Fertility Clinic in Ontario, CA
Understanding Pregnancy Symptoms with NewLife Fertility Centre
As a premier fertility clinic in Ontario, CA, NewLife Fertility Centre is here to help women better understand their ovulation, conception, as well as recognizing pregnancy symptoms. Our goal is to instill hope in the individual or couple going through fertility issues. With innovative treatments and a team that’s dedicated to offering their advice, support, and expertise, you can rest easy knowing you’re in good hands. Since 2004, we’ve helped patients overcome their fertility issues by offering comprehensive and personalized care. We understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing an individual or couple’s fertility issues. That’s why we work with you every step of the way to access your individual needs. Keep reading to learn the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
Do You Treat Same-Sex Couples As Well As Single Individuals?
Of course! We understand that everyone’s journey to parenthood is unique. Since 2005, our pioneering fertility centre has embraced all patients, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. We cater to anyone interested in having a child, as our treatment options include donor sperm, donor eggs, surrogacy, and in vitro fertilization. No matter your situation, the NewLife Fertility team will be with you to offer compassionate support every step of the way.
Why Do I Have Spotting?
Spotting is characterized as light vaginal bleeding that happens outside of a woman’s regular periods. Though this type of intermenstrual bleeding is not uncommon in women, it is often a sign that something deeper is going on within the body and may require professional attention. If you are concerned about your spotting, don’t hesitate to contact our team for support. Some common reasons you may be spotting include:
- The most common cause of light spotting is caused by weak blood vessels on the cervix. Other causes include polyp and hormonal causes due to a lack of ovulation.
- Spotting in the mid-cycle or after Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a common side-effect and not a reason for concern.
- Spotting in early pregnancy is quite common and typically not a significant area of concern. However, it is essential to note that spotting can sometimes indicate complications with the pregnancy and should not go unchecked by our professionals.
Does Infertility Affect Men?
Yes! Though much of the discussion surrounding infertility throughout the decades has deemed it a “woman’s problem,” men are equally affected by infertility. About one-third of infertility cases can be attributed to female issues while male infertility accounts for another third of infertility cases. . Infertility is a common issue that can affect anyone, meaning neither partner should be ruled out when experiencing problems with conceiving. If a couple has trouble becoming pregnant, we strongly recommend that both partners be tested to ensure a comprehensive, faster diagnosis. We offer treatments for both male and female infertility.
Does Age Effect my Chances of a Successful Pregnancy?
Yes! The age of the female partner is the single most important factor in achieving a viable pregnancy. This is because age directly affects the following:
- The quality and the number of eggs. There is also an increased risk of miscarriages and abnormalities with advanced maternal age.
- The ability to have a healthy baby decreases gradually but significantly from 32 years of age to almost Nil at the age of 46.
- High FSH >10 on day three is the second most important factor, even in younger patients. If found, it severely reduces the chances of pregnancy with any treatment, including IVF.
Am I Infertile?
Whether or not you are experiencing infertility depends on your age and the amount of time you have been trying to conceive through unprotected intercourse. If you and your partner have trouble conceiving, we advise scheduling an appointment to speak with one of our fertility specialists as soon as possible. A fertility consultation will bring peace of mind and a structured plan to remedy any concerns you may be experiencing. Common indications of infertility include:
- Women under 35 who have been unable to conceive after one year of unprotected intercourse
- Women over 35 who have been unable to conceive after six months
- Men experiencing erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction as well as low sperm counts
Is it Okay for Semen to Leak out of Me After Intercourse?
Though this is a very common concern of our patients, most of what you see or feel leaking from your vaginal opening after intercourse is mostly discharge composed of vaginal secretion, not semen. 5-10% of this secretion is sperm, as over 90% is made up of other fluids. This leakage of male ejaculation from the vagina is highly unlikely to correlate with fertility issues. In fact, it’s completely normal for some ejaculate to leak out following intercourse.
My Partner and I Are Unable to Conceive, What Should I Do?
The first step you should take to support your fertility is to meet with a NewLife Fertility doctor. During your hour-long appointment, we will begin evaluating the factors that could affect your fertility health. It’s often easier said than done – but in the meantime – it’s important to remain hopeful. There are several fertility treatments available that can assist even the rarest of infertility cases. Not to mention, our state-of-the-art technologies are more accurate and innovative than ever before. We regularly diagnose and treat complicated fertility cases in both men and women. Our fertility laboratory features many of the brightest minds in reproductive medicine. From scientists to Ph.D.’s to embryologists and lab technicians, our team is skilled at improving embryo development and overall success rates.
Who Should I See First: An OBGYN or Fertility Specialist?
If you are under 35 and experiencing fertility issues, a general rule of thumb is to consult with your OBGYN first. If it’s been over one year without successful conception, or if you are over the age of 35, a fertility specialist may better serve you. If you fit into the umbrella definition of infertility, it may be in your best interest to meet with a fertility specialist to begin exploring your options. You should reach out to our specialists if:
- You’re under the age of 35 and have been trying to conceive for one year without success
- You’re over the age of 35 and have been trying to conceive for more than six months
- You or your partner are experiencing medical concerns, such as PCOS, endometriosis, prior miscarriages, low sperm count, or erectile dysfunction
What Is In Vitro Fertilization?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a series of procedures used to help with fertility and assist with conception. IVF assists in growing mature eggs that are then collected from a woman’s ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab to produce as many embryos as possible. Following fertilization and early embryo development in the laboratory, an appropriate number of embryos are then transferred to the woman’s uterus. IVF allows our specialists to replicate the process of natural conception in a lab environment.
How Long is The IVF Process?
Three to five days after the fertilization process, the embryos are transferred back into the uterus. Each process of IVF is called a “cycle.” One full cycle takes about 2.5 weeks but may vary depending on each patient’s unique menstrual cycle.
How Many Embryos Are Planted During an IVF Cycle?
There is no standard number of embryos that are implanted for all patients. Many factors influence how many embryos to transfer, including your age and medical history. However, to offer the highest chance of a safe and successful pregnancy, we always look to minimize the risk of multiple births (twins, etc.), which often means implanting as few eggs as possible.
It’s important to discuss your goals with your MD. If you want a single pregnancy, the approach to your cycle may be different than if you’re planning on a large family requiring several embryo transfers. The latter may indicate a cycle that creates a more significant number of embryos available for freezing and use in future cycles. The former may require lighter stimulation, reducing the number after the cycle is complete.
Does IVF Cause Premature Menopause?
No, there is no connection between IVF and premature menopause. We find that this is a common misconception, as patients often ask if IVF will deplete their egg supply or influence their long-term fertility. IVF is actually used in some cases to give women experiencing onset early menopausal symptoms a chance at conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy.
How Does NewLife Fertility Differ from IVF In A Hospital?
Our committed staff consists of phlebotomists, administrative assistants, doctors, nurses, financial coordinators, and embryologists, – all working in harmony with the same mission. Our staff is more than just employees — we’re dedicated, specialized, long-term employees working with a team approach. As a patient, you will get to know not only your doctor, but also your nurse, administrative assistant, and financial coordinator. You will also have an opportunity to work with our in-house acupuncturists, psychologists, and nutritionist.
Why is Fertility Treatment Expensive?
Rather than thinking about fertility treatment as an expense, we encourage our patients to view this type of therapy as an investment. Our team does everything within our power to guide and support you so you can overcome infertility and achieve conception. During this process, however, expenses can add up. When you receive fertility treatment, you can expect to pay for:
- Medications – Drugs are expensive, and you should budget and check insurance coverage.
- Labor – There are typically many more employees in a fertility clinic than in your Doctor’s office. These include nurses, phlebotomists, ultrasonographers, receptionists, and laboratory technologists. All these individuals are part of the team contributing to your success.
- State-of-the-art equipment – Laboratory standards require specific equipment and disposable supplies that are also expensive. Unfortunately, this means a higher cost of treatment.
How Many Eggs Do I Have?
This varies from patient-to-patient. Your age is a great predictor of the number of eggs that you have. Generally speaking, the older you are, the fewer eggs remain. At birth, a baby girl has 2 million eggs. 400,000 eggs remain at puberty, 100,000 remain by age 30, and by age 45 or 50, that number usually drops to 0. This is all-natural and is associated with increased rates of embryo abnormalities, miscarriage, and infertility. One test that can tell you where you stand is an AMH blood test, which gives an accurate count of your remaining egg supply.
Whether you want to get pregnant now or wait, it’s a good idea to know where your fertility levels stand. Data definitively shows that egg quantity and egg quality begin to gradually decrease after age thirty. Yet it’s also important to know that everyone is different. We see women who experience infertility in their twenties, as well as women who are incredibly fertile in their late thirties.
Is Egg Freezing Right for Me?
By freezing your eggs, you significantly increase your chance of a successful pregnancy in the future. For example, if you freeze your eggs when you’re 32 and use them at age 42, your success rate is that of a 32-year-old. Egg freezing allows a woman to use ‘younger’ eggs whenever she decides she would like to become pregnant. This will enable her to avoid the decreased fertility and increased miscarriage rates associated with advanced age. It’s an empowering opportunity to pause your biological clock so that you can choose to build your family when you are ready. There are many reasons a woman might not feel prepared to become pregnant “right now.” No matter the reason, freezing your eggs preserves them so they maintain their health and youth until you are ready to start your family.
Do You Offer Genetic Testing for Embryos?
We offer both pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for those interested in genetic testing. Through PGD and PGS, patients can significantly reduce the risks of miscarriages, chromosomal abnormalities, and genetic disorders. Genetic testing also opens up the option of sex selection.
What Are My Chances of Pregnancy?
Success with infertility treatment is defined as pregnancy per cycle. It is essential to understand what the chances of pregnancy are with and without treatment to avoid frustration and disappointment:
- The pregnancy rate after one year of infertility without treatment is approximately 4% per cycle (i.e. four couples out of 100 per one month).
- After two years it drops to 2% per cycle, and after three years it is <1% per cycle. With treatment, there are a lot of variables that affect the pregnancy rate.
- The most critical variable is the age of the female partner. In general, when you look at all patients using oral medication, pregnancy rates are 8-10%/cycle.
- For Injections and IUI, it is 20% per cycle and 50% after three cycles.
- For IVF or ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), it is around 50% per cycle.
- 85% of the pregnancies happen in the first three cycles, with 15% happening over the next three cycles of any particular treatment. In other words, you must try several cycles before moving on to the next level of treatment.
When do I Need a Review?
Make sure you know the plan for your treatment ahead of time so you can be prepared. We advise patients to schedule a review:
- After the investigation cycle; after three treatment cycles if unsuccessful
If the treatment needs to be changed because it is not effective in achieving ovulation - If you have unanswered questions or concerns. If you want to change your treatment plan
After IVF if you are not pregnant
- Insemination works the same way as IUI; you need monitoring to pinpoint ovulation. You may do TDI in a natural or stimulated cycle. The chance of pregnancy is around 20% per cycle, and you must try for at least three cycles before moving to the next level of treatment.
- Initial testing of your blood and your partner’s blood is needed for infectious diseases. You must order your sample on or before day three of the cycle.
- Also, you must verify with the nurse or the lab that the sample has arrived in our centre by day ten of your cycle. The risk of catching a disease from donor semen is extremely low – much lower than from a blood transfusion. Since the donors are tested several times, and their samples are frozen for six months before it is used, we can ensure they are free of infections. Information on donors is available from a catalogue, and are screened for common genetic diseases
They also must pass a psychological assessment before they are accepted as donors. After a surgical procedure to plan further treatment
Does Stress Affect My Chances of Conceiving?
It can! Stress affects all body functions – including reproduction. Though severe stress has been shown to prevent ovulation, several studies conclude that stress does not affect pregnancy rates with IVF. With that being said, it is helpful to try and decrease your stress level in any way you can. Yoga, meditation, acupuncture are all helpful in slowing down and easing the mind. If you’re worried about stress affecting your fertility, our counsellors would be happy to help you find the best solutions for your situation.
Does Weight Affect Pregnancy?
Yes, the more your weight is outside your optimum range, the more it will adversely affect your chances. This goes for both underweight and overweight. Quick weight gain and loss can also affect ovulation and your hormone levels. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of weight in relation to the height measured in Kg/height in meters squared. BMI outside the normal range of 18.5-22.5 has been shown to affect the chance of pregnancy.
How Safe are Hormone Treatments?
At NewLife Fertility Centre, your safety and comfort are our utmost concern. Since improper monitoring and imprecise dosages of hormones can lead to discomfort or injury, our doctors stay by your side throughout the entire process. Our team takes extraordinary measures to ensure you are a candidate for hormone replacement before treatment. Once we have determined your body can handle the procedure, we will take steps to diagnose each unique patient accurately and determine an appropriate dosage of hormone treatment. You must receive hormone treatments from a qualified professional to ensure favourable outcomes.
How Does Donor Insemination Work?
Therapeutic Donor Insemination (TDI) is the use of donated sperm from a sperm bank to conceive. This is indicated in single women, gay couples, couples with severe sperm factor or azoospermia, or if ICSI is not possible or has failed to achieve pregnancy. This process looks like this:
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