A Major Cause of Infertility – Stress

One of the most overlooked roadblocks to conceiving is psychological stress. Infertility is aggravated by lifestyle factors, but stress itself can interfere with the balanced release of hormones required for the production and release of a mature egg. Male fertility is affected by stress as well. Although studies have not examined the effect of stress on sperm production and sperm count, it is known that impotence and difficulty ejaculating can be caused by emotional distress.

Unlike other causes of infertility, stress is like a ball rolling downhill – it gains momentum over time. The inability to conceive causes more stress among couples, which in turn aggravates infertility, and so on, resulting in a vicious cycle. This is why managing stress should take just as much priority as finding ways to treat your infertility, as the two factors are integral.

The science behind stress and infertility

Existing research on the relationship between stress and infertility presents a lot of compelling evidence.

When you are confronted by a “fight or flight” situation, your body produces a hormone called cortisol as a response to stress. Small doses of cortisol can actually bring some positive effects – it heightens your memory, makes you less sensitive to pain, and gives you a quick burst of energy for your survival. If the source of stress is constant, levels of cortisol keep on climbing, interfering with functions of the hypothalamus, the region of the brain that produces sex hormones.

Until recently, the effect of stress hormones on fertility was only a theory. But, in June 2009, researchers from the University of California Berkeley found new evidence showing how cortisol interferes with the function of the sex hormone gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). When there are low levels of GnRH, low sperm count, irregular ovulation, and sexual dysfunction occur. According to the findings, cortisol has a double-whammy effect on fertility. Not only does it inhibit the effects of GnRH; cortisol also increases the levels of another hormone called gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH). As you can tell by the name, GnIH aggravates infertility by preventing the release of gonadotropins. Although these findings were based on experiments in rats, the conclusions have opened the door to further research on the subject and new ways of thinking about infertility.

Boost your fertility with stress management programs

The effects of stress on fertility may vary from couple to couple, but studies seem unanimous on their conclusion that it’s easier to conceive when you’re under less stress. A paper in the journal Human Reproduction provides evidence that pregnancy is unlikely during months when the couples report feeling anxious or stressed. Conversely, the likelihood of pregnancy increased during months when couples reported feeling happy.

Stress can also affect the success rates of artificial reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization. In a study published in Fertility and Sterility, researchers observed that women with high stress levels released 20% less eggs during ovulation than women with low stress levels. Those who were more stressed were also less likely to have a successful pregnancy.

So when you are trying to become pregnant, you have nothing to lose by spending more time relaxing. Unwind after work with a massage, sign up for a yoga class, or attend a stress management program. Harvard Medical School’s Mind-Body Institute shows that 57% of infertile women became pregnant 6 months after taking a 10-week mind-body program.

Overcoming PCOS and Infertility

Most women don’t know they have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) until they have problems trying to conceive. The diagnosis might come as a shock, but identifying the cause of infertility can sometimes be empowering. Now that you know what’s affecting your ability to conceive, you can take an active role in restoring your fertility. Although PCOS is not curable per se, treatments for PCOS and infertility can help you get pregnant. Read on to find out about some possible treatment options.

Medical treatments

PCOS affects fertility by preventing the release of a mature egg from the ovary. For this reason, the most common medications for PCOS are drugs that induce ovulation. In rare and serious cases, surgery can treat a polycystic ovary.

Clomid with or without metformin

Clomid is an oral medication that can help you ovulate. For this to happen, Clomid has to be taken daily for five days early in the menstrual cycle. Within eight or ten days, you should start ovulating, but it’s common for some women to ovulate much later than this. After six cycles of taking Clomid, studies report that you have a 30% chance of conceiving. Doctors warn against taking Clomid for more than six cycles because it can increase the risk of ovarian cancer.

Sometimes Clomid is taken with Metformin, a medication used to treat diabetes. PCOS is triggered by insensitivity to insulin, and Metformin reduces this by making the body more responsive to insulin. Once insulin levels have normalized, the ovary will no longer produce as many androgens (male hormones), which will increase the chances of ovulation and a more regular menstrual cycle.

Gonadotropin injections

If the medications above do not work, the next option could be gonadotropin injections. Gonadotropins increase the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the body, the hormone responsible for the development and release of an egg. This medication is usually injected intramuscularly (directly into a muscle, usually the buttocks) or subcutaneously (the fatty tissue below the skin, usually the abdomen). Gonadotropin treatments begin early in the cycle and should be done daily for 8 – 14 days, or until a doctor detects at least one mature follicle through an ultrasound. At this point, you will get a human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) injection, which will trigger ovulation in 36 hours. This will help you determine the best time to have intercourse.

Ovarian drilling

Ovarian drilling is a surgical approach for PCOS, but it is only recommended when you have exhausted all other possibilities and treatments. During the procedure, your doctor will make a tiny incision in your lower abdomen and destroy a small part of the ovary with a cautery or laser. The theory behind ovarian drilling is that destroying ovarian tissue reduces androgen production, allowing you to manage the symptoms better and restore regular menstrual cycles. However, ovarian drilling may end up aggravating your fertility problems instead; 30% of patients walk away with ovarian scar tissue or pelvic scarring. Studies are also highly inconsistent in the effectiveness of this procedure as a fertility treatment, with pregnancy rates ranging from 10% to 90%.

Natural treatments

Increase your chances of a successful PCOS treatment by complementing medications with lifestyle changes and alternative approaches. These methods will not only help you get pregnant; they can also minimize the risks of complications due to PCOS.

Low carbohydrate diet

For many women, PCOS is caused by insulin resistance. When a body does not respond to insulin, it stops using carbohydrates as energy and stores them as fat, which leads to diabetes or obesity if left unchecked. A low-carbohydrate diet can prevent this by minimizing insulin resistance while providing the energy your body needs. Going on a low carbohydrate diet does not mean eliminating carbohydrates completely. Limit or eliminate your consumption of refined carbohydrates, and refined sugar. Replace these with low-glycemic index carbohydrates from nuts, low glycemic index fruits, and vegetables. Make sure your meals have enough protein – white meat, lean meat, nuts, and low-fat dairy. Buy organic food as much as you can and avoid sugar in all forms.

Vitamins and supplements

A lack of vitamins and key nutrients can aggravate PCOS, but you can correct this with a high-quality multivitamin. The following vitamins and supplements are known to improve your body’s response to insulin:

Zinc and magnesium balance blood sugar levels and suppress appetite.
Chromium helps insulin respond to hunger and cravings.
Co-enzyme Q10 improves carbohydrate metabolism, or the way our bodies use carbohydrates for energy.
B-vitamins are needed for hormonal balance, fat burning, and energy production.

Herbs

Certain herbs are very effective natural treatments for PCOS. By acting on your blood sugar levels and hormone production, herbs can improve your chances of conceiving.

Chasteberry works on the pituitary gland and regulates androgen levels, preventing cycles with no ovulation. This herb can also increase progesterone levels, giving you an ideal luteal phase and preventing miscarriage. This herb can be taken in tincture or capsule form for 18 months or until pregnancy occurs.
Brindall berries are small tropical fruits from central Asia. They contain hydroxyl citric acid, which helps the body metabolize carbohydrates instead of storing them as fat. Brindall berries also suppress cravings, reduce appetite, and increasing insulin sensitivity.

Could These Be Signs of Infertility?

The medical definition of infertility is the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected regular intercourse. Many couples don’t notice their fertility problems until they try, and fail, to get pregnant because most signs of infertility are difficult to detect. However, it helps to watch out for some factors that could mean that infertility may be a concern if you are planning to get pregnant. Ask yourself or your partner the following questions before spending a year trying to conceive. If any of these are relevant for you, it’s best to address the issue as soon as you can.

Is your menstrual cycle regular?

Irregular menstrual cycles are the first red flag for female fertility problems. Although cycle lengths vary from woman to woman, you need to visit your gynecologist if your cycle is consistently too short (less than 24 days) or too long (over 35 days). The absence of a monthly period is also a cause for alarm. But the occasional late period is nothing to worry about; once in a while, women experience delayed menstrual cycles due to stress and other extraneous factors.

How heavily or lightly do you bleed?

Menstrual bleeding usually lasts three to seven days and involves slight to moderate cramping and bleeding. But if your period causes so much blood loss and pain that you can’t go to work, you should take time to see your doctor. Heavy and painful bleeding can be a symptom of polycystic ovarian syndrome, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease – conditions that can spell infertility problems for women. You should also watch out if the blood flow changes drastically from cycle to cycle, e.g. heavy bleeding last cycle, light bleeding this cycle.

Are you older than 35?

Sperm cells and egg cells age along with the body, which is why fertility in men and women starts to decline rapidly after age 35. As a woman nears menopause, her ovaries become less responsive to the hormones that stimulate ovulation. The remaining eggs are also likely to have genetic defects, causing an increased risk for Down ’s syndrome or miscarriage. In males, low semen quantity has been observed as they near age 55. The genetic quality of sperm cells is also affected by age, leading to an increased risk of miscarriage, birth defects, and decreased fertility. Despite these setbacks, many couples older than 35 have successfully gotten pregnant through timed intercourse or artificial reproductive technologies. If you still have trouble conceiving after six months of unprotected intercourse, talk to your doctor and ask about your options. The sooner you seek medical help, the better your chances for a successful conception.

Is there a presence of sexual dysfunction?

The symptoms of male infertility are hardly ever obvious; it usually takes a sperm analysis for a couple to detect male factor infertility. However, signs of sexual dysfunction in your partner could suggest a fertility problem. If premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, or loss of interest in sex is a constant problem in bed, your partner could be suffering from an underlying fertility problem.

Are you overweight or underweight?

Fertility problems can be aggravated by unhealthy weight. Fertility experts observed that women with regular cycles and no other obvious signs of infertility have difficulty getting pregnant if they are obese or overweight. Being overweight could also be a symptom of an underlying fertility disorder, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, which is characterized by trouble losing excess weight.

Do you or your partner have chronic illnesses? What medications are you taking for them?

Common chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, and their treatments can aggravate infertility. Thyroid hormones and insulin shots can cause irregular cycles, while a medicine for peptic ulcers can cause problems with sperm production. If you are taking medications for a chronic illness, find out if their side effects may have a negative impact on your fertility. Talk to your doctor and ask about other medicines or fertility-friendly alternative treatments you can take instead.

How To Increase Male Fertility

According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, one third of infertility cases are due to male factor infertility like ogliospermia (low sperm count) and azoospermia (no sperm present in semen). However, a high sperm count does not guarantee fertility, either. Men with normal sperm levels have had trouble trying to conceive due to genetic disorders, hormonal problems, and other unexplainable factors. Although surgery and fertility drugs have helped men father a child, you can also increase male fertility with these simple lifestyle changes. It takes about 75 days for new sperm to form and 12 more days to mature. If you start taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle today, you should have better chances of conceiving in three months’ time.

Stop smoking

Tobacco and the toxins in cigarette smoke damage male fertility in so many ways. It can decrease sperm density (concentration) and sperm motility by as much as 23%, produce sperm with abnormal morphology (shape), and make the semen too toxic for sperm to survive. The harmful effects of smoking don’t end there; some chemicals can affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadtrophin axis, or the regions of the brain that produce sex hormones. Quitting smoking is an important first step to better fertility. Avoiding tobacco can help your partner conceive too; research shows that secondhand smoke impairs female fertility as much as firsthand smoke.

Avoid recreational drugs

One other drug you should stop smoking is marijuana because its cannabinoids cause sperm to get hyperactivated too early. Hyperactivation is the signal to swim very hard so the sperm cell can push through the egg cell’s membrane. But when sperm are hyperactivated too early, they will be too tired to fertilize an egg. Marijuana is also known to cause low semen volume, which means fewer sperm can reach the egg during intercourse.

Two other recreational drugs you should avoid are cocaine and anabolic steroids. Studies show that even infrequent cocaine users experience lower sperm counts, poor sperm motility, and abnormal morphology. Anabolic steroids, which are used to improve athletic performance and build muscle mass, suppress the body’s ability to produce testosterone. This results in azoospermia or very low sperm count.

Eat your greens and fruits

A salad may not be the manliest meal in the world, but your fertility will increase if you eat more greens. A study by researchers from the University of Rochester discovered that men who eat the fewest vegetables and fruits have the lowest sperm motility. Fruits and vegetables, particularly brightly colored ones, are rich in antioxidants, which protect sperm from damage to motility or movement. They also contain vitamins and minerals that protect sperm from the reactive oxygen species in semen:

Vitamin C – Necessary for the production and maintenance of normal sperm. It also prevents sperm agglutination or sperm clumping.
Vitamin E – Prevents free radical damage and oxidation by protecting the polyunsaturated fatty acids in sperm cell membranes.
Vitamin B9 – Also known as folic acid, a deficiency in this vitamin is linked to low sperm count and concentration.
Zinc – This trace mineral is needed for a healthy prostate, which produces seminal fluid.

Keep it cool

Testicles are located outside the body for a reason, and the reason is that sperm production only occurs in a cool environment. High scrotal temperature can have a serious negative impact on sperm quality and sperm count. While there is no scientific evidence supporting the claim that boxers are better than briefs, it’s important for you to avoid other sources of scrotal heat like saunas, hot tubs, electric blankets, and heated Jacuzzis.

Acupuncture and Fertility

Over the last three centuries, Western medicine has become successful at “knowing the body” through empirical discoveries and technological breakthroughs. But not all things have been entirely concluded through the prism of science and logic. Western medicine still sometimes has trouble identifying all the causes for some conditions, as in the case of unexplained infertility. This is where alternative practices like acupuncture can be especially helpful when Western medicine runs out of answers. Acupuncture for fertility has helped a number of couples get pregnant despite years of trying and failing to have a baby. Although Western medicine cannot explain exactly how it works, research shows that acupuncture and fertility have a beneficial relationship, especially when it comes to artificial reproductive technologies (ART) like in vitro fertilization (IVF).

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a practice from Chinese medicine where thin, sterilized needles are painlessly inserted into certain points in the body. There are over 2,000 acupuncture points all over the body, each located along various meridians (pathways) where the body’s Chi (natural life energy) flows. The philosophy behind Chinese medicine is that illnesses, disorders, and poor health are caused by an obstruction of Chi. Practices like acupuncture can remove these obstructions to regulate a number of bodily, emotional, and mental functions to ultimately restore good health.

The beauty behind acupuncture and Chinese medicine is that practitioners view the person as a whole organism made up of a complex web of mind, body, and spiritual relations. Instead of isolating a problematic uterus or ovaries and treating its symptoms, acupuncture provides a holistic treatment. It identifies the problem and corrects the relations between the problematic organs, the meridians, and the rest of the body. Acupuncture focuses on the person’s unique needs and symptoms and treats these with highly individualized treatments. Perhaps this is why acupuncture has been very successful in treating a wide range of male and female fertility issues, especially when combined with Western medicine’s more familiar approaches.

Acupuncture for male and female fertility

In women, acupuncture can improve fertility by restoring balance to key sex hormones and assisting in the maturation of eggs. Even though the production and regulation of hormones like estrogen and progesterone are regulated by the pituitary gland, the slim acupuncture needles are inserted in points located far from the brain. This is because the meridians affecting hormone production pass through other areas in the body. Together with pharmaceutical drugs or Chinese herbs, acupuncture improves egg maturation and ovulation during the ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle, and provides the hormone balance needed during the luteal phase. Even more serious conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and luteal phase defects can be treated by acupuncture.

Aside from maintaining hormonal balance, acupuncture increases the blood flow to the uterus and aids in the formation of the uterine lining or endometrium. If progesterone levels are not enough to sustain the endometrium, acupuncture can prevent miscarriage by increasing progesterone production and maintaining the integrity of the uterine lining. Acupuncture can also treat endometriosis by removing the impediments blocking the blood flow to the uterus. A case study on a 32-year old woman showed that acupuncture treated her endometriosis, normalized her menstrual cycle, and decreased the intensity of menstrual cramps. Two months later, she finished her acupuncture treatments and got pregnant without the help of ART.

The effects of acupuncture on men are not as well-documented, but there are treatments designed to boost sperm production and health. In 1992, a study in Molecular Andrology showed that an acupuncture treatment was able to improve sperm motility, density, and vitality after 12 weeks. A more recent study showed similar results; however, it seems that acupuncture cannot treat a few common sperm pathologies such as programmed cell death. Despite its limitations, acupuncture was found to improve overall sperm quality and numbers, leading to increased male fertility.

Acupuncture and ART

If you choose to use conventional ART to get pregnant, fertility experts recommend a course of acupuncture treatment to increase your chances of conceiving. Acupuncture’s ability to facilitate ovulation, egg maturation, and hormone balance can increase the success rates of ART procedures, particularly IVF. But that’s not the only way acupuncture can help. This ancient practice’s positive effect on mood, anxiety, and emotional equilibrium also contribute to the success of ART. For women who take fertility drugs at the start of ART treatment, acupuncture can be used to cleanse the body of pharmaceutical toxins, thus reducing the medications’ detrimental side effects and improving the odds of the procedure’s success.

Natural Pregnancy: Conceiving Tips

Infertility was once considered a “woman’s problem”, but obstacles to achieving pregnancy, conceiving, and all the challenges that arise around reproduction are shared by both sexes. Forty percent of infertility cases are due to male causes like poor sperm production and low sperm count, whereas another forty percent are caused by female problems like blocked fallopian tubes and endometriosis. The final 20 percent is due to unknown causes, otherwise known as idiopathic infertility. Although fertility specialists and science have developed medical approaches to treating infertility, these treatments are expensive and do not always guarantee a pregnancy. If the causes of your infertility are unknown, try making a few lifestyle and dietary changes. These natural approaches have been proven to increase the likelihood of conceiving, whether used on their own or as a secondary treatment to assisted reproduction technologies.

Fertility and proper nutrition

The sooner you start eating right, the sooner you’ll conceive. Most women treated advice on nutrition and fertility as an old wives’ tale until Harvard University’s groundbreaking Nurses’ Health Study lent credibility to this statement. After examining the eating habits of over 18,000 female nurses who were trying to conceive, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health confirmed that women who received iron, folic acid, and other nutrients from fruits, vegetables and meats were more likely to get pregnant. Conversely, women who regularly ate donuts, refined carbohydrates, and sweets had a more difficult time conceiving.

Although researchers were unable to determine exactly how food affects fertility in women, the working theory has to do with insulin’s impact on ovarian function. Women with normal insulin levels are much more likely to have normal menstrual cycles and ovulation, whereas women with diabetes or insulin resistance are more likely to experience anovulation, meaning that ovulation does not occur.

Certain nutritional guidelines seem to have a universal positive effect on fertility. Refined carbohydrates, which can boost insulin levels and blood sugar levels too quickly, should be avoided because the insulin surge upsets the delicate hormonal balance required for optimum fertility. On the other hand, eating whole fruits, vegetables, legumes, and other low-glycemic foods improves ovulation by regulating insulin and blood sugar levels. Trans-fats from junk food should also be avoided because they increase insensitivities to insulin.

Eat organic when possible

The high prices of organic food make it impractical to eat organic all the time, but it is important to do so as much as you can when you want to boost your fertility. Conventional crop farming makes use of chemical pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides which can aggravate fertility problems in men and women. One of the dangers posed by conventionally raised crop and cattle has to do with the xenoestrogens or “foreign estrogens” used to protect them from pests or encourage them to grow. Xenoestrogens are often the culprit behind unexplained infertility because they upset the delicate hormonal balance required for conception. They also imitate the actions of natural estrogen and cause conditions like endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and luteal phase defects. The harmful effects of xenoestrogens don’t only affect the mother; studies show that this chemical can even cause miscarriages and birth defects in the baby. In men, xenoestrogens can cause andropause, low sperm count, and low testosterone levels.

Boost your nutritional intake with vitamins

Food alone may not be enough for you to obtain the nutrients you need for optimum fertility. Keep your bases covered by taking a quality multivitamin or pre-natal vitamin every day. Pre-natal vitamins contain all the nutrients you and a healthy baby will need, but they are also more expensive. If you do choose to get a regular multivitamin, make sure it contains the following nutrients.

At least 400 mcg of folic acid. The Nurses’ Health Study discovered that folic acid makes a woman 40% less likely to suffer from problems producing and releasing mature eggs. However, there’s another reason why you should stock up on folic acid: it protects babies from neural tube defects like spina bifida.
No more than 770 mcg of vitamin A. Unless the vitamin A is in a form called beta-carotene, make sure it does not exceed the daily recommended allowance. Certain types of vitamin A are known to cause birth defects. However, the vitamin A found in fruits and vegetables are safe.
2.6 mcg of vitamin B12. Some studies suggest that a lack of vitamin B12 can also contribute to neural tube defects. Since vitamin B12 can only be obtained from meat and animal-based food, vegetarians should look for a multivitamin with the recommended daily allowance of this nutrient.

Exercise in moderation

Exercise can boost fertility by helping maintain a healthy weight, lowering your blood sugar levels, and reducing stress. However, it’s important to exercise in moderation because there is such a thing as being too fit. A study in the Obstetrics and Gynecology journal found out that women who work out more than four hours a week are 40% less likely to conceive. When intense physical activity or calorie burning occurs, the body interprets this as danger and suppresses reproductive hormones. Walking 30 minutes a day is enough to stay fit, healthy, and fertile.

Getting Pregnant After Miscarriage

Making a decision about getting pregnant after miscarriage can be difficult for couples. You may have a lot of fears and questions that you want answers to before you are ready to try again. You might avoid another pregnancy because of the grief and sorrow caused by the previous miscarriage. Or perhaps you have a strong desire to get pregnant again right away. It’s perfectly normal to feel all these emotions. Take as much time as you need to heal and recover from your loss; eventually, you’ll know what step to take next.

If you do decide to give pregnancy another chance, there is hope on the road ahead of you. Did you know that most women who experience a miscarriage have healthy, trouble-free pregnancies afterwards? Even women who have three or more miscarriages in a row have a 75% chance of giving birth to a live, healthy baby. Of course, your chances of carrying a pregnancy to term will increase if you take a couple of preventive measures. Although there is no treatment to prevent miscarriages per se, taking good care of yourself and your body will go a long way to help you conceive again and carry a healthy baby to full term.

Learn about the possible causes

Generally speaking, miscarriages happen more frequently to women older than 35. The following are the most common causes behind a miscarriage.

Abnormal chromosomes

Problems with the embryo’s chromosomes are responsible for as many as 60% of miscarriages that occur in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. Usually, this sort of spontaneous abortion occurs even before the woman is aware that she is pregnant. Women aged 35 and older are more likely to experience a miscarriage due to chromosomal abnormalities because eggs start to age rapidly at this point. In rare cases, genetic problems in the parent cause the defective chromosomes. Think of it as nature’s way of ending a pregnancy where a serious genetic defect in the egg or sperm will make life impossible for the baby.

Testing the tissue from the miscarriage will help you find out if a chromosome problem was behind the miscarriage. The tissue sample has to be obtained immediately; otherwise, the cells will not grow and the test will be of no use. But if this is your first miscarriage, there’s no need to do a test; doctors usually assume a chromosomal cause for first miscarriages.

Hormonal imbalance

A deficiency in the sex hormone progesterone is among the most common causes of a miscarriage. Progesterone is responsible for preparing the uterine lining to receive and nourish a fertilized egg. However, a dip in progesterone levels is a signal for the body to shed the uterine lining, and with it the embryo. This problem can be detected through a hormone blood test and a biopsy where a tissue sample from the uterus is obtained. If an imbalance in progesterone levels is found, you can take progesterone supplements to restore the balance in hormones.

Physical defects in the cervix or uterus

A weakened cervix or a uterus with an abnormal shape can induce early labor during the first 12-24 weeks of pregnancy. This is the stage where the embryo develops into a fetus and grows rapidly in shape. An abnormally-shaped uterus may be unable to expand and accommodate the fetus, whereas a weak cervix cannot hold the fetus in. Fortunately, these conditions can be treated by a corrective procedure to the cervix or surgery on the uterus. If left untreated, a miscarriage is likely to happen again.

Immune disorders

There are a number of reproductive specialists who study the relationship between auto-immune problems and pregnancies. It’s possible for the immune system to produce antibodies that terminate a fetus’s life.

1) Antiphospholipid antibodies form blood clots in the placenta, blocking the baby’s blood supply and causing it to abort. This can occur anytime during the pregnancy, but it is far more common in the first trimester. An inexpensive blood test called anticardiolipins can detect the presence of these antibodies. Treatment involves taking a blood thinner.

2) Antinuclear antibodies are the result of Lupus or similar conditions where the body forms antibodies against itself. This can be treated with a medicine called Prednisone, but it has significant side effects including bruise marks. This drug is never given unless absolutely necessary.

3) Fetal blocking antibodies form when the mother’s immune system attacks the father’s genetic material. Ideally, the fetal-blocking antibodies are supposed to block the baby from the father’s genetic material. However, a miscarriage occurs during the first 12 weeks if the father’s genetic material resembles the mother’s too similarly. There are only very few clinics that test for fetal-blocking antibodies.

Other health problems

It’s possible for health problems and infections to cause miscarriage, but only serious ones like malaria, syphilis, German measles, and AIDS. Infections that affect the uterus itself can increase the risk of a miscarriage, but a yeast infection, which is common in pregnancy, is harmless. Generally speaking, common illnesses are nothing to worry about in pregnancy. However, an infection that induces a fever higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit should be treated immediately. Ask your doctor about the best way to lower the fever.

Although chronic health problems like thyroid disorders and cardiovascular problems may create complications, having these does not mean you cannot carry a pregnancy to term. You simply need to take better care of yourself, eat well, and make sure that the treatments you take for these conditions are safe during pregnancy.

Avoiding miscarriage

Although there is no injection or pill that can prevent you from experiencing another miscarriage, there are a lot of simple things that you can do to ensure a successful pregnancy. Nourish your body with a well-balanced diet, healthy organic food, and pre-natal vitamins. Keep the environment around you clean so that your body has every advantage of staying healthy. Avoid secondhand cigarette smoke, sources of pollution, and toxic chemicals. Exercise regularly, but make sure you do not over-exert yourself – 30 minutes of moderate walking should do the trick. If you have a chronic condition like diabetes, make sure it is under control before you start trying to conceive.

As to how long you need to wait after the miscarriage before trying to get pregnant again, this decision is entirely up to you. Doctors recommend waiting until you experience at least one normal menstrual cycle; this is a good sign that your reproductive system is back to normal. However, it’s just as important for your emotional and spiritual state to heal. Seek support from trusted friends, or a counselor. It might also help to join a support group; many people find it comforting to talk to others who have experienced a similar loss. Above all, take time to nurture yourself and your partner with love and compassion after the painful event you have been through. You are doing everything you can, and the steps you take towards caring for yourself will give you an excellent chance of conceiving again and giving birth to a healthy baby.

How To Easily Get Pregnant

If you think scheduling intercourse around your fertile days is enough to know how to easily get pregnant, think again. The products you use everyday contain chemicals and other substances that can aggravate fertility problems. The best way to increase your chances of conceiving is to know which products can harm your health and fertility and how to avoid using them.

Minimize the Use of Cosmetics

The average woman uses 12 different kinds of personal care products every day, but every single one of these contain a cocktail of chemicals and toxins that cause health problems like infertility. The cosmetics industry produces so many products each year that the FDA cannot possibly test every single chemical that goes into each new lotion, shampoo, body wash, or lipstick formula.

What women need to watch out for is a group of chemicals called parabens, a preservative found in everything from shampoo to moisturizer (you can easily spot them among the ingredients; they are chemical compounds with the prefix propyl, methyl, butyl, and ethyl). Parabens belong to a group of chemicals called xenoestrogens, or false estrogens. Even though they are man-made estrogens, they behave like real estrogen when they enter the body and upset the delicate hormonal balance needed for conception. High amounts of estrogen, whether real estrogen or xenoestrogen, can also trigger conditions that disrupt fertility, such as ovarian cysts and endometriosis.

Men also need to be careful about the personal care products they use. A number of shampoos and deodorants contain a chemical called phthalates, which can cause testicular tumors, low sperm count, and hormonal imbalance.

It would be impractical to suggest avoiding cosmetics completely, but reducing the number of personal care products you use can go a long way to boost your fertility. You can also limit your purchases to cosmetics with organic or natural ingredients. Just make sure you look beyond the “all-natural” label and inspect the ingredients list before you buy anything. Many of these so-called natural cosmetics actually contain chemicals like nano-particules, phenoxyethanol, and triclosan, which are all known to disrupt hormone production.

Stay Away From Lubricants

Lubricants might make things sexy in the sack, but did you know that even water-based lubes have spermicidal effects? Sperm can only survival in alkaline environments with a pH level of 7.0 or 8.5. Oil-based and water-based lubricants are acidic, with pH values of 3 or 4. Not only do these products create a hostile environment for sperm, but the osmotically active particles in lubricants also affect sperm motility. Saliva and water aren’t any more sperm-friendly than lubricants either. The digestive enzymes in saliva can kill sperm, whereas the sperm cell absorbs water too easily, causing it to burst.

If you really must use a lubricant, there is one sperm-friendly product you can use. Pre-Seed is the only lubricant with the right pH levels required for sperm to survive. Its maker, Dr. Joanna Ellington from Washington State University, essentially replicates the alkaline environment provided by semen so that sperm can easily swim through it. Pre-Seed doesn’t guarantee pregnancy of course, but at least you won’t need to worry about the damage it might do to your partner’s sperm.

Stop Using Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen

Instead of using over-the-counter NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) for your headaches or cramps, try to find natural remedies instead. Studies show that NSAIDs acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) can cause temporary infertility in women. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen signal the pituitary gland to produce high amounts of the luteinizng hormone (LH), the hormone that triggers ovulation. However, too much LH can cause the ovarian follicles to swell and turn into cysts instead of releasing a mature egg. When this happens, a woman may go through a menstrual cycle without ovulating.

The good news is that only a small margin of the female population is negatively affected by NSAIDs. The damage isn’t permanent either; studies show that levels of LH normalize as soon as the woman stops taking these drugs. Still, it might be a good idea to stay away from over-the-counter painkillers and to reduce inflammation naturally. Eat lots of green leafy vegetables, fruits, and take an anti-inflammatory omega-3 capsule every day.

Do Not Use Plastic Containers to Store or Heat Food

We hardly give a second thought to how plastic can affect our health, but researchers from Yale University’s School of Medicine show that chemical ingredients in plastic can cause infertility in women. These chemicals are Bisphenol A and phthalates. Both of them are considered endocrine disruptors, chemical substances that cause infertility by altering the amounts of sex hormones in the body. Bisphenol A, in particular, has been found to prevent fertilized eggs from implanting themselves onto the uterus. Women who experience frequent miscarriages also have higher levels of BPA in their blood than women who carry their pregnancy to term.

How does this happen? When we microwave food inside a plastic container, the heat triggers the release of these chemicals and makes them leech onto the food. Fatty foods also tend to draw them out.

Although it might seem eco-friendly to recycle your plastic food containers, your fertility will fare better if you reduce the amount of plastics you use or stop using them altogether. Use porcelain or glass dishes to heat or store food, cut down on the cling-wrap, and avoid plastic containers and bottles with the recycling number 7. This type of plastic contains the highest amounts of Bisphenol A.