Wednesday, December 8, 2010

How a Fertility Clinic Works - Diagnostic Treatments for Infertility

by Rizenka Crawford


           The couples who cannot reproduce are termed as infertile couples. These couples want to experience parenthood but cannot due to certain disorders. The causes of infertility could be medical as well as physical disorders. Infertile couples should not worry as fertility clinics would be there to help them out. Various diagnoses, treatments, assistance and well as remedies for these disorders are easily available at such clinics.
One should be very carefully in choosing the right fertility clinic, if not done could cause some serious health issues. There are a couple of things that the couple should keep in mind while undergoing any type of treatment at the fertility clinic. The quality of techniques used by the clinics is an important factor, the couple should always notice that whether they are treated by the most updated techniques or not.

Charges and cost of diagnostic treatments vary place to place. However, clinics offering better assistance and technological treatments charge high. The clinics that charge low may not fulfill your requirements. Nonetheless, couples can make a little comparison between different fertility clinics pertaining to their charges, services, treatments, expertise, experience, fertility specialist diagnosis, delivery rate and reputation of the fertility clinic.

An infertility specialist would be the prime requirement for the couple whose fertility history is poor and plan to have a child. If the female's age is over 35 or had 3 or 4 miscarriages are put in the class of poor fertility history. Male are put into this class if their semen analysis is poor.

One can easily locate the most suitable clinic with the help of internet. It is always necessary that the couples should always check thoroughly about the techniques used in the clinic. Fertility treatments involve a great cost, so the couples should always critically analyse the treatments provided to them.

Fertility clinics more often start with natural procedures. Couple's health, age and diet matter a lot. Lifestyle also influences the pregnancy. If you are habitual of smoking and having drugs then there are many hazards in pregnancy. Women who are either underweight or overweight face difficulties to conceive. Healthy diet is highly recommended for production of fertility hormones.

Fertility time is also an important factor in conceiving. The ovulation period in a woman can be evaluated by ovulation predictors or ovulation monitoring kits. These predictors can help understanding the best fertility period to conceive.

There are several techniques available to facilitate fertility. Some successful techniques include acupuncture, egg donation, tubal reverse, sperm banking and IVF. Apart from these techniques some fertility centres also include artificial insemination or controlled multi-ovulation to solve the issues related to fertility.

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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Is Everyone Telling You to Just Relax - Is it That Simple?

By Stace Roberts

Are you sick and tired of people telling you to stop thinking about having a baby and to just relax and let it happen? It gets a bit frustrating when you hear people who have never gone through what you are going through, say this.

Well, this fertility tip is about how you can use comments like these for your benefit instead of allowing these people to contribute to your frustration.

I am going to show you a way to look beyond what they are saying and use this to actually improve your situation.

First let's explore why in the world someone would say this to you. If someone has not gone through what you are experiencing they have no idea what it feels like. Its similiar to when people who don't have children tell parents what they are doing wrong with their kids and how to fix it. This is the same for the person that has not experienced fertility issues. They are insensitive to what you are going through because they have no idea what it's like. If they did, they would never make comments like these. Can you imagine for example, know what you know, ever saying to someone else, "Hey, what are you waiting for? Don't you like kids?"
But I would like to explore for a minute about what these comments can remind you of when you hear them so you can actually use them to your advantage.

Many people say "just relax", "just let it happen", or "you are thinking too much about it" because they have heard the same stories you have. A couple trying to have a baby for years decides to adopt and then they get pregnant. A couple having IVF for 5 years without a viable pregnancy gives up and 5 months later they become pregnant. Couples all over the world don't think about being pregnant and all of a sudden they are pregnant without even trying. This is where the comments come from.

The situations are real and they do happen so let's look at what is happening in these situations and use them for your benefit. Right now your focus may be totally on having a child and normally I tell my patients to focus on what they want to happen. So naturally you would think it would be beneficial to continue to focus on having a baby to increase your chances of creating one. But with fertility issues this is not always the case. Because most times you are really not thinking about having a baby or being a parent, couples with fertility issues who are really struggling are often thinking about the fact that they don't have a baby right now and what they may mean to them, their spouse, the family and society. What are you more focused on? Not having a baby right now and what they could possibly mean about you or having a baby and trusting your body as well as preparing your body to create a healthy pregnancy. This by the way is not just the responsibility of the female, but the male as well.

Now, when I say that you shouldn't focus on not having a baby, I am not saying that you should give up hope and completely forget about it. Most people who have a strong desire to have children would have a hard time with this. But what I am saying is to explore where the stress and negative emotions you are experiencing are coming from.

You might be thinking, "what the heck is she talking about" so let me explain with an example.
When a couple comes in to my office they are usually experiencing a variety of emotions, anger, fear, guilt, anxiety, and sadness just to name a few. Most times the people that I see have been trying for over 12 months to have a child. What I have found in my workshops is that there is an effective way to focus on having a child without continually adding to your stress and therfore actually negatively effecting your fertility.
Let me ask you this. When you think about having a baby and you experience negative emotions about it, are you experiencing the negative emotions because you are worried that you will never have a child? Does your desire to have a child come from the fact that this is what you currently lack? Do fear, anger, resentment, guilt, sadness, anxiety, and hurt result from this worry. Ask yourself today, why is it important to me to have a baby? And then when you get your answer, ask yourself why is that important to me. And if you find as you ask yourself these questions that you are focusing on what you may lack in your life then its time to change this underlying focus to come from a place of gratitude or appreciation for what you have in your life currently, versus what you lack.

When we are focused on something which comes from a place of lack, such as I want to have a baby to experience love (maybe because we lack love in our life), or I want to have a baby because I won't feel whole without a child (this may mean that a person may not feel good enough), we usually perpetuate the "lack" because that is where our focus lies. This in turn then contributes to the negative emotion that we experience because there are unresolved issues about what it means to not have a child in our life.
When someone changes their focus as the couples who went through IVF for years and 5 months after stopping, had a child or the couple who tried to become pregnant for 5 years and then adopted a child and became pregnant, this shifts their major focus from what they lack in their life to moving forward and improving their ability to receive life. This change of focus to what they have and where they are going is what I would like you to begin to focus on.

This does not mean you have to forget about wanting a child or just go on a holiday and relax, but it does mean changing your focus from a place of lack to a place of love. Love for yourself, appreciation for what you have created already in your life, and gratitude for the people that you have brought into your life.
Changing your focus in this way has helped people who have been extremely isolated and imprisoned survive create what they want in their lives. This is documented in many books and studies on prisoners of war, Nazi prison camp survivors, etc. And I know that at times you may feel extremely isolated and even "imprisoned" or trapped while dealing with your fertility issues. Though your conditions aren't as extreme as a Holocaust survivor, your body may be experiencing very similiar emotions and stress. Studies have shown that women going through IVF have rated their depression and stress at the same level as those who have been diagnosed with a life threatening illness like AIDS. Its time to get out of this stress mode because while in stress mode your body wants to survive and reproduction can be secondary.

Therefore what I suggest to break this cycle is when someone makes a comment about why you haven't had a child let this be a reminder to you to ask yourself, why is it important to me to have a child after each answer. Here's an example,
Why is it important for me to have a child? Because I value family? Why is this important to me?
Because I never had a family that loved me so I want to....
See how this sounded all nice and positive at first, but the deeper you go, the more core beliefs you will discover. Not all of you will have something negative but its important to explore this to get rid of what you don't want and focus on what you want to create.

And when you hear yourself saying something destructive remember our steps

1) acknowledge it (I didn't say accept it)

2) learn from it

3) change the thought (In the past I used to..(insert the destructive thought)..and now I choose to...insert what you want instead

4) Tell yourself to stay calm and trust

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stace_Roberts

Monday, November 22, 2010

Getting Pregnant and Natural Fertility: Top Ten Natural Ways to Boost Fertility

Many couples are going natural when it comes to fertility treatment. Natural methods can help in improving your fertility and can be an inexpensive option that can in certain cases alleviate female infertility and male fertility problems. These ten tips can help you and your partner take charge of your fertility, naturally.


Predict ovulation. Learning how to predict your ovulation is key to improving fertility. This is because having sex near ovulation improves your chances of getting pregnant with each menstrual cycle. One way in which to determine when you’ll be ovulating is to use a basal body temperature (BBT) thermometer.

Check for other signs of ovulation. Look for changes in your cervical fluid to help you predict when you’ll be ovulating. When cervical mucus is produced in greater quantities and when it is stretchy in texture, it means you are ovulating and therefore are most fertile. But if cervical mucus is dry and being produced in lesser amounts, you are less fertile. Some women also experience mittelschmertz (“middle pain”), a mild pain in the abdominal area that is indicative of ovulation.

Wear boxers. Men should wear boxers instead of briefs. This is helpful in improving a couple’s chances of getting pregnant because wearing boxers reduces the risk of the testicles overheating, which can result in sperm damage.

Getting pregnant sex. While timing sex around ovulation can help improve your odds of getting pregnant, another factor that can help in improving your infertility is getting pregnant sex”. This is because certain sexual positions can help to direct the sperm nearer to the cervix, which increases a woman’s chances of conceiving.

Importance of female orgasm. While it is well-known that male orgasm is linked to getting pregnant, female orgasm is also relevant to a couple’s chances of successfully getting pregnant. When a woman experiences an orgasm during sex, it helps to draw the semen into the cervix, thereby resulting in a higher chance of pregnancy.

Elevate your hips after sex. Following intercourse, elevating your hips and buttocks can help improve your chances of getting pregnant because it helps the semen stay close to the cervix and prevents leakage of the semen. Lying in bed for about 20 minutes with a pillow propped under your hips can help boost your odds of getting pregnant.

Don’t douche. While this is a fairly common practice, douching can actually reduce your chances of getting pregnant. Douching affects female fertility because it disturbs the natural state of the vagina and can aggravate vaginal infections.

Go for a check-up. Testing your overall health can also improve your fertility because it can help to identify fertility problems and conditions that may secretly be affecting your ability to get pregnant. Both you and your partner should get checked for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), both of which can negatively affect both male and female fertility.

Regulate your exercise routine. While exercise helps fertility by maintaining a healthy weight, thereby helping fertility, too much exercise can lead to amenorrhea (or absent periods). If you notice any irregularity in your periods, you should reduce the amount of exercise you participate in so as to improve your chances of getting pregnant.

Oral health. Make sure you take good care of what you’re putting into your mouth as well. Prescription drugs as well as tobacco and alcohol can all affect your fertility. In addition, diet is central to fertility and a healthy diet can improve your chances of getting pregnant.




(source: http://www.gettingpregnant.co.uk/fertilitytips.html)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Help Getting Pregnant - How to Achieve a Healthy Pregnancy Fast and Naturally

Authored By: Anna Davies


For most women who need help getting pregnant, amount of advice can be overwhelming sometimes. As we know it, pregnancy should be time of great anticipation and joy, time of change. So, do you know to listen to your body signs and read it's language?

Sometimes, conception is not proving to be as easy as so many people have preached about. If this sounds like you, there is no need to feel discouraged or give up trying to make a family with your special someone.

How To Achieve A Healthy Pregnancy Fast and Naturally - pregnancy needs planing!

If you need help getting pregnant, there are a lot of people that will probably steer you towards different fertility clinics and tell you about different fertility medications that you can consume in order to conceive. Especially, today's vast media influence.

However, if doctors are not your cup of tea, and you simply want to be able to get pregnant and not have to worry about persistent doctor visits there are other avenues that you can explore when it comes to conceiving.

Try to take a natural approach when it comes to preparing for pregnancy, before you attempt to try evasive procedures that western doctors are reluctant to get you started on. One of the first things that you should do in order to begin your pregnancy journey is transform your current diet.

You want to attempt to live a healthy lifestyle. This lifestyle will consist of consuming fresh fruits as well as vegetables and ensuring that you maintain enough vitamins and minerals in your body in order to be considered healthy. You need to work on your health, before you can ever think about conception.

Exercise, such as Yoga has actually been accredited to being able to substantially increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Yoga forces you to endure different postures and practice breathing techniques. These techniques have actually been linked to regulating hormone levels and improving the supply of nutrients to your reproductive organs.

You should also try different de-stress activities. Our emotions can actually prohibit conception from occurring. By undergoing massages and femoral massages you can learn to control the stress in your life, and have an easier time conceiving.

Using Traditional Chinese Medicinal practices such as acupuncture/acupressure and herb therapy can also increase your chances of conceiving. These practices have been utilized for an elongated period of time in eastern countries, and are now making their way over to the western way of medicine.

It is well known that western and eastern medicinal practices differ. If you have tried western methods and they do not seem to be working for you, why not give the eastern methods a chance. Many women were astounded with the results that they received by simply transitioning from one type of medicinal therapy to another. And in the long run, without stressful hospital appointments and without huge medical bills to pay.

But, do you have what it takes to change your lifestyle and move on?

By practicing these simple advice, many women who needed Help Getting Pregnant have greatly increased their chances of healthy conception.

Do you face a problem getting pregnant? Do you have fertility problems or do you just want to ensure that it's safe for you to become pregnant?




About Author:

My name is Anna Davies and I love life. I am dedicated acupuncturist, and I research and write on many subjects including womens issues and reproductive health. For more tips and comprehensive information if you need Help Getting Pregnant also visit: http://www.NaturallyPregnant.info




Article Source:http://www.freearticlesinc.com/view_article-id-3653-at-Help-Getting-Pregnant---How-to-Achieve-a-Healthy-Pregnancy-Fast-and-Naturally.html

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Major Causes of Infertility in Women: Uncovered

Authored By: Lisa Olson


There are many major causes of infertility in women and we should go into all of them to understand the subject better, and this is what we are doing here. But perhaps the most common cause of female infertility is the Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, which is also known popularly just as PID. This is nothing but quite a few types of infections caused by bacteria at many organs such as the reproductive organ, the appendix and also the intestine close to the pelvic region. In some cases, PID also affects the fallopian tubes and this is when PID causes the most harm - it is referred to as salpingitis.

There are quite a few types of infections in the Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and they are-

- In a vast majority of cases (as many as 75%), female infertility happens due to an infection from Chlamydia Trachomatis, which also causes a Sexually Transmitted Disease or STD. When the female is affected by this, her fallopian tubes get affected, which is the worst news for reproduction. Gonorrhea is another common cause that leads to infertility. However these instances remain undiagnosed or unattended to in most cases, until the time it is already too late.

- Pelvic Tuberculosis is also often caused by PID. Alarmingly it now seems that there are more cases of Pelvic Tuberculosis, particularly in developing countries.

- Sometimes abortions are carried out in compromised conditions and this also leads to PID and you can blame the unhygienic conditions for this.

- If the appendix gets ruptured or of the woman is suffering from the herpes virus, she may also be a victim of PID.

It also seems that in at least 30% of the cases, female infertility is caused by Endometriosis and so this should also be included in the major causes of infertility in women. But often, Endometriosis is actually a contributing factor and not the main cause of the problem.

In many women, the cause of infertility is also PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. When she has PCOS, it means that her ovaries are making androgens the male hormone in larger numbers and because of this there is a higher level of LH and a lower level of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) which again prevents the follicles from producing the eggs. And when there are no eggs, the follicles tend to get filled with fluids and this leads to cyst formation. The formation of one cyst eventually leads to the formation of many others, with the result that the ovary assumes the size of a grapefruit. With no egg production, there is no production of progesterone as well, but the estrogen level remains. It has been seen that those affected by PCOS often tend to gain weight, have acne and also develop facial hair, and this is due to the higher androgen levels.

Premature Ovarian Failure known simply as POF also causes infertility in women. Known clinically as Early Menopause, this sets in when the follicles stop making eggs even before she has turned 40, and popularly this is referred to as premature menopause. This is very sad indeed as how can the woman remain productive when she is not even making the eggs?

Though frankly this is quite rare, but Idiopathic Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism is also known to have made a few women infertile. When this happens, the quality of both the FSH and the LH are poor and due to this, the ovaries cannot function properly. There is hardly a remedy for this as modern science does not even know why this happens.

Among other reasons that cause infertility in women, there is the FHA or Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea in which, the woman does not menstruate and this happens because the thyroid gland and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system are quite instable. The HPA system incidentally is quite important for reproduction and for other body functions as well.

Benign Uterine Fibroids and Implantation Failure are quite rare, but these two conditions that are caused by Luteal Phase Defect sometimes also cause female infertility. Holistic remedies are useful here as these remedies are known to have cured many such cases.

The fact is, holistic treatments work much better than conventional remedies that merely suggest assisted methodologies without finding out the cause of the problem. Conventional remedies also come with side effects and their success rate is poor too. Holistic treatments on the other hand first finds out the real issue and then suggests remedies that can be Chinese medications, acupuncture, herbs, exercise and change in the lifestyle as well. Because of this better approach, it has been seen that holistic treatments work much better in the major causes of infertility in women.




About Author:

Lisa Olson, author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Pregnancy Miracle - A Unique Three Step Holistic System for Beating Infertility and Getting Pregnant Quickly and Naturally. Find out about Lisa Olson´s Unique 3-Step Holistic Pregnancy System Visit: Pregnancy Miracle. For further information visit: Major Causes of Infertility




Article Source:http://www.freearticlesinc.com/view_article-id-2718-at-Major-Causes-of-Infertility-in-Women%3A-Uncovered.html

How to Get Pregnant Immediately - Discover the Secrets and Get Pregnant Naturally Within 2 Months

Authored By: Anna Davies


Would you like to discover how to get pregnant immediately? Do you find yourself looking at women with babies and hoping that one day you will have one of your own?

Everyone wants to be able to conceive a baby through natural means; however a lot of women are having an immense amount of difficulty being able to do so.

It seems like it has become more prevalent in the past twenty years; people are having problems with conception. Simply, it is down to a busy lifestyle we lead and when it comes to serious issues, such as family planning, we want a quick fix.

The truth is, we forget to work with our body along the way.

Fertility clinics have actually become the norm, per say for people that simply cannot seem to get pregnant on their own. Over the past twenty years we have seen a lot of test tube babies being born, through a IVF.

If you have ever been told that you are simply infertile by western doctors, this can be a detrimental thing for a woman to have to hear.

Before you give up your goal of becoming a mother, why not try a different approach when it comes to conceiving?

Traditional eastern medicine has actually been assisting a lot of women that thought that they could not become pregnant into surpassing their doubts. The ways to get pregnant is done through all natural means, and in fact some women were able to conceive in as little as two months after trying these proven eastern medicine methods.

The first thing that you need to do is write down everything that you eat. You are going to need to put both yourself, as well as your partner on a diet. This way you can ensure that both of you are in a healthy stature in order to begin the conception process.

Both you as well as your partner should consume vitamins, minerals and herbs to assist you with the task of becoming pregnant. Once you have eliminated internal deficiencies that could have been the culprit behind your pregnancy dilemma it is time to progress a little bit further.

You need to remain stress free. This is something that is easier said than done, however it can be accomplished. By utilizing acupressure specialists and engaging in obtaining massages you can actually control your emotions. This control is another step closer to your pregnancy desire.

Engage in basic exercises such as breathing exercises and stretching exercises. These physical activities have been linked to increasing blood flow to your reproduction organs and evening out hormonal imbalances as well.

By following these simple tips you can achieve conception in as little as two months. However, be aware that there are certain circumstances that could prohibit all women from achieving this goal, so you need to ensure that your body is in a healthy stature before attempting to conceive.

Do you have what it takes to change your lifestyle and plan for a happy natural pregnancy?

By practicing these simple advice on How to Get Pregnant Immediately many women around the globe have greatly increased their chances of healthy conception.

Do you face a problem getting pregnant? Do you have fertility problems or do you just want to ensure that it's safe for you to become pregnant?



About Author:
My name is Anna Davies and I love life. I am dedicated acupuncturist, and I research and write on many subjects including womens issues and reproductive health. For more tips and comprehensive information on How to Get Pregnant Immediately also visit: http://www.naturallypregnant.info/



Article Source:http://www.freearticlesinc.com/view_article-id-3657-at-How-to-Get-Pregnant-Immediately---Discover-the-Secrets-and-Get-Pregnant-Naturally-Within-2-Months.html

Friday, November 5, 2010

Natural Herbs For Fertility: An Inexpensive Alternative

Author: Aneron Kepasil


Fertility problems effect many people around the world. Contrary to popular belief, this is not just a female problem. Men account for half of fertility problems though women are often who seek fertility testing.
Raspberry is a popular fertility herb because of its potential to help women during pregnancy and labor. It stimulates the muscles of the uterus and pelvis, causing them to strengthen and tone up. Yet this fertility herb also contains properties that also relax the uterine muscles, which can help ease labor.
To improve sperm count and production, men need to alter their diet to include supplements of certain vitamins, minerals, and herbs for fertility. Vitamin B12 is present in milk, cheese, and eggs. Vitamin E is offered in wheat, peanuts, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. Vitamin C is found in broccoli, cabbage, bell pepper, and citrus fruits such as grapefruit, lemons, limes, and oranges. Shellfish, eggs, mushrooms, and walnuts include selenium. The mineral zinc can be found in red meat, eggs, and shellfish. Folic acid is apparent in lettuce, spinach, apricots, cabbage, broccoli, beets, celery, grapes, green beans, and apples. Beta carotene in carrots will also improve this problem.
Many women have trouble getting pregnant because they do not have proper nutrition in their diets. Using these trying to conceive vitamins can help them get to the nutritional level that they need to be at in order to naturally conceive a child. These trying to conceive vitamins work to specifically bring your body to the highest level of health that they can, which inevitably will help to make a woman more fertile. These vitamins also help to enhance fertility in a woman.
One of the popular infertility herbs is chasteberry. Chasteberry is known to promote fertility in woman trying to conceive. The herb is believed to help stimulate the pituitary gland. This gland helps the body produce sex hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. This infertility herb is known to help restore balance to sex hormones.
There is also an all natural product called “Mothers Hope” This is perhaps the best fertility test and conception kit on the market. It is an all natural kit that includes a three months supply of vitamins for both man and woman. The male product is called “Fathers Hope” You will also get 24 ovulation test strips, an ovulation calendar and 6 pregnancy test strips to confirm pregnancy. For more information on this product you check out their website at http://hopefertility.org/
Looking to find info on conceive, then visit our site to find the best advice on Female Infertility Symptoms for you.

Feng Shui Fertility Suggestions




Thursday, November 4, 2010

General Information and Herbal Suggestions






"In traditional Chinese medicine gynecological imbalances are considered to be associated with poor pelvic circulation which prevents the gynecological system from being as healthy as it can be." ~ by Roy Upton
 
The normal functioning of the menstrual cycle relies on an intricate dance of hormones. If one hormone is out of balance the whole system can fail, resulting in an inability to get pregnant or maintain pregnancy. Natural remedies gently bring the body back in to balance, they work slowly, gradually, many of these herbs help to rebuild the body, replenishing what has been lost. They take time to do their work. Rosemary Gladstar recommends making a six month commitment to work on your health program. Other herbalists recommending waiting at least 3 months before attempting to conceive while taking herbs to increase fertility.
 
Think of your body as a garden. You don't just throw seeds on the hard packed earth and expect them to grow into majestic plants, no... first you lovingly prepare the soil, then plant the seeds, give them water and care for them as they grow. If you don't do a good job preparing the soil, your garden isn't going to do so good. For some women, this prep work is crucial to being able to carry a pregnancy to term. Get your man involved, get him to take a daily multi-vitamin, watch his diet - both of you should eat as healthy as possible. And there are also herbs he can take, and dietary adjustments he can make to increase his fertility. The more sperm the merrier when you are trying to conceive.
 
How you choose to look at things can also have an impact on getting pregnant. When getting pregnant isn't as easy as you'd like it to be it can be an endless source of fustration, stress and so on. It may help to step back and away from those feelings and take a break... try looking at the situation from another angle.... maybe you can turn it into an oportunity to deepen your relationship and commitment with your partner. Definately don't play the blame game.... his low sperm count.... her ovary problems..... etc. Realize there is always room for improvement for both of you, natural therapies can help. Take 6 months off from the babymaking and just don't worry about trying to get pregnant, use that time to focus on your health and well-being... get yourself into as good a condition as possible.
Start your prenatal vitamins, and find a quality multi-vitamin for him, they make formulas just for men, personally I like to do my vitamin shopping at whole food markets, health food stores and the like. I look for products that contain natural ingredients and make sure they meet all the RDA minimum vitamin and mineral amounts, and exceeding these minimum requirements is ok.
 
Make sure your lifestyle is in good shape, remove sources of stress and tension. Focus on love-making rather than baby-making. When you want to get pregnant and can't seem to, it is very fustrating, taking some time off from actively trying to get pregnant can help releive some of the stress and tension. And who knows you may be pleasantly surprised at some point during the months of rebuilding. If fertility problems are serious then working with a knowledgable herbalist, nutritionist, wholistic doctor or naturopath will only increase your chances of success most efficiently, rather than to try and do it yourself.
 
Hormones are what make the fertility cycle happen. Without enough luteinizing hormone ovulation cannot happen. If estrogen is out of balance many things can go wrong and many problems can develop including fibrocystic breasts, endometriosis, dramatic mood swings, infertility, painful cramping during menstruation. Or if progesterone is lacking spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) can occur with in the first few weeks of pregnancy. A woman may not even know that conception is taking place. Low progesterone levels may cause depression, sluggishness and a feeling of lethargy.
 
Make sure you are not anemic or borderline anemic.
 
Be aware of the 28 day cycle myth. Many couples are labeled infertile because they are timing intercourse to coincide with a 28 day cycle when the woman's cycle is actually longer or shorter than the "norm". The real question is what is normal for you. Charting your cycle can be an invaluable tool to help you achieve pregnancy. For more information check out Taking Charge of Your Fertility
 
 

Many herbs can be used to promote fertility. Herbs which encourage pregnancy are characterized by their ability to:3
    a. nourish and tonify the uterus b. nourish the entire body c. relax the nervous system d. establish and balance normal hormonal function e. balance sexual desire

Red Clover Blossoms (Trifolium pratense)
Is Susun Weed's favorite for dealing with infertility. Its high vitamin content is especially helpful to the uterus. Its abundant protein content aids the entire body. "Its profuse and exceedingly absorbable calcium and magnesium relax the nervous system and promote fertility."3 It contains an abundant supply of minerals - virtually every trace mineral needed by the glandular system to restore and balance hormonal function.
It has the ability to alkalinize the body, and may balance the acid/alkaline level of the vagina and uterus in favor of conception. The normal environment of the vagina without the presence of fertile mucus is very hostile to sperm, very acidic which kills the sperm. Fertile mucus is normally alkaline, it nurtures, protects and guides the sperm toward the safety of the uterus, and is necessary for the sperm to survive if conception is to occur.
Red Clover is often combined with Peppermint in infertility brews. Peppermint, spearmint, and other mints (except pennyroyal) are safe to use. They are mildly stimulating, they help to get the energy moving, and are pleasant tasting sexual stimulants.
Alfalfa can be used in the absence of red clover but Susun finds it is not as effective.

Nettle leaves (Urtica dioica)
Nettles are a uterine tonic and a general nourisher with the special ability to strengthen the kidneys and adrenal glands. It is an excellent food and tonic for the hormonal system. Nettles is very high in iron and calcium and other minerals, plus it contains substantial amounts of chlorophyll. I think it would be good in combination with red clover and peppermint.

Raspberry leaves (Rubus sp.)
Raspberry leaves are an effective uterine tonic. It contains large quantities of calcium. It is a herb commonly used through out pregnancy and considered safe for this purpose. For promoting fertility Susun says that it is most effective when combined with red clover.

Vitex (Vitex angus-castus) can help minimize the risk of miscarriage. It also works specifically by enhancing pituitary function, thus improving ovarian function and can help stimulate ovulation.

Wild Yam Can be used during the first half of the menstrual cycle, from menstruation to ovulation to promote fertility. But should not be used during the second half of the menstrual cycle (after ovulation til menstruation begins) if your goal is to get pregnant. Wild yam has many uses, one of its reputed (but unproven) uses is as a contraceptive when used in specific doses through out the cycle. For more information about its contraceptive effects.

Calcium and magnesium are the two minerals thought to be the most important in affecting a women's ability to conceive and maintain a pregnancy.

Vitamin E is essential to the health of the reproductive organs. It normalizes hormone production. It is useful for increasing fertility in men as well as women. "500 to 1500 IU taken by the male partner for several months prior to conception has been shown to prevent birth defects in children of couples who've had defective children previously"3 Wheat germ oil is an excellent source of natural vitamin E.

Zinc is an important component for creating vaginal fluid and semen. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of zinc. So both you and your partner can munch on them together.

Acupuncture has been used successfully in treating infertility. It is very effective for removing stagnation and energy blocks.

Lunaception may help to regulate ovulation by utilizing light to promote timely ovulation. It is pretty easy to do, here are the basics..... Leave a moon-like light on (a small night-light) for 3 days midway through your menstrual cycle, whenever you expect to be ovulating or when you should be ovulating. Every other night sleep in complete darkness (cover your glowing alarm clock). For more info check your bookstore. Or check back soon as I will be adding links to books about lunaception in my own on-line bookstore, I'll keep ya posted.

Other Herbs to aid in nourishing and strengthening the liver and endocrine glands include.

How a Gluten-Free Diet May Improve Male Fertility

It's true. Adopting a gluten-free diet may actually help to improve male fertility for those with celiac disease. Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that may be caused by problems digesting gluten. Among the many possible symptoms is male infertility.

Male infertility may be related to a number of factors from poor diet, smoking, drug use, excessive alcohol consumption, as well as a number of health problems. It is important to determine what may be causing infertility before treatment, although certain lifestyle changes that are often used to improve fertility (quitting smoking, exercising, eating healthy, etc.) are usually recommended to improve general health and well-being.
Gluten is a protein that is found in many common foods including bread, crackers, pasta and other foods that contain wheat, rye and barley. In addition to infertility, celiac disease may also increase the risk of lymphoma and may lead to more serious health conditions such as osteoporosis and anemia. When present in children, it may slow growth and may cause serious health problems.

Recognizing the possible symptoms of celiac disease may be helpful in determining if you have the condition. Gas, bloating, changes in bowel movements, weight loss and feelings of tiredness or weakness may be possible symptoms. In diagnosing the condition, the doctor may perform a physical exam, take blood samples or perform other tests such as an endoscopy.

Before adopting a gluten-free diet to improve male fertility, speak with a fertility specialist and/or a family doctor. Gluten may be found in a number of foods and medicines. Foods that list modified food starch or hydrolyzed vegetable protein may contain gluten so reading food labels and doing research may be helpful when transitioning to a gluten-free diet.

Justin is a writer in the health field and suggests you visit Boston IVF due to their status as being regarded as one of the best in male infertility treatment probably due to having some of the top fertility doctors from Harvard Medical School. Infertility treatment can help families achieve dreams.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Diet to Boost Fertility and Get Pregnant Naturally

Date Published: 02nd June 2010
Author: Zura


The happiest moment in a woman's life is knowing that she is capable of getting pregnant and giving birth to a healthy child. However, not all women are gifted to get pregnant naturally. Some are referred as infertile while others need medical treatment to get pregnant. Surgical/medical treatments are expensive and not all are successful; some will even do more harm to your body. The best way is always the natural way and it starts with the healthy diet to boost the woman's fertility.

Firstly, being either overweight or underweight can reduce your chances of getting pregnant. Try to reach your ideal weight. Overweight women have more pregnancy and birth complications whilst underweight women are more likely to have a low-birth-weight baby.

Eating right means eating a balanced diet and avoid taking foods that is high in fat and sugar. Eat a variety of foods while trying to conceive, which includes:

̢ۢ Fruits and vegetables - these can be fresh, frozen, tinned, dried or a glass of juice. Take at least five portions a day. Fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C which helps your body to absorb iron, an essential nutrient in preparation for pregnancy.

̢ۢ Carbohydrate foods such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Switch white flour to whole grains which help improve the body's digestion and overall health.This can improve your chance of getting pregnant.

̢ۢ Protein such as lean meat and chicken, fish, eggs and pulses (beans and lentils).

̢ۢ Fish, including some oily fish, but do not have more than two portions of oily fish a week. This includes fresh tuna, sardines and trout. Avoid eating raw fish eg. sushi, to prevent food poisoning. Certain kind of fish are high in mercury, which can be dangerous to your unborn baby. Mercury can get stored in your body and linger there for more than a year. So it is best to avoid them such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish while you are trying to conceive.

̢ۢ Dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yoghurt, which contain calcium.

̢ۢ Iron rich foods, such as red meat, pulses, dried fruit, bread, green vegetables and fortified breakfast cereals, to build up your resources of iron in preparation for pregnancy.

̢ۢ Vitamin supplements. Since most women do not get enough nutrients from their daily diet, start taking vitamin supplements when trying to conceive, which includes the B vitamins, folic acid and zinc. These vitamins help to reduce the risk of birth defects and are essential to a healthy menstrual cycle. Get at least 400 micrograms of folic acid a day.

̢ۢ Stop alcohol drinking and smoking as these can affect ovulation and may cause infertility. Alcohol prevents the body's absorption of all the important nutrients needed for a healthy body to conceive whilst smoking and drugs can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, and low-birth-weight babies. Plus, research suggests that any tobacco use can affect your fertility and lower your partner's sperm count. In fact, even secondhand smoke may affect your chances of getting pregnant.

̢ۢ It is time to give up drinking coffee or switch to decaf. A few studies has showed that excessive consumption of caffeine and soda may lead to fertility problem. It is also a suspected cause of miscarriage in the first three months of pregnancy, reduce your ability to absorb iron which is needed plenty for pregnancy, and increase your risk for stillbirth.

̢ۢ Consult your doctor of any medication or drugs you are currently taking whether it is safe to continue while you are trying to conceive.

̢ۢ Drink eight glasses of filtered water to help flush out excess toxins.


For those above 40, it's still not too late to get pregnant. If the above diet does not work for you, don't worry. You can try a program called the Pregnancy Miracle, to help women get pregnant naturally. It's one of the best getting pregnant program you can find in the internet today. You can learn more about this program at http://the-pregnancy-miracles.comRead more at http://www.articlealley.com/article_1577819_61.html?ktrack=kcplink

Azoospermia and How to Increase Male Fertility

Article By: Dr. Mital John


Azoospermia (Male infertility) or erectile dysfunction is a very common problem that affects every1 out of 10 adult Men. Erectile dysfunction is the result of a single, or more generally a combination of multiple factors. At one time impotence was thought to be the result of physiological problems, but we now know that only 10 - 20% of the cases are natural in nature.

Azoospermia (Male infertility) is the complete absence of sperm in the semen and as such means that a man will be totally infertile. The diagnosis of azoospermia is every so often still made even though as many as 500,000 sperm per ml of semen may have been seen because it is very unlikely that the man will be able to father a child naturally with this number of sperm. It's incredible to realize that millions are needed for any chance of natural conception.

Some of the many causes of male infertility:
- Male infertility can be more difficult to deal with emotionally and physically. There are a number of known causes for male infertility. The most common is due to a problem with sperm production in the testes. Low sperm count and/or dysfunction sperm are the usual problems associated with sperm production.
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart
- Stress
- Hormone problems
- Pelvic surgery
- Trauma


Male infertility azoospermia treatment can encompass many different things a man must endure in order to be able to impregnate a female.  Some of the things a male might have to go during in order to address the problem could include the following:

- Biopsy
- Blood tests
- Genetic screening
- Imaging tests
- Magnetic resonance imaging scans
- Spermatic venography
- Ultrasonography


How to Increase Azoospermia (Male infertility) : -

- Exercise - Moderate exercise can also be a good natural fertility treatment. When combined with a balanced and nutritious diet, exercise can help you to maintain a healthy body weight. Excess body fat can increase the amount of estrogen in your body, throwing the female fertility cycle out of balance. Exercise helps to burn off this excess body fat, allowing hormone levels to return to normal.

- Ashwagandha - Ashwagandha grows in the temperate climates. It grows up to a height of 5000 feet in Western India and Himalayan regions. Ashwagandha helps to strength of the muscles, and calm down the system. It is a nerve tonic, enhances sexual stamina.

- Stop smoking and drinking - Alcohol and cigarette smoke can lower sperm count and be a factor in male infertility. Like alcohol, smoking also inhibits male fertility. Therefore if you want to improve male fertility naturally, you will have to stop your smoking habit. Nicotine has a negative effect on male sexual function, so kicking the habit can only help your fertility.

- Diet - Remember to eat plenty of vitamin rich fruits and vegetables. It is also recommended to eat pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Eat 1/4 cup of sunflower and pumpkin seeds daily for best results.

- Boost sperm production and healthy functioning of the male reproductive system with pumpkin seeds. They are naturally rich in both zinc and essential fatty acids, which have been proven to be vital to maintaining a healthy reproductive system.

Original Article URL: http://health.myfreearticlecentral.com/Article_60007_Azoospermia-and-How-to-Increase-Male-Fertility.aspx

For more useful information visit Increase Low Sperm Count [http://www.ayurvedicherbalcure.com/men-health/speman.html] and Azoospermia [http://www.herbalcureindia.com/products/speman.htm]

Friday, October 29, 2010

8 Ways to Boost Your Fertility

Trying to get pregnant? Pay attention to simple things -- diet, timing of sex, even your lubricant -- and you may conceive faster.



By Kathleen Doheny

Having intercourse as close as possible to ovulation can definitely help. But fertility experts say there are other ways men and women can boost their fertility. These simple measures can increase the chances that next month will be the month you'll squeal: "We're pregnant!"
Read on for the best suggestions culled from fertility specialists who often recommend these measures before turning to assisted reproduction.
See When You're Most Fertile During Your Monthly Cycle

1. Her Fertility Booster: Weight Control

Being underweight or overweight can delay the time it takes a woman to conceive, research suggests.
Preconception weight is often an overlooked factor in fertility, says William Gibbons, MD, director of the division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and president-elect of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. But research suggests keeping a healthy weight can help with conception. "I am not sure women think about it as an issue for their fertility," he says.
In one study, researchers evaluated the body mass index (BMI) of 2,112 pregnant women. A BMI of 18.5-24.9 is considered normal weight, 25-29.9 is overweight, and 30 or higher is obese.
Women in the study who had a pre-pregnancy BMI of 25-39 had a twofold increase in the time it took to get pregnant. A lower BMI is even worse, the researchers found. Having a BMI below 19 increased the time to conception fourfold. The study was published in Fertility and Sterility in 2004.
Gibbons tells women to stay at a healthy weight when trying to conceive.

2. His Fertility Booster: Protect Those Sperm

Over the years, researchers have investigated whether everyday exposures -- to such things as tight underwear, heated car seats, laptop computers, or cell phones -- may impair male fertility.
The idea that changing to looser underwear -- boxers instead of briefs -- will boost fertility by keeping genital temperatures down is now somewhat of an old wives' tale, says Dale McClure, MD, president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. He is also a clinical professor of urology at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. 
Although earlier studies seemed to point to boxers as the better choice for preserving fertility, McClure says, ''some of the more scientific data in the past few years didn't show a major difference.''
What about exposing the testicles to other sources of heat? The American Society for Reproductive Medicine says controlling temperature doesn't play much of role in boosting fertility. But some doctors, including McClure, do recommend staying away from certain sources of heat. Sitting in a hot tub day after day, even if a man has no known fertility problems, should be avoided, McClure says.
In a study published in the International Brazilian Journal of Urology, researchers found that repeated exposure to high water temperatures through hot tubs or hot baths did have an adverse effect on men's fertility.
Other exposures under investigation by researchers have yet to prove a link.
For instance, in a study published in Human Reproduction, researchers found that scrotal temperatures went up in laptop users who used the computer on their laps, and warned that long-term exposures to high scrotal temperatures may harm sperm.
Even though there isn't enough data to prove the link, McClure says he still wouldn't recommend that a man who wants to be a father keep his laptop on his lap for extended periods of time.
In another study, Cleveland Clinic researchers collected sperm samples and found that those samples exposed to the radiofrequency electromagnetic waves from cell phones for one hour were adversely affected compared to samples not exposed. In a report published in Fertility and Sterility, the researchers conclude: ''We speculate that keeping the cell phone in a trouser pocket in talk mode may negatively affect spermatozoa and impair male fertility."
Despite that finding from respected researchers at a well-regarded institution, McClure says he is "more concerned about hot tubbing."

3. Her Fertility Booster: Watch the Beverages

Drinking too much coffee or too much alcohol can impair a woman's fertility, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine says.
Experts say that more than five cups of coffee a day or the equivalent, about 500 milligrams of caffeine, are associated with lower fertility. In another recent study, the researchers who looked at body weight also looked at caffeine and tea intake. They found that drinking more than six cups a day had an adverse effect on fertility.
But don't give up your daily cup of coffee just yet. Moderate caffeine consumption, says Gibbons, seems to be OK. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, one or two cups a day is acceptable. His advice for women who are coffee or soda drinkers: "Stay under 200 to 250 milligrams of caffeine a day."
The studies on alcohol intake and women's fertility have produced mixed findings. But Swedish researchers reporting in Fertility and Sterility have found that women who drank two alcoholic beverages a day decreased their fertility by nearly 60%.
Once again, moderation is key, say experts. Although those higher levels of alcohol, such as two drinks or more a day, should be avoided when trying to get pregnant, "there is no evidence to indicate that more moderate alcohol consumption adversely affects fertility," according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. And, of course, once you find out you are pregnant, you'll want to cut out the alcohol completely because drinking can increase the risk of birth defects.
Smoking cigarettes can impair both a woman and a man's fertility, research suggests. Researchers from Portugal reviewed the literature on cigarette smoking and fertility. They found that it affects how receptive the uterus is to the egg. In men, smoking can reduce sperm production and damage DNA. The study is published in Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
For women, giving up smoking before pregnancy is wise, experts suggest, because smoking while pregnant has been shown to boost the risk of miscarriage.
Taking advantage of what doctors call the "fertile window" can boost your chances of pregnancy. It's best defined, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, ''as the six-day interval ending on the day of ovulation." And pregnancy is most likely to occur with intercourse within the three days before the day of ovulation.
Patients often wait until the day of ovulation or later to have intercourse, says Richard Paulson, MD, chief of the division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology there. He tells them: "Err on the early side."
He also advises keeping close track of ovulation -- either by the calendar method, figuring ovulation occurs about 14 days before the menstrual period is due, or by using an ovulation predictor kit, widely sold online and in drugstores.
Delaying lovemaking -- or as some couples say, ''saving up'' -- isn't going to boost the chances of pregnancy, McClure tells couples who ask about this approach.
"After about a week, the [sperm] count goes up a bit, but the motility decreases," he says. Not having sex for more than five days may affect sperm counts adversely, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. But intervals as short as two days don't harm sperm density, it says.
Although daily intercourse produced the highest pregnancy rate in one study, it may pose too much stress on the couple, according to the society. And every-other-day sex, in the same study, produced nearly as good a pregnancy rate.
With more frequent intercourse, couples may turn more to vaginal lubricants. That's OK, doctors concur, if the lubes are picked wisely.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, some lubricants can actually decrease fertility. That's because some have spermicides.
What to use? "Canola oil," says Gibbons.
"Even peanut oil is good," says McClure. It's crucial, he says, to avoid lubricant with spermicidal agents.
Impromptu household lubes may not be good either, he says. "I had a patient yesterday with a great [sperm] count and no motility [swimming ability]," McClure says. When he asked a few more questions, he got the root of the problem. "He was using soap for a lubricant." So he informed the patient, "Soap killed the sperm."
You also want to avoid commercially available water-based lubricants. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, commercially available water-based lubricants, such as Astroglide, KY Jelly, and Touch may inhibit sperm motility by 60% to 100% within 60 minutes of incubation. Canola oil, however, did not have the same effect.
The studies comparing lubricants have been published over the years in a variety of journals, including Human Reproduction and Fertility and Sterility.
Exposures to pesticide, especially agricultural pesticides, may harm both men and women's fertility, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine warns.
Exposure to some solvents and toxins -- including those used in printing businesses and dry cleaning establishments -- can adversely affect women's fertility.

http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/8-ways-to-boost-your-fertility

Easy ways to boost fertility

Get yourself in the best shape to help kickstart your fertility. Have lots of sex
It sounds obvious, but the first thing you have to do is have sex regularly. Once in a blue moon - even if it's at the right time - won't necessarily be enough to give you the baby you dream of.


‘Many couples lead a life where they're working 12 hours a day. They're absolutely exhausted and not having enough sex,' explains Zita West, a holistic fertility and pregnancy consultant who runs her own pre-conception clinic.
‘The woman perhaps has been on the Pill for a long time - years ago she'd only been on it for six months to a year, nowadays she can have been taking it for 20 years by the time she wants a baby. She doesn't know about their own fertility or how her body is working.'

With ovulation kits available on the High Street, it's never been easier to work out when you should be at your most fertile.  But that brings it's own problems, says Zita.  ‘It puts pressure on couples to perform, especially if you know that ‘tonight's the night!'

She adds, 'Sperm live for days while an egg has a 24-hour window. So focus on your body's secretions and having sex three or four times a week so that when you do ovulate there's as much sperm as possible there, waiting to pounce on your egg.'

Get your body healthy

It's easy to slip into bad eating habits, but the healthier your body is, the more likely you are to get pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy.

About three months before you start trying for a baby it's a good idea to start looking into whether the food you and your partner eat is just filling you up or is really nourishing your body.

Try to cut out processed, fatty and sugary foods such as chips, cakes, and ready meals, and eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, and wholegrain. Make sure you get enough protein in chicken and fish because that helps your egg production, but cut down on red meat which has too much of the wrong kind of unsaturated fats.
Include foods high in natural folic acid, such as green leafy and root vegetables, whole grain, salmon and avocados. Folic acid helps the embryo develop normally and can also improve your man's sperm.

Foods which are high in essential fatty acids, especially one called DHA, will help your hormone balance and will also improve the health of your partner's sperm, so include oily fish in your new diet.

Drink at least two litres of water every day because it's needed to make sperm, semen, cell membranes and cervical mucus.

Take a good vitamin and mineral supplement that contains zinc and selenium, which help you make the right hormones in the right balance.

Shed the extra pounds if you're overweight, because being overweight can interfere with ovulation.  Still eat a good diet with lots of the right foods, but just don't have such big portions.

What not to do

Avoid tea, coffee, sugar and cut down on alcohol. While the odd glass of wine isn't going to matter too much, binge drinking is a problem. Try to stick well within the recommended weekly levels of 14 units for a woman and 21 for a man.

Cut out cigarettes and any other drugs.

Avoid over-the-counter drugs and medicines too as they can affect your cervical mucus and hormone balance.

‘This isn't just about getting pregnant,' says Zita, ‘it's about the future health of your baby.  Your developing baby doesn't rely on what you're eating that day to feed it, it takes your reserves.  If you drink and smoke you're likely to have lost vital vitamins and minerals from your body.  If you're prepared for pregnancy, it will give you a better pregnancy and a healthier baby.'

Change your lifestyle

Exercising will help to keep your weight down - essential when you're trying to get pregnant. It will also flood your body with oxygen so that it works more efficiently, and will help you to feel more relaxed. But don't feel you have to be down at the gym or sweating it out at an exercise class every day: 20 minutes, three times a week doing something you enjoy will have far greater benefits.

Stress can be a real barrier to getting pregnant because it can affect your hormones and the timing of your periods.  It can also reduce your body's reserves of B Vitamins and Zinc - both vital for good hormone balance. So try to work out where the stress is in your life. You may not be able to fix it, but if you can see what's causing it, you can work out a way to manage it. Even if it's just having a soak in a long hot bath before dinner, listening to music or finding a yoga class, it will help.

Have a check-up

If you think you might have a problem getting pregnant, it may be worth getting it checked out before you start trying.

For instance if you've always had irregular periods, or you have a particularly short or long cycle - for example shorter than 25 days or longer than 31 - ask your GP if your hormone balance can be checked.

Ask your parents if there have been any fertility problems in either of your families in the past.  Talk to your doctor about any operations you've had on your thyroid or pituitary glands or in your abdomen.
It's worth checking if either of you have ever had chlamydia. This is a sexually transmitted disease which affects thousands of people but, as it's not always easy to notice the symptoms, it can go untreated.  It can seriously affect your fertility because it can block your Fallopian tubes, stopping eggs from travelling along them.

Zita West Clinics Ltd, London, 0207 580 2169  http://www.zitawest.com/

Top ten ways to boost your fertility

About one couple in seven has problems conceiving, but there are ways to improve your chances

Kate Wighton

HAVE SEX AT THE RIGHT TIME

Women are most fertile at day 10-16, with day one being the first day of their period. Sperm stay alive in the female reproductive tract for up to three days, says Bill Ledger, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Sheffield, so having intercourse at least every other day during this fertile time will be enough to make a baby.

WHEN TO GET HELP

Women's fertility drops rapidly after the age of 35. If you are in your early thirties and have been trying for a baby for a year without success, talk to your GP. If you are over 35, go after six months.

WATCH YOUR DIET

Both men and women should avoid being underweight or overweight, as weight problems can affect the hormones that control fertility. The Times nutritionist Amanda Ursell says that zinc-rich foods such as red meat and wholegrain cereal may improve sperm quality.

GO EASY ON THE BOOZE

It may loosen your sexual inhibitions, but alcohol isn't always good news for fertility. One study suggests that five drinks a week can affect women's fertility. Although you don't need to abstain from the sauce, it's a good idea to moderate your intake.

STUB IT OUT

Smoking harms the fertility of men and women. The damage is reversible in men, as they produce new sperm every 70 days. However, according to the British Medical Association, smoking reduces a woman's chances of conceiving by 40 per cent.

HAPPY SEX

Although there is only a six-day window of peak fertility in a woman's monthly cycle, it's important to have sex at other times, says Professor Ledger. Fertility problems strain relationships, so it's important to think of sex as fun, not simply a biological baby-making act.

BE ROMANTIC

Intense stress such as that caused by bereavement, divorce or redundancy, may disrupt ovulation for three or four months. However, every- day stress, such as that caused by your job, will not affect ovulation. The only way it affects fertility is by making people grumpy, and less likely to have sex. Counteract this drop in libido by planning a romantic meal, or a cosy weekend break.

DITCH THE OLD WIVES' TALES

Forget the myths about raising your bottom after intercourse, or not moving for 30 minutes. Sperm are chemically attracted to cervical mucus; within seconds of ejaculation they are safely on their journey. Anything that escapes doesn't contain any viable sperm.
And, unfortunately, there are no positions that guarantee conception says Professor Ledger.

KEEP THEM COOL

Sitting at a desk all day can be bad news for sperm. Heat causes sperm damage, and testes should be one or two degrees cooler than the rest of the body. Professor Ledger recommends taking a five to ten-minute walk every hour to cool off your crown jewels.

SEXUAL HEALTH

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, can harm fertility. If you think there is a possibility that you may have caught something, it's well worth a visit to your GP or sexual health clinic

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5293250.ece

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Maca: Peruvian Superfood is Excellent for Libido and Nutrition

by: Brett Brown


 

(NaturalNews) There are many plants and herbs that are able to affect libido in both men and women. However some of those plants, such as yohimbe, have negative side effects such as raising the heart rate and increasing blood pressure. Thanks to recent research done on a Peruvian plant, we now have a safe alternative for increasing libido and sexual function in men and women. During our rediscovery of this superfood, we find maca to be packed full of nutrition and a great alternative for libido enhancement.

History

Maca has been grown and cultivated in the Peruvian Andes of South America for nearly 2,600 years. Maca is grown for its root, and is a member of the cruciferous family of plants. Maca closely resembles a radish in shape, yet is slightly larger in size. Maca is grown in an altitude of 9,000 to 14,000 feet above sea level. This makes maca the highest altitude crop on earth.

Traditional Andean shamans used maca to increase fertility in both animals and humans. Shortly after the Spanish conquest, the Spanish noticed their livestock were doing poorly in the desolate highlands. Andean natives suggested that both the Spanish and their livestock consume maca. Apparently the results were remarkable since some of the first written Spanish records of the Andes were on the subject of maca.

Libido

Dr. Gloria Chacon de Popovici published her first study of maca's effect on animal fertility in 1961. Her research determined that maca increases fertility in rats, dogs, guinea pigs, rams, cows, and humans. She suggests that maca has been shown to act on the hypothalamus, pituitary glands, and the adrenals. She theorized that by activating these areas in our endocrine system maca is then able to increase libido, energy, and vitality. The activation of these systems allows us to produce higher levels of testosterone, progesterone, and DHEA. In turn this is also beneficial for the balancing of hormones in both men and women.

While Dr. Chacon was doing her research and feeding maca powder to rats, she discovered that male rats had increased sperm counts and motility rates, and the female rats showed multiple egg follicle maturation. The effects were shown within seventy-two hours upon feeding the rats maca. The effects on humans are similar. This research indicates that maca is a superfood capable of increasing fertility and can be extremely useful for those trying to conceive a child. Maca has also been shown to help women produce more breast milk after pregnancy.

Maca is also an adaptogen. Adaptogens help our bodies to adapt to stress. It is well known that the stresses of life have a serious effect on libido in both men and women.

Nutritional Profile

Maca powder is approximately 10 percent protein. The protein in maca contains twenty amino acids and seven of the eight essential amino acids. Although not a complete protein, maca is an excellent source of hormone precursors and amino acids.

Maca has a lipid content of about 2.2 percent which includes linolenic acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acid. Maca is also a good source of sterols. Sterols have been shown to have immune enhancing properties.

Maca is rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur, sodium, and iron. Maca is also a great source of the trace minerals zinc, copper, selenium, iodine, bismuth, manganese, silicon, and tin.

Maca also contains vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

Maca is truly a power packed superfood that is beneficial for both libido and nutrition. In order to achieve best results, consume between 2 to 6 tablespoons of maca powder daily.

Resources:http://www.macaroot.com/benefits/index.html
http://www.macaeffects.com/top-health-benefits-of-maca
http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/3439/1/The-Magical-Benefits-of-Peruvian-Maca.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/027797_maca_root_hormone_balance.html
Superfoods: The Food And Medicine Of The Future, By David Wolfe, Pub 2009

Couples increasingly seeking out alternative infertility treatments such as acupuncture

by: David Gutierrez

(NaturalNews) Alternative fertility treatments are becoming increasingly popular among certain segments of the U.S. population, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of California-San Francisco and published in the journal Fertility and Sterility.


The researchers used interviews and questionnaires to follow 428 couples who were undergoing conventional fertility interventions at eight reproductive clinics in Northern California. Over the course of 18 months, the researchers found that 29 percent of study participants used at least one alternative fertility treatment.


Twenty-two percent of study participants used acupuncture, 17 percent used medicinal herbs and 1 percent used meditation. Another 5 percent used some form of body work therapy, such as massage or chiropractic.
Couples who failed to achieve pregnancy with conventional fertility treatments were almost 150 percent more likely to used alternative therapies than those who succeeded. The older a prospective mother was, the higher a couple's chance of using complementary treatments. Even after researchers adjusted for potential confounding factors such as the number of prior children or the use of other fertility treatments, use of alternative therapies increased 29 percent with every five years of the mother's age.


"We suggest that couples struggling to achieve pregnancy are more likely to seek out any treatment that offers hope," lead researcher James Smith said.
The researchers also found that couples with positive views on alternative therapies were 85 percent more likely to use them than couples with more negative views.


Wealth was also a major predictor of a couple's use of alternative therapies; couples with a combined income of more than $200,000 per year were almost three times more likely to use such therapies than couples with a combined yearly income below $100,000.
"Couples with higher incomes were more likely to have the financial resources to seek out [complementary therapies]," Smith said.


A single acupuncture visit in Northern California averages $100, Smith noted. While inexpensive compared to a $16,500 in-vitro fertility treatment, the cost may still place such therapies out of range of poorer couples.


Sources for this story include: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62U4CF20100331

Weight-Reduction Plan for Fertility

Author: aprilk



Obesity has many unfavourable health consequences. Some are better recognized and documented than others. Latest studies have shown that one more potential consequence of obesity is problem with regards to conceiving a baby. Fertility troubles are a growing drawback on this nation and across the world. One motive that’s being hailed as a really viable wrongdoer is obesity.


Whereas most individuals look immediately to the female in the relationship for this explicit drawback the details point out that male obesity also can lead to a low sperm count, which may also hamper fertility efforts and progress.


Our bodies have been designed for particular purposes. It is completely amazing how effectively every part of the human body works to support the others. There are only a few machines that may compete with the genius of the design of the human body. After hundreds of years to study the human physique there are still many mysteries hidden within. The truth comes all the way down to this nevertheless, we put issues into our our bodies, and abuse our our bodies in ways that our bodies had been merely not designed to take and yet we still manage to adapt and survive many of these things.


It is amazing when you concentrate on that the human body endures the many things it does without permanent and irrevocable damage. The excellent news for these attempting to conceive is that the human body also has the remarkable ability to heal itself. This means that those that find their efforts to conceive have been hampered by weight problems have additionally seen optimistic changes by shedding as little as five to 10 p.c of your capacity to conceive.


If both companions are overweight then it is perhaps a good suggestion to work together to shed these unwanted pounds and undertake a healthier, more lively lifestyle. Being active when trying to conceive and throughout the being pregnant is a good suggestion for the feminine within the relationship at any rate as this can assist within the technique of labor and delivery.


If you’re trying to conceive without success and have been doing so for more than a 12 months it is most likely in your finest interest to hunt the services of a fertility specialist to be able to rule out other possible considerations. Though it’s rarely a bad thought to undertake a more healthy lifestyle you should also seek the advice of your physician earlier than beginning a strict food regimen or weight reduction regimen with a view to ensure there aren’t other factors that may be inflicting your weight issues. That is significantly true in case you have gained a good deal of weight in a moderately brief quantity of time.


Along with conception issue weight problems also can result in a better threat of miscarriage once conception has occurred. Weight problems also leads to a higher danger of conditions comparable to gestational diabetes through the being pregnant, pre-eclampsia, and in some cases nonetheless birth and birth defects. It is no small hindrance to a healthy pregnancy and needs to be carefully thought-about earlier than trying to conceive.


One other consideration with regards to weight problems and fertility is that being overweight also can hamper the affects of fertility treatments. This means that the process is usually lengthier and can value considerably extra over time than if obesity weren’t a factor. When coupled with the risks to the newborn this is one thing that should not be taken flippantly when planning for fertility treatments.


If your BMI is greater than 30 there are numerous fertility clinics that merely won’t provide their services. Some restrict it to higher than 35 and others 40. In case you feel that fertility treatments are the one course of action obtainable to you and your BMI is bigger than 30, the first suggestion you’re more likely to hear is the suggestion that you simply make critical weight loss efforts and way of life changes before proceeding. You could discover that once you start to shed the kilos, fertility intervention is not necessary.


Losing weight isn’t straightforward however you may need to contemplate taking a look at one thing corresponding to hoodia as it’s helped a lot of people curb their urge for food and make them lose weight.