Fertility For You

Taking care of yourself is crucially important while you are undergoing fertility treatment. One thing you can try out is seeking professional counselling. It is great if you have friends or family to talk to during this time, but sometimes seeking a professional can provide you with a different kind of support. It’s even better of the professional has experience dealing with fertility clients! That way they can use that experience to help you. It is also important to know th...at most clinics make it mandatory if you are using donor sperm or donor eggs, so if you know you will be going down that route you can get the ball rolling and seek counselling as soon as possible. . . Have you ever tried or needed counselling? . What was that experience like for you? . If you are interested in seeking professional counselling we would recommend @milestonestransitions #fertility #infertility #fertilityawareness #ivf #ivfwarrior #ivfjourney #ttc #ttccommunity #ttcsupport #ttcwarriors

Those of you who have undergone treatment already are probably familiar with the dreaded two week wait. This is the time in the treatment cycle where you wait for your pregnancy test. Maybe you have had an IUI (intrauterine insemination) or have done your embryo transfer, and now all you have to do is wait to see if all that time, effort, tears and worry, leads you to a positive pregnancy test. . This time period can be so tough for our patients and we often hear that patient...s really struggle. Anxiety may set in, and you may worry each day about the outcome of your treatment. As someone who suffers from anxiety and depression (Brittany here), I find that I can relate in some way to the emotions that are being felt during this time. Although it is not the same thing! Here are some helpful tips to get you through those difficult anxious times: . 1. Eat healthy balanced meals 2. Spend quality time with your partner (Netflix is always a good time killer!) 3. Try yoga or meditative exercises 4. Go for a walk 5. Do things that make you happy! . It’s important to know that it is normal to feel like you have no control during those two weeks while you wait for your pregnancy test, try your best to be kind to yourself during that time and always remember that you are a #ttcwarrior. I remind myself daily, always saying to myself you can do this. So, I encourage each and every one of you to say those words to yourself whenever you are feeling low or struggling during your two week wait. . . AND . . If you ever need us, we are here For you. #fertility#infertility #infertilityawareness #ivf #ivfwarrior #ttc #ttcwarriors #tww #pregnancy #fertilitynurse #toronto #torontonurse #fertilityforyou #ffy

Did you know that having adequate vitamin D levels can increase your fertility and contribute to a successful IVF cycle? We typically get most of our Vitamin D from time in the sun, but depending on your lifestyle or where you live, you may not be getting enough Vitamin D. Having darker skin and being overweight can also lead to decreased vitamin D levels. When beginning your fertility journey, it is important to have your vitamin D levels assessed. This is done through a blo...od test (not typically covered by OHIP). Depending on what your levels are, your care provider may prescribe a vitamin D supplementation dose and regimen for you to keep your levels within the normal range. Ask your care provider if vitamin D supplementation is right for you! . . . . . . #vitamin #naturopath #fertility #infertility #ttcsupport #ttccommunity #infertilitywarrior #infertilitycanada #infertilityawareness #pcos #endometriosis See more

Tips for your first clinic appointment! . Depending on how your clinic functions, your first appointment may just be a meet and greet with the doctor. If the clinic is good at getting the ball rolling, they will begin some of the testing process and provide you with requisitions for additional tests. We want you to be prepared for whatever comes your way, so here are some of our best tips for your first appointment. . Bring someone with you (if COVID policies interfere with ...the person being in-person, have them there virtually!) Take a note pad to document special instructions Bring any previous blood test or ultrasound results that have been performed in the last year (your family physician should have access to these results). This may prevent you from having to do some testing twice, and may save you some money if you do not have health coverage/OHIP Go over your health history and if there are any medical conditions that run in your family (they will be asking you this during your health questionnaire) Bring a list of ALL the questions you may have. Some appointments are so fast and the doctors can quickly jump to the next topic, but if you write your questions down beforehand you won’t forget to ask anything. Ask if there are any waitlists for IVF or funding that you can join/what the process is to join Be prepared to possibly do blood work and or transvaginal ultrasound (internal vaginal ultrasound) the same day! . . Feeling overwhelmed at the first appointment is completely normal and is part of the process, remember to take things one step at a time. One of our services include cycle monitoring support. Depending on what support you may need, we are also available to attend these appointments with you (in person or virtually) as part of our services. Send us an email if you think you may want to use this service and to inquire about pricing options! . . . . . #clinic #reproductivehealth #fertility #fertilitysupport #infertilitysupport #infertility #torontoivfnurse #fertilitynurse #pcos #endometriosis #ivfwarrior See more

When going through IVF treatment it is really important to have an understanding of the rate of attrition - or the rate of reduction from the number follicles to be retrieved to the number of embryos ready for transfer. . It is very typical to have results such as in the example shown in this photo. One may start with 20 follicles at the time of the trigger shot, out of those follicles only 15 eggs retrieved, out of the 15 retrieved only 12 are mature and good quality, the...n only 10 of them are fertilized. 10 of the embryos may grow to day 3, but end with 5 blastocysts on day 5. You may then transfer one and freeze the rest but only 3 survive the freezing process. It can be very devastating to hear that you have 20 follicles but only end up with 3 potential transfers, and sometimes the outcome can be even lower. We have also heard miracle stories where the rate of attrition is quite low and the numbers remain high through the end! . Either way, we want you to have a better understanding of what these numbers typically look like so you and your partner can prepare yourselves for more realistic outcomes. . What was your rate of attrition when going through this process? Any miracle stories? We would love to hear. . . . . . . . #infertility #ivfsuccess #ivfsupport #ttccommunity #ttcsupport #embryotransfer #eggretrieval #transferday #infertilitysupport #infertilityawareness See more