If you have been in the world of infertility for any amount of time, you probably feel like you need a cheat sheet to keep track of the abundance of fertility acronyms that are involved in the process: TTC, IVF, IUI, PIO, ICSI. The list is seemingly never-ending, and it can be daunting to those who are entering the already stressful world of fertility treatments. IVF, or in-vitro fertilization, is a form of assisted reproductive technology in which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside of the body. After fertilization, if a viable embryo is created,...

June is National Men’s Health Month, but there is no better time than the present to start taking men’s health seriously - especially when it comes to your fertility health when trying to conceive.  We know that 1 in 8 couples find themselves having difficulty getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. While much of the focus and education around fertility health centers solely on women, men’s health plays a vital role as well. After all, sperm does contribute to 50% of a baby’s DNA. You might be surprised to hear that male factor infertility is a contributing cause...

Nationally celebrated holidays can feel isolating when your personal story doesn’t fit into the narrative of those days. For instance, Father’s Day can be an incredibly triggering holiday if you or your family are navigating infertility.  “Days such as Father's Day can bring up varied emotions for couples dealing with infertility,” explains Dr. Lynyetta Willis, Psychologist and Family Empowerment Coach. “These holidays can feel very isolating for couples struggling with infertility - sadness, grief, and even resentment within the relationship, as well as towards couples with children may be present during these times.”  And while the...

Entering the world of fertility treatments for the first time can be an overwhelming process, to say the least. In my case, dual-factor infertility led my husband and I to pursue IVF to grow our family. However, everyone’s journey is different. With so many varying paths to consider when it comes to taking care of your reproductive health, what’s important to remember is that you’re certainly not walking alone. If you’re considering your own options, here are a few tips I wish I had known before beginning IVF: 1. Realistically, how much time I would need...

I am a clinical embryologist, a position that has held the highest place of honor among the many accomplishments I have achieved throughout my career. I also know first-hand the pain, emptiness, and emotional anguish that comes from not being able to build the family you desperately want when you want it. As the person behind-the-scenes in the IVF lab, I can’t describe the profound happiness that comes from being there at the very beginning of your family. From literally choosing the genes that will become your living child and placing those resulting embryos into your...

As a Reproductive Urologist, I specialize in treating male patients who want to get their partner pregnant or preserve their fertility. Even though men are 50% of the fertility equation, the topic of male fertility is not discussed nearly enough or as thoroughly as female fertility. So, how do you know when to get your male partner's fertility tested? 5 Signs It's Time to Get Your Guy Checked 1. You’ve made the decision to try to get pregnant. When couples decide to try to conceive, it’s time for both partners to get their fertility evaluated. For the female, this...