Lately in the news there has been some talk about how vaginal lubricants used during intercourse could possibly be killing the sperm and thereby limiting chances of a conception. After reading and researching some of the more popular lubricants I can see why.
So I wanted to share a gentle vaginal lubricant recipe with you. This is from an author who I find to be quite exceptional in her life's work. Aviva Romm has been a midwife and herbalist for 20 years, homeschooled her four children and is now a 2nd year medical student at Yale University school of medicine. She has a series of books on www.amazon.com that I would recommend you have a look at.
In one of her books she describes this recipe for a gentle vaginal lubricant:
4 tablespoons cocoa butter
4 tablespoons coconut oil (if you don't know where to find this, and you have checked with your health food shop, email me at
info@sharkeyshealingcentre.com.au and I can give you a few places in the US and Australia)
2 tablespoons almond oil
10 drops of Sandalwood essential oil
10 drops of vanilla essential oil
the Sandalwood and vanilla are highly aphrodisiac scents but are not absolutely necessary for this formula to be used
Combine ingredients, store in a glass jar, and apply as needed.
HOpe this helps
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Are organic foods any better than "normal" foods?
REcently a few doctors in an article printed in the Gold Coast bulletin made the bold statement that organic foods are no better than regular store bought foods and are more expensive. In essence they were saying there was no evidence to support paying extra for the organic food. They said there was no research that said organic was more nutritious.
Well, they should have said no research that we know of because this 2004 study is an eye opener.
Researchers at Rutgers University, intrigued by the idea that organic foods are "better", decided to shop
around for some answers. From the supermarket shelves, they purchased snap beans, cabbage, lettuce,
tomatoes and spinach. Then they bought equivalent organically grown vegetables at a health food store.
The research team analyzed the mineral content of their purchases. In every case, organic products were
superior to the non-organic produce, often by huge percentages.
Variations in Mineral Content in Vegetables Firman E. Baer Report, Rutgers University
So there you have it, this study clearly shows the increased nutrient value of organic foods. If you can buy them, I would say go for it.
Keep in mind though that unfortunately organic produce isn't completely free of pesticides and of course the nutrient value is likely to vary from soil to soil, so its still good to wash your fruits and vegetables even if they are organic and buy from a store that gets their supply from a variety of different suppliers.
Well, they should have said no research that we know of because this 2004 study is an eye opener.
Researchers at Rutgers University, intrigued by the idea that organic foods are "better", decided to shop
around for some answers. From the supermarket shelves, they purchased snap beans, cabbage, lettuce,
tomatoes and spinach. Then they bought equivalent organically grown vegetables at a health food store.
The research team analyzed the mineral content of their purchases. In every case, organic products were
superior to the non-organic produce, often by huge percentages.
Variations in Mineral Content in Vegetables Firman E. Baer Report, Rutgers University
So there you have it, this study clearly shows the increased nutrient value of organic foods. If you can buy them, I would say go for it.
Keep in mind though that unfortunately organic produce isn't completely free of pesticides and of course the nutrient value is likely to vary from soil to soil, so its still good to wash your fruits and vegetables even if they are organic and buy from a store that gets their supply from a variety of different suppliers.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
PCOS Study and tips
Imperial College London
New project to analyze why Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and insulin resistance are so closely linked
Understanding the link between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and insulin resistance is the aim of a new project announced today, funded by the charity WellBeing of Women.
It is known that women with PCOS have a 3-fold increase in their risk of developing type-2 diabetes, where the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin properly. Insulin resistance is an important factor in the condition, which is the most common female hormone disorder. PCOS affects between 5 and 10 per cent of women and is a major cause of infertility.
The new £97K project aims to identify a defective point on the insulin signalling pathway in women with PCOS. The researchers, from Imperial College London, hope this will enable the development of new therapies which target this part of the pathway, to counter the insulin resistance and the fertility problems that PCOS can cause.
Insulin is released from cells in the pancreas after eating and it signals insulin-sensitive tissues (such as fat and muscle) to take up glucose, keeping glucose levels in the bloodstream normal. In people with insulin resistance, normal amounts of insulin are not adequate to produce a normal glucose response, meaning that levels of insulin in the bloodstream need to be higher to achieve normal blood sugar levels.
Insulin resistance (and/or the compensatory excess of insulin in the bloodstream), may contribute to abnormalities in function of the ovaries that lead to many of the symptoms of PCOS. These include irregular periods, or no periods at all; fertility problems; weight gain; acne; and excessive hair growth (hirsutism).
A longer term concern is that insulin resistance also predisposes people to diabetes. In some patients the pancreas is unable, in the long-term, to produce enough insulin to compensate for the resistance of the tissues to insulin action. Consequently, blood sugar levels rise. What is not known is why PCOS and insulin resistance are so closely related.
Stacey's comment
I am glad they are looking into the mechanisms that the insulin resistance that women with polycystic ovaries experience effects the ovary and its production of hormones. And I also hope that they look at and investigate the actual cause of the insulin resistance which in most cases of polycystic ovaries is diet. Now there are a small number of women that do not seem to have a poor diet when it comes to dealing with PCO but the majority of women that we see, whether lean or overweight with PCO really need to focus on their diet.
Eliminating high glycemic foods is the first step and adding in foods that are rich in antioxidants and minerals is very important as well. Eliminating trans fat from fried foods, processed foods, biscuits, muffins, and other processed foods is also very important to help regulate ovulation.
Adding good healthy fats such as nuts and seeds, avocadoes and an appropriate amount of low mercury fish is also helpful. Keep in mind that ALL carbohydrates eaten turn into glucose (sugar) in the body. This doesn't mean that all carbohydrates have to be eliminated, but it does mean that making sure you are eating low glycemic carbs is extremely important.
Some women may have to eliminate carbs for a short period of time to improve their situation but the natural therapist that you are working with should give you some excellent guidelines regarding diet.
Balancing proteins, low glycemic carbs and good fats is very important to improve PCO and we have even had women who have eliminated the mulitiple follicles on the ovaries and improve ovulation by following our program. OUr PCO ebook at www.sharkeyshealingcentre.com.au (books section) has helped many women become pregnant even without utilising our herbs.
A nice health glucose balancing drink that many of our patients diagnosed with PCO enjoy is green tea with a cinnamon stick and a drop of licorice. And recently spearmint tea has been linked with helping to address excessive hair growth as well.
New project to analyze why Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and insulin resistance are so closely linked
Understanding the link between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and insulin resistance is the aim of a new project announced today, funded by the charity WellBeing of Women.
It is known that women with PCOS have a 3-fold increase in their risk of developing type-2 diabetes, where the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin properly. Insulin resistance is an important factor in the condition, which is the most common female hormone disorder. PCOS affects between 5 and 10 per cent of women and is a major cause of infertility.
The new £97K project aims to identify a defective point on the insulin signalling pathway in women with PCOS. The researchers, from Imperial College London, hope this will enable the development of new therapies which target this part of the pathway, to counter the insulin resistance and the fertility problems that PCOS can cause.
Insulin is released from cells in the pancreas after eating and it signals insulin-sensitive tissues (such as fat and muscle) to take up glucose, keeping glucose levels in the bloodstream normal. In people with insulin resistance, normal amounts of insulin are not adequate to produce a normal glucose response, meaning that levels of insulin in the bloodstream need to be higher to achieve normal blood sugar levels.
Insulin resistance (and/or the compensatory excess of insulin in the bloodstream), may contribute to abnormalities in function of the ovaries that lead to many of the symptoms of PCOS. These include irregular periods, or no periods at all; fertility problems; weight gain; acne; and excessive hair growth (hirsutism).
A longer term concern is that insulin resistance also predisposes people to diabetes. In some patients the pancreas is unable, in the long-term, to produce enough insulin to compensate for the resistance of the tissues to insulin action. Consequently, blood sugar levels rise. What is not known is why PCOS and insulin resistance are so closely related.
Stacey's comment
I am glad they are looking into the mechanisms that the insulin resistance that women with polycystic ovaries experience effects the ovary and its production of hormones. And I also hope that they look at and investigate the actual cause of the insulin resistance which in most cases of polycystic ovaries is diet. Now there are a small number of women that do not seem to have a poor diet when it comes to dealing with PCO but the majority of women that we see, whether lean or overweight with PCO really need to focus on their diet.
Eliminating high glycemic foods is the first step and adding in foods that are rich in antioxidants and minerals is very important as well. Eliminating trans fat from fried foods, processed foods, biscuits, muffins, and other processed foods is also very important to help regulate ovulation.
Adding good healthy fats such as nuts and seeds, avocadoes and an appropriate amount of low mercury fish is also helpful. Keep in mind that ALL carbohydrates eaten turn into glucose (sugar) in the body. This doesn't mean that all carbohydrates have to be eliminated, but it does mean that making sure you are eating low glycemic carbs is extremely important.
Some women may have to eliminate carbs for a short period of time to improve their situation but the natural therapist that you are working with should give you some excellent guidelines regarding diet.
Balancing proteins, low glycemic carbs and good fats is very important to improve PCO and we have even had women who have eliminated the mulitiple follicles on the ovaries and improve ovulation by following our program. OUr PCO ebook at www.sharkeyshealingcentre.com.au (books section) has helped many women become pregnant even without utilising our herbs.
A nice health glucose balancing drink that many of our patients diagnosed with PCO enjoy is green tea with a cinnamon stick and a drop of licorice. And recently spearmint tea has been linked with helping to address excessive hair growth as well.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Proof of the importance of the Mind Body connection regarding fertility
Mind Body Institute Treatment of 'Unexplained Infertility' Focuses on Stress Reduction With Impressive Results
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Debra Sussman tried to
have a baby for years. After trying on their own, she and her husband
sought medical intervention. They went through several years of advanced
fertility treatments including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and countless
surgeries.
"It was heartbreaking," says Sussman. "It affected my entire life -- my
work, my relationships, finances and identity ... I felt completely
isolated and broken."
Sussman learned of the program at the Mind Body Institute at UCLA
Medical Plaza. The program is dedicated to helping women deal with
infertility by teaching relaxation techniques, positive reinforcement, and
cognitive restructuring to alleviate stress associated with infertility.
Today Sussman has a healthy baby girl and is the Executive Director of
the Mind Body Institute where she helps many other women through the
challenge of infertility. The Institute has served infertile patients in
Los Angeles since 1999 at UCLA Medical Plaza in Westwood and at its new
clinic in Newport Beach since January.
The 10-week program meets for 2-1/2 hours once a week, blending lecture
and hands-on experience through group support and yoga by alleviating the
psychological and physical symptoms of stress associated with infertility.
The program is modeled after The Harvard Medical School's infertility
program and is medically endorsed by doctors dedicated to encouraging a
more comprehensive approach to women's fertility issues. According to
research studies, infertility patients who attend a Mind Body program
decrease anxiety, depression and achieve a 55 percent increase in
conception rates.
Stacey's Comment
For the last 2 years I have been sending tips to those seeking support while dealing with their fertility issues. Many of these tips deal with the the emotional aspects of fertility issues. We receive countless emails from both our patients and those who are not our patients but have read the tips thanking me for supporting them through a difficult time.
Our Fertile Mind Fertile Body workshops boast a similiar "success rate" to what is listed in the above article. 60% of the participants of our lst year workshops have gone on to have a viable pregnancy within 3 to 7 months of attending. I utilise different techniques than the ones described above but my aim is the same, giving couples the support they need to improve their emotional health and subsequently their physiological health as well.
THe one on one counseling sessions I have conducted with individuals have also yielded fantastic results when all recommendations are followed.
So it is great to hear that in the US there are other clinics that are conducting workshops and have support groups for couples dealing with fertility issues. If you would like more information about our programs here in Australia (soon to be in America as well) please contact jodie@sharkeyshealingcentre.com for more information. This could be the one piece of the puzzle not yet addressed that may make the difference.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Debra Sussman tried to
have a baby for years. After trying on their own, she and her husband
sought medical intervention. They went through several years of advanced
fertility treatments including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and countless
surgeries.
"It was heartbreaking," says Sussman. "It affected my entire life -- my
work, my relationships, finances and identity ... I felt completely
isolated and broken."
Sussman learned of the program at the Mind Body Institute at UCLA
Medical Plaza. The program is dedicated to helping women deal with
infertility by teaching relaxation techniques, positive reinforcement, and
cognitive restructuring to alleviate stress associated with infertility.
Today Sussman has a healthy baby girl and is the Executive Director of
the Mind Body Institute where she helps many other women through the
challenge of infertility. The Institute has served infertile patients in
Los Angeles since 1999 at UCLA Medical Plaza in Westwood and at its new
clinic in Newport Beach since January.
The 10-week program meets for 2-1/2 hours once a week, blending lecture
and hands-on experience through group support and yoga by alleviating the
psychological and physical symptoms of stress associated with infertility.
The program is modeled after The Harvard Medical School's infertility
program and is medically endorsed by doctors dedicated to encouraging a
more comprehensive approach to women's fertility issues. According to
research studies, infertility patients who attend a Mind Body program
decrease anxiety, depression and achieve a 55 percent increase in
conception rates.
Stacey's Comment
For the last 2 years I have been sending tips to those seeking support while dealing with their fertility issues. Many of these tips deal with the the emotional aspects of fertility issues. We receive countless emails from both our patients and those who are not our patients but have read the tips thanking me for supporting them through a difficult time.
Our Fertile Mind Fertile Body workshops boast a similiar "success rate" to what is listed in the above article. 60% of the participants of our lst year workshops have gone on to have a viable pregnancy within 3 to 7 months of attending. I utilise different techniques than the ones described above but my aim is the same, giving couples the support they need to improve their emotional health and subsequently their physiological health as well.
THe one on one counseling sessions I have conducted with individuals have also yielded fantastic results when all recommendations are followed.
So it is great to hear that in the US there are other clinics that are conducting workshops and have support groups for couples dealing with fertility issues. If you would like more information about our programs here in Australia (soon to be in America as well) please contact jodie@sharkeyshealingcentre.com for more information. This could be the one piece of the puzzle not yet addressed that may make the difference.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Alternative deep tissue massage to aid fertility
San Rafael, CA (PRWEB) March 5, 2007 -- When Marin County Maya Abdominal Massage therapist Lina Erwin lays her hands on a client's abdomen and feels for the position of the uterus, she is carrying on a healing tradition that has been handed down from mentor to student in Central America for hundreds of years.
Long before Western medicine became the norm, the women of Central America utilized this form of massage to help with infertility, menstruation, and menopause. For women who wish to avoid surgery or drugs, Maya Abdominal Massage is a viable and safe alternative
This non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical healing alternative has been used in what are now Guatemala and Belize to help women's health challenges as widespread as infertility, chronic miscarriages, difficult menopause, prolapsed uterus, varicose veins of the legs, recurrent vaginal infections, and depression linked to PMS. Her new clinic, Traditional Maya Massage (http://www.traditionalmaya.com), just opened in downtown San Rafael.
When Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Massage are practiced by trained practitioners such as Erwin, who has lived in Costa Rica and studied in Belize, it has been estimated that approximately 30 percent of woman who have been unsuccessful in getting pregnant eventually conceive after a succession of Maya Abdominal Massage treatments. This compares favorably with in-vitro fertilization success rates, which are 37% among women younger than 35 years and 28% for those aged 36-39 years.
"Long before Western medicine became the norm, the women of Central America utilized this form of massage to help with infertility, menstruation, and menopause. For women who wish to avoid surgery or drugs, Maya Abdominal Massage is a viable and safe alternative," said Erwin. "My clients also feel heartened that I teach them self care so they can maintain their health without having to continue seeing me."
Stacey's comment
I would recommend this type of treatment for anyone who has had an abdominal surgery such as laparoscopy, C-Section, appendectomy, etc to help address scar tissue that may be impeding the function of the ovaries.
Also if you are older and FSH levels are higher there is a possibility that this type of technique could stimulate improved blood flow to areas such as the ovaries.
There is also a company called Clear Passage located in various clinics throughout the US that has correlated similiar deep tissue techniques to unblocking tubes and increased fertility in a certain percentage of individuals that they see. YOu can contact them at www.clearpassage.com
Long before Western medicine became the norm, the women of Central America utilized this form of massage to help with infertility, menstruation, and menopause. For women who wish to avoid surgery or drugs, Maya Abdominal Massage is a viable and safe alternative
This non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical healing alternative has been used in what are now Guatemala and Belize to help women's health challenges as widespread as infertility, chronic miscarriages, difficult menopause, prolapsed uterus, varicose veins of the legs, recurrent vaginal infections, and depression linked to PMS. Her new clinic, Traditional Maya Massage (http://www.traditionalmaya.com), just opened in downtown San Rafael.
When Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Massage are practiced by trained practitioners such as Erwin, who has lived in Costa Rica and studied in Belize, it has been estimated that approximately 30 percent of woman who have been unsuccessful in getting pregnant eventually conceive after a succession of Maya Abdominal Massage treatments. This compares favorably with in-vitro fertilization success rates, which are 37% among women younger than 35 years and 28% for those aged 36-39 years.
"Long before Western medicine became the norm, the women of Central America utilized this form of massage to help with infertility, menstruation, and menopause. For women who wish to avoid surgery or drugs, Maya Abdominal Massage is a viable and safe alternative," said Erwin. "My clients also feel heartened that I teach them self care so they can maintain their health without having to continue seeing me."
Stacey's comment
I would recommend this type of treatment for anyone who has had an abdominal surgery such as laparoscopy, C-Section, appendectomy, etc to help address scar tissue that may be impeding the function of the ovaries.
Also if you are older and FSH levels are higher there is a possibility that this type of technique could stimulate improved blood flow to areas such as the ovaries.
There is also a company called Clear Passage located in various clinics throughout the US that has correlated similiar deep tissue techniques to unblocking tubes and increased fertility in a certain percentage of individuals that they see. YOu can contact them at www.clearpassage.com
Friday, March 02, 2007
Can Ice Cream/Dairy really help you get pregnant?
Recently data from the famous Nurse's Health Study has revealed that women who ate more low fat dairy foods per day were twice as likely to have trouble conceiving due to problems with ovulation. And women who ate at least one fatty dairy food per day were 27% less likely to have ovulation problems which effect fertility.
This lead the press to jump to the conclusion that ice cream can help to improve your fertility. Well, this is a big jump, and though I am a fan of the occasional ice cream myself, its very important to realise a few things before loading your diet up with high fat dairy on a regular basis to improve your fertility.
I suggest that you consider:
1) Dairy is really irrelevant in this situation. The real pertinent information is high fat versus low fat. Low fat foods, because they are low fat and also because they tend to have more sugar added to them for taste, tend to be high glycemic. Eating high glycemic foods on a regular basis can effect your glucose levels, insulin levels and subsequently your reproductive hormone levels as well. So it is likely the increased consumption of high glycemic foods is effecting ovulation. This is typical in the person who has the diagnosis, Polycystic ovaries. Both lean and overweight women with polycystic ovaries tend to have difficulties with ovulation and also tend to have insulin resistance which is usually the result of eating foods that are high glycemic over a long period of time.
So have 1-3 servings of foods that have good fats in them like avocados, nuts, seeds, fish (though be aware of mercury levels here) and good natural yogurts that are normally higher in fat will keep the glycemic load down and lessen the chance of developing insulin resistance or excess insulin in your system, which again can effect your reproductive health.
2) Statistics say that only 1/3 or women with fertility issues have problems relating to ovulation. The finding in this review related to ovulation issues.
3)This is not about increasing dairy. Most dairy has little health benefits due to the way that it is processed. Many nutrients are taken out and only some are added back in to make the foods more "healthy". Milk is not the best source of calcium either because calcium needs other nutrients not all found in milk to help it get absorbed. Green leafy vegetables are your best source of calcium. And supplements taken to help with Calcium should include magnesium, Vitamin D and boron to help ensure absorption of Calcium into the body. Also remember that calcium CITRATE is the most absorbable form of calcium and this should be most of the calcium in any calcium supplement (along with the other nutrients mentioned) for optimal absorption, if the stomach and gut health is good.
4) Remember to stay away from "diet food" that tout low fat because most will have added sugar and low fat tends to mean high glycemic unless you are talking about meats which are more lean with less fat. All protein is low glycemic.
This lead the press to jump to the conclusion that ice cream can help to improve your fertility. Well, this is a big jump, and though I am a fan of the occasional ice cream myself, its very important to realise a few things before loading your diet up with high fat dairy on a regular basis to improve your fertility.
I suggest that you consider:
1) Dairy is really irrelevant in this situation. The real pertinent information is high fat versus low fat. Low fat foods, because they are low fat and also because they tend to have more sugar added to them for taste, tend to be high glycemic. Eating high glycemic foods on a regular basis can effect your glucose levels, insulin levels and subsequently your reproductive hormone levels as well. So it is likely the increased consumption of high glycemic foods is effecting ovulation. This is typical in the person who has the diagnosis, Polycystic ovaries. Both lean and overweight women with polycystic ovaries tend to have difficulties with ovulation and also tend to have insulin resistance which is usually the result of eating foods that are high glycemic over a long period of time.
So have 1-3 servings of foods that have good fats in them like avocados, nuts, seeds, fish (though be aware of mercury levels here) and good natural yogurts that are normally higher in fat will keep the glycemic load down and lessen the chance of developing insulin resistance or excess insulin in your system, which again can effect your reproductive health.
2) Statistics say that only 1/3 or women with fertility issues have problems relating to ovulation. The finding in this review related to ovulation issues.
3)This is not about increasing dairy. Most dairy has little health benefits due to the way that it is processed. Many nutrients are taken out and only some are added back in to make the foods more "healthy". Milk is not the best source of calcium either because calcium needs other nutrients not all found in milk to help it get absorbed. Green leafy vegetables are your best source of calcium. And supplements taken to help with Calcium should include magnesium, Vitamin D and boron to help ensure absorption of Calcium into the body. Also remember that calcium CITRATE is the most absorbable form of calcium and this should be most of the calcium in any calcium supplement (along with the other nutrients mentioned) for optimal absorption, if the stomach and gut health is good.
4) Remember to stay away from "diet food" that tout low fat because most will have added sugar and low fat tends to mean high glycemic unless you are talking about meats which are more lean with less fat. All protein is low glycemic.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Antioxidant Study
I am always amazed at what negative topics come out in the press about supplements. You and I both know I think that the media is not often 100% reliable (this is clearly shown in our FERTILITY SECRETS CD SET now available from our website), but unfortunately the media is where most people get their information about supplements, foods, and really anything these days.
A recent report spoke of Antioxidants not prolonging life and in some cases may even be related to increased mortality. This is simply more propaganda to keep the public from purchasing something that can be very good for them.
The reasons this review may have come up with this conclusion are many.
1) when reviewing studies it is never clear what type of supplements are used. Were they pharmaceutical grade? This guarantees that the supplements have been tested to make sure they get absorbed in the body. Most supplement companies do not do this testing because it is expensive. So if the antioxidants were not pharmaceutical grade it is no wonder that results would be mixed.
2) The supplements studied were too diverse. They were looking at antioxidants across the board and this is like looking at how effective IVF is around the world, instead of at each centre. There are too many variables at each centre to give an effective measure. I know just from seeing out patients that each centre and each doctor in the centre uses different protocols.
One thing I do agree with in the article I read was that antioxidants should be taken in from your food sources first and "supplements" should do just that..."supplement" a healthy diet. And when you consider that some organic foods will have up to 88% more nutrients than their regular store bought counterparts, it is very important to consider buying organic whenever you possibly can.
3) I have never read a study where people's digestion was considered before they take the supplements, and participants with poor digestion as far as I can tell are not ruled out of these studies. If you aren't digesting your foods properly, they are less likely to get absorbed into the system and less likely to make any difference. So purchasing supplements that are pharmaceutical grade (guaranteed to be tested to ensure they get absorbed) is your best investment regarding supplements. Store bought supplements rarely have this guarantee.
So before you believe everything you read in the media about antioxidants or other supplements be skeptical and ask your natural healthcare practitioner for more information or to do the research from reliable sources for you.
A recent report spoke of Antioxidants not prolonging life and in some cases may even be related to increased mortality. This is simply more propaganda to keep the public from purchasing something that can be very good for them.
The reasons this review may have come up with this conclusion are many.
1) when reviewing studies it is never clear what type of supplements are used. Were they pharmaceutical grade? This guarantees that the supplements have been tested to make sure they get absorbed in the body. Most supplement companies do not do this testing because it is expensive. So if the antioxidants were not pharmaceutical grade it is no wonder that results would be mixed.
2) The supplements studied were too diverse. They were looking at antioxidants across the board and this is like looking at how effective IVF is around the world, instead of at each centre. There are too many variables at each centre to give an effective measure. I know just from seeing out patients that each centre and each doctor in the centre uses different protocols.
One thing I do agree with in the article I read was that antioxidants should be taken in from your food sources first and "supplements" should do just that..."supplement" a healthy diet. And when you consider that some organic foods will have up to 88% more nutrients than their regular store bought counterparts, it is very important to consider buying organic whenever you possibly can.
3) I have never read a study where people's digestion was considered before they take the supplements, and participants with poor digestion as far as I can tell are not ruled out of these studies. If you aren't digesting your foods properly, they are less likely to get absorbed into the system and less likely to make any difference. So purchasing supplements that are pharmaceutical grade (guaranteed to be tested to ensure they get absorbed) is your best investment regarding supplements. Store bought supplements rarely have this guarantee.
So before you believe everything you read in the media about antioxidants or other supplements be skeptical and ask your natural healthcare practitioner for more information or to do the research from reliable sources for you.
Should you take Fish Oil in preconception and while pregnant
There has been a few controversial articles about how fish oil does not improve moods and shouldn't not be taken during pregnancy or preconception secondary to the Vit A content in fish oil.
There are many studies that show fish oil works well with antidepressants and on its own to help regulate moods. It can also be used in children to help with symptoms consistent with ADD/ADHD and others. So why would this study review come up with these results. My opinion is most likely because the large number of studies varied in the type of fish oil that they used. Off the shelf fish oil is likely cheaper but may not be quite as effective as brands that are processed to assure the quality of the fish oil. Its also very important to make sure the fish oil that you use is free of all mercury. IF it says Mercury tested then it is unlikely that this company will have removed all the toxins like mercury from the fish oil. It will have what the government considers "safe levels" of mercury in it.
When dealing with trying to create a healthy pregnancy, you do not want to expose yourself to any more mercury than you have to, since elevated mercury can be related to miscarriage.
In addition the "warning" about Vitamin A would only be for Cod Liver Oils but even then according to research about Vitamin A reported by the Weston A Price Foundation in Washington DC it is only the Cod Liver oil that contains SYNTHETIC vitamin A that could potentially cause a problem. So make sure that you speak to your natural health practitioner about the best brands of Fish oil for you.
And with Fish Oil, you get what you pay for. Our fish oil retails at $29.30 today. These are guaranteed to have all toxins removed and do not contain Vitamin A. www.sharkeyshealingcentre.com.au
There are many studies that show fish oil works well with antidepressants and on its own to help regulate moods. It can also be used in children to help with symptoms consistent with ADD/ADHD and others. So why would this study review come up with these results. My opinion is most likely because the large number of studies varied in the type of fish oil that they used. Off the shelf fish oil is likely cheaper but may not be quite as effective as brands that are processed to assure the quality of the fish oil. Its also very important to make sure the fish oil that you use is free of all mercury. IF it says Mercury tested then it is unlikely that this company will have removed all the toxins like mercury from the fish oil. It will have what the government considers "safe levels" of mercury in it.
When dealing with trying to create a healthy pregnancy, you do not want to expose yourself to any more mercury than you have to, since elevated mercury can be related to miscarriage.
In addition the "warning" about Vitamin A would only be for Cod Liver Oils but even then according to research about Vitamin A reported by the Weston A Price Foundation in Washington DC it is only the Cod Liver oil that contains SYNTHETIC vitamin A that could potentially cause a problem. So make sure that you speak to your natural health practitioner about the best brands of Fish oil for you.
And with Fish Oil, you get what you pay for. Our fish oil retails at $29.30 today. These are guaranteed to have all toxins removed and do not contain Vitamin A. www.sharkeyshealingcentre.com.au
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Male Fertility Issues Linked to Cancer
Male infertility linked to cancer
NEW YORK, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. men with infertility and abnormal sperm counts have a twenty-fold greater risk of testicular cancer compared to the general population, a study found.
Department of Urology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center researchers did a retrospective review of the charts of 3,847 men presenting with infertility and abnormal semen analysis during a 10-year period.
Comparing the incidence of the infertile group to the control group, the standardized incidence ratio was 22.9 -- meaning that infertile men were more than 20 times more likely to have a testis tumor than other men, said study leader Dr. Marc Goldstein.
"Patients and physicians should be aware that one cause of male infertility is cancer, particularly testicular cancer. Screening for testicular cancer could now become a standard part of all male infertility treatment," said Goldstein.
An early diagnosis of testis cancer may increase the chance of long-term survival, according to Goldstein.
The study is published in the Journal of Urology.
Stacey's comment:
I don't want to cause unnecessary alarm by placing this post in the blog, however I think its very important for people to be aware of this information. So many couples come to me where they tell me the husband's semen analysis is fine but when I look it over there are issues that could be addressed. If you have a male fertility issue and have had abnormal semen analysis' please consult your doctor about screening for testicular cancer.
They may not be many outward signs of this issue unless there is a semen analysis so this is important to investigate. Sperm are cells and if there are high abnormals particularly, there must be a reason for this. For most men it probably won't be cancer, but if it were my family I would want to rule it out.
NEW YORK, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. men with infertility and abnormal sperm counts have a twenty-fold greater risk of testicular cancer compared to the general population, a study found.
Department of Urology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center researchers did a retrospective review of the charts of 3,847 men presenting with infertility and abnormal semen analysis during a 10-year period.
Comparing the incidence of the infertile group to the control group, the standardized incidence ratio was 22.9 -- meaning that infertile men were more than 20 times more likely to have a testis tumor than other men, said study leader Dr. Marc Goldstein.
"Patients and physicians should be aware that one cause of male infertility is cancer, particularly testicular cancer. Screening for testicular cancer could now become a standard part of all male infertility treatment," said Goldstein.
An early diagnosis of testis cancer may increase the chance of long-term survival, according to Goldstein.
The study is published in the Journal of Urology.
Stacey's comment:
I don't want to cause unnecessary alarm by placing this post in the blog, however I think its very important for people to be aware of this information. So many couples come to me where they tell me the husband's semen analysis is fine but when I look it over there are issues that could be addressed. If you have a male fertility issue and have had abnormal semen analysis' please consult your doctor about screening for testicular cancer.
They may not be many outward signs of this issue unless there is a semen analysis so this is important to investigate. Sperm are cells and if there are high abnormals particularly, there must be a reason for this. For most men it probably won't be cancer, but if it were my family I would want to rule it out.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Interesting stats re couples and fertility issues
A poll of 2000 women in the UK showed:
Two thirds of couples who fail to conceive think their past lifestyle has contributed to their fertility problems.
But the most common causes of problems are not ovulating (39 per cent of women), polycystic ovary syndrome (20 per cent), blocked fallopian tubes (18 per cent) and low sperm count (19 per cent of men).
An estimated one in seven couples have fertility problems.
The average couple who failed to conceive said their GP only acknowledged their fertility problem after 17 months of trying for a baby.
Stacey's comment:
The last statistic is really sad I think. Medical professionals are missing the boat here. When a couple comes in with concern in regards to their fertility and they have been trying for less than 12 months, usually they are told "not to worry" come and see me if it is longer than a year. Then these are the same professionals who if you come to see them again think, "they should have started sooner. Time is running out" and other beliefs that don't help the couple. When a patient walks in to a doctor's office and is concerned about their fertility this is the perfect opportunity to start the education process and help the patient become empowered to take charge of their health and their fertility. Too many times if a medical professional doesn't prescribe a medication or if they feel its too early to prescribe one since the couple hasn't been trying for too long this is the perfect the couple not only leaves the office empty handed but none of their fears, destructive beliefs, poor diet choices, poor lifestyle choices or problems in their relationship go away. All that happens is they continue to go through life and most don't make any changes.
Medical professionals have such an opportunity here to put down their perscription pads and connect with the patient. Educate the patient. They can help the patient empower themselves. I realise the average doctor is extremely short on time but referring them for nutritional advice and prenatal education would make such a huge constructive impact on the couple.
I really hope that some day physicians will realise they have this opportunity to really make a difference in someone's life. There are many physicians that do take this approach but unfortunately they are in the minority. So keep your eyes and ears peeled for a GP that will work with you to improve your health and fertility and work in conjunction with your naturopath as well. The best results for you come from a team effort.
Two thirds of couples who fail to conceive think their past lifestyle has contributed to their fertility problems.
But the most common causes of problems are not ovulating (39 per cent of women), polycystic ovary syndrome (20 per cent), blocked fallopian tubes (18 per cent) and low sperm count (19 per cent of men).
An estimated one in seven couples have fertility problems.
The average couple who failed to conceive said their GP only acknowledged their fertility problem after 17 months of trying for a baby.
Stacey's comment:
The last statistic is really sad I think. Medical professionals are missing the boat here. When a couple comes in with concern in regards to their fertility and they have been trying for less than 12 months, usually they are told "not to worry" come and see me if it is longer than a year. Then these are the same professionals who if you come to see them again think, "they should have started sooner. Time is running out" and other beliefs that don't help the couple. When a patient walks in to a doctor's office and is concerned about their fertility this is the perfect opportunity to start the education process and help the patient become empowered to take charge of their health and their fertility. Too many times if a medical professional doesn't prescribe a medication or if they feel its too early to prescribe one since the couple hasn't been trying for too long this is the perfect the couple not only leaves the office empty handed but none of their fears, destructive beliefs, poor diet choices, poor lifestyle choices or problems in their relationship go away. All that happens is they continue to go through life and most don't make any changes.
Medical professionals have such an opportunity here to put down their perscription pads and connect with the patient. Educate the patient. They can help the patient empower themselves. I realise the average doctor is extremely short on time but referring them for nutritional advice and prenatal education would make such a huge constructive impact on the couple.
I really hope that some day physicians will realise they have this opportunity to really make a difference in someone's life. There are many physicians that do take this approach but unfortunately they are in the minority. So keep your eyes and ears peeled for a GP that will work with you to improve your health and fertility and work in conjunction with your naturopath as well. The best results for you come from a team effort.
Health should be your main focus when trying to conceive
Fertility problems linked to health
Fertility problems are soaring in the UK because couples are too unfit for pregnancy, according to new research.
One in seven couples in the UK will have problems having a baby, but experts predict this could increase in the next decade.
Alcohol, smoking and poor diet could be helping fuel the rising rates of infertility, according to the survey.
DAily news London
Stacey's comment:
It is so important to educate patients on the importance of improving their health when they are trying to conceive. Poor cellular health means that the body is not getting enough nutrients to sustain the health of the cells and remember the females eggs and the males sperm are cells. Poor health of the cells can either be the result of a poor diet or poor digestion. Poor digestion may be due to stress, taking over the counter medications or prescribed medications, smoking, alcohol consumption and also the result of a poor diet. A person can have a good diet and poor digestion if they are stressed, if they take any synthetic medications either over the counter or prescribed, and if they smoke and/or drink alcohol.
At our clinic we are constantly educating patients on how they can improve their diet and improve the absorption of nutrients into their system which will improve the health of their eggs, sperm, and endometrial lining.
Starting with a low glycemic eating plan is a great beginning. Cutting out trans fats, sugary drinks, soft drinks, and high glycemic carbohydrates will go a long way to improving your health.
I recommend staying away from Unfermented soy secondary to the controversy that surrounds unfermented soy and fertility. Also work with your naturopath to help improve your gut health to make sure you are absorbing the nutrients from your good diet.
And whenever possbile eat organic as studies have shown that organic foods can have up to 88% more nutrients when compared to regular store bought foods.
Fertility problems are soaring in the UK because couples are too unfit for pregnancy, according to new research.
One in seven couples in the UK will have problems having a baby, but experts predict this could increase in the next decade.
Alcohol, smoking and poor diet could be helping fuel the rising rates of infertility, according to the survey.
DAily news London
Stacey's comment:
It is so important to educate patients on the importance of improving their health when they are trying to conceive. Poor cellular health means that the body is not getting enough nutrients to sustain the health of the cells and remember the females eggs and the males sperm are cells. Poor health of the cells can either be the result of a poor diet or poor digestion. Poor digestion may be due to stress, taking over the counter medications or prescribed medications, smoking, alcohol consumption and also the result of a poor diet. A person can have a good diet and poor digestion if they are stressed, if they take any synthetic medications either over the counter or prescribed, and if they smoke and/or drink alcohol.
At our clinic we are constantly educating patients on how they can improve their diet and improve the absorption of nutrients into their system which will improve the health of their eggs, sperm, and endometrial lining.
Starting with a low glycemic eating plan is a great beginning. Cutting out trans fats, sugary drinks, soft drinks, and high glycemic carbohydrates will go a long way to improving your health.
I recommend staying away from Unfermented soy secondary to the controversy that surrounds unfermented soy and fertility. Also work with your naturopath to help improve your gut health to make sure you are absorbing the nutrients from your good diet.
And whenever possbile eat organic as studies have shown that organic foods can have up to 88% more nutrients when compared to regular store bought foods.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Post Natal Depression more common in IVF moms
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Mothers who conceive through in vitro fertilization, or other so-called assisted reproductive technologies, are at increased risk for post-natal mood disorder and early parenting difficulties, Australian researchers report.
"These data would suggest that obstetricians, pediatricians, and other clinicians caring for pregnant women and mothers and infants after childbirth should be conscious that a previous history of fertility difficulties, advanced maternal age, assisted conception, operative delivery, and multiple birth may heighten the risk for postpartum mood disturbance and early parenting difficulties," the authors write.
The findings, which appear in the journal Fertility and Sterility, stem from a study of all mother-infant pairs admitted over a 3-year period to a hospital unit that specializes in the care of mothers with mood disorders or exhaustion, and infants with sleeping or feeding problems.
Stacey's comment:
The possible culprit for the higher incidence of PND in women who have undergone IVF may be due to several factors.
Two definitely come to mind;
One: The use of IVF medication can disturb the gut health of the mother and therefore decrease her ability to absorb nutrients appropriately from her food. If the mother is not educated about this it could be dangerous to both hers and babies health.
Also because it has already been shown the women with elevated thyroid antibodies are 3 times more likely to experience PND, and depression is often a symptom of thyroid involvement, then this could be the mechanism as well. Unfortunately most physicians do not test for thyroid antibodies in women especially if they have normal TSH values. But it is well documented that women can have a problem with elevated antibodies even if their TSH is normal.
What is the solution? Be persistent with your physician and request these tests and prevent the occurence of PND by increasing omega 3 essential fatty acids in your diet.
This article brings up the importance of supplementing with enough omega 3 essential fatty acids before, during and after pregnancy. SInce omega 3 essential fatty acids found in fish oil can help prevent PND and help regulate moods, its important that all perspective mother's know about the importance of this. Fish is high in omega 3 EFA but unfortunately fish should be limited because of mercury exposure. I personally do not recommend eating any fish during pregnancy to not take any chances, but some say small fish up to one time per week is okay. If you can't or don't eat fish, then what? Avocadoes are a great source of good fat. Nuts and seeds also have good amounts of essential fats.
If you choose to take a fish oil supplement make sure the company guarantees that all impurities are removed. No fish oil sold over the counter, that I know of, can guarantee this so if you don't know where you can get fish oil that has all the impurities removed email us at info@sharkeyshealingcentre.com.au and we will point you in the right direction.
"These data would suggest that obstetricians, pediatricians, and other clinicians caring for pregnant women and mothers and infants after childbirth should be conscious that a previous history of fertility difficulties, advanced maternal age, assisted conception, operative delivery, and multiple birth may heighten the risk for postpartum mood disturbance and early parenting difficulties," the authors write.
The findings, which appear in the journal Fertility and Sterility, stem from a study of all mother-infant pairs admitted over a 3-year period to a hospital unit that specializes in the care of mothers with mood disorders or exhaustion, and infants with sleeping or feeding problems.
Stacey's comment:
The possible culprit for the higher incidence of PND in women who have undergone IVF may be due to several factors.
Two definitely come to mind;
One: The use of IVF medication can disturb the gut health of the mother and therefore decrease her ability to absorb nutrients appropriately from her food. If the mother is not educated about this it could be dangerous to both hers and babies health.
Also because it has already been shown the women with elevated thyroid antibodies are 3 times more likely to experience PND, and depression is often a symptom of thyroid involvement, then this could be the mechanism as well. Unfortunately most physicians do not test for thyroid antibodies in women especially if they have normal TSH values. But it is well documented that women can have a problem with elevated antibodies even if their TSH is normal.
What is the solution? Be persistent with your physician and request these tests and prevent the occurence of PND by increasing omega 3 essential fatty acids in your diet.
This article brings up the importance of supplementing with enough omega 3 essential fatty acids before, during and after pregnancy. SInce omega 3 essential fatty acids found in fish oil can help prevent PND and help regulate moods, its important that all perspective mother's know about the importance of this. Fish is high in omega 3 EFA but unfortunately fish should be limited because of mercury exposure. I personally do not recommend eating any fish during pregnancy to not take any chances, but some say small fish up to one time per week is okay. If you can't or don't eat fish, then what? Avocadoes are a great source of good fat. Nuts and seeds also have good amounts of essential fats.
If you choose to take a fish oil supplement make sure the company guarantees that all impurities are removed. No fish oil sold over the counter, that I know of, can guarantee this so if you don't know where you can get fish oil that has all the impurities removed email us at info@sharkeyshealingcentre.com.au and we will point you in the right direction.
Friday, August 19, 2005
New Vitamin for Infertility
Japanese scientists have discovered a new vitamin that plays an important role in fertility in mice and may have a similar function in humans.
The Tokyo-based Institute of Physical and Chemical Research confirmed that pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), a substance discovered in 1979, can be categorized as a vitamin.
Mice deprived of PQQ suffer reduced fertility and roughened fur. Vitamins that have an important effect on mice usually act in the same way in humans, the researchers said.
PQQ is the first new vitamin to be discovered since 1948. It is thought to belong the to B-vitamin group. Vitamins are defined as organic substances needed in small quantities for health and growth. They must be obtained from food because they cannot be produced by the body.
PQQ is not usually found in multi-vitamin tablets. The best source of PQQ discovered so far is "natto," a pungent Japanese dish of fermented soybeans. Other foods rich in PQQ are parsley, green tea, green peppers, kiwi fruit and papaya.
Source: Reuters Health News, March 24, 2003
Stacey's comment,
There is so much that we have not discovered in regards to fertility and there is new information that comes up all the time. But the one constant through it all is that nutrition can enhance your fertility. As long as you are absorbing nutrients appropriately a good diet of balanced low glycemic carbs, proteins and healthy fats is so important.
Instead of buying the supplements above make it your goal to increase the natural sources of PQQ in your diet. Natto is definitely an "acquired taste" but this wonderful vitamin can also be found in parsley, green tea, green peppers, kiwi fruit and papaya. So make sure you have these in your diet over the course of the week and as long as your digestion is good, you will be absorbing some powerful nutrients to improve your fertility.
The Tokyo-based Institute of Physical and Chemical Research confirmed that pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), a substance discovered in 1979, can be categorized as a vitamin.
Mice deprived of PQQ suffer reduced fertility and roughened fur. Vitamins that have an important effect on mice usually act in the same way in humans, the researchers said.
PQQ is the first new vitamin to be discovered since 1948. It is thought to belong the to B-vitamin group. Vitamins are defined as organic substances needed in small quantities for health and growth. They must be obtained from food because they cannot be produced by the body.
PQQ is not usually found in multi-vitamin tablets. The best source of PQQ discovered so far is "natto," a pungent Japanese dish of fermented soybeans. Other foods rich in PQQ are parsley, green tea, green peppers, kiwi fruit and papaya.
Source: Reuters Health News, March 24, 2003
Stacey's comment,
There is so much that we have not discovered in regards to fertility and there is new information that comes up all the time. But the one constant through it all is that nutrition can enhance your fertility. As long as you are absorbing nutrients appropriately a good diet of balanced low glycemic carbs, proteins and healthy fats is so important.
Instead of buying the supplements above make it your goal to increase the natural sources of PQQ in your diet. Natto is definitely an "acquired taste" but this wonderful vitamin can also be found in parsley, green tea, green peppers, kiwi fruit and papaya. So make sure you have these in your diet over the course of the week and as long as your digestion is good, you will be absorbing some powerful nutrients to improve your fertility.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Natural Treatments for Men
Ayurvedic treatment for men
R. Sittamparam
JOHOR BARU, Aug 11:
More men suffering from erectile dysfunction and infertility are opting for Ayurvedic treatment.
The treatment for those aged between 35 and 70 involves detoxification, oil massage and herbal medicines.
Dr C. Vinod, an Ayurvedic physician from the Ayur Centre here, said clients included those from Singapore.
"Men are generally shy when its comes to seeking treatment for problems like erectile dysfunction and infertility.
"However, of late, many have been coming to us with such problems and we have managed to help them."
Stacey's Comment
More and more people are turning to natural health treatments to improve their fertility. It is less expensive, little to no side effects, and creates results. At Sharkeys Healing Centre we specialise in the natural treatment for men and women with fertility issues. We utilise Western herbals, Chinese, and Ayurvedic herbs to assist couples in improving reproduction. Come visit us at www.sharkeyshealingcentre.com.au where we have online consultations and receive a free Report entitled Fertility Secrets Revealed. Based on Ruth Sharkey's successful system for over 20 years our natural fertility treatment has helped men and women improve their fertility by addressing unexplained infertility, endometriosis, Polycystic ovaries, fibroids, male infertility, and more.
R. Sittamparam
JOHOR BARU, Aug 11:
More men suffering from erectile dysfunction and infertility are opting for Ayurvedic treatment.
The treatment for those aged between 35 and 70 involves detoxification, oil massage and herbal medicines.
Dr C. Vinod, an Ayurvedic physician from the Ayur Centre here, said clients included those from Singapore.
"Men are generally shy when its comes to seeking treatment for problems like erectile dysfunction and infertility.
"However, of late, many have been coming to us with such problems and we have managed to help them."
Stacey's Comment
More and more people are turning to natural health treatments to improve their fertility. It is less expensive, little to no side effects, and creates results. At Sharkeys Healing Centre we specialise in the natural treatment for men and women with fertility issues. We utilise Western herbals, Chinese, and Ayurvedic herbs to assist couples in improving reproduction. Come visit us at www.sharkeyshealingcentre.com.au where we have online consultations and receive a free Report entitled Fertility Secrets Revealed. Based on Ruth Sharkey's successful system for over 20 years our natural fertility treatment has helped men and women improve their fertility by addressing unexplained infertility, endometriosis, Polycystic ovaries, fibroids, male infertility, and more.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
High tech society creates high tech ovulation reminder
August 8, 2005 -- A new text messaging service, called EggAlert, allows men to get notified on their cell phone of their wives or girlfriends ovulation, fertility, and menstrual periods each month. The menstrual period notifications are received five days prior to the onset of menstruation, typically before premenstrual symptoms start.
EggAlert is an innovative program that will notify men when their wives or girlfriends are ovulating, fertile, and likely to start their menstrual period. Men just need to do a little math. They need to remember when their partners started their last menstrual period, and how long it took between menstrual periods. On average 28 days is the normal. It can be adjusted each month if it's a few days longer or shorter.
www.eggalert.com
Contact: Amarish Dave 815-276-7050
Stacey's comment:
Well, it may not be that high tech, but it is innovative and shows a growing awareness of what used to be "secret women's business". It will be interesting to see how many men actually take part in this service OR how many women sign up their partners for the service!!
EggAlert is an innovative program that will notify men when their wives or girlfriends are ovulating, fertile, and likely to start their menstrual period. Men just need to do a little math. They need to remember when their partners started their last menstrual period, and how long it took between menstrual periods. On average 28 days is the normal. It can be adjusted each month if it's a few days longer or shorter.
www.eggalert.com
Contact: Amarish Dave 815-276-7050
Stacey's comment:
Well, it may not be that high tech, but it is innovative and shows a growing awareness of what used to be "secret women's business". It will be interesting to see how many men actually take part in this service OR how many women sign up their partners for the service!!
Important prepregnancy diet information
Key Nutrients Reduce Birth-Defect Risk
Eating a diet rich in choline and betaine before pregnancy can lower a woman’s risk of delivering a baby with a neural tube defect (NTD), reports the American Journal of Epidemiology (2004;160:102)
NTDs are serious birth defects that occur early in pregnancy. They include malformation of the brain (anencephaly), malformation of the lower spinal cord (spina bifida), and several others. Between 30 and 50% of NTDs are caused by maternal folic acid deficiency during the first few weeks of pregnancy, the time when the neural tube develops.
Other factors that have been shown to increase the risk of NTDs include high intake of sugar before and during the first trimester of pregnancy, maternal obesity, and maternal diabetes. NTDs occur in about 1 to 5 births per 1,000 worldwide; approximately 3,000 pregnancies in the US are affected by NTDs each year. Over the past decade, increased awareness, folic acid fortified cereals and grain products, and routine folic acid supplement recommendations have led to a decline in the number of cases of NTDs in the US.
In addition to folic acid, high intake of methionine (an amino acid), zinc, vitamin C, vitamin B12, and dairy foods have all been associated with a lower risk of NTDs.Choline, a nutrient used by the body in some of the same biochemical pathways as folic acid, is also used to produce acetylcholine, a major chemical messenger (neurotransmitter). Eggs, whole grains, wheat germ, and lecithin supplements are rich in choline.
In the body, betaine is made from choline; it is also found in high amounts in certain foods such as whole grains, spinach, and beets. Some animal studies have found that a choline deficiency can increase the risk of NTDs, but others have not. The effect of choline and betaine intake on NTD risk in humans has not previously been studied.In the current study, the pre-pregnancy diets of 424 mothers of babies with NTDs were compared with the diets of 460 mothers of babies without NTDs. Choline and betaine intake were estimated based on answers to questionnaires that the women completed about their habits and diet during the three months before their pregnancies. Babies of women with the highest choline intake had a 49% lower risk of NTDs than babies of women who had the lowest choline intake. Furthermore, babies of women with high intake of both choline and betaine were 72% less likely to have NTDs than were babies of women with the lowest intakes of both of these nutrients. Betaine intake alone did not significantly influence the risk of NTDs.
The results of this study are the first to show that eating foods rich in choline and betaine before pregnancy might reduce the risk of NTDs. More studies are needed to confirm these observations, and the effect of taking choline, betaine, or lecithin supplements on NTD risk should also be a focus of future research.
Stacey's comment
This is another study showing the importance of nutrition for the baby BEFORE conception to help ensure the health of the baby. Many women think they can just stop their "bad habits" when they find out they are pregnant and this will be okay. The truth is, what a women consumes before becoming pregnant can influence the health of the baby. Give your baby the best start in life by preparing your body for pregnancy with a diet high in vegetables, some fruit, low glycemic carbohydrates, balanced hormone free protein, and good essential fats. The Rosedale Diet by Dr. Ron Rosedale and the Total Health Cookbook and Program by Dr. Joseph Mercola are both excellent books for your reference. These books will help you obtain optimal health before pregnancy.
Supplement with the highest grade of supplements along with your diet to hopegfully create the healthiest eggs possible.
Eating a diet rich in choline and betaine before pregnancy can lower a woman’s risk of delivering a baby with a neural tube defect (NTD), reports the American Journal of Epidemiology (2004;160:102)
NTDs are serious birth defects that occur early in pregnancy. They include malformation of the brain (anencephaly), malformation of the lower spinal cord (spina bifida), and several others. Between 30 and 50% of NTDs are caused by maternal folic acid deficiency during the first few weeks of pregnancy, the time when the neural tube develops.
Other factors that have been shown to increase the risk of NTDs include high intake of sugar before and during the first trimester of pregnancy, maternal obesity, and maternal diabetes. NTDs occur in about 1 to 5 births per 1,000 worldwide; approximately 3,000 pregnancies in the US are affected by NTDs each year. Over the past decade, increased awareness, folic acid fortified cereals and grain products, and routine folic acid supplement recommendations have led to a decline in the number of cases of NTDs in the US.
In addition to folic acid, high intake of methionine (an amino acid), zinc, vitamin C, vitamin B12, and dairy foods have all been associated with a lower risk of NTDs.Choline, a nutrient used by the body in some of the same biochemical pathways as folic acid, is also used to produce acetylcholine, a major chemical messenger (neurotransmitter). Eggs, whole grains, wheat germ, and lecithin supplements are rich in choline.
In the body, betaine is made from choline; it is also found in high amounts in certain foods such as whole grains, spinach, and beets. Some animal studies have found that a choline deficiency can increase the risk of NTDs, but others have not. The effect of choline and betaine intake on NTD risk in humans has not previously been studied.In the current study, the pre-pregnancy diets of 424 mothers of babies with NTDs were compared with the diets of 460 mothers of babies without NTDs. Choline and betaine intake were estimated based on answers to questionnaires that the women completed about their habits and diet during the three months before their pregnancies. Babies of women with the highest choline intake had a 49% lower risk of NTDs than babies of women who had the lowest choline intake. Furthermore, babies of women with high intake of both choline and betaine were 72% less likely to have NTDs than were babies of women with the lowest intakes of both of these nutrients. Betaine intake alone did not significantly influence the risk of NTDs.
The results of this study are the first to show that eating foods rich in choline and betaine before pregnancy might reduce the risk of NTDs. More studies are needed to confirm these observations, and the effect of taking choline, betaine, or lecithin supplements on NTD risk should also be a focus of future research.
Stacey's comment
This is another study showing the importance of nutrition for the baby BEFORE conception to help ensure the health of the baby. Many women think they can just stop their "bad habits" when they find out they are pregnant and this will be okay. The truth is, what a women consumes before becoming pregnant can influence the health of the baby. Give your baby the best start in life by preparing your body for pregnancy with a diet high in vegetables, some fruit, low glycemic carbohydrates, balanced hormone free protein, and good essential fats. The Rosedale Diet by Dr. Ron Rosedale and the Total Health Cookbook and Program by Dr. Joseph Mercola are both excellent books for your reference. These books will help you obtain optimal health before pregnancy.
Supplement with the highest grade of supplements along with your diet to hopegfully create the healthiest eggs possible.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
new home test for male fertility
World's first male fertility test for the home
Given a choice, many men would prefer to bury their heads in sand than see their doctor to determine their fertility. Thankfully, help is on the way with the release of the Element, the first medical test kit for determining male fertility which can be administered in the privacy of the home.
For couples who are trying to conceive, the issue of infertility is one that men can get rather sensitive about. Even though the rate of infertility actually affects men and women equally, women generally do not have a problem seeing their GPs, as opposed to men who have a general reluctance to seek a physical diagnosis.
In order to address the social stigmas associated with male infertility, American company Pria Diagnostics has developed Element, an easily administered, over-the-counter fertility test kit specifically for men.
Element is capable of quickly and easily evaluating sperm count, motility and forward progression, which make up the primary criteria set by the World Health Organization for determining male fertility.
For men, the convenience and privacy of using this device is an attractive alternative to an appointment with a doctor or at a clinic. Furthermore, as many insurance companies do not reimburse fertility diagnosis, the Element is also an affordable option.
This male fertility package takes away any discomfort by permitting men to check their fertility with a single use device. The test is quick to administer and the results are easily understood taking about thirty minutes.
Element can accurately verify as little as one million sperm cells per milliliter and yield results with over 90% sensitivity in regards to test conditions making it equivalent to a clinical test.
The company expects the Element to be as appealing to women as it is to men, as many women may end up buying it for their partners.
STacey's comment:
From the reports this fertility test for men may not be out on the market for another 12-18 months, but it is cost effective at just $40. The issue to remember here is that it test for count and motility including forward progression but I didn't see any measurement of abnormals versus normals. And remember these parameters don't really tell you the health of the sperm only how many, if they are good swimmers, and if they are the right shape. A relatively new test, Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay can reveal the health of the sperm by looking at the DNA. So its important to discuss this with your doctor if you have unexplained infertility and the normal semen and sperm parameters appear to be normal.
Given a choice, many men would prefer to bury their heads in sand than see their doctor to determine their fertility. Thankfully, help is on the way with the release of the Element, the first medical test kit for determining male fertility which can be administered in the privacy of the home.
For couples who are trying to conceive, the issue of infertility is one that men can get rather sensitive about. Even though the rate of infertility actually affects men and women equally, women generally do not have a problem seeing their GPs, as opposed to men who have a general reluctance to seek a physical diagnosis.
In order to address the social stigmas associated with male infertility, American company Pria Diagnostics has developed Element, an easily administered, over-the-counter fertility test kit specifically for men.
Element is capable of quickly and easily evaluating sperm count, motility and forward progression, which make up the primary criteria set by the World Health Organization for determining male fertility.
For men, the convenience and privacy of using this device is an attractive alternative to an appointment with a doctor or at a clinic. Furthermore, as many insurance companies do not reimburse fertility diagnosis, the Element is also an affordable option.
This male fertility package takes away any discomfort by permitting men to check their fertility with a single use device. The test is quick to administer and the results are easily understood taking about thirty minutes.
Element can accurately verify as little as one million sperm cells per milliliter and yield results with over 90% sensitivity in regards to test conditions making it equivalent to a clinical test.
The company expects the Element to be as appealing to women as it is to men, as many women may end up buying it for their partners.
STacey's comment:
From the reports this fertility test for men may not be out on the market for another 12-18 months, but it is cost effective at just $40. The issue to remember here is that it test for count and motility including forward progression but I didn't see any measurement of abnormals versus normals. And remember these parameters don't really tell you the health of the sperm only how many, if they are good swimmers, and if they are the right shape. A relatively new test, Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay can reveal the health of the sperm by looking at the DNA. So its important to discuss this with your doctor if you have unexplained infertility and the normal semen and sperm parameters appear to be normal.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
US CLinic Elminates Ovarian Hyperstimulation
Thu Aug 4, 8:00 AM ET
(PRWEB) - Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) Aug. 4, 2005 -- The most well-known risk from fertility treatment undertaken by over one million American females annually is a multiple pregnancy, but a more sinister risk is ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS), states a
According to the
World Health Organization OHSS manifests with a broad spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild illness to severe disease and affects 1 percent to 5 percent of women. OHSS results from an overproduction of eggs in the ovary that can result in ovarian cyst rupture, internal bleeding, respiratory difficulties, blood clots, and can be fatal if untreated. While OHSS can happen in a natural pregnancy, it most often happens with fertility treatments because of the hormone medications used to prompt multiple egg production (AKA super ovulation). Fortunately, researchers at The Fertility Center of Las Vegas have found a way to prevent OHSS altogether. The doctors' findings were published in July's issue of "Fertility and Sterility" and have worldwide implications in how the fertility industry is able to increase patient safety.
"Even after meticulous monitoring a patient can hyper stimulate which occasionally requires hospitalization for more intensive monitoring of kidney and liver function along with IV fluid support," says Dr. Said Daneshmand, a UCLA trained reproductive endocrinologist and researcher at The Fertility Center of Las Vegas. "Women with OHSS or ruptured ovarian cysts can hemorrhage which may require surgical intervention." The doctor further indicates that OHSS risk increases with rising blood estrogen levels, the number of developing eggs, and when supplemental doses of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) are administered in the fertility treatment cycle.
Women at highest risk include those with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a common but difficult to diagnose endocrine condition that affects women as young as 18 and usually results in excessive hair, obesity, and impaired fertility.
"We've now developed a protocol so that the highest risk patients are placed on a different medication regimen that altogether eliminating OHSS," says Dr. Daneshmand.
Included in the study was Beverly T., now a new mother and also a registered nurse who appreciated the research more than the average patient given her medical background and the fact she suffers from PCOS. She has indicated that the fertility issue was heart-wrenching enough but she also didn't want to risk complications either. Other women in the study are currently in various stages of pregnancy.
The newly elucidated medication regimen treats surging estrogen levels that are thought to contribute to the condition and the research has worldwide implications in how fertility patients are treated. The research was conducted in partnership with the University of Nevada School of Medicine for which Drs. Daneshmand and Shapiro are also faculty.
The work of Dr. Daneshmand and his partner, The Fertility Center's founder and Yale educated reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Bruce Shapiro, were also presented at the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society in May. Their practice was the first fertility practice in southern Nevada, and is responsible for over 2,300 births. The doctors are ardent community supporters — who with their patients have donated over $30,000 to charity — and have earned consistent ratings by their peers internationally as top docs. They have also elucidated fertility treatments including blastocyst transfer, a proprietary cell medium used in IVF, and pre-implantation genetic screening.
Stacey's Comment
It is so important that your fertility specialist stay up on the latest techniques used throughout the world to decrease your chance of hyperstimulation and increase your chance for a positive outcome with your fertility treatment. The study below illustrates some excellent finds, even though its a small scale study. I encourage you to discuss with your doctor about finding out more about this protocol if you are involved in the IVF process. As you can see by the high percentage of pregnancies in the conclusion (again remember it is a low number of participants so far) that its worth a mention to see if it would benefit you for your physician to look in to this method of treatment. Though some physicians may be a bit surprised that you have brought this up or wanted to discuss this study, remember it is your right. You are paying a significant amount of money and therefore you must be educated and be assertive when it comes to being an active participant in this process. If a patient brings in reliable information for me, I will investigate it and discuss my thoughts with my patient. No medical professional or naturopath can know everyone as hard as they may try to stay on top of the info, so beginning a discussion about different options for you is an important step in you taking charge of your fertility.
Abstract - "Fertility & Sterility," July 2005
Eliminating Severe Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome By Using Gnrh Agonist Instead Of Hcg
BS Shapiro,a,b ST Daneshmand, a,b FC Garner,a,b M Aguirre,a R Rossa Fertility Center of Las Vegas and University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada. a Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada
Background: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a significant risk of controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF. Exogenous human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a factor in the development of OHSS. One measure to reduce OHSS incidence includes using GnRH agonist (GnRHa) for ovulation.
Objective: This retrospective study evaluates the efficacy of GnRHa for oocyte maturation.
Materials and Methods: Patients underwent routine controlled ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins, while pituitary suppression was achieved with GnRH antagonist. Patients at significant risk for OHSS received 4 or 8 mg of leuprolide acetate when an optimal cohort of follicles was observed via ultrasound. Oocytes were retrieved 34-36h later and fertilized conventionally or by ICSI. Blastocysts were transferred after 5 or 6 days.
Results: Thirty non-donor IVF patients with at least 20 mature follicles received ovulatory GnRHa between January 1 and October 31, 2004. From these, 889 oocytes were recovered (29.6 oocytes per stimulation), and 615 (69.2 percent) were successfully fertilized. One cycle was canceled because no viable blastocysts developed. The remaining 29 patients received 64 transferred blastocysts (mean 2.2 per transfer), and 12 intrauterine gestational sacs were subsequently observed in 9 patients, for an implantation rate of 18.8 percent and a clinical pregnancy rate of 30.0 percent.
Nineteen of these patients had supernumerary embryos frozen, seven underwent frozen embryo transfer (FET) by November 3, 2004, and six (86 percent) of these achieved clinical pregnancy.
Despite young age (mean 31.4 years, minimum 24.5 years), ample mature follicles (mean 31.2, maximum 49), and high serum estradiol (mean 4,947 pg/mL, maximum 9,977 pg/mL) on the day of ovulatory GnRHa, no patients experienced OHSS requiring aspiration of ascites.
During this period, there were seven egg-donor cycles in which the donor received ovulatory GnRHa. The donors averaged 28.3 years of age and produced a mean of 29.6 oocytes, of which 76.4 percent successfully fertilized and 35.3 percent blastulated. The donor recipients averaged 42.4 years of age. Five (71.4 percent) of these seven cycles achieved clinical pregnancy. All seven cycles had frozen supernumerary embryos. Both non-pregnant donor recipients elected FET within the study period, and one of these achieved clinical pregnancy, for a cumulative pregnancy rate of 86 percent in these donor cycles. No donors experienced OHSS requiring aspiration of ascites.
Conclusion: The use of GnRHa is a viable means of inducing oocyte maturation while avoiding OHSS in high-risk patients.
(PRWEB) - Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) Aug. 4, 2005 -- The most well-known risk from fertility treatment undertaken by over one million American females annually is a multiple pregnancy, but a more sinister risk is ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS), states a
According to the
World Health Organization OHSS manifests with a broad spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild illness to severe disease and affects 1 percent to 5 percent of women. OHSS results from an overproduction of eggs in the ovary that can result in ovarian cyst rupture, internal bleeding, respiratory difficulties, blood clots, and can be fatal if untreated. While OHSS can happen in a natural pregnancy, it most often happens with fertility treatments because of the hormone medications used to prompt multiple egg production (AKA super ovulation). Fortunately, researchers at The Fertility Center of Las Vegas have found a way to prevent OHSS altogether. The doctors' findings were published in July's issue of "Fertility and Sterility" and have worldwide implications in how the fertility industry is able to increase patient safety.
"Even after meticulous monitoring a patient can hyper stimulate which occasionally requires hospitalization for more intensive monitoring of kidney and liver function along with IV fluid support," says Dr. Said Daneshmand, a UCLA trained reproductive endocrinologist and researcher at The Fertility Center of Las Vegas. "Women with OHSS or ruptured ovarian cysts can hemorrhage which may require surgical intervention." The doctor further indicates that OHSS risk increases with rising blood estrogen levels, the number of developing eggs, and when supplemental doses of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) are administered in the fertility treatment cycle.
Women at highest risk include those with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a common but difficult to diagnose endocrine condition that affects women as young as 18 and usually results in excessive hair, obesity, and impaired fertility.
"We've now developed a protocol so that the highest risk patients are placed on a different medication regimen that altogether eliminating OHSS," says Dr. Daneshmand.
Included in the study was Beverly T., now a new mother and also a registered nurse who appreciated the research more than the average patient given her medical background and the fact she suffers from PCOS. She has indicated that the fertility issue was heart-wrenching enough but she also didn't want to risk complications either. Other women in the study are currently in various stages of pregnancy.
The newly elucidated medication regimen treats surging estrogen levels that are thought to contribute to the condition and the research has worldwide implications in how fertility patients are treated. The research was conducted in partnership with the University of Nevada School of Medicine for which Drs. Daneshmand and Shapiro are also faculty.
The work of Dr. Daneshmand and his partner, The Fertility Center's founder and Yale educated reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Bruce Shapiro, were also presented at the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society in May. Their practice was the first fertility practice in southern Nevada, and is responsible for over 2,300 births. The doctors are ardent community supporters — who with their patients have donated over $30,000 to charity — and have earned consistent ratings by their peers internationally as top docs. They have also elucidated fertility treatments including blastocyst transfer, a proprietary cell medium used in IVF, and pre-implantation genetic screening.
Stacey's Comment
It is so important that your fertility specialist stay up on the latest techniques used throughout the world to decrease your chance of hyperstimulation and increase your chance for a positive outcome with your fertility treatment. The study below illustrates some excellent finds, even though its a small scale study. I encourage you to discuss with your doctor about finding out more about this protocol if you are involved in the IVF process. As you can see by the high percentage of pregnancies in the conclusion (again remember it is a low number of participants so far) that its worth a mention to see if it would benefit you for your physician to look in to this method of treatment. Though some physicians may be a bit surprised that you have brought this up or wanted to discuss this study, remember it is your right. You are paying a significant amount of money and therefore you must be educated and be assertive when it comes to being an active participant in this process. If a patient brings in reliable information for me, I will investigate it and discuss my thoughts with my patient. No medical professional or naturopath can know everyone as hard as they may try to stay on top of the info, so beginning a discussion about different options for you is an important step in you taking charge of your fertility.
Abstract - "Fertility & Sterility," July 2005
Eliminating Severe Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome By Using Gnrh Agonist Instead Of Hcg
BS Shapiro,a,b ST Daneshmand, a,b FC Garner,a,b M Aguirre,a R Rossa Fertility Center of Las Vegas and University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada. a Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada
Background: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a significant risk of controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF. Exogenous human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a factor in the development of OHSS. One measure to reduce OHSS incidence includes using GnRH agonist (GnRHa) for ovulation.
Objective: This retrospective study evaluates the efficacy of GnRHa for oocyte maturation.
Materials and Methods: Patients underwent routine controlled ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins, while pituitary suppression was achieved with GnRH antagonist. Patients at significant risk for OHSS received 4 or 8 mg of leuprolide acetate when an optimal cohort of follicles was observed via ultrasound. Oocytes were retrieved 34-36h later and fertilized conventionally or by ICSI. Blastocysts were transferred after 5 or 6 days.
Results: Thirty non-donor IVF patients with at least 20 mature follicles received ovulatory GnRHa between January 1 and October 31, 2004. From these, 889 oocytes were recovered (29.6 oocytes per stimulation), and 615 (69.2 percent) were successfully fertilized. One cycle was canceled because no viable blastocysts developed. The remaining 29 patients received 64 transferred blastocysts (mean 2.2 per transfer), and 12 intrauterine gestational sacs were subsequently observed in 9 patients, for an implantation rate of 18.8 percent and a clinical pregnancy rate of 30.0 percent.
Nineteen of these patients had supernumerary embryos frozen, seven underwent frozen embryo transfer (FET) by November 3, 2004, and six (86 percent) of these achieved clinical pregnancy.
Despite young age (mean 31.4 years, minimum 24.5 years), ample mature follicles (mean 31.2, maximum 49), and high serum estradiol (mean 4,947 pg/mL, maximum 9,977 pg/mL) on the day of ovulatory GnRHa, no patients experienced OHSS requiring aspiration of ascites.
During this period, there were seven egg-donor cycles in which the donor received ovulatory GnRHa. The donors averaged 28.3 years of age and produced a mean of 29.6 oocytes, of which 76.4 percent successfully fertilized and 35.3 percent blastulated. The donor recipients averaged 42.4 years of age. Five (71.4 percent) of these seven cycles achieved clinical pregnancy. All seven cycles had frozen supernumerary embryos. Both non-pregnant donor recipients elected FET within the study period, and one of these achieved clinical pregnancy, for a cumulative pregnancy rate of 86 percent in these donor cycles. No donors experienced OHSS requiring aspiration of ascites.
Conclusion: The use of GnRHa is a viable means of inducing oocyte maturation while avoiding OHSS in high-risk patients.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
THe Importance of Evaluating the Thyroid with regards to Fertility
Importance of Tests for Reproductive Health and Thyroid Disorders During Peak Reproductive Years01 Aug 2005
Medical News
Detecting, treating and monitoring the health of women during their peak reproductive years will take center stage at the "Trends in Women's Health Workshop" sponsored by Abbott at the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) annual meeting in Orlando. For some women who experience difficulty becoming pregnant, an endocrine disorder may be to blame. Common endocrine disorders necessitate testing for diagnosis and treatment monitoring related to a wide variety of hormonal conditions in women.
Thyroid disorders, for example, can affect a woman's ability to become pregnant as well as the health of the mother and developing child both during and after pregnancy. "Women with a family history of thyroid disease or other certain autoimmune disorders should have their thyroid health evaluated before planning pregnancy and again shortly after becoming pregnant," said Paul W. Ladenson, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Director of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Johns Hopkins. "Undetected thyroid disorders can present a number of problems for a mother and child, including an increased risk for premature delivery as well as the risk of impairment in the child's intellectual function." Exhaustion, fatigue and weight gain are a rite of passage to motherhood for many pregnant women. These symptoms, while common, can be signals of thyroid disorders and are often overlooked or misdiagnosed among pregnant women. Additionally, in the weeks and months after pregnancy, symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, anxiety, depression or difficulty losing weight can also indicate a thyroid disorder.
Stacey's comment:
The thyroid is so important with regards to fertility issues. THere are so many couples that come through our clinic and haven't even had their thyroid investigated yet. So if you have not had your thyroid tested these are the blood tests you can speak to your physician about to rule out thyroid issues. These tests are
TSH
free T3
Free T4
thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (Anti-TPO)
thyroglobulin autoantibodies (Anti-Tg)
(a woman with elevated antibodies in pregnancy is 3 times more likely to develop postnatal depression)
Some physicians may refuse to do these tests and in this case if you are experiencing weight gain, depression, miscarriage, low basal body temperatures (on your temperature chart), insomnia, irritability, anxiety, depression, difficulty getting pregnant, or difficulty losing weight, its likely that your thyroid is involved so I would suggest seeing a different doctor who is more willing to help you investigate this issue and/or find a naturopath that works with thyroid issues frequently and start a natural approach to balancing your thyroid.
This can all be a bit confusing especially since people can have a thyroid issue and the normal tests of TSH or FT3 and FT4 show up within the normal range. Our guideline is that if TSH is not between 1.5 and 2.0 we support that thyroid. Normal levels of TSH in the States have been changed to .3-3.0 which seems to vary depending on where you have the blood test results reported. Another excellent source for thyroid information is www.about.com and search for Mary Solomon or thyroid.
Medical News
Detecting, treating and monitoring the health of women during their peak reproductive years will take center stage at the "Trends in Women's Health Workshop" sponsored by Abbott at the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) annual meeting in Orlando. For some women who experience difficulty becoming pregnant, an endocrine disorder may be to blame. Common endocrine disorders necessitate testing for diagnosis and treatment monitoring related to a wide variety of hormonal conditions in women.
Thyroid disorders, for example, can affect a woman's ability to become pregnant as well as the health of the mother and developing child both during and after pregnancy. "Women with a family history of thyroid disease or other certain autoimmune disorders should have their thyroid health evaluated before planning pregnancy and again shortly after becoming pregnant," said Paul W. Ladenson, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Director of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Johns Hopkins. "Undetected thyroid disorders can present a number of problems for a mother and child, including an increased risk for premature delivery as well as the risk of impairment in the child's intellectual function." Exhaustion, fatigue and weight gain are a rite of passage to motherhood for many pregnant women. These symptoms, while common, can be signals of thyroid disorders and are often overlooked or misdiagnosed among pregnant women. Additionally, in the weeks and months after pregnancy, symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, anxiety, depression or difficulty losing weight can also indicate a thyroid disorder.
Stacey's comment:
The thyroid is so important with regards to fertility issues. THere are so many couples that come through our clinic and haven't even had their thyroid investigated yet. So if you have not had your thyroid tested these are the blood tests you can speak to your physician about to rule out thyroid issues. These tests are
TSH
free T3
Free T4
thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (Anti-TPO)
thyroglobulin autoantibodies (Anti-Tg)
(a woman with elevated antibodies in pregnancy is 3 times more likely to develop postnatal depression)
Some physicians may refuse to do these tests and in this case if you are experiencing weight gain, depression, miscarriage, low basal body temperatures (on your temperature chart), insomnia, irritability, anxiety, depression, difficulty getting pregnant, or difficulty losing weight, its likely that your thyroid is involved so I would suggest seeing a different doctor who is more willing to help you investigate this issue and/or find a naturopath that works with thyroid issues frequently and start a natural approach to balancing your thyroid.
This can all be a bit confusing especially since people can have a thyroid issue and the normal tests of TSH or FT3 and FT4 show up within the normal range. Our guideline is that if TSH is not between 1.5 and 2.0 we support that thyroid. Normal levels of TSH in the States have been changed to .3-3.0 which seems to vary depending on where you have the blood test results reported. Another excellent source for thyroid information is www.about.com and search for Mary Solomon or thyroid.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Acupuncture improves health of sperm
Acupuncture may improve sperm quality
Wed Jul 27, 2:37 PM ET
Acupuncture may have a role as a treatment for certain types of male infertility, researchers suggest.
They report, in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, an improvement in sperm quality following acupuncture, especially the structural integrity of sperm.
Dr. Jian Pei, from Christian-Lauritzen-Institut in Ulm, Germany, and colleagues assessed the benefits of acupuncture therapy in 28 men with unexplained sperm abnormalities, including malformed and motionless sperm, and low numbers of sperm. A variety of standard acupuncture points throughout the body were used.
Acupuncture led to a significant increase in the percentage and number of sperm without structural defects, the investigators report.
Still, certain specific sperm abnormalities, such as immaturity, did not resolve or change with acupuncture, the report indicates.
The results suggest that acupuncture could be a useful treatment for infertility in men, but further research is needed to confirm the findings and to shed light on the mechanisms involved, the authors conclude.
SOURCE: Fertility and Sterility, July 2005.
Stacey's comment:
Here is another source that supports how natural methods can improve male fertility. This study suggests that acupuncture may be able to produce sperm with less defects therefore creating healthier sperm. But remember, its important to note that making lifestyle changes is extremely important, such as stop smoking, mimimise or eliminate drinking alcohol, eliminate coffee, ask your natural therapist for a natural alternative to over the counter medication, eat low glycemic foods, decrease acidic foods in your diet, improve the nutrients in your system through diet and supplementation, and many other tips. Please stay tuned for our teleconference on improving male fertility in September.
And my suggestion for finding an acupuncturist is talking to others who have had acupuncture. Asking the acupuncturist if you can speak to his/her former patients who have improved their sperm count or does he or she have any testimonials from these patients. Make sure the acupuncturist is trained appropriately by asking for their credentials and how long they have been treating patients and how much experience do they have treating male fertility issues. All of this will help you make the decision as to whether they are the right person for you.
Wed Jul 27, 2:37 PM ET
Acupuncture may have a role as a treatment for certain types of male infertility, researchers suggest.
They report, in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, an improvement in sperm quality following acupuncture, especially the structural integrity of sperm.
Dr. Jian Pei, from Christian-Lauritzen-Institut in Ulm, Germany, and colleagues assessed the benefits of acupuncture therapy in 28 men with unexplained sperm abnormalities, including malformed and motionless sperm, and low numbers of sperm. A variety of standard acupuncture points throughout the body were used.
Acupuncture led to a significant increase in the percentage and number of sperm without structural defects, the investigators report.
Still, certain specific sperm abnormalities, such as immaturity, did not resolve or change with acupuncture, the report indicates.
The results suggest that acupuncture could be a useful treatment for infertility in men, but further research is needed to confirm the findings and to shed light on the mechanisms involved, the authors conclude.
SOURCE: Fertility and Sterility, July 2005.
Stacey's comment:
Here is another source that supports how natural methods can improve male fertility. This study suggests that acupuncture may be able to produce sperm with less defects therefore creating healthier sperm. But remember, its important to note that making lifestyle changes is extremely important, such as stop smoking, mimimise or eliminate drinking alcohol, eliminate coffee, ask your natural therapist for a natural alternative to over the counter medication, eat low glycemic foods, decrease acidic foods in your diet, improve the nutrients in your system through diet and supplementation, and many other tips. Please stay tuned for our teleconference on improving male fertility in September.
And my suggestion for finding an acupuncturist is talking to others who have had acupuncture. Asking the acupuncturist if you can speak to his/her former patients who have improved their sperm count or does he or she have any testimonials from these patients. Make sure the acupuncturist is trained appropriately by asking for their credentials and how long they have been treating patients and how much experience do they have treating male fertility issues. All of this will help you make the decision as to whether they are the right person for you.
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