Fertility Blog

With around 25% of recognized pregnancies ending in loss, miscarriages are much more common than you might think. But what causes some people to experience repeated pregnancy losses? And what are the most common causes of recurrent miscarriage?

In the United States alone, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects over 5 million women, making it one of the most commonly diagnosed endocrine disorders. Unfortunately, misinformation about the condition is rampant, which leads to many pervasive myths.

As a reproductive endocrinologist who works with fertility patients every day, I hear about a lot of the insensitive “tips” given to them. Patients will tell me they've heard that if they just stop worrying, they will magically get pregnant, or that a specific diet will help.

Some of the most emotionally difficult conversations I have in my office on a weekly basis are those with patients who are diagnosed with cancer and come to me for fertility preservation. There is a psychological “double blow” hitting them all at once: not only is their cancer itself scary, but they are also worried that they will not be able to have children afterwards, because chemotherapy and radiation – while lifesaving – can damage their sperm and eggs.

Along with many other communities, the 1 in 8 couples struggling with infertility have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to a number of initial unknowns and precautionary guidelines, IVF, IUI, and all other fertility cycles and procedures were postponed or altogether cancelled.

The following commentary is based on a nation-wide study published in October 2019 by Oxford University Press A group of researchers wanted to assess the validity of an ongoing speculation with assisted reproductive treatment (ART) – that hormone stimulation increased a woman’s risk for ovarian cancer. This study ultimately confirmed the belief that ART does not increase cancer risk, except for patients with endometriosis. However, there needs to be more research to prove the latter - the increased risk of ovarian cancer in IVF patients with endometriosis might be because of the diagnosis, not because of the added element of hormone stimulation. More on that below. But first, a message from our very own Dr. Joshua Hurwitz:

Some of the most emotionally difficult conversations I have in my office on a weekly basis are those with patients who are diagnosed with cancer and come to me for fertility preservation. There is a psychological “double blow” hitting them all at once: not only is their cancer itself scary, but they are also worried that they will not be able to have children afterwards because chemotherapy and radiation – while life saving – can damage their sperm and eggs. Fertility preservation is a paramount concern for both men and women faced with cancer treatments. This is why it is important to tackle these difficult issues even in younger patients who are not planning to have children until the distant future. Cancer patients are understandably focused on their treatments, but fertility preservation should not be overlooked. Here are some common misconceptions and insights that often surprise patients and even some of my medical colleagues.