OFM_Reproductive Medicine_0424_SW.qxp_DEPT 3 / 14 / 24 4 : 06 PM Page 1 H E A L T H H Overcoming the Odds men and women , it is a fairly new development for the program . She combines her training and expertise Even as infertility becomes issue to be openly discussed rather than swept under in both Eastern and Western medicine to care for less stigmatized and more the rug like a shamefully guarded family secret . And as her patients holistically while also identifying the the area’s professionals are quick to explain it’s a health exhaustively personalized care that will help them openly discussed , it’s still a issue that can be caused by factors beyond a couple’s get the most from the acupuncture treatments that difficult road to go down . control , its stigma is an underserved one . have been shown to help with infertility in both But the region’s experts in Dr . Zamip Patel , a urologist at Orlando’s Southeast men and women . Male Infertility & Urology practice with fellowship In fact , she notes that acupuncture’s benefits in the reproductive medicine training in andrology / male infertility , adds that it’s an area of reproductive medicine extend to regulating men - are here to help individuals even newer development for men to not only discuss strual cycles , increasing blood flow to both the uterus struggling to conceive a but also consider their role in a couple’s difficulty to and the ovaries , and reducing overall stress , in addition conceive a child , emphasizing that “ you’re no less of a to improving implantation rates and providing additional child — even when it seems man ” when complications like low sperm counts , support to patients undergoing assisted reproductive like all hope is lost . abnormal sperm function , past injuries or chronic health treatments such as IVF . By Madeleine Maccar problems are at play . “ We use acupuncture to help with balancing And with social media , shifting societal norms and hormones , such as lowering the cortisol levels and or many , the dream of growing one’s family is a increased education about what causes infertility all con - increasing endorphins , and it also helps with natural progression building on previously tributing to more open exchanges about a journey that decreasing inflammation and increasing blood flow , Fchecked - off personal milestones like coupling up , a surprising number of people can keenly relate to , he which would increase the uterine lining so it helps establishing a career and putting down one’s roots . hopes to see that trend of vulnerable honesty continue with the implantation when a patient is trying to But for those hopeful parents whose dreams of on its promising trajectory , especially since conversations conceive , ” Dr . Lachgar begins . “ There is no one having a biological child have been thwarted by infertility , can help set a precedent to normalize something that’s cookie - cutter treatment . Every single treatment is that indefinite pause can seem like an interminable , more common than previously realized . based on the patient’s needs , so we look at their lab heartbreaking slog through invasive questions , expensive “ The stigma in general of infertility , it is work and we also look at their lifestyle , we look at treatments , and cautious optimism dashed by reality and less of one as IVF [ in vitro fertil - becoming less their body composition , we look at what they tend month after month . ization ] has become more and more accepted and , to be deficient on and what they need more help Fortunately , the Central Florida region is home to by extension , infertility in general tends to become with . … We work a lot with fertility doctors directly , some compassionate and capable doctors well - versed in something couples talk about more , which they cer - so our program goes hand in hand with what they’re innovative , effective methods for helping local families tainly didn’t before , ” says Dr . Patel . “ This isn’t some - doing through treatments like IVF or IUI grow by two tiny feet , no matter the difficulties they’ve thing wrong with you or something that you did [ intrauterine insemination ] . ” faced along the way . wrong . … Generally speaking , the thing I try to Treating infertility with artificial insemination pro - According to data from the National Institutes remind a lot of men of is that all of our ancestors cedures , especially IVF , is an incredibly timely topic of Health ( NIH ) , an estimated 9 % of men and had this problem before , it just wasn’t talked about both medically and socially . As hotly contested debates 11 % of women in America have experienced fertility as much and we didn’t see it as much because men about when life begins have already influenced legislation problems . To further break down that impact on reproduced earlier on in life and now , of course , since in Alabama , they’ve also made national headlines and couples trying to conceive , the NIH notes that both men and women reproduce later , we start to sparked conversations about reproductive challenges , there’s an even split among the root cause of infer - see much more of these things . ” education and freedom across the country — and , as Dr . tility : It can be attributed to the male partner , the Dr . Zakia Lachgar is a licensed acupuncture Patel points out , with 2 % of all births now being the female partner , or a combination of both partners physician who also holds a doctorate in Oriental product of IVF , “ everyone has been touched by IVF , and unknown factors with equal frequency . medicine , a master’s degree in biomedical science whether you know someone who’s done it or you’d had Despite infertility happening to roughly one in 10 and a certification in the LIfe FErtility BioTherapy it done yourself . ” 32 ORLANDO FAMILY april 2024 ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM