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Q: I have heard that many women have had cramps and spotting but I haven't had any yet. Do all pregnant women have spotting or cramps? Also, what if I start to get cramps and spotting? How will I know if it's normal? [mc3-3] A: No, the short answer is that spotting, cramps, or implantation bleeding are not necessary for a...

Q: During which trimester is toxoplasmosis infection worse? A: The risk and severity of the baby’s infection will depend partly on the timing of the mother’s infection — that is, whether she was infected in the first, second, or third trimester of pregnancy. If the mother first becomes infected in the third trimester, the fetus...

How to prevent toxoplamosis? Do not eat raw or undercooked meat, especially lamb or pork. Do not eat locally prepared cold cuts. After handling raw meat, wash your hands immediately with soap. Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, or other body parts. When cooking, avoid tasting meat before it is fully cooked. Do not empty...

If you have chlamydial infection, take all of the prescribed medicine, even after symptoms disappear. If the symptoms do not disappear within one to two weeks after finishing the medicine, go to your doctor or clinic again. It is very important to tell your sex partners that you have chlamydial infection so that they can be...

Q: What are the effects of an untreated chlamydia infection? A: The infection may move inside the body if it is not treated. There, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women and epidydimitis in men, two very serious illnesses. C. trachomatis can cause inflammation of the rectum and of the lining of the eye ("pink...

Q: What can be done about thin uterine lining? A: The endometrium, the lining of the uterus, is needed for implantation of the embryo. Lining problems are usually not a major cause of infertility. The uterine lining around ovulation should be at least 8-9 mm. There are several tests than can be done to find out what's going on...

  Q: How do I determine my basal body temperature coverline? A: The reason for charting your temperature is to determine when and if you ovulated. Ovulation is associated with an increase in temperature -- a thermal shift -- revealing a typical biphasic curve. The coverline is a horizontal line drawn after...

Q: I had chicken pox, and now I am pregnant. Does this mean I am immune?  A: If you are unsure whether you had chicken pox or not, then your doctor can do a blood test and check if you carry antibodies against chicken pox. A positive test for the antibodies against chicken pox confirms that you are immune. Read More:Can I Take...

Q: What is Natual Family Planning (NFP)? A: When avoiding pregnancy, abstaining from sexual relations during the fertile days may be helpful. When trying to conceive, having intercourse on the days of fertility may improve your chances. The egg can be fertilized for only 12-24 hours after ovulation. But the man's sperm can...

Q: I am four days late but I had a tubal three years ago.   A: Whenever you have regular menstrual periods and you are late, there is a chance that you may be pregnant. A tubal ligation does not always work in preventing pregnancy. Depending on the type of tubal ligation, there is a one to three in 1,000 chance it doesn't work...

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), habitual or recurrent abortions or miscarriages are diagnosed when three or more miscarriages occur in a row. About 5% of couples have two miscarriages in a row, and up to 2% have three miscarriages or RPL in a row. "Primary recurrent pregnancy loss" refers to couples that have never had a live...

Have other questions like this? Sign up for Obie and get personalized answers about your fertility without having to search. Is sperm leakage from the vagina normal after sex? Sperm or ejaculate leakage from the vagina after sex is normal and is expected. Sperm leakage can actually be a good thing because it means there is...

Q: Does a low thyroid level contribute to infertility? A: If your hypothyroidism is well treated and you ovulate regularly, chances are that it is not responsible for your problems with getting pregnant. Read More:Taking Thyroid Medication During PregnancyThyroid to Blame for Some Pregnancy ComplicationsThyroid Stimulating...

The chances of IVF success depens on your age, the reason for IVF, and the IVF clinic.  Chances of getting pregnant and having a baby with IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) depend mostly on the following factors: A woman's age The reason for doing IVF The place where the IVF will be done These statistics were published by the CDC...

What does an elevated FSH signal? Cycle day 3 FSH is tested to check for 'ovarian reserve' — the quality of your eggs or 'good eggs' and 'bad eggs.' An elevated FSH could be a problem, because it may mean that the ovary doesn't respond well to FSH hormone stimulation. An elevated FSH may indicate diminished ovarian reserve. ...

Q: I had a miscarriage two weeks ago and my home pregnancy test is positive. Did I get pregnant again that fast? A: After a miscarriage, it can take many weeks for your body to clear the pregnancy hormone hCG. So it's normal for your urine pregnancy test to be positive for up to three weeks following a miscarriage. If you think...

Q: Can sperm be released without ejaculation? A: Shortly before the man has an orgasm and ejaculates, it is possible for him to release some fluid, which can contain sperm. This fluid is popularly known as 'pre cum' (not a scientific term).  The method of birth control where the man pulls his penis out shortly before he...

Q: Which is a better method of tracking fertility — an ovulation predictor kit (OPK) or basal body temperature (BBT) charting? A: An ovulation predictor kit changes color before you ovulate, based on a surge in your luteinizing hormone (LH), usually 1-2 days before ovulation. OPKs usually predict when you are about to ovulate....

Q: Is it true that during ovulation it is easy to confuse residual semen and fertile cervical mucus? And how long after intercourse should it take for the residual semen to be gone? [bmed_ad_r] A: Ejaculate, but not sperm, may interfere with the cervical mucus consistency. Most of the ejaculate is usually absorbed from the...

Amenorrhea is when you have missed your regular menstrual period, your menstrual bleeding. If you previously had a menstrual period, then you have 'secondary amenorrhea,' and if you have never had a period, then it's called 'primary amenorrhea.'  If pregnancy is possible, then a pregnancy test should be done first. If the...

After the removal of Norplant, your body needs to readjust to its own rhythm. So, it may take several months for regular ovulation and your normal periods to return. Your ovulation and your fertility will probably return even before your regular menstrual bleeding. So there is a chance you will get pregnant even before...

Besides fetal and pregnancy-related causes there are also maternal causes for a high-risk pregnancy. The following are the maternal causes for high-risk pregnancy. Find out if you have a high-risk pregnancy HERE.[bmed_ad_r] High Blood Pressure Asthma Diabetes Collagen-vascular Diseases Sickle Cell Anemia Drug Abuse Kidney...

Measles (also known as Rubeola) is a viral disease that usually produces fever, cough, conjunctivitis ("pink eye," but not quite the same as the "pink eye" seen with colds and earaches), a red, bumpy rash, and a rash ("Koplik's spots") inside the cheeks. It can be complicated by secondary ear infections, diarrhea, croup, and...

Q: Does Robitussin help fertility? A: Cervical mucus problems are rarely the problem when a couple has difficulties getting pregnant. The three major causes of infertility are ovulation problems, sperm problems, and problems with the fallopian tubes. None of these problems can be solved by taking Robitussin. The major...

Q: When should we see an infertility specialist?   A: In general, if you are under the age of 35 you should try for 12 months before consulting a specialist, either your Ob-Gyn or an infertility specialist (RE=Reproductive Endocrinologist). If there are certain medical conditions, such as irregular menstrual cycles or a history...

Q: I have no period and did not bleed at all even after taking Provera. What does this mean? A: Provera is given as the 'Progesterone (Provera) Challenge Test' to women who have no period and who are not pregnant. In this test, 10 mg of Provera is often given over 7-10 days and bleeding is expected within 2 weeks after the last...

The four major factors affecting your chance of getting pregnant are: The mother's age. The older the woman is, the longer it takes to get pregnant. Regular ovulation. With irregular or no ovulation (anovulation), you cannot get pregnant. A normal sperm count. The less sperm he has, the longer it may take to get pregnant. With...

Q: At 10 weeks, my pregnancy symptoms disappeared. I'm no longer nauseous or even tired. In fact, I feel great, but I'm worried... is this normal? A: Most typical pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea or breast tenderness, relate directly to the pregnancy hormone hCG. This hormone increases during the first months of your...

Manicures and pedicures during pregnancy There have been no reported incidents of any adverse effects on the outcome of a healthy pregnancy due to manicures or pedicures. But according to a recent report from the FDA, research indicates that chemicals in nail polish, nail polish removers, and the like, namely methyl...

Q: I am 12 weeks pregnant, can I continue to jog? A: You should discuss with your doctor whether it's a good idea to continue jogging during pregnany, especially if you have any of these problems or other concerns: medical conditions including heart or lung diseases, blood conditions, thyroid problems, previous pregnancy...

Implantation occurs on average, 9 days after ovulation, with a normal range being 6-12 days. Some people have suggested that there are some BBT temperature charts which may show signs of implantation, such as a triphasic BBT curve (a rise to a third level of temperatures) or an "implantation dip" (a one-day decrease in...

   BBT or fertility charting is done to check a woman's fertility. It usually involves three Steps: 1. Taking your basal body temperature every day 2. Checking your cervical mucus 3. Checking the position of your cervix. Fertility or basal body temperature charting is done for several reasons: To see when and if you ovulate To...

Q: What is Natural Fertility Planning (NFP)   A: Fertility awareness and charting is part of 'Natural Family Planning' (NFP) and uses a woman's natural fertility signs to identify when she may or may not be fertile. You can learn quickly how to identify your fertile and infertile phases by charting these three primary fertility...

Q: What could go wrong besides not ovulating? A: There are several things that can be wrong with your ovary and therefore contribute to infertility: Inadequate luteal phase. Inadequate follicle growth patterns. Luteinized unruptured follicle (LUF) syndrome. Diminished Ovarian Reserve.  Premature luteinization. [bmed_ad_r]

Q: Do lubricants decrease the chance of conception when TTC?  A: There are several studies showing that most lubricants decrease the sperm count. It's unknown if they play any role in sex selection. The only lubricant shown to not decrease the sperm count is Preseed. Read More:babyMed Pregnancy and Fertility GuidesReal Body...

My hCG is not doubling, what's wrong [bmed_ad_r] A: In most healthy pregnancies, before the hCG reaches a level of 6,000, the hCG usually doubles during the first weeks. However, this is not always true and there are normal pregnancies in which the hCG increases more slowly. If the hCG increases at a slower rate, this may also...