Issues with infertility are more common than most people think. Roughly 15% of couples have difficulty conceiving - you're not alone! The first step to dealing with potential infertility issues is to better understand the condition. We've compiled some articles below that we hope you find helpful.
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We at Fairhaven Health understand that infertility issues can be frustrating to those of you hoping to start or extend a family. If you are having trouble trying to conceive, understanding infertility issues is the best way to overcome possible obstacles to conceive a baby. Whether or not you have been diagnosed with one of the aforementioned health disorders, or are considered perfectly healthy, you do have options. You may wish to see a specialist to discuss your reproductive health and obtain a fertility workup. Sometimes doctors can find the cause of infertility by doing a complete evaluation, which includes physical exams and health and sexual histories. If there are no obvious problems, such as poorly timed intercourse or absence of ovulation, tests are then done which may lead to recommendations of prescription medications and/or procedures such as IVF or IUI. That said, more couples are increasingly choosing natural alternatives to clinical prescriptions and costly or invasive procedures. Research has shown that natural treatment options such as fertility supplements, acupuncture, and yoga, along with taking steps towards optimal dietary and physical health significantly aid conception efforts. Understanding Your Cycle
The short window of time when a woman is fertile is the few days before and during ovulation. While different for every woman, on average, this time frame lasts about 7 days, 6 days before the day of ovulation, and the day of ovulation; it occurs roughly 14 days after the first day of your period. Cycle lengths differ from woman to woman, and so does the exact day of ovulation. Within the 7-day window of optimal fertility, there are certain “peak fertility” days (these are the few days right before ovulation). Identifying these days can help maximize your chances of getting pregnant. Irregular Cycles or menstruation is defined by cycle variation of more than a few days in length from month to month. Many women trying to get pregnant are having difficulties related to cycle irregularities. In fact, about 10% of all fertile aged women have irregular cycles. It is very difficult to plan for pregnancy and know when you are ovulating if your cycles are not predictable. There are quite a few reasons for cycle irregularity. Some include, but are not limited to:
If you have an irregular cycle, you may want to eliminate these aforementioned causes of irregular cycles, or see a specialist to test for diagnoses such as PCOS and uterine abnormalities. You may also try natural supplements that help regulation and hormonal balance such as FertilAid for Women. In addition to essential vitamins and minerals, FertilAid contains the herb vitex agnus castus (chasteberry) which can even be helpful in balancing hormonal irregularities associated with conditions such as PCOS.
There are a number of ways that you can predict ovulation. Having a regular cycle is the first indicator of regular ovulation. Fertility charting also allows you to predict ovulation, pinpoint your most fertile time in your cycle, and increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Monitoring temperature, cervical mucus, and through use of ovulation prediction tools, a woman can learn to identify the days when she will most likely ovulate. Fertility Charting Your basal body temperature is your body temperature at rest. A basal body temperature shift, or increase in your resting body temperature, is an indicator of having ovulated. Directly after ovulation, your basal body temperature will typically increase by 0.5 to 1.5 degrees F. Your basal body temperature and its changes may be monitored throughout the month by daily charting with either Mercury-Free Glass or Digital Basal Thermometers. The basal temperature spike occurs because of a sudden increase of the hormone progesterone, which follows ovulation. The temperature increase creates a warm and fertile environment for implantation of the fertilized egg. Your most fertile period is in the two or three days before your temperature hits its high point. While monitoring your basal body temperature throughout the month will not allow you to detect actual ovulation, the pattern that appears after charting for a few months will be a good indicator of ovulation and your most fertile days. To ensure accuracy while using basal thermometers, your temperature must be taken first thing in the morning, and at the same time each morning. The temperature should be recorded before any activity occurs, because activity will raise the body's temperature and could cause a misleading temperature reading. Cervical Mucus Combined with basal body temperature charting, monitoring the consistency and quantity of your cervical mucus is a great way to know your optimal fertility window. Having healthy cervical mucus is crucial for women who are trying to conceive. Healthy cervical mucus is the avenue in which sperm travels to your fallopian tubes. Your uterine lining walls must also be strong and healthy for the implantation of sperm. See FertileCM for more information about cervical mucus and the importance of its quality and quantity. Throughout your cycle, cervical mucus will increase in quantity and change consistency and texture, becoming slippery like egg whites and semitransparent. This reveals hormonal changes leading to ovulation. Once you become familiar with the consistency of your cervical mucus, you will be able to have a sense of your peak fertility time, which is indicated when the cervical mucus becomes slippery and stretchy. The recommended way to inspect your cervical mucus is to insert your finger into your vagina and gently circle your finger around your cervix.
Ovulation Predictor Tools and Kits The LH Ovulation Test (ovulation predictor kit, or OPK) is designed to detect your LH surge which occurs just prior to ovulation. This will help you time intercourse for your optimal fertile days. OPK’s are urine-based tests designed as a test strip or midstream format (held within the stream or urine), which can be purchased in stores or online. You will see a positive result when you are ovulating and this will indicate optimal fertility. Saliva-based ovulation microscopes are another way to accurately predict ovulation (without the use of messy urine tests!). About three days before a woman ovulates, when viewed under a microscope, her saliva begins to form a distinct fern-like pattern. This is due to an increase in the level of estrogen present. Saliva based ovulation prediction devices such as the Fertile-Focus Ovulation Microscope, indicates one’s peak fertile days and are very easy to use. They are generally discreet looking, small and portable plus they are reusable for unlimited testing. It works by dabbing a little saliva on the scope first thing in the morning before eating, drinking or brushing teeth and letting it dry about 5 minutes before viewing the sample for the fern-like pattern. See how easy they are to use by viewing a video demonstration of an ovulation microscope (just click the video tab). In addition to OPKs and ovulation microscopes, a variety of electronic fertility monitors are also available. These monitors range in price and functionality but are all designed to accurately predict ovulation and your most fertile days. Fertility monitors predict ovulation by identifying the estrogen and/or LH surge that precedes ovulation. Only the OvaCue Fertility Monitor uses saliva to predict ovulation so no messy urine testing is required. We endorse this monitor as it further provides 7 days notice prior to ovulation, is proven to be 98% accurate and requires no recurring costs like other fertility monitors. For many women, the first sign of pregnancy is a missed period. Other women notice more subtle signs long before a missed period. The presence of these signs vary dependent on the woman- some never experience or notice any of them. Symptoms can mirror those of PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome) and include:
You may have heard from pregnant women that they “just knew” that they were pregnant. You may experience mood swings, fatigue or other symptoms in a very slight form and just know that changes within your body are occurring. Hormonal change is something that goes unnoticed by many women, while others find themselves very sensitive to even a slight change. Listen to your body, pay attention to the aforementioned symptoms, and take a pregnancy test and/or consult your doctor if you think you may be pregnant. Being healthy is always important for your general well being, but good physical and mental health is particularly important when you are trying to conceive. Good health encompasses diet and nutrition, exercise, and general mental and emotional well being. Improve Your Health Eat healthy. Be sure to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables for optimal fertility. Buy vegetables that are bright in color such as red peppers, dark green, leaf vegetables and kale. Keep both fruit and vegetables around and enjoy eating 2 cups of fruit and 3 cups of vegetables every day. Nix the take out and foods high in calories and fat, these will be inhibit optimal reproductive health. Maintain an optimal weight. This means a weight that is neither too heavy, nor too thin. Excess body fat, or not enough, can cause irregularities in your cycle and inhibit ovulation. If you are over weight, an exercise regiment can boost your body’s ability to function over all, and increase blood flow to your reproductive system, which encourages regular ovulation and hormonal balance. Vitamin and Mineral Support When trying-to-conceive, you should take a prenatal vitamin or ideally a fertility supplement such as FertilAid. Folic acid should be taken daily in addition to other vitamins and minerals. Folic acid has been shown not only to decrease the risk of neural tube birth defects like spina bifida, but it has also been shown to reduce other birth defects like congenital heart conditions. It is especially recommended that women increase their intake of folic acid even before trying to conceive. Folic acid is a water-soluble B-vitamin - which means that it does not remain in the body for very long, so a regular, daily dosage is required. In addition to a prenatal vitamin, it’s further recommended to take an omega-3 supplement when trying to conceive (and during pregnancy). Omega-3 fatty acids are key to human growth and development, but are not naturally synthesized by the body. This means that Omega-3s must be obtained from foods, particularly from seafood sources, oils (e.g., flaxseed oil), or dietary supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids are a vital nutritional contributor to enhanced pregnancy health. But unlike folic acid, which is today well-known for its pregnancy and preconception benefits in preventing common birth defects, the profound value of Omega-3 fatty acids is just now becoming clear in nutritional research - and to the public. Hence, very few trying-to-conceive women know much about Omega-3s. Herbal Support Often overlooked are the benefits of herbs to enhance fertility. Chasteberry or vitex (vitex agnus-castus) is a fertility-promoting herb with a long, safe history of human use. As far back as ancient Greece, vitex agnus castus was recognized for its herbal-medicinal properties and was utilized for a number of health complaints. The Germans call vitex "Monk's Pepper" and for centuries women in Europe have used vitex to increase their odds of conceiving a baby, as well as to treat symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance, skin condition, or PMS. More recently, science has validated the fertility-enhancing properties of this dynamic herb. Vitex has been shown in several clinical studies to help stimulate and stabilize the reproductive hormones involved in ovulation, cycle balance, and menstrual regularity. These studies also document a statistically-significant increase in fertility among women using vitex, with more pregnancies than in control groups using a placebo. Vitex is an important ingredient in FertiliTea which contains a number of other fertility enhancing and nutritive herbs such as Red Raspberry Leaf, Green Tea, Ladies Mantle and Nettle Leaf. Couples who are trying to conceive are now, more than ever, turning to more natural ways of addressing infertility. Scientifically validated, fertility supplements are leading to dramatic increases in conception rates and providing a healthful alternative to conventional infertility treatments such as prescription drugs and/or fertility treatments such as IVF. Studies have also shown that relaxation techniques such as yoga can increase chances of conception. There has been a great deal of study on the connection between stress, physiology and conception rates. It’s suggested that yoga helps to lessen stress levels and increase circulation, supporting the movement of blood and important nutrients to the reproductive organs. What to Avoid Avoid Stress. Leading a stress-free lifestyle is part of achieving optimal health. Ironically, stress is commonly a byproduct of not being able to conceive. While the anxiety of frustrating attempts to have a baby is real and understandable, stress does need to be reduced to improve reproductive health. To maximize your chances, your body must be in optimal condition! See the information above about fertility yoga and acupuncture as proven methods of stress release and optimal fertility. Don’t smoke or drink alcohol when trying to conceive. Cigarettes contain numerous toxins that can cause damage to a woman’s reproductive health. Alcohol use can alter estrogen levels and interfere with egg implantation, as well as severely damage a fetus once pregnant. There are numerous other reasons why you should not smoke or drink while trying to conceive; all of which support the fact that both activities significantly decrease your chances to conceive. It has been found that women who drink alcohol consistently while trying to conceive decrease their chances of conception by as much as 50 percent! Avoiding caffeine while trying to get pregnant. While study results have been mixed about whether caffeine inhibits fertility, most doctors advise consuming low amounts of caffeine while trying to get pregnant. Some studies have shown that caffeine can also cause miscarriages. While expert opinions are mixed on this subject, it is best to play it safe and consume low amounts of caffeine. * These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. | |||||||||
 
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