The Acessa™ System Now Approved In Mexico To Treat Symptomatic Uterine ... - PR Newswire (press release)

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LIVERMORE, Calif., Feb. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Halt Medical, Inc. announced today that on January 18, 2013, COFEPRIS, a division within the Mexican Ministry of Health (Secretaria de Salud) responsible for medical device oversight, issued registration for the Acessa System to treat symptomatic uterine fibroids.

"Mexico is the second largest market for medical devices in Latin America," said Jeffrey Cohen , Halt's Chief Executive Officer. "We are very excited to have the opportunity to expand our market reach to virtually all of North America."

According to the Centers for Disease Control, fibroids are the leading cause for hysterectomy procedures worldwide. The Acessa System is used in a minimally invasive same-day surgery procedure where a slender Handpiece is used to deliver radiofrequency energy to the fibroid, after which the fibroid is re-absorbed by the surrounding tissue. Acessa treats just the fibroids, preserving the normal function of the uterus.  Patients typically go home the same day with little pain and experience rapid recovery and return to normal activities.

"The Acessa Procedure will be of great benefit to many women suffering from symptomatic uterine fibroids in Mexico," added Dr. Jose G. Garza Leal , Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hospital Universitario Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico. "We look forward to the continued advancement of care for our fibroid patients with this technology."

Cohen further stated, "From Canada to Mexico, over 10 million women are at risk to the debilitating symptoms of uterine fibroids; including heavy menstrual bleeding, pain, and bulking. According to 94% of the patients in our IDE trial, their symptoms were resolved following treatment with the Acessa Procedure."

About Halt Medical, Inc.

Founded in 2004, Halt Medical is a medical device company focused on establishing a new standard of care for women with symptomatic uterine fibroids. The Company has developed and launched the Acessa System and Procedure, using radiofrequency energy to destroy uterine fibroids. The results of both U.S. and international trials have led to the clearance of the product by the FDA for use in percutaneous, laparoscopic coagulation and ablation of soft tissue, including treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids under laparoscopic ultrasound guidance. The Acessa System also has regulatory approval to treat symptomatic uterine fibroids in the European Union, Canada, and Mexico. The Company is located in Brentwood, CA.  For information about the Acessa System, please visit www.haltmedical.com.

SOURCE Halt Medical, Inc.

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Is It Serious? 8 Health Symptoms Women Should Not Ignore - EmpowHer

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Is It Serious? 8 Health Symptoms Women Should Not Ignore 0 5 David Castillo Dominici/PhotoSpin

Often it’s hard to distinguish between what’s normal and what needs a doctor's attention. Here are the most common health symptoms women should not ignore.

Symptom #1: Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain can indicate benign uterine fibroids, endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease.

“Fortunately, most pelvic discomfort isn’t related to ovarian cancer, but women should know the disease’s unremitting constellation of symptoms,” Holly Puritz, MD, FACOG, an obstetrician and gynecologist told WebMD.

The constellation of symptoms can include abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating and cramps nausea, diarrhea, abdominal swelling, constipation, or sudden unexplained weight change.

“If you have two weeks of bloating, pelvic pressure, and frequent urination -- and every day, you have it -- that’s a potential sign you should be checked for possible symptoms of ovarian cancer,” said Puritz in WebMD.

Symptom #2: Irregular Vaginal Bleeding

Irregular vaginal bleeding could come from multiple causes that aren’t serious including perimenopause, uterine fibroids or polyps, reported WebMD.

For bleeding after sex, Redbook.com wrote that an unlikely culprit could be chlamydia, a sexually transmitted infection. The least common scenario would be cervical cancer.

One common cause for spotting between periods is not taking oral contraceptives at the same time every day. Less likely culprits are uterine fibroids. And the least common scenario is endometrial cancer, which frequently causes irregular vaginal bleeding in premenopausal women, wrote Redbook.com.

Symptom #3: Abnormal Vaginal Discharge

Abnormal vaginal discharge may signify an easily treatable infection, said HealthCentral.com. This includes a yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis. MDAnderson.org warned that vaginal discharge colored with blood is sometimes a sign of cervical or endometrial cancer.

Symptom #4: Persistent Itch

Redbook.com wrote that the most common cause is a yeast infection.

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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Kaufman: Chinese medicine addresses female hormone imbalance - Kelowna Capital News

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A hormonal imbalance occurs when there is too much estrogen relative to progesterone in a woman’s body, also referred to as estrogen dominance.

In a normal cycle, estrogen and progesterone hormones work together to maintain a woman’s menstrual cycle, each playing an important role.

When a hormone balance occurs and estrogen levels are too high, it can lead to many problems with a woman’s reproductive cycle, from PMS symptoms to menstrual problems or irregular periods, to mood swings, abdominal weight gain, increased levels of stress hormones, uterine fibroids, and an increased risk of osteoporosis, heart disease and breast cancer.

There are many causes for an estrogen-progesterone hormone imbalance. These include aging, stress, birth control pills, and lifestyle factors like diet and weight.

The use of hormonal birth control and the perimenopause stage of life are probably the two biggest factors.

Current hormonal birth control pills rely on high dose estrogen to suppress ovulation combined with progestin to make the endometrial lining of the uterus thin and to dry out the cervical mucus.

Compared to average estrogen levels during the normal menstrual cycle, current hormonal contraceptives cause about four times higher estrogen in the body.

Often when women go off the pill, they experience higher than normal estrogen levels that lead to symptoms of PMS, menstrual cycle issues, and mood swings.

To aggravate things, this often coincides with a woman entering the perimenopause stage of her life, when natural estrogen dominance often occurs because estrogen levels are naturally much higher and progesterone levels naturally much lower than normal.

A hormone imbalance can be diagnosed as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression or anxiety disorder, restless legs syndrome, and digestive or bowel disorders.

Is this caused by a hormone imbalance, aggravated by a hormone imbalance, or a misdiagnosis?

Whatever the case, a hormone imbalance can lead to a drastic decrease in quality of life and cause very real difficulties in a woman’s daily life, from mood problems to sleep problems, to menstrual cycle problems.

It can be a complex problem to treat, and many women are dissatisfied with medications or hormone replacement as a solution.

Thankfully, acupuncture and Chinese medicine offer an effective and safe option for managing and resolving a hormone imbalance.

Acupuncture has a regulating effect on the body and can help to promote normal functioning of various systems, from hormone levels to sleep cycle, energy levels, moods, and digestion.

By looking at the various symptoms that are presenting, we can determine the areas of the body that are not functioning properly and treat the root cause of the problem.

This almost always involves the liver not functioning properly as it plays a very important role in the regulation of emotions and of the menstrual cycle.

As the body regains healthy equilibrium and these causes are treated, the hormones begin to normalize and the symptoms will begin to lessen.

Over time and with continued treatments, the body’s imbalance should resolve.

Hormone imbalances can be complex to treat and often lifestyle factors play an important role in successfully managing and resolving them.

This includes managing stress levels and emotional stress, getting regular exercise, maintaining a regular sleep-wake schedule, staying hydrated, and a healthy diet.

While these seem like common sense strategies, they are indeed pillars of good health and help us to maintain good health throughout the many changes we face in life.

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Lying About Age to Your Doctor Could Have Serious Repercussions - AllAfrica.com

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Par Diana Nabiruma, 26 mars 2013

« Elle dit qu'elle est 55, à deux ans de plus que ma mère, », a dit Judith. Elle raconte, « une fois, après que qu'elle avait dit le médecin elle est 55, ma mère averti lui, lui disant qu'il est important d'informer le médecin de l'âge. Elle [la grand-mère] lui a dit à laisse-la tranquille, "Judith dit, ajoutant qu'après cette conversation, sa mère soit la vieille femme.

Mais elle ne devrait pas avoir laisser aller. L'âge est important dans le diagnostic des maladies, la détermination des doses appropriées de la médecine et le traitement de qu'un médecin donne à un patient. Par exemple, un 15-year-old qui révèle un docteur qu'elle est 18 peuvent obtenir des informations destinées à un adulte.

Elle peut être donnée d'informations sur les méthodes contraceptives disponibles (autre que l'abstinence) ; renseignements Dr Vincent Karuhanga dit n'est pas censé être donné à des filles mineures. Une jeune fille qui entreprend sexuelle rencontre plus tôt que ses contemporains a plus de risques d'attraper des maladies sexuellement transmissibles, cancer du col utérin et les grossesses précoces.

J'ai visité Nestor, 38, a failli mourir pendant l'accouchement à l'hôpital Mulago, après que elle a dit la sage-femme qu'elle était de 28. Tandis que les femmes de 18 à 34 ans sont considérées comme naturellement leur place pour les rigueurs de l'accouchement, leurs homologues ou 35 ans et au-dessus, peut également convenir à la maternité, mais sont payée une attention particulière dans les hôpitaux parce que les anciens organes viennent avec leurs propres problèmes.

Mais il y avait j'ai visted Nestor, se tordant et gémissant de douleur pendant des heures sur le sol suite au cinquième étage, l'hôpital Mulago de travail avec les « autres jeunes mères son âge » passer quelques instants et de marcher avec leurs bébés. Lorsqu'il était évident qu'elle ne faisait aucun progrès, une sage-femme l'a aidée en tirant le bébé, mais un jour plus tard, elle a développé des douleurs abdominales sévères et une infirmière de service a découvert qu'elle avait encore des caillots de sang que son système n'avait pas expulsé.

Plus tôt sur, sa mère qui avait été en lisant son dossier s'est rendu compte que dans l'espace laissé pour l'âge, j'ai visted que Nestor avait renseigné 28 ! Pas étonnant que les sages-femmes attendue de son système de toujours travailler comme sur des roulettes !

Gynécologue-obstétricien, Dr Miriam Mahawar, dit qu'il est important pour les femmes enceintes ou les femmes qui visitent le gynécologue pour divulguer leur âge réel, parce que "chaque âge a ses défis. Pour les très jeunes, les moins de 18 ans, les risques sont différents. Ils sont également différents de ceux de plus de 40 ou plus de 50 ".

Mercy a dit qu'il est « très très important d'informer le médecin son âge ». Il explique que l'âge est un facteur déterminant en faisant un diagnostic approprié.

« Certaines maladies sont plus fréquentes dans certaines tranches d'âge, » dit-il. Peut-être certains d'entre nous ont appris que le cancer de la prostate est plus fréquent chez les hommes au-dessus de 65 (Dr Fred Okuku de l'Institut de Cancer de l'Ouganda témoigne de cela.) Ou que les fibromes utérins sont plus susceptibles de survenir chez les filles en âge de procréer, autant ceux de niveau supérieur de 20 ou 30 ans.

Diana (pas cet auteur) a connu ses premières menstruations douloureuses quelques mois en arrière. Elle a appelé son médecin qui, après avoir entendu comment douloureuses, les crampes, avait été posé des questions sur l'âge de Diana. « Vous êtes 25? » demanda-t-il, et Diana, demandez ce que son âge avait à voir avec cela dit que non, elle était de 26.

Le médecin a ensuite pour dire que ses crampes pourraient avoir été causés par le stress, une infection ou des fibromes, l'un des symptômes des fibromes est atrocement douloureuses crampes menstruelles. Lui a demandé de faire un scan pour éliminer les fibromes. Elle est encore à déterminer la cause de la menstruation douloureuse, mais a elle a menti sur son âge chez le médecin, ils ne pourraient pas ont examiné la question des fibromes utérins.

L'âge joue un rôle dans la détermination des doses de médicament donné. Cela est particulièrement vrai pour les enfants. Il est également vrai pour les personnes âgées. Pour certains médicaments, koblavi dit, les personnes âgées sont données des dosages plus faibles que leurs collègues plus jeunes. C'est les cas avec-hommes, prenez note-Viagra.

« Un homme qui a l'air jeune et se trouve sur son âge chez le médecin et est donné le Viagra à des doses plus élevées que nécessaire aura des problèmes, » dit Mercy. Plus de doses ou de Viagra sont connus pour avoir des effets secondaires tels que maux de tête, gastriques et une vision floue.

Copyright © 2013 l'observateur. Tous droits réservés. Distribué par AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). Pour contacter le détenteur du copyright directement pour les corrections — ou la permission de republier ou faire autre utilisation autorisée de ce matériel, cliquez ici.

AllAfrica agrège et indexe le contenu provenant de plus de 130 organismes de presse africaine, ainsi que plus de 200 autres sources, qui sont responsables de leurs propres rapports et les vues. Articles et commentaires qui identifient allAfrica.com comme serveur de publication sont produites ou commandées par AllAfrica.

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Study: Childhood trauma, fibroids linked, the Grio

Research has found some coping skills are associated with inflammation in the body, which can make one more vulnerable to the health problems such as fibroids. © Monkey Business - Fotolia.com

Research conducted within the health study of black women at the Boston University School of Public Health recently found a link between abuse and fibroids. The study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, included 9,910 black around women in the country and found a higher incidence or fibroids in women who had been abused from childhood (physical or sexual) compared with women who had not known of any abuse.

Uterine fibroids is a non-cancerous tumor that develops in the lining of the uterus. Fibroids can grow as a single tumor, or there may be several. Most fibroids cause no symptoms, but women who have symptoms may experience heavy bleeding, pain during sex and complications during pregnancy and labour.

Black women are three times more likely to have fibroids than white women. Black women are also more likely to be diagnosed at an earlier age, have fibroids grow faster and are more likely to have symptoms.

Unfortunately, the researchers do not know what causes fibroids. Dr. Wise, the principal investigator on the black women's health study, said if confirmed by future studies, the childhood abuse could be added to the list of possible causes of fibroids. It considers that the conclusions of the study are very useful for those in the field of health. "The findings may sensitize practitioners of health that women who have experienced the strains such as childhood abuse can present a high risk for fibroids."

Many women lament on how tired and stressed out that they feel. What they do not know, is that stress might make them sick. The researchers concluded that stress increases the risk for many physical health problems. Dr. Amani Nuru-cast, associate professor at UC Berkeley School of Public Health and an expert on the impact of stress and health explains, "stress finds its place in our bodies and has physical consequences, such as the development of chronic diseases like fibroids... sexual abuse are considered to be a factor in chronic stress because these experiences can stay with a person long after it happened. The experience of stress can be repeated again and again until the problem is resolved."

Dr. Gail Wyatt, clinical psychologist, sex therapist and Director of the UCLA Center for Culture, trauma and mental health disparities found in his research that women with a history of childhood abuse have much higher levels of stress. However, she said, "this problem is so complex that many factors must be considered when we look at the impact of the abuse of children on health; including a consistent lack of health care that can influence the outcome. "Wyatt is also author or stolen women: Reclaiming Our sexuality, taking Back Our Lives.

Dr. Paula Randolph, practice of the gynecologist and Clinical Assistant Professor at the Columbia University Medical Center also believes that there are several possible explanations. Dr. Randolph says, women who are victims of violence are more likely to complain of abdominal pain and can occur to the doctor more than others. This would lead in the testing and discovery of fibroids".

If you have abuse in childhood, this does not mean that you intended to have fibroids. Women's health study found that women who have been abused as children, but got support from others - family, friends, tips - were less likely to get fibroids than those without support.

Dr Nuru-cast or UC Berkeley adds that his research has found some coping skills are associated with inflammation in the body, which can make one more vulnerable to the health problems such as fibroids. She explains: 'these coping skills including things like the deletion of his emotions,.' do not ask for help, without consider the pain and take care of others at the expense of itself have been associated with health problems her research found that many black women identify with the idea of being a superwoman and even if it can give one a sense of control, it can also be bad for their health because it leads to them not getting help when they notice that something is wrong.

Here are a few recommendations for black women who may be affected by chronic stress:

Beware of becoming a "Superwoman". Take more time for personal care, including going to the doctor as soon as you notice a problem.Be not annoyed by traumatic experiences, you've had in your childhood. Speak with a trained professional - adviser, head of the faith, therapist - on abuse experiences you have had.Asking for assistance, or families and friends. Ask others for help with household chores and child care.Model healthy habits for your children. Teaching the next generation of girls and young women about the importance of the management of stress and social support.

Dr. Scyatta a. Wallace is an award-winning Expert psychologist/Teen, Associate Professor of psychology and founder of the Janisaw company. The work of Dr. Wallace focuses on health issues affecting young people and families.

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FertileHeart.com Founder Julia Indichova Presents Free Webinar “Unexplained ... - eReleases (press release)

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WOODSTOCK, N.Y., March 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – On Wednesday, March 20 at 8:30 p.m. EDT, www.FertileHeart.com founder/author Julia Indichova will facilitate a free webinar/teleconference focused on overcoming fertility related challenges, commonly referred to as unexplained infertility. Participants are welcome to register for the call through the events page of Fertile Heart http://www.fertileheart.com/calendar-3/.

Unexplained infertility is a particularly frustrating diagnosis for the women and couples wrestling with infertility, since it implies that the fertility specialist treating the patient doesn’t know why they can’t conceive. If the doctor has no answers, where can they look for help?

The most common mainstream medical approach to unexplained infertility is to administer Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate). The use of Clomid is often accompanied with intrauterine inseminations and if no pregnancy occurs, the couple will be advised to move on to in vitro fertilization for as many as 6 menstrual cycles.

“What I repeatedly see in my practice,” says Indichova, “is that these commonly used ovulation inducing fertility drugs not only don’t address the possible underlying causes of infertility, they can disrupt hormonal balance and mute the body’s call for attention.

“As I see it, unexplained infertility simply means that whatever it is that blocks conception or a full term pregnancy has not yet manifested in the body in a way that can be detected by current standard testing. That, to me, is good news. The fertility challenged patient might be given a once in a lifetime opportunity to repair latent depletion on a physical and emotional level which, if ignored, might lead to much more serious health issues later in life.”

Indichova encourages basic infertility testing such as a hormonal panel, endometrial biopsy, hysterosalpinogram, post coital test, and semen analysis, as an important part of the diagnostic process. In addition to the basic infertility work-up, she advocates women and couples would be wise to educate themselves about the commonly omitted tests such as thyroid function, blood levels of vitamin D and other nutrients and heavy metal toxicity, all of which have been linked to hormonal issues and failed fertility treatments.

Achieving a full term pregnancy, whether you are told you have unexplained infertility or explained infertility caused by so called “advanced maternal age,” PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, or poor morphology — is still one of the challenges where certainty eludes even the best and the brightest. More than three decades after Dr. Edwards’ historic IVF birth announcement and millions of dollars spent on research, the chance of a healthy baby after treatment, remains low: 28.2% for women under 35, falling to 10.6% for women 40- 42.

The Indichova-Baum-Ovum-Work (I-BOW) fertility enhancing program, which emerged through Julia Indichova’s own infertility journey and consequent research and counseling, empowers women and men to assess a broad range of factors that affect fertility. The program’s carefully crafted mind body tools help identify obstacles linked to lifestyle, diet, environment and emotional conflicts, supporting participants in fully engaging in their own healing.

Chef Edward Baum, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, co-founder of Fertile Heart and Julia’s husband created the fertility-friendly recipes that are part of the I-BOW approach to reproductive wellness.

The program has been endorsed by leading fertility specialists and integrative health practitioners. Marc Goldstein M.D., F.A.C.S. Surgeon-in-Chief at Cornell Institute for Reproductive Medicine and author of The Couples Guide to Fertility calls the program “a most valuable resource and guide to the intangibles that surely contribute to difficulty in conceiving.”

Participants in the March 20 “Unexplained Infertility: If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It” webinar are welcome to email Fertile Heart at Email with questions prior to the call.

Julia Indichova is the author of The Fertile Female: How the Power of Longing for a Child Can Save Your Life and Change the World (Adell Press, 2007)  Inconceivable  (Three Rivers Press 2001) and the What to Expect from a Fertility Expert e-book (Adell Press 2013)  The Fertile Heart™ Ovum Program  emerged through a decade and a half of counseling. Indichova’s work has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America and other outlets. For more information on workshops and support resources, visit www.FertileHeart.com.

Contact: Fern Marcya Edison
www.fertileheart.com
Email
845-679-5469

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Pay attention to your pee - Independent Online

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London - A changed in the characteristic wavy pattern of a man’s urine stream could point to problems with urine flow and, in turn, the prostate, say scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.

Flow for men and women should be steady and continuous and there shouldn’t be a strain at the end, says Vijay Sangar, a urological surgeon at the Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester.

In men, an intermittent flow with a dribble at the end could be a sign of an enlarged prostate, a benign condition that occurs with age.

In women, intermittent flow may be a sign of polyps (small growths), fibroids or ovarian cysts, says Luciano Nardo, consultant gynaecologist at BMI The Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle.

These can reduce the capacity of the bladder.

It could also point to cystitis, all of which need to be treated by your GP. - Daily Mail

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Hysterectomy Alternative-Radio frequency energy used to shrink fibroids in... Newswise — (press release)

Montefiore Medical Center first hospital United States to perform the procedure after the FDA approval

Newswise — NEW YORK (March 14, 2013) - Montefiore Medical Center became the first hospital in the United States to use radiofrequency ablation to shrink uterine fibroids among women since the procedure was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last year. This minimally invasive procedure, originally used to treat liver cancer, uses a tiny needle that emits an electrical current of low energy directly to the fibroid to destroy it.

"About a third of women suffer from fibroids, which can cause excessive menstrual bleeding and pain," said Scott Chudnoff, M.D., Director of Gynecology at Montefiore. 'This minimally invasive procedure may avoid the need for a hysterectomy and provide women with a new option that preserves the uterus.'

Fibroids are benign tumors that grow in the uterus. They are the most common tumor in the reproductive years and are two to three times more common among African American women. Symptoms can be heavy or painful menstrual bleeding, feeling of heaviness in the basin, frequent urination, pain during intercourse, abdominal bloating and backache. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fibroids are the leading cause of hysterectomy, which are the most common surgical procedures for women after cesarean section. More than 200,000 hysterectomies are performed in the United States each year because of fibroids.

Until this procedure has been developed, treatment was to cut through the layers of healthy tissue to gain access to fibroids or remove the uterus completely. Radiofrequency ablation allows the surgeon to treat only the fibroids while preserving the normal function of the uterus. Generally, patients go home the same day with little pain and returned to regular activities within five days.

Montefiore was one of 12 medical centres in the country to the new test procedure and Dr. Chudnoff has been one of the leading clinical researchers who have studied the procedure in the clinical trial.

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Local couples seeking fertility treatments now have closer options - Lancaster Newspapers

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After seven surgeries, four in vitro fertilization attempts and two miscarriages, Rose is finally where she wants to be: six months pregnant.

Rose, who asked that her real name not be used, had trouble conceiving a baby due to uterine fibroids. For a year, she commuted from Lancaster to the Philadelphia area for regular testing and monitoring.

Rose's treatment got much more convenient last August, when her doctors, Abington Reproductive Medicine, opened Lancaster Fertility.

"Instead of having to get up at 5 in the morning, drive an hour to Philly and come back to work, I could just go a mile down the street," Rose says.

In many cases, local OB/GYNs can diagnose and treat infertility. But couples who need closer monitoring and more advanced procedures may be referred to a fertility specialist. Until recently, infertility treatment often required travel to bigger cities. Now local couples have more options closer to home.

In the past several months, two established fertility centers opened area offices, and an existing Lancaster practice expanded its staff and hours.

Infertility treatment often requires multiple appointments in a short period. Having nearby options can help reduce a couple's stress, says Lancaster Fertility's Dr. Michael I. Sobel, who is board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and obstetrics/gynecology.

"We really cater to the needs of couples in terms of … work schedules and the numerous visits sometimes required to reach their goals," he says.

Rose's fourth IVF attempt succeeded last summer. Early in her pregnancy, she had regular follow-up ultrasounds at Lancaster Fertility.

"(Infertility) was very emotional, very stressful and very scary," she says. "It really helps to (be able to) do it locally."

Abington opens Lancaster office

Lancaster Fertility registered nurse Robin Rohrer says the advent of electronic medical records has allowed Abington to expand and successfully manage the logistics of six locations.

"I felt for many years there really should be something in Lancaster," says Rohrer, who lives in Bowmansville.

Lancaster Fertility, 1059 Columbia Ave., offers testing and treatment. The staff can prescribe fertility medications and perform intrauterine insemination.

Couples who need IVF can have testing and monitoring done in Lancaster but must travel to Abington for egg retrieval and embryo transfer.

Lancaster Fertility offers appointments 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Practice staff is available by phone weekdays to answer questions and make appointments.

"We're trying to reach out to young couples who are stressed to the max … and can't miss work," says Sobel, a Franklin & Marshall College graduate. "At least they can be in their backyard during the course of treatment."

Shady Grove

In September, Shady Grove Fertility Center opened an office in Wyomissing, about 10 minutes from Adamstown and 25 minutes from Ephrata.

Shady Grove, based near Washington, D.C., has 21 locations, including Chesterbrook, Chester County, and a limited-service Harrisburg office.

"We were seeing quite a few patients coming to us from the Pennsylvania area," practice development manager Kathy Houser says. "It seemed like the right time to (expand)."

Shady Grove will open a Bala Cynwyd office this spring and may expand services in Harrisburg. The group holds regular infertility seminars in the region.

The Wyomissing and Chesterbrook centers offer testing and treatment, including IVF and a donor egg program. Dr. Abraham K. Munabi is board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and obstetrics/gynecology.

Shady Grove has a "shared risk" program that promises a full refund if a couple does not deliver a healthy baby.

Patients must meet age and other criteria to participate in the shared risk program. Shady Grove estimates that nearly 70 percent of patients would qualify.

Practice development liaison Christina Schmidt says the program might especially appeal to local couples because unlike some states, Pennsylvania does not mandate insurance coverage for IVF.

"That's a big piece of why people are coming," she says. "I think it's giving people some hope that they didn't feel before."

Fertility Center

Dr. Robert Filer opened the Fertility Center in 1987, with locations in York and at Lancaster General's Suburban Outpatient Pavilion, 2108 Harrisburg Pike.

Until last August, the Lancaster office was open part-time.

"With just a physician and a nurse practitioner covering two offices, it was difficult to be there full-time like we wanted to be," Filer says.

Dr. Melanie Ochalski joined Filer last summer, allowing the Lancaster office to open five days a week.

The expanded hours mean that local patients no longer have to drive to York for testing when the Lancaster center is closed.

"Sometimes fertility treatments can require a rigorous schedule," Ochalski says. "Being able to accommodate patients goes a long way."

Filer and Ochalski are board-certified in obstetrics/gynecology. Ochalski is board-eligible in reproductive endocrinology.

The Lancaster office offers testing and treatment, including fertility medications and intrauterine insemination.

Patients who need IVF can have testing and monitoring done in Lancaster but must go to York for egg retrieval and embryo transfer. Setting up an additional IVF laboratory in Lancaster would be cost-prohibitive, Filer says.

Also, the center now freezes eggs for women who don't have cancer or another medical condition, but simply want to preserve their fertility.

Convenient path

In fall 2011, Samantha, who asked that her real name not be used, suffered an ectopic pregnancy. After two surgeries, she stopped ovulating.

Samantha's OB/GYN referred her to Abington for closer monitoring. "They had just opened an office in Lancaster, so that was nice," she says.

Sobel found and corrected a uterine abnormality that could have caused repeat miscarriages. He also prescribed medication to induce ovulation.

Samantha is now three months pregnant. "I didn't think that would ever happen," she says.

Samantha had early-pregnancy ultrasounds at Lancaster Fertility. She plans to visit one more time this summer — to show off her new baby.

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