A rainbow baby is a baby born after a previous pregnancy or infant loss, such as miscarriage or stillbirth.

Like a rainbow after a storm, the term represents hope and new beginnings while honouring the baby who was lost. A rainbow baby does not replace that baby or erase the grief.

Pregnancy after loss can bring many emotions at once—joy, gratitude, anxiety, fear, and sadness. These feelings can coexist, and every family’s experience is different.

Some families find comfort in the term “rainbow baby,” while others prefer different words. There is no right or wrong way to describe your journey.

If you are navigating pregnancy after loss, compassionate support from your healthcare team, a counsellor, or a pregnancy-loss support group may help you feel less alone.

At Longevity Fertility Centre, we honour every family’s unique journey. 💛

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on or within an ovary. They are common, and most are benign. Many functional cysts form during a normal menstrual cycle and disappear without treatment.

Not every ovarian cyst affects fertility. Its impact depends on the type, size, location, symptoms, and whether one or both ovaries are involved.

Some cysts may be more relevant to fertility:

• Endometriomas are associated with endometriosis and may affect ovarian function.

• Large or persistent cysts may interfere with ovulation or require further assessment.

• Ovarian surgery can sometimes affect ovarian reserve, so fertility goals should be discussed before treatment.

Ovarian cysts are different from PCOS. In PCOS, the “cysts” seen on ultrasound are usually multiple small follicles rather than true ovarian cysts.

Ultrasound findings, symptoms, menstrual history, and fertility testing can help determine whether a cyst may affect conception.

If you are trying to conceive and have been diagnosed with an ovarian cyst, an individualized assessment can help clarify your next steps.

The fallopian tubes allow the egg and sperm to meet and help transport a fertilized egg toward the uterus. If one or both tubes are blocked, natural conception may become more difficult.

Possible causes include:

• Previous pelvic infection
• Endometriosis
• Scar tissue from surgery
• A previous ectopic pregnancy
• Hydrosalpinx, a fluid-filled blocked tube

Many people with blocked tubes have no noticeable symptoms. An HSG is commonly used to check whether the tubes are open. However, an apparent blockage near the uterus may occasionally be caused by temporary tubal spasm, so additional evaluation may be recommended.

Pregnancy may still occur naturally when one healthy tube remains open. When both tubes are blocked, treatment options may include surgery or IVF, depending on the location and cause of the blockage, age, ovarian reserve, sperm health, and other fertility factors.

Unexplained infertility means that common fertility assessments have not identified a clear reason for difficulty conceiving. These assessments may include ovulation and hormone testing, ovarian reserve testing, imaging of the uterus and fallopian tubes, and a semen analysis.

It does not mean that nothing is wrong—or that pregnancy is impossible. Conception depends on many steps, and not every factor can be fully measured by standard testing.

A detailed review may consider:

• Age and how long you have been trying
• Menstrual cycle and ovulation patterns
• Egg quantity and ovarian response
• Uterine and fallopian tube findings
• Sperm count, movement and shape
• Previous pregnancies or miscarriages
• Medical history, medications and lifestyle factors

If you are under 35 and have been trying for 12 months, or 35 or older and have been trying for six months, consider seeking a fertility evaluation. Earlier assessment may be appropriate if cycles are irregular, periods are very painful, or there is a known reproductive concern.

Longevity Fertility Centre provides personalized fertility care in Calgary and Edmonton.

Request a consultation to discuss your fertility history and next steps.

Both can cause painful periods and pelvic pain, but they affect different locations.

Adenomyosis

• Tissue like the uterine lining is found within the muscular wall of the uterus.
• Often associated with heavy bleeding and painful periods.
• May cause pelvic pressure, bloating or an enlarged, tender uterus.

Endometriosis

• Tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, commonly on the ovaries or lining of the pelvis.
• May cause painful periods, pain during sex, or pain with bowel movements or urination.
• Can cause inflammation, scar tissue and ovarian cysts called endometriomas.

The conditions can occur together. Symptoms overlap, and some people have few or no symptoms.

How are they assessed?
Your medical history, examination and ultrasound can help guide assessment. MRI may be useful in selected cases. A normal scan does not rule out endometriosis; laparoscopy may sometimes be recommended.

Treatment depends on your symptoms, findings and pregnancy goals. If you are trying to conceive, discuss this before choosing treatment.

Persistent period pain, heavy bleeding or difficulty conceiving deserves assessment by a healthcare professional.

Timing matters when testing reproductive hormones because levels naturally change throughout the menstrual cycle.

FSH, LH and estradiol (E2):
These are usually tested during the early follicular phase, on cycle day 2, 3 or 4. Cycle day 1 is the first day of full menstrual bleeding. These results may help evaluate baseline ovarian function, ovulation patterns and hormonal balance.

Progesterone:
Progesterone is usually checked approximately seven days after ovulation, when it is expected to be near its peak. This is often cycle day 21 for someone with a regular 28-day cycle—but day 21 is not appropriate for everyone.

For example:
• 28-day cycle: test around day 21
• 35-day cycle: test around day 28
• Irregular cycles: timing may require ovulation tracking or individualized instructions

Hormonal medications and fertility treatments can affect test results. Your results should be interpreted together with your cycle history, symptoms and other fertility assessments.

Speak with your healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate testing time for your cycle.

The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus where an embryo needs to implant and develop.

When the endometrium is very thin, implantation may be more difficult because the uterine lining may not provide the most supportive environment for an embryo.

A thin endometrium may be associated with:
• Reduced blood flow to the uterine lining
• Previous uterine procedures or scar tissue
• Low estrogen levels
• Chronic inflammation or infection
• Certain medications or hormonal conditions

In fertility treatment, endometrial thickness is often monitored by ultrasound before ovulation or embryo transfer. While pregnancy can still occur with a thinner lining, implantation and pregnancy rates generally tend to decrease as the lining becomes very thin.

The cause of a thin endometrium is important. Treatment depends on the underlying reason, so further evaluation may be recommended if the lining remains persistently thin.

If you are trying to conceive and have concerns about your endometrial thickness, speak with your fertility specialist for an individualized assessment.

Asherman’s syndrome is a condition in which scar tissue, or adhesions, forms inside the uterus. These adhesions can partially or completely affect the uterine cavity and may interfere with normal menstruation and fertility.

Common causes may include:
• Dilation and curettage (D&C), especially after pregnancy
• Uterine surgery
• Infection involving the uterus
• Procedures that affect the uterine lining

Possible symptoms include:
• Very light periods or no periods
• Increased menstrual cramping
• Difficulty becoming pregnant
• Recurrent miscarriage

Asherman’s syndrome may sometimes be suspected after an ultrasound or saline sonogram, but hysteroscopy is generally considered the most direct way to evaluate the uterine cavity.

Treatment often involves hysteroscopic removal of the adhesions. Depending on the severity of the scar tissue and the condition of the endometrium, fertility and menstrual function may improve after treatment.

If your periods have become unusually light or absent after a uterine procedure, speak with your fertility specialist or gynecologist for further assessment.