Trying to schedule your fertility treatment among all the other things on your “To Do” list can be difficult.  That’s why our team of committed fertility specialists, RNs, MAs, sonographers, phlebotomists and embryologists are available 365 days of the year.

New Hope Fertility’s West Side clinic not only makes commuting easy by sitting in New York City’s Columbus Circle, but also ensures you get a seat in our waiting room — even on the weekends.

If you’re having trouble making the time for a consult during the week, don’t forget our office is open from 7AM to 3PM on the weekends.  If you’re already part of the New Hope family, you can schedule your monitoring between 7AM and 2PM on Saturday and Sunday as well.

Get ahead of summer plans and start realizing your dreams — visit New Hope on the web to schedule a consultation or give us a call at (212) 400-9614.

Since its founding in 2004, New Hope Fertility has always strived to bring safer and more effective IVF practices to the forefront of fertility care.

A leading advocate of Single Embryo Transfers (eSET), our protocols support a less is more philosophy.  When it comes to your fertility care, we believe in less danger and more safety for the mother and child.  This means transferring less embryos during your IVF treatment to ensure we can fulfill this peace of mind.  A recent study published in the March edition of Fertility and Sterility supports the safety and efficacy of eSET.

In the study, the health of two singletons from the same mother (eSET) and the health of IVF twins and their mother (double embryo transfer) were the primary focus.

The findings? The health conditions of the mother and child following eSET treatments were much more favorable than that of IVF twins:

The neonatal and maternal outcomes were dramatically better for women undergoing two IVF singleton pregnancies compared with one IVF twin pregnancy after double-embryo transfers.

Not only were IVF twins born “very” pre-term with significantly lower birth weights, but were reported as having more serious complications, including respiratory issues and jaundice (a yellow complexion associated with too much bilirubin in the blood that can lead to birth defects).  Mothers who elected for double-embryo transfers were more likely to experience pre-eclampsia and go into labor early, too.

We’re always thrilled to read more research that supports our most important protocols. To read more on our minimally invasive approach to IVF, visit us on the web or schedule a consultation.

Here’s to spreading safer and more effective practices!

IVF & Same Sex Couples – The ‘Same’ Subjects?

With the government recently announcing the legalisation of marriage for same sex couples, it’s understandable that many parties are taking on a number of stances. Whilst religious believers question the nature of same sex marriage, another ‘hot’ topic has also made the headlines with the NHS raising the age limit for IVF treatment from 39 to 42.

Two very different, but altogether, intensely related and dependable matters that do not only raise their own questions, but also those that are entwined.

Hitting The Headlines

With both of these issues, come’s the unavoidable ethical queries; Should it be allowed? Does it breach our moral fibres? What are the damaging effects? But whilst these can be argued and debated till the end of time, the reality of the situation is that IVF treatment and same sex marriage are two very real concepts in today’s modern society.

Since the ‘birth’ of In Vitro Fertilisation back in the late 70’s, many a couple have been able to experience the feeling of parenthood in the face of infertility. Providing couples with the chance to raise a family of their own has always been a resounding factor. But in the instance of same sex couples, many people do appear to be missing the point.

Two Topics, Both Alike

As well as occupying the concept of fairness and equality, IVF allows same sex couples – both gay and lesbian – to also experience the realms of parenthood from a situation where the ability to conceive is not conventionally possible. But whilst heterosexual couples turn to IVF when infertility is an issue, it is not the fertility of same sex couple that is of concern, but the lack of ‘integral’ parts.

In conventional types of IVF treatment, ovarian stimulation and fertility-inducing drugs are used in order to increase the chances of a fertile egg. The presence of such drugs does come with some side effects such as nausea, fullness and diarrhoea to more serious and threatening complications such as multiple luteinised cysts within the ovaries due to Ovarian Hyper-stimulation Syndrome.

Unnecessary Risks

When fertility is not the underlying issue, it does not make sense to expose donors and couples to such health risks, which is why Natural or Mild-stimulation IVF techniques must be adopted. Mothers and donor mothers can conceive naturally through the collection of an egg during the woman’s natural menstrual cycle without the use of drugs.

This not only eliminates the side-effects and complications that can arise from using such drugs, but also removes the risk of any long-term effects to both the mother and child. This is especially the case when the effects of using fertility inducing drugs in the long term are still relatively unknown. Whilst some studies proclaim that the long term effects are minimal to non-existence, is the life or your baby, donor or even your own life worth the risk?

Whilst the ethics, beliefs and scientific will continue to be a source of debate, the implementation of Natural or Mild Stimulation IVF treatments for same sex couples is one that could not be more black and white.

Research, Develop, Pro-create

With many same sex couples reliant on the development and accessibility of IVF to experience the joys of parenthood, the emphasis on devising, developing and advancing more natural and ‘drugless’ methods of conception could not be of more importance. Institutions such as the International Society for Mild Approaches in Assisted Reproduction (ISMAAR) have made substantial steps in evolving our understanding and integration of naturally astute procedures and with more funding, it can continue to develop its research.

Is it a coincidence that these two heavily debated subjects have recently been in the news? Or is it an eye-opening opportunity for us to contemplate two subjects that, in terms of science, could not be further apart? Yet, what really stands out is the way that they are seamlessly conjoined by life and its wondrous and unpredictable nature.

Create Health Clinic are renowned for their innovative and forward-thinking approach to providing Natural and Mild IVF treatments. Their commitment and work alongside with ISMAAR has allowed them to develop a range of IVF treatments and fertility test which are focused towards patient care and quality as oppose to a dependance on ovarian stimulating drugs.

Frustrated with your difficulty conceiving?  Fear no more — Spring has sprung!  As flowers flourish and gardens grow, the arrival of Spring gives us time to reflect on what is going on inside our bodies, shifting focus towards nourishing health, and in some cases, bettering the chance of future pregnancy.

According to traditional Eastern Medicine, the Spring season is a time of detoxification and renewal.  Just as fresh buds appear and leafy greens fill up farmer’s market stands, so do our liver and gallbladder spring forward in an effort to remove toxins and aid digestion.

Considering Spring’s role in revealing nature’s fertility, it only makes sense that if we commit to the health of our own “gardens,” good health and renewed energy will follow.

Here are some helpful Spring tips to follow as you work towards maintaining a healthy uterine environment!

Spring Cleaning Your Body

1. Eat green.  You’ll see an increase in leafy greens at your local farmer’s market as the season starts.  Dandelion greens, spinach, mustard greens, and arugula all help the liver move bile through and out the body, ridding of metals and toxins.
   
2. Have (healthy) taco night with extra Guacamole! Hass Avocados, available year-round, also help the liver cleanse toxins.  As an added bonus, the avocado visually mimics the uterus, so add slices to your salad for extra reproductive support.
3. Add garlic.  Having pizza or pasta night?  Along with healthy pasta alternatives like brown rice or Quinoa noodles (gluten has been associated with fertility issues in some), add extra garlic to your dish.  A natural antibacterial, garlic has compounds that specifically help the liver cleanse itself.
4. Try Yin Yoga.  Yin Yoga focuses on Qi. In Chinese medicine, Qi is the energy that flows through certain paths in the body, lending clues as to which poses to do for each organ.  Poses for the liver and gallbladder include Child’s Pose, Shoelace Pose, and Corpse Pose.
5. Stop and smell the roses. We need rest and relaxation so the liver and gallbladder can focus on doing their jobs. Along with growth, Spring asks us to enjoy to scenery by offering up natural eye candy that can help us lay back as we take in our surroundings.

For more tips on eating and working out for the seasons, feel free to reach out to our social media team.

We hope these tips give new meaning to the term “Spring forward!”

The man behind the first IVF birth, Dr. Robert Edwards, passed away yesterday at the age of 87.

Heralded as the “Father of IVF” he was instrumental in the birth of Louise Brown back on July 25, 1978 (source: Wall Street Journal). In 2010, we reported on Dr. Edwards successful delivery of the world’s first “test tube baby” when he was recognized with the Nobel Prize in medicine.  Alongside OBGYN Patrick Steptoe, Dr. Edwards’ persistence in early IVF research is recognized by many as he faced criticism from the public and colleagues throughout the late 1970s.

If you could talk to Robert Edwards today about your journey, what would you say?

In memory of Robert Edwards.