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The American Fertility Association Blog
From the Outside, Looking In
June 18, 2009 - Thursday
Posted by admin
The questions, statements, and facts surrounding infertility prevention never cease to amaze me. Each time I hear something on the topic which I’ve heard a dozen times before, it still drops my jaw. Tuesday evening we had a delightful group of 27 women take part in a discussion about infertility prevention, led by Dr. Brian Acacio, of Acacio Fertility Center in Laguna Niguel. It was the latest, in a string of very successful Manicures & Martinis events, The AFA’s national infertility prevention series.
Questions asked at previous events were asked Tuesday night; the discussion went well past sixty minutes; and the women (including and especially the manicurists) were enthralled with Dr. Acacio’s wit and sense-of-humor used to deliver information on such a serious topic. So, besides the obvious, like the speaker and location, what made this one different from the rest? There are plenty of differences which, frankly, are hard to explain. But, a few come to mind: one being Joanne Brown. Ms. Brown enjoyed a Fertilitiini™, enjoyed a manicure, and enjoys life. You see, she struggled with infertility and is now the proud mama of a five month old baby boy, thanks to Dr. Acacio’s help. Her reason for attending was to make herself available to the group of young women for questions. You could tell she has a strong and unique bond with Dr. Acacio and his staff. Whether it’s Dr. Acacio or another fertility specialist - she was there to reassure the ladies there is help out there, when and if they need it. Hopefully they won’t.
Most grandparents (and parents, of course) proudly display photos of their prized possessions on their desk, or in this case on their manicures station. When the event was over one of the manicurists raced over to Mary Garbarino of Acacio Fertility Center with a large picture frame in hand, housing a photo of a beautiful young boy and girl, and said, “these are my two frozen embryo grandbabies,” as her eyes welled up with joy.
Or how about the couple Dr. Acacio mentioned hearing about. The couple attempted intrauterine insemination (IUI) five times, only to discover it was male factor infertility which accounts for some part in 40% of all infertility cases. A tremendous amount of money which could have been saved, had only the guy gotten a simple a simple sperm test (a whopping fifty bucks).
Joann, the manicurist, and the IUI couple have already been there, done that. Their stories not only provide hope, but their experiences also serve as an incredibly valuable educational tool. Furthermore, The AFA is committed to making sure you’re well aware of all facets of family building. I provided live Twitter updates throughout the evening with some tidbits of information I’ve heard a dozen times before, but never cease to amaze me (if you missed them, check out our twitter page at http://www.twitter.com/amfertassoc). Since my wife and I aren’t trying to have a child yet, the infertility prevention series is of incredible value to me - each time I attend. At this point, I’m simply an outsider looking in, and by doing so from this vantage point, I may one day look back and think this is the best lesson I’ve ever learned.
Categories
Family Building •
Fertility •
Fertility Preservation •
Frozen Embryos •
Infertility •
IUI
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Adventures of a Thirty Something Married Man… at Manicures & Martinis San Francisco
June 10, 2009 - Wednesday
Posted by admin
A brilliant idea set forth and put into motion late last year by our Program Director (and frequent blogger) Corey Whelan. I must admit, at first, I was reluctant to support having the staff devote the time and energy necessary to make these things work. I was wrong, but then again…I’m a guy…who’s married…so I’m used to it. What guy is going to walk into a room full of people to discuss infertility? Chances are, I wouldn’t, and I know my buddies wouldn’t - instead we’d have a Bromantic getaway to the Rave 12 Cinemas to see The Hangover (great flick guys). I’m not a woman, so it’s hard for me to judge their perspective as it is for most husbands.
The AFA’s Manicures & Martinis Infertility Prevention Series targets young women; though anyone can attend…and they do. I had the honor and privilege of hosting Tuesday night’s event at Nova Nail Spa in San Francisco, where Dr. Marcelle Cedars of UCSF spoke to 37 young women and one man. That one man stood at the back of the house and observed. It wasn’t until the end he asked if I organized the event (don’t tell Corey I said “Yes”). After speaking with him for a few minutes he opened up. His wife was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and the chemotherapy she went through probably harmed her ability to conceive a child naturally. The two already have a son. His wife was too shy to come; so he came for her - not wanting a manicure or martini, but simply three minutes with Dr. Cedars. He got it. Now that’s true love. Facing not a room of men talking about std’s, how hot tubs affect sperm, and the issue of why the testicles hang outside of the body, but rather a group of women talking about these exact topics…in detail nonetheless.
Dr. Cedars managed to captivate the crowd for a complete hour and fifteen minutes. Not a soul in the room let out a peep; some took notes; most asked questions. Questions ruled: ranging from exercising during pregnancy to whether endometriosis causes infertility to how ‘water tobacco’ affects fertility. This event was really like nothing I’ve ever seen. The only other Manicures & Martinis event I have attended was the debut event in Manhattan several months ago, but that was our first and we’ve learned and improved a lot since then. At this event, the attendees wouldn’t stop thanking me, praising Dr. Cedars (who stuck around for an extra full thirty minutes afterwards to answer personal questions, by the way), and asking when Manicures & Martinis would return to San Francisco. With the wait list in excess of 15, it’s probably safe to say we’ll be back. The one man, you ask? Well, he’s planning to tell his wife more about the event and is even considering the drive South to Laguna Niguel for our next event on Tuesday, June 16th, which is filling up. I promised to save two seats for him and his wife.
Clearly my ‘Manicure & Martini reluctance’ has completely diminished. The success of this program leads me to believe this series should hit every US city with a population of more than, let’s say…200,000. By the way, I managed to drag my wife to The Hangover last week and the answer is ‘Yes,’ I would absolutely attend Manicures & Martinis in her place. I might even go so far as to recommend guys attend this event of their own free will. Really.
If you haven’t been to Manicures & Martinis, please do. You’ll have the chance as it’s on the way to a city near you.
Brian Armentrout
Communications Director
Related Links:
Manicures & Martinis - Laguna Niguel - June 16th
Archived Twitter Updates from Tuesday Night’s Manicures & Martinis:
UCSF Center for Reproductive Health where Dr. Cedars practices
Nova Nail Spa where event was held
Categories
Family Building •
Fertility •
Fertility Preservation •
Infertility •
Reproductive Health
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Pretty Woman
June 1, 2009 - Monday
Posted by admin
By: David Kreiner, M.D.
“We at The AFA have received a large number of emails from women who are confused by Kate Gosselin’s diagnosis of PCOS because, in their eyes, she is simply too pretty to have it. Many people seem to have the misconception that a woman with PCO is doomed to a lifetime of unattractiveness. AFA blogger, David Kreiner, M.D., has written about PCOS today in an effort to further educate women about this disorder” - The AFA staff
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which a woman’s hormones are out of balance. It can cause problems with your periods and make it difficult to get pregnant. PCOS may affect the way you look and can be associated with a variety of health problems including diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension.
PCOS is the most common hormonal disorder of reproductive age women, occurring in over 7% of women at some point in their lifetime. It usually develops during the teen years. Treatment can assist women attempting to conceive, help control the symptoms and prevent long term health problems.
The most common cause of PCOS is glucose intolerance resulting in abnormally high insulin levels. If a woman does not respond normally to insulin, her blood sugar levels rise triggering the body to produce more insulin. The insulin stimulates your ovaries to produce male sex hormones called androgens. Testosterone is a common androgen and is often elevated in women with PCOS. These androgens block the development and maturation of a woman’s ovarian follicles preventing ovulation resulting in irregular menses and infertility. Androgens may also trigger development of acne and extra facial and body hair. It will increase lipids in the blood. The elevated blood sugar from insulin resistance can develop into diabetes.
Symptoms may vary but the most common are acne, weight gain, extra hair on the face and body, thinning of hair on the scalp, irregular periods and infertility.
Ovaries develop numerous small follicles that look like cysts hence the name polycystic ovary syndrome. These cysts themselves are not harmful but in response to fertility treatment can result in a condition known as Hyperstimulation syndrome. Hyperstimulation syndrome involves ovarian swelling, fluid accumulating in the belly and occasionally around the lungs. A woman with Hyperstimulation syndrome may become dehydrated increasing her risk of developing blood clots. Becoming pregnant adds to the stimulation and exacerbates the condition leading many specialists to cancel cycles in which a woman is at high risk of developing Hyperstimulation. They may also prescribe aspirin to prevent clot formation.
These cysts may lead to many eggs maturing in response to fertility treatment also placing patients at a high risk of developing a high order multiple pregnancy. Due to this unique risk it may be advantageous to avoid aggressive stimulation of the ovaries unless the eggs are removed as part of an in vitro fertilization procedure.
A diagnosis of PCOS may be made by history and physical examination including an ultrasound of the ovaries. A glucose tolerance test is most useful to determine the presence of glucose intolerance and diabetes. Hormone assays will also be helpful in making a differential diagnosis.
Treatment starts with regular exercise and a diet including healthy foods with a controlled carbohydrate intake. This can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol and reduce the risk of diabetes. It can also help you lose weight if you need to.
Quitting smoking will help reduce androgen levels and reduce the risk for heart disease. Birth control pills help regulate periods and reduce excess facial hair and acne. Laser hair removal has also been used successfully to reduce excess hair.
A diabetes medicine called metformin can help control insulin and blood sugar levels. This can help lower androgen levels, regulate menstrual cycles and improve fertility. Fertility medications, in particular clomiphene are often needed in addition to metformin to get a woman to ovulate and will assist many women to conceive. The use of gonadotropin hormone injections without egg removal as performed as part of an IVF procedure may result in Hyperstimulation syndrome and/or multiple pregnancies and therefore one must be extremely cautious in its use. In vitro fertilization has been very successful and offers a means for a woman with PCOS to conceive without a significant risk for developing a multiple pregnancy especially when associated with a single embryo transfer. Since IVF is much more successful than insemination or intercourse with gonadotropin stimulation, IVF will reduce the number of potential exposures a patient must have to Hyperstimulation syndrome before conceiving.
It can be hard to deal with having PCOS. If you are feeling sad or depressed, it may help to talk to a counselor or to others who have the condition. Ask your doctor about support groups and for treatment that can help you with your symptoms. Remember, PCOS can be annoying, aggravating even depressing but it is fortunately a very treatable disorder.
Sincerely,
David Kreiner, M.D.
Do Live in California?
To learn more about PCOS and how to control it, along with other steps you can take to prevent infertility, be sure to attend The AFA’s FREE Manicures & Martinis Infertility Prevention Series, which is coming to San Francisco and Laguna Niguel. Enjoy complimentary manicures and martinis and learn about the reality of the biological clock, how STD’s can compromise your fertility, and how certain environmental toxins can jeopardize your ability to conceive a child.
Manicures & Martinis San Francisco
Nova Nail Spa
811 Mission Street in San Francisco
Tuesday, June 9th, 6:00-7:30 PM
RSVP with Vivian: [email protected] or 646-861-3226
More Details
Manicures & Martinis Laguna Niguel
Accent On Nails
28121 Crown Valley Parkway in Laguna Niguel
Tuesday, June 16th, 6:00-7:30 PM
RSVP with Vivian: [email protected] or 646-861-3226
More Details
Categories
Fertility Drugs •
Infertility •
IVF •
Ovulation •
PCOS •
Pregnancy
(1) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Kate Gosselin Has PCOS and It’s None of Your Business
May 28, 2009 - Thursday
Posted by admin
May 27, 2009
11:30 p.m.
I’ve successfully avoided watching Jon & Kate plus 8 since the series started. Yesterday, I wasn’t so lucky. My daughter Caitlin came home from school dying to watch the show because her middle school - middle school! - was all abuzz about the infidelity angle and she wanted to see what the deal was. So last night, along with about half the population of the United States, I tuned in.
Oy vey. Now I get why I avoided it so stringently for so long.
According to Wikpedia, Kate has pcos, the same diagnosis as me. I didn’t know that. Women with pco are very inclined towards hyperstimulation syndrome and multiple births and since Kate did IUI’s, not IVF, she was way more likely to conceive high order multiples, which she did. Just like me. I talk a lot about my twins in this blog space but the truth is, Connor and Caitlin are not twins. They are surviving triplets. So the high order multiple thing really flips me out. And that’s why I’ve avoided this particular show for so long. Anything that glorifies, and therefore misrepresents multiple birth, truly upsets me.
On top of that I am not a fan of reality TV. I am not a shy person by nature. But this voyeuristic need to see all, and this self focused need to show all, totally baffles me. Why does everyone need to know, and see everything? And most importantly, for crying out loud, what about your kids? No matter what the potential financial gain might be, what you put out there for the world to see, frankly, gets seen by the world! And children are often the collateral damage of their parent’s need to show and tell their whole lives for all the world to see.
So this is where it all lands for me. These very real people, Jon, Kate, and their children, whose names are impossible to find on line, (what does that tell you?) are a family.
These heartbreakingly adorable children were clearly wanted, and their parents worked very hard to conceive them. So please. Remember why you had them, and protect them.
Unfortunately, parents can’t always be trusted to do right by their children. We all know that.
Laws must be put in place, now, that eliminate the possibility that children can be exploited through their participation on reality TV shows.
Life is hard enough. Having your life plastered on a national stage without your consent is no way to grow up, no matter how you were conceived.
Corey Whelan
Program Director
Do Live in California?
To learn more about PCOS and how to control it, along with other steps you can take to prevent infertility, be sure to attend The AFA’s FREE Manicures & Martinis Infertility Prevention Series, which is coming to San Francisco and Laguna Niguel. Enjoy complimentary manicures and martinis and learn about the reality of the biological clock, how STD’s can compromise your fertility, and how certain environmental toxins can jeopardize your ability to conceive a child.
Manicures & Martinis San Francisco
Nova Nail Spa
811 Mission Street in San Francisco
Tuesday, June 9th, 6:00-7:30 PM
RSVP with Vivian: [email protected] or 646-861-3226
More Details
Manicures & Martinis Laguna Niguel
Accent On Nails
28121 Crown Valley Parkway in Laguna Niguel
Tuesday, June 16th, 6:00-7:30 PM
RSVP with Vivian: [email protected] or 646-861-3226
More Details
Categories
Infertility •
IUI •
IVF •
PCOS
(8) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Riverdale, and Auschwitz
May 21, 2009 - Thursday
Posted by Corey
I am not a great friend. Being a workaholic by nature and loving my job, makes me devote a really ridiculous amount of time to my desk and my humble little computer. But I’m also a sort of lucky person so people tend to hang in there with me, for whatever reason, even if I don’t tend to our friendships nearly as much as they deserve me to.
Anyway. After about a gazillion years of friendship, in conversation with one of my bff’s, Caroline, I found out recently that her mom survived the concentration camps of Europe - twice - by jumping off the transport train. Well actually once her dad pushed her off because she was too afraid to jump. I mean after all, she was only eleven. And then the second time, she did jump, all on her own. Brave girl. Can you imagine jumping off the roof of a speeding train? So Caroline’s mom never went to Auschwitz, instead she lived in the forest, and ate grass, and eventually made it here, and gave birth to my friend.
Caroline’s story kept circling around my brain today because of the thwarted bombing attempt on two synagogues in Riverdale that we found out about in today’s news. This really hit home for me as I hope it did for everyone reading this, because it truly was a close call for us all.
And then, I started thinking about my Aunt Golda. I never met her, because she wasn’t as lucky as Caroline’s mom. My Aunt Golda, I’m named for her, by the way. My Aunt Golda did not survive the Nazis. I have a photo of her that I love. I’ve written everything I know about her on the back of it, in case someone who doesn’t know us comes across it someday.
And this is what I think about sometimes. Who would my cousins have been if Golda had lived? Who was never born, who did I never know? Who did I never love? Who do I miss, in my heart, anyway? Even though we have never met.
And of course, since I am who I am, I started to think about being an infertility patient, which is what I used to be. I started to think about all the babies that never get conceived.
You know what I remember? I truly felt love for my babies, years before I conceived them. I think I started loving them as soon as I allowed myself to want them.
Maybe because I needed to. Maybe that was the strength that I needed to keep giving myself those damn needles every day.
It’s like a phantom limb, the love for those who do not exist. Real, but not real. And you never forget that wanting. And you never forget that love.
Corey Whelan
Program Director
The American Fertility Association
Categories
Infertility
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