Virginia Center for Reproductive Medicine

What I have been saying for years...

2012-02-02T16:31:00.001-08:00

... but very few listen:
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Sugar-a-Toxic-Substance-138565879.html

Wow!

2012-01-31T06:38:00.001-08:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/30/asher-stewardson-13-pound-baby_n_1241904.html

Washingtonian Top Doctor

2012-01-23T09:46:00.001-08:00

Dr Sharara was nominated again as one of the area Top Doctors by the Washingtonian magazine. This has been a continous honor since 2005. Dr Sharara was nominated by his peers and a panel of experts composed of selected physicians at each area hospital.

Why you need to follow our recommendations!

2012-01-16T16:44:00.001-08:00

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/01/13/some-ivf-patients-fail-to-follow-lifestyle-recommendations/

New ways calories can cause weight gain

2012-01-04T07:33:00.001-08:00

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203462304577138993430777580.html

Happy Holidays and best wishes for 2012

2011-12-20T12:11:00.001-08:00

How small is too small?

2011-12-13T08:21:00.000-08:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/born-smaller-than-soda-cans-tiniest-babies-are-growing-up-healthy-docs-say-most-not-so-lucky/2011/12/11/gIQAB0zknO_story.html

Dr Sharara named Top Doc in Infertility by the Washington Post Magazine

2011-12-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

Dr Sharara was recently named one of the Top Doctors in Infertility by the Washington Post magazine by his peers in the DC area in the recently published issue.

Dr Sharara named Top Doctor by Northern Virginia Magazine for second year in a row

2011-11-26T18:33:00.001-08:00

Dr Sharara was named to the Northern Virginia Magazine's Top Doctors for 2012 for the second year in a row. Local doctors in Northern VA and DC were asked to nominate their peers and in addition, the hospitals were polled. The hospitals put together a panel of head doctors to discriminately look at physicians who have privileges at their hospital, these included internal evaluations, patient reviews, as well as overall quality of care. The issue will go on sale in February 2012.

Most women fail Fertility 101

2011-11-15T16:13:00.001-08:00

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45262603/ns/today-today_health/

IVF treatment and slightly increased risk of borderline ovarian tumors

2011-11-08T07:40:00.001-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/health/research/ivf-brings-slightly-higher-risk-for-ovarian-cancer.html?_r=1

Personhood Vote Looms in Mississippi

2011-10-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

ASRM BULLETIN

Volume 13, Number 30

October 27, 2011

Personhood Vote Looms in Mississippi

On November 8, residents of Mississippi will be asked to vote on Initiative 26 a ballot measure which would amend the state’s constitution to establish that legal “personhood” begins “from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the equivalent thereof.” While similar ballot or legislative measures have been resoundingly defeated in Alabama, Colorado (twice), Georgia, Montana, North Dakota, and Oklahoma, initiatives are gaining momentum in a half dozen states. In each state ASRM members have and continue to take an active role advocating against the measures. Intense education efforts via local and national media drives and voter outreach is underway in Mississippi, however we will not know the outcome until the vote has been taken and given the politics of the state are concerned this time may prove favorable to the supporters of Personhood.

The goal of efforts to declare a fertilized human egg to be a legal person is to ban abortion for any reason, including those resulting from rape or incest. These measures would likely bar some birth control methods, including IUDs and morning-after pills that prevent fertilized eggs from implanting in the uterus. They would also potentially outlaw the destruction and the cryopreservation of embryos created as part of the process to treat infertility. Moreover, they would possibly prevent doctors from providing necessary and often life-saving medical procedures to women experiencing miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Personhood measures are a dangerous intrusion of criminal law into the provision of medical care. They unduly restrict the doctor-patient relationship while jeopardizing women’s rights, and also literally their lives.

ASRM is firmly opposed to Imitative 26 and is working in coalition with other groups that have joined the Mississippi for Healthy Families Campaign (http://www.votenoon26.org/home). Individual ASRM members in Mississippi have drafted communications, participated in press conferences and been interviewed for both print and radio stories. In August, ASRM sent a letter to Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann expressing its concern about the measure’s effect on infertility treatments and its position that “an embryo, in vitro or in vivo, is a cluster of cells with a unique potential to grow into a full-fledged individual. However, in human reproduction, even as undertaken without medical assistance, fewer than 20% of fertilized eggs implant in the uterus. Given the uncertainty that any particular embryo will develop to become a person, it is unreasonable and imbalanced to give constitutional rights to fertilized eggs or embryos.”

Interestingly, traditional abortion rights opponents, including the National Right to Life and the Roman Catholic bishops, view state personhood measures as counterproductive to their larger goal of overturning Roe v Wade.

ASRM will report on the outcome of November 8 vote and should it pass will be actively involved in litigation on the matter. ASRM will continue to keep its members apprised of efforts in other states and welcomes the interest of members who want to take an active role in advocating against these measures. Those interested should contact Sean Tipton with ASRM’s Office of Public Affairs at stipton@asrm-dc.org.

Stress and more girls?

2011-10-23T13:08:00.001-07:00

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8830036/Stressed-women-more-likely-to-have-baby-girls.html

Please Stop Googling your symptoms!

2011-10-14T09:25:00.001-07:00

http://www.news.com.au/technology/stop-googling-your-symptoms-doctors-are-sick-of-it/story-e6frfro0-1225997300708

Recession woes

2011-10-13T07:48:00.001-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/us/birth-rate-decline-reflects-recession-pew-center-says.html?_r=1

Bleak news on Health insurance

2011-09-15T12:02:00.001-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/15/opinion/bleak-news-on-health-insurance.html?_r=1

NSAIDs double miscarriage risks

2011-09-06T18:16:00.001-07:00

http://health.msn.com/pregnancy/nsaids-may-raise-miscarriage-risk-study/?GT1=31036

Time for sperm donation to be regulated

2011-09-05T12:52:00.001-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/health/06donor.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hp

Age rather than looks is critical for fertility

2011-09-01T10:33:00.001-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/fashion/fertility-is-a-matter-of-age-no-matter-how-young-a-woman-looks.html?_r=1

Super Foods

2011-08-22T16:45:00.001-07:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44229109/ns/nightly_news/

The harmful effects of heat on prescription medications:

2011-08-17T07:11:00.001-07:00

Please keep your medications at room temperature or in the fridge as instructed:

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/heat-wave-affecting-prescriptions-14319881

Another reason why VCRM is better than other clinics

2011-08-02T09:55:00.000-07:00

Practically none of our patients wait for their appointments

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/02/health/policy/02consumer.html?_r=1

When IVF does not work

2011-07-26T06:26:00.001-07:00

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903461104576458134196248312.html

Everything is bigger in Texas!

2011-07-12T05:46:00.001-07:00

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/16-pound-baby-boy-born-texas/story?id=14045164

Early treatment with Metformin may delay or prevent PCOS

2011-07-07T10:13:00.001-07:00

http://www.examiner.com/women-s-health-in-los-angeles/early-treatment-with-metformin-may-prevent-polycystic-ovary-syndrome

Diabetes is on the rise worldwide

2011-06-26T13:50:00.001-07:00

A very sobering article that reflects what we are seeing around us

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/diabetes-becoming-alarmingly-common-worldwide-new-study-finds/2011/06/24/AGMkaFlH_story.html?hpid=z4

More bad news regarding simple carbs

2011-06-22T18:01:00.001-07:00

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/healthy-weight-study-diet-lifestyle-lead-success/story?id=13893779

Gastric bypass surgery may help infertile women with PCOS

2011-06-21T07:40:00.001-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/health/research/21patterns.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=Weight%20loss%20surgery%20may%20have%20helped%20restore%20fertility%20in%20a%20handful%20of%20extremely%20obese%20women%20who%20were%20unable%20to%20have%20children%20because%252

US Births Drop

2011-06-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

The number of births in the US dropped for the 3rd straight year with the eception of women > 40

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304319804576387922230634858.html

Sugar anyone?

2011-05-30T14:27:00.001-07:00

Many of my patients accuse me of giving them a hard time about how much sugar is in products I instruct them to avoid. Maybe this will show them why I want them to avoid these food items!

4.2 gms = 1 teaspoon of sugar, so this looks like 1 cube is about the same!

Super doctor!

2011-05-16T18:40:00.000-07:00

Dr Sharara was just nominated as one of the Washington, DC-Baltimore-Northern Virginia Super Doctors. This was a peer nominated process where only 5% of the physicians in the greater Washington-Baltimore area made the cut. The selection process included peer nominations, a Blue Ribbon review process, and an independent research on candidates.

Importance of Meditation

2011-05-10T18:11:00.001-07:00

I have always believed in holistic medicine and meditation is extremely important (my staff tells me all the time that I need to start doing this ;)

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/w_AlternativeNews/meditation-prescribed-doctors-study-finds/story?id=13563912

Faulty "Chaperone" protein and infertile sperm?

2011-05-05T14:23:00.001-07:00

New research shows that in SOME men, the sperm heads may be missing a key "chaperone" protein that is important for the sperm to recognize the egg

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/03/3206814.htm?section=justin

Thank you Marsha

2011-04-27T12:05:00.000-07:00

An appreciative and happy patient sent this editorial
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/042011/04202011/619296

National Infertility Awarness Week

2011-04-26T12:54:00.000-07:00

This week is National Infertility Awarness week. Let's make every pregnancy a dream come true and help alleviate the pain of infertility

Happy Easter and passover to our readers

2011-04-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

Twins Video and secret language

2011-03-30T14:17:00.001-07:00

Enjoy!
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/viral-video-twin-babies-secret-language-13247451

Livestrong and VCRM

2011-03-28T14:41:00.001-07:00

In an effort to help women recently diagnosed with cancer, we have joined forces with LIVESTRONG to raise awarness and to help these women explore fertility options such as egg freezing or embryo freezing. More information can be found at www.livestrong.org

PCFs and Early menopause

2011-03-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

A new study points to a correlation between levels of Perfluorocarbons (PCF) and early menopause. PCFs are endocrine-disruptors (chemicals that mimic the effects of certain hormones) and are found in products such as toys, clothing, furniture, carpets, paints and plastic food containers.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/womens-health/articles/2011/03/24/high-levels-of-pfcs-might-bring-early-menopause

2009 IVF Results

2011-03-17T18:08:00.001-07:00

The 2009 ART success rates have just been published for all the programs in the US at www.sart.org. For the 6th year in a row, we have the highest success rates in the greater Washington area. We encourage our readers to view our results.

Off to Lebanon

2011-03-03T16:12:00.001-08:00

I am off to Beirut, Lebanon to visit family and friends and give a talk on Infertility at my alma mater, the American University of Beirut (AUB). I hope to get some time to visit few places and sample great food at some new restaurants.

HPV and men

2011-03-01T18:23:00.000-08:00

‎50% of men are infected with HPV, and are therefore the major "spreaders" of HPV infection in women and resulting in cervical and other cancers. Infected men are also at higher risk of developing anal, penile, and heck and neck cancers. This raises the need to start vaccinating adolescent boys, in addition to girls, with the HPV vaccine. Unfortunately, the US government and insurance companies still do not see the need to vaccinate boys (but would rather pay the costs of cancer care!)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41838714/ns/health-mens_health/

China visit

2011-02-23T18:54:00.000-08:00

Back from China where I visited Shanghai and then Chongqin for my talk at the 5th annual meeting of the Chinese Society for Reproductive Medicine. China was so impressive that I cannot wait to return for another visit. China is in the midst of an incredible boom and the people in Shanghai have trouble keeping up with all the marvelous changes happening around them. Some say that this change is proceeding at an uncomfortably fast pace.

Diet soda and cardiovascular disease?

2011-02-09T17:59:00.000-08:00

New research that links diet soda consumption with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke has doctors urging caution about the controversial and preliminary results.
According to a study of more than 2,500 people presented today as a poster at the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles, people who drank diet soda daily had a 61 percent increased risk of cardiovascular events compared to those who drank no soda, even when accounting for smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption and calories consumed per day.

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/lat-heb-dietsodastrokeheartattack20110209,0,4324389.story

Eggs and Embryos Bar Coded?

2011-02-03T17:15:00.001-08:00

In an exciting development, a team in Barcelona, Spain, was able to bar code eggs and embryos so that the chance of mixing or loosing them becomes nil. The government of Catalonia has granted the team permission to tag eggs and embryos for fertility centers in Spain

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2010/11/theres-something-in-my-eggs.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

Northern Virginia Top Doc

2011-01-25T17:28:00.001-08:00

Dr Sharara was nominated as one of Northern Virginia Top Docs in Reproductive Endocrinology in the February issue of Northern Virginia Magazine that is now in stands. We thank our peer doctors and patients for their vote of confidence. Dr Sharara has been rated a Top Doc in the Washingtonian magazine since 2005.

2009 Success Rates

2011-01-20T07:30:00.001-08:00

We just posted our 2009 success rates for IVF and Donor Egg on our website: http://www.vcrmed.com/. We are confident that our rates will be the highest in the area for the 6th straight year.

Alcohol and IVF success

2011-01-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

In a study published this month, researchers at Harvard showed in a large study of women undergoing 4,729 IVF cycles that women drinking at least 4 drinks/week have a 16% lower chance at having a live birth compared to non-drinkers. For couples in which both partners drink at least 4 drinks/week the odds of live birth is 21% lower.

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T12:53:00.001-08:00

Wisshing you a happy, healthy and "pregnant" New Year

Happy Holidays

2010-12-16T18:54:00.001-08:00

Wishing all our readers a happy Holiday Season. May all your wishes come true

Buyer Beware!

2010-12-06T16:38:00.000-08:00

Some couples undergoing gestational surrogacy (GC) are going to India in an attempt to save money, making the surrogacy business in India a $445 million a year business. Recently, a Canadian couple who underwent DNA testing as part of the adoption of twins they assumed were their offspring discovered that they had no genetic link to the infants born to a surrogate in India!!!!

Unfortunately true, not just in Texas!

2010-11-29T17:12:00.000-08:00

one in four women who are overweight think they are slim:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8150939/Many-fat-women-think-they-are-slim-research.html

Photos of fetal development

2010-11-28T06:46:00.001-08:00

A nice slideshow about the fetal development until birth

http://www.webmd.com/baby/slideshow-fetal-development

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T14:20:00.000-08:00

‎20 Tips to Curb Sugar Craving and Kick the addiction:

2010-11-20T12:37:00.000-08:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-frank-lipman/sugar-addiction_b_783203.html#s183041

Why the Health of Pregnant (and soon to be pregnant) women matters to us all

2010-11-15T16:44:00.001-08:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/12/AR2010111202783.html

Pain killers and Future Male Infertility?

2010-11-13T05:48:00.000-08:00

A new study published online in the Journal Human Reproduction from Denmark and Finland showed a higher chance of having undescended testicles (which leads to a higher chance of male infertility) in the sons of women who took pain killers during pregnancy (see the link in my newsletter at

http://www.healthbanks.com/PatientPortal/MyPractice.aspx?UAID={A03416B1-1368-44A8-8636-06329078EA5A}&TabID={X}&ArticleID=645787 ).

I think the study is fairly weak and more data is definitely needed to find out if there is an association. That said, I always tell my patients to avoid taking any medication if they can avoid it.

Sins of the Grandfathers

2010-11-07T07:55:00.000-08:00

A superb article appeared in the November 8 issue of Newsweek regarding the effects of our lifestyle and diet on epigenetics and their ultimtae effect on future generations entitled "Sins of the Grandfathers, how early=life experiences could cause permanent changes in sperm and eggs": http://www.newsweek.com/2010/10/30/how-your-experiences-change-your-sperm-and-eggs.html

Happy Halloween

2010-10-30T10:13:00.001-07:00

Wishing everyone a happy (and Scary) Halloween

"I can eat Manhattan"

2010-10-29T14:20:00.000-07:00

One of our pregnant patients said, when asked how she is doing, "I can eat Manhattan!". That is probably one of the funniest comments I have ever heard from a pregnant person.
Bon appetit.

Denver

2010-10-28T17:22:00.000-07:00

The ASRM meeting was great and we presented 2 research studies. It was cold and windy and I am happy to be back to such a beautiful weather (no matter how short that may be)!

ASRM Meeting

2010-10-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

I am off to the ASRM meeting in Denver. I am presenting 2 abstracts on Tuesday. Hopefully some exciting new advances will also be presented that will be of help to our patients. I will not have much time to visit the city but will try.

CFC's Party

2010-10-19T10:02:00.000-07:00

The party was a huge success and the vast majority of the children/babies present were VCRM's successes. The children played in a moon bounce and had a lot to eat. the parents all had a marvelous time. Many of the surrogates were also present and played with the children they helped bring into the world.
Our thanks go to the host who was fantastic and shared his twins' joy at having so many people around.

Here are some photos (courtesy of Ruthi David)

Party Time!

2010-10-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

Today is Creative Family Connections (CFC) 2rd annual party. Over the past 6 years, VCRM has been instrumental in increasing the success of CFC's clients, and hence the number of babies expected to be present today. I will post some photos later.
Congratulations to CFC and all its clients!

2010 Best of Reston Award

2010-10-15T14:38:00.000-07:00

For the third year in a row, VCRM has received the "2010 Best of Reston" Award in the "Physicians and Surgeons Category by the US Local Business Association (USLBA). Nationwide, < 1% qualified as Three-Time award winners. The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

NoVA Top Doctor

2010-10-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

Dr Sharara was named one of Northern Virginia's Top Doctors by Northern VA Magazine. The Top Docs issue will be out in February 2011 which includes Top Docs in Northern Virginia and the district. In an unprecendeted move, the magazine not only asked local doctors to nominate their peers but asked the hospitals in the area to also rank the top docs regarding internal evaluations, patient reviews, and overall quality of care.

Laptop users beware

2010-10-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

One of the worst things guys can do is put their laptops on their laps because of the association with worse sperm parameters. Today a new article shows the terrible damage inflicted on the skin, enough to "toast" the skin of the thighs:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1317532/Laptop-heat-toast-skin-thighs.html?ITO=1490

Finally!

2010-10-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

It was announced today that the father of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Robert Edwards received the 2010 Nobel Prize for medicine. Dr Edwards was responsible for the first IVF birth in the world (Louise Brown) in 1978. Since then, more than 4 million births are due to the use of IVf and related techniques. Currently, about 1% of all births in the US and over 2% of births in Scandinavia are due to IVF. We are thrilled that dr Edwards finally received his due recognition (he is 86).

CAP Inspection

2010-09-29T15:09:00.001-07:00

We had our College of American pathology (CAP) inspection for our Embryology, Endocrinology, and Andrology laboratories on September 25th and passed with no deficiencies. This is another proof of our continued committment to Excellence. It is no wonder why we were chosen as a Center of Excellence by UnitedHealthcare in the spring.

Facebook

2010-09-27T17:30:00.000-07:00

You can also follow us on Facebook (under Virginia Center for Reproductive Medicine) and post your comments (only nice ones please :))

Welcome

2010-09-27T15:26:00.000-07:00

VCRM has now an official blog. I will try to post at least few comments during the week. I hope this will be another forum to stay in touch with patients.