How In Vitro Fertilization Works

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the joining of a woman’s egg and a man’s sperm in a laboratory dish. In vitro means “outside the body.” Fertilization means the sperm has attached to and entered the egg.

Normally, an egg and sperm are fertilized inside a woman’s body. If the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the womb and continues to grow, a baby is born about 9 months later. This process is called natural or unassisted conception.

IVF is a form of assisted reproductive technology (ART). This means special medical techniques are used to help a woman become pregnant. IVF has been successfully used since 1978. It is most often tried when other, less expensive fertility techniques have failed.

Indications

       IVF  is  indicated  when  alternative  treatments  are  either  unlikely  to  achieve  pregnancy  or  have  failed  to  result  in  pregnancy.      

        If  you  have  blocked  fallopian  tubes  or  extensive  pelvic  adhesions  preventing  your  egg  from  entering  the  fallopian  tubes,  IVF  is  indicated.
        If  you  have  severe  endometriosis  and  are  unable  to  conceive  in  spite  of   one  or  more  operations,  IVF would  offer  a  better  chance  of  conception.

Medical Abortion : What is the Abortion Pill?

When a woman becomes pregnant, she is posed with a question. She must decide whether or not she is ready to bring new life into the world. It is one of the most monumental moments in a woman’s life and a decision that brings together her past, her present and her future dreams.

For many women, the answer is crystal clear: No, it is not time. Or, yes, she is ready to become a mother. For others, the answer is far less certain. There are many questions that must be answered, many emotions that must be explored. Ultimately, the choice should come from a loving heart and a clear head. You know your life situation best and will make the decision that is not only best for yourself but for those who already depend on you.

If you are pregnant and unsure of your path, i encourage you to involve someone – a relative, partner, friend, religious advisor, a physician or someone you trust to talk about the options in front of you. 

Making a choice about your pregnancy can be a gift of learning and growth. It is an invitation for you to develop a larger vision of yourself. It’s a way to practice compassion and loving kindness toward yourself.” from “Abortion: Finding Your Own Truth” by Corrintha Rebecca Bennett, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice


Decisions
If you are having a hard time, you will probably need to spend time identifying and sorting out your feelings about this experience. When pregnancy occurs, you may feel as if your entire past, present and future are up for examination. So, feelings about abortion may also have a great deal to do with other issues in your life that have not been addressed.

Let's talk about Sexually Transmitted Diseases (I)

• What are STD?
  
  
  

  

            
   
  STDs Overview Presentation
  

  
  
  

 (STIs) Sexually transmitted infections/diseases  are a major global cause of  
                    *acute illness, 
                    * infertility,
                    *long-term disability and   
                    *death, with severe medical and psychological consequences for millions of men, women and infants.STIs are spread primarily through person-to-person sexual contact.
       There are over 30 different sexually transmissible bacteria, viruses and parasites. Several STIs, particularly HIV and syphilis, can be transmitted through blood products and tissue transfer, and from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth.
             Symptoms of STIs may be
    -absent,
    -mild and transient,
    - acute(as with gonorrhoea, chancroid, herpes simplex virus).
      Many STIs can have severe long-term consequences. In adults, chlamydia and gonorrhoea may lead to complications such as infertility, chronic illness and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis can produce serious and often life-threatening conditions in fetuses and newborn babies, such as congenital syphilis, pneumonia and low birth weight. Infection with human papillomavirus is a proven precondition for the development of carcinoma of the cervix, which is the second leading cause of female cancer mortality worldwide.
Some of the most common sexually transmitted pathogens can be divided into bacteria, viruses and parasites.

Common bacteria

• Neisseria gonorrhoeae (causes gonorrhoea or gonococcal infection)
• Chlamydia trachomatis (causes chlamydial infections)
• Treponema pallidum (causes syphilis)
• Haemophilus ducreyi (causes chancroid)
• Klebsiella granulomatis (previously known as Calymmatobacterium granulomatis, causes granuloma inguinale or donovanosis)

Common viruses

• HIV (causes AIDS)
• Herpes simplex virus type 2 (causes genital herpes)
• Human papillomavirus (causes genital warts and certain subtypes lead to cervical cancer in women)
• Hepatitis B virus (causes hepatitis and chronic cases may lead to cancer of the liver)
• Cytomegalovirus (causes inflammation in a number of organs including the brain, eye and bowel)

Parasites

• Trichomonas vaginalis (causes vaginal trichomoniasis)
• Candida albicans (causes vulvovaginitis in women and inflammation of the glans penis and foreskin in men)

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• 10 Things You Need to Know About STDs (lifescript.com)
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• Most Common Venereal Diseases (brighthub.com)

Let's talk about Sexually transmitted Diseases (II)

  * When to seek Medical Care 
  * Prevention

  When to seek Medical Care

  A medical examination may be necessary if a person believes he or she may have an STD or if he or she may have been exposed to someone with an STD. Being seen by a doctor as soon as possible after exposure to an STD is important; these infections can easily spread to others and can have serious complications.

Birth Control Methods -Intrauterine Devices (IV)

Intrauterine Devices

Description

Although the intrauterine device (IUD) is a highly effective method of contraception, it is used by less than 2% of American women of reproductive age. The reason for such a small percentage stems from the withdrawal of FDA-approved IUDs in the 1970s. The Dalkon Shield IUD was withdrawn because of a series of litigations related to septic abortion deaths. The manufacturers withdrew their product because the cost of defending the lawsuits was deemed too expensive.Until as recently as 2000, the only 2 IUDs available in the United States were the Copper T380 (Pregna International; Mumbai, India) and the progesterone-releasing form, Progestasert (Alza; Mountain View, Calif). In December 2000, the FDA approved another form of IUD, the levonorgestrel intrauterine system termed Mirena (Berlex Laboratories; Montville, NJ). More than 2 million women in Europe have used this form of contraception in the past decade with great success.

Birth Control Methods - Hormonal Contraceptives (III)

Hormonal Contraceptives

Implants

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the contraceptive use of levonorgestrel implants (Norplant) in 1990. This method consists of 6 silicone rubber rods, each measuring 34 mm long and 2.4 mm in diameter and each containing 36 mg of levonorgestrel. The implant releases approximately 80 mcg of levonorgestrel per 24 hours during the first year of use, achieving effective serum concentrations of 0.4-0.5 ng/mL within the first 24 hours. The rate of release decreases to an average of 30 mcg/d in the latter years of use. Release of the progestational agent by diffusion provides effective contraception for 5 years. Contraceptive protection begins within 24 hours of insertion if inserted during the first week of the menstrual cycle. The rods are inserted subcutaneously, usually in the woman's upper arm, where they are visible under the skin and can be easily palpated.^1,2
The mechanism of action is a combination of suppression of the LH surge, suppression of ovulation, development of viscous and scant cervical mucus to deter sperm penetration, and prevention of endometrial growth and development.
Efficacy
The contraceptive efficacy of the method is equivalent to that of surgical sterilization. Overall, pregnancy rates increase from 0.2% in the first year to 1.1% by the fifth year.
Advantages
The longevity of its effectiveness is an advantage. Its effectiveness is not related to its use in regards to coitus. Exogenous estrogen is absent. Prompt return to the previous state of fertility occurs upon removal. No adverse effect on breast milk production occurs.

Birth Control Methods (I)

        
         The practice of contraception is as old as human existence. For centuries, humans have relied on their imagination to avoid pregnancy. Ancient writings noted on the Kahun papyrus dating to 1850 BCE refer to contraceptive techniques using a vaginal pessary of crocodile dung and fermented dough, which most likely created a hostile environment for sperm. The Kahun papyrus also refers to vaginal plugs of gum, honey, and acacia. During the early second century in Rome, Soranus of Ephesus created a highly acidic concoction of fruits, nuts, and wool that was placed at the cervical os to create a spermicidal barrier.
             Today, the voluntary control of fertility is of paramount importance to modern society. From a global perspective, countries currently face the crisis of rapid population growth that has begun to threaten human survival. At the present rate, the population of the world will double in 40 years; in several of the more socioeconomically disadvantaged countries, populations will double in less than 20 years.
On a smaller scale, effective control of reproduction can be essential to a woman's ability to achieve her individual goals and to contribute to her sense of well-being. A patient's choice of contraceptive method involves factors such as efficacy, safety, noncontraceptive benefits, cost, and personal considerations. This article addresses the predominant modes of contraception used in the United States, along with the safety, efficacy, advantages, disadvantages, and noncontraceptive benefits of each.

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