Laurence A. Jacobs, MD , Infertility Doctor - Blog

If there is just one thing I could tell  women — and men — that would improve their fertility, it is this:


If you are overweight, lose weight, and your chances of successfully achieving a pregnancy will increase. 



A study presented recently at the 19th European Congress on Obesity in Lyon, France, adds more data to a growing body of research on this topic. Researchers from the University of Sydney found that for women in fertility treatment, losing weight is one of the  simplest ways to improve their chances of conception. They conducted a randomized controlled trial on overweight women (BMI greater than 30) seeking fertility treatment by assigning them to either a 12-week intervention program, which included a very low-calorie diet during the first six weeks, or recommendations for weight loss. The women were all ages 37 or younger.



 

Read more...

In certain situations, in vitro fertilization with donor eggs may be the best choice for a couple to achieve the family they desire. Some of these siutations include when the ovarian reserve is diminished, if the woman no longer has her ovaries or the ovaries have been damaged because of surgery or treatment of a disease such as cancer, or if there is the chance of passing on a genetic disease.

Typically, the egg donation has involved matching the recipient with an egg donor who has been screened with a full physical examination, as well as psychological screening and counseling and comprehensive testing for genetic disease, substance abuse and infectious diseases. Once the pair is matched, their menstrual cycles have to be synchronized so that once the egg donor’s eggs are retrieved and fertilized, they can be transferred to the recipient’s uterus.

 

Read more...

The New York Times recently reported on a study published in the British Journal of  Clinical Pharmacology that found SSRI anti-depressant use during pregnancy is linked to the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension (high blood pressure). It is important to note that a causal link has not been established.

SSRIs are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and are used to treat depression, anxiety disorders and some personality disorders. Brand names for some of these anti-depressants are Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac and Celexa.

Read more...

 

Whether or not so-called "mild" endometriosis affects fertility has remained controversial, but it appears that any stage of endometriosis, even mild, can negatively affect a woman’s fertility for a variety of reasons. 

 

When compared with normally ovulating women of a similar age who do not have endometriosis, women with mild to moderate endometriosis are about three to four times less likely to have a successful pregnancy. 

 

Endometriosis may adversely affect fertility in several different ways:

Read more...
 

When compared with normally ovulating women of a similar age who do not have endometriosis, women with mild to moderate endometriosis are about three to four times less likely to have a successful pregnancy. 

 

Endometriosis may adversely affect fertility in several different ways:
">

March is National Endometriosis Awareness Month. In this two-part blog, we provide information on this common condition and how it affects a woman’s fertility.  

 

What is Endometriosis?

 

Endometriosis is a relatively common gynecological condition affecting women during their reproductive years. The cause of endometriosis remains unclear and controversial. Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue (cells making up the uterine lining of the uterine cavity), getting outside the uterus, and growing on fallopian tubes, ovaries, bowel, bladder and the pelvic tissue linings (peritoneum).

 

Read more...

 

Many of the articles on my website www.TheInfertilityDoctor.com and my blog deal with issues of genetic screening, diagnosis and treatments.

 

My daughter Miriam has a serious genetic disease, Tuberous Sclerosis. Being a father of a daughter with special needs for the past 25 years, I know first-hand about the emotional challenges of parenting.  

 

This emotional story of a Fragile X Syndrome Child, "The Broken Toy,"  can be very inspirational for all parents and future parents. The book is available for download on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch with iBooks and on your computer with iTunes. To follow is a description.

Read more... ">

A recent Dr. Oz show opened up a can of worms when it asked the question “When Are You Too Old to Have a Baby?”  Many women felt the show portrayed older mothers negatively and made sweeping generalizations about the use of fertility treatments and egg donors. Some even said that waiting to have children was selfish.

The fact is women wait to have children for many reasons — often for reasons that are far beyond their control. (Read Why Women Wait to Have Babies.) The important thing is to understand your fertility and not underestimate the impact of age.

Read more...

One of the greatest joys of being a fertility doctor is when a family has a successful pregnancy and birth. Even more wonderful is when I hear from them years later and find out more about how their life is going and any new developments.

Such was the case recently from a former patient who received my January newsletters with my blogs: Life Is Not a Dress Rehearsal ... The Time Is Now for Fertility Resolutions and 2012 and Beyond. I was very touched that this patient took the time to write such a wonderful email — it's things like this that remind me why I love what I do.

Here is what she wrote:

 

Read more...

Even though the Mayan Calendar says otherwise, I really don't believe the world is going to end in 2012. If I'm right, that means it's time to get busy and take control of your life and your fertility in 2012.

 

As your fertility doctor, I will do all I can to help you have a successful pregnancy and birth, but you need to do your part. Empower yourself - take control. 

  

Here are some helpful suggestions and comments.  We can discuss your specific details face-to-face in the office, since I have many ideas, resources and programs that can help you.  

Read more...

January is the time when the desire for making positive life-changes is in the air, and yet it often doesn't last long. It seems like men and women have good intentions, but they usually lose steam as they roll through the year. Research indicates that couples who make resolutions together are much more likely to adhere to them if one partner does. So keep helping each other!

 

Many of my patients feel absolutely miserable because of their infertility situation. So how can we change that? This article may seem a bit harsh to some, but I am being honest ... with tough love. I'm trying to help. To quote Dr. Phil: "You need to hear what you need to hear."

Read more... ">

 

The holidays can be painful for anyone, but as a practicing reproductive endocrinologist, I see how painful they are for my infertility patients. Many of them know the holidays are going to be stressful, and they are reluctant to go to visit family members and face the inevitable questions like "Isn't it time you started a family?"

 

Sometimes, my patients ask me for advice on how to deal with the holidays, and this is what I tell them:

Read more...
 

Sometimes, my patients ask me for advice on how to deal with the holidays, and this is what I tell them:
">

Yaz, Yasmin, etc., are known as combination oral birth control drugs because they contain a combination of the hormones estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and progestin (drospirenone). These oral contraceptive drugs  have  been linked to serious, life-threatening injuries including blood clots, strokes, heart attacks and death.   Studies have found carry a higher risk of blood clots than another type of progestin known as levonorgestrel, which is found in older birth control pills.

Read more...

Half of all cases of infertility are due to male factor, and recent news articles and research have put male fertility back in the spotlight.

The good news is that unlike women who are born with all of the eggs they will ever have, men continue to produce sperm. So what a man does now can improve his fertility two to three months from now.

Diet, lifestyle and nutritional supplements — all can affect a man's fertility. These factors can also affect a couple's chances at a successful in vitro fertilization (IVF). A recent Brazilian study of 250 men who were undergoing IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) published in the journal Fertility and Sterility found that the chances of a successful IVF increase if men have diet high in fruit and grains, and low in red meat, alcohol and coffee. The men's weight and diet had an effect on sperm concentration and motility (how well sperm swim).

Read more...

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is raising concerns about the safety of oral contraceptives containing drospirenone following a review of two new studies. Drospirenone is a synthetic progestin that is used in birth control.

The studies found that women taking oral contraceptives containing drospirenone were at a greater risk to develop venous thromboembolisms, which are blood clots that form inside the veins, than women on older forms of birth control.  

Read more...

A recent study demonstrates how removing fibroids that distort the shape of a woman's uterus can help prevent recurrent miscarriage. The British researchers looked at data from a large tertiary referral recurrent miscarriage clinic on women who had at least three consecutive miscarriages up to 24 weeks gestational age. They wanted to determine if fibroids were causing the repeated miscarriages and whether removing the fibroids would lead to improved outcomes.

The researchers divided the women into three groups: those with cavity-distorting fibroids who underwent surgery, women with fibroids that were not distorting the cavity and did not undergo any intervention, and a control group of women who had unexplained recurrent miscarriage. With exception of age, patient demographics across the groups were similar. However, on average,  the patients with fibroids were slightly older than those women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage.

 

Read more...

Fertility Centers of Illinois Is still offering the  Fertility Awareness Check-Up!

This is an INEXPENSIVE opportunity for individuals or couples to obtain an overview of their fertility potential.
 
The Fertility Awareness Check-Up provides basic fertility testing for individuals or couples for just $90. This will help individuals or couples in their quest to plan a family by providing an inexpensive initial overview of reproductive potential. The Fertility Awareness Check-Up will help alleviate stress and save valuable time and financial resources in your journey to become a parent.
 
 Here are six frequently asked questions about the Fertility Awareness Check-Up …

Read more...

As National PCOS Awareness Month draws to a close, I’d like to point out 10 important things you need to know about polycystic ovarian syndrome.


PCOS is a condition in which there is an imbalance in a woman’s female sex hormones, which causes problems with ovulation.

PCOS can have many variable and subtle symptoms. This is why a physician may overlook the diagnosis in a young woman who is not trying to get pregnant.

There is no single test to definitively diagnose PCOS; however, many women with PCOS have cysts on their ovaries, which are found via ultrasound.

Read more...

As a member of the Medical Advisory Board at the Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Disorders, I am working to spread the word on the importance of being screened for Jewish genetic diseases, such as familial dysautonomia, Tay Sachs, cystic fibrosis, Gaucher disease, Canavan disease and Niemann-Pick disease.

Recent studies have shown that 1 in every 3.3 Ashkenazi Jews (descendants of Jewish communities along the Rhine in Germany) carry at least one of 16 detectable diseases. Just within the last year our capabilities for screening have increased significantly from 16 to 19, and this number is up from 11 in 2009.

Read more...

Every day I see patients who are experiencing infertility that is caused or exacerbated by excess body fat. And I am often asked why being overweight matters and why a patient should try to lose weight before trying to get pregnant or undergo a fertility treatment such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Here’s why: There are several adverse effects associated with excess body fat that inhibit conception and a healthy pregnancy.


Overweight women often have hormonal imbalances and abnormal endocrine function, which results in a disruption of regular ovulation. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one specific type of endocrine condition that is generally associated with obesity.

Insulin resistance (a condition that can develop into type 2 diabetes) is a common problem for overweight or PCOS patients and further interferes with ovulation.

Read more...

Recently, I did a series of videos for FertilityAuthority. Here is the one on "Does Losing Weight Increase Fertility?" in which I describe what I tell patients about losing weight before they get pregnant. You can check the video out on YouTube or on FertilityAuthority or below.

 

 

 

 

Read more...
 

 

 

 
">