When talking about reproductive issues, a couple does well to consider some male infertility treatments that they can easily try at home. This is because in most cases of reproductive issues, infertility can equally be caused by the man’s reproductive system as it can be the woman’s. It is a common misconception (no pun intended) that all reproductive issues are strictly the woman’s problem. In reality, most couples being treated for this by medical doctors are finding this it’s a 50/50 chance that the man may need treatment, or it’s a combination of problems with both the man and the woman. In any case, someone may immediately wonder about male infertility treatments that you can try at home, first, before looking into medical intervention, expensive drugs, invasive surgeries, and the like. The good news is that there are some such treatments that men can try that may very well increase his abilities to impregnate.
Diet May be the Best Male Infertility Treatment
In a new study cited in OBGYN News, a group of Harvard researchers found that 79% of infertile couples had a lower-than-average intake of foods high in antioxidants – like fruits and vegetables. In one study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Medicine, doctors found that after one week of daily doses of 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, sperm counts rose by some 140%. So, a multivitamin or a vitamin C supplement may be the first male infertility treatment that you would want to try.
More recently, a study published in the Archives of Andrology showed the antioxidants vitamin E and selenium improved the ability of sperm to swim – a skill necessary to reach the egg.
Exercise also improves muscle tone and good muscle tone helps every aspect of your system as well. Excessive body weight also puts undue pressure on the reproductive organs and doesn’t allow them to function optimally; obese persons often suffer from reproductive issues. Any male infertility treatment that you try at home should include regular physical activity and exercise.
Drugs and Smoking – A Barrier to Any Effective Male Infertility Treatment
Some medications can interfere with a woman’s and a man’s reproductive systems. If you are taking any prescription drugs, be mindful of the side effects. Ask your doctor if you’re not sure. And this includes illegal drugs as well. Many narcotics interfere with the body’s fertility, as does tobacco. Excessive drinking (more than three alcoholic beverages per day) can too.
If you or your partner smoke, it’s time to quit. Smokers have been shown to have 17% less sperm count on average, not to mention that it disrupts the health of remaining sperm. If you’re taking illicit drugs, it’s time to quit those as well. And if necessary, make note of your drinking levels and cut back if needed.
So there you have it – some natural, healthy male infertility treatments that any man or couple can try at home, before undergoing invasive surgery or doling out thousands on tests and medicines.
Filed under Health by on Oct 9th, 2008. 
The Common Causes for Infertility in Men
When a couple are facing problems with reproduction and conception, it’s very shortsighted and medically inaccurate to assume that it must always be the woman’s problem. Infertility in men is the cause of reproductive issues in about half of the cases reported, so if you and your partner are having problems conceiving, you do well to investigate the common causes for infertility in men so as to handle these issues promptly and completely. Here are the most common causes:
Low sperm count – the most common reason for infertility in men.
Yes, men typically have millions of sperm that they produce during each sexual encounter, however, these sperm are very fragile and very few actually survive the journey through a woman’s system to reach an egg to fertilize. This is why it’s necessary to produce those millions! But in reality, any one sperm reaching an egg to fertilize it is like winning the lottery – there are millions of tickets sold, but it’s unlikely that any one is the winner. So, having a lower than normal sperm count makes it that much more difficult for conception to take place. Since this is the most common reason for infertility in men, chances are that a doctor would want to take a sample of a man’s semen to test the sperm count before doing any other tests.
Low sperm motility.
To a human, the journey through a woman’s system to reach the egg dropped by the fallopian tubes is miniscule. But to the tiny microscopic sperm, it may as well be miles long! Any sperm that are not able to push themselves to get through that journey are going to die off before they make it, and again, sperm are very fragile to begin with. Low sperm motility may not be the most common reason for infertility in men, but it is common enough that again, doctors will want to check the abilities of your “little swimmers” to make sure they can make it through their long journey. If not, alternative means of conception may need to be explored.
Malformed sperm.
If the sperm are not formed properly, they will not be able to propel themselves along to make that arduous journey. Malformed sperm is a common reason for infertility in men, and may also be one of the more common reasons for low sperm motility. However, it’s important to remember that malformed sperm doesn’t mean that a child conceived with it is going to somehow be malformed or that this is a cause for birth defects; it simply means that again, there may need to be an alternative form of conception that is explored rather than relying on the natural course of action.
Blocked sperm ducts.
Many people mistakenly assume that every time a man ejaculates during sexual activity, that this contains sperm. This is not necessarily true; only about 1-2% of a man’s semen is actually sperm. Blocked sperm ducts are another common reason for infertility in men; he has no sperm at all in the ejaculate in these cases.
Common Infertility Drugs and Their Usage
When a couple is dealing with the issues of reproductive challenges and possible infertility, there may be some simple measures they can take to increase their chances of conceiving. For others, however, they may get a recommendation from their doctor that they begin a round of infertility drugs in order to help them along. If this is the case, we have assembled some helpful information about the most common infertility drugs, typically prescribed to the woman, along with their usage. Here is the rundown:
Bravelle Inj
This medication provides the hormone (FSH) that helps cause the ovaries to produce eggs. This medication is usually used in combination with other infertility drugs, including a hormone (hCG) for the growth and release of a mature egg (ovulation). This medication is not recommended for women whose ovaries no longer make eggs properly (primary ovarian failure).
Bromocriptine Oral
Bromocriptine is one of the infertility drugs used to treat hormonal problems caused by high levels of a certain chemical made by the body (prolactin). Such problems include unwanted breast milk, missed/stopped periods, difficulty becoming pregnant, decreased sperm production, and decreased sexual ability. Because of possible serious side effects (e.g., high blood pressure, seizure, heart attack, stroke), bromocriptine is not recommended for stopping unwanted breast milk after pregnancy, miscarriage, or abortion. Note that this is true for all infertility drugs – they should be used for their intended purpose and nothing else.
Chorionic Gonadotropin IM
This medication is used in women to treat fertility problems. It is given after finishing another other infertility drugs (menotropins) to cause the release of an egg (ovulation). It should not be used in women whose ovaries no longer make eggs properly (primary ovarian failure).
Clomid Oral
This medication is used to treat infertility in women. It works by stimulating an increase in the amount of hormones that support the growth and release of a mature egg (ovulation). As with many infertility drugs, this medication is not recommended for women whose ovaries no longer make eggs properly (primary pituitary or ovarian failure).
Menopur SubQ
This medication provides follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) that help healthy ovaries to make eggs. This medication is usually used in combination with other infertility drugs, including another hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin-hCG) to help you become pregnant by bringing about the growth and release of a mature egg (ovulation). This medication is not recommended for women whose ovaries no longer make eggs properly (primary ovarian failure).
As with all infertility drugs, be sure that you are in constant communication with your doctor about their dosage, storage, possible side effects, and of course the length of time for which you should take them. Make sure that you are very clear on all the necessary information and don’t hesitate to speak up if you have questions or need further assistance in understanding these things – after all, infertility drugs are very strong medicines, and you will need to make the decision about whether or not they are the best course of treatment for you.
Filed under Health by on Oct 9th, 2008.
How Successful is the Infertility Diet?
When dealing with the issue of infertility and difficulties with conception, most couples of course want to try anything and everything they can to help the process along. With that thought in mind, some wonder if there is such a thing as an infertility diet, and if so, does it actually work? Can your eating habits do anything to help or hinder your situation with pregnancy? Let’s examine some of that information here.
Doctors Respond to the Infertility Diet
In a new study cited in OBGYN News, a group of Harvard researchers found that 79% of infertile couples had a lower-than-average intake of foods high in antioxidants – like fruits and vegetables. In one study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Medicine, doctors found that after one week of daily doses of 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, sperm counts rose by some 140%. Obviously, when dealing with infertility, diet and getting enough of the right vitamins is helpful to some.
More recently, a study published in the Archives of Andrology showed the antioxidants vitamin E and selenium improved the ability of sperm to swim – a skill necessary to reach the egg.
Physical Activity is Part of the Infertility Diet
Exercise also improves muscle tone and good muscle tone helps every aspect of your system as well. Excessive body weight also puts undue pressure on the reproductive organs and doesn’t allow them to function optimally; obese persons often suffer from reproductive issues. When dealing with infertility, diet alone may not be enough. Regular physical activity must be part of the equation as well.
However, you don’t want to go overboard in this direction either. It’s been sadly reported that many young female athletes that are pushed to excessive physical activity have irregular periods and subsequent issues with reproduction. Starving your body of vital nutrients and overworking it physically will take a tremendous toll on your system, and this is true for both men and women. So if you do exercise and keep track of your diet, make sure you’re being balanced and healthy.
But modest exercise is beneficial in so many ways, not just when discussing the infertility diet. Exercising increases the blood circulation and good circulation is important for all aspects of health. Blood brings nutrients to every part of the body and filters away dead cells.
Additionally, eating right and exercising will make a person feel better all around; feeling more positive will lead to a reduction in stress, which is also beneficial when trying to conceive. And when thinking about your infertility diet, this may be something that helps to draw you together as a couple, which can lead to a better, more active sex life – another important aspect of conception! So never dismiss the thought that your condition can be helped or hindered by your eating habits and exercising; even doctors agree that when dealing with infertility, diet is important, as is exercise and physical activity.
Filed under Fitness by on Oct 9th, 2008.
The Myths Surrounding the Causes of Infertility in Women
If you are a woman who is experiencing what you think are reproductive challenges, or you’ve already been given the diagnosis of infertility from your OB/GYN, then it’s important for you to separate the facts from the fiction when it comes to the causes of infertility in women. After all, if you find yourself believing something that is not true or not applicable in your case, you may wind up wasting precious time ignoring the real problems.
So what are those common myths when it comes to the causes of infertility in women? And better yet, what is the truth about those beliefs? Let’s examine a few here.
Myth: It’s all in your head.
This myth may have developed over the years as some couples have dealt with infertility for some time, and then eventually were able to conceive on their own. Others may view this as a reason to believe that reproductive problems are simply stress related or that a couple is being overly sensitive to their situation. Yes, stress and such things can be pinpointed as one of the causes of infertility in women, but it certainly is not the only cause, and not even the most common!
Advances in modern science that can plainly pinpoint different problems with a man’s or a woman’s reproductive system should have squelched this myth years ago, but unfortunately it seems to continue to thrive. Despite the abilities we have to look deep into the body’s reproductive system and find even the smallest of defects which can be one of the causes of infertility in women, some still think it’s simply a mental challenge.
Myth: Miscarriage is a common cause of infertility in women.
First of all, it’s important to remember that in most cases of miscarriage, there was nothing the woman could have done to prevent it. Rarely is it ever caused by stress, overworking, and the like.
It’s also important to remember that miscarriage itself is really not a cause of infertility of women; most doctors regard it as simply a possible symptom of a larger problem. Many miscarriages that are caused by such things as exposure to environmental and workplace hazards, such as high levels of radiation, hormonal problems, uterine abnormalities, incompetent cervix, and severe medical conditions can be considered a symptom, as these are some of the common causes of infertility in women as well.
Myth: If you’ve already had a baby, you’re not infertile.
Filed under Health by on Oct 9th, 2008.