A statistic that we follow closely at PFC is our cumulative pregnancy rate in a given year.  This is defined as a patient’s chance of taking home a baby after one IVF cycle, but it includes the fresh embryo transfer and any frozen embryo transfers resulting from that one cycle.  These rates are shown in the table and are broken down into maternal age groups.  The numbers are calculated by looking at how many patients delivered a baby from their fresh transfer (43% of patients under age 35) and then adding in pregnancies achieved from the frozen embryos for patients that did not get pregnant in the fresh cycle (totals 64% of patients in this group).  So in this age group, 2 out of every 3 patients had a baby from just one IVF cycle.  Similarly, for patients doing a single cycle with donor oocytes, 74% had a baby.

Cumulative pregnancy rates have special importance since PFC is a national leader in reducing the number of embryos transferred at one time while still maintaining exceptionally high overall pregnancy rates.  One healthy baby at a time is the goal of fertility treatment at PFC and for every patient, a singleton pregnancy is the safest and most likely way to have a healthy baby.  At PFC we work carefully with every patient to reduce their exposure to a multiple pregnancy and all its risks for mother and baby.  And a big part of our strategy involves freezing embryos successfully so that we can use embryos conservatively and efficiently to generate more singleton pregnancies, and fewer multiples. Multiple pregnancies are a complication of IVF treatment, and we strive to avoid them. 

Patients with the highest risk for multiple pregnancy are those where maternal age is <35, doing their 1^st or 2^nd IVF cycle or those patients using donor eggs.  We encourage these individuals to transfer just a single embryo during their IVF cycle and to freeze their surplus embryos for use later.  The frozen embryo program has been so successful here at PFC that it provides very high pregnancy rates for those patients that need to use their embryos from the freezer.  It also means that we don’t have to risk transferring many embryos in the fresh IVF cycle because we have the frozen embryos as a back-up. And most patients that are doing elective single embryo transfer qualify for one of PFC’s financial plans (e.g. the refund plan) that include the cost of frozen embryo transfer cycles in the original price.

We believe that using embryos conservatively is the safest treatment.  And we don’t see big differences in pregnancy rates between patients that transferred just one embryo vs. those that transferred 2.  In fact, patients that received donor eggs and transferred 1 or 2 embryos had the same delivery rates, but those transferring 2 had a 35% twin rate.  In our efforts to reduce this twin rate, we are now transferring 1 embryo 60% of the time in the donor egg program, and 40% of the time in patients aged less than 35.

We want our patients to have healthy babies and we are working to make this possible while still maintaining high success rates.  Our goal is one healthy baby at a time.

 - Joe Conaghan, Ph.D., HCLD & Embryologist Erin Fischer

How does metabolism affect fertility? PFC’s Dr. Liyun Li may be able to shed some light on this interesting question. She has studied extensively a key hormone regulater of body weight and appetite called ghrelin, and found that its levels in the ovaries may affect egg and embryo quality.  Her work has just been published in the peer-reviewed and the highly respected journal Fertility and Sterility.

For abstract, see here.

Successful conception does not just involve eggs and sperm and the reproductive tract. The reproductive system, just as all other areas of human physiology, works best when the entire organism is healthy and balanced. This includes not just physical health, but mental health and sexual health.

With respect to physical health, most of what we should be doing is just common sense. For women, mild to moderate regular exercise is best. Although data on the level of exercise that is optimal for conception is scarce, probably no more than 4 hours per week of aerobic exercise may be best¹. Much higher levels can lead to too low a level of body fat for women (optimal body fat for women should be about 20% of total body weight). Excessively lean women (less than 10%) have more problems with proper reproductive hormonal functioning when it comes to ovulation. And while speculative, it is likely humans evolved mechanisms to limit female reproduction in times of starvation (low body fat may mimic a starvation mode) and when we are too much on the run as well. A study published in 2002 looked for associations between exercise levels and pregnancy and birth outcomes in exercising pregnant women². The study reported that women who exercised heavily during pregnancy had smaller babies, more labor inductions and longer labor and well as more colds and flu than more sedentary pregnant women. These are surprising results! Despite these studies it is likely that some moderate amount of exercise helps to promote a sense of well-being and the mental composure to deal with the stresses of every day life and the stress of dealing with fertility issues. Cardiovascular fitness can only be a good thing for pregnancy and beyond.

For men, there really are no restrictions on physical activity. The one exception would be too much bicycling for men hoping to conceive with their partner. The current bicycle saddles do affect testicular function in men who are frequent riders. In general, maintaining good physical shape enhances sexual functioning and of course, sex is important for conception! Speaking of sex, for men to have optimal sexual health, it is important to avoid excessive alcohol. While alcohol does lower mental inhibitions, it also inhibits erectile function, so excess alcohol, contrary to popular belief, does not enhance the sexual experience. Long term excessive alcohol also causes liver damage and raises estrogen levels in men. Higher estrogen levels can lead to smaller testicular volume and lowered sperm production. There is no problem with an occasional drink – just be aware of how much. Avoid intoxication, dehydration, hangovers, and the other consequences of excessive alcohol intake.

As many of our patients are aware, the experience of trying to conceive, especially if it’s taking a long time, can take a toll on sex and intimacy in a relationship. It is so important for partners to be patient with each other and make the effort to maintain the romance and intimacy which keep the relationship healthy. Yes, plan to have sex on the most fertile days of the month, but don’t stop having it before and after the fertile times as well! There is no medical evidence that sex is harmful during the post-ovulation or early pregnancy period. Try to keep the sex-as-fun-and-special attitude alive throughout the month, including baby-making sex days. If there are stresses associated with this issue, we can provide referrals to psychologists that specialize in counseling about sexual health and are professionals in this area. Remember that our sex lives will outlive the infertility, the new baby and the growing children experiences. So it is crucial to nurture this aspect of the relationship.

There is no question that having a good sexual relationship promotes intimacy and better communication. This is so important when it comes to supporting each other. Fertility problems can be a crisis time in the lives of young adults. Sometimes the crisis situation can bring a couple closer together and sometimes it can cause them to feel isolated, even from each other. Communication is essential. For most women, communication is usually inherently verbal; she wants to talk about it and about her feelings. For most men, dealing with painful feelings, such as that recent negative pregnancy test or that recent miscarriage can be difficult for him to verbalize. Add to this frustration, the obvious sorrow of his female partner and men can feel helpless. It doesn’t necessarily help to try to force people to talk about these feelings, at least until they are ready. Letting him go the gym or shoot some hoops with some friends might be a better way for him to initially deal with bad news. But when the time comes, talking and acknowledging each other’s feelings and understanding how each person deals with difficult situations can make a relationship much stronger.

References:

1. Effects of Lifetime Exercise on the Outcome of In Vitro Fertilization  Morris, Stephanie N.; Missmer, Stacey A.; Cramer, Daniel W.; Powers, R Douglas; McShane, Patricia M.; Hornstein, Mark D.Obstetrics & Gynecology. 108(4):938-945, October 2006.

2  Antpartum, Intrapartum, and Neonatal Significance of Exercise on Healthy, Low-Risk Pregnant Working Women. Maqgtann, Everett F., Evans, Sharon F., Weitz, Beth, Newnham, John. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 99(3):466-472. March 2002.

We all know that people that are not particularly health-conscious can conceive, many times easily or even unintentionally. However, conception is a much more common event when the involved parties are young, and eggs and sperm are much more likely to be genetically normal. It may also be that the reproductive system has not been subjected to years of accumulated age-related, environmental damage. Successful conception does not just involve eggs and sperm and the reproductive tract. Just as in all other areas of human physiology, the reproductive system works best when the entire organism is healthy and balanced. This includes not just physical health, but mental health and sexual health. 

It makes sense that healthy people are more likely to have healthier babies, and this may be especially true in the later reproductive years. For example, a woman in her forties with mild high blood pressure is going to have a safer pregnancy when she keeps her weight down and consistently takes her medications for blood pressure. Similarly, the liver function may be negatively affected by the cumulative effects of drinking alcohol over many years and the liver is crucial to clearing toxins from the body.

The feeling of lack of control is one of the main issues for women and men facing the challenge of infertility. No one can know exactly when they are going to conceive, but for infertility patients undergoing fertility treatments, even the how of conception is being determined by medical factors that again are out of their control. One way to gain back some control is to take charge of our health and nutrition. Eating healthy and living healthy can only help one’s chances for successful conception. Furthermore, when a pregnancy is achieved, the habits set prior to conception and continued during gestation will provide for the best physical environment to nurture the developing fetus. In this issue, we present information about nutritional needs during pre-conception and early pregnancy. The goal of pre-conception nutrition is to promote the health of the gametes (eggs and sperm) and to set the nutritional habits that will carry on into pregnancy and breast feeding.

Certainly the most important component in eggs and sperm is the DNA, which carries the genetic material from the parents to the embryo. DNA molecules are long linear chains of nucleic acids, sugars and proteins. Damage to and degradation of DNA is a consequence of living.  The energy packets in all our body’s cells, including sperm and eggs, are called mitochondria. Mitochondria contain DNA and produce important enzymes for metabolism and energy production. Molecular by-products of metabolism, oxygen free radicals and nitric oxide species, are constantly forming in our bodies .These free radicals can damage both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. All living organisms have developed many mechanisms to protect their DNA from the environmental damage of excessive nitric oxide and oxygen free radicals. Anti-oxidant nutrients and vitamins are essential to support these protective mechanisms. Truth be told, we all should be ingesting anti-oxidants throughout our lives to protect our DNA and all our tissues from assaults from the outer (and inner) world, but no time is more crucial for the next generation than at conception and fetal development. There are known substances and chemicals in the modern world that can overwhelm our highly evolved physiologic protective processes. Just one well-known example is phthalate ester, a chemical used to soften plastics such as in disposable water bottles, which leaches into the water it contains. These phthalates have been shown to have toxic effects in animal studies on the reproductive system¹ and have been found in urine and breast milk of pregnant and lactating women². Unfortunately, phthalates are only one of many, many chemicals we are exposed to on a regular basis. So, there are substances to avoid, when possible, but can we really avoid every harmful chemical? Not likely. What we can do, beyond avoiding these chemicals,  is make sure we are getting the nutrients, vitamins and minerals that help our own enzymes and proteins to protect our DNA.

There are numerous books on nutrition for pre-pregnancy and pregnancy. It is not possible to cover this topic exhaustively in this series of two articles. Suffice it to say that there is no one diet that has been conclusively shown to promote fertility. It is common sense that nutritionally empty diets, especially those that promote obesity, are clearly harmful to conception. Diets lacking in essential vitamins and minerals can have consequences beyond infertility, such as very poor pregnancy outcomes and malnourished babies. One recent article from the Netherlands² looked at the diets of women undergoing IVF. They measured blood levels and follicular fluid levels of some essential vitamins and minerals in these women. To paraphrase their findings: In women, two dietary patterns were identified. The “health conscious–low processed” dietary pattern was characterized by high intakes of fruits, vegetables, fish, and whole grains and low intakes of snacks, meats, and mayonnaise, and positively correlated with red blood cell folate (β = 0.07). The “Mediterranean” dietary pattern that is, high intakes of vegetable oils, vegetables, fish, and legumes and low intakes of snacks, was positively correlated with red blood cell folate (β = 0.13), and vitamin B6 in blood (β = 0.09) and follicular fluid (β = 0.18). High adherence to the “Mediterranean” diet increased the probability of pregnancy by 40%. Their conclusion was “A preconception “Mediterranean” diet by couples undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment contributes to the success of achieving pregnancy.”

So avoiding environmental toxins and eating a healthy (possibly “Mediterranean”) diet may be helpful for general health, fertility and pregnancy, but what are the specifics? What to avoid? What to include? For some very general guidelines, see the side bar to this article. For more comprehensive help, I recommend the book “Fertility and Conception” but Dr. Karen Trewinnard³, listed in the References. Please also look for PART 2 to this article next month for more nutrition and health advice and information.

References:

SIDEBAR: 

What to Avoid (a much-abbreviated list):

1. Drinking from plastic water bottles.
2. Microwaving food in plastic (and especially stryofoam!) containers
3. Pesticides and herbicides – whenever possible, buy organic, when not possible, wash fruits and vegetables well.
4. Heavy metals such as lead (soldering, stripping old paint from walls), mercury (in high-food chain fish) and cadmium (cigarettes, solder materials, pesticides)
5. White foods: too much white bread, refined sugar, white rice, potatoes 
6. Too much salt and butter, fried foods
7. Caffeine – it’s a blood vessel constrictor
8. Alcohol – more on this next issue.

What to Include (somewhat abbreviated):

1. Olive oil rather than butter
2. Fish that do not contain mercury (e.g. salmon, most shellfish, halibut, flounder)
3. Organically-grown fresh fruit and vegetables
4. Whole grains
5. Omega-3 Fish oils
6. Anti-oxidants such as blueberries, cranberries, tomatoes (lycopene)
7. Pre-natal vitamins containing at least 800 mcg folic acid and 2000 IU of Vitamin D3 (for a more thorough discussion of the essential vitamins and minerals, see the website www.essbeg.com)

Title: The Fertile Kitchen Cookbook

Can diet influence fertility? Can altering your diet help you conceive? Is it true that you are what you eat (and so is your baby)?

At age 40 and after trying to conceive for over a year, Cindy Bailey and her husband Pierre Giauque were told that they were unlikely to conceive. With disconcerting medical test results and failure in conven tional treatment, alternative therapies seemed the best option. After trying a fertility-friendly diet, to their surprise, their son was conceived four months later.

The Fertile Kitchen is one couple’s story of overcoming the odds against conception while using common sense and easily executed measures to optimize health. Using fresh, high quality, organic ingredients, and reducing wheat and dairy; the couple developed a nutritional plan that they feel contributed to their success. These authors found that optimizing the basic ingredients for life, adjusting calories, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into a regimen that has the potential to optimize pregnancy rates, should be considered in a given fertility plan.

Science is still catching up to medical concerns about fertility and diet. As an example of this emerging science, it is known that women with abnormal body fat levels, either high or low, suffer from lower pregnancy rates, and that improvement in body weight and body fat levels improves fertility rates…Certain types of animal protein are potentially problematic for fertility, whereas vegetable protein sources seem to carry less risk. Calorie source, simple sugar versus protein, makes a difference in treating anovulatory women. Irregular menstrual cycles can be optimized by changing diet. Omega-3 fatty acids are related to uterine artery perfusion pressures, and supplementation seems to provide some clinical improvement in these parameters. Studies are showing a role for B-complex vitamins, folic acid, and dietary fat in regulating ovulation.

It is unfortunate that some people have serious challenges to fertility that cannot be addressed with a change in diet. Diminished ovarian reserve, male factor, and tubal occlusion are problems that go beyond what can be remedied with diet alone. With that said, fertility treatment programs, regardless of the health issues, should include a healthy diet, as a good preventative measure for already healthy women wishing to conceive. The recipes in this book are easy to follow and the ingredients are amply available at most grocery stores.

Fertile Kitchen Media Kit (pdf)

— Philip Chenette, M.D.

This year’s flu season is certainly not your standard flu season. 2010 brings not only the current seasonal flu variety, but also the pandemic H1N1 virus, commonly known as Swine Flu. These are two separate viruses. H1N1 is not only of great concern for all members of the population, but also of particularly serious concern for pregnant women.

The single most important action, strongly recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), is for pregnant women to be vaccinated against both the seasonal flu and, most importantly, H1N1. Both the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine can be administered at the same time, at separate injection sites. There are two methods of dispensing the flu vaccine; either by injection or by a nasal spray (Flu Mist).

For immunization of pregnant women, only the injectable vaccine should be administered. Ob/Gyn practices will be the first to receive the vaccine. Patients should plan to be vaccinated at their Ob office.

Above: Tis the season to be conscious about germs

In addition to the flu vaccines, there is medication available to treat those with symptoms of the flu or those who have been exposed to someone with the flu. Symptoms of the flu can include: cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting. Fever is common, but it is important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever. If you have symptoms or if you have been exposed to someone who has the flu, call your doctor right away.

Pregnant women with suspected influenza, or experiencing more severe symptoms such as evidence of lower respiratory tract infection or clinical deterioration should receive prompt empiric antiviral therapy, regardless of previous health or age. Most healthy persons who develop an illness consistent with uncomplicated influenza, or persons who appear to be recovering from influenza, do not need antiviral medications for treatment or prophylaxis.

Pregnant women exposed to someone with influenza should consider antiviral chemoprophylaxis. Chemoprophylaxis should generally be reserved for persons at higher risk for influenza-related complications who have had contact with someone likely to have been infected with influenza. However, early treatment is an emphasized alternative to chemoprophylaxis after a suspected exposure. Household or close contacts (with risk factors for influenza complications) of confirmed or suspected cases can be counseled about the early signs and symptoms of influenza, and advised to immediately contact their healthcare provider for evaluation and possible early treatment if clinical signs or symptoms develop. Early recognition of illness and treatment when indicated is preferred to chemoprophylaxis for vaccinated persons after a suspected exposure.

Go to the emergency room immediately if you have difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in your chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness or severe or persistent vomiting. Prevention is certainly the best defense–and there are a number of things we can all do to minimize the spread of flu this season.

Wash your hands! Frequent hand washing or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers is a major preventative measure. Carry a hand sanitizer in your purse, in the car, even a small bottle in your pocket. You can use them just about anywhere at any time.

Cough into your elbow! This helps to keep your germs to yourself.

Keep your hands away from your face! You will not be infected with the flu by touching a contaminated surface — unless you then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Stay away from sick people if you are healthy and from healthy people if you are sick! You do not want to knowingly expose yourself, but remember, if it does happen, call your doctor straight away.

You do not want to spread the flu if you have it. Stay home and stay away from other family members as much as possible and make sure to call your doctor as soon as you have symptoms.

The CDC will continue to update their website as there is new information:

For general information on 2009 H1N1 flu go to:
cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm

For more information on flu shots go to:
cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination

Mind/body therapies are frequently initiated for groups with serious medical conditions, from lupus to multiple sclerosis to major heart disease. It is only natural that the more critical an illness, the more anxiety it can induce, thus potentially inducing accelerated and aggravated symptoms. Breaking this vicious stress/body cycle through the use of stress reduction techniques can provide an overall improvement in health. For those experiencing infertility, the hope is that breaking this cycle would lead to an improved ability to conceive.

Skeptics point out that millions of people, under extremely stressful circumstances, regularly get pregnant. But some facts are clear: ongoing chronic stress can affect menstrual function; change hormone levels; alter blood sugar; increase heart rate and change a person’s immune response.

Pacific Fertility Center’s team has examined the scientific, medical and anecdotal information surrounding the topic of stress and infertility. We have found that various stress reducing techniques are likely to have an overall positive impact on a patients’ general health. For this reason, PFC continues to offer classes modeled around Dr. Alice Domar’s mind/body practice (see PacificFertilityCenter.com for more information on Dr. Domar and Mind/Body@PFC Workshops).

Alice Domar, PhD has extensively probed the mind/body infertility correlation. She initiated one of the few controlled studies funded by the National Institute of Mental Health on this topic. Results of the research showed an improvement in pregnancy rates through the use of either relaxation techniques or the psychological support of joining a group. Based on the results of her research, Dr. Domar’s mind/body programs include instruction on relaxation techniques, controlled breathing and posture awareness; yoga, meditation, journaling, neuro-linguistic programming, and the joining of a support network. These techniques are designed to help women adjust their stress responses so their bodies might have a higher chance of conceiving.

It is our hope that the growing attention to the mind/body stress reduction methodologies will lead to the development of more critical scientific knowledge on the topic. Meanwhile, take a deep breath and review Peggy Orlin’s tips on relieving stress during this holiday season.  Carolyn Givens, MD and Isabelle Ryan, MD

Coping is developing the ability to manage in a difficult situation.
Excited children, crowded stores, decorations, and holiday parties are descending upon us. Yet because the winter holidays tend to celebrate families and children, these usually joyous occasions can bring up painful feelings when you are struggling to create and celebrate with a family of your own. In order to feel as good as possible during the holidays, you will need to develop some good holiday coping skills. Use whichever of these suggestions seem helpful to you. Do what feels right for you.

DO: Give up any and all guilt for how you are feeling. There is no right or wrong way to experience infertility. Your feelings may run the gamut from indifference to intense anger and despair and everywhere in between.

DO: Reach out to childfree friends. Their parties will be adult-focused.

DO: Choose the gatherings you attend carefully. If being around children upsets you, gracefully decline invitations to events where they are likely to be present. Know your limits and stick with them.

DO: Think of non-child centered holiday rituals. Take a vacation. Eat at a fancy restaurant.

DO: Continue to exercise moderately, eat healthy foods and get plenty of rest. You will feel better if you treat your body with care.

DO: Shop for the holidays online or from catalogs. You will avoid mall madness.

DO: Attend religious services at the time when there will be the least number of children. Attend a service on a university campus, which is more adult focused.

DO: Volunteer at a nursing home or homeless shelter. It may help others having difficulty coping and in turn may help you.

DO: Plan for how you will answer uninvited questions about when you’re going to have children. Remember, you are not required to tell them your entire “story!”

DO: Meet and talk with others who are experiencing similar feelings. Finding that you are not alone helps.

DO: Communicate with your partner to let him/her know of your feelings. If you are single, call a friend with whom you feel safe sharing your feelings.

Peggy Orlin, MFT

Introduction

Sara (a hypothetical patient) found a breast lump. 36 years of age, she was a single active professional, otherwise healthy, careful about her diet, and carefully evaluating her options after a diagnosis of breast cancer. Along with the discussion on surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy came the question “Were you planning to have children?”

A diagnosis of cancer presents many decisions that must be made quickly. Confirming the diagnosis and planning therapy will be the primary concerns, but the implications of therapy on long-term quality of life must be assessed. One of the primary issues facing women with a diagnosis of cancer is future fertility.

Candidates

Cancer treatment can interfere with future fertility. Toxicity varies by treatment. Cyclophosphamide, an alkylating agent used in many chemotherapy regimens, is highly toxic to sperm and eggs; methotrexate and 5-flouro-uracil (5FU) are not. Medications used for longer time intervals create a higher risk of fertility problems than shorter time intervals; effects on women in older age groups are more severe than younger. Radiation therapy, in high doses, can have effects on eggs and sperm. Surgery and anesthesia are not known to have direct effects.

It is difficult to give specific fertility risks for chemotherapeutic regimens, since studies are not yet definitive. Among the more toxic treatments are stem cell transplantation for leukemia in which total body irradiation and cyclophosphamide are used, beam radiation to a field that includes the ovaries, and extended chemotherapy of up to 6 cycles using cyclophosphamide in combination with other agents. After conventional chemotherapy for breast cancer for women under 40, the chance of infertility is roughly 50%, in older women the risk is over 80%.

Treatment options

What are the options for fertility in patients diagnosed with cancer? The best choices are available to those that have not yet initiated treatment and involve cryopreservation. During treatment, the risk of problems rises, and after treatment, there may not be adequate recovery of fertility to achieve pregnancy.

Cryopreservation allows cells to be stored with great stability for long periods of time. The record time from sperm cryopreservation to pregnancy is 28 years; there probably is no real limit to the time that cells can be stored. To store cells requires technology that reduces the formation of ice crystals, which disrupt cells, and prevents the rapid rise in salt concentration that occurs as water freezes. Cryopreservatives and management of temperature changes (slow freeze or vitrification) are used to reduce the risk of these problems.

Male

The option for fertility preservation in men is straightforward, cryopreservation of sperm. Sperm is obtained by masturbation and frozen in multiple vials in liquid nitrogen. 2-3 sperm samples can be obtained per week, with 2-4 vials stored per ejaculate; two weeks worth of donations could yield 8-24 vials of sperm. Costs vary widely, but would range from $1500-$3000 for processing and 3 years of storage.

Testicular sperm extraction is an option for individuals with azoospermia. Testicular tissue cryopreservation remains a theory that has not yet produced a human pregnancy. It has been proposed as an option for preservation of fertility in children, but has yet to be proven in clinical practice.

Female

Women have the option of cryopreservation of oocytes or embryos. For women without a partner, oocyte cryopreservation holds promise as a means to preserve fertility potential without committing to a specific sperm source or partner. For women with a partner or sperm donor, embryo cryopreservation is a proven technology.

To create cryopreserved oocytes, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is administered over a ten day time period to stimulate ovarian follicles. The oocytes are retrieved under sedation with a needle guided by ultrasound and then stored in liquid nitrogen.

Newer techniques of oocyte vitrification secure good pregnancy rates for those with good oocyte quality. Traditional oocyte cryopreservation is performed using a slow freeze technique, but more rapid vitrification procedures optimize results. The trick with cryopreservation is to lower the temperature while avoiding ice crystals that disrupt cell membranes and proteins. Vitrification, an ultrarapid freezing process utilizing a minimal fluid volume, reduces the risk of these problems and optimizes cell quality.

For those women with a partner, or that are willing to commit to a specific sperm donor, embryo cryopreservation is an excellent option. After stimulation and retrieval, oocytes are inseminated and cultured in an incubator for 1-5 days, followed by cryopreservation. The embryos can be thawed and transferred at a later date, after clearance from the oncologist. Embryo cryopreservation is the best established of the fertility preservation techniques, with years of experience in its applications. Good pregnancy rates can be anticipated.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation, the cryopreservation of whole pieces of the ovary, as opposed to cells, remains experimental. Complex tissues are more difficult to cryopreserve than cells, though rare success has been reported.

Cancer recurrence

Is there risk to the use of fertility drugs in patients with cancer? It does not appear in studies to date that breast or ovarian cancer risk is affected by use of fertility drugs. Studies indicating an increased risk are balanced by other studies indicating a reduction in risk. Studies to date have been limited, and treatment decisions still must be individualized.

Does pregnancy increase the risk of cancer recurrence? In theory, certain types of cancer could be aggravated by the hormones of pregnancy, but studies have not confirmed an overall risk. Certain types of cancer are less common in women that have delivered a pregnancy. Treatment decisions must be individualized, as future studies gather more information.

Pregnancy

Certain cancer treatments create organ toxicity that must be evaluated in considering patients for pregnancy. Heart output is limited in patients that have received doxorubicin. Uterine irradiation is associated with miscarriage and pre-term labor.

Children

Children born after fertility preservation procedures do not carry any increased risk for birth defects. There are hereditary syndromes that can be associated with cancer that could be transmitted to children, but there does not appear to be any other increased risk for cancer or genetic disease in children of cancer survivors.

Patients contemplating conception must consider life span expectations as part of their decision on whether to conceive. Such considerations are not, however, a reason to withhold treatment, and are ultimately the individual and family should decide.

Philip E. Chenette, MD

Resources:

www.fertilehope.org Fertile Hope

www.livestrong.org Lance Armstrong Foundation

www.cryobank.com California Cryobank

www.PacificFertilityCenter.com Pacific Fertility Center

The Trans fat, found in processed foods, may play a role in infertility. Implicated in prostate cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, and long thought to be a significant hindrance to good health, trans fat has been associated with ovulation disorders, according to a new publication¹.

Trans fats are created in food processing. To avoid rancidity in foods, manufacturers heat oils under pressure to convert natural unsaturated fat to partially saturated fat, adding hydrogen molecules to change the bonds between carbon atoms in the long fatty molecule. Saturated and partially saturated fats are sometimes called partially hydrogenated fats. Saturated fats melt at a higher temperature, and are more stable on the grocer’s shelf. Partially saturated fat is resistant to oxidation and damage, melts at a higher temperature, and does not take on rancid odors and taste. Crisco, partially saturated cottonseed oil, was the first commercial product to be produced with the technique in the early 1900s.

Foods prepared with partially saturated fats can contain up to 45% trans fats. French fries, cheeseburgers, fried chicken, cookies, and chips are common offenders. An order of large French fries can contain 15g of trans fat. Oreo cookies contained trans fat until a lawsuit in 2003 induced Kraft Foods to alter its recipe.

Ideal for a manufacturer interested in long-term storage, saturated fats are not so well tolerated by the human body. Raising levels of LDL and lowering levels of HDL cholesterol, saturated fats have been implicated as a prime cause of the rising risk of coronary heart disease through the 20th century. According to the Nurses’ Health Study², each 2% increase in trans fat calories doubles the risk of coronary artery disease. Since trans fats carry no health benefits and are potentially risky, experts have recommended reducing trans fats to trace amounts in the diet.

Infertility has been associated with trans fat intake. A study published in the January issue of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition from a group of researchers at Harvard University found that women with ovulation-related fertility problems tended to eat more trans fats than fertile women. Obtaining just 2 percent of total calories from trans fats was associated with a doubled risk for this type of infertility. The study showed that each 2% increase in dietary trans fat calories was associated with a 73% increased risk of ovulatory infertility³.

It has been difficult to separate out the effects of total fat and trans fat, since a diet high in trans fat diet is often high in total fats. In contrast to trans, higher total fat is known to decrease the risk of ovulation problems, improving ovulation, whereas women with a diet high in trans fat have an increased risk of ovulation disorders.

Dietary fats have been linked to markers of inflammation, a possible mechanism of trans fat effects⁴. In a randomized crossover study, 50 men consumed diets for five weeks that varied in trans fat content. Inflammatory protein markers were higher in men after the trans fat diet, showing that dietary fatty acids can modulate markers of inflammation.

The data is preliminary, but concerning. Since trans fats have no benefit and carry potential risks, they are best limited in the diet. Labeling requirements now include listing of trans fat content for foods. Lawmakers in several major US locales have passed regulations banning trans fats. Tiburon, California, on a voluntary basis was the first city to have trans fat free restaurants. Restaurants in New York City and Philadelphia are barred from using trans fat containing frying oils and spreads. The ban will be expanded to all restaurant foods next year. California is considering a statewide ban on trans fats.

Reducing processed foods and avoiding trans fats in your diet is an excellent goal for all, but patients with infertility may have special concerns. While more research is required regarding infertility and diet, there is no question a healthy diet is important. A diet of diverse and balanced carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, including omega-3 fats, will provide personal and possibly reproductive benefits for years to come.

Philip Chenette, MD

References:

1. Chavarro JE et al., May 2007, A prospective study of dairy foods intake and anovulatory infertility, Human Reproduction, 22 (5): 1340-1347.

2. Hu, FB et al. 1997 “Dietary fat intake and the risk of coronary heart disease in women”. New England Journal of Medicine, 337 (21): 1491-1499.

3. Chavarro JE et al., January 2007, Dietary fatty acid intakes and the risk of ovulatory infertility. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85 (1), 231-237.

4. Baer DJ et al., June 2004, Dietary fatty acids affect plasma markers of inflammation in healthy men fed controlled diets: a randomized crossover study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 79, No. 6, 969-973.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is the largest organization in the United States for medical professionals in the field of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. In 2002, ASRM published medical and psychological guidelines for ovum donation. The psychological recommendations for donors are general guidelines for addressing moral, ethical and psychosocial issues that may confront ovum donors. Included are standards for what should be included in a psychosocial screening of donors and reasons to exclude donors. A few of the objective reasons for donor exclusion include known substance abuse, positive family history of heritable psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or instability in donors’ lives. To determine “inclusion” I take a psychosocial history and administer a psychological test that informs me about the donor’s personality profile, including just how much they are trying to impress me – the “fake good” factor. I am also assessing motivation to donate and the donor’s “need” versus “desire for” the compensation. Stability, stress levels, and reproductive history are also part of an ASRM assessment of donors.

Although I would like to base my entire decision on objective information, much of my decision on donor acceptance must, in fact, be based on intuition. Throughout my 25 years as a therapist, I have found that my intuition is quite accurate, but it is not fool proof.

There is one major controversy in the field that may hinder a psychotherapist’s ability to screen donors. That is the hotly debated topic on compensation of donors. In August 2000, the Ethics Committee of The American Society for Reproductive Medicine concluded that there is no consensus on the precise payment that oocyte donors should receive. It was suggested, “sums of $5,000 or more require justification and sums above $10,000 go beyond what is appropriate.” Due to costs of living and the scarcity of available donors, there are significant regional variations that affect these rates.

The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) has attempted to assist clinics and patients by creating a list of Egg Donor Agencies that have signed an agreement stating that they will abide by the Ethics Committee Guidelines governing the compensation of egg donors.

The debate centers on the fact that donors could feel undue inducement and exploitation in the process if the fee is so high as to be coercive. Part of the job of the mental health professional is to provide donors with informed consent. Might donors conceal pertinent medical information that could be important for themselves or offspring if the monetary incentive is so high? Will donors discount risks to themselves? How can the donor actually give informed consent about the medical procedure and pay attention to the risks if $$ signs are floating before their eyes?

Ethicists and some in the field of women’s health advocacy express concern “that lucrative payments are enticing young women with credit-card debt and steep tuition bills to sell eggs without seriously evaluating the risks.” Can the payment cloud someone’s judgment and can we assess that? How much is too much? Where is that line?

When I began working with PFC in 1998, we were paying first time egg donors $2,500. Nine years later, the compensation is $6,500 for a first time donor and $7,000 for any subsequent donations. Even adjusted for inflation, the payment is rising at a phenomenal rate. Competition, supply and demand govern these rises.

As part of my objective/intuitive approach to interviewing donors, I discuss money with them. What would she use the compensation for? How does she support herself? What kind and how much debt does she have? While $25,000 in student loans points to a person’s drive toward positive goals, the same amount in credit card debt speaks to me of impulsive behavior. How much have they educated themselves on ovum donation? Whom have they talked with about their desires? Do they have their own children? Are they science majors who may be more likely to view gametes as DNA and not their own children? Are their answers well thought out?

My goal is to provide the recipients of donated eggs with intelligent, healthy, and thoughtful young women who understand the implications of ovum donation both for themselves and for the recipients. Donors who are motivated by the “need” for money are more likely to provide inaccurate information on their applications, or leave out information that could be pertinent to the recipients or their offspring. It is my job and the job of the Egg Donor Agency to determine motivation.

Although impossible to attain, we would all like donors to be motivated altruistically. We may diminish altruism by making the donation about eggs for money. However, I believe we can increase altruism by helping the donors to have a greater understanding of who the recipients are and what their struggles have been.

Peggy Orlin, MFT

Ms. Orlin served as 2006-7 chair of ASRM’s Executive Committee of the Mental Health Professional Group, is a member of Resolve’s National Mental Health Advisory Board. She co-teaches PFC’s Mind/Body workshops.

To register for the September 8th Mind/Body@PFC Workshop, please phone 415-834-3095.