Infertility means not being able to become pregnant after a year of trying. If a woman keeps having miscarriages, it is also called infertility. Lots of couples have infertility problems. About a third of the time, infertility can be traced to the woman. In another third of cases, it is because of the man. The rest of the time, it is because of both partners or no cause is found.

If you think you might be infertile, tell your doctor. For a man, a first step is often a sperm test. For women, doctors run tests to see if their ovaries work properly. Women in their 30s who have been trying to get pregnant for six months should consider seeking help. A woman’s chances of having a baby drop rapidly every year after age 30.

Infertility is typically defined as failure to conceive within a certain period of time. For the male, this definition is particularly problematic, as it relies on an outcome for his female partner, who may have reproductive issues of her own. Fecundability is the term used for the probability of a woman in a sexually active couple becoming pregnant per menstrual cycle without contraception.

It is customary to define infertility clinically as the inability of a couple trying to conceive to do so within one year. This may make the usual definitions of prevalence and incidence somewhat confusing in this context. In this chapter, we use incidence as it is classically defined—a proportion per unit time. However, many authors use prevalence to describe the percentage of couples failing to conceive after one year.

The treatment of male infertility includes therapies targeted to specific medical and surgical diagnoses, empiric pharmacologic agents intended to improve spermatogenesis, and artificial reproductive techniques employed to bypass reproductive barriers in the female genital tract. Often, two or all three types of therapy are implemented simultaneously. Male reproductive medicine and surgery remains one of the most actively evolving areas in urology, with a variety of therapeutic modalities under investigation.

Drugs or surgery are common treatments. Happily, two-thirds of couples treated for infertility go on to have babies.

 

 

Most experts define infertility as not being able to get pregnant after at least one year of trying. Women who are able to get pregnant but then have repeat miscarriages are also said to be infertile.

Pregnancy is the result of a complex chain of events. In order to get pregnant:

• A woman must release an egg from one of her ovaries (ovulation).
• The egg must go through a fallopian tube toward the uterus (womb).
• A man’s sperm must join with (fertilize) the egg along the way.
• The fertilized egg must attach to the inside of the uterus (implantation).

Infertility can result from problems that interfere with any of these steps.

Is infertility a common problem?

About 12 percent of women (7.3 million) in the United States aged 15-44 had difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term in 2002, according to the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Is infertility just a woman’s problem?

No, infertility is not always a woman’s problem. In only about one-third of cases is infertility due to the woman (female factors). In another one third of cases, infertility is due to the man (male factors). The remaining cases are caused by a mixture of male and female factors or by unknown factors.

What causes infertility in men?

Infertility in men is most often caused by:

• problems making sperm — producing too few sperm or none at all
• problems with the sperm’s ability to reach the egg and fertilize it — abnormal sperm shape or structure prevent it from moving correctly

Sometimes a man is born with the problems that affect his sperm. Other times problems start later in life due to illness or injury. For example, cystic fibrosis often causes infertility in men.

What increases a man’s risk of infertility?

The number and quality of a man’s sperm can be affected by his overall health and lifestyle. Some things that may reduce sperm number and/or quality include:

• alcohol
• drugs
• environmental toxins, including pesticides and lead
• smoking cigarettes
• health problems
• medicines
• radiation treatment and chemotherapy for cancer
• age

What causes infertility in women?

Problems with ovulation account for most cases of infertility in women. Without ovulation, there are no eggs to be fertilized. Some signs that a woman is not ovulating normally include irregular or absent menstrual periods.

Less common causes of fertility problems in women include:

• blocked fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or surgery for an ectopic pregnancy
• physical problems with the uterus
• uterine fibroids

What things increase a woman’s risk of infertility?

Many things can affect a woman’s ability to have a baby. These include:

• age
• stress
• poor diet
• athletic training
• being overweight or underweight
• tobacco smoking
• alcohol
• sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
• health problems that cause hormonal changes

How does age affect a woman’s ability to have children?

More and more women are waiting until their 30s and 40s to have children. Actually, about 20 percent of women in the United States now have their first child after age 35. So age is an increasingly common cause of fertility problems. About one third of couples in which the woman is over 35 have fertility problems.

Aging decreases a woman’s chances of having a baby in the following ways:

• The ability of a woman’s ovaries to release eggs ready for fertilization declines with age.
• The health of a woman’s eggs declines with age.
• As a woman ages she is more likely to have health problems that can interfere with fertility.
• As a women ages, her risk of having a miscarriage increases.

How long should women try to get pregnant before calling their doctors?

Most healthy women under the age of 30 shouldn’t worry about infertility unless they’ve been trying to get pregnant for at least a year. At this point, women should talk to their doctors about a fertility evaluation. Men should also talk to their doctors if this much time has passed.

In some cases, women should talk to their doctors sooner. Women in their 30s who’ve been trying to get pregnant for six months should speak to their doctors as soon as possible. A woman’s chances of having a baby decrease rapidly every year after the age of 30. So getting a complete and timely fertility evaluation is especially important.

Some health issues also increase the risk of fertility problems. So women with the following issues should speak to their doctors as soon as possible:

• irregular periods or no menstrual periods
• very painful periods
• endometriosis
• pelvic inflammatory disease
• more than one miscarriage

No matter how old you are, it’s always a good idea to talk to a doctor before you start trying to get pregnant. Doctors can help you prepare your body for a healthy baby. They can also answer questions on fertility and give tips on conceiving.

How will doctors find out if a woman and her partner have fertility problems?

Sometimes doctors can find the cause of a couple’s infertility by doing a complete fertility evaluation. This process usually begins with physical exams and health and sexual histories. If there are no obvious problems, like poorly timed intercourse or absence of ovulation, tests will be needed.

Finding the cause of infertility is often a long, complex and emotional process. It can take months for you and your doctor to complete all the needed exams and tests. So don’t be alarmed if the problem is not found right away.

For a man, doctors usually begin by testing his semen. They look at the number, shape, and movement of the sperm. Sometimes doctors also suggest testing the level of a man’s hormones.

For a woman, the first step in testing is to find out if she is ovulating each month. There are several ways to do this. A woman can track her ovulation at home by:

• recording changes in her morning body temperature (basal body temperature) for several months
• recording the texture of her cervical mucus for several months
• using a home ovulation test kit (available at drug or grocery stores)

Doctors can also check if a woman is ovulating by doing blood tests and an ultrasound of the ovaries. If the woman is ovulating normally, more tests are needed.

Some common tests of fertility in women include:

• Hysterosalpingography: In this test, doctors use x-rays to check for physical problems of the uterus and fallopian tubes. They start by injecting a special dye through the vagina into the uterus. This dye shows up on the x-ray. This allows the doctor to see if the dye moves normally through the uterus into the fallopian tubes. With these x-rays doctors can find blockages that may be causing infertility. Blockages can prevent the egg from moving from the fallopian tube to the uterus. Blockages can also keep the sperm from reaching the egg.
• Laparoscopy: During this surgery doctors use a tool called a laparoscope to see inside the abdomen. The doctor makes a small cut in the lower abdomen and inserts the laparoscope. Using the laparoscope, doctors check the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus for disease and physical problems. Doctors can usually find scarring and endometriosis by laparoscopy.

How do doctors treat infertility?

Infertility can be treated with medicine, surgery, artificial insemination or assisted reproductive technology. Many times these treatments are combined. About two-thirds of couples who are treated for infertility are able to have a baby. In most cases infertility is treated with drugs or surgery.

Doctors recommend specific treatments for infertility based on:

• test results
• how long the couple has been trying to get pregnant
• the age of both the man and woman
• the overall health of the partners
• preference of the partners

Doctors often treat infertility in men in the following ways:

• Sexual problems: If the man is impotent or has problems with premature ejaculation, doctors can help him address these issues. Behavioral therapy and/or medicines can be used in these cases.
• Too few sperm: If the man produces too few sperm, sometimes surgery can correct this problem. In other cases, doctors can surgically remove sperm from the male reproductive tract. Antibiotics can also be used to clear up infections affecting sperm count.

Various fertility medicines are often used to treat women with ovulation problems. It is important to talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of these medicines. You should understand the risks, benefits, and side effects.

Doctors also use surgery to treat some causes of infertility. Problems with a woman’s ovaries, fallopian tubes, or uterus can sometimes be corrected with surgery.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is another type of treatment for infertility. IUI is known by most people as artificial insemination. In this procedure, the woman is injected with specially prepared sperm. Sometimes the woman is also treated with medicines that stimulate ovulation before IUI.

IUI is often used to treat:

• mild male factor infertility
• women who have problems with their cervical mucus
• couples with unexplained infertility

What medicines are used to treat infertility in women?

Some common medicines used to treat infertility in women include:

• Clomiphene citrate (Clomid): This medicine causes ovulation by acting on the pituitary gland. It is often used in women who have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) or other problems with ovulation. This medicine is taken by mouth.
• Human menopausal gonadotropin or hMG (Repronex, Pergonal): This medicine is often used for women who don’t ovulate due to problems with their pituitary gland. hMG acts directly on the ovaries to stimulate ovulation. It is an injected medicine.
• Follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH (Gonal-F, Follistim): FSH works much like hMG. It causes the ovaries to begin the process of ovulation. These medicines are usually injected.
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) analog: These medicines are often used for women who don’t ovulate regularly each month. Women who ovulate before the egg is ready can also use these medicines. Gn-RH analogs act on the pituitary gland to change when the body ovulates. These medicines are usually injected or given with a nasal spray.
• Metformin (Glucophage): Doctors use this medicine for women who have insulin resistance and/or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). This drug helps lower the high levels of male hormones in women with these conditions. This helps the body to ovulate. Sometimes clomiphene citrate or FSH is combined with metformin. This medicine is usually taken by mouth.
• Bromocriptine (Parlodel): This medicine is used for women with ovulation problems due to high levels of prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that causes milk production.

Many fertility drugs increase a woman’s chance of having twins, triplets or other multiples. Women who are pregnant with multiple fetuses have more problems during pregnancy. Multiple fetuses have a high risk of being born too early (prematurely). Premature babies are at a higher risk of health and developmental problems.

What is assisted reproductive technology (ART)?

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a term that describes several different methods used to help infertile couples. ART involves removing eggs from a woman’s body, mixing them with sperm in the laboratory and putting the embryos back into a woman’s body.

How often is assisted reproductive technology (ART) successful?

Success rates vary and depend on many factors. Some things that affect the success rate of ART include:

• age of the partners
• reason for infertility
• clinic
• type of ART
• if the egg is fresh or frozen
• if the embryo is fresh or frozen

The U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention (CDC) collects success rates on ART for some fertility clinics. According to the 2003 CDC report on ART, the average percentage of ART cycles that led to a healthy baby were as follows:

• 37.3% in women under the age of 35
• 30.2% in women aged 35-37
• 20.2% in women aged 37-40
• 11.0% in women aged 41-42

ART can be expensive and time-consuming. But it has allowed many couples to have children that otherwise would not have been conceived. The most common complication of ART is multiple fetuses. But this is a problem that can be prevented or minimized in several different ways.

What are the different types of assisted reproductive technology (ART)?

Common methods of ART include:

• In vitro fertilization (IVF) means fertilization outside of the body. IVF is the most effective ART. It is often used when a woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked or when a man produces too few sperm. Doctors treat the woman with a drug that causes the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Once mature, the eggs are removed from the woman. They are put in a dish in the lab along with the man’s sperm for fertilization. After 3 to 5 days, healthy embryos are implanted in the woman’s uterus.
• Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) or Tubal Embryo Transfer is similar to IVF. Fertilization occurs in the laboratory. Then the very young embryo is transferred to the fallopian tube instead of the uterus.
• Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) involves transferring eggs and sperm into the woman’s fallopian tube. So fertilization occurs in the woman’s body. Few practices offer GIFT as an option.
• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is often used for couples in which there are serious problems with the sperm. Sometimes it is also used for older couples or for those with failed IVF attempts. In ICSI, a single sperm is injected into a mature egg. Then the embryo is transferred to the uterus or fallopian tube.

ART procedures sometimes involve the use of donor eggs (eggs from another woman), donor sperm, or previously frozen embryos. Donor eggs are sometimes used for women who can not produce eggs. Also, donor eggs or donor sperm is sometimes used when the woman or man has a genetic disease that can be passed on to the baby.

If you are someone that is dealing with the issue of infertility and difficulty conceiving, take heart.  You are not alone.  As a matter of fact, it?s estimate that one in every ten couples struggles with this same problem ? that?s over 5 million couples in the U.S. alone!

 

But if you?re ready to speak to your doctor about a possible infertility treatment, you may want to consider if there are some natural ways that you can attempt to fix this problem on your own before getting medical intervention.

 

A Lifestyle Change is the Easiest Infertility Treatment

 

First of all, it may seem unrelated, but when you stop smoking you are really giving yourself the best infertility treatment there is imaginable.  Smoking damages your body in so many ways, and not just in the area of your lungs.  The poisons and toxins from cigarette smoke get absorbed in your bloodstream, and from there travel to every cell of your body, including your reproductive system.  These poisons can choke out the vital processes necessary not only for a woman to ovulate, but for a man to produce healthy sperm as well.

 

Additionally, your diet and your level of physical activity can also play a great role in your abilities to conceive.  It may not seem like much of an infertility treatment, but exercise gets your blood moving properly, and this blood brings antioxidants and necessary nutrients to all areas of your body, including your reproductive systems.  Also, loading up your body with heavy, high-fat foods is going to do damage to this system as well.  You?re probably familiar with what saturated fat does to your arteries; however, did you know that it can do the same type of eroding damage to parts of your reproductive system as well?  So cutting out those high-fat, deep-fried foods and replacing them with fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is always recommended.

 

Reducing Stress

 

Infertility is not simply all in your head.?  There are medical reasons why a couple may have problems conceiving.  However, reducing stress is another great lifestyle change that is also an effective infertility treatment.  This is because stress chokes out necessary oxygen from your body?s cells, and reduces blood flow to some areas well.  Your reproductive systems need this good blood and oxygen to function properly.  Additionally, stress can interfere with a woman?s healthy ovulation, and cause a man?s sperm to be malformed, both of which are of course barriers to conception.

 

And Also Try ?

 

Another natural infertility treatment you can try is a home ovulation predictor.  Although it is physically possible for a woman to get pregnant even when she is not ovulating, it?s much easier for her to do so when she is.  A home ovulation predictor can tell when this is the case, and of course sexual activity should occur at this time. 

 

It would be shortsighted to dismiss any of these natural infertility treatments, as even your own doctor will probably recommend that you try these avenues first before undergoing any type of invasive surgeries.

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If you are a woman who is experiencing what you think are reproductive challenges, or you?ve already been given the diagnosis of infertility from your OB/GYN, then it?s important for you to separate the facts from the fiction when it comes to the causes of infertility in women.  After all, if you find yourself believing something that is not true or not applicable in your case, you may wind up wasting precious time ignoring the real problems.

 

So what are those common myths when it comes to the causes of infertility in women?  And better yet, what is the truth about those beliefs?  Let?s examine a few here.

 

Myth:  It?s all in your head.

 

This myth may have developed over the years as some couples have dealt with infertility for some time, and then eventually were able to conceive on their own.  Others may view this as a reason to believe that reproductive problems are simply stress related or that a couple is being overly sensitive to their situation.  Yes, stress and such things can be pinpointed as one of the causes of infertility in women, but it certainly is not the only cause, and not even the most common!

 

Advances in modern science that can plainly pinpoint different problems with a man?s or a woman?s reproductive system should have squelched this myth years ago, but unfortunately it seems to continue to thrive.  Despite the abilities we have to look deep into the body?s reproductive system and find even the smallest of defects which can be one of the causes of infertility in women, some still think it?s simply a mental challenge.

 

Myth:  Miscarriage is a common cause of infertility in women.

 

First of all, it?s important to remember that in most cases of miscarriage, there was nothing the woman could have done to prevent it.  Rarely is it ever caused by stress, overworking, and the like.

 

It?s also important to remember that miscarriage itself is really not a cause of infertility of women; most doctors regard it as simply a possible symptom of a larger problem.  Many miscarriages that are caused by such things as exposure to environmental and workplace hazards, such as high levels of radiation, hormonal problems, uterine abnormalities, incompetent cervix, and severe medical conditions can be considered a symptom, as these are some of the common causes of infertility in women as well.

 

Myth:  If you?ve already had a baby, you?re not infertile.

 

Secondary infertility is the term used by doctors to describe the condition of a couple having problems conceiving even after they?ve already had a child, so this is something that is rather common.  Some causes of infertility in women don?t manifest itself until after a pregnancy or even more than one, so again, this is simply an untrue statement.

 

Any woman who is truly concerned about her own reproductive issues should address this with her doctor, and her doctor alone.  Being led along by these myths regarding the causes of infertility in women is dangerous and certainly wastes valuable time, money, and emotional energy.

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Don?t believe the myth that infertility is all in your head.  Most causes for infertility have medical roots in the reproductive systems of the man or the woman, or can be a combination of problems form both.  To get a better understanding of how this can happen, let?s look at some of those common causes for infertility.

 

For Men

 

In men, the most common causes for infertility are sperm disorders.  These problems include:

 

Low sperm count.

 

This is probably the most common of the causes for infertility in men.  Sperm are very fragile and most don?t make their trip through the woman?s system.  This is why most men produce millions of them at a time, however, the less a man produces, the less chances he?ll have to be able to impregnate a woman.

 

The only way to get an accurate sperm count for a man is to be tested at a doctor?s office.  The amount of ejaculate or size of a man?s genital organs have nothing to do with actual sperm count.

 

Certain lifestyles, like increased alcohol intake and smoking, can also have a negative effect on sperm count and are some of the most common causes for infertility.  Men who are 40 or older often have decreased fertility.

 

Low sperm motility

 

This is a problem commonly referred to as slow? or sluggish? sperm.  The sperm do not move as well as they should and so do not make the entire journey through a woman?s system in order to fertilize the egg.  This is also one of the most common causes for infertility in men.

 

For Women

 

There are many causes for infertility and reproductive issues for women, from simple reasons to those that are more complicated.  Here are the most common:

 

Anovulation.

 

This refers to a lack of ovulation, or release of eggs from the ovary.  The major cause of anovulation is a condition called polycystic ovary disease, or PCOS.  This is the most common of the causes for infertility in women.

 

The fallopian tubes and endometriosis.

 

Another of the causes for infertility is the inability of the fallopian tubes to carry eggs from the ovary to the uterus, usually due to scar tissue or a condition called endometriosis.  Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrial stroma and glands, which should only be located inside the uterus) is found elsewhere in the body.  Endometriosis lesions can be found anywhere in the pelvic cavity: on the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and on the pelvic sidewall.

 

For Both Men and Women

 

Age is one of the major causes for infertility in both men and women.  In women, fertility declines with age, and even more so after the age of 35.  Conception after age 45 is possible but rare. 

 

Obesity is also one of the causes for infertility for both men and woman.  Many studies have also begun to link a man?s excessive body weight with his inability to produce healthy sperm.  Cholesterol is damaging to his sperm count and breaks down the health of the sperm that is present.

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When a couple are experiencing problems with conception, there is usually a good chance that their doctor can pinpoint their exact reasons for infertility ? and we say reasons, plural, because sometimes there are actually more than one simple reason.  For example, many people assume that conception problems are simply a woman?s issue, perhaps because she is the one who is completely responsible for pregnancy.  However, common reasons for infertility are typically about 50/50 between the man and woman, meaning that it may very well be the man?s problem just as commonly as it is the woman?s.

 

However, there are some other rather common reasons for infertility that no one seems to want to talk about.  This is probably due in part to the fact that these reasons are somewhat embarrassing to many people, or they deal with issues that people don?t want to change; it can be easier for them to simply say that it?s a medical issue rather than a lifestyle issue.

 

For example, one of the more common reasons for infertility that people don?t care to discuss has to do with smoking.  Many people don?t want to talk about their smoking and their problems with conception, usually because they simply don?t want to give up those cigarettes!  It?s easier for them to convince themselves that it must be something else, and that way they don?t need to address this habit.  Also, if they were to be told that their smoking is interfering with their plans for conception, then they may feel guilty or feel as if they are letting their partner down.

 

One of the other embarrassing reasons for infertility has to do with body weight.  Doctors are now finding out that there is a very strong link between obesity and issues with conception.  While there is much yet to be discovered, it?s thought that when men and women are obese, the practices that keep them such ? poor diet, lack of regular physical exercise ? also harms their bodies in ways that medical science had not previously known was possible.  Some of the reasons for infertility being interfered with by body weight include the fact that harmful cholesterol adheres not only to the heart?s arteries, but to the many small vessels that are involved in the reproductive system.  Excessive body weight puts undue pressure on the uterus and fallopian tubes, interfering with ovulation (the dropping of an egg from the fallopian tubes to be fertilized) and with a fertilized egg then implanting itself to the lining of the uterus as well.  If this does not happen, a fertilized egg can be miscarried before a woman even knows she is technically pregnant.

 

What is truly sad about these common reasons for infertility is that they are preventable with some simple lifestyle changes.  Yes, it?s difficult to stop smoking and to lose weight, but if it means finally being able to conceive and achieve your dream of bringing a child into the world, you would think that potential parents would do whatever they could to correct and address these potential reasons for infertility as soon as they possibly could.

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When a couple are facing problems with reproduction and conception, it?s very shortsighted and medically inaccurate to assume that it must always be the woman?s problem.  Infertility in men is the cause of reproductive issues in about half of the cases reported, so if you and your partner are having problems conceiving, you do well to investigate the common causes for infertility in men so as to handle these issues promptly and completely.  Here are the most common causes:

 

Low sperm count ? the most common reason for infertility in men.

 

Yes, men typically have millions of sperm that they produce during each sexual encounter, however, these sperm are very fragile and very few actually survive the journey through a woman?s system to reach an egg to fertilize.  This is why it?s necessary to produce those millions!  But in reality, any one sperm reaching an egg to fertilize it is like winning the lottery ? there are millions of tickets sold, but it?s unlikely that any one is the winner.  So, having a lower than normal sperm count makes it that much more difficult for conception to take place.  Since this is the most common reason for infertility in men, chances are that a doctor would want to take a sample of a man?s semen to test the sperm count before doing any other tests.

 

Low sperm motility.

 

To a human, the journey through a woman?s system to reach the egg dropped by the fallopian tubes is miniscule.  But to the tiny microscopic sperm, it may as well be miles long!  Any sperm that are not able to push themselves to get through that journey are going to die off before they make it, and again, sperm are very fragile to begin with.  Low sperm motility may not be the most common reason for infertility in men, but it is common enough that again, doctors will want to check the abilities of your little swimmers? to make sure they can make it through their long journey.  If not, alternative means of conception may need to be explored.

 

Malformed sperm.

 

If the sperm are not formed properly, they will not be able to propel themselves along to make that arduous journey.  Malformed sperm is a common reason for infertility in men, and may also be one of the more common reasons for low sperm motility.  However, it?s important to remember that malformed sperm doesn?t mean that a child conceived with it is going to somehow be malformed or that this is a cause for birth defects; it simply means that again, there may need to be an alternative form of conception that is explored rather than relying on the natural course of action.

 

Blocked sperm ducts.

 

Many people mistakenly assume that every time a man ejaculates during sexual activity, that this contains sperm.  This is not necessarily true; only about 1-2% of a man?s semen is actually sperm.  Blocked sperm ducts are another common reason for infertility in men; he has no sperm at all in the ejaculate in these cases.

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UNC And N.C. Roles Expanded In Landmark Children’s Health And Development Study
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has added three more areas of North Carolina and is expanding the role played by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in a long-term, wide-ranging study of the nation’s children.

Nicotine Gum Might Help Pregnant Women Who Smoke Reduce Cigarette Consumption, Study Says
Nicotine gum might help pregnant women who smoke reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke, which could reduce their risk of having premature or low-birthweight infants, according to a small study recently published in Obstetrics and Gynecology, USA Today reports.

Facing the challenges of reproductive issues is a difficult situation for any couple.  Tests and treatments can be expensive and downright unpleasant.  Sometimes, for some couples, there is no one cause of infertility that the doctors can pinpoint and then subsequently correct.  This can be frustrating and downright disheartening.  But for most, there is something that shows up on a test result that can then be treated properly.  It may be a low sperm count or poor sperm motility for the man, or a lack of ovulation or damaged uterus for the woman.  There may actually not even be a cause of infertility at all, if the couple are not engaging in regular (twice per week on average) unprotected sexual activity over the course of many months or even a year; some couples are under the mistaken belief that you get pregnant every time you have unprotected sex, and are just assuming that after a few times of trying, then there is obviously a medical problem.

 

But for many, there is something that is going on, either with their reproductive systems or with some other cause of infertility that perhaps they are bringing upon themselves.  Of course, no one likes to hear that they will need to make some changes or that some choices they?ve made in their own lives has been a long-standing cause of infertility for themselves, but really, this is something that should be empowering.  If you yourself are bringing your reproductive issues into your life with a few bad habits, then you can change those habits and eventually realize your dream of having a baby ? and possibly without drugs, medicines, medical intervention, surgery, and the like.

 

So then, what is the biggest and most common cause of infertility that most people just don?t want to hear about?  In a word, it?s smoking.

 

Smoking is one of the most damaging habits you can have overall, when talking about any healthy problem whatsoever.  There are over 4,000 chemicals that are produced when a cigarette is burned; over 250 of these are toxic and more than 50 are known carcinogens.

 

One of the reasons that smoking is a cause of infertility is because these toxins and carcinogens enter the bloodstream and are then transported to every area of the human body, every single cell, and this means the reproductive system as well.  These toxins can interfere with a man?s sperm count, cause his remaining sperm to be malformed, give him low sperm motility, and even decrease his circulation enough to cause impotence.  For a woman, smoking interferes with the fallopian tube?s natural abilities to drop an egg or ovulate, can damage the eggs she has, and can also damage the uterus, making it impossible for that fertilized egg to attach itself.

 

This is just a partial list of why we can rightly say that smoking is a leading cause of infertility.  Again, no one wants to hear that perhaps they need to make a change in their habits, but if it means finally being able to conceive that child that you dream of, doesn?t it make it all worthwhile?

BJOG Release: The Effects Of A First Miscarriage On Future Pregnancies
New research to be published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology examines the effects of a miscarriage on subsequent pregnancies. Miscarriage (or spontaneous pregnancy loss) is defined as pregnancy loss before 24 completed weeks of gestation. There is a 20% (one in five) risk of pregnancies ending in a miscarriage in the first three months and one in 100 women have recurrent miscarriages (three or more successive miscarriages).

Urine Leakage Prevented Before And After Pregnancy By Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises
Women who receive one to one instruction on how to contract the pelvic floor muscles and practice pelvic floor muscle exercises with health professional supervision are less likely to suffer urine leakage during or after pregnancy. A systematic review from The Cochrane Library suggests that these exercises are effective for preventing and treating incontinence.

UNC And N.C. Roles Expanded In Landmark Children’s Health And Development Study
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has added three more areas of North Carolina and is expanding the role played by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in a long-term, wide-ranging study of the nation’s children.

The Basics of Eating Well When Pregnant

It is hard to believe that women do have a hard time eating healthy when they are expecting a visit from the stork. The sad truth is some women find it very hard. There is a trick though to remember how to eat throughout your pregnancy and it is as easy as ABC.

Assortment is the first key. It’s been said that variety is the spice of life. Keeping your diet filled with assortment of fruits, vegetables and protein will help make sure that you and your baby don’t get too much of one nutrient and not enough of another. Eating a daily variety of healthy foods will give your growing baby and daily assortment of necessary nutrients.

Balance is the next thing to keep in mind. We all know that balance and moderation is the key to any diet. There is no reason to deny yourself a bowl of ice cream but the whole container is over doing it. You want to keep all your meals as balanced as possible and make sure you are getting enough vitamins, whole grains and lean protein. Eating one and not the other is not going to help you or your baby in any way shape or form. Indulging in cravings is fine every now and then as long as you keep it in moderation, if you want a cookie, have one. If potato chips are your craving, have a few. It is when you eat the whole box of cookies and the whole bag of chips in one sitting that you might have a problem.

The third key is color. You want to make your plate look as colorful as possible. Look at fresh fruit and veggies to paint your plate. The more colorful your plate is, the more appeasing it is going to look to your eyes. Have you ever noticed in magazines and cooking shows the dishes always look so tasty? This is because of the variety of color that are used in these dishes. You can get red strawberries and tomatoes to yellow peppers and squash. Pick your favorite colors and create your dishes based on that.

Forget about dieting while you are pregnant. You and your baby need a steady supply of calories and nutrients through out the nine months of pregnancy and beyond. Pregnancy is one of the only times where a woman is expected to gain weight. Trying to prevent that weight gain can not only put you at risk, but also your baby at risk. You will have all the time in the world after your baby comes to lose the weight, but for nine months don’t even think about the word diet.

If you find you that you are getting sick of the food you have been eating, then it’s time to start experimenting with different foods. Pregnancy is a time to expand your eating horizons as well as your waistbands. Plus with food aversions, you might find yourself turning green at some of your favorite foods and craving foods you never dreamed you would eat. You may find that the thought of pizza can send you running for the toilet, but place a dish of brussel sprouts in front of you and you are in heaven.

Lastly, have fun with your food. Eating should be fun. Nothing will ruin your good habits faster than boredom. Add little touches like a dip for your veggies. Enjoy your food and try not to gulp it down. This will help avoid heartburn too! When you decide to treat yourself, leave the guilt at the door. After all, you are growing a person inside of you and decide a treat now and then for all your hard work.

New Prenatal Blood Test For Down Syndrome
US scientists have developed a non-invasive way to detect chromosomal disorders such as Down Syndrome in a fetus that only needs a sample of the pregnant woman’s blood and therefore does not carry the risk of miscarriage of more invasive methods.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Risk Decreased With Use Of Fan
Using a fan while an infant is sleeping in a room with inadequate ventilation can decrease the risk of that infant dying of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), according to a report released on October 6, 2008 in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Sudden infant death syndrome, sometimes called cot death or crib death, describes the unexpected, unexplained death of an apparently health infant.

Nicotine Gum Might Help Pregnant Women Who Smoke Reduce Cigarette Consumption, Study Says
Nicotine gum might help pregnant women who smoke reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke, which could reduce their risk of having premature or low-birthweight infants, according to a small study recently published in Obstetrics and Gynecology, USA Today reports.

Unplanned Teen Pregnancy

Having a child is a blessing, and the moment you have them you start thinking of their future, thinking of their growth into adolescence, becoming grade A students, getting a successful career and good family or something like that. You would hardly ever think of your teenage daughter getting an unplanned pregnancy because they decided to have unprotected sex as teens. It is not likely that you would ever suspect your child to be having sex unless you discover condoms or home pregnancy kits laying in the trash can or in their rooms. However, you can get a good idea of what your child knows about sex, and about how to prevent unplanned teen pregnancies by talking to them and educating them. Let them know that all their future plans will be put on hold if they do happen to have an unplanned teen pregnancy. That means their dreams will be put on hold, their career, and probably their high school diploma. Having an unplanned teen pregnancy is certain to change a young girl’s life in dramatic fashion and this could be permanent. Even the life of young men are known to change in much the same vein as they will need to be financially responsible at a very young age as they support their young wife and child. You should educate your child and impart to them the knowledge of pregnancy and that unplanned pregnancy is preventable and should be avoided at all costs.

Using Birth Control

There are many options out there when it comes to birth control, which can prevent unplanned teen pregnancy. There are birth control pills, there’s the shot, there’s the IUD, there are condoms and there’s even the morning after pill. There are so many options that you wouldn’t even think that unplanned teen pregnancy will occur. Yet the unplanned teen pregnancy epidemic is growing exponentially. More and more young women are getting pregnant and it’s mostly from lack of education. Educate your child about these methods of birth control, teach them to make use of them and that they are always available, in case times arise that sex is unavoidable.

Smart Decisions

Teach your child that if they are ever faced with a situation in which they are about to have sex, they should stop and assess the situation. This is not going to be easy as sexual desire can easily cloud the mind as far as rational thinking goes. But it can be done. Let your child know that when they engage in sexual activities that there are chances for an unplanned teen pregnancy. Let them know that it is not wrong to have sex, instead educate them on how be smart about it if they intend on pursuing sex. Teens will always want to have sex and they are likely to do it, it is a fact that we cannot hide from. The more you educate your teen, however, and the more you discuss with them how much their lives will change with an unplanned teen pregnancy, the less likely you’ll be faced with raising a baby having a baby.