For some couples, they have tried to make all the lifestyle changes they possibly can, and realize that medical intervention is the only viable option for them.  In this case, what are some common fertility treatments for these couples?  What are the side effects, and are they typically successful?

 

Assisted Reproduction Fertility Treatments

 

Assisted Reproduction is the phrase used in the medical community to describe medical intervention for couples facing infertility.  Here are some common fertility treatments and how they work:

 

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI).  This procedure which is also known as artificial insemination is often combined with hormone treatments to boost egg production, and can help couples with low sperm count, unexplained infertility, or cervical mucus problems.  Semen is collected, and then delivered via a catheter inserted through the women’s vagina and cervix to her uterus.

 

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).  IVF may help those with pelvic or tubal damage, or male infertility.  It is the most commonly used of all the fertility treatments available.  The woman takes drugs to stimulate egg production, which are surgically removed.  Then eggs and sperm (from her partner or a donor) are collected and combined outside the body, and inserted into her body to develop after fertilization takes place.  “In vitro” means “in glass” (that is, in a test tube or laboratory dish).

 

Sperm Donation.  Fertility treatments do also include those necessary when a male partner is not present or does not have viable sperm.  This procedure is performed using sperm from a typically anonymous donor; of course, a sperm donor can be a male friend or associate.

 

Donated Egg.  This can help those whose infertility problems are due to premature menopause or some other disruption of ovulation.

 

Surrogacy, Traditional and Gestational.  In traditional surrogacy, another woman carries and gives birth to a baby conceived with her egg and your partner’s sperm (through artificial insemination).  In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate carries and gives birth to a baby conceived with your egg and your partner’s sperm, then transferred as an embryo to her womb.

 

Fertility Treatments Available for You

 

The proper procedure that is best for you and your partner is one that only you or the two of you together can decide on, of course with your doctor?s help.  Many of these fertility treatments listed are very expensive, so of course your own personal budget will need to be considered.  Additionally, there are some who have religious beliefs or moral opinions about many of these fertility treatments, and of course this is a personal decision as well.  The bottom line is that while so many of these options are becoming more and more common, and safer as well, the final decision will need to be yours.  After all, you are the one who will need to live with the consequences and responsibility of this decision for the rest of your life.  So, speak openly and honestly with your doctor and be sure that you completely understand all of these many choices so as to make the most informed decision possible.

Infant Deaths Increasing Due To Preterm Birth
Babies born too soon and too small accounted for a growing proportion of infant deaths, according to new statistics released from the National Center for Health Statistics, (NCHS). Babies who died of preterm-related causes accounted for 36.5 percent of infant deaths in 2005, up from 34.6 percent in 2000, according to “Infant Mortality Statistics from the 2005 Period Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set,” Vol. 57, No.

Women With Gestational Diabetes At Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes
Women with gestational diabetes are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with almost 20% of women developing the condition within 9 years of pregnancy, found a large, population-based study of 659,000 women published in CMAJ. The study, www.cmaj.ca/press/pg229. />
Christian Science Monitor Examines Debate Surrounding Home Births
The Christian Science Monitor on Tuesday examined the debate over whether “childbirth is a natural bodily function or a medical event necessitating hospitalization.” The Monitor profiled the case of midwife Diane Goslin, who practices in an Amish area of Lancaster County, Pa.

Prenatal and Pregnancy

Prenatal vitamins are one of the most important vitamins that you take through out your pregnancy. Ideally, you should start taking prenatal vitamins when you are trying to conceive a baby. By taking prenatal while you are trying to conceive, you are preparing your body for the challenging task that lies ahead. Some experts believe that taking prenatal before you are pregnant might actually reduce your risk of a miscarriage after you become pregnant.

Taking prenatal before pregnancy is not always possible for some people, but taking them during pregnancy is essential. Prenatal vitamins contain one of the most important nutrients that a new mother needs and that are folic acid or folate. By taking in extra folic acid, you lower your chances of your baby being born with an incomplete spinal column which is known as spina bifida. In order for your baby to be protected, it is imperative that folic acid is taken in the first four weeks of fetal development.

This can be a problem for women who do not take prenatals before they are pregnant. Most of the time, most women do not know they are pregnant until after they missed their period which is about two weeks after conception. This is why if you are of child bearing age, you should make it a habit of taking folic acid even if you are not planning to become pregnant and we all know that not all pregnancies are planned.

You can still get your folic acid in food. Folic acid is added to many breads and pastas and is found in dark green and orange fruits as well as vegetables. Keep in mind though that taking a daily supplement of folic acid offers more protection from spina bifida then eating the same amount of folic acid in food.

While you are pregnant you should aim to take at least 600mcg of folic acid a day. If you have had a baby with a neural tube defect, you will have to take 4000 mcg or 4 milligrams of folic acid every day, starting at least a month before you get pregnant.

Some women report that they can not take their prenatals especially in their first trimester. Women who suffer from morning sickness and food aversions find that they can not eat much food. Taking a prenatal on an empty stomach can leave you feeling sick and queasy which is why so many women in the first trimester do not take them. Another reason some women report upset stomachs is due to the high iron level that some prenatals have. Not only could this cause an upset stomach, this can also lead to constipation which can already be a problem for some pregnant women.

If you find that you can not take your prenatal, talk to your doctor to see if he can give you a prenatal with less iron or give you a folic acid supplement also. The worst thing you could do is not take anything, especially during those first few weeks.

Infant Deaths Increasing Due To Preterm Birth
Babies born too soon and too small accounted for a growing proportion of infant deaths, according to new statistics released from the National Center for Health Statistics, (NCHS). Babies who died of preterm-related causes accounted for 36.5 percent of infant deaths in 2005, up from 34.6 percent in 2000, according to “Infant Mortality Statistics from the 2005 Period Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set,” Vol. 57, No.

Women With Gestational Diabetes At Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes
Women with gestational diabetes are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with almost 20% of women developing the condition within 9 years of pregnancy, found a large, population-based study of 659,000 women published in CMAJ. The study, www.cmaj.ca/press/pg229. />
Exposure To Epilepsy Drugs During Pregnancy Can Increase Birth Defect Risk, Study Finds
Pregnant women with epilepsy who took the seizure drug topiramate, which is sold by Johnson and Johnson under the brand name Topamax, increased their risk of having an infant with birth defects, especially when taken in combination with another drug called valproate, according to a study published in the July 22 issue of journal Neurology, the

Pregnancy and Nutrition

You are besides yourself with joy as you see that your pregnancy test is postive. You find yourself already caressing your stomach in hopes that your little one can feel you. The next nine months are going to be an exciting time for you and your baby. You are going to have a human life grow inside of you and feel them move as they get bigger. Your baby is going to go from a single sperm and egg into pounds of adorable flesh that you can’t help but kiss over and over again. It truly is a miracle.

In order to help this miracle along, it is essential for you to eat as good as you can through out most of your pregnancy. The first three months might be a little difficult to eat balanced meals when you are dealing with food aversions and morning sickness. If you are one of the rare lucky ones whose stomach doesn’t so much as move during your first trimester, then you can take full advantage of eating healthy right out of the gate.

Making sure you eat balanced nutritious meals is laying down the foundation for your baby. A diet of junk food is not going to help your baby with bone development and organ formation. Potato chips will not help with brain development. Your baby and your body need calcium and vitamins to achieve all of this.

Eating well during pregnancy is going to help your baby eat well after it is born and on solid foods. As your pregnancy progresses, some of what you eat will cross the placenta and the taste will be in your baby’s amniotic fluid. Babies swallow this fluid and their taste buds are so develop that even in the womb they are able to taste the flavors. Doctors believe that babies who are exposed to a wide variety of fruit and vegetables while in utero have less of a chance of being a fussy eater later in life. They believe that these are the babies who will eat their fruit and vegetables without putting up any fight.

Doctors also believe that moms who drink their milk through out their pregnancy have an easier time weaning their babies from formula or breast milk to regular milk. This however is only one benefit, the other benefit of drinking milk throughout your pregnancy is all the calcium you will be giving your baby’s bones. Many doctors recommend that you drink at least one eight oz glass of milk, usually fat free a day. Calcium is a must have your baby’s bones and his teeth, even though you won’t see his teeth for at least a few months.

This isn’t to say that you have to stay away from all sweets all the time. You can indulge every now and then and thanks to cravings you may find yourself wanting sweets more often than not. You do have to keep it in moderation. Being pregnant should not be looked at as an excuse to eat whatever you want for nine months. Both you and your baby could pay a dear price.

Christian Science Monitor Examines Debate Surrounding Home Births
The Christian Science Monitor on Tuesday examined the debate over whether “childbirth is a natural bodily function or a medical event necessitating hospitalization.” The Monitor profiled the case of midwife Diane Goslin, who practices in an Amish area of Lancaster County, Pa.

Breastfeeding Mums To Get The Help They Need, Australia
The Rudd Government will provide $5 million to help establish a 24-hour toll-free national helpline to support breastfeeding mothers and their families, and to support research into breastfeeding. There is strong evidence of the links between breastfeeding and prevention of obesity and asthma in children as well as prevention of chronic diseases such as breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Brain Regions Damaged By Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Identified By Water-Diffusion Technology
Scientists know that children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) often have structural brain damage. Yet little is known about how white matter connections, and deep gray matter structures that act as relay stations, are affected in children with FASD. A new study has used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to identify several specific white matter regions as well as deep gray matter areas of the brain that appear sensitive to prenatal alcohol exposure.

Planning Ahead While Pregnant

Planning ahead when it comes to food could mean the difference between making wise choices and making irrational choices. It helps us learn how to undo our bad habits and being pregnant is a great time to try and change any bad habits you may have. The best way to break bad habits and to form new ones is to constantly plan ahead.

You want to plan for snack attacks especially if you are not going to be home. You want to make sure you take some healthy food with you, so that you can resist the temptation of going to the vending machine and taking out that candy bar. Throw some nuts into your pocketbook or some cheese sticks in case of any hunger that might hit you through out the day.

Plan your food shopping list. Some people find that when they go to the supermarket with just a rough idea of what they need they usually wind up forgetting something important or they wind up buying half of the food store. Take a few minutes to plan your meals for the week and buy what you need to go with it.

Speaking of planning meals, that is a excellent idea. Plan for meals you can realistically prepare. Do not plan for meals that you do not have the time to prepare. You are only going to stress yourself out. Look for recipes that are easy and quick to make. Do not try to make something where you can’t pronounce half of the ingredients and need to shop at a gourmet cooking store. Chances are you are still working and the last thing you want to do is come home after a long day and then slave over a complicated recipe.

Also, planning your meals out for the week tends to help you be a little more organized for the week. It is no secret that pregnant women tend to forget things and this is due to their changing hormone level. By taking out the time to sit and plan your meals for the week will help you stay a little organized and save you a lot of time. If you already know what you are making for dinner, you do not have to worry about coming home after a long day and standing in front of the fridge trying to decide what to make.

You also want to make sure that get yourself in the habit of using vegetables are your main dish. Instead of doing chicken breast with a side salad, make your salad your main dish and the chicken breast a side one. You also want to buy your vegetables as fresh as possible, even if that means making two trips to the grocery store through out the week. The fresher the vegetable, the better they are for you and your baby. The same holds true for fruit also. Keep plenty of fruit on hand, especially if you tend to crave sweet stuff through out your pregnancy. Instead of reaching for a candy bar, you can reach for a piece of fruit dipped in cool whip

By planning ahead for the week or even month to come will help you stay on track with your eating and decrease the risk of you making the wrong choice if a craving should hit you.

Former Iowa First Lady Vilsack Travels State To Promote Program To Reduce Unplanned Pregnancies
Former Iowa first lady Christie Vilsack is traveling throughout the state to discuss unplanned pregnancies and ways to reduce their numbers in Iowa, which ranks 43rd in the U.S. in family planning funding and 48th in access to contraception, the Daily Gate City reports (Iutzi, Daily Gate City, 7/18). In January, Vilsack launched the

Breastfeeding Mums To Get The Help They Need, Australia
The Rudd Government will provide $5 million to help establish a 24-hour toll-free national helpline to support breastfeeding mothers and their families, and to support research into breastfeeding. There is strong evidence of the links between breastfeeding and prevention of obesity and asthma in children as well as prevention of chronic diseases such as breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Pregnant Women Urged To Be Extra Vigilant When Choosing Food Options
Yesterday, Monday 21st July, safefood and the HPSC urged pregnant women to be extra vigilant when consuming certain types of food and issued advice on how to avoid the risk of listeriosis. During 2007, 9 cases of pregnancy associated Listeria were reported in Ireland, five of these were among women for whom English was not their first language. “Listeria is a bacterium found in many types of food”, said Dr.

Planning Ahead While Pregnant

Planning ahead when it comes to food could mean the difference between making wise choices and making irrational choices. It helps us learn how to undo our bad habits and being pregnant is a great time to try and change any bad habits you may have. The best way to break bad habits and to form new ones is to constantly plan ahead.

You want to plan for snack attacks especially if you are not going to be home. You want to make sure you take some healthy food with you, so that you can resist the temptation of going to the vending machine and taking out that candy bar. Throw some nuts into your pocketbook or some cheese sticks in case of any hunger that might hit you through out the day.

Plan your food shopping list. Some people find that when they go to the supermarket with just a rough idea of what they need they usually wind up forgetting something important or they wind up buying half of the food store. Take a few minutes to plan your meals for the week and buy what you need to go with it.

Speaking of planning meals, that is a excellent idea. Plan for meals you can realistically prepare. Do not plan for meals that you do not have the time to prepare. You are only going to stress yourself out. Look for recipes that are easy and quick to make. Do not try to make something where you can’t pronounce half of the ingredients and need to shop at a gourmet cooking store. Chances are you are still working and the last thing you want to do is come home after a long day and then slave over a complicated recipe.

Also, planning your meals out for the week tends to help you be a little more organized for the week. It is no secret that pregnant women tend to forget things and this is due to their changing hormone level. By taking out the time to sit and plan your meals for the week will help you stay a little organized and save you a lot of time. If you already know what you are making for dinner, you do not have to worry about coming home after a long day and standing in front of the fridge trying to decide what to make.

You also want to make sure that get yourself in the habit of using vegetables are your main dish. Instead of doing chicken breast with a side salad, make your salad your main dish and the chicken breast a side one. You also want to buy your vegetables as fresh as possible, even if that means making two trips to the grocery store through out the week. The fresher the vegetable, the better they are for you and your baby. The same holds true for fruit also. Keep plenty of fruit on hand, especially if you tend to crave sweet stuff through out your pregnancy. Instead of reaching for a candy bar, you can reach for a piece of fruit dipped in cool whip

By planning ahead for the week or even month to come will help you stay on track with your eating and decrease the risk of you making the wrong choice if a craving should hit you.

Dems Unable To End Sen. Coburn’s Hold On 34 Bills, Including Postpartum Depression Measure
Senate Democrats on Monday failed to advance legislation (S 3297) that combined 34 bills that Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) has blocked, CQ Today reports. The package included disease specific research measures, environmental protection legislation and measures aimed at bolstering foreign economies. Language from a measure (

Study Finds Link Between Small Birth Size And Changes To The Cardiovascular System That Predispose To Disease In Later Life
Researchers have found the first evidence that smaller size at birth is associated with specific alterations in the functioning of the heart and circulation in children and that these changes differ between boys and girls.

Obstetricians Often Overlook Alcohol Consumption In Pregnancy, Australian And New Zealand Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology
One in every two pregnant Australian woman still consume alcohol during pregnancy, according to a study in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The responsibility of providing accurate information about the harmful effects of alcohol and its lifelong effects on the child falls on obstetricians and other health professionals.

Planning Ahead While Pregnant

Planning ahead when it comes to food could mean the difference between making wise choices and making irrational choices. It helps us learn how to undo our bad habits and being pregnant is a great time to try and change any bad habits you may have. The best way to break bad habits and to form new ones is to constantly plan ahead.

You want to plan for snack attacks especially if you are not going to be home. You want to make sure you take some healthy food with you, so that you can resist the temptation of going to the vending machine and taking out that candy bar. Throw some nuts into your pocketbook or some cheese sticks in case of any hunger that might hit you through out the day.

Plan your food shopping list. Some people find that when they go to the supermarket with just a rough idea of what they need they usually wind up forgetting something important or they wind up buying half of the food store. Take a few minutes to plan your meals for the week and buy what you need to go with it.

Speaking of planning meals, that is a excellent idea. Plan for meals you can realistically prepare. Do not plan for meals that you do not have the time to prepare. You are only going to stress yourself out. Look for recipes that are easy and quick to make. Do not try to make something where you can’t pronounce half of the ingredients and need to shop at a gourmet cooking store. Chances are you are still working and the last thing you want to do is come home after a long day and then slave over a complicated recipe.

Also, planning your meals out for the week tends to help you be a little more organized for the week. It is no secret that pregnant women tend to forget things and this is due to their changing hormone level. By taking out the time to sit and plan your meals for the week will help you stay a little organized and save you a lot of time. If you already know what you are making for dinner, you do not have to worry about coming home after a long day and standing in front of the fridge trying to decide what to make.

You also want to make sure that get yourself in the habit of using vegetables are your main dish. Instead of doing chicken breast with a side salad, make your salad your main dish and the chicken breast a side one. You also want to buy your vegetables as fresh as possible, even if that means making two trips to the grocery store through out the week. The fresher the vegetable, the better they are for you and your baby. The same holds true for fruit also. Keep plenty of fruit on hand, especially if you tend to crave sweet stuff through out your pregnancy. Instead of reaching for a candy bar, you can reach for a piece of fruit dipped in cool whip

By planning ahead for the week or even month to come will help you stay on track with your eating and decrease the risk of you making the wrong choice if a craving should hit you.

Pre-Eclampsia May Be Autoimmune Disease
Biochemists at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston say they are the first to provide pre-clinical evidence that pregnancy-induced high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia may be an autoimmune disease. Their research could provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities for this intractable disease. Findings appear online in Nature Medicine on July 27. Scientists in the laboratory of Yang Xia, M.D., Ph.D.

Lamaze: Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond, The Magazine For Expectant Families, Receives 2008 Magnum Opus And APEX 2008 Awards
Lamaze: Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond, the magazine for expectant families, published by Rodale Custom Publishing in partnership with Lamaze International, was awarded recently with four 2008 Magnum Opus Awards and an APEX 2008 Award, two of the publishing industry’s most prestigious awards. Magnum Opus Awards recognize “corporate and custom publications that deliver - strategically, editorially and visually - with a quality consistency of the highest order.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Examines Treatment Options For Pregnant Women With Cancer
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Sunday examined the “life-and-death” decisions pregnant women with cancer must make and the treatment options available to them. According to the Post-Dispatch, as many as one in every 1,000 pregnant women in the U.S. is diagnosed with cancer.

Peanuts and Pregnancy

Ask any parent who has a child who is allegeric to peanuts how difficult their live has become. Food shopping can take hours because every food label must be read it and studied to make sure it contains no traces of peanuts. Arrangements for peanut free foods must be made with the child’s school ahead of time and other children’s birthdays parties can be a parent’s worse nightmare. Peanut allergies although common can be one of the most fatal allergies a child could suffer from. Some children are so sensitive to their peanut allergy that if they come into contact with peanuts just from someone else’s skin, their life can be at risk. Peanut allergies can lead to anaphylactic shock which is a sever allergic reaction that can be fatal.

Peanut allergies are usually not diagnosed until a child reaches the age of 2 or even three years old. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that parents who have a peanut allergy in the family should wait until their child is at least three years old before giving them peanuts or anything containing peanuts. There are even some conservative obgyns who advise their pregnant patients not to eat peanuts especially if when they are in their third trimester regardless of if there is a history of peanut allergy in the family or not.

The reason for this is because in order for a peanut allergy to develop, the child has to come into contact with small traces of a peanut. This contact sensitizes the child so that they later have a severe allergic reaction. Some experts believe that this first sensitization can occur during pregnancy. It is believed that a tiny amount of peanut protein can cross the placenta. In fact a recent study showed that if a women ate peanuts or peanut butter while pregnant their baby could be four times more likely to develop a peanut allergy than a child whose mother didn’t eat any peanuts during her pregnancy.

This isn’t to say though that if you have a no history of nut allergies you should avoid peanuts at all costs. In fact, peanuts and peanut butter are very beneficial to you and your baby. Peanuts are a useful source of folic acid and protein, both which are very important to your and your growing baby. Peanuts and peanut butter has been said to help some women get through the first trimester morning sickness. Keep in mind however that there have been some instances when women who had no history of peanut allegeries in their family and ate a over whelming amount of peanuts or even peanut butter through out their pregnancies wound up with children who had a peanut allergy.

Before you decide to throw out all your peanuts and say good bye to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, talk to your doctor. Give your doctor a detailed family history and let him know if there are any peanut allergies in your family. With your doctors help you will be able to create a healthy peanut eating plan for your pregnancy. If you do not feel comfortable at all eating peanuts due to the risk do not let anyone change your mind. It is your body and your child and you have the right to make that decision.

Jamaica Gleaner Examines Issues Surrounding Pregnancies Among HIV-Positive Women
Although the increasing availability of antiretroviral drugs has led a growing number of HIV-positive women in Jamaica to have children, many women say that health workers in the country do not always agree with their decision to become pregnant, the Jamaica Gleaner reports.

Christian Science Monitor Examines Debate Surrounding Home Births
The Christian Science Monitor on Tuesday examined the debate over whether “childbirth is a natural bodily function or a medical event necessitating hospitalization.” The Monitor profiled the case of midwife Diane Goslin, who practices in an Amish area of Lancaster County, Pa.

Pregnant Women Urged To Be Extra Vigilant When Choosing Food Options
Yesterday, Monday 21st July, safefood and the HPSC urged pregnant women to be extra vigilant when consuming certain types of food and issued advice on how to avoid the risk of listeriosis. During 2007, 9 cases of pregnancy associated Listeria were reported in Ireland, five of these were among women for whom English was not their first language. “Listeria is a bacterium found in many types of food”, said Dr.

When dealing with the issues of reproductive challenges, most couples are appreciative of the fact that medical science offers them a wealth of options when it comes to fertility treatments, including drugs that help a woman ovulate, Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) such as in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, sperm donation and the like.  However, some couples are still looking for natural methods that work as fertility treatments for themselves and their partners.  How can you go about assisting your own reproduction with such methods?  Are there any that actually work?  Let?s examine some of these issues here.

 

Be Careful of Your Medications

 

Sometimes an actual fertility treatment is not necessary, as you realize that conception is being hindered by the medications you?re taking, either for the man or the woman.  Some drugs, such as those to treat high cholesterol or diabetes, interfere with a woman?s ovulation abilities and a man?s sperm production.  Before investigating medical alternatives as a fertility treatment, speak with your doctor about your prescription medications.  There are some that of course you cannot stop taking as it will cause you serious health problems, but there may be adjustments that can be made, or other medications to take that will help to offset these issues with reproduction.

 

It?s also noteworthy that over the counter and homeopathic medicines can have the same effect, so don?t forget to mention these to your doctor as well.

 

Good Sex as a Fertility Treatment

 

Because a man?s sperm needs to travel a long distance (or at least to the microscopic sperm, it seems like a long distance!) in order to reach an egg to fertilize, it?s best to be mindful of your sex practices and whether they?re helping or hindering this journey.  The missionary? position, or man on top, is always recommended when a couple is trying to get pregnant.  Other positions such as the woman on top, sitting, standing, and anything else that interrupts the natural flow of sperm and causes it to work against gravity is only going to make the sperm need to work that much harder.

 

When considering a fertility treatment for yourself, you should definitely give some attention to your sexual practices first, as a simple change in your habits can go a long way (no pun intended) toward helping that sperm reach its goal.

 

Other Natural Fertility Treatments

 

Reducing stress, smoking cessation, and a good diet along with regular physical exercise are always recommended before trying a medical fertility treatment, as these things can help the body address and even repair any issues it may have with the reproductive system.  Soaking in hot water can kill sperm, so the man should avoid hot tubs and the like.  An ovulation predictor can also help a woman to know when she is ovulating.

 

So, there are no guarantees that any of these tips and reminders will work for you, but again, it?s always best to try the most natural fertility treatments first before opting for invasive surgeries or expensive drugs.

Jamaica Gleaner Examines Issues Surrounding Pregnancies Among HIV-Positive Women
Although the increasing availability of antiretroviral drugs has led a growing number of HIV-positive women in Jamaica to have children, many women say that health workers in the country do not always agree with their decision to become pregnant, the Jamaica Gleaner reports.

Breastfeeding Mums To Get The Help They Need, Australia
The Rudd Government will provide $5 million to help establish a 24-hour toll-free national helpline to support breastfeeding mothers and their families, and to support research into breastfeeding. There is strong evidence of the links between breastfeeding and prevention of obesity and asthma in children as well as prevention of chronic diseases such as breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Obstetricians Often Overlook Alcohol Consumption In Pregnancy, Australian And New Zealand Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology
One in every two pregnant Australian woman still consume alcohol during pregnancy, according to a study in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The responsibility of providing accurate information about the harmful effects of alcohol and its lifelong effects on the child falls on obstetricians and other health professionals.

With so many more persons being overweight and out-and-out obese these days, many are wondering if there really is any truth to the rumor that obesity and infertility go hand-in-hand.  How is it that being overweight can interfere with your reproductive abilities?  How can a few extra pounds mean that much damage to your body?  What about those that are obese that have been able to conceive?  In order to examine these issues fully, let?s take a look at some of the suspected reasons that obesity and infertility seem to be related.

 

Reasons for Obesity

 

Regardless of what some people may assume, it?s generally accepted among the medical community that obesity does not just happen.  Some would like to think that it?s all genetic, but many scientists know that when a person changes their eating habits and physical activity levels, they lose weight.  So saying that obesity and infertility are two things that you can do nothing about is rather shortsighted ? which also should be thought of as good news.  If obesity and infertility were all a matter of genetics, then you would be trapped, with no choices or things you can do to fix the situation.

 

So, when studying the reasons for one?s obesity, we see the connection to infertility.  High-fat diets add to elevated cholesterol levels in the body, and as we see cholesterol clinging to the arteries and areas around the heart, it does the same to the reproductive system.  Cholesterol chokes out a man?s ability to produce healthy sperm and a woman?s ability to ovulate a healthy egg.

 

Additionally, another connection between obesity and infertility may have much to do with exercise and physical activity.  Exercise gets the blood circulating properly and in a healthy way, and this oxygen-rich blood is necessary for all functions of the body, including the reproductive system.  Without the antioxidants provided by blood that?s been freshly filtered through the lungs, any malformation or problems the body has is not going to be fixed or repaired the way it should be.

 

Extra Body Weight

 

Another connection between obesity and infertility seems to be the extra body weight itself.  This extra weight on a man may block his sperm ducts, and blocked sperm ducts are one of the most common reasons for infertility in men.  Additionally, a woman who has extra weight around her midsection may also have problems with ovulation, as this puts undue pressure on the fallopian tubes.  It also puts this pressure on the uterus, causing it to contract unnaturally.  When a woman?s uterus is compromised, a fertilized egg cannot attach itself, and she will miscarry it before she even knows she is pregnant.

 

So it seems as if there are some reasons to be concerned about the connection between obesity and infertility.  Again, no one wants to be told that they need to lose weight, or to think that their own body weight may be interfering with their plans to have a baby, but at least they know that there is something they can do about the situation!

HIV-Positive Mothers Could Protect Newborns With Extended-Dose Nevirapine Treatment
Breastfeeding women can reduce the risk of HIV transmission to infants using an extended-dose regimen of nevirapine, according to an article released on July 25, 2008 in The Lancet. While highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) can prevent vertical transmission when administered to pregnant women, but access to this therapy can be limited in certain regions where resources are limited.

Obstetricians Often Overlook Alcohol Consumption In Pregnancy, Australian And New Zealand Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology
One in every two pregnant Australian woman still consume alcohol during pregnancy, according to a study in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The responsibility of providing accurate information about the harmful effects of alcohol and its lifelong effects on the child falls on obstetricians and other health professionals.

Concept Of ‘Teenage Pregnancy’ Is ‘Prejudicial, Counterproductive,’ Opinion Piece Says
The concept of “teenage pregnancy” is “stigmatizing, prejudicial” and “counterproductive” and should be abandoned by advocates aiming to reduce unplanned pregnancies among teenagers, Mike Males, a researcher for the online information service YouthFacts.org, writes in a Los Angeles Times opinion piece.

With so many more persons being overweight and out-and-out obese these days, many are wondering if there really is any truth to the rumor that obesity and infertility go hand-in-hand.  How is it that being overweight can interfere with your reproductive abilities?  How can a few extra pounds mean that much damage to your body?  What about those that are obese that have been able to conceive?  In order to examine these issues fully, let?s take a look at some of the suspected reasons that obesity and infertility seem to be related.

 

Reasons for Obesity

 

Regardless of what some people may assume, it?s generally accepted among the medical community that obesity does not just happen.  Some would like to think that it?s all genetic, but many scientists know that when a person changes their eating habits and physical activity levels, they lose weight.  So saying that obesity and infertility are two things that you can do nothing about is rather shortsighted ? which also should be thought of as good news.  If obesity and infertility were all a matter of genetics, then you would be trapped, with no choices or things you can do to fix the situation.

 

So, when studying the reasons for one?s obesity, we see the connection to infertility.  High-fat diets add to elevated cholesterol levels in the body, and as we see cholesterol clinging to the arteries and areas around the heart, it does the same to the reproductive system.  Cholesterol chokes out a man?s ability to produce healthy sperm and a woman?s ability to ovulate a healthy egg.

 

Additionally, another connection between obesity and infertility may have much to do with exercise and physical activity.  Exercise gets the blood circulating properly and in a healthy way, and this oxygen-rich blood is necessary for all functions of the body, including the reproductive system.  Without the antioxidants provided by blood that?s been freshly filtered through the lungs, any malformation or problems the body has is not going to be fixed or repaired the way it should be.

 

Extra Body Weight

 

Another connection between obesity and infertility seems to be the extra body weight itself.  This extra weight on a man may block his sperm ducts, and blocked sperm ducts are one of the most common reasons for infertility in men.  Additionally, a woman who has extra weight around her midsection may also have problems with ovulation, as this puts undue pressure on the fallopian tubes.  It also puts this pressure on the uterus, causing it to contract unnaturally.  When a woman?s uterus is compromised, a fertilized egg cannot attach itself, and she will miscarry it before she even knows she is pregnant.

 

So it seems as if there are some reasons to be concerned about the connection between obesity and infertility.  Again, no one wants to be told that they need to lose weight, or to think that their own body weight may be interfering with their plans to have a baby, but at least they know that there is something they can do about the situation!

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Christian Science Monitor Examines Debate Surrounding Home Births
The Christian Science Monitor on Tuesday examined the debate over whether “childbirth is a natural bodily function or a medical event necessitating hospitalization.” The Monitor profiled the case of midwife Diane Goslin, who practices in an Amish area of Lancaster County, Pa.