Female Fertility

Zinc: A Natural Fertility Enhancer

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 07:22:36 PDT

Did you know that scientists have continuously studied zinc’s impacts fertility in both males and females? Did you know that this nutrient has been found in high levels in foods used by traditional cultures to enhance fertility? In the next lines we’ll show you the wonders zinc can work in a natural and accessible way.

Zinc has been shown to be quite important to sperm health and thus vital to male fertility. If a man's zinc levels are often low, so are his semen levels. Healthy sperm is vital not just for fertility, but for the health of your future baby as well.

Chromosomal changes may occur if you have low zinc levels, which can increase your risk of having an abortion and harm your future child. Zinc also helps your system to synthesize and use the hormones you need to get and stay pregnant.

Traditional cultures have always appreciated foods high in vitamin A –also known as retinol- since rich foods heighten fertility and help ensure the newborn baby’s health). Taking vitamin A in large quantities during pregnancy is not to take for granted. However, researchers have found that natural vitamin A is vital for conception and for healthy fetal development.

The best way to get zinc and vitamin A is through foods. You body absorbs nutrients in food much better than it does from pills. And food is a much more pleasant way to enhance your fertility!

In ancient times, cultures nourished women and men with special diets in the months leading up to conception. Shellfish were often part of these diets and we know today that shellfish are high in zinc. As a matter of fact, fish were a large part of these diets. Do fish oils have natural retinol in them? Of course, you can take a teaspoon of cod liver oil daily to get the same benefits that these cultures enjoyed.

Other cultures depended on cattle for their nutrients. Beef, butter, cheese, and milk are great sources of zinc and retinol. Butter from healthy cows fed with natural pasture contains vitamin A and many trace minerals, and the most important thing: no dangerous trans-fats. Recent investigations have shown that women who include milk in their daily diet during pregnancy have healthier, higher birth weight babies and are less prone to deliver prematurely. Milk is rich in many vitamins and minerals, as well as protein.

Many seeds and bean are rich sources of zinc. Chickpeas and tahini, butter made from chickpeas, has been used for ages and is especially high in zinc. Carrots and leafy greens are good providers of beta-carotene, which your body turns into vitamin A.

Enjoy a varied diet with emphasis on fresh, whole foods. Always keep in mind adding milk or milk products, leafy vegetables, and shellfish into your diet. Take a teaspoon of cod liver oil everyday. Adding these foods will increase the zinc and vitamin A in your diet and in your partner's diet. This is no sacrifice, believe me, it’s a reeducation of your nutritional habits that will be very pleasant by giving you a greater health and greater fertility!

Women sexual problems

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 18:28:39 PDT

Hypoactive sexual desire (hypo means lack or deficiency of something)

1. The lack of sexual desire causes anxiety and sorrow to women. This includes a persistent deficiency or recurrent or absence of sexual fantasies, or lack of interest in sexual intercourse. It also includes sexual aversion. Hypoactive sexual desire may be the result of chemical factors (medication), emotionals (depression) or menopause.

Sexual aversion is the complete evasion to sexual intercourse. It’s also classified as phobic disorder as a result of physical or sexual abuse or a child trauma.

2. Sexual arouse disorder: inability to get or keep lubrication, inappropriate genital swell or any other somatic (body) reaction as nipple sensibility. Sexual excitement disorders include lack of vaginal lubrication; decrease of clitoris or labial swell; or lack of vaginal enlargement, dilation or arouse. Although these conditions may be caused by psychological factors, as depression, they may also have an organic base, as a decrease of vaginal or clitoral blood flow.

Some women with sexual dysfunction for organic factors develop also develop psychological problems that should be treated.

3. Orgasmic disorder: It’s the difficulty or inability to reach orgasm after enough sexual stimuli. Orgasmic disorder also involves any difficulty or delay to reach orgasm that causes anxiety and sorrow to women. Orgasm quality may decrease too. Some women with orgasmic disorder describe their orgasm as “subdued”, particularly if they have had stronger orgasms in the past. Orgasmic disorder is considered in the primary category when a woman has never reached orgasm; or secondary, when she can never reach it because of surgery, hormonal deficiencies, injuries or wounds.

Primary orgasm may be caused by an emotional trauma or sexual abuse, as well by organic factors as medication or damage to the pelvic nerves during surgery. Clytodectomy or clitoris removal, practiced in some cultures of Africa, Middle East and Asia is considered a natural cause for this disorder.

4. Sexual pain disorder: This includes dispareunia which is a recurrent or persistent genital pain associated to coitus. Dispareunia may be developed as a result of organic problems, as vaginal infections or vaginal covering slimming during menopause or for a vaginal surgery procedure. It may have a psychological cause or may reflect a relationship problem or any emotional problem. Most times, as many disorders, it’s a combination of physiological and psychological factors. Another sexual disorder is vaginismus or spasms of the involuntary muscles of the lowest third of the vagina that makes penetration difficult. Vaginismus is normally developed as a conditioned response to painful penetration, but may result to emotional problems too.

There is as well another type of sexual pain, the genital pain induced by non-coitus sexual stimulus. This type of pain appears with any kind of sexual stimulus different form coitus. Event though the sexual stimulus produces the pain, the primary cause may include vaginal infections, genital mutilations or the repetitive inflammation and hot sensation around the vagina’s opening.

Female sexual dysfunctions main causes

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 18:24:13 PDT

If you ignore the cause of you problem it’s obvious that you wont’ find the solution. In the following lines of this post will present you the description of the most known the organic and psychological causes that may affect your sexual life:

Surgery or pelvic injury: Physicians have limited acknowledge of the nerves and the blood vessels that go through the pelvis on their way to the vagina and vulva. They simply don’t know which areas they have to avoid when doing surgery there. As a result, female sexual sensations and responses might be affected for surgeries like hysterectomy, uterine embolization and episiotomy. In addition to this, vagina injuries during birth may damage the nerves and vessels of the vagina and clitoris. Blood vessel damage may affect the clitoris, vaginal and vaginal lips sensibility and women’s capacity of experimenting sexual arouse and lubrication and the resulting orgasm. Uterus and cervix removal mar affect a woman’s orgasm, particularly if she experiments pelvis orgasms. Pelvic fractures and other injuries for riding a horse or a motorcycle may also affect the pelvic organs and genitals, blood and nerve supplies.

Vascular or blood circulation problems: Blood circulation through pelvic orgasm and genitals is a great important element in female sexual response. It affects directly the capacity of a woman to experiment excitement, lubrication, congestion and orgasm. If the blood flow is refrained or cut off, the sexual responses of a woman will be seriously damaged.

Female sexual dysfunctions: Part II

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 18:15:51 PDT

In the following lines we’ll present you the diseases and habits that affect the pelvic bloodstream.

Coronary disease: We are frequently informed by the media about the risks of coronary disease. But an important aspect they don’t mention bout it is that the plaque formed in the heart arteries is formed in the pelvic arteries as well. This may restrain the blood flow to the pelvic and genital organs. It may also produce the thickening of the walls and the effective shortening of the vaginal muscles’ vessels and of the tissues of the clitoris straight muscles. This might take to a lack of lubrication and pain during the previous game to sex and coitus.

High blood pressure: The effects of high blood pressure on female sexuality are not totally understood so far. What we do know is that high blood pressure can damage blood vessels, which takes to a higher risk of having coronary disease. Medication used for its treatment may affect directly to female sexual response, too.

Smoking: While most people worry more about the effects of smoking in their bodies, just a few think about its effects on sexuality. Smoking makes blood vessels get narrow. Cigarettes’ toxins may also damage the arteries’ walls, deriving on coronary disease.

Riding bike or motorcycle: the use of narrow seats can harm the blood vessels and nerves of the clitoris. This may produce clitoral numbness, which is temporary at the beginning but might become permanent. Women –and men too- should use wide seats.

Hormonal problems: the level of estrogen and testosterone in a woman’s body has a significant effect on her sexuality. Some of the common hormonal conditions contribute to feminine sexual dissatisfaction are:

Menopause: The decrease of estrogen production that takes place during menopause produces blushes; vaginal dryness and irritation; incontinence; skin gets thin and looses elasticity; changes of mood and depression. The diminishing of male hormones like testosterone produces the reduction of muscular strength, appetite, energy, memory, sexual desire and capacity of response.

Endocrine disorders: endocrine glands extend all along our bodies and are the responsible of controlling the internal functions of the body, producing several hormones. Disease and pains that affect glands like the pituitary, hypothalamus, thyroids and adrenals may have a considerable effect on women’s sexuality. The production of some hormones is controlled by other hormones; so this is like a chain reaction that may take to sexual dissatisfaction.

Post-partum hormonal disorders: A loss of libido during a short-term after pregnancy and birth is normal, but it is not when it lasts for years. When a woman is breastfeeding her body produces oxitocine and prolactine, which stop the testosterone production. As a result, breastfeeding women may experiment a decrease of sexual desire during this time. (Nevertheless the benefits of breastfeeding your babies are much more important than their negatives effects). On the other hand, women who do not breastfeed experiment a chronic a decrease of sexual libido too because of the reduction or total absence of testosterone. The reason why testosterone production is stopped is unknown.

Diabetes: There is a diabetes related disorder called diabetic neuropathy that can affect the nervous system and the blood vessels. Over 50% of diabetic people develop neuropathy. This condition often results in a loss of sensibility in feet, hands and legs. The tiny pelvis arteries may also be affected, producing vascular problems.

Neurological problems: any organic condition affecting the nervous system might have an important impact on a person’s sexual performance:

Spinal cord injury: Paralysis often produces a significant sexual detriment, but not the death of sexual desire. Women may present a loss of genital sensibility and not being able to have orgasm because of a spine injury. However, new investigations have proved that women with paralysis can feel orgasm using non-conventional ways. Some of them have orgasm by the stimulation of cervix and vagina. Others experiment orgasm with a regular vibrator. And even other discover that other parts of their bodies have become erogenous, such as: Nipples, neck and ears.

Let’s keep in mind this: disabilities are as weakening as far as you let them be.

Female sexual dysfunctions. Part III: Other physical problems

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 18:16:00 PDT

Endometriosis and fibroids: Women with endometriosis and fibroids may suffer of sexual dissatisfaction as a direct result of the medical treatments they receive: as dilation and curettages, hysterectomy or uterus embolism. The effects of these procedures might have over a women’s sexual satisfaction have been previously considered.

Infections of the vaginal and urinary slit: Symptoms related to vaginal and vulval infections as vulvitis, vulvadine, urinary slit infections and cystitis may de caused by the sensibility or irritation of a woman’s vulva and vagina that does not allow any sexual contact. Some of these infections can also produce disgusting smells. While most of these infections are easily treated and have a limited impact on women’s sexuality, others are chronic and weakening. Unfortunately, not all of these diseases are still not totally understood by science, consequently there are no treatments for some of them.

Interstitial cystitis: Chronic bladder inflammation. It is revealed by a frequent desire of urinating, pain on the low womb, vagina and rectum. This disease may be difficult to detect and usually requires a visual bladder exam to find hemorrhages. This condition often gets weakening and takes to sexual dissatisfaction. This can produce lip, vaginal and pelvic pain, and difficulties to feel excitement and orgasm. Researchers are still looking for its cause(s), as well as developing new treatments to heal it.

Pelvic floor disorders: These disorders produce a relaxation and looseness of the muscles and conjunctive tissues that hold the pelvic organs, as the uterus and bladder. Women that present this might also experiment vaginal pain, loss of sensibility inside the vagina, and excitement and orgasm detriment. New and better surgeries are being developed to help protect women’s sexual performance protecting vital nerves and blood when there is a surgical intervention.

Psychological causes of female sexual dissatisfaction: Part I

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 18:27:36 PDT

Depression and dysthymia: Depression affects women twice than men. It has many causes like brain chemical misbalances, deep stress, sadness, familiar background, emotional conflicts, or any factors combination. Dysthymia is a less severe kind of depression that generally is unnoticed. Women with dysthimia may feel sad and little attractive. Both ways of depression may lead to sexual dissatisfaction and to avoid sex.

Stress: Many women nowadays have two main activities, one as a mother, and the other one, as a business or working woman. Today’s working mom many times does not count with relatives support. Responsibilities related to both activities make women be under much more stress than the average man. Stress may take to medical and emotional problems, and consequently, to sexual problems. Stressed women need to request, or either demand, others’ help. If your an not relax in your partner’s arms it’s pretty unlikely you could experiment sexual arouse and orgasm, if you try to have sexual intercourse.

Sexual and/or emotional abuse: The potential ways sexual and emotional abuse may affect a woman’s sexuality are a lot. Women who have been exposed to this may experiment two or more of the four types of sexual dissatisfaction. It can determine whether a woman avoid sex or be unable to find it pleasing. A woman can find herself unable to develop a committed and long-lasting emotional relationship with somebody; she may look for pleasure by having frequently having sexual encounters, maybe with different people that don’t have any emotional attachment to her. For a woman to overcome abuse, it takes a considerable time and a comprehensive partner. We want to point out that just because a woman has a strong sexual desire or doesn’t have it at all, it doesn’t mean that she’s been abused as a child. Besides, an abused girl may even have a healthy sexual, life as an adult. Women should be careful of not turning into suggestion victims.

Alcohol and drugs use: Women may abuse of drugs and alcohol as a result of pre existing emotional conditions. Women who are always intoxicated or under the influence of drugs when having sex, might be unable to bond with their partner being sober. Once a woman is no longer and addict she frequently could not have a satisfactory sexual relationship, partly because emotional problems take the lead again. Some women use sex as entertainment, as a way to avoid their problems. Sex becomes a drug: hormones produced during the intercourse may result into a high or low mental state. Women who have been under alcohol or drug abuse treatments often need counseling support and a comprehensive partner if they want to accomplish sexual fulfillment.

Psychological causes of female sexual dissatisfaction: Part II

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 17:43:58 PDT

Sexual addiction: this is a controversial subject. In the past, women who expressed their interest in sex were considered “nymphomaniac”. We wonder if just the label has changed over time. What is sexual addiction and what is a normal but strong sexual desire? If your desire for sex excludes everything else, including work and family, then you have en emotional insanity. If the only thing you and your partner do when you are together is just having sex, you may be using sex just to avoid emotional bonds.

Body image and self-esteem problems: Some women usually compare their bodies to the image most media sell and impose. These women, who are considered attractive for the ones around them, often find defects in their bodies, even when they really don’t have them. As a result, many women feel uncomfortable showing their bodies to their boyfriends or husbands. They never let their partners look at them when they are undressed, with the lights on, and touch them in their private parts. If a woman can not take her clothes off with the lights on and neither allows her partner to look at them and touch them, they won’t be able to plenty enjoy making love with him. Also affects a woman’s sexuality how she feels about herself at work and in her relationships. If a woman feels she has no qualities or skills others can appreciate, she might think she’s unable to sexually express herself. If she thinks her partner will not listen to her or respect what she says, she will never tell about her sexual needs. If a woman does not feel comfortable about herself and her partner, it’s pretty unlikely she could relax and have an orgasm. Having an orgasm may make her feel vulnerable, and if she doesn’t have self-confidence, she can not allow herself conscious or unconsciously having an orgasm.

Relationship problems: A couple’s sexual state is frequently a direct indicator of the relationship’s general situation. If the couple has sexual problems, those difficulties usually have a negative impact on their relationship and vice versa. If the relationship is in trouble, there’s no treatment that only involves the solution of the woman’s problems. If a woman’s sexual dissatisfaction is the result of sexual difficulties of due to her partner’s lack of sexual skills, treating only her would probably be a failure. If in a couple they trust each other and have a good communication, it’s unlikely they have sexual dissatisfaction.

Some couples have problems about accepting the natural changes a relationship has over time. Many relationships start as a result of a mutual intense attraction, often accompanied by sexual passion. One this first attraction is wasted the relationship gets less tender and less exciting too. If the couple has good communication skills, confidence and mutual respect, the relationship survives the transition, and the couple discovers love. If the person is willing to keep that emotional and physical intensity during the relationship, she will find herself going from one relationship to another. Many couple shave false expectations about how their sexual life should be, ignoring other things that have changed in the relationship. For instance, having kids demands changes in the couple’s sexual life. A healthy relationship is essential for pleasing sex. Love is not only the essential quality in a healthy sexual relationship, but respect, communication and mutual respect are too.

Physiological and psychological evaluation: As you can see, there are many possible causes for sexual dissatisfaction. Determining which the causes are responsible for a woman’s sexual dissatisfaction requires a detailed diagnosis. Since the cause is usually physiological or physiological, both should be studied together. If a woman just attend to a gynecologist or to the therapist, but not to both, it’s less probably she’s find out the cause and real level of her sexual problems. It’s also probably that the diagnosis might be wrong or incomplete, and consequently the treatment will have less probabilities of being successful.

Mother over 40

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 20:01:14 PDT

Is a pregnancy risky after 40 years old?

Probably you have heard that pregnancy after base four is more risky. How true is this? It’s common hearing that the perfect age for getting pregnant is between 20 and 30 years old. In fact, the ideal age for a pregnancy is in which the couple is mature enough to make a big decision like having a child.

Very day is more frequent that couples, due to work reasons or professional development, decide to put it off until their 40’s. Or in other cases, when already having bid children, they decide to have a new baby.

What complications might be?

Being 40 is not a synonym of pregnancy complications. Being 40 means organic and emotional maturity, in which you have to be more careful of your health because they start appearing certain pathological conditions as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, hyperthyroidism and problems for keeping a right weight.

Now, it’s possible to diagnose any disorder or prevent it before pregnancy. Other diseases that may affect a pregnancy are high blood pressure, preeclampsy (hyper tension during of after getting pregnant), pregnancy diabetes and premature births or low weight babies.

Fertility decreases with age?

It’s true that fertility decreases with age and the frequency of genetic diseases too, whether in the first of sixth pregnancy, like Down syndrome, according to the mother’s age at the birth’s moment.

How can I prevent complications?

Many complications can be prevented with a correct prenatal test and following the doctor’s indications. An ordered life in every aspect: nutrition, physical activity, sleep, emotional stability and your partner’s cooperation are the best formula for a healthy pregnancy at any age.

What genetic studies can be done to the baby?

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 15:28:11 PDT

Regarding genetic risks, there’s a way to find them out by means of an appropriate genetic assessment and certain genetic tests, which can be done with no risk to the baby during the pregnancy. These are called non-invasive (non-risk prenatal diagnosis) such as:

Biochemical markers
Ultrasound scan
Triple test
There are also other that do represent a potential pregnancy loss, called invasive studies (risk prenatal diagnosis), such as:

Amniocentesis: Assay of the amniotic fluid after the 15th week of pregnancy.
Chorionic biopsy: Assay of the chorionic villu’s tissue (an outgrowth of the chorion or membranous sac that forms the placenta).

Making the choice of which type of test must be deeply discussed with your gynecologist. It’s important that before the pregnancy you get a gynecological check-up and receive counseling on what things you may change of your daily life to minimize the risks.

Being a mother over the 40’s is as wonderful as in the 25’s or 35’s. The basic is assuming the commitment of taking care knowing that the baby’s future health depends very much on the psycho-physical health of her parents.

FAQ’s on fertility: Part I

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 17:30:29 PDT

Are ovulation tests useful?
Yes, they are, but they are difficult to use. Gynecologists can offer more effective treatments when they detect difficulties for getting pregnant.

Is it difficult to conceive when I have vaginal dryness?
When there is too much dryness it is possibly you are not ovulating, since during the ovulation period there is a lot of estrogen stimulus that increase the cervical mucus, which makes a woman more available to have sex.

Can I get pregnant if I have infant womb?
Having a small womb does not mean you are unable to get pregnant or to have a miscarriage.

I have an abundant period, is there any solution?
Depends if you want to get pregnant or not. You make take contraceptives or induce your ovulation and handling the luteal phase 8by a gynecologist of course).

How can I know my ovulation days?
Depends on the length of your ovulation cycle. Normally in 28 day periods the ovulation occurs in the 14th day. There are other alternatives as the cervical mucus evaluation, the basal temperature and the ovulation tests.

FAQ’s on fertility: Part II

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 19:10:40 PDT

Can I get pregnant having a myoma? And if I get it would I have risk of having an abortion?
It depends on the size of the myoma. Small myomata do not compromise your fertility and the possibility of getting pregnant. The ones close to the uterus wall can affect pregnancy. The average weight increase is around 26 pounds all along the nine months. This increase depends on your previous weight.

In plus size women we expect a weight increase of 22 pounds at maximum; and in slender women until 30 pounds. At the 7th month the baby has still to reach 200 grams per week, which will make the mother trespass the 26 pound barrier. If there is no gestational diabetes there is no much to worry about.

Nerves influence in getting pregnant?
Stress is definitely is one of the most complex and frequent causes that can negatively alter reproduction. This is why many patients who have given up trying to get pregnant decide to adopt a baby, they get spontaneously pregnant later, due to the fact that adoption dramatically reduces stress and allow them to get easily pregnant.

I have been trying for over a year to get pregnant but no results, should I get tested?
Yes, if you have been a year you should get some fertility tests.

I and my husband are not so young, what we should consider if we decide to have a baby?
After 40 the chances of getting pregnant decrease and the risk of genetic alterations start increasing.

Natural fertility methods: Part I

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 17:12:24 PDT

Fertility calendar

The oldest and most known natural conception methods id the Ogino-Knauss, also know and Rhythm Method or Fertility Calendar that enables through math calculus determine the fertility days of the couple, considering the women ovulates once a month 14 days before the next menstruation and the ovule only lives 48 hours after ovulation and the spermatozoid 72 after ejaculation.

When the periods are regular the calendar method is useful, but if you have an irregular period then this method will present many mistakes because the time between the previous menstruation and ovulation depends on the hypophisis, and this relies on the hypothalamus and this on the encephalon, thus that any symptom of stress is able to make ovulation get delayed or bring it forward. Unlike this is the second phase that is always regular in each woman en approximately two weeks between the ovulation and the nest menstruation.
The calculus are done considering 12 previous periods, you rest 19 days to the shortest (S) period and 11 to the largest (L) period, so the fertility formula would be like this:

* S-19 * L-11

Let’s make an example, if the 12 previous periods were of 28, 27, 31, 32, 28, 30, 29, 32, 30, 28, 32 and 28 days; the shorts would be the 27 and the largest of 32. Thus, we have:

* 27-19=8 *32-11=21

Giving as a result that the couple would be fertile from the 8th to the 21st day, and if they decide to put off the pregnancy they can have sex from the 1st day of menstruation until the 8th day, and from the 8th and further on they must keep sexual abstinence until the 21st day, from which they can catch up on your sexual life.

Beware: This method has only a 64% of security.

Natural fertility methods: Part II

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 09:16:42 PST

The basal body temperature method

This method is based on the increase of the temperature that the progesterone hormone produces in women. This hormone start circulating in the second phase of the menstrual cycle, this is, once the follicle has become into corpus luteum, after the ovulation has been produced. When the temperature of a woman is up it means she has ovulated. Regularly, temperature rises is 0.2 °C or 0.4 F°. To keep a record, you have to take your basal temperature everyday with the same thermometer in the same conditions, at the same hour, after at least to hours of relax.

If you wish to postpone pregnancy by the Basal Temperature method you have to keep sexual abstinence from the period until 3 days after the increase of temperature above the 6 previous days, known as the 3/6 rule.

Method security: 99%, but requires a prolonged abstinence.

Ovulation method or Billings method

This natural fertility treatment is based on the determination of the own woman of her fertile and infertile phase of her menstrual period, through the daily observation of her cervical mucus segregated by the vagina. This consists on having a graphic where everyday the woman writes down the changes he observes on the cervical mucus. For this, the woman has to phase a piece of toilet paper through her vagina before and after doing her necessities and observe if she finds mucus or not, as well as its characteristics. This is a safe method, but it has to be thought by your specialist during at least three months.

Natural fertility methods: Part III

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 16:08:57 PST

Cervical Observation method

This method refers to the variations of the uterine tube during the menstrual period due to the hormonal influences. When a woman is fertile, the tube is high, soft and with the central orifice half-open, while in the infertile phase the uterine tube is low and easy to find when introducing the finger inside the vagina, it is hard with the external orifice closed.

Syntothermic method

This is not a fertility method, but a combination of many of them since it combines the rhythms method, the Billing method, the basal temperature, the cervical self-touching and the intermenstrual pain of the ovulation. You may use the blend of all or some oft hem. When you are planning to put off pregnancy, to stat the abstinence take the first of the fertility signs and finish the abstinence the last day of the last method.

Fertility devices: Part I

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 15:11:19 PST

Nowadays we can find diverse devices that help us in family planning by detecting ovulation. They enable us to keep a record of the changes that are happening in our body and therefore predict the fertile and infertile stages of the menstrual period. Among them we can mention:

a) Devices designed to achieve pregnancy (likewise they help to put off pregnancy, since by telling us the fertile stage of the period, they are telling us the infertile stage as well):

1. Rabbit: it is a personal computer (not very sophisticated) for women: on the screen displays the graphic of the month that shows temperature and its course of evolution.

- Displays a basal temperature graphic
- Clock, calendar, alarm, thermometer, etc.
- Memory to store information for a year.
- It’s an aid for both achieving and postponing pregnancy.
- It’s for regular women.

2. Clear Plan: This is a fertility monitor of a palm size that clearly identifies the days of maximum fertility.

- Identifies the low, high and maximum levels of fertility based on levels of estrogen and corpus luteum in the urine.
- While monitoring the hormonal cycle is keeping the records of the menstrual period, counting the days, telling which days to get tested, the fertility levels of each day and informing when is going to start the next period.
- For women whose periods oscillate between 21 and 42 days.
- It lasts for many years for future pregnancies.

b) Devices to achieve pregnancy and avoid it as well.

1. Bioself: It is an electronic thermometer combined with a micro-computer that daily records the morning temperature of a woman.

Bioself 2000 in an electronic fertility indicator that allows a women, her doctor and her couple to determine if she ovulates, when and which is the bets moment to conceive. On the contrary, when a woman wants to avoid pregnancy, the bioself will enable her to find out the period of her cycle when she is fertile and the moment when having sex will not derive in pregnancy.

- Bioself uses the basal temperature method and the calendar method as well.
- Uses the basal temperature and the menstruation dates to identify the different phases of the cycle.- It has a digital thermometer, fertility light signals, pregnancy indication, cycle length, etc.
- The information that Bioself is recording can be printed by taking the device to your distributor or by calling a Bioself Center.
- It can be used only by women with cycles between 19 to 39 days who are not breastfeeding, under hormonal treatment, with no menopause symptoms and not taking medication that affect body temperature.
- Bioself is effective in 94-98% in detecting noon fertile days after ovulation. For these days, a green light turns on to indicate the non fertile phase.
- Clinic tests have proven that of all unprotected sexual relations have taken place just during the green light days, only 9% of women using the device may get pregnant.
- Costs $115 approximately.

2. Lady com: It is a sophisticated microcomputer of memory pregnancy control developed in Germany, equipped with a thermic sensor that helps the user take her temperature.
It takes basal temperature in 30 seconds with a 1/100th °C precision. A sophisticated program of more than 200 pages of stored sources determines the fertility of the day.

- Lady com presents color lights, fertility indicators; alarm; time, data, measure windows, etc.
- Effectiveness of 99%
- Lasts from 30 to 40 years.

- Advantages:
- Takes the temperature in record time of 30 seconds.
- Easy to use
- Tells you when you are fertile and when not.
- You can print the graphic information of the last 120 days.
- Can be turn into Baby com.

- Disadvantage: It is very expensive.

Fertility devices: Part II

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 14:32:02 PST

Baby com: It is similar to the Lady com. It has other advantages as the detection of possible pregnancy after three days, marks the best day to conceive a bay girl or baby boy depending on the couple –however some doctor disagree telling that this is impossible to predict- and the day of birth.

It is also more expensive than the Lady com.

Mini Sophia: It is a conception control computer with memory designed according to the syntothermic method; therefore it has an affectivity of 99.5%.
Interprets the menstrual cycle and recognizes the fertile and infertile days based on the ovulation, through the daily record of the temperature and the cervical mucus.
You can use it at any moment. It is not necessary to wait until the first days of the next period.

With the additional software for Windows, Madonna, you can transfer the information to the PC and print it.

It keeps three types of observations: 3 types of mucus, bleeding, colic, sexual intercourse, medication, temperature and the information of 5 periods.

It has an alarm; it is easy to use and warns you of the next menstruation.

Persona: It is a fertility monitor created in England that reads, stores and analyzes hormonal information of the menstrual syndrome.

The first time you have to take 16 samples of urine monthly. Afterwards, there are only 8 samples a month to determine the fertile days.
It has 94% of effectiveness.

It can be used by women with cycles between 19 and 39 days who are not breastfeeding, who are not in pre menopause or taking medication.

Its disadvantage is that its effectiveness is not very high and you have to buy the urine tests, which increases its price.

PG 53 Fertility Tester: It is a compact microscope with 100x augmentation to see the crystallization of saliva and vertical mucus, which is possible due to the elevation of the estrogens. When the estrogens descend and the progesterone elevates, it is impossible the crystallization, which means that the fertile periods has ended.

Ovutrac: It is a microscope of light created in Canada aimed to observe the crystallization of saliva or cervical mucus when these get dried.

Reproduction and Fertility. Part I

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 16:43:41 PST

The description of the reproductive feminine and masculine systems makes think that pregnancy is a simple thing that just takes that the ovule meets the spermatozoid. However, human reproduction is far from being a simple and efficient process.

The rate of fertility for a couple during a cycle is of 20%, reaching an 85% after 12 months. These indicators vary mainly because of the age of women.

On top of this, there is the fact that around a 25% of pregnancies get lost spontaneously just after conception. A group of them doe not even get to be diagnosed.

It is important to have into account this and stay quiet and avoid any hurry. According to statistics, 9 out of every 10 couples that try to have a baby make it in a year. So, this is not as fast as you may think, but it is probable too that it can happen sooner.

Reproduction and Fertility. Part II

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 15:52:51 PST

Contraceptive methods

The contraceptive methods differ from each other according to your family planning method.

Hormonal contraceptives

Once the oral contraceptives are suspended, the average rate of fertility gradually recovers (6 to 8 months).

In general, it is recommend leaving them and waiting two regular cycles to try conception, since late or multiple ovulations would come up, due to the fact that hormonal suspension, the system does not work normally. This makes difficult determining the pregnancy age and increases the possibility of multiple pregnancies.

In the case, of injecting contraceptives, the system may take until six months to go back to its normal functioning. It is advisable to ask your gynecologist before starting pregnancy exposure.

Preservatives
In the case of condoms, it is just necessary to leave them and get exposed to pregnancy.

Intrauterine devices
After the extraction of intrauterine devices, it is recommended to wait a cycle before starting to try a pregnancy, due to the fact that the endometrium is still inflamed. If it is a hormone-releasing device, the advice sit he same as with the oral contraceptives.

Natural methods
These methods consist in the identification of the fertile stage, whether by the evaluation of cervical mucus, basal temperature or fertility monitors that estimate hormonal levels through urine simples. For this, the couple can only have sex during fertile days.

Fertility cycle and nutrition - Part I

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:44:35 PDT

How nutrition affects fertility

Nutrition is important for fertility since it greatly depends on sperm quality (men) and hormonal balance (women). Usually when we talk a bout fertility treatments you have to consider these points:

Healhty lyfestyle (free of hazardous habits)
Playing sports
And yes, eating well

Weigth loss diets -particularly those fast speed diets- with no medical guidance can result in female infertility since they usually exclude some foods that provide basic nutrients for the organism. Generally fats are the first to be eliminated, when they are actually necessary for the formation of the hormone progesterone.
With these diets there is also the risk of loosing important elements as: Calcium, selenium, zinc, iodine, iron; and vitamins as A, B1, C, D and E , necessaries for the good function of the female repreductive system.

Toxic substances for fertility cycle

Toxic substances: In a normal diet are many toxic substances as toxins, metals, and chemical subtances of fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture thta may affectt he quality of spermatozoids. For this, you have organic foods as a good option.

Caffeine: In women, caffeine (coffee, tea, sodas and chocolate ) reduces the levels of prolactine in blood, and when this hormones is low it is hard to conceive. In men, caffeine makes spermatozoids become more active and faster.

Alcohol: It diminishes levels of testosterone, making sperm production difficult. In women, this affects menstrual and fertility cycle (ovulation), even producing antiovulatory cycles.

Fertility cycle and nutrition - Part II

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 20:27:59 PDT

Five most important vitamins for fertility

The following are fundamental elements that help maintaining the male and female reproductive systems in good condition for conception:

- Vitamin A: Increases female and male fertility since it takes part in the formation of steroids, base of sexual and suprarenal hormones, especilaly in the synthesis of progesterone.

Sources of Vitamin A: carrots, pumpkins, apricots, and most green-leaf vegetables.

- Vitamin B6: Increases the levels of progesterone and improves female fertility.

Sources of vitamin B6: cereals, nuts and legumes.

- Vitamin B12: Increase the number of spermatozoids (sperm count).

Sources of Vitamin B12: Eggs, meat, milk and milk products.

- Vitamin C: Protects spermatozoids from oxidation damage, increases sperm count and motility, and reduces the number of sperm abnormalities.

Sources of Vitamin C: kiwi, rose hip, acerola (Barbados cherry)

- Vitamin E: It is improtnat gonad (testrs and ovaries) function, improves sperm motility and prevents the lipid peroxidation (degradtion) of sperm.

Sources of Vitamin E: Seeds oils, olive oil, nuts and almonds

Fertility cycle and nutrition - Part III

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 11:52:35 PDT

Natural elements and minerals for fertility

1. Folic Acid: The lack of folic acid can cause both male and female fertility.

Folic Acid Sources : meat, seafood, green-leaf vegetables, cereals, and legumes.

2. Zinc: Elevates the levels of testosterone and increase perm count and motility. However you should not take high doses of zinc for too long since it can reduce the body's natural reserves of copper.

Zinc Sources: read meat, cashews, peanuts and Brazilian nuts.

3. Selenium: Increases sperm count and volume when it is taken along with vitamin E. It also helps increase progesterone.

Selenium Sources : Brazilian nuts, cereals, seafood, algae and wheat germ.

4. Iron: Very important mineral for fertility.

Iron sources: red meat, legumes, liver and eggs

5. L-Arginine: This amino acid is important for semen production and male fertility.

L-arginine sources: milk products, chicken, meat, nuts and chocolate.

6. L-carnitine: It's necessary for the good function of sperm cells.

L-carnitine sources: red meat, beer yeast, wheat germ, and soybean vegetal protein

7. Isoflavones: Regulate estrogen imbalance.

Isoflavones sources: Soybean

8. Coenzyme Q10: Prevents lipid peroxidation of spermatozoids and favors sperm motility.

Coenzyme Q10 sources: sardines, mackerel, meat, lamb, pork, eggs, wheat germ, peanuts and whole grains.

Fertility supplements – Healthy Alternative aids to increase fertility

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 13:55:47 PST

Since many couples show reluctant to the excessive intake of drugs for fertility treatments, medicine has given a more patient-friendly and safer solution in the form of fertility supplements.

Whether they are medical or herbal, fertility supplements are being taken more seriously both by the doctors themselves, and by patients due to their positive results in the increase of conception rates, and as a healthy alternative to conventional treatments.

Why couples are turning to fertility supplements?

Fact: Over 15% of couples in the U.S. have fertility problems.

A third of this number of these cases, it is the man who has fertility problems, another third is due to female fertility, and the last third because both are infertile.

Considering these number, you can tell it is always a challenge for medicine to look for new and better alternatives to overcome infertility.

Fertility supplements are formulated to satisfy the health needs of each sex, especially those related to nutritional deficiencies.

Contraceptives - What are Norplant implants

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:35:14 PDT

Norplant implants are progestin-only injectable contraceptives. They are small rods of a size of a match that are inserted under the upper arm’s skin through a minor 10-minute surgery.

Norplant consists of six rods and its successor Norplant II or Jadelle consists of 2, both types of implants are no longer available in the U.S. since 2002 and 2007 respectively.

Another similar progestin-only implant, Implanon that consists of only one rod took the lead in the States when it was approved by the FDA in 2006.

How it works?

Norplant is inserted under your arm and can remain there up to 5 years. After 24 hours after it was inserted it starts the slow release of the hormone progestin that prevents pregnancy.

This hormone thicken cervical mucous so as to create an anti-sperm barrier. It also suppresses ovulation as well as the endometrium, the thin uterus lining to prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg.

How effective is Norplant?

Norplant appeared circa 1990 and it was a groundbreaking contraceptive back them because of its as-good-as-sterilization effectiveness, except that it could be reversed.

However, its effectiveness depends much on who’s using it. For instance, teenagers, overweight women and women who have had hard capsules instead of soft ones are more likely to not have good results with Norplant.

Why is no longer available in the U.S?

Norplant is no longer commercialized in the States and other countries due to the severity of side effects experienced by some Norplant users. So if you are having Norplants for the time being, you will have to use another kind of contraceptive after you get them removed.

Source: Epigee

The baby "business" of assisted reproduction

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:35:29 PDT

Seeing assisted reproduction as any other commercial business as fashion, food, cars or any other give us the shivers. But for some people involved, it actually is as the money keeps rolling.

Just in 2004, the U.S. totalled almost $ 3 million in fertility treatments. Therefore, it seems necessary to confront to set some rules to correct problems going on with parents and the babies.

Here is when bioethics comes, while some genetic engineering sites warn about “customizing” children in IQ, appearance, etc. research demonstrates this “baby design” comes to the extent of screening out genetic diseases. Parents are not exactly looking for a premium baby, but for a healthy one.

That is why a tighter government regulation is needed, as for issues like fertility centers disclosing health risks of any procedures and the relevant success rates (premature babies, cerebral palsy, and others that are common in multiple births).

Other proposed regulations would be disclosing information to technology-produced children about their genetic parents. And also instil health insure agencies to cover certain treatments of IVF, while defining those that would not be paid for.

Source: Boston.com

Vitex Infertility Pills -What are they and how they work

noreply@blogger.com (BLQ) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:36:01 PDT

If you ever wondered what those Vitex Pills are, we break it down simple here it for you. They are natural infertility pills named after the herb Vitex Agnus Castus, familiarly known as the Monks Pepper, is sued to produce a standarized extract called chasteberry.

This herb was traditionally used to treat hormonal imbalances in women. and nowadays it is used to treat other conditions such as:

Irregular ovulation
Amenorrhea (abscense of menstrual period)
Anovulation (abscense of ovulation)
Premenstrual symptoms (PMS), headache and mood swings
Policystic Ovary Syndrome
Peri menopausal and menopausal symptoms, especially hot flushes

How Vitex works? Vitex works on the pituitary gland, the hormone in charge of let our body know it has to produce the appropriate amounts of each hormone, among them, progesterone (involved in the menstrual cycle, gestation and embryogenesis), and on the other hand, reduces the amounts of prolactin (that would cause irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, impotence and milk production without being pregnant).

IT IS NOT A HORMONE. It boosts hormonal production.