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Antidepressants: Safe during pregnancy? Taking medications during pregnancy can have risks and benefits. Get the facts about antidepressant use during pregnancy. Antidepressants are a primary treatment option for most types of depression. But there are benefits and risks to consider when taking antidepressants during pregnancy. Here's what you need to know. Why is treatment for depression during pregnancy important? If you have untreated depression, you might not seek optimal prenatal care or eat the healthy foods you and your baby need. Experiencing major depression during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of premature birth, low birth weight, decreased fetal growth or other problems for the baby. Unstable depression during pregnancy also increases the risk of postpartum depression and difficulty bonding with your baby. Are antidepressants an option during pregnancy? Yes. A decision to use antidepressants during pregnancy, in addition to counseli...

Could an abortion increase the risk of problems in a subsequent pregnancy? Generally, elective abortion isn't thought to cause fertility issues or complications in future pregnancies. However, some studies suggest a possible link between pregnancy termination and an increased risk of premature birth and low birth weight. Risks may depend on the type of abortion performed: Medical abortion.  Medication is taken in early pregnancy to abort the fetus. Medical abortions do not appear to increase the risk of future pregnancy complications. Surgical abortion.  A surgical procedure removes the fetus from the uterus through the vagina. It's typically done using suction and a sharp, spoon-shaped tool (curet). Rarely, this can cause scarring of the uterine wall (Asherman syndrome), which may make it difficult to get pregnant. Women who have multiple surgical abortion procedures may also have more risk of trauma to the cervix. If you have had an abortion and you are conce...

Symptoms of pregnancy: What happens first Do you know the early symptoms of pregnancy? From nausea to fatigue, know what to expect. Could you be pregnant? The proof is in the pregnancy test. But even before you miss a period, you might suspect — or hope — that you're pregnant. Know the first signs of pregnancy and why they occur. Classic pregnancy signs and symptoms The most common early signs and symptoms of pregnancy might include: Missed period.  If you're in your childbearing years and a week or more has passed without the start of an expected menstrual cycle, you might be pregnant. However, this symptom can be misleading if you have an irregular menstrual cycle. Tender, swollen breasts.  Early in pregnancy hormonal changes might make your breasts sensitive and sore. The discomfort will likely decrease after a few weeks as your body adjusts to hormonal changes. Nausea with or without vomiting.  Morning sickness, which can strike at any time of the da...

Preparing for pregnancy when you have diabetes Pregnancy and diabetes doesn't have to be a risky combination. By preparing for pregnancy, you can boost the odds of delivering a healthy baby. Here's how. If you have diabetes — either type 1 or type 2 — and you're thinking about having a baby, you might worry about possible risks. To put your mind at ease, start preparing. Managing your blood sugar levels and making healthy lifestyle choices before pregnancy is good for your health and can give your baby a healthier start too. Start with a checkup The first step in preparing for pregnancy is to talk to your health care provider. He or she might recommend: Changing medications.  If you take diabetes medication besides insulin, you might need to switch to something that's safer for use in pregnancy or make other changes to your diabetes treatment plan before you conceive. If you also have high blood pressure, your blood pressure medications may need to b...

Pregnancy spacing is an essential part of family planning. Understand the importance of pregnancy spacing and what factors to consider before you conceive again. Considering having another child? Pregnancy spacing can affect more than how close your children are in age. Here's what you need to know. Why is family planning important? Knowing whether you do or don't want to have children in the next few years can help you and your partner prepare for conception or choose appropriate contraception. If you're already parents, family planning takes on new meaning. Having another child will change your family's lives. Are you and your partner ready to take care of a newborn again? How will your other child or children react to sharing your attention with a new baby? The timing of your pregnancies is important, too. While you and your partner might have preferences about how close in age you'd like your children to be, some research shows that how you spa...

Pregnancy after miscarriage: What you need to know Pregnancy after miscarriage can be stressful and confusing. When is the best time to get pregnant? What are the odds of miscarrying again? Get the facts about pregnancy after miscarriage. Thinking about pregnancy after miscarriage? You might be anxious or confused about what caused your miscarriage and when to conceive again. Here's help understanding pregnancy after miscarriage, and the steps you can take to promote a healthy pregnancy. What causes miscarriage? Miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week. Many miscarriages occur because the fetus isn't developing normally. Problems with the baby's chromosomes are responsible for about 50 percent of early pregnancy loss. Most of these chromosome problems occur by chance as the embryo divides and grows, although it becomes more common as women age. Sometimes a health condition, such as poorly controlled diabetes or a uterine problem,...

Pregnancy after 35: Healthy moms, healthy babies Are you considering pregnancy after 35? Understand the issues for older mothers — and know what it takes to have a healthy pregnancy. If you're older than age 35 and hoping to get pregnant, you're in good company. Many women are delaying pregnancy well into their 30s and beyond — and delivering healthy babies. Taking special care can help give your baby the best start. Understand the risks The biological clock is a fact of life, but there's nothing magical about age 35. It's simply an age at which various risks become more discussion worthy. For example: It might take longer to get pregnant.  You're born with a limited number of eggs. As you reach your mid- to late 30s, your eggs decrease in quantity and quality. Also, older women's eggs aren't fertilized as easily as younger women's eggs. If you are older than age 35 and haven't been able to conceive for six months, consider asking yo...

Preconception planning can help you and your partner understand how to boost your chances of a healthy pregnancy. Here's what to expect during a preconception appointment. If you've decided to get pregnant, you might be emotionally prepared to have a baby — but is your body ready? To help ensure a healthy pregnancy, schedule a preconception appointment with your health care provider as soon as you begin thinking about pregnancy. A preconception appointment is especially important if you're in your 30s or 40s or you have any chronic health conditions or special concerns. Consider these preconception planning questions. What type of birth control have you been using? If you've been taking combination birth control pills — whether conventional or extended cycle — your period is expected to return within 30 days after stopping the pill. You don't need to take a pill-free break before trying to conceive. However, it'll be somewhat easier to estimate...

How to get pregnant If you're hoping to conceive, don't leave it to luck. Know how to get pregnant — starting with predicting ovulation and do's and don'ts for maximizing fertility. Some couples seem to get pregnant simply by talking about it. For others, it takes time. If you're looking for tips on how to get pregnant, here's what you need to know. How to predict ovulation Understanding when you're ovulating — and having sex regularly five days before and on the day of ovulation — can improve the odds of conceiving. Ovulation is the process in which a mature egg is released from the ovary. Those six days are important because the egg is able to be fertilized for about 12 to 24 hours after it's released. In addition, sperm can live inside the female reproductive tract as long as five days after sexual intercourse under the right conditions. Your chance of getting pregnant is highest when live sperm are present in the fallopian tubes durin...

High-risk pregnancy: Know what to expect If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you might have questions. Will you need special prenatal care? Will your baby be OK? Get the facts about promoting a healthy pregnancy. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you or your baby might be at increased risk of health problems before, during or after delivery. Typically, special monitoring or care throughout pregnancy is needed. Understand the risk factors for a high-risk pregnancy, and what you can do to take care of yourself and your baby. What are the risk factors for a high-risk pregnancy? Sometimes a high-risk pregnancy is the result of a medical condition present before pregnancy. In other cases, a medical condition that develops during pregnancy for either you or your baby causes a pregnancy to become high risk. Specific factors that might contribute to a high-risk pregnancy include: Advanced maternal age.  Pregnancy risks are higher for mothers older than age 35. Lifest...

Healthy sperm: Improving your fertility Healthy sperm aren't always a given. Understand how lifestyle factors can affect your sperm and what you can do to improve your fertility. If you and your partner are planning a pregnancy, you might be wondering about the health of your sperm. Understand the factors that can affect male fertility — then consider steps to help your sperm achieve your goal. What determines sperm health? Male reproductive system Sperm health depends on various factors, including quantity, movement and structure: Quantity.  You're most likely to be fertile if your ejaculate — the semen discharged in a single ejaculation — contains at least 15 million sperm per milliliter. Too little sperm in an ejaculation might make it more difficult to get pregnant because there are fewer candidates available to fertilize the egg. Movement.  To reach and fertilize an egg, sperm must move — wriggling and swimming through a woman's cervix, uterus ...

Fertility Preservation Program The Fertility Preservation Program evaluates children with cancer or other medical conditions that could affect future fertility. Children undergoing certain chemotherapy and radiation treatments are at risk of impaired fertility. Fertility Preservation Program offers several options for fertility preservation, depending on the child's age, stage of puberty, diagnosis and proposed treatment plan. The multispecialty team approach ensures quality and patient-centered care. A team can help you and your child understand: Which options are available to preserve fertility How to choose the best option for fertility preservation before treatment How fertility will be affected by the prescribed treatment Girls: After puberty Girls: Before puberty Ovarian tissue freezing* Ovarian shielding/transposition Egg freezing Embryo freezing Ovarian suppression Ovarian tissue freezing* Ovarian shielding/transposition Boys: After puberty B...