Since I was little, I knew what I wanted my family to look like – me, my husband and three children. Fast forward. I already had a fantastic husband and two beautiful little blond girls, but I didn’t feel complete. I knew I wasn’t done creating my family. Not only did I have to grieve […]
Read This Before You Take Fertility Supplements
Do you use supplements? Probably. A 2014 survey by the Council for Responsible Nutrition found that 68% of the population in the United States uses supplements. ((Council for Responsible Nutrition 2014 survey http://www.crnusa.org/CRNconsumersurvey/2014/CRN2014CCsurvey-infographic-pages.pdf )) Our stores shelves are lined with supplements touted to solve this problem, relieve that problem, restore our youthfulness and improve our […]
Why I Shared My Infertility Struggles on Facebook
Several months before I started trying to get pregnant, someone gave me a copy of Toni Weschler’s Taking Charge of Your Fertility. I read it religiously and determined – rather obnoxiously – that people who had trouble getting pregnant just didn’t make the effort to chart their fertility. I did everything I thought I was […]
Meet Our Contributors
Medical Experts Dr. Lora Shahine, joined Pacific NW Fertility after completing her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Stanford University. During her time at Stanford, Dr. Shahine served as a Clinical Instructor in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, contributed several research publications in women’s health and infertility, and trained in one of the […]
10 Early Pregnancy Symptoms
“I’ve got cramps and some light spotting” After conception the fertilized egg implants itself to the wall of the uterus. This can cause light bleeding, which is pink, red or even brown discharge. You might also feel some light cramping similar to what you feel during your period – but not as intense.Implantation bleeding happens […]
When Is It Time To See A Doctor About Your Fertility?
The decision to start a family is a huge one. Then once you choose to stop birth control, it really gets exciting. You wonder, will it happen this month or next month? It’s all so much fun UNTIL… Aunt Flo keeps arriving. Month, after month, after month. If you’re like me you’re thinking, what the […]
Building A Transgender Family
There are so many options today for people who are transgender to create the family of their dreams- including genetically related children. Most reputable reproductive clinics have the resources necessary to help you on your journey to parenthood. Many adoption clinics are also open to working with transgender individuals and foster-to-adopt programs can be a […]
Why Men Should Get A Semen Analysis
The semen analysis is the gold standard for the male evaluation. This test can tell if sperm are present, how many and if they are moving. The semen analysis is important even if the male partner has previously fathered children. It can change during the reproductive years, but unlike eggs, sperm do not have a […]
Understanding Your Ovulation and Ovarian Reserve
When you start thinking about trying to conceive, one of the first things you need to learn about is “ovulation”. Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Tamara Tobias explains everything you need to know about ovulation and ovarian reserve: The menstrual cycle consists of a pre-ovulation (follicular) phase and post-ovulation (luteal) phase. Follicular refers to when a […]
What To Expect When You Visit A Fertility Doctor
Initial consultation Your initial visit will most likely include a consultation with your provider to review your medical history, prior evaluation, and treatments you may have already done. A review of your partner’s history (if applicable) will also be assessed. This initial appointment may take 1-2 hours, so allow enough time in your schedule so […]
