FERTILITY FACTS, NEWS AND VIEWS –Letrozole May Help Women diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Conceive

PCOS affects 5 to 10% of women of childbearing age resulting in problems conceiving. PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility, with symptoms of  absent of  ovulation, resulting in very irregular are absent periods, weight problems, facial hair and thinning hair on scalp.

A recent article published in Science Daily, reports that a nationwide study led by Penn State College of Medicine researchers, found that the drug Letrozole, results in higher birth rate for women diagnosed with PCOS, over the conventional treatment, Clomiphene Citrate, (a drug that stimulates ovulation), which results in only 22% success rate with up to six cycles of treatment.

The study also found that fewer twin pregnancies were associated with the drug Letrozole, 3.9%, compared to 6.9% on Clomiphene Citrate.

Read more by following the link below:-

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140709182159.htm

The more we know.........

image by: http://www.examiner.com/article/new-study-on-pregnancy-complications-for-women-with-pcos

INFERTILITY FACTS, NEWS AND VIEWS – Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and Inflammation during pregnancy

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a condition occurring in over 5 million women in the United States, is a leading cause of infertility in women.  

Among the symptoms of this condition are, irregular or absent periods, excess weight, facial hair or thinning hair on scalp.

According to a recent article in Science Daily, a  study recently published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) found that pregnant women with PCOS, experience inflammation during pregnancy, more than those who do not have the condition at all. Pregnant women with PCOS usally experience low-grade inflammation, but this becomes more severe during pregnancy.

Other complications that pregnant women with PCOS experience are, the risk of pre-clampsia and gestational  diabetes, which according to this study, has a connection with inflammation.

Read more, by following the link below:-

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140529131959.htm

http://www.examiner.com/article/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-and-pregnancy-risk-factors

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INFERTILITY NEWS, FACTS AND VEIWS “Conflicting criteria clarified for diagnosing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome”

A typical polycystic Ovary

As one who suffers from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, which was the cause of my decade long struggle with infertility, I am very much interested in any new development relating to this condition.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS, affects millions of women worldwide and is a leading cause of infertility.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH). This condition causes diverse symptoms, and its causes are poorly understood. The definition and even the name of PCOS have been subject to debate. An NIH panel concluded in January 2013 that the name focuses on a specific symptom - cysts in the ovaries and this symptom is apparently not present in all PCOS cases. This is part of the confusion about the condition, they say.

The Endocrine Society in October 2013, issued a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome. In the CPG, The Endocrine Society recommends that a diagnosis be made if adult women have two of the three main features of PCOS (diagnostic criteria supported by the NIH panel):

§  Excess production of male hormones called androgens.

§  Anovulation, a condition where the ovary does not release a mature egg each month. This causes irregular menstrual cycles.

§  The formation of clusters of pearl-size cysts containing immature eggs in the ovaries, which is called polycystic ovaries.

Well, I can safely say that my diagnosis was right as it is supported by two of the above symptoms and I am indeed happy to say that this recent development will certainly allow for more accurate diagnosis of this condition, so that proper treatment and management can begin earlier.

The more you know……..

10 YEAR OLD COLUMBIAN GIRL GIVES BIRTH

A 10 year old Columbian girl gave birth to a baby girl weighing just about 5 pounds recently. This makes her one of the world’s youngest mother.

I really did not know this was even possible but according to an ABC article, the explanation is that, because ovulation usually starts before menstruation, it is very possible that girls can get pregnant before having their first period.

Follow the link below for more on this story:-

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/04/06/10-year-old-girl-gives-birth-to-daughter/

Many times throughout my infertility struggle, I would think that if I had become pregnant earlier, not at age 10 by any means, but in my early teens as I began noticing evidence of my PCOS condition in my late teens, then I would have had the child or children I so wanted and my infertility struggle would have sure turned out differently.

Not that my parents would approve of this and I would definitely have to fit all my belongings in one travelling bag and run for the hills.

post image by: http://www.thelifefiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/wayuu.jpg

“Laparoscopic Excision Surgery For Endometriosis Frees Patients From Chronic Pain And Complications.”

Women who are diagnosed with Endometriosis, sadly deals with a lot of pelvic pain and discomfort caused by gastrointestinal and urinary tract conditions. I totally understand this, because my Polycystic condition, causes similar discomfort as well.A Laparoscopic Excision surgery eliminates this pain and discomfort, according to an article in Medical News Today.

The article also advise that women who suspect they might have endometriosis, get an accurate diagnosis sooner than later, so that they can be accurately treated and in so doing, minimize the chance of infertility, when they are ready to have children.

For more on this subject, please visit the link below.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/236843.php

From the article:

“Keynote speaker and women's health advocate Padma Lakshmi, an international supermodel and TV show host, who co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America to encourage research to help other women to avoid her ordeal, declares: "Endometriosis is one of the most treatable, but least treated of women's health problems. Like me, many women suffer debilitating pain and other symptoms for as long as a decade before receiving an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. 


Many women suffer silently or use painkillers, sometimes for years. Because pelvic pain can have many different causes, including appendicitis, bowel obstruction, ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, diverticulitis, ectopic pregnancy, fibroids, IBS and many others, correct treatment can often be delayed further, as endometriosis is sometimes not immediately diagnosed. 


For example, in women with endometriosis on the intestines, symptoms may prompt a physician to suggest GI tests, which will not reveal the true problem. 


Lakshmi continues saying: "If a woman wants to have children, it's critical to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. Endometriosis is one of the top three causes of infertility. Many women are delaying childbearing into their 30s and even 40s these days, but if you have had untreated endometriosis for many years, it may be too late. And that is a real tragedy." 


The currently most effective treatment is laparoscopic excision surgery as alternative medical therapies for endometriosis are extremely limited.”

“IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T CONCEIVE”

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior’s hand

Psalm 127: 3 & 4

"HOPE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE"

 

It is with great pleasure that I introduce the book, If at First You Don't Conceive: A Complete Guide to Infertility from One of the Nation's Leading Clinics by  Dr. William Schoolcraft, MD, HCLD, Director of the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine.


This book covers areas such as:-

• The basics of what you should know - Understanding the Fertility Fight.
• The most common fertility challenges – Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Endometriosis and tubal and uterine challenges, among others.
• The most common solutions – The donor sperm option, and egg donor option and Invitro –Fertilization, etc.
• Preserving mind and Spirit – A look at the emotional challenges of infertility.

I highly recommend this book for persons currently involved in the fertility fight and can be a great gift for anyone you know also engaged in this fight.

"TIMING IS EVERYTHING"

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior’s hand
Psalm 127: 3 & 4

"HOPE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE"

Without ovulation, pregnancy cannot take place and for most of us women who have struggled or are still struggling with infertility, irregular periods is among the issues we face, trying to become pregnant. This is especially so, if Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), is the reason for infertility, as irregular periods, is one of its symptoms.

I remember, because of my PCOS and my irregular periods, it was so frustrating trying to track my ovulation, I even used ovulation predictor kits, but to no avail as I did not always ovulate.

Luckily for women without infertility issues and has a regular 28 days period, tracking ovulation is easy, as they often ovulate around mid cycle (day 14). For women with longer cycles though, e.g. a 35 day cycle, ovulation is not mid cycle at all, it is actually a few days later.

Some women find that they have to use Ovulation Predictor kits, to help track ovulation, especially those diagnosed with PCOS , because their periods are more erratic and they do not always ovulate.

Please visit, the site below, to read more about ovulation and please find also, an ovulation predictor calculator.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_the-importance-of-timing-intercourse_1809.bc?scid=preconception_20100309:2&pe=2Uxia4K

Catch you for my next post and keep holding on to hope.

"IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T CONCEIVE"

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.
Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior’s hand
Psalm 127: 3 & 4

"HOPE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE"

It is with great pleasure that I introduce the book, IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T CONCEIVE, a complete guide to infertility from one of the nation’s leading clinics. Authored by Dr. William Schoolcraft, MD, HCLD, Director of the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine.

This book covers areas such as:

• The basics of what you should know - Understanding the Fertility Fight.
  


• The most common fertility challenges – Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Endometriosis and tubal and uterine challenges, among others.
  


• The most common solutions – The donor sperm option, and egg donor option and Invitro –Fertilization, etc.
  


• Preserving mind and Spirit – A look at the emotional challenges of infertility.
  
  

I highly recommend this book for persons currently involved in the fertility fight and can be a great gift for anyone you know also engaged in this fight.

Get it at, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Borders.