Egg Donation & Surrogacy Consulting : Conceptual Options : Theresa Erickson : Embryo Donation, In-Vitro Fertilization

A study came out recently that looked at the success rates of men who provided semen specimen's collected at the IVF Center compared to men who collected at home.

Malmo University Hospital in Lund took 379 men ranging in age from 20 to 58 years old.  They had 106 of the men stay home to collect a specimen while the remaining men went to the IVF Center.  The researchers compared the sperm count and "motility", how they look under the microscope, both crucial factors in successful fertilization of an egg.  The home-collected sample had about 63% more sperm, which were about 54% more often of the highest-grade motility.

It has been determined that the men at the clinics suffered from "acute psychological stress" because of noise, hospital atmosphere, space limitation and the absence of their wife.

Home is where the heart is!

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While not all IVF Physicians or Centers request a surrogate to stay on bed rest for a few days after the embryo transfer it is worth planning for. 

Staying in bed and resting for two to three days after the transfer will provide the most ideal surroundings for the embryo.  The transfer itself doesn't require much of you as a surrogate, however the work your body is getting ready to do is huge.  The embryo is far more likely to attach in a calm and quite uterus that one that is bouncing around and having turmoil. 

As a surrogate, I always looked forward to a few days without my kids.  Most of the time I would stay with the Intended Parents either at their home or in a hotel.  This gave us the opportunity to get to know each other better.  I have to admit after the second solid day in bed, I was hurting!  It is amazing how laying still can make an active person so sore.

After having a pregnancy test, whether it was positive or negative, at least I felt like I had given it a gallant effort.  I didn't need to question myself about what I could have or should have done differently. 

It is truly my recommendation that you plan ahead once you have your tentative calendar to make it possible for you to have three undisturbed days in bed. 

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It's interesting that while I do my research to create my blog, I run across 100 articles that deal with infertility and women, while there may be 1 article about men.  I would like to take a moment to do my part to change this!

One in 33 California children are born with a birth defect.  While scientists still don't know what causes most effects, it is known that sperm DNA errors are as much a factor as egg DNA errors.

University of California, Berkeley has performed a study that shows a man's diet has a direct link to sperm DNA errors.  In the study utilizing new technology to label sperm DNA, men who ate little folate, a B-vitamin abundant in orange juice and green veggies, had more sperm with the wrong number of chromosomes.  That could lead to miscarriages and birth defects like Down Syndrome.

Sperm develop over 10 weeks, giving men a defined window before conception to make healthier sperm.  Women, on the other hand, are born with a finite number of eggs.  This means men's genes, constantly dividing into new sperm, may be even more vulnerable than women's.

If you are thinking about conceiving a child or you are trying to conceive a child, it is recommended that both partners drink plenty of orange juice, eat green veggies and take vitamins.  This can only help you achieve a healthier lifestyle and aid you in conception.    

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Recently there was a study performed at Assof Harofeh Medical Center where Dr. Shevah Friedler studied the effects of laughter on IVF patients.

One hundred women with fertility problems were invited to a medical clown's performance after an IVF Transfer.  Another group of 100 women underwent the same IVF, but did not attend the clown's performance.  The group that spent time laughing at the clown had a 15% higher pregnancy rate than the group without laughter. 

Dr. Friedler said "Laughter is a serious matter.  It is known that it triggers a body mechanism that influences the immune system and heart and lung systems, and there is a real connection between laughter and medicine and humor and health."

So I suggest that you rent as many comedies as you can stand while you are on bed rest.  Perhaps this will assist you with achieving a pregnancy.

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There is a new test on the forefront of identifying ectopic pregnancies.  The test is being developed by doctor's at Queen's Hospital in the UK.  The test involves a blood test that could result in earlier diagnosis of the ectopic pregnancy. 

Ectopic pregnancies is increasing.  20 years ago the rate was 1 in 200 pregnancies, today the rate is 1 in 60 pregnancies in their 30's.  Experts blame the growing trend to put off motherhood until later in life, making it more difficult for the embryo to reach the womb before it implants.

The new diagnostic test is based on testing for eight "markers" in the blood, which show up between four and six weeks into a pregnancy.

An early diagnosis will mean that patients can be treated using just an injection, rather than having to have surgery.

This new test could save lives and provide a second chance to women to have a child. 

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