Whether you’re just starting your fertility journey or you have completed multiple IVF cycles, it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed with all of the information to consider and the unfamiliar medical lingo being thrown at you. We’re here to help you make sense of it all.  Before we get into the side effects of Menopur, let’s explore its uses and how the medication actually works. What is Menopur? MENOPUR® (menotropins for injection) is a medication most commonly used during in vitro fertilization (IVF) to stimulate and develop your ovarian follicles, with the goal of retrieving...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones, which may result in symptoms including irregular or absent periods, acne, facial hair growth, and an increased risk of developing diabetes. With PCOS affecting 7-10% of women of childbearing age, it's no wonder that finding ways to manage these hormonal challenges is something many people seek.   Among the remedies typically recommended to people with PCOS, sipping on spearmint tea seems to be one of the more popular ones. But can the simple act of including a minty tea in your daily...

If you sat down, spread open your legs, and pulled out a hand mirror, would you be able to name what you saw? Seems like a silly question — but there’s a common mistake most people make. “99% of the time, if someone says ‘my vagina,’ they actually mean their vulva,” says board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Staci Tanouye.  Do you think you know the difference? And why does it matter? Dr. Tanouye helps us understand. What is the vulva? “Everything you can see, touch, externally is the vulva,” says Dr. Tanouye. The vulva is the external genital...

If you’ve heard of PCOS, it may be thanks to one of the celebrities or public figures who have opened up about their experience living with the condition.  The value of that can’t be underestimated: I remember a decade ago, I was in a room with a group of women when one person mentioned PCOS — and hardly anyone had ever heard of the condition. Today, PCOS doesn’t have the same type of name recognition as many other conditions, but awareness of the condition has certainly come a long way.  It’s about more than just making people...

Infertility is defined by many major health groups, including the World Health Organization and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as being unable to get pregnant after 12 months of regular unprotected sex. But the truth is, that definition doesn’t tell the whole story — and it doesn’t fully represent the range of people who may require medical intervention to build their families. The term only applies to a specific heteronormative demographic, while also excluding people who, for a variety of reasons, may not be served at all by this definition, yet share the experience...

Life is stressful, and when you add in trying to conceive, it reaches entirely new bounds. Those stressors can impact everything from your desire for sex to your period.  If the stress is short-lived, you may miss a period or be a few days late. But if your stress lingers, it can impact more than one cycle or even tie into other physical symptoms.  How does stress affect your period? "If you go through a time of high stress, your body reacts with an increase in stress steroids and alterations in your hormones that can temporarily...

The menstrual cycle is made up of four phases and 28-35 days that are each unique and bring with them their own ups and downs. Our hormones dictate the release of an egg during ovulation as well as the shedding of the lining of the uterus during our period. And because these hormone levels change during the various stages of our lives, it’s only natural that the monthly bleeding we experience changes, too.  So, how does your period change with age? We're diving into this topic and speaking to Dr. Dara Havemann of Dallas IVF to...

It’s a chicken and egg question: Does iron deficiency — a condition caused by losing too much iron from your red blood cells — cause heavy periods, or do heavy periods cause iron deficiency? With one-third of women suffering from some form of iron deficiency due to heavy periods, it’s something we are asked about quite often! Let’s dig in: What is iron deficiency?  Iron deficiency happens when your body has too little iron for your red blood cells to effectively carry oxygen through your body. Iron deficiency is a condition that can seriously interfere with your ability to live...

It’s wild to think that tampons were invented nearly 100 years ago, kickstarting a menstruation revolution. While tampons didn’t take off with consumers until closer to the mid-20th century, there is no doubt that this little piece of compressed cotton made a huge difference in our comfort during that time of the month.  Since tampons are inserted internally, allowing for discreet absorption of blood flow, activities like swimming and various other sports were no longer off-limits while “Aunt Flo” was in town.  Unfortunately, with all the physical freedom tampons provide, there remain staggering education gaps about...

Dealing with infertility can be really confusing, with so many options to consider. But you’re not alone on this journey. Many people face the same challenges when starting or expanding their family. We'll break down the when and why of considering Clomid as a potential solution on your path to parenthood. And we hope to make your infertility experience a bit less overwhelming. Understanding infertility and its challenges Let's begin by explaining what infertility means. According to the CDC, infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant after one year (or longer) of unprotected sex. And...