Diseases and Conditions
Can I Become a Surrogate Mother if I Have Herpes?
As a two time gestational surrogate mother and an author, as well as having many friends in the surrogacy community, I often hear women ask this question. Herpes is very common today, and does not automatically disqualify you from becoming a surrogate mother.
All clinics will require potential gestational surrogate mothers to undergo extensive physical and psychological testing prior to becoming approved as an acceptable carrier. Part of this testing is complete STD panels for both the surrogate and her partner.
Some clinics and intended parents will automatically disqualify any woman as a surrogate who has Herpes, but this is not a hard and fast rule. With proper arrangements, Herpes can become a non-issue.
The main problem with the Herpes virus is that it can be transmitted to the baby at birth. The simple solution for this is that the surrogate mother delivers the baby via c-section instead of vaginally.
The risk to the infant is only if there is an active Herpes infection present during delivery, though intended parents might ask for a mandatory c-section with a surrogate who carries the STD to be on the safe side.
The most important thing for you to do as a potential surrogate mother who has Herpes is to disclose this information during the matching process to the set of potential intended parents that you are interviewing with. You will also need to disclose this to the clinic before they have done any testing on you.
This way, if there is a problem, any relationship can be ended immediately, which will save everyone valuable time and money. Plus, this shows that you are honest and forthright with information, even derogatory information, which is vital in a surrogacy arrangement.
If you do not disclose this information in advance of testing, and it is found later, it could be a very large black spot on your relationship with both the clinic and the intended parents. STDs are not something to be taken lightly. They can have permanent and damaging effects on any unborn child.
It is important to note that Herpes is usually the only exception when it comes to carrying any sort of STD and still qualifying to become a surrogate mother. Because Herpes is only contagious when the baby passes through the birth canal, as opposed to being contagious in vetro, and because Herpes is so common in America, clinics and intended parents may turn a blind eye towards it.
Do not get offended if a clinic or intended parents reject you based on your Herpes status. These parents undergo a very expensive and emotional journey trying to become parents. They are usually extra cautious and extra sensitive to such issues.
But for every set of intended parents who may reject a Herpes carrier, there is another set of intended parents who simply do not care, so long as the proper safety precautions are taken. Good luck in your surrogacy journey!
Posted by admin | Posted in Diseases and Conditions | Posted on 25-10-2008
Got Back Pain? a Massage Chair Recliner is Your Best Friend
If you suffer from back pain, you are not alone. As many as not 8 out 10 people suffer from some sort of back pain. You may suffer from a dull, constant ache to a sudden sharp pain. Although there is a wide spectrum of back pains, in general there are two groups: acute back pain and chronic back pain. Acute back pain is typically is a temporary condition and you may recover within a few days or even a few weeks. On the other hand, chronic back pain, lasts for longer periods of time. Unfortunately, with chronic back pain the expected healing time for the identified cause may persist even after the cause has been treated. In time you either become more accustomed to the pain or you can seek relief from the pain.
Typically, there are many potential cures for back pain ranging from acupuncture, massage to acupuncture to pharmaceutical drugs. Most unfortunately, the most widespread relief of back pain is taking pharmaceutical drugs. However, there are alternatives. The next most common relief of back pain is massage therapy. Many studies are pointing out that massage is effective for both acute and chronic pain. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, massage is a totally natural remedy. In many cases, your back pain is caused by the misalignment of bone, tissue, muscle, and ligaments. In these cases, dulling the pain certainly will not solve the problem. On the otherhand, massage works on elongating, stretching, and soothing the muscles and ligaments in a natural way.
Massage Chairs for Back Pain? The best massage chairs on the market today have extraordinary capabilities. Many massage chairs can perform Shiatsu massage, Swedish massage, Deep Tissue massage and many others. These massage chairs perform a body scan to detect your acupressure points for a Shiatsu massage. The shiatsu chair will then tailor the position of the massage rollers to stimulate your acupressure points. This Acupressure massage helps the flow of natural healing based on the pathways that flow throughout the body.
You can find some massage recliners that incorporate the Swedish massage technique. Thie Swedish or Classic massage technique uses flowing, long, strokes to stretch and elongate tight muscles. Select a Deep Tissue massage and enjoy a penetrating, soothing massage. With the Deep Tissue technique, the massage cair program will start more superficially and then begin penetrate layer by layer. This approach relieves aching, sore, and tired tendons and muscles. You can enjoy these massage therapies with the touch of a button with a shiatsu massage chair.
Heat therapy helps to loosen and relax tight, sore muscles and effectively reduce pain. Heat is more effective than cold for treating chronic pain. If you suffer from arthritis, heat is more effective for muscle relaxation. The premier massage recliners come equiped with full body heat. Heating elements with individual controls are buit in the chair back, the seat and the footrest. These therapeutic massage chairs are very effective in relieving suffering from back pain.
Music therapy is a complimentary relief and natural remedy to reduce the disability, anxiety, and depression associated with chronic pain. Many shiatsu massage chairs have a built in MP3 player. Music therapy induces relaxation, helping you to let your stress and anxiety go.
Why not use technology to really reduce the pain and anxiety associated with your back pain. Technology is being incorporated at a faster rate into massage chairs. If you are looking to relieve your acute or chronic back pain, massage therapy is the natural answer. You can find a masseuse or a massage chair. A massage therapist is great, but you are limited to a particular time and place. On the other hand, a massage chair is ready and waiting for you. You can find a broad range of of massage therapies built into the massage chairs of today. With the touch of a button you can find relief within the comfort and privacy of your own home. If you got back pain, your best friend is a shiatsu massage chair.