Fertility Issues + Original Articles

Genetic variants linked to endometriosis provide promise for earlier diagnosis and better treatment. Approximately 176 million women worldwide are affected by endometriosis. Millions more don't know they have it—even though they have pelvic pain, irregular bleeding, and even infertility. And countless other women are at high risk for developing endometriosis in the future.

Learn how this multi-functional mineral can help support men's health. One of the most abundant minerals on earth, iron plays a significant role in the body's functionality. Iron's chief function is to help deliver oxygen from the lungs to cells. Once the oxygen is delivered, iron helps red blood cells expel waste, carbon dioxide, through the lungs in an exhale.

Millions of women become pregnant each year, but too many of them don't have all the facts. Here's a look at pregnancy by the numbers. Becoming pregnant is a life-changing event for women. However, much about the way women become pregnant, prevent pregnancy, and deliver babies has changed in recent years. So have the demographics of newborns. For example, according to the National Institutes of Health, the average length of labor has increased over the past 50 years, which is probably due to changes in delivery room practices.

Popular in the 80s, this form of birth control is making a comeback. Here's what to consider. They're back. IUDs, which in the past got a bad rap due to safety concerns, are getting trendy. In fact, many doctors are calling them the most effective form of reversible birth control and a good option for certain women. "They are more in vogue now than in the past," says Krystene DiPaola, MD, reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist with the UC Center for Reproductive Health at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio.

This alternative treatment has proven benefits for conditions like chronic pain and stress. But can it combat infertility? If you're trying to have a baby, acupuncture is one treatment you may never have considered to help increase your chances of conceiving.  The centuries-old Asian medical practice, in which sterile, ultra-thin needles are placed in various pressure points (or Qi, pronounced "chee" in the body), is believed to reduce stress and improve circulation.

Having too much or too little of something can be harmful. Learn how having a balancing act with exercise can create optimal health for your sperm. Male infertility is a significant problem in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.7 million men are affected by it and 40 percent of couples attempting conception fail because of it. Genital defects, sperm transportation issues (motility), erection and ejaculatory failure, low sperm production or function issues, complications from surgery, and exposure to toxic agents are all factors that cause male infertility.

If you and your partner are planning to grow your family, the issue of fertility may come up. And while it's commonly looked at as a woman's issue, the U.S. National Library of Medicine reports that male infertility is the root of the problem approximately one third of the time. If you and your partner are planning to grow your family, the issue of fertility may come up. And while it's commonly looked at as a feminine issue, the U.S. National Library of Medicine reports that male infertility is the problem approximately one third of the time.

Keeping safe from toxic chemicals is no easy task these days. Here are practical steps you can take to minimize exposure. Keeping children safe from toxic chemicals is no easy task these days. The current offender: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical used to make plastic clear and hard. It also keeps bacteria from contaminating foods and prevents cans from rusting.

When conception becomes difficult, it can affect both partners. Read on for information about your options and how you can keep a positive perspective. Infertility can be heartbreaking for couples who are faced with wrenching decisions about treatment and a variety of emotions ranging from disbelief that something so natural eludes them to depression when friends and siblings conceive easily. Even for couples who are very close, infertility tests a relationship like few other things do.

Are you hoping to hear the pitter patter of little feet in the near future? If so, you may want to give some thought to the health of your sperm. It takes two to make a baby and you want to do your part to ensure your baby is healthy from day one. Are you hoping to hear the pitter patter of little feet in the near future? If so, you may want to give some thought to the health of your sperm. It takes two to make a baby and you want to do your part to ensure your baby is healthy from day one. Sperm Did you know your body produces about 100 million sperm each day? A man has, on average, about 39 million sperm at any point in time, although sperm counts do typically decline as men age.

Researchers have a hunch that antioxidants—long touted to decrease the risk of cancer and heart disease—may also help fertility-challenged couples to conceive. Researchers in New Zealand and Australia have a hunch that antioxidants-long touted to decrease the risk of cancer and heart disease-may also help fertility-challenged couples to conceive. Cochrane Library lead researcher Marian Showell, who works in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Aukland in New Zealand, recently reported the results of a small study of 2,876 couples and the effects of oral antioxidants on "subfertile" males.

While the rest of your body changes, so does your sexual ability. Some men may find it a bit harder to find themselves in the mood. Others may find it relatively difficult to perform as long or as passionately as they once had. As you age, your body changes. Your memory begins to slip. Your joints may ache. Your afternoon jog might have to turn into an evening stroll. And the list goes on: your eyesight, hearing, and cognitive ability may not be what it once was. Even though these changes may be unwelcome, the majority of them are normal.

If you’re considering adding a bundle of joy to your family, you may be in for a surprise to find that getting pregnant isn’t necessarily as easy it seems. Still, there are plenty of low-tech ways that you and your partner can increase the odds of becoming parents. If you're considering adding a bundle of joy to your family, you may be in for a surprise to find that getting pregnant isn't necessarily as easy it seems. Still, there are plenty of low-tech ways that you and your partner can increase the odds of becoming parents.

Read on to learn what half a century has brought us in terms of what we know about this widely used method of contraception. Fifty years ago, one of the greatest health advancements hit the market: The birth control pill. Today, the pill is all grown up and includes low-dose pills, continuous (no period) pills, patches, and rings.  It's even used to treat acne, migraines, and other health issues.

There are numerous causes of infertility and almost as many treatments. Some women are concerned that pursuing infertility treatments may increase their risk for uterine cancer. If you’ve taken, or are considering, infertility treatments, here’s what you need to know. The inability to conceive is frustrating and disappointing for any woman who aspires to raise a family. So, it's no wonder why many couples turn to fertility treatments to improve their chances of becoming pregnant. There are numerous causes of infertility and almost as many treatments.

Approximately 75 percent of women will develop uterine fibroids during or after her childbearing years—but most will never realize they have them. Approximately 75 percent of women will develop uterine fibroids during or after her childbearing years.  Most will never know they have them.   Sometimes, however, uterine fibroids become troublemakers - causing pain, bleeding and rarely, infertility.

Egg donation provides couples with infertility other options to have a child. Learn more about how egg donation works. In 2005 there were nearly 39,000 live births resulting from assisted reproductive technology in the United States. Egg donation plays an integral part of this process, helping many couples to finally realize their dream of having a child. Although egg donation increases yearly, many of us are probably more familiar with the process of sperm donation.

Research shows that certain foods make sperm healthier and improve reproductive ability. You may never complain about eating a bunch of broccoli or filling up on fruits again. There's new evidence that antioxidants may be the best foods for healthy sperm and improve the ability to reproduce. Scientists have been trying to get to the bottom of a worrying trend--the decline in the quality of semen and sperm, and male fertility in recent decades.

If you suspect, or have been diagnosed with, testicular cancer, you’re probably concerned about how the disease may affect your sexual desire and performance. Fortunately, most of the news is encouraging. Cancer and Sex Cancer and cancer treatment, regardless of the type of cancer, can cause physical and psychological sexual dysfunction. Your hormone levels may change; therapy may make you tired or cause pain; and medications, depression, changes in body image and some types of surgery may directly affect your sex life.

Learn how to protect your fertility when you have cancer. If you have cancer, surviving the disease is naturally your first priority. But some patients also need to know how to preserve fertility from cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. Unfortunately, research suggests that many oncologists are not properly advising cancer patients about their fertility options—even when those patients are just children or adolescents.

These five tips may help increase your chances of getting pregnant. Pregnancy may seem like the most natural biological process in the world, but it doesn't come all that naturally for some. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 12 percent of American women (7.3 million) have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term.

It's the second most common surgery for American women. But how much do you really know about the procedure? Learn more now. Each year, more than 600,000 hysterectomies are performed in the United States, making it one of the most common women's surgeries—second only caesarean section. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the procedure is so common that one in every three American women has had a hysterectomy by age 60.

Today's high-tech reproductive options help couples achieve their dreams of having a baby. For many couples, having a baby is the ultimate act of emotional fulfillment. Their little bundle of joy is an affirmation of life, and their new role as parents is the beginning of a uniquely rewarding journey. Even the physical pain associated with childbirth is usually viewed as a labor of love.

More and more people are turning to elective options, such as plastic surgery and fertility treatments, to improve their confidence and enhance the quality of their lives. If you've fantasized about making alterations to your appearance at one time or another, you're not alone. More than 11 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2006, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and the number is growing.