The immune system undergoes incredible changes to support a healthy pregnancy. These changes begin at the moment of implantation when the immune system mounts an initial inflammatory response that begins to shift to favor a robust anti-inflammatory response (reliant on Th2 and Treg) to protect the growing baby. You can read about the miraculous maternal…
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common side effect of lithium carbonate medication, often prescribed for bipolar disorder. Yet, very little information is available for those struggling with this frustrating side effect. In this blog, we’ll cover all areas of this important topic, including: How common is ED in people taking lithium? Why lithium affects erectile…
A few months ago, we covered the topic of lithium carbonate and its effects on pregnancy outcomes. The research we uncovered is detailed here—an essential read for bipolar patients who are planning a pregnancy. However, as we’ve been learning through our blogs dedicated to pregnancy and preconception, male health is a vital factor to consider…
Preeclampsia is a serious and complex condition that can lead to severe pregnancy complications. In my previous two blogs, I discussed blood tests to help predict the risk of preeclampsia and risk factors to address before conception. In this blog, you’ll learn about preeclampsia blood pressure ranges and how preeclampsia differs from hypertension during pregnancy…
Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, characterized by the presence of protein in the urine (proteinuria) in addition to hypertension. It can also cause symptoms such as blurry vision, headache, and abdominal pain. Most seriously, preeclampsia increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for mom and baby and can become life-threatening if not treated. …
This is the second part of our series on concerns for pregnant people with bipolar disorder. In part one, we discussed lithium and its risks and potential benefits. In this second part of the series, we’ll explore thyroid function in the context of both pregnancy and bipolar, including: Thyroid physiology during pregnancy Thyroid function and…
Lithium carbonate has been used in the US to treat bipolar disorder since 1970. However, the use of lithium in psychiatry goes back to the 1800s, although only briefly, only to resurface in 1949 as a treatment for manic episodes (1). It has a long track record and remains the gold standard in treating bipolar…
Every six years or so, social media explodes with hysteria about parasites. As the lifelong rebel and devil’s advocate I am, I’ve delved quite a bit into research on the potentially beneficial role of parasites…more on that later. But what about parasites (specifically hookworm) in pregnancy? I recently read this article to gain an understanding of…
In the past few years, discussions surrounding cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation, along with effective postpartum depression treatments, have gained prominence. Informed decision-making is crucial to maternal and infant well-being. These interventions may be effective. But are they safe? In this blog, we’ll delve into the pros and cons associated with cannabis in pregnancy…
Mercury is a highly toxic element with deleterious effects on every system in the body. It easily enters the body but is quite tricky to remove. The window between preconception and early infancy is particularly critical when it comes to mercury exposure, and the toxic connections between fertility, pregnancy, and mercury can last a lifetime….
