Posts Tagged fertility issues
Why I Am Not Getting Pregnant – Pregnancy After 40
Posted by in Pregnancy on February 21st, 2010
You have been trying for twelve months and you have yet to get pregnant. You are not a smoker, you are not a drinker, you don not do drugs, and you try to maintain a healthy lifestyle yet for some reason you cannot get pregnant. 1 in 10 women experience this frustration so you are not alone. Unfortunately, infertility has many causes and they can be caused by the woman, man, or both finding the source of your fertility issues is not an easy task. Despite this, there are common causes of infertility that doctors regularly test for once an infertile woman or couple decides fertility treatments.
Problems with the fallopian tubes are are a leading cause of infertility in women. However, this is a broad category itself so within having an issue with your fallopian tubes, there are numerous causes for these problems. For example, tubal blockage caused by a previous infection such as a sexually transmitted disease can be the culprit. Endometriosis is a common cause of tubal blockage and medication and surgery is a solution for it. Your doctor can better explain what endometriosis is but, in a nutshell, it is a growth of the endometrial tissue, which is normally found lining the uterus, in other parts of the body. The endometrial tissue can attach itself to any part of the reproductive system which can cause infertility.
Other causes of tubal blockage can be from tubal ligation (having your tubes tied to prevent a future pregnancy) and scarring of your fallopian tubes. As mentioned, tubal ligation is when a woman has her tubes tied to prevent a pregnancy. If she decides to become pregnant after this procedure, opportunities for tubal blockage increase when trying to reverse this procedure.
Problems with fertility do not only lie within the woman but the man can also cause infertility. As it is with women, the cause of male infertility can be many but low sperm count is the most common cause. If low sperm count is determined to be the source of the infertility, you have to dig deeper to find the cause of the low sperm count. This could be due to hormonal problems, testicular injuries, cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy, drug use, genetic problems, or it could be physical problems with the reproductive system itself.
If you are having problems getting pregnant and it has been at least a year of trying (six months if you are over the age of 35), seeking medical assistance is a good idea. This is especially important if you are over the age of 35 and in your 40s as time is not on your side. With age come other factors that affect your chances of getting pregnant so it is in your best interest to seek medical help.
Do not lose hope for having a child. Yes, it is true that there are many things going against you especially if you are in your 40s but it does not mean you cannot have a child.
Getting pregnant is possible and many women have successfully brought a baby into this world. Keep an open mind and keep yourself as healthy as possible. To learn more about curing infertility in women, please take a moment to read this article and please visit pregnancyover40.tumblr.com for more information. Good luck and don’t lose hope.
Article Source: Why I Am Not Getting Pregnant – Pregnancy After 40
4 Natural Ways to Help Increase Your Fertility to Get Pregnant
Posted by in Pregnancy on February 7th, 2010
Having a baby is an wonderful blessing. Sadly, 10% of couples who are trying to conceive have fertility challenges. Meeting with a fertility professional may help, but not everyone wishes their child conceived through medicines or unnatural methods. In addition, infertility treatments can be extremely high-priced, and they are physically and also psychologically exhausting. If you and your spouse are dealing with fertility issues, below are 4 ways to help you increase fertility naturally to raise your odds of getting conceived.
1. Get the timing right
If you would like to know how to increase fertility naturally, a very important first step should be to determine the days that you are most fertile. Often it’s just choosing the best time to have intercourse that is the biggest factor to a successful conception.
If you have a regular 28-day cycle, chances are that ovulation will take place on the 14th day. Having intercourse 1 or 2 days prior to ovulation will significantly increase the likelihood of getting pregnant.
But if your cycle is not consistent, it is possible to determine when you are ovulating using an ovulation kit. You can also track your basal body temperature and the texture and form of your cervical mucus. Chart down your observations and after some cycles you’ll be able to estimate your time of ovulation.
2. Eat for fertility
Eating healthily is the first step to increasing fertility naturally. There is a close relationship between diet and fertility. Eating a well-balanced diet not only helps you to maintain a healthy weight, it helps regulate hormones and support a healthy reproductive system, therefore having a major effect on fertility in both women and men.
Women ought to take preconception vitamins supplements such as vitamin C, antioxidants and folic acid. Vitamin C and antioxidants lower stress on the eggs and reproductive organs. Folic acid helps prevent certain birth defects.
Men can take zinc supplements to help increase sperm count. Nutrients, such as vitamin C are also known to help prevent sperm defects, while calcium and vitamin D are beneficial for healthy male fertility.
Foods to avoid include processed foods, alcohol (affects normal sperm production) and caffeine (reduces fertility level). Smoking must be avoided at the same time.
3. Get physically active
One crucial factor when thinking about how to boost fertility naturally is to watch your body weight. Both women and men need to exercise every day and keep close track of their body weight. In women, overweight or underweight could affect hormonal balance and thus their fertility. Moderate workout is a good way to increase fertility naturally, but don’t overdo exercise since this can actually impair fertility.
The same is true for guys. Over-exercise is without doubt one of the factors contributing to men infertility, as it causes increased temperature in the testicles, resulting in reduced sperm count and poor sperm motility.
4. Using a holistic approach
If you are having trouble becoming pregnant, you and your partner might want to give some thought to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is currently one of the recognized methods to boost fertility naturally. TCM is an ancient tradition but its practices have been of late confirmed by science.
TCM addresses infertility through a holistic approach that both the body and mind needs to be in balance, and that the body should be allowed to cure and health itself. TCM consists of the usage of herbs, acupuncture, and specific diets and exercises.
You may also want to learn about the best time to get pregnant and some additional try to conceive tips to improve your chances of getting pregnant.
Article Source: 4 Natural Ways to Help Increase Your Fertility to Get Pregnant
Quality Fertility Treatments for Women Over 40
Posted by in Pregnancy on December 21st, 2009
There are several treatment options for women and couples that are having difficulties getting pregnant. If you are a woman over the age of 40 and having fertility issues, your doctor may recommend one or more of these procedures if fertility drugs alone do not seem effective.
Intrauterine insemination, or artificial insemination as it is typically called, is a common procedure to treat infertility. Another option is assisted reproductive technology (ART). ART is a broad category of treatment plans that include the popular procedure of in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, if your doctor believes that IVF is not the best option, there are more treatments available.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) list three common methods of ART in addition to in vitro fertilization: gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) or tubal embryo transfer, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Gamete intrafallopian transfer involves placing the egg and sperm into the fallopian tube. Fertilization takes place inside the woman’s body. According to the HHS, few clinics offer this as an option.
Zygote intrafallopian transfer differs from GIFT in that fertilization takes place outside the body, much like IVF, but the embryo is placed in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. An IVF procedure would place the embryo in the woman’s uterus.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is a procedure where one sperm is injected into the egg. The resulting embryo is then transferred into the woman’s body, either in the uterus or fallopian tube. This treatment option is commonly done for couples experiencing major sperm problems. It could be low sperm count, problems with the shape of the sperm, the movement of the sperm, or a combination of the three.
These procedures, including IVF, sometimes involve the use of donor eggs, donor sperm, or frozen embryo. The Office on Women’s Health states that a woman or couple may use donor eggs or sperm for several reasons. It could be that the woman may not be able to produce eggs, one or both partners have genetic disease and do not wish to pass it down to the baby. The woman or couple can also opt to use donor embryos. The donated embryo is transferred to the infertile woman’s uterus but neither parent will be genetically related to the baby.
Getting pregnant is possible and many women have successfully brought a baby into this world. Keep an open mind and keep yourself as healthy as possible. To learn more about curing infertility in women, please take a moment to read this article and please visit pregnancyover40.tumblr.com for more information. Good luck and don’t lose hope.
Article Source: Quality Fertility Treatments for Women Over 40
How Can I Get Pregnant When I’m Over 40?
Posted by in Pregnancy on December 20th, 2009
Many women ask themselves this question when they are having difficulties in getting pregnant. This is especially true if the woman is over 35. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health states that “a woman’s chances of having a baby decrease rapidly every year after the age of 30.” Therefore, the window of opportunity is narrow for women wishing to get pregnant when they are over 35 years of age.
Infertility must be kept in mind as a cause of the difficulties in getting pregnant. It is not a bad idea to seek the advice of a medical professional if you and your partner are having problems with conception. If your doctor does recommend testing to find the cause of fertility issues you and your partner may experience, there are two common tests you may encounter.
Relative to the woman, testing a man is not as involved. The doctor will start by wanting to take a look at a man’s semen to look at the sperm count, the sperm shape and the movement of the sperm. Fr the woman, one common test she may go through is that is called a “hysterosalpingography.” Essentially, this is when a doctor will inject a dye into the woman’s vagina so that the dye can travel into the uterus. From here, an x-ray will be used to keep track of the flow of the dye. The idea behind doing this is for the doctors to see if there are any blocks or impediment in the uterus for fallopian tubes. Blocks in the reproductive system can keep an egg from entering the uterus from the fallopian tube as well as keep an egg from being fertilized by the sperm trying to reach it. (Office on Women Health).
Another type of fertility test that is common for women is a “laparoscopy.” According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Relations, a laparoscopy is a minor surgery to see inside the abdomen. With the use of a small tool with a light attached called a laparoscope. Doing this, the doctor can check the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the uterus for any traces of disease or any other physical problems. According to the Office on Women’s Health, it is through this method that doctors find scarring and endometriosis.
Determining the cause or causes of infertility can be a long process. it can also be an emotionally draining one if test after test does not reveal the source of the problem. However, as difficult as it may be, try not to give up hope if an answer is not immediately found.
Getting pregnant is possible and many women have successfully brought a baby into this world. Keep an open mind and keep yourself as healthy as possible. To learn more about curing infertility in women, please take a moment to read this article and please visit pregnancyover40.tumblr.com for more information. Good luck and don’t lose hope.
Article Source: How Can I Get Pregnant When I’m Over 40?
Common Male Fertility Issues
Posted by in Pregnancy on December 18th, 2009
Male fertility can be influenced by several factors. Here’s an overview:
Varicocele: This issue is pronounced “var-ee-koh-seal” and it has to do with veins in the scrotum. The scrotum is the sack of skin that hangs behind a man’s penis. It holds his testicles. The purpose of it’s positioning is to help keep the testicles slightly cooler than the rest of the body. A varicocele means the veins inside the scrotum are slightly bigger than they should be (this can happen on only one side or on both). Having the veins dilated even a small amount over what they should be causes heat to build up inside the scrotum, which can cause sperm production to halt or slow.
Medications: Sometimes medications (or illegal drugs) can cause infertility. If your partner is taking any medications now is a good time have him evaluate them with his doctor (or get help quitting any drugs he has dependencies on).
Low Sperm Count: One of the most common causes of male infertility. Fortunately this does not have to stop you from getting pregnant. The first thing a man should do is begin to work on boosting his sperm count naturally – through diet, herbs, supplments, and other proven methods such as acupressure. Have sex every other day during your fertile period, rather than every day. This lets his sperm levels build up between baby-making attempts.
Abnormal Sperm, Or Sperm that Don’t Swim Right: All men can have sperm that aren’t shaped correctly, and all men have some sperm that don’t go the right way. If a large portion of a man’s sperm have these issues, however, it could cause fertility problems for him.
Underlying Medical Conditions: Sometimes there are medical conditions or genetic conditions that are causing male infertility.
Treating Male Fertility Issues
Many male fertility issues can be treated. Since male fertility screening is initially very easy it’s a good idea to get it done. It starts off with a semen analysis which will let you and your partner know the quality of his sperm. You can go from there.
Fortunately male fertility issues can often be correctly naturally, just like female issues. Nutrition is a graet place to start because it’s a change that can be made with relative ease at home. Nutritional deficiencies can be addressed. Zinc deficiency and Vitamin D deficiency are common problems men may have – and they can have a big impact on fertility.
There are other supplements that help boost sperm count and keep testosterone levels balanced. Herbal supplements can be beneficial to men, with some herbs specifically helping males. Acupuncture and acupressure, gaining major recognition for their benefit to female fertility, can also be used to help men. These techniques are especially good for males experiencing blockage issues.
Moderate exercise and removing as much stress from life as possible are two other natural tactics to help increase male fertility.
Discover more about boosting fertility as well as how to increase male fertility.
Article Source: Common Male Fertility Issues
Infertility Treatments – Three Effective Natural Treatments
Posted by in Pregnancy on December 5th, 2009
Getting pregnant and becoming a mother is the most important thing in the life of every woman in this world. But, unfortunately, some women are not lucky to feel the eternal joy of motherhood. These women suffer from various fertility issues. It has been found that the different available conventional medications have low success rate and they are also expensive. But, the natural methods for the fertility problems are very effective and inexpensive too.
Three natural ways
There are many different natural methods that can be effectively used as anti-infertility solutions to enhance your fertility.
Some of these methods are listed as below –
•If you want to get pregnant naturally, it is very important to find your ovulation time. This is the time when you are most fertile. Sex at this time can increase your chances of conceiving quickly.
•There are different natural herbs, which can be used to overcome any type of infertility in women. However, you are advised to consult a naturopath before start taking any herb. Chasteberry and Dong Qui are two herbs that can be used to increase your fertility. These herbs also help to maintain hormonal balance of the body.
•Stress is another factor that causes infertility. Therefore, you are also advised to avoid stress in your life.
There are many more natural solutions that can be used according to a particular infertility type. Natural fertility solutions are completely safe and are guaranteed to give you successful results. Along with this, these methods are cost efficient too.
Know more ways of natural fertility treatment and get pregnant fast with our holistic guide and get permanent solution for not getting pregnant issue.
Article Source: Infertility Treatments – Three Effective Natural Treatments
How Can You Get Pregnant ?
Posted by in Pregnancy on December 1st, 2009
Many women ask themselves this question when they are having difficulties in getting pregnant. This is especially true if the woman is over 35. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health states that “a woman’s chances of having a baby decrease rapidly every year after the age of 30.” Therefore, the window of opportunity is narrow for women wishing to get pregnant when they are over 35 years of age.
Infertility must be kept in mind as a cause of the difficulties in getting pregnant. It is not a bad idea to seek the advice of a medical professional if you and your partner are having problems with conception. If your doctor does recommend testing to find the cause of fertility issues you and your partner may experience, there are two common tests you may encounter.
Relative to the woman, testing a man is not as involved. The doctor will start by wanting to take a look at a man’s semen to look at the sperm count, the sperm shape and the movement of the sperm. Fr the woman, one common test she may go through is that is called a “hysterosalpingography.” Essentially, this is when a doctor will inject a dye into the woman’s vagina so that the dye can travel into the uterus. From here, an x-ray will be used to keep track of the flow of the dye. The idea behind doing this is for the doctors to see if there are any blocks or impediment in the uterus for fallopian tubes. Blocks in the reproductive system can keep an egg from entering the uterus from the fallopian tube as well as keep an egg from being fertilized by the sperm trying to reach it. (Office on Women Health).
Another type of fertility test that is common for women is a “laparoscopy.” According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Relations, a laparoscopy is a minor surgery to see inside the abdomen. With the use of a small tool with a light attached called a laparoscope. Doing this, the doctor can check the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the uterus for any traces of disease or any other physical problems. According to the Office on Women’s Health, it is through this method that doctors find scarring and endometriosis.
Determining the cause or causes of infertility can be a long process. it can also be an emotionally draining one if test after test does not reveal the source of the problem. However, as difficult as it may be, try not to give up hope if an answer is not immediately found.
Getting pregnant is possible and many women have successfully brought a baby into this world. Keep an open mind and keep yourself as healthy as possible. Visit pregnancyover40.tumblr.com for more information.
Article Source: How Can You Get Pregnant ?
How To Get Pregnant: Fertility Tips
Posted by in Pregnancy on November 5th, 2009
If you are wondering how to get pregnant, follow these tips to maximize your opportunity for conception!
These tips work mainly for those who are generally healthy and have no problems with their fertility. However, if there are any underlying fertility issues (such as not ovulating), this needs to be addressed by a specialist. This is especially true if you have been trying to conceive for more than 12-18 months.
How To Get Pregnant: Fertility Tips For Mommy-To-Be
- The first thing you need to figure out when trying to get pregnant is when you ovulate. This is the most important thing you can do to maximize your chances of getting pregnant. This can be done by charting your basal body temperature and cervical mucous from month to month, or using ovulation predictor kits;
- Keep your cervical mucous optimal for the sperm to travel and live in for as long as possible. To do this, try to limit milk/dairy products, which will thicken the mucous. Make sure you drink at least 2L of water a day, which should also help;
A GREAT TIP on increasing the quality of cervical mucous: take plain Robitussin cough syrup every day starting somewhere between Day 8 and 10 (depending on the length of your cycle and approximately when you ovulate). Robitussin will thin out your body’s mucous, including cervical mucous, which is the optimal environment for sperm to travel and live in. Just make sure the bottle says “Guaifenesin” or “expectorant”, and NOT “anti-histamine” or “DM”. Take this BEFORE you have sex, preferably a few hours before to give the syrup time to work it’s magic. At the same time, test with ovulation predictor kits every day starting on Day 8 of your cycle. As soon as you get a positive result from the OPK, stop taking the Robitussin.
- Do not have sexual intercourse every day. You will make yourself tired and sore, and will dry out your cervical mucous. You will also not give your partner’s sperm enough time to build back up by releasing it too often. Instead, have sex every OTHER day, until you get a positive result on your OPK – then you should have sex for 3 straight days just in case. The sperm should already be in your body by the time the egg is released for optimal chances of conception;
- At the risk of sounding ridiculous, try staying flat on your back for a few minutes after sex. This will prevent gravity from drawing the semen away from your cervix. Try even putting a pillow under your hips.
How To Get Pregnant: Fertility Tips For Daddy-To-Be
- Do not allow more than 8-10 days to pass before ejaculating. Regular ejaculation will keep the sperm fresh, and will reduce the risk of the sperm becoming old and less fertile;
- Stay away from alcohol, or at least limit your intake, since excessive alcohol consumption has been associated with male impotence;
- Try to get yourself at an optimal body weight. Being underweight or overweight can actually contribute to a reduced sperm count;
- Stop smoking. Although cigarettes don’t actually reduce sperm count, they do damage the sperm’s DNA, which can lead to birth defects;
- Try not to wear clothing or underwear that is too tight. The excess heat can actually kill sperm, so try to keep it cool “down there”!
- Steer clear from certain medications that may cause infertility. Medications such as: anti-diarreal medications, certain antibiotics, anabolic steroids and anti-fungal medications should be avoided. If you are using any of these substances, find out more from your doctor about their affects on male fertility;
- Limit your caffeine intake. Caffeine in excess can negatively affect sperm.
How To Get Pregnant: Fertility Tips For The Two of You
- Avoid lubrications during sex – they can actually kill sperm! Read the labels carefully…
- This may be difficult, but try to reduce your stress level. Too much stress can actually affect both men’s and women’s fertility.
Follow these tips to increase your chances of conception, and to get pregnant fast!
- Lisa Simonelli Rennie, author of complete-pregnancy-guide.com. This website has all the info you need on conception, pregnancy, childbirth and labor, including a week by week guide.
visit http://www.complete-pregnancy-guide.com
Article Source: How To Get Pregnant: Fertility Tips

