Infertility Information

 Infertility Information

Couples across the world undertake the exciting and miraculous process of having a baby every day, but for many of these prospective families, infertility can make this process stressful, embarrassing and difficult. Billions are spent every year on complicated and often risky medical procedures to try and overcome infertility problems. What you may not know is that there are natural infertility remedies which may work for you. Couples conceive every day using these methods—here’s what you should know.

Infertility Information for Her

For many women, a major factor in their feminine identity is their fertility, their ability to carry a child. Girls are often brought up to desire a child of their own, and it can be a major personal blow when infertility strikes. The sad fact is that most infertility problems originate in the prospective mother. Here are a few things to consider if you have been trying to conceive and have yet to do so.

Perhaps the most important factor in your fertility as a woman is age. Your body peaks in its fertility in your mid to late 20s, and after that every year reduces your chance of conception. By your late 30s, your fertility is significantly lower. This obviously means that your best advice is to try and conceive in your 20s or early 30s. If you have already missed this window, you are still fertile, but it might take more time to conceive.

The best strategy for conception is to make love in the right part of your cycle. If your trying to conceive has just consisted of having regular, contraception-free sex, planning your attempts at conception around your best times of the month will increase your likelihood of becoming pregnant. A number of take-home products now allow you to determine where you are in your cycle by measuring increases in your body temperature caused by ovulation.

Alternative medicine has shown some promise of increasing fertility. Acupuncture has been used by many women, and some studies show a significant affect on your fertility. Physical therapy and various exercises have been used for many years to help along the process of conception as well. If these don’t work, fertility specialists have made dramatic medical advances in recent years, including in vitro fertilization and pharmaceutical solutions.

Infertility Information for Him

In many cases the fertility issues are generated by issues with the man’s sperm quality. A variety of factors can cause sperm to be malformed, weak, or low in quantity, including past injury, infection, genetic mutations and lifestyle issues. The first step in attempting to address male infertility—which doctors typically have great difficulty diagnosing any causes for—is to stop smoking, cut back alcohol intake and eliminate any drug use. Steroids and marijuana in particular can cause sperm count problems. Cycling and horseback riding, or any other physical activity where stress on the testes is common can also affect your sperm count.

After having made such lifestyle changes, other treatments can increase your fertility. Lycopene is a chemical found in red fruits and vegetables (especially tomatoes), which in supplement form has shown promise at increasing sperm count and quality. Vitamin E is also thought to be effective at treating male infertility. If a doctor can determine a specific cause for your infertility there are a variety of pharmaceutical and even surgical cures which might be used, depending on your condition.