Female Infertility blog

Cause of infertility may result from any number of underlying conditions. Trying to treat your infertility with drugs and therapy right away may not be the right course to take. With your doctor’s consent it might be a good idea to try and think of some alternative treatment like natural methods, herbs, vitamins, nutrition and such. This could save the body and the person a lo,t of side affects that can arise from drugs or other treatments.

Before taking on the task of treating your infertility through expensive drug therapies simple dietary changes and vitamin supplements can help solve the problem. Women have a lot of additional minerals and vitamins that they need and are not being adequately substituted in their diet. The best course in such case is to try and take supplements.

Women need iron, which is deficient in anemic women. Anemia can lead to infertility. Vitamin E is increases the egg quality in woman. Apart from this B-complex vitamins, Folic acid and co-enzyme Q10 are all known to increase the fertility factors in women.

Zinc, Vitamin E and B complex, help in male fertility. A good multivitamin supplement can be the best way to start treating your infertility problem. Vitamins help overcome deficiencies that may be causing some fertility problems indirectly, so taking a balanced vitamin dose can help restore the balance in the body.

Treating infertility with vitamins, fertility problems, male fertility.

Hypothyroidism is the underproduction of the thyroid hormone, thyroxin which is an iodine rich compound. Thyroid deficiency can affect the regular ovulation in woman. The pituitary gland disorders and hormonal imbalances can affect the process of ovulation which is hormone triggered.  Thyroid deficiency can disrupt the menstrual cycle and may also cause amenorrhea or absence of menses altogether. It is among one of the many causes of infertility. The condition is also associated with the formation of cysts like PCOS which can lead to infertility.

Hypothyroidism also increases the levels of a pituitary hormone called prolactin which can also result in disruption of the ovulation cycle.

Thyroid production is reduced in people who have hypothyroidism. Thyroid therapy can be used to restore or increase the levels of thyroid production and for woman facing this condition there may be restored ovulation cycles or regulation in the ovulation.

Hypothyroidism can not only cause a disruption in the menstrual cycle and ovulation in woman but in pregnant woman it can cause fetal damage, miscarriage and even fetal death if not attended to early on in the pregnancy.

Hypothyroidism and infertility, many causes of infertility.

Fibroids are noncancerous growths or tumors that are seen in the uterus. Uterine fibroids can lead to infertility depending on their location. There are three types of fibroids and the only ones that can lead to infertility or miscarriages, and are those that develop into the uterine cavity.

There is no known cause for the growth of fibroids but it maybe due to accelerated cell growth due to some genes, or it maybe due to hormonal imbalance and so on but the exact cause is not known.

The symptoms of fibroid can be increased menstrual bleeding, depending on their size they can cause pain in the pelvic area and if one of them is pushing against the rectum then it might even cause constipation. In pregnant woman who have fibroids they may have problems during labor, delivery and such. Primarily there are complications that can lead to infertility too.

Infertility in woman who has fibroids is basically due to the fact that they may compress the tubes and block them, they may distort the contours of the tubes and the uterus and not allow the proper process of movement for the egg or let it implant in the uterine cavity.  Submucousal fibroids can cut or reduce the supply of blood to the lining and thus result in miscarriages or infertility.

Fibroids maybe treated with medication or surgery depending on the severity of the symptoms. Some women have fibroids but have healthy pregnancies and do not have any complications whatsoever.

Uterine fibroids, symptoms of fibroid, Infertility in woman

Metformin is a common form of treatment for woman who have anovulation problem or have polycystic ovarian syndrome. These disorders often result in lack of a proper ovulation cycle and hence render the women infertile and lead to irregular or absent menstrual cycles.

The general method of treatment for this problem is with the use of Clomiphene or Letrozole. For women who do not ovulate with this method which has a pretty good success rate the next step would be hormone treatment which is quite successful too. While these work most of the time they are to be monitored carefully and the cost involved is pretty steep. Apart from that there is an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome and even multiple pregnancies.

Recent advances have made the use of another drug the next alternative if the preliminary treatment with Clomiphene or hormones does not work. For women with PCOS, this form of treatment alone or with a combination of clomiphene is used. This drug was used in the past as an oral alternative to treat diabetes. Women are tested to see whether they show any indications of intolerance to the drug before the therapy begins.

The common side effects noted are not significant or life threatening but there are symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and bloated feeling.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, Metformin for treating infertility, women with PCOS,

For women who are not ovulating properly there are treatment methods where the brain is made to think that they are not producing the egg and thus stimulating it to release hormones that activate the ovulation cycle. Clomiphene is one such drug that is taken most often in the pill form and is given to women who are having problems ovulating.

With the help of a series of tests the doctor will determine whether the woman is a right candidate for the clomiphene treatment or not. After the medical work up, that makes them understand whether she is ovulating properly or not the doctor will prescribe the dosage and the amount, most often it starts with one pill a day for a 5 day cycle.

This drug is used to help the ovulation cycle and is used for one 5 day cycle each month. Clomiphene is also used to help in assisted reproductive techniques like In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) when the ovaries are stimulated to produce more eggs to ensure fertilization. Ovulation generally occurs 5 to 12 days after the last pill is taken. Depending on how your menstrual cycle is the doctor will prescribe the length of treatment. Mostly it takes about 3 to 6 cycles of treatment before one can start to ovulate regularly but the treatment may differ and the doctor will be the best person to advice on whether or not to continue the treatment or choose another alternative if it does not seem to work.

Some of the common symptoms of woman who use this method of treatment to regulate their ovulation cycles are, development of Ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS), which is characterized by significant weight gain, bloated feeling, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, dizziness and so on. Apart from this studies have shown that the success rates of ovulation in this type of treatment are pretty good.

Clomiphene the “Fertility pill, clomiphene treatment, assisted reproductive techniques

Irregularities in ovulation cycles can lead to infertility in women. Dysfunction of the ovulation cycle is one of the common causes of infertility and has often been treated with a Clomiphene citrate. Like Clomiphene there is another drug called Letrozole, which also helps in stimulating the follicles. It is an aromatase inhibitor. The enzyme Aromatase converts androgens into estrogen. The drug stimulates the pituitary gland into stimulating the production of ovaries. Women, who have PCOS, have excess production of estrogen so it is but rational to use this medicine for them. The way Letrozole works is very similar to that of Clomiphene the only difference being that it is quickly cleared from the body unlike Clomiphene. Like Clomiphene it is prescribed for a 5 day cycle.

The drug is used to treat irregular or absent ovulation cycles and not meant to make one more fertile than they already are. Side effects to this drug are minimal and are mostly mild like nausea, blurred vision, bloating and headaches, but these are temporary and minor. The drugs are known to increase the chances of multiple births. At the same time extended use can also increase the risk of ovarian cancer and ovarian cysts. If a pregnancy is suspected then it might be good to discontinue the use of these medicines as they may increase the risk of congenital defects.

Dysfunction of the ovulation, Letrozole,

Progesterone is a hormone that helps the fertilized egg to embed in the uterine wall without which the egg gets expelled. The purpose of progesterone, is not only in making sure that the fertilized egg gets implanted in the uterine cavity but also to maintain the endometrium that later nourishes the growing egg.

During hormone therapy one of the first resorts for the fertility specialist is to make sure that the woman gets adequate amounts of progesterone since most of the miscarriages that occur during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy are due to low levels of this hormone.

Progesterone is used in the form of a cream. The treatment can be used till you are sure that you are pregnant. If you do find out that you are pregnant then it might be a good idea to continue with the treatment till the third trimester otherwise a drop in the levels of progesterone can result in a miscarriage, but after the third trimester the body produces enough to sustain itself so it stopping the use of your progesterone cream will not be noticed by the body. If you are not pregnant then it is good to stop using it and wait after the 28^th day of your cycle or when your regular menstrual cycle would normally start.

Apart from its known uses in treating infertility it also used to treat post partum depression which many women face after childbirth. Progesterone therapy is one of the foremost treatment options that a fertility specialist might resort to instead of going if they find low levels of progesterone in infertile women with good results.

Progesterone can also have some side effects like, breast discomfort, fluid retention, lower abdominal tenderness, headaches and fatigue. You should talk to your doctor if you experience any severe pain in the lower abdomen, diarrhea, vomiting and breathlessness.

Fertility specialist, progesterone cream, Progesterone therapy

Working to improve your health and help you relieve the symptoms associated with PCOS can be done with simple dietary changes added with a little exercise program that makes losing weight a little easier. There is no tried and tested method and a combination of sorts can work for each individual. What works best for you should be determined by a trial and error method and see if stopping anyone of those brings back the symptoms of PCOS and so on.

Diet plays a major role in trying to achieve a good health that avoids the risk of complications that can be brought on by medications and their side affects. To avoid that simple dietary changes like low consumption of complex carbohydrates and a diet rich is high fiber food can be a good way to start. Studies have shown that a diet plan that is rich in fiber, low on carbohydrates and sugars is a nice diet plan for those PCOS sufferers who are trying to lose weight. Since each individual has a different tolerance levels for various foods and each case of PCOS is different from the other what works for one may not do so well for another so it is just a matter of tried and tested methods to suit each one’s needs. It is often seen that the skinnier a person is the lesser the severity of the PCOS symptoms.

Vitamin supplements and flax seed oil and some form of progesterone supplements are a good solution. How much of this is needed, should be assessed by the severity of the case.

Symptoms of PCOS, Effective self-treatment methods to overcome PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in woman is a condition that hinders regular ovulation cycles and thus plays havoc with one’s fertility. Irregular or absence of menstrual periods, higher chances of miscarriages, excess hair growth or acne, increased weight gain and doubling the chances of heart disease or diabetes are all resultant problems stemming from this condition.

While there are medications, surgery or hormonal treatments to treat this condition, there has been considerable development and awareness in trying to combat this with natural methods like a change in the diet plan. Health problems can be genetic as well as environmental stimulated and whatever the cause the underlying issues can be mitigated to a major extent by natural methods.

Obesity is often one of the immediate effects of PCOS. The reason being, that the body is not able to process the insulin. Too much insulin can lead to development of fat instead of the food being converted into energy and due to the excess insulin in the body the person tends to develop type2 diabetes.

Reducing weight can also reduce the levels of insulin in the body and the best way to approach that would be to have a diet that is low in Glycemic index. That is a low carbohydrate, lean protein and high fiber is supposed to be a good combination. What exactly works for each individual should be decided by themselves or with the help of nutritionist. The immediate result could be good energy levels, low cravings for foods and also a near normal menstrual cycle.

Other methods of treatment that may be of help can be Acupunture that will help realign the body’s natural balance with the use of pressure points that are targeted with the use of thin sharp needles. Homeopathy is another method of treatment that tries to treat the condition based on the symptoms and this is done with a thorough understanding of the family history, past illnesses and overall emotional and mental state of the person.

Exercise is another way of adding to the benefits of treating your PCOS naturally. Every body needs exercise in some form or the other. Exercise requires one to expend energy which comes from burning the sugars in our body and this in turn reduces the amount of sugar in the blood stream thus using the insulin effectively. While this is so, exercise also improves circulation, builds muscle and reduces blood pressure and increases the levels of good cholesterol in the body.

The approach to diet, exercise and alternative natural remedies should be one that work for individual conditions and not be taken as a formula treatment. As each individual’s situation or health and metabolism differs from the other, a common sense approach to what works for you should be carved out first and followed through.

Treating infertility and PCOS, treating your PCOS naturally

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of infertility in woman. This condition is characterized by the presence of minute cysts in the ovaries and inhibits that natural ovulation cycle in women. The condition is known to produce excess androgens (male character stimulating or enhancing hormones) and outwardly can result in excessive growth of facial or body hair, infrequent or absence of periods and absence or infrequent ovulation. The condition has long term affects in the form of cardiac diseases, diabetes and often leads to miscarriages and infertility.

The condition can be detected by using the laparoscopic method or by using a vaginal ultrasound as opposed to an abdominal ultrasound. Trying to get a blood hormone picture for Luteinizing hormone (LH) or Follicle Stimulating hormone (FSH) or the levels of androgens can be a good way of finding out or detecting this condition.

Most of the time, these women are over weight.  In trying to treat this condition it might be good to lose some weight as part of the treatment and in trying to conceive. This is also a precursor to type II diabetes so it might be a good idea to lose some of the weight to avoid future health issues. As the condition hinders a proper ovulation cycle one good way of treating the condition could be by inducing ovulation with drugs like Clomid that regulate the ovulation cycle. If this doesn’t work, then a carefully monitored hormonal treatment that involves ovulation stimulating hormones is generally used. But this has to be monitored as people with this condition can develop multiple pregnancies or have ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS). If all else fails then surgery is a good option and has shown good results. Surgery has shown to restore ovulation cycles and unlike medication or hormonal treatment this does not need constant or close monitoring.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), miscarriages and infertility, Follicle Stimulating hormone (FSH), ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS)