North Bay Woman

38 NORTH BAY WOMAN | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5 The science of baby-making By Jane Lott In what appears to be a triumph of science over Nature, women long past the natural age for pregnancy are giving birth to healthy babies at a growing rate. In fact, the rate of first births for women over 45 rose an amazing seven percent in 2012 ~ greater than any other age group. The statistics mirror a increasing trend by women to postpone motherhood in favor of establishing their careers and by employers who support this with benefits that include infertility treatments and egg-freezing. Dr. Danielle Lane sees this in her practice. Medical Director of the four Bay Area locations of the Lane Fertility Institute, she notes that most patients in general have the same concern: age-related fertility problems. "Fertility would not have been an issue if they had had their children in their 20s and 30s," she explains."But no matter how fertile you are, there's going to come a time when you can't do it anymore." This is equally true for men as for women. While about 30 percent of infertility can be attributed to female factors such as hormone imbalances, organ dysfunction, or cervical problems, an equal percent of infertility derives from male factors such as low sperm pro- duction, erectile dysfunction (ED) or aging sperm. The remaining 40 percent of infertility is due to a combination or to causes that are unknown. No matter the basis, pregnancy odds can be increased by acupunc- ture, herbs and an improved lifestyle, says David Shevick, a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist in Corte Madera. "It's possible to roll back the biological clock by getting healthier," he explains. "Proper nutrition, along with sound, restful sleep, and exercise can restore the body and give it the strength for procreation without the strong side effects of injected hormones or in vitro fertilization (IVF)." Shevick treats those who are trying to better their conception chanc- es naturally, particularly men with ED, as well as women undergoing IVF. Studies have shown that acupuncture not only stimulates egg production of women who choose not to risk the high-tech methods, but also increases pregnancy rates of physician-assisted conception. Dr. Peter Uzelac, of Marin Fertility Clinic, agrees that any adjunct ther- apy, such as acupuncture, that reduces stress can increase pregnancy odds. And to help women who wish to avoid the hormones required for IVF, Uzelac has started the first lab on the West Coast to provide in vitro maturation, or IVM. "We're the only one who has any experience in it in the North Bay," Uzelac says. "We have a world-class lab right here in Marin." A relatively new procedure — Uzelac's first IVM baby was born in March of this year — IVM is offered to women 35 and younger who qualify medically. In this process, the eggs are harvested while still premature, thus reducing the need for drugs. The immature eggs are then matured in a dish placed in an incubator in

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