Dr. Miller

In vitro fertilization or IVF treatment can be a scary thought for couples who are having difficulty conceiving. It’s a complicated procedure that requires a combination of specialists from various medical backgrounds. Fertility clinics that offer IVF need to have the necessary medical specialists including specialists from gynecology, endocrinology, embryology, urology, psychology, and surgery. A clinic that does not have the right specialists present could prove to be unsafe and result in unsuccessful treatment.

The IVF Treatment Team and What They Do

Before you make any type of commitment, research various facilities, know your spending limits, and ask which fertility treatment tests you will need to have done beforehand. When researching good IVF center, you want to check to make sure treatments include care from the following specialists.

Geneticist. An examination by a geneticist to assess possible genetic disorders like thalassemia in patients that can be passed down do fetus. It also helps identify and prevent complications during pregnancy.

Reproductive Endocrinologist. The endocrinologist will monitor changes in hormones during the treatment cycle.

Reproductive Surgeon. A reproductive surgeon will be needed for surgical corrections such as obstructions in the fallopian tubes, endometriosis. and urinary tract disorders.

Urologist. A urologist will be needed in case there are obstructions in the male’s urinary tract.

Embryologist. An embryologist specializes in preserving viable embryos after fertilization. Their expertise is in freezing unused embryos and ensuring their safety and viability.

Immunologist. Should there be complications during implantation, and immunologist may be needed to handle immune-related issues.

Andrologist. Andrologists specialize in monitoring male hormones and sperm quality. The andrologist prepare sperm for the final fusion with the ova.

Gynecologist. The gynecologist treats any basic care related to the woman’s body.

Psychologist. Fertility treatments can be incredibly stressful on all parties involved. Patients often experience mental and emotional exhaustion throughout the IVF process.

These infertility doctors work in tandem to create ensure a successful pregnancy. All IVF doctors will hold a medical degree as well as an abundance of experience in their particular field. For a successful IVF treatment, providing care is a team effort among specialists. It’s imperative in order for patients to have an emotionally and physically rewarding treatment.

Because IVF is often a last resort for those seeking to have a child, an opportunity to take advantage of vulnerable patients by fake IVF doctors is rising. That’s why it’s important to make sure you research infertility doctors near me and research thoroughly.

A good IVF doctor will walk you through the entire process, have discussions and help you plan out the smallest details in order to increase your chances of a viable pregnancy. If you’re in Illinois, then you’ve likely heard about the amazing care IVF Center Chicago provides to patients. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call or visit. Whether you choose us or another fertility clinic, make sure you check the success rates of facility. We can answer all your fertility and IVF questions so that you will be able to make the best decision for you and your family.

The mere word infertility can strike fear into men and women who are trying to conceive. Though infertility can affect both men and women, it’s often associated with women. Because women are the carriers of fetuses, may feel extra pressure to become pregnant when she and her partner are trying to conceive.

But their bodies may not be the cause of their inability to get pregnant. Men can also suffer from infertility issues. When seeking fertility treatment, it’s important to understand what infertility is before exploring options. The Advanced IVF Institute in Chicago seeks to help patients understand what could be causing their fertility issues.

What causes infertility?

According to The Mayo Clinic, “10% to 15% of couples in the U.S. are infertile.” There is no one cause behind infertility. And what causes infertility in women is not the same as what may cause infertility in men.

Infertility in Men

Male infertility affects roughly 7% of men and accounts for 40-50% of all infertility cases. Causes of male infertility include:

• Abnormal sperm production or function
  Abnormal sperm production or function could be caused by undescended testicles, genetic deficiencies, health issues and disorders like diabetes, or infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, mumps or HIV. Having enlarged veins in the testes (varicocele) also can affect the quality of sperm.
• Difficulty with the delivery of sperm
  There could be a number of factors that interfere with the delivery of sperm including, sexual problems like premature ejaculation. Some genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis could disrupt sperm delivery. Then, there are structural problems, like a blockage in one or both of the testicles. Damage or injury to the reproductive organs can also create difficult passage of sperm.
• Overexposure to certain environmental factors
  Exposure or overexposure to harmful chemicals like pesticides, radiation, phthalates, lead, and dioxin can disrupt sperm production. Other chemicals and habitual actions that could disrupt sperm production include smoking cigarettes, marijuana, using anabolic steroids, taking medications that treat bacterial infections, high blood pressure and depression. Environmental disruptors like frequent exposure to saunas or hot tubs could also negatively impact sperm production.
• Damage related to cancer and its treatment
  Chemotherapy and other chemical treatments for cancer can negatively impact sperm production.

Infertility in Women

Like men, infertility in women could be caused by one or even a combination of factors. Some factors that contribute to female infertility include:

• Ovulation disorders
  Hormonal disorders that can greatly impair the release of eggs from the ovaries include Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS, Prolactinoma, Hyperthyroidism, or Hypothyroidism. Other issues that could affect the release of eggs include over-exercising, eating disorders, and tumors.
• Uterine or cervical abnormalities
  Abnormalities in the uterus or cervix can cause infertility by blocking the fallopian tubes or stopping a fertilized egg from implantation in the uterus.

Fallopian tube damage or blockage

Damage to the fallopian tube is often caused by inflammation or salpingitis, usually from pelvic inflammatory disease from untreated sexually transmitted infections, endometriosis, or adhesions.

• Endometriosis
  Endometriosis is when endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus.

Early menopause or primary ovarian insufficiency

Early menopause occurs when the menstrual cycle ends, and the ovaries stop functioning. There are many variables that are associated with early menopause, including immune system disease, Turner Syndrome and other genetic disorders, and chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

• Pelvic adhesions
  Pelvic adhesions are pockets of scar tissue that attach to organs, usually forming after pelvic infection, appendicitis, endometriosis or abdominal or pelvic surgery.
• Cancer and cancer treatment
  Reproductive cancers often interfere with female fertility. The radiation and chemotherapy to treat those cancers may affect fertility as well.

If you and your partner are trying to conceive but haven’t been successful, contact Dr. Charles Miller & Associates. You can also google infertility doctors near me so that you can get the assistance you need.

There are many studies and anecdotes of individuals—men and women—who have overcome infertility from acupuncture. However, because both infertility and the body’s response to acupuncture can vary widely from person to person, it’s difficult to ascertain whether acupuncture will have a direct effect on someone’s fertility.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine practice of using fine needles, placed in various acupressure points, to help relieve and open up energy channels, known as meridians, that are blocked in the body to restore its flow. Chinese medicine says that this blockage is sometimes the underlying cause of many chronic diseases and pain, including infertility. In modern medicine, acupuncture has played a complementary role to help elicit biochemical responses.

Visiting an acupuncturist is sometimes done over several weeks, once or twice a week. The patient lies on a table while the acupuncturist performs the procedure. It is designed to be a calming, meditative procedure, which fertility doctors will often say is important for treating infertility as well. Finding some calm during an otherwise emotional and stressful time period is crucial to someone’s well-being and fertility treatment.

There are many acupuncture practices in Chicago and near fertility centers in Naperville, Illinois, as well, who can offer the method to individuals experiencing infertility. Contact your Chicago fertility specialist to see if there are any acupuncturists they may recommend to help you through your infertility and during your fertility treatments. Make sure that the practices do not interfere with your fertility treatments as well. In some cases, insurance may even cover your acupuncture treatments as well.

Living with depression presents a major challenge to daily life. Living with depression while dealing with infertility can be incredibly overwhelming. Luckily, treatment is available to help you handle issues of infertility and depression so that you can plan for your family in a healthy way.

According to the World Health Organization, 300 million people around the world are living with depression. Of that 300 million, 16.2 million adults in the United States have had a major depressive episode within the last year. Additionally, 1 in 8 couples have trouble conceiving or sustaining pregnancy.

Both infertility and depression used to be topics people were too ashamed to discuss. Now, people are more willing to discuss depression and infertility issues openly. The Gynecologic Surgery Institute can provide the information you need to help you stay healthy, mentally and physically, during fertility treatments.

For many couples, a diagnosis of infertility and the subsequent treatment can bring on chronic stress and may eventually lead to depression or increasing existing feelings of depression. Research has even shown that women experiencing infertility is comparable to the stress and emotional pain of women facing chronic pain, cancer, and HIV/AIDS.

Depression is more likely to surface in people facing infertility who have a history of depression or does not have a support system to help them through the stress of infertility treatment.

Depression is not the same as just being sad

Sadness and depression are not one in the same. Since we associate depression with persistent sadness, its primary symptom, many people do not know how to tell the difference. Too often, people do not seek help for depression because they think they are just sad.

Sadness is a natural emotion triggered by hurtful, disappointing, or other challenging events in our lives. When we have adjusted to the circumstances or gotten over the event, the disappointment, the sadness dissipates.

Depression, on the other hand, is abnormal sadness—a mental illness or mood disorder, that affects how we think, perceive, and behave. When someone is depressed, they are sad about everything. Most depressive episodes do not need an event to trigger sadness.

Psychology Today says to be diagnosed with depression, someone must have at least five of the following symptoms continuously:

• A depressed or irritable mood most of the time.
• A loss or decrease of pleasure or interest in most activities, including ones that had been interesting or pleasurable previously.
• Significant changes in weight or appetite.
• Disturbances in falling asleep or sleeping too much.
• Feeling slowed down in your movements or restless most days.
• Feeling tired, sluggish, and having low energy most days.
• Having feelings of worthless or excessive guilt most days.
• Experiencing problems with thinking, focus, concentration, creativity and the ability to make decisions most days.
• Having thoughts of dying or suicide.

While there is mixed evidence as to whether depression causes infertility, there may be links between depression and infertility due to hormonal imbalances and certain medications used to treat depression and/or other mood disorders. Visit your local IVF specialist in Chicago to help you understand how hormonal imbalances can affect fertility treatment.
One study found that male partners with active major depression and not using antidepressants were less likely to achieve conception. But with women with major depression, not using antidepressants, the likelihood of pregnancy increased slightly. Also, non-SSRI antidepressants were associated with increased risk of miscarriage in the first trimester.
If you begin to experience symptoms of depression during infertility treatments, talk to your fertility specialist in Chicago.