Managing IVF Treatment Together

Couples who are embarking on a fertility journey will want to take a unified approach to their IVF treatment. After infertility evaluation testing, both partners should be prepared to discuss not only their care options, but any physical, financial, or emotional limitations they wish to place on the process.

Make joint decisions. Each person copes differently with the challenge of making treatment-related decisions, so communication with one another is essential. You also will want to decide how much information will be shared with friends and family members, as well as when you will relate the news about any outcomes to them.  The use of donor sperm or eggs can require a couple to make additional, unique decisions. Counseling is often beneficial in these circumstances.

Stay involved. Decision-making is easier when both partners remain involved. Couples should plan to attend consultations and at least some appointments together. Though one person is often more actively engaged in treatment, both partners should be aware of the physical and emotional effects of medications and procedures. They can also help to alleviate each other’s anxieties during specific stages of care, such as when sperm samples are given or egg retrievals are performed.

Nurture your relationship. In some cases, relationships grow even stronger as couples seek infertility solutions. Be sure to take care of your relationship by scheduling date nights, participating in activities you enjoy, and setting common goals. Make time for a relationship that is not focused solely on reproductive objectives. Providing support, love and reassurance should be a priority throughout treatment.

If you and your partner are ready to consult with a knowledgeable physician, Dr. Mohyi is a skilled reproductive specialist who is sensitive to patients’ needs. Contact IVF-Orange to meet with Dr. Mohyi, and receive the information you require to start your journey.

The reproductive clinic you choose may recommend pre-treatment counseling and testing. This is done to ensure that you and your body are ready for pregnancy. Also, some patients may need care for specific conditions, such as ovulation problems or endocrine imbalances, before they begin the procedures.

Fertility specialists can also direct you to the proper resources for obtaining an anonymous sperm sample. Using a known sperm donor is another option, though this choice does create additional legal and personal considerations. Once obtained, the sperm specimen can be used for artificial insemination procedures. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is an affordable and relatively simple process where the sperm is prepared by a lab and then injected into the uterus.

If you have fertility issues, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) may be recommended. During IVF, eggs from your ovaries are fertilized in the lab and transferred to the uterus as embryos. You may be asked to take hormone-stimulating medications in combination with IVF or IUI.

The process of becoming pregnant involves emotional challenges, so you will want to gather support from close friends and family during the journey. If you wish to be a single mother by choice, we invite you to visit IVF-Orange, where we’re committed to caring for each patient’s personalized needs.

Various clinical processes for male and female gender pre-selection are currently in use, including those that isolate or sort sperm before artificial insemination or in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. Each comes with its own success rate, cost, insemination option, and other considerations. Raito and percentage: Normal sex ratio is 50/50, with Gender Pre-Selection procedure (HAS process) it increases to 75-82% for the desired sex.

Human Serum Albumin (HSA) method is an isolation process based upon the physical properties of X- and Y-chromosome bearing sperm. With HSA, the live X-bearing sperm are separated from the Y-bearing. After separation, the sperm is collected depending on whether a girl or boy is desired. The selected sperm is then used during artificial insemination or IVF to significantly improve a mother’s chances of giving birth to a specific sex.

At IVF Orange Clinic, we offer complimentary consultations to answer your questions about gender pre-selection. Our practice is committed to providing professional, compassionate care, so please contact us when you’re ready to schedule a consultation.

Since every patient is different and has an individualized fitness level, discuss your regimen with us. Tell us about the type of exercise you’ve been performing, as well as its intensity and length. We’ll let you know when to make modifications.

Changes to ovaries may also prompt exercise changes. When you’re taking fertility medications, ovary enlargement can occur, making certain routines temporarily uncomfortable. Performing high impact exercises and more aggressive movements when ovaries are enlarged may also increase the risk of a rare condition called ovarian torsion. This condition involves the rotation of the ovary, which can be painful and serious.

After an embryo transfer, you may be instructed to be more sedentary for a specified number of days. Following this interval of limited activity, you should be able to return to the moderate exercise you previously discussed with our staff.

At IVF-Orange Clinic, we are here to advise you on a balanced approach to activity during the various stages of the IVF process. Remember, getting adequate sleep, limiting caffeine, and eating a well balanced diet are additional health-conscious steps you can follow during a cycle of care. Be sure to contact us if you have any lifestyle questions or concerns.

You may feel shock, loss, disappointment, grief and even guilt when faced with difficulty conceiving. These emotions are experienced in varying degrees depending upon the medical circumstances. Give yourself permission to express and accept your feelings, recognizing that your spouse may cope differently than you. Try to continue to communicate about infertility with your partner, without it dominating daily conversations.

A lack of control over reproductive issues may lead you to feel helpless. However, negative thinking often detracts from our ability to handle challenges. Instead, focus on your treatment options and the future, as you remain involved with other life interests. You may want to make decisions about how long you will try to conceive and the medical measures you will take.

You have the right to avoid situations where painful emotions are triggered, such as gatherings that include children, but be careful not to become isolated. Couples often gain support by reaching out to others with similar problems. Support groups will allow you to share emotions and avoid isolation. Also let family and friends know how they can help. If you’re ever concerned about a level of anger or despair, get in touch with your infertility counselor or a therapist right away.

At IVF-Orange County Fertility Clinic, we’re committed to providing compassionate fertility treatments that are focused on your needs. We welcome you to contact us with your concerns and questions.

The good news, however, is that endometriosis can often be successfully treated and many women are able to conceive – either through In-Vitro Fertilization or naturally – after their endometriosis has been addressed by their doctor. Treatments for endometriosis range from medication to surgery to combinations of both, depending on the severity of the individual condition.

Endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue, which naturally lines the inside of a woman’s uterus, begins to grow outside of the uterus as well. Often, the endometrial tissue will attach to other organs in a woman’s abdominal cavity, including the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It is these endometrial adhesions and accompanying scarring that often causes infertility and difficulties with natural conception.

If you suspect that you may be suffering from endometriosis, or if you are having difficulty getting pregnant, please contact us today to get more information. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have and we can arrange a confidential appointment over the phone.

At IVF-Orange, Dr. Mohyi has created a modern fertility center in Orange County – and the only comprehensive fertility facility in the city of Orange. Because IVF-Orange is fully accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. (AAAHC), all fertility procedures and treatments occur at one convenient location. This helps to ensure efficient communication, privacy and unparalleled personal care for all of our patients. From artificial insemination to male fertility programs, we take a tremendous amount of pride in our facility and in the genuine family atmosphere that we create as we help our patients to conceive.

We invite you to visit our blog from time to time to stay informed about news and updates about IVF-Orange and fertility issues in general. Read our fertility success stories, Like Us on Facebook or simply stop in to our facility to learn more about how we can help you or your loved ones overcome infertility.

It’s the same probability every week to win the Jackpot when playing one ticket. This statistical fact, however, doesn’t apply to the treatment of in-vitro-fertilization (IVF), as a recent study suggests. Researchers in Australia examined the IVF treatment history and live birth rates of over 8,200 women between the ages 20 and 44. They found that IVF was successful in 47% of all couples, who had on average 3 IVF cycles. By segmenting the women by age groups, the study found that the success of IVF increased with each successive cycle for the first 5 cycles for all age groups, but in particular for women under the age of 35.

So, despite advanced maternal age, your chances of having a baby with IVF might increase with a repeat IVF cycle, this study suggests.

(Fertil Steril. 2011 Apr;95(5):1677-83. Epub 2011 Feb 12)

Unlike other programs , the donor names her price of what she would like to be compensated for egg donation at IVF-Orange. Dr. Mohyi comments, “Like our patients, we treat our egg donors with the utmost respect. The young women get to decide their own compensation, which makes them more involved in the process.” Since young women donate their eggs for altruistic reasons, most egg donors choose a price between $3,000 and $10,000 and choose to donate more than once.

IVF-Orange continues to grow the program with eligible egg donors. If you are interested or know somebody who might want to give the gift of life, please fill out the application and contact us!

Fertility is a serious topic, but it’s good to lighten up occasionally. Here are some interesting knowledge points about the baby-making challenge.

Having intercourse about 5 days before your ovulating might increase your chance of getting pregnant. Sperm is viable for several days after intercourse and once the egg is released during ovulation, there is only a 24-hour window for the sperm to get to the egg.

When trying to conceive, a mind-body program to reduce stress might help. Researchers at Harvard University found that 55% of women who participated in a stress-reduction program became pregnant, while the control group only had a pregnancy rate of 20%.

The highest odds of becoming pregnant naturally is 20% each month. Even if you are in optimal health and in your most reproductive age, it’s 20%. Studies have shown that oral contraceptives help preventing uterine and ovarian cancer, thus increasing the chances of conceiving when you wish to have a family.

Do you have a question about Trying to Conceive? Ask a nurse a fertility question!