If you are trying to get pregnant, you might have heard that overdoing physical exercise might be too much of a good thing.

There is basis to this belief in actual fact, because studies have shown that excessive exercise when a woman is trying to conceive can have an adverse effect on her fertility.

On the other hand, too little exercise can also affect your fertility, so it may be difficult to determine the point where one can be considered to have hit a happy medium.

Women who follow a too rigorous exercise regime are in danger of becoming infertile.

Why?

Because too much exercise may lead to the loss of too much body fat.

Body fat in women helps to produce estrogen, and with an insufficient amount of the female hormone estrogen being released into a woman’s body, she is at risk of developing oligomenorrhea.

Oligomenorrhea is a condition in which a woman has very light menstrual periods or irregular menstrual periods. Either of which will affect ovulation, which in turn affects fertility.

In some cases, women who participate in too much strenuous exercise may develop amenorrhea, which means a complete lack of a menstrual period. Without a menstrual period and ovulation, pregnancy isn’t in the forecast!

Too much exercise affects men as well as women.

In males, excessive exercise can lead to sub fertility simply because they might raise the level of the internal temperature in testicles to above 90 degrees, which causes sperm to die and become less motile.

Men who exercise to the point of being underweight may also find that this has had an adverse effect on fertility because low weight in males can mean lower sperm motility and poor sperm morphology.

It is important to get a sufficient amount of exercise while you are trying to conceive, however.

Women who are obese also have less chance of getting pregnant.

So, it is easy to see that you need to work out a suitable exercise regime—not too much or too little—and stick to it while you are trying to get pregnant!

Know your fertility with our free ovulation calendar.

If you are trying to get pregnant, you may be interested in all of the latest news and findings regarding fertility and infertility, such as the results of a recent study about women with epilepsy.

According to the results of a recent study conducted by lead author Sanjeev Thomas and associates, all from the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology in Trivandrum, India; women with epilepsy are significantly more likely to experience infertility.

Epilepsy is a condition that results from the generation of electrical signals inside the brain and causes recurrent seizures of varying severity.

The study in India followed 375 women with epilepsy for up to 10 years and research determined that 38.4% of those women failed to conceive.

7% of the women in the study who took no drugs to treat their epilepsy had fertility problems, compared with 32% of those taking one drug for treatment of epilepsy, 41% of those taking two drugs, and 60% of those taking three or more epilepsy medications.

The results seem to support earlier findings that women with epilepsy have an increased rate of infertility or sub-fertility.

It also seems basically conclusive that women with epilepsy who take multiple drugs to control symptoms have a greatly increased rate of infertility.

The study authors had this to say:

“Our data show that WWE (women with epilepsy) carry significant risk of infertility when they are exposed to polytherapy. Enzyme-inducing AEDs like PB (phenobarbital) have higher risk of infertility than other AEDs. Demographic factors such as age and educational status are also important predictors of infertility.”

The researchers noted that women with epilepsy might have hormonal changes linked to seizures that are a contributing factor in irregular menstrual periods. Anti-seizure drugs can potentially change the balance of reproductive hormones in the body. PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, for example, is a common condition among epileptic women, especially those women taking valproic acid to control seizures.

If you are trying to conceive and have epilepsy, you may want to discuss this with your doctor.

Know your fertility with our free ovulation calendar.

If you have been trying to get pregnant for 12 months or longer without any luck, you may be surprised to hear that male obesity has been linked to low testosterone in men.

It has long been known that obesity is a factor in female fertility, and this newest research study indicates that male obesity might tamper with fertility as well.

Testosterone is a male hormone that significantly contributes to the male libido and sex drive.

Low testosterone usually equals low sex drive.

Low sex drive when a couple is trying to get pregnant can be quite a problem!

The study was funded by Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. and conducted from November 2003 to February 2004 in 95 primary care practices throughout the United States.

Participating men with Diabetes Mellitus, whether found to be obese or not by measuring the BMI, showed lower levels of testosterone than those non-diabetic men across all of the weight categories.

Testosterone levels declined significantly in both the diabetic and non-diabetic men as BMI and obesity increased.

UB endocrinologists published a study in Diabetes Care in 2008 showing that more than 50 percent of men between 18 and 35 years old with type 2 diabetes had lower than normal testosterone levels.

“In view of the high rates of subnormal testosterone in patients with obesity or diabetes, testosterone concentrations should be measured regularly in these populations, especially when these conditions occur together,” said study researcher Dr. Paresh Dandona, head of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at UB.

“The effect of diabetes on lowering testosterone levels was similar to that of a weight gain of approximately 20 pounds,” said lead author Dr. Sandeep Dhindsa, an endocrinology specialist at the University of Buffalo, Department of Medicine, and lead author of the study published online ahead of print in the journal “Diabetes Care.”

With obesity reaching the stage of a national epidemic in both men and women, the results could speak to many American men.

“In view of the fact that almost one-third of the U.S. is obese, these observations have profound pathophysiological, clinical, epidemiological and public health implications,” Dhindsa said.

So, apparently obesity can play a part in male fertility, too!

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If you have been trying to conceive for a year or longer without success, you might be interested to hear about some new research findings pertaining to male infertility and gene mutation.

A new study, hot off the presses and just published online in the American Journal of Human Genetics, may shed some new light on the role of genetics in male fertility.

According to researchers from the Pasteur Institute in Paris, mutations within a single gene might cause extremely low sperm counts in some men.

This gene is called NR5A1 and was already known for its association with serious problems of the male reproductive system, including abnormalities in the development of male testes.

Not only are men affected by this particular gene, but women as well.

In 2009, the leader of the Pasteur Institute team who conducted this latest study, Dr. Amu Bashamboo, linked certain mutations in the NR5A1 gene with female ovarian dysfunction.

In their study, published by the New England Journal of Medicine, the researcher said that women who inherit some mutations of the gene may have a “progressive loss of reproductive capacity.”

“When we found this association in women,” Bashamboo said, “we considered it likely that NR5A1 mutations may also be associated with male infertility.”

In the newest study of gene NR5A1, the Pasteur Institute research team analyzed DNA of 315 men who had been previously diagnosed as having infertility from unknown causes.

Seven of the 315 participants were discovered to have NR5A1 mutations.

The team proceeded to scan DNA samples from 2,000 fertile men and found no NR5A1 gene mutations.

“Mutations in NR5A1 have always been associated with anomalies of gonad development,” Bashamboo said, “but usually they were severe.”

Since two of the men in the first group were in their late 30s/early 40s, and because one man showed a steady decline in sperm count over a 2 year period, the researchers have hypothesized that the gene mutations might cause early decline in fertility with male age.

In a nutshell, the findings seem to show that a man with this gene mutation may have no problems fathering a child while still in his early 20s, but may be infertile if he tries later on in life.

The research suggests that the gene mutation may be caused in part by chemicals in the environment.

During the past few years, research scientists in the United States as well as Japan have conducted studies that showed the chemical known as atrazine, which is commonly found in herbicides, disrupts the normal function of NR5A1 in fish and humans, besides demasculinizing animals and increasing the risk of reproductive cancer in animals and humans.

Scary stuff!

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If you have been trying to get pregnant for a year or longer without success, you might be considering IVF and interested in learning about PGD, or Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis.

What is Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis?

PGD is a diagnostic test that is often used in conjunction with IVF, or In Vitro Fertilization. This test is performed on embryos to help in detection of genetic diseases or chromosomal abnormalities.

Since its conception back in 1989, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis has become the single most important advance in genetic testing to determine whether genetic abnormalities are possible with any given pregnancy.

Couples who are known to have genetic disorders, or those who carry a genetic disease have used PGD to successfully decrease the likelihood of having a child with these potentially life threatening problems.

How is Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Performed?

In PGD, a single cell is removed from an embryo and then analyzed for a specific abnormality.

By transferring only embryos shown to be unaffected by genetic anomalies to the mother’s uterus, the probability that couples will have a healthy child is vastly increased.

Before the inception of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, the process of diagnosing genetic disease was confined to testing a fetus through amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.

With PGD, a couple is furnished with better and more conclusive information about the health of the fetus. This knowledge gives prospective parents the tools to make informed decisions about the course a pregnancy should take.

Who is a Candidate for PGD?

In general, PGD is most frequently recommended for patients at risk for genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, Tay Sachs disease, or thalassemia.

PGD is also quite helpful for patients who have unexplained infertility, recurrent miscarriages, unsuccessful IVF cycles, older mothers, or male factor infertility.

In these cases, the cause is most likely a chromosome abnormality that may be detected with PGD.

If you or your partner has a familial history of certain diseases or any of the conditions noted above, you may want to discuss PGD with your doctor prior to IVF treatments.

Know your fertility with our free ovulation calendar.

If you have been trying to get pregnant for twelve months or longer, you may be facing dealing with infertility issues and be somewhat bewildered by all of the myths, superstitions and Old Wives Tales that seem to abound on this particular subject!

Fertility and infertility are topics that have been much discussed since way back in the mists of history.

Since the dawn of civilization, keeping the species going has been of prime interest to human beings both male and female. Therefore, when conception has failed to occur within a reasonable length of time, people attempted to find explanations and fixes from all kinds of sources; even sacrificing animals or having fertility ceremonies in some extreme instances.

Many of these superstitious myths have no basis in actual fact, but have persevered anyway through the years.

Here are some popular myths, superstitions and Old Wives Tales about fertility and infertility:

Myth: Infertility is usually the woman’s fault.

Fact: Not so! In fact, according to research, when a couple is infertile it is just as likely to be the man as the woman who has problems with fertility. Studies show that about 40% of infertility is due to women, 40% to men, with the other 20% due to unknown causes.

Myth: Most couples conceive very quickly.

Fact: Not true! The fact is that about 10-15% of the population has infertility problems.

Myth: Couples who adopt a baby go on to conceive.

Fact: Not so. The truth is that adoption does not affect a couple’s chances of getting pregnant. The rate of conception is the same for couples who didn’t adopt as those who did.

Myth: Couples who have conceived once will have no problems with getting pregnant again.

Fact: No. There are many factors which can come into play after a couple has successfully conceived once that might hinder or prevent them from getting pregnant again. The age of the mother, for example, is a prime factor in Secondary Infertility.

Trying to sift through all of the truths, half truths and outright fabrications about infertility can be extremely confusing! If you have doubts about something you’ve heard concerning infertility—let your fingers do the walking on your keyboard and Google it—you’ll soon be put straight!

Know your fertility with our free ovulation calendar.

If you have been trying to get pregnant for a year or longer, you may be dealing with infertility issues and be unpleasantly surprised to discover that your health care plan doesn’t pay for treatments such as IVF.

In fact, the majority of health insurance companies in the United States do not cover infertility treatments. Many don’t even pay for tests pertaining to fertility or infertility.

Sadly, these companies are the norm instead of the exceptions to the rule.

Besides the health insurance companies themselves, many employers opt out of coverage for infertility treatments due to its cost, which can be exorbitant.

For example, it is not uncommon for one In Vitro Fertilization treatment to cost in excess of $12,000!

Dr. Elizabeth Kennard, who is the director of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Ohio State University, said that her patients are very much aware of treatment costs for infertility.

“It’s part of my everyday conversation with patients,” she said. “If we’re talking about treatments, we’re talking about costs.”

“My impression is a larger employer is more likely to have better infertility coverage, but not always,” Dr. Kennard said.

She also commented on the fact that some health plans are getting more involved in the details of treatments.

One company requires a blood test to ascertain that potential mothers aren’t smokers. Another wants fewer embryos transferred, to decrease the likelihood of multiple births, Kennard said.

Some insurers want doctors to follow guidelines set by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine on how many embryos should be implanted, before covering treatments.
To be fair, insurance companies that are going to cover infertility treatments should have the right to set a few common-sense guidelines.

The case of the “Octo-Mom” in California who gave birth to eight babies thanks to IVF treatments is a case in point. Realistically speaking, there is no valid reason for any insurance provider to foot the bill for that kind of insanity.

The main issue is to get more health insurance companies as well as employers on board with reasonable coverage for infertility treatments!

Know your fertility with our free ovulation calendar.

If you are trying to get pregnant, you might be interested in a few easy steps that will improve your fertility and hopefully help you to conceive faster!

A lot of women focus on not getting pregnant for a few or even many years, so when it comes time to start trying to actually get pregnant, they aren’t sure what to expect and would probably welcome ways to help give Mother Nature a boost.

Here are 5 easy steps that can help you conceive faster:

Use a Fertility Awareness program such as My Fertility Charts to track and predict ovulation! Studies have shown that women who use Fertility Awareness methods conceive up to six times faster. Plus, it’s a safe, natural way of getting in tune with your body and your fertility!

If you smoke—quit—and ditto for your partner! There has been much research showing that that smoking can have an adverse effect on both men and women in terms of fertility. Smoking in males can also affect sperm motility and overall sperm health. So, if you are serious about getting pregnant and want to have a healthy baby; ditch the cigars, cigarettes or any other forms of tobacco.

Keep your weight at a happy medium. Research has shown that many women who are obese have a much more difficult time getting pregnant. By the same token, women who are too thin also may experience infertility or sub-fertility because the female body needs a certain amount of fat to produce the chemical Leptin that aids in ovulation. In fact, studies show that obese or too thin women are approximately half as likely to get pregnant as women with a normal body weight.

If you have been having unprotected sexual intercourse for a few months and have not gotten pregnant, it may be time to get both yourself and your partner tested for such things as Chlamydia and other infections or diseases that affect fertility. After all, if there is a problem that needs to be addresses in order for conception to occur….better to get a head start on it!

Before you start actively trying to get pregnant, it is a good idea to look around your house and get rid of cleaners or other products with toxic chemicals. This also applies to flame retardant materials, tech toys, fabrics, and plastics contain that contain the extremely dangerous chemicals known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs. There is a wealth of evidence that shows women with high levels of PBDEs took twice as long to get pregnant compared to women who hadn’t been exposed at such high levels. Men may also be affected!
These five simple steps can help you get pregnant!

Know your fertility with our free ovulation calendar.

If you have been trying to get pregnant for more than a year without success, you might be heartened to learn about a new Welsh research study that offers breakthrough treatment in the battle against infertility!

This study, conducted by scientists at Swansea University in Wales, has revealed the mechanism that is responsible for detecting and responding to the presence of bacteria in the womb.

This new discovery could lead to preventative treatments for diseases such as pelvic inflammatory disease and Chlamydia which are major contributors to infertility.

Martin Sheldon, who is the professor of reproductive immunobiology at the Swansea University’s School of Medicine, had this to day:

“Infections of the womb are common and can lead to infertility and early labor, but we don’t have any vaccines or other ways of preventing these problems.

The womb is a unique environment and responds to infection in different ways to other parts of the body.

What we’ve established is that the womb relies on cells not normally involved in immunity to detect and respond to bacteria. This is crucial information as it will hopefully provide us with new targets for preventing disease.”

Normally, the human immune system is not as well developed in the womb, which is believed to be linked to the uterus usually being a sterile environment.

This lack of immune tissues means that the womb relies on a simpler, more basic form of immunity called the innate system.

The Swansea team of scientists discovered that the cells which line the walls of the womb play an important role in detecting infection and generating an innate immune response.
Additionally, the study showed that a protein on the outside of these cells is responsible for the detection of bacterial cells.

Prof Sheldon, who is based at Swansea University’s Institute of Life Science, said this:

“Infections of the womb are sometimes overlooked as a serious health problem because they are seen as a bit embarrassing, but they can cause women considerable physical and emotional suffering and in the US alone, around one million women seek treatment for such infections each year.”

The ongoing research into the field of infertility offers fresh hope for couples trying to conceive!

Know your fertility with our free ovulation calendar.

If you are trying to conceive and not having any luck, you probably want to learn everything you can about factors that can contribute to infertility, both male and female.

Chlamydia has long been recognized as a culprit in female infertility.

But research has shown that Chlamydia might also be a cause for concern in male infertility, as well.

According to a 2004 report, a study was conducted in Sweden in the years between 1997 and 2001 that closely followed 238 men and women who were seeking help for problems with fertility. Both genders were tested for the bacterium responsible for Chlamydia.

Presence of this bacterium indicates either a present or past Chlamydia infection.

Chlamydia trachomatis is a significant cause of infertility in women. The bacterium can cause tubal factor infertility (TFI) which causes the fallopian tubes to become blocked or scarred, often resulting in infertility.

Between 14 and 54 months after the initial study, Swedish researchers contacted the couples to find out if they had conceived.

Just as expected, the women who had tested positive for antibodies of Chlamydia were more likely to have Tubal Factor Infertility.

The surprising thing, however, was that men who had been infected with Chlamydia were one-third less likely to father a child!

It is important to note that there was no correlation between the presence of antibodies in the male and Tubal Factor Infertility in his female partner, which suggests that the bacterium has a direct effect on male fertility.

Most men have few or no symptoms from a Chlamydia infection.

Previous research has shown that the presence of Chlamydia in male semen leads to reduced sperm motility, but no study had ever shown a direct link to male infertility. It is heartening to note that if a couple does manage to conceive, a past Chlamydia infection has no influence on the success of the pregnancy.

The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately three million US citizens are infected, many of them unknowingly.

Hopefully, finding out that Chlamydia is not, as previously believed, only a factor in female infertility but in males as well; more men will be tested to rule it out as a cause for infertility!

Source: Journal reference : Human Reproduction (vol 19, p 1121)

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