Success Story — Times Two

Some patients travel for hours to seek the services of Reproductive Health Specialists, but Amanda Wray's journey was just a walk down the hall. An employee at RHS for three years, Amanda describes herself as a "dream-maker," coordinating the egg donor program and giving hope to women who could not otherwise conceive.

Amanda tried unsuccessfully to have a baby herself and then decided to try in vitro fertilization (IVF). On the second cycle, she became pregnant with twins, Kai and Seda, now five months old. Amanda describes her experience as a patient at RHS as warm and friendly. "No one is just a number here," she explains. "It's very individualized and personal."

In this happy ending, the woman who works to help others has found joy of her own as she approaches her 40th birthday. She has returned to work part time, balancing two fulfilling roles and delighting in her two perfect babies.

IVF Giveaway — RHS is donating a free IVF cycle to one lucky person this holiday season. Visit our website for details and to enter the giveaway.

Dr. Albert quoted in iParenting Article — Dr. Judith Albert weighs in on the fertility drug Clomid. Read the full article here.

If my periods are regular, I should not have trouble conceiving.

Regular periods are not always an indication of normal egg release. Testing at a fertility center can confirm that a woman's regular periods are representative of ovulation. If you are not ovulating, further testing can determine the cause. However, even if your regular periods do mean you are developing and releasing eggs normally, there are several other factors that can affect your ability to conceive. In order for pregnancy to occur, the egg must also be transported into the Fallopian tube, the sperm must be able to fertilize the egg, and the fertilized egg must be transported to the uterus. Despite your regular periods, a problem with any of these critical steps can prevent pregnancy.

Are there any symptoms a woman may notice which might indicate an inability to conceive?

The two major causes of infertility in women are ovulation disorders and blockage in the fallopian tubes. The main symptoms of an ovulation disorder are infrequent or absent menstrual cycles. If your cycles are routinely farther apart than 35 days, you are ovulating later and less frequently and should seek a medical evaluation. It is relatively easy to diagnose ovulation disorders with medical history, a physical exam and blood tests.

Tubal blockage is not usually associated with symptoms, but chronic pelvic pain can be a sign of pelvic adhesions or endometriosis. A history of pelvic inflammation is a risk factor for tubal problems, but there are no symptoms if the infection was in the past. Imaging studies like pelvic ultrasound, HSG and sono-hysterogram can help clarify the status of a woman's fallopian tubes and pelvic structure.

The holidays are coming, filled with delicious food and drink, pleasant family gatherings and laughing children. Holiday cards, complete with family photos, arrive daily. Trips to the mall include a jolly Santa with a lapful of kids saying "cheese" for the photographer.

While the holidays have a stressful downside for many people, this is particularly true for couples trying to conceive. The grief and sadness that infertility brings are intensified by the ending of another year without a baby. A few helpful guidelines may help you weather the holiday storm:

• Develop and rely upon an effective support system. Depend on friends or relatives who can lend a sympathetic ear. Or, consider joining an infertility support group.
• Communicate with your partner. Don't let holiday stresses create strain when you both need support and caring the most. Relationships can be damaged by the fallout of infertility, and they are at even higher risk during the holiday season.
• Focus on the needs of others. Infertility can become all-consuming, but helping others can boost health and produce feel-good brain chemicals. Volunteering at a homeless shelter, nursing home or soup kitchen will benefit both you and those who receive your kindness.
• Realize that your feelings are normal. Don't try to avoid the down times with an exhausting whirlwind of activity, and don't feel guilty about your diminished joy. A good cry can be therapeutic, as long as you don't allow yourself to wallow.
• Prepare answers to difficult or insensitive questions. You may be asked, even by well-meaning friends or relatives, when you plan to start a family of your own. Be ready with an answer so you're not caught off guard and emotionally unprepared.
• Don't lose focus on your health and well-being. Rich, high-calorie foods, alcoholic beverages and a lack of physical activity are all holiday temptations. Maintaining optimal health is important for fertility, so don't let the occasional indulgence become a bad habit.
• Avoid isolating yourself during the holidays. While you can decide to decline some invitations you know may lead to painful situations, you'll miss out on the enjoyment and camaraderie of the holidays if you try to simply ignore the season.
• Plan ahead, just for you. Even if you can't afford a cruise or spa treatment, dinner at a favorite restaurant or a newly released movie can provide pleasant anticipation to help you through the rough spots.

With some advance planning and a resolution to take good care of yourself, you'll soon find that you've made it through the season and maybe even had a little fun along the way.

Although the holidays can be a frustrating time of year for the one in ten couples in America that struggle with infertility, the team at RHS is hoping to make this holiday season a little brighter for one of them. In honor of National Infertility Week, RHS is excited to be giving away a free in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle to one lucky person.

Although IVF is the most common fertility procedure in the country, it comes at a high price, and it often takes several cycles to achieve pregnancy. RHS is proud to offer many forms of financial help to its patients. On-staff financial counselors are available, and patients can participate in RHS' innovative IVF cost-sharing program. RHS also maintains competitive fees and participates with many insurance plans. Despite these efforts, the price of IVF is often enough to deter potential patients from trying the procedure.

That's why RHS is excited to provide one couple with the opportunity to receive an entire IVF cycle, along with all of the necessary medications, completely free of charge. Giveaway entrants do not have to be current RHS patients, but they do have to be between the ages of 21 and 42, have basic medical insurance and have struggled with infertility for over a year. The winner will also have to undergo an evaluation to establish medical appropriateness of IVF as a treatment.

"We realize the financial struggle that so many patients face in achieving their dream of having a baby," said Dr. Judith Albert, co-founder and Medical Director of RHS. "We're thrilled that we can give someone the opportunity this holiday season to make this process a little bit easier."

The deadline for nominations is December 31, 2008. The winner will be announced in January of 2009. To register for the giveaway, go to the RHS website at www.ivfpittsburgh.com.