SRM’s Statement to Alabama Ruling
Dear Patients and Families, We are all concerned about the pending lawsuit regarding security of frozen embryos at a clinic in Alabama. While there has been extensive press regarding the Alabama Supreme Court's decision about the status of embryos, the event that led...
Cancer & Infertility Treatment Facts
A cancer diagnosis can be life-altering in several ways. It is devastating that some cancer treatments can lead to infertility, but there are steps individuals and couples can take to increase their odds of preserving their fertility. Impact of Cancer Diagnosis on...
How to Become an Egg Donor
People choose to become egg donors for many different reasons. One reason to become an egg donor might be financial—but a lot of women are motivated by factors that run deeper than purely transactional reasons. Some women donate their eggs out of a sense of...
Finding Support with PCOS
By, Chelsea Fechtner, MScN, CN PCOS affects up to 13% of reproductive-aged women and often presents with a variety of symptoms including irregular periods, unwanted hair growth, acne, and weight gain. Individuals with PCOS also experience an increased risk for...
Importance of Omega-3 Fats for Preconception
By, Chelsea Fechtner, MScN, CN Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are two types of polyunsaturated fats that are essential for our bodies to function properly. Since these essential fats can’t be made inside the body, we must consume them through food and/or supplements....
3 Ways to Care for Yourself this Holiday Season
Taking time for ourselves can at times feel selfish, especially during a season devoted to giving. It may be helpful to consider that taking time for yourself is actually a form of self-care that can help you recharge, allowing you to show up more effectively for others.
Cooking Strategies for PCOS & Fertility
By, Chelsea Fechtner, MScN, CN Planning and executing a healthy dinner is not always easy! Especially for those that are working on wellness goals or feeding other people on a regular basis. Even as a foodie nutritionist, I still can find myself in a rut with cooking...
Movement for PCOS Management
By, Chelsea Fechtner, MScN, CN Before diving in, consider what your own optimal movement routine would look like. What types of activities will you be doing? Are you moving with others or alone? How will your movement routine make you feel? Hopefully these questions...
Mindful Eating Practices for PCOS
By, Chelsea Fechtner, MScN, CN Take a moment to consider your typical eating environment: How much time do you typically allot for your meals? Where do you eat most of your meals? Do you sit, stand, walk, or drive while eating? Are you engaged in other...
SRM’s Statement on Roe vs Wade
SRM believes that all health care decisions should be made by patients and their providers alone. SRM supports the availability of reproductive health services for all patients and continue to stand with ASRM’s statement on the impact of reproductive care worldwide.
Launch of the First Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation Program in Pacific Northwest
June 13, 2022 – Seattle Reproductive Medicine (SRM) today announced the expansion of its Fertility Preservation Program to include ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC), an emerging fertility preservation option for girls and young women undergoing medical treatment...
Men’s Health: Male Infertility Q&A
About 1 in 8 couples have difficulty getting pregnant, 50-60% of these couples will have a cause that is related to the male partner. Kevin Ostrowski, MD reproductive urologist at SRM answers common questions about male infertility.
Common Food Fears with PCOS
By, Chelsea Fechtner, MScN, CN PCOS is a common but complex condition that impacts the body in many ways. Nutrition modifications are helpful for symptom management, however recommendations can often be conflicting and confusing. Taking an individualized...
Contrast Media Shortage for Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
There is an international shortage of Omnipaque, the contrast media used for HSG procedures. All formulations of Omnipaque are manufactured in a single facility in Shanghai, China, which is currently under COVID-19 lockdown.
5 Strategies to Achieve your Wellness Goals
By, Chelsea Fechtner, MScN, CN Building healthy nutrition and lifestyle habits is important for optimizing fertility and overall health. The food we eat, how much or little we move our bodies, how we manage stress, and ultimately how we care for ourselves can make a...
Optimizing your Telemedicine Consult
Providing you with quick tips and a Q&A on preparing and optimizing your first virtual consult with your fertility specialist.
Your First Visit to a Fertility Clinic
Ruby Booras and Anne Judge, from The Whole Pineapple Podcast and SRM, recently met with Dr. Nichole Barker to ask her some questions about what to expect at your first visit to a fertility clinic and how best to prepare. Here’s some of the highlights from their...
Meal Planning Strategies for PCOS & Fertility
By, Chelsea Fechtner, MScN, CN As a nutritionist, the majority of my workday is spent talking about food! Naturally, this makes meal planning one of my favorite wellness routines that supports me in eating healthy meals throughout the week. If you don’t have the same...
The Whole Pineapple
We recently sat down with Ruby Booras and Anne Judge, two of SRM’s nurse practitioners, to talk about their new podcast – The Whole Pineapple. What made the two of you decide to start a podcast? Ruby: This is such a passion project for me. It combines two of my...
Washington State Infertility Insurance Mandate
Exciting news, Washington coalition applauds legislation requiring health plans to cover fertility services! Mandate applies to health plans for groups, individuals, and state and school employees. Washington State House Bill 1730 was filed this week on January 3rd!...
Managing PCOS Over the Holidays
By, Chelsea Fechtner, MScN, CN The holiday season is in full swing! Whether you’re traveling or staying local, holiday busyness can make it challenging to stick to your health and wellness routines. Incorporating nourishment and self-care throughout the season is key...
Balanced Eating for PCOS Symptom Management
By, Chelsea Fechtner, MScN, CN Confused about carbs? Wondering if fruit is ok for PCOS? Blood sugar balance is an important piece of this puzzle and below are strategies and information to help you understand why and how to create balanced meals! Blood Sugar...
Thanksgiving Wellness Strategies
By, Chelsea Fechtner, MScN, CN How are you feeling about the holidays the year? While this can be a joyful and indulgent time, it can also bring up other emotions around family, fertility, food and even body image. Below are a few strategies to try out this year that...
Should I Go Dairy-Free for PCOS Management?
By, Chelsea Fechtner, MScN, CN The short answer: it depends! Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive women, affecting nearly 10% in this age range. PCOS can cause symptoms like acne, unwanted body hair growth, scalp hair...
How to Build a Joyful Movement Routine
More information about SRM’s Wellness Program can be found here. Chelsea Fechtner, our Nutrition and Wellness Coach, is leading a free PCOS Wellness Support Group starting Tuesday, Nov. 9th, register soon! By, Chelsea Fechtner, MScN, CN Ever feel like you just don't...
Eating for Optimal Fertility
By, Chelsea Fechtner, MScN, CN I know I'm not the first to tell you that fertility is complex! Our bodies are like intricate machines and there are many different biological processes involved in fertility. Whether you're trying to conceive or just looking to optimize...
Guide to the PCOS Diet
PCOS nutrition simplified. Which PCOS diets work and which foods to avoid, and how women with PCOS beat insulin resistance, lose weight and stay healthy.
When the Embryologist Becomes the Patient
Infertility isn’t something anyone can prepare you for. We all grow up saying “when I have kids,” not “if I can have kids.” So, if the day comes where a doctor is telling you that you’ll need major intervention to have the family you’re hoping for, it will absolutely...
I’m Freezing My Eggs – Part 3
Freezing my eggs was honestly the best decision I made for myself in 2020. I felt empowered to take control of my future fertility – I wasn’t going to let anyone else define it for me.
Seattle Met’s ‘Top Doctors’ Lists 8 SRM Providers in 2020
We are honored to be included in Seattle Met's list of 'Best Doctors in 2020' Congratulations to the 8 Providers featured:
I’m Freezing My Eggs – Part 2
I sharing my detailed experience with freezing my eggs. The process to develop and grow my eggs, and the procedure to retrieve my eggs.
I’m Freezing My Eggs
I’m excited to share my egg freezing journey with all of you (the ups, the downs, and all the feels), in hopes that you feel empowered to make the best decision for yourself.
Getting Personal: Q & A with Dr. Kaitlyn Wald
I realized just how perfectly the Reproductive Endocrinology sub-specialty blended my interests and played to my strengths as a provider. I found myself driven by my empathy for couples facing infertility and the incredible opportunity to help them realize their dreams of having a family.
Kate’s Story – Living with PCOS
Like many women, my PCOS symptoms started to show up in my mid-late teens. I spent many years in and out of doctor’s offices for symptoms and even in the hospital for ruptured cysts without ever getting a diagnosis, or even having someone mention PCOS as a possibility.
Living with PCOS: A Patient Story
PCOS was introduced to me at the age of 25. I was gaining weight, shaving my neck, and lamenting over my thinning scalp. When I was diagnosed, I had just gotten engaged and the news was unsettling, but the reality didn’t sink in until we started trying to grow our family.
The Aftermath: What happens after the fertility dust settles?
The reality is that even after treatments and failures and successes, the diagnosis and experience of infertility will never leave you. Regardless of the outcome, you will arise after the dust settles. What you do with yourself after that is up to you. Dust off, take a deep breath, and take your first steps to seeking help and support.
Showing Appreciation through Fertility Treatment: 6 Tips
Whether you are the one in treatment, or the one showing support, appreciating your partner can help keep your relationship stable for the long run. Gretchen Sewall RN, LICSW, at SRM shares 6 tips to help stay connected and show your partner appreciation through fertility treatments.
Supposed Sperm Superpowers: If only I had known
Like most guys I spent most of my adolescent life under the impression that if I had sex there was a 98% chance of a resulting pregnancy. Almost like I was a marvel superhero and the power of male fertility was something I was born with and had to use with extreme responsibility.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay this Thanksgiving
This holiday season, remember you are not alone. 1-in-8 couples, and over 7 million individuals are struggling with infertility… And they’re going to be dealing with this same kind of stress during the holiday season. Sometimes, all you want to do is vent to someone who understands.
Coping through multiple miscarriages: A Patient Story
Going through all the miscarriages was hard, honestly one of the hardest things I have gone through, one of the hardest things my marriage has gone through, but I do believe I am stronger for it.
Breast Cancer Survivor: A Personal Story
For the last five years, the month of October and the color pink has had new meaning to me and my family. A week before our daughter turned two, I was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer at the age of 39.
Alternative Approach to Becoming a Parent
There are various ways to start a family…each beautiful and precious. As LGBTQ couples and people wanting to become parents begin to explore their options, it is clear that there are different ways to reach that cherished goal. Seattle Reproductive Medicine delves into alternative paths to parenthood.
Getting Personal: Q & A with Dr. Akhil Shah
Continuing our physician spotlight series on the blog, we recently caught up with our newest physician to the SRM team, Dr. Akhil Shah and asked him a few questions. We hope this series helps you get to know our physicians a little better. You’ll see they’re a pretty interesting group of people!
How to Stay Connected to Your Partner When IVF Makes You Feel Crazy
Receiving a diagnosis of infertility can be a painful time for couples and the stress of fertility treatment can test even the strongest bonds… And IVF? It’s a rough process to go through as a couple. The hormones, the not knowing, the whole experience can make you feel totally insane. But don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Two Mommies, One Path to Motherhood
It only takes, “one moment” of looking at her family to make, “every single second of infertility treatments ‘worth it'” for SRM patient, Brandi. It may be a long path to parenthood at times but with a community behind you and the promise of those “one moments” at the end, it’ll all be “worth it”.
New Year, New Insurance: 5 Things You Should Ask Your Insurance Carrier
It’s a new year! While this is a time for celebration and resolutions, it is also when many insurance plans change or start over. Now is the time to call you insurance provider and find out if you have an infertility benefit under your new plan and what you need to do in order to access the benefit. But what do you ask someone once you actually get past the automated prompts? To help guide the conversation with your insurance provider we asked our finance team what questions patients should ask when talking to their insurance; here are the top 5.
Navigating The Holiday Season: A Personal Story
December is here which means the holiday season is in full swing. For many families, this time of year is one of the toughest to get through and is a strong reminder that something is missing. With that in mind, SRM Physician Liaison, Marcie Guthrie decided to share her personal story as well as a few tips that helped her navigate the emotional and stressful waters of the holiday season.
Getting Personal: Q & A With Dr. Amy Criniti
Continuing our physician spotlight series on the blog, we recently caught up with Dr. Amy Criniti and asked her a few questions. We hope this series helps you get to know our physicians a little better. You’ll see they’re a pretty interesting group of people!
Getting Personal: Q & A With Dr. Kevin Ostrowski
Continuing our physician spotlight series on the blog, we recently caught up with one of our Urologists, Dr. Kevin Ostrowksi and asked him a few questions. We hope this series helps you get to know our physicians a little better. You’ll see they’re a pretty interesting group of people!
Getting Personal: Q & A With Dr. Tom Walsh
Continuing our physician spotlight series on the blog, we recently caught up with one of our Urologists, Dr. Tom Walsh and asked him a few questions. We hope this series helps you get to know our physicians a little better. You’ll see they’re a pretty interesting group of people!
Getting Personal: Q & A With Dr. Erik Mazur
Continuing our physician spotlight series on the blog, we recently caught up with our newest physician, Dr. Erik Mazur and asked him a few questions. We hope this series helps you get to know our physicians a little better. You’ll see they’re a pretty interesting group of people!
Getting Personal: Q & A with Dr. Nancy Klein
Continuing our physician spotlight series on the blog, we recently caught up with Dr. Nancy Klein and asked her a few questions. We hope this series helps you get to know our physicians a little better. You’ll see they’re a pretty interesting group of people!
4 Unexpected Facts About Infertility
This week is National Infertility Awareness Week – 7 days devoted to speaking up about infertility.
The physicians and staff at SRM are devoted to bringing infertility into the light, allowing those affected to speak openly about their journey. In that spirit, we wanted to share a few things you might NOT know about infertility.
Building my Family: A Fertility Nurses’s Story
The path to parenthood is different for everyone and infertility can impact anyone, even an infertility nurse. In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, we asked one of our wonderful nurses to share their story. We hope it encourages you to share your own infertility story.
Words of Wisdom For Your Infertility Journey
Going through infertility is a journey. It can be long, hard and stressful, and you may even feel lost at times on what to do next. Tamara Tobias, a Nurse Practitioner at SRM has gone on this journey in the past. In her new book, Fertility Walk: A Fertility Nurse’s Guide Along Your Journey, she shares some words of wisdom to help inspire and keep you sane throughout your infertility journey.
Getting Personal: Q & A With Dr. Nichole Barker
Continuing our physician spotlight series on the blog, we recently caught up with Dr. Nichole Barker and asked her a few questions. We hope this series helps you get to know our physicians a little better. You’ll see they’re a pretty interesting group of people!
A Journey Through Infertility
SRM patient, Nicole Harding shares her story in the hopes of breaking the stigma surrounding infertility. We hope her journey through infertility gives you hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel and the family of your dreams is possible.
Are At-Home Fertility Tests Right For You?
While at-home fertility tests seem like a cost-effective and time-saving way to take the guess work out of trying to get pregnant, do they actually work? SRM’s Anne Judge, MSN, ARNP weighs in on the pros and the pitfalls of trying to conceive with convenience.
Coping With the Holidays
The holidays are a wonderful time of year, but they can also be difficult for people struggling with infertility. In this week’s blog post, we offer a few suggestions for making the most of the holidays.
Getting Personal: Q & A with Dr. Michele Cho
Continuing our physician spotlight series on the blog, we recently caught up with Dr. Michele Cho and asked her a few questions. We hope this series helps you get to know our physicians a little better. You’ll see they’re a pretty interesting group of people!
Getting Personal: Q & A with Dr. Lynn Davis
Continuing our physician spotlight series on the blog, we recently caught up with Dr. Lynn Davis and asked her a few questions. We hope this series helps you get to know our physicians a little better. You’ll see they’re a pretty interesting group of people!
Getting Personal: Q & A with Dr. Gerard Letterie
Continuing our physician spotlight series on the blog, we recently caught up with Dr. Gerard Letterie and asked him a few questions. We hope this series helps you get to know our physicians a little better. You’ll see they’re a pretty interesting group of people!
What You Need to Know About the Flu Shot if You’re Trying to Conceive
Flu season is upon us. If you’re trying to conceive, you may be debating on whether or not to get the flu vaccine this year. One of our Nurse Practitioners, Ruby Booras shares the answers to some of our patients most commonly asked questions about the flu vaccine.
Should You Wait to Freeze Your Eggs? A Fertility Specialist Explains
How long can I wait to start a family? Like so many other things, the answer is, it depends. Dr. Lynn Davis explains what you should think about if you want to wait to start a family and if egg freezing might be a good option for you.
The Zika Virus
There has been a lot of talk in the news recently about the Zika virus and its effect on reproduction. SRM is closely following developments related to the Zika virus. As many of our patients are thinking about, or actively trying to get pregnant, we wanted to share the latest recommendations regarding the Zika virus.
Getting Personal: Q & A with Dr. Paul Dudley
Continuing our physician spotlight series on the blog, we recently caught up with Dr. Paul Dudley and asked him a few questions. We hope this series helps you get to know our physicians a little better. You’ll see they’re a pretty interesting group of people!
Why Weight Loss Attempts Frequently Fail When You Have PCOS
What is it about PCOS that makes it so easy to gain weight but so hard to lose it? Dr. Angela Thyer explains what can cause the weight gain and provides some tips for things those suffering from PCOS can do to fix it.
One Couple Shows You Are Not Alone on Your Path to Parenthood
“It’s all about the people helping you along the journey.”
That’s how Keith and Brian describe their journey to becoming parents; and they had a lot of people helping them along the way!
Getting Personal: Q & A with Dr. Brenda Houmard
Continuing our new physician spotlight series on the blog, we recently caught up with Dr. Brenda Houmard and asked her a few questions. We hope this series helps you get to know our physicians a little better. You’ll see they’re a pretty interesting group of people!
How to Help Men Cope With Infertility
Men and women both have feelings surrounding infertility, but they often cope and express them in different ways. Here are some tips to help men and women communicate better and thrive throughout the infertility journey…together.
A Fertility Doctor Shares Her Thoughts About Her Own Infertility Journey
“Underneath my white coat, I’m an infertility patient”. Dr. Nichole Barker sits down with us to share her infertility journey in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week.
Should You Freeze Your Eggs?
SRM’s Dr. Angela Thyer chimes in on what to consider when considering egg freezing, including the best age to do it and why.
Getting Personal: Q & A with Dr. Paul Lin
Welcome to our new Physician Spotlight Series on the SRM blog! We hope this series helps you get to know our physicians a little better. You’ll see they’re a pretty interesting group of people!
To kick off the series, we recently caught up with Dr. Lin and asked him a few questions.