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Dealing With Infertility is a Roller Coaster

“You’re so young.” I hear this a lot. A subtle implication treads coyly between each word: “You’re so young so it should be easy for you to get pregnant.” But the truth is, for me and 7.3 million other Americans – it’s just not that easy. There’s nothing easy about infertility.

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45th UN Commission on Population and Development

23-27 APRIL 2012 | UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the need to provide reproductive health care for young people, as well as give them access to the necessary information and the means to protect themselves from sexual abuse and violence.

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Popcorn: A fertility superfood?

One of the best ways to boost fertility and have a healthy pregnancy is to make careful food choices. Nothing is more intimate than to swallow something and then digest it so that it becomes part of you. Yet most of us give little thought to what we eat. In today’s fast-paced lifestyle it’s critical that we also find tips that are practical so that people can incorporate healthy changes with less effort. That’s why when a good study comes along, I feel compelled to share it.

Recently, a study was presented at the American Chemical Society that revealed the potential health benefits of popcorn. Researchers found that popcorn contains more concentrated healthy antioxidants than fresh fruits and vegetables. Whole grains contain a group of chemicals called polyphenols which are able to capture free radicals and therefore protect your DNA and the proteins in your body from damage. More noteworthy, since these polyphenols are not soluble in water, they are more concentrated in dehydrated foods like uncooked popcorn so you get more of them with fewer calories. These are the same chemicals that make wine, tea, and chocolate of interest to health-conscious foodies.

What prompted researchers to investigate popcorn is that now that we know grains contain high concentrations of healthy chemicals and dietary fiber. In fact, popcorn is a completely unprocessed whole grain. As a result, one serving provides people with more than 70% of the minimal recommended daily intake. That’s more than most people in the U.S. get on a daily basis! So that’s another health benefit of this easy-to-find snack.

It is important to pay attention to how popcorn is prepared since that can be its downfall from the wellness promotion aspects. Using too much oil or covering it with the unhealthy fake butter—a.k.a. “movie theatre style”—are the worst ways to prepare a serving of popcorn. Air-popped popcorn is best since it is lowest in calories. Microwave popcorn often contains unhealthy trans fats as well as more calories. A healthy compromise is to cook popcorn on the stove in healthy canola/olive oil blend; about half the calories and the addition of some healthy omega-3 fats. Enjoy!

Robert Greene, M.D., FACOG, is a physician at the CNY Fertility Center in central New York and the author of Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertility, Perfect Hormone Balance for Pregnancy, and Happy Baby, Healthy Mom Pregnancy Journal. You can read Dr. Greene’s blog, The Greene Guide, and follow him on Twitter. This post was first published on Dr. Greene’s blog, and he kindly shared it with ConceiveOnline.com.

Author:

Dr. Robert Greene

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New Fertility Microscope Allows Parents to Watch Baby from Conception

A sophisticated new microscope makes it possible for fertility doctors to monitor the developing fertilized egg continuously for up to five days.  It means any abnormal changes can be spotted and the egg discarded so only the best quality ones with the best chance of creating a healthy pregnancy are transferred to the womb.

Fertility Clock Blog, My Future Baby Blog

The Effect of Alcohol on Fertility

The data regarding the effects of moderate alcohol intake on fertility is inconclusive at this time. The largest prospective studies conducted in Europe indicate that high levels of alcohol consumption are associated with greater difficulty conceiving.

One small Danish study identified a slight delay in conception even with alcohol ingestion of 5 drinks or less per week. However, this research relies on self-reporting of alcohol consumption which may be inaccurate. In many cases, the studies do not fully account for other factors that could be affecting fertility.

Don’t Overdo It

When you are attempting to conceive, taking a moderate approach to alcohol consumption is the wisest course of action. If having an occasional beer or glass of wine once or twice a week is part of your normal lifestyle, this is unlikely to have a significant effect on your ability to conceive. Drinking every day or consuming several drinks at one sitting is behavior you should avoid. High levels of alcohol can negatively affect many aspects of your health and is probably not good for eggs or sperm development either.

Alcohol and Pregnancy

If you think you might be pregnant, it’s time to stop consuming alcohol. Fetal harm from exposure to alcohol in the womb can lead to lifelong health problems. In fact, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) caused by maternal alcohol consumption is the leading identifiable cause of neuro-developmental disorders and birth defects in babies. No “safe level” of prenatal alcohol exposure has been identified, so pregnant women are advised to abstain from alcoholic beverages altogether.

Fertility Clock Blog, My Future Baby Blog

Pregnancy Myths

Getting pregnant is not easy for every couple. There are some steps women can take to promote optimal fertility through better health. However, there are also many myths about how pregnancy and fertility work. Knowing what works and what doesn’t can keep couples from wasting time and money on unproven and unscientific remedies.

Here are several myths about pregnancy that many people believe:

Myth: Some sexual positions boost your chances of getting pregnant.

Fact: No sexual position increases the likelihood of pregnancy. Neither does having the female partner stand on her head or lie with her legs up in the air after intercourse. The natural angle of the vagina promotes pooling of semen right where it is supposed to be. Changes in cervical mucus leading up to ovulation help sperm move efficiently into the uterus.

Myth: There are techniques you can use to make sure you conceive a baby that is the gender you want.

Fact: It is not possible to consistently select the sex of a baby through any means when conceiving naturally. It is possible to increase the likelihood of having a baby of the desired gender through sperm sorting prior to artificial insemination. The only way to be certain of selecting the desired gender is by screening embryos prior to transfer during IVF treatment.

Myth: Guys need to rest up for a day or more between sexual encounters to increase the potency of their sperm.

Fact: Men with normal sperm can have sexual intercourse daily. This doesn’t decrease the likelihood of a couple achieving a pregnancy.

Myth: There are pills and supplements you can take to increase male or female fertility.

Fact: There is no magic supplement that enhances fertility. No herb, vitamin, dietary supplement, or wonder food will increase your chances of getting pregnant or help you get conceive sooner.

Myth: Infertility is a problem for women but not for men.

Fact: Actually, in 25% or more of infertility cases, it’s the male factor that is the underlying cause. This is why both partners are tested during fertility treatment.

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New guidelines issued for surrogates

Experts believe the number of surrogate births will continue to rise as more people, including gay men, choose the option.

The new document aims to provide more clarity and guidance for good practice on these topics:

  • Screening & testing of genetic parents & gestational carriers
  • Complex medical & psychological issues for gestational carriers, parents & children
  • Updates on optimal screening and testing for STDs and psychological assessments

If you’re considering using a donor or surrogate, you may want to read these ConceiveOnline.com articles as well:

Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship When Using a Donor or Surrogate

Third-Party Reproduction and the Law (a 2009 article, so be sure to check that any specific laws mentioned are still current in your state).

Are you considering using a gestational carrier/surrogate? What are your biggest questions and concerns?

 

Author:
Lorie A. Parch
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Lab-Grown Egg Cells Could Be ‘Fertilized Within the Year’ if License Is Granted

Researchers are now intending to seek permission from the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to fertilize the eggs in order to test whether they are viable. Should such a study be successful, it would represent a breakthrough in fertility research and could open the door to greatly enhanced fertility for many women.