Touched by the Stork - Fertility Information
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Thursday, June 04, 2009
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Taking Action
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For many women as their late thirties loom, so too does increased chances of
infertility. For the women of the world wanting to be mothers, but waiting
Mister Right, there are options available to preserve your fertility and
healthy eggs. Women are taking action and spending tens of thousands of
dollars to extract their healthy eggs, freeze them to use at a later date.
This provides them with healthy young eggs to use when ready for pregnancy.
This is generally a technique used for cancer patients.
The Age reported, "Ms. Hill, from Collingwood in Melbourne, will start her
pre-operative regime next week and her eggs will be "retrieved" under
anaesthetic in July. A former lawyer with an MBA, she sees the $11,665 for
Melbourne IVF's "lifestyle egg freezing treatment" as money well spent. The
cost is so high because Medicare rebates do not apply to procedures done for
non-medical reasons. "I know that I am unlikely to be in the position to be
thinking realistically about having children until I am in my 40's," she
said. "I am a pragmatist and it would be better to be [trying to conceive]
with 38-year-old eggs."
The idea of lifestyle egg freezing has gained much ground in Australia, all
big capital cities Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are seeing hundreds of
women enquiring about it each month. This may be the next fad in fertility.
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Monday, June 01, 2009
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Fertility Reforms in Croatia
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It seems like fertility is making news all over the world. The Associated
Foreign Press reported today that a long awaited fertility bill about In
Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in Croatia is being reviewed by parliament. The
bill has been disputed for years by the Catholic Church and the conservative
population in the country. The Health Minister announced that the new law
would appease both sides of the party, the bill would only allow married
women to undergo IVF, and would permit children conceived from IVF to know
who their biological parents are when they turn 18.
The Associated Foreign Press said, "At the same time, the legislation
contains "liberal" provisions allowing egg and sperm donations, the minister
added. Under the new law, a child conceived by a donated egg or sperm would
be able to obtain information about his or her biological parents once
turning 18. Such a provision was already condemned by local parents
organisation RODA, which warned it could discourage potential donors."
Sources say that nearly 3,000 Croatian women suffer from infertility
annually, resulting in a necessary infertility industry in the country.
Even if there are slightly more stringent laws surrounding the treatments,
it is still vital they are offered for residents.
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Friday, May 29, 2009
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Nation's Most Fertility Friendly Workplaces Rewarded
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*Conceive* magazine has honored 50 workplaces in the US that offer their
employees some of the best fertility benefits, adoption and fertility
treatment. Many countires around the world like the UK, Sweden and Norway
provide women and even men great fertility perks. Now the US is following
the trend and giving employees monetary rewards and time off to have a
fertility treatment or adoption.
PR Newswire says, "Based on a one- to four-star ranking system, the
companies that received the most stars were those that offer more than
$100,000 for ART (assisted reproductive technologies, including IVF) or
$60,000 for treatment combined with generous paid leave. And for the
adoption criteria, four stars went to companies that give more than $15,000
toward the adoption of a child (or $10,000 combined with a very generous
paid leave for adoptive primary caregivers). "Fertility treatments and
adoptions can be costly. In the current economic climate we applaud those
companies who recognize how important it is to help employees build their
families," says Kim Hahn, founder of Conceive."
Infertile couples often struggle to have fertility treatments like In Vitro
Fertilization (IVF) because of how expensive it is. Likewise surrogacy, egg
donation and artificial insemination is very costly, this has potential to
boost the industry in the US and improve fertility rates via IVF.
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Thursday, May 28, 2009
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Fertility Treatment Numbers Increasing
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The number of children born from assisted reproductive technology has been
increasing dramatically worldwide. It is said that in one year the numbers
have increased by nearly 25 percent. It is estimated that nearly 250,000
babies are conceived using such fertility treatments.
Science Daily said, "There are several important points to highlight. There
has been a constant increase in ART activity: it increased by more than 25%
in the two years since the previous report for the year 2000. This is due
not only to an increase in the number of countries participating in this
report but also to an increase in ART activity in most individual
countries."
Much of the increase is due in part to developing countries beginning to
participate and implement infertility treatments. Fertility clinics are
beginning to pop-up in generally less-medically advanced nations. Many
infertile couples are travelling abroad for their IVF and other treatments.
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Thursday, May 28, 2009
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Fertility Abroad
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Generally we think of studying abroad or plastic surgery abroad, but now
fertility abroad is the newest trend to take on tinsel town and London-town.
An increased number of infertile couples are opting to travel away from
bustling cities like London, New York and LA for infertility treatments, egg
donation and sperm banks, as they are finding high prices and not enough
supply. Waiting times have drastically increased as have prices due to the
economic slump.
Marie Claire said, "There is no data collated on the number of women who
seek *fertility treatment* abroad. However, Lorraine Culley, professor of
social science and health at De Montfort University, who is leading a
government-funded study of the subject, says that thousands of women a year
may be seeking treatment abroad. "All the evidence is that cross-border
reproductive care is growing," she said."
The famous 66-year-old British woman who is the oldest mother post-IVF had
her fertility treatment done in the Ukraine. If this trend continues, large
fertility markets may be shifting to more developing countries.
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Thursday, May 28, 2009
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Fertility Clinics Feeling the Downturn
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Dwindling numbers of patients and cash-flow are adversely affecting
fertility clinics nationwide. The number of couples able to afford
expensive fertility treatments has decreased with the economic climate. Many
infertile couples are putting parenthood on hold, thus hindering a typically
booming industry.
The New York Post said, "In fact, one Los Angeles facility is trumpeting an
unprecedented low price of $5,800 and even the highly-respected Columbia
University Center for Women is pushing an "introductory fee" of $6,600 for a
one-time IVF cycle." I expect some clinics will go out of business and
others will be forced to merge because of the downturn in business," said Dr
*. **Joel Batzofin**,* who runs the Batzofin Fertility Services clinic in
Midtown."
Also the demographics of people with money at the moment are past the age of
IVF, as Baby-Boomers are reaching retirement age and they are the ones with
more expendable money.
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Thursday, May 28, 2009
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Single Embryo Better than Two
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In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is constantly in the limelight of the press,
from scrutiny to praise, IVF is the talk of the town. Reports and studies
from fertility experts say that implanting one embryo during IVF is better
than two. It had long been perceived that multiple embryos equated to
increased chances of pregnancy in infertile couples. However, a recent study
done in Canada may prove otherwise. The research shows evidence that the
healthier the single embryo planted the odds of successful birth are
significantly increased.
Canada's CBC News said, "But some fertility doctors say transferring a
single embryo can be just as effective and less risky in healthy women under
the age of 35."With elective single-embryo transfer in the appropriate
patients, the success rates are over 60 per cent," said Dr. Jason Hitkari of
the Genesis Fertility Centre in Vancouver."
This actually shows correlation between health of the embryo and pregnancy
as opposed to the sheer number of embryos. Granted, studies are still
preliminary and no definitive answer can be ascertained, fertility experts
are looking into further investigations.
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Thursday, May 21, 2009
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Twin Risk
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A recent study is showing a link between twins born from In Vitro
Fertilization (IVF) and artificial insemination and health complications. The
study went on to say that twins conceived from fertility treatments were
more likely to be hospitalized due to serious perinatal issues like: low
birth weight and preterm births.
Forbes said of the study, "The underlying causes of parental infertility
and/or components of the ART procedure may be increasing the risks of
adverse outcome, and increased concern about children born after a long
period of infertility may also be contributing to their increased risk of
hospitalization," Hansen suggested.
She recommended that couples undergoing fertility treatment should be made
aware of the increased risks faced by ART twins."
It is still unclear according to the research why exactly these sets of
twins are more susceptible to early health issues, which is why further
studies are in store for this topic. This particular study will be released
in the journal of Human Reproduction at the end of the month.
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Thursday, May 21, 2009
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Frozen Embryo's For Adoption
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For couples undergoing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) a number of healthy
embryos are left over after insemination. Fertility experts and physicians
urge that couples with extra healthy embryos freeze them for later use. Some
however are never used, and are now available for adoption to infertile
couples.
ABC news in Houston said, "It works like a regular adoption. The cost is
born by the recipient. They pay about $5,000 for the application and $10,000
to $15,000 to transport the frozen embryos and for medical treatments
leading to implantation. There's no cost to the donor, and no profit -- at
least monetarily."
Often times we see couples donate their embryos after their own IVF
treatments, but with embryo adoption the donor couple can actually choose
who gets their embryo. That way they can develop relationships and keep in
touch with the child and the family.
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Monday, May 18, 2009
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66-Year-Old Woman to Give Birth
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Elizabeth Munro a 66-year-old woman will be overtaking the former oldest
mother award adorned by a 62-year-old. Munro has gone through In Vitro
Fertilization (IVF) to become pregnant at her age. The news about Munro's
pregnancy has made news globally, as industry observers, lawmakers and
physicians are wondering, when are you too old for fertility treatments?
Really though, how old is too old? IVF has been under heavy scrutiny over
the past 6 months with so-called unfit mothers (the Octomom) and embryo
mix-ups at fertility clinics. This only reignites the heat and debate over
IVF.
Fox News said, "I am shocked by the idea of a 66-year-old woman giving
birth," he said. "I respect the choice medically but I think anything over
63 is risky because you cannot guarantee the child will have a loving mother
or family." Munro, who is believed to have no other children, is set to have
her baby by Caesarean section at an unnamed hospital next month. She was
given her IVF treatment at a clinic in Ukraine."
What do you think - when should doctors step-in (if ever) for older women?
Is there an appropriate age? Feedback time, let us know what you think about
age and IVF.
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