Egg donation is a medical procedure that requires much thought on the part of the donor and time involved by both parties. Before a woman can be considered as a recipient, there are many other infertility treatments to try.

Egg donation is often used as a last resort after these treatments fail. Another possible reason for egg donation is if the woman had experienced early menopause, which is before her 40th birthday. The only reason for egg donation not to be considered as a treatment option is if the woman’s infertility is caused by problems with the uterus, such as severe uterine fibroids (or growths in the uterus wall) or even a tilted uterus.

Once a woman decides to donate eggs, she must fill out an application for an egg donation company, which can be many pages long and usually asks for a medical history including any sexually transmitted diseases, a sexual history, general health questions, allergy summary, an educational history, personality summary, favorites as a child and adult and many other things.

The application includes everything the donor would tell her significant other and more. The company then reviews the application and based on the information provided, the woman will either be accepted or rejected. If a woman is accepted, she is then contacted by a Donor Coordinator who may ask for more information or for some elaboration on her application answers. If a woman is not accepted, she is still contacted and given the reason for her rejection.

After acceptance into the program, a profile is made of the donor. It includes things found on the application, such as likes/dislikes, favorites as a child and/or adult, personality aspects, physical characteristics (hair color, eye color, height, race) and photographs of the donor, ranging in age from an infant to adulthood.

Photographs of the donor’s children may also be included in the profile, if she chooses to add them. This profile may be posted online through the company, or is kept strictly as a hard copy for local couples only. Most donors have their profiles online through the donation company as this provides a better chance of being chosen to donate.

Once a couple choose a donor, there are legal aspects to be taken care of, such as the legal agreement between donor and recipient protecting both parties’ rights to anonymity and a legal document stating the recipient will take care of the donor’s medical, legal and some travel expenses. Some companies or recipients may not pay for travel expenses, so the donor should be sure to read the contract very carefully before signing.

Once all the legal aspects of the donation are taken care of, the recipient’s fertility doctor will contact the donor and set up an appointment for the screening.

This screening includes a physical examination, blood tests for genetic disorders, STDs, alcohol or nicotine use and others, a visit with the Egg Donor Coordinator for an overview of the entire process and a visit with the center’s social worker to be certain that the donor has taken into account all the emotional aspects of the egg donation.

After this screening, the donor’s part in the process is minimal until the last 2 or 3 weeks of the cycle. At that time, depending on the doctor’s decision, she will either begin taking drugs to encourage the development of eggs or begin Lupron injections to suppress her menstrual cycle, making it easier to synchronize it with that of the recipient.

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Infertility is typically described as one year of repeated intercourse without contraception that does not result in pregnancy. Numerous studies have shown that from sixty-five to ninety percent of all couples who conceive suddenly will do so within the first year of attempting and ninety to ninety-five percent will attain pregnancy within the first two years.

However, fertility and infertility are not always absolutes. “Reduced fertility” would be a improved phrase than infertility in those situations where pregnancy is likely but takes longer than two years to achieve. About forty percent of “infertile” couples conceive in seven years, including those couples who are deemed treatment “failures”.

It is currently estimated that infertility affects at least five million couples, with at least one couple out of ten experiencing some difficulty in becoming pregnant. Although infertility rates have been constant for at least three decades, the impression of an infertility epidemic has been created because more and more women are postponing childbearing until they are well into their thirties.

The 1990s have therefore witnessed a considerable increase in the number of couples seeking infertility evaluation. The desire for a biological child is so profound that couples may find themselves willingly impoverished by their efforts.

From the very outset, a professional evaluation of infertility may add to the humiliation and sense of failure. The reproductive capacity of both partners will be examined and their sexual relations timed to comply with a doctor’s suggestions.

There is often an emotional toll when a man is told that his sperm count is below normal or a woman learns she does not produce enough of the necessary hormones. It may be particularly difficult for a woman to find herself infertile if she had a previous pregnancy voluntarily terminated because it was unplanned or inconvenient.

By 1995 thousands and thousands of babies had been born nationwide through in vitro fertilization, following the famous first “test tube baby”, Louise Brown, who was delivered in 1978. Through the use of new fertility drugs, tens of thousands more have been brought to term within the woman’s body.

The down side of these scientifically engineered miracles is that infertility treatment and care have become a big business, a two-billion-a-year business. In 1985 there were thirty fertility clinics in the United States and by 1995 there were more than three hundred. In order to recoup their investments and expand financially, those that are privately owned and operated (as compared with those connected to major medical centers) are being accused by some doctors of performing the riskier and more expensive procedures rather than those that are less complicated. It has also been pointed out that, as in other areas of medical practice, some physicians are choosing a procedure based on what the patient’s insurance covers rather than the one that will be most cost effective.

There have been many complaints from consumer advocates claiming that the infertility business has not been answerable to outside scrutiny about price, safety and positive accomplishments.

These complaints resulted in the enactment of a federal law requiring all fertility clinics to disclose their pregnancy success rates in a way that will enable potential patients to make better comparisons; to establish uniform standards for clinics’ laboratories; and, through an annual government report, to make public the names of those that do not meet them.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Infertility

Now that you know you’re pregnant, congratulations! You are now part of the ultimate miracle of life. Although pregnancy is primarily what sustains the human race, not everyone can take part in this magical phenomenon. So consider yourself truly lucky and blessed once you find out that you are expecting.

Pregnancy Basics

Pregnancy starts when sperm fertilizes the ovum or the egg. The fertilized egg is then implanted in the lining of the uterus. This occurrence poses a lot of changes in the woman’s body, most notably in her normal hormonal patterns.

One of the first signs of pregnancy is a missed menstrual period, which is also the basis used in dating pregnancy. The expected date of delivery would be 40 weeks after the last menstruation. The dating system actually benefits those who have regular menstruation and those who religiously take note when their menstruation starts and ends.

The entire duration of pregnancy is subdivided into three terms. Each term is referred to as a “trimester,” where the development of the unborn child follows a particular pattern during the entire 40 weeks of pregnancy. The first few months of pregnancy or the first trimester is the most critical for the developing infant since tremendous development in his/her brain, limbs and internal organs take place during these times.

It is extremely important during the first few months of pregnancy to avoid all types of medication unless otherwise specified by certified healthcare professionals. Also, smoking and drinking must be avoided altogether, and even x-ray procedures should be avoided during pregnancy. The following trimesters, although still important, are basically a continuation of what was started during the first trimester. It is safe to say that the first three months of pregnancy act as the foundation of a healthy pregnancy and would in many ways determine the course of pregnancy.

Soon-to-be-moms must also be aware of the different complications of pregnancy and how to avoid them. Also, it is important to get sufficient exercise suited to the stage of pregnancy to ensure an optimum state of health.

Expectant mothers are encouraged to get to know as much as they can about their bodies during pregnancy. Knowing how your body functions while pregnant always empowers a mother-to-be.

E-Pregnant provides detailed information on Pregnant, Am I Pregnant?, How To Get Pregnant, Signs Of Being Pregnant and more. Pregnant is affiliated with Ovulation And Conception.

Pregnancy brings about a lot of changes in the body. The signs of being pregnant are essentially the same yet, ironically, vary from woman to woman. Also, there are women who may experience some symptoms within a few days after conception, while others begin to experience and take notice of these signs a few weeks after conception.

A lot of women are actually confused since a lot of the signs of being pregnant are very similar to the symptoms which signal the coming of menstruation. The only tangible yet often unnoticed difference would be higher body temperature in pregnant women.

Perhaps the earliest sign of pregnancy is implantation bleeding which happens six to 12 days after conception. This occurs when the embryo embeds itself to the uterine wall, in which some women may experience spotting and cramping. A missed period is actually the most common pregnancy symptom. Although there are instances when women bleed even during pregnancy, bleeding is usually lighter or shorter than the usual menstruation. If there is any reason to believe that one is indeed pregnant, then a pregnancy test may be used a few days after the expected menstrual date when delayed.

Another one of the earlier signs of pregnancy which may come as early as a week into pregnancy would be nausea and vomiting. A lot of women experience morning sickness although this does not necessarily connote feeling sick in the morning only, but may occur any time of the day, or for some even the entire day. Although the reason behind this is not known, it is helpful to eat small frequent meals throughout the day or eating crackers or corn flakes before rising in the morning. It is also helpful to eat an apple or to drink a glass of milk before going to bed to make it easier it the morning. As early as one to two weeks after conception, breasts may be very tender, swollen or sore. They may also be enlarged and the nipples start to darken in color. At around six to eight weeks, the pregnant woman may start taking more frequent trips to the bathroom to empty their bladders since the uterus puts more pressure into it.

Major hormonal changes are also responsible for fatigue or tiredness during pregnancy due to the high temperature produced by increasing hCG levels which causes pregnant women to be sluggish. Pregnancy hormones are also responsible for slow bowel movement which may later on cause constipation. Being irritable is how the body copes with the many symptoms associated with pregnancy but may be handled by proper exercise and a healthy diet.

Article Source: E-Pregnant.com

Some people, in modern times, have delayed marriage and childbearing until at a later age than was traditionally the norm. Because of this, a lot of couples find it hard to get pregnant when they finally decide to. Studies show that fertility decreases with age and so does the rate of intercourse, while the rates of miscarriages, birth and pregnancy complications experienced by older pregnant women increase.

Also, more patients over the age of 35 visit fertility clinics as compared to patients who are in their 20s because it is harder to get pregnant at a later age. There are now plenty of options available for older couples to get pregnant. These include fertility medications, in vitro fertilization, or egg donation.

There are certain considerations which apply to these procedures. Extensive research, credible resources, and certified professionals must be foremost on the list when considering these options.

How to Get Pregnant: Men vs. Women

In the olden days, it was believed that women were chiefly responsible for the failure to get pregnant. Although there may be reason to believe that women may be responsible, it is about time that the men’s role in pregnancy be recognized. Researches say that 35 percent of cases which involve the couple’s inability to conceive can be traced back to the man.

On the average, a healthy male releases between 120 to 600 million sperm per ejaculation. That would accumulate to about 400,000,000,000 in his lifetime. Why then are men to blame? Numbers alone are not enough to make a couple conceive.

What is more important is the quality of sperm or the adequate number of healthy sperm. The inability to deliver sperm into the vagina, which may be caused by impotence, inhibited ejaculation or retrograde ejaculation. may also be blamed. There are also instances when sperm fails to descend from the testes or when diseases or physical injuries affect the male’s inability to produce healthy sperm.

Enhance Reproductive Health

When planning to get pregnant, it is important to remember to live a healthy lifestyle. Smoking must be avoided since it is linked to low sperm counts and slow sperm motility; it also increases the probability of miscarriages.

Prolonged marijuana use also increases the possibility of underdeveloped sperm, as does alcohol. Be cautious of intense exercise, tight underwear, antibiotics intake and environmental poisons and hazards as they may affect a couple’s ability to get pregnant.

Generally, both males and females must live a healthy lifestyle - eating nutritiously, avoiding all toxins and increasing vitamin C intake. In the same way, abstaining from sex for brief periods of time (three to six days) increases both the volume and potency of sperm.

Pregnant provides detailed information on Pregnant, Am I Pregnant?, How To Get Pregnant, Signs Of Being Pregnant and more. Pregnant is affiliated with Ovulation And Conception.

Article Source : E-Pregnant.com

There are a lot of pregnancy test kits available nowadays, and though all of them have the same use (which is to determine whether or not one is pregnant), they vary in the level of human chorionic gonadotropin they detect in the urine. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone which the body produces only when pregnant and increases as the pregnancy progresses. Thus, it is not common to get a false negative result when hCG levels in the urine may not be detected yet or pregnancy may still be too early to be detected by pregnancy test kits.

Home pregnancy tests are actually comprised of a chemical strip which detects hCG in the urine, a urine dropper and may, but not always, include a container where to put urine. These test equipment come properly labeled and with complete instructions to boot. Using the dropper, urine is then placed onto the chemical strip. It usually takes a minute or two before the results are shown. The reliability of the results depends on proper usage and proper timing. Your menstrual cycle and how early you are in your pregnancy also determines your results. Generally, it is recommended that women who think they might be pregnant must wait to use home pregnancy tests until the first day of their missed period. Those who test too early, hence, still having low levels of hCG may get a false negative result. Remember that on the average, women produce 25 miu of hCG after 10 days of conception while most tests can only detect 50 to 250 miu of hCG.

Pregnancy test kits are widely available and easily acquired. These tests are also used in doctors’ offices and other healthcare facilities aside from the pregnancy blood tests that they usually employ.

Pregnancy Blood Tests

If you can’t wait until after your missed period, then you can visit your doctor and opt for a pregnancy blood test. Pregnancy blood tests are more accurate than home pregnancy tests since they may detect even trace amounts of hCG, even as early as 10 to 12 days after ovulating. It is a simple procedure which involves drawing blood from your arm which is then tested for hCG.

Article Source: E-Pregnant

Nowadays, it’s common knowledge that folic acid is essential to a healthy pregnancy, but do you know why? This vitamin from the group of B vitamins is actually responsible for avoiding such problems as spina bifida (failure of the spine to fuse properly, leaving the spinal cord exposed), serious heart problems and other deformities in your unborn child.

Folic acid has also been linked to lowering your risk of complication during pregnancy such as hypertension and problems with the placenta when taken for the duration of the pregnancy. It also helps prevent premature labor. Usually, your prenatal vitamins will contain the recommended dose of 400-600 mcg.

For best results, you should take folic acid at least one month before conception, because once you realize you are pregnant, the baby’s neural tube (which will become the brain and spinal cord) is already formed. All neural tube defects occur between 17 and 30 days after conception. Since most of us aren’t sure when we will be conceiving, it’s a good idea to make sure your regular diet includes this important vitamin and start taking a prenatal supplement when you stop using birth control.

There are no side effects to taking folic acid over a long period of time and it has no known toxicity level, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a daily maximum limit of 1,000 mcg of synthetic folate. Even in lower levels it’s actually good for you. It prevents cardiovascular problems and may even help prevent colon and cervical cancer.

If you smoke, drink alcohol or have taken the Pill for an extended amount of time, you have a higher need for folic acid since all of the above keep your body from absorbing as much of the vitamin, yet another good reason to break that bad habit!

Although a supplement is generally recommended during pregnancy, you can also get folic acid from your diet. It is an elusive vitamin, easily destroyed by heat, so try to avoid prolonged cooking which destroys up to 90% of the vitamin. Fresh fruit and raw vegetables are the best way to get folic acid.

Eating green leafy vegetables like spinach (also a good source of iron), lettuce, Brussel sprouts, broccoli and asparagus, will provide folic acid in your diet. Many of these can be eaten raw, giving you 100% of their vitamin content. Kiwi and citrus fruit are a great source as well, but may aggravate pregnancy-induced heartburn.

Dried fruit, black beans and liver are other options. Whole wheat cereal products, like fortified cereals, pasta and bread also contain folic acid. Or perhaps you prefer to fill up on your quota of dairy at the same time. Try cheese, milk and eggs to boost your daily intake, although these do not contain as much as the other options listed.

While eating is the best way to get your vitamins, you might not be taking in enough folic acid. If you are in your reproductive years, talk to your doctor about taking a supplement.

Genesis Davies is stay at home mom living on the side of a volcano in Guatemala. Learn more about pregnancy and parenting by visiting her site

So, you have recently found out you are pregnant? Congratulations. Now you really have to start taking care of yourself and your new baby to be. In doing so, it all starts with taking prenatal vitamins. We have all heard that taking prenatal vitamins is important, but the question is, what type of vitamins are the most important? What should we be looking for?

There are many people who will say that taking prenatal vitamins and supplements before conceiving will help in the prevention of many birth defects. Others will say you can get beneficial effects by continuing to take them after you have had your baby and during the time you are breastfeeding. You should ask your doctor for more information and what is best for your particular case. They will even give you different samples to find the one that is best for you.

One strong word of caution on prenatal vitamins. They are meant to be a supplement and not a substitute for a proper diet. Never rely on prenatal vitamins for all your nutritional needs. Talk to your doctor about what foods you should be eating. Prenatal vitamins work better when taken along with a healthy diet.

Be sure to keep an eye on your calcium. An expectant mother generally requires 1,200mg - 1,500mg of calcium on a daily basis. Most prenatal vitamins do not contain this amount, so you may need a calcium supplement in addition. Many will only contain 250-500mg. Calcium is certainly important in the development of your new baby.

No two prenatal vitamins are the same; and many may not provide any benefits at all. Recent studies show that a pregnant woman’s body does not necessarily absorb all of the nutrients provided by the vitamins, especially folate. Folate is extremely important in the baby’s prenatal development. The vitamin helps prevent birth defects like spina-bifida. Only three out of nine vitamins on average actually provide the amount of folate labeled on the bottle. This is not to suggest that the supplements do not have the vitamin, it just is not absorbed by the woman’s body.

Some argue that it is better to take a prenatal vitamin prescribed by a doctor. However, this is not necessarily the case. While prescribed vitamins are ideal, many of the very same vitamins are available in stores and without a prescription. Ask your doctor about this if these aren’t covered by your insurance. You may be able to save substantial money with a store bought brand. The most important things to consider are the ingredients in the vitamins, and whether they absorb quickly or not.

There is an easy test you can use to determine if the vitamins will be absorbed into your system. Put one of the prenatal vitamins into a cup of water. Wait ten minutes. If the vitamin is dissolved, or is very soft, it will be absorbed into your system. If the vitamin remains hard, it will probably pass through your system without depositing many of the nutrients it carries. This is important, so be sure to do this with any new vitamin.

When first starting out taking prenatal vitamins, you may experience nausea. If so, let your doctor know about it and take a different brand. I told my doctor about the trouble I was having and she recommended a supplement that I could buy over the counter. This vitamin was not a potent as the one she originally prescribed, but I was getting more nutrients because I was able to tolerate them much better.

Finding the right prenatal vitamin may take a little trial and error, but the benefits are great. Just continue to keep in mind that you still need to maintain a healthy diet. The benefits of prenatal vitamins are enormous and highly recommended, but good nutrition is still better than any supplement.

You can find out more about Prenatal Vitamins as well as much more information on women’s issues at http://www.surviving-pregnancy.infofroma-z.com

It is been nine long months since you have had the pleasure of a real cup of coffee at breakfast or a glass of wine with dinner - not to mention an aspirin when your head is pounding. It is not surprising that the thought of abstaining for additional months while you nurse your baby is making you wonder if breastfeeding is really worth it.

Well, relax. While it is true that much of what a woman puts into her body does make its way into her milk, moms can use careful timing to their advantage. A mocha java or glass of rose quaffed right after a feeding will be all but metabolized in three to four hours, when the next nursing session rolls around, leaving little of anything that is potentially harmful in the mother’s system. So eat, drink, and be medicated within some easy-to-live-with guidelines.

Food

Contrary to breastfeeding folklore, there is no strict list of foods that nursing mothers must swear off. Women have been warned for generations to stay away from onions, garlic, broccoli, cabbage, and anything spicy, or suffer the consequences of a colicky, grassy baby. In fact, each baby responds differently to these foods, and the only way of knowing whether a particular item will cause trouble is by trial and error. Of course, if there are serious food allergies on either side of the family, it is wise to avoid those choices for a while. If your baby does end up fussy, think about what you have eaten. To find out which foods are causing the problems, eliminate all suspect foods, then reintroduce them one by one, monitoring your baby’s reaction. In addition, rather than banning the offending food altogether tries it in a few months. Babies do outgrow their intolerances.

Medications

Always check with your doctor and your child’s pediatrician before taking any over-the-counter or prescription medication. In many cases, doctors can recommend safe, effective alternatives.

In general, acetaminophen and ibuprofen are considered safe for lactating women, while aspirin usually is not recommended because it may cause side effects. Large doses of antihistamines could inhibit milk production and cause drowsiness in your baby; nose drops and vapor rubs, however, will not get into your breast milk.

When it comes to prescription drugs, the general rule is that any drug safe for a baby to take like antibiotic, ammoxicillin, can usually also be taken by a breastfeeding mom. Make certain, though, that the doctor prescribing medication knows that you are breastfeeding. These same goes for birth control pills: Minipills that contain only the lowest does of progestins, and the Norplant implant, which has even lower hormone levels, are considered safe. However, since the long-term effects of hormones on breastfed infants are not really known yet, barrier birth control methods are still the best choice.

Alcohol, Cigarette, and Caffeine

Until recently, having a beer or a cocktail was actually recommended as a way for moms to relax and help get their milk flowing. However, a recent study showed that infants consumed less milk when their mothers drank alcoholic drinks before nursing them; they also slept more often and for shorter period. As with guidelines for drinking during pregnancy, however, the debate rages on over how much is actually harmful. Though few studies have been done on the subject, medical experts believe that the benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh the risk of an occasional drink.

Moderation is also a key for smoking while breastfeeding. It would be best for nursing moms to kick the habit altogether, since a small amount of nicotine does pass into the breast milk, and babies whose mothers smoke are at risk for more respiratory infections caused by breathing second-hand smoke. Moms who just cannot kick the habit should limit themselves to as few cigarettes as possible a day, and smoke after rather than before feedings and never around the baby.

Small amounts of caffeine, too, pass into breast milk. It is been shown to cause irritability and poor sleeping patterns in infants. But rather than ongoing another nine months or longer without coffee it is recommended that nursing moms drink more than two cups a day - after feedings.

Visit http://anhourglass.blogspot.com/ to check more of Marivic Perdido’s articles.