Coping with the Emotional Impact of Infertility

 If you and your partner have been trying to have a baby with no success, it can be very frustrating and disappointing. Suspecting that you might be infertile can be an emotionally trying time for new couples and parents who are trying to have additional children.

How can you stay positive during this experience? How can you prevent strain on your relationship? Infertility issues can result in frustration, anxiety, and grief. Some couples may have a hard time admitting a problem exists, or don’t want to seek out medical help.

At Midwest Fertility and Gender Selection Center, we believe that infertility is important to address through both medical and emotional support. By communicating throughout the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment phases, many couples find that their relationship grows stronger.

One of the key factors in diagnosing infertility is to seek medical advice as soon as you suspect there could be an issue. It doesn’t help anything by waiting. Sometimes a simple conversation with your attending physician or OB/GYN, can help point you in the right direction. If you have not conceived within one year of unprotected intercourse, it may be time for professional discussion.

Couples experiencing infertility should remember that great strides have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of this situation. In fact, many treated couples have succeeded in having a baby.
Sometimes, it’s not IF you’ll ever conceive, but rather, HOW.

To learn more about infertility and to explore your options for growing your family with pregnancy and gender selection, click here.

Easy Holiday Season Crafts and Activities for Kids

Looking for ways to get in the holiday spirit with your kids?

Want to find ways to keep your kids occupied even in the cold weather?

The holiday season is always fun for crafting. Your kids can help you make decorations for home, and you can put together gifts for family members and friends that will be cherished for years.

Here are some fun, easy ideas for kids of all ages (parental supervision needed!):

 Felt Christmas Stockings – This craft is useful and fun! To get started, find some patterned or colored felt. You can get this at any craft store. Cut out a sock shape out of two pieces of felt, and staple the edges together a half inch from the sides, leaving the top open. Add a felt loop to the top corner for hanging, and get creative with decorating!

Handmade Gift Tags – If you still have felt left over from making stockings, these gift tags are a great touch! Use a cookie cutter in holiday shapes to cut out shapes on felt. Punch a hole at the top center of the tag. Use string to attach to a special gift!





Paper Snowflakes – It’s not officially winter until you make paper snowflakes! There are so many online tools that teach you different folding tricks. Once you’ve got a bunch cut out, you can string them up to hang on your Christmas tree, the mantel, or over a doorway.

 Sugar Christmas Cookies – Use store-bought or from-scratch sugar cookie dough and roll out with flour. Have your kids use holiday shape cookie cutters to cut out cookies, and then bake. When cooled, let your kids decorate. Use sprinkles, frosting, and even candy cane pieces.

Getting your children involved in the holidays is fun, and can help teach them about giving gifts instead of receiving. Make sure you supervise your kids as they put together their creations, and you’ll also create memories that will last a lifetime!

When Should You Worry About Infertility?

For most couples attempting to become pregnant, the chance of achieving a successful pregnancy is about 25% during the first month of trying. By the end of the first year of trying to conceive, about 85%-90% of couples will conceive.

As a couple, you should seek medical help if you are unable to achieve pregnancy after 1 year of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. If you’re a woman with a history of pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, miscarriage, or irregular or painful menstrual cycles, you should also consult with your doctor.

Common Causes of Infertility

Some of the most common conditions that can contribute to infertility are:

• Abnormal Ovulation
• Blocked fallopian tubes
• Endometriosis
• Cervical problems
• Age
• Male factors (male infertility, central nervous system problems, pituitary tumors)

At Midwest Fertility and Gender Selection Center, our team of experienced doctors want to help you and your partner with your dream of starting or growing your family. We’ll sit down with you and perform an evaluation to explore your options.

Click here to learn more.