Head Radiation May Have Links to Female Infertility

New information from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital indicates what many doctors have speculated all along – that women who undergo radiation (especially of their head areas) may suffer from infertility later in life.

The study suggests a direct correlation between even relatively low doses of radiation and ovary egg production; the former essentially destroys the latter, leading to infertility.

This isn’t entirely new in terms of information – it’s long been known that infertility can result from high doses of radiation to the head (as well as other parts of the body).  But until now, there hasn’t been a significant link made between lower doses of radiation and infertility.

What does this mean? 

Essentially, that females who go through radiation for conditions such as cancer are likely to have fertility issues later in life.  This is the reason that plenty of physicians are now making suggestions to girls and their families that eggs (ova) be collected and frozen prior to radiation and chemo treatments in order to preserve the possibility of the patient having a biological child in the future.

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The Role of Confidentiality in Fertility Treatments

All medicine, from a simple doctor’s appointment to an intricate surgical procedure, should have a serious amount of confidentiality attached to it.  And fertility treatments are no different.

The law regulates reproductive health specialists like those at RSI to ensure that patient information is kept confidential to protect both the consumer and the organization providing the fertility treatment services. 

However, we also think it’s important for individuals and couples undergoing fertility treatments to give some serious thought as to how confidentiality will play a role in their reproductive health lives.

To that end, we’ve put together a series of 4 questions to ask yourself (and your partner).  This will help you figure out how much you want to reveal about your situation to head off unnecessary emotional/social discomfort.

1. Are you going to tell your employer that you are undergoing fertility treatments, especially if those treatments require no significant amount of “down time”?
2. Are you planning to share your fertility treatment journey on the Internet (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, blogs)?  If so, is your partner okay with that?  Or will it be done anonymously?
3. Who will you tell about your fertility treatments?  Are certain people “off limits”?  How about family members?
4. If you come to a point where you are feeling like you want to discontinue fertility treatments even if you haven’t gotten pregnant, how will you tell your partner? 

By answering these questions alone and with your partner, you’ll be able to stem all confidentiality concerns in your private lives, which will lead to a healthier relationship during the process.

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As IVF Treatments Increase in Popularity, Success Rates Also Rise

As with most medical procedures, IVF treatments have not only increased in popularity for a wider range of the population than ever before, but they’ve also risen in terms of the success rates doctors and patients have reported. 

This isn’t unusual, really; time is a huge boost to the medical community.  And it’s definitely been an ally for reproductive health specialists who want to improve the success rates for their clients.

Recently released (and highly positive) IVF treatment statistics show just how mainstream and successful the procedures have become:

1. IVF treatments now result in live births for 41.4% of treatment cycles for women who are less than 35 years of age.  (Source:  Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, 2011.)
2. Since 2003, the rate of live births per IVF treatment cycle has increased almost 4% for women less than 35 years old.  (Source:  Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, 2011.)

Of course, what these figures mean for each woman considering IVF treatments will vary.  In fact, many couples are less concerned with statistics than they are with simply trying every means possible to have a child of their own. 

However, the facts are encouraging and tell persons that:

1. IVF treatments are becoming incredibly sophisticated.
2. It’s best to consider IVF treatments as soon as infertility is documented, rather than waiting for years to treat the condition.

If you have been thinking about IVF treatments as a way to have a child, it has never been a better time to set up a consultation with RSI.  The education and one-on-one personalized treatments you will receive will help you make the best decisions, including whether or not to undergo IVF treatments.

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Celiac Disease Linked to Infertility in Females, But Not Males, Says Study

Celiac disease, characterized by an intolerance to gluten (a protein commonly found in breads, pastas, baked goods and other wheat-, barley- and rye-based products), has been casually linked to infertility in women.  However, there have been no conclusive findings as to whether men’s fertility is affected by the condition… until now.

Swedish researchers from rebro University Hospital tracked the children born to men with birthdays between 1914 and 1990 with and without celiac disease to determine the relationship between their fertility and the condition. 

Results showed no reason to believe that celiac disease was problematic in terms of the men’s childbearing abilities.  In fact, the males who had celiac disease actually had slightly more children on average than those without celiac disease.

As with all research, there were limitations to the study:

1. The research was only done on Swedish males, a homogeneous population.
2. The number of children born to each man could have been determined by other factors, including personal considerations, finances and societal norms.
3. Those in the study without celiac disease were not necessarily all evaluated medically; thus, they could have been afflicted with the disease without knowing they had it.

Still, this research provides good news for the millions of would-be fathers who have to be careful in terms of their gluten intake.

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Protein in Uterus Better Understood as Essential to Embryo Implantation

National Institute of Health (NIH) funded researchers are gaining a better understanding of some of the workings of the uterus. Throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle, hormone levels are continually changing in the uterus. At the start of the cycle, the hormone estrogen gradually increases and encourages the thickening of the endometrium (or uterine lining). Once the ovary releases an egg, levels of the hormone progesterone begin to increase. Progesterone counteracts the estrogen in relation to the endometrium, preventing the lining from getting too thick in the case of egg fertilization. If the uterine lining is too thick, a fertilized egg will have difficulty implanting itself.

What researchers have recently discovered is the role of a protein called Hand2 in the whole process. It was previously recognized that Hand2 increases along with the levels of progesterone following the release of an egg. However, it is now understood that Hand2 acts as a sort of switch to turn off the estrogen from stimulating the endometrium. At least, that is how the protein works in the mice who were studied. Now plans are underway to continue the study in women to determine the effects on the human uterus.

The effects of this study could be helpful in terms of finding female infertility treatment and possibly in endometriosis treatment as well. Failure to produce Hand2 within the uterus could be a cause for infertility and, it is speculated, a cause for endometriosis, as the result of a lack of Hand2 is a thickened uterine lining. Obviously it is too early to tell what the findings will reveal, but the speculated findings could open up the door to exciting research and possible treatments in regards to female reproductive health.

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