Personal Path

to Pregnancy
The Secret to Making a Baby Lies in
Choosing What’s Best for You -
Traditional Strategies & Little Known
Alternatives Doctors Often Don’t Discuss
that Help You Increase the Odds of a
Quicker Conception

By:
Beth Kiley
© Personal Path To Pregnancy 2008 2nd Edition
All Rights Reserved

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 Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Does Mother Nature Need a Nudge?

Sizing Up the Situation to See If Your
Fertility Is at Risk

Chapter 2: The ABCs of Conception – How to

Boost the Odds of Having a Baby in
Your Immediate Future

Chapter 3: Are You Ovulating? Predicting Your

Chances for Pregnancy While
Minimizing Irregularities

Chapter 4: Before You Turn to Your Doctor –

Traditional and Alternative Tips to
Help Hasten the Process of Pregnancy

Chapter 5: How to Influence Your Fertility With

Your Diet – What To Eat and Avoid

Chapter 6: When Infertility Is an Issue – Dealing

with the Tests, Emotions, and
Outcome of a Diagnosis You Didn’t
Want!

Chapter 7: When A Condition Is Identified And

What Does It Mean?

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Chapter 8: When Medical Science Should
Intervene – A Look at Today’s
Breakthrough Technology for
Increasing the Odds of a Baby

Chapter 9: Conception Isn’t One Size Fits All –

Mapping Out Your Blueprint for
Making Your Dream Come True

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 Chapter 1:

Does Mother Nature Need a Nudge?

Sizing Up the Situation to See If Your Fertility Is
at Risk
When most couples decide to have a baby, they really don‘t give very much
thought to how difficult it might actually be. It seems simple enough…have sex…make a
baby. The truth is, both men‘s and women‘s fertility levels are on the decline today. It‘s
quite possible that the trouble stems from the increased chemicals and pesticides in the
foods we eat, toxins in the environment and the high stress levels of modern society.

It seems that every little thing counts when it comes to trying to conceive a
baby—from what you eat to what position you have sex. Now I don‘t know your
situation personally, but what I do know is that there‘s a mountain of information out
there, and I think you should be armed with all the knowledge you‘ll need to map out
your own blueprint to making a baby.

It is your body, after all – not your doctor‘s, not your best friend‘s or well-
meaning mother-in-law‘s – and certainly not the acquaintance you met on the Internet
who declared nothing else works but her method.

Your Personal Present, Past, and Future Path to Pregnancy

Every woman has a different story, and this guide will cater to women in any
situation. Maybe you‘re just now considering parenthood and haven‘t even really tried to
get pregnant yet, but want to be informed before you get started.

Or maybe you‘ve tried every which way you know, and haven‘t been able to get
pregnant yet after months – or even years – of trying. Before you give up hope forever,
you need to get to the end of this book and see what‘s in it for you.

Some of you reading may relate to my story of how my personal path to

pregnancy was achieved. I was married at 35 and about a year later, we decided to try
and have a baby. After getting pregnant fairly quickly, I lost my first baby in a
miscarriage at around 4-5 weeks. Although I was very saddened and confused, I wasn‘t
too worried, since many people told me that it was very common.

I thought I was lucky because I got pregnant again so quickly. At 7 weeks I saw
my baby‘s heartbeat on the sonogram. But at my 10-week ultrasound appointment, they
told me my baby‘s heart had stopped beating.

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 I was devastated, to say the least. And that‘s when fear really set in. It took 3
more miscarriages before I was finally diagnosed with an immune related disorder that
would require some treatments to prevent another miscarriage the next time I got
pregnant.

Imagine my surprise that my next step on the path to pregnancy was that I
couldn‘t seem to get pregnant again. We tried, but nothing happened for several months.
Depression set in, as I wanted a baby so desperately, and I was terrified of not being able
to get pregnant again. The battle between depression and desperation raged on and I
joined online support groups and shared in the camaraderie of other women‘s struggles
and felt joy and jealousy whenever one of our own was able to conceive and bring a child
into this world.

While my desperation and frantic anxiety took root, it seemed like everyone else
around me was getting pregnant. It was like it was ―in the water‖ and I wasn‘t getting to
drink from the fountain. This was devastating.

So, I logged onto the Internet and devoured information, researching in every
spare minute to find out what I could do to help me get pregnant more quickly. I
researched on the computer every day. I read books, articles, transcripts, research papers
and published medical reports. Long story short, I spent every free minute I had learning
everything written on the topic of getting pregnant. I even had two expensive
consultations with top experts in the field of reproductive endocrinology (fertility
doctors) to try to find answers.

And you know what? There‘s an absolute ton of information on this subject. It
took so much time to simply sort through and make sense of it all. To separate the facts
from the myths—the new research from the old. The wive‘s tales from the truth.

And even though I dug up all these buried resources, I wasn‘t sure the techniques
would work. But within two months of implementing some of the techniques I
uncovered, I conceived and carried my first baby to term. She was a beautiful baby girl
and well worth the wait. And when we decided to try and give her a baby brother or
sister, I conceived my son after only 1 month of trying.

My husband and I took a very pro-active approach. I learned about all of these
techniques in a desperate attempt to become a mother myself, and if it can help you in
your quest to parenthood, then I‘m happy to share what I learned so that you don‘t have
to waste time sorting through the mountain of information on the Internet.

You have enough to deal with when trying to become a parent—the excitement,
the disappointments, the fear, the nervousness, or quite possibly the depression and
desperation that I went through.

This guide is meant to be a thorough look at all of the options that are available to
you—including dozens of strategies that people don‘t talk about and doctors don‘t seem

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to want you to know about. You will learn about various ways you can do something on
your own to improve your fertility and therefore maximize your chance of conceiving a
child the fastest way possible.

You have choices, and I‘m going to deliver them to you. When mainstream
medicine doesn‘t help you, or when you want to know the most modern methods people
and scientists have developed for getting pregnant, it ought to be easy to access, don‘t
you agree?

That was my goal in creating this guide, and I believe I have achieved what I
hoped to accomplish in structuring it so that it‘s easy and informative and can help you
bring your dreams to fruition. You won‘t have to waste your valuable time sorting
through the endless, often conflicting information to learn what you can do to have your
dream of a beautiful baby come true.

***What You Should Know About the Unknown***

There is a very important point I want to address before you get started. You
need to know and understand this very important point. At the present time, there is still
a lot about conception that remains unknown. When you think about it, it makes perfect
sense, because if doctors knew everything there was to know about getting women
pregnant, then the success rate for procedures such as IVF (in vitro fertilization) would be
extremely high. The truth is, they are not. Even when the egg is fertilized in the lab and
the resulting embryo is placed back inside the uterus where it is expected to develop into
a baby, more often than not it doesn‘t work. And doctors do not understand why.

Clearly this reinforces the idea that conception is extremely complex, with many
variables that are still unidentified. The best we can do is use the knowledge that we
have to improve fertility and therefore the odds of getting pregnant. And sometimes,
there is disagreement among the medical community about what may improve or worsen
your chances of getting pregnant.

In those areas, I believe it is best to take a conservative approach and eliminate

anything that even ―may‖ hurt the chance of conception. I will touch on some of these
issues in this guide. And my recommendations will typically be that when there is
controversy among the fertility experts, it is best to err on the side of caution. In other
words, better safe than sorry. Of course, you can choose the direction you want to take,
as I will always point out when there is disagreement among the experts. You will be
armed with the information and my recommendation and it is up to you to use the
information as you see fit.

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***TAKE ACTION***
There is one more point I want to address before we dive in to the information
that is equally important.

As you read through this guide no doubt every reader will have a different amount
of knowledge already in place about getting pregnant. While it will vary for everyone,
each of you will probably come across at least some information that you already know.
For some it will be more than for others, but I‘m quite sure everyone will learn enough to
make a big difference in your ability to get pregnant.

But here‘s the important point. The most important thing I can tell you is that you
must take action to bring about a change. If you are reading this guide to help you get
pregnant, it is not important what you already know or what you have now learned. The
only thing that is important is that you do something about what you know or have
learned.

I have done surveys in the past that I have found shocking. Women who tell me,
yes, I already knew that… but when I ask, so are you doing anything about what you
already know, all too often the answer is no. Learning about ways to increase your
fertility are only helpful if you actually put what you learn/know into practice. Even if
you read this guide and only learn a few new things (although I‘m sure it will be a lot
more than that), if I can just convince you to take action on what you learned/know…to
make changes, even if they seem small and insignificant, that is the only way to have a
chance at achieving your dream of creating a beautiful bundle of joy. Remember, many
small changes can add up to a significant result.

PLEASE, do not scan through this book looking for the ―magic secret‖. I know
other guides promise you that, but it simply does not exist. There are MANY things you
can do to optimize your fertility, and most often it is by making small consistent changes
that when added together will enable you to bring about the result you desire.

Desperation Is Your Best Ally in Your Quest to Get Pregnant

Being desperate is no picnic in the park. Who wants to feel hopeless, frustrated,
and anxious on a daily basis? While it was horrible to go through, it did make me well
educated in pregnancy-related issues.

Instead of making you go through the same process – picking the minds of
experts, talking to hundreds of women all over the world to see what worked for them – I
decided to just compile what I learned and give you all of the options available to help
you make a baby on your own – without budget-busting infertility treatments or years of
waiting for it to happen.

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 Maybe you‘ve already been trying for several months or even years. Whether
you‘re a veteran at trying, or a complete novice just now starting on your own journey to
motherhood, this guide will surprise you and show you that there is always something
new to be considered in getting pregnant.

I‘ve personally tried many different methods, including the natural approaches
(no boxers for the husband, no caffeine, tons of vitamins), traditional advice about how to
combine Robitussin and water for improved cervical mucus, alternative options like
acupuncture, and a long list of other strategies.

Some worked, some didn‘t. Some worked for other women. Some might work
for you and some might not. But the point is, you need access to the variety of
techniques and strategies in an organized way so that you can put your own personal
plan together.

Getting pregnant isn‘t a cookie cutter issue – it‘s not one size fits all.

This book may have some methods you‘ve heard of before. But it‘s also sure to
have some new information that‘s not widely circulated and that you didn‘t have before –
details that could be the very key you need to unlock the secret to having a baby.

Will I Have a Problem Getting Pregnant?

Most girls, when growing up, don‘t consider whether or not they‘ll be able to
have a baby – they just assume they will one day. Then when the time comes that they‘re
actually planning it, they start to worry – even if there‘s been no sign of a problem with
their fertility.

There are different levels of fertility. There are people who just happen to not be
pregnant yet, and will greatly benefit from chapter 2. There are those who find
themselves infertile after a year or more of trying to conceive.

There‘s also primary infertility (infertility without a previous pregnancy) and

secondary infertility (infertility after having already conceived a child), and sterility,
which means you have no chance of conception.

If you‘re wondering where you might be, you should know that 15-20% of
couples in the United States alone encounter difficulties in getting pregnant. The causes
range from minor issues like using a non-productive position during sex to a major
reason, like one of the partners being sterile.

Most women are worried because they are simply uninformed. Plus, there are a
lot of myths floating around on the ‗net and offline that cause a lot of unnecessary stress
and anxiety.

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 Here are some of the many reasons why you and your partner may be
experiencing trouble getting pregnant if it‘s been more than a year and you‘ve had no
luck making a baby:

 Ovulation issues

 Ovarian cysts (PCOS)

 Sperm issues

 Endometriosis

 Blocked fallopian tubes

 Fibroids

 Stress

 Weight gain

Of course this list isn‘t comprehensive, but it does include some of the more
common issues that affect a couple‘s chance of conceiving. And unfortunately, many
couples who can‘t conceive a baby after a year of trying, seem to have nothing medically
wrong with either of them, and simply fall into the category of ―unexplained infertility‖,
which is the medical term for ―we don‘t have any idea why you‘re not conceiving.‖

Which raises a very interesting question. If so many couples have ―unexplained

infertility‖, which means there is no obvious medical reason why they can‘t conceive,
doesn‘t it stand to reason that there is a lot more to conception than the doctors know
about? And then the idea that both men and women can make a variety of personal
changes to improve their own fertility really does make a heck of a lot of sense, don‘t you
agree?

It is becoming increasingly evident that when your body is not in

optimum health, or is overloaded with toxins, or is not given enough
nutrients, the body's ability to reproduce can be dramatically effected.
Sometimes it may just take an alternative approach—a change in lifestyle or the
use of alternative therapies for instance, to make conception possible. Conception is a
miraculous and quite complex phenomenon—undoubtedly influenced by many subtle
internal and external factors. It stands to reason that we all have the power to make
changes within ourselves that can maximize our fertility and make the difference in our
ability to conceive a baby.

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 As you go through this guide and choose various options that are available to you,
you‘ll learn more about what could be causing you and your partner a delay in becoming
parents and find a solution to finally fix it so that you can look forward to your new
bundle of joy arriving soon.

How to Best Use This Guide

If you‘ve tried to get pregnant for the last few months and haven‘t seen any
results, that does not necessarily mean you‘ll need infertility treatments! There is a
whole treasure trove of home and self-treatments you can do on your own before you
even consider going to an infertility doctor for invasive and very expensive treatments.

This information is not readily distributed, so you want to make sure you exhaust
your options before shelling out big money to a specialist when it may not even be
necessary.

The first place we‘re going to start is with the basics. If you‘re new to this, then
you definitely want to read it carefully to see what they didn‘t teach you in 8th grade sex-
education classes!

If you‘re a veteran, why not skim it over again anyway just to make sure there‘s
not something new in it that you didn‘t know before? The key to your pregnancy may be
a single sentence contained within chapter 2, and you don‘t want to pass it over.

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 Chapter 2:
The ABCs of Conception – How to Boost the Odds
of Having a Baby in Your Immediate Future
Some of what I‘m about to share, you may already know – but there are always
nuggets of information that you can apply that could very well be the answer to your
hopes and dreams of parenthood.

Formula for Fertility

The path to pregnancy can be a bumpy ride. There are no guarantees and a
million things that can affect your ability to conceive. Approximately 80% of women
under age 35 get pregnant within the first year of trying.

But for the remaining 20%, half will go on to get pregnant within two years after
addressing some mild issues, while the other half will need medical science to intervene
on their behalf.

That‘s great news for you – that means there‘s a 90% chance you can conceive on
your own! That‘s what this guide is all about – and to help you determine when is the
right time to find out if you happen to be one of the 10% of women who need extra
assistance.

Your age will have a lot to do with your chance at conception. In a society where
20% of all first time moms are over the age of 35, more and more women are dealing
with the problem of not being able to get pregnant quickly and easily.

Odds of getting pregnant in a given month, by age:

 Early 20‘s: up to 25 percent
 Late 20‘s and early 30‘s: up to 15 percent
 Late 30‘s: up to 10 percent
 Over 40: less than 5%

Number of women who achieve pregnancy within the first year of trying, by age:
 Early 20‘s: 94 percent
 Late 20‘s and early 30‘s: 70-85 percent
 Late 30‘s: 65-70 percent

Average number of months until conception, by age:

 Early 20‘s: 4-5 months
 Late 20‘s: 5-7 months
 Early 30‘s: 7-10 months
 Late 30‘s: 10-12 months

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 One thing I just want to point out in case you missed it. Women in their twenties
(at the peak of their fertility) still only have a 25% chance of conceiving in any one cycle.
That means, when put another way, there‘s a 75% chance you won‘t get pregnant in a
particular month even when you are in your twenties and at peak fertility. It‘s important
to point this out, because I think many women put too much pressure on themselves each
month. They think that something is wrong if they don‘t get pregnant in just a few
months. But as you can see from those statistics, it is perfectly normal for it to take
several months (up to 12) to get pregnant.

Surprisingly, even race plays a small factor in conception. African American

women have a 10.5% infertility rate under 35 years of age, while Hispanic women have a
7% infertility rate and Caucasian women deal with 6.4%.

Keep in mind that when we talk about numbers and percentages, they‘re just
statistics. That doesn‘t mean your case will strictly adhere to any certain group or
timeline. So often I hear women who are struggling to conceive complain, how come
other women who are overweight or smoke, drink or use drugs, or don‘t even ―try‖, seem
to get pregnant so easily, and yet I can‘t?

No one is saying that if you don‘t follow the tips in this e-book, you won‘t get
pregnant. It‘s not as if those habits are ―contraceptives‖, but they will reduce your
overall fertility. So if you are having any difficulty at all, it‘s best to do what you can to
maximize your chances. Anything is possible, and with the tips you learn here, you can
increase your odds.

Back to School – All About Our Bodies

When they first teach you this stuff, you‘re sitting in school taking notes on how
not to get pregnant. But now you want the reverse lesson – where are those sex education
teachers when you need them?

We all know what a vagina and penis are, so we‘re not going to get that basic with
our crash course. But when you‘re dealing with conception strategies, you may need a
quick refresher on other body parts, so let‘s look at how these contribute to your fertility.

Your cervix is located in the lower part of your uterus and acts like a muscle to
keep the baby from delivering before it‘s time. It also creates a barrier between your
body and nasty infections that could harm your baby in utero. If your doctor diagnoses
any cervix problems, it may be remedied simply by having the doctor suture the cervix
with a cerclage.

The uterus is your womb. It‘s an organ that holds your baby until it‘s time for
delivery. It‘s lined with a thick endometrium, the blood lining that results in your period
each month if conception doesn‘t occur.

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 Your ovaries come in pairs – each woman usually has two of them. They‘re the
containers your eggs come in! When you‘re born, your ovaries have about 1 million eggs
in them.

By the time you hit puberty, you have only 300,000 to 400,000 eggs left. At age
50, you only have about 1,000 eggs remaining. Some of these are abnormal eggs.
―Normal‖ eggs contain 23 chromosomes, which are the genes that will make your baby
who he or she is.

Near your ovaries are two fallopian tubes. This is where your egg comes in
contact with a man‘s sperm and hopefully, makes a baby! Your fallopian tubes are lined
with fimbriae, which are hair-like ―fingers‖ that move the egg along.

His primary parts consist of testicles and sperm. The testicles are to his body
what your ovaries are to your eggs – they create and hold his sperm. Sperm are
produced every day, but they mature after 90 days.

It is very important to keep in mind that if there is any damage to the sperm
from elements such as heat, illness, or toxins (to be discussed later), it takes
approximately (3) three months for new sperm to mature and be ready to fertilize
an egg.

How a Baby Is Conceived

Your menstrual cycle plays an important role in conception…Here‘s the science
behind exactly what happens during your monthly cycle. At the start of your menstrual
cycle, your estrogen levels are low. Your hypothalamus (which is in charge of
maintaining your hormone levels) sends out a message to your pituitary gland. Then, the
pituitary gland sends out the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). The FSH is what
triggers a few of your follicles to start developing.

One of these developing eggs will develop into the dominant follicle, which will
then release one mature egg and the others will disintegrate. This is your ovulation. As
the follicles are maturing they send out another hormone, which is estrogen. The high
levels of estrogen will tell the hypothalamus and pituitary gland that there is a mature
egg.

At this point, LH (luteinizing hormone) is then released, and this is known as your
LH surge. This surge causes the egg to be released in approximately 24-36 hours from
the surge. The egg will then journey into the fallopian tube where it will hopefully be
fertilized by sperm that is ―waiting‖ there.

After the egg is released, it leaves behind a kind of ―shell‖ which is called the
―corpus luteum‖. The corpus luteum is responsible for releasing the hormone
progesterone, which is necessary to prepare the uterine lining for implantation of a

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fertilized egg. The corpus luteum will continue to produce progesterone throughout the
rest of your cycle (the luteal phase) and if you become pregnant, it will continue to
produce progesterone until such time that the placenta takes over later on.

If fertilization does not occur, the released egg will disintegrate and die within 12-
24 hours. Around 12-14 days later, progesterone production will decrease, and your
lining will be shed on what is considered day 1 of your menstrual cycle.

When a man ejaculates inside a woman, he emits about 100 million sperm. Only
approximately 200 of them survive to make it to the fallopian tubes and encounter the
egg to try and fertilize it.

Sperm usually live for approximately 3 days in a woman‘s body if the conditions
are right, although it is possible for them to live as long as 6 days. The egg is viable for
12-24 hours, however many experts believe it is probably closer to 12 hours. Given this
time element, it is extremely important to get the timing of intercourse right.

In fact, incorrect timing of intercourse is considered the #1

mistake couples make when trying to conceive.
If you don‘t know when you‘re most fertile, you may miss the window of
opportunity that could allow you and your partner to have a baby.

When you and your partner have sex right before you‘ve ovulated, the sperm will
enter through the cervix and swim up to the fallopian tubes. Approximately half will pick
the right tube while the others will choose the left tube. The half that picked the correct
fallopian tube (the side you are ovulating on) will have a chance at penetrating the egg.

Within the next 24 hours, the sperm find your egg and surround it, each one trying
to enter the protective layering. When one penetrates it, the others are locked out. The
embryo then enters the uterus and hopefully implants itself in the wall. You miss your
period – and a baby is on the way!

Timing and Positioning Your Sex Just Right

First of all, it‘s important not to make sex a chore when you‘re trying to conceive.
I know it‘s important to time it right – and sometimes that means someone isn‘t in the
mood. But it‘s also important to maintain the love between the two of you to lighten an
already stressful time. If you are having any problems in this area, click here for a great
resource that can help with your lovemaking.

When timing intercourse, you must make sure you‘re near ovulation. Some
women know this time just by tracking their own body functions and watching for signs
(to be explained later).

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 Others need a store-bought ovulation predictor test kit. Chapter 3 will go into
much more detail on ovulation because it‘s a vital part in your journey to pregnancy and I
wanted to make sure I devoted a lot of insight into this topic.

Here’s an important tip...it is very important NOT to abstain from sex all
month long in an attempt to ―save up the sperm‖ for your fertile time. Try to have sex at
least every five days during the time you are not trying to conceive in an effort to flush
out the sperm. This will ensure that you have healthy sperm at the time when you really
need them! If you‘re not up for intercourse, just make sure your partner ejaculates at
least every five days to keep the sperm fresh.

In order to keep sperm counts high, it is best for the male to abstain from any sex
(or masturbation) for about 3 days before you start ―trying‖ during your fertile window.
Remember, that means you should not ―save up‖ sperm for more than about 3 days
before you start trying during those few days leading up to ovulation.

It is important to have intercourse before you ovulate so that the sperm is

―waiting‖ for the egg before it is released. You should have intercourse either every day
or every other day through the day of ovulation. It doesn‘t make very much difference
which option you choose (every day or every other day), unless you know that your
partner has a low sperm count. If that is the case, the every other day approach is advised
so you don‘t reduce the sperm count too much. If there are no sperm issues, do what
works best for you—if you‘re up for every day-great! If not, every other day is effective
too.

One of the most critical factors is knowing how many days before ovulation you
should begin to have intercourse. Is it better to start ―trying‖ several days before
ovulation or is it best to start trying on the day of ovulation or just the day before? While
most sperm will only survive for 2-3 days, if conditions are ideal, sperm have been
known to survive for up to 6 days (in good quality cervical mucus). So it is in your best
interest to start having intercourse several days before your expected ovulation date to
ensure the maximum number of sperm are waiting for the egg to be released.

However, because sperm can weaken over a period of days, it‘s not surprising that
the highest chance for pregnancy occurs when intercourse happens two days before,
one day before or on the day of ovulation. Statistically, the best chance for conceiving
is on any one of those 3 days.

Time of Day… Time of Year…Does It Matter?

It‘s been established that sperm counts are higher in the winter months than in the
summer months. This may be because cooler temperatures are associated with enhanced
sperm production. It‘s also known that sperm counts are higher in the morning than other
times of day. While there has been no evidence that pregnancy rates are higher if you
have intercourse in the morning, if your partner has any issues with sperm count, you
may want to give mornings a try.

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Timing Is Critical…Don’t Make This Mistake
Many experts agree that you have the best chance of getting pregnant if you don‘t
wait until the day you are ovulating to have intercourse. Starting to ―try‖ a few days
early does insure that there are sperm already waiting in the fallopian tubes when the egg
is released.

So what about the day after ovulation? Well, the experts are divided on this issue.
Since it takes several hours for the sperm to get to the fallopian tube after intercourse,
trying to conceive on the day after ovulation may result in the sperm arriving when the
egg is already beginning to disintegrate. In this case, it is likely that you would not
conceive, but it is still possible. And if you were to conceive with an egg that may be
past its “prime”, you may have a greater risk of miscarriage.

As stated earlier, this is one of those topics that has some controversy. Some
doctors advise patients to continue to have intercourse even after you have ovulated, in
hopes that the sperm can ―catch‖ up to the egg before it dies. But there are some experts
that don‘t think this is a good idea for the reasons I just mentioned. So given this
information, you can make your own choice but I personally would recommend not
trying to get pregnant on the day after you have already ovulated to avoid the possibility
of an increased miscarriage risk.

Late Ovulation…Is This Why You Can’t Get Pregnant?

While an ideal cycle is 28 days with ovulation occurring on day 14, for most
women this is not their typical cycle. The fact is that different women have different
cycle lengths, and one thing that you may not know is that how late you ovulate may
have an impact on your ability to get pregnant and/or miscarry.

Here‘s why…

Many fertility experts now believe that if a woman ovulates late in her cycle (day
20 or later), the quality of her egg may be compromised. In other words, late ovulation
may mean poorer egg quality and also a uterine lining that is not ideal for implantation.
Now that doesn‘t mean that you can‘t get pregnant if you ovulate late in your cycle.
However, it is possible that a very late ovulation could make it more difficult to get
pregnant or increase your risk of a miscarriage

If you find that you are consistently ovulating this late in your cycle, then you will
want to make significant changes in your diet and exercise program and add appropriate
supplements as described in Chapter 4 to help balance your hormones and regulate your
cycle. Doing so should help you ovulate earlier (before day 20) and improve your
chances of getting pregnant.

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Position Preference?
To better your odds at conception, it‘s important to know which positions give
you an increased chance at having a baby. Sexual positions and after-intercourse routines
can be personal, but as with everything when you‘re trying to get pregnant, you might
pick up a few tips you haven‘t yet tried to use!

You‘d think it wouldn‘t really matter which position you had sex in to conceive a
baby. But when you‘re trying for a baby, you want to do everything in your power to
make thing happen faster. And gravity definitely plays a role.

What you want is for your position during sex to offer the best way for the
deepest penetration and contact with the cervix, while minimizing the chance of leakage.
Rear entry is known among your veteran fertility warriors as being the best position for
conception.

Alternatively, the missionary (man on top) position and side by side, are
considered to be optimal positions as well.

Regarding leakage, here is a tip. Instead of your partner withdrawing after

intercourse, have your partner keep his penis inside for as long as possible after his
orgasm. This makes a good barrier and keeps the semen concentrated as close to the
cervix as it can get.

Another important tip has to do with your orgasm. Research has shown that if a
female has an orgasm after her partner, the sperm get sort of ―sucked up‖ into the cervix
which helps to bring them faster to where they need to be going. It‘s sort of a little
booster to get them going on their way into your cervix.

And always remember, after sex, elevate your hips for about 20-30 minutes by
placing a pillow underneath your bottom, as this will help gravity get the sperm going in
the right direction as well. Do not get up before that to go to the bathroom and especially
do not douche.

It should be noted that some women have what‘s known as a retroverted uterus
or tipped uterus. If your doctor told you that you have this, do not be alarmed or
concerned. Fertility experts agree that this shouldn‘t make it more difficult to get
pregnant. However, because of the position of your uterus, you should probably alter the
protocol described above for lovemaking. With a retroverted uterus, the best position is
rear entry, and after intercourse, you should lie down on your belly instead of your back
with a pillow underneath your hips to raise them up.

Lubrication
Generally the vaginal environment is very acidic. Surprisingly, the sperm actually
need an alkaline environment to survive. So how do the sperm stay alive? What happens

17
is that right before ovulation, the cervical mucus (vaginal discharge) changes to the
consistency of raw eggwhites and it is highly alkaline and therefore much more "sperm-
friendly.‖ This allows the sperm to safely travel through the cervix. Before choosing a
lubricant, realize that the very best lubrication comes from your own body. When you
are trying to conceive it is especially important to increase foreplay, which will increase
your natural lubrication and help the sperm to survive.

However, if you still feel you need some extra help, you can follow these tips.
Most store bought lubricants have a pH that is too acidic for sperm to survive and also
contain other sperm damaging ingredients and therefore should not be used. This
includes KY Jelly, vaseline, and baby oil. Some evidence is showing that canola oil and
pharmaceutical grade mineral oil are sperm friendly, however it is still controversial so I
wouldn't recommend it.

There‘s only one commercial product recommended for helping lubrication along
and it‘s called Pre-Seed. It‘s ―sperm-friendly,‖ so you don‘t have to worry about creating
a hazardous environment for the little swimmers. Many women have reported that they
were able to get pregnant simply by using this product as they did not have adequate
lubrication without it. Click here to learn more and/or to purchase Pre-Seed.

If you want to try a home remedy, many women have used egg whites for
lubrication, which are what laboratories also often use to store sperm. If you want to try
this, take an egg out of the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature. Use the egg
white immediately after cracking the egg open to avoid any infections. You would use it
in exactly the same way that you might use any other type of lubrication, such as KY
Jelly. While many women do use eggwhites for lubrication, be aware this technique does
carry some small risk, as there is always the ―very‖ slight chance of salmonella when
dealing with eggs.

Beware Saliva and Soap

Did you know that saliva can kill sperm? Well, it does, so definitely do not use
saliva as a lubricant during intercourse. An alternative to using saliva is just plain warm
water if you don‘t want to use any of the recommendations above.

And speaking of saliva, here’s another tip. Do not engage in oral sex during
your fertile time, because the saliva can ruin the sperm‘s chances of survival. This
applies to oral sex on the male and female as the saliva on either the penis or vagina can
damage sperm that it comes in contact with.

Also, something else you may not have been aware of. Soap residue can also be
harmful to sperm. So before having intercourse, if you‘ve washed your hands, make sure
they are completely rinsed off and do not have any soap residue remaining.

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 You may have been doing some of the above things all along. But if you didn‘t
rush through the material, you probably learned a couple of new tips to put into practice.
Soon, you‘ll learn some other effective traditional and alternative methods couples are
using all over the world to increase the odds of having a baby.

Let‘s start with how to determine when you‘re ovulating...

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 Chapter 3:
Are You Ovulating? Predicting Your Chances for
Pregnancy While Minimizing Irregularities
Ovulation is the time at which one or more eggs are released from the ovaries.
It‘s the most fertile time of a woman‘s cycle and it creates the space in which the process
of pregnancy can begin.

In short, it‘s the point of conception if a healthy sperm is available to fertilize this
released egg(s). During the course of each month, eggs within the ovaries will mature
and grow.

Depending on the overall growth of the egg, each month the ovary will choose to
release the most ready egg for fertilization into the fallopian tubes. The choice of which
fallopian tube the egg will be released into varies from month to month as does the ovary
that releases that egg. If for some reason a woman only has one fallopian tube (perhaps
due to an ectopic pregnancy), she still has a good chance of getting pregnant with the
remaining tube.

Why Planning for Conception Is Best

The reason why it‘s important that you know about ovulation is because having
intercourse more frequently throughout the month in hopes of catching the right time
doesn‘t necessarily increase your chances of becoming pregnant. In fact, it‘s possible it
can have the reverse effect. Here‘s why.

When a man ejaculates frequently, the concentration of sperm can be lower which
can lead to problems with conception. But when you try to make an effort to have sex
during the most fertile times of your cycle, you‘ll allow the sperm to build up in higher
numbers, allowing for an increased chance of conception.

But as stated previously, never abstain for weeks at a time in hopes of ―saving up‖
the sperm for when you are ovulating. It‘s best to make sure the male ejaculates around
every five days when it‘s not your fertile time, to flush out the sperm and keep them
―fresh.‖ Then, during the several days before you will be ovulating, you can time
intercourse every day or every other day to increase the number of sperm waiting in the
fallopian tube for the egg to be released.

Ways To Tell If You’re Ovulating

If you want to get pregnant and are ready to start figuring out when the best times
to have intercourse are, here are some basic things to look at that will indicate when you
are ovulating.

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 The countdown:

The most scientific way to determine when you are ovulating works best for
women whose menstrual cycles are very regular. That means that your cycle length is
approximately the same every month. What you do is count back about twelve to sixteen
days – that is your fertile time. For example, if your cycle length is usually 30 days, you
would probably ovulate somewhere between days 14 and 18. The twelve to sixteen days
between the time you ovulate and when your period arrives is known as the luteal phase.

Let me explain a little further how this works…

Every cycle is made up of two parts, the ovulatory phase and the luteal phase.
The ovulatory phase starts on the first day of your period (full flow, not spotting) and
ends on the day that you ovulate. During this phase, estrogen is the predominant
hormone as it helps the egg to mature. The length of this phase can vary from month to
month so that you cannot always accurately predict the day you will ovulate.

One of the things that can cause a delay in ovulation is stress. So if you normally
ovulate on day 14 for example, and you find yourself in a stressful situation early in the
month, your ovulation can be delayed by a few days. Other things that can affect
ovulation are travel and illness.

The second half of the cycle is called the luteal phase. During this phase,
progesterone is the dominant hormone. Once you ovulate, the number of days until your
period comes will be fixed each month and will not be delayed by any outside conditions
such as stress. It varies from woman to woman, but once you know the length of your
own luteal phase, it will stay consistent from month to month. It is important that your
luteal phase not be too short, as this would be a sign that there is a deficiency of
progesterone, which can cause problems in maintaining a pregnancy.

Knowing this information, if you are going to get ―stressed out‖ sometime during
the month, hopefully it happens after you‘ve ovulated, because then it will have no
bearing on your cycle length. Remember, any stress early in your cycle can have the
effect of delaying your ovulation which makes it more difficult to know when to time
intercourse to conceive.

Of course, most of us don‘t have any control over ‗when‘ we are stressed, but it‘s
helpful to be aware of when/how your cycle can be delayed by stress. That way if your
period is ―late‖ and the pregnancy test is ―negative‖, you may be able to think back to
determine if you had any unusual stress in the first half of your cycle which could have
caused the delay in your ovulation, and in turn, your period.

Typically, the luteal phase can last from 12 to 16 days, with the optimum being
around 14 days. Some doctors say anything less than 12 days could be a problem, while
others think 10 days or less is worrisome. This is because the luteal phase is when your
progesterone is building up your lining and if it's too short, (luteal phase defect) then your

21
lining won't be built up adequately to support a pregnancy and the embryo will be
unlikely to implant (or if it does you will likely miscarry).

The only way to determine the length of your luteal phase is to keep track of the
day you ovulate (will discuss some methods shortly), and then count the number of days
until your period arrives. As stated earlier, it should be the same number of days every
month, while the day that you ovulate can vary from month to month.
.

Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Charting:

The best way to evaluate your cycle and especially to determine if you may have
a luteal phase defect, is by temperature charting, also known as BBT charting.

Basal body temperature is the temperature of your body at rest. Taking your
temperature first thing in the morning, before you get out of bed, eat, drink or go to the
bathroom gives you the most accurate reading of your basal body temperature. When
charting your BBT, you will first need to purchase a special thermometer called a basal
body temperature thermometer. You can get one in most any pharmacy. It records
temperatures within a tenth of a degree and is the most precise thermometer. By charting
your temperatures over a period of a few months, you will see patterns in your cycle
which will help you to determine when you ovulate.

First, you need to check your body temperature each morning before you get out
of bed and write down the temperature on a special chart used especially for this purpose.
It is critical that you take your temperature around the same time every morning as soon
as you awaken. If you don‘t get at least 4 hours sleep, or if you are ill, your temperature
will be affected.

Generally speaking your temperatures will have very minor fluctuations on a

daily basis of about a tenth of a degree The general rule is that you have ovulated
when your temperature rises at least .2 degrees higher than any temperature
from the previous 6 days, and it stays elevated for at least 3 consecutive days..
The reason being, right after you ovulate, the left over egg ―shell‖ (which becomes a
―corpus luteum‖) releases progesterone in an effort to prepare your lining for the
implantation of a fertilized egg. The release of progesterone causes the increase in
temperature. That is why progesterone is known as the ―warm‖ hormone.

Unfortunately, BBT charting will only tell you that you have ovulated already—it
cannot predict ovulation. By monitoring your temperature over the course of a few
months however, you‘ll begin to see a pattern emerge that can be helpful in several ways.

For one thing, by charting you will be able to establish if you are in fact
ovulating, which some women aren‘t even sure of. Secondly, you can count the number
of days in your luteal phase in order to determine if you have a luteal phase defect which
may require progesterone supplementation in order to conceive. As mentioned

22
previously, a luteal phase that is too short results in an endometrial lining that is unable to
support a pregnancy. Also, even though you can‘t use the charts to predict specifically
what day you will ovulate, you will get a good feel for approximately what day each
month you ovulate and can time intercourse better to coincide with your fertile window.

Another side benefit of charting is you can probably determine if you are in fact
pregnant without even taking a pregnancy test! If your temperature stays elevated for 18
days following ovulation, then you are very likely to be pregnant!

Once your temperature drops a few tenths, it means you are likely to get your
period that day or the next day at the latest. This information can be helpful as well –not
in your quest to get pregnant—but it‘s nice to have a warning that your period is due to
arrive as sometimes it comes as a complete surprise when we are not exactly prepared!!

If the BBT thermometer you purchased did not include any charts to use, you can
go to this site which has charts you can print out:
http://www.mymonthlycycles.com/bbtchartdl.jsp

Cervical mucus:

Something that can give you a very good indication of approaching ovulation
concerns cervical mucus (vaginal discharge). Throughout a woman‘s menstrual cycle,
the texture and the consistency of the cervical mucus will change. This is something you
may not have ever paid attention to, but it is very important to be aware of when trying to
get pregnant.

As you get closer to ovulation, you will notice that your cervical mucus changes
from somewhat creamy to the consistency of a raw eggwhite—clear, very stretchy and
wet. This happens because the levels of estrogen are rising as the body prepares to
release an egg.

As a rule, if you aren‘t sure when you will be ovulating exactly, you should start
having sex as soon as you see the cervical mucus become similar to an eggwhite. You
should continue having sex as long as you have this type of cervical mucus. Usually on
the day of ovulation, the cervical mucus is the most abundant and stretchy. And you will
know when you have already ovulated, as the cervical mucus immediately changes—it
gets cloudy and kind of dries up—right after you‘ve ovulated.

Possible pain in the abdomen:

Some women will also feel a twinge of pain when their ovary releases an egg.
This is called mittelschmerz (which is German for ‗middle pain‘) and this is felt by up to
twenty percent of all women.

The pain or the achiness can last anywhere from minutes to hours, depending on
the woman and her sensitivity to the pain. You might also feel back pain that
accompanies the lower abdominal pain.

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 The problem for using this pain as an indicator of when to time intercourse, is that
doctors aren‘t sure if the pain is occurring right before, during or after ovulation.
Obviously, if it‘s occurring right after, it would not be a reliable method to time
intercourse. Also, since the sperm live for several days, you would lose the opportunity
for having intercourse a few times before ovulation, which allows for much more sperm
ready and waiting when the egg is finally released!

Cervical Position

Another change that occurs in your body as you approach ovulation is the position
of your cervix. To check your cervix, make sure you have clean hands and be sure to
check your cervix around the same time each day. It‘s probably easiest to squat down
and gently insert one or two fingers into your vagina and reach back until you can feel
your cervix.

Depending on the time of the month, there will be some noticeable differences.
(you may have to practice this awhile before you can easily notice the changes). During
the first half of your cycle, the cervix will feel relatively firm –like touching your nose—
and dry, and the position will be low in your vagina (easy to reach). The entrance to the
cervix will feel closed.

But as you approach ovulation, the cervix will become softer and wetter, the
entrance will start to open and the position of the cervix will become higher (harder to
reach). When it gets to it‘s highest point (difficult to reach, and the entrance to the cervix
feels open, and it feels more like your lip than your nose, you are at your most fertile time
and very near ovulation.

You can remember this with the acronym SHOW – soft, high, open, wet. Just
after ovulation, the cervix begins to get firmer and drier, the position will become lower
and the entrance will begin to close.

These changes in the cervical position, along with the changes in the cervical
mucus, can give you a very good chance at predicting your most fertile time.

Are Those Ovulation Kits Any Good?

If you are the type of person who doesn‘t want to evaluate all the signals from
your body about your fertile time, there are other ways to help predict ovulation. With
the invention of the home pregnancy test, women have been able to find out if they‘re
pregnant or not without having to go into the doctor‘s office. Not only did this make
pregnancy more private, but also more convenient.
With at home ovulation predictor kits, women can begin to determine more
scientifically whether or not they are in their fertile time of the month. These kits measure
LH (luteinizing hormone) levels in a woman‘s body. The way it works is these levels

24
will generally surge right before a woman is ready to release an egg into the fallopian
tubes.

What‘s great about these kits is that they can predict the best times for conception
in advance of the release of the egg, allowing you to better time intercourse. The kits are
said to predict ovulation up to thirty-six hours in advance and increase your overall
chances of becoming pregnant.

It‘s best to follow the directions on the package, but here are some basic
guidelines. Try to test around the same time everyday, it‘s usually best between 2 – 4pm,
although any time between noon and 8pm is probably fine. Definitely do not test with
first morning urine. The reason is that most women have their surge early in the
morning and it can take several hours for it to show up in your urine. Also, try not to
drink too much in the hour or two before testing as that will dilute your urine.

Hint: Many women find ovulation test kits frustrating to use and claim that they
never see a positive result. The fact is the surge is very short and it is possible to miss it
if you test at the wrong time of day. If you want to improve the accuracy of these test
kits, and don‘t mind spending a bit more to pinpoint your ovulation, I would strongly
recommend that you test twice a day, twelve hours apart. As stated earlier, never use first
morning urine, so late morning, and then in the evening would be best.

Usually the kits come with five tests, so if you have very irregular cycles, you
may need to buy two kits in order to have enough and not miss your surge day. There‘s a
great site online that sells these tests at a discount, and you can buy them by the piece, so
you‘re not restricted to 5 in a box. It‘s much cheaper than buying them in the drugstore,
and they offer free shipping in the U.S./Canada. This is especially helpful if you are
testing twice a day. Click here to purchase the ovulation test kits.

What About Saliva Tests?

Some test kits use your saliva instead of your urine to predict ovulation.

The saliva tests work by detecting an increase in your salt content, which is an
indicator that your estrogen levels have risen. When you look through the microscope at
a dry saliva sample, you are looking for ―ferning‖ or crystal patterns produced by the
increase in estrogen that takes place prior to ovulation.. Many women prefer these to the
―pee sticks‖ because the others have to be stored in a cool climate (which is hard to tote
with you in your purse for on-the-go testing).

It‘s also less expensive. Urine tests are pricey and new ones have to be purchased
on a continual basis. With saliva test kits, it‘s a one-time purchase because it can be
washed and reused. And the USFDA says they‘re 98% accurate. (Plus, you don‘t have
to wait for a full bladder – you can test at any time)!

25
 You might want to have a look at ―Fertile Focus,‖ which looks like an attractive
lipstick case. It‘s affordable, portable, and offers a powerful 50X magnification glass
lens for accuracy and ease of use.

Or, you can try ―Ovacue Fertility Monitor,‖ which is a unique and sophisticated
electronic monitor which is so simple to use, you simply place the oral sensor on your
tongue, and in one minute you have your daily test result. Better yet, this monitor
electronically creates, tracks, and stores your data—it‘s like having your own digital
ovulation calendar. You can purchase Fertile Focus by clicking here and Ovacue by
clicking here.

Problems that Can Occur with Ovulation

However, when all of the measuring and calculating aren‘t adding up to a
pregnancy, you might have something bigger on your hands. In Chapter 7, I will cover
ovulation disorders and other common obstacles to pregnancy such as endometriosis,
blocked tubes, and fibroids.

But now it‘s time to start learning some more of what you can do to speed up the
process of getting pregnant if you don‘t have any of these specific problems. I want to
start with things you can do on your own – and when you hear the word ―alternative,‖ it
doesn‘t mean it‘s unusual.

Alternative just means the scientific medical community doesn‘t focus on

anything that is not scientifically proven. They tend to focus on what they can do for you
medically, with drugs and treatments, not what you can do for yourself, which is often
less expensive and less invasive.

26
 Chapter 4:
Before You Turn to Your Doctor –
Traditional and Alternative Tips to Help Hasten
the Process of Pregnancy
You may be thinking that it‘s taking longer to get pregnant than you had
expected. And you may have already been advised by a physician to ―just be patient.‖
Or, you may be on the verge of asking your doctor about infertility treatment options
because you‘ve just about run out of patience. But before you begin that lengthy process,
consider some of the non-medical suggestions I‘m going to talk about in this chapter.

One of these may be the secret that unlocks your ability to conceive a child.

Some of these methods might be familiar to you, but others might be new
knowledge for you to consider. You owe it to yourself to carefully reflect on each topic
and decide whether you want to give it a chance. Bear in mind that sometimes, what
seems like a minor adjustment, could mean the difference in the miraculous world of
conception.

It is important to keep in mind that alternative therapies don‘t offer a magic

solution. However, the aim is to simply get both partners into optimum condition both
physically and mentally, so conception can happen naturally.

I‘m going to include some traditional as well as alternative do-it-yourself methods

to try out to increase your chances of pregnancy. Each of these suggestions have worked
for some women, but aren‘t appropriate for all.

Try not to draw any conclusions about any particular strategy until you‘ve given it
a fair try. One or a combination of these suggestions might just be the winning
combination that will ultimately be responsible for your success.

When “Just Relax” is Easier Said than Done

Anxiety and worry can cause you to be unable to relax enough to conceive. They
can also cause physical problems that will affect your body negatively. It‘s a Catch-22.
You can‘t get pregnant until you relax and you can‘t relax until you‘re pregnant.

More and more research studies are pointing to stress as one of the most common
contributors to decreased fertility. Our lifestyle today contains enough stress on its own –
but when you combine everyday stress with that of desperately desiring a baby, stress
levels can climb to dangerous levels.

27
 If well-meaning relatives, friends and co-workers know that you‘re trying to
conceive, they might be adding to your stress by suggesting remedies (including, ―just
relax‖) of their own.

You may appreciate their input, but after awhile, knowing looks combined with a
drawn out… ―Well-l-l-l-l-l…?‖ can get on your nerves and actually cause you to be too
anxious to conceive.

There are ways to alleviate the stress and end the constant, irritating banter of
others about your lack of luck in the pregnancy department. Maybe you and your partner
can‘t take an around the world cruise on the Queen Mary to relax – but there are
alternatives that you can probably manage.

The Mind – Body Connection is Key

If you are tempted to dismiss the importance of emotional well being in your
quest to become pregnant, please don‘t. There is some very credible research which
supports the notion that ―the mind‖ is very powerful and can have a very strong influence
over the ―body.‖ There is more to getting pregnant than just making physical
changes…it is critical that you address the emotional impact on your fertility as well.

 Yoga/Meditation

Among the most helpful stress-relieving methods, practicing Yoga and

meditation on a regular basis can be a viable answer to reducing stress levels in
your life.

Yoga can help you control stress on many levels. The poses and deep
breathing exercises help you to control your body and tell it exactly what you
want it to do.

Here is a wonderful yoga DVD developed specifically for fertility:

Click Here to view yoga DVD

Meditation helps to quiet your cluttered mind and restore control. Regular
meditation promotes tranquility in your life when you need it most.

Yoga and meditation won‘t solve all of your stress-related problems, but it will
help you react to them in a way that will keep your mind and body calm.

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 Reflexology

Reflexology is another natural remedy to promote relaxation. It involves applying

gentle pressure to certain body points (usually hands and feet) and is gentle and
calming on the entire body.

A highly trained reflexologist will gently stroke and knead your feet,
concentrating on the areas that will improve the functioning of your reproductive
organs and glands. In the process, you‘ll achieve a stage of deep relaxation.

If relaxation is a problem for you in trying to conceive, try reflexology as a

calming force to help you ease tension and handle life‘s problems more
efficiently.

 Bowen Technique

The Bowen technique is a lesser-known therapy that has a surprisingly high

success rate for treating fertility problems. This therapy involves a
particular system of gently rolling, connective tissue moves that addresses the
hormonal system and pelvic area. It is based on the premise that mental and
emotional stress can cause tight muscles and restriction of natural blood
flow, lymphatic drainage and nerve supply of the body, which can all effect
fertility. Usually patients are seen on the first day of their menstrual cycle,
and then a second session on day 14 of the cycle (with no intercourse in
between sessions. To find a practitioner in your area please visit
http://www.bowtech.com/

 Massage

Massage techniques have long been used as a way to relieve stress and stimulate
circulation. It also serves to promote hormonal balance and increase nerve action
in the womb.

Swedish and Shiatsu are the better-known massage methods. Each is beneficial to
relieving stress and tension. Both use essential oils and lotions to soothe the body
and create gentle warmth that stimulates circulation and releases harmful toxins
or impurities.

As your ovulation time approaches, you may want to try massage on a regular
basis to help your body relax so that conception can more easily occur.

29
 Talk Therapy

Words can sting. Being told ―it‘ll happen when it‘s right‖ or ―just relax‖ may be
meant to comfort you, but they‘ll usually end up frustrating you even more when
you‘re trying to have a baby.

Researchers are now seeing that talk therapy is helping many women conceive.
Since stress is a direct contributor to infertility, when a woman learns how to ride
out stressful events in her life and talk them out, she lessens her stress and
increases her odds at conception. Click this link to read the full article.

 Laughter Therapy

Ever heard the phrase, ―laughter is the best medicine?‖ Well it rings true for
infertility, too. You may be shaking your head wondering, ―How am I going to
find any reason to laugh during this time when I‘m so emotional and distraught?‖

In some studies, women exposed to laughter therapy during infertility treatments

were able to get pregnant faster than women who did not participate. It doesn‘t
seem to take much, either – just 10-15 minutes a day. So go ahead – rent your
favorite I Love Lucy episode or go with your partner to a comedy club tonight –
and give your odds at conception a boost.

 Hypnotherapy

When you‘re trying to get pregnant, your thoughts are often consumed with when
it‘s going to happen for you. Even when you‘re consciously trying to avoid
thinking of it, your subconscious mind is often focused on what‘s going wrong or
why it isn‘t happening quickly enough.

With hypnotherapy, you‘re hypnotized and taught how to overcome the

psychological barriers that could be contributing to your fertility issues. Although
it won‘t work for all, it does work for some women and it‘s worth looking into.

 Exercise

Exercise should become an important part of your life while you are trying to get
pregnant. It will improve your immune system while reducing stress. You will
have greater energy, will likely lose weight and gain muscle. As your health
improves, you are preparing your body for a healthy pregnancy. Be sure you are
exercising in moderation, as excessive exercise has been known to contribute to
ovulation problems.

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  Plan a relaxing vacation or weekend-getaway.

Even if you can‘t take a month-long cruise, you can probably plan a romantic,
relaxing vacation. A weekend trip to a little inn or resort that you both enjoy can
be relaxing and enjoyable – helping you forget the chaos of your daily life.

While you‘re there, try to plan a massage or reflexology session. If you‘re uptight
about getting pregnant while on a vacation, it will negate what you‘re trying to
accomplish.

There are other methods that you might try for yourself. For example, if reading a
good novel or drinking a hot herbal cup of green tea before going to bed is a relaxation
tool for you, by all means try it on a regular basis.

Relaxation and stress-relief have helped many a woman conceive – and you owe
it to yourself and your partner to try and improve your chances of getting pregnant faster.

Acupuncture – An Ancient Remedy

Acupuncture has been used for centuries to treat and prevent illnesses. It is
believed to work by stimulating ―pathways‖ that carry energy flow throughout your body.
Sometimes these pathways can become blocked or stagnant due to an illness or a
damaged or improperly functioning immune system.

Long, thin needles are inserted into specific areas along the pathways. By
stimulating these pressure points, balance is restored and a natural healing process can
begin.

It‘s an interesting fact that in a recent study comparing acupuncture to hormone

treatments to promote pregnancy, both group results offered the same rate of success. But
since acupuncture has no side effects, the conclusion was that acupuncture ―offers a
valuable alternative therapy for female infertility due to hormone disorders.‖

As recently as May 2006, a highly regarded medical journal, Fertility and Sterility
reported on several new studies that were conducted to see if acupuncture could improve
the rate of success for couples undergoing IVF. The results indicated that receiving
acupuncture significantly improved the pregnancy rates for these couples.

What‘s really interesting is, the physiologic mechanism by which acupuncture

seems to affect the uterus and reproductive system hasn‘t really been identified, yet the
researchers found that as a practical matter, it seems to work.

Of course, some in the medical community dismiss the idea of acupuncture as a

remedy for anything because there is no scientific evidence of ―pathways‖ that conduct
energy throughout the body. When it comes to mainstream medicine, treatments that

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aren‘t exactly understood scientifically are often dismissed. But because of the obvious
success rates in these studies, acupuncture is steadily growing in acceptance, and is now
often recommended by fertility specialists for their patients.

And just think, if it helps women who are undergoing IVF (who generally have
more significant fertility issues), imagine the possibilities for those of you who just need
a little helpful boost.

A mixture of Chinese herbs is sometimes used in conjunction with acupuncture

treatments. These herbs are touted by Chinese medicine to improve fertility in men and
women.

If you decide to try the acupuncture route to pregnancy, first determine what is
required of acupuncturists in your state. Seek out a fully trained and licensed practitioner,
preferably someone who specializes in acupuncture to improve fertility.

You may also want to take into consideration that many insurance companies
don‘t cover acupuncture treatments, although it‘s becoming increasingly popular to
include in medical insurance plans.

Acupuncture may seem a little scary at first – needles being poked into your body
– but a good acupuncturist will insert them so that you‘ll never know that it‘s happening.
Not only that, it can be an extremely relaxing experience.

I personally used acupuncture in my quest to become pregnant, and although I

started out very skeptical of the whole process, I came to be a believer. Although of
course I have no proof, I truly believe that acupuncture was one of the strategies that
helped me conceive my children. I wholeheartedly recommend the 2-step approach of
acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

Get Plenty of Sun and Sleep

Sleep helps restore many parts of our bodies, including the reproductive system.
When sleep suffers over the long run, it can impact your hormone balance. Long term
sleep loss can disrupt the menstrual cycle, which can then cause a delay in the time it
takes to get pregnant. Lack of sleep can even cause you to stop ovulating altogether.

Additionally, daily light exposure has an influence on ovulation and reproductive

hormones. Current research suggests that the hormones that trigger ovulation, and even
the sperm maturation process, are somehow tied into the body's biological clock

Since the same part of the brain that regulates sleep-wake hormones also
stimulates daily pulses of reproductive hormones for men and women, scientists suspect
some feedback between these systems.

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 When your body is exposed to sunlight, it also gets some much needed health
benefits, such as an added dose of Vitamin D. Sunlight also helps improve your mood,
which is essential when you‘re going through the process of trying to get pregnant.

While sunlight is good for your health and contributes to a better reproductive
system, you also want to make sure you don‘t overdo it and get too much sunlight. This
can lead to sunburns, retinal damage, and skin cancer.

The bottom line is this, get plenty of rest and a good dose of daily sunlight
(approximately 1 hour) to keep your reproductive hormones in check.

Nightlighting

Many women with irregular cycles have benefitted from addressing their night-lighting
situation. This technique originates from the ancient theory connecting menstrual cycles
to the phases of the moon -- women ovulate when the moon is full (light) and get their
periods during a new moon (darkness).

It was physicist E.M. Dewan who found that women's menstrual cycles became regular
by sleeping in complete darkness most nights and then using a dim light bulb all night for
a few days in the middle of the month.

If you have irregular cycles, this is a good method to try to see if you can regulate your
cycle and thereby increase your fertility.

Start with the first day of menstruation as Day One. Sleep in total darkness for days 1-13.
Days 14-16 sleep with a dim light on all night, such as a closet door light on with door
almost closed, 15 watt night-light or dim hall light. This will encourage the ovulation
process to begin. The rest of the time, sleep in total darkness again.

For this method to be effective, it is critical to completely remove any light source in
your room when sleeping in the ―darkness‖ phase. Total darkness means that fifteen
minutes after turning out the lights, you can't see objects in the room, including your own
hands. Bedroom windows are covered with room-darkening blinds or curtains backed by
light-blocking fabric. Cracks of light from under doors can be covered with a towel.
Cracks around the edges of windows can be covered with aluminum foil.

You should see your cycle regulate after doing this for about three or four cycles.

How To Increase Sperm Count - Boost Male Fertility

Reducing stress and having good nutrition can have a huge impact on sperm
production. In fact, if stress is present during lovemaking, it can result in significantly
LESS sperm in the semen upon ejaculation.

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 As mentioned in chapter 2, it is important to abstain from sex for approximately 3
days before you start having intercourse during your ―fertile window‖ (the days leading
up to ovulation). However, you can boost sperm counts even further by practicing an
ancient Tantric Yoga method during this abstinence period that requires a certain level of
control over ejaculation.

During the 3 day period of abstinence before ovulation is approaching, you are to
engage in extended and stimulating foreplay with NO EJACULATION. When the urge
to have an orgasm becomes too strong (for the male partner only), sexual contact is
stopped until the penis becomes flaccid (soft). He can try cold water or whatever it takes
for him personally. Then, when he is no longer showing signs of being aroused, you
engage in the extended foreplay again and repeat the process.

The idea is that the stimulation plus the gaining and losing of the erection over
time, acts to ―pump up‖ the sperm count (quantity) and quality. WARNING: This
method should only be used if the male is able to control ejaculation. If he is not, and
does ejaculate during this process, then you will have interrupted the 3 day abstinence
that is beneficial before ovulation.

It should be pointed out, it is also very helpful if you use extended foreplay when
you are having intercourse during your fertile time. As mentioned earlier, stress during
intercourse can reduce sperm counts; alternatively, highly stimulating and prolonged
foreplay can serve to increase the number of sperm present in the semen upon
ejaculation.

Vitamins to Revitalize Your Fertility

Taking certain vitamins to increase your fertility quotient is another natural
remedy that you should consider to help you get pregnant. If your body is missing
certain vitamins it can affect your hormone levels, how you handle stress and damage
your overall health.

The use of nutritional vitamin supplements can benefit both you and your partner
by balancing hormone levels, which are necessary for conceiving. You can‘t expect that
just because you eat a balanced diet that you get all the vitamins your bodies need.

Everyone is different – but most people in today‘s fast-paced world of fast foods
and foods in excess need to add some sort of supplement to their daily diets.

Both partners should start with a good multi-vitamin (or prenatal vitamin for
women) which should have adequate amounts of folic acid (at least 400mcg.) and iron
(18mg), therefore not requiring additional supplementation of those two nutrients.

Here is a list of additional vitamins that could be effective in helping you achieve
successful conception and why they might be valuable to you.

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 Vitamin E – Increased fertility in both men and women has resulted from this
powerful antioxidant. Studies show that a low level of Vitamin E in males
decreases sperm production and supplementation may also improve sperm
motility.

In women, vitamin E helps to normalize hormone production and may improve

egg quality.

Studies show that vitamin E can increase sperm potency by 2 1/2 times. Two
studies found that vitamin E supplementation lead to a 20% pregnancy rate in
previously infertile men.

Dosage: 400 IU daily (If possible, vitamin E should be D-alpha and not DL-
alpha. The reason is that D-alpha is natural and has a higher absorption and
benefit rate.

Food Sources: wheat germ, almonds, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils,
cold pressed oils, molasses, eggs, sweet potatoes, seeds, whole grains, and
avocados.

Note: Best taken with vitamin C but check with your doctor if you have anemia,
blood clotting issues, hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, liver disease or if
taking blood thinners.

 Vitamin C – Also a powerful antioxidant, Vitamin C blocks damaging free

radicals. It can increase count and motility of sperm. It also reduces sperm
agglutination (clumping), a condition where sperm tend to stick together, which
reduces fertility.

If you‘re currently taking the drug Clomid to encourage ovulation, Vitamin C

might increase your chances of a better ovulation by assisting in ovarian
function and egg development.

Vitamin C may increase the amount of water in your cervical mucus, which will
make it more plentiful. However, women should avoid very large doses of
Vitamin C because it can have the opposite effect, and dry up cervical mucus.

Dosage: Men – 200 to 1000 milligrams per day

Women – Up to 1000 milligrams per day

Food Sources: many fruits including grapefruit, orange, kiwi, and melon. Also
broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, and sweet peppers.

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 Vitamin A – This vitamin contains necessary antioxidants and is valuable
when taken both before and during pregnancy. Vitamin A helps with the
production of cervical mucus.

In men, this anti-oxidant protects sperm from the damaging effect of free
radicals. A deficiency in Vitamin A is shown to reduce sperm volume and
count, and increase abnormal sperm. Be sure that you use the beta-carotene
(vegetable) form of Vitamin A. The animal form (retinol) can cause birth
defects if taken in excess.

Dosage: Up to 10,000 IU Beta Carotene usually found in a multi-vitamin

Food Sources: carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, spinach, eggs, yellow fruits
and vegetables, whole milk and milk products, dark green leafy veggies, and
fish oils.

 B Vitamins – While your partner can benefit from B12, you can benefit from
taking B6, B12 and a B-Complex vitamin.

For men, B12 will help increase the quantity and performance of his sperm.

For women, when your body is deficient in B6, it builds up too much estrogen,
causing your ovaries to shut down the production of progesterone. This can
result in a luteal phase defect, which can be corrected with B6 supplementation.

B-Complex vitamins help you reduce stress and maintain a healthy balance of
hormones in your body.

Lack of B-vitamins is very common in people who eat mostly refined and
processed foods as well as those who smoke.

Dosage: B6 : 50mg - 100mg per day; B12: 1000 mcg per day;
B-complex: contains 50mcg B12, 50mg all other B vitamins

Food Sources: beans, nuts, legumes, eggs, meats, fish and whole grains

Zinc – The focus of numerous studies in fertility of males and females, this
nutrient is essential for your pregnancy and your future baby‘s health. A
deficiency of Zinc can lead to decreased fertility and also increase the risk of
having a miscarriage. It helps women to more effectively utilize the hormones
estrogen and progesterone, to achieve conception.

Zinc deficiency is quite common, yet even a mild zinc deficiency can drastically
reduce sperm counts. Zinc deficiency will also affect how long the sperm can
live in the vaginal tract.

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 In the journal Fertility and Sterility doctors reported that men with fertility
problems who took a daily dose of 66 milligrams of zinc and 5 milligrams of
folic acid for almost six months saw a 74% increase in their sperm counts.

Dosage: 50 mg. with a full glass of water

Works best when combined with folic acid to improve sperm count.

Food Sources: oysters, chicken, beef, crab and turkey, nuts, whole grains, fish,
seafood, eggs, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, rye, oats, whole grains, legumes,
mushrooms, and wheat germ.

Note: If you take zinc for longer than a few weeks you should add 1-3 mg of
copper to prevent a copper deficiency.

 Selenium – Another antioxidant, increased levels of selenium have been

found to produce higher sperm counts in men. Selenium deficiency causes
fragile sperm with easily broken tails. Semen is high in selenium so it must be
replenished regularly.
It improves overall reproductive health in women and may help to prevent
miscarriage.

Dosage: 50-200 mcg per day

Food Sources: liver, red meat, seafood, tuna, wheat germ and bran, whole
grains, and sesame seeds.

 L-Carnitine (Amino Acid) – Many recently published studies indicate that

both L-carnitine and L-acetyl carnitine improved sperm in a number of areas
key to fertilization, namely sperm quality and sperm function.

Dosage: 300 to 1,000 milligrams three times a day

Food Sources: red meat, avocado

 L-Arginine (Amino Acid) – Amino acids are the building blocks of life. The
head of the sperm contains an exceptional amount of this nutrient, which is
essential for sperm production. It helps increase both sperm count and quality.

It can also help maintain a healthy uterine lining and may improve egg quality.

Dosage: 1500 – 4000mg over the course of a day on an empty stomach

Food Sources: Sunflower and pumpkin seeds, peanuts, sesame seeds,

watercress, almonds, chives, broad beans and lentils. Also in protein foods such
as meat, fish, eggs, brown rice, and quinoa.

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 Coenzyme Q10 - A nutrient used by the body in the production of energy.
While its exact role in the formation of sperm is unknown, there is evidence that
as little as 10 mg per day (over a two-week period) will increase sperm count
and motility

 Folic Acid – A vital component during your pregnancy to prevent spina bifida
(a neural tube defect) in your child. It needs to be in your system at the time of
conception so you should begin taking it well before you start trying to
conceive.

Also needed for sperm production, count, motility, and low morphological
abnormalities.

Dosage: minimum 400 mcg per day

Vitamin C aids in absorption.

Food Sources: Many sources including green leafy vegetables, dry beans,
legumes, citrus fruits and juices, whole grains, poultry, pork and shellfish.

 Magnesium Citrate – An essential vitamin which goes hand in hand with

the ―B‖ vitamins. Low levels of magnesium have been linked to miscarriage
and infertility.

Dosage: 200 mg. Daily

Food Sources: Kelp, green vegetables, bananas, molasses, brown rice, beans,
rye, millet and buckwheat all contain magnesium.

 Manganese - The metabolism of the female hormone estrogen depends on

manganese. Therefore, a deficiency of manganese may significantly reduce
fertility in women.

Food Sources: Spinach, chestnuts, tea, oats, wholegrain cereals, wheatgerm,

raisins, beans and nuts are all good sources of manganese.

 Calcium – Before, during and after pregnancy you need 1000mg daily taken
along with Vitamin D for absorption.

Food Sources: There is plenty of highly absorbable calcium in green leafy

vegetables, broccoli, cabbage, salmon, sardines, beans, enriched flour, and
fortified juices.

 Glutathione and Cryptoxanthin – These anti-oxidants may prevent

damage to sperm that makes them sluggish and unable to fertilize an egg. It‘s

38
 probably best to get these anti-oxidants from food sources rather than
supplementation.

Standard dosage computation:

10mg per Kg BW (Body weight) per day. Should be divided so that it is taken
2-3 times per day along with Vitamin C.

Food Sources: Available in brightly colored produce such as leafy greens,

tomatoes, peppers and oranges.

 Geritol Tonic – Often referred to as a ―Baby in a Bottle,‖ this highly potent

liquid vitamin and mineral supplement is recommended by many women who
personally took it and then conceived. It is supposed to work well in increasing
cervical mucus. While there is no medical research regarding this supplement,
since so many women across the Internet claim that it worked for them, I have
decided to include it in this list.

Dosage: Follow directions on the bottle.

While many women complain of the bad taste, others say to drink it with a cup
of Green Tea and it smoothes over the ill effects.

All of the above vitamin suggestions offer a means to increase your health and
benefit both male and female fertility. The dosages listed should be used as a guideline.
It‘s always best to consult with a qualified professional when you make your purchase or
follow the dosage suggestions on the bottle.

Herbal Remedies for Fertility Problems

Herbs, which are derived from plants and plant extracts, have been used to
combat infertility since approximately 200 A.D. As with many alternative approaches,
modern researchers have often passed over using herbs as fertility therapy because of the
absence of conclusive data to scientifically prove their value. However, as more and
more clinical data regarding these treatments appears, herbal fertility remedies are
gaining popularity. There are increasing numbers of success stories told on discussion
forums detailing how women turned to herbal therapies and became pregnant after
nothing else worked.

The ancient Chinese used herbs to treat infertility and believed that it regulated
menstruation and increased sperm counts. They can be extremely useful in treating
hormonal imbalances. Herbal remedies appear in many forms such as tinctures
(extracts), capsules and teas.

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 Some of the most popular herbs found to be effective in treating infertility are:

 Chaste Berry (Vitex agnus castus)

Vitex is probably the most well known and widely studied fertility herb. It works
by stimulating the hormones involved in ovulation and restoring female hormonal
balance. Vitex helps to correct luteal phase defects and helps to lower high
prolactin levels, both of which cause fertility problems. It acts on the pituitary
gland, specifically on the production of LH (leutenizing hormone). The result is
that it increases the production of progesterone, which helps to regulate the
menstrual cycle. Vitex is not a fast acting herb and may need several months to
build up in your system.

Take during the first half of your cycle and stop when you‘ve ovulated

 Red Raspberry Leaf

It has the reputation of helping to relax the uterus. It is also recommended to help
the fertilized egg attach to the uterine lining and stay attached. It is a
phytoprogesterone, which is a plant that acts like progesterone, therefore it can be
used to increase progesterone levels in the body. It is also very helpful to ease
many of the discomforts of pregnancy such as morning sickness, muscle cramps
and fatigue.

It is best to take it as an infusion (one ounce of dried raspberry leaves brewed

overnight in a quart of boiling water). Strain the leaves, and drink hot or cold,
with honey if you prefer. You can refrigerate leftovers.

Can take throughout your cycle

 Red Clover
This herb is another highly touted fertility remedy. There are many stories of
women unable to conceive, who drank up to a quart of red clover infusion every
day for at least six weeks, and then became pregnant. It contains estrogen like
compounds which promote estrogen production which can boost estrogen levels
in women with estrogen deficiencies. Red Clover also contains calcium and
magnesium which can relax the nervous system and improve fertility. Like red
raspberry, it is often recommended to drink the infusion during pregnancy.

To make an infusion put one ounce of dried blossoms in a quart jar filled with
boiling water, and steep overnight.

Can take throughout your cycle; best taken in combination with red raspberry.

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 False unicorn root
Like red clover, it can help balance hormone levels by making up for a shortage
of estrogen or encouraging your body to excrete excess amounts. It has a
normalizing effect on the ovaries and strengthens the lining of the womb.

Take during the first half of your cycle, and stop when you‘ve ovulated

 Dong Quai
It is an ancient Asian herb which is known as the female hormone regulator. It
acts like an estrogen ―modulator‖ which activates or suppresses estrogen receptors
within the pituitary to even out the hormones that bring on ovulation. It has also
been attributed with helping to build a receptive uterine lining.

Herbalists have differing opinions on whether this should be taken during the first
or second half of your cycle.

 Evening Primrose
This can dramatically improve the production of more sperm friendly cervical
fluid, also known as ―egg white cervical mucus.‖ It may take a month or two to
build up.

Take during the first half of your cycle and stop once you‘ve ovulated. EPO is a
prostaglandin and can cause the uterus to contract and the cervix to dilate.
Therefore, once you ovulate you should replace it with Flax Seed Oil which also
contains essential fatty acids without the prostaglandins.

 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’S)

Omega-3 and Omega-6 are essential fatty acids (EFA‘s) that are essential for
maintaining good reproductive health. Unfortunately, our bodies cannot
manufacture these EFA‘s, so they must be obtained from outside sources -- from
the food we eat or the supplements we take.

EFA‘s are very important to take when trying to conceive as they act as hormone
regulators. Both Omega-3 and Omega-6 are also important in the development of
sperm. It‘s important to have a balance of these EFA‘s however most people
have much more Omega-6‘s in their diet than Omega-3‘s because Omega-6‘s are
found in eggs, meat, whole grains, cereals, polyunsaturated oils from vegetables
and nuts, and most packaged foods and baked goods. Most often, western diets do
not require supplementation of Omega-6 because they tend to be very high in
Omega-6‘s.

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 However, it is essential to have a balance of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids,
preferably in a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio. Unfortunately, many diets have a ratio as high as
1:30 of Omega-6 to Omega-3 and it is suspected that this could contribute to
fertility problems.

Food Sources of Omega-3: ground flaxseed, oily fish (mackerel, herring,

salmon, sardines), walnuts, green leafy veggies.

Food Sources of Omega-6: borage oil, black currant seed oil, evening primrose
oil, are all high quality sources of this nutrient.

Supplements: (1-7 grams per day) of flaxseed oil and ultra-refined (purified) fish
oil (to avoid mercury and other toxins)

(Do not take cod liver oil which may contain toxic levels of vitamin A).

Note: be careful of taking too much EFA‘s if you are currently taking blood
thinning medication.

 Maca
This Peruvian herb is at the forefront of many studies in increasing sperm count
after a study was published in the Asian Journal of Andrology, 2001 showing a
200% increase in sperm count as well as seminal volume. Maca is used to
increase fertility and libido in both men and women by regulating hormones. You
can read more and purchase it here:
http://www.tipsgettingpregnant.com/maca.php

 Paba
PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) stimulates the pituitary gland and sometimes
restores fertility to some women who cannot conceive. Food sources include
molasses, mushrooms, spinach and whole grains.

 Green Tea
It is a powerful antioxidant that enhances your reproductive health by reversing
the effects of the environment on your body, such as aging, environmental toxins,
stress, lack of sleep and eating too many processed foods. It can assist your body
in the production of healthier eggs.

Dosage: Just 1 cup or more a day doubles your odds of conception every cycle,
according to a study in the American Journal of Public health.

 Dandelion Root Tea (sometimes called Dandelion Coffee)

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 This is a great substitute for coffee (tastes very similar), without the caffeine. It
has the added benefit of supporting liver detoxification which is very helpful for
reproductive health.

 Wheat Germ Oil

Wheat germ is high in zinc, and vitamin E and is a great source of Omega 3 fatty
acids. It may help to dilate both the fallopian tubes and the seminiferous tubules,
making the transport of both egg and sperm easier. It also can improve sperm
quality and quantity.

Dosage: 1/2 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon oil daily

 FertilAid Supplement
Rather than hand picking which herbal supplements you want to take, FertilAid
combines several beneficial fertility herbs plus a prenatal vitamin, making it an
all-in-one solution. There is a separate formula for Men and for Women.

FertilAid is only available for purchase online. Click here to visit their website.

Some options specifically for males to improve sperm function follow below:

 Panax Ginseng (Asian Ginseng)

An effective herbal remedy for male infertility, Panax Ginseng is said to increase
sperm count, motility and testosterone levels.

 Bee Pollen
Considered a complete food, it is produced by the male part of flowering plants.
It contains all the necessary vitamins and ten essential amino acids necessary for a
complete protein as well as enzymes and coenzymes. It has been shown to
improve sperm production in men.

 Royal Jelly

A 2002 study found that when researchers fed this honeylike substance to ewes
(whose placental physiology is close to that of humans), ovulation and pregnancy
rates substantially increased.

Dosage: Most manufacturers recommend 500 milligrams twice daily.

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 *If you do some further research into fertility herbs, you may come across some
others such as licorice root, lady‘s mantle, black cohosh and ho shou wu. You
certainly may experiment with these herbs as well, but the ones I described above
are the most popular ones recommended for enhancing fertility.

Warning: Before using herbs to increase your chances of pregnancy, remember

that herbs can be very powerful and have side effects. If possible, consult with a
trained herbalist, naturopath or Doctor of Chinese Medicine for best results.
Most importantly stop taking herbal supplements immediately when you become
pregnant (unless you are specifically advised not to) and NEVER mix herbal
supplements with fertility drugs of any kind.

Ways to Increase Cervical Mucus

Fertile cervical mucus is thin, watery, clear and stretchy and easily aids the sperm
to swim through the uterus and into the fallopian tube, and to the egg. If there is a lack in
this type of cervical fluid, it can impede and/or prevent fertilization. Also, this type of
fluid helps the sperm to stay alive for several days inside the fallopian tube, thus enabling
conception to happen even though you are ovulating several days later. Some women are
very dry and have problems in producing an adequate amount of fertile quality cervical
fluid.

Here are six ways you can improve the state of your cervical mucus and help
his sperm get to the finish line.

 Robitussin – at first you may wonder what on earth a cough syrup has to
do with fertility, but the logic is that it is an expectorant used to loosen and
thin mucus in the lungs. Well, it happens to work elsewhere too!! It is
critical that you only use the plain Robitussin, the one with no letters after
the name. To be sure, check the ingredients and make sure it contains
only one ingredient – guaifenesin. Take two teaspoons three times a day
with water, starting about five days before ovulation and continuing
through ovulation day.

 Drink plenty of water so that your body isn‘t dehydrated. Six to eight
glasses per day can help make your cervical mucus wetter.

 Vitamin A in the form of Beta Carotene – improves cervical mucus

 Grapefruit juice – great source of vitamin C, which increases the amount

of cervical fluid

 Garlic – thins mucus, both in the lungs and cervical fluid

 Evening Primrose Oil – increases production of cervical fluid

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 You‘ll notice that your cervical mucus changes throughout the month. Sometimes
it will be fluid enough for the sperm to utilize and other times it will appear as if your
body‘s undergoing a drought! Remember, it is only when your cervical mucus is of ―egg
white‖ consistency that you are in your fertile period.

Things That Might Hinder a Successful Conception

In your quest to attain that perfect bundle of joy, there are certain foods, activities
and lifestyles that you should avoid in order to achieve your goal. Most on this list are
common sense items – like, ―No Smoking.‖

Some items on the list, such as over the counter painkillers, might be new to your
thinking. Look over the list and why they might inhibit attaining a successful pregnancy
and ask your doctor if you‘re confused about any of them.

Lifestyle and environmental items that you should avoid if you‘re trying to
conceive include:

 Alcohol – Alcohol can affect hormonal highs and lows in your body and this
could affect your menstrual cycle and ovulation. Chronic alcohol consumption
can cause birth defects. For men, alcohol has a negative effect on sperm
production.

 Nicotine – Besides the obvious impact on the baby after you conceive (premature
birth, miscarriage, and low birth weight), nicotine can also affect fertility and
impair your ability to conceive. Men should avoid smoking, as it‘s also been
found to have a detrimental effect on fertility.

You should also avoid second hand smoke during the time you‘re trying to
conceive and afterward.

 Medications - There are several prescription medications that can affect male
fertility, most of them temporarily but sometimes permanently. Arthritis
medication, depression drugs, high blood pressure medication, drugs for digestive
problems as well as antibiotics and cancer drugs are just a few of the medications
that can lead fertility problems. Speak to your doctor if you are taking any of
these medications.

One very popular over the counter medication, Tagamet, should definitely be
avoided because it causes abnormal sperm production. Instead use Zantac or
Pepcid which does not affect fertility.

Avoid over the counter painkillers such as ibuprofen and aspirin which can effect
the ability of the embryo to implant into the womb. Instead use acetaminophen or

45
 Paracetamol (otherwise known as Tylenol), which are fine. Antihistamines, which
dry up cervical mucus and have a damaging effect on sperm must also be avoided.

 Herbs – While many herbs can be helpful for improving fertility as described
earlier, some popular herbal remedies should be avoided. In a study published in
the journal ―Fertility and Sterility‖, high doses of St. John’s Wort, Ginkgo
Biloba and Echinacea resulted in damage to reproductive cells and also
prevented sperm from fertilizing eggs.

 Drugs – Marijuana, cocaine and other so-called ―recreational‖ drugs can cause
miscarriage, premature delivery and brain damage to the baby. Men who smoke
marijuana frequently have significantly less seminal fluid, a lower total sperm
count and their sperm behave abnormally.

 Caffeine – High caffeine levels are thought to cause decreased fertility in women.
If you‘re trying to conceive, you might benefit from reducing your intake of
drinks that contain caffeine. Although the research is mixed, one study reported
as little as one cup of coffee a day can cut your chances of conception in half.
Caffeine also raises the risk of miscarriage. For men, it is best to reduce caffeine
intake as well.

 Hot tubs – While it may seem romantic to indulge in a dip in the hot tub, it could
ruin your chance at conception. The high temperatures can impact sperm two to
three months in advance, so a single quick jaunt can ruin your chance to conceive
for an entire quarter of the year!

 Cell Phones - Using a hands-free device with a cell phone may affect male
fertility if the phone is kept too close to the testicles, Cleveland Clinic researchers
warn in the journal Fertility and Sterility. Men who use hands-free devices often
carry their cell phones in their pants pocket or clipped to their belts at the waist
while talking. As a result, they may be exposing their testicles to damaging
radiofrequency electromagnetic waves which can impair sperm quality.

 Douching – Douching isn‘t a good idea for anyone anyway, but when it comes to
fertility, it alters the acidity of your vagina, washes away the cervical mucus, and
can contribute to pelvic inflammatory diseases that will take time to clear up.

 Tight underwear for men – A man‘s testicles need to be at a cool temperature,

so for the same reason you shouldn‘t go hot-tubbing, he should steer clear of the
tighty-whities and go with boxers while you‘re trying to conceive.

 The flu slows sperm production - An illness that causes a high fever can affect
sperm production and sperm quality. But it won't affect fertility for approximately
3 months, since it takes that long for new sperm to mature.

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 Bicycling - Sitting on a bicycle saddle for more than 30 minutes at a time —
especially while wearing tight fitting bicycle shorts — may raise scrotal
temperature and affect sperm production. In addition, prolonged cycling can cause
genital numbness — a sign of damage to delicate nerves and arteries. Choose a
seat that's not too hard or narrow, and make sure it's adjusted to minimize pressure
on your perineum. Take frequent rests while biking.

 Too much exercise – Female athletes often have trouble conceiving because of
menstrual cycle disorders. If you‘re an avid exercise fanatic and you have
irregular cycles, cut back to moderate exercise only.

 Diet - Crash dieting and binge eating should also be avoided both before and
during your pregnancy as it can have harmful effects on your hormonal levels.

 Oral Sex – As mentioned earlier it is important to refrain from oral sex (any
mouth to genital contact) during your fertile period as saliva can be very
damaging to sperm

 Lubrication - As mentioned earlier, avoid saliva and store-bought lubricants

such as KY Jelly or vaseline and instead use natural lubrication or Pre-Seed

 Weight issues – Surprise – twelve percent of all infertility cases stem from
weight issues. If you are significantly underweight from poor eating or over
exercising, you can‘t menstruate, since a minimum of 22 percent body fat is
necessary for normal ovulation and reproductive health. On the flip side, being
overweight can alter hormone chemistry and help prevent conception. The good
news is gaining or losing the weight, as the case may be, quickly restores fertility.

 Body Mass Index (BMI) is your weight in pounds divided by height in inches,
divided by height in inches again, multiplied by 703. Example: 135 pounds,
divided by 66 inches, divided by 66 inches again, multiplied by 703=BMI of 22.
Doctors consider a normal BMI between 19 and 25 ideal. Fertility is impaired
when a woman‘s BMI is below 19 or above 25.

The issue of weight no longer belongs just to women when it comes to fertility
New research has shown that overweight men are more likely to experience
infertility issues than normal weight men. It seems that for every 20 pounds that a
male is overweight, his infertility increases by 10%. So there is good reason for
both of you to get to a healthy weight—it is good for your health and greatly
improves your chances of conception.

Toxins – Avoiding the Hormonal Imbalance They Create

If you haven‘t heard of xenoestrogens before, then read this carefully, because
this is an area that is getting a lot of attention in the scientific community because
of it‘s profound affect on fertility and other health concerns.

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 What are xenoestrogens you may ask? Simply put they are manmade, estrogen-
mimicking chemicals found in our environment. They are in our soils as
pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers. They are in our water and in our
food supply–in animals, fish and grains.

Many scientists believe that these estrogenic pollutants are responsible for the
global trend of decreasing sperm count and function. For women, it is suspected
that exposure to these xenoestrogens causes a hormonal imbalance that can lead to
infertility, as well as endometriosis and breast cancer.

The bottom line is this… Many of the chemicals now present in our environment
have been proven to pose serious hazards to human health! And the declining
fertility rate is likely to be one result of this.

Here are the primary sources of xenoestrogens:

1. Plastics - PCBs in plastics which are released when the plastic is heated or
used for hot food or drinks (microwaving in plastic containers for example).
2. Pesticides - Stored in the fat cells of fish, poultry and other food sources
consumed by humans.
3. Growth Hormones – used to fatten up animals which are later consumed, such
as beef, chicken, turkey, and pork
4. Chemicals found in many household items including nail polish and remover,
glues, paints, varnishes, cleaning products, lawn and garden sprays, indoor
insect sprays.
5. Chemicals found in many personal care products such as soap, shampoo and
fragrances.

If you really think your health is unaffected by this, you‘re likely wrong.

However, there is GOOD NEWS!!

When you are trying to conceive, it makes sense to try and eliminate as much of
your exposure to these environmental hazards and it really is NOT that difficult to
do. I am not suggesting that you need to make sure you are not exposed to any of
these harmful toxins, because that would be nearly impossible.

What I am suggesting is that you familiarize yourself with the most common
ways you are exposed and make some effort to reduce your exposure as best as
you can.
Here are some ideas on how you can do this:

 Avoid plastic packaging. If that is not possible, then at least avoid ingesting
anything that has been heated in plastic. For instance, never microwave food in
any plastic wrap or container, use glass instead. Also, never drink bottled water

48
 that was left in your car on a hot day. The chemicals in the plastic DO get into the
food/drink, so please do your best to avoid this.

 Avoid hormone-containing meat, dairy and poultry by purchasing organic,

vegetarian or free-range options from your natural food store. Not everyone has
access to hormone-free, organic meat and poultry, but what you can do is at least
limit your consumption of these products if you cannot purchase hormone-free
products. Include more beans and legumes in your diet and cut back some on the
meat and poultry. Also, fish has far less of these toxins, as long as you choose
those fish that are not high in mercury such as shark, swordfish, etc. (I discuss
this in Chapter 5).

 Eat organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible. If this is not possible, then
be sure to wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly (preferably with a vinegar
and water solution) before eating.

 Drink natural spring water instead of tap water.

 Eat broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts which can help to reduce the effect
of these toxins in your body.

 Use protective clothing, proper ventilation and face masks to reduce the risk of
absorbing toxins when using certain household and garden products.

 If possible, use natural, organic personal care products. There is a wonderful site
called ―Skin Deep‖ which offers a detailed analysis of the chemicals and toxins
contained in common personal care products that can impact your fertility and
your health. You can look up any product that you are using to find out just how
harmful it may be. Click here to go to the Skin Deep website.

Finally, it could be very helpful to perform a body cleanse or detox to help rid your
body of the toxins that have built up over time. After reviewing many of the products
offered online, the one that gets the best overall reviews from customers is from Dr.
Floras. Click here to read more about these products, and don‘t forget to read the
customer testimonials here.

 Conclusion
There are many strategies detailed above that can help you to achieve a successful
pregnancy. Do not let yourself get overwhelmed or feel as if you have to do
EVERYTHING in order to be successful. It‘s important to learn ways for
improving your fertility and to gain the power of knowledge which will allow you
to make changes that can directly impact your fertility.

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Remain optimistic and if you aren‘t achieving results after a reasonable amount of
time, try to incorporate something else that you‘ve learned in this guide.

Next, I will take a look at diet, as more and more research points to the powerful
effect it has on your fertility.

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 Chapter 5:
How to Influence Your Fertility With Your Diet –
What To Eat and What To Avoid
Since the first edition of Personal Path to pregnancy, there has been even more
research and conclusive evidence that confirms the link between diet and fertility.

A Natural Diet Designed to Promote Fertility

Proper nutrition is crucial to a healthy pregnancy and in producing a healthy baby
– but it‘s also a critical factor in balancing your hormones to make it possible and
probable that you‘ll conceive.

Following an organic or whole food diet can greatly increase your chances to
become pregnant because it will better provide you with the vitamins and minerals that
you can‘t find in foods robbed of natural nutrients from too much processing.

Eating as much organic food as possible, as stated in the previous chapter will
minimize the damaging impact of pesticides on your fertility.

Here are some foods that are known for their fertility boosting potential:

Fertility Boosters:

 Pumpkin Seeds /Sunflower Seeds– naturally high in zinc and essential fatty
acids (EFA‘s) which are vital to healthy functioning of the male reproductive system.
Eat 1/4 cup a day of raw pumpkin or sunflower seeds to help maintain a healthy
reproductive system.

 Garlic – Garlic contains many fertility boosting nutrients such as selenium, which
improves male fertility and vitamin B6 which is a hormone regulator.

 Honey – Rich in minerals and amino acids, honey has been known to enhance
fertility throughout history. Many consider it to be a fertility ―super-food‖ which
nourishes the reproductive system for both men and women.

 Cinnamon – Cinnamon is a sweet-tasting spice that has recently been shown to

have a beneficial effect on stabilizing blood insulin levels. It has fertility enhancing
properties, especially when combined with honey. Take 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
mixed with 2 tablespoons honey.
 
In China, Japan and Far-East countries, women who do not conceive and need to
strengthen the uterus, have been taking cinnamon powder for centuries. Women who

51
cannot conceive take a pinch of cinnamon powder in half teaspoon of honey and apply it
on the gums frequently throughout the day, so that it slowly mixes with the saliva and
enters the body.

 Apple Cider Vinegar– Organic, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar can work to
balance the pH and therefore improve fertility. You can take 2 teaspoons in a glass of
water, sweetened with honey. Drink a glass twice a day. This should be used by both
men and women.

 Avocado - Avocado provides a great source of vitamin E which is a powerful
antioxidant and an important fertility nutrient for both men and women. It improves
sperm function and helps to regulate ovulation and improve cervical mucus.

 Goji Berries – only recently introduced to the Western world, the goji berry is a
sweet red fruit native to Asia. It has been used as a medicinal food for thousands of
years, and has been studied extensively in modern times to substantiate its health
benefits. In Asia, it is widely believed to increase sexual fluids and enhance fertility.
They are the most nutrient dense food on earth, containing the highest levels of
antioxidants of any known food, 500 times more vitamin C by weight than oranges, more
beta carotene than carrots, more iron than spinach, 18 amino acids, Vitamins B1, B2, B6
and Vitamin E, 21 trace minerals, and many natural compounds that promote health. Be
sure to eat the whole berry, as many products on the market contain just a small quantity
of goji berry extract.

 Whole Grains – Whole grains such as oats, brown rice, whole wheat and quinoa
are complex carbohydrates which release sugar into your bloodstream slowly. They
contain an abundance of vitamins B, zinc and selenium which are essential for cellular
reproduction, hormonal balance and the production of healthy eggs and sperm.

 Green Leafy Vegetables – high in magnesium (vital for female hormone

balance), folic acid and vitamin B6.

 Nuts – high in B vitamins. Almonds are high in zinc; walnuts are high in zinc and
omega 3 fatty acids.

 Lentils and other beans – high in folic acid

 Oysters – packed with zinc, which plays a role in semen and testosterone
production in men and in ovulation and fertility in women.

 Brown Rice – high in fiber and B Vitamins. Fiber strips old hormones and waste
products from the system. Without this removal, old hormones re-circulate and create
imbalances.

 Protein – adequate protein is important for people trying to conceive. Lean red
meat, skinless chicken and oily fish such as salmon are good sources of protein.

52
However, be aware that eating too much meat will increase ammonia which can interfere
with the implantation of the egg in the uterus. Too much rich protein may also increase
the body's acidity and affect sperm activity. Sperm are at their most efficient in an
alkaline environment.

A high-carbohydrate diet promotes the energy levels it takes to pursue pregnancy

and also helps to keep your hormones balanced. You can supplement your diet by taking
vitamins if you‘re unsure or undecided about following a particular diet.

Basically, you want to add foods that are high in folic acid, zinc, vitamin C or any
of the vitamins listed earlier that help in fertility. Always consult your doctor before
adhering to any specialized diet.

In general when trying for a baby it makes sense to choose good quality,
unprocessed foods as they are more likely to be richer in vitamins, minerals and
nutrients and also more free of pesticides and added estrogens that may disrupt the
reproductive cycle. By supplementing a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle with the
foods listed above you will be doing a great deal to maximize your fertility potential.

Fertility Destroyers:
Certain foods can actually lower your ability to become pregnant. If possible, it‘s
best to minimize or avoid the following which have been shown to harm fertility:

 Peas – they are a natural contraceptive. There is a chemical in peas that has a
strong anti-fertility effect (m-xylohydroquinine) for both men and women. Folk
medicine has always ascribed contraceptive powers to peas,. They were being studied by
Asian scientists hoping to isolate these substances to construct an inexpensive
contraceptive. 

 Dairy – research in the United States and Finland reported that where per capita
milk consumption is the highest, women tend to experience the sharpest age-related
falloff in fertility. Some say dairy products can thicken cervical mucus. However, the
latest research in Harvard‘s ―Nurse‘s Study‖ states that full fat dairy products can help to
prevent/improve ovulation disorders which can impair fertility. So the subject of dairy is
controversial among fertility experts. (read more about this below)

 Peanuts/Brazil Nuts – Particularly high in phytoestrogens (like soy), there is

some suspicion that they can contribute to male fertility.

 Pineapple Juice – in large doses, it can cause uterine contractions and bring on a
miscarriage.

53
 Gossypol – This is a toxic substance found in the cotton plant, which is mostly
removed through hydrogenation when making cottonseed oil. Why should you care?
Well, it greatly reduces male sperm count and sperm motility, and was actually being
considered in China for use as a male contraceptive.

While most of the gossypol is removed from the cottonseed oil, some of it is still there.
So to be on the safe side, it's probably best for your partner to avoid products made with
cottonseed oil. This would typically be some salad dressings and especially snack foods,
such as potato chips. Be sure to read package labels and avoid any products that contain
cottonseed oil.

 Additives - foods that contain additives, preservatives and chemicals can affect
hormonal balance in your body. This means it‘s best to stay away from processed foods
as much as possible and try and consume whole foods as much as possible. In particular
try to avoid MSG and BHA, two preservatives that may harm fertility.

 Sugar – too much sugar increases your body‘s output of insulin, a hormone that
can affect the way your ovaries function. (this is described in detail in chapter 7)

 Artificial Sweetener – Sugar substitutes such as Aspartame and Splenda should

also be avoided as they contain chemicals which may be harmful to your health and
fertility. For instance, aspartame breaks down into formaldehyde in your body (the
substance used to preserve dead bodies).

 Sodas - These should definitely be avoided as sodas are loaded with sugar or
artificial sweeteners, chemicals, and sometimes caffeine, all of which can impair fertility.
Replacing any soda you drink with water instead will be a positive step to improving
fertility.

 High Mercury Fish – the FDA says that women trying to conceive can safely eat
up to 12 ounces (two servings) a week of low mercury fish, such as shrimp, crab,
scallops, oysters, cod, pollock, tilapia, fresh water trout, salmon, canned light tuna and
catfish. The FDA advises avoiding canned white tuna as well as swordfish, tilefish, king
mackerel, tuna steaks, shark, orange roughy, Spanish mackerel, marlin and grouper,
because they have the highest mercury levels.

Fish contains proteins and health omega 3 fats. You should not cut it out of your diet.
Just be aware of the high mercury fish and choose wisely when you are purchasing your
fish.

 Wheat – some women can have an intolerance to wheat and not even know it, so
try to substitute wheat with another grain such as rye or pumpernickel when you can.

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Controversial Foods – Helpful or Harmful?

There are a few foods that have been described as both good and bad for fertility and I
have listed both points of view for you to evaluate:

 The Soy Controversy

The data on soy‘s effect on fertility is nothing short of confusing and contradictory, with
some studies suggesting that soy might be helpful, and others suggesting that soy
contributes to fertility problems. Soy contains phytoestrogens which are ―plant based
estrogens‖ and the ones found in soy are known as isoflavones. For every study that
points to the benefits of soy as a good source of protein, there are other studies that speak
to the damaging effects of isoflavones on the menstrual cycle. Also at issue is the
possibility that Genistein, one of the isoflavones in soy, may cause damage to sperm.

Generally, the studies that found a negative impact on fertility from consuming soy
looked at soy consumption that was significantly higher than what most people would
consume. It seems logical to conclude that minimal intake of soy proteins will not
adversely affect your chances of becoming pregnant or maintaining a pregnancy. But,
consuming large quantities of soy products is not recommended.

Also, if you do decide to eat some soy products, it would be best to consume non-
genetically-modified soy products such as tofu, tempeh and miso. It is best to avoid
Western invented soy products such as soy sausages, soy protein powders, soy cheeses,
etc.

There are only two soy products, soy sauce and soy oil that do not contain isoflavones so
they can be used without any concern.

 Pomegranate

Pomegranate is a fruit used by ancient women to prevent conception. By 200 CE, Greek
physicians widely distributed texts discussing the use of pomegranate as a contraceptive.
Even today, pomegranate preparations are still used in some rural areas of Africa and
Asia. Modern research has also shown that pomegranate does have contraceptive effects.
In one study pomegranate reduced fertility in female rats by 50% and in another study on
female guinea pigs, it was 100% effective as a contraceptive. This doesn‘t mean the
effect in women will be the same, however, the possibility for a reduction in fertility does
exist.

On the other hand, the pomegranate was also a symbol of fertility in many ancient
cultures. Pomegranates are especially high in anti-oxidants and is currently being touted
by some as a fertility booster for that reason. In one study from the journal Clinical
Nutrition, researchers found that pomegranate juice improved fertility markers in male

55
rats (sperm count and motility). It is believed that the powerful antioxidants may offer
protection against damage to the fatty acids in sperm.

Given that there are many other nutritional choices for getting anti-oxidants, I would
suggest caution in eating pomegranates or drinking pomegranate juice until there is more
conclusive data.

 Milk and Dairy

Once again, there is some controversy surrounding the issue of milk and dairy and the
possible effects on fertility. Here‘s why…

Dairy products contain lactose, which the body breaks down during digestion into two
smaller sugars - glucose and galactose, during digestion. Normally the liver converts the
galactose into glucose , however some women (especially as they age into their thirties
and older) have low levels of the enzyme needed to break it down and the result is a build
up of galactose in the blood.

It appears that galactose is harmful to the ovaries and may damage the unfertilized eggs
which are developing. Milk, ice cream, cottage cheese, and especially yogurt, may harm
fertility if you have any lactose intolerance.

However, some groundbreaking new research by the Harvard School of Public Health
offers some very different advice regarding milk and dairy products. Read more about it
in the next section.

The Harvard Study

In late 2007, researchers from the Harvard School Of Public Health reported on
some groundbreaking research from the Nurse's Health Study which revealed some
methods to avoid fertility problems caused by ovulation disorders. 18,000 women were
included in the study, which looked at dietary and other factors in terms of their effects
on fertility. The results of this study gained international attention, and you may have
heard or read about it on TV or in the newspaper or magazines. The following is a brief
summary of some of the results that they found.

It should be noted that two of the diet recommendations (regarding dairy and soy)
are a bit controversial, and I addressed both of them earlier in this chapter.

They found that diet CAN affect the risk of ovulatory infertility.
It‘s important to note that no other cause of infertility such as tubal blockage,
fibroids, endometriosis, etc. was correlated with diet. The only clear link between diet
and fertility appears to be related to ovulatory function.

56
 Ovulation issues account for at least 30% of fertility problems, making them the
number one cause of infertility. The two most common signs are irregular menstrual
cycles or abnormal body weight. If your BMI (body mass index) is above 25, it may be
contributing to an ovulation problem.

There were four main diet components that were addressed in this study:

 Milk - Milk has been a source of controversy with some studies

showing that it helps fertility and other studies showing a harmful effect.

This study found that women who ate at least one serving of whole milk or
ice cream per day decreased their risk of ovulatory based infertility by
27%. Also, women who consumed many servings daily of low fat dairy
products were almost twice as likely to have anovulatory fertility problems
as those who didn‘t.

I‘ll bet you‘re liking the sound of that research, right?!

Also, the more fatty dairy products the women ate, the more likely they
were to conceive. The researchers speculated that this might be due to a
fat soluble chemical found in fatty dairy food which improves ovarian
function.

Dr. Jorge Chavarro, who led the research, suggested that women ―should
consider changing low fat dairy foods for high fat dairy foods; for
instance, by swapping skimmed milk for whole milk and eating ice cream,
not low fat yoghurt‖.

It‘s important to bear in mind that following this advice has the potential
for causing weight gain in some women, which has already been
established as causing fertility problems. So if that is a potential problem
for you, try adding one serving of whole milk daily to your diet rather than
ice cream which will be much higher in calories.

Other choices of high fat dairy are whole milk , yogurt, cheese, or ice cream.

 Carbohydrates - not all carbs are created equal. Fast carbs have a high
glycemic index and are quickly turned into sugar which causes weight
gain and insulin resistance which in turn may interfere with normal
ovulation.

Examples of fast carbs are white rice, white bread, potatoes, cookies, ice
cream and sodas. Slow carbs do not cause spikes in blood sugar and
insulin and they are much better for fertility and include brown rice, whole
grain pasta and dark bread. Whole grains, vegetables and whole fruit all
contain slow carbs.

57
  Fats - Some fats are healthy for you and needed by your body; these
are called essential fatty acids. Most fats found in our food fall under the
heading of saturated or unsaturated. Many of you already know that
saturated fats like butter are not good for your heart. Recently, it was
discovered that one type of unsaturated fat, is also unhealthy. This type of
fat is called a trans fat, and on package labels it is listed as ―hydrogenated
oil‖. They are created specifically to allow processed foods to last longer
on grocery shelves in the stores.

Trans fats are bad for your heart and your fertility.

Be careful with the following foods which can be high in trans fats:
French fries, stick margarines, shortening, cookies, crackers, and many
other packaged/processed foods.

According to the study, the best fats to improve fertility are mono-
unsaturated fats as well as the Omega-3‘s mentioned previously.

Sources of monounsaturated fats include olive oil, nuts, avocado, and

seeds.

Vegetable Protein - Most people are familiar with animal proteins

such as beef, pork, chicken, turkey and fish. However, the study found
that vegetable proteins appear to be better for your fertility. These include
quinoa, beans (eaten with whole grains) such as lentils, soybeans/tofu,
garbanzo beans, as well as nuts, and seeds.

 Exercise – In this study, exercise was also shown to boost fertility,

and I have already addressed this topic earlier in chapter 4.

Overall, many of the observations in the Harvard study do make a lot of sense,
especially the idea that certain foods may influence levels of hormones involved in
ovulation and conception. Many of the dietary recommendations are consistent with the
type of healthy diet that is recommended for women who have PCOS, which I discuss in
Chapter 7. However, the issue of milk/dairy and soy is controversial as it conflicts with
other recommendations to avoid soy and dairy products.

Do You Have A High Acid Diet?

Science has discovered that the diet of a healthy person is slightly alkaline, while
the diet of an unhealthy person is more likely to be acidic (low pH). pH is a measure of
the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, and the body will continually strive to maintain a
balanced ph.

When it comes to fertility, it is known that the vagina tends to be somewhat

acidic, but when it is “too” acidic, some sperm will not be able to survive.

58
 Similarly, for males, if sperm have very low motility, it may be due to the body‘s
highly acidic state which can cause sperm to be immobilized.

Also, a diet which is far too high in acid-producing animal products like meat,
eggs and dairy, and far too low in alkaline-producing foods like fresh vegetables will
result in an acidic condition which results in weakened body systems and reduced health.

Foods like white flour and sugar and beverages like coffee and soft drinks all
contribute to a high acid environment. Also artificial chemical sweeteners like
NutraSweet, Equal, or aspartame, are extremely acid-forming.

By changing your diet to include much more alkaline foods, you can change the
pH of your bodies fluids and tissues to one that is pH balanced which will improve your
overall health and fertility.

It is important to note that a food's acid or alkaline-forming tendency in the body

has nothing to do with the actual pH of the food itself. For example, lemons are very
acidic, however the end-products they produce after digestion are very alkaline so lemons
are alkaline-forming in the body. Similarly, meat itself is actually alkaline but it leaves
very acidic residue in the body so, like nearly all animal products, meat is very acid-
forming.

If you want to take steps to improve the pH balance of your body, try adding
vegetable juices and raw vegetables, fruits, nuts such as almonds and hazelnuts, while
avoiding meat, eggs, sugar and dairy.

Here is a link to a site with a chart that you can use to check whether a food is
alkaline forming or acid forming in the body: Click here to see the chart on Alkaline and
Acid Forming Foods.

Conclusion: There is a lot of information in this chapter that will allow you to make
good choices in the foods you eat which will have a positive effect on your fertility.
Many fertility experts believe that changing your diet is one of the easiest ways to
significantly boost your odds of getting pregnant. While most of the experts agree
on how to do this, there are some areas where there is some controversy, such as
with soy and dairy. In those cases, it may be best to eliminate those foods that are
controversial from your diet and then if you don’t see results after a reasonable
period of time, you can try adding them back in to your diet in limited quantities
only.

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 Chapter 6:
When Infertility Is an Issue – Dealing with the
Tests, Emotions, and Outcome of a Diagnosis You
Didn’t Want!
You‘ve tried for a year to conceive – and it just isn‘t happening. What’s wrong? Is
it me or is it him? Your emotions are raw and exposed and you may have entered a low
point in your life and/or relationship.

You may want to use this guide by putting some of the methods and strategies
into practice for some time, before pursuing fertility testing. Alternatively, if it‘s been
over a year, you may want to have some fertility testing to look for medical issues that
might be causing the difficulty. And then, you can go back and put some of the tips into
practice. Either way, here is all the information you will need to understand about the
various infertility tests.

If testing for a solution or diagnosis is imminent, you‘re probably both on edge

about it. I know what you‘re going through because I went through it myself. I had
several miscarriages before conceiving my children and went through the seemingly
endless round of emotions that you‘re going through now.

People who tell you to just take one day at a time may overlook the fact that
depression keeps you from seeing that light at the end of the tunnel. You want answers –
and you want them now!

If you find yourself on an emotional roller coaster during this frustrating of all
times, know that there are ways to deal with it effectively. You don‘t have to feel isolated
or misunderstood.

And, most of all, you don‘t have to let those perfectly normal and understandable
emotions have a negative impact on your relationship with your partner. Find out all you
can about what you might be experiencing and how to turn it into a ―positive‖ by learning
a little about yourself.

Before the Tests – The Impact on Your Emotions

If you‘ve been trying to conceive for months or even years, it‘s bound to have had
an impact on your emotions individually and as a couple. You‘re wondering why – and
the tests you‘re about to take will probably answer that question. But do you really want
to know the answer?

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 Couples who are about to go through infertility testing run a gamut of emotions –
from an impending deep sense of inadequacy to anxiety beyond belief. The worst thing
you can do as a couple at this time is to keep your emotions to yourself.

But finding neutral territory to state your fears and worries seems almost
impossible. Should you talk about alternatives to having your own children such as
adoption or surrogacy – or is it too soon to bring up the subject?

Dealing with your emotions effectively before you begin the tests can help you
face whatever the test results will ultimately tell you about the future. Some pro-active
steps that can help get you past this difficult time include:

 Journaling -- Writing down your thoughts can help you gain an understanding of
the feelings and emotions that are bombarding you on every level.

Journaling is especially helpful when you find the subject of infertility too painful
or difficult to talk about with your partner, friend or family member.

 Make it a point to talk to your partner on a regular basis – Your experience of

the situation might be different from that of your partner‘s, but he or she needs to
know that you‘re going through a difficult time and how he or she can help.

Communication with your partner is crucial to overcome feelings of anger and

blame toward yourself or the other person and rectify those feelings before they
harm the relationship.

 Talk to others who are having difficulty conceiving – Support groups or a new,
online friend going through a similar situation can help you cope with your
feelings right now. Even though your circumstances may be different from theirs,
the bottom line is that neither of you has been able to conceive.

Be sure to talk to your doctor about feelings of anxiety or anger. He or she may be
able to offer some helpful advice.

 Focus on an activity or hobby – As simple as it may sound, any activity that can
get your mind off of fertility issues, even for a few moments, could be an
enormous coping tool while you‘re going through this traumatic time in your life.

The most important thing to realize during this upheaval is that you‘re in it
together – as a couple. Turn to each other for support and understanding whenever you
can.

Empathizing with each other will help prepare you for what you‘re going to
endure during testing and afterward – and to develop a bond that will be so important to
raising your future child or children.

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Fertility Tests that Your Doctor Will Probably Recommend
Recent scientific breakthroughs in fertility testing have made it possible to
determine, without a doubt, if you and your partner are fertile enough to conceive. These
tests are able to pinpoint the problem, if there is one, and provide the solution.

The problem is that there are so many tests to endure. I went through most all of
them, only to find out that I had an immune disorder that was eventually treated
successfully. But I had to go through several of them to find that one solution.

Tests to Determine Your Fertility Include:

 Baseline Blood Tests

Baseline blood tests are conducted after your period starts, usually on day 2-3.
It‘s a simple blood test where you get the results without undergoing anything
more invasive than a needle prick.

o Estradiol – This blood test measures hormone levels and can determine if
a woman is ovulating or not or if you have ovarian cysts.

o Progesterone – A test that measures progesterone hormone levels that‘s

also an indicator of ovulation. This hormone is necessary to help the
embryo implant itself in the lining of your uterus.

o Luteinizing Hormone (LH) – This test is given to both men and women to
determine menstrual regularity and pituitary disorders in the ovaries or
testes. If you have PCOS, then you may have higher levels of LH.

o Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) – This test will probably be done on

day three of your menstrual cycle. It determines if your ovaries are
functioning properly or if you‘re going through perimenopause.

 HSG (Hysterosalpingogram)

HSG is an x-ray that‘s usually performed in the radiology department of a

hospital. Dye is injected into the uterus through the vagina and cervix.
The dye fills the tubes and spills into your abdomen. It outlines your uterus and
fallopian tubes, making it easier to see abnormalities, such as blocked fallopian
tubes. Polyps, scar tissue and fibroid tumors in the uterus can also be seen and
analyzed.

This test can be somewhat painful, causing cramps. How painful it is will be
different for everyone depending on your tolerance for pain and whether or not
your doctor has to force more dye into your tubes if they‘re blocked with debris.
Take an ibuprofen before you go to your test.

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 If you have gonorrhea or chlamydia, then the doctor may not perform the test
since it can spread the infection as the dye is pushed through the fallopian tubes.
You‘ll have to be on antibiotics beforehand. Another reason they may not
perform the test is if you‘re allergic to shellfish or contrast dye.

When the test is over, you may have a small amount of bleeding, sometimes
mixed with the clear dye, which is normal. It‘s best if someone can drive you to
and from your appointment in case your cramping is moderate to severe.

 Hysteroscopy

If your doctor thinks you may have small polyps or fibroids inside your uterus, he
may order this test. It‘s an outpatient procedure where they insert a small tube
through your cervix and into your uterus. They inflate your uterus with carbon
dioxide to give them a better view of the surroundings.

If he sees signs of fibroids or polyps, then he may conduct an operative

hysteroscopy where he removes the tissue. If it requires extensive work, he may
hospitalize you to perform the procedure.

The pain can be moderate to severe, so the doctor will usually administer a local
anesthesia or give you a Valium before the procedure. If you‘re hospitalized, then
you will probably get an epidural.

 Laparoscopy

Doctors use laparoscopy as a tool to help them examine the pelvic organs and
determine if there are problems with your uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries that
might contribute to your inability to conceive.

A small incision is made in the abdominal area so that the doctor can insert the
laparoscope, which acts as a camera. The camera can then help the doctor
examine the pelvic organs. If there is endometriosis or scar tissue, they‘ll remove
it at that time. They can also remove infected fallopian tubes.

This is an outpatient procedure that‘s performed at a surgical center or hospital

and the pain afterwards is mild. It takes about a week to recover from a
laparoscopy.

 Postcoital

A postcoital test (also known as Huhner test) determines whether or not sperm
can survive in your cervical mucus. Within 24 hours after intercourse, the woman
visits the doctor‘s office where the cervical mucus is analyzed.

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 If the doctor determines that there are dead or stagnant sperm, he‘ll then test for
an antibody problem. He‘ll be looking to see how the mucus looks, too, and if it‘s
a viable climate for the sperm to swim through.

 Semen analysis

A semen analysis is performed when the fertility of the man is in doubt. A semen
sample is gathered in the doctor‘s office by the man masturbating into a container.
If the results are to be reliable, they must be tested within 2 hours of collecting the
specimen.

Male infertility accounts for about 40% of all infertility cases. The doctor will
analyze the sperm to see if all three components are intact – the head (which
contains the genetic material), the midpiece (which has the energy needed to help
the sperm swim), and the tail (which catapults him through the cervix and
fallopian tubes and toward the egg.

Ideally, your partner‘s sperm sample should be 1.5-5 ml (a teaspoon), should have
20 million or more sperm/ml, should have 60% mobility, and 30% intact for size
and shape (morphology). What this basically means is that you have sufficient
number of sperm, that they move well and in the right direction (motility), and
that they are fairly normal in size and shape, ie. not deformed (morphology).

They‘ll also be checking the Ph of the sample, the presence of anti-sperm

antibodies, and their ability to penetrate a hamster egg. This is known as the
zona-free hamster-egg penetrating test. If the sperm can penetrate a hamster egg,
it can penetrate your egg as well!

Of the millions of sperm in the ejaculated semen, only about 200 actually reach
the egg in a woman's fallopian tube. But, just one is needed to fertilize the egg.

Unfortunately, what the analysis will not tell you is whether the sperm contains
too many toxins or not enough nutrients to form a healthy embryo. Often, poor
motility or lots of irregular shaped sperm can be an indicator that these issues may
need to be addressed.

Keep in mind that since it takes 3 months for your partner‘s sperm to produce,
you have to consider what his life was like at that time. Was he sick? Did you
both go hot-tubbing frequently? These kinds of things can affect his test results.

 Sonohysterogram
A Sonohysterogram is used to diagnose tubal obstruction, detect fibroid tumors,
polyps or abnormalities in the uterus and fallopian tubes. A doctor can also
evaluate ―incompetent cervix‖ in women who have had several miscarriages.

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 The test is usually performed in the early stage of a menstrual cycle because it
should not be performed on a pregnant woman. A saline solution is inserted
through the cervix into the uterus and allows the doctor to better see
abnormalities.

This is an outpatient procedure performed in your doctor‘s office and isn‘t painful
for most women.

 Thyroid
If you are having trouble getting pregnant, you need to make sure you don‘t have
a problem with your thyroid. A blood test determines if your thyroid levels (TSH
and T4) are under control. In the next chapter I will cover how thyroid conditions
can have an impact on your fertility.

 FSH and Inhibin B

FSH is a hormone that can be measured by a simple blood test to the male and
female. This hormone is secreted by the brain and encourages the presence of
eggs in women and sperm in men.
Inhibin B is a protein hormone produced by the ovaries. It is also measured by a
blood test to the female and is done on the third day of your menstrual cycle. The
day 3 Inhibin B test is used in order to predict ovarian reserve, including the egg
quality and egg quantity. The amount of Inhibin B in your blood directly
correlates to the number of eggs that you have in your ovaries.

If you are diagnosed with low levels of Inhibin B from your doctor, then he or she
may prescribe a synthetic estrogen. When you start taking this, the ovary starts
reducing the amount of FSH and allows your ovaries a chance to produce an egg.

 Endometrial Biopsy

This procedure is conducted to take a sample of the lining inside of the uterus,
known as the endometrium. They can use this procedure to rule out a luteal phase
defect. If you‘ve suffered repeated miscarriages, then an endometrial biopsy can
be performed to see if this is the reason your body isn‘t supporting a pregnancy.

For infertility testing, it has to be performed at a specific time, three days before
your period. It‘s conducted either at your doctor‘s office or in the hospital and
you are usually instructed to take a mild pain medication like Motrin or Aleve
before the procedure.

You may also get a local anesthesia injected directly into your cervix. A tube will
be inserted into the uterine cavity to extract a piece of the lining for examination.
This can be somewhat painful and result in a small amount of bleeding
afterwards.

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 Clomiphene Citrate Challenge Test (CCCT)
This test measures estradiol and FSH. The test will be given again after taking a
medication called clomiphene citrate for five days.
Blood will be drawn at the doctor‘s office on day 2 or 3 of your period. Then,
you‘ll begin to take Clomid (100 mg per day beginning on Day 5 of your period).
This consists of taking two 50 mg tablets together each day at the same time. On
day 10 or 11, after you‘ve taken Clomid for five days, blood will be drawn again.

The results predict fertility potential and your likelihood of conceiving. If you
have an abnormal CCCT, the doctor will probably tell you that the chances of
conception and delivering a baby with your own eggs is improbable.

 Immune Disorders

Your doctor may recommend testing for the following immune disorders:

a) ASA – Antisperm Antibody: This test determines if sperm are not being
produced because of problems in the systemic immune system. Women will
be tested through a blood sample while men‘s samples will be tested through a
semen sample.
b) APA – Antiphospholipid Antibodies: This is a popular test to see if these
types of antibodies are circulating in your bloodstream and preventing the
blood from flowing properly.

If you‘ve suffered multiple miscarriages, then your doctor will probably order
this test. Its treatment can be as simple as taking a baby aspirin or other blood
thinner.
c) ANA – Antinuclear Antibodies: A test that measures abnormal antibodies that
harm or work against the body‘s tissues. If you test positive, it can mean that
you have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This can increase your risk for
a miscarriage but can be treated with steroids.
d) ATA – Antithyroglobulin: Measures the presence of antithyroid antibodies.
Your doctor may order this test if you‘ve had unexplained miscarriages. It
can be treated with steroids.
e) AOA – Antiovarian antibodies: Used to detect levels of specific antibodies in
the bloodstream. You may have high levels of this antibody if you‘re having
fertility problems such as premature ovarian failure or early menopause.

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 During Fertility Testing – Loss of Control and Other Feelings
Fertility testing is a life-changing experience that can cause thoughts and feelings
that you may have never had before. There‘s no reason for you to feel inadequate or
isolated because you‘re having these feelings. But you must recognize them for what they
are and take the necessary steps to deal with them.

When the medical fertility experts take over, you may feel that your life isn‘t your
own anymore. They‘ll tell you what to do and when to do it and disrupt your entire life
for an indefinite period of time.

You now schedule your life – including sex - around doctors‘ appointments – and
you may become angry and frustrated. Sex may become robotic and you may even come
to resent your partner. What used to be a private act of love is now scrutinized and
analyzed by ―professionals‖ trained to help you conceive.

You may begin to resent pregnant women you see in a store or in your own
family. Did she have to go through what I‘m going through? Will I ever be where she is
now?

Use the same coping strategies during the testing that you used before the testing
began – and here are some other tips that might help you through this stage:

 Begin by acknowledging that this is going to be a fearful and anxious time for you
– both individually, and as a couple.

 Keep the lines of communication open and don‘t be afraid to express your
emotions.

 Support each other through the testing process by attending appointments together
and talking about them afterward.

 Don‘t force yourself to go to baby showers or a child‘s birthday party. This may
be too painful for you at this stage and it‘s perfectly understandable for you to
want to avoid these types of gatherings.

 Search the web, the bookstores and any other means of locating information about
fertility, options and treatments.

 Make copious notes and jot down questions that you want to ask the doctor at
your next appointment.

You should always find quiet times for yourself to think about what‘s happening
to you – your body and your mental state. Tell yourself over and over that what you‘re
feeling is normal and that you‘re taking steps to correct the situation – whatever that may
be.

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When You Can’t Cope
Sometimes you may feel the need to talk to someone other than your partner, but
infertility is such a personal subject that you might find it difficult to open up to a friend
or family member.

There are mental health professionals who can help you understand the emotions
you‘re feeling and successfully cope with them. It‘s natural to feel overwhelmed by what
you‘re going through – and if you can find ways to cope, you‘ll feel more in control.

If you‘re experiencing out of the ordinary thoughts or sensations such as those

listed below, seek out a trained professional to help you through the crisis. Don‘t think
that you can do it alone.

You should immediately seek help if you experience symptoms of depression that
include the following conditions:

 Sleeplessness, or sleeping too much

 Lack of concentration

 Loss of interest in being with family, friends or loved ones

 Extreme anger

 Lack of self-esteem

 Thoughts of death or suicide

Prolonged depression, caused by stress, can sometimes cause a chemical

imbalance in your brain that makes it impossible for you to function on a normal basis.
Don‘t be embarrassed or feel guilty because you‘re having these thoughts.

Do consult a professional who is trained in treating symptoms that arise before,

during and after fertility tests and treatments. He or she can help you sort through issues,
learn how to cope and deal with the grief you might be feeling.

Be sure that any mental health professional you choose has extensive training in
treating the psychological trauma of infertility and that he has a graduate degree and a
license to practice in your state.

Your doctor may be able to recommend someone – or, if you‘re in an infertility

support group, ask someone you trust for the name of a good professional. You may want
to interview several before deciding on one that you feel comfortable with.

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After Fertility Testing – Coming to Terms With the Outcome
No matter what the outcome of the tests may be, you may find yourself at a
crossroads that requires even more decisions on your part. Do we continue with other
fertility testing methods? Are there alternative treatments that we should consider?
Adoption? In vitro fertilization?

If you‘ve been consulting with a mental health professional, proficient in the area
of infertility testing, he or she may be able to help you sort out the facts in the decision-
making process.

Your doctor may also be of help by explaining other options to you – the impact
and the probable results of each according to your particular case.

After all that testing, worry and anguish, your diagnosis may be just what you‘d
hoped for – that everything is ripe and ready for a pregnancy, but it just hasn‘t happened
yet.

In this case, you may decide to try relaxation techniques, diet, or any of the other
numerous ways mentioned in this book that can help your system be geared up and ready
when pregnancy does occur.

You may get a diagnosis that fertility is a problem with one or both of you. It
could be low sperm count, trouble ovulating or a number of things that your doctor will
explain to you in detail.

The science of infertility has made such amazing progress that infertile couples
have a wide array of available choices. It may involve surgery to remove cysts – or
something as simple as taking hormone-boosting herbs or drugs. If infertility is your
problem, today‘s medicine, both Western and alternative, can usually provide an answer.

The most devastating of diagnoses – that there‘s no way you can become pregnant
as a couple – requires even more serious consideration from you, as a couple. How badly
do you really want children? Now what?

Sometimes these decisions are overwhelming for a couple. This is when open
lines of communication with each other becomes a tremendous ally in your quest to make
the right decision for you both.

Some topics that you‘ll want to talk about include:

 How long do you want to try before considering other options?

Assuming that your fertility testing results proved that you‘re both capable of
conception and there‘s nothing medically askew with either of you, you may want

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 to set a limit of how long you want to try to conceive before considering other
ways to have a family.

Some couples aren‘t willing to invest more years and put up with the stress of
trying to conceive. This is a decision that you‘ll need to make as a couple, perhaps
with the guidance of your doctor.

 Are you willing to try advanced fertility testing or undergo fertility

treatments?

Perhaps the tests were inconclusive and your doctor recommends taking the next
step to discover whether or not fertility is a problem. More testing may cause
further strain on your relationship or on yourself that you‘re not willing to endure.

You need to be able to state your feelings and emotions about this development in
the clearest of terms and to decide what‘s best for you and as a couple.

Fertility treatments are very expensive and may not be a viable option for you.
But if you decide that you want and need the treatments, get together with your
partner to develop a financial plan that you can deal with.

Your insurance plan might cover fertility treatments to some extent – or you may
need to talk to them and negotiate. If you do decide to pay for part or all of the
treatments, prepare for the fact that it may not work.

 Which fertility treatments are you willing to try and which won’t you even
consider?

In the next chapter, I discuss the plethora of fertility treatments available and the
possible side effects and outcome of each. Study these methods carefully and
research them on your own before you make a decision on acceptable fertility
treatments.

 Optimism is important.

No matter what you decide, by all means practice optimism. Even if the diagnosis
wasn‘t what you‘d hoped for, the next stage will require optimism as you delve
into the options that are left.

 Put off making a decision.

You may want to try fertility treatments in the future, but right now you‘re not
sure of anything. It‘s okay to delay making a decision until you feel sure that you
can come to an honest and well thought out conclusion to your dilemma.

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 If your fertility testing leaves you with an undesirable diagnosis, you‘re bound to
feel let down or depressed about the outcome. You may find yourself having a good cry
if a friend or family member calls to tell you she‘s pregnant.

The strain of making it through the past months, years – or however long it took
to reach this point – has taken a toll on you. Try not to be discouraged. Building a family
can be an option for you no matter what the tests proved.

Now, it‘s time to focus on other matters – your job, your relationship – you!

It’s Time to Think About You!

Your quest for pregnancy isn‘t over yet. You‘ve still got to make some decisions
about what comes next. There are things to learn and possible methods to choose. But
you deserve some rest and relaxation before you have to make another decision.

Take some time to re-visit the journals you created –learn a little about yourself
and the way that you, as a couple, interacted during the most stressful of times.

If possible, take some time to get away and just have some fun. No fair talking
about anything that has to do with fertility, babies or what you‘re going to do about the
future. There‘ll be time for that later.

Take care of yourself! Find a new activity that interests you or join a group that
you‘ll enjoy. The quest for pregnancy doesn‘t have to be over, but if you set it aside, just
for a little while, you may find that you have renewed energy and focus when it is time
for you to revisit the issue.

Now we‘re going to go through the final phase –identifying conditions which can
impact your fertility and the treatment options that medical science has to offer. Being
informed and aware can make the process a bit easier to endure and knowing your
options can help you and your partner get through this emotionally stressful time.

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 Chapter 7:
When A Condition Is Identified – What Does It
Mean And What Can You Do?

It‘s quite possible that you are familiar with a condition you may have that could
affect your fertility even before actually trying to get pregnant. Perhaps you have never
had regular menstrual cycles, or you were told years ago that you have endometriosis. In
this chapter, I will discuss the various conditions that can have a tremendous affect on
your ability to conceive and what your options are to effectively treat these conditions.

When You’re Not Ovulating:

Having irregular periods, absence of periods, or abnormal bleeding often indicates
that you aren't ovulating, a condition known as anovulation. Irregular or abnormal
ovulation and menstruation accounts for 30% to 40% of all cases of infertility.
But the only way to determine if these signs are indicating anovulation is to talk
with your doctor and have them run tests to make sure that nothing else is wrong. While
anovulation can often be treated with fertility drugs such as Clomid, it is important to rule
out any of the following conditions which may be causing the problem first. These
include:

 Hormone imbalances

 Liver Disease

 Diabetes

 Ovary issues (PCOS)

 Weight Changes (overweight, underweight, eating disorders)

 Problems with glands – pituitary, adrenal, thyroid

Other conditions that can contribute to anovulation are diet, stress and strenuous
exercise.

Irregular cycles occur in at least 10% of women. An irregular cycle is one that is
beyond the normal range of 25 to 35-days.

If you have irregular periods, your cycle will be different every month and you
won‘t have any knowledge of when you are ovulating and when your period is due to
arrive. If your period is longer than normal, say 35 days, it is still considered ―regular‖ as
long as it does arrive approximately every 35 days. Irregular periods can make it

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extremely difficult or even impossible to track ovulation.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS):

One possible ovulation complication in getting pregnant is PCOS, or polycystic

ovarian syndrome. This is a condition that will affect anywhere from five to ten percent
of women.

Women with PCOS have ovaries that create many follicles each month that
generate high levels of estrogen without producing and releasing a mature egg. PCOS can
contribute to irregular periods, excessive weight gain, acne, male patterned baldness, and
excess facial hair It usually goes hand-in-hand with insulin resistance. The excessive
estrogen stimulates the uterine lining to build up and then it is eventually released in what
may appear to be a menstrual period, but really is not, because ovulation has not taken
place. The bleeding is irregular and infrequent.

Women who have irregular periods and some of the symptoms of PCOS should
be tested by their doctor. If your doctor suspects you have this condition, he or she can do
a pelvic ultrasound to see if you have a lot of small follicles on your ovaries. He‘ll also
check your hormone levels. But there‘s plenty that you can do to increase your chances
of becoming pregnant when you have PCOS and the steps are generally based on
controlling the symptoms that are above.

Insulin Resistance – The Missing Link?

For a long time, while doctors thought that PCOS was caused by the ovaries
producing too much male hormones, they were not able to figure out why this was
happening. However new research has shed some light on this issue. It seems that
Insulin Resistance and Glucose Intolerance seem to cause the PCOS and resulting
hormone imbalance that occurs with the condition.

Normally the hormone insulin is responsible for bringing glucose (sugar) into the
cells. Women with PCOS become resistant to insulin, which causes sugar levels in the
blood to increase, which eventually causes glucose intolerance. The excess insulin is
responsible for stimulating the ovaries to produce an excess of male hormones which
then throws the whole hormonal system out of balance.

Many doctors will prescribe medication such as Metformin (which is normally

used to treat diabetes) or Clomid to treat PCOS. While these medications can be
successful, it is best if this treatment is combined with a specific diet as well as an
exercise program to reverse the insulin resistance naturally and help to balance your
cycle.

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Tip: Researchers at Commonwealth University in Virginia discovered that when
patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome took a 600-miligram daily dose of D-chiro-
inositol (dCl), a compound found in buckwheat seeds, their insulin levels dropped by 33
percent and ovulation increased threefold.

Here‘s how it works. When you eat foods that are high in what‘s called ―refinded
carbohydrates‖ insulin levels increase to take the sugar from the blood and bring it to the
cells. If you eat a diet high in refined carbs, the insulin levels spike very often and
eventually they no longer are able to move the sugar from your blood into your cells,
resulting in high blood sugar, and your cells are deprived of the energy they need to work
properly.

This is the reason many women with insulin resistance (and PCOS) crave
carbohydrates and are very often tired. Basically, their cells are desperate for the
sugar/glucose (energy) which is in the blood but unable to get to the cells. Eventually,
the body loses it‘s ability to generate insulin appropriately..

The latest research indicates that the best approach is to change your diet by
eliminating foods high in refined carbohydrates, and replacing them with whole foods,
which take longer to digest and don‘t cause a spike in insulin levels, but rather a gentler
rise in insulin levels.

It has also been proven that adding moderate exercise into your lifestyle is another
way to reverse insulin resistance because it increases the insulin receptors on your cells.

Also, avoid coffee, alcohol, cigarette smoking or drugs as they all stimulate the
stress hormones that exacerbate insulin resistance as well as providing numerous toxic
chemicals which are harmful to fertility in general even if you don‘t have PCOS.

In order to make some changes to your diet, you need to understand about the
Glycemic Index as well as the different types of carbohydrates.

The Glycemic Index is a ranking of foods by how much they increase your blood
sugar levels 2-3 hours after you eat them. The foods you‘ll find in the index are
carbohydrates, because those are the ones that are most likely to increase your blood
sugar.

You may have heard the terms "good" carbohydrate and "bad" carbohydrate,
which usually correspond to whether a carb is "simple" or "complex". (bad=simple; good
=complex). A simple carbohydrate is more processed than a complex carbohydrate. This
means it is digested more quickly, raises the blood sugar more quickly and causes insulin
spikes. A complex carbohydrate is usually less processed and tends to be digested more
slowly, therefore it is less likely to raise blood sugar.

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 The glycemic index is a list of foods that are ranked by how they affect your
blood sugar level.

In general, low-glycemic foods are better at controlling your blood sugar than
high-glycemic foods. So the less refined or processed the food is, the lower its glycemic
index will be. And therefore the highly processed foods will have a much higher
glycemic index.

Here is a list of some foods broken down by whether they have a low, moderate
or high glycemic index. By using this guide to make good food choices, you can have a
strong influence on keeping your insulin levels stable.

Low glycemic:

barley
black beans
broccoli
cashews
cherries
chickpeas
grapefruit
green leafy vegetables
kidney beans
lentils
milk
peanuts
peanut butter
pears
plums
soybeans
strawberries
tomatoes
tomato soup
wild rice
plain yogurt

Low to moderate glycemic index

All-Bran
apples
brown rice
carrots
garbanzo beans
grapes
honey
ice cream
kidney beans

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 navy beans
oranges
peaches
pears
pinto beans
potato chips

Moderate to High glycemic

bananas
figs
mangos
potatoes (sweet and white)
pineapple
pita bread
oat bran
oat bread
white rice
raisins
carrots
brown rice
kidney beans
shredded wheat

High Glycemic Index

bagels
beets
cakes
Cheerios
dates
corn flakes
pies
pretzels
refined durum wheat pasta
jelly beans
parsnips
puffed wheat
sweet corn
white bread

Thyroid Dysfunction

If you are having difficulty getting pregnant, before you move on to invasive
fertility tests or expensive treatments, you need to make sure you don‘t have a problem

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with your thyroid.

The thyroid gland which is located in the lower front of the neck, produces
hormones which are very important for regulating your metabolism. An underactive
thyroid is called hypothyroidism. Symptoms of an underactive thyroid can include
weight gain, constipation, dry skin, brittle nails, and hair loss. An overactive thyroid is
called hyperthyroidism and can cause diarrhea, weight loss, and palpitations.

Most of the problems with fertility occur with hypothyroidism, or an underactive

thyroid.

Hypothyroidism can cause an elevation in the hormone prolactin, the hormone

that causes the production of breast milk in a woman after she gives birth. Excess
prolactin can sometimes effect ovulation by suppressing the release of the hormones LH
and FSH, causing low estrogen levels and lack of menstrual periods (amenorrhea).
Another symptom of high prolactin is galactorrhea - milk production from the breast
when you are not pregnant.

Some women with hypothyroidism experience a luteal phase defect which also
prevents pregnancy from occurring. This is because the embryo cannot implant properly
if the endometrial lining is not built up properly as a result of a too-short luteal phase.

A simple blood test for TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) is the best way to find
a thyroid abnormality. If you are diagnosed with an underactive thyroid gland, thyroid
hormone replacement can be very effective to restore fertility. Generally, it will take
about 2 or 3 months to stabilize your thyroid hormones and you should not try to
conceive during this waiting period.

When testing for thyroid dysfunction, it is also important to test for thyroid
antibodies as well. If your doctor doesn‘t typically test for these, you should insist that he
does. The reason is that the presence of thyroid antibodies doubles the risk of early
miscarriage, substantially increases the risk of recurrent miscarriages, and can also lower
your chance of getting pregnant at all. The three tests that should be run for antibodies
are:
* Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Antibodies
* Thyroglobulin/Antithyroglobulin Antibodies
* Thyroid-Stimulating Immunoglobulins (TSI)

Finally, here are some special tips if you are affected by infertility due to a thyroid
disorder.

1. Have your doctor test for the full panel of thyroid levels when testing for TSH

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 (thyroid stimulating hormone). This would include Free T4.

2. Find out the actual number for the TSH level. While many labs report a normal
range of 0.5 to 5.5, some fertility experts now think a level of 2.0 or higher can
cause fertility problems.

3. If you do have hypothyroidism and become pregnant, make sure to inform your
doctor immediately. Your thyroid hormone levels must be monitored during
pregnancy as low levels can affect normal fetal development or cause early
miscarriage.

Depo Provera and Birth Control Pills:

The depo shot is supposed to prevent pregnancy for approximately 3 months.

However, when you stop the shots, fertility does not automatically return at the end of the
3 month period. Ovulation will usually return within three to six months for most
women, however it is possible that you may not have your cycle for 12 to 18 months after
discontinuing the injections. So, unfortunately, it really varies from person to person and
it could possibly be a long wait.

Following Depo-Provera, there is no reported increase in miscarriage or birth

defects.

Alternatively, when you stop taking birth conrol pills, your cycles tend to resume
fairly quickly. It doesn‘t matter how long you‘ve been on the pill. Once the hormones
are out of your body, your cycles will begin to get back to normal.

It is even possible to get pregnant after stopping the pill before you‘ve had a
period. In fact, some women are most fertile during the three months after they stop
taking the pill.

For most women though, it takes a few months for your menstrual cycles to be
back to normal. But remember, your cycles will go back to being as “normal” as they
were before you started the birth control pills. So if you had irregular cycles before
birth control pills, they are likely to still be irregular after you stop.

The reason some doctors advise to wait until you‘ve had a few normal cycles
before attempting a pregnancy is not because there are any lingering effects that need to
be ―washed out.‖ Rather, if you wait for your cycles to completely return to normal, you
can more predictably determine the length of your cycle, identify your fertile days, and be
able to better date when you conceived once you actually do get pregnant.

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 Other Possible Causes Of Ovulation Delays:

You might also have problems with ovulation when the following occur during
your attempts to become pregnant:

 Increased stress

Emotionally stressful times can also contribute to fertility problems, so try to keep
your stress levels in check by using relaxation methods designed to calm your
body, mind, and spirit (to be discussed more later).

 Eating disorders

Having an eating disorder can pose a risk to your health as well as your fertility.
It would be best to get your eating disorder under control before attempting to get
pregnant as there could be serious risks to the developing baby if you were to get
pregnant.

 Significant weight loss

If you have lossed a significant amount of weight, especially in a short period of

time, it can effect your hormones and therefore your ovulation. This should
stabilize with time if you are eating healthy.

 Excessive exercise

Moderate exercise is actually good for your fertility as well as your pregnancy,
however overly strenuous exercise can upset the natural balance of your
hormones and cause anovulation. If you are doing strenuous exercise and your
cycles are irregular, it would be a good idea to cut back some.

Fibroids

It is difficult to know just how many women have fibroids, since unless they
cause a problem, a woman may not realize she has them. It is estimated that fibroids
occur in up to 25 percent of women over the age of 30 and in nearly 40 percent of women
after the age of 40.

Even though fibroid tumors are common, no one is really sure how or why they
develop, or why fibroids occur again and again in one woman and not at all in another.

The impact of fibroids on fertility is not well understood in the medical

community. The good news is that most women who have fibroids will not have any

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problems conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to term because of their fibroids. A
minority of women will have problems with infertility and pregnancy
complications. There are two ways that fibroids can effect your fertility. The first is an
inability to get pregnant at all; and in the second instance, although pregnancy occurs it
ends in miscarriage.

One of the most common types of fibroid is called a submucous fibroid. This type
occurs just beneath the lining of the uterus and can displace the lining as it grows. If a
woman is unable to get pregnant and an evaluation determines that she does have a
fibroid and no other apparent fertility issues, a myomectomy (to remove the fibroid) may
be performed. This procedure does have a high success rate at curing this problem--up to
a forty to eighty percent increase in fertility after the procedure. However, it is very
important to make sure that there aren‘t other infertility issue before having a
myomectomy since the procedure itself, can cause scarring which could result in further
fertility problems.

It should be noted that one quarter to half of the women who have a myomectomy
can expect to eventually develop additional tumors.

Aside from surgery, another option that is being tested is the use of the drug
leuprolide acetate (Lupron) to shrink the fibroids. This drug is the synthetic form of the
naturally occurring substance known as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (also called
GnRH). In several scientific studies, most of the women who have used the drug had
their fibroids shrink to half their starting size, so it may help women who are trying to
become pregnant.

I recently discovered a new fibroid cure online that looks promising--you can go
here to take a look at this option for removing fibroids.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue (the uterine lining) is found outside
the uterus. The tissue continues to react to the woman's menstrual cycle, building up,
breaking down, and shedding, regardless of its location in the body. This results in
internal bleeding and inflammation which can cause severe pain, scar tissue, bowel
problems, and sometimes, infertility. However, not all women with endometriosis related
infertility experience pain.

The only definitive diagnosis of endometriosis is through a laparoscopy. A

laparoscope is a tiny, lighted tube that is inserted into you through a small abdominal
incision. A surgeon is able to see inside of you through this tube.

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 Not everyone with endometriosis has fertility problems, but quite often, women
with the disease are more likely to have trouble conceiving. It is estimated that 40% of
women with endometriosis may experience fertility problems. Usually this is because the
endometriosis causes tubal blockages and adhesions which reduces fertility.
Endometriosis may also cause problems with egg fertilization, development and
implantation.

The cause of endometriosis is still not clear, although much of the current
research indicates a relationship with a woman's immune system. It has been determined
that endometriosis does tend to run in families, but research has not yet concluded
whether it‘s actually a genetic or environmental cause.

Although there are a variety of treatments for endometriosis, there is currently no

cure. One treatment is surgery to remove the endo through laparoscopy. Many of the
other treatments involve medications which stop ovulation, but you cannot attempt to get
pregnant when taking these meds which is usually for several months.

It is difficult to predict whether you will have trouble getting pregnant with
endometriosis or not. If your doctor does determine that you have infertility from
endometriosis, it is likely that he will recommend some form of advanced reproductive
technology such as IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF.

If you should decide you do not want to go down that road, there are some natural
alternatives you can try. You may know that many illnesses and diseases have responded
very positively to changes in diet, and endometriosis is no exception. It‘s possible that a
change in can help to minimize symptoms and control the pain.

One positive dietary change is to add ―good‖ fats and eliminate ―bad fats‖. Simply
put, this means adding omega 3 fatty acids by using flax seed oil, walnut oil or evening
primrose oil and eliminating saturated fats, butter, and lard. Another positive change is to
add fiber to your diet. Good sources of fiber are whole grains (excluding wheat and rye),
beans, brown rice, fruits and vegetables.

Foods to be avoided are refined sugars and flours, meat and dairy products
(milk, cheese eggs), wheat and soy products. Of course you should also avoid the things
that I speak about later in chapter 5 that all women trying to get pregnant should avoid,
such as caffeine, alcohol and processed foods.

If you suffer from endometriosis and want much more detailed information than I
couldn‘t possibly cover in this e-book, there is a website that I highly recommend you
visit which is devoted entirely to the subject of endometriosis. Here is the link:
http://www.endo-resolved.com/

Blocked Fallopian Tubes

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 If you are seeing a fertility specialist because you haven't been able to get
pregnant, one of the most common tests that is performed is a hysterosalpingogram
(HSG) which involves injecting dye through your cervix which ultimately travels through
your fallopian tubes and runs out if your tubes are clear. If the HSG reveals that you have
blocked fallopian tubes , that means that your egg will not be able to travel down the
tubes to meet with sperm and fertilize an egg in order to get pregnant.

Blocked tubes also increase your risk of an ectopic pregnancy since the egg can
get fertilized in the tube but the embryo gets stuck and then implant in the tubes instead
of traveling back to the uterus. This is very dangerous and can cause infection if the tube
bursts.

It is important to note that in about 15% of cases, the HSG will indicate that your
tube(s) are blocked when in fact they are not. This usually happens if the HSG is very
painful and there is uterine cramping which results in a spasm in the tube which prevents
the dye from going through. While it may look as though the tube is blocked, in reality
the dye is simply not getting through because of the spasm.

Also of note, sometimes after an HSG is done, a woman's fertility may be slightly
improved (assuming her results were normal). It's suggested that this may occur because
the dye going through the tubes may itself remove any minor debris and also the
procedure may temporarily widen (dilate) the tubes as it is going through.

Some of the causes of blocked tubes include adhesions, infections, PID (pelvic
inflammatory disease), scar tissue, and endometriosis. The number one cause of blocked
tubes is a Chlamydia infection which some women never even knew they had.

A tube can be blocked at the beginning (near the uterus) or at the end (near the
ovary). Generally if the blockage is near the uterus, there is a higher success rate with
surgery.

One common types of blockage is called hydrosalpinx, which is a collection of

watery fluid within the fallopian tube, usually as a result of damage at the far end of the
tube, near the ovary. In most cases, a hydrosalpinx indicates that the fallopian tube is
totally blocked at the far end. Whereas some women with a hydrosalpinx display no
symptoms, many suffer from severe, chronic pain..

It not only causes the affected tube(s) to be totally ineffective, it may also lessen
the effectiveness of various infertility treatments (e.g. in vitro fertilization [IVF]).
Hydrosalpinx also increases the likelihood of miscarriage. Fluid from a tube which spills
into the uterus would be toxic to embryos; therefore it decreases the chance for the
embryo to implant successfully in the uterus. For this reason, fertility specialists often

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advise patients to have the affected tube(s) removed prior to undergoing IVF. Also, a
hydrosalpinx in one tube often affects the other, resulting in two abnormal tubes.

The procedure in vitro fertilization (IVF) was originally developed about 30 years
ago to help women with blocked tubes to conceive. It is generally recommended as the
best treatment option if it is found that you have blocked tubes. While surgery is also
another option, it will be up to your doctor to determine if surgery can clear the blockage
and /or repair the tube. This will depend on such factors as what caused the blockage,
where it is located, and the extent and type of blockage. The less blockage there is, the
more successful the surgery. Some blockages are just at one end of the tube and they
have the highest success rate of becoming unblocked.

If a woman has had a Chlamydia infection, there tends to be more extensive

damage and blockages. Blockages due to Chlamydia have the lowest success rate of
becoming unblocked.

There is also a new therapy showing some promise but unfortunately it is only
available in very limited places in the U.S. because it requires trained therapists in a
technique called "Wurn". This therapy (Wurn technique) has been shown to open tubes
and return the ability to conceive naturally for women with hydrosalpinx and blocked
fallopian tubes, regardless of the location of the blockage. Their success rate with these
cases (61%) compares favorably with medical techniques, but without the risks or side
effects of drugs or surgeries

The company is called Clear Passage, and they have locations in the U.S. in Iowa, Florida
and California. Go to: http://www.clearpassage.com for more information.

Miscarriage:

There are many possible reasons for a first trimester miscarriage, most of them
resulting from a chromosome abnormality. Unless there are complications, or you are
suffering from multiple miscarriage (like myself), there generally is no waiting
requirement to start trying again. The important thing to realize is that early miscarriage
is VERY common and generally is NOT a result of anything you did wrong nor is there
anything you could have done to prevent it or another one from occurring.

Your cycle will usually return to normal rather quickly, and you will probably get
your period about 4-8 weeks after the miscarriage if it was fairly early. While some
doctors may prescribe ―waiting out‖ three cycles, it is advised more for emotional reasons
than physical ones.

It‘s always a good idea to wait until you have at least one normal period so you
are better able to determine when conception occurred. The time you need for an

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emotional recovery is often much longer than the physical one, so use your own
judgement for determining when it is best to try again.

Chapter 8:
When Medical Science Should Intervene –
A Look at Today’s Breakthrough Technology for
Increasing the Odds of a Baby
If your natural efforts haven‘t worked and you‘re ready to move on and give
advanced reproductive technologies (ART) a trial run, you need to know how the
procedures work so you‘ll be physically and mentally prepared for it.

How to Choose a Doctor

The first thing you want to do is see your doctor and find out what kind of
specialist he recommends that you go see. You want to see a fertility specialist
(reproductive endocrinologist), not just an ordinary ob/gynecologist.

Don‘t just go to someone because your doctor, friend, or family member suggests
them. Not everyone has the same needs and experiences, so you want to choose someone
who‘s right for you and your partner.

Sometimes people (even doctors) recommend someone they happen to know –

not necessarily someone that would suit your needs and interests most. Always ask why
the person is recommended – is it because he or she is a member of a certain organization
or is it because they have a reputation for having a solid success rate with infertile
patients?

You want a doctor who will do some preliminary testing to see what could be
causing the delay in getting pregnant. You don‘t want someone who just wants to try you
out on different medications to slowly eliminate possible causes.

Find out what timetable they have set up for their patients to try one method
before moving on to something else. If a certain treatment isn‘t working after four
months, for instance, will he take a different approach?

Your personalities have to mesh well. You may not like a doctor who takes your
case too seriously, preferring someone who can ease your fears and allay your anxiety.
Or, you might not like a doctor who jokes around with a topic you‘re taking very
seriously.

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 Any time you feel uncomfortable, it‘s okay to move on and find a specialist that
has the same approach you have in mind. You can find some specialists online at sites
such as http://www.Resolve.org or http://www.inciid.org. These are great places to find
others who are going through the same thing as you are.

Treating infertility can be time consuming and costly, so weigh your options
carefully. Of course your treatment will also depend on your reasons for infertility. You
may feel like you‘re on a roller coaster, moving from something as simple as blood tests
and discussions about ovulation to injections and invasive surgeries.

Clomid Can Sometimes Increase Your Odds of Conception

Your regular ob/gyn may put you on Clomid before you even go to see a
specialist. Clomid, or Clomiphene citrate, which is also known as Serophene, can help
you release eggs and produce good eggs.

Recent research however, has indicated that Clomid does not improve pregnancy
rates unless it is specifically given as a treatment for ovulation issues. Some doctors will
prescribe Clomid to patients who have ―unexplained infertility‖ and in these cases, the
latest evidence indicates it doesn‘t improve the odds of getting pregnant.

Clomid is usually taken for cycles of five days, beginning around day 3-5 of your
menstrual cycle. You‘ll probably start out taking one pill per day and then if nothing‘s
happened after one month, you‘ll move up to 2-3 pills if you still aren‘t ovulating
properly.

This drug tricks your body into thinking it‘s low on estrogen, so the body counters
by releasing GnRH, which creates more FSH. All of this works to help your ovaries
produce more estrogen and stimulate a follicle to grow.

Clomid has an 80% success rate in helping women ovulate. You‘ll probably be
asked to try Clomid for 3-6 months to see if it works. If it does, there may be a chance
that you‘ll conceive twins, or possibly triplets.

The side effects can include hot flashes, headache, and breast tenderness. If you
experience severe symptoms such as abdominal pain and severe bloating, you should call
your doctor.

Unfortunately, Clomid does have some side effects which can impair fertility. It
may have an adverse effect on your cervical mucus and cause your endometrial lining to
be too thin.

Letrozole – An Alternative To Clomid

Letrozole, trade name Femara, is the latest drug being offered as an alternative to

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Clomid for ovulation induction. It is actually a drug developed to treat breast cancer, but
since 2001 fertility doctors have been using it ―off label‖ as an alternative medication to
Clomid.

Letrozole does not appear to have any negative effect on cervical mucus or the
endometrial lining which is why it may be a better alternative than Clomid.

There was some initial concern that this drug increased the risk for birth defects,
but the research indicates that it is only related to birth defects when it is taken during
pregnancy. Letrozole is a medication that is metabolized rapidly in the body. It is not
thought to have significant levels in the blood or tissues for a prolonged period of time.
Therefore, when taken to induce ovulation, it shouldn‘t be in your system any longer at
the time you were to achieve pregnancy.

Minimally Invasive Treatment Options for Minor Issues

If your partner‘s sperm count is found to be a bit low, then your specialist will
probably recommend artificial insemination in the form of an IUI (intrauterine
insemination) cycle, where the sperm is delivered directly into the uterus via a threaded
catheter.

An IUI only takes a few minutes. Most women report that it isn‘t painful – at
least no more than a typical pap smear. Some cramping can occur afterwards, but it‘s no
more painful than during menstruation.

Another option is for an ICI (intracervical insemination) to be done where they

insert the sperm directly into the cervix. Sometimes you‘ll be recommended to do more
than one treatment at a time.

Your partner‘s sperm will be collected in a sterile container (or a special condom
if your religion prohibits masturbation). Then the sperm is ―washed‖ for an IUI, which
means the sperm cells are removed from the seminal fluid and placed in a nutrient
solution that may stimulate motility and enhance fertilization.

You only want to use these procedures when you‘re sure your body has produced
a good egg. To ensure this, your hormone levels will be monitored to see if your
estradiol has risen to 150-300 pg/ml. You‘ll also notice your LH surge right before the
egg is released so that you can time the procedures just right.

You‘ll probably be asked to try artificial insemination 3-4 times while on Clomid
before moving on to injectible infertility drugs. After four tries with injectibles, it‘s
usually time to move on to IVF.

Injectible Infertility Drugs

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 After taking Clomid and trying artificial insemination, your doctor may have you
start a round or more of injectible drugs. It probably sounds worse than it is if you‘ve
never done it before.

The technique is called COH (controlled ovarian hyperstimulation), and it‘s the
injection of gonadotropins. These are what make your follicles grow, and since your
follicles contain eggs, it is a major component of conception.

Injections are sometimes a necessary evil in the race to conception. Pills such as
Clomid have to pass through your digestive system and don‘t get absorbed as well as a
direct injection.

Undergoing injections means going for more routine testing in the form of blood
drawings and ultrasounds. You can either learn how to give yourself shots or have your
partner learn how to do it.

Most specialists have a video that shows you how to do it, and the nurses will
walk you through it the first time. It takes some getting used to, but once you‘ve done it
a few times, you‘ll feel like an old pro.

Which drugs will you use? There are some choices. First you may want to
determine if certain drugs are covered by your insurance, since many can be quite
expensive.

Price-wise, recombitant medications are more expensive but all are given
subcutaneously. If needles make you cringe, then you may want to choose a
subcutaneous medication.

This simply means it can be injected into the fatty tissue just under the skin with a
fairly small needle. Other shots require you to inject the needle deep into your muscle
tissue, which can make some people squeamish. These are called an intramuscular
injection.

Some women are even using pumps similar to diabetic pumps to deliver their
hormones. Every 90 minutes it releases a small dose of GnRH. Your body reacts by
producing LH and FSH and stimulating the ovaries to release an egg.

You may also be injecting hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which matures
your eggs and helps them get a release from the follicles. This, too, is an intramuscular
drug but certain forms such as Ovidrel are now being released as subcutaneous.

There are some side effects to injecting these drugs. Some women experience
headaches, bloating, weight gain and mood swings. It‘s a normal result of altering the
hormone balance in your system.

If you notice any of the symptoms below, call your doctor immediately:

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  Difficulty breathing

 Increase in weight of more than 10 pounds in a short span of time

 Difficulty urinating

These symptoms may mean you‘ve developed OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation

syndrome), which means your estradiol levels have risen to dangerous heights and you
may need to be hospitalized.

Sometimes booster injections are also necessary in the form of progesterone. This
is a shot you give yourself after you‘ve ovulated to make sure your progesterone levels
stay high enough for implantation and maintenance of the pregnancy. These shots are
also given intramuscularly.

Implementing IVF Into Your Infertility Treatment

In vitro fertilization is what many women consider to be bringing out the big guns
to treat infertility. It‘s not only high-tech, but it comes with a high price tag, so if you‘re
not covered under insurance, you may need to work out your finances before considering
this option.

IVF is when medical science uses a test tube to join your egg and your partner‘s
sperm, which is why it‘s known as creating a ―test tube baby.‖ While the rewards (a
baby!) may be great, there are some great drawbacks to IVF that you need to be prepared
for.

It‘s not only an expensive option, but it‘s time-consuming as well. If you hated
the injection phase, then you won‘t like IVF, either. Plus, you have to add on ultrasounds
and more blood work to the mix.

After undergoing all of this, you still won‘t have any guarantee that you‘ll have a
baby in your future because IVF isn‘t predictable. What worries most women is that they
feel like after getting to this point, it‘s the last hope.

But in reality, you can always repeat your earlier options again, which often
works for women who go through a second round. But you may find after IVF that you
want to look at other options, like adoption or using a donor egg or surrogate. These are
all options on the horizon if you choose to use them.

IVF is actually only used by about 2% of infertile couples. The success rate is
25% for women under age 35 per IVF cycle. Once you reach 35-37 your chances are set
at about 30%. It drops to 22% if you‘re between 38 and 40, goes to 12% if you‘re over
40 and after 45 you‘re usually looking at donor egg options.

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 The High Cost of IVF

Each cycle of IVF can cost up to $10,000 or more. That probably doesn‘t include
blood work, drugs and ultrasounds, but each office is different, so check with the
administrator. It‘s a lot of money and time for many couples to invest.
Insurance companies may turn you down for IVF coverage because it‘s an
expensive procedure that doesn‘t have a high success rate, or that varies from one clinic
to another.

Sometimes your coverage will be partial. Your insurance may cover blood being
drawn, ultrasounds, and certain medications. But then they won‘t cover the actual
procedures. Contact your insurance company ahead of time to find out where you stand
in having to finance your infertility treatments.

Some states mandate that insurance companies cover IVF treatments. The
coverage may vary – for instance, West Virginia says insurers must cover infertility costs
while Arkansas only requires coverage up to a $15,000 cap.

There are some clinics that have an exchange program – you donate eggs to
couples who need them in exchange for IVF treatment. The couple needing the eggs are
the ones who will be paying the IVF costs for you.

For some reason, the more we spend on facing our infertility, the higher our
expectations. While our hopes may rise a bit with an over-the-counter ovulation
predictor kit, it isn‘t nearly as emotional as when you undergo an IVF cycle and then find
it didn‘t work.

Who Will Perform My IVF?

How do you choose your doctor or clinic? Some women prefer to stay with their
current specialist while others want to go somewhere where the procedure is common.
Find out how many egg retrievals and embryo transfers the clinic does each year.

Ask questions, and do your own research. The CDC publishes an annual Fertility
Clinic success rate, and even though it runs a couple of years behind, the numbers don‘t
vary that much from year to year. You can access it here:
http://www.cdc.gov/ART/ARTReports.htm

One of the most important factors in determining where you do an IVF procedure
is the success rate of the clinic. Because this procedure is so costly, both mentally,
physically and financially, it makes sense to invest in a clinic that will give you the
highest chance of success. You would be surprised to find that there are great differences
in success rates from one clinic to another. It might even be worth your time to travel to
a clinic if you don‘t live near one that has great success stats. Even though travel is
another element to add on top of an already taxing procedure, it‘s something you should
consider if you are going down this road.

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 What Happens During IVF?

First you‘ll be given a protocol, which is your particular blueprint for how the
IVF process will be carried out. It will tell you what medications you‘ll be on, and
explain all of the procedures you‘ll go through.

Everyone will have a unique protocol, so don‘t be tempted to go by what your

best friend said she went through – study your own. Your first step will be in starting a
cycle of drugs.

Which drug you‘re on will be determined by your age, your test results, and your
ovulation circumstances. Sometimes the doses last 10 days and occasionally it goes up to
21 days.

After you‘ve been on the injections for a few days, the clinic will probably ask
you to come in for some monitoring so that they can see if your follicles are responding
and if your estradiol is rising. If anything is amiss, they may change your medication or
the dosage.

You‘ll usually be monitored every couple of days using blood and ultrasound and
as you get closer to ovulation this may increase to every day. You have to take an
injection of a drug called hCG approximately 35 hours before you go in to have your egg
retrieval done. Your timing must be exact –if they tell you to take the injection at 2
o‘clock in the morning, then make sure you do it at that precise time.

When you go in for your egg retrieval, you‘ll be given an IV after changing into
your gown. They‘ll go over your identity to prevent any mix-up with the eggs and then
they‘ll administer the medicine to make you go to sleep while the procedure is
performed.

The doctor goes in through your vagina with an ultrasound probe tipped with a
needle. He uses the ultrasound to locate your follicles and punctures them to suck out the
fluid, which is where your eggs will be when they look under the microscope.

They‘ll continue doing this until they empty the follicles – taking a total of 30-40
minutes. The embryologist will look for eggs that are round and mature. Even if the egg
is immature, it might mature within 24 hours.

During this entire process, your partner will be providing his semen sample.
Sometimes they use frozen samples, but they always prefer a fresh batch if possible.
That night, your eggs are incubated with your partner‘s sperm in a petri dish.

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 When the staff comes in the next morning, they check for fertilization. Frozen
embryos are kept inside a liquid nitrogen tank temporarily until you‘re ready for their use
in a transfer.

The embryologists will make sure they only transfer good embryos. You‘ll
usually find out the day of the retrieval how many eggs were viable and the next day,
how many were fertilized. After a few days the embryos will be evaluated and your
doctor will decide how many to transfer back into you. Any leftovers can be frozen and
used at a later time if necessary.

The Transfer Process

When the eggs are ready to be transferred, the doctor will make sure the lining of
your uterus is ready to support the embryo. Anything over 7 millimeters is thick enough
to allow the transfer to go forward.

Some clinics conduct hatching techniques to help the embryo implant in the
uterus. Assisted hatching is done the day of your transfer. They create a small hole in
the shell of the embryo so that it can easily break through the shell and attach itself to the
lining. Not all clinics do this.

Ask whether or not your clinic will do a blastocyst transfer – where they allow the
embryo to develop for five days and then choose the best ones to transfer. The success
rate for this procedure is 70% compared to 50% with three-day IVF transfers. The
downside is that by waiting until 5 days, sometimes the embryos that looked good on day
3, won‘t make it until day 5. It is unknown whether these same embryos might have
made it if transferred, as the environment in a woman‘s body is much better for embryo
development than the lab.

You might be given a Valium as a sedative for the transfer, although it is probably
not necessary. You lie down on the exam table with a full bladder. This enables the
doctor to see your uterus better with the ultrasound.

Again, they‘ll verify your identity before the ultrasonographer places the probe on
your abdomen so the doctor can see your uterus. The cervix is then washed and through
a speculum, the catheter moves into the uterus and allows the embryos to be injected into
the uterus.

You may or may not be instructed to stay on the table lying down for about 20
minutes. Additionally, they may not allow you to do strenuous exercise, have sex, or lift
anything heavier than 10-15 pounds. You will likely have to take progesterone injections
after the procedure as stated above.

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 Waiting after IVF

Approximately 10 – 12 days after your IVF cycle is complete, you will likely take
a blood test to determine if you are pregnant.. During the waiting period, you will
probably have started wondering if your pregnancy has taken hold.

This can be an emotional time. On one hand you‘re happy that it‘s over and on
the other you‘re anxious and worried that it won‘t work – fearing what happens if it
doesn‘t.

Resist the urge to do a home pregnancy test. You may get a false positive or false
negative. As stated, your clinic will conduct a blood test to see if you‘re pregnant. If you
are, some clinics will continue monitoring you to ensure the pregnancy sticks. They‘ll
monitor your hCG (pregnancy hormone) and progesterone levels to make sure the
pregnancy is proceeding normally.

What are the risks?

Well, multiple births are common – by about 25%. That‘s because 2-4 embryos
are generally placed in the uterus during each cycle. There‘s also a risk of ectopic
pregnancy, where the embryo may implant in the fallopian tubes instead of in the uterus.
The chance for ectopic pregnancy is twice what it is in non-IVF pregnancies.

What if IVF doesn’t work?

This is a personal choice. Many couples immediately sign up for round 2, while
others move on to other means of improving their fertility. Don‘t blame yourself –
sometimes it just doesn‘t work out the first time.

It‘s normal to grieve and feel angry about the situation. Make sure if your
emotions are out of control that you take a breather from it all and recoup before you
launch a new trial of attempting to get pregnant.

Your doctor may recommend trying IVF for up to three times, back-to-back. If
you and your doctor disagree about your future plans, you can always find a doctor who
does agree with your stance.

Assisted Reproductive Technology – Some Variations

You may have heard about some other procedures similar to IVF, or that work
hand in hand with IVF. Here is some brief detail on these:

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  ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) - It involves injection of single sperm in
to single eggs in order to get fertilization. It is used during an IVF cycle when
severe male factor issues are present, such as reduced sperm count, motility or
morphology.

 GIFT (Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer) – It is a modified version of the

traditional IVF technique. Instead of the fertilization taking place in a dish in the
laboratory, it occurs in the fallopian tubes, just like in a natural pregnancy. Both
eggs and sperm are put into the fallopian tubes and conception happens naturally.

 ZIFT (Zygote Intra-Fallopian Transfer) – It involves the transfer of embryos

(zygotes) into the Fallopian tube 24 hours after fertilization. The aim is to
achieve fertilization in vitro (in the lab), and then replace the early embryos in the
fallopian tube, the normal site for fertilization. ZIFT offers the best of both IVF
and GIFT procedures. It is suitable only for women who have at least one healthy
fallopian tube.

When to Say When

Every woman and couple is unique in how much they‘re willing to alter their lives
to devote to fertility. Some will do whatever it takes for as long as it takes and let their
physical and mental health take continual hits.

Others have a line drawn in the sand and once it gets crossed, they sit down and
make tough decisions about their future fertility efforts. There is no right or wrong
answer.

If you‘ve been giving yourself injections for 6 months and you are emotionally
breaking down from the physical endurance of it all, it‘s okay to stop and try something
different or take a break.

You also have to tune into what your partner is undergoing because a man‘s
mental and physical health is at stake as well during this process. As a couple, come to
terms with your blueprint for achieving pregnancy and find a common ground you can
agree to on when it‘s time to stop whatever it is you‘re doing and take a different route to
parenthood.

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 Chapter 9:
Conception Isn’t One Size Fits All –
Mapping Out Your Blueprint for Making Your
Dream Come True
Everything you‘ve learned about improving your fertility has to be applied the
way you feel is best. You don‘t have to do something just because it worked for someone
you know.

I simply feel that women should have all options available to them and should
know that sometimes it‘s the simple things that can lead to major changes with regard to
your fertility – things you can easily fix on your own without expensive procedures and
doctor‘s visits.

When the day finally comes that you find yourself blessed with a baby, be sure to
remember everything you went through and try to balance your excitement with empathy
for those still struggling to find the right answer.

You, like me, may experience the ups and downs of discovering you‘re pregnant
– only to end up losing the baby after several weeks of joy and bliss. When I look at my
children, I am so glad that I discovered so many treatments to try and that I endured the
emotional roller coaster that allowed me to eventually end up a mother after numerous
obstacles.

As you set out on your own personal path to pregnancy, remember that all of the
advice in the world won‘t be the answer to your hopes and prayer unless you follow
through on what you feel is best for your body.

Through it all, make sure you take care of yourself as you dedicate your life and
your time to finding your fertility. Ignoring your own needs won‘t help you get pregnant
any faster – and in fact it may delay the process.

I wish you all the success in the world with your present and future journey and I
welcome each and every one of you to share your thoughts and success stories with me so
that others can learn what may work for them and deliver a bundle of joy to their waiting
arms one day.

The statements regarding any natural or herbal products have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure
or prevent any disease. The information on my website or in this e-book is designed for
informational purposes only and is not intended to take the place of medical advice or
care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or
illnesses without consulting your doctor.

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