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Are you planning to undergo a frozen embryo transfer (FET) procedure? This exciting milestone is a crucial step towards your dream of starting or expanding your family. However, it can also be a daunting experience, with many unknowns and questions.
How can you best prepare yourself physically and emotionally for this procedure? What should you bring with you on the day of the transfer?
In this blog, we will guide you through the necessary steps to prepare for a successful FET. From managing your medications to packing your bag, we will cover everything you need to know to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience.
A frozen embryo transfer (FET) is a type of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment that involves thawing and transferring a cryopreserved embryo to the uterus. This procedure is typically used to help people who have undergone IVF in the past and have frozen embryos available, or for those who wish to preserve their fertility due to medical interventions such as cancer treatment or gender affirmation surgery.
During a frozen embryo transfer, the embryo is thawed and then placed in the uterus using a catheter. Success rates of FET have an average of 60-65% but are directly linked to factors such as genetic quality. While this procedure helps many women with fertility issues, for women aged 35 and older, the success rate begins to decline .
This procedure is less complex than a traditional IVF cycle because the embryo has already been created and frozen, and there is no need for additional ovarian stimulation or egg retrieval. However, there are still certain preparations that need to be made in order to increase the chances of a successful transfer.
If you're planning to undergo a frozen embryo transfer, it's essential to be prepared for the procedure to maximize your chances of success.
Here are some tips on how to prepare for a frozen embryo transfer:
Preparing a bag for the day of the transfer can help you feel more organized and comfortable. Some of the essential items you should pack include:
Once you have determined that FET is right for you, your doctor will prescribe medication to help prepare your uterus for implantation. You must follow the medication schedule precisely as instructed. This may include taking estrogen and progesterone supplements, which can help thicken the uterine lining, creating a more receptive environment for implantation.
On the day of your FET, you'll need to come with a full bladder, as this can help improve the visibility during the transfer process. This might sound odd, but by filling the bladder the angle between the uterine cervix and uterine body is straightened, which enables the physician to have a clear view of the uterus.
With this clear view, the physician can effectively guide the catheter into the uterus for the embryo transfer procedure. So be sure to follow the instructions given by your doctor regarding how much water to drink before the transfer.
Rest is crucial before and after the FET procedure. You'll need to avoid strenuous activities for at least two weeks and take it easy for the first few days and try not to over-exert yourself before the procedure either. Resting can help ensure the embryo(s) implant correctly, increasing your chances of a successful pregnancy.
Preparation doesn’t necessarily end once the FET is complete. It is also important to give yourself a little tender loving care in the days that follow FET. So we’ve provided a few extra tips to prepare you for post-procedure as well.
Preparing for a frozen embryo transfer is a crucial part of the IVF journey, and taking the necessary steps can significantly increase the chances of a successful transfer. From monitoring your diet to managing stress levels, every effort made during the preparation process can make a difference.
Additionally, post-transfer care plays an important role in the success of the procedure. Remember to follow the advice of your healthcare provider, and don't hesitate to seek support from loved ones or a therapist during this emotional time.
While there are no guarantees when it comes to fertility treatments, taking control of what is within our power can help us feel healthy and hopeful. With patience, perseverance, and a little bit of luck, the dream of parenthood can become a reality.
Infections of any kind can be harmful to the functioning of the human body, especially when left untreated. Certain types of infections have been found to damage the reproductive systems of both men and women, resulting in fertility loss and in some cases infertility.
This is not an uncommon problem. In fact, infections in the male reproductive tract account for about 15% of all male infertility cases, while 2.5% of all women become infertile as a result of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) by the age of 35.
While these numbers may be startling, long term damage can often be avoided by treating infections quickly. The best way to ensure that this happens is by educating people about the dangers of these infections, how to protect themselves, and what symptoms to look out for.
Pelvic infections in women are often caused by damage to their fallopian tubes or other reproductive organs, interfering with the reproductive cycle which can lead to infertility. Often these infections are caused by untreated sexually transmitted diseases, but this is not always the case.
Let’s review the main types of infections that can lead to infertility in women.
PID is an infection in the female reproductive organs resulting from bacteria spreading from the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. One of the most common causes of PID is untreated STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) like chlamydia and gonorrhea. 10-15% of women with untreated chlamydia will develop PID.
The good news is, PID can be avoided by treating these STDs early. The bad news is that many women infected with chlamydia or gonorrhea do not experience any symptoms. The only way to ensure that sexually active women are not infected with an STD is by practicing safe sex and getting tested regularly.
Women with PID may experience symptoms such as abdominal and back pain, irregular periods, unusual vaginal discharge, or nausea and vomiting. However, some women might not experience symptoms at all. When caught early, PID can be treated with a 14-day course of antibiotics.
That said, 15-20% of women who have had PID have been found to experience fertility issues. The fact that PID can often be avoided displays how important it is to educate women about STDs and how to protect themselves and their sexual partners.
TFI is one of the most common causes of infertility in women accounting for about 33% of cases worldwide. These numbers are even higher for women in developing countries, standing at up to 85% in certain regions of Africa.
TFI occurs when a woman’s fallopian tubes become inflamed due to an infection, making reproductive function difficult and in some cases impossible. Many women with PID later develop TFI, but TFI can also be developed on its own. Much like PID, TFI is often the result of untreated STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea. However, in 13% of cases, TFI is caused by endometriosis in which scar tissue grows and blocks the fallopian tubes.
Much like PID, many women with TFI do not display any outward symptoms and may not know that they are affected until they try to conceive. Depending on the level of damage to the fallopian tubes, surgery might be a viable option to help women achieve a natural pregnancy. IVF is the best option for a successful pregnancy if the fallopian tubes are too damaged.
BV is a genital tract infection that is quite common, affecting around 29% of women of reproductive age. In layman's terms, BV is caused by an imbalance of the natural bacteria found in the vagina. BV is not sexually transmitted but can increase a woman’s risk of contracting an STD.
Many women with BV do not experience symptoms, but those that do complain of vaginal discharge with a fishlike odor, vaginal itching, a burning sensation when peeing, and white or gray discharge. The infection can be treated with a round of antibiotics. However, when left untreated BV can lead to PID and other long-term damage to reproductive organs resulting in fertility issues. One study found that 19% of infertile women also have BV.
To ensure the BV will not spread, women should refrain from engaging in any sexual activity until the infection has been fully treated. To avoid BV, women also incorporate good vaginal health practices like wearing breathable underwear and avoiding harsh soaps.
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) and affects more than 43 million people. There are many strains of HPV, some of which are more dangerous than others. Studies have found that women with HPV experience fertility issues, but there is not enough information available to healthcare providers as to the exact cause.
Many strains of HPV go away on their own, but those that do not can have a negative effect on the outcome of IVF and other assisted reproductive technology methods. Women can protect themselves from HPV by once again practicing safe sex. They can also get a series of vaccines that will protect them from many of the strains of HPV.
Infections that cause infertility in men can be linked to either problems with sperm production or problems with the passage of sperm due to inflammation of the genital tract. Learning what to look for can help reduce the chances that these infections will lead to infertility.
Orchitis is a condition in which one or both of the testicles become inflamed due to bacteria. In some cases, men experiencing orchitis will also experience prostate infection. Orchitis can be caused by STDs such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, but can also be contracted from non-sexually transmitted bacteria like E. coli, or even viruses like the mumps.
Symptoms of orchitis are pain and swelling of the testicles, pain during ejaculation and urination, nausea and vomiting, fever, and an enlarged prostate. Treatment will include a combination of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and ice to ease the swelling. It is extremely important that men seek treatment as early as possible to avoid long term damage.
When left untreated, orchitis can lead to irreversible damage to sperm quality and production, leading to fertility loss. While orchitis is known to be a common cause of male infertility, exact numbers are not available.
Epididymitis is an infection that causes a tube at the back of the testicles to swell, making it difficult to release sperm. Epididymitis is often accompanied by orchitis and the symptoms are similar. The infection is most common in sexually active men under the age of 35.
The cause of the infection is often untreated STIs like chlamydia or gonorrhea, but can also be caused by untreated urinary tract infections. When caught early, epididymitis can be treated with antibiotics. Untreated epididymitis is one of the top causes of male infertility, affecting as many as 40% of patients.
Just as in women, HPV can cause fertility issues in men. Some strains of HPV cause genital warts in both males and females, while other strains have been linked to certain types of cancer. Some strains of HPV do not lead to any symptoms.
HPV has been found to decrease sperm quality and is directly correlated to male infertility. One study found that HPV was linked to 16% of men seeking fertility treatment, but further studies must be conducted in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of HPV on male infertility.
There is no treatment for HPV in men, but doctors can treat the symptoms if there are any. Men can also get a series of vaccines against certain strains of HPV, but the best way to protect against the virus is by practicing safe sex.
Many infections that lead to infertility can be avoided. The subject of safe sex may be considered taboo by many, but one of the consequences of insufficient sex education is people not knowing how to protect themselves, or what they are protecting themselves from. If people are more aware of the potential dangers of untreated infections, hopefully, we can avoid as many future cases of avoidable infertility as possible.
Infertility affects about 9% of men and 10% of women of reproductive age. Even though infertility is a relatively common issue, it doesn’t change the fact that it can be a challenging and isolating experience.
Infertility does not only affect physical health but mental health as well. Those dealing with infertility often experience feelings of depression or guilt. Couples who experience infertility may also find that the stress has negatively affected their relationship.
A solid support system is important for anyone experiencing fertility loss, but sometimes a little extra professional help can be beneficial in this department, which is nothing to be ashamed of.
If you have had questions about whether or not infertility counseling is for you and what to expect, look no further. We are here to answer all of your questions about infertility counseling.
As with any loss, those that receive infertility diagnoses will go through different stages of guilt, fear, and shame. Infertility counseling is a type of therapy that aims to help those experiencing infertility cope with its various emotional and physical challenges and hopefully come to accept them.
Depending on whether you are an individual woman or a couple, infertility counseling will have slightly different goals.
Studies have shown that infertility affects all aspects of life starting from the physical, psychological, emotional, sociocultural, and financial status of couples. This might make it feel like your world and your relationship are crumbling, and you don’t know where to begin to fix things.
While devastating for everyone, the entire experience surrounding infertility is inherently different for men and women. This is often difficult to articulate to a partner, and therefore for the partner to understand.
Research also shows that women are more willing to openly discuss fertility issues than men which can be problematic for maintaining healthy communication. Couples may also disagree about how and when to discuss these issues with friends or other family members.
The challenges of infertility don’t stop at diagnosis. Many couples choose to pursue assisted reproductive technology (ART) like IVF to try and conceive. These couples often realize that the physical demands of these procedures have a negative effect on their sex lives.
It can also be difficult to make decisions as a couple about how long to pursue ART treatments and when to consider alternative options, like adoption, surrogacy, or sperm donation.
Infertility counseling for couples aims to improve communication so that both partners can better understand each other's experiences and reactions so that they can support each other in the way the other person needs.
When there is better communication, there is better support. When there is better support, there is less conflict. Decreasing conflict is one of the main goals of infertility counseling.
Navigating the path of infertility is hard, but it is a little bit easier when you feel adequately supported.
The timeline for infertility counseling will vary, with some couples seeing progress within 9-12 sessions. Of course, this is circumstantial, and depending on the intricacies of each relationship counseling could be a shorter or longer process.
The psychological effects of infertility are very real, with anxiety and depression rates in women experiencing infertility on par with those experiencing cancer, and heart conditions.
While your infertility counseling will look different depending on the therapist you choose, the goal will always ultimately be the same. To identify the source of the depression and anxiety, and give you tools to cope with it.
Depending on the specific issues a person or couple is facing (feelings of helplessness, diminished self-worth, etc.) each session will be geared toward tackling these problems. As we mentioned above, couples might focus more on improving communication and understanding of one another.
Your therapist is your guide for learning how to navigate these emotions because sometimes we just don’t know how to deal with them on our own, and that’s okay!
Usually, the first time you meet with an infertility counselor or therapist, you will cover the basics. Things like medical history, what your infertility diagnosis was like, how long you have been trying to have a baby, and so on.
If you are a couple, the counselor may ask each party to discuss how infertility has impacted them individually. Dr. Connie Shapiro, a fertility therapist, states that asking each person what is important to them helps to determine a treatment plan for the couple.
If considering sperm or egg donation, therapists will often discuss the stigmas or fears that come with these procedures. Often parents are concerned that if there is not a biological connection, there may be an issue with bonding with the child or that society will look at the parent-child connection differently.
Therapists can also help these couples determine the best way to disclose the nature of conception to the child to prevent any secrets in the family.
Infertility counselors also help educate couples regarding the medical, legal, and psychological issues surrounding third-party conception so that they feel confident if choosing this family-building alternative.
Asking for a referral from your fertility clinic is a great place to start when looking for a fertility counselor. If you are not yet using a fertility clinic, you can usually find a list online of therapists that specialize in fertility issues in your area.
You should have a list of questions ready when contacting a fertility counselor. This will help you determine what to expect from working with this person.
Some examples of questions to ask potential fertility counselors are:
The cost of fertility counseling depends on a number of factors.
Some therapists may be covered by insurance, while others may not. Some clinics provide fertility counselors included in the cost of a procedure like IVF, while others do not.
Anyone experiencing fertility issues would probably benefit from fertility counseling in one way or another. However, not everyone may feel they want to or can afford to pursue fertility counseling.
The choice is ultimately yours, but we recommend seriously considering it in a few situations.
Obviously, infertility is not easy for anyone. That being said, if you feel that infertility has led to feelings of extreme depression or anxiety, fertility counseling is probably a good choice.
As we mentioned above, fertility counseling is also a good idea for couples that feel their relationship has been negatively impacted by their experience with infertility.
Some studies show that couples experiencing fertility issues are more likely to separate. The strain of infertility on any relationship is undeniable, which is why considering fertility counseling might be a good idea.
Fertility counseling can also be great for determining the best course of treatment for both individual women and couples. Making such a big decision can be daunting, especially when faced with so many different options.
Fertility counseling can also help those coming to terms with the fact that having a biological child is not an option for them. This can be an extremely difficult pill to swallow and there is no shame in seeking professional help for guidance.
For some in this situation, adoption might be the best option while others may choose to live a child-free life.
Talking it out with a therapist can help you determine what is right for you and your family.
If you are on the fence about trying fertility counseling, it might be a good idea to give it a try. You stand more to gain than to lose.
If you find it is not your cup of tea, no one is forcing you to continue. But you might find that fertility counseling is just what you need to lighten the already heavy burden of infertility. Why carry it alone if you don’t have to?
Women who have their periods regularly and have not experienced any clear issues with their cycle, might not expect to run into problems getting pregnant or having miscarriages.
Unfortunately, we know all too well that this is not always the case. If you are having trouble with pregnancy despite regular periods, something called luteal phase defects (LPD) might be the cause.
This condition affects the levels of progesterone that women produce during their menstrual cycle. But what exactly is LPD and how does it affect fertility?
A normal menstrual cycle begins with the Follicular Phase on the first day of bleeding and lasts about two weeks. During this phase, a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is released to help the eggs in the ovaries develop.
Estrogen is also produced during this phase so the uterine lining can also develop, essentially preparing your body to house an egg.
Once the Follicular Phase is completed, you will enter the Ovulation phase. Ovulation occurs when you have produced the maximum amount of estrogen your body needs to release the most mature egg.
The ovulation phase usually lasts between 12-24 hours, but you can still become pregnant a few days before or after ovulation.
Once the egg is released during ovulation, the follicles begin to release a hormone called progesterone. Progesterone is very important for the fertilized egg to successfully implant in the uterus and begin to grow.
This is also known as the Luteal Phase, which usually lasts between 12-16 days.
If the body has produced an adequate amount of cervical fluid during the first three phases, and the sperm is successfully carried to the fallopian tubes, the egg should become fertilized, also known as the moment of conception!
If the egg is not fertilized, the cycle will begin again.
Luteal phase deficiency (LPD) is a condition in which during the Luteal Phase, women do not produce enough progesterone for the egg to either implant or for an embryo to grow.
LPD was first recognized in 1949 as a potential cause of infertility. Although more than 70 years have since passed, a full understanding of the cause and diagnosis of LPD has still not been reached.
In fact, as of 2012, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine states that a direct link between LPD and infertility has yet to be proven.
However, other research claims to reveal information that does link LPD and infertility.
Because the signs of LPD are so subtle, it can be hard to diagnose. Many women may not even take note of the signs until they experience issues with pregnancy.
Women with LPD have been found to experience a shortened Luteal Phase of less than 9 days. But other research shows that up to 5% of healthy fertile women also experience short luteal phases without experiencing fertility loss.
One study looked at five women who had experienced multiple miscarriages who were otherwise healthy. All five patients were found to experience spotting before their periods on a regular basis. All five women also had below-average progesterone levels from the 6th day of their luteal phases.
Abnormalities in hormone levels may be able to point to LPD, but the exact cause of hormone imbalances can also be difficult to pinpoint.
While the exact causes of LPD are still unknown, and additional data is needed to present exact numbers, LPD is considered very common. One study found that out of 463 cycles, there were 41 cycles (8.9%) with clinical LPD.
Any health condition that affects hormone levels in your body could be an underlying cause of LPD.
Some of the main conditions that could affect hormone production in women are:
Because of the difficulties in diagnosing LPD, there are still challenges in making direct connections between these conditions and LPD.
But by determining whether or not a woman is experiencing anything else that could affect her hormone levels, doctors can try to come up with the best course of treatment.
While there are some tests to try and diagnose LPD, there is no real reliable way to differentiate between fertile and infertile women.
The least invasive test doctors have used to try and diagnose LPD is measuring the menstrual cycle. However, there are a few issues with this test.
For one, studies have found that 13% of menstrual cycles are associated with a luteal phase that is 10 days or less. Not all women with a short luteal cycle experience issues with fertility.
Another issue is that the luteal phase can only be measured in cycles that do not result in pregnancy, making it hard to know what the exact length of the luteal phase is for women who become pregnant.
The second diagnostic test doctors have tried for LPD is measuring progesterone levels. This test also has its drawbacks because progesterone levels oscillate between 5 and 40 ng/mL over such a short period of time that a single random measurement does not reveal very much.
Taking a sample every day of the luteal phase is not exactly practical, so some doctors have determined that taking three samples should be adequate.
Another potential problem with measuring hormone levels is that progesterone production varies even in healthy fertile women. Overall, this test has not been clinically validated.
In the past, some doctors performed endometrial biopsies, in which a small biopsy of the uterine wall was performed. Because this procedure is rather invasive and never yielded any valuable results, it is also considered clinically invalid for diagnosing LPD.
It should come as no surprise that due to the difficulties with diagnosis, data on treatments for LPD is lacking. The good news is, as we mentioned above, not every woman with LPD has difficulty conceiving.
In the case that a woman with potential LPD and an underlying condition is experiencing fertility issues, treating the underlying condition, if possible, may solve the issue.
If there is no clear cause behind the potential LPD, taking progesterone supplements, paired with fertility treatments like IVF is the general course of treatment. Fertility treatments are an important piece of the treatment plan since there is no evidence that taking progesterone supplements can help to improve the natural menstrual cycle.
There is also conflicting evidence about progesterone supplements lowering the chance of miscarriage. While one study supports this hypothesis, there are others that do not think the data is strong enough to make a clear correlation.
It is unfortunate that in the 70-plus years since LPD was discovered, there is still so little understood about the condition. Hopefully, in the future, further research will help develop more accurate tests to understand whether or not LPD is directly linked to infertility so that treatment can improve.
Couples or individuals usually receive an infertility diagnosis if they have unsuccessfully tried to get pregnant for a year or more. At this stage, people will undergo a series of standard tests to try and determine the cause of infertility.
When all these tests come up negative and there is no apparent cause for infertility, doctors refer to these as cases of “unexplained infertility.” This may feel like a vague umbrella term, ironically leaving a lot of things unexplained.
Do these people have less of a chance of getting pregnant than those with explained infertility? What does “unexplained infertility” actually mean?
According to the World Health Organization, infertility is a disease associated with the reproductive system that is defined by a failure to become pregnant naturally after a period of 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex. If the female partner is 35 or older, infertility testing should be considered after 6 months instead of 12.
Infertility affects between 8-12% of couples worldwide, with 40-50% of these cases being due to causes associated with male infertility. Meaning male infertility is an equally important cause of infertility as women-related causes.
In order to better understand what is causing infertility, and determine the best course of treatment there are a series of tests performed by doctors. First, in order to rule out any obvious causes, the doctor will perform a physical exam and discuss sexual history with both partners.
Next, the doctor will try to narrow down the causes by focusing on the most obvious causes of infertility. While further testing may be necessary later, starting with the least invasive approach is best.
The easiest way to determine male infertility is by performing semen analysis. Semen analysis is a noninvasive procedure in which a man provides a semen sample for testing and will measure the following factors to look for abnormalities:
Hormone analysis is also generally done along with semen analysis. The two most important hormones associated with healthy semen production are follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T).
If there are any abnormalities found in either the semen or hormone analyses, doctors may perform additional tests to explain exactly what the issue is. If men are unable to produce semen at all or produce very little, genetic testing or more invasive surgical testing may be performed to determine the reason.
While an initial physical exam may point doctors in a more specific direction, there are a series of general tests doctors use to help understand the cause of infertility.
If nothing abnormal is found in these general tests, more invasive surgical procedures, such as laparoscopy, can be used to surgically examine a woman’s reproductive organs to try and find the cause of infertility.
If all of the standard infertility tests are performed and no clear explanation can be found, a woman or couple will receive an unexplained infertility diagnosis, which is also known as idiopathic infertility.
30% of couples worldwide are diagnosed with unexplained or idiopathic infertility, making it one of the biggest causes of infertility.
This diagnosis has been challenged by some fertility doctors, arguing that just because someone cannot find the cause of infertility, does not mean that there is no cause. Knowing there is a problem, but not knowing the cause can be extremely frustrating for those experiencing “unexplained infertility.”
However, it is important to remember that an “unexplained infertility” diagnosis does not mean you will never conceive. Sometimes the issue will self-correct over time. In fact, the rate of spontaneous conception is much higher in these cases than in cases of defined causes of infertility, reaching up to 80% in younger couples.
While this is not always the cause, a better understanding of the issue might also be of comfort to those suffering from “unexplained infertility.”
Asking what causes “unexplained infertility,” may seem like an oxymoronic question. However, misdiagnosis is often an issue. For example, fertile couples who have failed to conceive within a year may receive a misdiagnosis.
Another common cause of misdiagnosis is when fertility tests yield inaccurate results due to issues with the testing process. These issues are not always because of the doctors administering the tests, but because the results are sometimes so minor, that the abnormalities are almost impossible to detect.
Another issue with “unexplained infertility,” is that the clinical tests looking for obvious causes of infertility fail to account for several conditions such as age-related infertility in women. This means women over the age of 35 are twice as likely to be diagnosed with “unexplained infertility.”
While women over a certain age may need a different course of treatment than other people experiencing infertility, the distinction between young women with “undiagnosed infertility” and those with age-related “undiagnosed infertility” must be made.
In other words, women over the age of 35 are more likely to experience difficulty getting pregnant than younger women, but because there is currently no specific test currently available to measure egg quality, they will be lumped into the “unexplained infertility” diagnosis.
Other things that could warrant an “unexplained fertility” diagnosis are the following:
Because by definition, those diagnosed with “unexplained infertility,” do not have one clear issue to address, meaning treatment options will try to account for the most common causes. The most common treatment options for “unexplained infertility” are as follows:
Because “unexplained infertility” is such an ambiguous diagnosis, those that receive it may be worried about the chances of them successfully conceiving. However, this is a common misconception.
Depending on the cause, some people with “unexplained infertility” might actually have a higher chance of having a child.
Those with “unexplained infertility” should try and fully understand the cause of their diagnosis in order to understand the best possible course of treatment in order to increase their chances of a successful outcome.
Getting pregnant can sometimes require a little extra assistance. For people experiencing fertility issues, Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), like IVF, can be used to help couples have a baby. While IVF alone has a relatively high success rate, you might be wondering if there is anything you can do to boost your chances of success with the procedure.
In order to increase their chances, some people turn to treatments outside the realm of Western reproductive medicine, like acupuncture, throughout the IVF process. While there is still research to be done to determine the exact outcomes of acupuncture on IVF, there is some evidence to indicate that acupuncture can be helpful for patients trying to conceive.
So, what exactly is acupuncture and how does it affect IVF?
Acupuncture is a therapeutic treatment used in Chinese medicine that dates back thousands of years, but has gained popularity in the West in the past 40 years due to an increase in scientific studies proving its efficiency.
Today, over 10 million people undergo acupuncture every year in the US alone.
The procedure is often used to treat pain, stress management, and overall health by inserting tiny needles into your body at different strategic points. In doing so, the energy and blood flow in your body is rebalanced.
Typically, practitioners will first ask you questions about your lifestyle, diet, if you experience any pain in your body, and what your sleep and exercise routines look like. They will then examine physical parts of your body, like the shape and color of your tongue, and the strength, and rhythm of your pulse.
They will then determine where on your body they will insert the needles. Usually, between 5 and 20 points will be chosen depending on the person. You will then lie down on a bed and the needles will be inserted.
This might sound scary, but the needles are so small that there is usually minimal discomfort. Acupuncture clinics and practitioners are also usually very calming and the session should feel relaxing.
The needles will remain in your body for between 10 and 30 minutes, and will then be removed by the practitioner. After a session, you should drink a lot of water and take it easy for the rest of the day.
It might be clear why people use acupuncture to help with pain or stress but how can it help with IVF success?
For one thing, IVF can be a stressful process, not just physically but mentally. In fact, research shows that 30% of couples stop IVF treatment before becoming pregnant because of the negative psychological effects.
There is also evidence to show that even for couples that do not stop IVF prematurely, emotional stress significantly lowers the chances of success because of the negative effects it has on ovarian function and implantation.
As mentioned above, acupuncture is often used to reduce stress. This is because when the needles are inserted into the strategic points, your body will experience natural endorphin release. This is because acupuncture helps to balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic parts of the nervous system.
While additional research is necessary to show exact numbers, existing studies found that the longer someone undergoes acupuncture treatments, the better the results.
In addition to stress reduction, a regulated nervous system also increases blood flow. When this happens, nutrients-filled blood makes its way to the uterus and ovaries.
One Swedish study found that after 8 acupuncture sessions, women’s uterine blood flow increased dramatically and stayed that way for weeks afterward.
When there is increased blood flow to the uterus, the lining of the uterus will become thicker. The thicker the uterine lining, the better environment it becomes for egg implantation, which is crucial for success with IVF.
Chances are if your hormones are imbalanced, you are more likely to experience issues with fertility. In a number of studies, acupuncture was found to improve the production of fertility-related hormones, like estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin in women.
Imbalanced hormones can also lead to irregular menstrual cycles and anovulation, which is when women do not ovulate and ovulation is necessary for pregnancy. Data shows that acupuncture has also been used in these cases to help women achieve regulated menstrual functioning.
For women with preexisting conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), infrequent ovulation can lead to fertility issues, especially when going through IVF. Acupuncture over an extended period of time has also helped these women achieve more regular ovulation cycles.
Being well-rested is not only important for overall health and feeling good, but for increasing the chances of successful IVF cycles. In fact, women with insomnia have a 400% higher chance of experiencing fertility issues.
Thankfully, acupuncture has also been used to improve sleep quality in everyone, including those that suffer from insomnia. Acupuncture increases chemicals in the body, like amino-y acids, that are responsible for calming the nervous system and reducing insomnia leading to longer-lasting and higher-quality sleep.
For couples undergoing fertility treatments, the man’s fertility loss as a result of semen quality is equally as important for achieving a successful outcome. Acupuncture has not only been found to benefit women’s fertility when using IVF but men’s as well.
One study found that for men diagnosed with low sperm activity or quality, acupuncture could be used to help in these areas. Another study included men who had previously been unsuccessful when trying IVF with their partners. After 8 weeks of acupuncture treatments, there was an increase in sperm count and quality, along with higher fertilization rates at their next IVF cycle.
Because additional research is necessary to produce more precise data, there is no one clear answer to this question. However, existing studies are able to guide us in the right direction.
One study looked at women over a five-year period and compared those that did IVF alone and those that did IVF and acupuncture at the same time. These women did between 13 to 15 sessions of acupuncture throughout their IVF cycles.
The results found that the women who incorporated acupuncture into their lives during IVF were 60% more likely to have a baby than those who just did IVF.
The majority of acupuncture research points to the fact that the longer the period of time that you do acupuncture, the better the results. Meaning, that starting acupuncture before starting IVF cycles may yield even better results.
In fact, women that did acupuncture only on the day of embryo transfer in IVF, saw little to no increase in pregnancy rates, which further backs up this theory. For this reason, it is recommended to start acupuncture between 30 and 90 days before any fertility treatments begin.
Acupuncture is becoming more and more popular as a complementary treatment for IVF. Around 30% of women in Australia report undergoing acupuncture before starting IVF, and almost half during IVF.
The number of clinical research related to the efficiency of acupuncture has significantly grown in the past few years, giving people a reason to believe the hype. That being said, there is still much more research to be done in order to fully understand the effects of acupuncture on IVF.
Many clinical trials in acupuncture are ignored because there are no quantitative evaluation methods established to measure clear data points. Some in the medical field believe that positive results post-acupuncture can be chalked up to the placebo effect.
At this stage, there is not enough scientific evidence to prove one way or another. However, the trials that have been carried out do not show any harmful side effects as a result of acupuncture. It might be worth a try to see if acupuncture is a good addition to your IVF journey.
The World Health Organization reports that almost half of all pregnancies each year are unintended and that 61% of these pregnancies end in induced abortion. The decision to have an abortion is a very personal one, but statistics show it is very common and nothing to be ashamed of.
Even if women know they want to have children at some point in their lives, they may become pregnant without intending to before they are ready. Fearing that having an abortion will affect their future fertility may be a factor in whether or not they decide to go through with the procedure.
Women should be free to choose if and when they want to have children. Unfortunately, the negative stigma around abortion often prevents people from gaining accurate information, making it difficult for women to make informed decisions about their course of treatment.
Whether you have had an abortion in the past or are considering an abortion, worrying about how it might affect your future fertility is completely normal and we aim to address these concerns in this article.
There are two types of abortions available, the procedure a woman can have depends on how many weeks pregnant she is.
To start, data shows that an abortion carried out with no complications has virtually no chance of causing future fertility issues. The chance of experiencing any complications that could lead to infertility (assuming the abortion is safely carried out) are 0.23%.
Making a decision about having an abortion shouldn’t be rushed. However, the earlier in pregnancy the abortion takes place, the lower the likelihood of complications is. While major complications are rare, as with any medical procedure, there are potential risks.
It should be noted that according to multiple studies, legally performed abortions have a lower chance of negative outcomes than vaginal childbirth or C-section. In fact, the risk of death from childbirth is 14 times more likely than from abortion.
As previously stated, there is no evidence to support that having had a complication-less abortion in the past will lead to an increased risk of spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy, preterm birth, or low birth weight in future pregnancies.
There is also no evidence to show decreased fertility or difficulty conceiving postabortion. However, in a small number of women who developed an infection and did not treat it right away, there is some risk.
Asherman’s Syndrome is a disorder in which scar tissue lines the walls of the uterus, and can sometimes occur after a surgical procedure such as C and D surgical abortion. One study found that out of 844 women only 0.7% were found to have Asherman’s Syndrome following sharp curettage and repeat curettage procedures.
Unfortunately, most women who have Asherman’s Syndrome do experience menstrual and fertility problems. In a study of 16 women with Asherman’s Syndrome who had not undergone treatment, only three patients achieved term deliveries.
The good news, however, is that hysteroscopic treatment of Asherman’s Syndrome has shown promising results, with a pregnancy rate of 62.5% in women under 35 years of age.
Thankfully, legal and safe abortions have a very low percentage of risk to women’s health and fertility. However, while women in parts of North America and Europe generally have access to abortions, there are many women around the world who do not.
The rate of serious abortion-related complications is much more likely in parts of the world in which the procedure is illegal or difficult to obtain. Many of these cases go unreported, but it is estimated that 8-11% of maternal death worldwide is the result of unsafe abortions.
Restricting the availability of the procedure is the most dangerous risk involved in abortions We must remove the stigma that surrounds abortion in order to give women the right to choose the course of care that is safest for them.
If you’ve decided that you’re ready to get pregnant, you probably already know that certain things like alcohol and smoking can have a negative effect on your fertility. While these substances are never good for your health, you might be wondering how less obviously harmful parts of your lifestyle might play a part in your fertility.
Information about what medications to avoid when pregnant is generally more accessible, but what about when you are trying to conceive? Is it possible that everyday medications could cause fertility loss?
The most common kind of painkillers are Ibuprofen, Aspirin, and Aleve, which are nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The research on the effects that these drugs have on fertility is somewhat conflicted. While the general consensus seems to be that taking NSAIDs in small doses is unlikely to affect fertility, if taken over a long period of time, they could potentially impair ovulation.
Healthy ovulation occurs when an egg reaches maturity and breaks through the ovarian sack as the egg is released. Because this is an inflammatory function of the body, excessive use of anti inflammatory drugs like NSAIDs could, in theory, significantly delay ovulation.
However, studies show that the required dose of NSAIDs that a woman would have to take for this to happen is much higher than normal usage, so taking the occasional Aspirin for a headache should not cause this to happen.
Another study found that taking NSAIDs to delay ovulation could even be useful in preventing the cancellation of IVF cycles, which can happen when a woman ovulates before her scheduled IVF appointment. Planning the exact time of ovulation, though, is tricky, so this might not be as effective in practice.
NSAIDs have been found to have little effect on male reproductivity, again, as long as they are not being abused.
Opioids, such as codeine, hydrocodone and oxycodone are narcotic painkillers prescribed by some doctors for mid level to more serious pain. Taking these drugs during pregnancy can be dangerous for the fetus and should be avoided by pregnant women. In fact, 5.6% of spontaneous miscarriage can be linked to opioid use during pregnancy.
Women trying to conceive should understand that opioids are highly addictive and it may take time to be able to fully stop taking them before becoming pregnant. Also consider how long you’ve been taking the drug.
One study found that out of 47 women taking opioids over an extended period of time, half experienced amenorrhea, also known as abnormal periods and reduced hormone function.
Give yourself some time to adjust once you stop taking opioids. Women who stopped taking opioids less than a month before becoming pregnant were more likely to have babies with birth defects like congenital heart defects and neural tube defects. Though, exact numbers are hard to find.
Around 16.5% of all women worldwide take antidepressants. Depression is extremely common and nothing to be ashamed of, but when thinking about having a baby it is important to consider the possible implications of SSRIs on fertility as well as the potential consequences that could come with stopping these medications.
Data suggests that women who take antidepressants may be less likely to conceive naturally. Unfortunately, there is not enough research to fully back this claim. SSRIs have also been linked to lower sperm count in men.
All antidepressants are found to have some effect on sexual function in both men and women, from decreased libido to erectile disfunction. The dosage on type of SSRIs may be linked to the severity, but not enough research has been done to have definitive answers.
While many doctors may suggest stopping SSRIs when trying to conceive, the decision is not that easy and leaves couples battling depression with a difficult decision to make. Leaving depression untreated has its own implications.
Women with mood disorders who stop taking their medication may not be in the best mental state to worry about prenatal care. In fact, women with untreated depression have a higher chance of giving birth to babies who will develop depression, anxiety and behavioral disorders later in life.
Couples coping with mood disorders, hoping to conceive should talk to a psychiatrist and weigh the risks of stopping their medication. A combination of counseling and varied medication levels may be the solution.
Couples suffering with depression should remember, getting pregnant is only the first step, being healthy parents once the baby is born is crucial and they need to put their mental health first for this to happen.
Studies have found that antibiotics do not have any negative effect on ovulation or menstruation. However, antibiotics such as Penicillin, ampicillin, and tetracycline have been found to decrease sperm production in men.
While the effects seem to improve once medication is stopped, it is not always possible to discontinue the use of antibiotics, especially if your partner is fighting an infection. Consulting a doctor about the pros and cons is advised.
Asthma affects between 5-10% of women all over the world, making it a very common chronic disease that women of reproductive age suffer from.
While many women with diagnosed asthma conceive just as quickly as women without. One study found that women using short acting asthma relief medication were 30% more likely to have taken more than a year to conceive.
While it is unknown exactly the cause of fertility issues in asthmatic women, it is possible that the inflammation in the lungs could be causing inflammation in other parts of the body, such as the uterus.
If you use beta-agonists to treat your asthma, talk to your doctor about a potential alternative before and during your pregnancy.
Immunosuppressive medications are used to treat autoimmune conditions like lupus, psoriasis, Crohn's disease and alopecia. There are many autoimmune conditions, but the main thing that they have in common is that the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues and medication can be used to help reduce the impact.
Immunosuppressives are also almost always taken after a person receives an organ transplant to reduce the risk of the body rejecting the new organ.
While there is again, not enough research to know the definitive outcomes of immunosuppressants on fertility loss, studies show that they are almost certainly linked to birth defects and fertility issues.
Women on these drugs who wish to get pregnant should alter the dosage if possible and should discuss their options with their doctor.
There is no doubt that there is a link between epilepsy and fertility issues in both men and women. The problem is that it is very difficult to determine if these issues are linked to the epilepsy itself or anti-epileptic medications.
Depending on the severity of the epilepsy, some people may need to take multiple anti-epileptic drugs, the main ones being carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine (OXC) and valproate.
Women taking three or more drugs to treat their epilepsy were 18 times more likely to experience fertility problems than women not taking any epilepsy medications. Studies have also found that men taking epilepsy medication experienced sperm abnormalities.
While the exact causation is unknown, epileptic people are more likely to experience fertility issues. Those with epilepsy who want to get pregnant should consult with fertility specialists and neurologists about their options when it comes to changing or stopping their medication.
There has been a lot of talk about the COVID-19 vaccination affecting fertility. According to the CDC, there is no evidence that the COVID vaccine has any negative effect on women planning to get pregnant. If you plan to get pregnant, vaccinating against COVID is recommended for your health and the health of your future baby.
If you are planning to travel overseas and need certain vaccinations beforehand, speak to your doctor about whether or not you should wait a recommended amount of time before trying to conceive. While there shouldn’t be any issues, it is best to be on the safe side.
If you think there is a chance you may already be pregnant, check with your doctor before getting any vaccinations to make sure that they are safe.
There are a few chemicals found in beauty products that have been blamed for fertility issues over the past few years. Ingredients like parabens, triclosan, and phthalates are commonly recommended to avoid. While not enough research has been done to draw a clear conclusion about their effects, it might be best not to use products containing these or other unnatural ingredients when trying to conceive.
Certain over the counter medications may be just fine, while others might be directly linked to fertility loss. If you are trying to get pregnant and take medication or have concerns about how your lifestyle might have an effect on your fertility, it is best to discuss it with your doctor.
Celiac disease, an immune reaction to eating gluten, has been connected to a wide array of symptoms from gastronomical to mental. In some cases people with celiac disease have no obvious symptoms at all, making it difficult to diagnose at times.
While going gluten free might seem like just another diet trend, research shows that this is not entirely true. More and more people seem to be developing celiac disease over time and while the cause is not entirely clear, the consequences cannot be ignored.
Those suffering from undiagnosed celiac disorder may experience a number of health issues but could otherwise unexplained fertility loss be one of them?
While most of us have probably heard the terms celiac disease or gluten intolerance being thrown around in the last few years, we might not know what they mean. In short, celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which a person has a negative reaction to gluten, a protein that is found in barley, wheat, and rye.
When a person with celiac disease (CD) consumes gluten, their immune system becomes inflamed and overactive, which when left untreated over time can damage the body’s internal organs, such as the intestines. However, celiac disease can cause a number of symptoms that are not only stomach related.
Some of the main physical symptoms connected to celiac disease are:
Celiac disease has also been linked to some neurological symptoms, with as much as 36% of adult patients presenting with neurological changes such as depression, ADHD and even epilepsy.
People can develop CD at any age and the exact causes of the disease are still unknown. Studies show that while a susceptibility for the disease is inherited, the disease itself is not.
Numbers currently stand at about 1 in 133 people with gluten intolerance. However, it is believed that the numbers are actually higher with many people left undiagnosed.
People experiencing obvious symptoms are more likely to seek treatment. However, it is important to note that people with CD who do not present symptoms will still experience health complications over time.
Recent studies suggest that there is a connection between undiagnosed celiac disorder and reproductive changes in women. Some of these changes include fertility loss, miscarriages, low birth weights, preterm labor and early menopause. One study even found that babies of women with undiagnosed celiac disease who were delivered with a cesarean had a higher chance of developing the disease themselves.
Up to 50% of women with untreated CD have experienced either miscarriage or unfavorable pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancy complications are found to be four times more likely in women with undiagnosed CD than healthy women.
Undiagnosed women also experience a shorter fertility period and have been shown to begin menstruation later and begin menopause two to three years before women who treated the disease.
The numbers speak for themselves, but you may still be wondering how celiac disease causes these reproductive changes.
Celiac disease affects women in two main ways:
While these potential outcomes may be overwhelming, it is important to note that the women who experienced these issues were only diagnosed with CD after their pregnancies. Women with CD who stopped consuming gluten before and during their pregnancies eliminated many of the risks highlighted above.
Experiencing infertility can be extremely stressful, especially when the cause is unknown. Symptoms of celiac disease have also been known to worsen when a person is under an intensified amount of stress. Which when left undiagnosed can increase chances of infertility further.
This information can actually be good news for many women experiencing unexplained infertility. Around 10-15% of women experience unexplained infertility and studies have found that many of these women have dramatic therapeutic effects after cutting gluten from their diets.
Many doctors are becoming more aware that CD may be a cause of unexplained infertility, but if you are trying to get pregnant or are considering it, it may be a good idea to go ahead and get tested for CD even if you do not have any other obvious symptoms.
If you were diagnosed with celiac disease and you still cannot get pregnant, don’t panic. Your body may need some time to recover and adjust to a gluten free lifestyle. One Swedish study of 11,000 women found that fertility was reduced in women for two years after a CD diagnosis, but returned to normal afterwards.
Women with untreated CD are not the one ones who experience fertility loss. Men with undiagnosed celiac disorder may also experience fertility loss, with one study showing up to 19% of undiagnosed celiac men with abnormal hormone and sperm levels.
While there is a lack of information on the subject, there is some evidence that celiac men, like women, who refrain from eating gluten have also been shown to regain normal sperm and hormone levels over time.
Therefore, men who are experiencing unexplained infertility should also be tested for celiac disease even if there are no other clear symptoms pointing to gluten intolerance.
The course of treatment for celiac disease may seem obvious, stop eating gluten.
Thankfully, today, celiac disease is much more widely recognized than it once was and there are many gluten free alternatives available on the market. That being said, a gluten free diet can still be a serious lifestyle change, even for people who don’t necessarily care for bread and pasta. There is gluten hidden in all kinds of less obvious foods that people with CD will need to look out for.
People with celiac disease will need to stick to a gluten free diet for their entire lives if they want to remain healthy. Consuming gluten even in small amounts can cause autoimmune flare ups. Consulting a doctor or dietitian, especially in the beginning of the transition, is highly recommended.
Women with CD planning to get pregnant should also ensure that once they have cut gluten out of their diets, they are not losing nutrients found in glutenous foods such as fiber, folic acid, and vitamin D. There are many options for gluten supplements such as vitamins and other food sources. Again, consulting a doctor is important for determining the right diet for you.
Getting a celiac disease diagnosis may seem discouraging at first. However, the positive results of a gluten free lifestyle for people with CD are extremely encouraging. The long term negative effects of CD decrease to almost zero the earlier treatment begins.
People with celiac disease can expect to live happy, healthy lives as long as they make the necessary changes to their diet. For celiacs, gluten-free means worry free.
When planning for baby number two, women with a history of fertility issues may question how getting pregnant for a second time will be different than the first. The decision to expand the family is an exciting one. However, for couples who have experienced infertility in the past, preparing for a second baby can cause fear, anxiety and uncertainty.
Thankfully, second-time parents have experienced pregnancy before, which can help relieve the stress of the unknown. Taking the time to consider the factors that can affect a second pregnancy can give couples an idea of what to expect this time around.
It may be important to some couples that their children be close in age, motivating them to expand their families more quickly than others. While the decision is ultimately a personal one, not waiting long enough between pregnancies can be risky for both the mother and baby, especially if the previous pregnancy was strenuous.
Research suggests that ideally, women should wait 18 months between pregnancies. The interpregnancy period for women who have a history of infertility issues is not any longer or shorter than for women without.
Pregnancies less than 12 months apart can put infants at risk of congenital disorders such as preeclampsia and in some cases developmental disorders such as autism. Studies found that short interpregnancy intervals carry a 3% increased risk of preeclampsia and two to three-fold increased autism risk. Babies conceived within six months of a previous birth have an 8.5% risk of being born prematurely and the risk of miscarriage in these pregnancies increases by 230%.
Having a baby is no easy task and while it may be natural for new moms to shift focus from caring for themselves to caring for their new baby, it is important that women dedicate enough time after giving birth to recovering both physically and mentally.
Research shows that mothers need at least 12 months post-birth to fully recover in the following ways:
While not waiting enough time between pregnancies is ill-advised, waiting too long to get pregnant carries its own set of risks. One study found that women waiting 72 months or longer between pregnancies were at a higher risk of stillbirth than women who waited less than 6 months. This can be traced back to physiological changes affecting pregnancy in older women.
Couples on their second pregnancy have naturally aged since the birth of their first baby, which automatically decreases fertility in both partners. Parents who experienced fertility issues with their first baby should also take into consideration the role of aging in infertility.
Women who used ART, such as IVF, for their first baby may be worried about how this might affect their chances of having a second child. While there are no guarantees, a recent study published very positive results for IVF baby number two, reporting 43% of women had another baby after just one frozen embryo transfer. After six cycles of frozen embryo transfer between 61% and 88% of women had a baby.
It is important to note that these results differ when using fresh embryos, with successful birth rates standing at 31% after one IVF cycle. Frozen embryos are advantageous especially for women who are older at the time of the cycle than they were upon freezing the embryos.
IVF technology has advanced immensely, giving women with fertility issues a much greater chance at having children than ever before. That being said, science cannot prevent the aging process altogether and women who know they want to have a second baby should not wait too long before starting the process again. The study showed that success rates decreased with age, with women aged 40 at a 20% chance of getting pregnant with fresh embryos.
Women who experienced fertility issues with their first baby are likely familiar with the potential causes of primary infertility and how these factors might affect a second pregnancy. After giving birth, however, women can sometimes sustain damage to their reproductive organs caused by complications during pregnancy or surgery, posing a different set of infertility risks.
Some of the leading causes of reproductive organ damage are:
For parents that experienced difficulty with conception or pregnancy in the past, the thought of going through a similar process again may bring up more feelings of anxiety than excitement. Fertility problems can be traumatic and isolating, leading some to self-blame.
It may be hard to remember, but millions of couples face fertility issues each year. Some may find comfort in the fact that they are not alone in their struggles and can look to support groups or counselors. Building strong support networks either through therapy, friends, or family, can help cope with feelings of fear and loneliness surrounding the topic.
Some may prefer to keep their fertility treatments private. In this case, strong communication between partners is important to maintaining emotional health in the relationship. Setting realistic expectations before trying for a second child can help prepare for emotions that may arise, no matter the outcome.
Sometimes fertility can take center stage, making it easy to forget the importance of self-care. Mothers need to take care of themselves by exercising, eating right, and getting proper rest. Anxiety can negatively affect fertility, so while it may seem difficult, relaxing can actually make a difference.
Becoming as informed as possible can help empower couples by allowing them to make the right decisions depending on their situation. Consulting a fertility specialist is the best way to determine the best course of action.
Families that take time to do their research can regain a sense of control and calm. No matter the chosen path to becoming a second-time, we hope your experience is as smooth as possible.
