UK Fertility Patients Prefer Twin Babies

According to a new study conducted by a Spain infertility clinic Instituto Marques, the majority of infertility patients in Britin prefer to have twins as apposed to just a single child with IVF.

The study also found that Italian and Spanish patients opted for twins as well, while German IVF patients prefer a single child.

Read more about this story here:  British IVF Patients Prefer Twins

Heart Murmurs and Kids: A Guide for Parents

Heart health is important at any age. There are many things you can do to keep your heart in tiptop shape, such as heating heart-healthy foods, not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, and exercising regularly, to name a few.

But what happens when you're born with a heart health issue?

Heart murmurs are a condition seen in children, and are often diagnosed right after birth. They are unusual sounds within the heart, and while this condition may sound frightening, many times heart murmurs are not life-threatening.

To learn more, read the full article: Heart Murmurs in Children - What You Need to Know

Surrogacy in India: A Booming Business

About one in six couples struggle with infertility complications around the world each year.

While some find success with assisted reproduction technologies (ART) like in-vitro fertilization (IVF), some experience repeated failures, miscarriage and total heartbreak.

Fortunately, there is another option for couples who cannot physically carry a child themselves: surrogacy.

While it may be expensive, legally complex and controversial in some parts of the world, it is a last resort for many people who dream of having a child of their own.

To avoid all of these obstacles, some couples are choosing to travel overseas in order to fulfill their dreams of becoming parents with surrogacy in India.

In the infertility tourism world, surrogacy in India is a top destination, and many couples have had children this way.

While there is some speculation about the ethical nature of the surrogacy industry in India, doctors insist that they provide world-class health care for parents-to-be, babies, and surrogate mothers, in order to ensure healthy babies, and happy new families.

Along with the obvious benefits, everyone involved is also experiencing great financial gain as well. Doctors in India are doing extremely well with surrogacy in India. Parents-to-be save about 70 percent off the cost of surrogacy, and surrogate mothers also receive payment; and often use it to support their own families.

Surrogacy in India may still have its critics, but there are many parents, doctors and surrogate mothers that will confess that this business has changed their lives for the better...

To learn more, read the full article here: Surrogacy in India - A Win-Win Infertility Solution

Too Skinny for Pregnancy? Why "Mommyrexia" Isn't Healthy

Although it might be a dream to have the ability to become pregnant, gain a cute "bump", and shed the weight just weeks after giving birth, experts say keep dreaming, because "mommyrexia" is terrible for your health.

While celebrities might make this trend look good, it's no good for mom or baby, and can lead to dangerous pregnancy complications and pre-term labor.

A recent study shows another good reason for the super-skinny to gain a little weight: being underweight may also contribute to infertility.

In the study, which examined about 2,500 IVF cycles, scientists found that underweight women had the worst chances for pregnancy.

Head researcher Richard Sherbahn of the Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago said to the Telegraph, “There has been the suggestion from other observations that being too thin is not good for fertility. Women that are too thin sometimes don’t always get periods or have irregular periods, and it alters their hormonal situation.”

To learn more, read the full article: The Skinny on Infertility - Why a Healthy Weight is Ideal for Pregnancy

Saving Motherhood for Another Day: It's Possible with Egg Freezing

Egg freezing, an infertility treatment used for breast cancer patients, is now the go-to choice for women looking to "preserve" their fertility.

As a woman ages, her eggs slowly disappear. Along with low numbers, the quality of the eggs drops significantly after age 35, a time today, where many women are just beginning to think about being a mom.

To prevent future infertility issues, women have the option to take motherhood into their own hands with egg freezing.

Although it's quite an expensive investment, many experts and patients agree, that for women over the age of 30, egg freezing is like an insurance policy, increasing the chances for pregnancy later on in life.

To learn more, read the full article: Egg Freezing - Taking Control of the Biological Clock

Obese Women Banned from Infertility Treatments in Canada

Obesity comes with a higher risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, orthopedic problems, and infertility.

Now, infertility specialists in Canada are refusing to treat women with a BMI over 35, in order to protect the health of mom and baby.

Doctors say it isn't safe for a woman to undergo IVF and to endure pregnancy is she is obese. There are too many risks and complications that can occur, putting the patient and her baby's life at risk.

Not only is it difficult for an obese patient, it is also hard for her physician; because no doctor wants to knowingly put their patient in danger.

Dr. Arthur Leader, co-founder of Ottawa Fertility Center has had this policy in effect at his practice for 6 years now.

He said, "“The doctor’s first responsibility is always to do no harm, and in this circumstance, what we’re discriminating is based on medical fact.”

To learn more, read the full article: Should Obese Women be Denied Infertility Treatments?

Red Headed Sperm Donors Rejected!

Cryos International isn't accepting sperm donors with red hair at this time.

While this story has created quite the media buzz, Cryos is located in Denmark, where blonde and red hair, with green and blue eyes is the norm.

The agency director Ole Schou explained that they have all the redheaded sperm donors they can handle, and instead are looking for more "diverse" men to donate sperm.

He told MSNBC, "“What we need is brown-eyed Scandinavians/Caucasians and Mediterranean donors and other ethnicities and races. The problem is that we are located in Scandinavia and ‘harvest’ donors here, but we supply to more than 65 countries all over the world. They don’t always want Scandinavian donors out there.”

Schou also said that the sperm bank is in need of Black, Asian, Hispanic, Mediterranean and mixed-race sperm donors.

Apparently, it's all about supply and demand. Currently the "ideal" sperm donor's appearance is as follows: 6 feet tall, with brown hair, blue or green eyes, and a medium complexion.

Who knows what the "perfect" sperm donor will look like next year?

To learn more, read the full article: Redheads Rejected from Donating Sperm in Denmark

European Parents-to-Be May Not be Allowed to Learn Baby's Sex

During pregnancy, the ultrasound at the 20-week mark is one of the most exciting.

At this time, parents-to-be get the chance to learn if they are having a boy or a girl (if they choose). Once the sex is revealed, baby names, clothes and baby's nursery are able to be readied for the little one's arrival.

Europeans however, may not get the opportunity to experience this wonderful milestone anymore, because of a proposal made by the Council of Europe.

It stated: Doctors should be told to withhold information about the sex of the fetus, all in order to stop the practice of selective abortion based on gender.

While the nations involved aren't affected by sex selective abortion, it is still a fear amongst top officials.

Although gender selection done in this fashion is completely unacceptable and a major issue in some parts of the world, it doesn't mean other people's rights should be taken away.

To learn more, read the full article: Gender Wars-Europe Suggests Law to Prevent Selective Abortion

150 Siblings, 1 Sperm Donor

Sperm donation has officially gotten out of control.

In the United States, there are databases full of half-brothers and sisters, who all share the same father, and anonymous sperm donor.

Numbers of kids in these donor families are from 20 to 150, and surprisingly, they keep on growing.

Parents, donors and experts are in complete shock about the number of children one sperm donor has fathered. While they were promised low numbers at the time of the donation, these high numbers of brothers and sisters raises fears of accidental incest and the spread of genetic conditions occurring.

These families are now working to change the laws in the U.S. to match sperm donor laws in Europe.

To learn more, read the full article: Sperm Donor Fathers 150 Kids-Should U.S. Laws be Changed?

New Blood Test Shows Baby's Gender in Earliest Stage of Pregnancy

A new pregnancy test has sparked quite the controversy.

A recent study revealed the benefits of a new blood test that can predict the gender of a baby just 7 weeks into pregnancy.

The researchers focused on the positive side of things: the test has the potential to be hugely valuable for families that carry chromosomes connected to sex-related genetic disorders.

However, other experts fear the worst. They believe this test could be the start of a trend already seen in places like India, China and Armenia; aborting pregnancies solely based on gender.

To learn more about this new blood test, read the full article here: Blood Test Reveals Baby's Gender at 7 Weeks

Young Breast Cancer Patients Do Anything to Preserve Fertility

Carly Byrd, 29, froze her eggs before starting chemotherapy

Carly Byrd was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 25, and four years later she's still fighting for her life.

Byrd is one of 11,000 young women (under 40) who get breast cancer in the United States every year. Instead of worrying about dying of cancer, many women are more scared of something else: infertility.

Naturally, Carly had to do something, and fast. Her oncologist recommended chemotherapy (which is what causes early menopause, and therefore, infertility in young patients), and so she took the matter into her own hands.

Carly and her mother traveled to Dallas, Texas, where she freezed a number of her eggs in the weeks leading up to her chemo. While she's still battling cancer today, Carly is still optimistic about her future, especially because she now has a real shot at becoming a mom.

To learn more, read the full article here: Breast Cancer and Infertility - Young Patients Fight to Become Mothers

Patients Don't Pay a Dime for IVF in Israel

Did you know Israel is the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) capital of the world?

It is, and it doesn't have anything to do with the number of infertile Israeli people.

Infertility actually affects the same amount of people as the rest of the world, the difference is the treatment.

Unlike countries like the United States, where infertility treatments can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, IVF in Israel doesn't cost patients anything, which explains why so many choose to undergo IVF there.

Israel's unique policy allows a woman unlimited rounds of IVF until the age of 45, which is limited to two births. The government is also considering opening up this coverage to gay males, who want to use surrogacy to have a baby.

Once people hear of this, there is sure to be a storm of controversy with angry, broke and infertile people up in arms about the amounts they pay to start a family. There's no reason why people should spend their life savings on having a baby...at least that's what Israelis believe.

To learn more, read the full article: IVF in Israel - Building Families Without Breaking the Bank

The Mommy Makeover: Plastic Surgery's Latest Trend

Being a mother is one of the most rewarding things in life.

Unfortunately, being a mother also means a woman must sacrifice her body in order to go through pregnancy and childbirth.

Post-baby, a mother's body still goes through a lot of changes, and in today's world, many women aren't having it.

Hundreds of thousands of women in the United States undergo a Mommy Makeover each year, to get their bodies back post-pregnancy with a lot of help from plastic surgeons.

The Mommy Makeover consists of the tummy tuck, breast lift, liposuction and sometimes even vaginoplasty.

To learn more about this new trend, read the full article: Post-Pregnancy Plastic Surgery - The Mommy Makeover

Fertility Drugs May Harm Eggs

When undergoing in-vitro fertilization, it's necessary to take ovary-stimulating fertility drugs in order to produce a good amount of eggs for increased chances of a successful pregnancy.

But today, things are changing, especially after a new study that found fertility drugs actually increase chromosomal abnormalities in eggs by up to 50%. These faults can cause health conditions like Down's Syndrome, and there seems to be a general fear amongst infertility specialists regarding this issue.

The study was performed in women with an average age of 40, and women of this age usually get very high doses of fertility drugs during this process.

To learn more, read the full article: A New Study Finds IVF Drugs May Cause Harm to Eggs

Fight for Equality: Same-Sex Couples Have Families Too!

A scene from "The Kids Are Alright", a film about a lesbian couple & their 2 kids

"The Kids Are Alright" is a film about a lesbian couple and their two children, and it paints an accurate picture of same-sex couples with children in the United States.

According to the most recent US Census survey, about 25% of same-sex couples are having children. Including gay households in the survey is a huge step for the LGBT community, and it shows that same-sex couples have the same wants, needs and hopes as straight couples.

One of those includes having children, and many gay couples are choosing to conceive through sperm donation, egg donation, or surrogacy in order to have biologically-related children.

To learn more about this very important social issue, read the full article here: A Quarter of Same Sex Couples Having Families

Male Infertility: Passed on From Father to Son

Intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a relatively new infertility treatment designed to help couples with a male infertility factor.

Male factors account for 30 percent of infertility cases in the world, and unfortunately, scientists can't seem to pinpoint the exact cause.

Their latest theory is that male infertility problems are rooted in DNA, and today, infertility specialists fear that this condition can be passed down to future generations. 

The first ICSI baby was born in 1992, which means that the pioneer group of babies is now entering into the teen years. This will be the first opportunity for infertility specialists to see if there are any genetic consequences to ICSI and male infertility.

To learn more, read the rest of the article: Could Male Infertility be Passed from Father to Son

Infertility Treatment Helps Fathers With HIV Have Healthy Babies

There's nothing like a relationship a father has with his children.

Unfortunately for those men with HIV, there is a huge risk for passing on the auto-immune disease to his unborn children, which is why many HIV positive men choose not to have babies in the first place.

With new advancements in infertility treatment technology, the fear of passing HIV on to partner or baby is diminished. Sperm washing is typically used during intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedures, but today, it's being used to prevent the spread of HIV onto innocent babies.

Learn more about this amazing health advancement: Infertility Treatment Prevents the Spread of HIV

Gender Selection and Diet: Hype or the Real Deal?

Thinking of having kids? Want a baby of a certain gender?

Well, you might be able to eat your way to a boy or girl! Gender diets are the latest fad in the world of pregnancy and gender selection.

To have a girl, mothers are recommended to eat things like tofu, lean protein, and calcium rich foods, and skip out of salt and chocolate.

For a boy, eat yogurt, bacon, sausage, burgers, and drink milk.

It sounds simple enough, but many experts aren't convinced. They agree that the most important thing for mom and baby is to eat a healthy diet, period.

Learn more about gender diets, and healthy eating during pregnancy: Gender Selection-Do Gender Diets Really Work?

Mother to Have Her Own Womb Transplanted Into Her Daughter!

Eva & Sara Ottosson are about to make medical history

Sara Ottosson was born without reproductive organs, a medical condition called Mayer Rokitansky Kuster Hauser syndrome (or MRKH for short).

The 25 year old is now engaged, and dreaming of having children, like any other young woman. Because she is unable to carry a child, Sara and her fiance thought about adoption and surrogacy as ways to have a baby, but then her life changed forever.

Transplant surgeons in Sweden are getting ready to attempt an organ transplant of the womb, and Sara and her mother, Eva Ottosson, are the perfect candidates.

If they are chosen for this groundbreaking surgery, Eva will donate her womb to her daughter, and if it all goes well, Sara will undergo IVF treatments a year later, in an attempt to conceive and carry her very own baby. While the surgery is quite complex, and has never been done successfully before, both Sara and Eva have high hopes for the future.

To learn more, read the full article: Womb Transplant: The Ultimate Gift of Life and Love

The Family Act of 2011 and RESOLVE Need Your Help!

Infertility affects thousands of people every year. Its effects can be devastating on relationships, families and bank accounts.

In the United States, the average cost of one IVF cycle is about $12,000. Unfortunately, most insurance companies don't cover the costs, and patients generally pay out of pocket for these expenses.

Infertility is a legitimate disease of the reproductive system, and the United States government should offer some help to its citizens struggling with these issues.

The Family Act of 2011 was recently introduced, and RESOLVE needs your help to get the word out! Learn more about the Family Act of 2011!