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If you’re into hair care, you’ve probably heard of Olaplex, the brand that markets formulas to repair damaged hair. The Olaplex product line has taken hair care lovers everywhere by storm but stirred up some controversy in 2022 regarding one of its ingredients. This ingredient, called lilial, was formally banned by the European Union (EU) for its risk of being a reproductive toxin. Olaplex was placed under public scrutiny for using lilial in one of its popular products, and many people were left wondering if their Olaplex products were causing them to become infertile. You can learn whether Olaplex may cause infertility by reading the information below.

What is lilial?

Lilial, also known as butylphenyl methylpropanal, is a chemical compound that is most commonly used in cosmetic and laundry products. It’s used in these types of products as a fragrance. 

A study conducted in 2019 found reproductive issues in animal test subjects that were exposed to lilial, which eventually led the European Union to make its decision to ban the ingredients from use. There haven’t been any studies yet conducted on the effects of lilial on humans, but the effects on the animal test subjects were strong enough indicators for the EU to make its decision. 

Can Olaplex cause infertility?

In short, the answer is no. Olaplex is not linked to any signs of infertility. The one ingredient in this hair product that may have been linked to reproductive problems is no longer in production.

The ingredient was found in Olapex’s No. 3 Hair Perfector, but once lilial was banned by the EU, Olaplex stopped producing products with it in them. The hair company released a statement maintaining that the amount of lilial that it did use in its products was too small to cause reproductive harm and wasn’t a main fragrance ingredient. Since then, Olaplex has stopped using lilial altogether, despite the ingredient’s use being permitted in the U.S. 

If you’re worried about infertility as a result of using Olaplex, you needn’t be. Olaplex no longer uses the ingredient linked to reproductive toxins, and the amount it did use in the past wasn’t enough to cause harm. So, if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or plan on becoming pregnant and you love your Olaplex products, feel free to keep using them as much as you please.

What beauty products can actually impact my fertility?

While Olaplex is one product that isn’t likely to impact your fertility, there are a handful of other products that you should be sure to avoid. These include certain acne products, hair straightening products, and anti-dandruff products that contain strong chemicals or formaldehyde, for example: 

• Prescription retinoids.
• Products with benzoyl peroxide.
• Products with salicylic acid.
• Keratin products.
• Prescription-strength anti-dandruff shampoos.

If you’re nervous about your exposure to chemicals that may cause infertility, your best bet is to do your research. Many cosmetic and household products in the U.S. don’t advertise that they’re using potentially harmful products, so you need to research independently and use reputable sources. Many products don’t contain high levels of toxic ingredients but rather small amounts that add up with frequent exposure. You can protect yourself by swapping out harmful products for healthier alternatives and gradually reducing the number of harmful products you keep at home.

Why should you choose Fertility Cloud to treat your infertility?

At Fertility Cloud, we value shared experiences. We want to help you navigate your struggles and celebrate your victories. Our team of experienced medical providers is dedicated to providing you with compassionate and professional care. Through every step of the way, we’ll do our very best to ensure your comfort and guide you through the fertility process.

At Fertility Cloud, everything is done remotely, from your communication with your doctor to your fertility tests. Appointments are conducted virtually, via live videoconferencing. All that’s required of you is either a computer, smartphone or tablet to join the call. 

We understand that finding convenient, high-quality medical care can be a challenge. That’s why we’ve selected some of the best reproductive endocrinology specialists. Our team can provide you with easily accessible digital services. Each one of our doctors is board-certified and state licensed.

While Olaplex isn’t likely to be a product that is causing your infertility, there may be other products that are. If you’re searching for more information about products that can cause infertility, health disorders that can cause infertility, and the top treatment for infertility, you should be sure to contact us. We’re ready to answer any questions you may have.
Contact our team by phone today for more information or book an initial appointment online with a fertility specialist.

Even though everyone knows that it’s impossible to conceive a baby without the sperm from a man, many people believe that infertility is almost entirely due to the woman. But that’s simply not true. It’s important to realize when infertility stems from an issue with the man in a couple that’s trying to conceive so that the proper treatment options can be explored.  

If a couple is trying to conceive, it’s important to take note of potential infertility signs in the male partner so that they can be proactive about testing and solutions. By catching these symptoms as early as possible, you can increase the chances of effective treatment.

Read on to learn about what it means for a male to be infertile, the signs of male infertility to be aware of and the steps to follow after they are noted. You’ll also learn about some options for treating male infertility and how to boost the possibility of conceiving.

What does it mean for a male to be infertile?

Let’s start off by taking a look at the basic definition of infertility. If an individual or couple is infertile, that means that they have been unable to conceive a baby after one year of having regular sex without a method of birth control. If the woman is over 35, a doctor might cut that time frame for an infertility diagnosis down to six months.

When a male is infertile, they are unable to fertilize a woman’s egg for conception. Male infertility is a common issue, with about 7% of men being affected and up to 50% of infertility cases being caused by “male factor” infertility.

Male infertility can stem from a variety of issues, including:

• Abnormal sperm function.
• Low sperm count.
• Inherited disorder.
• Hormonal imbalance.
• Diabetes.
• STDs.

7 signs of infertility in men

Now that you know about potential causes of male infertility, how can you tell if you have any of them? By being aware of infertility signs in men, a male can catch onto symptoms that may stem from an issue that’s causing infertility.

Here are seven signs of infertility in men:

1. Trouble ejaculating.
2. Small amount of ejaculation.
3. Testicle pain.
4. Having a lump or swelling in the testicle.
5. Recurring respiratory infections.
6. Gynecomastia (abnormal breast growth).
7. Decreased facial or body hair.

What to do when you recognize signs of male infertility

If you’re experiencing signs of infertility, there are a few steps to take. It’s important that you talk to your doctor or specialists to determine the cause of your issue. By getting a proper diagnosis, you can find potential treatment options for the issue as well as options for increasing the chance of conception with your partner.

A diagnosis for male infertility issues may involve several steps, including:

• Semen analysis — The first course of action for men experiencing signs of infertility is to get a sperm count. Your samples will be analyzed for a variety of things, including how much semen and sperm is produced, the uniformity and the acidity level.

• Blood and imaging tests — There are a variety of tests that your health care provider may run to test for hormone issues or reproductive system problems. They may recommend a blood test to check hormone levels as well as an imaging test to look at the blood vessels, testicles, and structures in the scrotum. 

• Testicular biopsy — If your sperm count shows little to no sperm, your provider may take a biopsy of the testicles to examine under a microscope. A biopsy involves removing a piece of tissue from each testicle.

3 treatment options for male infertility and conception

If male infertility is hindering your journey to conception, it’s important to explore every treatment option with a fertility specialist. They can determine which option will be the most effective based on the cause and your medical history. 

While there are some options that help reduce the symptoms of male infertility, others will help a male with infertility conceive with their partner.

Here are three treatment options for male infertility: 

• Surgery — There are a few surgical procedures that fix issues that contribute to male infertility. One option is a varicocelectomy, which can fix swollen veins that impact the mobility, structure and amount of sperm produced. There is also surgery available to fix a blockage that’s keeping the sperm from the semen.

• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) — Severe cases of male infertility may require intracytoplasmic sperm injection. This is a process that involves taking a single live sperm and injecting it directly into a mature egg. It can be an effective option for males that have little to no sperm in their semen.

• In vitro fertilization (IVF) — When other treatment options aren’t effective, a couple can explore the option in vitro fertilization, or IVF. This involves removing eggs to fertilize them with sperm in a lab. It requires multiple procedures and isn’t effective for every couple.

Fertility Cloud can help after recognizing signs of male infertility

Male infertility can make the road to conception difficult. But by catching the signs early and getting a proper diagnosis, a couple can explore the treatment options available and boost their chance of getting pregnant.

Contact our team by phone today for more information or book an initial appointment online with a fertility specialist.

Vaccinations are injections that help protect our bodies from contracting harmful diseases. There are a variety of vaccinations that a doctor can administer from when you’re a baby all the way through your teenage years. The most common vaccines can fight against the flu, chicken pox, measles, and hepatitis. But in 2020, a new vaccination was developed to help reduce the risk of contracting a disease that caused a pandemic.

Just like any medication, a vaccine can have potential side effects. Many people have been concerned with the short- and long-term effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, which fights against the coronavirus disease. While some people have tried to say that the COVID vaccine can cause infertility, there is evidence disproving that claim.

Read on to learn about the COVID vaccine and the effects that both the vaccination and disease can have on infertility. 

What is the COVID-19 vaccine?

The coronavirus, or COVID-19, is an infectious disease caused by the spread of a virus called SARS-CoV-2. Since being discovered in December of 2019, more than 700 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed around the world, including more than 6 million deaths.

Starting in December of 2020, vaccinations were made available to the public to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19. While it doesn’t completely eliminate the chance of getting the virus, it can help decrease the severity of the symptoms if it is contracted. 

People are able to get a set of two primary COVID-19 vaccines, as well as additional boosters to increase the effectiveness. More than 13 billion vaccine doses have been given around the world.

Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause infertility?

To put it plainly: no. The COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t cause infertility. Not only is there a lack of evidence that the vaccination causes fertility issues, there was a study done on more than 2,000 couples in the U.S. and Canada who received at least one dose of the vaccine while trying to conceive. There was no evidence that the couples were struggling to conceive after getting the vaccination.

Even though the COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t cause infertility, it may still result in some other side effects. After getting injected with the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s possible that you can experience relatively mild symptoms that fade after just a couple of days. But it can vary from person to person. 

For people over the age of 18, COVID-19 vaccinations may cause side effects, including:

• Pain, swelling, or redness around the injection site.
• Headache.
• Muscle aches.
• Tiredness.
• Fever.
• Chills.

While some experience mild symptoms that don’t interfere with their daily routines, others might need a day or so to rest. 

How does COVID-19 affect fertility?

COVID-19 usually causes respiratory symptoms that can feel very similar to the flu. Common symptoms of the disease include coughing, shortness of breath, and sore throat. But some people may feel more severe symptoms, including long-term effects that aren’t always noticeable, such as infertility.

While a vaccine against COVID-19 doesn’t cause issues with fertility, troubles with conceiving may come from contracting the disease that it protects you from. In the same study that showed no correlation between the vaccine and infertility, male participants who recently contracted the disease had lower fertility. 

The data showed that when the male partners tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days, the couple was less likely to achieve conception. 

Women may also experience infertility that’s linked to other long-term effects of COVID-19, such as shortened or irregular menstrual cycles. The disease can cause ovarian suppression due to sex hormone changes. 

It’s also important to note that getting coronavirus while pregnant may cause some complications, including preterm birth, stillbirth, or loss of pregnancy.

Fertility Cloud can help treat infertility caused by COVID-19

While infertility isn’t connected to the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s important to know that there are options you can explore if coronavirus is making it difficult to conceive. If COVID-19 has interfered with your fertility, then a specialist can help you determine which infertility treatment options will work best for you to boost your chance of conception.

Whether the infertility stems from COVID effects on the male or female partner, or a combination of both, Fertility Cloud can help figure out the best course of treatment.

Potential treatment options that your fertility specialist may recommend include:

• Ovarian stimulation and ovulation induction.
• Trigger shots.
• In-vitro-fertilization.

Contact our team by phone today for more information or book an initial appointment online with a fertility specialist.

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD). In the year 2021, there were about 1,644,416 reported cases in the U.S. In fact, it is the most commonly reported bacterial STI in the country. It can be found in both women and men, although research suggests that the prevalence is higher for women.

You may have heard that chlamydia has the potential to cause infertility. Is it true? You can find out more information about chlamydia and its connection to infertility in the sections below.

What should I know about chlamydia?

If you’ve never researched chlamydia, you can find some basics here. We’ll review some of the essential things you need to know about this sexually transmitted disease below.

• How it spreads — Chlamydia is an easily spread and easily preventable sexually transmitted disease. It most often spreads through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with another person with chlamydia. It can be spread through sexual contact and doesn’t require ejaculation to spread. It can also be spread through childbirth.

• How it can be prevented — The only way you can’t get infected with chlamydia is by not having vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Using condoms or being in a monogamous relationship with someone who does not have chlamydia can reduce your risk of getting this STD.

• When to get tested — It’s generally recommended that sexually active women get tested for chlamydia every year and that anyone who thinks they may be experiencing the symptoms of chlamydia get tested right away.

• What the symptoms are — Interestingly, most people with chlamydia don’t notice any symptoms. In cases where symptoms become noticeable, it’s usually several weeks after the infection. Some of the symptoms associated with chlamydia include pain when using the bathroom, abnormal discharge, pain in the pelvic region, and bleeding unrelated to menstruation.

Can chlamydia cause infertility?

In short, yes, chlamydia has the potential to cause infertility in women. Untreated chlamydia can significantly affect women’s reproductive health, even if the symptoms aren’t initially observable. This sexually transmitted disease has the potential to lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause several complications affecting fertility and pregnancy. 

Examples of the effects of PID from chlamydia include:

• Infertility.
• Ectopic pregnancy.
• Long-term pelvic pain.
• Scar tissue buildup in reproductive organs.

Chlamydia rarely affects men’s fertility, but it isn’t impossible. In very rare cases, it can affect the testes and lead to infertility in men.

What other types of sexually transmitted infections can potentially cause infertility?

• Human papillomavirus (HPV).
• Herpes simplex virus (HSV).
• Syphilis.
• Gonorrhea.

Why should you consider treatment for your STDs and infertility?

If you’ve ever been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease like chlamydia and you’re trying to get pregnant, it’s a good idea to meet with a trusted medical professional or fertility specialist. Some STIs have the ability to cause infertility, and so those who’ve had them and are trying to conceive may need extra assistance. 

Fertility specialists have the expertise and experience to help those with a history of STIs increase their odds of becoming pregnant and carrying that pregnancy to full term. At Fertility Cloud, our virtual fertility specialists can use several methods to improve your chances at conception, including trigger shots, hormone therapy, monitoring, thyroid management, and more.

Why should you trust Fertility Cloud to treat your STD-related infertility?

At Fertility Cloud, we value shared experiences. We want to help you navigate your struggles and celebrate your victories. Our team of experienced medical providers is dedicated to providing you with compassionate and professional care. Through every step of the way, we’ll do our very best to ensure your comfort and guide you through the fertility process.

At Fertility Cloud, everything is done remotely, from your communication with your doctor to your fertility tests. Appointments are conducted virtually via live videoconferencing. All that’s required of you is either a computer, smartphone or tablet to join the call. 

We understand that finding convenient, high-quality medical care can be a challenge. That’s why we’ve selected some of the best reproductive endocrinology specialists out there to provide you with easily accessible digital services. Each one of our doctors is board-certified and state licensed.

If you’re looking for more information on virtual infertility doctors and treatment, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll do our best to help you. We’ve seen plenty of patients who have also struggled with infertility from an STD. We’re confident that we can positively impact your fertility journey.
Contact our team by phone today for more information or book an initial appointment online with a fertility specialist.

Plan B is a brand of levonorgestrel “morning-after” pill that can be taken anywhere up to five days after unprotected sex. This morning-after pill can reduce a woman’s chance of pregnancy by 75% to 89%. It’s most effective when it’s taken immediately after unprotected sex occurs and is generally recommended to be taken within 3 days after unprotected sex. Waiting extended periods of time after sex to take the morning-after pill reduces its efficacy. It’s important to note that Plan B might not work for women who weigh over 165 pounds. Plan B and other levonorgestrel pills are considered emergency contraceptives that prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. 

Some people believe that taking Plan B can lead to infertility or impair a woman’s fertility. Is this actually true? You can find out if Plan B affects fertility in women by reading the information below.

Is it true that taking Plan B can eventually lead to infertility?

The idea that Plan B will affect your fertility or somehow make you less fertile is a myth. Taking Plan B after unprotected sex will not make you less fertile and will not affect any future pregnancy attempts. Morning-after pills contain the same synthetic hormone that’s in birth control, just in a higher dose. It’s designed to slow or prevent ovulation before it happens and does not work after someone has ovulated. Many people believe that Plan B works by affecting fertilization or implantation, which research suggests isn’t true. Simply put, Plan B doesn’t affect your fertility. It just temporarily slows or stops ovulation so that your body can’t release an egg that could become fertilized.

Some of the most common symptoms women experience following an emergency contraceptive pill include the following:

• Nausea.
• Tender breasts.
• Cramps.
• Headaches.

These symptoms are relatively typical to experience and don’t indicate any long-term effects on fertility.

It is worth noting, however, that some women who take the Plan B morning-after pill may experience abnormal period symptoms for their first period after the pill. They may notice their periods arrive earlier or later than expected. They may also experience a heavier or lighter flow than normal. This isn’t the case for all women, though. You can typically expect your period to return to your normal after the first one occurs. 

Frequent use of morning-after pills is more likely to interrupt your regular menstrual cycles, which is why it should only be used as an emergency contraceptive. If you’d prefer to be sexually active without becoming pregnant, it’s generally recommended that you use forms of birth control like an IUD, patch, daily birth control pill, ring, condoms, or the shot. 

What are some of the primary causes of infertility?

If you’re someone who struggles with infertility or you think you may be infertile, you should consult with an infertility specialist who can help you. Infertility specialists are highly educated on the several causes of infertility and the best types of treatments for them. You can read through some of the most common causes of infertility listed below.

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
• Thyroid disease.
• Endometriosis.
• Unexplained infertility.

Have you been diagnosed with any of these conditions? Do you worry about your ability to get pregnant in the future? Take a look at our reproductive health index and schedule a virtual consultation with one of our fertility specialists. Our fertility professionals can help guide you toward increased chances of conceiving through compassionate and thorough care.

Why should you trust Fertility Cloud to answer your questions on fertility?

At Fertility Cloud, we value shared experiences. We want to help you navigate your struggles and celebrate your victories. Our team of experienced medical providers is dedicated to providing you with compassionate and professional care. Through every step of the way, we’ll do our very best to ensure your comfort and guide you through the fertility process.

At Fertility Cloud, everything is done remotely, from your communication with your doctor to your fertility tests. Appointments are conducted virtually, via live videoconferencing. All that’s required of you is either a computer, smartphone or tablet to join the call. 

We understand that finding convenient, high-quality medical care can be a challenge. That’s why we’ve selected some of the best reproductive endocrinology specialists out there to provide you with easily accessible digital services. Each one of our doctors is board-certified and state licensed.

If you’re looking for more information on virtual infertility doctors and treatment, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’ll do our best to help you. If you have any other questions about emergency contraceptives and other forms of birth control, we can answer those too. It’s what we do.
Contact our team by phone today for more information or book an initial appointment online with a fertility specialist.

When a person or couple is diagnosed with infertility, it’s easy for them to feel defeated or want to give up hope. But it’s important to remember that infertility doesn’t mean that conception is a lost cause. There are a variety of infertility treatments that you can explore to assist you in your fertility journey and boost your chances of becoming pregnant. 

Once you start to learn about the different infertility treatments, it can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure about which choice will work best. But that’s what we’re here for.

Read on to learn about the basics of infertility and the various infertility treatments that are available. By the end, you’ll have a better sense about the efficacy of each treatment so that you’re able to make the best choice.

What does it mean to be infertile?

A doctor will diagnose a couple or individual with infertility if they have been unable to conceive after one year of having sexual intercourse without a form of birth control. If the female is 35 or older, then they can be determined as infertile after six months. Infertility affects millions of men and women around the world. In fact, about 1 in 6 people are unable to conceive a child after one year, which adds up to about 17.5% of the adult population.

The likelihood of infertility is almost exactly the same for women and men, with about 9% of men and 11% of women struggling with fertility problems in the United States.

While the inability to conceive is the main symptom of infertility, it can also manifest through other signs. Potential symptoms of infertility in females include:

• Absent or irregular menstrual periods.
• Painful periods.
• Weight gain without cause.

Infertility in males can cause symptoms such as:

• Changes in sexual desire.
• Erectile dysfunction.
• Pain, swelling or lumps in testicles.

4 infertility treatments and their efficacy

Even though infertility makes your journey to conception difficult, that doesn’t mean you should lose all hope. The good news is that there are plenty of treatments that doctors use to push past the barriers of infertility. But it’s important to determine which treatment will have the greatest chance of success.

There isn’t a guarantee of a successful pregnancy for any treatment. As you’ll be able to see from some of the options, the efficacy rate tends to increase when different treatments are combined. Your fertility specialist will determine which treatment is best for you based on your symptoms and medical history.

Here are four infertility treatments: 

1. Ovarian stimulation (OS) — The first step in many fertility treatments is the prescription of medication to help stimulate ovulation. Your fertility specialist will typically recommend oral tablets of clomiphene citrate or letrozole to increase the number of ovulated eggs from the fallopian tube. Both types of prescriptions have similar efficacy. Pregnancy that’s caused by OS will likely occur in the first three months.

2. Intrauterine insemination (IUI)— This procedure involves sperm being directly implanted into the uterus. The goal is to increase the number of healthy sperm cells that could possibly fertilize an egg in the fallopian tubes. When OS and IUI are combined, they have an efficacy rate of up to 20%.

3. Trigger shot — In addition to an IUI and OS, your fertility specialist may recommend an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), which is a hormone that assists in the release of multiple mature eggs that are waiting in your ovaries. To get the best timing, the trigger shot is administered during an ultrasound. A study showed that when an IUI is done in conjunction with an HCG shot, the success rate of pregnancy is about 18.2%.

4. In vitro fertilization (IVF) — IVF is used as a treatment option for unexplained infertility when the other options haven’t been effective. IVF involves removing eggs from the ovaries to be fertilized by sperm in a lab. The efficacy of this treatment decreases as the female ages. The success rate is also dependent on how many eggs are retrieved. For example, a woman under 35 with 10 retrieved eggs has a success rate of more than 40%.

Fertility Cloud can help you determine the infertility treatments that will have the best efficacy

Being unable to conceive can take a toll on your mental and emotional health, and the uncertainty that comes from infertility treatments can add another layer of stress. But we’re here to help you determine the best infertility treatment for you to provide the highest efficacy rate.
If you’re ready to start exploring infertility treatments, contact our team by phone today for more information or book an initial appointment online with a fertility specialist.