In vitro fertilization—aka IVF treatment—has totally revolutionized the possibilities of pregnancy. And fittingly, it’s getting more and more common: since 1987, over 1 million babies have been born through the use of IVF or another assisted reproductive technology.
But IVF isn’t a silver bullet for infertility. While it is revolutionary, the process can be complicated and confusing to navigate. To get the facts on what you need to know about IVF before trying to get pregnant, we spoke with Elizabeth Fino, M.D., an assistant professor at the department of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Langone’s Fertility Center and Hal Danzer, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist and cofounder of the Southern California Reproductive Center, for tips on how to best prepare for your fertility future.
Whether you want to get pregnant now or wait a little longer, it’s a good idea to know where your fertility stands. Luckily, proactive fertility testing is easier to access than ever, with companies like Modern Fertility and Future Family offering affordable, at-home hormone tests.
These tests, among other things, typically measure your levels of Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH), which is a good indication of your ovarian reserves (aka how many eggs you have). “If you have a low reserve at 33, then you’re certainly going to have a lower reserve when you’re older,” says Dr. Danzer. It’s not a perfect predictor of fertility—plenty of women with low ovarian reserves go on to get pregnant naturally—but it does give you some insight into potential problems down the road. If your AMH test shows a high ovarian reserve one year and a follow-up test a year later shows a drastic drop, for example, that can be an indicator it’s a good time to talk to a fertility specialist.
Many women think IVF is their first option if they want it, but the reality is many fertility doctors will tell you to try natural pregnancy first. “If you’re 30 to 35, you should try for at least six months and if it’s not working, then you do a work-up to see what to target,” says Dr. Fino.
Even after that, your doctor will most likely try oral or injectable fertility medication before IVF. Of course, there’s always exceptions: super low AMH levels, low sperm count, multiple miscarriages and potential for certain genetic disorders may all influence how quickly a doctor recommends IVF.
IVF is often talked about in the context of women over 35 trying to conceive (that’s considered “geriatric” in fertility years). But like all things related to fertility, your chances of getting pregnant with IVF are better the younger you are—success rates start to decline after your mid 30s. “IVF doesn’t really fix the age of your eggs so you have to think about that early,” Dr. Fino says.
You’ve likely heard that IVF can be expensive. It’s true. And while there are financing plans to make treatment more accessible, you’ll still be looking at a steep price tag.
“Package rates for IVF run about $9,000 to $10,000, while the medications to stimulate the ovaries can be $2,000 to $4,000,” says Dr. Danzer. “So you’re looking at $12,000 to $15,000 overall.” Then there’s the cost of additional testing. “The big add-on that people are taking advantage of is genetic testing of the embryos. There’s also freezing of embryos—that’s an add-on price of about $400 or $500.”
One of the biggest misconceptions about IVF is that it works right away, but the reality is, most women need to do more than one cycle of IVF to get pregnant. “The average is about two to three cycles,” Dr. Fino says. Even with all the revolutionary technology we have at our fingertips, there are still a lot of genetic factors we (or doctors, for that matter) can’t control. “Most IVF failures are not something that a couple can fix, even if a woman has a good, healthy diet and exercises—those are important, but it’s very age dependent,” says Dr. Fino.
The most important fact to know about IVF is it’s not 100 percent successful—the process can take time, money, and even an emotional toll on your life. “There’s a significant emotional drain on the couple and the relationship,” says Dr. Fino. “I encourage couples to find alternative outlets like exercise or therapy to find balance throughout the treatment process.”
By now, you’ve seen the photos of families crying at the U.S. Border, scrolled through the social media posts urging you to help, and possibly heard the disturbing audio that claims to capture children sobbing shortly after they’ve been separated from their parents at an immigration detention center. Yet you still might not fully comprehend the scope of the situation. Is there an actual policy that allows this to happen? Is it legal? Who is responsible?
The short of it: The current administration is separating families.
In April, the Trump administration took an unprecedented step and put in place a “zero tolerance” immigration policy calling for the prosecution of those who illegally enter the U.S. That policy, in the eyes of the administration, includes separating minor children from their parents at the border, regardless of whether their parents are attempting to seek asylum — which is not illegal — or attempting to cross the border for the first time, which remains a misdemeanor crime.
In doing so, the administration has separated an estimated 2,000 children from their parents, with each not knowing where the other is sent, and leaving an already burdened immigration system in what can only be described as in shambles.
And Trump’s constituents — the American public — are making their feelings toward this policy well-known by protesting around the nation, with many calling for the practice to be rolled back immediately after seeing images of young children crying along the border as their parents are detained. That includes former first lady Laura Bush, who wrote an op-ed calling the separation of families “cruel,” and even first lady Melania Trump, who said in a statement she “hates to see” children torn from their parents and guardians.
As everyone seeks to gain answers while watching the calamity unfold in real time, several truths have been lost and falsehoods put forth. Glamour.com spoke to several experts to try and make sense of what one called a “manufactured crisis” that so far, is doing exactly what it was meant to do: Cause utter and complete chaos.
FACT: The Immigration Law Is Decades Old, but the Policy to Separate Children Is All Trump
PHOTO: SOPA Images
A woman talks to a relative, separated by a fence.
In April, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a policy change (which differs from a law change) that would instate a “zero tolerance policy” for those attempting to cross the border into the United States. Prior to this policy change, anyone attempting to cross the border illegally was processed, detained, and sent back home.
Additionally, prior to the change, those attempting to seek asylum in the U.S. under both the Bush and Obama administrations were given due process, or those traveling with minor children, were detained, interviewed, released back into the public and expected to return to court at a later date to be judged based on the merit of their “credible fear” interview.
However, Sessions, and the entire Trump Administration, have now chosen to criminally prosecute anyone attempting to cross the border.
Period.
Now, when a parent is detained, their child will be placed under the custody of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, who is then in charge of placing the child with a relative, sponsor or in a shelter. This, administration officials explained, is meant to deter people from attempting to cross the border in the first place.
“If you are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you, and that child will be separated from you as required by law,” Sessions said while speaking to law enforcement officials in Scottsdale, Arizona. “If you don’t like that, then don’t smuggle children over our border.”
But, Sessions is truly bending the limits of the law with his statement.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re seeking asylum, which is 100 percent lawful. They’re not treating it that way,” Alida Garcia, a former lawyer and current coalitions and policy director with FWD.US, an advocacy organization working for a more common sense immigration system, told Glamour. “So what we have is families that are arriving and many of these families are lawfully seeking asylum because [in their country] they’re in fear of gangs, they’re being persecuted in other ways, and they’re turning themselves over to border patrol because they’re trying to seek asylum. What this policy does is criminalize the act of a mother trying to save her child.”
FACT: The U.S. Is Violating the International Refugee Convention With Its Policies
PHOTO: LOREN ELLIOTT/Getty
A section of the US-Mexico border fence.
“Our policy is if you break the law, we will prosecute you,” Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said while testifying in front of a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing in May. “You have an option to go to a port of entry and not illegally cross into our country.”
And, to add more fuel to the confusion fire, on Sunday Nielsen tweeted, “This misreporting by Members, press & advocacy groups must stop. It is irresponsible and unproductive. As I have said many times before, if you are seeking asylum for your family, there is no reason to break the law and illegally cross between ports of entry.”
She doubled down on the those statements in Monday press briefing at the White House, saying “if you’re seeking asylum, go to a port of entry. You do not need to break the law of the United States to seek asylum.” When asked if people were being turned away from entry points, she said that was “incorrect.”
However, according to multiple reports, even from Garcia herself, those attempting to cross at official ports of entry, including bridges along the Texas border, are being told to turn back.
As The Intercept explained, immigrants who enter the United States, even by just a few inches, and share with immigration officials that they are afraid to return to their home nation have the right to request asylum and to be immediately processed, thanks to the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Once admitted, the asylum seekers then bear the burden of proof to show officials that by returning to their home nation they will be under great risk. If the person can prove, per the Immigration and Nationality Act that they are being persecuted based on “…race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion” they could be granted asylum.
However, instead, these same people are now being detained or are simply being told that there is no room for them in the United States and are being turned away.
“These directives failed to mention U.S. treaty obligations that prohibit the penalization of refugees for illegal entry or presence—protections created in the wake of World War II, after many nations had treated refugees who sought asylum in their countries or who had invalid travel documents as ‘illegal’ entrants,” the Human Rights First organization shared in a statement referencing the 2017 executive order by Trump that prioritized the prosecution of immigration offenses. “In fact, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General warned in 2015 that the referral of asylum seekers for criminal prosecution may violate U.S. obligations under the Refugee Convention and its Protocol.”
FACT: The Zero Tolerance Policy Could Damage Children for Life
PHOTO: Stacey Leasca
Children awaiting asylum at a San Diego border entry point eat lentil soup and day-old bagels for dinner.
This isn’t just a legal issue, but a human, and humane one too, according to medical professionals.
Dr. Colleen Kraft, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, explained to Glamour in a phone call while she made her way to the border, that the zero tolerance policy could have incredibly long lasting damage.
“Some real issues that we’re focusing on is that separating children when they are really young has irreparable harm,” Kraft said. She further explained, when children are taken away from their parents or support system that can create what is known as “toxic stress.”
“Very young children have this stress response, which increases their cortisol and their fight or flight hormones in response to fear,” Kraft explained. “When these children are exposed to scary things like traveling from their home countries to the U.S. or being separated from their parents, they remain with those chemicals high in their system. And they have no adult to buffer their stress, so they remain on red alert all the time.”
This, she said, can cause long-term damage including developmental delays in speech and the ability to develop social bonds. “If it continues, it can be a lifelong problem,” she said.
While visiting a government shelter for in Combes, Texas this spring, Kraft explained how she witnessed a small toddler forcefully beating her tiny fists on the play mat, sobbing uncontrollably. Her mother was nowhere to be seen because she had been taken elsewhere. (Because it’s against the Office of Refugee Resettlement policy, no adults were allowed to pick up and comfort the distressed child.) The event affected Kraft so deeply that she wrote an entire op-ed for the Los Angeles Times about it.
Kraft noted, “If there’s enough room to put kids in one place and parents in another, they have the space to house them together.”
FACT: Advocacy Groups Need More Help
PHOTO: Joe Raedle/Getty
Noelle Andrade (L), her mother Armida Hernandez protest the separation of children from their parents in front of the El Paso Processing Center.
To say that advocacy, governmental and volunteer organizations are stretched to their limits would be an understatement.
“They’re running out of space to house the parents, and then not being able to accommodate all the kids that are moved around the U.S. Then, you’re seeing operational challenges where [the Department of] Health and Human Services has so many people who are coming through their pipeline that they’re not prepared to handle,” Former Department of Homeland Security official Peter Boogaard explained to Pacific Standard.
Furthermore, people don’t know where to turn to help, and advocacy groups are even less sure of which direction to point people in.
“There’s a lot of people that contact us and saying, hey, we want to take in some of those children and we say, we’re not that agency. We’re not the agency that can help you with that,” Enrique Morones, founder and director of San Diego-based human rights organization Border Angels, told Glamour. Instead, what his organization does is both advocate for human rights and also pounds the pavement by dropping water and supplies at life-saving stations along the border.
But, in a single silver lining in this story, Morones says he’s witnessed an unprecedented level of human kindness in the wake of both the Trump presidency and with the implementation of this policy.
“When we started putting the water out in ‘96, we’d have groups of 30 or 40 people,” he said of the volunteer program to refill those life-saving stations. The Saturday after Trump was elected in 2016, Morones said, “we had 500.”
When asked if he ever felt like giving up, Morones immediately replied that he felt just the opposite. “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention. And I’ve never been more outraged. The children issue is just too much. It’s unbelievable.”
What’s Next in the Fight for More Humane Immigration Policies:
PHOTO: LEILA MACOR/Getty
A volunteer speaks with migrant families in a Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas.
According to the Washington Post, the American Immigration Council filed a lawsuit in 2017 to challenge the “alleged efforts by CBP in California to prevent asylum seekers from applying.” According to Astrid Dominguez, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Border Rights Center, the 2017 suit is tied to the administration’s new “zero-tolerance” policy.
And, as Politifact reported, the United Nations human rights office has called for an end to the separation of families, noting that using immigration detention and family separation “as a deterrent runs counter to human rights standards and principles.”
On June 7, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced the “Keep Families Together Act,” which will do just as the name implies. So far, it has 49 cosponsors made up of Democrats and Independents.
“I know my dad and if I was at risk of dying, my father would make that journey to protect me,” Garcia explained when asked what she believed the biggest misconception of the current migrant crisis was. “And so I think, what the American public is missing is a little bit of empathy to understand that these are families living through immense crisis. These are families. These are women who have seen their husband killed, fathers who heard from gang members that their daughters will be raped and brought into their gangs. They’re doing what they can with the limited resources they have to try to save them. Seeking asylum is a lawful act.”
Garcia added, “I think if people took five minutes to listen to what they’re going through, they would want to speak with pride that America is a place that will welcome them with safety.”
Glamour reached out to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for a comment on the conditions of the children in shelters. Our calls and email were not returned.
You likely already know that the vibrator is one of the most important inventions since the advent of the wheel. This is truer than ever, since not only are sex toys are becoming less taboo with each passing year, but more popular: According to a survey conducted by Adam and Eve, 63 percent of people have used some type of sex toy in their life, and nearly 20 percent of all sex toys purchased online last year were vibrators. They’ve also permeated the culture, from the iconic Sex and the City scene in which Charlotte buys a Rabbit to the groundbreaking Broad Citypegging episode.
But while it may seem like we’ve reached peak vibrator, there are still plenty a lot of things that many people don’t realize about their favorite toy. Here are 15 facts about vibrators that could give you a whole new appreciation for this magical little device.
1. Vibrators predate electricity
The first vibrator model was released in 1734 and was powered by a hand crank. As you might imagine, it was hard to sell sex toys to women in the 18th century, so they were sold to doctors for use in treating “hysteria,” then thought to be a buildup of female semen. The only cure was—you guessed it—“paroxysm” (also known as orgasm).
2. People got real about vibrators in 1973, thanks to the Hitachi Magic Wand…
Through an article in Ms. Magazine, the NOW conference, and her Bodysex workshops, New York-based artist Betty Dodson brought national attention to the Hitachi Magic Wand as more than just a back massager. During her workshops, women were invited to explore their vulvas and learn about their bodies, and then they were given a Hitachi (which Dodson purchased by the case) so they could masturbate together.
3. …But Hitachi wasn’t quite as excited about it
After nearly 45 years on the market, the folks at Hitachi finally realized what people were using their “back massager” for (took them long enough) and decided they no longer wanted their brand to stand for that kind of behavior. Luckily, the distributor Vibratex swooped in to save the day—and your sex life—by offering to continue manufacturing the toy without the Hitachi branding. That’s why it’s now called, simply, Magic Wand.
4. They’re technically illegal in Alabama
Thanks to the Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act, distribution of any device “designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs” is punishable by a fine up to $10,000, or one year in prison. In Texas, it’s not only illegal to sell them, but it’s also illegal to simply possess six or more, since that would indicate you may have the intent to sell them. A woman was even arrested in the state in 2003 for selling sex toys at a “Tupperware-type party.” Though her charges were eventually dropped, if you live in Texas, maybe you should just say they’re back massagers?
5. Despite its massive popularity, the sex toy industry isn’t regulated
After noticing that their first shipment of toys seemed to be leaking an oily substance, Jennifer Pritchett from sex toy store Smitten Kitten started doing some research—including sending some products out to be independently tested. When the results came back,Pritchett was dismayed to find that a number of products contained surprise materials that weren’t made for use with the human body. Since there’s no governing group to tell manufacturers what they can put in your vibrator—and, for that matter, no rules about what they can put on the package—it’s important to do some research when you’re shopping for sex toys.
6. Vibrators aren’t just for alone time
One of the most popular questions I heard when I worked on the floor of an NYC sex shop was, “What can I use with my partner?” In fact, according to a survey by Adam & Eve, 55 percent of people who use sex toys use them with someone else (though, interestingly, only 24 percent are brave enough to bring it up first). The popular We-Vibe Sync is specifically designed with couples in mind and even has an app.
7. Animals occasionally also use sex toys
Female porcupines in captivity have been known to place a stick between their legs and drag it across the ground to feel the vibration against their body. Get it, Ms. Porcupine!
8. Speaking of animals, there’s a surprising legal reason your Rabbit is shaped like a rabbit
And it’s not just about the ears. Back in the day, many sex toys were produced in Japan, where obscenity laws didn’t allow them to create products shaped like actual penises. In order to skirt these laws, companies like Vibratex decided that cute animals were the next best option, and a tradition was born.
9. Not all vibrators are for vaginas
Given that many vibrators lead double lives as “back massagers,” it’s not surprising that vibration makes feels great for lots of folks on lots of different parts. The Cobra Libre and the Hand Solo are two toys designed specifically for penises, and even the Magic Wand can work wonders. Studies show that 45-50 percent of men have used a vibrator in their life.
10. Using a vibrator can make you a better singer
The Vibrant Voice Technique, developed by voice coach David Ley, claims that using a vibrator against the vocal cords can “quickly and effectively enhance vocal resonance.” They recommend the popular Lelo Siri which is, incidentally, also great for orgasms.
11. No matter what you’ve heard, vibrators don’t decrease sensitivity
Don’t worry, frequent vibe enjoyer! There’s no evidence of long-term numbness associated with sex toy use. In fact, I often had people come into my store on doctor’s orders, looking for vibrators to bring sensitivity back to their bits, post-surgery. Vibrators have also helped women orgasm again after their antidepressants made it hard to climax.
12. Not all vibrators merely vibrate…
While there are countless vibrating toys on the market, there are plenty of other sensations to explore, too. Just this year, we’ve seen toys that oscillate, toys that thrust, and some extremely popular toys that suck.
13. …And not all vibrations feel the same
Maximum enjoyment doesn’t always come down to just how strong a toy’s vibration is, but which type of vibration it uses. Buzzy vibrations are going to sit on the surface of your skin, and while they may feel intense, they may also feel itchy or temporarily numbing. Rumbly vibration has a lower pitch, more like an earthquake than a bumblebee, and will penetrate through more layers of skin, hitting deeper buried nerves.
14. Like most things, vibrators are even better with lube
Yep, even if you’re just using it externally. Many vibrators are made of silicone, which had considerably more friction than skin against skin. Plus, it’s moving considerably faster than your average finger can. A good lube will cut down on that friction and allow the vibrator to glide against your skin more easily.
15. But there’s nothing wrong with you if you’re not into them at all
Just like how there are people who don’t like pizza, there are people who don’t like vibrators. And that’s totally cool! Not all bodies find vibration appealing— some find it too intense, irritating, or just downright boring.
From Kendall Jenner to Glamour’s own staffers, it’s official—we’re living in a leggings-obsessed world. But a new survey, conducted by retail surveyor Indix, revealed some surprising news about our favorite lounge/workout pants. Here’s what we learned:
The average price of a pair of yoga leggings has actually dropped over the last several years. In 2014, the average pair retailed for $50.10, and in 2016, the average price was $25.40. Now, the average price has dropped to $20.70. When was the last time something you loved actually became less expensive!?
Almost all—99 percent!— of yoga pants on the market are made for women (up from 94 percent last year). And men pay an average of $6 more per pair than ladies do. One of the few areas where we pay less than men!
Americans spent $16 billion on yoga clothing, classes, equipment and accessories in 2016.
If you’re in the market for some new leggings, you’ll have a lot to choose from: Indix reports that in 2017, 84 different brands make leggings, producing a total of 15,565 styles—nearly double the amount from last year.
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