fertility Blog

Going through fertility treatment, you may wonder about the best path to self-care during IVF, especially as embryo transfer day approaches. You may be worried about what effect your actions can have on the process, and you want to make sure you do everything in your power to ensure success. The good news is that caring for yourself before and after your embryo transfer procedure isn’t complicated.

Here are ten simple tips for taking care of yourself during this exciting time.

1. Eat a Healthy Diet and Stay Hydrated

If you already eat wholesome meals, keep it up. Now is the time to cut down on sweets, reduce alcohol, and add more fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. There’s no “embryo transfer diet” to follow, but eating as if you’re already pregnant is a good idea. Drinking fluids is also crucial since proper hydration is essential to optimal cell functioning. You want your body to be in optimal condition.

2. Take a Prenatal Vitamin (and Make Sure You Get Enough Folic Acid)

Now is a good time to start taking a prenatal vitamin — following your doctor’s instructions. If you’re taking an over-the-counter prenatal rather than a prescription brand, ensure that it includes DHA omega 3, vitamin D, calcium, and folic acid. While most prenatal vitamins contain adequate amounts of folic acid, your doctor may recommend an additional supplement. Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects in your baby and may also reduce the risk of heart defects.

3. Avoid Chemical Exposure from Everyday Sources

Modern life is full of products containing endocrine-disrupting chemicals or EDCs. These chemicals may interfere with your hormones, and some can cross the placenta and build up in your unborn baby’s bloodstream, causing developmental issues. Become a label reader and avoid products that contain the following:

• Bisphenol A (BPA, common in plastics)
• Phthalates
• Parabens (common in cleaning and personal care products such as shampoo)
• Triclosan (found in anti-bacterial products).

Avoid EDCs both before and after embryo transfer or, better yet, cut them out of your life entirely.

4. Take it Easy on Transfer Day and Immediately After

While there’s certainly no need for bed rest (the embryo isn’t going to fall out, after all), relaxing and pampering yourself on embryo transfer day and for a couple of days after is a good idea. This is as much for psychological and emotional reasons as for physical ones; post-transfer days can be an emotional rollercoaster, and rest, relaxation, and pampering can go a long way toward reducing stress.

5. Relax — but Not in the Hot Tub

While pampering yourself in the days after an embryo transfer can be good for your mental and physical health, avoid the sauna or jacuzzi, and pass on a long soak in a hot bath for a few days. Some research suggests that activities that elevate your core temperature might interfere with implantation. Just to be safe, stick to showers or warm baths rather than turning up the heat.

6. Keep Taking Your Medications

Unless your doctor advises you differently, continue taking your prescribed medication. Progesterone is vital as it helps the embryo implant and ensures it stays implanted. Don’t stop any medicines unless your doctor recommends a break.

7. Abstain from Sex Until Your Doctor Okays It

If your doctor has suggested that you refrain from sexual intercourse for a short time after the embryo is transferred, you may wonder why. The answer? Sex can cause uterine contractions. This can affect the embryo’s ability to implant and, in a worst-case scenario, could theoretically lead to a miscarriage. Most experts agree that abstaining from sex for 10 to 14 days is sufficient.

8. Pay Attention to Your Body

You know your body best, so pay close attention to what it’s telling you. If anything feels wrong or “off,” inform your doctor immediately. There’s probably nothing to be concerned about, but a quick consultation can relieve your mind.

If you’ve been taking fertility drugs, keep your eye out for the following symptoms:

• Sudden weight gain
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

These can be symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome or OHSS, and it’s important to let your doctor know immediately.

9. Don’t Rush Out and Buy a Pregnancy Test

Taking a pregnancy test too early isn’t a good idea, no matter how tempting it may be. Pregnancy tests measure the amount of pregnancy hormone in your urine, and it takes some time for this hormone to build up to measurable levels. You might get a false-negative or even a false-positive result if you take a test too soon. So, settle in with a stack of good books, binge-watch Netflix, or find another way to pass the time until your scheduled pregnancy test with your fertility doctor.

10. Use Stress-Reduction Tools to Make the Wait Easier

Finally, do what you can to de-stress while you’re waiting. This is a good time to sign up for meditation, a beginner’s yoga class, or embark on a stress-reduction course.

The Takeaway

The time before and after your embryo transfer can be a template for how you plan to advance during your pregnancy. Forming good habits now and learning to care for yourself with compassion can create a firm foundation to build on in the future. If you’re just starting your fertility journey, if you have questions, or if you simply want to learn more, we can help.

Contact Reproductive Gynecology and Infertility today and speak to one of our fertility experts.

Endometriosis is when endometrial tissue develops outside the uterus, causing inflammation, discomfort, and infertility.

Stages of Endometriosis:

Stage 1 — Minimal

A few superficial lesions, or implants, on the tissue of your pelvis or abdomen with little to no scar tissue.

Stage 2 – Mild

Implants are deeper with some scar tissue.

Stage 3— Moderate

Multiple deep lesions, small cysts on your ovaries, and thick bands of scar tissue.

Stage 4 — Severe

Widespread deep tissue implants, thick scar tissue, and larger cysts on both ovaries

Diagnosing Endometriosis:

Your healthcare provider may perform:

Ultrasound

Imaging of your internal organs using sound waves.

CT Scan

Imaging with computer technology and X-rays to see abnormalities in the body.

MRI

Two-dimensional imaging of your organs.

Laparoscopy

Performed by inserting a tiny tube with a camera into your abdomen to assess endometrial growth.

Endometriosis Treatment:

Pain relief

Over-the-counter pain medicine to relieve discomfort.

Hormone therapy

Hormones to decrease menstrual symptoms and ovulation.

Laparoscopy

A small scope is used to find and remove endometrial growths.

Hysterectomy

Removal of the uterus.

What does endometriosis have to do with infertility?

20-40% of women with infertility have endometriosis.

Endometriosis results in inflammation, affecting the function of your reproductive organs.

It causes scar tissue formation in the pelvic area and adhesion-related distortions of the fallopian tubes, interfering with egg fertilization and implantation.

Contact Reproductive Gynecology and Infertility (RGI) to learn more about endometriosis and infertility treatments.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, commonly known as PCOS, is one of the leading causes of infertility. As many as five million women in the U.S. are affected by this condition, which may impact ovulation. The condition can make conceiving difficult, but treatments are available and are associated with high success rates. Women with PCOS who are interested in conceiving may respond to a combination of lifestyle changes and medical treatment, so it’s important to reach out to a specialist for evaluation. Today we’ll look at what PCOS is, how it affects fertility, and what you can do to increase your odds of getting pregnant if you have PCOS.

What is PCOS?

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a hormonal problem that causes ovulation to be erratic, infrequent, or even entirely absent. Women who do not ovulate regularly will complain of irregular or absent menses.

The name of the condition tells us something about it. “Poly” = “many,” and “cystic” = “having to do with cysts.” PCOS is a condition where there are many small follicles that are arrested in development. Usually, one follicle will develop a mature egg each cycle. In PCOS, the ovarian environment is dominated by androgens like testosterone and insulin resistance. This impairs the development of the follicle and prevents an egg from maturing.

How Does PCOS Affect Fertility?

For conception to take place, your body must produce and release a mature egg. If you don’t ovulate, you cannot get pregnant. Most people ovulate monthly, and the less frequently you ovulate, the fewer opportunities there are to get pregnant. While exact numbers are difficult to pin down due to the variability of severity and symptoms in PCOS, the 2015 Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health found that 72% of participants with PCOS reported fertility problems, compared to 16% in those who did not have PCOS.

Getting Pregnant with PCOS

If you have PCOS, the most important step toward getting pregnant is to induce ovulation. Since ovulation may be irregular in women with PCOS, it can be difficult to identify your fertility window. In women who do not have menses, there is no opportunity to conceive due to a lack of ovulation. Many women with PCOS are prescribed hormonal contraception to help improve their bleeding; therefore, they may be unsure of their cycle regularity once they stop taking hormonal medication. If normal menses does not occur one month after stopping the hormonal medication, this may indicate an ovulation disorder.

In addition, the weight gain often associated with PCOS can make ovulation even less likely. For women with an increased body mass index (BMI), lifestyle approaches such as dietary changes and exercise may result in ovulatory cycles.

Lifestyle Changes that Can Increase Your Chances of Pregnancy

If you have PCOS and you’re overweight, one of the simplest things you can do to increase your chances of getting pregnant is to lose weight. Losing only five to ten percent of your current weight is often enough to restart ovulation. If you’re not overweight, weight loss is unnecessary. However, other non-drug options may be beneficial regardless of your weight.

Here are a few lifestyle changes that could help:

Watch What You Eat

There is no one-size-fits-all option for women with PCOS who are trying to lose weight, but caloric restriction is generally ideal.

• Decreasing the intake of carbohydrates and foods with high glycemic load is beneficial for women with PCOS because many women with PCOS have insulin resistance.
• Avoid intake of sugary beverages like soda, and try to buy less packaged food.
• Include high-fiber foods and lean protein in your daily diet, and pass on red meat.

These dietary changes may help decrease the risk of developing diabetes, which is common among women with PCOS, and promote weight loss — both of which will help to restore ovulation and decrease the risk of complications in pregnancy.

Exercise regularly

For roughly half of those diagnosed with PCOS, exercise can help regularize menstrual cycles and improve ovulation. And, of course, exercise can support weight loss. This doesn’t mean you have to take out a gym membership or invest in expensive equipment; walking and yoga are easy, enjoyable ways to include exercise in your daily routine. There are other benefits of exercise as well, and women with PCOS who exercise regularly report a higher quality of life.

Medications That Can Assist Ovulation

Along with lifestyle modifications, several drugs can help PCOS patients restart or regularize ovulation and get pregnant.

Metformin

Metformin is commonly prescribed to help decrease the development of diabetes in women with PCOS but does induce ovulation. Metformin is commonly used in conjunction with letrozole to help induce ovulation in women with PCOS. It may be started in women with abnormal glucose testing or for women who failed to respond to letrozole or Clomid.

Letrozole and Clomid

These drugs are standard fertility drugs used to increase the regularity of ovulation and stimulate ovulation in people who do not ovulate. While both improve the likelihood of getting pregnant, letrozole appears to be more effective in achieving ovulation for women diagnosed with PCOS.

When to Seek Fertility Treatment

For patients with a diagnosis of PCOS, a pre-conception visit with either an OBGYN or a fertility specialist is important. Women should start incorporating lifestyle modifications (and start a prenatal vitamin) prior to conception.

For women who are not having regular periods, it’s important to seek help immediately so that a proper evaluation can be completed. Male partners should also be evaluated, as many couples have male and female problems.

If pregnancy is not achieved after three to six cycles, it may be time to consider other approaches to fertility treatment, such as IVF. Our fertility specialists can help you explore your options with your unique needs and goals.

Yes, You Can Get Pregnant with PCOS

While PCOS is one of the most common causes of infertility, it’s also one of the most treatable. If you’re ready to take the next step on your fertility journey, contact us today for a consultation.

Fertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization and egg donation (egg donor IVF or donor egg IVF) allow many individuals and couples to start or expand their family size regardless of their fertility and health status. A 2016 Center for Disease Control and Prevention survey revealed that donor eggs were used in 24,300 Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) cycles.

Although the success rate of donor egg IVF procedures varies, the average success rate of live births utilizing this procedure is 49-50%. Your odds of succeeding in using donor eggs are higher when you follow specific steps and consult a fertility specialist. Our team has compiled a few guidelines to help you with the donor egg IVF procedure.

This article will teach you more about egg donor IVF, the process of how donor eggs and IVF work, and the procedure’s benefits and success rates.

What is Egg Donation?

Egg donation is the process in which a donor (female) contributes her eggs to a recipient for conception purposes. At RGI, our egg donors undergo thorough physical and psychological screenings. These screening tests help to ascertain the egg donor’s health status and suitability for the egg donation journey before matching with recipients.

After an egg donor passes the critical screening steps to confirm their eligibility, she will undergo the process to retrieve eggs. First, the donor will take medication to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Egg donors then undergo an egg retrieval to obtain the eggs available for use by another individual or couple.

Eventually, the eggs are fertilized in the lab through in vitro fertilization. In vitro fertilization is the process in which the eggs are exposed to sperm resulting in the development of an embryo in a culture medium in the laboratory. This embryo will then be placed in the recipient’s uterus to result in pregnancy.

Who Benefits From Egg Donation/Donor Egg?

The egg donation process is suitable for individuals and couples who want to start a family but cannot for various reasons.

The egg donation process is recommended in the following clinical cases:

• older females with infertility
• single males who have a gestational carrier (surrogate)
• gay male couples
• those with a high risk of transmitting a genetic disease
• females with low ovarian reserves and primary ovarian insufficiency
• females with damaged ovaries due to cancer treatment
• unexplained recurrent IVF failure

Apart from these indications, the fertility doctor will evaluate your unique health needs to determine if you will benefit from egg donation.

What Is the Process of Egg Donation?

Pre-donation Screening

Fertility doctors use specific guidelines stipulated by the law to screen egg donors in a fertility clinic. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines recommend the following screening procedures for egg donors:

The egg donation process occurs in phases and has both medical and legal procedures to protect the donor and recipient. Here are the typical steps of the egg donation process.

• formal application
• in-person or phone interview
• clinical and psychological history to discover the donor’s medical and family history
• physical examination
• blood tests such as HIV, etc, for infectious disease screening
• drug tests
• ultrasound scan to examine the female reproductive organs
• genetic testing to screen for inherited disease

These screening procedures help to confirm the eligibility and health status of the prospective egg donor.

Legal Procedure

The law regulates the egg donation process and helps to protect both parties involved. Generally, the donor and recipient may opt for legal counsel before the egg donation process. Sometimes, a lawyer helps mediate the legal procedures, such as verifying and witnessing contract signing. For instance, some egg donation clinics require all donors to sign a contract. This contract will typically state that the donors do not have any legal rights or responsibilities to a child resulting from the process.

The Treatment Phase

The fertility specialist will use specific fertility drugs to prepare the egg donor. While on these medications, fertility experts monitor the donor closely, stimulating her ovaries to make several eggs in a single cycle. Once the ovaries appear ready, a medication to induce the maturity of the eggs is administered at a precise time relative to the egg retrieval procedure. During this phase, egg donors remain abstinent from sexual intercourse to eliminate pregnancy risk for the egg donor.

Egg Retrieval

On the retrieval day, the donor will receive anesthesia medications, often through the IV. Then the doctor will use ultrasound guidance to insert a needle through the vagina and into the ovary to extract the eggs from the matured follicles. Extracted eggs are cryopreserved until they are used by a recipient for in vitro fertilization.

How Do Donor Eggs and IVF Work?

The in vitro fertilization process takes place after eggs are retrieved from the donor. The sperm donor or intended parent will provide the semen specimen, which will be used to fertilize the mature eggs.

Fertilization can occur in two ways;

• Conventional insemination: Healthy matured eggs are exposed to sperm cells in the culture medium to allow fertilization.
• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In ICSI, a sperm cell is injected directly into each mature egg. ICSI is ideal for clinical cases of low sperm count or repeated history of failed IVF.

After successful fertilization, the embryo grows in the culture medium in the lab. The fertility expert transfers the embryo into the intended parent or gestational carrier’s uterus for implantation.

How Much Do Donor Eggs and IVF Cost?

The cost of egg donation varies depending on the source of the donor eggs. Couples can get egg donors from the following sources:

• Egg donor agencies: These are specialized commercial egg donation agencies that recruit, screen, and match healthy egg donors with interested couples.
• Infertility clinics: Some have a bank of frozen eggs harvested from past clients.
• Specific individuals: A couple can choose a close relative or friend as their egg donor.

The cost of the invitro fertilization process differs for each fertility clinic. The average cost of egg donation will range between $10,000- $15,000. This could be more if it is a fresh egg donation process versus frozen donor eggs, which are typically less expensive.

According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the average cost for one in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle is more than $12,000. This cost is in addition to the cost of an egg donor.

What Are the Success Rates of Donor Egg + IVF?

The success rate of egg donation and in vitro fertilization differs from clinic to clinic. The recent Center for Disease Control fertility report states that close to 50% of donor eggs and in vitro fertilization result in a live birth.

The success rate of egg donation and IVF also depends on the following:

• egg donor’s age
• extraction process
• quality of sperm,
• recipient’s health status

Hence, it is important to consult a fertility expert with a proven track record of successful egg donation and IVF.

Do You Need Help With Egg Donation and IVF?

Egg donation and IVF help couples to start or expand their family size regardless of their health or fertility status. Egg donation and IVF are safe and suitable for LBGTQ+ couples and heterosexual couples struggling with fertility. The egg donation process involves multiple steps and requires expert guidance from an experienced team of fertility experts.

At Reproductive Gynecology and Infertility, we have years of experience helping build families through IVF and donor eggs. Our state-of-the-art IVF technology solution has helped partners achieve their dreams of having a beautiful family.

We have a team of industry-leading fertility physicians and assisted reproductive technology professionals to assist you. Schedule an appointment with us to get started on your family-building journey.