The Science of Multiple Births

Does it seem like more people than ever are giving birth to multiples? How likely are you to have twins, triplets, or even quadruplets? What raises your chance of giving birth to more than one child at once? How much do you know about the science behind multiples?

If you’ve noticed more families with multiples recently, you’re not imagining things. In the United States, about 1 in every 250 births is a multiple, a more than 75 percent increase since 1980. About 90 percent of those multiples are twins, which may be best because the risks associated with pregnancy grow with every additional child involved.

Why the steep increase in multiple births? There are many factors at play. First, the average maternal age is increasing. In 1980, the birth rate for women between ages 40 and 44 was only 3.9 births per 1000 women, but by 2003 that rate had climbed to 8.7 births per 1000 women. Women over 30 are more likely to release more than one egg during their reproductive cycles, so an older average maternal age means more multiple births.

Fertility treatments are another factor. Infertility is common in the U.S., with about 13 percent of couples pursuing treatment to help. A recent study indicated a 10-fold rise in the conception of twins following fertility treatments. The rate varies based on the type of treatment: in vitro fertilization (IVF) increases the likelihood, as does medication that stimulates a woman’s follicles, causing her to produce more eggs.

Family history plays a role, as well. If the woman has a family history of twins, she’s slightly more likely to conceive twins naturally. Women who are non-identical twins have twins in about 1 birth out of every 60. If the father is a non-identical twin, the rate is about 1 in 125 births.

Is having multiples desirable? There are many complications with births that involve multiple babies. Prematurity, low birth weight, and stillbirth are all risks of a twin pregnancy, as are disabilities at birth and congenital health conditions like autism and cerebral palsy. For the mother, the risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and cesarean section are increased when she’s carrying more than one baby, and she’s more likely to have to go on bed rest during the pregnancy. Still, having more than one child at once is very exciting, and can be a fun experience for a family.

If you’re struggling with infertility or considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.

How to Introduce your Children to Different Cultures

With technology making the world ever smaller, in some ways we’re more connected with other cultures than ever before in history. At the same time, divisive sentiments abound, filling headlines and causing many parents to wonder how to protect their children from hateful attitudes while making them culturally empathetic. In an ideal world, we’d all be able to travel globally with our kids, but for most of us, that’s not actually our reality. Fortunately, we’ve got some tips for exposing your children to other cultures and fostering a sense of empathy and understanding.

• Use books and other media to explore the world. Books can help kids develop a sense of their own identity, and they’re also great for teaching about other countries, cultures, and religions. Read books and watch movies, television shows, and videos together, learning about people around the world, and diverse cultures here in our own nation.
• Encourage curiosity. It’s embarrassing when a child asks you something loudly about another person’s appearance or clothing in public, but it’s important to answer their questions, normalizing the fact that there are many different types of people in the world. Research other countries and cultures, and visit restaurants, cultural events, and festivals representing different ethnicities and cultural heritages. Talk about religious holidays around the world, and learn about how other cultures celebrate them.
• Find ways to spend time with different types of people. There’s a good chance that you know someone with a different heritage or religious background than yours. Talking to your kids about these differences, while giving them opportunities to become comfortable with a wide range of people, will help them become comfortable with diversity.
• Introduce your child to other languages. Sing songs that feature words in other languages, find opportunities to point out foreign words on signs and in reading materials, and let your kids watch educational programming that incorporates other languages.
• Celebrate differences and recognize commonality. As adults, we often try not to “see” differences. Little children, however, are very interested in what makes people different and what they have in common. Teach your kids to celebrate the differences while encouraging empathy by finding common ground.
• Set a good example. Your child’s best role model is you, so if you don’t feel like you know enough about different cultures, find ways to educate yourself. Making sure your reactions to people from other cultures are positive and compassionate will go along way toward fostering empathy in your children.

If you’re you want to have children but struggle with infertility, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.

How to Make the Most of Family Dinner

As parents, most of us want to instill in our children the character attributes and soft skills they need to become successful adults. What does that mean to you and how can you put it into practice? Kids need perseverance, resilience, the understanding that failures and setbacks are part of the learning process, and a can-do attitude are all necessary attributes if you want your child to succeed. Of course, there are many factors that influence a child’s development, from personality and their environment, but parents have a large impact on how their kids react to the situations they face in their lives. Would it surprise you to learn that you can instill some of these positive character traits during ordinary activities like family dinner?

• Give kids more responsibilities. At dinnertime, involve them in meal prep, let them take on increasingly challenging tasks, and don’t be afraid to let them make mistakes. Making mistakes is part of learning and growing; by the time your children leave your house they need to know how to cook an entire meal, and the way they’ll learn is by trying and sometimes failing when they’re young.
  • Little kids can set the table.
  • As they grow, involve them in meal planning.
  • Let your older kids be responsible for one dish, then graduate them into cooking one meal, then one meal each week.
  • Don’t forget to involve children in the clean-up, as well.
• At dinner, discuss your day. Don’t hesitate to share stories of your own failures, setbacks, and disappointments, because it will help your kids gain perspective about how to use difficult experiences as opportunities to learn and grow. You don’t have to share your deepest regrets, but acknowledging your small mistakes and modeling a positive attitude as you overcome them will set a good example for your children.
• Play games with your kids. During dinner, try silly challenges, like eating while balancing paper plates on your heads. Play guessing games, twenty questions, or concentration ABCs. After dinner, if you have time, you can linger at the table (after you’ve all cleared it together) with a favorite board game. By playing games with your children, you give them opportunities to “fail safely” and learn from the experience.

If you’re ready to start a family and are considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks, and offer a payment plan for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.

Best Books for New Dads

Becoming a dad is often equal parts exciting and terrifying. What’s in store for you? What do you need to do during the pregnancy and birth? What will your role be in your new little one’s babyhood? Why did you think this was a good idea?! Relax, it’s all going to be fine, and it was a very good idea. We’ve even got a list of helpful books to help you navigate the unfamiliar parts.

• Pregnancy for Dads-To-Be: This book by Adam Carpenter focuses solely on dads, helping men learn everything they need to know about pregnancy and how to be a supportive partner. It takes you through the nine-month process, teaching things like the development of the baby, what to do before the baby arrives, and how to be there for your partner during pregnancy, labor, and after the birth. It also provides helpful tips on adjusting your lifestyle before the baby gets here, to avoid the shock of doing it all at once after the birth.
• Commando Dad: This book by Neil Sinclair, a real-life commando, is a basic training manual for fatherhood. It’s got clear and logical advice on things like preparing your “base camp” and dealing with “minor combat injuries.” It’s a great reference book, packed with easily accessible knowledge.
• Fatherhood- The Truth: Marcus Berkmann wrote this book in 2005, when there weren’t very many new dad books out there. It doesn’t shy away from topics like the misery of night feeding and the likelihood of projectile vomiting as it takes you through that crucial time between conception and the first birthday.
• The Expectant Dad’s Survival Guide: Covering pregnancy and the early weeks of babyhood, this survival guide by Rob Kemp includes expert advice and firsthand accounts. It covers all the bases and offers a range of expert views.
• Babies and Toddlers for Men: Mark Woods has an original and witty way of providing practical advice, and this book covers birth to three years in a way that’s funny yet useful. It offers tips on looking after your child while supporting the child’s mother as well, and there is a companion book, Babies and Toddlers for Men- 101 Tips, which breaks it all down into manageable chunks.

If you’re ready to start a family, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks, and offer a payment plan for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.

What to Expect with Your Vasectomy Reversal

Are you considering a vasectomy reversal? Maybe you’ve changed your mind about your ideal family size, and now you want to try for a child. The good news is that vasectomy reversals are more successful today than they’ve ever been before. However, the procedure is more complicated than your vasectomy was, and it’s important for you to know what to expect.

• On the day of your surgery, arrive 90 minutes before your scheduled operation. Make sure that you follow your doctor’s instructions, and don’t eat anything for eight hours before the surgery unless you are told otherwise by your doctor. You don’t need to do any special preparation, and the operating room staff will clip any hair as needed for the surgery, as part of their operative preparations.
• When you arrive, you’ll be taken to the surgical preoperative area. If your significant other would like to stay with you during this time, that’s perfectly fine. Your doctor will meet with you in the preoperative suite, in order to answer any questions and discuss your procedure. The anesthesiologist will come by as well, and help you decide on the best choice of anesthesia.
• While you’re still in the preoperative suite, you’ll be given an IV. After the nurse inserts the IV, you’ll be given a sedative. If you’re like most patients, you won’t remember anything after that until you’re back in the recovery area.
• Immediately after the surgery, you’re not likely to experience pain. You may feel some numbness in the scrotum, but until the anesthesia wears off a few hours later, you probably won’t feel any discomfort. When the local anesthesia wears off, you can use an ice pack, provided by the medical staff, to decrease swelling and ease soreness. Make sure to apply the cold pack over the scrotal support and never directly to the skin. A little bit of blood oozing from between the sutures or out of the drains is to be expected, and it’s very unlikely you’ll have any significant bleeding.
• Once you’re fully awake and alert, you’ll be discharged with prescriptions for antibiotics and pain medication. A responsible adult must escort you out of the Surgery Center and take you home, because you won’t be allowed to drive for 24 hours after surgery, nor take a cab alone.

If you’re considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks, and offer a payment plan for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.

Things That Can Harm Male Fertility

For nearly 15 percent of American couples, infertility is a real struggle. Many factors have an impact on fertility, and both partners’ health plays a key role. Male infertility is about half the reason that couples fail to conceive, but do you know what factors into male fertility? Knowing the things that can harm male fertility can help you safeguard yours.

Low sperm production, abnormal sperm function, and blockages that prevent sperm delivery are the primary causes of male infertility. These issues may be the result of an underlying health problem, sometimes one over which you have no control. However, lifestyle factors can also have a major impact.

A recent study linked manual labor with low sperm counts. In a study of 456 men around the age of 32, researchers discovered that 13 percent of the men with physically demanding jobs had low sperm count, as opposed to only 6 percent of men without strenuous work. Other things that had a negative impact on fertility included:

• High blood pressure
• Smoking or using tobacco
• Using alcohol and marijuana excessively
• Taking certain illicit drugs including anabolic steroids and cocaine.
• Being overweight
• Suffering emotional stress
• Overheated testicles from frequent use of saunas or hot tubs, prolonged sitting, wearing tight clothing, or working on a laptop for extended periods
• Exposure to toxins like benzenes, pesticides, herbicides, etc. which can lower sperm count
• Current or past STIs including chlamydia and gonorrhea
• Certain prolonged activities like biking or horseback riding, especially on a hard seat or poorly adjusted bicycle

Other medical causes include hormonal imbalances, sperm duct defects, undescended testicles, tumors, and varicocele. A varicocele is a swelling of the veins that drain the testicles, and this swelling can prevent normal cooling. This is the most common cause of male infertility, but it’s also, fortunately, reversible. Varicoceles are often asymptomatic at first, but can enlarge, becoming noticeable or causing pain.

Unless you’re trying to conceive and having difficulty, you may not be aware that you have fertility issues. However, in some cases, there are signs and symptoms. If you experience problems with sexual function, pain, swelling or a lump in the testicle area, frequent respiratory infections, or decreased facial or body hair, schedule a visit with your doctor to check on your fertility.

If you’re struggling with infertility or considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks, and offer a payment plan for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.

Fertility Myths that Should be Left in the Last Decade

As we move into a whole new decade, with exciting new medical technology and new scientific discoveries making the news all the time, you’d think we’d leave old myths by the wayside. It’s surprising to note, then, that some people still believe a number of untrue things about healthcare. Fertility, in particular, is plagued by persistent myths. Have you fallen for any of these? It’s time to shake them off and move forward.

• Menstruation is connected to the moon. The idea that a woman’s cycle and the lunar cycle is a fairly popular notion. It’s easy to see why: menstrual cycles are typically about 28 days, and the moon’s cycle, from new moon to new moon, is about 29.5. There’s no evidence, however, to suggest that this is more than coincidence. If there was a moon-menstruation connection, what purpose would that serve?
• To become pregnant, lie down after sex. It’s widely believed that lying down for a certain period of time after sex can increase your odds of conception. In fact, there’s no evidence that remaining prone is helpful at all: after sex, the sperm likely to fertilize the egg have already gotten where they need to go.
• Menopause is unnatural. Some people believe that women were never meant to go through menopause, because for much of history women did not live long enough to experience it. This myth comes from the idea that women’s value is tied up in reproduction. In fact, even in the 17^th century, women lived an average of 60 years. Men didn’t live much longer than that, but society wasn’t as interested in their reproductive function and its decline.
• The female orgasm promotes conception. In order for a female orgasm to propel sperm, it would have to happen at the same time as the male orgasm, and that’s rare.
• The HPV vaccine causes premature ovarian failure. The human papillomavirus vaccine is somewhat controversial, and in the vaccine literature, there was mention of six cases of premature ovarian failure. However, a much larger study disproved the connection with the vaccine.
• Men are forever fertile. Though some men can father children in their old age, for most men fertility declines with age, and there’s a marked decline in the success of fertility treatments for men over 50.

If you’re considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks, and offer a payment plan for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.

Top Baby Names of the Last Decade

It’s interesting how names come in and out of popularity, depending on cultural shifts. Is the name your parents gave you still a popular choice among today’s parents? Let’s take a look at the top baby names of the recent years, as we move into a whole new decade.

The classics remain classic. For boys, Noah, Liam, and Jacob top the list for the 2010s, and they were all popular in the previous decade as well. For girls, the top three were Emma, Sophia, and Olivia, which had all been in the top 20 during the 2000s.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) keeps track of the top baby names each year, and using their analysis of over 35 million babies who were born between 2010 and 2018, they’ve come up with a ranking of the top 200. Are there any newcomers to the top 20? Yes! For boys, Jayden and Mason climbed the charts, while new top 20 names for girls included Harper, Evelyn, and Addison. You can find the whole list at the SSA’s website, but for now, we’ll give you this teaser of the top 20 for both boys and girls.

18,133, 841 baby boys were born between 2010 and 2018, and these were the top 20 boys’ names, which the Social Security Administration tells us are “a good indication of the ultimate rankings for the complete decade”:

1. Noah
2. Liam
3. Jacob
4. Mason
5. William
6. Ethan
7. Michael
8. Alexander
9. James
10. Elijah
11. Daniel
12. Benjamin
13. Aiden
14. Jayden
15. Logan
16. Matthew
17. David
18. Joseph
19. Lucas
20. Jackson

In that same time frame, 17, 316, 359 baby girls were brought into the world, and these were the top 20 girls’ names, also representing the entire decade:

1. Emma
2. Sophia
3. Olivia
4. Isabella
5. Ava
6. Mia
7. Abigail
8. Emily
9. Madison
10. Charlotte
11. Elizabeth
12. Amelia
13. Chloe
14. Ella
15. Evelyn
16. Avery
17. Sofia
18. Harper
19. Grace
20. Addison

What do you think? Did your favorite names make the list? Many of the top 20 are timeless, but a few modern names have made their way in. If you had a baby right now, would these names make your list?

If you’re ready for a baby and considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks, and offer a payment plan for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.

Five Fast Facts about Vasectomy Reversals

A vasectomy is considered a permanent method of sterilization, but is it really permanent? Between six and ten percent of men who have had vasectomies will change their minds at some point and consider a vasectomy reversal. In truth, even though in times past it was a long shot, today vasectomy reversal is extremely doable. Here are some things you might want to know about this increasingly common procedure.

1. Vasectomy reversal is a largely successful outpatient procedure. When a vasectomy is performed, the surgeon reroutes or clamps the internal tubing that carries sperm from the testicles through the penis. This tube, called the vas deferens, is restored in a vasectomy reversal. Using microsurgery techniques that involve surgical microscopes and stitches finer than a human hair, the doctor re-attaches the tubing. It only takes about two hours, and the patient can usually go back to work in a day or two.
2. A man’s testicles never stop making sperm. A vasectomy prevents sperm from leaving the body, but it doesn’t stop sperm production. Therefore, once the reversal is complete, normal fertility is restored. After three weeks or so of abstinence, to allow for healing, the couple can try to conceive.
3. Time is a factor in vasectomy reversal success, but it may not be the biggest factor. The rates of success for a vasectomy reversal are as high as 95 percent for vasectomies done within the past 10 years. After 15 years, the success rate begins to decline, but the health of the man’s sperm and the age of the female partner are just as significant in the chances of conception.
4. Fertility plays a role, even after a successful reversal. Before a man goes through a vasectomy reversal, he and his partner should be examined for fertility issues as well as overall health. Sometimes, the best option for conception is in vitro fertilization, so the doctor may recommend a sperm retrieval to increase the chances of conception.
5. Insurance probably doesn’t cover the procedure. It’s important to note, before deciding to undergo a vasectomy reversal, that it’s typically not covered by insurance. Therefore, patients need to be prepared to pay out of pocket.

If you’re considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks, and offer a payment plan for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.

New Research about Infertility is Promising

One in eight couples has trouble conceiving. Do you know how many of the cases are caused by unexplained male infertility? Nearly a quarter. For years, scientists have known that infertility can be linked to sperm that fail to throw out histones from DNA during development, but the reasons for this failure and how it happens is unclear. Now, however, that lack of clarity may be changing.

Promising new research out of Penn Medicine is showing the precise location of the retained histones and the key gene that regulates them. Researchers have also created a mouse model with a mutated version of the gene. This allows investigators to track the defects in sperm, starting with the early stages of sperm development and going through fertilization. This research could lead us to a better understanding of infertility in men, and how epigenetic mutations are passed to future generations.

What does it mean, when sperm fail to evict histones?  Histones are the main proteins in chromatin. Their function is to package DNA and turn genes on and off. Healthy sperm lose about 90-95 percent of these proteins, replacing them with protamines, smaller proteins able to pack DNA into tiny sperm. When a man has unexplained infertility, the problem is often with retained histones. The sperm count can be normal, the sperm have normal motility, and yet because the histones are in the wrong location, the couple has trouble conceiving.

Until now, research has produced conflicting results about where these histones are located. Because of the confusion of discrepant data, the burden of assisted-reproductive technologies has continued to fall on women. Even if the male has the issue, the female partner goes through hormone injections and procedures to promote a higher fertility rate.

Imagine, then, if scientists were able to use epigenetic therapies to change the levels of histones and protamines in men. With this new research, scientists are better able to closely study the mechanisms behind a mutated sperm’s trajectory, which opens the door to potential therapeutic treatments. Epigenetic drugs are already being used to treat cancer and other diseases. With a clearer understanding of how a man’s epigenome affects conception and embryonic development, we have the potential to alter sperm, so these new studies may lead to a breakthrough infertility treatment.

If you’re struggling with infertility or considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks, and offer a payment plan for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.