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Shruti Malik, M.D. shares tips on how to boost your fertility.

For every ailment it seems there’s an old wives tale that will either cure you immediately or set you back. Hiccups? Stand on your head. Headache? Try a teaspoon of salt. It’s no different for fertility, which is why Health.com sought tips on how to boost your fertility from Shady Grove Fertility’s Shruti Malik, M.D.

How much exercise is too much?

It is pretty common advice to try to get your body pregnancy-ready through regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet. But how much exercise is too much? While it’s great to be in shape, Health suggests quitting the intense high impact, heart rate-pumping workouts and giving your body a bit of a break. To stay in shape try switching up your exercise with aerobics, swimming, yoga, Pilates, or just taking a nice walk. For those who are undergoing infertility treatments, Dr. Malik recommends talking with your physician or nurse about when to slow down your exercise routine.

Maintaining a Healthy Diet

When it comes to food there are a couple items to look out for. For all the sushi lovers out there, take note of the types of fish you are consuming. The seafood you love, especially at the sushi bar could make getting pregnant tougher. “An accumulation of mercury in the bloodstream over time has been associated with infertility. I tell women who are trying to conceive to avoid or limit consumption of those fish,” explains Dr. Malik. Some fish to steer clear from are tuna, shark, and swordfish.

We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but according to one study, a large breakfast may be linked to increasing the rate of ovulation for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

To learn more about PCOS or the relationship between weight and fertility, watch our new On-Demand webinars available here.

Getting Down to Business – How Your Sex Life Could be Impacting Conception

The next tips are about how you and your partner are actually working to make your baby. Everyone’s has at least one friend who is more than happy to tell you exactly which position is most likely to result in conception, but according to Dr. Malik, “there’s no evidence that position has any effect on fertility.” Timing rather than position has much more to do with conception. Dr. Malik advises intercourse during the 5 days leading up to ovulation and the day you ovulate. She cautions that sex every day can be stressful for some so focus on the last 2 or 3 days of that ovulation window.

While we’re on the topic of intercourse, Health and Dr. Malik have some information about lubricant that you probably didn’t know. “Certain components of water-based lubricants can make it more difficult for sperm to make their way into the cervical canal,” says Dr. Malik. These lubricants include many of the popular drugstore brands, so Malik suggests that couples who are trying to conceive use lubricants designed to mimic natural fluids or mineral oil.

A Better Sleep Routine

We all know how important it is to get a good night’s sleep, but did you know that you’ll get a much better quality of sleep if you sleep in total darkness? Health cautions that melatonin production could be lowered by artificial light including the limit emitted from your smartphone or tablet. Melatonin is the sleep hormone that helps boost fertility, so remember to get your z’s and turn out the lights!

When to Consult a Fertility Specialist

While there are lots of old wives to consider and new tips to try, you shouldn’t compromise on your fertility health. For most couples, if the female partner is under 35 and you have been trying to conceive for 12 months or more, or the female partner is over 35 and you have been trying to conceive for 6 months or more, it’s time to consult a fertility specialist. For women who are not ovulating regularly, have endometriosis, or a family history of early menopause, you should see a specialist as soon as you suspect you may have a problem. Early intervention offers the most treatment options and highest likelihood of success.

Medical Contribution by: Shruti Malik, M.D., of SGF’s Fair Oaks, VA and Woodbridge, VA locations.

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Editors Note: This post was originally published in September 2015 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness as of July 31, 2018. 

If you have questions about how to boost your fertility or would like to schedule a consult with a physician, please call our New Patient Center at 877-971-7755 or click to schedule an appointment.

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Given the relative novelty of egg freezing, it’s understandable that many women have questions ranging from “How much does egg freezing cost?” to “Does egg freezing work?” and “When should I consider egg freezing?” And the list goes on.

Over the past several years, the egg freezing program at SGF has grown tremendously. This growth, coupled with our size and experience, has enabled us to create new financial programs to better serve our patients—each intended to better meet the needs of women who are interested in egg freezing.

If you’re considering freezing your eggs, we’ve compiled this list of helpful egg freezing facts.

Medical contribution by Caleb Kallen, M.D., Ph.D.

Caleb Kallen, M.D., Ph.D., FACOG, is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Dr. Kallen has expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), ovulation induction with intrauterine inseminations (IUI), donor egg treatments, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis. He sees patients in SGF’s Philadelphia and Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, offices.

Who is freezing eggs?

Egg freezing is an important option to protect fertility potential, which declines with age, freezing is primarily for women between the ages of 30 and 40. Typically, women who opt to freeze eggs want to have a baby in the future but, because of careers, relationships, or personal choice, need to postpone childbearing. Other reasons women may decide to freeze eggs include health concerns, such as planned surgeries for endometriosis or fibroids, or prior to cancer treatments, each of which can threaten future fertility potential.

Whatever the reason for freezing your eggs, the important thing to know is that egg freezing gives women the option to have children when the timing is right.

Here are 22 helpful facts to consider if you are contemplating egg freezing:

  1. Some health-related reasons women may consider egg freezing include: endometriosis, fibroids, diminished ovarian reserve/low egg supply, a family history of early menopause, and cancer.
  2. Excluding health-related issues, the #1 reason women decide to freeze eggs is to have options for family building in the future.

The science & technology behind egg freezing

  1. A woman’s ability to conceive is largely determined by her age. As women age, both egg quantity and egg quality decrease. This can be demonstrated by measuring the percentage of chromosomally abnormal eggs that a women produces, a figure that increases as women age. The progressive loss of eggs over time is not a result of poor health or lifestyle, it is an unfortunate feature of ovarian biology. Egg freezing can extend the biological clock by essentially locking in the fertility potential where it is at the time a woman freezes her eggs; the frozen eggs of a 30 year old will always behave like those of a 30 year old (i.e. better pregnancy rates, lower risk of miscarriage), even if those eggs are used when the patient is 40 years old.
  2. Every woman is born with a set a number of eggs.At 20 weeks gestation, each female fetus has about 6 million eggs—the most eggs she will ever have in her lifetime. At birth, she has already lost approximately half of her eggs and by the time she reaches puberty, she has only about 200,000-400,000 left.
  3. Not every egg can produce a viable pregnancy; therefore, we generally recommend that women 37 or younger who have excellent ovarian function freeze between 15 and 20 mature eggs. For women over 38, or women at any age with diminished ovarian function, we recommend freezing 25 to 30 eggs.
  4. In order to generate a cohort of mature eggs, fertility medication is used to stimulate the ovaries. This process takes about 2 weeks.
  5. We freeze eggs in liquid nitrogen; eggs can remain frozen indefinitely.
  6. Choosing to freeze your eggs has no detrimental effect on your future fertility…the process does not “use up” or exhaust the existing supply of eggs or lead to earlier menopause.
  7. Women 37 years or younger, with normal ovarian reserve, will likely retrieve an average of 13 eggs per cycle. Therefore, it will take most women at least two treatment cycles to reach the optimum number of 15 to 20 eggs for storage.
  8. Vitrification, a fast-freeze technology, was introduced in 2009 and is the most reliable form of freezing eggs.
  9. All frozen eggs are stored at SGF’s state-of-the-art laboratories with many redundant quality controls and stringent identity protocols in place, each for your protection.

What is the best age to freeze your eggs?

While there is considerable variation between women with respect to the rate of decline of egg supply, in general, the optimal time to freeze is in the early- to mid-30s, while fertility potential is still near its peak. However, at SGF, you can freeze your eggs between the ages of 18 and 40 (depending upon circumstances).

  1. Egg quality—otherwise known as your fertility potential—typically remains relatively high into a woman’s early- to-mid 30s, but then generally declines more rapidly in the late 30s and early 40s.
  2. There is no perfect age for egg freezing, but freezing earlier will yield better results.
  3. The term ovarian reserve quantifies a woman’s remaining egg supply. There is no perfect way to measure ovarian reserve but several tests are combined to provide a best estimate of ovarian reserve; your SGF physician will help you to interpret your test results.
  4. One predictor of a woman’s ovarian reserve, the Ovarian Assessment Report (OAR), relies on several reproductive hormone levels along with age, in order to estimate egg yield in a typical treatment; the OAR reports your egg supply as “good, normal, or poor.”
  5. SGF is one of the only fertility centers in the U.S. with peer-reviewed and published outcomes data from women who have frozen and then thawed their eggs to produce pregnancies.

Egg freezing costs

The cost of egg freezing varies across the county. Some centers offer flat rates on a per cycle basis, others offer financial plans. In order to make an educated decision, it is important to get as much information, not only about the costs, but also about the quality, experience, and expertise of the fertility center.

  1. Diagnostic testing, including ovarian reserve testing as well as physician consultation, is covered by SGF’s 30+ participating insurance providers. 90 percent of women have insurance coverage for testing and physician consultation. Learn more about testing.
  2. SGF created the first “flat-fee guarantee” financial programs of their kind, the Assure20 and Assure30, which offer a single cost for multiple treatment cycles. These programs guarantee either a certain number of eggs for banking, or a certain number of treatment cycles, whichever comes first (i.e. you are guaranteed to freeze twenty (or thirty) mature eggs, or undergo at least four treatment cycles, whichever comes first).
  3. The cost of medication will depend upon an individual’s dosing, which is determined by the patient’s response to medications. Some patients may have insurance coverage for medications.
  4. Financing is available with all egg freezing financial programs through a Shady Grove Fertility partner, Fertility Finance.
  5. The newest option for egg freezing candidates is a discount financial program that offers cycles as low as $200/month depending on credit and length of term, plus a partial refund on storage for women who choose to thaw/use their eggs early.  
  6. SGF is one of the leading fertility centers in the country with over 50,000 babies born, and counting. With 42 physicians and 29 locations throughout MD, PA, VA, D.C., and GA, we offer patients individualized care for each person’s unique journey.
Schedule An Egg Freezing Appointment 

To learn more about egg freezing, call our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 to schedule an appointment with a physician or complete our brief online form.

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Medical Contribution by Paulette Browne, M.D.

Paulette Browne, M.D., of SGF’s Fair Oaks, VA location, is double board certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, and obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Browne recently hosted a webinar about what your menstrual cycle says about your fertility, and helped address common questions and concerns.

Join the next Q&A Webinar, or take advantage of another SGF educational event, in person or online. View our events calendar to learn more.

Q: Can maintaining a healthy weight help regulate my cycle?

Dr. Browne: Yes, maintaining a healthy weight is very important and can help regulate your cycle. Being underweight or overweight can result in fertility issues and ovulation issues.

Q: Ovulation predictor kits are supposed to give you 2 days for peak ovulation, but my tests constantly read positive. What does that mean?

Dr. Browne: Ovulation predictor kits are measuring LH. LH is a signal from the brain that causes ovulation. Some women have chronically elevated LH either because of low ovarian reserve or, more commonly, from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) when the LH is elevated due to insulin problems. For people who have positive LH at all times, it really makes sense to see a fertility doctor to get a better sense of whether you have an ovulatory issue.

Q: My cycle is regular when I’m on birth control. Does that mean when I go off the pill, I should expect to maintain this regular cycle?

Dr. Browne: Actually, the birth control pill is artificially regulating your cycle, so if you go off the pill and your cycles are irregular, it may point to some issue that can be fixed with fertility treatment. Just because you go off the pill doesn’t mean your cycles are going to remain regular.

Q: Can I look at my mom or sister’s cycle to help indicate if my cycle will be normal?

Dr. Browne: There are some genetic issues that could be similar in siblings or parents, but I would say that most cyclic abnormalities are individual and by looking at your siblings or mother’s menstrual cycle does not help to predict yours.

Q: My period comes the same time every month, but it’s varies in length between 3-5 days. Is this normal?

Dr. Browne: This does sound very normal. It’s a regular timed menstrual cycle and the number of days of bleeding may just be adjusted by how well the lining built up that month.

Q: If only the first day of your period is painful, might this be a sign of endometriosis?

Dr. Browne: Yes, it’s very possible. Some people just have menstrual cramps and it’s a sign of your uterus trying to expel the blood in the uterus and it may be normal. But, it’s certainly possible to have just one painful day of your period and it could be endometriosis.

Watch: SGF’s New On-Demand Webinar, Getting Pregnant with Endometriosis

Q: How do you determine the start of your cycle? Is it when you start spotting or the first day of your flow?

Dr. Browne: We do call the first day of the cycle the “first day of full flow” and not the spotting. The first day of full flow is usually when the progesterone has dropped sufficiently enough to cause the lining to shed.

Q: If I’m under 35 and have had 2 miscarriages in 12 months, should I see a specialist?

Dr. Browne: I would highly recommend you see a specialist if you’ve had 2 miscarriages in 12 months. Anyone who has had two miscarriages even over years would fit our definition of having what’s called recurrent pregnancy loss. There are things that we could look for that might be causing recurrent pregnancy loss that we can treat. We can also assist in trying to reduce the risk of a further miscarriage.

Q: It sounds like I have PCOS, since I rarely get my period. How would a doctor know if I have PCOS? How would they treat it?

Dr. Browne: PCOS is what’s called a clinical diagnosis and it’s really diagnosed by listening to the patient and their symptoms. We ask about cycle irregularity, acne, and hair growth. There are some tests that evaluate if someone has PCOS, but actually, the clinical history is probably more important than the blood tests. If you do have PCOS, we treat it by utilizing medications to make the body ovulate, so we get around these ovulation issues.

To watch our On-Demand Webinar on PCOS, click here. During this free, on-demand event, viewers will learn about the symptoms of PCOS, the role they play when trying to conceive, and treatment options that are available to help women overcome their infertility caused by this condition.

Schedule an Appointment

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Browne or any of our SGF physicians, please call our New Patient Center at 888-761-1967 or fill out this brief form.

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Medical Contribution by Jason G. Bromer, M.D and Stephanie Beall, M.D., Ph.D.

Can vitamins improve your fertility or result in a healthier pregnancy? That is a question physicians and researchers alike have been asking themselves for years.  Most studies aimed at finding a link between vitamin levels and fertility have come up inconclusive or contradictory to previous findings. This lack of insight and knowledge can be discouraging to men and women looking for more natural ways to help improve their fertility.

While several recent studies focusing on vitamins are beginning to uncover positive correlations between vitamins and fertility we still do not definitively know the full extent each vitamin may have on improving or hindering fertility and pregnancy. With continued research we hope to find more concrete links so that answers may be provided. While the jury is still out on the impact of vitamins, here is a review of what we believe to potentially be the most promising vitamins for fertility.

Vitamins for Fertility

 Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

What is DHEA?

 

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Once in the body it is converted to androgens, like testosterone. These hormones have been found to be important for sexual and reproductive function and energy levels. DHEA levels are found to increase in women until their mid to late 20s and then slowly begin to decline. Beyond age, the use of certain medications like insulin and corticosteroids can also cause DHEA levels to diminish.

What We Know About DHEA and Fertility

Over the past several years, studies have emerged examining the role of DHEA in fertility. In 2011, one such study suggested that low androgen levels were detrimental to a woman’s fertility, and higher androgen levels were beneficial to the development of eggs. Other research has found eggs that mature in a higher androgen environment develop into better quality eggs compared to those that mature in an androgen-deficient environment, supporting the findings in the 2011 DHEA study.

These study findings have resulted in further ongoing investigations into using DHEA to treat women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), which can occur either through premature ovarian aging or simply through female aging. Conflicting research findings and low study participants are leaving researchers questioning a true link between DHEA and improved fertility which is resulting in continued research and investigation.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

What is CoQ10?

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like supplement that is suggested to enhance both male and female fertility. Found in every cell of the body, CoQ10 is a part of the electron transport chain which is responsible for generating energy in our cells. Functioning as an antioxidant, it decreases the damaging effects of free radicals on the reproductive system.

It is believed that as we age, our naturally occurring levels of CoQ10 diminish. As a result, the processes that require high energy, such as those associated with fertilization and embryo development, are unable to work as hard – resulting in a lower efficiency within those systems. With less energy available for the “machinery” of the dividing cells, more errors can be made in the division of genetic information, leading to a higher rate of genetically abnormal embryos.

What We Know About CoQ10 and Fertility

There has been considerable research into the effects of CoQ10 on overall sperm health and egg quality. One study suggested that men using a CoQ10 supplement experienced a significant increase in sperm motility. In another study, men supplementing with CoQ10 daily showed increases in both sperm count and morphology1. Although CoQ10 may improve the semen analysis, an increase in pregnancy rates has not been seen.

A recent promising study2 in mice found an improvement in the egg quality later in their reproductive years suggesting that supplementation of CoQ10 may be able to help overcome the natural decline of a woman’s fertility as she ages. To date there has been no studies completed on the impact of CoQ10 in a woman’s fertility. Further research with women will help to determine if the same impacts can hold true in women of an advanced reproductive age.

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Vitamins for a Healthy Pregnancy

It is suggested that women undergoing fertility treatment also take a regiment of vitamins that would be expected of a pregnant woman. The early days and weeks of pregnancy can be very influential of the entire pregnancy, so preparing the body to support the healthy growth of a baby is important.

Folic Acid

What is Folic Acid?

Folic acid is a part of the B complex of vitamins. It is essential for many processes within the body including nerve function, the health of red blood cells, and the correct formation of DNA within each cell in the body which allows for normal cell replication.

What We Know About Folic Acid and Pregnancy

Extensive research has proven folic acid protects against the development of spinal cord birth defects. Spinal cord defects, otherwise known as neural tube defect, affects 0.1-0.2 percent of pregnancies. Folic acid supplementation, started before pregnancy and continued until 6-12 weeks gestation, reduces the rate of spinal cord defects by nearly 75 percent. Because the greatest benefit of folic acid supplementation occurs prior to when many women realize that they are pregnant, folic acid supplementation with 400mcg should be taken by all women who could become pregnant.

Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)

What is DHA?

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid commonly found in fish oil. It is a major fatty acid in the brain, sperm, and eye.

What We Know About DHA and Pregnancy

Dietary supplementation with omega-3’s, including DHA, has increased in popularity in recent years. This has resulted in an increase in prenatal vitamins sold containing DHA. It has been suggested that DHA aids in brain development3 and may increase the length of gestation and birth weight. Like many studies looking to link supplements and benefits in fertility or pregnancy the data is conflicting with other studies not showing any benefit. While the studies are conflicting, it is theorized that DHA supplementation may be beneficial to the development of a baby’s brain while still in the womb.

Vitamin D

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is an important nutrient that enhances and helps to regulate the intestinal absorption of essential minerals including calcium, magnesium, phosphate and zinc.  Vitamin D levels are maintained through either dietary ingestion or through synthesis in the skin when exposed to sunlight.

Since vitamin D is the “sunshine” vitamin, it makes sense that there is a seasonal variation in vitamin D levels. In the winter, many men and women become deficient of Vitamin D  while in the summer levels are almost twice as high of that in the winter4. These variances result in a need for supplementation throughout the winter and fall when days are shorter and there is less exposure to sunlight.

What We Know About Vitamin D and Pregnancy

Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in women attempting to become pregnant and pregnant women has become of increasing concern.  However, the relationship between vitamin D status and pregnancy outcomes continues to be inconclusive and inconsistent.

Numerous potential associations have been reported between vitamin D deficiency and adverse fetal and maternal complications. Some studies suggest that low vitamin D levels may increase the risk of gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, preterm labor, cesarean section and low birth weight. However, other studies looking at the same issue has failed to show that women with low vitamin D are at increased risk. Severe maternal vitamin D deficiency has been associated with congenital rickets (low bone density) and bone fractures in the newborn.

While no absolute benefits have been identified studies do show that a normal level of vitamin D does lead to increased overall health. For that reason it is our suggestion for women with a low vitamin D level to take a supplement and ultimately maintain a normal level.

Chinese Herbs and Other Supplements

Studies reporting the use of complementary and alternative medicine report between 13.3 percent to as high as 87 percent of women use some sort of alternative medicine during pregnancy. Herbal supplements blue cohosh, pennyroyal, and red clover are often promoted as natural and therefore safe. Such claims attract women who are either pregnant or attempting pregnancy when, in reality, studies do not support these claims and have actually found detrimental side effects.

What We Know About Chinese Herbs

Women should be wary of herbal medicines that promise to increase fertility. Some herbs have been shown to weakly bind hormone receptors and may have harmful effects. Another concern with herbal supplements is the lack of regulations. Since they are seen as a food by the FDA the components are not monitored as closely as medications including vitamins. Inconsistencies from brand to brand and even batch to batch can hinder rather than help.

Until additional studies have been performed to identify which remedies are safe and effective when women are attempting pregnancy or during pregnancy, they should be avoided when pregnancy is possible.

The effect that vitamins have varies from person to person. Whether you are trying to conceive or looking for ways to promote a healthy pregnancy it is important to speak with your physician before starting a regiment of any vitamin or supplement.

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4Zhou J et al. Associations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and pregnancy outcomes: a prospective observational study in southern China 2014 epub
3 Hellend et al. Maternal supplementation with very-long-chain n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation augments children’s IQ at 4 years of age. Pediatrics. 2003 Jan;111(1):e39-44.
1Balercia G, Buldreghini E, Vignini A, Tiano L, Paggi F, Amoroso S, Ricciardo-Lamonica G, Boscaro M, Lenzi A, Littarru G. Coenzyme Q10 treatment in infertile men with idiopathic asthenozoospermia: a placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized trial. FertilSteril. 2009 May;91(5):1785-92.
2Bentov Y, Casper RF. The aging oocyte–can mitochondrial function be improved? FertilSteril. 2013 Jan;99(1):18-22.
 
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in June 2014 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness as of April 2018.

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We are excited to announce that our newest full-service Center City office in Philadelphia is now open. We will now be offering highly specialized fertility treatment in Philadelphia with services that include diagnostic and treatment options to help you conceive. This is our sixth full-service office in Pennsylvania that will provide patients with convenient access to state-of-the-art diagnostic testing as well as low and high-tech treatment options including intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), donor egg treatment, and egg freezing. This location will also expand SGF’s robust donor egg recruitment program; SGF recruits and prescreens (medically, psychologically, and genetically) all of its prospective egg donors prior to making them available on the SGF donor registry.

A Peak Inside SGF’s Center City Philadelphia Office

Fertility Treatment in Philadelphia with Dr. Kallen

CALEN KALLEN, M.D., PH.D.

Board certified reproductive endocrinologist, Caleb Kallen, M.D., Ph.D., joined Shady Grove Fertility in March 2017, and is now seeing patients at this new location. Dr. Kallen earned his medical degree and doctorate in philosophy (Molecular and Cellular Biology) from the University of Pennsylvania before completing his residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr. Kallen completed his subspecialty training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

“The need for specialized and individualized fertility services in Philadelphia is what prompted the opening of our newest location in Center City. We look forward to expanding our practice to the Philadelphia community and helping even more people achieve their dream of parenthood,” says Dr. Kallen.

What Patients are Saying about Dr. Kallen

“Dr. Kallen was very informative and focused on our physical and emotional well-being through the whole process. My thoughts and input were welcome throughout the treatment process. I have already recommended him to others,” shares a patient of Dr. Kallen’s.

“Dr. Kallen was fantastic, helpful and kind. I really appreciate how much time he spent with us up front, explaining, in the detail we wanted, our options. The entire Shady Grove Fertility team was wonderfully kind and generous with their time and made us feel like a family member, even though we, luckily, were only there for a short time,” adds another Dr. Kallen patient.

Affording Fertility Treatment in Philadelphia

One of our top priorities is making access to fertility care more affordable, which is why we have created innovative financial programs for our patients such as the signature Shared Risk 100% Refund Guarantee and Shared Help Programs. For those patients with insurance benefits, Shady Grove Fertility accepts over 30+ insurance providers. In fact, 90 percent of patients with insurance will have coverage for their initial physician consultation, and 70 percent will have at least some level of coverage for fertility testing and treatment.

“Offering patients innovative financial options and affordable treatment packages are cornerstones of our practice so that cost does not become a barrier to pursuing important fertility care,” adds Kallen.

We are continuing to expand in Pennsylvania with the recent addition of a full-service office in Warrington, PA last year and a new office in Lancaster, PA slated for the fall 2018 opening.

Schedule an Appointment

Located at 1515 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, patients may now schedule an appointment with Dr. Kallen by calling the Shady Grove Fertility New Patient Center at 1-888-761-1967. For other PA locations and physicians, including Dr. Isaac Sasson, Dr. Ryan Martin, Dr. Melissa Esposito, Dr. Lauren Roth, and Dr. Kara Nguyen, please call 1-888-761-1967 or submit this brief online form.

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The end of the year is often a time where many of us reflect on the year past and make resolutions for the year ahead. For patients who are experiencing infertility, there is an even greater motivation to make lifestyle adjustments in the new year. The good news is, making even small changes can have a big impact on increasing your chances of conceiving and improving your fertility.

Tips for Improving Your Fertility 

Be Your Own Advocate

It’s important to take control of your future and be proactive in seeking the help you need. Don’t wait for a doctor referral to schedule an appointment. In fact, approximately 50 percent of our patients are self-referred. Take control of your future and seek the help you need to start building your family.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

“There is a strong correlation between a woman’s BMI (body mass index) and her fertility potential,” explains Dr. Greenhouse, from SGF’s Fair Oaks, VA and Haymarket, VA offices. “While not every woman who is underweight or overweight will have difficulty conceiving, there are many who do. For a woman’s reproductive system to function properly, a healthy amount of fat needs to be present. Women who are underweight lack the appropriate amount of fat needed for reproduction, causing their bodies to ovulate infrequently or not at all. Even the smallest weight gain can help restart the reproductive system.”

Dr. Greenhouse continues, “overweight women can experience insulin resistance, which makes managing a healthy weight difficult. Unbalanced insulin levels may cause the ovaries to produce an excess amount of male hormones and stop releasing eggs, which makes conception challenging. It’s important not to forget about your partner. Overweight men have shown to have abnormal semen, which may attribute to low sperm count and low sperm motility (movement).”

To watch our On-Demand Webinar on Weight and Fertility, click here. During this free, on-demand event, viewers will learn about the impact weight, either over or under, has on the ability to conceive and tips for maintaining and achieving a healthy body mass index (BMI).

Quit Smoking

It’s no surprise that smoking presents risks to your overall health. However, many people don’t realize the effect smoking has on fertility. Studies have shown that women who smoke have a 54 percent chance of taking a year or longer to conceive compared with nonsmokers. The delay in conception is directly impacted with the quantity of cigarettes smoked. The more cigarettes smoked, the more chemicals that enter the body, which increases the rate of follicular depletion and reduces estrogen levels in the body. Smoking affects men as well and can decrease their sperm count by 22 percent. Damage from smoking is not permanent and it can be improved. Sperm regenerates every 74 days, enabling sperm produced when stopping smoking to be of better quality.

Reduce Alcohol Intake

Women who consume a moderate amount of alcohol (up to five drinks per week) have shown a decrease in fertility. Women who consume 10 alcoholic drinks per week show an even greater decrease in their chances of conceiving. Since there is no confirmed data of a safe threshold for consumption, we recommend refraining from all alcohol when trying to conceive and during pregnancy.

Manage Stress and Anxiety Appropriately

For many women, their stress levels may already be high when they are trying to conceive or begin treatment. When you begin fertility treatment, we strongly recommend patients to join a support group. Some even find services such as acupuncture or massage offered at our Wellness Center to be helpful. While these alternative therapies have not been proven to increase conception rates, these activities have helped many patients better manage the emotional stress of infertility and support them before and during treatment.

Even modest lifestyle adjustments in can make a difference in improving your fertility and help you get pregnant faster.

Schedule an Appointment

If you would like to learn more about improving your fertility or to schedule an appointment with a fertility specialist, please speak with one of our New Patient Liaisons at 877-971-7755.

2026 Shady Grove Fertility

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