Blog 2009

Pre-Seed Expands Access in Canada!

Trimedic Supply Network Ltd. Increasing Access of Pre-Seed(R) ‘Fertility-Friendly’ Lubricant in Canada
Valleyford, WA (MMD Newswire) December 8, 2009 — Pre~Seed® ‘fertility-friendly’ Lubricant (INGfertility, Valleyford, WA) is partnering with Trimedic Supply Network Ltd. to expand access to its product line for couples in Canada who are trying to become pregnant. Trimedic Supply Network supplies women’s clinics and pharmacies throughout Canada with innovative products and is now making Pre~Seed® more widely available throughout Canada.

Pre~Seed® has received the only clearance by the FDA for a lubricant that is “safe to use when trying to conceive.” “The Pre~Seed® formula mimics fertile cervical mucus and does not interfere with sperm function, fertilization or embryo development,” according to Pharmacist and INGfertility CEO Dr. Dennis Clifton.

“Trying to conceive is a big issue,” states Clifton. At least 90 million couples worldwide are trying to become pregnant. With only a 20% average chance of becoming pregnant each cycle, couples can become stressed, leading to anxiety and increased vaginal dryness. “Unfortunately,” notes Clifton, “most personal lubricants and even saliva can harm sperm. Pre~Seed’s® mild and safe formula provides moisture inside the vagina, where trying-to-conceive couples need it most.”

“The use of Pre~Seed® for trying-to-conceive couples is recommended by many fertility experts and leading medical organizations,” states Clifton. “Although a large number of pharmacies and women’s clinics currently carry Pre~Seed®, consumers have been requesting that the product be available in even more stores across Canada. Trimedic is providing us with a tremendous increase in numbers of stores and clinics where couples can purchase Pre~Seed®”

CONTACT: Dr. GD Clifton, President & CEO, 509.443.0149

New study finds increased risk of birth defects in pregnancies conceived by assisted reproduction techniques

A new paper by El-Chaar et al (Fert Ster Nov 2009) found a 1.55 fold increase in birth defects (2.91%) for children conceived by assisted reproduction (including ovulation induction, IUI, and IVF) versus natural conceptions (1.86%). This was highest for in vitro fertilization (3.45%) and intrauterine insemination (2.89%).
No one can doubt the blessing that assisted reproduction has been for many couples. Currently, 2-3% of all European and 1.5% of all US births are a result of these technologies. However, they should be entered into with a full understanding of potential risks included with the technology, such as preterm labor, lower birth weights and an increased incidence of birth defects. Assisted reproduction should be saved for couples that REQUIRE this technology, and not rushed into by couples who could conceive naturally if more was done to optimize people’s own fertility. For example, couples who are lucky enough to have insurance to help with infertility, may find the companies do not want to pay for the time honored medical approaches of problem oriented medicine, where testing is done to identify a problem and time and treatment are done to correct problems. I firmly believe, that a substantial proportion of male infertility cases have a low grade infectious component that usually goes uncorrected.

Assisted reproduction can be quicker, makes many people involved more money and helps the couple feel that they have done “everything”. But ALL the outcomes need to be considered in this course of action.
In order to optimize your own fertility, be sure to read the ASRM Best Practice Guidelines “Optimizing Natural Fertility”, which I am proud to say mentions Pre-Seed! There are also several great resources to provide you with the best knowledge to do all that you can when trying to conceive. These include books like: Taking Charge of Your Fertility, Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertility and Making Babies. At the very least, you need to know if and when you are ovulating, and be sure to time intercourse appropriately. Also, make sure his sperm are of a good quality. Fertility vitamins are beneficial for everyone too! And of course Pre-Seed can also help make for slippery fun and provide an optimal environment, without harming sperm, fertilization or embryo development.

Blessings-
Dr. E

New Article Suggests Bariatric Surgery Improves Sexual Function and Reproductive Outcomes

Merhi (Fertility&Sterility, Nov 2009) concludes that “…bariatric surgery seems to improve fertility status, sexuality, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive hormone profile…”. Although, the author also cautions that the surgery may be linked to contraceptive failure with “the pill”. Hmmmm…. More enjoyable sex…an easier time becoming pregnant and a healthier pregnancy?? I think most of women who needed this surgery would gladly trade having to use an alternative method of contraception for the above! Be healthy!

Dr. E

“Making Babies” by David & Blakeway

I LOVED this book!!! I just received a copy of this new book by Dr. David (an RE) and Ms. Blakeway (Licensed Acupuncturist) and have to say this is one of the most thorough, easily understood and practically helpful books on trying to conceive I have read. I was especially impressed with the discussion on low grade infection in men, which can impact fertility, but which is usually ignored by most MDs. And any time an RE acknowledges and talks to couples about fertile cervical mucus, it makes the world feel like a better place
The only drawback with this book was that I felt a little guilty for not eating better and being more healthy! I was very honored that Dr. David and Ms. Blakeway mentioned Pre-Seed in their book. And even more pleased with the careful manner in which they explained the science behind our product.

Making Babies can be purchased at Amazon.

Blessings- Dr. E

Pre~Seed Now Available to 23,000 US Independent Pharmacies through H&H Wholesale Services

Pre~Seed® ‘fertility-friendly’ Lubricant is expanding product access to trying to conceive couples in the US with a new distribution partnership, making Pre-Seed® available to the more than 23,000 independent pharmacies in the US, through H&H Wholesale Services.

As you all know, Pre-Seed® is the first and only lubricant to receive FDA clearance as “safe to use when trying to conceive”. We currently have over 350 US pharmacies, adult novelty stores and healthcare clinics that use or carry Pre-Seed®. But of course, one of our users most frequent suggestions is that Pre-Seed® be more widely available in stores. Now any independent pharmacy or store in the US can contact H&H, to carry Pre-Seed®. We are very excited about this! Our “Where to buy Pre-Seed” locator directory is growing weekly. Contact, your local independent pharmacy and ask them to carry Pre-Seed and Pre’! Spread the word to your TTC community too.

Also…Thanks to all who signed up at Facebook and Twitter

Thank you for helping to make our social network family more active and fun! I know some people thought it was just too “weird” to talk about using Pre-Seed in this venue and I get that

Others had fun and we have gotten to watch a few fans go thru the 2WW (two week wait) and pregnancy testing…which is always exciting.

Thanks for your Input!

See our new Pre-Seed ad in the Fall Conceive magazine! Thanks to all of you who voted for your favorite ad. As a group you all chose ad #1, the couple “under the blanket”, with the touching story from our military couple.

Feelings ran high with good comments on both ads. It was wonderful to learn more about what you all like about Pre-Seed. We also really appreciate your ideas on magazines…we will try some of these new avenues to get the word out. We want to keep honoring the many of you who write in to encourage us to let more people & physicians know about Pre-Seed and Pre’ and their non-irritating, fertility-friendly moisture!!

Blessings- Dr. E Dr. E

Healthcare Provider Comments on Pre-Seed

We asked the many clinics who use Pre-Seed and Pre, or who provide product samples to their patients, to let us know what they liked about our products. Here are some recent comments we received. You can find even more comments here.

Our patients love this product! Couples facing infertility feel empowered when they have a product that can help them succeed with their treatments! – JT, RN, Clermont OB/Gyn & Infertility
Excellent product. Patients like ease of use. Strongly recommend! — JM, MD East Ilsip, NY
Pre-Seed is essential because so many of our infertility patients experience dryness. — Lakeshore Women’s Specialists, Mooresville, NY

Goodbye AstroGlide – Hello Baby! No pain, only fun…fun…fun with Pre-Seed. His sperm smile at my cervix! — A, RN, Family Planning Center, Daytona Beach, FL

Our patients enjoy that Pre-Seed increases the comfort of sexual activity. When couples are trying to conceive, it’s great to have a lubricant that can be used frequently and with comfort. One client states that the application of Pre-Seed is much easier than the egg whites she was using. Our male patients like the consistency of Pre-Seed; that it is conducive to sexual activity.” — L, LAC/OTR, White Crane Medicine, Lakewood, CO

New, Better Ways of Looking at Sperm Samples

One of the “god-fathers” of Andrology (male reproduction) Dr. Amann has a very valuable series of articles this month in the Journal of Andrology. Some of it is very complicated and will likely not be adopted by the physician community, without patient driven demand. If you are a TTC geek and are struggling with potential male factor infertility I would suggest you wade through the articles.
For the rest of you, the key points when it is time for sperm sample are:

1. Never accept a diagnosis on one sample! Total sperm count in one sample will be within -16% to +30% of the true value in only 50% of the men. Meaning a single ejaculate is almost worthless to evaluate if you have low sperm count or not. Three samples, will be -20% to +30% of the true value in 80% of the men. It simply isn’t that expensive overall (even at ~$200/sample) to KNOW for sure if low count is an issue or not.
2. Have the correct abstinence period. To maximize detection of men with truly low sperm production, abstinence of 42-54 hrs should be the case, with NO MORE than 64 hrs. Many physicians recommend much too long a time for abstinence for a diagnostic semen sample. In contrast, when producing a sample for a procedure for men with diagnosed low sperm numbers, wait 7 days. Men with normal sperm counts, should produce samples for procedures (such as IUI or IVF) after 3-4 days of abstinence.
3. Make sure your lab adheres to WHO guidelines, if they don’t, find another lab. There is no excuse for not using the globally accepted standards.
4. Make sure they give you a volume (in mls) of the ejaculate and a total number of sperm in the ejaculate (not just sperm per ml). This tells you the total number of sperm made at that ejaculation.
5. A useful parameter is total number of sperm in an ejaculate divided by the hours of abstinence (since the man last ejaculated) - this gives a value for testes production or output, and be compared across the three samples, even if the abstinence time is slightly different for the three samples.

Your man deserves a high quality fertility evaluation. Demand it
Dr. E

“Letting Go” Coping Allows for Better IVF Outcome

A new study (Rapoport-Hubschman et al., Fertility & Sterility Oct 2009) found that women who managed their infertility stress through emotion focused coping had more successful outcomes with In vitro fertilization than did women who managed their stress with problem focused coping. This especially referred to the ability to “let go” of their infertility in the emotion focused coping. Women who were better able to “let go” of their stress had significantly higher pregnancy rates. This study proposed that letting go is best learned through meditation training.

I know that many times women who are going through infertility, become a bit like navy captains directing this and that with regards to timing intercourse, what he and she can eat etc… And I understand why this happens. While some proactive planning is good, making you and your spouse nuts is not. I remember one gal who called me and said “I only let him ejaculate when I am ovulating”. Not only is this the wrong thing to do physiologically, it actually makes for poorer quality sperm and lower testosterone. But think about this poor man’s life and the quality of partnership they are having!

So doing your best to know your body and get sperm there at the right time is good– micromanaging every aspect of life with only a pregnancy as the desired outcome– not good. Find ways to teach yourself to let go, even if you need some professional help to get there!

Blessings ~
Dr. E

Learn How Pre-Seed is Helping Women with Premature Ovarian Failure

Dear Friends,
We received the following request from the International Premature Ovarian Failure Association (IPOFA). I thought this story was moving, and the organization may be of help to someone you know. INGfertility is happy to support this group in their education and support outreach.

Blessings ~ Dr. E
10.07.09

I am writing to see if you and INGfertility would be interested in sponsoring the International Premature Ovarian Failure Association (IPOFA). Our association provides support, information, and advocacy for women with Premature Ovarian Failure and their loved ones, primarily through the use of our internet tools. We are looking for a successful company to partner with that has a heart for the education and support of women afflicted with POF. We see these qualities in your company, and we invite you to join us, IPOFA, in our mission to provide information and support to this growing community and in educating the medical community on how to properly and efficiently diagnosis this devastating disorder so that those suffering with it may get the immediate medical attention they need and deserve.

I am reaching out to you not only as a volunteer member of the International Premature Ovarian Failure Association but as a woman struggling with Premature Ovarian Failure and a Pre-seed customer for approximately the last 2 years. Having finally received my official POF diagnosis after a 3 year struggle, I was thrilled to have found a product that seemed to be meant just for my situation. Premature Ovarian Failure is a condition occurring in women under the age of 40, in some cases the onset may begin in the teen years. This disorder is commonly associated with serious health conditions and infertility, leaving those women with the disorder only a 5-10% chance of ever conceiving using their own eggs. Some of the symptoms of POF include but are not limited to: irregular periods to no periods, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, depression, and sexual dysfunction due to vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. With such a limited chance of conceiving and the devastating effects of sexual dysfunction I found Pre-seed to be the answer I was looking for.

Having just gotten back from my very first IPOFA Conference held in Houston, TX, I was amazed at the number of women not familiar with Pre-seed. Normally I try to limit my promoting a product however being such a happy customer I had no hesitation in introducing the women and their husbands to this great product. Of course the interest was very high and it was even noted to me that this would also be a great product for women who experience POF after receiving chemotherapy as a part of cancer treatments.

On behalf of the IPOFA, we look forward to a partnership with you and with your company. Our joint initiative will make a lasting impact on the lives of these women and their families and ensure they will have a brighter outlook for their futures.

Cassandra

Sperm Leaking Out After Intercourse

We received this question -- “My question is that my husband and I have been trying to conceive for 4 months now and going on month 5, we used Pre-Seed last month for the first time and yes we liked it but it felt like EVERYTHING leaked out???? Is it that I am using too much??? Just wondering if you get this question a lot, because I felt like what Pre-Seed was helping with now might be backfiring if I use too much. Please let me know your recommendation or thoughts.
Thank you!!! ~ ME”

Hi M- It is not uncommon to have more ejaculate produced if the intercourse feels good, which could have been your situation. A larger ejaculate means more sperm and is a good thing!! “Backflow” is not a concern as the sperm that will get into and thru the cervix begin swimming into the cervix within one minute, they know where they are going. In fact, in one study, they put sperm-sized radiolabeled particles (which cannot swim- meaning they have no forward progression of their own) and put them outside the cervix during ovulation time. They found that these particles were moved by the woman’s body to the fallopian tube ON THE SIDE WITH THE EGG within minutes of being placed in the vagina. Wow!!

If you have any concerns on the amount of Pre-Seed to use, I suggest you use it like this. About 15-30 min before you think you will begin to make love, insert the applicator deep into your vagina. I do this while sitting on the toilet, but any position is ok. After you remove the applicator, bear down slightly to expel any extra product. This leaves just the right amount of Pre-Seed coating your vaginal and external cervical tissues. Next wipe off externally, and you can go about your business, making for a fun night! Pre-Seed should never interfere with spontaneity, it can always be applied well before baby-making.

Let us know how it goes! ~ Dr. E

Letrozole versus Clomiphene Citrate: Which is Better for Ovulation Induction?

Fertility & Sterility Sept 2009, has a Controversy section discussing which is better for ovulation induction Letrozole or CC (Clomid). The moderator, Dr. Casper, states “Letrozole is at least as effective as clomiphene for inducing ovulation and achieving pregnancy in patients with poly-cystic ovarian syndrome. Potential advantages of letrozole include reduced multiple pregnancies, absence of anti-estrogenic adverse effects, and the subsequent need for less intensive monitoring”. As the author notes Clomid wreaks havoc on cervical mucus, one of its “anti-estrogenic” side effects! He goes on to state letrozole can be of benefit in patients for whom Clomid is not working. This supports other studies which suggest that trying Clomid over and over is not beneficial for patients. Finally, Dr. Casper suggest that Letrozole should perhaps be used more as a first ovulation induction therapy, versus Clomid.

I would very much like to hear from you and your community if Letrozole has impacted your cervical mucus or arousal fluid for those of you who have used it.
Finally, here is some exciting news from a PCOS gal that I received this morning
I have PCOS and was on clomid and glucophage. I purchased Pre-Seed 9/2/09 received it 9/4/09, started ovulating 9/7/09, and got a positive pregnancy test 9/21/09. We’ve been trying for over a year, I have no doubt

Pre-Seed got us pregnant. ~ RO

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Lubricant – UPDATED

Dear Friends, A truly inspirational story of hope! I can’t wait to hear the tales of “The Sisterhood of the Travelling Lubricant” Blessings ~ Dr. E

Dear Dr. E, I have been having infertility issues for the past 12 years which has never been diagnosed as something specifically wrong, just “unexplained infertility.” My darling son was born in 2004 on my third try at IVF, when I was 39 years old. When he turned 1, my husband & I started trying for a second. I became pregnant on my own (for the first time in my life!) but unfortunately had a miscarriage at 9 weeks. I lost confidence that I could do it on my own again, so I started doing IVF’s once more. After 5 rounds & 20 good embryos inserted with none of them implanting, I gave up. I was researching adoption options for a few months & even made an appointment to see an adoption lawyer when a friend of mine told me about Preseed in November, 2008. Two of her other friends who had spent years TTC had recently become pregnant using Preseed. After all the money I had spent on IVF, I figured why not give this inexpensive (and MUCH more fun sounding) option a try?

I bought a package and only used two of the applicators the first month of trying, December 2008. I didn’t even know I was pregnant until 6 weeks in because it didn’t even occur to me that it might have worked so soon! I am now 20 weeks pregnant with a daughter and excited beyond belief. Did I mention that I am now 44?! It’s truly a miracle! I gave the remainder of the first box of Preseed to a friend who’s TTC and the second box I had bought to another friend and hope that if they conceive while using it, we can call ourselves “The Sisterhood of the Travelling Lubricant”!!!

My husband & I cannot possibly thank you enough for your miraculous product which we are telling everyone about. You have brought so much joy into our lives. We’re so grateful that we heard about your product and only wish we had heard about it earlier!) Now I want to ask my IVF doc for a refund for those 5 insanely expensive IVF’s!

With Great Appreciation, D F

P.S. My husband is so impressed with your results, he’s dying to buy stock in your company!

***UPDATE***
Please see the beautiful “Pre~Seed” baby below! CONGRATS from Pre~Seed!

BFP on the first try!

Our very special blessing on this little one, as well as our gratitude to her(?) family for their service. This made my day- talk about timing being everything! ~ Dr. E

BFP on the first try! My husband and I decided to try for our first child while he was home on leave from Iraq. We used PreSeed during my ovulation window, and it worked like a charm! Success on the first try! I am currently 11 weeks along, and soooo thrilled! I recommend this to everyone who is TTC. Thank you so much for creating this product. ~ A. R. S.

Sperm Morphology and Pre-Seed

We recently received this question from a visitor:

Does pre-seed help when low sperm morphology is the factor? Please inform me!
At INGfertility we take our product and our science very seriously. My reputation as a federally funded Sperm Physiologist, and as a Member in the American Society of Andrology and the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology depends on what I say being accurate and scientifically defensible. Therefore, we don’t make claims about our products based on one time, small, or preliminary laboratory studies. Nor do we confuse such work with “clinical proof.” If we can’t defend our claims to regulatory agencies or my peers, we don’t make them.

I will say that we have received some awesome User Stories from couples with challenging male factor problems, such as the notes below. You can always search our user’s stories blog to find stories relating to your situation, such as search for “sperm” and you will pull up stories that mention DH’s sperm count.

You can also see that 25% of our product users in one survey had male factor issues, as well as the self reporting pregnancies in the group a as whole.

Blessings -
Dr. E

I’m telling all my fertility challenged friends!
OMG Thanks! I never write into companies, but this experience is too good to be true. For over six years, we had tried to conceive and we had seen specialist after specialist. We were told my husband has 99% bad sperm and low counts and I have PCOS, so it was very unlikely that we would ever get pregnant together without IVF. The first and only time we used your PreSeed product, much to our surprise we conceived. That was the only change that month. I’m telling all my fertility challenged friends about the magic goop that worked. Thanks again. We’re now 4 months pregnant and are hoping for a healthy baby. Kind regards, ~ K

Pregnant Thanks to Pre-Seed.
This stuff is like gold!! I have PCOS and have been going through round after round of Clomid since February this year. We did trigger shots, everything. My husband even has a male factor issue working against him…high count, but VERY low morphology, motility, and rapid linear movement. I did not want to have to go for an IUI so we decided to give Pre-Seed 2 rounds… no need because the FIRST round we got our BFP! I am in complete shock!! I still do not believe it and still test every morning (I am only 3 weeks, 6 days along!), and they are getting darker. My beta test is Monday. THANK YOU PRE-SEED!!!! Finally, my dream of becoming a mother is real! ~ JW, TN

Cancer Patients Using Pre-Seed

We have heard from several women and their physicians how Pre-Seed has made post-menopausal intimacy more enjoyable when they have had to stop using hormones due to cancer. We really appreciate hearing from Pre-Seed and Pre’ users at different places on the circle of life! I thought someone you know, may benefit this User’s Story. Blessings ~ Dr. E

Hello, I am a Pre Seed user because I had breast cancer. M. D. Anderson would no longer let me use premiran cream for vaginal dryness. This has been been a great substitute. I think that this would be a great product for many cancer survivors with the same problem. I have told all my Doctors about it. Perhaps it would be a good way to market your product at all the cancer centers. ~ Sincerely, G. D.

Pre-Seed Mention in “Conceive Magazine”!

The August edition of Conceive Magazine has an informative section on “Fertility Foul Ups” or things that couples may be doing wrong, that can interfere with their chances of conceiving. Of course, one of the most common being, using lubricants that may be killing sperm! Pre-Seed is nicely mentioned as a “fix” for this problem.

WOW! This Brought Tears to My Eyes…

Thank you, Frank, for your dedication and simply amazing story! I have forwarded this to my friend Toni Weschler (author of Taking Charge of Your Fertility). Sadly, you are in part right in your statement “There is HUGE, HUGE money in keeping us ignorant of how fertility works”. But, I have also come to realize many physicians are simply not taught how couples can optimize their own fertility. This is something that will need to come from people like you and me as we share what we have learned!

Blessings ~
Dr. E

Dear Pre Seed, I have meant to write this letter for over a year now. So, here is our story…

My wife and I tried to conceive for seven (yes seven!) years and spent over $35,000.00 at a fertility clinic, with no results. A very sad and emotionally draining experience to say the least. We just accepted that we may never be able to conceive our own children so we then decided to adopt a baby girl from China. We went through all of the classes, meetings, paperwork, background checks, and paid out lots more money so we could realize our dream of being parents. We were finally given a “log in date” of December of 2006. We were originally told it should only take 12 to 14 months from that date until we got to pick up our daughter in China. As of today’s date 8/18/09 we have still heard nothing from China and don’t expect to any time soon. There have been delays from China for all adoptions for some reason.

One evening almost two years ago I was watching television and a news anchor mentioned how some people were successfully conceiving using some sort of kit. I went upstairs, logged on to the Internet and began my research. I guess we just assumed that the doctors were giving all the credible methods we could use. I soon came across your wonderful product as well as the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. I immediately ordered the book and read it in three days (Yes my wife thought I was a bit nuts). I then ordered Pre Seed and we began charting. Honestly, we were happy to have found another method that was very low stress, natural, and relatively inexpensive, but I don’t think we truly believed it would work.

Well, it did work, and it worked after only three months of trying. I will NEVER forget coming home to my wife waiting at the door with a little plastic thing that said “Pregnant”! Nothing had even said this once in seven years, and there it was. She started crying and I did too. Then, because we are both over forty, we decided to not get too excited because we are very aware of the risks. We couldn’t help it though. Something actually said PREGNANT! We were overjoyed.

The delivery of our son went as close to perfectly as one could hope. It went so quickly there wasn’t enough time left to administer any pain killers for my wife! Yeah, she’s a tough cookie. Our son just turned one year old on July 28th 2009, and he is the joy of our lives. I have told so many people about what worked for us I have even prepared an email I forward all the time. I will include it here at the end of this email.

Thank you so much for your incredible product. My wife and I truly believe it was a combination of Pre Seed, The Book, and being able to relax about the attempts that worked. If you should ever want to contact me or ask any further questions, email me and I would be happy to give you my contact information.

Gratefully yours, ~ Frank, Jane and FG

(Here is that Email I forward by the way)

Hi S,

I am Jane G’s husband (Frank) and she asked me to send you the info on the things we have learned about fertility. I am VERY happy to do this! I know it may be a bit weird to get this info from a male, but I was the one who read the book, did the research, and helped Jane to chart the things that need to be charted. I know more about ovulation and fertility than just about any woman, or doctor, you will ever meet. (If you read this book you will too!). There is HUGE, HUGE money in keeping us ignorant of how fertility works. If we had known about this book in the beginning, we wouldn’t have spent $35,000.00, or gone through the heartache of several failed attempts. Also, there are no shots, weird medications, or the really embarrassing trips the guy has to take to the fertility clinic with his “contributions”.

After seven years of trying, and lots of money at a fertility doctor, we were pregnant after three months. It happened the old fashioned way! I really wish I could go out on the streets and announce this book to everyone out there who wants to have a baby. It really does make me happy to help someone out. I have told so many people, and most of them bought the book. So here goes!

THE book: Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Read some of the reviews on Amazon. This is The Bible of fertility. It can seem a bit daunting but it works! The book was very clear, but it is over 450 pages long! I read it in three days, started charting, and now we have a beautiful 7 month old son.

Basal thermometer. It is still an oral thermometer, it’s just that you need a very sensitive one to track your morning temperature. We bought ours at CVS Pharmacy for about $11.00 as I remember. You must have one of these.

Personal Lubricant. Here is a fertility friendly personal lubricant. Did you know that most personal lubricants, AND saliva kill sperm cells? They do. This is a lubricant that mimics cervical fluid so it is sperm friendly.

So, there you go! I would be more than happy to explain some of this stuff to you over the phone. I really do feel like it is my duty somehow to help others with this. We are so thankful for our son and for the joy he has brought to our lives. If you need anything further, let me know.

Please let me know how things work out.

Good luck, ~ F G

“Well you were right”….For Folks Without a “Dryness Problem”

We just got this cute thank you note (below) from a sweety who had written us asking if she should use Pre-Seed, even if she wasn’t one who needed lubricants. I am putting the conversation here below. As you can see, she was glad for the extra boost, even though she didn’t know she needed it!

I must say this reminds me of…me! Prior to inventing Pre-Seed I had never used an intimate moisturizer deposited intravaginally. I was, and remain, pleasantly surprised how much more fun intimacy can be with moisture coating deep inside the vagina. And at my ripe old age it has nothing to do anymore with babymaking! Everyone at some point in their life should try Pre~Seed at least once And we love hearing from all of you! ~ Dr. E

Karen in July: “I have never used a lubricant but have been using Evening Primrose Oil for Fertility (Fairhaven Health). Both my husband and I noticed that it really works and it is much more moist and comfortable in there around ovulation. Our question is, should we still use Pre-seed or will that be too much lubrication then? We wouldn’t want the mucous to be too runny??? Hope this makes sense and you can offer some insight as to whether these products can be combined.

Dr. E in July: Pre-Seed is 100% guaranteed with our “Love it or its free” guarantee, so you can try it for your own body’s needs knowing there is no risk if you feel the product is too much. We do know people use Pre-Seed with a variety of other CM stimulant supplements. Pre-Seed has the same viscosity as fertile CM, so it won’t make it “too runny”. In fact, some women have trouble distinguishing their own CM from Pre-Seed. Best Wishes ~ Dr. E

Karen in August: Hi Dr E! I just wanted to send a quick email and say THANKS! Your Pre Seed product was just what we needed. And I didn’t even know it. :) I have seen it on the market forever but never considered myself having a “dryness” problem so never considered buying it. We have been trying to conceive our 4th child for 9 months (Twins IVF and 1 natural birth) and having sex 3 or 4 days in a row has been getting exhausting and has been using up all my natural lubrication. I really appreciate having a product like this that I can use. It was not too slippery at all for us, and my husband was quite happy to have the extra slipperys. Thanks again, I’ll really thank you if this turns out to be the month! LOL! Blessings ~ Karen, Vancouver Island

The Role of Mycoplasmas in Human Infertility

Occasionally people belittle my having obtained a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine prior to becoming a Sperm Physiologist and doing research on human infertility. However, I view the chance to have received both of my degrees as a true blessing. This is in part because of the more holistic approach veterinarians have to take in medicine, especially in my previous area of food animal medicine. For the dairy farmer, his cow’s life literally depends on us being able to figure out why she is not conceiving and my treatment was not done until we could get her to calve.

For many years, veterinarians have known that a form of organism called a mycoplasma causes infertility in many animals, in particular through damaging the Fallopian Tube. This was one of my areas of research at Cornell (with Dr. Lein of the cattle article). However, human medicine has been very slow to evaluate and treat this very knowable and treatable pathogen.

Look at this interesting article from 1976. I have highlighted the authors comments 30 YEARS ago about the need for physicians to use medical knowledge from cattle to lead to progress in women’s health and fertility.

Infertility of cattle caused by mycoplasmas.
Tourtellotte ME, Lein DH.

Mycoplasmas have been well established as pathogens of the bovine urogenital tract, and produce pathologic lesions resulting in infertility. Serologic examination of cattle with infertility problems with Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and Mycoplasma agalactiae subsp. bovis show a high incidence of positive reactors suggesting that mycoplasmas play an important role in bovine infertility. The similarities of pathologic lesions in the urogenital tract of cattle and women with infertility problems and the frequency of isolation of mycoplasmas from human females suggest closer examination for mycoplasmas in human infertility. Studies with bulls suggest that mycoplasmas as a cause of human male infertility should not be ignored.

Luckily for all TTCers out there, the role of Mycoplasma in human infertility has begun to be talked about more. It is likely involved in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and endometriosis. Most interesting to me was a recent report by Grzesko et al (listed below) which showed that 30% of women with idiopathic infertility (or no known reason for the infertility) had mycoplasma in their cervical canal while only 4% of fertile women had the organism in their cervix. This is a HUGE difference between these two groups. Additionally, for women with genital infections in an ObGyn practice, 43% had mycoplasma present. Mycoplasma often are “opportunistic” meaning they come in after other acute infections subside. They are also easily spread between partners. Most importantly, typical treatment protocols for PID do not impact mycoplasmas. Men, mycoplasma does impact you too, and 50% of partners are cross infected….so you both should get checked and treated if applicable.

The take home message: If you are having trouble conceiving or if you have had chronic intermittent genital irritation or infection, ask your doctor for a mycoplasma genitalium test. It isn’t a routine test and you may have to work to get it run or have to pay for it out of pocket. But all the Clomid in the world won’t overcome infertility due to a low grade chronic infection, and getting the proper diagnosis and treatment is something you may have to discuss, educate and push for with your physician.

I am disappointed that we direct so much of our infertility treatment and discussion towards assisted reproduction technologies, without first making sure that a couple is as healthy as can be for nature to take its own course! I have listed several articles below that are good for information on this topic!

Blessings- Dr.E

• Treatment strategies for pelvic inflammatory disease.
  Sweet RL.
  Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2009 Apr;10(5):823-37.

• Correlation of mycoplasma with unexplained infertility.
  Gupta A, Gupta A, Gupta S, Mittal A, Chandra P, Gill AK.
  Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2009 Mar 26.

• Occurrence of Mycoplasma genitalium in fertile and infertile women.
  Grześko J, Elias M, Maczyńska B, Kasprzykowska U, Tłaczała M, Goluda M.
  Fertil Steril. 2009 Jun;91(6):2376-80.

 

Toxicity of Marijuana on Male Fertility

Recent studies in several medical journals have underlined the damaging effects of marijuana on male reproduction. Smoking marijuana can lead to reduced sperm counts and male infertility. This is because sperm have a receptor that actually binds with the marijuana’s chemical, THC and this then impacts the sperm motility (swimming), and acrosome reaction (changes that allow sperm to bind to the egg). More and more medical research shows a deleterious impact of marijuana on basic sperm cell physiology. For example, a study in last month’s Fertility & Sterility (Badawy et al., June 2009) showed that the THC in marijuana inhibited oxygen use by the sperm’s mitochondria, blocking the sperm cell’s respiration. The mitochondria are critical for sperm swimming and motility. The mechanisms of marijuana toxicity on sperm and male fertility are becoming better understood, adding to the bottom line that POT is BAD for sperm and should not be part of your TTC journey. In fact, if you have been a heavy smoker and are planning on TTC, I would strongly recommend you have a sperm analysis, including a sperm chromatin assay (read my FAQ on this); and start taking a fertility supplement like FertilAid. You should also quit smoking at least 90 days before you start having unprotected intercourse, to let the sperm cycle replenish itself.

Take Care-
Dr. E

 

Seven Years Trying and Pregnant!

I will have to go back and look at all of our wonderful User’s Stories, but seven years of trying and now pregnant may be a record :) Keep the babydust and blessings flowing to PT and family! ~ Dr.E My husband and I had been trying to conceive our second child for seven years. I even tried clomid with no success. In April, 2009 we started using Preseed. We used a full tube each time. The first month was a no go. May, 2009 we again used Preseed. On May 30th I took a pregnancy test and it was positive. I couldn’t believe it. We had been trying for seven years and even used fertility drugs and two months of Preseed was all it took. I am currently 13 weeks pregnant and everything seems to be going fine. Good luck to everyone!!! ~ PT

After 5 long years of trying I have my baby

Wow! A Wonderful Pre-Seed Story!
Dr. E

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2004, after learning of the effects of PCOS I knew that I would continue to have difficulty conceiving. I tried many things…..working out, losing weight, birth control, inducing periods, and finally being on Metformin for about 3 years. I searched all over trying to find something that would help/aid in my quest to conceive. One evening I Goggled PCOS and how to conceive and a new site came up. Preseed was the site and after clicking and reading some of the most beautiful stories from women who were also experiencing or had experienced what I was going through made me think I was able to find something to help me. I bought preseed sometime in August/September of 08. I didn’t use the product until late September/October…..but I am happy to say that I was able to conceive and am now 38 weeks pregnant and will be delivering a baby girl on August 17th…or earlier. I am so happy……ecstatic and know that thanks to preseed I was able to conceive. After 5 long years of trying I have my baby. Thank you preseed. ~ AL

Use of Viagra While TTC

I recently received a question about using Viagra for a little help with the TTC stress. Several studies have shown that Viagra can help with sperm sample production in men that become a bit burned out from all the baby dancing or having to provide on demand. In fact, over 40% of physicians in one survey said they would prescribe Viagra for TTC men in the above situations. Previously, I was also of the opinion that occasional low doses of this drug were likely all right for men while TTC.

However, a recent animal model study by DRJ Glenn et al in Fertility and Sterility titled “Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) impairs fertilization and early embryo development in mice” reports large decreases in embryo development for mouse embryos resulting from males given oral Viagra. These embryos could not divide normally and failed to reach the appropriate cleavage stage at the right time in 20% or more of the embryos. Although these studies have not been replicated in people, it does make me a bit concerned about using this class of meds while TTC.

Obviously, for some men, these erectile dysfunction medications are required for ejaculation to occur. However, for most men it is likely worth trying a few other tricks before pursuing this route. Specifically, build up your own natural testosterone levels by ejaculating frequently. At least three times a week (or more) is best, and this can be with or without your partner, if it puts too much strain on all involved. Take a fertility vitamin such as FertilAid. The trace minerals and antioxidants have been shown to help with libido in farm animal studies. Have well timed intercourse around ovulation, so that you only “have to have” intercourse 2-3 times in the fertile window. Some couples babydance daily for a week or so and everyone gets burned out. Often, these folks quit too soon and don’t actually get the sperm there at the right time. Finally, make sure and mix things up so you make TTC intercourse special. Using movies or magazines, different locations, and even mixing up positions is all fine, LET HIM CHOOSE what is fun for him. Pre-Seed and Pre’ can also make it slippery and add some fun foreplay!! The more stimulated the male partner is, the better quality sperm he will make!

Blessings
Dr E

Economic Impact of Assisted Reproductive Technologies

The June 2009 Fertility & Sterility Journal has an interesting new paper by Chambers et al (91:2281-2294).In this they compared economic aspects of assisted reproduction technologies in several countries. The statistics are good for people to review. Specifically, the cost per live birth for an IVF baby was the highest in the US at $41,132 (average per cycle cost of $12,513). This represented 50% of disposable income in the US, and was the highest percentage of any country. Meanwhile only 24% of estimated demand for ART was met in North America. Not surprisingly, given the news stories around this, the US also has the highest overall multiple birth delivery rate at 33%, as compared to 17% in Scandinavia, Japan or Australia.

The US media fixates an inordinate amount of attention on assisted reproduction as “the cure” for infertility, when in reality only about 1.5% of all children are born from assisted reproduction and over 95% of infertile couples do not pursue these technologies. Although these techniques certainly have blessed many couples with children, who otherwise would not have become parents; it is important for us to realize the low success rates (~28% per cycle) and high cost in dollars and in complications for the offspring (especially with multiple births).

Methods to optimize fertility through natural reproduction and less invasive procedures should continue to be developed. But it is important to remember that the assisted reproduction industry has a strong incentive to push couples to in vitro methods, especially when much of it is paid for out of pocket.

Tracking your cycle and optimizing timing of intercourse by understanding your own cervical mucus production is critical. I strongly recommend Toni Weschler’s book. Taking fertility vitamins such as the FertilAid products can help boost cervical mucus production and sperm quality. Have testing to ensure your Fallopian tubes are open early in the process. And read a good resource on optimizing the whole process such as Dr. Robert Greene’s book. I do not sell any of the above products.

We do sell Pre-Seed. Which we think everyone who is trying to conceive should at least try J. It doesn’t harm sperm or embryos, so there is nothing to lose, and the amazing Users’ Stories we receive tell of Pre-Seed’s role in assisting folks on their TTC journey.

Pre-Seed is designed to be INSERTED INTRAVAGINALLY. This is for a reason. It mimics fertile cervical mucus in pH, osmolality and thickness making a familiar optimal environment for the ejaculated sperm.

I am always amazed at the stories of women splitting applicators and not using the Pre-Seed internally as it was designed. I am not quite sure why they would want to use the product other than as it is recommended and as has functioned so well for thousands of other couples. To save the cost of latte, at the same time they are literally standing on their heads to become pregnant.

Remember our products always carry their “Love it or its Free” guarantee. Of the approximately 150,000 boxes of Pre-Seed sold last year, less than 0.01% were returned for a refund.

So the math is in your favor to try Pre-Seed and to use it as recommended.

Blessings ~
Dr. E

Antioxidants and Treating Male Infertility

An excellent review article was just published from our good colleagues at the Cleveland Clinic, “Role of antioxidants in the treatment of male infertility” by JC Kefer, A Agarwal & E Sabanegh, International Journal of Urology (2009) 16, 449–457.

The paper nicely reviews some of the external sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can negatively impact male fertility.

Specifically addressing:

• Industrial compounds: “For example, the compound phthalate is found in a broad spectrum of plastics used in food packaging, as well as beauty products and exposure to this chemical can occur via oral, skin, or inhalational routes. Phthalate exposure has been shown to cause DNA damage in sperm, as well as impaired spermatogenesis.”

• Cigarette smoking: Not surprisingly, men who smoke have decreased sperm quality, including “decreased sperm counts, motility, and morphologically normal sperm”.

• Exercise-induced oxidative stress: Both lack of exercise and intensive levels of exercise have both been shown to generate high levels of oxidative stress and may interfere with sperm production. “For example, Manna et al. have described in a rodent model that increased levels of exercise correspond to a reduction in sperm quality and testicular function, including decreased sperm counts, testosterone levels, and testicular oxidative stress”.

• Elevated temperatures: Men with a fever showed a 35% decrease in sperm concentration, a 7% decrease in normal morphology, and a 20% increase in immotile sperm following febrile episodes. Also, these parameters worsened with increased duration of the febrile episodes. “Tiemessen et al. examined the relationship between underwear style and intrascrotal temperatures, and hypothesized that scrotal hyperthermia due to tight-fitting underwear may cause decreased sperm parameters. The authors followed 20 patients wearing loose-fitting underwear for 6 months and tight underwear for 6 months with semen samples analyzed every 2 weeks for one year. Although 50% of patients did not complete the study, the results nonetheless demonstrated an approximately 50% decrease in sperm parameters in the group wearing the tight-fitting underwear, which improved after switching to loose underwear. This rapid reversal of sperm parameters following cessation of tight-fitting underwear is encouraging, and may be useful in the counseling of the infertile male.”

This paper goes on to have an excellent review of the studies evaluating the impact of antioxidant vitamins on sperm quality for trying to conceive men. Fertility vitamins such as FertilAid for Men, have these antioxidants in them and are probably a good choice for most men to take while trying to conceive.

Cheers ~
Dr. E

Pre’ makes a great intimate wash and shaving gel!

We wanted to let everyone in on a little tip from all the gals at INGfertility

We all love to use Pre’ Lubricant for washing and shaving intimate areas. It isn’t irritating like many shaving gels and soaps. It also allows for a great close shave for anyone, anywhere. Many of us keep a tube in the shower just for this purpose. Try it and let us know how it works for you!

Happy Spring!
Dr. E

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Lubricant

Dear Friends, A truly inspirational story of hope! I can’t wait to hear the tales of “The Sisterhood of the Travelling Lubricant” Blessings ~ Dr. E

Dear Dr. E, I have been having infertility issues for the past 12 years which has never been diagnosed as something specifically wrong, just “unexplained infertility.” My darling son was born in 2004 on my third try at IVF, when I was 39 years old. When he turned 1, my husband & I started trying for a second. I became pregnant on my own (for the first time in my life!) but unfortunately had a miscarriage at 9 weeks. I lost confidence that I could do it on my own again, so I started doing IVF’s once more. After 5 rounds & 20 good embryos inserted with none of them implanting, I gave up. I was researching adoption options for a few months & even made an appointment to see an adoption lawyer when a friend of mine told me about Preseed in November, 2008. Two of her other friends who had spent years TTC had recently become pregnant using Preseed. After all the money I had spent on IVF, I figured why not give this inexpensive (and MUCH more fun sounding) option a try?

I bought a package and only used two of the applicators the first month of trying, December 2008. I didn’t even know I was pregnant until 6 weeks in because it didn’t even occur to me that it might have worked so soon! I am now 20 weeks pregnant with a daughter and excited beyond belief. Did I mention that I am now 44?! It’s truly a miracle! I gave the remainder of the first box of Preseed to a friend who’s TTC and the second box I had bought to another friend and hope that if they conceive while using it, we can call ourselves “The Sisterhood of the Travelling Lubricant”!!!

My husband & I cannot possibly thank you enough for your miraculous product which we are telling everyone about. You have brought so much joy into our lives. We’re so grateful that we heard about your product and only wish we had heard about it earlier!) Now I want to ask my IVF doc for a refund for those 5 insanely expensive IVF’s!

With Great Appreciation, D F

P.S. My husband is so impressed with your results, he’s dying to buy stock in your company!

FertilAid’s Beneficial Impact for TTC Men Presented at Medical Meeting

Earlier this month, at the American Society of Andrology Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA, INGfertility presented a study titled “Prospective Study of FertilAid Vitamin in Men with Low Sperm Quality”. This was a 90-day, randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial. The “design” of the study was important as it minimizes bias and provides more meaningful information with regard to the actual benefits of the vitamin supplement. The study was open to trying-to-conceive men with abnormal sperm parameters. Individuals who qualified for study participation were randomly (by chance) assigned to take either the FertilAid for Men supplement or an identical placebo for 90 days. Sperm samples were collected by masturbation prior to starting the treatment and at the end of treatment. It is difficult to recruit participants for these types of studies because most trying-to-conceive men are not interested in having a 50:50 change of receiving a placebo.

Fourteen men completed the trial. Eight of the 14 subjects were randomized to FertilAid for Men and 6 were randomized to placebo. No significant difference existed for demographics or sperm parameters between the groups at initial analysis. In spite of the small sample size, significant improvements were found for men taking FertilAid for Men, with regards to the total number of normal-motile sperm in the ejaculate. This is the overall number of normally shaped and swimming sperm. Total normal-motile sperm counts, and total motile counts have been shown in several studies to have a positive predictive relationship with fertility outcomes. Although the mechanisms are not clearly understood, antioxidant enriched vitamin supplements such as FertilAid for Men may benefit subfertile men by boosting levels of endogenous antioxidants in semen. Several studies have reported that this population of men has low semen levels of antioxidants making their sperm more susceptible to reactive oxygen species damage, including damage to sperm chromatin.

The feedback from our presentation at the meeting was very positive. Physicians and other scientists were particularly pleased with the randomized and placebo controlled design of the study. A frequently asked question was the cost for the supplement. The monthly cost (based on prices posted on the internet) of approximately $30 was thought to be very reasonable by those who inquired.

The manufacturer of FertilAid for Men (Fairhaven Health) contracted INGfertility to design and conduct this study. INGfertility does not sell FertilAid for Men.

Dennis Clifton, PharmD

An Amazing TTC Story!

What an incredible TTC journey for D & M! Let’s all send them sticky baby dust thoughts and prayers! ~~~~~ Dr. E

I am a 32 year old women and my husband is 36 years old. We have been TTC for a few months now, and have been having unprotected sex for at least 10 years. Some how I never got pregnant after all these years. It wasn’t until the past few years we started trying to conceive but nothing happened. We decided to see a fertility doctor in December 2008 and all the testing began. They did an HSG and found out that one side of my tubes was blocked. My husband’s sperm was tested normal. I was on Clomid for a few months and had no luck conceiving. I took hormone injections prescribed by the fertility clinic. Still we didn’t conceive that month. My husband had googled fertility lube on the web and came across Pre-Seed. We read all the success stories and got all excited and felt there was still hope for us to have a baby. Once we received the Pre-Seed in the mail we tried it that month. We actually didn’t follow the instructions properly and ended up applying the Pre-Seed after ejaculation. In turn we didn’t conceive that month. Not a total surprise. Anyways, during the next cycle we used the Pre-Seed exactly as directed and applied it before having sex and NOT after. The next month my period was abnormally late, so I took a pregnancy test and found out that I was 5 weeks pregnant.

I’m now in my 8th week of pregnancy. We both truly believe that Pre-Seed is the reason why we conceived after all these years. Thank you for a great product. I just wish the fertility clinics and other doctors would have told us about Pre-Seed instead of us wasting our time and money on hormone injections, Clomid, HSGs and other uncomfortable tests. Thank You again for a miracle product!!! ~ Sincerely, D&M

Study Reports Pre~Seed/Pre’ Formula is the Only Fertility Lubricant That Doesn’t Interfere with Embryo Development

Last week at the American Society of Andrology Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, a new study reported that in vitro fertilization and embryo development in an animal model, were decreased following exposure of sperm to most lubricants specifically developed for trying to conceive couples. These studies found that only the FDA cleared (”approved”) formula used in Pre~Seed® and Pre’® did not interfere with fertilization or development of cattle embryos over a week of culture. Specifically, Dr. Ray Wright of Washington State University – a previous human Embryologist, incubated bull sperm with 10% concentrations of four different lubricants marketed to not harm sperm or interfere with fertility. These lubricants included: Pré® Lubricant (also available as Pre~Seed®); PRE Conceive plusTM; ConceiveEaseTM; and the Australian product FertilityCareTM.

Following a 30 minute incubation of sperm and lubricants, sperm were placed with cow eggs and fertilization rates observed in the laboratory. Embryos were then allowed to develop for 7 days. This experimental design is valuable because sperm can have damage from exposure to lubricants that does not kill them, but will impact their ability to fertilize an egg and the ability of the resulting embryo to develop normally over time.

In this study, sperm exposed to other “fertility” lubricants resulted in embryos that developed at a significantly lower rate than did embryos exposed to no lubricant or Pre’®. In fact, the rate of normal embryo production was reduced by 17% or more following sperm exposure to the other products.

Although this study did not evaluate directly what happens for a couple using the fertility lubricants during intercourse, it does underscore the importance of thorough testing of sperm function before a lubricant can claim it “does not harm sperm”.. The tests and clinical studies we perform on Pre’® and Pre~Seed® have been reviewed by the FDA. The results of this testing have allowed us to receive the FIRST and currently ONLY clearance for lubricants to be used during fertility interventions and as safe to use when trying to conceive.

INGfertility did pay a contract fee for service to Dr. Wright’s laboratory to have the testing reported here done. This fee structure ensured that Dr. Wright could publish the data, regardless of study outcomes. Obviously, we were excited, but not surprised, to see these results which further substantiate the “fertility-friendly” quality and safety of our Pre~Seed® and Pre’® formula. You may click here to review the presented study. I hope that you will forward this exciting new report to your trying to conceive community!

Blessings-

Dr. E

The Great Sperm Race

I wanted to let you all know about an awesome documentary called “The Great Sperm Race”, showing tomorrow March 23, 2009 at 9 pm on British Channel 4. I had the opportunity to help with this project and found it to be very well done and scientifically accurate. Here is an article about the show in the UK Guardian today.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/mar/22/fertility-problems-relationships.

Blessings-
Dr. E

Top 4 Reasons for Failing to Conceive

Over 75% of the time couples that are not conceiving (that are infertile), have one of the following four problems. If you are younger than 35 yrs of age (for the woman) - have these checked out if you have not conceived in a year. If you are 35 yrs old or older, after 6 months of trying you may want to get checked out!

1) Poor Sperm Quality: At least 50% of the time, when a couple is not conceiving there is some component of abnormal or poor quality sperm. This may be all of the problem, or partially the problem (so that both the man and the woman are contributing). A sperm analysis should be done by an ANDROLOGIST or a fertility Urologist. Many RE clinics do not do sperm analyses correctly (read other FAQs here about this). If his test is abnormal, repeat it once more to confirm the results. Also, remember with guys, quality counts! The better intercourse feels for him, and the more foreplay the MORE sperm he can make. Pre~Seed® can help here to make things slippery fun!

2) Abnormal Cycle: This often has to do with hormonal abnormalities, and can be seen as failure to ovulate or cycle normally, or chemical pregnancy and losses. Working with an ObGyn or RE to evaluate how your ovaries are functioning is critical. While you are waiting, keep a careful, detailed log of when you have your period, when you have any ovulation mucus, and any other information on your cycle. The very best book on monitoring this is Toni Weschler’s book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

3) Tubal Problems: Many women have blocked tubes, that keep the sperm and egg from meeting. The only way to know if this is the case is to have special testing done. In general, couples often wait too long to have this testing. It can be helpful to know what is going on, and in some cases the testing itself can help promote conception. Especially if you have had a history of Chlamydia or bacterial vaginosis, have this checked!

4) Poorly Timed Intercourse: Many couples do not have intercourse at the right time. Specifically, some women ovulate a little later than OPKs suggest. So they are quitting the baby dance too soon. If you are unsure at all, regular intercourse 2-3 times a week has been shown to be almost as effective as every day well timed intercourse. Too many couples have daily sex for 2-3 days early on at ovulation and then stop, only to have actually missed her peak time.

If you have ruled all these out, then I also suggest you have a sperm chromatin assay done, to make sure the DNA in his sperm is of an adequate quality to support conception.

Good Luck
Dr. E

New CDC Article on Infertility – Great Information!

A recent CDC article on infertility has some very important Public Health information. The article revealed that in 2002 7.3 million (or 12% of reproductive aged) US women had had impaired fertility, meaning they had trouble conceiving or bringing a pregnancy to term. Additionally, an estimated 4 million men reported they had sought help for fertility issues in their life time. Take home = lots of people don’t get pregnant when they want to!

A very important cause of infertility was due to tubal damage (as much as 18%) which can often be a consequence of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Chlamydia, with over 1 million cases a year, can cause this. Take home = early detection and treatment, even of “low grade” STDs is important. If you aren’t conceiving get those tubes checked earlier rather than later to make sure they are open.

In 2002, 1 million women had sought medical help to get pregnant. Of these, 59% underwent some testing, 46% received drug therapy, 13% underwent IUI, 8% had surgery for blocked tubes, and 3% used in vitro (ART). Take home = even though we talk a lot about Assisted Reproduction, only 1% of all babies result from this, with an average per cycle 29% live birth rate (overall for the US), with an average cost of $12,000/cycle.

Even though the vast majority of couples with problems conceiving (97%) do not undergo in vitro fertilization, there is NO accurate information on the overall success rate or health complications from non-ART treatments for infertility, such as IUI or medication use (such as clomid). Can you imagine if the efficacy studies and research emphasis of our cancer or heart disease therapies were limited to treatments that only 3% of patients would use? This is poor medicine and public policy. The CDC estimates we spend $5B a year on diagnosing and treating infertility. The media, the specialists, and our society as a whole, needs to stop looking to ART (in vitro) as the blanket “cure” for infertility -especially given only a third of cycles result in live births-and look for new empowered ways for couples to optimize fertility or manage infertility when ART is not the right option for them.

Dr. E

An Inspiring Tale from a Vulvodynia Patient

Dear Friends- I found the following letter especially heartwarming. When I was in my 20’s I suffered from terrible vulvodynia myself, which cost me my first significant relationship. At that time, doctors always told me to use over the counter lubricants; which now after developing our Isotonic Lubricants, I realize were making my irritation worse! It blesses me deeply when our products bring enjoyment to couples in their love making, as well as baby making!

Dr. E

Dear Dr. Ellington,

The reason for this e-mail is two-fold. Firstly, like so many of your other customers, I want to thank you for such an amazing product line! I suffer from vulvodynia, which can be hard on a new marriage. Even water-based lubricants can be irritating, but intimacy without lubricant is nearly impossible, not-to-mention incredibly painful. Pre Lubricant literally changed my life (and that of my husband’s). Now let me tell you why/how I found your product.

After speaking to my OB-Gyn last year about trying to conceive, I learned that even the regular water-based lubrication I was using could kill my husband’s sperm. Now that’s a catch-22. Why? Because I cannot be intimate with my husband without lubrication due to the vulvodynia. Even worse, I am only able to do “it” intermittently as I require time to heal…so this cuts down the chance I have to conceive each month even more. I asked my doctor what I should do. He suggested trying a sperm-friendly lubricant but had no idea what the name of one was. So, I went to the internet, typed in “sperm friendly lubricant” into the search box, and the one and only lubricant that popped up was yours. I was thrilled. I now have boxes and boxes of the Pre Personal Lubricant, the Pre-Seed Moisturizer, and the Multi-use tube in my medicine cabinet. THANK YOU!

Now onto the second reason I am writing. From a marketing perspective, here’s what surprised me. My New York City OB-GYN with Weill Cornell Medical College and NY Presbyterian Hospital, who is well versed in vulvodynia and the problems associated with that, was completely unable to provide a name for a sperm-friendly lubricant. This is odd to me since as far as I can tell from my research, yours is the only one that exists in the U.S. Also, vulvodynia sufferers all over the U.S. believe they may never have comfortable sex again, and yet your product has been a God-send to me. It could be to many others as well, if they only knew your product existed. I’ve been on chat rooms, message boards, social blogs, etc. with hundreds if not thousands of women begging for relief from their physical and emotional pain (whether it’s from TTC or vulvodynia), and the answer is so very simple.

I stand behind your product and just wish more women knew about it. Again, thank you for all you’ve done for me a so many others so far!

Sincerely,

~ AS

Freezing & Thawing of Products

We often get asked if it is OK if our products were frozen en-route to people. We have tested our formula (used in Pre’ and Pre-Seed) by repeatedly freezing and thawing it. This causes no problem with products. They are still as sperm-friendly as ever. It may make the product a bit thinner (more runny), but it does not change its pH or osmolarity, which are what makes Pre’ and Pre~Seed non-irritating and safe for use when trying to conceive.

Blessings-
Dr. E