Tag Archives: infertility
05.10.2012
Exercise During Pregnancy: How Little is Too Little And How Much is Too Much?
Danielle Vitiello, Ph.D., M.D. Board-Eligible Reproductive Endocrinologist
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released guidelines on physical activity for pregnant women. They advise that healthy, pregnant women may perform moderately intense exercise for at least 150 minutes weekly. Women who exercise vigorously are encouraged to continue doing so as long as they remain in good health. Non-exercising women may [...]
05.03.2012
Acupuncture and Infertility
R. Ian Hardy, M.D., Ph.D. Board-Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist, Medical Director
In 2002, a fertility center in Germany published “Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproductive therapy” (Fertil Steril 77(4):721-4). In this small study of 80 patients, those receiving acupuncture had a higher IVF pregnancy rate (42.5%) than those without acupuncture (26.3%). Since this publication, numerous studies have been published [...]
03.01.2012
Thyroid Hormone: Optimizing the Engine for Pregnancy and Beyond
Danielle Vitiello, Ph.D., M.D. Board-Eligible Reproductive Endocrinologist
Previous blogs have detailed mechanisms of thyroid hormone, the thyroid gland and its essential function in allowing us to function both in pregnancy and beyond. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) task force has outlined recommendations for assessing and monitoring levels. Salient recommendations are listed below: Oral thyroid hormone is indicated for women who demonstrate overt [...]
01.19.2012
Male Fertility: The Other Half
Joseph A. Hill, III, M.D. Board-Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
Approximately 40% of infertility is related to the male. Key to understanding male fertility is analysis of the semen. Semen samples can vary from month to month, or even day to day because it takes about 72 days for sperm to develop within the testicles. Unlike eggs, which are present since you were born, sperm [...]
01.05.2012
Cell Phones and Infertility: Is it Time to Hang Up the Phone?
Joseph A. Hill, III, M.D. Board-Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
Cell phones are an everyday part of life. The advances in technology enabling not only voice communication but most recently high resolution pictures and internet access have been accompanied by increased intensity and frequency of electromagnetic waves being emitted. Our bodies receive these waves and convert them into both electric and magnetic fields. Adverse biological interactions attributable [...]
12.22.2011
Genetic Disease – Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
R. Ian Hardy, M.D., Ph.D. Board-Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist, Medical Director
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited disease that affects an infant’s muscular activity. Voluntary muscles are driven by motor neurons. Children with SMA are missing a gene that is required to produce certain proteins involved in motor neuron development. Without this protein, the nerves shrink and ultimately atrophy. Without motor neuron innervation, the muscles [...]
11.10.2011
Fertility Preservation for Women with Breast Cancer
Joseph A. Hill, III, M.D. Board-Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death after lung cancer. Women under age 40 account for 6% of new breast cancer cases in the United States. Thankfully adjuvant chemotherapy can be life saving. However, infertility and early menopause resulting from [...]
11.03.2011
What Makes a Good Endometrium and How is it Monitored?
Danielle Vitiello, Ph.D., M.D. Board-Eligible Reproductive Endocrinologist
Historically, we have been limited the means of assay endometrial receptivity. It is a dynamic organ that needs to be evaluated as such. Embryo implantation occurs when the endometrial receptivity is precisely well orchestrated. When the window of receptivity does not meet optimal implantation timing of the embryo, pregnancy will not occur. Endometrial biopsies where [...]
10.27.2011
RESOLVE of New England’s Annual Conference: Fertility Treatment, Donor Choices, and Adoption
R. Ian Hardy, M.D., Ph.D. Board-Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist, Medical Director
Resolve, a non-profit infertility patient support-group, will be holding their annual New England conference on Saturday, November 5th, in Marlborough, MA. Resolve provides patients with education, advocacy and support throughout the year; however, this annual conference is unique opportunity with more than 40 workshops and presentations from experts in the New England area. Lynette Scott, [...]
09.23.2011
Thyroid Level Concerns and TSH
Robert M. Weiss, M.D. Board-Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is a hormone produced from the pituitary gland (a small gland at the base of the brain) which causes the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones, e.g.thyroxine. Thyroxine helps control a number of metabolic processes. Women with true hypothyroidism may exhibit cold intolerance, and varying degrees of fatigue. Nearly 50% of women [...]
