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Friday, October 2, 2009

Stress and Fertility

I am frequently asked if stress can lower the chance of pregnancy. The only thing we know for sure is that stress doesn’t help. Trying to introduce some form of relaxation, such as acupuncture, massage or yoga into your daily routine and cutting back on alcohol and caffeine are better choices than adopting unproven and restrictive dietary and lifestyle habits. Our bodies do best in a state of equilibrium. Keeping your daily routine and getting enough nutrition and rest can go a long way to help you achieve a pregnancy.

 

Friday, May 8, 2009

Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT)

Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT) is a procedure whereby embryos are placed directly into the fallopian tube. This allows embryos to develop in their most natural environment, as opposed to the artificial environment of the IVF laboratory. ZIFT is especially helpful for women over 40 years of age. We recently presented our ZIFT findings at the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society meeting demonstrating pregnancy rates over 50% in this group. Please see the following segment from Discovery Health’s show Deliver Me featuring Dr. Yvonne Bohn’s successful ZIFT. Dr. Bohn is a Board-Certified gynecologist and one of the show’s stars.


ZIFT on Discovery Health’s Deliver Me

For more information about this new procedure or about Santa Monica Fertility Specialists, email Dr Jain.

 

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Multiple Pregnancies

Multiple pregnancies seem to be the topic of the day. Twins represent the majority of multiple pregnancies. The chance of having twins naturally is approximately 1%. Most twins are fraternal (non-identical) meaning that they each came from one egg. Fraternal twinning appears to have a genetic basis since twins tend to occur repetitively in certain families and have increased incidences in certain ethnic groups. Naturally occurring fraternal twins occur when a woman ovulates at least two eggs and both are fertilized. Usually, women ovulate one egg each month.

Identical twins are the result of a single embryo splitting into two embryos during the first 15 days of life. Identical twinning is thought to represent a random event rather than having a genetic or racial basis.

Over the past decade, improved fertility treatments has lead to a rise in the incidence of twins, triplets and even higher-order (Quadruplets etc.) multiple pregnancies. Although most of these multiple pregnancies are fraternal (each from one egg), the incidence of identical twinning has also increased, probably due to embryo manipulation in the laboratory. Fertility treatments utilize hormonal injections that increase the number of eggs produced. Following hormone injections, a woman can be artificially inseminated, or undergo in-vitro fertilization whereby the eggs are fertilized in the laboratory and actual embryos are transferred into the uterus.

Multiple pregnancies are considered high-risk pregnancies. For the mother, the risks include increased chance of hypertension in pregnancy, gestational diabetes, cesarean section and hemorrhage at the time of delivery. For the babies, the main risks relate to preterm delivery and the risk of disability or death from underdeveloped organs.

I was a recent guest on “The Doctors.” The topic was multiple pregnancies.


 

Monday, May 19, 2008

Egg Freezing

Dr. Jain and patient Priya Hanson appeared on The Today Show on May 19, 2008. 

Watch the clip:


Friday, Feburary 13, 2009

The California Octuplets

There has been intense international reaction to the birth of octuplets by a Southern California woman. While the details are not fully available, it appears that several frozen embryos were transferred to the uterus of a 33 year old woman resulting in the birth of 8 infants. Dr. Jain has been interviewed by news agencies from around the globe for his comments and perspective. The following is a summary of the most common questions and excerpts from his interviews:

Who qualifies for in-vitro fertilization?

There are no set qualifications for in-vitro fertilization services. Patients should be assessed for medical, psychological and social well-being. Unique to the specialty of fertility is the health and welfare of the unborn child or children. I try to educate and counsel my patients and make a responsible decision in partnership with the intended parents.

Since this young, single woman lives at home and already has 6 children from in-vitro, is it ethical to help her have more?

It is not my role to dictate how many children a person can have. However, since she represents a situation well outside the norm, I would have recommended psychological evaluation and evaluation of her social situation prior to assisting her with additional pregnancies.

Are fertility services regulated? As a result of this case, will there be more regulations?

There are no specific regulations dictating the practice of infertility. The American Society of Reproductive Medicine has created practice guidelines based on scientific evidence that aid practitioners in the safe and effective provision of fertility services. Most fertility doctors follow these guidelines responsibly. The case presented here is an exception and should not be used as the basis for wide-sweeping rules and regulations. Patients should not be fearful that such rogue behavior is common.

Are there guidelines on how many embryos should be transferred?

In general, for women under the age of 35, no more than 2 high-quality fresh embryos or 3 frozen embryos should be transferred. These guidelines exist to prevent multiple pregnancies which carry with them significant risk for premature birth and life long disability or death. The apparent transfer of at least 6 frozen embryos was well above the standard. I am uncertain why they were not transferred in smaller groups of 2 or 3. As a result, both the mother and the children were put at great risk.

What will happen to the fertility doctor? Will the doctor lose his/her license?

We have Medical Boards for this very purpose. They will no doubt investigate this case, gather all the facts, and determine whether sanctions are warranted. The doctor may be put on probation or have his medical license revoked.

Dr Jain Appeared on the Today Show to talk about this Subject. Watch the Clip:

 

Monday, January 26, 2009

ZIFT is a Success- 60% pregnancy rate!

At Santa Monica Fertility Specialists, we recently implemented a ZIFT program for women over 40. ZIFT stands for, Zygote Intra-Fallopian tube Transfer, a process where embryos are transferred to the fallopian tube soon after fertilization so that they can grow in their natural environment. The reason we offer this is that the increased rate of infertility and miscarriage seen in women over 40 years of age is primarily due to chromosomal errors that occur during egg and embryo development. Growing embryos in the artificial environment of the IVF laboratory puts further stress on developing embryos.

Our results with ZIFT and early intrauterine transfer have led to ongoing pregnancies in approximately 60% of the first group of women treated in this manner. ZIFT is also a viable alternative to those women who have encountered multiple IVF failures.

For more information about this new procedure or about Santa Monica Fertility Specialists, email Dr Jain.

 

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Nicole Kidman’s Fertility Secret?

The October 13th issue of US Weekly reports that Nicole Kidman claims she overcame infertility last year after swimming in the waterfalls of Kununurra, Australia. Could there really be a connection between fertility and water? When US Weekly asked for my opinion, I told them that I hadn’t heard of anyone increasing their chances of pregnancy by swimming, but the water could have a calming effect, helping one to be centered. Overall health and well-being is important in supporting the body while undergoing fertility treatments. At Egg Freezing Center and Santa Monica Fertility Specialists, we realize the importance of being centered in mind and body. We offer a MindBodyWellness program that is committed to providing exceptional holistic services that promote overall health and well-being. By supporting the body and calming the mind with our restorative programs, we help women achieve a balanced, harmonious state, enhancing the effectiveness of traditional medical treatments.

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