Simple Fertility Secrets
Beryl Dingemans
Copyright Beryl Dingemans
Published at Smashwords
Disclaimer
The information contained in this ebook and on the website is based on extensive research by the author, and is provided purely for educational purposes. It is not intended as a means to self-diagnose or as a substitute for advice from a health care professional or doctor. The author makes no attempt to diagnose, prevent or cure any of the symptoms related to infertility or any other illnesses, and assumes no responsibility or liability on behalf of the reader. In addition, she does not guarantee or make any representations regarding the use or the results of use of any of the materials or products contained in this ebook and website, in terms of correctness, accuracy, reliability, currentness or otherwise.
The author is not a doctor and makes no claim to be. You are encouraged to make your own health care decisions based on your own research and to obtain advice from a qualified health care professional or doctor.
Information is based on the opinion of the author, who retains copyright as marked. Whilst every attempt has been made to provide accurate information, the author does not assume any responsibility for errors, omissions and misinterpretations of the information contained in this ebook and on the “Simple fertility secrets” website.
By choosing to read and use the material contained in this ebook and on the website, you are agreeing to indemnify the author from all claims, proceedings, costs, damages, expenses and losses of any nature.
Edited by Anne Erikson
Cover photograph by Ulrike May
Cover design by Marit Heemskerk
This book is dedicated to
my son,
Kai.
The journey I went on, to have him,
has made this book possible.
INDEX
Introduction
Defining infertility
My story
Chapter 1
Age and fertility
Fertility after 35
Low ovarian reserve, high follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH) and premature menopause
Chapter 2
Causes of infertility
Ovarian cysts
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Ovulatory dysfunction
Insulin resistance
Premature Ovarian Failure
Endometriosis
Fibroids or Polyps
Damaged fallopian tubes
Miscarriages
Hormonal infertility
Oestrogen dominance
Unexplained infertility
Cancer, chemotherapy and fertility
Male infertility, cancer and chemotherapy
Other Male infertility causes
Chapter 3
Fertility tests
Standard tests
Day 3 FSH/ LH blood test
Progesterone test
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
Rubella antibody levels
Semen analysis
Advanced tests
Pelvic ultrasound scan
Diagnostic laparoscopy and dye test
Post-coital test
Hysteroscopy
Thyroid function and Prolactin tests
Chromosomal tests
Chapter 4
Medical fertility procedures
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)
ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection)
IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)
Donor Insemination
Donor eggs
Caution before undergoing medical fertility procedures
Chapter 5
Integrative medicine
Optimising fertility by combining Western and Eastern methods
Chapter 6
Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion
How Acupuncture works
Acupuncture and fertility
My experience with Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Acupuncture and fertility in men
Chapter 7
Chinese herbs
Benefits of Chinese herbs
Chinese herbs used in treating infertility
Combining Chinese herbs and modern medicine
Chapter 8
Other holistic treatments
Reflexology
Aromatherapy
Meditation and exercise
Visualisation
Crystal healing
Meditation
Subliminal programming
Yoga for fertility
Chapter 9
Fertility, nutrition and diet
Foods that enhance fertility
Foods to avoid when trying to fall pregnant
Fertility and diet
Chapter 10
Nutrients and supplements
Vitamins and minerals
Agnus Castus
Super anti-oxidants
Zeolite
DHEA
Pregnelonone
Human Growth Hormone (HGH)
Maca root
Royal Jelly
Tribulus
Chapter 11
Western medicines for fertility
Clomid
Letrozole
Progynova
hCG – Profasi/ Pregnyl
Progesterone
Metformin
Injectable FSH stimulating drugs
GnRH Agonists
Chapter 12
Ovulation and timing
Hormone levels
Basal Body Temperature
Cervical mucus
Cervical positioning
Chapter 13
Fertility facts and fiction
What to believe and what not to
Chapter 14
Green living
Keeping toxins to a minimum to maximize fertility
Chapter 15
Coping with infertility
Chapter 16
Comments from readers
Do you wish you could fall pregnant and have a beautiful, healthy baby? Have you been trying to conceive for ages and nothing seems to be happening?
If you are reading this ebook, then the chances are that you have found yourself in a similar situation to where I was a few years ago, or, you would like to find out more information regarding infertility for someone you care about.
For many couples the heartbreaking experience of infertility is the first life crisis that they must face together. The realization that there might be a fertility problem often comes as a shock as we never think it will happen to us, and infertility can be a complex and confusing journey.
This ebook provides information and tips on how to beat infertility and fall pregnant combining holistic methods with modern medicine. You CAN fall pregnant, EVEN if you are in your 40s or have major fertility issues such as high follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, a history of miscarriages, failed IVF procedures, your partner has a low sperm count, you have endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, ovarian cysts, lazy ovaries or fibroids.
Don’t let age and failed attempts to fall pregnant discourage you. By following the methods in this ebook, you will be able to rejuvenate your body and maximize your chances of falling pregnant.
I was told by three different fertility doctors that I would never have children, but within three months, I fell pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy at the age of 40. In the following pages, I will share the things that worked for me.
I decided that I wasn't going to believe that I couldn't have children and I started taking action by doing research which led me to uncover natural methods to enhance fertility. Western medicine wasn't offering me any hope and I had decided I didn't want to deal with insensitive doctors with bad “bedside manners”, and that I would fall pregnant no matter what.
The information I uncovered during my research, which I share with you in this ebook, made me realize that there indeed was a huge amount that I could do to prepare my body for a pregnancy, which many doctors do not know about.
I began immediately, by changing my lifestyle, clearing my mind and refusing to let anybody or anything stand in my way. I was determined to become a mother.
What is infertility?
Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after a year of unprotected intercourse at the woman's most fertile time. It can be more accurately defined in three different groups, namely: Primary and secondary infertility and recurrent miscarriage.
Primary infertility
Women who have never fallen pregnant fall into this group.
Secondary infertility
Women who have managed to fall pregnant and give birth to a child, but have difficulty in conceiving another child are considered to have secondary infertility.
Recurrent miscarriage
Women may be diagnosed with infertility if they have had two or more miscarriages in a row.
Infertility can occur in both women and men, with a third of infertility cases being in women, a third in men and a third due to unexplained circumstances.
Infertility refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to procreating and can also refer to a woman being unable to carry a pregnancy to full term. It is a condition in the reproductive system which impairs conception.
Many factors are necessary when it comes to conceiving a baby, including healthy sperm, healthy eggs, unblocked fallopian tubes, the sperm's ability to fertilize the egg, the ability of the embryo to implant itself in the uterus and the quality of the embryo, amongst many others.
Only 20 percent of all couples manage to achieve a pregnancy in the first month of trying for a baby. This drops to 5 percent in women over 40, at which age it can take quite a few ovulation cycles before a pregnancy is successful.
Ten percent of couples will still battle to fall pregnant after a year of trying, and this group is defined as “infertile”, although what most doctors don't tell their patients when delivering the bad news is that it is often reversible and there usually IS a solution to falling pregnant. A lot of doctors also forget to mention that each cycle is different and that a woman could have an unhealthy egg or no egg in a cycle and the following month, she could have a viable egg.
A woman's chance of falling pregnant decreases as she ages, and the risk of a miscarriage becomes greater, but this does not mean that it is impossible for a woman over the age of 40 to have a healthy baby.
Fertility treatments often leave a couple physically, emotionally and financially drained, and in a lot of cases, Assisted Reproduction Therapies (ART) are encouraged far too prematurely. There are many women undergoing fertility treatment who fall pregnant naturally between treatment cycles and many who finally give up with Assisted Reproductive Treatments and fall pregnant naturally and unexpectedly.
My story
At the time my journey into fertility began, I was in my late 30s. I had realised that if I wanted to have a child, it was going to have to be "now or never". I was busy relocating to the Netherlands from South Africa and my husband and I had decided that we would start trying for a baby as soon as possible after having moved.
Unlike most couples with fertility issues, we hadn't yet even tried to fall pregnant. Because of my age, I went to a renowned fertility clinic, for fertility tests, to see exactly what was going on with my body. I had always had the regular gynaecological check-ups, but I wanted to have more thorough tests, to be sure that everything was in order.
I never expected the bad news - the worst possible news, delivered early in the morning on Christmas Eve 2008 - "I'm sorry, but your test results confirm that you have NO eggs left, you are in premature menopause and the only options left to you of having a baby are either using a donor egg or adoption..."
I fainted from the shock and when I came round, I found a nurse standing there, stroking my cheek and with a cup of tea in the other hand. She said: "...you will go through a mourning period and when you are ready, you can chat to the doctor about our donor egg program..."
I said: "I'm sorry, I refuse to believe it, that's ridiculous, I WILL have a baby and I have to get out of here right now!" I drove to my parents' home in tears, feeling as if my world had come to an end.
The first thing my mother said to me was: "Don't listen to the bad news! Don't believe it." In my heart, I actually didn't.
I also didn't really understand the meaning of my diagnosis, printed out on the doctor's letterhead in medical terminology, so I began to do research and take action immediately. Taking action makes you feel much better. It takes you out of the victim role , puts you into survival mode and helps you to regain your personal power and strength.
After doing an extensive amount of research and putting everything that I uncovered into action, I was sure that my fertility situation had changed. I made an appointment with a new fertility specialist, this time in the Netherlands.
This specialist seemed a lot more positive initially, especially after seeing that my FSH levels had gone down substantially. I proceeded to go through a whole new batch of fertility tests, a repeat of what I had already gone through in South Africa, as well as a number of new, more advanced tests.
Feeling a lot more positive, I was not expecting the news that I received next : "I'm very sorry to tell you that your test results indicate that you are not a candidate for IVF, as we are not sure how many eggs you still have and the ones you may have are most likely of a very poor quality. We don't think you will respond to hormone treatment either. There is, however a very slim chance that you could fall pregnant naturally, as your FSH levels have dropped, but it is highly unlikely. We won't take you on as a patient as we feel it will be a waste of time and money".
I was of course devastated once again. I had really believed that after everything I had been doing I would at least be able to start an IVF program. I started looking at other fertility clinics as options and was more determined than ever to have my baby. I followed my holistic regime religiously and continued doing research as it was the only way I was able to feel hope.
Not long after this, I started to feel different. My instinct told me I was pregnant. I did two pregnancy tests, which were both negative. Very disappointing, but since I was still feeling a bit strange and had noticed some changes in my body, I decided to do one last test, on the morning of my 40th birthday... POSITIVE!!!! I was pregnant!!
What an incredible birthday gift!
I still sometimes can't believe the journey I went on, in order to be where I am right now. I am so happy being a mother to our beautiful, healthy little boy. What an incredible blessing!
The human body has an incredible ability to heal itself, along with the grace of God, natural treatments, modern medicine, a positive attitude and the incredible love and support of family and friends.
Age and Fertility
This is becoming a more controversial topic by the day, as older women constantly defy medical predictions and manage to conceive and give birth to healthy babies.
The common belief is that fertility drops off dramatically after the age of 40. There is truth in the fact that conceiving a healthy baby in your 40s is more difficult than at 25, but the news isn't completely negative. Many women are having babies later in life. Falling pregnant in one's 40s may be more of a challenge, but it IS possible. Older women shouldn't give up hope of becoming mothers, as long as they remain realistic, as it could present some challenges.
Research shows that a woman's fertility peaks between the ages of 20 and 24 and drops to half by the age of 35. This indicates that fertility is affected by a woman's age, although more and more women are having babies in their late 30s and into their mid 40s, as more and more couples are choosing to have babies later in life, due to a number of reasons. Facts are that at 40, most women are half as fertile as they were at 35.
This doesn’t mean that you can't fall pregnant, it just means that the older you get, the longer it may take to conceive.
The most common fertility problem in older women is producing sufficient quality eggs.
Time is also a factor, as one doesn’t have the luxury of “trying” for a year or two, before taking action.
Women's eggs decline with age and the quality of these eggs is crucial to conception. The combination of egg quantity and egg quality constitutes a woman’s ovarian reserve.
Poor egg quality can contribute to age being the cause of infertility, however, egg quality alone does not guarantee infertility, and there are many treatments available to help increase fertility.
Fertility treatments take into consideration many factors which may be affecting a woman's fertility.
These include:
the menstrual cycle, which becomes shorter and more irregular as a woman ages
the uterus lining, thinning with age
the ovarian reserve and the number of follicles capable of producing viable eggs left in the ovaries
any diseases of the reproductive system that may be present, including endometriosis
general health, which also contributes to fertility
Fertility after 35
Even though fertility drops by half after the age of 35, the good news is that most women WILL be able to conceive after 35. There are some risks though, as women over the age of 35 are more at risk for certain complications during pregnancy. These include placental abnormalities and an increased risk of giving birth to a baby with Down's Syndrome. Many doctors recommend that women over 35 years old consider genetic testing to rule out birth defects during pregnancy.
Most women who conceive after 35 will find that their pregnancies aren't much different from those of younger women. They have fulfilling and rewarding pregnancies, and many become pregnant again.
During my research for this book I have come across many women who have had healthy babies in their mid to late 40s and even one in her 50s (with IVF).
Don't give up!
Most women are persuaded to try IVF, or to use donor eggs as an immediate solution, but there are many other treatments, amongst other things that one can try first, before opting for the more extreme medical options.
Low ovarian reserve, high FSH and premature menopause
Women are born with a finite number of eggs in their ovaries. The remaining number of eggs in the ovaries is called the "ovarian reserve". As a woman ages, her ovarian reserve gets depleted and her ovarian response starts declining.
The most usual method used to test the ovarian reserve is to test the level of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) in the blood, usually on day three of the menstrual cycle. FSH causes the ovaries to produce oestrogen. When the ovaries slow down their production of oestrogen, FSH levels increase.
A high level of FSH suggests poor ovarian reserve and an extremely high level is diagnostic of ovarian failure. During each monthly cycle eggs develop within the ovarian follicles under the influence of the hormone FSH and too much FSH indicates that the body is over-producing it in order to try to get the ovaries to function.
A high FSH level does not mean that one cannot fall pregnant it just means that chances are dropping as the egg quality is poor, but that there are most likely a few good eggs left, and all that is needed is one healthy egg!
The test used to diagnose premature menopause is the same FSH test. When FSH levels rise above 30 or 40 mIU/ml, it usually indicates that one is in menopause, which is also often referred to as Premature Ovarian Failure.
(I was diagnosed with this, and I still managed to fall pregnant with a healthy baby, only three months later! DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU ARE TOLD!)
Causes of infertility
Ovarian cysts
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac in the ovary which varies in size and contains liquid that is either thin and watery, or thick and dense. They are often found in women of childbearing age, although, mostly, ovarian cysts do not display any symptoms. If there are symptoms, they will often mimic other conditions such as an ectopic pregnancy, endometriosis or pelvic inflammation. Symptoms can also be masked by conditions such as appendicitis.
Because ovarian cysts can often be misdiagnosed, it is advisable to recognise some of their symptoms.
These symptoms are:
irregular menstruation
pelvic pain in the lower back
pelvic pain during intercourse
nausea or morning sickness
Often, ovarian cysts are discovered by gynaecological annual check-ups. The cyst can then be clearly identified by performing a few more tests, such as an ultrasound, which will determine if the cyst is filled with fluid or if it is solid, as well as exactly where it is situated. Other tests used to assess cysts are hormone level tests which determine if the cyst is hormone-based or not. A pregnancy test is also often done, to rule out the possibility of the cyst being related to a pregnancy. Blood tests are also often carried out as they can measure antigen levels, indicating whether the cyst is cancerous.
The first approach to treating ovarian cysts is to wait a few months to see if the cysts disappear on their own. Most disappear after a few weeks without treatment.
If the cysts are functional, birth control pills can help to help make them smaller and decrease the chances of new ones forming.
Often laparoscopic surgery can remove a cyst if it has solid material in it, or if it lasts longer than three menstrual cycles, or grows larger than 5 cm. If the cyst is not cancerous, it can be removed using keyhole surgery, which allows the doctor to save the normal ovarian tissue, preserving normal ovarian function.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome and Ovulatory dysfunction
Ovulatory dysfunction indicates a problem with the monthly release of the egg. There are varying causes of this, with the most common one being Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).
PCOS is usually diagnosed by undergoing a thorough physical examination by a gynaecologist, which involves checking for signs of PCOS such as extra body hair, high blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). Various blood tests are also done to check blood sugar, insulin, and hormone levels which can help to rule out thyroid and other glandular problems that could mimic similar symptoms. Often women with PCOS may have a certain degree of insulin resistance with the possibility of diabetes and often women with PCOS have high levels of oestrogen (oestrogen dominance), as well as a pattern of symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)occurs when a woman’s hormones are out of balance, which in turn causes problems with menstruation and difficulties in falling pregnant. If left untreated, PCOS can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease.
The symptoms of PCOS include:
infertility due to the lack of ovulation
infrequent or irregular menstrual periods
hair growth on the face and other areas
ovarian cysts
acne
oily skin
dandruff
weight gain, especially around the waist
obesity
baldness or thinning hair
skin patches which are dark brown or black
skin tags
pelvic pain
anxiety or depression
sleep apnoea
Women with PCOS often have trouble with their menstrual cycles as well as their fertility due to the fact that the ovaries don't make the necessary hormones for an egg to properly mature and for ovulation to take place. The follicles may start to grow, but they will not develop fully in order to release an egg. As a result of this, the ovaries make male sex hormones (androgens), which prevent ovulation and progesterone is not made, which is the hormone necessary to regulate a woman's menstrual cycle. Normally, the ovaries make a tiny quantity of androgens, but in PCOS, they start making slightly more androgens, which may cause ovulation to stop, resulting in acne and the growth of extra facial and body hair.
Hormones are the chemical messengers that trigger many different processes in the body and often, one hormone signals the release of another. In PCOS the sex hormones get out of balance due to all the hormones triggering each other.
The body may also have a problem using insulin, which is called insulin resistance. When the body doesn't use insulin well, blood sugar levels go up, and, over time, this increases the chance of getting diabetes.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome affects as many as 1 in15 women, with symptoms beginning as early as the teen years. Early diagnosis and treatment can help to control the symptoms and prevent long-term problems. PCOS tends to be hereditary, and the chances of developing it often depend on whether there is a history of irregular periods or diabetes in the family, from either maternal or paternal sides.
Studies show that supplementing with vitamin D, combined with calcium can help to normalize the menstrual cycle. This suggests that an abnormal calcium balance may be responsible for arrested follicular development in women with PCOS and that a vitamin D deficiency may contribute to insulin resistance and diabetes, which are problems for women with PCOS. Vitamin D plays a role in the secretion and action of insulin therefore people with diabetes tend to have lower vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D levels can be elevated by taking a vitamin D supplement in low doses, as vitamin D can become toxic in high doses. It is best to check vitamin D levels first by having a blood test. Vitamin D can also be obtained by exposing the skin to sunlight.
Insulin resistance
Insulin resistance occurs when the body is no longer able to effectively metabolize insulin and glucose. The pancreas works harder and harder to produce insulin, creating excessive amounts of insulin.
The insulin is unable to transport sugar to the cells because of hormonal imbalances or excess weight and so the extra insulin in the blood converts to excess glucose and contributes to pre-diabetes, weight gain, diabesity, infertility and acne.
Excess insulin affects fertility as it causes a rise in male hormones which can lead to acne, excessive hair growth, weight gain, and ovulation problems. High levels of insulin also stimulate the ovaries to over produce androgens, which cause the follicles to develop too fast and to prematurely shut down before producing an egg.
Premature ovarian failure (POF)
Women are born with all their eggs, which means that eggs are merely stored, and not made in the ovaries.
The amount and quality of eggs in the ovaries plays a huge role in fertility.
Premature Ovarian Failure means either that the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs or the eggs are of a very poor quality. This can happen before a woman has reached her mid forties and in some cases, women can have premature ovarian failure as young as 20. It is largely genetic factors which determine when a woman's ovaries cease to release eggs.
One or two eggs are released each month, although some months no eggs are released, even in young women. Premature Ovarian Failure refers more to the quality of the eggs and the ability of the ovaries to release those eggs, than the actual number of eggs left in the ovaries.
Premature Ovarian Failure is diagnosed in women under the age of 40, when the ovaries stop working as they are supposed to. This can result in menstruation coming to an end or being very irregular and disrupted. Menopausal symptoms can begin to appear due to the lack of oestrogen, resulting in infertility. Premature Ovarian Failure is not the same as early Menopause although the symptoms of early Menopause and Premature Ovarian Failure are similar.
Premature Ovarian Failure actually affects only about one percent of women by the age of 40. It occurs in one in 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 29, and one in 100 women between the ages of 30 and 39, but is most commonly diagnosed in women between the ages of 27 and 32.
The symptoms of Premature Ovarian Failure are hot flashes and night sweats, lack of menstruation, irritability and moodiness, insomnia, a decreased libido, hair coarseness or loss, and vaginal dryness. The symptoms may occur suddenly or may develop gradually, over time. Early signs of Premature Ovarian Failure include very infrequent, light menstruation or no menstruation and menstrual cycles of less than 21 days in length.
The causes of Premature Ovarian Failure are usually attributed to genetics, but other known causes include Cancer therapy such as chemotherapy and radiation, pelvic surgery, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia. It is difficult to diagnose, as a lot of symptoms are masked by oral contraceptives which need to be discontinued for a few months before an accurate diagnosis can be made. This diagnosis usually involves a physical examination and a blood test to measure FSH levels. If the FSH reading is extremely high, this means that the body is releasing more and more FSH in order to try and release an egg, but that no egg is being released due either to poor quality or there being too few eggs.
Certain hormone replacement treatments containing oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, as well as various alternative and herbal treatments, can be used to treat premature ovarian failure.
It is best to discuss this thoroughly with your fertility specialist.
The trick though, is finding the RIGHT specialist for you, who understands your needs, and is also knowledgeable about alternative therapy, as most doctors have a strictly medical view on fertility. Many women manage to fall pregnant after being diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure, by using acupuncture, herbs and natural and medical drugs and supplements. Another option available, after all other options have been exhausted, is egg donation using in vitro fertilization (IVF). Many women have a high success rate of pregnancy using this method.
Ageing ovaries is a fertility problem that women in their late 30s and early 40s face, but approximately 50% of younger women also suffer from premature ovarian ageing. It is one of the most common fertility problems and can often be misdiagnosed as unexplained infertility.
Premature Ovarian Failure can also be dangerous in that extremely low levels of oestrogen can cause a weakening of the skeleton which can lead to osteoporosis, making bones very fragile and prone to fracture.
Other medical disorders such as Cardio vascular disease, Glaucoma, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease can also be triggered by POF.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis affects women in their reproductive years, and is caused when the endometrium or lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. This tissue implants itself and grows anywhere within the abdominal cavity, usually on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the ligaments that support the uterus, between the vagina and rectum, the outside of the uterus and the lining of the pelvic cavity. Endometriosis can also sometimes be found on the bladder, bowel, vagina, cervix and vulva and very rarely, in the lungs and on the arms and legs.
Endometriosis is often found in women in their late childbearing years and some people believe that endometriosis is the most frequent cause of infertility.
Symptoms include painful menstruation, pain during intercourse and infertility.
The cause of endometriosis is not entirely clear, but it has been strongly linked to immune system dysfunction and exposure to dioxins and other toxic chemicals that accumulate in the fat of fish, animals, and humans.
It is unfortunate that endometriosis cannot be diagnosed from symptoms and can only be confirmed by a laparoscopy. This may still be overlooked, as it is such a microscopic disease.
Endometriosis causes infertility by causing tubal disease which can affect both the ovaries and the egg quality, and increase the risk of miscarriage. It causes infertility as Endometriosis often leads to a mild inflammation within the pelvis, and in some of these cases, the levels of chemicals released in response to the inflammation are increased, which have a negative effect on follicle and egg development, fertilization, normal tubal function, and implantation. Endometriosis can also inflame surrounding tissue and spur the growth of scar tissue. This scar tissue may bind the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and intestines together and therefore interfere in the release of eggs from the ovaries.
Endometriosis is the one case where one should exercise caution if supplementing with DHEA, (discussed in Chapter 10 which covers Nutrients and supplements)as it has been shown to have negative effects in patients who have had Endometriosis in the past or who currently have it. Recent studies however have shown that DHEA does in fact have some benefits in patients with Endometriosis.
If you have had Endometriosis it is best to discuss whether taking DHEA is right for you or not, with someone who understands DHEA and female reproduction.
A thorough detoxification along with an anti-inflammatory diet is recommended as a complementary treatment for Endometriosis, along with hormonal treatment. (See diet for Endometriosis.)
Polyps or Fibroids
Most fibroids or polyps are dense enough to be detected by a routine gynaecological check-up, but to assess their severity and exact location, ultrasound, sonohysterography (a vaginal ultrasound using sterile salt water inside the uterus), hysteroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are often used.
Polyps grow inside the uterus and can affect fertility by preventing implantation from taking place which can often complicate falling pregnant in the first place. It is best to have polyps removed at least a few months prior to trying to conceive, as pregnancy hormones can cause fibroids to grow. The build up of post-surgical scar tissue can also affect implantation, so one has to weigh up the severity of the fibroids and assess whether they are affecting one's fertility greatly enough to consider surgery.
Usually, drug therapy is used alongside the surgical removal of the fibroid, which involves a laparoscopic procedure through the cervix to destroy the fibroid, if the fibroids are small enough.
A laparotomy, which involves an incision either through the abdominal wall or uterus, is used when the fibroids are larger. This however, requires a three to six month healing time before a pregnancy should be planned.
Damaged fallopian tubes
The fallopian tubes connect the uterus to the ovaries. A large number of women have blocked tubes due to many factors, such as Endometriosis, infections or past surgery. Luckily, this is not such a big problem these days due to modern medicine and IVF, which places the embryo directly back into the uterus, and fertilization can be achieved without the sperm having to travel through the tubes to reach the egg. In most cases, woman have one tube blocked, and not both, so a natural pregnancy is also possible and surgery can also reverse blocked tubes.
Miscarriages
Miscarriages are fairly common, and on average, one out of five pregnancies ends in a miscarriage. A miscarriage is the spontaneous abortion of an embryo or foetus before it's developed enough to survive. This can happen even before a woman is aware that she is pregnant.
Certain factors such as age, smoking, drinking, and a history of miscarriage put a woman at a higher risk for losing a pregnancy, but most miscarriages occur because there is a problem with the foetus, usually a random chromosome abnormality that occurs during fertilization.
If you've had several miscarriages, you may want to be tested to see if any anatomic, genetic, or hormonal abnormalities are contributing to the miscarriages.
Although miscarriages usually can't be prevented,
the following precautions can increase the chances of having a healthy pregnancy:
maintaining a balanced, healthy diet
increasing folic acid and calcium intake
maintaining a healthy weight
exercising moderately
limiting caffeine
stopping smoking
avoiding over-the-counter medicines
using progesterone cream after ovulation
Hormonal infertility
Hormonal imbalances such as an under-active thyroid gland, low progesterone levels or high testosterone levels can cause endocrinological abnormalities and infertility. If it is suspected that hormones are the cause of a patient's infertility, it is essential to undergo a series of blood tests throughout the cycle, for a minimum of three months, to monitor what is happening in the body. There are various ways of treating hormonal infertility, such as the use of hormonal creams and gels, injections, acupuncture, reflexology and Chinese herbs.
Often ovulation does not occur due to a number of factors, such as hormone imbalances, over-exercise, excessive drug use – including over-the-counter medication, stress, age, depression, eating disorders and psychological and chemical imbalances.
Oestrogen dominance
This occurs when there is no progesterone to balance the effects of oestrogen in the body. Many women have abnormal levels of oestrogen, either way too much (oestrogen dominance) or they are totally deficient. Women with low oestrogen levels and no progesterone can also show symptoms of oestrogen dominance.