Foods Great for Fertility

Once you’ve decided that you might want to have a baby, you must search your body in the completely new way. Healthy eating and living is currently gonna be taken up a totally new level. Even when you usually are not pregnant yet, you must begin treating your system like it really is. This is one way you are likely to cover the cost of certain that you might be giving your infant the most effective jump start at life. Also, to eat among the best foods, you might well enhance your fertility.

You need to be certain that you’re eating enough foods which are full of antioxidants and fiber. A terrific way to obtain a good start would be to start consuming more fruits and veggies. Ensure that you are eating lots of leafy green veggies so that as many citrus fruits as possible. When you eat may be, you aren’t only helping your odds of conceiving, but they’re lowering the possibility of your son or daughter winding up with birth defects.

For plant protein, you will need to eat an ample amount of lentils, spinach, peanuts, beans and peas. Remember, these food types are not only a great resource of protein, but they’re likely to improve your fertility too. While increasing he use of this stuff, you will wish to lessen the quantity of protein that you’re eating.

Another thing to concentrate on is that of complete grains. Things such as oatmeal, brown rice, whole grain breads, quinoa and total wheat will be additions that you want to make to your meal plans in order to increase fertility and to simply get yourself in a healthier state overall. Find more helpful tips at why cant i get pregnant

Now you know more to do with the five best foods to consume for fertility, you will wish to go to the supermarket. Remember, you aren’t just attempting to make certain you possess an easier time conceiving a child, but that you simply is within the best shape possible to hold your baby for nine months. And don’t forget, they are foods that aren’t just ideal for time you’re pregnant, but they are foods that you would like to consume before you decide to conceive and long afterwards. A sound body results in a healthy mother, inside and outside. Because you want best wishes for the children, you will have to do the very best on your own.

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Obesity and the Success Rate of IVF Treatment

A couple’s regular actions and lifestyle have a serious influence on their ability to conceive. Women who are considerably overweight or underweight may have difficulty becoming pregnant either naturally or by IVF (in vitro fertilization). They need proper diet and relevant level of exercise. Obesity results in a rise in the production of estrogen; this hormonal imbalance will meddle with ovulation, which is the basis of successful conception.

A person is categorized as being obese if thirty per cent of her body weight consists of fat tissues. Ovulatory disorders are the main cause of female infertility, resulting in the disruption of hormones, menstrual cycles, and child-bearing. Approximately 15% of such disorders are associated to weight disorders; primarily being overweight and obese.

Altering the diet and shunning away food that is high in saturated or Trans-fat or high in sugar is recommended. Trans fat (also known as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fat) which is mostly found in commercially prepared baked goods, fried foods, and processed snack can agitate normal ovulation by interfering with a cell receptor that restrains inflammation, glucose metabolism, and insulin sensitivity.

Enriching the diet with whole grains, vegetables, fruits and lean proteins is the best for the pair. Drink many glasses of water; eat multivitamins or mineral supplements to take care of your health. Food supplements can be used to boost a healthy diet but should not be used as a replacement for a healthy, balanced diet. A pre natal multivitamin with iron, calcium, antioxidant nutrients (A, C, E, selenium and zinc), probiotics, fish oils and others may be used to heighten fertility and support a healthy pregnancy.

The British Fertility Society and Dr. Abha Maheshwari from the University of Aberdeen suggested that a person with a BMI over 35 should not go through IVF treatment, and women with a BMI over 30 should put off treatment until they have lost weight. Dr. Arthur Leader, co-founder of the Ottawa Fertility Centre, commented that based on his case study, extremely overweight women are 3 times more prone to have infertility problems. These women are 3 times more inclined to have an IVF technique failure, and have a greater risk of pregnancy-related complications such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and cesarean delivery. Overweight women take more time to conceive using IVF procedure, and at the same time, suffer more miscarriages. A study conducted by Jim Wang from University of Adelaide has established a positive relationship between Body Mass Index and the uncertainty of spontaneous abortion in women who became pregnant after IVF treatment. Obesity is associated with an increased possibility of early pregnancy loss occurring before 6 weeks of pregnancy.

According to most studies, women who have childhood obesity are facing a greater risk of amenorrhea, a condition in which menstrual cycles are absent. Women who are overweight are less likely to respond to fertility drugs, because excess weight interferes with the proper absorption of different types of drugs used in infertility treatment due to insulin excess and insulin resistance. Obese ladies have poorer response to ovarian stimulation as the hyperinsulinaemia may result in altered follicular maturation that affects the eggs being harvested for IVF treatment.

Studies also showed that a higher proportion of women in the overweight and obese groups had a miscarriage and needed higher doses of drugs to stimulate their ovaries during their IVF treatment. Professor Adam Balen, from Leeds Teaching Hospitals confirmed that obesity has a powerful effect on fertility. Balen also recognized that the risk of complications such as miscarriage and maternal or fetal death are more readily associated with obesity. Children born to obese women through IVF are more likely to have genetic defects. A healthy lifestyle is important to boost your chances of a successful IVF treatment, so observe a balance diet and exercise regularly. Eating a balanced diet will help to ensure that your body is healthy enough to conceive and nourish a developing fetus. Thus, a healthy lifestyle influences the success rate of IVF treatment.

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Make IVF Work for You

Smoking is speculated to cause sub-fertility in women whereby fecundability is reported to decrease if either of the parents smokes more than 10 cigarettes a day. Women are prone to experience tubal changes, cervical anomalies, damaged gametes, increase spontaneous abortions and ectopic pregnancies. Consistent research outcomes have proven that the ovarian pool of oocytes have either diminished in number or aged prematurely. Cigarettes contain carcinogens, formaldehyde, benzene, pesticides, TSNAs and not to mention hundreds of other poisonous chemicals.

All these harmful chemicals contribute to abruption, premature birth, underweight babies, foetal retardation, leukaemia or even fatal deaths. That said; patients refraining from smoking can heighten their chances of successful fertilisation and implantation; leading to a healthy pregnancy which guarantees the survival of the mother and foetus.

A lot has been said about the correlation of alcohol to the success rates of IVF treatment. It is sound that patients limit their intake to no more than 2 glasses per day or terminate alcohol consumption entirely. Alcoholism brings about foetal alcohol syndrome which is distinguished by growth deficiency, mental retardation, behavioural abnormalities and an atypical heart-shaped facial appearance of the foetus.

Believed to be affecting the new-borns of alcoholic mothers, those who seek to prevent these conditions should stay away from consuming alcohol completely while undergoing IVF. As healthy sperms are needed to boost IVF success rates, alcohol is a taboo among the men because it decreases sperm generating cells in the testicles, affects testicular size and changes the morphology of normal sperms. There has been news that a heavy drinker may suffer from erectile dysfunction; losing his ability to have sexual relations.

Caffeine intakes have reportedly raise and shrivelled fertility rates. In one study, consumption more than an average of two cups a day (200mg) has lowered the chances of conception by 27 per cent. However a different study has proven women who ingest 400 to 700mg of caffeine per day had their rates of conception raised.

Based on all evidence presented to the Organisation of Teratology Information Services (2001), it was concluded that individuals with caffeine consumption of lower than 200mg per day are not adversely affected; however reducing caffeine intake for those undergoing assisted conception techniques such as IVF is vital to boost success rates. It was theorised that the stimulant affects ovulation by altering hormonal levels which deters conception.

Stress levels should also be kept at low levels with the help of meditation techniques such as yoga. A healthy diet is also essential for a healthy reproductive system. It is to be reminded that individuals should not aim at reducing body weight but preserve an ideal body mass; a balance of all the classes of food. Regular exercise should be made a must not only to enrich fertility treatments but to heighten general health as well.

It is a must watch 3D animation video about how IVF perform is important before you make any decision on IVF treatment. Check out here to see how lifestyle affects IVF access.

Maximise Your Chances with Antioxidants

Infertility complications impact the rate of success for couples who are trying to start a family. Drawbacks with the quality of sperms; amount, morphology and motility, are among the main causes of infertility in men. Seminal oxidative stress (OS) remains a factor for infertility in men; reactive oxygen species (ROS) is crucial for normal physiological functions of the sperm. However, when the found in abundance, it results in oxidative stress; causing a drop in sperm mobility, viability, and increased mid-piece sperm defects. (American Study for Reproductive Medicine, 2000).

Antioxidants are substances that protect the body against the harmful effects of free radicals. Antioxidants include Vitamins A, C and E alongside beta carotene, lutein, lycopene and selenium. Poultry, vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains are the natural sources of antioxidants. However consumers may also go for supplements to complement their daily diet for a wholesome supply of antioxidants.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid is found aplenty in human spermatozoa and therefore is more prone the detrimental effects of the ROS. A number of naturally occurring antioxidant system scavenges ROS and avoids internal cellular damage. The American Study for Reproductive Medicine managed to prove the significance of oxidative stress in male infertility; high levels of ROS and low total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in infertile men. Lead researcher Marian Showell of the University of Auckland propose couples undergoing assisted conception techniques such as IVF and ICSI; to consider having the men take in oral antioxidant supplements to increase their partner’s chance of conception.

Antioxidants work on the theory of free radicals; radicals cause wreckful alterations of DNA in sperms which interrupts its normal function. The production of sperms and eggs generate a great deal of oxidative energy, resulting in intensified levels of reactive oxygen species. In such situations, the human body uses a number of antioxidant defence systems consisting of vitamins A, C, E, coenzyme Q10, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase. (Dr. I.V van Heerden, 2007) Semen contains naturally occurring antioxidants but they dwindle due to lifestyle factors, infection and disease. It would seem obvious and prudent to invest in supplements but some fertility doctors?advice otherwise.

Dr. Sherman Silber, the director of the Infertility Centre of St. Louis said that antioxidants will not help but delay as the wife’s eggs get older. Therefore this process will hurt rather than help by delaying IVF for a male treatment that does not produce results. Some doctors find the results of researches questionable; some trials had as few as 10 participants.

It is unwise to depend solely on supplements when the proper dosage and amount is yet to be determined; excessive vitamin A intake is known to be detrimental to babies. It is however recommended to obtain antioxidants through fruits and vegetables; cranberries, blackberries, beans, avocado, citrus fruits and artichokes; to name a few.

Considering the fact that there is no universal treatment for infertility, and the lack of evidence to discredit the contributions of antioxidant treatment, couples should advance with care when undergoing any form of therapy. Men who decide that antioxidants may help them during the course of assisted conception, should always make appointments with their doctors and only proceed when given the green light.

IVF treatment is well-known worldwide for its effective technique in getting pregnant. Check out how IVF works in 3D animation video. More useful information such as IVF and lifestyle can help you to better understanding what causes infertility.

Opting For In-vitro Fertilization: The Male Standpoint

For many couples, having a baby is both the goal and fulfillment of their relationship. Unfortunately for some couples, medical issues may exist which will prevent them from having the ability to conceive a boy or girl naturally. In those cases, the affected couple may opt to conceive thru In-vitro Fertilization. For those couples of come to a decision to pursue in-vitro fertilization, the time leading up to the fertilization will be exceedingly process oriented. There are consultations, evaluations, and a great number of other items which must be addressed. On occasions it can seem overwhelming.

As the male partaker in the act, involvement is essentially in a supportive role, as the majority of the procedures that will need to be done will involve the female partner. To help make the method as simple for her, there are numerous things to you can do to help keep your partner’s spirits up and to help her in the necessary steps to realize successful fertilization.

You and your companion may fight with the indisputable fact that you aren't able to conceive by natural means. However , keep in mind the goal and the final result of the process is the same – a good kid born from your love for one another. The two of you are merely attempting to maximize the possibility of a good & successful pregnancy. Talk thru this point if you want to and be open to her feelings.

Some of the medications needed for the method must be administered through injection. Offer to administer the shots if your other half isn't comfortable doing so and remember that she might be sore at the injection spots due to repeated shots. A little tender loving care will help to keep her confident and cosy.

Your other half may experience emotional mood swing because of some of the medicines she is taking. One minute she might be sitting at the table reading the newspaper, the subsequent she's crying about something not related. Be prepared, be supportive, and remember that her mood will revert to normal in time.

In-vitro fertilization isn't an easy process but with care and a willingness to help out where needed, you may be active and useful across the process. Education is your best friend. Make full utilisation of the knowledgeable reproductive consultants who will care for you and your wife during this time. Never be scared to ask a question. Show you care but being involved.

Did you know it is possible to specifically conceive a boy or a girl? To learn more about how to conceive a boy or a girl please visit www.conceiveaboyorgirl.com

My Miracle Family: Part 1

Author’s Intro: As my first birthday as a father is coming up, I have been doing a bit of thinking about life and about the birth of our daughter Kayla this past year.

With that of course comes all the thoughts about how Kayla’s birth was a long time coming … over six years in fact. And for some time now I’ve been wanting to write about it.

I haven’t figured out yet “why” I feel so compelled to write about it. I’m not sure it’s too important, and I am guessing that the “why” will eventually come to me. In the meantime, I am looking forward to writing these “My Miracle Family” articles. I hope it’s fun and enjoyable reading for you which also sheds some light in the things couples can face while dealing with fertility challenges.

Ten years (and some months) in the future …

On a nice sunny afternoon, a father is sitting on his porch enjoying a drink and reading a book. He is starting to doze off when his lovely ten year old daughter bounds in from playing in the yard and promptly plops down on his lap.

Daughter: “Daddy… ”

Daddy: (still half dozing) “Yes honey?”

Daughter: “Where do babies come from?”

Daddy opens his eyes warily. Uh oh. It’s _THE_ question. Daddy straightens up and smiles down at his daughter.

Daddy: “Well honey, that’s a good question. Let’s see… well, first two people fall in love and then decide they want to start a family….”

Daughter: “Like you and mommy! Right?”

Daddy: “Yes honey, your mommy and I love each other very much. Anyhow, so two people decide they want to start a family. They first start trying the ‘natural’ way….”

Daughter: “What’s the ‘natural’ way?”

Daddy: “Umm.. Never you mind that now, we can talk about that later. Moving on quickly now they then start trying other ways. In this case, with a doctor’s guidance, mommy starts taking drugs to stimulate her ovaries and then daddy goes into a special room with a little cup…”

Daughter: “Little cup?”

Daddy: “…and then there’s this big turkey-baster looking thing the doctor uses to put into mommy the ..ermm..contents of the little cup..”

Daughter: “What’s in the little cup?”

Daddy: “Never you mind that now. Okay so then the mommy and daddy start trying even more advanced methods where mommy has to take even more drugs to overstimulate her ovaries followed by mommy having surgery to extract her eggs…daddy then goes again into a special room with a little cup …”

Daughter: “Daddy, this doesn’t sound right..”

Daddy: “And then after that, with the mommy and daddy still are wanting to have a baby, the daddy takes a few more tests and from the results they see that a certain surgery may help the situation. So the daddy has the surgery, but they have to wait a year or so before they can try again..”

Daughter: “A whole year?”

Daddy: “Yes honey, a whole year…”

Daughter: “Daddy, this story is getting kinda long isn’t it?”

Daddy: “Well, honey, it was quite a long story for this specific mommy and daddy. There were years of natural attempts, IUI attempts, IVF attempts, not to mention the surgery and recovery for the daddy. But after the surgery, this mommy and daddy were full of hope for their third IVF attempt. They went to a new doctor who had some new ideas, though one of those ideas included daddy having to give mommy shots in her butt cheek every night for like three WHOLE weeks… with a big two-inch long needle.. This daddy couldn’t even poke a boba drink with a straw properly and here he was having to give shots into mommy’s butt… but I digress…because finally the big day came for mommy to get her eggs extracted again, so mommy had the surgery again …”

Daughter: “And then daddy went into the special room with a little cup?”

Daddy: “Umm.. yes, honey. Daddy then went into the special room with a little cup. This was followed by days, weeks and even months of prayers as six little teeny weenie super tiny babies were transferred back into mommy. Then mommy and daddy prayed and prayed that hopefully just one of those teeny tiny babies could latch on and claw on to mommy’s uterus and hang on like there was no tomorrow. And then their prayers were answered …because nine months later this mommy and daddy were blessed with a little miracle.”

Daughter: “A miracle?”

Daddy: “Yes, a miracle. And we named that miracle Kayla”

Daughter: “Hey! THAT’S ME!!!!”

Daddy: “Yes honey. That’s you.”

Well, it’s not your traditional birds and the bees talk of where babies come from…

Or maybe it soon will be, as many “birds and bees” stories these days need a little help from technology, drugs to stimulate the hormones, needles, shots, surgery, special little cups, and other little adventures.

But it is still one of the many stories that could be told today about where babies come from and how families are started. The above version just happens to be our story.

I find it interesting that even though I “knew” that there were many different ways to start a family, I didn’t really truly “KNOW” this until after our own fertility challenges. Meaning being truly aware of the various ways families can be started besides the “traditional” way of boy meets girl, boy marries girl, and the-birds-and-the-bees happen and the baby arrives. These new stories include IUI, IVF, adoption, and maybe even other ways I’m not exposed to. I just know after our own “adventures” the one thing I have to come to realize is that no matter how families are started, it definitely is a miracle.

It wasn’t always that way, my thoughts about miracle families or even my total love of being a dad weren’t always like this. There was in fact a time where I was quite hesitant to be a dad and to start a family. Which brings me to this: the point of this article (or articles) is not so much about being a dad, but rather the challenges of starting a family and the miracle of becoming a family, and for me the miracle of BECOMING a dad.

Again, I’m not sure why I personally am writing these. Maybe it’s just to record my thoughts for posterity. Or maybe it is just to get the word out to those couples who went through what we went through that you’re definitely not alone. I’m sure there will be many “why” reasons I’ll discover during my writing. In the meantime, I hope it’s both educational and fun reading for all of you.

End Part 1 …..

Want more info on IVF pregnancies and infertility treatments? Check out more of Ben’s articles. Emil “Ben” Yau is an engineer, blogger, dance teacher, and after six years of fertility challenges, a proud father. Thankful for his new family, Ben enjoys writing about their first hand experiences with fertility challenges.

Trying to Get Pregnant Tips

Most couples often assume they will be able to conceive a child when they feel the time has come, but many of these couples are finally forced to face the difficult reality that the design is not easy for everyone. Some couples may try for years with little success to zero, some couples turn to fertility treatments and expensive drugs, and couples who just give entirety. While infertility can be a serious and emotional issue for many couples, there are some important tips to take into account immediately before seeking fertility drugs or treatments.

Firstly it is important to stop smoking and drinking before trying to conceive. These activities not only reduces fertility, but they can also be harmful to your child when you are actually pregnant. For men, smoking can cause a drop in sperm count and makes it even more difficult to design occur. Even passive smoking can affect your fertility, so try to avoid secondhand smoke whenever possible.

Second, studies show that caffeine can have a negative effect on fertility. If you try to get pregnant, try to avoid coffee, tea and cola. A cup of coffee is fine, but you can probably see more benefits if you are able to avoid these drinks. If you must drink coffee every day, fumbled for decaffeinated coffee, which does not affect fertility.

Third, make sure you have a healthy mindset. Studies have shown that depression can impair fertility in up to fifty percent. The women in the normal state of mind is a much higher chance of being pregnant, so ask your doctor or counselor if you feel that you might be depressed.

Fourth, make sure you have sex at the right time of the month to have the best chances of becoming pregnant. Consider buying an ovulation calendar to see when you want to be the most fertile and have sex in these days of the month. Know when you are most fertile is absolutely invaluable and can make all the difference in your efforts to become pregnant.

Fifth, the missionary position has said to one of the most effective during pregnancy. If you choose this method, try to move as little as possible, a meeting of twenty minutes to ensure sexual best opportunities for the design case.

For women who are trying to get pregnant, a great source of information can be found at Trying to Get Pregnant Tips.

Caffeine’s Effect on Infertility

Couples that are having fertility problems may try many things to prepare for pregnancy. They are always trying to find different was to keep them healthy in order to finally conceive. They may even find themselves asking does caffeine affect infertility.

Does Caffeine Have an Effect on Fertility?

Yes. Excessive amounts of caffeine have been shown to affect a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant. This number is different depending on which study you look at. It seems to range between 300 and 500 milligrams a day. This is a very high amount depending on what you drink. For most sodas this means nine to twelve sodas a day depending on the number you look at. That is why it is important to keep the number low. Studies have even shown that consuming more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day increase a woman’s chances of miscarriage. This means that if you finally do get pregnant but drink massive amounts of caffeine, you could just be leading yourself to more heartache. That is why it is so important to watch the amount of caffeine you consume and cut back on this number.

Decrease Caffeine Consumption to Increase Your Chance of Conceiving

There are things you can do to help cut most of the caffeine (if not all) out of your diet.

1. Switching from normal coffee to decaf is an easy way to cut back on the amount of caffeine you consume every day. This does not mean that they do not have any caffeine in them, just that it is much less, usually only about a tenth the amount of caffeine as the regular versions.

2. You can even switch to decaf teas and even sodas. This may be very hard at first, which is why it is a good idea to do this gradually or you will more than likely suffer from headaches and feelings of immense fatigue. For instance, you can do half regular coffee and half decaf the next time you make or buy a cup of coffee.

3. If you are a big energy drink consumer to switch to some other form of caffeine. Energy drinks not only have extreme amounts of caffeine, they also have many other components in them, most of which the effects on fertility are still unknown.

4. If you are a tea drinker it is even a good idea to start off by just letting your tea bag sit in the water and steep for a minute rather than five minutes. This will make for a weaker tea, which also means less caffeine.

Caffeine does affect infertility, though the science behind why and at what amounts is still being researched. This is why it is important to reduce or cut caffeine out of your diet. If you and your partner work on this together you can accomplish this goal to get you one step closer to getting pregnant like you are trying to do.

Learn more about thecost of IVF treatment. Stop by National Fertility Link where you can find out what your Fertility Profile is and what we can do for you.

Just What Vasectomy Reversal Alternatives May Make Your Family Complete?

A family just doesn’t seem full to most of us without children. Even when you had children in a previous relationship, if it ended and you are actually in a brand new one, you probably need babies with your new wife or partner. This can be troublesome if you’re one of many hundreds of thousands of males who’ve had a sterilization process known as a vasectomy.

However much such a person might want more children in a new relationship, he may just not want to face the idea of a new operation to restore his fertility. In this case he and his new spouse could very well be trying to find vasectomy reversal alternatives. What are these alternatives?

While there could also be variations on these vasectomy reversal alternatives, basically it boils down to a few different choices. Below we deal with every one of these briefly in order to offer you a taste of what is available.

1. Adoption – The primary choice is adoption. While this choice would not give you your individual biological child, there are a lot of households who’ve been very happy with the results. But you might want to research this feature intimately to learn what you’ll have to face. Some adoptions, if done within your loved ones, could be pretty easy to accomplish and won’t cost a lot of money. Just concentrate on the adoption laws inside your state as they could shock you.

If a family adoption is not obtainable, you in all probability will face a harder time of proceeding especially when you’ve got your heart set on adopting an infant. That is one reason so many turn to worldwide adoptions with all their inherent dangers, costs and travel involved. It can take a very long time, too.

2. Donor sperm with IVF – Again, this alternative will not give you your individual biological child. The costs of IVF might be high, higher than a vasectomy reversal, and it’s most probably your wife is not going to get pregnant the primary time. That means you’ll have to try more than one cycle normally three, on average. If you happen to proceed with this alternative or the one below it’s a very good idea for your spouse to take a look at what she has to undergo with IVF to see if she desires to proceed this way.

3. Your sperm with IVF – This one of the three vasectomy reversal alternatives appears like it would be best, doesn’t it? But how do they get your sperm you may be asking. If you had thought forward or your vasectomy doctor had insisted, you might have banked your sperm before that operation. That would be one way.

These vasectomy reversal choices are your non-surgical options for being able to complete your family. It is going to be needed so that you can learn more about them and their associated costs and success rates to decide if they’d be better for you than just having a vasectomy reversal.

Learn more about vasectomy reversal, its price and your options at our sterilizationreversalhelp.com site. You will learn about the various aspects of sterilization reversal for both men and women.

What You Should Know About IVF

IVF in Australia in 2010 continues to be an area of interest for the community at large as well as the many couples who are struggling with their fertility and need help to achieve pregnancy and a baby of their own. Fortunately for Australians, IVF costs are subsidised by the Government, making IVF fees more affordable. IVF success rates in Australia continue to be amongst the highest in the world.

IVF has come a long way since the birth of the first IVF baby, British-born Louise Brown, 30 years ago. Nearly 10,000 IVF babies were born in Australia last year from IVF pregnancies and in excess of 80,000 since the birth of Australia’s first IVF baby, Candice Reed in 1980. It is unlikely that we will see a single breakthrough of IVF’s magnitude in reproductive science again in our lifetimes.

Assisted Reproductive Technologies, which includes ovulation induction, IUI and IVF, is in an area of growing demand, as Australians delay starting a family which impacts on fertility.

The decision to start a family later in life is more often than not a choice dictated by societal changes. Many women in their 30s do not have children because they do not have a partner, and a stable relationship and a good income are the most important prerequisites for starting a family, according to a study conducted by the Fertility Society of Australia.

So what is involved in IVF? Hundreds of women seek fertility treatment in IVF clinics and IVF Centres around Australia every day. There are two types of cycles involved in IVF treatment – known as agonist and antagonist. The difference between the cycles is time – the agonist cycle is shorter.

Treatment involves taking hormones to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs. Eggs are collected from the ovaries using ultrasound-guided transvaginal needle aspiration. These eggs are placed in a dish with a large number of sperm allowing fertilisation to occur, and some of these eggs go on to form embryos. These embryos cam be transferred back into the uterus using a small plastic tube and some can be frozen and stored for future transfer. The embryo then implants itself in the uterus. Sometimes, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI is used. This is a different, more sophisticated form of IVF where the scientist injects a single sperm into the egg. This technique is an excellent treatment if the sperm is of poor quality.

So what does the future hold for Assisted Reproductive Technologies?

The immediate future will involve refinement of the assisted conception technology to make IVF easier, including advanced techniques to fertilise eggs with one single sperm, developing molecular selection techniques to pick out the best embryos and sperm, for treatment. Research into fertility preservation, such as egg freezing, and ovary and testicular tissue preservation, is ongoing

Early in the 21st Century we are exploring the use of embryonic stem cells in the hope of enabling human beings to grow whole new organs. Looking further into the future we can foresee the use of stem cell technology to create artificial gametes (egg and sperm) and help men and women who have no eggs or sperm of their own have their own genetic children.

The possibilities for IVF and assisted conception into the future have yet to find a limit.

Ivf Australia is a fertility centre with excellence in fertility care. Visit www.ivf.com.au to learn about their superior specialist care, success rates, personalised treatment, in-house services, in-house departments, our network of fertility clinics, affordability and quality assurance.

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