FERTILITY

FERTILITY...

Such an emotionally charged issue. Feelings/Relationships/Pride/Self Worth. So much gets tied up into weather or not we are able to have children. We live our young lives playing house...mom, dad, baby. It all seems so simple when you are young. You grow up, get married and plan a family and BOOM, you don't get pregnant. All your friends are popping out babies.... "What's wrong with me?... Is it me or him?... Are we doing something wrong?"

Everyone tells you what to do to fix it. Get an ovulation kit, have sex every other day, wear boxers, stay in bed after sex. You try everything and nothing is working. You don't want to talk about it, yet everyone asks about it everywhere you go. You decide to stop trying and maybe something will happen "naturally". With continued lack of success you seek professional help. It is so costly, but maybe it will work and at this point you are desperate.

Are rates of infertility increasing?

Infertility is increasing. The use of assisted reproductive technology by infertile couples is increasing by 5% to 10% per year.

In the United States, among heterosexual women aged 15 to 49 years with no prior births, about 1 in 5 (19%) are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying (infertility). (CDC 2022)

What can Help?

Infertility is complicated and has multiple etiologies: Age, Smoking, Excess Alcohol, Obesity, Overweight/Underweight, and Physical or Emotional Stress. Most often infertility has to do with abnormalities in ovulation. This is hormonal and is affected by so many facets of how we live our lives. I truly believe the answer lies in creating an environment in both mom and dad that is optimal for making a baby. Chronic diseases of insulin resistance, obesity, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), and other inflammatory conditions are complicating the lives of many people at younger ages and I believe they along with stress are big contributors to the increasing number of people that are having trouble with conceiving a baby. There are no guarantees that taking care of your health will make you have a baby, but even if it does not, and you have to pursue more invasive fertility options... you will be in so much a better place both mentally and physically to bring a baby into your life. I hope to provide the education and support needed to help this happen for couples:)

Take Care,

Dr. Cheryl