J*Mo asked:


I’m 32 years old. I miscarried Dec 06 then in March 07 after trying for 3 years. I have not been pregnant since. How long did you wait before starting infertility?

Lydia

hoping for our little miracle asked:


my hubby and i have been trying to get preggy for 15 months now. my problem is that i get my periods irregularly, every 8-10weeks.
by january next year, we plan to do infertility treatments. what questions should we ask the RE when we do have the initial consultation?

thanks and baby dust to my fellow TTCers!

Doris

Justin DiMateo asked:


Most couples believe that when the time comes to start a family, conception will occur right on schedule. However, for one in every seven couples, this is simply not the case. When pregnancy doesn’t happen as quickly as one would expect, it may be worthwhile to see the doctor.

When to Make an Appointment

The general guideline for when to talk to a doctor about infertility treatment states that if a couple under the age of 35 has actively tried to get pregnant for one year without success, it is time to make an appointment. If the couple is over the age of 35, that time frame is reduced to six months. It is also a good idea to visit a doctor if three miscarriages have occurred in a row, since this can also be a symptom of a fertility problem. Some couples will also make an appointment with a doctor before this checkpoint if they are concerned there may be a problem, although many doctors will not begin any sort of workup or treatment until the couple has been trying to get pregnant for these set amounts of time.

Who to See

When couples decide it is time to talk to a doctor about infertility treatment, there can be some uncertainty over which doctor to see. Most infertility workups can begin with the family doctor or the woman’s gynecologist, since these doctors are familiar enough with the general process to get things started. If a specific problem is diagnosed during the initial workup, the couple should then decide if it can be adequately treated through this same doctor, or if it is time to get a specialist involved. Some gynecologists specialize in infertility treatments, while other doctors that primarily work in the field are known as a fertility specialist or reproductive endocrinologist. When a couple begins to move into specialized procedures like assisted reproductive technology, it is best to contact one of these specialists.

When choosing a doctor for infertility treatment, find out how much of that doctor’s practice is devoted to this specific field of study. If the doctor is also a practicing obstetrician, keep in mind that there may be many pregnant women in the waiting room whenever you have an appointment. Ask about the particular procedures this doctor does regularly and how much experience he has had with them. Gauge the staff while you are there for your initial appointment, since a kind, compassionate office staff can make all the difference when you are dealing with the emotional stress involved with the infertility process.

When you meet with the doctor for the first time, let him know how far you are willing to go with your infertility treatment up front. While this parameter may change throughout the course of your treatment, it is a good idea to let the doctor know what your philosophies are - at least at the beginning. By getting off on the right foot with the doctor of your choice, you greatly increase your odds that your infertility treatment will be a success.



Troy

Paul Hata asked:


Menopausal weight gain seems to be a great concern for women as they age. It seems that gaining some weight during this period in life seems inevitable. Some women may even be puzzled as to why they seem to pile up weight even though they eat the same amount of food. There are many reasons for this.

Women go through menopausal weight gain because their body is going through changes during menopause. The reason for the weight gain may stem fro the hormones themselves. During menopause, normal estrogen levels in the body seem to go down. Estrogen is the female sex hormone that is responsible for a woman’s monthly ovulation.

Low estrogen levels during menopause causes the female body to stop ovulating. As the ovaries of the woman produce less estrogen, her body tries to look for other means to get its estrogen supply. One of the means that the body can be supplied with the estrogen hormone is through the fat cells. So the body tries to convert as much of the calories it is supplied with into fat to be able to produce the much needed estrogen. Unfortunately, the fat cells are not as effective in burning calories as much as muscles do. This causes women to pack up additional pounds.

Progesterone is another hormone that may be the cause of weight gain during menopause. Just like estrogen, women undergoing menopause also experience their body’s progesterone levels go down. This causes weight gain on women on a different way. Low levels of progesterone in the body are associated with water retention and bloating, giving one the appearance of getting bigger and heavier. But this effect usually only happens for a short time and will disappear in just a few months.

Another hormone that may be responsible for weight gain during menopause is the male sex hormone androgen. Menopause brings about an increase of androgen levels in women. This hormone becomes responsible for sending the gained weight into the abdominal area or the middle section of the body. This is the reason why weight gain during menopause is also referred to as the “middle age spread”.

Another hormone that may be responsible for weight gain during menopause is testosterone. This hormone helps the body to create lean muscle mass out of the calories that the body takes in. Muscle cells are better at burning calories than fat cells and helps in increasing the body’s metabolism. During menopause, the level of this hormone drops which then results in a gradual loss of muscle. This also means that metabolism in the body slows down, causing the body to burn calories slower.

Women become frustrated and concerned when they suddenly find themselves gaining weight during menopause. No matter how careful they are on maintaining their eating habits and even adding up a dose of exercise into their daily habit, they still can’t seem to maintain their weight. Women must understand that it is because of the changes in the body during menopause that makes maintaining their weight even more difficult. Losing weight even becomes a more challenging undertaking than ever before.

Women must remember that it is not entirely their fault that they are gaining weight during this stage in their life. Menopausal weight gain is a normal occurrence due to the fluctuations in the hormone levels in the body. These hormones will also have a big impact on one’s appetite and the body’s ability to metabolize calories and store fats.

The better that women understand what goes on with their bodies during menopause, the less frustrated they can become when faced with weight gain.



Samantha

Nicole C asked:


DOES DRINKING POP REALLY REDUCE FERTILITY? I HAVE ABOUT 3 PER DAY AND HAVE BEEN TTC FOR 4 MONTHS.

Christina