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Threatened fertility
- Thank you Global for capturing this imerging pendemic! Is there any drugs such as clomid or something along those lines to increase sperm count? I am taking fertil pro which is a multivitamin...but i am wondering is there is a drug to increase the count?
Preview: Threatened Fertility - Part 1
Male infertility is on the rise…and doctors around the world are looking for answers. But declining sperm rates aren’t the only thing they are finding. In a 16x9 investigation, we speak to men battling this condition and speak to fertility scientists giving hope to those with “Threatened fertility”.- Hello and welcome everybody to our Male Fertility LIVE BLOG.
- I'll start things off with a question I know we'd all love the answer to. Is fertility declining, especially among men? Dr. Leader, I will direct that one to you. Please go ahead
- Chris and I were very impressed with the Documentary. I am glad to hear that Amir Attaran is joining this discussion. We were so impressed with his interview and glad that people are fighting our government to help those struggling with infertility. Infertility does not discriminate and it is a medical issue. -The Willdigs
- It looks like Dr. Leader might not be on the blog just yet. Amir, why did you feel you needed to go to the Human Rights Tribunal?
- It's simple: I'm doing it because of people like Amber and Chris Willdig -- people who deserve better than government is giving them when it discriminates and refuses to pay for IVF. Government illegality (discrimination, remember, is illegal) has to be fought, particularly when it hurts decent people with real medical problems.
- And Amber and Chris - thanks for the kind words!
- This is an open question. Where do you think this "resistance" comes from to recognize infertility as a medical condition?
- I personally think some of the public is afraid to recongnize infertility as a medical condition because they are afraid their taxes will be raised to cover treatment.
- Amir, please describe how the Human Rights Tribunal is going.
- I can't imagine, at least not logically. Infertility is a failure of the body's reproductive functions. Therefore, like any other condition where the body fails, it is an illness. Some p
eople try and make it seem otherwise, but they aren't very clever in their analysis. - We think it's mostly ignorance. Just the mentality that there is more important things to deal with. I guess helping people have a sex change or a breast reduction is more important then couples who need medical help to have a baby. I never in a million years thought at 23 I would have an egg issue.
- Amir, have you had any headway? My wife and I have a claim with the Human Rights Tribunal as well, but we were flat-out denied by OHIP's lawyers. Not sure what to do next?
- That's an excellent point Bill and Kelly. Reports have indicated that funding IVF would actually save money. Quebec says it is already seeing savings after just one year.
- It's already been proven how much the government will save if they fund infertility. And Like Amir said in the interview. We are a public health insurance. We pay in and sometimes we benifit and sometimes we don't.
- I agree and unless people are in your shoes they have no idea how difficult and stressful the whole process is. I don't understand why IVF is covered in Quebec and not Ontario and other provinces.
- Beatrice, the Human Rights Tribunal case is on temporary hold. The government unlawfully breached several deadlines it had to produce evidence (i.e. documents) before the Tribunal. Emphasis on the word "unlawfully". They asked for more time. So now they have it, but unless something changes for the better, the Tribunal process will resume shortly. This sort of thing takes years, unfortunately.
- I'm here now. Dr. Art Leader
- Hello and Welcome Dr. Leader.
- hello Dr. Leader. And thanks to the Ottawa Fertility Centre!
- I'd like to direct one question to you Dr. Leader.
Are there methods by which men can go about raising their sperm counts? - Glad to join you all.
- That's a great question, Beatrice. I don't know what the answer is.
- The optimist in me says that many of the ethical issues raised in the documentary are still unresolved and intimidatng.
- 1. Is there any real treatment for azoospermia if it is caused by a genetic disorder. such as XXY syndrome? Thanks
- Amir, is there a site or email of yours we could have to follow your process with this "fight"?
- Apologies everyone, I should be numbering the questions so that we can all keep track of where we are. Let's call "methods by which men can raise their sperm counts" QUESTION #1.
- I have to concur with all the points raised thus far. It is quite simply a medical issue. Ironically, it was the cure for my medical condition that resulted in my infertility.
- My husband and I are in need of Ivf to be able to have our family. Our only hope though is for the government to cover it as we cannot afford the high cost.
I hope one day soon they will follow Quebec's lead - Question #1: I tried all the methods advised by my doctor and none worked.
- Thanks so much for bringing male infertility into the spotlight with this documentary. My husband and I dealt with male infertility and we often felt that it was an under researched and misunderstood area. As some of you have said, there is definitely some ignorance when it comes to infertility, especially MFI. Whenever there is an article in the newspaper, the reader comments section is always full of ignorant comments about how infertility is not a medical condition and how it shouldn't be funded.
- I think infertility is a medical condition when there is no way a baby can be made without medical intervention. When sperm and egg have no way of meeting without medical intervention, that is where the government should be able to step in and help finance this for these couples.
- My husband is missing his vas deferns (the tubes that transport the sperm out) and that is not covered by OHIP. Yet, if I was missing my tubes or they were blocked, I would get three rounds of IVF paid for. This is discrimination against men.
- Shout out to JeremyHowell from Amir: GOOD FOR YOU for taking your case to the Tribunal. I'm impressed. Do not be discouraged that the government's lawyers gave you the cold shoulder. That's how government lawyers are. I'm glad to talk with you offline more about this (just find me at the University of Ottawa).
- the best way to improve sperm counts is a healthy lifestyle: limit alcohol to 2 drinks per week, no cigarettes, no joints, good nutrition, no hot tubs or hot baths. Increasing sperm counts can be achieved if hormone levels are low and treated.
- +1 TheWilldigs comment. Amir, very interested in your process. if anything I wish more of us can group ourselves together. That is how laws get changed!
- Coming from someone going through IVF... knowing there would be help would take a lot of stress off the couple but the way things are it is very stessful
- I don't think anything will help sperm count - but we were told ZINC a multi vitamin and possibly even DHEA can help sperm Quality and EGG quality. If it wasn't for DHEA I don't think our third IVF would have workd for us. I really do believe that it helped improve the quality of what eggs I had left.
- I really don't think anything can help sperm counts. We were told that things like zinc and multivitamins - even DHEA can help sperm and egg quality. Don't quote me but I think they quantity of sperm (or eggs) you have is what you have to work with. But you can improve quality. Hope that helps -The Willdigs
- Question #1: Dr. Leader, I've heard that the drug Arimidex may improve sperm counts. Can you tell us about that?
- I don't think there is really anything that can increase sperm count. Clomid is strictly for ovulation. I know we were told Zinc and Multivitamins can help the sperm quality. Don't quote me but I don't think anything really can increase count.
- I agree that our current system of funding in the provinces is unfair. You need to persuade your families and friends to make this an important issue to your provincial politcians.
- Thanks for your attention and we hope this issues can be resolved. Margarita
- I think that the Government needs to step in and help out ALL couples have fertility issues! IUI and IVF are you options for conceiving your own child and the costs are so high! The after effects on the GOVT. with \
prenatal costs in hospitals
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