Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine

02/21/2025

“I lost my hair. I lost the majority of my body weight. I lost my o***y. I lost my autonomy. Fertility preservation is hard, but it brings back the choice to potentially be a parent if my body does not allow me to be. And I want everyone to have that option.”

As our Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Patient Navigator, Dawn Ritzwoller is dedicated to helping young patients understand how cancer treatment can impact fertility. For her, this work is deeply personal. At just 13 years old, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She underwent extensive treatment but didn’t learn until years later that it could affect her ability to have children.

A cancer diagnosis comes with many uncertainties, and for young patients, fertility should be part of the conversation. Dawn works closely with our oncofertility program to ensure patients have the information and support they need to explore their options. Through a multidisciplinary team of oncologists and fertility specialists from University of Utah Health Women's Services and Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine, we bridge oncology and reproductive medicine to provide innovative, patient-centered care.

Read more about her story and the innovative fertility preservation services available: https://bit.ly/41AcWmt

05/14/2023

05/04/2023

People who have trouble conceiving may feel sad and alone. But the truth is an estimated one in eight couples have difficulty conceiving, and a variety of fertility services and support groups are available. Read more here.

When considering infertility treatment, you can take steps beforehand to make the infertility journey smoother and help you find the best treatment for your own situation. Here's how.

04/28/2023

Endometriosis affects up to 10% of women in the United States. While endometriosis can impact a women's reproductive health and fertility, it’s still possible to become pregnant.

Read more here:

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of tissue normally found in the uterus implanted in places outside the uterus.

04/07/2023

Human s***m count has fallen by over 50 percent over the last 50 years, according to a 2022 study published in the journal Human Reproductive Update.

Read more here.

S***m count has halved over the last 50 years. Should we be concerned?

03/29/2023

A study published in May 2022 suggests that abnormalities associated with aging s***m cells might be exacerbated by elevated body mass index (BMI). Read more here.

Single-cell analysis of autopsied human te**es suggests that abnormalities associated with aging s***m cells might be exacerbated by elevated body mass index (BMI).

03/17/2023

If you and your partner have been trying to get pregnant between 35 and 40, you may want to speak with a fertility specialist. Listen to this episode of The Scope Radio to learn more about the fertility treatments available.

If you and your partner have been tying to get pregnant between 35 and 40, you may want to speak with a fertility specialist. The fertility treatments available to you greatly rely on the age of the woman trying to have a child. In this episode, Dr. Kirtly Jones speaks with fertility expert Dr. Eric...

03/07/2023

A new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology unveiled findings that suggest that using cannabis in the first six to 14 weeks of pregnancy is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes that are closely related to the function of the placenta.

A study finds that using cannabis in the first six to 14 weeks of pregnancy is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes.

02/27/2023

When Steve and his wife discussed the possibility of having a child, there was just one obstacle: Steve’s vasectomy.

However, just ten months after Steve underwent a vasectomy reversal, his wife gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Steve Tait had five grown children from a previous marriage. However, when he remarried, he and his wife began discussing the possibility of having a child together. There was just one obstacle: Tait's vasectomy. He was referred to University of Utah Health where he underwent a successful vasectomy....

02/13/2023

Michael and Nicholas were a little nervous to take the first step and contact a fertility clinic, partly because they didn’t know how the clinic staff would react to a same-sex couple.

“We showed up [for our first appointment] really nervous, not knowing what to expect,” said Nicholas. “Within five minutes of walking in, everybody there was so warm and welcoming—they were genuinely excited for us and that we were there.”

Learn more about Nicholas and Michael's fertility journey here:
healthcare.utah.edu/patient-stories/stories/nicholas-and-michael.php

02/06/2023

“We had been trying for kids, but nothing was happening,” Nielson said. “We finally got the doctors involved to see if we could figure out what was going on.”

Learn more about Eric and Michelle Nielson's fertility journey.

Eric and Michelle Nielson always knew they wanted a family of their own. They struggled with getting pregnant, so they both were tested to assess their fertility. Tests showed that Eric's s***m weren't functioning properly. He was prescribed Clomid, a fertility medication to improve his s***m functi...

01/30/2023

If you and your partner are one of the 19 percent of couples in the U.S. who are having difficulties conceiving a child, or are an LGBTQ couple wanting to start a family, you may be considering either Intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

Those wanting to start a family may be considering Intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Although sometimes confused, the two processes are quite different.