1. Three or More in a Row is “Recurrent”The technical definition for recurrent miscarriages or “recurrent pregnancy loss” (RPL) requires three or more consecutive losses of recognized pregnancies before the 20th week or 5th month of pregnancy. Currently it is not clear whether very early pregnancy losses diagnosed by sensitive pregnancy tests and not by ultrasound (also known as biochemical pregnancies) should be included in the definition. Most doctors believe it is reasonable to send tests and start treatment of RPL after two consecutive miscarriages. 2. Early Pregnancy Loss is an Emotionally Traumatic ExperienceEPL is similar to losing a child...

Abnormalities in early pregnancy are a common fear among parents-to-be. Here are a few suggestions for how you can test for them. For Women Under 35: 1) Triple Screen: This is a blood test that is done between 15-20 weeks. The test screens for Down’s syndrome and Spina Bifida, two common birth defects. The test is usually covered by insurance. The results usually return two weeks after the blood draw. 2) Level II Ultrasound: This test takes pictures of your baby through an ultrasound on your tummy. It’s done by a specialist at 18-22 weeks. An ultrasound can be used to detect...

When you stop having monthly periods, it is known as amenorrhea. Here are five important exercise-related facts involving the condition…: 1. Exercise Causes Amenorrhea When the Body Enters a “Starvation State”When women stop having monthly periods (“amenorrhea”) due to excessive exercise, there’s a problem. It is not just the amount of exercise that influences the menstrual cycle, but certain types of exercise, specifically those associated with low body weight. Long distance running and ballet dancing are more likely than others to cause amenorrhea, for example. The combination of low body weight and intense exercise causes amenorrhea if the body believes...

At HRC Fertility, we provide our patients with information that will help them to give birth to healthy babies. If you’re looking to get pregnant, here are a few tips that can increase your chances of success… First, you need to be aware of the “fertile window” – the 6-day-long period during your menstrual cycle that ends 24 hours after the time of ovulation. Intercourse is most likely to lead to a pregnancy when it occurs in the three day period ending on the day of ovulation. Therefore, figuring out what time of the month you typically ovulate is very...

Myths about the best timing and frequency of sex when trying to get pregnant can lead to unnecessary stress. Even when a couple is trying to conceive, they do not need to have sex every day and there is no need to drop everything and rush into bed at the exact moment of ovulation. Since sperm lives about two to three days inside the female reproductive tract, having sex two to three times a week is enough to result in pregnancy for most couples. For couples who prefer not to have intercourse that often, the key is to have the...

There are four ways that you can test your egg supply. In this blog post I’ll tell you how… 1. Basal Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)Every woman is born with a set supply of eggs. Each egg is contained within a follicle, which is comprised of layers of ovarian cells surrounding fluid that provides nutrients for the egg. FSH is the hormone that stimulates follicles to grow. At the beginning of a menstrual period, FSH acts as the signal to the ovaries that it is time to prepare eggs for ovulation. One of the earliest indications that the number of remaining...