Maybe you’d hoped that you could carry a baby yourself to term, but now realize that you can’t. Or, perhaps, neither you nor your life partner has a uterus. No matter what your situation, you may need either a traditional or gestational surrogate.
Conception and birth seem even more miraculous when you realize that a fetus is a foreign body. Despite this, a woman’s immune system normally welcomes the new life. However, if you have an immune system disorder, it may attack the fetus instead.
You’ve been having trouble getting pregnant and your doctor recommends artificial insemination (AI). A simple procedure, AI can help you achieve your dream of carrying and nurturing a child in your womb. But does AI have side effects?
If you’re interested in egg or sperm donation, you may be motivated by the desire to help a childless couple build the family of their dreams. Or, you may simply need the money. Either way (or both) you may wonder how often you can donate.
“You’re only as old as you feel,” except — unfortunately — when it comes to your fertility. A woman’s reproductive system continues to age even when she’s healthy, strong, and fit. If you want to become pregnant, here’s what you should know.
If someone you love has been diagnosed with infertility, they may be in a state of mourning, grief, and confusion. They may wonder if there’s any hope for them, or if fertility treatments really work. You can support them as they move forward.
If you’re struggling to start or add to your family without success, or if you’re part of an LGBTQA+ couple, you may wonder if fertility treatments are the way to go. You know that they’re not guaranteed. But are they effective enough for you?
In this season of gift giving, you might consider giving the most amazing gift of all: donating your eggs to prospective parents in need. Whether you choose to give to someone you know or to a stranger, your gift literally offers them new life.
Up to 20% of women around the world have a condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Although most symptoms associated with PCOS relate to your period and your fertility, PCOS affects your metabolism — and your weight — too.
If you have endometriosis, you may wonder if you’ll ever become pregnant. In fact, you may have been trying for a while and fear that you’re infertile. With treatment, though, you may soon have the baby you long for.
When you ask, “Why did I have a miscarriage?” that may be the wrong question. You don’t actually “have” or cause a miscarriage. You didn’t “miscarry” the fetus or do anything improperly. A miscarriage usually starts in the embryo or fetus.
You know those cute black-and-white print-outs of your friend’s baby in the womb? Those are sonograms. But you don’t have to be pregnant to benefit from a sonogram. Why would you need one and what’s the ultrasound procedure like?
Why is having a baby so complicated? Isn’t it supposed to be easy and natural? And why so many tests? Do you really need them? Does your baby? When is a genetic test a good idea? We can answer these questions.
Infertility is on the rise, all around the world. Women wait longer to have children and choose to have fewer children than their ancestors did. But other factors — including environmental stressors and toxins — affect your fertility, too.
Whether you’re already pregnant or not, you may wonder how you and your partner’s DNA will combine in creating a new life. Will your baby inherit genetic diseases? Will they be healthy? Genetic testing gives you answers.
Your high-powered female friends are all doing it. Or, at least they’re talking about doing it. Freezing their eggs, that is. Is egg freezing overkill, or is it a type of fertility “insurance” that you may need one day?
After you suffer a miscarriage, you may worry that you won’t ever be able to have the family of your dreams. Miscarriage is common -- but so is getting pregnant again afterward. Here’s why.
Most miscarriages occur because of chromosomal defects. But adopting healthy lifestyle changes can help minimize your risk of miscarriage, especially as you age. Here’s how to increase your chance of a healthy pregnancy.
What do ships and fetuses have in common? Not a lot. But a technology that was originally developed to detect flaws in naval vessels evolved into today’s sonograms, which let you peek at your developing baby.
You’ve always dreamed of having a baby, but your body’s not cooperating. Whether you have a health condition, a hysterectomy, or are a gay or single person, gestational surrogacy may allow you to finally have a biological child.
You’re pregnant! Congratulations! Just in time for the holidays, blustery weather, and a whole slew of other stressors. What’s the best way to keep yourself and your baby comfy and safe during the year’s most trying months? Here are a few tips.
Maybe you want to help an infertile couple create their family. Maybe you want to earn extra money. Maybe you want both. Either way, becoming an egg donor can be an emotionally and financially rewarding experience. Here’s how to do it.
You’re having trouble getting pregnant. You may have even had a miscarriage. Or two. Your doctor says you test positive for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). What is APS, and will it prevent you from having a baby?
If you suffer the loss of a pregnancy, you may secretly wonder if it’s “your fault.” Was it because you kept up with your daily run, or had sex, or did something “wrong”? Most of the time, miscarriage is beyond your control.
You’re eager to start your family. With quarantines and shutdowns, you certainly have enough time on your hands. But is it safe to get fertility treatments when the coronavirus pandemic is raging? The answer depends on your unique situation.
You feel tired all the time, but you can’t fall asleep at night. Your periods are heavy and painful, and you keep gaining weight. Now your doctor says you may be infertile. Could unbalanced hormones be at the root of your symptoms?
When you discover you’re infertile, you want to know why. What tests do you need? Just a few or all of them? And will the test results give your doctor the information needed to help you get pregnant?
When you find out that you’re one of the reasons — or the main reason — why you and your partner haven’t been able to get pregnant, you might feel confused or angry. Why are you infertile? The answer can be complex.
Whether you’re trying to have a baby or you’re already pregnant, your OB/GYN may suggest that you get a sonogram to find out what’s going on inside your pelvis. What’s a sonogram, anyway, and why would you need one?
You’re confused: Should you suffer the “natural” symptoms of menopause and resign yourself to looking older, or sign up for hormone replacement therapy (HRT)? You’ve heard mixed things about HRT. Is bioidentical HRT better?
Donating sperm may seem like an easy and fun way to make money, but it’s not for everyone. You have to be healthy and willing to undergo tests each time. You also have to think about the kids you help create.
Having a miscarriage is a tremendous loss that brings up a range of powerful and overwhelming emotions. You may blame yourself or wonder if you’ll ever have a baby. Getting the facts about miscarriage can help you focus on the future again.
You’re thinking about becoming an egg donor, but you’re not sure. Is it painful? Does it take a long time? And is the process worth the money in addition to the reward of giving someone the gift of life?
Your pregnancy test is finally positive and you’re overjoyed. But if you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pregnancy comes with a few caveats. PCOS can affect the well-being of both you and your baby, so be sure to consult with your OB/GYN.
When the thrill of pregnancy is replaced by the terrible loss of a miscarriage, you may feel reluctant to try again. But most women who suffer a miscarriage go on to have healthy babies in the future. Here’s how to move on.
You loved giving birth to your own child. But your heart breaks when you realize that other people may never experience that joy. Should you help them by becoming a surrogate so they can have the family of their dreams?
You figured that all the pain you had with your periods was just a normal part of being a woman. Then you found out that you have endometriosis. What does that mean for your future? Will you be able to have a baby?
You want a baby badly. But you want to be a healthy mom, too. Your OBGYN says you’re not ovulating regularly and that you should take Clomid. Is Clomid safe? What does it do?
You go to a fertility specialist to find out why you haven’t gotten pregnant after months of trying. But when the tests results come back, everything’s normal. Your doctor says you have “unexplained infertility.” What’s that, and what do you do next?
You’re ready to add to your family and let a new baby change your life forever. Making some positive lifestyle changes — by breaking some bad habits — can help you get to that joyful day even sooner.
You’re not ready to be a mother yourself, but the idea of helping a couple who hasn’t been able to have a baby fills you with joy. You’d love to donate your eggs, but wonder if it’s the right time, or if you even qualify.
If you’re among the one out of every 10 women in the United States who has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), you may worry that you’ll never become pregnant naturally. But many cases of PCOS improve with easy-to-implement lifestyle changes.
Your ovaries contained 1-2 million eggs when you were born, so you think they’ll be there when you’re ready to conceive. But by the time you hit puberty, the number’s down to 300,000, and it plummets from there.
You’re in the middle of fertility treatments, but it’s time for holiday travel, too. No need to cancel your travel plans or postpone your treatments though. Use these tips to make traveling easier.
You’re ready to have a baby. But you may need to work on yourself first, because if you’re not at a healthy weight, conceiving may be difficult.
Women with PCOS often have trouble conceiving and successfully carrying a pregnancy to term. At Columbia Fertility Associates, we can help you get pregnant and manage the symptoms and complications of PCOS.
Stiff, aching, painful joints don’t have to be part of the aging process. There are therapies available that don’t involve surgery or drugs, but that can keep your joints moving smoothly.
Few things are more difficult than learning that you and your partner can’t get pregnant. About half the time, the man has a problem that contributes to infertility, but several treatments are available to help you have a healthy baby.
