At RMA, we are celebrating Women’s History Month by shining a spotlight on women who have made contributions to the fields of science, technology, and medicine. Our third spotlight is on Jean Purdy, who was instrumental in the first In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) birth in the world. You’ve probably heard of that birth, of Louise Brown, born July 25, 1978, in England. And you’ve probably heard of the two men who invented the procedure, IVF, used to help Mrs. Brown’s parents conceive outside the body – Dr. Patrick Steptoe and Dr. Robert Edwards, who won the Nobel Prize for the achievement

A semen analysis is a rudimentary test of a man’s sperm count. Men with low sperm counts (less than 5 million motile sperm) will likely have difficulties achieving pregnancies. Any man with more than one abnormal defect in his semen analysis will also have a difficult prognosis. Morphology is an interesting area as many men will have isolated abnormal morphology. Some of these men will have difficulty fertilizing eggs but not all. This makes it difficult to counsel these patients and often we turn to IVF with ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) to assist these couples in conceiving. The use of antioxidants is one

How long do I need to wait between IVF cycles? Is it better to take a break between IVF cycles? What is the time I should wait between fertility treatments? These are all questions that fertility specialists get asked quite frequently. Dr. Marcy Maguire, a reproductive endocrinologist at RMA, answers all of your questions.   I had an unsuccessful IVF or IUI treatment cycle. Should I wait some time before trying to conceive again or should I try sooner rather than later? Our approach is to carefully evaluate every unsuccessful cycle and optimize the next one. What kind of treatment cycle have you

If you’ve stumbled on this page, you might be deciding whether Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI) is right for you. If that’s the case, we’re here to help. Here’s everything you need to know about IUI. An IUI is a type of artificial insemination in which sperm is injected directly into your uterine cavity near the time of ovulation. This procedure can be performed either with your partner’s sperm or with sperm from a donor.   What is IUI and how does the procedure work? IUI is considered the first-line treatment for unexplained infertility, mild endometriosis, or mild male factor infertility. In general, IUI does two

Enduring the monthly pain, bloating, and emotionally draining symptoms of a menstrual cycle is hard enough, so being told we can't do the things that seemingly ease our woes when Mother Nature strikes only seems like further punishment. But enticing as it may be to take a deep dive into a bag of potato chips and remain completely stagnant in bed while watching reruns of Sex and the City, these guilty pleasures can be more harmful than we might think. Thus, staying away from such activities (along with other common poor period practices) will benefit us in the long run. To

We’ve all had the moment where someone asks the question, “When are you going to have kids?” Depending on the person and the day, we may feel anger, frustration, sadness, or uncertainty. Whether the question is expected or it comes as a complete surprise, it’s helpful to think ahead about how we might respond. If you have a partner, it’s also important that you present a united front and are on the same page with what you share and with whom. Remember, you are in the driver’s seat and you can choose not to respond at all. For those times when

If you’re trying to conceive, either on your own or through fertility treatment, there is no doubt that taking vitamin B9 (folic acid) is a great place to start. But why? RMA’s Dr. Jackie Gutmann tells you everything you need to know about this super-vitamin.   What are the Benefits of Taking Folic Acid Before or During Pregnancy? Folic acid is a B-vitamin. Our bodies use folic acid to make new cells that comprise our skin, hair, and nails. This cell-supporting vitamin is important for babies as they grow, too. Just like adults, folic acid aids in the development of a baby’s nervous system

At RMA, we are celebrating Women’s History Month by shining a spotlight on women who have made contributions to the fields of science, technology, and medicine. Our second spotlight is on Georgeanna Jones, who had an indelible impact on the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) industry in the U.S. Dr. Jones was one of the first reproductive endocrinologists – and one of the first female reproductive endocrinologists – in the country, who with her husband Howard Jones founded the country’s first IVF clinic in Norfolk, Virginia in 1979. That clinic was the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Jones and her husband, another major IVF