2020

Male Infertility: What You Need to Know

When couples have been trying to conceive without success, the assumption is often that the cause is female infertility. But the fact is that one third of infertility cases are due solely to male factors. So what causes male infertility? And what can couples do to overcome it and build the family of their dreams? Here, the team at IVF Florida’s South Florida fertility centers discuss what you need to know about male infertility.

What Causes Male Infertility?

There are multiple potential causes of male infertility that can result in low sperm production, low sperm motility (failure of the sperm to move correctly), abnormal sperm function, or even issues with the male anatomy that prevent sperm delivery. Some of the most common causes of male infertility include:

• Varicocele – a dilation of the veins leading from the testicle which can cause overheating and negatively impact sperm quality/quantity
• Epididymial or Vas Deferens blockage which can prevent semen from being delivered into the uterus
• Chronic health problems such as diabetes and obesity, which can negatively impact sperm quality and quantity
• Illnesses like the flu or STIs, which can temporarily impact sperm health
• Lifestyle factors, such as smoking and high alcohol consumption

The first step towards determining the cause of male infertility is conducting a semen analysis. If an issue is discovered, conducting a thorough medical history and physical exam can help pinpoint the cause.

What Treatments Are Available?

There are a variety of treatments available for men who suffer from male infertility depending on the cause. Varicocele and blockages can often be resolved with a simple surgery. Those with illnesses and lifestyle factors impacting their sperm health can see improvement once the illness is resolved or a healthier lifestyle is adopted. For those with diabetes or who are obese, getting the conditions under control can help improve sperm quality and quantity.

If the semen analysis does not improve after surgery, lifestyle changes, or the resolution of illness, there are other options available. Some couples with male infertility may be able to conceive using IUI (Intrauterine Insemination), wherein a concentrated semen sample is injected directly into the woman’s uterus. For others, IVF using ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) can help them create embryos that can then be implanted into the woman’s uterus. For couples where the man has azoospermia, or a complete lack of sperm production, use of donor sperm can help them start a family.

Can Men Improve Their Sperm Health?

 For men whose sperm production is impacted by illness or lifestyle, making small changes and seeking adequate treatment can help improve their sperm health. Minimizing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, and living a healthy lifestyle can help improve sperm parameters in many men. Additionally, rooting out any illnesses that could be causing infertility and treating them can help a man’s sperm health bounce back.

Consulting a Specialist

The first step for any couple struggling with infertility is to consult an experienced infertility specialist. At IVF Florida´s South Florida fertility centers, we work closely with Urologists to help determine the cause of male infertility and find the simplest and most effective solution to help couples conceive naturally. If advanced reproductive technologies are needed, our fertility specialists will work closely with you to find the treatment plan that will give you the greatest chance of success.

If you have been struggling to conceive without success, contact the team of fertility doctors at IVF Florida today at 954-247-6200 to schedule a consultation.

4 Ways to Boost Your Fertility From Home

You may be staying home, but you can still make a few changes to help boost your fertility while helping to flatten the curve. Making small changes that can help your chances of success can also help mitigate the feelings of stress and anxiety surrounding not being able to pursue treatment as quickly as you’d like. Here, the team at IVF FLORIDA’s South Florida fertility practices goes over four ways you can boost your fertility while staying home.

1. Work On Your Fitness

You can still get a good sweat going while staying home! Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can help improve your chances of conceiving, and a healthy exercise regime can help you reach your weight goals. Getting in a quick thirty minute workout each day – through going for a run, practicing yoga, or enjoying a dance workout video – can go a long way towards helping you into fighting shape for your fertility journey.

2. Cook Fertility Friendly Meals

While exercise can help you achieve a healthy weight, you still can’t out-exercise a bad diet. Cooking healthy, fertility friendly meals can help you achieve your health goals while saving money. Pile your plate high with fruits and vegetables, add in a portion of lean protein, and include some healthy fats like olive oil or nuts to create healthy, fertility friendly meals.

3. Drop Unhealthy Habits

With coronavirus still circulating, now is a great time to drop unhealthy habits – especially smoking. Smoking has been shown to decrease fertility and cause issues during pregnancy. The same can be shown for alcohol consumption (put down that quaran-tini!), which can reduce your chances of success and negatively impact pregnancy. Take some time while staying home to drop these unhealthy habits and bring you one step closer to your dreams of achieving your family.

4. Get In Your Z’s

The stress and anxiety surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic can understandably take a toll on your sleep health. But now more than ever, it is important to get enough quality sleep. Getting enough sleep is important for your body’s immunity, and it is also linked to fertility. Getting enough quality sleep can help improve hormone levels as well as ensure that you have sufficient melatonin production, which can play a role in protecting your eggs when they’re close to ovulation. Make sure to try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time each night, avoid screens around bedtime, and get 7-8 hours of sleep each night.

You may not be able to take all of the steps towards building your family right now, but there are things you can do to boost your fertility and increase your chances of success. From dropping unhealthy habits, to achieving a healthy weight, and getting in quality sleep, these steps you can take from home can set you up for success when you can move forward with treatment. To learn more about what you can do to make progress on your path to parenthood from home, or to schedule a virtual consultation, contact the team at IVF FLORIDA today at 954-247-6200.

5 Steps You Can Take On Your Fertility Journey From Home

With the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disrupting daily life and forcing communities to stay home to slow the spread, it can be difficult to keep stress and anxiety in check. For those who are on a fertility journey, it can be even more difficult. Feeling as if you’re unable to make progress on your path to parenthood can be devastating and a particularly difficult situation. Rest assured there are still steps you can take from home to keep you moving towards achieving your dreams of family.

Below, the team at IVF FLORIDA has five steps that you can take while at home to prepare you on  your fertility journey while staying sheltered in.

1. Schedule a Telemedicine Consult

While you may not be able to come into the office for your initial consult or follow up visit, you can still have your consult virtually. By doing a telemedicine consult, you can still take that first step (or next step) from the comfort and safety of your home. To schedule a telemedicine consult, contact us at 954-247-6200 today.

2. Take Steps To Get Healthy

Getting in the best overall health possible is one of the best steps you can take to increasing your chances of achieving your dreams of family. Quit smoking, minimize alcohol intake, eat a healthy diet, and achieve a healthy weight while staying home so that you’re in the best position possible when you’re able to take next steps.

3. Track Your Cycle

Whether you’re waiting to schedule an HSG, bloodwork, or start a treatment cycle, making sure that you are tracking your cycle (or are on birth control) can help you ensure you are ready to move forward when you are able to.

4. Get Your Testing Done

While you may not be able to come in for all of your diagnostic testing, there may still be some testing you can get done. Whether that means getting your bloodwork done at an outside lab or obtaining previous results from your OB/GYN, having as much testing complete as possible will help you hit the ground running once you can pursue treatment.

5. Make Sure Your Finances Are In Order

We know that getting the fertility treatment you need can be expensive, and figuring out how to pay for treatment can be incredibly stressful. To help relieve some of that stress, take some time now to make sure your finances are in order. Contribute as much as you can to your savings (not being able to go out can have some positive effects on your spending habits!) and take some time to review your credit report. If you need financing for treatment like IVF, a better credit score can get you a better rate. Make sure your credit report is accurate and use free tools like Credit Karma to find out what you can do to improve your score.

You may not be able to start fertility treatment while the coronavirus (COVID-19) stay home orders are in place, but there is still plenty you can do in the meantime to make progress on your path to parenthood. To learn more about what you can do, or to schedule a telemedicine consultation, contact the team at IVF FLORIDA at 954-247-6200 today.

9 Ways to Practice Self Care During Social Distancing

With the coronavirus pandemic going on here and abroad, it is more important than ever that we practice social distancing. But the stress and uncertainty caused by the pandemic takes an even greater toll on our emotional well-being since we can’t necessarily lean on those we love due to aggressive social distancing. Even though we may be stuck at home, there are still ways to practice self care that can help relieve some of the anxiety and stress we’re all feeling. Below, the team at IVF Florida has nine ways you can still practice self care while keeping yourself and your community safe.

1. Try Out Some At Home Workouts

Bust out that yoga mat and dust off those dumbbells – it may be time to take your at home workouts up a notch. With gyms closed, you may need to get creative and workout at home to get in the movement you crave. Whether that means creating your own yoga flows or strength circuits, or following along to some free workout videos, getting some exercise in when you’re stuck at home can help relieve some stress and boredom.

2. Work On Your Reading List

You remember that book you were gifted for Christmas but never had time to read? Well, now is that time! Take some time to read a good book at home and let your mind escape. Don’t have anything good to read at the moment? The local library has hundreds of eBooks you can borrow for free to read on your kindle or laptop!

3. Give Yourself A Spa Day

You’re likely experiencing anxiety, stress, and uncertainty due to what’s going on in the world at the moment, so it’s important to find ways you can relax. Unwind with an at home spa day, complete with a long soak in the tub, a mani-pedi, soothing candles, and some relaxing music. Take the time to pamper yourself a little!

4. Indulge In Your Hobby

Have some extra time on your hands? Try putting it towards working on your hobby! Whether it’s drawing, painting, knitting, or baking, the extra time at home means you can complete the projects you’ve been putting off.

5. Sleep In

One of the best ways to take care of yourself right now is to make sure you’re getting enough quality sleep. If you’re working from home, take advantage of the shorter commute (ie: the 2 minutes it takes to get to your couch) to sleep in a little more and get your nightly 8 hours of sleep. You’ll feel better and it can have a positive impact on your immune system!

6. Cook Yourself A Delicious Meal

You may not be able to go out for a fancy meal, but there’s no reason you can’t make one yourself! Added bonus? Home cooked meals are often healthier than their restaurant counterparts. Look up some delicious recipes (you can even find recipe dupes for some of your restaurant favorites) that are time intensive and get cooking in the kitchen. Missing some ingredients? Use this opportunity to get a little creative with some swaps – you may be pleasantly surprised with the result!

7. Marie Kondo Your House

A clean and organized home can do amazing things for your mental health, so take a page out of Marie Kondo’s book and start clearing out the things in your home that don’t “spark joy.” It’s a great way to use up some of that extra free time and nothing beats a sense of accomplishment.

8. Start Journaling

Journaling is a great way to sort through your feelings of stress and anxiety, especially during times like these. Take some time each day to write down how you’re feeling and what is going on in your life – putting it down on paper can help lift some of the weight off your shoulders.

9. Take a Virtual Vacation

Travel may be out of the question for a while, but you can still visit museums around the world from your laptop. This article form Southern Living has a list of 12 amazing museums from around the world that have free virtual tours you can take from the comfort of your own home. It may help scratch that travel itch until things turn around.

We know that this is a stressful time, but remember: the team at IVF Florida is here for you every step of the way! If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact us at 954-247-6200 today. For all the latest COVID-19 information from IVF Florida, please visit us here.

Are Your Sleep Patterns Impacting Your Fertility?

You’ve heard it before: getting enough quality sleep is a key aspect of overall health. We all know we should probably try to get in a few extra Z’s every night, but less than a quarter of Americans are getting the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep each night. While most people know how a lack of sleep can impact their mood, stress levels, and hunger cues, few know that it can also negatively impact their fertility.

Here, the fertility specialists at IVF FLORIDA’s Miami area fertility clinic discuss how sleep patterns can affect your chances of TTC success – and how to develop healthier sleeping patterns.

The Quantity of Sleep

The amount of sleep a woman gets each night doesn’t just impact her productivity levels, it also impacts her hormones. Not getting enough quality sleep can impact the way your body releases the hormones that regulate how hungry or full you feel, which can lead to weight gain. If you are trying to achieve a healthy weight in order to increase your chances of achieving a pregnancy, getting enough sleep is crucial. Getting in your recommended 7-8 hours each night can also improve hormone levels directly related to achieving and carrying a pregnancy, such as progesterone, estrogen, Leptin, and Follicle-Stimulating Hormones (FSH).

Getting enough sleep is also important for men. Healthy sperm production is regulated by the hormone testosterone, which is released daily – often overnight – with several studies linking testosterone levels to how much sleep a man gets each night.

The Quality of Sleep

It’s not enough just to get your 7-8 hours each night – they need to be hours of quality sleep. One factor that impacts sleep quality and fertility is the blue light emitted by screens such as phones and tablets. The blue light from screens has been shown to suppress melatonin production. Melatonin doesn’t just help your fall and stay asleep – it also has been shown to help protect your eggs when they are close to ovulation.

Sleep Timing

When you sleep can also impact fertility in women. The night shift has been aptly nicknamed “the infertility shift” for women due to the lower fertility rates of women who work overnight shifts. Studies have shown that working the night shift can disrupt your circadian rhythm, causing hormonal imbalances, lower estrogen levels, and irregular menstrual cycles. These changes can all make it more difficult to both achieve a pregnancy, and carry a pregnancy to term.

Getting Better Sleep

So how can you get the amount of quality sleep you need to support you on your fertility journey? Below are five helpful tips to help you get the sleep you need.

1. Set a designated bed time. Try going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day – yes, even on weekends!
2. Turn off electronics an hour before bed and keep them out of the bedroom to minimize blue light exposure that can suppress melatonin.
3. Make sure your bedroom is dark, cool, and quiet. This can help you fall asleep faster – and stay asleep when you do.
4. Avoid caffeine and alcohol later in the day. Stimulants like coffee late in the afternoon or the evening can make it more difficult to wind down for bedtime. Alcohol may help you fall asleep, but can negatively impact sleep quality.
5. Try a nighttime meditation routine. It can help you quiet your mind and body to make getting to sleep just a bit easier.

Getting enough sleep can be difficult, but setting healthy sleep habits can help you get the hours you need to increase your chances of achieving and carrying a pregnancy to term. To learn more about the impact of sleep on fertility, or to schedule a consultation with one of our fertility specialists, contact the team at IVF FLORIDA’s Miami-area fertility clinics today at 954-247-6200.