One couple shares the value of talking about infertility and the journey to conceive

Many people are excited to announce their pregnancy, but talking about the journey to conceive can be more difficult. This is especially true for couples facing fertility issues. Kristen and Joe understand this feeling firsthand. However, they have found strength and comfort by talking about infertility and the treatments that helped them welcome their beautiful baby boy Austin.

The couple’s journey to become parents was longer and had more twists and turns than they could have expected. Thankfully, stumbling across the Fertility Docs Uncensored podcast, connected the couple with our own Dr. Susan Hudson. From their first telemedicine appointment, Kristen and Joe felt confident they were finally working with the right fertility doctor.

Experiencing roadblocks on the journey to conceive

The couple first realized they would need extra help to conceive after Kristen’s annual appointment with her OB/GYN. According to Kristen, “I mentioned that we had been trying for some time. I was either 38 or 39 at the time, and she advised that I should at least get my reproductive health checked out.”

Kristen’s OBGYN referred her to a fertility clinic in the couple’s home state of West Virginia. However, the clinic just didn’t seem like a good fit. “I never had a good feeling for multiple reasons after visiting that practice,” Kristen says. “My prior doctor put me through six IUIs, a hysteroscopy with very little findings or reason to have it, and multiple sonohysterograms. There was never even any talk of a diagnosis.”

The last straw for the couple was an egg retrieval with the practice. “After the procedure, the doctor never called me back or discussed the results with me. It felt very impersonal. I was very anxious and the time to wait to find out anything was torture.”

Unexpectedly finding hope while listening to a podcast

At this time, Kristen was looking for ways to distract herself. Because the couple wasn’t talking about infertility with friends or family, Kristen looked for comfort in other places.

A Google search led her to the Fertility Docs Uncensored podcast. After listening to several episodes, she was hooked. “I learned so much information about what should have been happening with my journey that I started to feel empowered. I also felt very stupid to just trust the doctors I was seeing.”

Around this time, Kristen saw her OBGYN for another annual appointment. When she asked about Dr. Hudson from the podcast, her OBGYN gave her the name of another doctor in Maryland that was a bit closer to home. Kristen decided to make appointments with both of them to compare their approaches.

Although she found that the doctor in Maryland seemed no different from her fertility specialists in West Virginia, Dr. Hudson was a breath of fresh air. “She was bubbly and positive, even though she probably had trepidation about my age because I was 41 by this time,” Kristen explains. “We felt like we had finally found someone who was listening and knew what to do next.”

Taking the next steps with Dr. Hudson

Although Texas is a long way from West Virginia, the couple felt Texas Fertility Center (TFC) was where they needed to be. “Dr. Hudson was 100% the reason we chose TFC. I listened to every episode of Fertility Docs Uncensored. I kept hearing how Dr. Hudson treats her patients and how she feels about what she does. When her colleagues Dr. Hansard and Dr. Silverberg were on the podcast, I heard the same passion for what they do,” Kristen says. “I also liked that TFC works with Ovation because their labs seem to be on the cutting-edge of technology.”

Once Kristen and Joe started coming to our New Braunfels fertility center, they knew they wanted to do in vitro fertilization (IVF). Dr. Hudson agreed based on concerns about age-related infertility. Before beginning treatment, Dr. Hudson ordered different tests than the couple had undergone in West Virginia. This included a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), bloodwork, semen analysis and genetic testing.

Based on the test results, Dr. Hudson recommended moving forward with IVF. The couple knew they would have to plan several “secret” trips to Texas. “We still weren’t talking about infertility at this point, so we felt like we needed to come up with reasons to visit Texas,” Kristen explains. “For example, for one appointment, we told our family that we wanted to go to Austin for a vacation. Then, for one of my egg retrievals, we said we were going to see WVU play the Texas Longhorns.”

Finding success and finally talking about infertility

All the travel, treatments, shots and heartbreak finally paid off when the couple learned they were pregnant with their son Austin. It felt “almost unbelievable” for the couple and they were thrilled. However, they still weren’t quite ready to tell their family yet.

Their eight-year-old niece almost gave away the big surprise after seeing a picture of the positive pregnancy test on Halloween, but they managed to keep the secret until Christmas Eve. “We let my two nieces open up presents with T-shirts that said, ‘In My Big Cousin Era.’ Everyone was surprised but so happy for us.”

As Kristen went through her pregnancy, she experienced everything from intense morning sickness and vertigo to six weeks of bed rest. Still, she believes it was all worth it because it gave them Austin. “We’re loving every minute with Austin. He has a smile that lights up the entire room. He is the happiest baby, and sometimes, I still can’t believe he is here,” Kristen gushes.

As for keeping their fertility treatment journey a secret, Kristen admits that relief and healing came with talking about infertility. “We had to tell some whopping lies to our friends and family. As we have been telling more people about how we got Austin, it has helped us heal a little.”

Kristen also hopes talking about infertility will help other hopeful parents in her situation. “Now that I have started telling people, I simply cannot believe how many people have been through something similar. I am hoping that this someday becomes a normal thing to talk about and people who haven’t been through this will understand how to support someone going through it.”

Praising TFC and sharing advice for other hopeful parents

Kristen and her husband both praise Dr. Hudson and the entire team at our New Braunfels fertility center. “Traveling from West Virginia to be under Dr. Hudson’s care was the best decision my husband and I have ever made. She and her staff made everything so easy for us even with long-distance travel. I could not have asked for a better experience,” Kristen says. “Thanks to Dr. Hudson we now have Austin who is the center of our universe.”

The couple also enjoyed spending time in New Braunfels, calling it a “hidden gem in Texas.” Having so much to do in the area helped take the focus off the difficulty of fertility treatments. In fact, the couple plans to come back to visit in the future.

As for the advice she has for other hopeful parents in her situation, Kristen recommends that they ‘”keep going and push through.” She also stresses the importance of getting support while going through fertility issues. “The toll that infertility takes on a woman’s mental health is unbelievable.” Talking about infertility to create a support system and finding a great doctor like Dr. Hudson can help lighten the load.

If you’d like to learn more about how Dr. Hudson and the team at our New Braunfels fertility center can guide you on your path to parenthood, contact us. We look forward to helping you write your own fertility success story.

Trying to conceive? Learn about the impact of lifestyle on fertility

When it comes to fertility, some factors cannot change, such as your age, family history and medical history. However, the impact of lifestyle on fertility is important to understand, as many men and women can make changes that make it more likely to get pregnant. Our New Braunfels fertility specialists encourage people to make positive lifestyle changes to improve fertility, especially if they are struggling to conceive.

Factors that are known to affect fertility

The impact of lifestyle on fertility can’t be overstated, but the good news is that many people struggling to conceive do get pregnant once they choose to take control of their health. Dr. Susan Hudson, Texas Fertility Center New Braunfels, outlines key changes for women and men that can improve fertility and benefit overall health.

• Diet – Your body, including the reproductive system, needs a healthy, balanced diet to function fully and efficiently. A nutrient-rich diet consisting of whole foods and minimal processed foods also helps people maintain a healthy weight, which benefits fertility.
• Weight – Excess weight for a woman can affect ovulation, reducing the chance of pregnancy. Similarly, being underweight can interrupt ovulation and decrease fertility. Obesity in men is linked to lower-quality sperm and reduced sperm count.
• Exercise – Regular exercise improves fertility and overall health for both women and men. However, excessive exercise in women is linked to reduced pregnancy rates. We recommend that women stick to a routine of moderate exercise.

What to cut out to improve fertility

Just as what goes into your body is important when you are trying to conceive, cutting out unhealthy habits can also benefit fertility in both men and women. When thinking about the impact of lifestyle on fertility, realistically assess your intake of substances that are known to negatively affect not just fertility, but your overall health.

• Smoking – A significant factor, using any type of nicotine or marijuana/CBD increases the risk of infertility in women and decreases sperm quality in men.
• Alcohol – Research has connected even moderate drinking to reduced fertility for both women and men. Avoiding alcohol is the best option, but if you drink, limit your alcohol intake to two to three drinks per week.
• Drug use – The use of illicit drugs and abuse of prescription drugs decrease fertility for both women and men.
• Caffeine – Women and men should limit intake to no more than 200 mg of caffeine a day…the equivalent of a little more than one cup of coffee a day.

Don’t overlook the mind-body connection

The connection between stress and fertility is real, but is more indirect. Stress can often lead to a lack of sleep, anxiety and depression, all of which can affect fertility. Stress can cause people to make poor diet choices; increase the use of alcohol, nicotine and marijuana; and decrease motivation to exercise, resulting in reduced fertility.

This is one impact of lifestyle on fertility that people may have a harder time getting under control, but there are things you can do to improve fertility along with your mental health. Our New Braunfels fertility specialists recommend you work to manage stress with techniques such as a more balanced work schedule, regular exercise and relaxation methods. Many people also benefit from therapy to learn stress-reduction techniques.

Understanding the impact of lifestyle on fertility can improve your health

All of these lifestyle changes not only benefit fertility, but improve overall health. They help prepare a couple to become pregnant; have a healthier pregnancy; and be strong, healthy parents.

Our fertility specialists can help you assess which lifestyle changes you can implement to improve fertility, and can identify and treat any other issues that may affect your ability to get pregnant. Contact us for an appointment with our New Braunfels fertility specialists to get started.

Is there a clear link between PCOS and diet?

PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome, is a common factor in infertility, and decreasing symptoms improves your chances of becoming pregnant. Because there is a clear link between PCOS and diet, New Braunfels fertility doctor Susan Hudson, MD, advises women to adopt a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet of natural, unprocessed foods. Women find that following a PCOS diet reaps many benefits.

The connection between PCOS and diet

A balanced, healthy diet has proven to improve symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome. It is a natural, drug-free way to improve your health and decrease the effects of PCOS on your fertility.

• Weight management. Women with PCOS are more likely to have insulin resistance, obesity and metabolic syndrome. All of these symptoms are reduced when a woman achieves a healthy weight. Weight loss can also help regulate menstrual cycles.
• Insulin regulation. Women with this syndrome often become insulin-resistant, which can increase symptoms. A low-sugar diet helps balance sugars and increase insulin sensitivity. Controlled insulin also makes it easier to lose weight.
• Reduced risk of additional health problems. Over time, PCOS can lead to health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol and uterine cancer. A PCOS diet reduces the risk of these diseases and other health concerns.

How do I follow the polycystic ovary syndrome diet?

Eat small, healthy meals throughout the day to avoid blood sugar spikes. Avoid intermittent fasting or skipping meals, which causes fluctuations in insulin levels.

Stop eating three hours before bedtime to allow your body time to digest your food. This leads to better sleep, which in turn maintains hormonal balance.

When exploring the link between PCOS and diet, it’s important to remember that this diet is built around the following foods.

• Low-sugar fruits (berries, apples, oranges)
• Vegetables (dark leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower)
• Lean proteins (beans, legumes, nuts, fish)
• Legumes (beans, chickpeas, lentils, soybeans)
• Whole grains (whole wheat bread, brown rice, oats, barley)
• Healthy fats (avocado, nuts, olive oil)

Anti-inflammatory foods have been shown to benefit patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. A PCOS diet already includes many anti-inflammatory foods, but adding green tea and spices, such as turmeric and cinnamon, can give your diet an anti-inflammatory boost.

It is recommended that women with PCOS drink two liters of water a day.

Avoid these foods

Just as a healthy diet can be helpful for PCOS, a diet of high-sugar and processed foods will have the opposite effect. These foods result in spikes in blood sugar, inflammation and insulin resistance. Because this connection between PCOS and diet is so clear, women with PCOS should stay away from these common, but unhealthy, foods and beverages.

• Saturated fats (butter, processed foods)
• Red meat
• Processed meats (hot dogs, sausage)
• Refined carbohydrates (white bread, white rice)
• Sugary drinks (juice, soft drinks)
• Alcohol

There is no cure for PCOS, but incorporating this healthy diet has proven to reduce PCOS symptoms. It is an excellent way to improve your fertility and overall health.

Our New Braunfels fertility doctor, Dr. Susan Hudson, can provide you with more detailed information on PCOS and diet. Contact Texas Fertility Center for an appointment.

Stress and fertility: Can lowering my stress level help me get pregnant?

Medical science has not yet proven a direct causal link between stress and fertility, but there is no doubt that the two are connected. While there can be many causes of infertility in both men and women, it’s clear that stress negatively affects the overall health of a woman trying to become pregnant. At the same time, infertility certainly causes stress, creating a perpetuating cycle. Our New Braunfels fertility specialist says that this cycle needs to be interrupted for the best physical, mental and emotional health of a woman trying to become pregnant.

The stress and fertility cycle may contribute to causes of infertility

The process of trying to become pregnant without success increases stress levels, so that by the time a woman begins fertility treatment, her stress level is already raised.

Fertility problems can be challenging to navigate, with stressful decisions such as how long to try to become pregnant, when to pursue infertility treatment, or whether to take a break from trying. Women experiencing infertility report higher levels of stress than other women. Research also shows that couples who indicate lower stress rates become pregnant at a higher rate than couples who indicate anxiousness.

Our New Braunfels fertility specialist, Susan Hudson, MD, notes a few of the ways stress can become one of the causes of infertility.

• Stress can elevate the heart rate and increase blood pressure.
• It can interfere with sleep, which over time can cause irregular periods.
• Lack of sleep caused by stress decreases the ability to cope with stressors, adding to the problem.
• Stress causes hormones to be released that can affect ovulation and your menstrual cycle.
• Eating is a common stress response. People either increase the amount of food, turn to unhealthy “comfort foods,” or both. Resulting weight gain can reduce fertility, as overweight women have lower pregnancy rates.
• Other unhealthy stress coping techniques, including drinking alcohol, smoking and taking in high amounts of caffeine, negatively impact fertility.

If you struggle with stress or anxiety, address it before trying to become pregnant

There are many proven stress-relieving techniques. Explore the different methods, and find the ones that provide the most benefit. Our New Braunfels fertility specialist has several recommendations for reducing stress before pregnancy.

• Exercise
• Healthy diet
• Quality sleep
• Counseling
• Support groups
• Yoga, meditation or other mindfulness practices
• Journaling

Managing stress during the fertility journey

Once you begin fertility treatment, continue the healthy coping strategies you used before the process. Allow yourself to feel the changing, complex emotions you’re experiencing. Process your feelings with your partner, family, friends, support group or therapist.

In addition to the stress-relieving tools listed, your doctor may recommend medication to help manage stress. Medication can help you get to a more stable and calm emotional and mental state, allowing the other stress-relieving techniques to be more effective.

Our New Braunfels fertility specialist, Dr. Hudson, and her team will help you prepare for pregnancy physically, mentally and emotionally. Contact us for to learn more about stress and other causes of infertility, and to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hudson.

March isn’t just about little green leprechauns and a pot of gold, it’s also Endometriosis Awareness Month.

So often, endometriosis is simplified to a case of bad menstrual cramps. But this chronic disease can not only cause excessive pain, it is also a cause of infertility.

Endometriosis is an excessive growth of the endometrium (the cells that make up the lining of the uterus) along the outer uterus, ovaries and tubes. It can cause scar tissue on the fallopian tubes, interfering with ovulation, as well as ovarian cysts.

Endometriosis is a common, but treatable disease

According to the World Endometriosis Research Foundation, endometriosis affects an estimated 176 million women and girls – one in 10 during their reproductive years.

Luckily – another March idiom – there are treatment options, including:

• Surgery
• Hormonal therapy
• Oral contraceptives
• Painkillers, and
• Gonadotropin-release hormone analogue (gnRH analogue)

As an infertility treatment, Dr. Susan Hudson can perform laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgery, to determine the severity of the endometriosis and determine the success for a future pregnancy. During the laparoscopy, Dr. Hudson can locate any scar tissue or adhesions and remove them during the actual procedure. The patient can usually go home the same day and quickly return to normal activities.

To learn more about endometriosis and your fertility treatment options, contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hudson and Texas Fertility Center of New Braunfels.

The team at Texas Fertility Center of New Braunfels understands that secondary infertility brings significant emotional concerns.

Well-meaning family and friends can put pressure on the infertile parents by asking questions such as: “Don’t you want to give your child a little sister?” or “You don’t want your daughter to be an only child do you?”

Parents worry about how their own difficult emotions about secondary infertility will affect their existing children.

Friends or family may mistakenly assume you are not ‘trying’ to conceive and make comments that are inadvertently hurtful: “People are having too many children these days – you are smart to just have one.” These kinds of comments can be very painful to hear.

Education is one of the keys to surviving secondary infertility.

Dr Hudson believes in responsible information on the internet and has put together a list of resources for couples dealing with Secondary Infertility.

• Secondary Infertility Information at www.fertility-texas.com
• Resolve info on Secondary Infertility
• American Society of Reproductive Medicine at www.asrm.org

Dr. Hudson will thoroughly explain your options for secondary infertility treatments. Equipped with the facts and a timeline for adding to your family, you can decide upon the course of action that makes the most sense (from a financial, emotional and spiritual perspective) for your family. Contact us to make an appointment with Dr. Hudson.

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, many future mothers may begin to think about their own fertility.

While some may be in the right time frame now to get pregnant and have a child, there are many women– single and committed–that are not quite ready to get pregnant.

However, thanks to advances in fertility preservation options, Dr. Susan Hudson with Texas Fertility Center of New Braunfels can help women in their 20s and early 30s preserve their eggs until they are ready to have a baby.

Vitrification, a new freezing process, allows egg preservation for women– single, partnered, or married—that gives them freedom from worrying about their biological clocks.

How an Egg Freezing Cycle Works

The egg freezing process includes a cycle of injectable fertility medications. Dr. Hudson at the Texas Fertility Center of New Braunfels closely monitors the fertility treatment cycle to stimulate egg production. Dr. Hudson will track the progress of follicle growth in response to fertility medications. Each follicle contains a developing egg that, after an average of 10 days of stimulation, will be ready for retrieval.

Once Dr. Hudson determines that the follicles are large enough to indicate good egg growth, you will visit the Texas Fertility Center of New Braunfels IVF center for the egg retrieval process. Egg retrieval is performed under anesthesia, and usually takes only 15 to 20 minutes.

After the eggs have been retrieved, they are frozen, also known as cryopreservation, with a quick-freeze process known as vitrification. Once frozen, the eggs can be stored at a cryobank until you are ready to move forward with your family plans through IVF, in-vitro fertilization.

A woman wanting to freeze her eggs for the future needs to consider that timing is important; the recommended time to freeze eggs is before the age of 35.

Fertility Preservation for Cancer Patients

Egg freezing is also an important option for women that have been diagnosed with cancer or other chronic conditions that can harm fertility. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, it is important to let your oncologist know that you are interested in fertility preservation and to expeditiously contact a reproductive endocrinologist a.

Contact the Texas Fertility Center New Braunfels by calling (830) 608-8004 to schedule an initial consultation today.

Is That Semen Sample Telling the Truth?

Do you have to provide a semen sample? Has a recent analysis delivered unhappy results? The problem may indeed be with your sperm, it may be with the semen analysis itself, or it may stem from some easily correctable health habit.

Margins for Error in Semen Analysis

The way the semen is collected and processed can play a major factor in the results. Time is of the essence; sperm cells start to die after about an hour, and their motility decreases. A too-cool or too-warm sample may also yield a false verdict of sub-standard sperm. (Body temperature is ideal to maintain the sample.) Even the choice of container makes a difference; the sample should be stored in a sterile, tightly sealed container and kept upright at all times. Just get a container from the fertility specialist or lab. Start off right.

No two semen samples are going to produce the exact same results.

Don’t despair if the first sample is bad news; we typically take two or three such samples over an extended period of time to get a more accurate measure of your sperm quality.

You should be aware, however, that your own health and behaviors can affect the sperm sample as well. We recommend that men abstain from sexual intercourse or masturbation from 2 to 7 days before producing a sample; this window seems to provide the best balance between sperm count and motility.

Smoking, drinking or drug ingestion can also lead to a disappointing analysis result, so refrain from these substances for at least 10 days before giving a sample. Caffeine and certain medicines are also a potential problem. Dehydration can lower sperm count, so keep up that your daily water intake too.

Still concerned? Contact your friends at Texas Fertility Center of New Braunfels. We can make sure your samples are analyzed accurately and give you any advice or treatment you might need to conquer male infertility.

To celebrate Men’s Heath Week leading into Father’s Day on Sunday, June 16th, let’s take a look at some specific ways men can improve their sperm production and boost male fertility.

Productive sperm cells must have the requisite oval heads, tails long enough to “whip” them forward, and enough actual motility to reach the egg. It’s also a numbers game; you want to produce at least 15 million sperm cells per ejaculate.

What can you do to give your sperm a fighting chance?

Eat wisely. By avoiding or shedding those excess pounds, you may be adding to your sperm’s motility and potency. Replacing those processed junk foods with colorful fresh fruits and vegetables not only helps you manage your weight, but it also gives you a much-needed dose of antioxidants, natural substances that protect the health of cells — including sperm cells.

Relax. Stress can impair all kinds of bodily systems, from immune response to blood pressure levels. The mental distractions that are stressing you out can also make sexual performance difficult or impossible. Explore natural ways to relax body and mind, such as yoga, massage therapy or meditation. You will improve your health, your state of mind, and possibly your fertility.

Exercise. The aforementioned yoga is not just a stress buster; it’s also good exercise. But anything that gets your body moving is better than nothing. Walking, jogging, cycling, swimming — all these activities improve the circulation and heart strength, relieve stress, and keep you fit and trim.

Take (certain) supplements. Please seek our advice before investing in over-the-counter supplements. One product we do recommend is ProXeed®, which has been shown to increase sperm count and motility safely and effectively.

Avoid STDs. Sexually transmitted diseases can render both you and your significant other infertile. Always use condoms and (ideally) practice monogamy to avoid this unhappy outcome.

We want you to know that Dr. Susan Hudson and the team at the Texas Fertility Center of New Braunfels are in your corner. If you are having trouble conceiving, don’t let another Father’s Day pass you by.

Call today to schedule an appointment for a fertility assessment and get on your way to a Father’s Day of your own!