It's been determined; there really is the PERFECT age to have a baby! Well, at least that's what the data from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, states,  "The fecundity of women decreases gradually but significantly beginning approximately at age 32 years and decreases even more rapidly after age thirty-seven years." 

Basically, research is saying that your chances of getting pregnant start to rapidly decline at age thirty-two, and declining even faster by age thirty-seven. 

Eek! It looks like I need to start working on baby #2. I'm going to be thirty-two in a few short weeks! I'm not panicking though. I have my frozen eggs to use as my back-up plan from when I was twenty-seven. Woo hoo!

Show some love, leave a comment!

Much love,

​Bridget

​Am I the only one who didn't know March was National Nutrition Month?!? 

Tonight, I'm going to focus on a physician that I stumbled across a few weeks ago when I was researching information related to polycystic ovary syndrome and diet. I didn't know reading his book was going to be life-changing for me on so many levels. 

My main man these days (sorry babe, you know I can't put his book down!) is Dr. Michael Greger, M.D. His book is called HOW NOT TO DIE, and was an instant New York Times bestseller. Honestly, I'm not surprised.

Dr. Michael Greger, is an internationally-recognized lecturer, physician, and founder of NutritionFacts.org. He explains how nutrition and lifestyle changes can sometimes, not all the time, trump prescription pills and other pharmaceutical and surgical approaches.

What I've known for a long time, but wasn't ready to accept is most doctors are good at treating acute illnesses but bad at preventing chronic disease. By following Dr. Greger’s advice, which all of it is backed up by peer-reviewed scientific evidence, you will learn which foods to eat and which lifestyle changes to make to live a longer and healthier life. Isn't that the goal? To live a longer and HEALTHIER life? The thing I find interesting is, we all want to live longer, but we are not willing to put the work in on a daily basis to the live healthier. 

I will speak for myself. I know when my PCOS is in a "flare" because I can FEEL it. And 9/10 times it's because of something I just ate that does not work with my body, it works against it. I know what it is like to not be able to sleep, feel sluggish, headaches, severe cravings for carbohydrates all because of my hormonal imbalance. I got tired of feeling like crap, so I decided to make a change towards a more plant-based diet, and I couldn't be happier and healthier! 

Be on the look-out for some satisfying meals I've come to enjoy that support my PCOS and are helping me live a longer and healthier life.

Show some love. Leave a comment!

Much Love,

Bridget

Admittedly, before working at Main Line Fertility, I had no idea what Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) was. You would have thought during nursing school at Villanova, or my five years spent as a post-partum nurse I would have had some idea. But, no. I didn't realize how uneducated I was about something as simple as the menstrual cycle. Do any of us know what happens monthly, or should I say, what is supposed to happen monthly? Don't worry, Stick with me. I got you covered. I'm here to teach you the in's and out's of it all!

Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) is a hormone secreted by cells in developing egg sacs (follicles). The level of AMH in a woman's blood is generally a good indicator of her ovarian reserve. When I say ovarian reserve, what I mean is how many eggs do you have left in your "fertility" lifetime.  It can be done at any time in the menstrual cycle, and it is assessed via a blood test.

It's important to know though for an accurate assessment of your AMH level; the AMH blood test should be combined with an antral follicle count (AFC), which is the number of small follicles within both ovaries. You can get your AFC done, by scheduling an appointment at a fertility clinic near you. If you live close by, don't be shy, I'd love to assist you at Main Line Fertility! 

Anti-Mullerian Hormone levels are naturally lower in older women (particularly over the age of 40) and higher in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Yes- that's me. My current AMH = 11.7. And yes, that's high. Good thing I froze my eggs when I was twenty-seven! Interestingly enough, my AMH level has increased with age. When I decided to freeze my eggs at twenty-seven years old, my AMH level = 4.1, and I thought that was high! My physician, Dr. Glassner informed me that some women with PCOS will get better after conceiving their first child, and others will get worse. Lucky me- mine got worse. But, I'm lucky; I'm educated. I've been proactive. And I know my husband, and I will have the family we have always dreamed of. 

Please reference the chart below. 

AMH Blood Level
High (often PCOS): Over 4.0 ng/ml
Normal: 1.5 - 4.0 ng/ml
Low Normal Range: 1.0 - 1.5 ng/ml
Low: 0.5 - 1.0 ng/ml
Very Low: Less than 0.5 ng/ml

Show some love. Leave a comment!

Much love, 

Bridget

​As a woman who has struggled with polycystic-ovary syndrome (PCOS) for most of her life and didn't know squat about it, I feel like it is important to educate woman on this disease especially since it affects 5% to 10% of reproductive age women. 

What exactly is PCOS? Well, for starters it is an endocrine disorder that is characterized by high levels of androgens (male hormones) from the ovary and is associated with insulin resistance which these two factors combined cause anovulatory dysfunction in women. Tiny follicles on the ovaries, which can be referred to as "cysts," usually surround the ovaries appearing on ultrasound like a string of pearls. These multiple cysts are formed because there is a hormonal imbalance in the woman's body. 

Additional results from an overproduction of androgens in females is excessive hair growth on the face and body (hirsutism), hair loss from head (alopecia), acne, skin problems, and irregular, heavy or absent periods. Women with PCOS who are insulin resistant as in the majority of cases, will experience weight gain in the abdominal area, difficulties losing weight, intense cravings for carbohydrates, and hypoglycemic episodes. Let me tell you, these symptoms are NO FUN. I don't have every one of these symptoms, but I have enough to tell you that PCOS is the devil.

Even though I was diagnosed with PCOS in high school, I was NEVER explained what REALLY was going on in my body. This is how my appointment went when I was diagnosed with PCOS. 

Doctor: Bridget, it appears you have a condition called PCOS.  For you to get regular periods, you should go on the birth control pill to regulate your cycle. Oh, and possibly down the road, you will have trouble getting pregnant. 

Me: My sixteen-year-old self...Ok, thank you. I'll take the birth control. Aren't I supposed to be preventing pregnancy at sixteen anyway?

There was no education. There was no explanation. And being sixteen years old, I didn't know where to even begin to educate myself on this disease. I was young. I was naive. And I was just following my doctor's orders. 

Show some love. Leave a comment!

Much love,

​Bridget

Happy Monday! In honor of Meatless Monday, I am taking the pledge to promote healthier lifestyle choices to all of you lovely ladies out there. 

As a woman who suffers from polycystic-ovary syndrome (PCOS), it is crucial for my well-being to make healthier lifestyle choices on the regular. I am nowhere perfect, but I can say with confidence that I am actively pursuing and educating myself on the best possible ways to live my best life with PCOS. 

SIde note: PCOS is an endocrine/fertility disorder. Stay tuned for more information on this disease. 

It is vital for me to keep my insulin levels balanced and through my research, I have found that living my life eating a plant-based diet is super beneficial for my overall well being. I can't wait to continue to share my plant-based fertility journey with you, and much much more!

Show some love, leave a comment! 

Much love,

​Bridget

It's been determined; there really is the PERFECT age to have a baby! Well, at least that's what the data from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, states,  "The fecundity of women decreases gradually but significantly beginning approximately at age 32 years and decreases even more rapidly after age thirty-seven years." 

Basically, research is saying that your chances of getting pregnant start to rapidly decline at age thirty-two, and declining even faster by age thirty-seven. 

Eek! It looks like I need to start working on baby #2. I'm going to be thirty-two in a few short weeks! I'm not panicking though. I have my frozen eggs to use as my back-up plan from when I was twenty-seven. Woo hoo!

Show some love, leave a comment!

Much love, 

​Bridget

WOW! Women REALLY are on the move these days, and companies are feeling it too. I can't tell you how excited I was when I saw that more and more businesses are paying for female employees to freeze their eggs!

According to Fertility IQ, more than 250 companies in the United States are offering to pay for some, or all of the egg freezing procedure for their employees. This is amazing, primarily because more and more women are opting to start a family in their late thirties or early forties.

Do you know when a women's peak fertility age is? 26

Yes, I just said 26. 

Most of you reading this probably have no idea that your fertility peaks at the age of twenty-six. You're not alone though. I've taken care of countless women who decided to put their career first but unknowingly were jeopardizing their chances of conceiving a baby naturally due to their lack of knowledge about their fertility. The famous infertility line is "If I only knew..." And what those women want me to say to you is...YOU do know better now. Because if you're like most women these days who want the career and the baby you need to adjust with the times. Science had made it possible for you to halt the ticking of your biological clock by freezing your eggs, and now companies are beginning to offer this as an option in their benefits package to financially support this decision. It sounds like to me the time is now! 

I encourage you to start asking yourself the hard questions. Start educating yourself on your options to have it all, if you want it all, that is! Because if anyone can have it all, it's women in the 21st century. We are unstoppable. We are empowering. And we are a force that no one wants to mess with. Well, except our biological clocks! 

Leave a comment!

Much love,

Bridget

​Happy Galentine's Day ladies! I hope every one of you knows how very special you are today, and always. 

Today, I want to take a moment and give a HUGE shoutout to a company that is on a mission to shatter stigmas in the fertility world and start talking about our fertility! Yes- I said it! FERTILITY.

Drum roll please...the company is called...Celmatix! It is a next-generation women’s health company transforming the way women and their physicians leverage genomics and data to make more informed, proactive reproductive health decisions. Their mission is to empower women with genomic insights about their fertility and reproductive health. How amazing is this?!? Well, I'm actually thinking you might not understand the significance of this company's mission right now, but I hope once I continue to educate you on your fertility you will greatly appreciate what this company is aiming to achieve. 

Do you remember a time when you were younger and you got reprimanded by your parents because you said the "F" word. And if you were anything like me, the thrill of saying a bad word when you knew you weren't supposed to made saying that bad word SO much sweeter. Well, Celmatix is saying the "F" word a whole lot these days. Can you believe them? The nerve! Only kidding...their "F" word is a little different then the "F" word we're all used to saying. They started a campaign called #saytheFword. The "F" word being FERTILITY! Duh!

To support Celmatix, EGGVICE is taking a stance and pledging to say the "F" word in 2018 by continuing to empower women through fertility education because women deserve to build a family AND an empire.

Build your family,
Build your empire.
Be educated.
And #saytheFword. 

Much love,

Bridget

Yesterday on the TODAY show, an NBC correspondent named Kristen Dahlgren opened up to the world about her fertility journey. 

Kristen, I applaud you. Thank you for being an empowered woman who understands the importance to empower other women through fertility awareness and education. 

Kristen was thirty-nine years old when she decided to freeze her eggs. Socially, thirty-nine is the new twenty-nine, but our bodies don't care about that. Our biological clock doesn't realize we are waiting for Mr. Right, climbing the corporate ladder, or pursuing our education. Our biological clock only knows one speed; the younger a women is, the better quality and quantity her eggs will be. 

Question- Kristen froze SEVENTEEN eggs at thirty-nine years of age. Do you think this is a lot of eggs for a thirty-nine-year-old woman to freeze?

Answer- NO

Don't get me wrong, seventeen eggs is a fabulous number to freeze at thirty-nine years old, BUT her physician did not manage her expectations properly. Instead, her physician praised her seventeen eggs and gave her hope that having 2-3 children in the future from seventeen eggs frozen at thirty-nine year old was realistic. Unfortunately, this isn't realistic, and Kristen found this out the hard way. I don't have a Ph.D. behind my name, so I don't feel comfortable giving statistics, but what I can do is make you aware to ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS. Hold your physician accountable. Below is an example of a question to ask your physician when considering freezing your eggs.

Question- I am thirty-two years old, and I desire to have two kids in the future. Based off of my lab values you have reviewed (AMH, FSH), and ultrasound (antral follicle count) how many eggs do you feel like I will need to freeze for me to achieve my goal- two biological children in the future?

Side note- if you do not know the importance of FSH, AMH, and antral follicle count continue to follow along with my educational journey through EGGVICE on Facebook and Instagram, and you will soon find out! 

At the risk of sounding negative, it's important to remember- nothing in life is guaranteed. I'm sorry, I'm a realist. I hope I didn't offend anyone! About egg freezing, the hope is it will give you a chance at an opportunity that might not have been there if you did not take a leap of faith and freeze your eggs. Kristen thought she won the lottery. Wow- seventeen eggs are frozen...WOO HOO! But, what Kristen didn't foresee were the underlying medical conditions that were wrecking havoc on her body and preventing her from successful pregnancies. Egg freezing is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to achieving pregnancy in the future, but hopefully, it's one piece of the puzzle that can be eliminated from the equation. 

Full article can be read by clicking on the following link.

https://www.today.com/video/does-egg-freezing-really-protect-fertility-or-merely-offer-false-hope-1155610179974

Much love,

Bridget

​FSH? I’m going to say that most of you who are reading this have NO CLUE what FSH means. That’s okay. You are not alone. Majority of women of all age groups have no idea what FSH means.
 
Side note- if you have gone through fertility treatments, you most likely know what this lovely three-letter word stands for and the importance of it. Sending a HUGE hug to all of you who have gone or are actively going through fertility treatments.
 
Okay, Bridget. Get on with it already. What does FSH stand for, and why do I need to know about it? Now that I have you on the edge of your seats…
 
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)- is a naturally occurring hormone that is made by the pituitary gland in the body. For women, it is the main hormone involved in producing mature eggs in the ovaries. 
 
Why is this important? Well, for starters, if FSH levels are too high or too low, it can lead to fertility issues which can prevent conception from happening aka pregnancy.
 
High levels of FSH in women is a sign of poor ovarian function, polycystic ovary syndrome or menopause. All of these conditions will impact your fertility negatively. Lucky me, I have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). And yes, my husband and I took a ride on the infertility train at Main Line Fertility.
 
Low levels of FSH can indicate the eggs are not being produced adequately or the pituitary gland is not functioning correctly. 

We check a women's FSH level on day 3 of her cycle to get an indication of how hard her body is working at the beginning of her cycle to produce a mature follicle. A woman needs to produce a mature follicle each month, to ovulate that mature follicle, have it join with her partner's sperm at the correct time in hopes to achieve pregnancy. 

If you would like to get your FSH level evaluated you would want to get blood drawn on day 3 of your cycle. But, make sure you are not on a form of birth control, or it will give you false results. 

An FSH level of <10 is considered normal.

Much love,

Bridget