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There has been quite a bit of research on the relationship between weight and fertility. In the case of women, studies have shown that even a few pounds too much, or too little for that matter, can make getting pregnant more difficult.
Not so for the men. In fact, the latest research coming out of Albert Einstein College in NYC showed that weight doesn’t seem to have an effect on sperm. (www.conceiveonline.com; Winter, 2008). Even testosterone production turns out not to be a problem unless they are very low, or the man is extremely obese.
“Our results show that the process of making sperm is pretty robust and hard to interrupt,” reports Nanette Santoro, MD, a reproductive endrocrinologist at Albert Einstein.
Marina Lombardo
2008 has definitely been an unusual year in the world, the US, and perhaps in your personal life. There’s been an abundance of bad or disturbing news, a lot of pressure on us all, and a general sense of sadness or uncertainty that even the joy of the holiday season can’t fully dispel.
But 2009 waits just around the corner, filled with promises and even more uncertainties. Before you march forward into the next year, take some time to just regroup–time for yourself.
Instead of thoughtful introspect, try to carve out some space in which you don’t think at all–lose yourself in a good book, strap on your roller blades, stand on the couch and cheer for your favorite sports team, or just curl up in a cozy bed and regain the extra sleep that has been short changed out of your busy life. Give yourself permission to “not” try to solve all of the world’s problems or even all of your own.
From Marina and Linda–each of us always on our own journey to more peace and less pressure–we wish you a Merry Christmas, a Happy Holiday, and the peace and joy that were meant to be part of this special time of year.
...take time for yourself during the holidays
“Would you like to help a couple have a child? I’m looking for an egg donor. Can we meet?”
Diana Thomas’ story is a familiar one. For years she struggled to have a child, meeting failure upon failure on the high tech track. With money and time running out, she and her then husband placed this ad in a local paper. Diana chose one of the six women who responded, and in 1996, her son was born. Diana was 40 years old.
From her own personal quest, Diana founded X and Y Consulting. As reported in a recent issue of More Magazine, (December 2008-January 2009, www.more.com), the company’s latest division, Cryo Eggs International, uses the latest in frozen egg technology to help her clients, most of whom are over 40, to become pregnant. This new technology comes with a hefty price: $25,000 to $40,000 for each pregnancy attempt using fresh eggs. But the fee is pretty much all-inclusive, covering recruiting, compensation and insurance, screening tests (both genetic and psychological), and transportation.
In recent years, Diana has taken her business national. On her website, www.eggsdonorsnow.com, Diana posts photos of donor alongside lists of their talents and interests–kind of like a match.com for the childless. But Diana is gratified. “It’s rewarding to know that I have cut the learning curve in half for other women like me, who have had to figure out how to have a baby when our biology says it’s too late.”
Marina
