Q&A Blog

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I’ve been diagnosed with PCOS. What can I do about it?

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If you have PCOS, you’re more likely to also have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other risk factors for heart disease. 50% – 70% of women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome will have insulin resistance or diabetes, and many women with PCOS are overweight or obese. If you’re not trying to get pregnant, a… Read more »

What does embryo grading really mean for my chances of having a baby?

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First, let me make it clear that embryo grading doesn’t look at genetics.  If you want to know more about pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS), visit www.chromosome-screening.org. Embryo grading means we look at embryos under a microscope and estimate whether they have the potential to continue to grow into a healthy, ongoing pregnancy. Grading is done… Read more »

How long can embryos remain frozen?

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There’s some microdegradation of DNA after only a few days. Microdegradation means DNA, or the proteins that support its structure, start to break down during the freezing process.   How significant this is depends on the circumstances.   When sperm are frozen, there are generally millions to spare. You can be confident that there will… Read more »

September is PCOS Awareness Month

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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a widespread condition. Worldwide, 6% – 10% of women are affected by PCOS.  It’s one of the most common causes of infertility and often underdiagnosed. Many women don’t get diagnosed until they seek help with conceiving. Symptoms can include acne, weight gain, excessive facial hair, irregular or absent periods, lack of… Read more »

I’m having IUI, how do I interpret the sperm numbers?

Posted by & filed under Sperm, The Basics. No comments, leave a comment.

You’ve talked to your fertility provider and decided intrauterine insemination (IUI) is the right choice for you. Great! By this point, we generally have a sperm count. This can be divided into two parts: The initial sample and the washed sample. Initial Sample We like to see sperm in the “normal” range. This is because… Read more »

When is IUI the right choice?

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Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a simple “bridge” procedure between natural attempts to conceive at home, and the more technical process of IVF. Intrauterine insemination is kind of like having sexual intercourse timed to when you ovulate. The difference is  that it helps bypass any obstacles sperm may encounter at the cervix. Some examples of when… Read more »

What are my chances of success with IVF?

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The easiest and most obvious answer is to ask your fertility doctor. If you live in a major city in Canada, you’ll have access to a quality fertility clinic to provide you with an answer. Unfortunately, in many cities, there’s only one fertility clinic. Seeking a second opinion can be stressful and difficult. Here’s one… Read more »

I’m having faint spotting after my frozen embryo transfer (FET). Am I OK?

Posted by & filed under Tests, The Basics, The Journey. No comments, leave a comment.

If you call your clinic, they might say a little spotting could be an “implantation bleed”. In all honesty, we have no idea why some women spot a little bit; but if it only lasts a day or two, and is barely noticeable (pink or brown), it doesn’t seem to matter or affect your prognosis…. Read more »

Calgary’s controversy about mixed-race donor selection

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I’m sure you’ve read in the news this week about a Calgary fertility clinic that refused a patient the ability to select donor sperm from a different ethnic background than hers. Dr. Calvin Greene, the Regional Fertility Program clinic’s administrative director, was quoted by the Calgary Herald last week, “I’m not sure that we should… Read more »