Infertility In Females and Males
In
today blog I will explain you how you should go about pregnancy and how to deal
with Infertility naturally.
Before
getting into the depth infertility I would like to give you a brief of
pregnancy.
WHAT IS PREGNANCY ?
- Pregnancy is when a female mammal has an unborn baby inside her. During pregnancy, a female is called "pregnant".
- A human pregnancy is about 38 weeks long, from conception to childbirth.
- Usually the Mother has one baby at a time But the mother can have three or more babies at one time
How
does Pregnancy Happens
Pregnancy usually
starts after a woman has sexual intercourse with a man. Her ovum (or egg) and
his sperm (seed) come together and form a zygote (fertilized egg) inside
her....
Why
a Girl / Women doesn't get Pregnant ?
Some common reasons for infertility in
women include:
•
not ovulating (not
releasing eggs from your ovaries)
•
your fallopian tubes are blocked so sperm
can’t get to your egg
•
poor egg quality
•
the shape of your uterus makes it
hard for a fertilized egg to implant
•
Are over age
35 or 40 Have irregular or absent periods
•
Had multiple miscarriages
•
Have undergone treatment for cancer
•
Unhealthy body weight
•
Abnormal cervical mucus
•
PCOD
•
Other hormonal
imbalance
If
you are thinking about pregnancy or currently trying to get pregnant,
congratulation on the decision to start a family !
Trying
to conceive can be over whelming and, at times, it may feel like ok. If you are
thinking about getting pregnant, getting your body in tip-top shape can only
help the process.
At
least three months before you start trying, make sure you add this four priorities to your to-do list.
1. Maintain
a Healthy Weight
Having a normal body mass index (BMI) is
important for your overall heath, but it’s also key for conception. Being
underweight or overweight can increase your chances of encountering fertility
issues. While many underweight or overweight women have no problem conceiving,
ovulation issues are more common in these two groups.
2. Up
your nutrients
Maintaining
a healthy weight is one thing, but you should also be more conscious about the
nutrient density of your food, as well as any supplementation.
A
well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and dairy
will promote the normal functioning of your reproductive system.
Following nutrients to be keep in
check:-
Folic
acid: Women of childbearing age should consume 400 micrograms of
folic acid per day. This vitamin can be obtained through dark leafy greens,
citrus, legumes, and fortified bread and cereal. You can also take a
supplement.
Calcium: women of childbearing age should
consume at least 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily, which can be obtained
through low-fat milk, Yogurt, dark leafy Greens, and even tofu
Prenatal
vitamins: You can
try different brands of prenatal vitamins before you get pregnant to see what
works best for you. Some options include vegan, vegetarian, and gummy
varieties. Some prenatals already include DHA, or you might need an additional
supplement. You can to your doctor also for a prescription of prenatal vitamin,
depending on your needs.
Disclaimer:
You should visit your Gynaecologist for the medicine or supplements.
3. Limit
caffeine and alcohol
It’s also
important to monitor your caffeine intake while trying to conceive. Limit to no
more than 200 to 300 milligrams per day, according to most experts. While
there’s no clear link between caffeine consumption and fertility, some research
does suggest that it can lead to fertility problems or miscarriage.
4. Start
Exercising Regularly
Not only will being fit make pregnancy and labor/delivery easier on your
body, but participating in moderate physical activity may help you to conceive
as well.
One study found that moderate exercise (considered walking,
leisurely biking, and golfing) was related to a shorter conception period.
On the other hand, the study also found that among normal weight women
who were struggling to conceive, intense exercise (such as running, biking, and
vigorous swimming) decreased the chance of conception by 42 percent. This
effect was not seen in women who were overweight or obese.
More
research needs to be done on the correlation between vigorous physical activity
and Infertility.
So I
would suggest you not to do a rigorous exercise during the conceiving phase and
go for a walk or yoga or light exercise
If you and your partner are trying to conceive a baby, you may be looking
for information about how to increase sperm count to improve your chances of
getting pregnant.
A healthy sperm count is necessary for fertility.
For
pregnancy to occur, only one sperm and one egg are needed, so why does sperm count matter? In short,
it increases the odds for a successful pregnancy. When a man ejaculates into a
woman, the chances that one sperm will reach and implant itself into an egg
increases if more sperm are in the semen.
Normal semen contains 40 million
to 300 million sperm per milliliter. A low sperm count is considered to be anything between 10 and 20
million sperm per milliliter. Twenty million sperm per milliliter may be
adequate for pregnancy if the sperm are healthy.
You can determine your sperm count
through a semen analysis. You can get the analysis done at your doctor's office,
a fertility clinic.
Understanding your semen analysis
A semen analysis tests for the following:
• number of sperm (volume)
• shape of sperm
• movement of sperm, or “sperm motility”
The number, shape, and mobility of sperm are important for testing for
male factor infertility. Your doctor may recommend testing up to three samples
of sperm at different visits to get an accurate analysis.
How does sperm count affect
fertility?
Sperm count can affect fertility because your chance of getting your
partner pregnant decreases with a lower sperm count. Problems with the quality
of sperm can also affect your chances of getting a woman pregnant.
Male infertility factor, often due to a low sperm count, is a common
reason many couples have trouble conceiving.
Read further to know how you can really improve sperm health and quality
1.
Lose weight
Losing weight if you’re overweight
is one of the single-most effective things you can do to increase sperm
count. Studies Trusted Source have shown that weight loss can
significantly increase semen volume, concentration, and mobility, as well as
the overall health of sperm.
2. Exercise
Even if you
don’t need to lose weight, staying active and leading a healthy lifestyle can
help boost your sperm count. One study Trusted Source found that
weightlifting and outdoors exercise can help sperm health more than other types
of exercise. Consider incorporating these kinds of activities into your routine.
Exercise can also help you maintain or lose weight, which may have additional
benefits for your sperm health.
3. Take your vitamins
Some types
of vitamins, including vitamins D, C, E, and CoQ10, are important for sperm
health.
One study
Trusted Source showed that taking 1,000 mg of vitamin C every day can help
men’s sperm concentration and mobility. The overall sperm count won’t improve,
but the sperm can become more concentrated and able to move more efficiently.
That can boost your chances of conceiving successfully.
Talk to your doctor about testing your vitamin levels. They can do this
using a simple blood test.
4. Avoid
substance abuse
Low sperm counts and unhealthy
sperm have been to people with a history of:
• heavy drinking, which is defined as drinking
two or more alcoholic drinks per day
• tobacco use of any kind
• illegal drug use, including cocaine and
anabolic steroids
5. Check
your environment
Consider changing your clothes and showering as soon as possible if you’ve
been exposed to:
• metals
• solvents
• pesticides
• paint strippers
• degreasers
• non-water based glues or paints
• other endocrine disruptors
Those toxins may affect sperm count. If you’re exposed to any of these
things because of a hobby, consider putting your hobby on hold until after
you’ve successfully conceived.
6. Wear
loose, cotton boxers
Keeping your sperm at an adequate
temperature and allowing lots of air flow to the scrotum can help cultivate the
right environment for healthy sperm. If you don’t feel comfortable wearing
boxers, choose cotton briefs instead of synthetic ones. That will still help
control air flow and temperature.
Read on
to find out which nutrients and foods promote sperm health.
1.
Zinc
Zinc has been
shown to play a role in regulating sperm count and quality. Men who are
infertile tend to have lower zinc levels than men who are fertile
You can
up your intake by eating:
• oysters
• red meat and poultry
• shellfish, such as crab and lobster
• fortified breakfast cereals
• nuts and bean
For supplements contact your doctor as I can tell you about
food sources only.
2. Folate
Folate is a B vitamin that has been to sperm health. Low folate is
associated with damaged sperm DNA, lower sperm densities,
and lower sperm counts.
You can
up your intake by eating:
• green, leafy vegetables, such as spinach,
romaine lettuce, Brussels sprouts, and asparagus
• fruits and fruit juices, especially oranges
and orange juice
nuts, beans, and peas
• whole grains
• fortified breakfast cereals
• enriched flour products, such as breads and
pasta
For supplements contact your doctor as I can tell you about
food sources only.
3. Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12 is a critical nutrient
to overall sperm health. Research has shown that it improves sperm
motility, increases sperm count, and reduces sperm DNA damage.
You can up
your intake by eating:
• fish and seafood, especially clams
• meats and poultry, especially liver
• dairy products, such as eggs and milk
• fortified breakfast cereals
• nutritional yeasts
For
supplements contact your doctor as I can tell you about food sources only.
4. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant
that plays an important role in male fertility. Increasing vitamin C
intake has been shown to improve sperm motility, count, and morphology.
You can up your intake by eating:
• citrus
fruits and their juices
• sweet peppers
• other fruits, such as kiwi, strawberries, and
cantaloupe
• other vegetables, such as tomatoes, broccoli,
Brussels sprouts, cabbage, potatoes
• fortified breakfast cereals, dairy, and other
food products
For supplements contact your doctor as I can tell you about food sources only.
5. Vitamin D
Vitamin D supplements have been linked to increases in
testosterone and improved sperm motility.
However, another study found that levels of low vitamin D
aren’t a risk factor for poor sperm quality. More research is needed to truly
understand whether vitamin D has an effect.
You can up your intake by eating:
• oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna
• beef liver
• Cheese
• egg yolks
• fortified milk, yogurt, and other food
products
• mushrooms
For supplements contact your doctor as I can tell you about food sources only.
6. Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10, is an antioxidant that all living
cells need to function. Research shows that CoQ10 supplements can
increase semen quality in men who are infertile.
You can
up your intake by eating:
• meats and poultry, especially beef and chicken
• fish, such as herring and trout
• plant-based oils, including soybean and canola
oil
• nuts and seeds, especially peanuts, sunflower
seeds, and pistachios
For
supplements contact your doctor as I can tell you about food sources only.
7. Vitamin E
Along with other antioxidants, vitamin E may help improve sperm
quality. Vitamin E has antioxidant properties that protect sperm from
damage.
You can up your
intake by eating:
• plant-based
oils, such as corn, safflower, sunflower, and soybean oils
• nuts and
seeds
• green
vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach
• fortified
juices, margarines, and other food products
For supplements contact your doctor as I can tell you about
food sources only.
8. D-aspartic acid
D-aspartic acid is an
amino acid implicated in the regulation of male sex hormones, such as
testosterone. Some research has shown that sodium D-aspartic acid
supplements can increase sperm concentration and motility.
You can up your intake
by eating:
• meats and
poultry
• eggs and
dairy products, including low-fat milk, cheese, and yogurt
• grains,
such as oat bran, rice, and fortified pastas
• fresh and
dried fruits
• fortified
breakfast cereals
For supplements contact your doctor as I can tell you about
food sources only.
9. L-arginine
An amino acid, L-arginine appears to play several different roles in male
fertility. Inside the body, it transforms into nitric oxide, which promotes
sperm function.
L-arginine supplements have been found to increase sperm count
in rabbits at certain doses. However, the same study found that too high of a
dose of L-arginine decreased sperm motility. You should talk to your
doctor about how L-arginine may affect you before adding more to your diet.
You can up your
intake by eating:
• meats and
poultry, such as pork loin, turkey, and chicken
• nuts and
seeds, especially pumpkin seeds and peanuts
• beans and
lentils
• dairy
products
For
supplements contact your doctor as I can tell you about food sources only.
10.
Fenugreek seeds
Fenugreek seed extract may increase testosterone levels, which
are linked to sperm production and health. Study outcomes are varied, though.
One study found that fenugreek seed extract may only maintain
healthy testosterone levels. So more research needed for same.
11.
Ashwagandha root
Ashwagandha root, or withania somnifera, is an herbal
remedy with antioxidant properties. Some recent research suggests Ashwagandha
root may improve semen quality.
In one study, participants who took 5 grams of Ashwagandha root
powder for three months experienced a significant improvement in semen quality.
12.
Ginseng root
Ginseng supplements may several factors related to sperm
health, including count and motility. Ginsenoside, an active ingredient in
ginseng, may stimulate nitric oxide production, which is related to
sperm function.
You should talk to your doctor before consuming ginseng.
It’s associated with changes in blood pressure and other potentially
harmful side effects.
Hope the above blog help you in some way. I tried to put lot of knowledge which is useful for family planning.
If you have any other query then you can mention in the comment section I will get back to you with the reply. If you wanna know more about me you can follow me on social media handles.
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