http://www.benedictfamily.org The Life and Times of the Benedict Family and their battle with infertility - featuring the Second Time Around Infertility Podcast Mon, 06 Oct 2008 06:32:37 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I think this article from the Los Angeles Times very well describes all the struggles couples face when they don't know what to do with leftover frozen embryos. It also goes into details about the proposed Colorado amendment to amend the state's constitution to assert that an embryo is a ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/what-to-do-with-frozen-embryos/ A process that governs embryo implantation in the womb in humans has been identified for the first time. The Oxford University research, could shed light on what goes wrong when embryos fail to implant in the lining of the womb, a leading cause of infertility. As part of the research, ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/researching-the-mysteries-of-embryo-implantation/ This week, I did something I haven't done in awhile. I baked Challah. Aaron and Rivky love my homemade Challah but I'm not a big fan of baking it during the summer since it heats the whole apartment up and we don't have central air to call it off properly. ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/show-and-tell-092708/ I came across this article written by a journalist in South Africa. He describes how twisted their way of thinking is regarding infertility. That it must only be a woman's issue and how men are discouraged from having a simple semen analysis. It's quite eerie the way he describes it. ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/we-thought-it-was-hard-to-get-men-to-test-in-the-usa/ I always thought that PETA was a bunch of boobs, now here is proof. http://www.benedictfamily.org/petas-great-idea/ We hit the big 50 with lots of listener feedback, some news, some follow up and the winner of our contest! It's an episode that you don't want to miss. Right click here to download the episode Links from the show: Accupuncture helps women have babies Steroid Therapy can help prevent miscarrige Coffee, Beer and ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/episode-50-feedback-and-follow-up/ You may remember that I jumped the gun a bit on being nominated for a podcast award and I was a bit embarassed by that. However, now is your chance to get us on the ballot again by nominating us to be a part of the award voting. I think ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/please-nominate-us/ Now we shouldn't drink coffee, beer or wine. Nor should we eat nuts. This is just getting silly. http://www.benedictfamily.org/more-male-infertility-news/ Since we just did a news article an old favorite, here is an update on another old favorite. Mobile phones and infertility. Here is a new study that is out and will be published (or is already published) in Fertility and Sterility. To arrive at their findings, researchers collected semen samples ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/mobile-phones-and-infertility/ We haven't done an acupuncture article in a while, here is one. The research found that women suffering with fertility problems who underwent the ancient Chinese treatment increased their chance of having a baby from one in five to one in three. Acupuncture involves inserting extremely fine needles into specific points ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/acupuncture-helps-women-have-babies/ Could the sons that are born with the help of ICSI have problems when they are older? The report from MSNBC seems to say that there is a chance. There is a long way to go in this study though. http://www.benedictfamily.org/icsi-sons-may-have-infertility-issues/ I don't mean to turn this into a knitting blog, but I just wanted to show everyone how cool the cable stitches are coming out on my afghan project. Pretty impressive if I may say so myself. That's what I love about doing cable - it looks hard to do ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/show-and-tell-092008/ Gemini Girl is having a contest giveaway of stuff she won on Martha. Ends September 19. Go check it out. Also, a last minute reminder to enter our contest - phone calls and iTunes reviews preferred. Prize is a copy of "The Baby Trail" by Sinead Moriarty. We will be ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/contest-giveaway/ According to this article from The Sydney Morning Herald, women in their early 40s have doubled their chances of having a baby through IVF in just two years. Their success rate is increasing faster than any other age group, according to national statistics that hold new hope for older would-be ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/new-hope-for-women-in-their-40s-undergoing-ivf/ Dr Siobhan Quenby of the University of Liverpool, presented the results of a study she conducted to test the efficacy of steroids to prevent repeated miscarriages. The tests, involving 120 women, showed that natural killer cells were a cause of miscarriages and failed IVF embryo implants. While natural killer cells have ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/steroid-therapy-can-help-prevent-miscarriage/ This is going to be the last post about how I am doing post surgery. That is because I'm back to full health, thank God. Sunday night I took all off whatever remained from the steri-strips and and threw out the support that I was still wearing. I feel perectly ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/im-back/ I came across this very detailed article from Conceive online that lists cause and treatment for male factor infertility. This is the best article I've come across yet with quite a few quotes from the good doctors at Cornell as well. http://www.benedictfamily.org/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-male-factor-and-treatment/ Back to school days are here again. Rivky started third grade (yikes) on Thursday and had a half day. Friday was another half day so she easing into it. So far she likes her morning teacher. Lets hope the afternoon one will be a good match as well. She will ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/show-and-tell-090608-back-to-school/ This news is a little on the lighter side of things but hey! It's a slow news day. http://www.benedictfamily.org/playing-didgeridoo-could-cause-infertility/ There is a new study out that seems to indicate that the older a father is, the higher the risk of the child having a bi-polar disorder. Here is the jucy bit: The Swedish study found that children fathered by men 55 and older were 1.37 times more likely to go ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/older-fathers-and-bi-polar-disorder/ I had a quick (maybe 5 minutes total) appointment with the doctor today so he could check out my stitches and see if there is indeed anything wrong down there. To my relief, he said that everything was looking good and I'm well on the road to recovery.  The amazing thing ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/a-trip-to-the-doc/ Malky and I talk about the surgery that I had earlier this week. Plus we talk about some news, the poll and our contest for episode 50! Right click here to download the show! Links from the show: Nipper News  Dancing With Elephants Robin Weiss Rachel Inbar XBox for Nappy Rash Just Relax Perfume to cause infertility in Men? Bad ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/episode-49-the-post-op-show/ I have not blogged about my recovery recently and I wouldn't be a good narcissist if I didn't focus things back on me. I think that on Saturday I over exerted myself and that stemmed from my having to rush so I didn't get caught in some rain that was starting to ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/the-state-of-the-aaron-address/ Another chapter in the NHS situation over in the UK. It looks like things may improve. http://www.benedictfamily.org/nhs-to-give-ivf-more-priority/ Here is a good overview about going through secondary infertility.  http://www.benedictfamily.org/secondary-infertility-overview/ To those of you in the US, have a happy Labor Day. All others, have a great Monday.  Speaking of labor day, Malky mentioned to me last night that our old friend Robin Weiss gave birth to a baby yesterday. We offer her a hearty Mazel Tov! http://www.benedictfamily.org/happy-labor-day/ Well there are several people here in the shared office space have decided that they should listen out loud to Barak Obama's speech from last night. This is beginning to piss me off, not because of pollitics but I because I think that when you are in a public area, ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/common-decencey/ I was finally able to take a shower yesterday and what a difference that made. I felt rejuvenated and like a new person. A new person with two sets of stitches in a sensitive area, but a new person never the less. After the shower I was able to remove some of the extra ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/hitting-the-shower/ So far our contest has been a complete bust. We have only had two people enter the contest. Malky and I thought it may be a good idea for a post with the ways to enter the contest. Write a review in iTunes - We like reviews in iTunes. All you ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/our-50th-show-contest/ I couldn't sleep well last night. This is because I'm not able to sleep on my sides as I is my wont because of the location of the incisions and stitches. I have to sleep on my back which is no fun at all. Not only that but the pain seems ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/about-last-night/ That was the popular question that former NYC Mayor (and my mother's favorite - she still votes for him) used to ask people he met. I'm going to use it in a slightly different way and try to go through how I am currently feeling post procedure.  As Malky pointed out ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/how-im-doing/ We're home again. All's well. Aaron ate, rested and isn't in too much pain thank G-d. May he be doing even better tomorrow, G-d willing. I was very impressed with Cornell hospital. The staff was wonderful - everyone was patient and nice. The area that family waits in looks more ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/home-again/ I'm out of surgery and the doctors are happy with how things went. I should be released shortly. http://www.benedictfamily.org/out-of-surgery/ Well, there  is about an hour left until I have to be at the hospital for pre op fun to begin and 2 1/2 hours before the surgery. Malky it seems, is more nervous than I am at this time. I'm calm about the whole thing and the only thing ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/tick-tock/ I've been a wreck all day about Aaron's surgery tomorrow. You would think it was me having it, although in someways it's easier to be the one going through it. Now I can really understand what Aaron must have been feeling when I went through my labors. Then there's 2 ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/nervous-wreck/ This weeks show and tell are pictures from our trip to Boston. We had a really nice time and it was great to get away from it all for a couple of days especially with Aaron upcoming varicocele surgery. This is a picture of the world trade center of Boston. ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/show-and-tell-082308/ Most of you might know that when a woman has poor oral health it can cause complications in pregnancy such as pre-term birth and low-birth weight babies. A new study from Israel has found that poor oral health can cause men to have low sperm counts. The study was ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/gum-infection-not-just-a-problem-for-female-fertility/ Well at 4:00PM on the nose I gave the hospital a call to see what time my surgery will be on Monday. I was told 2:00pm. I have to admit that I was hoping for an earlier appointment but I think that it will be early enough that I should ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/surgery-scheduled/ As listeners of the podcast have heard, I will be undergoing a bilateral varicocele procedure a week from tomorrow. I'm having a bit of a debate with my self about how I should go through the surgery. I have the option of either going through it with a local anesthetic (that being an epidural) ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/to-sleep-or-not-to-sleep/ This week I'm showing off a product that Aaron bought for the kitchen. He likes to cook just as much as I do if not more. Aaron purchased this spice carousel at a mall. I was not with him at the time since he had gone to the mall ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/show-and-tell-081708/ On this episode, Malky and I talk about three studies that have made the news recently. Update you on the current poll and on my upcoming surgery.  Right click here to download the episode Links we discussed: Acupuncture and IVF Study Shows Early Promise Infertility drugs like Clomid not helpful for unexplained infertility Oral Contraceptives Disrupt Ability ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/episode-48-study-study-study/ I missed show and tell last week since I was waiting to finish this before posting. I started this afghan here. I just completed one full panel. Only 4 more to go! Hopefully I'll be finished by the time it's really cold outside and will need something warm to cuddle ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/show-and-tell-081108/ I found this interesting court case in relation to the subject we discussed on our last show about time off for fertility treatment. A secretary was fired for needed time off for IVF. She filed suit alleging sex bias. The company that fired her claims it's not sex bias since ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/secretary-fired-for-needing-time-off-for-ivf/ A Scottish study was done on couples experiencing unexplained infertility to see if using drugs like Clomid and doing IUI really helps to improve pregnancy rates. The results were quite surprising. Check it out here. http://www.benedictfamily.org/infertility-drugs-like-clomid-not-helpful-for-unexplained-infertility/ Malky and I finally broke down and we decided to join Twitter. If any of you, our listeners and readers would like to follow us, this is a great way to do know what we're doing without having to worry about a restraining order :D.  Malky Aaron http://www.benedictfamily.org/a-couple-of-twits/ Well it looks like it's that time of year again. Malky and I have been nominated for the 2008 People's Choice Podcast Awards in the health and fitness category. Last year the podcast "Sex is Fun" is back and it's hard to compete with a name and topic like that but we're ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/nominated-again/ Monday, I decided to take Rivky out to play miniature golf for the first time ever. Quite frankly, I was getting jealous of all the fun she's been having in camp and thought lets have some fun together. She loved it! She did very well for her first time and ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/miniature-golf/ This episode Malky and I interview author Sinead Moriarty. She is the author of a trilogy of fictional books about a woman's infertility journey. As always we have the news, a new poll, and some surprises coming up at the end of the podcast. Right click here to download the show Links from the ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/episode-47-sinead-moriarty/ This week I decided to go with pictures of myself as a baby (about 9 months) old and Rivky as a baby (7 months old). So, do you think we look alike or is she all Aaron or a mix? Isn't it amazing how far they've come with photography in 30 ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/show-and-tell-072608/ I've spoken about Rogue Amebia's Audio Hijack Pro before since it's such an important tool for our podcast. Last night I discovered a new use for the application. I was looking for a sound clip but the only thing that I could find was a YouTube video of said audio. AHP ... http://www.benedictfamily.org/fun-with-audio-hijack-pro/