Happy Labor Day from all of us at #FINA!⭐️
**Our office will be closed on Monday, September 2 in observance of Labor Day.
Category: General
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!
“Sometimes miracles take a little time.” ?
“Sometimes miracles take a little time.” ?
Sending out a huge thanks to our sweet patient for this framed photo! We are so blessed to have been part of your journey.
FINA’s mission is to meet each patient with transparency and compassion at the unique place where they are in their fertility journey and to offer the most up-to-date and effective treatment options available.
Call 256-217-9613 to schedule your consultation today!
#FINAbaby #HelpingFamiliesBuildFamil
?: Chelsie Lee Photography
Introducing INVOcell!
▶️ INVOcell
▪️What is it?
▪️Is it affordable?
▪️Who is it for?
INVOcell is a treatment option that allows egg fertilization and early embryo development to take place in the woman’s body, in vivo, while offering success rates that are comparable to IVF if patients meet certain diagnostic criteria.
FINA is the first and only clinic in North Alabama with this option, and the entire process is completed locally in our office, right here in Huntsville.
The costs of INVOcell are also lower than IVF. It requires a similar egg stimulation and retrieval process to IVF, but instead of incubating the early egg and embryo in our lab we place an FDA-approved intravaginal culture device into the woman. This allows her to be a natural incubator while the embryos grow. The embryos will then be removed, and an embryo transfer subsequently performed.
INVOcell is designed for young and healthy patients with infertility.
If you’re interested in more information about this option, check out our website or call to schedule your consultation. We would love to discuss with you further in order to help you determine if this might be the right option for you and your partner.?
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! ?
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!
What’s in the name?
Did you know that FINA, though it is also an acronym, has a deeper meaning?
In Hebrew, the name FINA means “He shall add”. That is exactly what we are about at Fertility Institute of North Alabama (FINA).
Dr. Davenport and his staff use the most current resources, scientific knowledge, and technology available to make sure that you optimize your chances of a successful pregnancy.
Ultimately we believe that it is God that will add to any family, and we can confidently give thanks for every pregnancy in which we are privileged to assist.?
Meet Dr. D
Have you met Dr. Davenport, or as we call him, Dr. D?
Dr. D moved to Huntsville in 2014 with his wife Kelly and four children. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, he received his undergraduate degree from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, and attended medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. He then successfully completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Tennessee, followed by a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont.
Dr. Davenport is a skilled surgeon, excelling in robotic surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and hysteroscopic surgery. He is the only reproductive endocrinologist in North Alabama who performs robotic tubal reanastomosis, and also the only REI in the region to perform testicular sperm aspiration/extraction for vasectomized/obstructed males prior to in vitro fertilization (IVF).
He has been actively involved in clinical research and has also authored several publications. Dr. Davenport has a love for teaching and lecturing.?
But the most special thing about Dr. D?
He is passionate about providing excellent patient care, and is committed to providing the most state-of-the-art solutions in all aspects of infertility and reproductive endocrinology.
Dr. D understands that infertility and hormonal imbalances are some of the most emotionally, spiritually, and mentally consuming issues that an individual or couple may face, and most patients appreciate his compassionate yet candid approach to problem solving.❤️
The Emotional Plight of Infertility: We Have to Help Each Other
***W E ▪ H A V E ▪ T O ▪ H E L P ▪ E A C H▪ O T H E R!***
Welcome back to Day 5! Today we are going to give you some practical tips that can help you stay mentally strong.
1️⃣ Know that it is normal to have sad and disappointed feelings. This is not something to feel guilty about, but rather a normal response to a real problem. Allow yourself to express your emotions.
2️⃣ Getting mentally connected and understood is a huge step toward healthy coping. Find a friend to confide in. If you have not yet told anybody but your partner about your struggle, you need to! Even if that person has not undergone infertility, they are now on the journey with you.
3️⃣ Find a support group. Whether online or locally, this will allow you to hear of what other couples are going through or went through and will validate your emotions. It will make you feel less isolated and will empower you with knowledge.
4️⃣ Journaling. This has been shown to provide clarity of thought as to what you are feeling. It will allow you to understand yourself even more.
5️⃣ Exercise. If you do not already have one, pick up a regular exercise routine. You will find that your hyper-focus on fertility can be re-directed toward a workout, and your stress greatly reduced as a byproduct.
Technology has come a long way to help couples reach their pregnancy goals so that there is much hope for those struggling. The above are just a few tips that may help couples feel less lonely and endure the emotional roller coaster of infertility. Our infertility clinic is also designed to personally assist you through this tough time. Don’t hesitate to call us at 256-217-9613 if we can help! You can also visit our website at www.fertilityalabama.com .
Thank you for joining us this week! We hope you learned a lot and that you were able to share with a friend who may be going through these struggles.
The Emotional Plight of Infertility: Misdirected Expectations
***M I S D I R E C T E D ▪ E X P E C T A T I O N S***
Couples commonly have unrealistic expectations about how soon they should conceive. If there is a reason to think that there is a problem, professional help should absolutely be sought. But if there are no physical or historical reasons to explain why fertility may be difficult, where should a couple’s expectations lie? Most couples don’t realize:
✔ The average couple in their 20’s with no fertility disorder has around a 20% chance of conceiving each month with regular random intercourse in the absence of contraception.
✔ The overall chances of pregnancy after 1 year of regular random intercourse in the absence of contraception is approximately 80%.
✔ Infertility is the absence of a pregnancy after 1 year of trying to conceive with regular intercourse in the absence of contraception if you are less than 35 years old.
✔ If you are 35 years or older, infertility is the absence of pregnancy after only 6 months while still meeting the same criteria above.
✔ Approximately 10-15% of all couples in the United States struggle with infertility. That’s approximately 1 out of 8 couples!
? Join us back here tomorrow as we wrap up our event with *We Have to Help Each Other!
There is so much hope for those who are struggling. We’ll give you some tips that may help you feel less lonely and help you stay mentally strong on this journey. See you then!