Cancer and Cryopreservation

Cancer and Cryopreservation…
Why should a woman or a man with cancer consider this?
A woman is born with all of the eggs that she will ever have, averaging 300,000 remaining eggs when she starts puberty. Certain types of chemotherapy and/or radiation localized to the pelvic region can kill or damage some or all of the eggs in the ovary. Therefore, it is often prudent to cryopreserve (freeze) eggs or embryos prior to undergoing these potentially harmful therapies in order to preserve a woman’s future ability to conceive and become pregnant.
A male produces sperm in his testes on a continual basis. Once produced, the sperm goes through 2-3 months of transport where it gains maturity and functionality. Certain types of chemotherapy and/or radiation localized to the pelvic region can damage the ability of the testes to produce and/or transport healthy sperm. Therefore, it is often prudent to cryopreserve (freeze) sperm prior to undergoing these potentially harmful therapies in order to preserve one’s future ability to conceive.
Since time is often of the essence with our oncology patients, these are top priority on FINA’s schedule. FINA works closely with your oncology team to consult with every patient desiring a consultation within 1-3 days of initial request.
You can schedule your initial consultation to discuss your current cancer treatment plan and the options available to you by calling us at 256-217-9613 or by visiting our website. ❤

Hear what one FINA patient had to say about her experience…

“Starting fertility treatments is overwhelming and scary, which is why I’m glad we chose FINA to begin our journey towards parenthood. Everyone in this clinic makes you feel like family.
As soon as you walk in, Bree is there to greet you with a smile on her face. Dr. D is an amazing and educated doctor and we always trusted him when he pointed us towards a new step in this journey. Our nurse Kendra is the best nurse I’ve ever met. She always made me feel at ease and she was always upbeat.
We were honestly sad to leave everyone once we graduated, but we’re so thankful for everything they did to get us to this pregnancy and we can’t wait to come back and show off our little boy this fall.”
Experiences like this make us so grateful to do what we do.❤️

My FINA Story?

{Written by one of our patients}…
“Here’s my FINA story!!

When you hear “fertility institute,” there’s a good chance you think of infertility and infertility treatments, such as IVF. Our story was a little different, and I’m so grateful for a doctor and clinic that has successful treatment for all types of fertility issues, including recurring pregnancy loss, which was my diagnosis.

When I was referred to Dr. D by my OBGYN, I had just experienced my third pregnancy loss. I was grateful that we were able to conceive, but devastated by the continued losses.

Dr. D was caring, compassionate, and competent. He knew from the start what a probable cause might be for the losses, but wanted to honor my desire to start as slow and least-invasive as possible. He continually checked on me emotionally and was willing to go at our pace, especially after I experienced a fourth early loss. After testing and trials, he determined that surgery to fix an anatomical issue was going to be the best and likely the most successful intervention for me.

He was right – not long after we were cleared to begin trying again after surgery, we conceived our firstborn son. Nine months after his birth, on the first cycle we were not preventing pregnancy, we conceived our second son, who is due any day now.

I could never thank Dr. D enough for his wisdom as a doctor, but also his caring nature and the relationship he builds with his patients. I tell everyone I know how much I love everything about FINA, the staff, and Dr. Davenport!”

Wow! We count it a blessing to have assisted with your growing family! 

#myFINAstory #FINA #HelpingFamiliesBuildFamilies

Signs of a Magnesium Deficiency

Did you know?

➡️ Women with PCOS are often deficient in magnesium.

➡️ If you have ever taken the contraceptive pill, it is also very likely that you are deficient in magnesium as the pill is known to deplete many nutrients.

➡️ Magnesium may also help pregnant women with muscle cramping, sleeping, and stress levels.

Here are some signs that you might be deficient in magnesium:
-Muscle cramping, pain
-Frequent headaches or migraine
-Anxiety, depression or irritability
-Elevated blood pressure
-Insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome
-Low energy level and/or chronically fatigued
-Memory issues, difficulty focusing, brain fog
-Painful menstrual periods or severe PMS symptoms
-Difficulty sleeping
-Brittle bones and development of stones
-Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
-Intense cravings for sweets, especially chocolate

Have you ever suffered from any of the symptoms listed above? It may be worth talking to your doctor about adding magnesium to your routine either through food or supplementation.

#FINA #HelpingFamiliesBuildFamilies #PCOS #MagnesiumDeficiency

What is the best diet for PCOS?

What is the best diet for PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)?

? Anti-inflammatory foods, such as berries, fatty fish, leafy greens, and extra virgin olive oil, may help manage #PCOS symptoms and may reduce inflammation-related symptoms, such as fatigue.

? Stay away from sweetened juice, starchy vegetables (such as potatoes, corn, and peas), sugary foods and drinks, and refined grains.

? Every time you eat is an opportunity to nourish your body.

#FINA #HelpingFamiliesBuildFamilies

September is PCOS Awareness Month

The month of September? is dedicated to raising awareness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Also known as the “perfect hormonal storm,” PCOS is one of the most common hormonal endocrine disorders in women and involves irregular function of the ovaries.

PCOS is caused by an imbalance in the hormones (chemical messengers) in your brain and your ovaries, and it usually happens when a hormone called LH (from the pituitary gland) or levels of insulin (from the pancreas) are too high, which then causes the ovaries to make extra amounts of testosterone.

Women with PCOS may have infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods or excess male hormone (androgen) levels. The ovaries may develop numerous small collections of fluid (follicles) and fail to regularly release eggs.

The cause of polycystic ovary syndrome isn’t well understood, but may involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

If you feel like you may be experiencing these symptoms, consult your gynecologist or primary care provider. Lab tests and imaging can be used to help determine if you have PCOS and which treatment may be right for you.?

#FINA #HelpingFamiliesBuildFamilies

Can Folic Acid Affect the Ability to Get Pregnant?

You’ve asked and Dr. D answered!

?“Can folic acid absorption affect the ability to get or stay pregnant?”

Got a question for Dr. D? Let us know!

#AskDrD #FINA #HelpingFamiliesBuildFamilies

Factors that Increase a Risk of Infertility

What things increase a woman’s risk of infertility? When should a woman consult a doctor?

Many things can affect a woman’s ability to have a baby. These include:

* Age

* Stress

* Poor diet

* Athletic training

* Being overweight or underweight

* Tobacco smoking

* Alcohol

* Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

* Health problems that cause hormonal changes

Most healthy women under the age of 30 shouldn’t worry about infertility unless they’ve been trying to get pregnant for at least a year. At this point, women should talk to their doctors about a fertility evaluation. Men should also talk to their doctors if this much time has passed.

In some cases, women should talk to their doctors sooner. Women in their 30s who’ve been trying to get pregnant for six months should speak to their doctors as soon as possible. A woman’s chances of having a baby decrease rapidly every year after the age of 30. So getting a complete and timely fertility evaluation is especially important.

To schedule your consultation, give us a call or visit our website. We are here to help! ?

#FINA #HelpingFamiliesBuildFamilies

Let’s talk Antioxidants!

Did you know?…

Research has shown that simple changes in diet and lifestyle may improve fertility and increase your chance of conception. Adding more antioxidants to your fertility diet can reduce oxidative stress and its negative affects on fertility for both men and women. Antioxidants can also help slow the ovarian aging process.

Studies have also shown that chances of conception increase when levels of antioxidants in the fluids surrounding the reproductive organs are high.

Great whole-food sources of antioxidants include: blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, pomegranate, cranberries, green tea, dark chocolate, cooked vegetables and spices such as cumin, turmeric, ginger and oregano. Antioxidants can also be supplemented in pill form. (e.g. CoQ10)

What are your favorite antioxidant-rich foods?

Let’s focus on one of our favorite antioxidant-rich foods…BLUEBERRIES!

A daily bowl could protect against obesity, heart disease and diabetes.❤️Berries are rich in polyphenols – antioxidants that protect cells in the heart and help lower blood pressure. Blueberries also contain folate, which plays a role in DNA synthesis and repair.

So today we thought we’d share this great recipe that we found for some healthy blueberry muffins! Erin, the creator of these sweet treats says:

“This simple blueberry muffins recipe makes moist and fluffy muffins with whole wheat, heart healthy oats, and as many blueberries as I could squeeze into the batter. They are basically everything a blueberry oatmeal muffin should be. No more. No less.”

https://www.wellplated.com/healthy-blueberry-muffins/?fbclid=IwAR1T9E_9_jTBXmS5mICJ_U8efk2fNCnjaY-fGDyMZRpuGi1taXLIRW48BQ0

Enjoy!