INFERTILITY HELP: NATURAL VS. PHARMACEUTICAL
Infertility is not getting pregnant after a year of unprotected regular intercourse. Depending on age, in women over 35 years old, infertility means not getting pregnant after six months of trying. The man, the woman or both may have fertility problem.
Couples trying to get pregnant should consult a doctor before they start trying to get pregnant — especially if either or both partners have medical issues. They can explore the causes of any problems that should be treated to improve fertility and raise their chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby.
Natural Treatment for Infertility
Natural infertility treatments are generally more effective, as well as being cheaper, safer and less invasive.
HYPNOSIS – this process involves learning how to use your mind to manage emotional distress (anxiety, stress, depression) or to change certain habits or behaviors (negative thinking). Hypnosis is basically used as a tool for coping with infertility by reducing stress, regaining confidence in one’s body, and instilling a sense of control. Hypnosis enhances fertility by promoting relaxation, which may help prepare the body for baby making — especially if stress or anxiety has been standing in the way of your pregnancy plans.
MIND-BODY TREATMENTS – relaxation techniques such as meditation, guided visualization, yoga, and even talk therapy can help relieve stress. And since stress is known to interfere with fertility any of these stress-busting methods may help you get in a baby-making frame of mind.
ACUPUNCTURE – improves blood supply to reproductive organs, stimulate hormones, regulate ovulation, and decrease stress — all of which may help increase your chances of getting pregnant. Acupuncture improves fertility by increasing blood flow to the uterus . For men, it may increase sperm quality and count. Any type of pain or stasis syndrome such as endometriosis, period pain, blood clots, irregular menstrual cycles, hormonal disorders, and pain can be treated with acupuncture with good results.
Acupuncture releases beta-endorphins, and in addition to having a stress relieving affect, it has been shown to improve all of your reproductive hormonal functions. So, not only does it soothe the sympathetic nervous system, but it has an effect on the entire nervous system.
CHIROPRACTIC – is the manipulation of the spine and other areas of the body. Our nerves to the reproductive system run through the spine — and if those nerves are misaligned, manipulating the spine may help improve hormone balance thus improving the chances of getting pregnant.
HERBAL FERTILITY SUPPLEMENTS – research shows that there are also some natural fertility supplements that may help give you an extra edge in your pregnancy efforts by balancing hormone production. So if you’re interested in taking any fertility supplements, be sure to talk to your medical practitioner first.
NUTRITION – Female infertility that can be traced to hormonal disruption, like in the case of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or luteal phase deficiency, responds especially well to dietary intervention.
Nutrition can affect inflammation and certain fertility-reducing conditions, like polycystic ovary syndrome. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and fish. Most doctors agree that reducing carbohydrates and processed foods intake, especially ones loaded with sugar or salt, helps.
MASSAGE – Infertility is basically associated with higher levels of tension. Massage can release some of the stress. One study found that massage decreases levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and it helps relieve depression and anxiety, which many women struggling with infertility face.
FERTILITY FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE – Researchers have found that 83 percent of couples living a fertility-friendly lifestyle got pregnant within one year. That includes:
Avoid environmental toxins that can impact sperm production.
If you are not sleeping adequately, your leptin levels will tend to decrease, which may cause irregular ovulation; as well as, irregular or decreased menstrual cycles.
Regular exercise is important, but avoid exercising intensely if your periods are infrequent or absent, your fertility may be impaired.
Being overweight or underweight can affect hormone production and can cause infertility.
Tobacco has multiple negative effects on your general health and the health of a fetus. If you’re a smoker and considering pregnancy, quit now.
Alcohol and drugs may impair your ability to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy. Don’t drink alcohol or use illegal drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine or the like.
The use of some prescription and nonprescription drugs can decrease your chance of getting pregnant or keeping a pregnancy. Talk with your doctor about your maintenance drugs, but don’t stop taking prescription medications without medical advice.
Women trying to get pregnant may want to limit caffeine intake but ask your doctor for guidance on safe use of caffeine
COLORED GLASSES – Wearing glasses before bedtime that block blue light may create an effect like actual darkness as far as the production of melatonin is concerned. This may simulate the longer nights during autumn. November is considered the peak fertility month. Every month is like November when wearing colored glasses. Of course, we’ve heard of stranger things than trying to fool Mother Nature into getting pregnant.
PHARMACEUTICAL HELP FOR INFERTILITY
Medicine or hormone treatments are often the first steps in fertility treatment and can be administered at an infertility clinic Sydney. Medicines are mainly used to help with ovulation. Ovulation is when the ovary makes and releases an egg (ovum). Women should ovulate about once a month until the menopause. For various reasons, ovulation may not occur at all, or it may occur less often than normal. If you have irregular or no ovulation, using medicine or hormones to stimulate ovulation will increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Medicines are also used for in vitro fertilization and other assisted reproductive technologies. Male fertility problems are caused by hormonal imbalances. Men are then treated with medicine or hormones that help the hypothalamus and pituitary gland start normal sperm production.
Medication choices
· For men:
Gonadotropin-release hormone (GnRH)- It increases the body’s production of hormones needed for sperm production. It started with injections of hCG three times per week (or sometimes every other day) for up to six months. The success rate for this therapy is high as most men will eventually develop sperm in the ejaculate.
Bromocriptine and cabergoline levels. May be used to treat a man whose reproductive functions are impaired because he has abnormally high levels of prolactin.
· For women:
Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid) stimulates the release of hormones that trigger ovulation by acting on the pituitary gland
Gonadotropins. These hormone shots stimulate the ovaries to produce mature eggs. Acts directly on the ovaries to stimulate ovulation. It is an injected medicine.
Metformin – This drug helps lower the high levels of male hormones in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)- It increases the body’s production of hormones needed for egg production. Often used for women who don’t ovulate regularly each month.
Bromocriptine and cabergoline lower prolactin levels. This can prevent ovulation. Prolactin is a hormone that causes milk production.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue. This is used for in vitro fertilization.
Make sure you have a full discussion with your doctor before taking any medicine for infertility. So you will be aware of success rates or any potential side-effects or risks.
Many fertility drugs increase a woman’s chance of having twins, triplets, or other multiples because the ovaries may be stimulated so that more than one egg is released and therefore more than one egg may be fertilised. Having twins or triplets may be great for some couples. However, it should be explained that it does carry an increased risk of problems during a woman’s pregnancy, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Multiple fetuses have a higher risk of other complications such as a having a small baby or going into premature labour. Premature babies are at a higher risk of health and developmental problems.
Some of the medicines used to treat infertility may cause hot flushes and menopause-type symptoms. Before deciding to go ahead with any treatment, you should have a discussion with your infertility expert on the pros and cons of the treatment proposed, and the risk of problems and side-effects.
Whether you choose Natural or Pharmaceutical Treatment it is advisable for couples, to have regular intercourse several times around the time of ovulation because it offers the highest pregnancy rate. Intercourse occurring several days before and until a day after ovulation improves the probability of getting pregnant. This is usually at the middle of the cycle halfway between menstrual periods for most women with menstrual cycles 28 days apart. Semen quality is optimized by waiting two to three days between ejaculations.
