ginger capsules while pregnant

Ginger capsules of 1,000 mg. have found to be effective in treating nausea and vomiting in pregnant women. Although this was not a double blind study, the researchers concluded that for women who are experiencing both nausea and vomiting the ginger capsules were effective. The study should pave the way for additional, rigorous studies. Hopefully, physicians will immediately start to recommend this treatment to their patients, even though it is an herbal remedy and has not been subjected to double blind testing.

Higher Pregnancy and Birth Rates with SET

Two studies recently reported in Human Reproduction found the transfer of a single embryo during IVF may result in both better pregnancy and birth rates. As multiple births is an undesirable consequent of IVF, this is heartening news for couples going through the assisted reproductive technologies. The practice of elective single embryo transfer (eSET) could reduce the problems impacting the infants who result from multiple births such as prematurity, low birth rate, longer hospital stays, as well as those that may impact the woman who carries the pregnancy, i.e, the mother or GC, such as a greater likelihood of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and being confined to bed rest.



This information could reassure patients who seem afraid to transfer fewer than two or three embryos per IVF cycle. Hoping for a bigger "bang for the buck," many IVF patients do not believe the potentially devastating problems will happen to them. However, it is also more cost effective to do a SET, especially if there is the ability to cryopreserve any untransferred embryos for future use in future cycles.

“NO INNER RECESS WAS LEFT UNEXPLORED, UNPROBED, AND UNMOLESTED.” “It’s like donating your body to science while you are still alive.”

Common Emotional Reactions to the Diagnosis of Infertility
1. Shock
2. Denial
3. Fear
4. Anger
5. Disbelief
6. Guilt
7. Loss of Control
8. Isolation
9. Sense of Failure

Sexual Problems that Occur in Conjunction with Infertility

1. Dyspareunia (genital pain that is associated with sexual intercourse, usually occurring
during, but may also occur before or after. Dysparenunia can affect both men and women.
Symptoms range from discomfort to sharp pain, and cause distress or interpersonal
difficulty.
2. Male erectile disorder (aka: impotency)
3. Hypoactive sexual desire (aka: inhibited sexual desire)
4. Rigid or very routine approach to sex
5. Poor body image
6. Depression
7. Guilt
8. Ambivalence toward sex
9. Feeling loss of attractiveness
10. Feeling sexually inadequate
11. Both men and women misread lack of sexual interest

Three areas of sexual difficulty:

1. Actual physical condition causing infertility or resulting from infertility treatment
2. Sexual intercourse becomes only a means of reproduction rather than an intimate or
pleasurable activity
3. Global psychological impact of the infertility treatment

AXIOM: The longer the time in infertility treatment, the lower the levels of sexual satisfaction

IN SUMMATION:
1. The ability to reproduce is intimately tied to sexuality, self-image, and self-esteem.
2. Although sexual problems can occur during infertility, sexual difficulties are not universally
experienced by infertile individuals and/or couples.
3. The majority of infertile couples do not develop diagnosable sexual problems requiring intensive treatment, although they may experience episodic, transient problems, warranting education and support.
4. The medical assessment and treatment for infertility may interfere with the infertile couple’s sexual pleasure due to performance demands, treatment requirements, emotional responses to treatment, or the diagnosis of infertility.
5. Most sexual problems may be addressed by the infertility counselor if he or she is educated about the impact of infertility on sexual functioning.
6. It is important to volunteer that you are experiencing sexual problems, as most caregivers do not specifically ask questions about sexual behavior as part of the comprehensive medical history, particularly when the couple is actually having sexual intercourse on a regular basis.
7. When sexual dysfunction is the presenting cause of infertility, assessment and therapy for the individual or couple is necessary and should preclude medical treatment for infertility.
Infertility is sometimes caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The most common are:
1. Syphilis
2. Gonorrhea
3. Human papiloma virus (HPV)
4. Genital herpes
5. Trichomoniasis
6. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
STIs adversely affect fertility through pregnancy loss, neonatal deaths, the obstruction of either male or female reproductive ducts, impaired semen parameters, and the risk of transmission of HIV to partner or child.
STIs resulting in infertility require that we examine our:
1. Personal decisions,
2. Partner choice(s),
3. Cultural circumstances,
4. Drug and alcohol use and abuse,
5. Social life, and
6. The availability of quality medical care.

The Fertility Shrink: Practice Statement

As a licensed psychologist, I believe all people have the right to be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect. I collaboratively and ethically work with my patients towards the achievement of their goals. My objective is to eliminate emotional distress and promote psychological well being. I achieve this through teaching clients the skills necessary to cope with their emotional needs. This, in turn, enables patients to flourish and make sound decisions. I strive to help clients become autonomous and independent individuals. I make every effort to help patients become better equipped to consistently make excellent personal choices, so they may fully enjoy life, which, in my opinion, includes possessing the ability to connect deeply and meaningfully with others.