How Successful is the Infertility Diet?

When dealing with the issue of infertility and difficulties with conception, most couples of course want to try anything and everything they can to help the process along.  With that thought in mind, some wonder if there is such a thing as an infertility diet, and if so, does it actually work?  Can your eating habits do anything to help or hinder your situation with pregnancy?  Let’s examine some of that information here.

Doctors Respond to the Infertility Diet

In a new study cited in OBGYN News, a group of Harvard researchers found that 79% of infertile couples had a lower-than-average intake of foods high in antioxidants – like fruits and vegetables.  In one study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Medicine, doctors found that after one week of daily doses of 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, sperm counts rose by some 140%.  Obviously, when dealing with infertility, diet and getting enough of the right vitamins is helpful to some.

More recently, a study published in the Archives of Andrology showed the antioxidants vitamin E and selenium improved the ability of sperm to swim – a skill necessary to reach the egg.

Physical Activity is Part of the Infertility Diet

Exercise also improves muscle tone and good muscle tone helps every aspect of your system as well.  Excessive body weight also puts undue pressure on the reproductive organs and doesn’t allow them to function optimally; obese persons often suffer from reproductive issues.  When dealing with infertility, diet alone may not be enough.  Regular physical activity must be part of the equation as well.

However, you don’t want to go overboard in this direction either.  It’s been sadly reported that many young female athletes that are pushed to excessive physical activity have irregular periods and subsequent issues with reproduction.  Starving your body of vital nutrients and overworking it physically will take a tremendous toll on your system, and this is true for both men and women.  So if you do exercise and keep track of your diet, make sure you’re being balanced and healthy.

But modest exercise is beneficial in so many ways, not just when discussing the infertility diet.  Exercising increases the blood circulation and good circulation is important for all aspects of health.  Blood brings nutrients to every part of the body and filters away dead cells.

Additionally, eating right and exercising will make a person feel better all around; feeling more positive will lead to a reduction in stress, which is also beneficial when trying to conceive.  And when thinking about your infertility diet, this may be something that helps to draw you together as a couple, which can lead to a better, more active sex life – another important aspect of conception!  So never dismiss the thought that your condition can be helped or hindered by your eating habits and exercising; even doctors agree that when dealing with infertility, diet is important, as is exercise and physical activity.

Fertility Treatment

Trying Herbs for Infertility Treatment

If you’re someone facing the difficult diagnosis of infertility, you may be ready to start undergoing all the painful and expensive treatments and invasive surgeries that your doctor has recommended.  But is this your only option?  What about trying some natural herbs for infertility; do these work?  If so, what are they?  And are there any other natural supplements that one can at least try first, before undergoing all those unpleasant procedures?

Vitamins and Minerals for Treatment

When thinking about what herbs for infertility actually work, you may want to consider what some experts are saying about natural treatments, including vitamins and other such substances.  In a new study cited in OBGYN News, a group of Harvard researchers found that 79% of infertile couples had a lower-than-average intake of foods high in antioxidants – like fruits and vegetables.

In one study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Medicine, doctors found that after one week of daily doses of 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, sperm counts rose by some 140%.  If you’re thinking of trying some herbs for infertility, consider something with a vitamin C supplement.

More recently, a study published in the Archives of Andrology showed the antioxidants vitamin E and selenium improved the ability of sperm to swim — a skill necessary to reach the egg.

Homeopathic Herbs for Infertility

There are some great homeopathic remedies that include herbs for infertility, and some are actually catching the attention of traditional doctors.  “In research published in the journal Reproductive Biomedicine Online, a group of German doctors show that some natural remedies may work for men.  The authors show that sperm quality and function improved with the intake of complementary food supplementation using either a combination of zinc and folic acid, the antioxidant Astacarox, or an energy-providing combination containing (actyl)-carnitine (Proxeed).  The latter two also boosted the success of intrauterine insemination and spontaneous pregnancy rates.”  These substances are common in homeopathic herbs for infertility.

Moreover, in the journal Fertility and Sterility doctors reported that men with fertility problems who took a daily dose of 66 milligrams of zinc and 5 milligrams of folic acid for nearly six months saw a 74% increase in their sperm counts.

Even more recently, studies published in the journal Fertility and Sterility revealed that both L-carnitine and L-acetyl carnitine improved sperm in a number of areas key to fertilization.

The following remedies are considered potent herbs for infertility in women:

sepia 6c: used to treat irregular or absent ovulation
sabina 6c: recommended for women who have suffered recurrent miscarriage
aurum:used when lack of sex drive and depression are thought to be the cause of infertility
silica: this remedy is used to boost a woman’s weakened immune system
phosphorus:used to treat stress as well as emotional anxiety that can accompany infertility

The following remedies are considered potent herbs for infertility in men:

sepia 6c: used to treat low sex drive
medorrhinum: this homeopathy treatment is believed to help treat impotence

Fertility Treatment

Some Common Medical Fertility Treatments

For some couples, they have tried to make all the lifestyle changes they possibly can, and realize that medical intervention is the only viable option for them.  In this case, what are some common fertility treatments for these couples?  What are the side effects, and are they typically successful?

Assisted Reproduction Fertility Treatments

Assisted Reproduction is the phrase used in the medical community to describe medical intervention for couples facing infertility.  Here are some common fertility treatments and how they work:

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI).  This procedure which is also known as artificial insemination is often combined with hormone treatments to boost egg production, and can help couples with low sperm count, unexplained infertility, or cervical mucus problems.  Semen is collected, and then delivered via a catheter inserted through the women’s vagina and cervix to her uterus.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). IVF may help those with pelvic or tubal damage, or male infertility.  It is the most commonly used of all the fertility treatments available.  The woman takes drugs to stimulate egg production, which are surgically removed.  Then eggs and sperm (from her partner or a donor) are collected and combined outside the body, and inserted into her body to develop after fertilization takes place.  “In vitro” means “in glass” (that is, in a test tube or laboratory dish).

Sperm Donation. Fertility treatments do also include those necessary when a male partner is not present or does not have viable sperm.  This procedure is performed using sperm from a typically anonymous donor; of course, a sperm donor can be a male friend or associate.

Donated Egg. This can help those whose infertility problems are due to premature menopause or some other disruption of ovulation.

Surrogacy, Traditional and Gestational.  In traditional surrogacy, another woman carries and gives birth to a baby conceived with her egg and your partner’s sperm (through artificial insemination).  In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate carries and gives birth to a baby conceived with your egg and your partner’s sperm, then transferred as an embryo to her womb.

Fertility Treatments Available for You

The proper procedure that is best for you and your partner is one that only you or the two of you together can decide on, of course with your doctor’s help.  Many of these fertility treatments listed are very expensive, so of course your own personal budget will need to be considered.  Additionally, there are some who have religious beliefs or moral opinions about many of these fertility treatments, and of course this is a personal decision as well.  The bottom line is that while so many of these options are becoming more and more common, and safer as well, the final decision will need to be yours.  After all, you are the one who will need to live with the consequences and responsibility of this decision for the rest of your life.  So, speak openly and honestly with your doctor and be sure that you completely understand all of these many choices so as to make the most informed decision possible.

Fertility Treatment

Natural Methods Are Sometimes the Best Fertility Treatment!

When dealing with the issues of reproductive challenges, most couples are appreciative of the fact that medical science offers them a wealth of options when it comes to fertility treatments, including drugs that help a woman ovulate, Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) such as in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, sperm donation and the like.  However, some couples are still looking for natural methods that work as fertility treatments for themselves and their partners.  How can you go about assisting your own reproduction with such methods?  Are there any that actually work?  Let’s examine some of these issues here.

Be Careful of Your Medications

Sometimes an actual fertility treatment is not necessary, as you realize that conception is being hindered by the medications you’re taking, either for the man or the woman.  Some drugs, such as those to treat high cholesterol or diabetes, interfere with a woman’s ovulation abilities and a man’s sperm production.  Before investigating medical alternatives as a fertility treatment, speak with your doctor about your prescription medications.  There are some that of course you cannot stop taking as it will cause you serious health problems, but there may be adjustments that can be made, or other medications to take that will help to offset these issues with reproduction.

It’s also noteworthy that over the counter and homeopathic medicines can have the same effect, so don’t forget to mention these to your doctor as well.

Good Sex as a Fertility Treatment

Because a man’s sperm needs to travel a long distance (or at least to the microscopic sperm, it seems like a long distance!) in order to reach an egg to fertilize, it’s best to be mindful of your sex practices and whether they’re helping or hindering this journey.  The “missionary” position, or man on top, is always recommended when a couple is trying to get pregnant.  Other positions such as the woman on top, sitting, standing, and anything else that interrupts the natural flow of sperm and causes it to work against gravity is only going to make the sperm need to work that much harder.

When considering a fertility treatment for yourself, you should definitely give some attention to your sexual practices first, as a simple change in your habits can go a long way (no pun intended) toward helping that sperm reach its goal.

Other Natural Fertility Treatments

Reducing stress, smoking cessation, and a good diet along with regular physical exercise are always recommended before trying a medical fertility treatment, as these things can help the body address and even repair any issues it may have with the reproductive system.  Soaking in hot water can kill sperm, so the man should avoid hot tubs and the like.  An ovulation predictor can also help a woman to know when she is ovulating.

So, there are no guarantees that any of these tips and reminders will work for you, but again, it’s always best to try the most natural fertility treatments first before opting for invasive surgeries or expensive drugs.

Help for Causes of Infertility

Breast implants are in fact neither dull nor silly. They are a lot more important than what sort of art the National Endowment for the Arts funds or whether it even exists. Breast implants are medical devices that typically consist of a silicone elastomer shell filled with saline or silicone gel. They are intended for women who are seeking breast augmentation (cosmetic) or breast reconstruction. Breast implants have become a worldwide multi-billion dollar industry based on cultivating women’s insecurities about their bodies, while failing to prove that implants are safe over the long-term. In 2006, after a 14 year ban, the Food and Drug Administration approved marketing silicone-gel breast implants to women aged 22 and older, and by late 2006, the first Authorize silicon gel center was opened in California, it was the well know and already famouse Beverly Hills Breast Augmentation clinic.

Augmentation mammoplasty is an elective cosmetic surgery and as such, these procedures are not covered by insurance plans. For most, the cost of breast enhancement surgery is an important consideration. Augmentation may also be used as part of breast reconstruction after masectomy. Augmentation is achieved via the insertion of breast implants — saline filled plastic bags — behind the breasts.

Silicone-gel implants are not approved for marketing and are available to women only through FDA-approved clinical studies. Silicone gel implant ruptures are difficult to detect with a mammogram alone, and it’s likely you won’t have any signs that the implant has ruptured. This is called a “silent rupture.”.While some women experience subtle changes in the size, shape or contour of their breasts, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is usually necessary to identify the rupture and to help determine if it’s intracapsular or extracapsular. Silicones are used in lipstick, hair spray, food processing, skin creams, and cosmetics and are known to be absorbed through both the bowel and the lungs.

Women may choose to under go breast enlargement surgery for various reasons. These personal reasons may center around breasts that are perceived to be under developed, or because of differences in the sizes of the breasts or from changes after pregnancy or breast feeding. Women choose to have breast augmentation surgery to improve their self image.