How do I manage hypertension before, during and after pregnancy?
Part of overall health is healthy living, including a good diet, good sleep patterns, well maintained weight, a healthy approach to stress and good management of blood pressure. If you have difficult...
View ArticleHow long does it take to improve my sperm quality?
It takes about 72 days for sperm to mature from stem cells to fully-functioning sperm, so any changes you make need to be consistent for about three months. You can talk to your doctor to find out...
View ArticleIs there hope with my own eggs using the estrogen priming protocol or is it...
There is no universal “best” protocol. However, there may be a best one for you. You can run a natural start cycle, which simply means that you come in at the beginning of your menstrual cycle, say on...
View Article7 days after ovulation, I got a progesterone level of 6.5. What other tests...
I’m 30 years old, have 28-32 day cycles and typically ovulate on days 16-18. My luteal phase is anywhere from 10-12 days. I’m doing IUI with frozen sperm and it is costing a fortune so I’m trying to...
View ArticleHow can I improve my egg quality?
Wondering what you can do to improve your egg quality? Here are some tips we share with our patients: Lifestyle When looking to egg quality, the first thing we suggest is that you consider lifestyle....
View ArticleHow does an AMH test help me?
AMH is the best test that we have for understanding your ovarian reserve. There are other tests available (FSH levels, and ultrasound) but they are not as accurate. AMH is the hormone that is made by...
View ArticleWhy is clomiphene not available until later in 2015?
Clomiphene, also known as Clomid or Serophene, is a popular first-line medication in fertility clinics. It is not popular because it is especially efficacious. It isn’t, really. And for many patients...
View ArticleDoes my sleep really impact my fertility?
There isn’t a clear link to fertility and sleep patterns. There is no one test that we can order to tell you that you are (or more likely, are not) getting enough healthy sleep. Like diet and exercise,...
View Article“How does my menstrual cycle reflect the quality of my eggs?”
As you may know, there is no one perfect test for egg quality. So we look at a host of different variables. One of the most helpful is your menstrual cycle. Each menstrual cycle is governed by the...
View ArticleWhat’s the difference between my ovarian reserve and egg quality?
Your egg quantity is also known as your ovarian reserve. It’s not quite the same thing as egg quality. But when you have a good ovarian reserve, you most likely will have some good quality eggs in...
View ArticleIVF: choosing the best embryo, and the best day for embryo transfer
An IVF cycle should result in the retrieval of mature eggs. The eggs will be allowed to settle for a few hours, and then, that afternoon, fertilized with sperm. Choosing the best embryo The next day...
View ArticleIs there a connection between vitamin D levels and IVF success?
This is a guest blog written by Dr. Kim Garbedian There’s been an increase in talk about the role vitamin D plays in our health. Vitamin D has been linked to a variety of autoimmune diseases and...
View ArticleShould I have one or two intrauterine inseminations?
If your underlying concern is around serious male factor subfertility, or blocked/compromised tubes (as can happen with endometriosis), or serious concerns around egg quality, then IVF is by far the...
View ArticleWill pre-implantation genetic screening improve my IVF chances?
Pre-implantation genetic screening, or PGS, is when we analyze individual cells of embryos prior to embryo transfer. It holds great promise for maximizing pregnancy rates. Most IVF failures can be...
View ArticleWhy do you want 12 to 20 eggs for IVF? Isn’t that a lot?
You can run a modified natural cycle IVF. That would mean retrieving one egg and hoping for ongoing pregnancy. Success rates vary, but are likely between 4% and 15% per cycle. This is the best case...
View ArticleAlcohol when you’re trying to conceive.
I pause when counseling around alcohol. How do I address this difficult subject? Toronto Public Health is very clear on its relationship to alcohol and pregnancy. Its May 2014 communique references...
View ArticleHow do I improve my chances for embryo implantation?
Embryo implantation is complicated, as you can imagine! But here’s a breakdown of some of the key elements that can help you maximize your chances: 1. Oocyte (egg) quality Implantation is more likely...
View ArticleI’m not ready to get pregnant yet. I can just freeze my eggs, right?
“Social” egg freezing, the medical terminology for women who would like to preserve their fertility not because of an impending medical necessity – such as chemotherapy – but for reasons related to...
View ArticleAssisted Hatching: When is it necessary?
Assisted hatching is often offered as part of an IVF process. It’s a procedure and as such has its risks. Let’s explore why you may want to do this. The process of assisted hatching refers to...
View Article“How does my menstrual cycle reflect the quality of my eggs?”
As you may know, there is no one perfect test for egg quality. So we look at a host of different variables. One of the most helpful is your menstrual cycle. Each menstrual cycle is governed by the...
View Article