The holidays can be stressful. And if this is your first holiday season going through fertility treatment, you may feel overwhelmed by the prospect of discussing your struggles with others. While you may feel comfortable sharing at times, the conversation can take a toll on your mental health. If you find yourself dreading an upcoming event or chats about your fertility struggles, here are some tips for dealing with it:
- Be selective with holiday events: If there is a holiday event that you know will have people present that may ask questions about growing your family, etc., feel free to decline the invitation. If you feel obliged, make an appearance and attempt to avoid those who will make you feel uncomfortable.
- Donate your time: Volunteering provides a sense of purpose, and research shows that it reduces stress and increases positive, relaxed feelings by releasing dopamine.
- Treat yourself: Whether it is preparing your favorite meal, going on an overnight trip, or just hanging out at home with your favorite people or pets, doing something for yourself can help bring a sense of joy to a stressful time.
- Find a support group: Attend an in-person or virtual support group. Being around others dealing with the same emotions can help you feel less isolated and brings light to different coping strategies and techniques.
- Take a digital break: Being digitally connected 24/7 can cause havoc on your well-being. Unplugging for a few hours allows you to be more present and also helps reduce stress.
The holidays can bring out many heightened emotions, especially when dealing with infertility and treatment. The IVF FLORIDA fertility team can provide you with compassionate care and support during this difficult time. Contact our office for more information or to schedule a consultation.
By
IVF FLORIDA at 15 Dec 2022
After 40 years of practicing reproductive endocrinology, Dr. Steven J. Ory is retiring effective December 22, 2022.
Dr. Ory joined IVF FLORIDA in 1995 and has helped thousands of individuals and families realize their dream of having children. Although he will no longer have an active clinical practice, Dr. Ory plans to continue teaching at Florida International University, where he will train the next generation of reproductive endocrinologists and fertility specialists.
Read Dr. Ory's letter to patients here.
IVF FLORIDA is home to several caring and knowledgeable fertility doctors who can pick up your care after Dr. Ory’s retirement. Here is more information about each physician.
Dr. David I. Hoffman is subspecialty certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He joined IVF FLORIDA in 1986.
Dr. Marcelo J. Barrionuevo is subspecialty certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He joined IVF FLORIDA in 1998.
Dr. Vanessa N. Weitzman is subspecialty certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She joined IVF FLORIDA in 2008.
Dr. Daniel R. Christie is subspecialty certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He joined IVF FLORIDA in 2010.
Dr. Marc R. Gualtieri is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He joined IVF FLORIDA in 2015.
Dr. Laurice Bou Nemer is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She joined IVF FLORIDA in 2018.
Dr. Luis R. Hoyos is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and board eligible in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He joined IVF FLORIDA in 2021.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call us at 954-247-6200. Our team can assist you and help answer any of your questions.
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IVF FLORIDA at 8 Dec 2022
Egg freezing can be a very effective way to preserve fertility and have a baby later in life. Here are the top frequently asked questions about egg freezing at IVF FLORIDA.
What is egg freezing?
Egg freezing is preserving some of your eggs by retrieving them from your ovaries, freezing them, and storing them so you can use them in the future.
Who should consider egg freezing?
Egg freezing is recommended for women ages 30 to 40 (ideally women in their early-to-mid-30s) who wish to extend their fertility potential for future family-building options. Women may want to consider egg freezing at a younger age if there is a family history of premature ovarian failure or early menopause.
How does egg freezing work?
During a natural menstrual cycle, your body produces one egg to maturity. An egg-freezing cycle uses medications--similar to the ones naturally made in the body--to stimulate your ovaries to produce additional mature eggs, also known as follicles. Once the follicles are mature, the next step is an intravaginal procedure to retrieve available eggs. Mature eggs are then frozen using a "flash-freeze" process known as vitrification and stored in liquid nitrogen, where they can remain frozen indefinitely.
How does IVF FLORIDA determine candidates for egg freezing?
If you are considering egg freezing, you will complete simple diagnostic testing at IVF FLORIDA to learn your ovarian reserve (reproductive hormone levels and how many eggs are available). Your care team will combine your test results with your medical history and share their recommendations to help determine whether freezing now is in your best interest.
Does IVF FLORIDA work with patients newly diagnosed with cancer?
At IVF FLORIDA, our fertility specialists work closely with newly diagnosed patients and their cancer teams. All patients interested in fertility preservation will receive immediate consultation and the best preservation options based on their cancer treatment plan. Expedited treatment and coordination with cancer therapies are essential for patients with a recent cancer diagnosis. Those planning to have children in the future should consider sperm, egg, or embryo freezing at the time of diagnosis.
Why consider egg freezing?
There are many reasons to preserve your eggs, including:
1. Timing: Whether it is career-related, searching for the right partner, or just not feeling ready--mentally or financially-- egg freezing allows women to focus on their life and career goals without the added pressure of their biological clock ticking in the background.
2. Health Concerns: Reasons such as family history of early menopause, endometriosis, or a recent cancer diagnosis are just a few medical reasons women choose to freeze their eggs.
3. Fertility Freedom: Fertility in women rapidly declines after 35 years of age, and egg freezing gives the option to start a family later in life.
Why choose IVF FLORIDA?
IVF FLORIDA offers a Concierge Egg Freezing Program led by a highly qualified healthcare team, including a board-certified physician and nurse practitioner. Our program is custom designed to minimize the time investment and maximize the potential to conceive using frozen eggs should the need arise. We also provide patients with the highest level of support throughout the egg-freezing process.
How to get started?
To learn more about egg freezing at IVF FLORIDA, call 954-247-6200 or click here.
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IVF FLORIDA at 2 Dec 2022
Traveling when you’re in the middle of fertility treatment requires a little planning and preparation. To make the experience a little less stressful, here are three tips to make traveling with fertility medication easier:
Plan ahead: If you’re in the middle of an IVF cycle, timing is everything! Traveling during an IVF cycle requires a strict schedule, especially if you’re switching time zones. Before traveling, speak with your care team to make sure you are prepared and have the supplies you need.
Before booking your travel arrangements, speak with your care team to make sure you get everything you’ll need (from monitoring to additional medication) ready to go before you leave town. Some key things to speak to your team about include:
- Monitoring: If you’re in the middle of your cycle, it’s important to schedule monitoring appointments at a fertility clinic located in your destination. Practices that are part of a large network, like IVF FLORIDA, have partner practices all over the country with qualified fertility teams that can monitor you while you’re out of town.
- Medication: You may need to obtain prior authorization from your insurance company for things like blood draws and medication if necessary, including refills of extra medication for your trip if needed.
Be informed: If you’re traveling by plane, contact your airline before your trip to gather important information about traveling with medication. Ask about specific protocols surrounding syringes, needles, and medicine that needs to be refrigerated.
In addition, when you arrive at the airport, speak with the TSA to let them know you are in the middle of fertility treatments and carrying medication and supplies including syringes. You can also request an X-Ray exemption if your doctor informs you that your medication shouldn’t go through the x-ray process. You may need a note, so check with your doctor before you go.
Pack accordingly: Luggage is notorious for getting lost. To avoid unnecessary stress, pack your medication in your carry-on.
If your plans involve a tropical destination, have a cooler or insulated lunch bag with freezer packs on hand to keep your medication at the proper temperature. And be sure to pack your medication in a waterproof case.
To learn more about traveling during fertility treatment, call us at 954-247-6200.
By
IVF FLORIDA at 15 Nov 2022
To meet the growing demand for comprehensive fertility and family-building options in Martin and St. Lucie Counties, IVF FLORIDA Reproductive Associates announced today the opening of its new satellite office in Jensen Beach, Florida.
Located at 3498 NW Federal Highway, Jensen Beach, the satellite office provides new patient and follow-up appointments, egg-freezing, and oncofertility consultations. Patients can visit IVF FLORIDA's full-service Jupiter location at 600 Heritage Dr., Suite 200, Jupiter, FL, 33458, for fertility treatment monitoring, diagnostic evaluation, and other appointments.
Board-certified reproductive endocrinologist Marc R. Gualtieri, M.D., who joined IVF FLORIDA in 2015, will be the attending physician. Dr. Gualtieri graduated from the University of Florida and completed his Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at the University of Miami and his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of Southern California. He will see patients at the Jensen Beach office on Mondays.
"IVF FLORIDA has helped thousands of patients realize their dreams of parenthood, and we are excited to bring our fertility expertise to the Jensen Beach and Port St. Lucie County area, where we are seeing a demand for services," said Dr. Gualtieri. “The ability to make access to fertility care more convenient will hopefully allow more people to seek the help they need to build their families,” adds Gualtieri.
IVF FLORIDA is committed to making fertility care accessible by providing convenient office locations and virtual appointments. IVF FLORIDA has eight reproductive endocrinologists on staff and seven locations in South Florida, including Coral Gables, Margate, Pembroke Pines, Boca Raton, Jensen Beach, Jupiter, and Wellington.
For more information on IVF FLORIDA, visit ivfflorida.com. Patients can schedule an appointment by calling 954-247-6200.
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IVF FLORIDA at 28 Oct 2022