I've had a lot of people tell me that they don't have a clue as to what half of this means that I talk about or have completely misunderstood my blog post. I'm definitely not calling you guys "Dummies" lol but we all know the books I'm referring to for sure. I thought I'd make a post to help you guys out/ to better understand all of this possibly. There will be a ton of information here ,but if you get lost or want to know the meaning of something I'm referring to in a later or former blog post this will be easy to refer back too :) By the way, cross your fingers we begin our process next week!! Pray,Pray,Pray
What is In Vitro or IVF?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) gets its name from the fact that fertilization occurs outside of the woman's body, in a lab dish instead of a woman's fallopian tubes. Typically, a woman will use ovulation stimulating drugs to produce an excess number of eggs. These eggs are surgically removed from the woman and fertilized in dish with sperm. If fertilization takes place, the physician transfers the embryo(s) into the women's uterus.
Physician Glossary:
Andrologist: A physician who specializes in male infertility, semen analysis and hormone production.
Embryologist: A Clinical Embryologist is a specialist in embryo development. In a modern laboratory, embryologists are responsible for sperm washing, IVF, ICSI, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, cord blood banking, and research into new techniques such as egg freezing.
Geneticist: A specialist in the areas of biology that deal with genetic make-up and heredity. Geneticists in the field of human reproductive medicine focus on eggs and sperm, as well as the embryos and offspring resulting from fertilization.
Ob/gyn or O&G: (Obstetrics and gynaecology) A physician who specializes in general women's medical care, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the female reproductive system, and care of pregnant women.
Primary Care Physician: A licensed general practitioner of medicine who provides health care for commonly encountered medical problems and refers patients to medical specialists where necessary.
Reproductive Endocrinologist: A Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE) is a physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of subfertility. REs order investigations and run treatment protocols, up to and including retrieval and transfer in an IVF cycle. REs are also responsible for management of the first trimester of pregnancy.
Urologist: A physician who specializes in the branch of medicine (urology) concerned with the anatomy, physiology, disorders, and care of the male and female urinary tract, as well as the male genital tract.
Common Conditions:
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disorder of the female reproductive system in which endometrial tissue (the normal lining of the uterus) is found outside the uterine cavity. An estimated three to five million American women of reproductive age suffer from endometriosis.
Luteal Phase Defect
Abnormalities in endometrial development -- luteal phase defect (LPD) - are associated with infertility and early miscarriage. Luteal phase defect occurs when the endometrium is inadequately prepared, either because the secretion of progesterone by the ovary is below normal or because the endometrium isn't responding to the normal stimulation by progesterone.
Male Factor
30% of infertility is due a male problem such as structural abnormalities, sperm production disorders, ejaculatory disturbances and immunologic disorders.
Multiple Miscarriage
Miscarriage can leave you with deep- rooted feelings of loss and sorrow. These feelings must be confronted and dealt with, not suppressed, as is often urged by friends and family. It is important to take action and see an infertility specialist if you have experienced 2 or more miscarriages.
Ovulatory Disorders
Approximately 30% of female infertility problems are the result of ovulation disorders. There are many factors that can affect ovulation. In this section we will discuss mainly pituitary causes.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a very common hormone disorder in women, a leading cause of infertility, and one of the most underdiagnosed diseases in the United States. PCOS is characterized by a myriad of seemingly unrelated symptoms and may include irregular or absent periods, lack of ovulation, weight gain, acne, excessive facial hair and infertility. Even more serious, women with PCOS may be at higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease, Type 2 Diabetes, and endometrial cancer, especially if PCOS is left untreated.
Poor Responder
The term poor responder has been used to define women who require large doses of stimulation medications and who make less than an optimal number of eggs. There is no uniform definition of poor responders, but many clinics have used a cutoff of less than four mature oocytes at the time of hCG or a peak estradiol of less than 500.
Premature Ovarian Failure
Premature ovarian failure is defined as the cessation of menstrual periods before the age of 40. It occurs in 1 in 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 29 and 1 in 100 women between the ages of 30 and 39. The average age of onset is 27 years. Premature ovarian failure can be both shocking and devastating as there are relatively few treatment options.
Secondary Infertility
Although many Americans are affected by the painful experience of secondary infertility, it generally remains an unacknowledged and invisible condition. Secondary infertility is defined as the inability to become pregnant, or to carry a pregnancy to term, following the birth of one or more biological children.
Unexplained Infertility
Approximately one in five couples will experience unexplained infertility despite completing a full infertility work-up. The emotional response to hearing, "There is no apparent reason for your infertility" can be difficult, maddening and frustrating. Fortunately, there are many options available for the couple diagnosed with unexplained infertility.
Uterine Factors
Abnormalities of the uterus can have a significant impact on the ability of a woman to conceive and to carry a pregnancy successfully. Some women have an abnormally developed uterus from birth (congenital) while others may develop a uterine problem due to infection or surgery (acquired).
Common Abbreviations:
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