Topic of the week
One topic a week, explained calmly.
Every Monday a new topic is published, drawn from the questions patients ask most often and from what is changing in reproductive medicine. Earlier topics stay here.
This weekPCOS, weight and GLP-1 medicines: what we know and what we do not know yet
A moderate weight loss can restore ovulation in many women with PCOS. The newer GLP-1 medicines do produce weight loss, but they are not fertility drugs and they are not used while you are trying to conceive.
Bleeding in early pregnancy after IVF: why it happens and when to call
Spotting or light bleeding in the first weeks after a successful transfer is common, often has a harmless explanation, and in most cases the pregnancy continues. A few warning signs need same-day assessment.
Coming soon
A frequent question, a calm answer. A new topic every Monday.
Coming soonThe two weeks after embryo transfer: what is normal and what means nothing
The wait between embryo transfer and the β-hCG test is the psychologically hardest part of the cycle. Most symptoms come from progesterone and do not predict the outcome.
Coming soonβ-hCG after transfer: what the number tells you and what it does not
A single β-hCG value is a poor predictor. The rise over 48 hours, the day of the embryo and the type of cycle change the reading far more than the first number does.
Coming soonOne embryo or two? Why single embryo transfer is the standard recommendation
Transferring two embryos does not double the chance of a baby, but it multiplies the chance of a twin pregnancy. Transferring frozen embryos one at a time gives a similar cumulative result without that risk.
Coming soonMiscarriage after IVF: why it happens and what comes next
Early pregnancy loss affects roughly 10–20 per cent of clinically recognised pregnancies, and the commonest cause is a chromosomal abnormality of the embryo. This topic explains what is assessed, what did not cause it, and how the next step is planned.
Coming soonLow AMH at a young age: what it means and what it does not
An AMH lower than expected for your age causes a great deal of worry, but it measures the quantity of eggs, not their quality. In a young woman, quality follows age, and that changes the whole reading of the result.
Coming soonEgg freezing: age, numbers and realistic expectations
Egg freezing is a real way to buy time, but the outcome depends heavily on your age when the eggs are frozen and on how many mature eggs are stored. It is an insurance policy, not a guarantee.
Coming soonFresh or frozen transfer? What the freeze-all approach means
About 43 per cent of cycles in Europe are now frozen embryo transfers. Freezing all the embryos is not a failed cycle but a planned decision that in some situations makes treatment safer.
Coming soonIVF add-ons: what the new guideline says about taking “something extra”
The updated ESHRE guideline on ovarian stimulation brings together dozens of recommendations, 46 of them new, most of them resting on low-quality evidence. That is the calm context for the question “should I take something extra?”.
Coming soonMale factor: more than a single semen analysis
Male factor contributes to about half of infertility cases, yet the man is often assessed last. A single semen analysis is a starting point, not a verdict.
Coming soonStress and IVF: does stress lower the chance of success?
Many patients carry a guilt that is not theirs: “I was too stressed, that is why it failed”. The evidence does not support that. Stress does matter, but for other reasons.
Coming soonEndometriosis and IVF: should I have surgery first?
When endometriosis meets the wish to conceive, the first question is often whether to operate before IVF. The answer is not the same for everyone, and unnecessary surgery can damage the ovarian reserve.
Coming soonPGT-A: what genetic testing of embryos really promises
PGT-A analyses the chromosomes of embryos before transfer. It can help in choosing an embryo, but it does not increase the number of embryos and does not guarantee pregnancy. When it helps and when it does not is the question that matters.
Coming soonThin endometrium: when the lining, not the embryo, is the obstacle
Sometimes the embryos are good, but the lining of the womb does not thicken enough for transfer. This causes anxiety, but there is often a solution, and a single good embryo is not lost to haste.
Coming soonRecurrent implantation failure: when good embryos do not stick
When several good embryos do not implant, the sense of loss is great and the internet is full of 'solutions'. Most of them have no evidence. This topic separates what is genuinely worth checking from what only adds cost.
Coming soonThyroid and fertility: a small factor that matters
The thyroid gland affects ovulation, implantation and early pregnancy. A mild disorder, easy to miss, can be checked with a simple test and is often easy to treat.
Coming soonVitamin D and fertility: what the evidence really says
Vitamin D is often mentioned in relation to fertility and pregnancy. A deficiency is worth correcting, but it is not a magic treatment for infertility. That is the difference that matters.
Coming soonLuteal phase support: the progesterone after transfer
After embryo transfer, almost every patient takes progesterone. Why it is needed, in which form, and until when — these are the questions patients ask every week and that deserve a clear answer.
Coming soonOHSS: ovarian hyperstimulation and how it is prevented today
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was once the main fear of IVF. Today, with modern protocols, severe forms have become rare. This topic explains what it is, who is at risk and how it is prevented.
Coming soonSecondary infertility: when the second child does not come
You already have a child, but the second is not coming. This situation is often not taken seriously — 'you had one, you will have another'. But secondary infertility is real, common, and has causes worth assessing.
Coming soonWhen to move from IUI to IVF: how many cycles and for whom
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is simpler and less invasive than IVF, but it is not for everyone and should not be repeated endlessly. Knowing when to move on saves time that matters.
Coming soonTwins after IVF: what a twin pregnancy needs
A twin pregnancy is double the joy, but also double the care. It is followed more closely, has risks that are known in advance, and a birth plan that is set early. Here is what changes.
Coming soonEndometrial polyps and fertility: when to remove them
Polyps of the lining of the womb are common and almost always benign, but they can hinder implantation. Removing them by hysteroscopy is simple and, in women trying to conceive, often worthwhile.
American Hospital Prishtina · Prishtinë, Kosovë