Dr. Knocked Up

Today is (apparently that’s a thing!). Shall I write a haiku or two?
If you are a poet and you know it, share your haiku about infertility with me!

Parenthood is grand
Getting there is difficult
Stronger than you think

Infertility
Disheartening and tragic
Hope and overcome

If your answer is an 11 out of 10 – and if your answer is always an 11 out of 10 – then let’s do something about that. April is , and maybe you just now became aware of your stress. Stress is not good for fertility – I mean, what IS stress good for? – so finding ways to get it under control, even if it’s only for a minute, is an important skill to develop.

What do you do for yourself in the moment when you realize that you’re stressed?

Who wants to rally with me during ? I am very excited to be a Fertility Rally LIVE breakout session speaker 🙌

My session is: Egg & Sperm Quality: Everything You Need to Know & What You Can Control

Control, is definitely something that an infertility diagnosis can rob you off. I am here to unpack a few things that you can do to take back control and improve- egg & sperm health! Check out the link below and get your tickets today! Rally LIVE is on April 23rd, all virtual and you have access to the talks for 30 days after the event!

https://www.accelevents.com/e/fertilityrallylivespring2022
Fertility Rally
Dallas IVF

It’s ! What better time to sort out all the acronyms and abbreviations that are part of fertility diagnosis and treatment? DH, TTC, IUI, AF… They won’t get you a triple word score in Scrabble, because they aren’t technically a word, but they WILL help you make sense of the fertility world.

Besides speaking with your medical professionals, where is a trusted source to decode this alphabet soup? I like RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association alphabetically listed acronym index at https://bit.ly/3j5jeTW

Ahhh...good 'old Dr. Google! I use Google too! And Google has everything on it! But the one thing Google search can't seem to locate is the medical school that Dr. Google went to. What?! Yup, although there is some good and legit information out there in Google, you need to know where to find it.

Think of Dr. Google like your drunk uncle at a holiday get together: He tells you a lot of stuff and half or more of it is totally made up. So, when you visit a site that contains information about infertility, make sure you are on a respected site such as ABOG.org, ASRM.org, SREI.org.

Otherwise, it could be some random person posting nonsense that could make your journey to parenthood even harder.

You may not feel it right now, but you are surrounded by good things. Just look for them! Whether it is something from the past 5 minutes, 5 days or 5 years that is occupying your mind today, take some time to be in the present moment. All of the past fills our present. Life is heavy at times. Add in fertility struggles and the weight is compounded. I know this sounds impossible in those moments, find those pockets of joy.

Smoking & Infertility – Our Dallas Fertility Clinic Helps You Kick Both

I don't mean to get all "doctory" on you (is that a word?) there's no butts about it, if you are and you still haven't kicked the habit, you should probably consider stopping. Smoking and go hand in hand. I can cite numerous studies and real-life examples of smoking causing problems. In fact, infertility rates among smokers are double for both men and women, and this number corresponds directly to how many cigarettes a patient smokes each day. Men who smoke can experience erectile dysfunction, a lower sperm count and an increased number of abnormal sperm. Women experience even more fertility-related issues.

Read this to learn more: https://dallasivf.com/health/infertility-in-women/lifestyle/smoking-and-infertility/

Smoking & Infertility – Our Dallas Fertility Clinic Helps You Kick Both Our Dallas fertility clinic can help you make lifestyle choices that will promote pregnancy. Learn about the link between smoking and infertility.

We all need a break sometimes. Work- life balance is not always "balanced." So, we headed to NYC, starting with the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building! I was looking for King Kong but I think he was on spring break too! We had an amazing time exploring the concrete jungle, and even fit in a couple of shows. I highly recommend Hamilton and the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - any HP fans out there? ⚡

Are YOU weighing out all of your options?

You'll be surprised as to how many you may have. Whether it's preserving your , learning more on how to best manage or , expanding your family, finding out more about , or investigating paths like third-party reproduction. But it can be overwhelming. I get it. The best advice I can give is to be curious. Ask questions (write them down ahead of your appointments) and make sure your provider listens and takes the time to answer them.

COVID Vaccines Don't Reduce Fertility During IVF

Researchers say they have found no significant difference between unvaccinated and vaccinated people undergoing in vitro fertilization () in terms of pregnancy and outcomes. Experts urge people considering pregnancy to get vaccinated for their as well as the health of their offspring.

To learn more about this study so you can speak to your doctor and decide what's best for you, read this Healthline article by clicking here ➡️ https://www.healthline.com/health-news/covid-19-vaccines-dont-affect-fertility-for-people-undergoing-ivf-researchers-say

COVID Vaccines Don't Reduce Fertility During IVF Researchers report they found no significant differences in fertility and outcomes between vaccinated and unvaccinated people undergoing IVF.

WHY SUFFER IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? Find a doctor who will listen and that will walk you through symptoms, treatment, and disease management of . For example, minimally invasive surgery for can be beneficial for , treating or , helping you and alleviate painful symptoms from all of the above! If you have , learn all of your options and speak to your doctor.

https://dallasivf.com/health/infertility-in-women/endometriosis/

Four Things To Know About Endometriosis

In this IVF babble article, I help answer four of the top questions around along with several of my fellow of my reproductive endocrinologists, Dr. Lora Shahine, Dr. Serena H. Chen and Dr. Jospeh Davis.

Here's what we all had to say
https://www.ivfbabble.com/four-things-to-know-about-endometriosis/

Four Things To Know About Endometriosis Endometriosis is when the lining of your uterus (known as the endometrium) grows outside of the uterus, most commonly on the ovaries or fallopian tubes.

When you care about something, you do something about it. 🙌

I had a very cool opportunity to speak at the first in Dallas a few years ago (back when COVID wasn't a thing.) It's such a worthy cause to raise awareness of such a tough disease! Check out via Worldwide EndoMarch Inc

In the United States, March is annually recognized as . affects one in ten women and 25% to 50% women with an diagnosis have endometriosis. Too often, the symptoms women describe around this condition are mistaken for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, appendicitis or ovarian cysts. That is why endometriosis can sometimes take a staggering six to twelve years to diagnose. That needs to change!

Learn the symptoms and advocate for yourself.

How have you advocated for yourself and your family building goals?

If so, I'd love to hear what it is. Whether it's preserving your , learning more on how to best manage or , expanded your family through or investigated paths like third-party reproduction. When it comes to having a family, I can tell you that there are MANY options you can explore! But you are your own best advocate. It is important to find a provider who will listen, and work on a plan that is best for you and your goals.

To bean or not to bean?

A topic that is widely debated. The truth is some lifestyle choices can impact fertility and there are studies that back it. For example, caffeine. If you are trying to conceive, consider curbing your caffeine intake. Most of the available research is in agreement that 1-2 small cups a day should be the max. Even opting for half-caffeinated can be a better option. While it seems like a tall order, and you may not have your regular pep in your step, keeping a healthy mindset will help you stay grounded throughout your treatment. ☕