It became clear that our 18 month old needed a sibling. We had reached the point that we felt it was a good time to start trying for another baby. Largely, motivated by our son who loves “babies” and joyfully points out any baby he sees, it seemed that our son was also ready for a new baby especially since he has been practicing being a “good big brother” with a baby doll I recently found in a closet. He also had the opportunity to hold the 2 week old baby girl of a colleague and friend. He was completely … Continue reading →

These days, many women use ovulation predictor kits to determine when they ovulate while trying to conceive. These kits can run from $17 for a 7-test kit that you can only use once, to $150 or more for a fertility monitor you use over and over with disposable test sticks. Fortunately there is a tried and true method that doesn’t involve expensive test strips. All you need is a basal body temperature (BBT) thermometer and graph paper (or a computer). About Your Fertility Signs: Your monthly cycle is comprised of your monthly period, the follicular phase, ovulation and the luteal … Continue reading →

A variety of treatment options are available for infertility, depending on the nature of the problem. Progesterone therapy is one treatment which may be used if your body is not producing enough progesterone to support a pregnancy. Progesterone is naturally released by the corpus luteum after ovulation has occurred. Progesterone increases the thickness of the endometrial lining, creating the optimum environment for the fertilized egg to implant and begin to grow. In some cases, not enough progesterone is released by the corpus luteum. As a result, the lining of the uterus doesn’t get thick enough for the egg to implant. … Continue reading →

If your doctor has discussed infertility drugs as a possibility, you have probably heard the name Clomid. This drug is the most popular brand name of the drug clomiphene citrate. Another popular name is Serophene. Both are the same medication and are used for infertility. Clomid works by assisting in ovulation. Irregular ovulation or not ovulating at all is the most common infertility problem. These drugs help the body to ovulate, which will make conception possible. Doctors will often prescribe a trial cycle of Clomid for patients with irregular menstrual cycles. Irregular cycles are a sign that the body is … Continue reading →

Can being underweight affect fertility? The short answer is yes. Despite our weight obsessed culture that seems to idolize the super thin, being underweight is not healthy. In fact, if you are underweight, your fertility can be affected. A study at the University of Adelaide in Australia looked at weight and its relation to fertility. The group of women that were classified as underweight had a rate of infertility that was significantly higher than the women of normal weight. There are several factors that can affect the fertility of underweight women. One is irregular menstrual cycles. Underweight women tend to … Continue reading →

Age can be a factor in trying to conceive. As women age, their fertility naturally declines. These days women are delaying motherhood in favor of getting an education or pursuing a career. As a result, more women are waiting until into their thirties or even forties to try to have a baby. The result of waiting longer can be a more difficult time getting pregnant. When we were trying to conceive our first baby, the doctor mentioned age. It took us six years to be blessed with our first daughter. Fortunately I was only 23 when we started trying. The … Continue reading →

Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid is under active. The thyroid gland is located in the neck. It is responsible for secreting hormones that help control metabolism. In some cases, the menstrual cycle and ovulation can be affected by untreated hypothyroidism. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue and weight gain. In some cases, the thyroid can interfere with ovulation. You may not be ovulating regularly if you have hypothyroidism and aren’t getting pregnant. If you have irregular cycles, this is another warning sign. In addition to affecting ovulation, hypothyroidism can cause problems later in the cycle. Some women with this … Continue reading →