Enhanced safety protocols and telemedicine have made it possible for a record-breaking number of people to seek fertility care at SGF, a premier fertility center that’s been helping build families for 3 decades.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — During a year of great uncertainty, one thing is certain for Shady Grove Fertility (SGF), the nation’s largest fertility center: hope isn’t cancelled. SGF took extraordinary precautionary measures throughout 2020 and expanded its fertility care offerings to include virtual consultations and visits to ensure patients would not have to face unnecessary postponements in pursuit of building their family amid a global pandemic.

“COVID-19 created confusion and caused unrest and uncertainty in many areas of our lives,” says Eric A. Widra, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of SGF. “It made many of us take stock of our desires, goals, and what’s important to us like nothing before it had. And for many, that’s family. When people are stagnant in pursuit of a goal, or worse, if they feel like they are regressing and not progressing, it’s easy to lose hope. For our patients specifically, when they feel like they’re at a standstill, defeat and despair can eclipse their hope very easily.”

Most of us have never faced a global crisis like this in our lifetimes, and yet, from June through September 2020, SGF experienced a surge in several different infertility treatment types when compared to 2019 reports.

“In order to reach out and ask for help, especially during times of great uncertainty, you have to believe that someone on the other end of the rope will never let go,” continued Dr. Widra. “That’s why we’re here — to remind our patients, we offer hope, and we won’t let go.”

SGF Recognizes Surges in Specific Fertility Treatments

SGF’s hallmark Shared Risk 100% Refund Program experienced a significant surge in enrollments of more than 10% year over year, and recently topping 25,000 enrollments to date. Program participants may attempt up to six fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF) or donor egg cycles and any subsequent frozen embryo transfers (FETs) for a flat fee. Patients either take home a baby or a full refund, and 82% of participants take home a baby, alleviating the worry of cost versus chances of success.*

Among other treatment surges, SGF, home to one of the top five egg freezing programs in the U.S., saw a 52% increase in egg freezing retrievals during June through September 2020 compared with the same time last year. Growth of the program has also grown 17% year to date compared to 2019.

Tomer Singer, M.D., Medical Director of SGF New York, weighs in on the increase in egg freezing retrievals, “There are many reasons patients opt for egg freezing, including schooling, careers, travel, and very often, not having met the right partner yet. It’s challenging to date and develop a meaningful relationship through video calls and messaging, so women are regaining control of their fertility planning by freezing their eggs now for when the time is right, with the right person.”

For many patients who come to SGF, a low-tech option is the starting point, credited for its low cost and relative ease of use. In fact, 50% of treatments performed at SGF are low tech. “When patients realize that not all fertility treatment involves (in vitro fertilization) IVF, for some this is a game changer,” adds Widra.

For thousands of couples every year, intrauterine insemination (IUI) — often a suitable first step for patients with unexplained infertility, mild male factor infertility, a cervical factor, or irregular or absent ovulation—results in a successful pregnancy. “The increase in IUI treatments by nearly one-third in 2020 compared to 2019 proves that people are not discouraged; in fact, many are quite motivated to build their family,” adds Widra.

SGF Patients Turn to Telehealth to Make Progress Toward Building their Family

A survey of SGF patients who consulted with their physician via a telemedicine video appointment found that 96% would recommend the experience to a friend or family member.

“We’re fortunate that we were able to offer alternative, safe solutions during a time when much of our nation faced shutdowns,” shared Dr. Widra. “In life there are no guarantees — the exception being, at SGF we will leave no stone unturned to ensure the safety and success of our patients and team members.”

SGF’s telemedicine option offers patients access to their SGF physician while honoring social distancing recommendations, saving patients time, and avoiding travel. Through a secured online portal, patients and physicians share private access to:

• medical records,

• informed consent documents,

• patient instructions,

• educational videos, and much more.

From June through November 2020, SGF’s Out of State program more than doubled compared to 2019 as the practice increased its telemedicine capabilities, making it more convenient for patients from throughout the nation to seek care from an SGF provider.

“We know that the world we live in right now is uncertain and changing rapidly, but we’re here to offer patients a chance to regain some control and continue to make progress,” added Dr. Singer. “We’re here to help them be successful.”

To schedule a virtual new patient appointment with an SGF physician, call the SGF New Patient Center at 888-761-1967 or complete this brief online form.

About Shady Grove Fertility (SGF)
SGF is a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence with more than 85,000 babies born and counting. With 38 locations throughout FL, GA, MD, NY, PA, VA, D.C., and Santiago, Chile, we offer patients virtual physician consults, individualized care, accept most insurance plans, and make treatment affordable through innovative financial options, including treatment guarantees. More physicians refer their patients to SGF than any other center. Call 1-888-761-1967 or visit ShadyGroveFertility.com.

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New concerns in the management of the disease with the Covid 19 pandemic have created a state of anxiety amongst expectant mothers.

New Delhi: The rising incidence of gestational diabetes in India and globally is a cause for global concern amongst clinicians and obstetricians. Prevalence of the condition is higher in the urban than the rural population in India. Established risk factors for GDM are a family history of diabetes, obesity, advancing maternal age, reduced physical activity, desk jobs, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, smoking and alcohol consumption, history of PCOD and associated factors such as hypertension.

Due to compromised fetal outcomes in the form of higher incidence of miscarriages, congenital birth defects, higher risk of preterm deliveries, acute respiratory distress and hyaline membrane disease, heart disease, complicated labour due to the large size of the foetus leading to a higher incidence of shoulder dystocia and a higher risk of caesarean sections, hypoglycaemia in the newborn, obesity and a higher incidence of diabetes in the newborn, prevention and active management of altered blood sugars imperative.

How COVID-19 pandemic has changed consultation, diagnosis of gestational diabetes

New concerns in the management of the disease with the COVID-19 pandemic have created a state of anxiety amongst expectant mothers.

The standard glucose tolerance test which was previously held as the gold standard for monitoring women with altered blood sugars has now taken the backseat. Prioritising on social distancing, reducing frequent visits to labs, now monitoring expectant mothers with fasting blood glucose and HbA1c (of 5.7) are now accepted contrary to the glucose tolerance test. Altered routine prenatal visits, lack of personal consultation with the obstetrician and a phobia to visit labs has modified the management criteria. Lifestyle management comprising healthy dietary habits and increased physical activity, regular home monitoring (self) of blood sugars and fortnightly video consultation, routine antenatal tests for maternal well-being with a proper genetic history of any congenital defects or history of consanguinity, an early ultrasound helps rule out the possibility of an extrauterine pregnancy (ectopic) and confirms a healthy heart activity by 5.5 weeks thus ruling out chances of a missed aborption. All expectant mothers are offered the option of prenatal screening for Down’s syndrome (blood tests like the NIPT and dual markers) at 12 weeks, quadruple markers at 14 to 16 weeks, an anomaly scan at 19 weeks and most importantly a fetal cardiac anomaly scan at 23 weeks. Patients prefer to visit stand-alone ultrasound clinics with prior appointments following all the Covid-19 precautions. A repeat ultrasound Doppler at 28 to 30 weeks to check for the interim growth possibility of fetal macrosomia is advisable. At 32 weeks again an HbA1c to monitor blood sugars is advisable with home charting. Known diabetics in pregnancy have to follow up closely with the diabetologist to adjust the dose of insulin. In case of preterm labour, a hospitalization with tocolytics and antenatal betamethasone injection to promote lung maturity is advisable, and should such patients progress to irreversible preterm labour then drugs such as magnesium sulphate are offered as an option after counselling the expectant mother for neuroprotection for the foetus. Delivering such patients is preferred in tertiary care centres where all facilities for neonatal care are available owing to the high incidence of hyaline membrane disease and acute respiratory distress syndrome. COVID-19 evaluation is mandatory for patients prior to admission. Each index case if affected with COVID-19 behaves differently and needs individually tailored treatment for her symptoms. Vertical transmission is not a reason to fear as it is seldom encountered. Commonly encountered heart defects are usually diagnosed early in pregnancy during the anomaly scans. Late-onset issues in infants of diabetic mothers could be macrosomia, fetal cardiomyopathy, cardiomegaly, acute respiratory distress with fetal hypoglycaemia which warrant intensive care.

Maternal issues such as a higher incidence of prolonged labour, obstructed labour, higher incidence of caesarean sections, the associated risk of hypertension, are observed. To avoid these, prevention is better than cure, and hence expectant mothers with a high risk of gestational diabetes with obesity or PCOD are advised monitored weight gain of not more than 7-8 kg. Close monitoring of blood sugars from the first trimester helps reduce the chances of fetal and maternal complications. The TDAP vaccine is offered to all mothers at 32 weeks.

In conclusion, we as physicians have to constantly tailor monitoring techniques, counsel expectant couples with close follow-ups to monitor fetal and maternal well-being. The COVID-19 precautions are here to stay till we see the end of the tunnel in this global pandemic.

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This World AIDS Day, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is announcing the timely theme – “AIDS: The Other Pandemic.” This new theme and corresponding logo serve as a reminder to the world that even in times of a new pandemic, HIV/AIDS remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases in history and must be kept high on the global public health agenda.

AHF welcomes everyone worldwide – organizations and individuals alike – to utilize the theme “AIDS: The Other Pandemic.” Feel free to access the high-resolution logos here!

Even though HIV/AIDS is treatable and preventable, 38 million people are still living with HIV worldwide. There are 1.7 million new infections annually, and an estimated 690,000 people still die from HIV/AIDS-related causes every year. Millions of people living with HIV/AIDS are still not accessing lifesaving treatment.

“COVID-19 has stolen the headlines and devastated communities worldwide, but we must not forget the pandemic that has been raging for more than 30 years and still affects millions of people globally,” said Terri Ford, AHF Chief of Global Advocacy and Policy. “It’s absolutely vital that world leaders also keep their attention on HIV this World AIDS Day and beyond—and campaigns like ‘AIDS: The Other Pandemic’ are just one way to urge them to keep the promise on AIDS.”

The global AIDS response still consistently falls short each year by up to $6 billion of what is needed to sufficiently fund efforts around the world – this gap will likely widen futher with the COVID-19 pandemic. Government donors must give their fair share to improve on and continue HIV prevention efforts and ensure everyone who needs it has equitable access to lifesaving care and treatment.

“Even though we have made great strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa and around the world, we still have a long way to go,” added Dr. Penninah Iutung, AHF’s Africa Bureau Chief. “It is simply unacceptable that people living with HIV in many parts of the world still struggle to get free or affordable testing and antiretroviral therapy. Condoms are even hard to come by in many countries, though they are the most effective way to stop HIV transmission and extremely cost effective. Whether rich or poor, everyone deserves the ability to obtain lifesaving medicines, including generic drugs, regardless of their economic standing. As there is still no HIV vaccine on the horizon, guaranteeing prevention and treatment for all is the only way we’ll bring the virus under control and eventually end this pandemic.”

On World AIDS Day 2020, AHF will be hosting a multitude of virtual and a few social-distanced live events. Be sure to be on the lookout and join us to help ensure the world never forgets “AIDS: The Other Pandemic.”

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Are you finding yourself tossing and turning in the middle of the night, unable to stay asleep? Or maybe you’ve always struggled with falling asleep, but now it’s taking hours instead of 30 minutes for shut-eye to kick in.

With a high-stress environment caused by the pandemic, the US presidential election and a world constantly evolving with debates and quarantine rules, it’s no wonder why many people are suffering from insomnia.

The definition of insomnia is “persistent difficulty with sleep initiation, duration, consolidation or quality,” according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. I know this battle all too well. Prior to becoming a certified yoga instructor and health coach, I had my own struggles with insomnia and was on sleep medication.

Determined to change my habits and improve my sleep, I took up a yoga class on a whim after a recommendation from a friend. It was a weekly class that focused on slow, deep breathing; self-acceptance; and connecting breath with movement.

After two months of doing the class, I no longer needed my sleeping medication to fall asleep. It was as if my insomnia was cured, so to speak. It has been almost 20 years since I started my yoga practice. Insomnia, however, has crept its way back at different points in my life. This reminds me to recommit to my yoga practice and deep breathing, as I had experienced its transformative results firsthand.

In fact, a regular yoga routine helps with not only insomnia but also improved total sleep time and sleep efficiency, according to research.

Perhaps you’re a skeptic on yoga, or you don’t know where to begin. I designed this insomnia yoga routine just for you to focus on poses that bring inward calm to your nervous system and allow your body to relax. Whether you do this routine right before bed, during the day or in the morning, a regular practice is what’s most important in order to help with insomnia.

Breathwork and mindfulness is also a major part of this yoga routine. Breathing in through the nose and out through the nose helps calm the nervous system. As you hold each yoga pose, think of breathing in and filling your body up with air, and breathing out to release deeper into the pose. This mindful attention to your body and to your breath, studies have shown, helps improve sleep, too.

Mountain pose

This pose allows you to start by feeling grounded and centered with the breath. It connects you to the Earth, aligns your spine and allows your body to ease into the start of the yoga practice.

Standing with your feet as wide as your hips, press down evenly through all 10 toes and squeeze your quadriceps (the large muscle at the front of each thigh) to engage your legs. Pull your naval in toward your spine. Roll your shoulders back, and allow the arms to dangle down by your sides with the shoulders externally rotated. Open the palms to face forward.

Bring the chin back so that the upper back is straight. Relax the shoulders. Take five slow, deep breaths breathing in through the nose and out through the nose. Fill up the belly and then the chest as you inhale, and release the chest then the belly as you exhale.

Forward fold clasping opposite elbows

This pose has a calming effect on the nervous system because it places your body in a position that is inward-focused. Holding on to opposite elbows also provides traction for your shoulders and neck to help relieve tension in the upper body.

Stand with your feet as wide as your hips, place your hands on your hips and slowly hinge forward at your waist. Allow your arms to dangle down, and then hold on to opposite elbows with your head in the center.

Slowly shake your head yes and no, and press the weight evenly down through both feet. Hold for five deep breaths, and then release the arms down and slowly roll up to standing.

Triangle pose

This pose opens up the inner thighs and groin which can become tight and stiff after working from home in awkward positions. This pose also opens up the side waist and low back. A tight low back and inner thighs contribute to hip and back pain that can cause you to stay up at night.

Step the feet out wider than the shoulders, and turn the left foot in at a 45 degree angle so that the toes are facing toward the front corner of the mat. Turn the right foot so that it points straight to the right edge of the mat with the right heel lined up with the arch of the left foot. Open the arms out to the sides, and turn to look over the right fingertips.

Hinge forward with the right hand, and then lower the right hand down toward the right shin. Feel a stretch on the left side waist. Press down evenly through both feet and open the shoulders so that they are stacked on top of each other. Hold for three breaths, and then come up to the starting position.

Turn the feet to repeat on the left side.

Crescent lunge

Tight hip flexors also contribute to low back pain which can keep you awake at night. By opening up the hips in a low lunge position, your body will feel more relaxed without feeling overly energized. This is a great pose if you’re sedentary or sitting all day as the hip flexors get tight from being in a cramped position throughout the day.

Step your right foot forward and your left food back. Lower the left knee onto the ground underneath the left hip. Bend the right knee over the right ankle. Reach the arms up towards the sky, relax the shoulders, pull the naval in toward the spine, and breathe for five slow breaths.

Release the arms down, and turn around to face the opposite side of the mat and repeat with the left foot forward.

Wide-leg forward fold

This is another inward-facing pose, with your head positioned below your waist and the back of the legs being stretched. This has a soothing effect on the nervous system. Stretching the back of the body also helps relieve tension from the neck all the way down the spine and down the back of the legs.

Open your arms out wide and then step your feet out as wide as your wrists. Be sure to point the toes forward. Hinge forward at your waist and allow your arms to dangle down in front of you and then place the palms of your hands down flat on the mat. Release the chin toward the chest.

Hold this for five deep breaths, and then slowly come up to standing by pressing down through your feet.

Standing pigeon pose

Another forward fold, this pose aids in winding down the mind, body and nervous system and also stretches one of the largest muscles in the body: the glutes.

Standing with your feet as wide as your hips and balance on your left leg as you lift your right leg up and cross your right ankle over your left knee. Bend the left knee and place your hands together at the center of your chest. Relax the shoulders. Flex the right foot and slowly lean forward over the legs only as far as is comfortable for you.

Hold for three deep breaths, and then slowly stand up and release. Repeat on the other side.

Flow through this sequence at any point in the day. While doing yoga before bed can help wind down the nervous system, performing this sequence at any point throughout the day will have a calming effect on the body and aid in your body’s ability to wind down when it’s time for bed.

If you have days when you’re not in the mood to unroll your yoga mat, switch things up with our five-minute yoga routine that can be done in bed! Both of these routines will go a long way toward helping you wind down for more peaceful slumber.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has had ripple effects on industries throughout the world. While it’s been an incredibly difficult year, the pandemic has proved that life still goes on in the face of adversity, and specific industries can weather the storm better than others. Though it is not an easy time to be in business or seek various services, the medical aesthetics and anti-aging market have experienced a high level of resilience during this tumultuous year.

According to a market research report by Technavio, “the medical aesthetics market is poised to grow by USD 7.64 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 7 percent during the forecast period.”

Although I don’t endorse medical cosmetic procedures, as a fashion and beauty influencer, I’m always curious to know the latest trends that impact the fashion industry in one way or the other. I recently connected with Anush Movsesian, a top nurse practitioner in aesthetics and cosmetic medicine. She shares her thoughts on what has helped keep cosmetic medicine unaffected by the global pandemic. 

Related: Yes, Your Self-Care Matters

1​. Aging is a universal issue, no matter what is going on.

Pandemic or not, aging is something we continue to face, and it’s something we shouldn’t ignore. Movsesian explains, “Anti-aging is all about consistent care, and we have to make sure we stick with our appointments and our routines.” Movsesian understands that results are achieved through consistency, and when we let it go, we often have to go back to where we started. People aren’t giving up on their routines, and they are keeping up with their appointments. However, she also states that beauty enthusiasts must not vie for unrealistic results that can do more harm than good to their facial aesthetics. It’s always good to consult a medical professional and get realistic and achievable beauty advice. I’m a firm believer that even though everyone wants to enhance their own beauty, people must draw a line and control obsessions to look like an Instagram filter. 

2​. Self-care has become an even bigger priority.

I​n the face of the pandemic, we’ve seen self-care skyrocket in terms of prioritization, and rightfully so. Society has realized just how important self-care is, and aesthetics are a big part of that. Something I am thrilled to see come out of this pandemic is a renewed commitment to taking better care of ourselves. This includes everything from eating better to exercising to cosmetic procedures. I learned in my conversation with Movsesian that self-care is best when individuals take a well-rounded approach. With advancements in technology, more people today, regardless of gender, are including aesthetics in their general self-care practices to achieve better looks and gratification.

Related: 11 Tips to Build Emotional Resilience

3. Cosmetic practices always have been and still are incredibly safe.

If anything, the pandemic has brought about an increased interest in anti-aging and aesthetics as people realize how essential self-care is to our vitality and how inherently safe these procedures are. Talking to Movsesian clarifies how important a role the industry plays in our overall health and wellness while proving its tenacity. The future for aesthetics looks bright as we put our best foot forward.

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Many parts of Massachusetts are moving into a new phase of reopening Monday even as coronavirus metrics hit numbers that haven’t been seen since the height of the pandemic — leading medical experts to question Gov. Charlie Baker’s decision to forge ahead.

“We need to stay where we are and watch things carefully and keep our guard up,” Boston University infectious diseases specialist Davidson Hamer said. “I can’t read his mind, but I just wonder if he’s under a lot of pressure from businesses.”

All but 29 of the Bay State’s 351 cities and towns are allowed to move forward with step two of the third phase of reopening on Monday, which allows indoor performance venues, roller rinks and fitting rooms to reopen, places such as gyms and museums to increase their capacity and outdoor gathering limits to bump up to 100.

At the same time, the state’s coronavirus reproduction rate has climbed to its highest rate since the end of March, weekly case totals rose throughout September and new daily cases crossed 700 twice in the past week — a number not seen since the height of the pandemic.

Twenty-three communities landed in the state’s red zone for being at a high virus risk last week as well, the highest since the state switched to the color-coded risk assessment system in August. The seven-day average positive test rate has also ticked up over 1% again, after hitting a low of 0.8%.

“We’re at a point where caution and weekly reassessment is needed and if we make a mistake and things get out of control, we’ll have to go back to more draconian measures,” Hamer said.

Baker has repeatedly defended his decision to expand indoor dining and this week to increase capacity at retail and other establishments even as cases have started to rise, noting the state’s positive test rate has tumbled from 10% to around 1% for the past couple of months.

Contact tracing, he said, shows “the biggest concern” is “informal, no-rules, no-guidance gatherings” and not work.

“Some people are going to say we’re going too fast and some people are going to say we’re going too slow,” Baker said. But “we rethink the reopening pretty much every day.”

Dr. Irwin Redlener, head of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, said there’s no cut-and-dried answer for governors, who have to play “3D chess” managing the at-times competing pressures of public health, the economy and the desire to get kids back to school.

“These are no easy answers to come by,” he said.

Dr. Todd Ellerin, director of infectious diseases at South Shore Health, said the uptick here is predictable with students returning to classrooms at all levels. But cases nationally and here in Massachusetts are “obviously going in the wrong direction.”

“I can’t fault the governor for pressing forward, although I have to say, this is a very tough time to do it,” Ellerin said. “I would feel more comfortable if this were the spring going into summer.”

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Scientists have identified the first new strain of HIV since the year 2000. 

It the first time a new subtype of Group M HIV has been identified since classification guidelines were established at the turn of the century.

Group M viruses are responsible for the global pandemic, which can be traced back to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Researchers say the new discovery helps them to stay one step ahead of a mutating virus and avoid new pandemics.

Before an unusual virus can be determined a new subtype, three cases of it must be discovered independently.

The first two samples of the new HIV-1 Group M, subtype L were discovered in DRC in the 1980s and the 1990s.

The third, collected in 2001, was difficult to sequence at the time because of the amount of virus in the sample and the existing technology.

Global healthcare company Abbott made the discovery, which is published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (Jaids).

Carole McArthur, a professor at the University of Missouri, and one of the study’s authors, said: “In an increasingly connected world, we can no longer think of viruses being contained to one location.

“This discovery reminds us that to end the HIV pandemic, we must continue to out-think this continuously changing virus and use the latest advancements in technology and resources to monitor its evolution.”

Latest genome sequencing technology allows researchers to build an entire genome at higher speeds and lower costs.

In order to make the most of this technology, Abbott scientists developed and applied new techniques to help narrow in on the virus portion of the sample to fully sequence and complete the genome.

The new Group M strain will not change the way HIV is diagnosed or treated, and simply means that people are tested for the new strain as well.

Existing diagnostic tests and anti-retroviral drugs, which suppress the growth of HIV, are designed to target the parts of the virus that are common to all groups.

Dr Michael Brady, medical director at Terrence Higgins Trust said: “Scientific progress in our understanding of HIV continues to move at a fast pace. It’s important to stress that there are many different strains of HIV, but our ability to detect and treat the virus remains the same.

“Thanks to medical advances, HIV is now a long-term manageable condition and people on effective treatment can’t pass the virus on. Latest statistics from Public Health England show that around 7 per cent of people living with HIV in the UK are unaware of their status – that’s why regular HIV testing is vital and we will be getting that message out there as part of National HIV Testing Week later this month.

“We now have the tools to end new HIV transmissions once and for all, and breaking down barriers to testing will help us achieve that goal.”

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