Each week, Fertility Solutions proposes a True or False question to our followers on social media. These questions range from relating to various aspects of fertility and reproductive health. In June, Dr. Huang of Fertility Solutions provided the research questions and answers that were posed to our followers on Facebook, Twitter, and GooglePlus.
During the week we post the answers to these questions and encourage those on social media to pose their answers in the lead up to Friday. We encourage you to read the research questions we offered for the month of June and see if you are able to guess the correct True/False answer, and to Like/Follow Fertility Solutions on social media for July’s research questions!
1. True or False: Having your period means that you’re ovulating.
Answer: Getting a period does not necessarily indicate that someone is ovulating. Sometimes a period-like flow occurs because the endometrium begins to shed and not because an egg was released two weeks prior to the start of vaginal bleeding.
Ovulation can be documented with a serum progesterone level over 3.0 ng/ml, or if a urinary test for LH hormone (the ovulation predictor kit) turns positive after a few days of testing negative. Ovulation can be assumed if bleeding occurs at fairly regular intervals of 24-32 day intervals.
If periods are irregular (without a predictable pattern), then ovulation may not be occurring.
2. True or False: There is nothing men can do to improve their partners’ chances of conceiving.
Answer: It is very important for the male partner to come to the initial consultation to review his medical history and lifestyle. For example, some medications can affect libido, testosterone levels, or sperm parameters – such as antidepressants. A urologic evaluation is helpful to determine the cause of male infertility.
3. True or False: You can have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) even if you are not overweight.
Answer: Not all women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have the classical presentation of being overweight and having increased facial or body hair. There is a wide spectrum of clinical features for this common reason for infertility.
4. Which of the following answers are true? Pick all that apply.
A. Sperm morphology (analysis of sperm shape) correlates to pregnancy success
B. Normal sperm concentration and motility will compensate for low normal morphology
C. The sperm head, mid piece and tail are all important components of sperm morphology
D. There is a greater chance of birth defects if an abnormal sperm fertilizes an egg
Answers: B and C.
Fertilization rates may be lower in IVF with sperm that have low normal morphology, but pregnancies can still occur naturally. There is no correlation between increased risk of birth defects and abnormally shaped sperm.