TEsts for Unexplained and or Male Fertility issues
These simple and easy tests can rule out one issue that may be impacting your fertility.
In the last few weeks I have seen a few men that presented with low count, and issues with motility and morphology. I am always amazed at how many times when these issues come up, there are NO tests done to try to determine what may be causing the issue. I am equally surprised when I hear over and over again that there is an issue with the quantity or quality of the Se**men and sp**erm but medical professionals every thing is fine or perfect when areas are even outside the range that is suggested as Normal on the analysis.
Also in past tips I have talked about how inaccurate some analysis' are when done at a general lab versus a lab at a fertility clinic.
But today I want to discuss an area that the scientific literature supports as an issue for male fertility but again, I hardly see it tested.
The issue is hemachromatosis. This means that ferritin levels (which are the iron stores in our system) are too high. The result of this can be iron deposits in various organ systems in the body, including the reproductive organs. It is also an issue for cardiovascular health as well.
Most menstruating women will not have this issue because of the blood loss each month (however I have seen cases where menstruating women have excessive ferritin levels too so always have iron studies done).
There can be a familial tendency to excessive iron stores in the system so if there is anyone in the family that has had this it is worth getting it tested. The "normal" ranges may vary from lab to lab, but the latest research is showing that levels above 150-200 can be dangerous.
As discussed, this issue, i.e. excessive ferritin may be correlated with male fertility issues, so it is worth having it tested. There are some symptoms associated with this issues besides issues with the sp**erm. They are constantly flushed and reddish face, and aching in the joints of the fingers. If male or female and experiencing these symptoms then hemachromatosis could be an issue for you.
However I have see elevated levels of ferritin when these symptoms are not present. Sometimes this is the case for individuals who have an underlying thyroid issue that has been overlooked.
IN a few other tips, I discussed a test called lipoprotein (a) that can be associated with cardiovascular health as well as less than optimal levels of thyroid hormone, and in a few cases of patients with the hemachromatosis the Lp (a) (lipoprotein a) has been elevated as well. In my opinion these are two important tests to check out if you are dealing with male fertility issues because if elevated they can not only be an explanation for male fertility problems, but they can be addressed and potentially prevent cardiovascular issues such as heart attack or stroke by possibly decreasing these levels and therefore decreasing the risk.
There are a few ways the hemachromatosis can be addressed. One is thru diet:
!) eliminate refined sugars as well as other high glycemic carbohydrates
2) increase healthy fibre in your diet
3) support bowel function with a multistrain probiotic or other bowel support that you can discuss with you naturopath or herbalist.
4) eliminate red meat
Supplementation
1) Avoid any iron supplementation (check supplements, especially any that are supposed to help with energy to make sure there is no iron)
2) take an optimal amount of zinc to help release excess iron in the system. (consult your herbalist or naturopath as to how much zinc is the optimal amount for you)
Giving blood
Giving blood at regular intervals can be ordered by your physician can help decrease the excess levels of ferritin in your system.
Excess iron in the system can create more free radical damage in the body and decrease cellular health, therefore it is important to have an antioxidant rich diet and supplementation program to assist with this issue and optimise your gut health when trying to address this issue.
And remember get your lipoprotein (a) (Lp (a) ) levels checked as well. If you could improve the issue with the **sp**erm and possibly improve your long term health by possibly decreasing heart attack and stroke risk, don't you think it's worth a look?
I hope you have a great week.
All the best
Stacey
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Are Clomid and IUI effective with Unexplained Infertility
The following is an excerpt from an associated press report:
A third of the 580 couples in the study were simply counseled on the need to have regular sex and received no treatment. Another group got clomifene citrate, which stimulates the ovaries to release eggs. It is sold as Clomid, Serophene, and Milophene, among other names.
For the third group, doctors performed artificial insemination, injecting sperm into the womb using a syringe.
Women who were pregnant after six months were then monitored until they gave birth.
In the no treatment group, 32 couples had babies. That compares to 26 babies for the women who took fertility pills and 43 for those who had artificial insemination. Experts said the slight differences were not statistically significant.
"It's not in the realm that you would expect it to be if these interventions were really performing," said Allan Pacey, of the University of Sheffield and secretary of the British Fertility Society. He was not linked to the study.
Still, Pacey said that artificial insemination was still useful in certain situations, such as when donor sperm is used.
Fertility drugs like clomifene have long been shown to work in women who have difficulties ovulating. Side effects include nausea, headaches, and hot flashes. It also increases the chance of having twins.
Stacey's comment
There have been other studies supporting this outcome over the years, especially about Clomid but I keep hearing from patients who are ovulating that the reason the doctor has put them on Clomid is because if the produce 2 eggs they have double the chance of becoming pregnant. Unfortunately this comment by some doctors doesn't seem to be true if there is no ovulation disorder.
WE look at Unexplained Fertility Issues this way, if it's unexplained and there is no baby yet, then the cause has not been found. We oftentimes see couples with male factor infertility be diagnosed as unexplained. This is especially true if the count is above 20million but the sperm quality is low. We also see men and women experiencing insulin resistance being diagnosed as unexplained. Other issues we have seen not addressed in couples diagnosed with unexplained infertility are underlying thyroid issues which can be related to progesterone deficiency,coeliac disease or gluten intolerance, stress i.e. emotional and/or physiological. I realise this last one is difficult to diagnose but more and more is being written about stress and infertility. Prolonged stress can effect progesterone production so it should not be overlooked.
If your situation is "unexplained" you may want to consider our Natural Fertility Solutions ebook, Go from Unexplained to pregnant! this is available at www.naturalfertility.com in the books section.
Remember I am not against the use of medications, just the overuse of them. Herbs can work very well together with Clomid and/or to prepare for IUI, or IVF. Meds and herbs, in my opinion, should not be started at the same time because it's important to be able to monitor the changes of one before introducing something new. We do offer a free ebook about
HERBS and IVF (the only comprehensive ebook on the topic)
so if you are interested in how they can be used together, send us an email at info@sharkeyshealingcentre.com.au or info@naturalfertility.com
A third of the 580 couples in the study were simply counseled on the need to have regular sex and received no treatment. Another group got clomifene citrate, which stimulates the ovaries to release eggs. It is sold as Clomid, Serophene, and Milophene, among other names.
For the third group, doctors performed artificial insemination, injecting sperm into the womb using a syringe.
Women who were pregnant after six months were then monitored until they gave birth.
In the no treatment group, 32 couples had babies. That compares to 26 babies for the women who took fertility pills and 43 for those who had artificial insemination. Experts said the slight differences were not statistically significant.
"It's not in the realm that you would expect it to be if these interventions were really performing," said Allan Pacey, of the University of Sheffield and secretary of the British Fertility Society. He was not linked to the study.
Still, Pacey said that artificial insemination was still useful in certain situations, such as when donor sperm is used.
Fertility drugs like clomifene have long been shown to work in women who have difficulties ovulating. Side effects include nausea, headaches, and hot flashes. It also increases the chance of having twins.
Stacey's comment
There have been other studies supporting this outcome over the years, especially about Clomid but I keep hearing from patients who are ovulating that the reason the doctor has put them on Clomid is because if the produce 2 eggs they have double the chance of becoming pregnant. Unfortunately this comment by some doctors doesn't seem to be true if there is no ovulation disorder.
WE look at Unexplained Fertility Issues this way, if it's unexplained and there is no baby yet, then the cause has not been found. We oftentimes see couples with male factor infertility be diagnosed as unexplained. This is especially true if the count is above 20million but the sperm quality is low. We also see men and women experiencing insulin resistance being diagnosed as unexplained. Other issues we have seen not addressed in couples diagnosed with unexplained infertility are underlying thyroid issues which can be related to progesterone deficiency,coeliac disease or gluten intolerance, stress i.e. emotional and/or physiological. I realise this last one is difficult to diagnose but more and more is being written about stress and infertility. Prolonged stress can effect progesterone production so it should not be overlooked.
If your situation is "unexplained" you may want to consider our Natural Fertility Solutions ebook, Go from Unexplained to pregnant! this is available at www.naturalfertility.com in the books section.
Remember I am not against the use of medications, just the overuse of them. Herbs can work very well together with Clomid and/or to prepare for IUI, or IVF. Meds and herbs, in my opinion, should not be started at the same time because it's important to be able to monitor the changes of one before introducing something new. We do offer a free ebook about
HERBS and IVF (the only comprehensive ebook on the topic)
so if you are interested in how they can be used together, send us an email at info@sharkeyshealingcentre.com.au or info@naturalfertility.com
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Is Aspirin Helpful when Trying To Conceive?
Newswise — Although it is inexpensive, easy to obtain and poses little health risk, women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) cannot rely upon aspirin to help them become pregnant, according to a systematic review of nine studies.
Over-the-counter aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), is typically used as a pain reliever. When taken daily, aspirin might lower the risk of heart attack, clot-related strokes, and other blood flow problems. Although it has its benefits, aspirin might also cause serious side effects, such as kidney failure, bleeding problems and some kinds of strokes.
But how could it help couples conceive?
“It is thought by some that taking low-dose aspirin may improve blood flow to the uterus and therefore improve ovarian response to IVF treatment, so it may be of benefit to women who have previously responded poorly to IVF treatment,” said the review’s lead author Vanessa Poustie, Ph.D., at the Institute for Child Health at the University of Liverpool in England.
Previous research on the use of aspirin with assisted conception techniques such as IVF has been inconsistent. Some studies have shown that aspirin therapy improves pregnancy rates; others have indicated that it increases the risk of miscarriage.
In the current review, Poustie and colleagues examined data from 1,449 women undergoing in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to treat infertility.
The studies compared the pregnancy and birth rates of women taking low-dose aspirin (150 milligrams or less taken once per day) to women taking a placebo or no treatment. Two of the studies took place in the United States; other studies were conducted in Hong Kong, Iran and Finland.
The review appears in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.
According to the review results, women taking aspirin while undergoing IVF or ICSI were not significantly more likely to become pregnant than women taking a placebo or no treatment.
In addition, no significant difference in live birth rates existed between the treatment and control groups, according to the two studies that examined this outcome.
“Despite a number of high-profile studies, there still remains insufficient evidence to be able to say whether low-dose aspirin can increase the chance of women undergoing IVF having a successful pregnancy,” Poustie said.
Poustie VJ, Dodd S, Drakeley AJ. Low-dose aspirin for in vitro fertilisation. (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 4.
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international nonprofit, independent organization that produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. Visit http://www.cochrane.org for more information
Stacey's comment:
I have some questions with the use of aspirin and IVF especially when there is no evidence of clotting issues with the patients. The problems that can occur with long term aspirin use (and long term is realistic with how long some women go through IVF treatments) is it can lead to deadly gastrointestinal bleeding. Also one study where women took aspirin for 5 years or more were associated with a greater risk of breast cancer.
There are many natural supplements that can be used to assist with what aspirin is trying to do that are not assoicated with the possibly fatal side effects that aspirin can have.
In addition, the "success rate" in IVF does not appear to be improved at all with aspirin use. And when I say "success rate" (a phrase I think is detrimental to patients emotional well being, because if they are not "successful, then they think they are a "failure") I am referring to live birth rates. Pregnancy rates are often looked at with little mention of live birth rates. So if the very end result is not a healthy baby, should you take the chance of creating the potentially harmful side effects?
Over-the-counter aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), is typically used as a pain reliever. When taken daily, aspirin might lower the risk of heart attack, clot-related strokes, and other blood flow problems. Although it has its benefits, aspirin might also cause serious side effects, such as kidney failure, bleeding problems and some kinds of strokes.
But how could it help couples conceive?
“It is thought by some that taking low-dose aspirin may improve blood flow to the uterus and therefore improve ovarian response to IVF treatment, so it may be of benefit to women who have previously responded poorly to IVF treatment,” said the review’s lead author Vanessa Poustie, Ph.D., at the Institute for Child Health at the University of Liverpool in England.
Previous research on the use of aspirin with assisted conception techniques such as IVF has been inconsistent. Some studies have shown that aspirin therapy improves pregnancy rates; others have indicated that it increases the risk of miscarriage.
In the current review, Poustie and colleagues examined data from 1,449 women undergoing in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to treat infertility.
The studies compared the pregnancy and birth rates of women taking low-dose aspirin (150 milligrams or less taken once per day) to women taking a placebo or no treatment. Two of the studies took place in the United States; other studies were conducted in Hong Kong, Iran and Finland.
The review appears in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.
According to the review results, women taking aspirin while undergoing IVF or ICSI were not significantly more likely to become pregnant than women taking a placebo or no treatment.
In addition, no significant difference in live birth rates existed between the treatment and control groups, according to the two studies that examined this outcome.
“Despite a number of high-profile studies, there still remains insufficient evidence to be able to say whether low-dose aspirin can increase the chance of women undergoing IVF having a successful pregnancy,” Poustie said.
Poustie VJ, Dodd S, Drakeley AJ. Low-dose aspirin for in vitro fertilisation. (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 4.
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international nonprofit, independent organization that produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. Visit http://www.cochrane.org for more information
Stacey's comment:
I have some questions with the use of aspirin and IVF especially when there is no evidence of clotting issues with the patients. The problems that can occur with long term aspirin use (and long term is realistic with how long some women go through IVF treatments) is it can lead to deadly gastrointestinal bleeding. Also one study where women took aspirin for 5 years or more were associated with a greater risk of breast cancer.
There are many natural supplements that can be used to assist with what aspirin is trying to do that are not assoicated with the possibly fatal side effects that aspirin can have.
In addition, the "success rate" in IVF does not appear to be improved at all with aspirin use. And when I say "success rate" (a phrase I think is detrimental to patients emotional well being, because if they are not "successful, then they think they are a "failure") I am referring to live birth rates. Pregnancy rates are often looked at with little mention of live birth rates. So if the very end result is not a healthy baby, should you take the chance of creating the potentially harmful side effects?
Monday, September 10, 2007
DHEA supplementation...helpful or detrimental to you fertility?
To understand whether DHEA supplementation is right for you its important to have an understanding of what is happening with this hormone and how it relates to other hormones and reproductive health.
DHEA is converted into a hormone called androstenedione which is a precursor to testosterone. In other words androstenedione then gets converted into testosterone and testosterone gets converted into estradiol mainly in the ovaries of a premenopausal female. Estradiol is the estrogen closely associated with fertility.
Okay enough science out of the way. Here is what to consider when considering DHEA supplementation. Since DHEA is close to the top of the hormone chain as you can see in the chain below, it can effect many hormones down the line.
Cholesterol
Pregnenolone (this is only one of the pathways for the conversion of this hormone)
l
DHEA
l
Androstenedione - > Estrone (estrogen in fat tissue)
l
Testosterone
l
Estradiol (ovaries)
l
Estrone
So supplementation of DHEA could increase testosterone in some people which would be a good thing IF testosterone were low. 7 Keto DHEA is supposed to NOT increase testosterone but I have seen with saliva tests that testosterone did increase significantly in one patient who was taking the 7 Keto DHEA. Blood results did not reveal the high testosterone that was evident in the saliva tests. Normal for saliva results for testosterone would be 15-90 and this woman's was 1500.
If testosterone were already high supplementing with DHEA could be disastrous and account for some of the negative side effects of DHEA Supplementation. Therefore someone who has high levels of testosterone like in PCOS in my opinion is NOT likely to benefit from DHEA supplementation. You don't have to have PCO to have elevated testosterone in the tissues so its always good to get a baseline.
Also supplementing with DHEA may make no difference what so ever if DHEA is low because free cortisol is high. Cortisol is one of your stress hormones and it has an inverse relationship to DHEA. This means that if free cortisol is high, then DHEA is likely to be low. So getting cortisol down is the answer, not adding more DHEA. DHEA is not a nutrient, like a vitamin, its a hormone and therefore can be linked with the activity of other hormornes. When a vitamin or mineral is truly deficient in the body adding more in your diet or supplementation program could help. If you are deficient in Vit C taking more of it can help you, but if your body isn't utilising Vit C well enough because there is too much sugar in your diet, then you can take all the vitamin C you want, if your glucose levels aren't addressed, the supplement is not likely to help you.
Vitamins and minerals also effect the conversion of hormones from one to another and so does stress. These can range from the B vitamins, iron, folate, vitamin E, Vitamin A (in the form of betacarotene), zn, Vit C, Magnesium and others.
So until you know the levels of hormones present in the tissues (through saliva testing) I suggest to NOT take DHEA supplementation to try to improve your fertility. Saliva tests by the way, are accurate and used by governmental bodies and NASA in the United States to assess the health of the military and astronauts. Saliva tests look at not just what is floating around in the blood but what actually has gotten absorbed into the tissue. Conventional medicine does not use them often but these can be ordered by your naturopath or physician.
In my opinion before a person should start taking DHEA they should check the levels of DHEA, testosterone, estradiol, estrone, androstenedione and progesterone through saliva tests spread out over 2-4 weeks (1 day each of those weeks) to see if DHEA supplementation is going to hinder or help their situation. But keep in mind that supplementation with DHEA alone is unlikely the only factor that can improve your situation. A proper diet, a healthy gut along with supplementation program is essential as well. Addressing stress is also very important because stress can increase cortisol over time and actually accelerate the aging process of all your cells. Always remember that your eggs, ovaries, follicles, endometrial lining and semen and sperm are made up of cells.
This tip is under the copyright of Positive Image and Stacey Roberts. It cannot be duplicated, copied or reproduced in any way without the expressed written consent of Stacey Roberts or Positive Image Publishing.
DHEA is converted into a hormone called androstenedione which is a precursor to testosterone. In other words androstenedione then gets converted into testosterone and testosterone gets converted into estradiol mainly in the ovaries of a premenopausal female. Estradiol is the estrogen closely associated with fertility.
Okay enough science out of the way. Here is what to consider when considering DHEA supplementation. Since DHEA is close to the top of the hormone chain as you can see in the chain below, it can effect many hormones down the line.
Cholesterol
Pregnenolone (this is only one of the pathways for the conversion of this hormone)
l
DHEA
l
Androstenedione - > Estrone (estrogen in fat tissue)
l
Testosterone
l
Estradiol (ovaries)
l
Estrone
So supplementation of DHEA could increase testosterone in some people which would be a good thing IF testosterone were low. 7 Keto DHEA is supposed to NOT increase testosterone but I have seen with saliva tests that testosterone did increase significantly in one patient who was taking the 7 Keto DHEA. Blood results did not reveal the high testosterone that was evident in the saliva tests. Normal for saliva results for testosterone would be 15-90 and this woman's was 1500.
If testosterone were already high supplementing with DHEA could be disastrous and account for some of the negative side effects of DHEA Supplementation. Therefore someone who has high levels of testosterone like in PCOS in my opinion is NOT likely to benefit from DHEA supplementation. You don't have to have PCO to have elevated testosterone in the tissues so its always good to get a baseline.
Also supplementing with DHEA may make no difference what so ever if DHEA is low because free cortisol is high. Cortisol is one of your stress hormones and it has an inverse relationship to DHEA. This means that if free cortisol is high, then DHEA is likely to be low. So getting cortisol down is the answer, not adding more DHEA. DHEA is not a nutrient, like a vitamin, its a hormone and therefore can be linked with the activity of other hormornes. When a vitamin or mineral is truly deficient in the body adding more in your diet or supplementation program could help. If you are deficient in Vit C taking more of it can help you, but if your body isn't utilising Vit C well enough because there is too much sugar in your diet, then you can take all the vitamin C you want, if your glucose levels aren't addressed, the supplement is not likely to help you.
Vitamins and minerals also effect the conversion of hormones from one to another and so does stress. These can range from the B vitamins, iron, folate, vitamin E, Vitamin A (in the form of betacarotene), zn, Vit C, Magnesium and others.
So until you know the levels of hormones present in the tissues (through saliva testing) I suggest to NOT take DHEA supplementation to try to improve your fertility. Saliva tests by the way, are accurate and used by governmental bodies and NASA in the United States to assess the health of the military and astronauts. Saliva tests look at not just what is floating around in the blood but what actually has gotten absorbed into the tissue. Conventional medicine does not use them often but these can be ordered by your naturopath or physician.
In my opinion before a person should start taking DHEA they should check the levels of DHEA, testosterone, estradiol, estrone, androstenedione and progesterone through saliva tests spread out over 2-4 weeks (1 day each of those weeks) to see if DHEA supplementation is going to hinder or help their situation. But keep in mind that supplementation with DHEA alone is unlikely the only factor that can improve your situation. A proper diet, a healthy gut along with supplementation program is essential as well. Addressing stress is also very important because stress can increase cortisol over time and actually accelerate the aging process of all your cells. Always remember that your eggs, ovaries, follicles, endometrial lining and semen and sperm are made up of cells.
This tip is under the copyright of Positive Image and Stacey Roberts. It cannot be duplicated, copied or reproduced in any way without the expressed written consent of Stacey Roberts or Positive Image Publishing.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Obesity Link to Fertility Issues in Some Women
From Science News:
Report links obesity with infertility
Published: Aug. 24, 2007 at 12:05 AM
ADELAIDE, Australia, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- An Australian researcher says she has confirmed the link between obesity and infertility.
Cadence Minge from the Adelaide University Research Center for Reproductive Health said animal studies show that obese women whose eggs are damaged by high levels of fat and cholesterol have difficulty sustaining healthy embryos, The Age newspaper said Thursday.
"(Embryos) were much slower to divide and grow," Minge said. "And the way that the cells developed was also disturbed."
She found that some of the damage could be reversed using an anti-diabetic drug such as rosiglitazone, although the drug can have potentially serious side effects.
Minge said weight loss was a more effective way to restore fertility.
Stacey's comment:
It is great now that someone has confirmed why obesity can contribute to fertility issues. This protein is most likey effected secondary to the insulin resistance that a person who is obese is experiencing. Insulin resistance is also associated with leptin resistance and based on the book Mastering Leptin, leptin helps to regulate estrogen output in the ovary.
But please be caution regarding medication to control this. The medication that showed an improvement in mice (rosiglitazone otherwise known as Avandia), has been show to have serious side effects in humans increasing cardiovascular risk by up to 43% in people taking it to regulate diabetes. There have also been a few cases of liver failure.
Its important to remember that a quick fix usually isn't the best for your body and good old exercise and balanced eating plan are effective in improving fertility as well. A study by Dr. Anne Clarke, an IVF doctor in Australia showed this in women with PCO.
So if you find yourself experiencing fertility issues and are in the category of obese (Body Mass Index over 30) then it would be probably be beneficial to work with a naturopath, dietician, and or exercise specialist to addrss these issues.
We had one women who was on blood pressure medication and who had a BMI over 40, utilise our herbs and get on a regular exercise program and healthy eating plan. In one and a half years time she lost 80 pounds (37kilos), was able to get off her blood pressure medication, from which time her cycle improved drastically and 6 months later after a few missed conceptions (overdue cycles) she became pregnant naturally. Her husband experienced poor morphology as well and he improved this with a healthy eating plan and supplements.
Report links obesity with infertility
Published: Aug. 24, 2007 at 12:05 AM
ADELAIDE, Australia, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- An Australian researcher says she has confirmed the link between obesity and infertility.
Cadence Minge from the Adelaide University Research Center for Reproductive Health said animal studies show that obese women whose eggs are damaged by high levels of fat and cholesterol have difficulty sustaining healthy embryos, The Age newspaper said Thursday.
"(Embryos) were much slower to divide and grow," Minge said. "And the way that the cells developed was also disturbed."
She found that some of the damage could be reversed using an anti-diabetic drug such as rosiglitazone, although the drug can have potentially serious side effects.
Minge said weight loss was a more effective way to restore fertility.
Stacey's comment:
It is great now that someone has confirmed why obesity can contribute to fertility issues. This protein is most likey effected secondary to the insulin resistance that a person who is obese is experiencing. Insulin resistance is also associated with leptin resistance and based on the book Mastering Leptin, leptin helps to regulate estrogen output in the ovary.
But please be caution regarding medication to control this. The medication that showed an improvement in mice (rosiglitazone otherwise known as Avandia), has been show to have serious side effects in humans increasing cardiovascular risk by up to 43% in people taking it to regulate diabetes. There have also been a few cases of liver failure.
Its important to remember that a quick fix usually isn't the best for your body and good old exercise and balanced eating plan are effective in improving fertility as well. A study by Dr. Anne Clarke, an IVF doctor in Australia showed this in women with PCO.
So if you find yourself experiencing fertility issues and are in the category of obese (Body Mass Index over 30) then it would be probably be beneficial to work with a naturopath, dietician, and or exercise specialist to addrss these issues.
We had one women who was on blood pressure medication and who had a BMI over 40, utilise our herbs and get on a regular exercise program and healthy eating plan. In one and a half years time she lost 80 pounds (37kilos), was able to get off her blood pressure medication, from which time her cycle improved drastically and 6 months later after a few missed conceptions (overdue cycles) she became pregnant naturally. Her husband experienced poor morphology as well and he improved this with a healthy eating plan and supplements.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Sperm Injection Method or ICSI is said to be Gouging Patients with Unnecesary Costs
From the Associated Press:
08/02/2007
Fertility Clinics Gouging Patients With Costly Technique (Wired News)
A sperm-injection method that is effective for one type of infertility problem is being used across the board, doing little except bloating the bill.
The technique referred to in the above statement found on the Associated press is a technique called ICSI. This technique involves injecting the sperm into the egg and basically removes natural selection completely from the process of trying to create a healthy embryo artificially.
Normally with IVF eggs are taken from the female and put in a petri dish along with about 100,000 sperm that were obtained by the male. Then after a certain amount of time hopefully a fertilisation takes place. Hopefully it is the healthiest and strongest of the sperm then that has fertilised the egg. This would simulate what happens when the sperm meets the egg following intercourse.
With ICSI however the IVF specialists take the sperm that they think looks the best and inserts it directly in the egg. This has been done in the past when there has been certain issues with the sperm requiring ICSI.
It appears that "The percentage of IVF cycles that used ICSI increased dramatically during the 10 year time span from 11 % of procedures to 57.5 percent of procedures while the percentage of diagnosis for male factor infertility remained steady." This is reported by Dr. Tarun Jain assistant professor of reporductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of Chicago Illinois
He also adds "Further studies are needed to better understand the proper role of ICSI and and perhaps guidelines may be useful to determine what eh best indications are for the use of the technology in patients without male factor infertility".
It is also suggested that more studies need to be done regarding the possibility of assoicated risks such as genetic disorders and congenital anomalies when ICSI is used.
Stacey's comment:
I think the most important issue is that the patients involved should be explained what the procedures are and how they differ. Most patients that have had ICSI done without there being male factor fertility issues have said that their doctor told them the procedure was likely going to improve the chance for a fertilisation and have better pregnancy rates. Very few, if any, were given an explanation as to what the advantages and disadvantages were to the procedure and how it differed from a regular round of IVF.
This is especially important as patients are often having to pay out of pocket for their procedures (and complimentary programs) and adding ICSI in increases the bill.
Often times physicians will make the comment that taking herbs or supplements is just a waste of money but they don't often consider paying extra hundreds of dollars for a procedure that the patient is already paying thousands of dollars for as an issue.
At our clinic we strive to educate the patient so they can make decisions based on what they feel is best for their particular situation. It's important that they have all the facts to help them decide what procedures they feel comfortable with.
It isn't our place to make these decisions for the patient, but instead encourage them to do what they feel is best for themselves.
08/02/2007
Fertility Clinics Gouging Patients With Costly Technique (Wired News)
A sperm-injection method that is effective for one type of infertility problem is being used across the board, doing little except bloating the bill.
The technique referred to in the above statement found on the Associated press is a technique called ICSI. This technique involves injecting the sperm into the egg and basically removes natural selection completely from the process of trying to create a healthy embryo artificially.
Normally with IVF eggs are taken from the female and put in a petri dish along with about 100,000 sperm that were obtained by the male. Then after a certain amount of time hopefully a fertilisation takes place. Hopefully it is the healthiest and strongest of the sperm then that has fertilised the egg. This would simulate what happens when the sperm meets the egg following intercourse.
With ICSI however the IVF specialists take the sperm that they think looks the best and inserts it directly in the egg. This has been done in the past when there has been certain issues with the sperm requiring ICSI.
It appears that "The percentage of IVF cycles that used ICSI increased dramatically during the 10 year time span from 11 % of procedures to 57.5 percent of procedures while the percentage of diagnosis for male factor infertility remained steady." This is reported by Dr. Tarun Jain assistant professor of reporductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of Chicago Illinois
He also adds "Further studies are needed to better understand the proper role of ICSI and and perhaps guidelines may be useful to determine what eh best indications are for the use of the technology in patients without male factor infertility".
It is also suggested that more studies need to be done regarding the possibility of assoicated risks such as genetic disorders and congenital anomalies when ICSI is used.
Stacey's comment:
I think the most important issue is that the patients involved should be explained what the procedures are and how they differ. Most patients that have had ICSI done without there being male factor fertility issues have said that their doctor told them the procedure was likely going to improve the chance for a fertilisation and have better pregnancy rates. Very few, if any, were given an explanation as to what the advantages and disadvantages were to the procedure and how it differed from a regular round of IVF.
This is especially important as patients are often having to pay out of pocket for their procedures (and complimentary programs) and adding ICSI in increases the bill.
Often times physicians will make the comment that taking herbs or supplements is just a waste of money but they don't often consider paying extra hundreds of dollars for a procedure that the patient is already paying thousands of dollars for as an issue.
At our clinic we strive to educate the patient so they can make decisions based on what they feel is best for their particular situation. It's important that they have all the facts to help them decide what procedures they feel comfortable with.
It isn't our place to make these decisions for the patient, but instead encourage them to do what they feel is best for themselves.
Can Plastics Negatively Impact Your Fertility?
Headlines in the Los Angeles Times this weekend reported information from a recent study about certain chemical compounds in certain widely used plastics can have a negative impact on the male and female reproductive system.
The article says:
"In an unusual effort targeting a single chemical, several dozen scientists on Thursday issued a strongly worded consensus statement warning that an estrogen-like compound in plastic is likely causing an array of serious reproductive disorders in people.
The compound, bisphenol A or BPA, is one of the highest-volume chemicals in the world and has found its way into the bodies of most human beings.
Used to make hard plastic, BPA can seep from beverage containers and other materials. It is used in all polycarbonate plastic baby bottles as well as other items, including large water cooler containers, sports bottles and microwave oven dishes, along with canned food liners and some dental sealants for children."
I have talked about the importance of minimising the use of plastics in your life to help you address your fertility issues. And this information just reiterates the fact that this is an important issue that each couple experiencing fertility issues should address.
On our website www.naturalfertility.com I have reprinted a "Smart Plastics Guide" which has helped many people make smart decision regarding plastic use in their every day lives. This can be found in the fertility tips section of our site about halfway down the page, once you log in.
You might remember the study that also showed the very real possibility of women being exposed to a common plastic while they were pregnant was correlated with deformities of the genitals of their newborn sons.
This is an often overlooked but very important issue regarding fertility and could be key to those dealing with "unexplained" fertility issues.
Remember to check out our website about Safe Plastic Use. Also when we find that patients are at risk of having excess estrogens in their tissues we do recommend specific testing to help these patients assess their situation. Ask your practitioner what they can do to assess this with you.Because not only does excess estrogens in the system affect fertility, excess estrogens accumulating in the body due to thyroid issues, adrenal issues, chemical exposure, and a variety of other possibilities, can lead to cancers, growths, tumors etc in the long or short term.
Make sure you are working with someone knowledgeable in this information to help you address this situation which could potentially be effecting your fertility and long term health.
We have many couples report to us that they felt that minimising the use of toxins such as these discussed today along with a good program including herbs formulated by professionals, supplements, and lifestyle changes and of course managing their stress levels had helped them become pregnant (both naturally and with reproductive procedures) within months of becoming really serious about incorporating these changes in their life.
The article says:
"In an unusual effort targeting a single chemical, several dozen scientists on Thursday issued a strongly worded consensus statement warning that an estrogen-like compound in plastic is likely causing an array of serious reproductive disorders in people.
The compound, bisphenol A or BPA, is one of the highest-volume chemicals in the world and has found its way into the bodies of most human beings.
Used to make hard plastic, BPA can seep from beverage containers and other materials. It is used in all polycarbonate plastic baby bottles as well as other items, including large water cooler containers, sports bottles and microwave oven dishes, along with canned food liners and some dental sealants for children."
I have talked about the importance of minimising the use of plastics in your life to help you address your fertility issues. And this information just reiterates the fact that this is an important issue that each couple experiencing fertility issues should address.
On our website www.naturalfertility.com I have reprinted a "Smart Plastics Guide" which has helped many people make smart decision regarding plastic use in their every day lives. This can be found in the fertility tips section of our site about halfway down the page, once you log in.
You might remember the study that also showed the very real possibility of women being exposed to a common plastic while they were pregnant was correlated with deformities of the genitals of their newborn sons.
This is an often overlooked but very important issue regarding fertility and could be key to those dealing with "unexplained" fertility issues.
Remember to check out our website about Safe Plastic Use. Also when we find that patients are at risk of having excess estrogens in their tissues we do recommend specific testing to help these patients assess their situation. Ask your practitioner what they can do to assess this with you.Because not only does excess estrogens in the system affect fertility, excess estrogens accumulating in the body due to thyroid issues, adrenal issues, chemical exposure, and a variety of other possibilities, can lead to cancers, growths, tumors etc in the long or short term.
Make sure you are working with someone knowledgeable in this information to help you address this situation which could potentially be effecting your fertility and long term health.
We have many couples report to us that they felt that minimising the use of toxins such as these discussed today along with a good program including herbs formulated by professionals, supplements, and lifestyle changes and of course managing their stress levels had helped them become pregnant (both naturally and with reproductive procedures) within months of becoming really serious about incorporating these changes in their life.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
IRON Could be Key in Addressing Infertility or as we say Fertility issues
A Study by Harvard University School of Public Health in Boston reported that your iron levels may significantly impact your fertility. "The study examined data provided by more than 18,000 nurses participating in the Nurses' Health Study, zeroing in on 438 who reported having ovulation problems. Those who ate the most free iron (found in supplements, fortified foods, legumes, and grains) had the greatest protection against infertility." Ovulation disorders were more common in women who did not have adequate iron.
The study found that benefits DID NOT apply to women who got most of their iron from animal sources such as red meat and pork.
"These were very striking differences, suggesting that women should focus on getting their iron from supplements" the lead researcher suggested.
It would be a good idea to have your iron levels including Ferittin (which measures the iron stores in your blood) checked. This can let you know if you should supplement with iron BEFORE you become pregnant. Keep in mind though that if you are supplementing with iron and your iron levels are still low then more investigations need to be done. Low iron when on supplements can be an indication that your digestion is less than optimal or that you may be gluten intolerant or atleast sensitive to gluten in your diet.
Issues with gluten (Coeliac Disease in particular) have been shown to impact fertility.
Also when supplementing with iron to avoid constipation you may want to utilise a liquid iron source from your naturopath but atleast an iron supplement that contains other ingredients such as Vit C to help it get absorbed and decrease the chance of constipation.
And when you get the results back make sure you have someone review the levels to see if they are OPTIMAL, not just normal. There can be different ranges of "normals" depending on which lab your test was analysed at, so you will want to discuss your results with a doctor (who doesn't just consider what is "normal") and/or a naturopath/herbalist who deal with fertility issues often to make sure you are at the optimal levels.
In our ebook and CD set Fertility Secrets Revealed available in the books section at www.naturalfertility.com, we discuss other tests that can also be done and what results and issues are often missed because they are overlooked or considered "normal" but oftentimes are far from optimal. For many couples we have worked with, these overlooked areas were crucial points that needed to be addressed for the couple to create a viable pregnancy.
A birth announcement I received recently is a good example of this.
Dear Stacey,
Thank you for everything you have done for us. This is my second baby with your clinic. That in itself is amazing because before my first child was born, the doctors told me I was infertile. If we try for number 3, we will definitely be back!"
JW
The study found that benefits DID NOT apply to women who got most of their iron from animal sources such as red meat and pork.
"These were very striking differences, suggesting that women should focus on getting their iron from supplements" the lead researcher suggested.
It would be a good idea to have your iron levels including Ferittin (which measures the iron stores in your blood) checked. This can let you know if you should supplement with iron BEFORE you become pregnant. Keep in mind though that if you are supplementing with iron and your iron levels are still low then more investigations need to be done. Low iron when on supplements can be an indication that your digestion is less than optimal or that you may be gluten intolerant or atleast sensitive to gluten in your diet.
Issues with gluten (Coeliac Disease in particular) have been shown to impact fertility.
Also when supplementing with iron to avoid constipation you may want to utilise a liquid iron source from your naturopath but atleast an iron supplement that contains other ingredients such as Vit C to help it get absorbed and decrease the chance of constipation.
And when you get the results back make sure you have someone review the levels to see if they are OPTIMAL, not just normal. There can be different ranges of "normals" depending on which lab your test was analysed at, so you will want to discuss your results with a doctor (who doesn't just consider what is "normal") and/or a naturopath/herbalist who deal with fertility issues often to make sure you are at the optimal levels.
In our ebook and CD set Fertility Secrets Revealed available in the books section at www.naturalfertility.com, we discuss other tests that can also be done and what results and issues are often missed because they are overlooked or considered "normal" but oftentimes are far from optimal. For many couples we have worked with, these overlooked areas were crucial points that needed to be addressed for the couple to create a viable pregnancy.
A birth announcement I received recently is a good example of this.
Dear Stacey,
Thank you for everything you have done for us. This is my second baby with your clinic. That in itself is amazing because before my first child was born, the doctors told me I was infertile. If we try for number 3, we will definitely be back!"
JW
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
