will receive a refund if they fail to conceive within three cycles of infertility treatment. Most health insurance does not cover fertility treatment and there is an urgent need to ease the financial burden of those who are opting for IVF and other infertility treatment towards their pursuit of having a baby.
Dublin, California based East Bay Fertility Center (www.ebfertiltity.com) has always empathized with couples struggling to find ways to finance their infertility treatment. East Bay Fertility Center offers in-house financing in order to make the cost of treatment affordable. East Bay Fertility Center also has arrangements with financial institutions that provide financing to their patients. Diagnostic testing and IUI (artificial insemination) may be covered by insurance depending on the diagnosis. Corporate discounts are also available and the cost for testing and treatment will be reviewed with each patient at the time of the free initial consultation.
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