China visit

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?

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?

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

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

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

 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

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