Articles Index

ICSI - Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

ICSI, which is pronounced ick-see, stands for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. ICSI may be used as part of an IVF treatment. Learn all about ICSI treatment, including why it's used, whether it's safe, and how successful ICSI treatment can be.

Using an Ovulation Calendar

An ovulation calendar is an online tool that attempts to predict when you might ovulate, based on the length of your menstrual cycles. How does an ovulation calendar work? And is it accurate? Learn what you need to know about ovulation calendars here.

All About Infertility Treatment

Learn all about infertility treatment in this article. There are a wide variety of infertility treatment options for couples experiencing infertility today, everything from the low-tech use of fertility drugs to the high tech, and expensive, use of assisted reproductive technologies. In this article on treatments of infertility, I explain in laymen’s terms the most commonly used infertility treatments, along with a few statistics on their respective success rates.

Male Infertility Overview

Male infertility is more common than most people suspect. Learn what you need to know about male infertility, including male infertility treatment and causes, in this article.

Signs of Ovulation

Learn seven ways to detect signs of ovulation. Signs of ovulation aren’t difficult to notice, once you know what to look for. Some signs of ovulation help warn you that ovulation is approaching, allowing you to time sex for pregnancy. Other signs of ovulation let you know that ovulation has passed.

National Infertility Survival Day: A Day for Self-Care and Celebration

Mother's Day isn't easy for those coping with infertility, but now, we have a day of our own - National Infertility Survival Day! Invented to celebrate all the hard work and effort that infertile couples put towards trying to have a child. The day’s main emphasis is on self-care and celebration for what we do have.

Tips on Finding an Infertility Counselor

If you’re looking for a counselor to help you cope with infertility, or your doctor requires it before certain treatments, you may be wondering how to find someone that will be right for the job. Learn where to look and what questions to ask when looking for an infertility counselor.

Coping with Infertility During Family Holiday Gatherings

Whether it's Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter or Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah or Passover, family holiday gatherings can be emotionally difficult when you're coping with infertility. If you're feeling stressed out just thinking about your next holiday get-together, here are some coping tips that may help.

Symptoms of Infertility

Usually, a couple doesn’t realize they are dealing with infertility until after unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant. However, for some couples, there are warning signs or risk factors that may hint to a fertility problem, before they try for six months to a year. This list of questions will help you and your partner discover if you should seek fertility help sooner rather than later.

All About Blocked Fallopian Tubes

Blocked fallopian tubes are responsible for 40% of infertility involving female factor infertility. Learn all about how blocked fallopian tubes affect getting pregnant, the causes for blocked fallopian tubes, and potential treatments.

All About HSG (Hysterosalpingogram)

A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is a special kind of x-ray, commonly ordered as part of an infertility work-up. It’s also commonly ordered if a woman has experienced two or more miscarriages. Learn everything about HSG, including information on HSG pregnancy, HSG pain, and what to expect during an HSG.

All About Laparoscopy for Infertility

Diagnostic laparoscopy is one way your doctor may evaluate and treat your infertility, especially if endometriosis is suspected. Learn everything you need to know about laparoscopy in this article.

What Is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis affects up to 10% of women, and of that group, up to 50% may experience infertility. What is endometriosis? How does it cause infertility, and what are the treatment options? Learn more about endometriosis here.

Diagnosis of Infertility

Receiving a diagnosis of infertility can be heartbreaking, but may also open the doors to hope. Once you know something is wrong, you can start working towards a solution. In this article, learn when a diagnosis of infertility is given, tips on speeding up the process of getting a diagnosis of infertility, and the common causes of infertility in men and women.

Clomid Basics

Clomid is the most commonly used fertility drug, and with good reason. Clomid is easy to use and effective in stimulating ovulation 80% of the time. Learn more about Clomid, common Clomid side effects, and more.

When Clomid Does Not Achieve Ovulation

Not everyone who takes Clomid will achieve ovulation, and without ovulation, pregnancy achievement is impossible. Why does this happen? And what can your doctor do to help? Learn more about Clomid ovulation and Clomid resistance in this article.

The Connection Between Fertility and Weight

New research from the Academic Medical Center in The Netherlands found that women with regular cycles, and otherwise no obvious fertility problems, still have a hard time getting pregnant if they are overweight. They also found that the more overweight the woman is, the lower her chances of pregnancy. For more information on this study, read this article.

Two-Week Wait Survival Tips

Trying to get pregnant and struggling during the two-week wait? Feel like you're going out of your mind? Here are some survival tips to help make the two week wait more bearable, so you can take back your life.

Affording the Cost of Infertility Treatments

Especially with IVF, infertility costs add up quickly. Considering that some couples may need up to three IVF cycles to get pregnant, plus the unfortunate fact that even high-tech IVF is no guarantee -- it’s enough to make your head spin. Here are five tips for making the high-cost treatments more tolerable.

Coping with Infertility

If you’re having a hard time coping with infertility, you’re not alone. Research has shown that the psychological stress experienced by women with infertility is similar to that of women coping with illnesses like cancer, HIV, and chronic pain. Infertility is not an easy disease to cope with. Read this article to learn what kinds of feelings to expect, along with tips on how to cope.

How to Cope When You Need To Cry

Feel like you need to cry? You're not alone, by far. Infertility is exceedingly stressful. Learn how to cope with when you need to cry, and how to create a safe time and place for tears.

Why You May Want to Speak to an Infertility Counselor

There are a variety of reasons for seeking out infertility counseling from a mental health professional. Read up on why a doctor may refer you, and when you might considering looking for infertility counseling for yourself.

Getting Pregnant After 35

Getting pregnant after 35 may be more difficult than at age 25, but it’s not necessarily impossible. What are your chances for getting pregnant after age 35? Why is it more difficult than in your 20s and early 30s, and why do doctors recommend seeking help getting pregnant sooner than later if you’re past age 35? Find out in this article from the About.com Guide to Fertility.

All About Ovulatory Dysfunction and Anovulation

Anovulation and irregular ovulation are a common cause of female infertility, occurring in up to 40% of infertile women. Learn more about symptoms, causes, and treatments for anovulation and ovulatory dysfunction.

Acupuncture Fertility Treatments

Are you interested in acupuncture fertility treatment, but maybe wondering what to expect? Will it hurt? How often are the treatment sessions? Learn all about acupuncture fertility treatment in this article.