You At Your Best

sPOnsOr cOntent Although most couples can conceive a child without any problem, it is estimated that between 10% and 15% (1 in 5 couples) will experience fertility problems. Female infertility is more common than you imagine, but it is treatable. Studies show that nearly 80 percent of people who partner with a fertility specialist will go on to get pregnant. That's good news for the women that visit our fertility clinic. Our experienced reproductive endocrinologists go to extraordinary lengths to find the causes of female infertility, and prescribe the course of treatment that will lead to success. Common Causes of Female Infertility Our fertility clinic sees women with hormone problems, blocked tubes or ovarian failure that lead to unsustainable pregnancies. Some of our patients come to us with a clear diagnosis, and others have a combination of factors, or unexplained infertility. You may present with one of these common causes of female infertility: • Endometriosis • PCOS • Ovarian cysts • Uterine fibroids • Premature ovarian failure • Blocked tubes • Advanced maternal age Move Past Female Infertility to Motherhood Tulsa Fertility Center provides expert care and treatment for female infertility. In fact, we've provided higher-level care to women from Ft. Smith to Bentonville for more than two decades. You have access to a wide variety of options at our fertility clinic, from IUI to IVF. The right treatment depends on your diagnosis and goals for starting a family. Identifying the causes of female infertility through testing, analysis and intuition has enabled us to celebrate hundreds of positive pregnancy tests. Tulsa Fertility Center specializes in helping female infertility patients become moms. Your desire to build a family drives us to discover the cause of your female infertility, and fix it. Our clinic has served the women of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas since 1988, and we look forward to helping you overcome infertility, and experience the joy of pregnancy. Call Tulsa Fertility Center at 888-944-1440 to schedule your new patient consult. Hope Starts Here. www.tulsafertilitycenter.com So You Suspect Female Infertility… Hope Starts Here bY rHOnda baber-crOne sPecIal tO YOu at YOur best Let's face it, some women make it look easier than others when it comes to staying youthful and fit over 40. Maybe they inherited stellar genes, or maybe it's just tremendous self-discipline. But if you ask them, odds are most of these nicely aging women have one thing in common: diet. They eat mostly fruit and vegetables and generally eat, well, less. But to many women over 40 dealing with hormones and slowing metabolisms, it can seem like rocket science to know what (and what not) to eat. Most experts keep their advice simple: keep a low-calorie, plant-based diet, drink water, and remember it's 80% diet and 20% exercise. What Michael Pollan said in his book, "In Defense of Food," seems to ring true: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." It's one thing to follow these guidelines to maintain weight, but losing pounds can be daunting while fighting hormone imbalance and sluggish metabolism. It may take some experimenting and fine tuning, but a balance can be found. "As a woman over 40, I would say the key guidelines are moderation, keeping it clean, and tons of water," says Nicole Calhoun, ERYT-200, PhD in Molecular Biology and owner of ELXR Yoga Lounge in Fayetteville. Calhoun recently used intermittent fasting, which limits the "eating window" to 8-10 hours per day, to shed 12 extra pounds. "When I struggle to get leaner or lose those last few pounds, I always pay more attention to what I eat and drink as opposed to working out more. It's all about creating a calorie deficit when you're trying to lose weight. Period," she says. Supplements Matter With food quality these days not what it used to be, along with limiting calories for many women, it's hard to get all the nutrients we need through food. Especially after 40, supplements play a big role in nutrition. Dr. Aunna Herbst, DO and Chief Medical Officer at SALT Health in Bentonville, recommends a few supplements for a generally healthy woman over 40: Vitamin D with K2 (D for absorption of calcium; K2 controls where that calcium ends up) and magnesium (improves sleep and heart health). She also recommends chaste berry and evening primrose oil for mild hormone imbalance. Another supplement we think of typically for sleep, melatonin, is important to include, says Jana McCullough Evensen, Pharm D., at Collier Compounding. She's found that melatonin in small doses can be extremely powerful – it's an antidepressant, decreases inflammation and may prevent breast cancer. If it still sounds too simple to be true; just remember that health is the ultimate goal. Focusing on unrealistic weight and body shape can cause stress and frustration, derailing the best intentions. Things do change after 40, but we can put up our best fight with these tools: water, water, water, clean, plant-based foods, a few supplements, and of course regular exercise. You are what you eat (and don't eat!) sundaY, sePtember 27, 2020 | OctOber - WOmen's HealtH nWadg.cOm/YOuatYOurbest | YOu at YOur best | 5 Ad Number: 092720e9421 Can't get pregnant? We'll get to the bottom of it. Hope Starts Here InfertIlIty • fertIlIty treatment • IVf • Donor Program telehealth & eVenIng aPPoIntments aVaIlable neW PatIent cash DIscount Call 918.359.2229 (BABY) for an appointment today! 115 e 15th street • tulsa, oK www.TulsaFertilityCenter.com

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