Blog Archive

One of the very first steps in determining a treatment plan to address your infertility is getting diagnostic testing done. The tests can vary, but often include bloodwork and a uterine ultrasound for women and a semen analysis for men.   The bloodwork can help identify issues with hormones, vitamin...

Infertility is often thought of as a women’s issue, but in reality, nearly one-third of infertility cases are due to male infertility, and another one-third are related to issues with both the male and female partners.  Male factor infertility can stem from several issues related to structural issues of the...

We may have to wait until April for National Infertility Awareness Week, but we are starting this year off right and helping our patients and the infertility community to navigate their fertility journeys. Having the support and information as you go through fertility treatment is important for everyone and we...

More than 12% of people in the United States will develop a thyroid condition in their lifetime. This means more than 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease, yet nearly 60% of them are undiagnosed.  Thyroid function impacts many aspects of the body, including fertility and since it’s...

Progesterone plays an important role throughout a healthy pregnancy, but what happens when progesterone levels are too low? How does this impact implantation, the growing fetus, and the overall pregnancy?  We know these are important questions you may have when trying to conceive, especially when seeking reproductive and fertility services...

As we enter a new year, we hope that 2023 brings renewed hope and determination to those trying to conceive. With a new year comes a lot of change and hopefully success for you on your fertility journey.  Here at Nova IVF, we start the year off fresh and encourage...

Taking birth control for extended periods may leave you questioning if it impacts your fertility in the long run. The good news is that it doesn’t have any long-term effects and can be safely taken without worry about damage to your future fertility. For daily hormonal birth control, it’s so...

When considering the idea of moving forward with In Vitro Fertilization or IVF, many decisions must be made along the way. One of the first things we try to figure out with our patients is their family-building goals.  While we aim to help our patients have a healthy pregnancy from...

Today, women are often finding themselves having kids later in life. There are many reasons that women might hold off or not be ready to have kids. The reasons can range from not finding the right partner to health issues and even career focus. No matter what the reason is...

Male factor infertility accounts for one-third of infertility cases amongst couples, while another one-third of cases are often due to both male and female infertility issues.  At Nova IVF, we recognize the importance of testing both partners pursuing fertility treatment to ensure we can try and figure out the root...

For women, there is a lot of guidance and information about “how not to get pregnant” starting with school and well into the 20s, but there isn’t nearly enough information about the “how to get pregnant” part of fertility care.  It is not only our mission to treat patients who...

The holiday season is upon us, and for many, this is a time of celebration to be shared with friends and daily, but for those going through infertility, it can be painful and unwelcome. Dealing with infertility is often emotionally draining and difficult to navigate, but the holidays can make...

An individual or couple struggling with infertility may pursue In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in their journey to becoming parents. This process has helped to bring more than 1 million babies into the world since its inception in 1978. While IVF has been around for more than 40 years and is...

Whether you are visiting a fertility specialist or reproductive endocrinologist for the first time or you’ve been seeing a specialist for a while, we know you have questions, and we’re here to answer them.  We’ve compiled a list of the top 5 questions we hear from patients regularly to help...

Your reproductive health may not be the first thing that comes to mind when receiving a cancer diagnosis, but it’s an important aspect of your health to consider before undergoing treatment.  Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation, can negatively affect your fertility in several ways, but you can consider...

Testosterone is a sex hormone produced in the body that plays several critical roles. For men, it plays an essential role in sperm production, libido, bone growth and strength, and muscle size and strength.  Due to its many important roles in the male body, it’s not uncommon for men to...

When an individual or couple receives an infertility diagnosis, stress and emotions can build up. Through the journey, many patients can experience periods of depression and even anxiety mixed with various emotions at each step. This is especially true for women, and recent studies have shown that nearly 50% of...

What does your daily or weekly routine look like? Are you staying physically active and feeling your best? We celebrate National Women’s Health and Fitness Day the last Wednesday in September. This day is important in helping us all remember to focus on the importance of physical activity and encouraging...

More than 22,000 women are diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer annually in the United States. More than two-thirds of those women are diagnosed after menopause, but this does not mean cancer doesn’t start until women hit menopause.  Nearly 60% of women are not seeing their gynecologist regularly, which is often the...

September is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (or PCOS) Awareness Month. While you may not be familiar with PCOS, it’s pretty common among women and is present in nearly 4-20% of women.  PCOS is a metabolic syndrome characterized by elevated levels of androgens, menstrual irregularities, and potentially insulin resistance. It may start...

You may have heard that women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have, and that egg quality declines with age, but what about male fertility? Various things can impact male fertility, including medical issues or injuries, environmental and medical history factors, lifestyle choices, and last but not least,...

Whether you are trying naturally to get pregnant or working with a reproductive endocrinologist and going through assisted reproductive technology (ART) services like intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF), there are complementary ways that you can increase your fertility potential.  One of the best ways to work towards...

The first step necessary when considering fertility treatment is finding the right fertility doctor for you. In many cases, this means seeking out a reproductive endocrinologist, who is someone specializing in diagnosing and treating infertility. No matter your reason for seeking a reproductive endocrinologist, you should feel comfortable and at...

Going through a miscarriage can be devastating and a difficult topic to discuss, especially if you are feeling confused or lonely during the process. You are not alone in this process, and it’s okay to grieve your loss. We are here to answer your questions about miscarriage and offer a...

In previous decades, the idea of becoming a single parent by choice was often very limited. Typically, the only option was to adopt, which was limited as many agencies preferred or required adopters to be married heterosexual couples.  Fast forward to 2022, and there are now many options for single...

Earlier this year, Dr. Meera Shah took time to connect with the Stanford Cardiology Residents & Fellows. She led an engaging discussion with the group about fertility preservation and the importance of taking control of your reproductive future.  Whether you are a busy cardiology resident, a successful business manager, or...

The first live birth resulting from IVF was back in 1978. Her name is Louise Brown, and she is often referred to as the first “test-tube baby.” We now celebrate National IVF Day on July 25th in honor of her (it’s her birthday). Since her birth, the world of assisted...

One of the very first steps in determining a treatment plan to address your infertility is getting diagnostic testing done. The tests can vary, but often include bloodwork and a uterine ultrasound for women and a semen analysis for men. The bloodwork can help identify issues with hormones, vitamin D,...

Uterine fibroids are quite common, but not often talked about. By age 50, approximately 80% of all women will have developed fibroids in their life, yet we still don’t hear much about them or how they can impact women’s health.  Uterine fibroids can cause an array of symptoms and can...

Last Friday, we witnessed the historic overturning of Roe v Wade. This left many concerned and confused about the impact this could have on the use of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). Please be assured at this time that there is no impact on any available ART services in the State...

Our own Dr. Richard Schmidt guests on the latest Plant Your Seed podcast—just in time for Father's Day. Dr. Schmidt spoke about his 25 years to delivering excellent patient-centered fertility care and his journey to becoming a vegan physician, having trained as a Food for Life instructor and as a...

There’s been a lot of conversations swirling around on social media recently about Olaplex No. 3 and its link to fertility issues. The real concern is over an ingredient called butyl phenyl methylpropionol also known as lilial.  This ingredient has recently been listed as a prohibited ingredient in all cosmetic...

NIPT stands for non-invasive prenatal testing, a blood test performed during pregnancy to screen for genetic abnormalities, such as Down’s syndrome. It can be performed as early as nine weeks and the results usually take one to two weeks to return. NIPT was first introduced in 2011 and was developed...

NOVA IVF's own Dr. Meera Shah was featured on The Egg Whisperer podcast and vlog to discuss ethnic disparities in reproductive health and IVF outcomes, including African American, Caucasian, Hispanic, and South Asian communities. Whatever your own background, you may find these differences enlightening as you embark on your own...

Fertility and soy, a perfect match? It is not easy to decipher the possible link between fertility and soy foods and whether there is a positive, negative, or no influence on the consumption of dietary soy and an individual's fertility health. There have been small studies and case reports to...

Did you know that February is National American Heart Month? What better time than now to start taking charge of your heart health than when you're looking to build your family! You may find that many of our recommendations here help you along your path to parenthood, too. According to...

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Dr. Meera Shah, Fertility doc (@dr_meerashah)  

It used to be that if you were unable to conceive, your only option for family building was surrogacy or adoption.  On July 25, 1978, all of that changed when the first human birth was achieved through in vitro fertilization (IVF), which opened the doors for millions of people to...

There's been a lot of talk the past few months about the latest strain of COVID-19, the Omicron variant. It has spread fast, but the worst may be behind us as Omicron cases are finally beginning to drop after unprecedented surges earlier at the start of 2022. The team at...

For whatever reason, family-building is off the table at the moment, but you certainly want to preserve the option for down the road. For men who want to take part in fertility preservation, sperm banking is the best path forward. To help preserve your ability to father children in the...

For women who are encountering certain fertility issues, donated eggs can provide the missing piece to the fertility puzzle. At NOVA IVF, we routinely handle both sides of the egg donation process — donating and receiving.  Under the expert guidance of fertility specialists Drs. Meera Shah and Richard Schmidt, our...

You’re in the middle of a career that’s taking off, you haven’t found your ideal partner yet, or you’re undergoing an invasive treatment: These are just three of the reasons why women turn to egg freezing.  This type of fertility preservation can play an invaluable role in your family-building dreams,...

When the vaccines were rolled out, everyone sighed with relief, but the coronavirus had other plans. With emerging strains, such as the delta variant, California is contemplating stricter mandates again in order to combat these new, highly contagious variants.  In the meantime, you’re worried about your pregnancy, the childbirth, and...

Most people who turn to in vitro fertilization (IVF) have been trying, unsuccessfully, for years to have children. Through IVF, we can bypass many fertility issues to help you create the family of your dreams. And we want to make sure your efforts are rewarded with a healthy baby (or...

Whether you’ve been trying for years to get pregnant or you’re frustrated by early unsuccessful attempts, you’re now looking at in vitro fertilization (IVF) as the best path forward.  While you’ve undoubtedly been through considerable testing already to determine the cause of your fertility problems, there are a few more...

There are any number of reasons why you or your partner may not be able to physically bring a child into the world, but that doesn’t mean that your family-building dreams are over. Through surrogacy, we can help you create the family of your dreams. At NOVA IVF, our team...

Of every 100 couples, 10-15 encounter problems with fertility, which can develop for any number of reasons, including issues with low sperm count, sperm formation, and sperm motility, which refers to how the sperm move.  In fact, 2% of men worldwide exhibit suboptimal sperm parameters, which means that their sperm...

There are many reasons women choose to freeze their eggs, but they all have one goal in common — to preserve their ability to get pregnant in the future.  While there are several steps you need to take to successfully safeguard your eggs, the last is arguably the most important...

Several years ago, Facebook and Apple took an extraordinary step in providing female employees $20,000 worth of medical coverage for egg freezing. This move underscored the important role that egg freezing can play by allowing women more freedom and peace of mind when it comes to achieving their family-building goals....

Until vaccination is more widespread, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a clear and present danger in the United States. While we’ve learned much during the past year, especially when it comes to at-risk demographics like the elderly, many women are wondering whether COVID-19 can affect pregnancy. Our fertility team...

You’ve likely heard the old adage about a ticking biological clock, which can place pressure on you during a time when having children just isn’t ideal. If you find yourself in a situation where you want to delay having children but you’re worried about your future fertility, egg freezing can...

If building the family of your dreams has presented some challenges, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a highly effective technique for bypassing certain hurdles to pregnancy.  The road to IVF has likely entailed years of frustration, so you, understandably, want to ensure that everything goes smoothly. That’s where preimplantation genetic...

Infertility among couples is evenly spread out — a third of causes lie with the woman, one-third with the man, and the final third with both or for reasons unknown. If we find that male infertility is the problem, we first look to issues with your sperm. At NOVA IVF,...

If you’re among the 10-15% of couples facing issues with fertility, you’re greeted with a host of options that range from wait-and-see to procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI).  Choosing which fertility treatment avenue is right for you depends on a host of factors, and we...

As the old adage, “You are what you eat,” correctly points out, the link between nutrition and your health is indisputable. Finding those exact links can often be easy — the effect of your diet on diabetes is direct and plainly evident.  The connection to issues like infertility is less...

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck with fury in March, California was the first state to lock down in response. Our early actions paid off, but when we started to reopen in June, COVID-19 cases began to rise again. We now have more than half a million confirmed cases and counting....

If you’re reading this blog, you’ve already answered the first, and most important, question when it comes to whether you’re a candidate for in vitro fertilization (IVF): You’re willing to go the extra mile when it comes to building the family of your dreams.  IVF is an incredibly effective solution...

Starting or growing a family is an exciting time. For LGBTQ couples, with the excitement also comes challenges — and options. Fortunately, there are several options toward parenthood, each with their own set of considerations.  The number of LGBTQ families are growing. A Pew Research national survey found that 51%...

If you dream of having a baby, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, nature isn’t always in sync with the timeline you have in mind for motherhood. And, a sickness or condition could get in the way before you’re able to have children. Fortunately, you can take steps to reset your biological...

We live in uncertain times. We’re in the early stages of a global pandemic that appears to have started in China sometime in December 2019 and has, since then, traveled to more than 150 other countries. We’re told to practice social distancing, wash our hands frequently, sanitize surfaces, and telecommute...