The decision to start a family is one that fills most couples with joy and excitement. The hope and possibility that comes with growing their family often brings couples closer together as they plan their future. But for some couples, the path to parenthood is fraught with difficulty.
If your path to parenthood is one that has encountered unexpected twists, you’re not alone. Difficulty achieving or maintaining a pregnancy is a common problem in the U.S., with one in eight couples struggling with infertility. So when should you seek fertility help? And what can you do now to increase your chances of success? Below, the experts of IVF FLORIDA go over four reasons why you should not put off seeking fertility help.
1. Age is a factor
When it comes to fertility, age plays a role for both women and men. For couples, infertility is defined as being unable to conceive after a year of trying – unless the woman is 35 or older. In those cases, couples should seek treatment after six months of trying without success. For couples where the woman is 40 or over, help should be sought once the couple decides to start a family. This is due to both the quantity and quality of eggs women have, which decrease with age.
But age isn’t only a factor for women. While the impact on male fertility is less pronounced than with women, male fertility begins to decline around 40 years old when sperm quality decreases. This means that it will take them longer to impregnate a partner, and any resulting pregnancies are more likely to result in miscarriage.
Want to get started? Schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.
2. Costs can be lower
For many women who are older, more invasive procedures like IVF may be tried right off the bat to increase chances of conception. Women who seek fertility help sooner, however, may be able to decrease their costs for conception.
Younger women are more likely to have a better reserve of quality eggs, meaning they are more likely to be successful with less invasive methods like fertility medications or intrauterine insemination (IUI). Not only are these treatments less invasive – they are also significantly less expensive than more involved procedures.
If you have questions about the financial options available to you through IVF FLORIDA, contact our financial team today.
3. Insight into your overall health
The full workup patients receive when they start treatment can provide a wealth of general health information to patients. For many men and women, their infertility is caused by an underlying health issue they weren’t aware they had. These issues (such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or thyroid diseases) can cause a variety of health problems now and in the future, ranging from hypertension to depression. Learning that you have an underlying disease is the first step to treating it and taking charge of your health.
4. Preserve your fertility for the future
For women looking to delay parenthood, time is still of the essence! Women can now preserve their future fertility through egg freezing, enabling them to build a family when the time is right. However, women considering this option should move forward as soon as possible to increase their chances of success. As egg quality and quantity decline as women age, women who choose to freeze their eggs earlier have a higher likelihood of freezing enough high quality eggs to give them the best chance of conceiving in the future.
Considering freezing your eggs? Contact our team to learn more.
When it comes to your fertility, the sooner you can get help for any issues you may have, the more likely you are to be able to eventually bring home a baby. If you and your partner would like to learn more about your treatment options, contact the fertility experts at IVF FLORIDA at 866.770.2168 or request an appointment today.
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The Fertility Experts of IVF FLORIDA at 19 Feb 2018
Struggling with infertility can take a toll on even the strongest relationships. The stress, treatments, and frustrations couples face on their path to parenthood make it difficult for couples to keep the romance alive. But taking a break from focusing on your fertility issues to reconnect with your partner can help reduce infertility-induced stress and strengthen your relationship.
This Valentine’s Day, spend some quality time with the one you love with some of IVF FLORIDA’s fertility friendly Valentine’s Day ideas and tips.
1. Put the Fertility Talk on Hold
If you’re struggling with infertility, it can feel like your life revolves around it. Between the appointments, frequent tests, and injections, it may seem like fertility is all you talk about. This Valentine’s Day the team at IVF FLORIDA suggests putting the fertility talk on hold. Instead, take the time to catch up with your partner and reconnect on a deeper level.
2. Share the Love
Practicing gratitude can help couples cope with the stress that comes with struggling with infertility. One of the best ways to show your gratitude? Giving back. Take some time on Valentine’s Day to share the love with those in need by volunteering at a nursing home, animal shelter, or other local non-profit.
3. Try Something New
Have you and your partner been dying to check out a new art exhibit? Or maybe you’ve both always wanted to try rock climbing. Try something new this month with your partner to strengthen your connection and reinvigorate your bond.
4. Enjoy a Mini-Vacation
You don’t have to go far to take a mini-vacation. Pick a town an hour or two away that neither of you have been to before and spend a day exploring. Enjoy exploring street fairs and trying new restaurants while talking about anything but fertility! Use this time discovering a new place to broaden your horizons and give you and your partner something new to talk about.
5. “Days Off” Sex
For many couples struggling to conceive, sex can start to feel like a chore. Always on a schedule with the focus on the results rather than enjoying your partner. This Valentine’s Day, break out the lingerie and candles – it will help breathe some fresh air and spontaneity back into the bedroom.
6. Get Active
The couple that exercises together, stays together! Take some time this Valentine’s day to work up a sweat with your partner. Go hiking, do some couple’s yoga, or go on a long bike ride together. By exercising together, you’ll you reap the benefits of an active lifestyle while deepening your emotional bond.
7. Take a Break
Dealing with infertility can be draining, but taking a break and relaxing together could be just what the doctor ordered. Whether it’s enjoying a couples massage or just lounging on the couch watching Netflix, doing something you both find relaxing can help you reconnect and appreciate just being able to be together.
When struggling with infertility, it’s important for couples to find ways to stay connected. For more information on infertility treatments for you and your partner, contact IVF FLORIDA at 866.770.2168 to request an appointment.
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The Fertility Experts of IVF FLORIDA at 12 Feb 2018
If you've been trying to conceive for over a year without success (or six months if you're over 35), one of the first diagnostic tests a fertility specialist will request is a Hysetrosalpingogram (HSG). But what is an HSG, and what can you expect? In this infographic, the fertility experts of IVF FLORIDA explain the procedure, its purpose, and why the HSGs performed at IVF FLORIDA are unique.
The experts at IVF FLORIDA have decades of experience diagnosing and treating fertility issues. For more information or to schedule a consultation with one of our top fertility specialists at any of our South Florida infertility clinics, please call 866.770.2168.
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The Fertility Experts of IVF FLORIDA at 24 Jan 2018
So you’ve just been told that you’re best chance of having a baby is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). You already know that juggling the tests, exams, medications, and monitoring visits will likely be overwhelming. Even more overwhelming? Figuring out how to pay for treatment. Despite how common infertility is, very few insurance plans cover the full cost of treatment – if they cover any infertility related procedures at all. This often leaves couples scrambling to figure out how to pay out of pocket for a variety of procedures and medications.
To help patients navigate how to afford the fertility treatments they need to build the families of their dreams, the fertility specialists of IVF FLORIDA are providing a few options for patients struggling with how to cover their costs.
Understand Your Insurance Plan
While there are a few insurance plans that will cover the full cost of fertility treatment, the vast majority of plans do not. So while your plan may not cover everything, some tests and procedures may be covered depending on your plan. Many insurance plans IVF FLORIDA contracts with cover things such as diagnostic testing and consultations, reducing at least some of the cost for patients. Most importantly, patients should reach out to their insurance providers and find out exactly what is covered under their plan and what they’ll be responsible for. Learning the ins and outs of your plan will help you minimize the amount you will have to pay out of pocket.
Research Discount Programs
If you’re planning to undergo In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), there is a chance you may need more than one cycle in order to achieve a pregnancy. At IVF FLORIDA, we offer multi-cycle discounts through our Attain IVF program. Utilizing a multi-cycle discount program will increase your chances of bringing home a baby while minimizing your costs if you choose to undergo two or more cycles of treatment.
Consider Third-Party Financing
Most patients can’t afford to pay the full cost of their treatment up front. To help patients who don’t have enough saved to undergo treatment, IVF FLORIDA offers multiple healthcare-specific financing options for patients. These partners often offer interest rates below what patients can find elsewhere, lowering the overall financial burden. Depending on the program, the financing options can cover everything from medications to retrievals and transfers. Learn more about our lending partners today.
Apply for Grant Programs
A variety of non-profit organizations have popped up over the years that offer grant programs for couples struggling to afford fertility treatments. RESOLVE, the national infertility association, provides information about a variety of nonprofit organizations that provide financial assistance to infertility patients throughout the country.
Whether you pay for your fertility treatment through your insurance plan, using discount and grant programs, financing, or a mix of all of the above, the fertility specialists of IVF FLORIDA have a team of financial counselors available to help all patients figure out the best way to make fertility treatment more affordable. If you are struggling with infertility and would like additional information on how to make your treatment more affordable, contact us at 866.770.2168.
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The Fertility Experts of IVF FLORIDA at 18 Jan 2018
According to the American Cancer Society, this year in the United States, over 13,000 women will be diagnosed with Cervical Cancer. Luckily, advances in treatment have enabled women to survive and thrive after a cancer diagnosis. But these same therapies used to treat Cervical Cancer, while they improve patients’ chances of survival, have side effects that may negatively impact a woman’s fertility. Many of these women are in their prime reproductive years, leaving these women wondering how Cervical Cancer may affect their ability to have a child in the future.
Cervical Cancer Treatments & Infertility
Depending on how early it is caught, Cervical Cancer can be treated using procedures that can preserve a woman´s ability to have children in the future. For women with early-stage Cervical Cancer that has not spread, less aggressive forms of treatment that leave the uterus intact allow women to preserve their ability to carry a pregnancy.
For women with more aggressive forms of cancer, the need for chemotherapy and radiotherapy can dramatically affect a woman’s fertility. Chemotherapy, in particular, can cause premature ovarian failure or even early menopause. While some women will find their ovaries regain function after some time, older patients and those who have received higher levels of chemotherapy may never regain ovarian function. Women with the most aggressive forms of Cervical Cancer may need a hysterectomy, preventing them from carrying a pregnancy in the future.
Preserving Your Fertility
While treatment for Cervical Cancer can negatively impact your fertility, there are steps women can take to help preserve their fertility for the future. If time permits, women can meet with a Reproductive Endocrinologist to discuss fertility preservation options prior to beginning treatment.
Some options for fertility preservation prior to treatment include egg banking, embryo banking, and ovarian tissue banking. These options all provide women with the ability to have biological children in the future, either carrying the child themselves or utilizing a gestational carrier. Patients seeking to utilize any of these options prior to beginning cancer treatment should consult with their oncologist to determine if they are a viable candidate.
Unfortunately, some women are unable to see a fertility specialist prior to beginning treatment. While this means they may not be able to have genetically related children, they have other paths to parenthood. For patients who did not need to have a hysterectomy, donor eggs can be used to facilitate a pregnancy. If a patient had a hysterectomy, the use of donor eggs in combination with a gestational carrier can help them realize their dreams of family.
With so many advances in treatment, many more women are leading long and healthy lives post-diagnosis. For many of these women, the ability to build a family is integral to their future happiness. If you are facing a cervical cancer diagnosis and would like to learn more about the fertility preservation options available to you, please contact us at 866.770.2168 or schedule an appointment today.
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The Fertility Experts of IVF FLORIDA at 10 Jan 2018