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!