You’ve decided you want to grow your family, and that using a sperm donor is on the path to getting there. Like with any relationship, you may have a list of criteria you’re looking for when it comes to donors.  Beyond the specific details and history of your ideal donor, there are other important considerations like potential communication with donors or your future children’s biological half-siblings and the number of vials available.  Choosing the right sperm donor: 5 things to consider To help you navigate the complex process of selecting a sperm donor, we connected with...

The term “OCD” is often misused, with people saying things like “I’m totally OCD” when referring to being meticulous, highly organized, or extremely clean. The reality? OCD is so much more than that. It’s a mental health condition that can really affect a person’s quality of life. Like other mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, OCD can be triggered or exaggerated by pregnancy. Being a new parent is already incredibly tough, and perinatal OCD can add a layer of challenge to a person’s experience. That’s why it’s so critical that we address the issue...

The third trimester of pregnancy with my twins was anything but ordinary. I was commuting 30 minutes to and from the office daily, spending most of the workday just trying to get comfortable. I had a standing desk that I used whenever a little leg was snuggled too close to my rib cage. I napped in my car during lunchtime. I had to excuse myself from most meetings for a bathroom break (or two). There was a cushioned bench outside my office that I sometimes laid down on with my laptop when my colleagues weren’t around....

For women experiencing the effects of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) — such as metabolic and hormonal imbalances — all eyes are on two particular ingredients, and for a good reason. Myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol aren’t new (they are actually very well-researched), but they are currently trending in the social media world.  Both supplements help support a properly functioning metabolism and help balance the body’s naturally occurring hormones, key areas of focus for women with PCOS. PCOS is rooted in hormone imbalance, and its symptoms include everything from fluctuating weight and menstrual cycle irregularity to skin problems and...

When a Times Square digital ad featuring cookbook author Molly Baz made its debut, I imagine a lot of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers felt seen and celebrated. The ad featured Baz, who is pregnant, wearing an unbuttoned shirt and holding two lactation cookies over her breasts. This is fitting: The ad was for Swehl, a brand that creates breastfeeding essentials, and was meant to advertise lactation cookies. It’s refreshing to see a product meant to help mothers breastfeed that actually acknowledges the role a woman’s body plays in that process. Baz’s body and the incredible work...

If you ask “the interwebs” if ovarian cysts cause infertility, you’ll be led down a windy, confusing road of Yes…No…Maybe? Truthfully, it is impossible to answer this question with a simple yes or no because the definition of “cyst” is so broad. A cyst is a fluid-filled sack. Some are completely benign and don't cause any negative symptoms, while others can be problematic due to their size, impact on hormones, or even malignancy.  To help us understand the different types of cysts and how they can affect fertility, we spoke to Levica H. Narine, MD, FACOG,...

While postpartum depression can manifest itself differently for every person, it can begin pretty quickly after birth — and can make it almost impossible to do all the daily tasks required of a parent. For Katlyn*, a 24-year-old full-time student from Ohio, it all happened about a month or so after her now three-year-old son was born. Not only were her anxiety levels through the roof, but she couldn’t bring herself to do anything she used to enjoy (like horseback riding) and she was barely taking care of herself. It was a chore even to take...

No amount of preparation, no number of birth stories, no level of research can fully prepare you for the reality of having a baby and going through the postpartum period. There’s a prevailing narrative about the experience: That those first few weeks after you welcome your baby are just blissful. Exhausting, yes, but blissful.  People refer to the day they gave birth and the weeks following it as the best, most magical times in their life. They talk about falling madly, instantly in love.  That’s the narrative that’s considered socially acceptable, but it’s not the only...

Mental health is a part of whole health, even during pregnancy. While parts of a pregnancy may spark joy and immense gratitude, some triggers can surface or exacerbate mental health conditions.   Everything from family history to past personal history with mental health conditions could make an individual more likely to experience perinatal mental conditions, explains Dr. Meggie Smith, Attending Physician at Nashville Fertility Center.  According to studies, it’s 1 in 5 birthing individuals who will be diagnosed with perinatal mental health conditions during pregnancy.  Dr. Sarah Oreck, MS, Reproductive psychiatrist and the CEO and co-founder of...

Whether you’ve Googled this late at night or texted a friend in a panic, we’ve all tried to find the quick and easy answer to this question at one point or another.  The short answer: 8 hours. Why? Because after 8 hours, your risk of infection increases. To err on the side of caution, however, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends you change your tampon every 4-6 hours.  What happens if you leave a tampon in for too long? Just as we’ve all wondered about how long we can keep a tampon in, we’ve also...