Why Is Egg Freezing Popular?

There are a lot of factors that affect fertility. This includes age, diet, alcohol consumption, and more. However, as we age, although we think we can control what comes in our body, there are still things that are out of our control. Being fertile today doesn’t secure your fertility rate in the next 10 years. That’s when egg freezing comes into the picture.

When did egg freezing become popular?

Egg freezing is meant to reserve and preserve a woman’s capacity to reproduce at any point in her life. It started to turn heads in 2012 when the American Society for Reproductive Medicine introduced their experimental tag to the public. It became popular because of modern women’s choices to delay their reproduction in order to focus on career, finance, and other important purposes. Ever since the establishment of the discovery in both local and international IVF centers, the diversity of choices that made up family planning began to change.
                                                       

The success of Egg freezing

Because of failed attempts, Egg freezing remained as an experimental tag before it was established. After possibilities were soon advanced with further research, researchers finally declared a modern egg freezing method with a higher possibility of success.

(c) huffingtonpost.com

The measures of higher success rates

Discoveries have figured advanced methods for egg freezing but the success rate still depends on the body that the egg thrives in. Egg freezing is similarly dependent on these measures:

• Age 
• Dietary Habits
• Lifestyle 

...and more.

Although egg freezing doesn’t exactly guarantee a baby in the future, it does reduce a woman’s pressure to give birth to a child for social, career and other personal reasons.


Women today are more career-oriented. According to USA Today, women account for 57.3% of workers in the occupation, up from 50.6% in 2000. In the modern age, especially in the Philippines, it’s needless to say that women are more likely to prioritize their careers and their parents and siblings than immediately proceeding with childbirth.

Learn more from the experts. I recommend that you visit www.IVFDavao.com to know more about the IVF success rates regarding egg freezing.

How Do Couples Benefit From Fertility Counseling Before Entering Parenthood?

When couples experience problems related to fertility, having an open mind is essential to resolve issues immediately. Since the nature of these problems is biological and psychological in nature, there is a need for the professional help from fertility experts, psychiatrists, and psychologists. Taking a holistic approach is always proven effective. 

According to the Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, getting emotional support when dealing with fertility issues needs an ample amount of sensitivity and understanding. Despite the presence of family members and relatives, it is always better to rely on the recommendations of professionals who have adequate knowledge about your conditions. Counseling is one approach employed to explore the emotional difficulty, fears, anxiety, and distress towards achieving your fertility goals. 

So, how does counseling help you during your fertility journey? 

The importance of consultation

Getting to the roots of the problem and providing interventions are the main goals of counseling. In the process, the counselor can either provide implications for counseling or support counseling. The former involves affording couples or individuals safe spaces to decide, weigh the possible issues, and think of the long-term implications of the procedures involved. The latter is more focused on the emotional aspect of the fertility journey where the couples or individuals are allowed to explore feelings, coping strategies, options, and relationship issues with support systems. 

If you’re looking for fertility experts in Davao, there’s a reliable clinic that offers IVF services in Davao such as egg freezing, embryo freezing, testicular sperm extraction, sperm freezing, and fertility counseling. A leading provider of IVF treatments in Davao City and the only in-vitro fertilization laboratory in Mindanao is IVF Davao Inc. The clinic dedicates its expertise towards turning you into parents and understands the context of your situation. 

Healthy communication between couples

As they say, relationships are strengthened when healthy communication is given utmost importance. When dealing with fertility issues, communication is also a key component. Before getting involved in IVF services, couples and individuals should prepare themselves. 

Aside from considering physical health, those who are involved must also undergo fertility counseling to help them cope, choose properly, and become acquainted with the various aspects regarding the situation. Through the information given by counselors, couples and individuals who want to undergo IVF procedures are capacitated to decide for the enrichment of their relationships and the formation of the future family. 

Conclusion

So, the importance of counseling must not be overlooked. Allowing yourself to prepare and become aware of the possible complications in the future. Parenthood is a long-way journey that demands deep commitment, responsibility, and accountability. 

Points To Ponder If You Want To Improve Your IVF Success

IVF services are on the rise here in the Philippines, as it offers many hopeful couples with another way to have the child they’ve always wanted. Fertility specialists in Davao, Cebu, Metro Manila and other cities in the country are in demand more than ever. They’re always happy to lend a helping hand with your fertility problems.

Although IVF can boost your chances of becoming a parent, you also have to do your part to make sure the procedure is a success.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’ve decided to undergo an IVF treatment.

Preparation Time Matters 

Experts recommend that you start preparing for IVF between 3 to 6 months before you do IVF. Your follicle takes around this much time to mature, and it also improves the quality of your egg.

If you have any vices like smoking or drinking, you’d best quit while you’re ahead. It will give you ample time to recover from their effects on your body.

Vitamins Are Always Vital

Vitamin D and folic acid are usually the most recommended nutrients for women who want to get pregnant or already are. They can help increase your chances for getting pregnant as well as reduce the probability of birth defects. But it’s also better to eat a balanced diet in general, even if you’re not

It Starts With Caring For Yourself

Successful fertility treatment and pregnancy starts with how well you take care of yourself, both in mind and body.

Think of your body as a garden, and your child as a plant. If you want to have healthy plants, you need to take time to prepare healthy soil for them to grow in. Likewise, you need to be in good condition if you want to give birth to a perfectly healthy baby.


Looking for a clinic that offers in vitro fertilization in Davao City? Visit IVF Davao, an expert fertility clinic in the city. They offer their services at more affordable prices than what you would find overseas.

Should You Have Your Sperm Frozen?

Do you and your partner have plans to start a family in the future?

A lot of older couples are reported to be successful in conceiving lately, and many achieve this seemingly impossible feat with the help of treatments like IVF. A lot of the treatments involved in the process of IVF may seem to be primarily focused on women, but medical innovations have created possibilities for men as well.

One option that men might want to look into to improve their chances of having a child in the future is to have their sperm frozen while they are still at their reproductive prime.

What is Sperm Freezing? 

Sperm freezing is a procedure in which healthy sperm is stored at extremely low temperatures for the specific purpose of being used later on. Frozen sperm can be stored for an indefinite time period and, in some instances, may be used after more than twenty years in storage.

If the sperm cannot be collected normally, some of the methods used for retrieving sperm for freezing include testicular sperm aspiration and testicular sperm extraction.

One great advantage of frozen sperm is that they don’t necessarily have to be defrosted and used for just one instance. You can still save some sperm for later on.

Why Freeze Your Sperm? 

There are quite a number of valid reasons why you should consider having your sperm frozen:


Your profession or hobbies may put you at more risk of damaging your testicles, which is known to impact your fertility.

Your sperm count is getting lower and you’d like to save what you still have.

You have decided to undergo a vasectomy but want to keep some of your sperm available in case you’d still like to have children in the future.

You have a medical condition or will have a procedure/treatment done on you that might affect your fertility later on in life.

You’re simply not ready to have children at the moment.

Consult Your Fertility Expert First

If you are planning on having your sperm frozen, be sure to consult with the trusted fertility expert in your area first for the best course of action.

For couples in Davao who are interested, they can get in touch with IVF Davao for their fertility services, which includes sperm freezing.

Cool Reasons To Consider Sperm Freezing

Is sperm freezing a good thing to do for young male adults? If you ask the most trusted IVF clinic in Davao, the answer is a BIG YES!

Sperm cryopreservation is the process of sperm banking for future treatment, especially for those who plan to have a family in the future or people with problems with regards to their reproductive health.

If you would like to know why you should consider freezing your sperm, here are three cool reasons:

1. 20's is the best age to produce ‘good’ sperm

Scientifically speaking, the sperm that you produce during your 20s has a lesser chance of causing genetic mutation than that which you produce during your 40s and 50s. This means that freezing your sperm earlier in your adult life wi;; mean that you will be expecting a sperm with fewer abnormalities, genetically.

Moreover, your sperm count depletes through time. Freezing your sperm in your 20s provides a greater chance of having a baby once you decide that you want to build a family.

2. Duty calls? No problem.

Adulting is a phase where we need to make crucial choices for the improvement of our lives. We need to decide where we will be working, or how we will be able to earn money for ourselves and our future endeavors. This includes being away from our partner for prolonged periods of time if necessary.

Sperm freezing would be a beacon of light for people in long-distance relationships. There are jobs that require us to be away from our home for some time. Cryopreservation will be the answer whenever we want to have a baby even if we are away from our partners. Awesome, right?

3. Medical hindrances no more

Some men experience medical conditions where their reproductive system may be affected. This may sometimes affect their fertility in the future, but worry no more! Sperm freezing is the answer.

Sperm freezing for people with medical conditions is a great method for preserving the quality or count of sperm in case of times when your fertility is threatened. This sheds light on an opportunity for people who are scheduled for vasectomies or organ removal to have their own offspring in the future.

Freezing your sperm might sound like nothing more than a novelty idea, but it is something that young adult men should be considering. 

Did you know that an IVF in Davao City offers sperm freezing? Check out IVF Davao, Inc. for more information on the procedure and for full details on the procedure.

IVF Success Rate In Geriatric Women

A pregnancy that occurs when a person is 35 years or older is known as an advanced maternal age pregnancy. In the medical world, it's also sometimes known as a " geriatric pregnancy."

Generally, the IVF success rate in younger women is higher. However, women in the advanced maternal age may still be capable of bearing children through the IVF process.

Nevertheless, fertility specialists still have a cutoff for women above 42 years old because pregnancy in your mid-forties is dangerous for both the mother and the baby. Also, the chance of your baby developing inborn congenital disabilities is higher.

Potential risks of a geriatric pregnancy

The likelihood of women developing either gestational hypertension or diabetes or maybe even both increases the older that she gets. While studies have shown that these complications disappear after the woman gives birth in her younger years, it may carry over during her late maternal age.

Babies who are conceived during a mother's geriatric years have a higher chance of being born with chromosomal abnormalities such as down syndrome. Or sometimes, in the worst-case scenario, the woman will have a miscarriage or stillbirth.

It may take more than one IVF cycle to get pregnant

In Vitro Fertilization is no guarantee that you may have children. Similar to natural methods of conceiving, it's not a one time deal. Some women can get it done on the first try, and others will go through endless cycles of IVF to bring one child into the world.

If you've been through more IVF cycles than you can count that didn't turn out the way you expected it to, your fertility specialist will advise you to stop. As hard as it is to hear, you shouldn't feel bad for yourself. There are other ways to have children.

Geriatric pregnancy care

Before you begin your IVF procedure, your doctor may advise you to be at an appropriate weight. Being overweight or underweight can directly influence the outcome of your IVF procedure. Your fertility specialist may require bed rest for the second and third trimester of your pregnancy.

Like any pregnancy, you will need to live a healthy lifestyle. Exercise daily, take prenatal vitamins with folate in it, eat a balanced diet, and learn to rest when it is needed.

If you're a geriatric mother who needs the help of fertility specialists in Davao feel free to leave IVF Davao a message. They will be there to help you on your journey to becoming parents.

Female Fertility Preservation

A decline in available eggs is a very common cause of infertility. Women are born with their life-long supply of eggs and as they age their reserve of eggs naturally diminishes each month. When a woman no longer has any viable eggs left she enters the menopause, apart from other factors.

Fertility preservation refers to the process of freezing a woman's eggs, her embryos, or her ovarian tissue. This may give her the potential to conceive in the future should she be unable to become pregnant naturally. Fertility preservation can become an option to consider if you think you have trouble conceiving in the future. Learn more about your options for female fertility preservation and IVF in Davao below.

The Factors that Limit Fertility in Women

Many factors can limit a woman's ability to conceive, including:

• Planned surgery to remove the ovaries
• Chemotherapy that can damage eggs
• Radiation therapy to the pelvis
• Medications that can damage eggs
• Genetic causes of rapidly decreasing egg numbers
• Advancing age

Cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery can speed up the natural decline in available eggs, thereby reducing or destroying the egg reserve. The risk of being infertile after cancer treatment depends upon the type of treatment, the woman's fertility before treatment, and her age. A cancer specialist can provide an estimate of the likelihood that chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy will decrease fertility.

There are three options that may be available for female fertility preservation. These are embryo freezing, egg freezing, and ovarian tissue freezing, but Cryopreservation or embryo freezing is a unique option.

How Does Cryopreservation or Embryo Freezing Work?

Embryo freezing involves a procedure called in-vitro fertilization (IVF) where eggs are fertilized with sperm in a laboratory, and then the resulting embryos are frozen (cryopreserved). IVF can be performed using either a male partner or a donor's sperm.

The ovaries would be stimulated to produce more eggs than usual using medication. The medication would be taken daily for about 12 days. Blood tests and ultrasound examinations would be used to monitor the growth of the follicles (the fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries that contain maturing eggs). Once these follicles are mature, they would be drained through the top of the vagina using a needle guided by ultrasound.

How Long Does Cryopreservation Take?

This procedure takes approximately 20 minutes and is usually done under anesthetic (although conscious sedation is an option). A microscope is used to search the fluid for the eggs, and then these eggs are fertilized in the laboratory with sperm from a partner or a donor. Embryos that develop successfully are then frozen for future use, and often a number of embryos are obtained and frozen from an IVF cycle.

When the woman is ready to use her frozen embryos, she may have to take medication to help develop the lining of her uterus in preparation for embryo implantation (particularly if she is menopausal), or it may be possible to do a transfer in a natural menstrual cycle.

If you live in Davao and you want to know more about the IVF cost in Davao, check their website now at www.ivfdavao.com.

Why You Should Go Through Infertility Counseling

Infertility affects a lot of people, and more often than not, it takes a toll on people emotionally. Between the inability to conceive and the slim in vitro fertilization success rate, it can get quite stressful especially for couples looking to start or expand their growing family.

The diagnosis of infertility can even interfere with a person’s work, interpersonal relationships, or their own self-worth. When this happens, you may be recommended to visit an infertility counselor.

What is infertility counseling?

photo credit: letu.edu

Many people may find it difficult to cope with infertility, which is why they turn to infertility counseling. Infertility counseling is a form of therapy undergone by people to help them work through anxiety, grief, feelings of worthlessness, among other emotional issues.

Beyond emotional trauma, infertility counseling can also serve as a prerequisite for major fertility procedures like IVF or a guide for couples who may not know what options are available for them.

When should we visit an infertility counselor?

You can always visit an infertility counselor if you’re unsure about your next steps. An infertility counselor can advise you on what steps you and your partner can take, or what options may be best for you. This can help partners find common ground or a second opinion from a licensed professional.

For instance, endocrinologists and fertility specialists strongly recommend that couples undergo infertility counseling before or during the IVF procedure.

Similarly, when infertility puts a strain on your mental health, work, and interpersonal relationships, it can also convey that it’s time to seek help.

These symptoms may include feelings of guilt or worthlessness, persistent sadness, depression, anxiety, mood swings, agitation, loss of interest in usual activities, suicidal thoughts, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, and or loss of or excess sleep.

If thoughts of infertility consistently pervade your thoughts, it may also be time to seek professional help.

An infertility counselor may be able to help you with many concerns including coping with infertility, dealing with the IVF cost, or seeking more options fit for you and your partner. Just remember that both infertility is nothing to be ashamed of and that getting help is a wise decision.

Supporting Men Struggling With Infertility

Father’s day is approaching, and with that, it’s a good time to talk about male factor infertility. For the longest time, infertility was seen as a woman’s issue, and treatments aiding the problem and support aids were mostly targeted towards women.

It is, however, high time that people understand that it is a man’s issue, too, and as IVF in Davao continues to become a more popular option among couples, we want to shed light on the man’s experience, too.

Male factor infertility is typically left unacknowledged

As soon as a couple may mention that they’re undergoing fertility treatment, the most common response would be to sympathize with the woman. While it is true that a bulk of the treatment itself is done on the woman, it should be taken into consideration that what if it were the man behind the couple’s inability to have children.

Men do not have the same amount of avenues to channel their feelings

Looking at various support groups, whether online or in real life, IVF and fertility discussions are mostly in aid of the woman’s experience. This leaves men to think that they may not be worthy or suffering enough to join in on the conversation.

Such lack of expression may lead men to suppress their concerns, worries, and personal struggles, and that’s just a recipe for outbursts or burying their heads in the sand later on - something that could take a major toll on the couple later on.

What you can do 

Just because this is the experience for many, that doesn’t mean it has to be yours. The best first step to take is to look for the right fertility clinic to make sure that both of you as partners are sufficiently evaluated to check for all possible roots of infertility.

Moreover, it is also important that your fertility treatment clinic provides equal opportunities for male-focused treatments if it does turn out that your case involves male factor infertility. We, the most trusted IVF clinic in Davao, provide services such as testicular sperm extraction in the event that the man cannot provide a sample himself as well as have experienced urologists as part of our specialist team.

Whether man or woman, fertility definitely requires a lot of patience and support, for both sides. Before anything else, consult with your specialist and have you and your partner evaluated and start your journey from there.

Myths About Fertility

A lot of factors come into play when it comes to fertility, and with that, a lot of myths surrounding it are often passed around, too. This can cause not only misinformation but unnecessary distress for the couple as well.

As the most trusted source on IVF in Davao, we want to make sure those myths are effectively dispelled. Here’s what you should really know about fertility. 

Myth # 1 - Infertility is extremely uncommon

Infertility, and the many medical issues that come along with it are actually pretty common. Millions of couples around the world, some just trying for their first child, others their third, struggle with conceiving and successfully carrying out a full pregnancy.

Infertility, while not normal, is a common problem and those struggling with it should not think twice about seeking medical assistance.

Myth # 2 - Infertility only happens to older people

While age does have a significant effect on fertility, it is not the only factor that matters. Young women and men are also vulnerable to infertility due to other causes. These could include: reproductive conditions or diseases, having undergone medical treatments or procedures before, exposure to radiation or toxins, and being over/underweight.

Myth # 3 - Infertility is a woman’s concern

Infertility is most definitely not something that only the woman in the relationship should worry about. Male factor infertility counts for a third of infertility cases, while another third is due to unexplained factors. With that, it can be said that male infertility should be checked out just as much as female infertility is.

Myth # 4 - If you’ve had kids before, your fertility is secure

If you’ve successfully gotten pregnant and had a child/children before, whether it was through IVF or through natural means, there still stands a chance of struggling with infertility.

If you were able to achieve so via IVF before, chances are the problems that caused your infertility then will still cause you trouble this time around. And if you were able to do things naturally, there still lies concern with you being older now.

Myth # 5 - IVF is unnecessary and too expensive

Many consider IVF as an ultimate last option after all others have been exhausted since it is typically expensive to undergo. Because of this intimidation at the cost, many also view the procedure as something that isn’t necessary at all and choose to persist using less-effective and less-proven ways to assist them in achieving pregnancy.

The fact of the matter is, IVF treatment does tend to get expensive, but there are ways to combat it. A lot of fertility centers offer payment options that help ease the burden of payment, making it a viable option for any couple.



These are just 5 of the most talked about myths regarding fertility out there. As always, it is the best course of action to consult with your local IVF service provider
regarding your fertility options.

If you’re in the Philippines, consider visiting the foremost authority in fertility and in vitro fertilization in Mindanao. From providing you everything you need to know about the procedures to IVF cost in Davao, you’re sure to find it to be a helpful part of your journey.

Male Fertility Myths

When it comes to couples, infertility is often an issue that people immediately associate with the woman. This is highly untrue - around a third of all infertility cases are actually due to male factor infertility, meaning, men should be just as aware of how fertility works and of their overall reproductive health just as well as women who are trying to conceive are.

With all of that can come a lot of myths regarding male fertility, often leading to the man not receiving or simply disregarding the treatment he may need to successfully produce healthy sperm. Here, we dispel such myths surrounding male fertility.

1. Men do not have to worry about their age

While it is true that men produce sperm all throughout their lives, even into their senior years, it is important to know that a man’s age does affect sperm quality and motility. These are two crucial factors in fertilizing an egg to form an embryo. 

Sperm from older men are also known to increase the risk of producing mentally-challenged children. 

If you are not thinking about having children until your later years, it may be a smart idea to look into sperm freezing and other fertility preservation options. 

2. Lifestyle habits affect male fertility less

Smoking, drinking, and an overall unhealthy lifestyle can affect a man’s fertility just as much as it can affect a woman’s fertility. Smoking alone is known to increase a man’s risk of infertility by 30%. 

Whether or not you and your partner are trying to conceive, it is always recommended for both to live clean lifestyles that exclude said bad habits. 

3. As long as there is semen, there is sperm

This is something that a lot of men overestimate. Just because you are able to produce semen, it does not mean you have a healthy sperm count. A lot of the time, men actually ejaculate semen with low sperm count. 

This is why when it comes to addressing conception, it is important for the man to consult with a specialist to examine their reproductive organs, as well as test their semen for a healthy sperm count.

4. Taking men’s supplements can improve sperm quality

When a couple is actively trying to conceive, it will be understandable for the man to think that taking men’s testosterone supplements (for improved libido and energy purposes) will result in stronger sperm that will be better able to fertilize the woman’s egg. This can actually be counterproductive. 

Such practice is actually known to make the man’s body suppress its natural testosterone production, slowing down, or even shutting down sperm production.

If you are experiencing sexual dysfunction and therefore cannot provide sperm in the “traditional manner,” you can look into testicular sperm extraction and IVF. 

5. The type of underwear a man wears affects fertility

You’ve probably heard somewhere before that a man should wear certain types of boxers or briefs to protect their fertility. The truth of the matter is that choice of underwear, whether loose or snug, actually does not affect a man’s sperm count. 

What does matter is the exposure to extremely hot temperatures and hobbies such as biking? Underwear-wise, however, men should only be concerned as to what’s comfortable. 

These are just some of the most popular myths about male fertility floating around, and we’re sure you’ve heard of more before. 

If you’re trying to conceive with your partner or are simply concerned regarding your reproductive health, consult with your doctor today for the necessary tests and evaluations.

  

Helping Yourself Get Through IVF Treatment

When you deeply long to be a parent, you will be willing to go through any downs and difficulties necessary to bring your long awaited bundle of joy into the world. As wonderful as the journey to being a parent can get, there will be instances wherein you may feel tired and just about ready to give up, especially when it comes to a process such as IVF.

As part of being the most trusted in vitro fertilization clinic in Davao, we want to make sure our patients take care of themselves as their journey progresses. Here are some ways to cope as you go through IVF.

1. Get counseling

Counseling before, during, and after the treatment can be incredibly helpful in helping manage anxiousness, stress, fatigue, anger, and any other negative feelings you might find yourself having with IVF.

With the medication and the heaviness of the process itself, experiencing said feelings is completely normal and is more than manageable with help from a reliable therapist or specialized counselor.

2. Gather as much support as possible

It is a given that you will garner as much support as possible from friends and family, but you will find that you can find a helpful amount of support in joining online or physical support groups with people who truly understand what you’re going through.

IVF support groups are everywhere, and by being able to talk with people who are going through or have gone through the same treatment, it will help you to feel less alone and more courageous about the experience.

3. Get as much rest as you can

As restless as you may feel as you go through IVF, it is crucial that you get yourself to take as much time out as possible to relax and calm down, both physically and mentally. The process in itself already can already take a significant toll on you as parents; it’s vital you don’t add stress to your mind and body any further.

Apart from getting enough sleep, you can try meditation, going to spas, writing in a journal, or simply getting yourself comfortable in front of your favorite show to help you ease your state of mind and get your body in the mood to rest.

4. Talk to your fertility specialist

A lot of the anxieties and worries that patients who are going through IVF have typically stemmed from uncertainties regarding the medical aspect of the process. How much of a chance do we have at successful conception? Will it hurt? What if my body reacts negatively?

These are all viable questions and can only be answered by consulting with a specialist who’s experienced with fertility treatment and IVF itself.

If you’re in the Philippines and are considering IVF as a fertility treatment option, you can consult with the first and best facility offering in vitro fertilization in Davao.

Remember, no matter how many struggles you may encounter along the way, it will all be well worth it in the end, and there will always be professionals to help you throughout the journey.

Factors That Can Affect Your Fertility

It is not uncommon for couples who are trying to get pregnant to struggle for a while. This is because a lot of different factors affect one’s fertility, especially that of a woman’s. This is why during periods of attempting to conceive, it is important to pay attention both to daily habits and markers that pertain to one’s general health.

From age to smoking to your occupation, there are various aspects one can look into if there is struggle with conception. As the most trusted authority on in vitro fertilization in Davao, IVF Davao, Inc. wants to make sure patients are informed on what the different factors affecting fertility are.

If you have been trying to conceive naturally for a year to no avail, it may be time to consider the following factors.

Weight

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 12% of all infertility cases have something to do with the woman weighing too much or too little. Weight has an effect on how much (or how little) estrogen your body can produce, and if it cannot produce enough to stimulate the body to ovulate regularly, difficulty in conception may be expected.

Sleeping time

Pointing to another study by the ASRM, women with more irregular nightly and morning routines may require more time to get pregnant compared to women who go to bed and wake at more or less the same time every day.

Smoking

Smoking is a common culprit for women struggling to conceive. Chemicals found in cigarettes such as nicotine, cyanide, and carbon monoxide are known to have a negative impact on eggs (and on sperm, for the men), including speeding up the loss rate of the ovarian reserve.

Environment

Regular exposure to toxins, such as those found in pollution from factories or even from pesticides used on the food we eat. A build-up of these toxins in the body can affect a woman’s hormones enough to affect the menstrual cycle and result in irregular ovulation, making conception more difficult.

Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors of muscle tissue that can change the size or shape of one’s uterus. They are known to affect 20% of women of reproductive age, with 5% to 10% of infertile women known to suffer from fibroids. Their effect on fertility depends on where the fibroids are located.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism occurs when one’s thyroid gland does not produce enough of the thyroid hormone, creating an imbalance that makes the metabolism dysfunctional. In relation to fertility, hypothyroidism may cause irregular ovulation or cause the body not to release an egg at all.

These are just some of the factors that may ultimately affect your attempts at having child. It’s important to remember that each body is different and each person may have different factors causing infertility.

It is always best to talk to fertility specialists regarding your concerns with infertility. If you’re looking to consult, you can always visit the top IVF clinic in Davao and consult with specialists ready to help you on your journey.

4 Important IVF Questions Answered

You may have heard various success stories from celebrities and even acquaintances about how IVF has helped them overcome their struggles with infertility. These stories are good proof of IVF’s efficacy at making conception possible despite possible physical hindrances. Though at the same time, it may lead potential patients to paint an unrealistic image of the procedure in their head.

As the most trusted authority on in vitro fertilization in Davao, we want to ensure that those who are interested in IVF know straight facts regarding the procedure.

How effective is IVF?

Yes, in vitro fertilization is an effective procedure. According to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, from 1985 to 2006, there have been 500,000 babies born from assisted reproductive technologies including IVF in the United States alone. After the birth of the first IVF baby, a reported 4 million babies have been born via the procedure since then.

IVF success rates, however, vary from country to country,as well as from age bracket to age bracket. It is also important to take into account the other factors (possible health conditions, environment, etc.) that may influence the success of a procedure. This is why extensive physical evaluation and checking for any other underlying conditions before the procedure is important.

Should those with Endometriosis and PCOS forget about IVF?

A lot of women who have been diagnosed with endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) may be worried that their condition will prevent them from being able to have the procedure. They will be glad to know that it is actually fine for them to undergo the procedure; it may even be the best course of action for them to achieve pregnancy.

Endometriosis and PCOS typically do not inhibit women from producing eggs, and since IVF involves extracting eggs directly from the ovaries, there should be no problem.

Is assisted hatching really necessary?

A lot of IVF centers provide assisted hatching as part of the implantation process. It is, however, not required for every procedure.

Assisted hatching is only really needed when the protective outer shell of the embryo is too thick for it to break out on its own, resulting in difficulty implanting. It is generally recommended for those who are older than 38 years old or those who have experience with unsuccessful implantation before.

How will IVF open my partner and I up to more options?

With IVF, your options will be widened to include egg freezing, sperm freezing, and even embryo freezing. With that, if you find yourself wanting another child in the future, you won’t have to worry about having grown older and the possibility of encountering difficulties in conceiving again.

This reassures couples who feel they will want more kids in the future, but worry about the toll that going through another round of IVF treatment may take on them physically, emotionally, and financially.

IVF is definitely an option that couples who have been struggling with fertility treatment should look into. The questions above may be just some of those that have run through your mind.

As always, consulting with trusted experts in the field should be done so that any queries and concerns can be answered, and other health factors can be taken into consideration.

If you’re in the Philippines and are looking for experienced specialists, you can always visit the top IVF clinic in Davao for consultation and counseling. 

Financial Considerations of IVF

Conceiving children doesn't come cheap. You have to think about visits to the gynecologist and taking daily supplements to boost your fertility, to name a few. Even more so if you are unable to conceive through natural methods and you need to do IVF instead.

In-Vitro Fertilization treatments are so expensive because of the procedures the couple must undergo to conceive a child. And there are times when the IVF cycle fails, and the test results come out negative, which can mean that the couple may undergo treatment again. Some couples even endure multiple cycles of IVF treatment just to be able to have children. 

In Davao City, the IVF cost can range anywhere between P285,000 to P450,000 through IVF Davao offers financing options to offer patients who are seeking the treatment.

In-Vitro Fertilization (P300,000 -P400,000)

This is the egg harvesting and first embryo transfer. Included in the fee are the fertility medication, PF, and lab fees. The cost varies on the length of the cycle as some women need to stay on fertility drugs longer than others before their eggs are ready to be harvested. 

The embryo transfer begins the test-tube baby's conception, given the eggs survive the process.

Embryo Freezing (P12,360)

During this procedure, the embryos are frozen either for future conceptions or in the case of a failed cycle. These reserved embryos will be used during the next round of treatment.

Sperm Freezing (P15,450)

Sperm Freezing is a preservation method for men with infertility issues, or for husbands who can't be around during the procedure day where the frozen sperm will be used in the procedure instead. After their treatment, the sperm cells will be stored for future use. 

Testicular Sperm Extraction (P31,000)

Patients who have undergone a vasectomy and had a zero sperm count have the option of extracting their sperm through the epididymis and testicles through aspiration or extraction.

Assisted Hatching (P10,000)

This procedure involves mixing the eggs and sperm in a test tube before transferring it to the mother. This often leads to better results and the development of a normal embryo.

Blastocyst Culture and Transfer (P15,000)

This special process is similar to assisted hatching, except the fertilized egg is allowed to develop into an embryo first for five days before making the transfer to the mother. The benefit of growing an embryo to the blastocyst stage is a higher chance of implantation in the uterine lining.

Frozen Embryo Transfer (P36,000)

In case you would try to conceive again, there is the option to transfer your embryos that have been cryopreserved. Frozen embryos are viable for up to ten years.

IVF can be quite costly, but luckily IVF treatment in Davao has more affordable options, and it can be the first step you can take into parenthood.

Do I really Need Fertility Counseling?

Fertility is a great struggle among a lot of couples and is more common than people think. The lack of conversation, however, has led a lot of people struggling with infertility to feel alone in their struggle, further diminishing their hopefulness in their situation.

Thankfully, apart from the actual procedures, IVF treatment can help you by providing counseling to couples and help them prepare for the non-physical struggles that come with fertility treatment. As the trusted clinic providing fertility specialists in Davao, we certainly want to make sure our patients are well-ready for treatment, both in with their mind and physical condition.

So What Can Proper Counseling Help You With?

Informs you on what to expect with the procedures

When it comes to IVF, there is a great possibility that a lot of procedures will be involved. From inducing ovulation to intracytoplasmic sperm injection, the couple will no doubt want to know what goes on in each of these procedures.

Proper counseling should provide patients with the details they need to assure them that the procedures they’re going to through are safe as well as explain what the procedures are meant to achieve.

Helps you prepare yourself mentally for the process

IVF and fertility treatment as a whole are not the easiest things to go through. Couples who have gone through a lot to work on their fertility are especially prone to negative feelings such as:

• Sadness
• Guilt
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• A feeling of helplessness
• A sense of isolation

When couples are oriented as to the possible mental and emotional difficulties they may experience, whether it’s with just one person or the both of them, they can prepare themselves for adjusting to the situations and putting in more effort in understanding their partner.

Who can we turn to for counseling?

It is always a good idea to consult with fertility specialists to know what procedures you and your partner should prepare for. If you’re looking for fertility counseling in Davao, you can contact IVF Davao, the city’s most trusted IVF clinic for counseling services.

5 Factors That Affect Your Fertility

Infertility is a condition that affects one’s reproductive organs, impeding their ability to bear children. A person can be born with such reproductive issues or it could be the result of a person’s lifestyle choices and habits or be the result of a prior medical procedure/treatment. In a lot of cases, the person’s current physiological status such as age and occupation have a lot to do with it, too.

As the number one facility offering fertility counseling in Davao, we want to make sure you’re equipped with a good measure of knowledge on the causes of infertility to help you know how you can preserve your fertility best. 

Environment

One’s environment and the presence of toxins can affect a person’s fertility. The more polluted and the more pesticides are present in the air and are therefore inhaled, the more likely toxins are going to build up in the person’s system. Especially vulnerable are those working with chemicals, radiation, and heavy metals. 

It doesn’t end with occupational exposure either; toxins can build up in a person’s system due to things such as pesticide-exposed fruits and vegetables, deep-sea fish which may contain mercury, or even lead-containing paint used around the house. Minimizing exposure to such elements can help you maintain better reproductive health and better health in general.

Stress

Every person needs a bit of stress every now and again, but chronic stress may lower a person’s ability to fight off illnesses and affect their hormones as well, especially for women. Even though stress itself doesn’t cause infertility per se, the resulting hormonal imbalance may cause a delayed or even skipped a menstrual cycle, making ovulation and the maturation of healthy eggs less likely to occur.

Age

For the woman, the number and quality of eggs from the ovarian reserve naturally decrease as she gets older beginning in her 30s. Fibroids, endometriosis, and tubal disease are also more common when you’re older, and they can affect one’s ability to get pregnant.

The quality of men’s sperm, on the other hand, begins to decline around his 40s, and such sperm may be more likely to produce offspring with chromosomal/developmental problems.

Smoking

Smoking is another thing that greatly affects the quality of a woman’s eggs and a man’s sperm. Due to the chemicals found in cigarettes, female smokers experience a greater egg loss rate compared to non-smokers. 

Male smokers, meanwhile, end up producing sperm with reduced quality and motility. This means lower sperm count and ability to move and travel to the egg successfully. Moreover, smoking makes men more likely to produce abnormally shaped sperm, which makes penetration of the egg and fertilization more difficult to achieve.

Weight

Being underweight or overweight affects both men’s and women’s fertility. If a man is under or overweight, his sperm quality tends to be lower. If a woman is under or overweight, her body’s estrogen production may end up either lacking or too much, making her reproductive system act out and making conception more difficult.

If you’re having difficulty conceiving or are fear that you might have difficulty conceiving due to one of these factors, it is important that you visit and consult with a trusted specialist. There are fertility specialists in Davao that you can discuss your concerns with and see what can be done to make preserve or improve your fertility in a way that’s best for you.