THE BABY PROGRAM
The Complete
Guide to a
Successful
Pregnancy
By Ian Claxton
Internationally Renowned
Natural Fertility Expert
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For Theresa.
2
THE BABY PROGRAM
The Complete Guide to a Successful Pregnancy
Introduction
About the Author
About The Baby Program
How to Use This Book
Chapter 1
Fertile Beginnings
Chapter 2
Your Body
Chapter 3
Your Cycle
Chapter 4
Your Diet
Chapter 5
Embracing Supplements
Chapter 6
Exercise, Massage and Breathing Routines
Chapter 7Lifestyle Hazards
Chapter 8
Stress Levels and Relationship Strains
Chapter 9
Mind set and Subconscious Emotions
Chapter 10 Mastering the art of timing
Chapter 11 The Radiant World – Energy Lines
Chapter 12 Planning for Success
ConclusionLengthening your Fertile Life
Appendix
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Legal Notice: The author, editor and publisher have used their best efforts in preparing this book.
The author, editor and publisher make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy,
applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of this book. If you wish to apply ideas contained
in this book, you are taking full responsibility for your actions.
The author, editor and publisher shall in no event be held liable to any party for any direct, indirect,
punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use
of this material. It is strongly advised that you see a doctor before taking any actions with regard to
anything you read in this book or its accompanying materials.
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Introduction
“To me there is no greater wealth than being blessed
with a wonderful family. I am very grateful for
my family who enrich my life so often and in so
many ways.”
- Ian Claxton
I started writing this book just before the birth of our first child. It was
the most exciting and inspiring time of my life. There are many physical,
mental and emotional changes that occur during the pregnancy that build
the framework for the future of our lives and… how a new member of the
family will affect us in so many ways.
Nobody can prepare you for this experience. It really is life changing.
This book has been written to build a foundation for what I believe will be
the future of medicine and not just optimizing fertility. It encourages taking
proactive steps to change certain aspects of your diet, your mental attitude
and your lifestyle.
At the same time, I strive to give you practical tools that will empower you to
strengthen yourself and others for this journey ahead.
Although this book is written on fertility I hope it will lead you to think in a
completely different way about medicine, health, healing and life changes.
Good Luck!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day
in and day out.”
- Robert Collier
Fertility, Pregnancy and Childbirth expert Ian Claxton is a practicing acupuncturist, traditional Chinese medical practitioner and nutritional advisor.
He is the founder of ‘The Elmtree Clinic’ – Ireland’s leading natural fertility
clinic specializing in integrating complementary therapies into mainstream
medicine for fertility, IVF support, and pregnancy. Therapies include nutrition,
acupuncture, fertility counselling, breathing/relaxation and massage.
Over the years, Ian has seen and helped thousands of couples conceive
naturally and through IVF with his unique programme. His highly experienced multi-disciplinary team has worked closely with leading fertility clinics,
gynaecologists and male specialists around the world, helping thousands of
couples to conceive successfully.
Ian has also developed his own unique personalized consultancy service
where he connects with couples to conceive worldwide.
He also coordinates intimate workshops offering peace of mind, companionship and decisive approaches to couples wanting to conceive successfully.
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About The Baby Program
“No matter what age you are, or what your circumstances might be, you are special, and you still have
something unique to offer. Your life, because of who
you are, has meaning.”
-Barbara de Angelis
The Baby Program fully embraces the best Eastern, Alternative, Natural
and Lifestyle treatments and techniques for overcoming fertility issues for
pregnancy success.
While The Baby Program focuses on understanding and overcoming fertility
issues from a holistic and natural perspective, in the spirit of keeping an open
mind and providing you with a broad knowledge of fertility related issues, a
detailed description of Western medical treatments for many common types
of infertility has been included in the Appendix.
It is my sincere belief that there are few cases where fertility cannot be
naturally restored. As long as reproductive mechanisms are intact and
anatomically correct, menopause has not been reached, there are no genetic
limitations – healthy fertility can be established with the proper natural
treatments and perseverance!
However, the wonders of Western Medicine’s Assisted Reproductive
Technologies are to be respected and if you choose to try them, the Eastern,
Alternative, Natural and Lifestyle treatments and techniques described in this
program can be used as complementary treatments. Just remember, not to
use herbs the same time you are taking fertility drugs, unless your doctor has
given you the ok.
It‘s my passion that if you follow The Baby Program exactly, you will
become pregnant faster than using any other single technique for fertility
enhancement on its own.
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How to Use This Book
“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine
what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last
you create what you will.”
George Bernard Shaw
In Chapters 2 and 3 of this book you will be given a broad overview of your
body and menstrual cycle from a holistic perspective.
Although it may be tempting to skip these chapters and get right to the next
chapters (Chapters 4 to 12) on how to improve fertility, it is very important
to get a basic understanding of your body and cycle before you move on,
to be grounded in the reasons behind the treatments and lifestyle changes
described in the rest of the program.
Once you have an understanding of chapters 2 and 3, I suggest you move on
through the rest of the book, reading all the sections so that you will have a
grasp of the treatments and lifestyle modifications.
I strongly suggest that you utilize this book in as many ways as possible. It‘s
been proven that when you have a clear and healthy body, mind and spirit
there is a much higher chance you will follow through on our goals and
dreams.
Let’s get started!
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“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
- Confucius
Chapter 1 - Fertile beginnings
I never thought I would be pursuing a career in the field of health care,
healthy living and in particular fertility problems. I went to university and
graduated with a degree in biotechnology and chemistry, following that
I worked in both the diagnostics and pharmaceutical industries for many
years before even contemplating a career change. I had decided to go back
to study medicine but by chance I came across an article about eastern
traditional medicine and acupuncture and became very interested. The
rest was history, so they say; I was accepted into The College of Integrative
Medicine where my studies and passion began for this age old way of
thinking and living.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and in particular Acupuncture has been
a major part of the primary health care system in China for many thousands
of years. It is used extensively for a variety of medical purposes ranging from
the prevention and treatment of disease, to relieving pain and anesthetizing
patients for surgery. It is also used very successfully to treat both male and
female infertility conditions. With cultural and social emphasis on family,
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has naturally developed rapidly in the
area of fertility treatments.
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The earliest written account of acupuncture is found in the Nei Jing (The
Bible of Internal Chinese Medicine) around 200 BC and is one of the oldest
comprehensive medical text books. Acupuncture is based on the principle of
balance which states that:
“Health is a result of mind and body homeostasis; disease arises due to
hyper- or hypo-functioning of the body systems which in turn causes or is the
result of too much or too little substance.”
The objective of TCM then, is to return the body to its balanced state in
which neither the function nor the substance is out of balance. TCM views
infertility as a state of either weakened or excesses of the body. Infertility,
therefore, is a condition of general imbalance.
Everyone has different reasons unique to them as to why they are having
trouble conceiving. No matter what your individual condition is, this book
can help you bring your system back into balance, restore your health and
prepare your body to conceive and carry healthy babies to term.
The Baby Program lifestyle change is not a quick fix; restoring your body
to full health takes time but along the way you will start feeling much
better about yourself – you’ll have more energy, your emotions will be
more balanced and your approach and quest for a baby will be put into
perspective.
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“I finally realized that
being grateful to my body
was key to giving more
love to myself.”
- Oprah Winfrey
Chapter 2 - Your body
Eastern medicine sees our bodies as an organ of nature. The ecosystem of
our body is made up of many organ systems that are equal and supportive
parts of the whole body.
As humans, we are not separate from the Earth or from any of its
ecosystems. We are one organic system among the many on Earth, an
organic system that needs to educate itself about this entire earthly body.
Nature is a vastly complex but beautifully self-designed living system based
on simple but elegant principles of operation.
Similarly, our bodies are living systems where our reproductive system is one
micro system of our whole body.
When you work at balancing and restoring unison in every organ of the
woman’s body and mind, it will do what it has been designed to do naturally
– conceive and carry a baby to term.
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According to Nei Jing (The Bible of Internal Chinese Medicine), women
should be capable of pregnancy from the onset of menstruation until the
end of menopause.
Unfortunately, over the past 50 years, fertility disorders are becoming more
and more common in women. Imbalances in women trying to conceive are
frequent but your body is smart enough to send you warning signals. Listen
to your body, pay attention to it and you will notice the issues. You may have
painful, heavy or absent menstrual periods for example, all of which need to
be addressed.
When I am treating woman for fertility problems, the signals and symptoms
of her menstrual cycle are very important for getting a picture of the
individual but only aid in finding the branches of the root for treatment.
Enquiring about other aspects such as her family history, her body, her spirit
and emotional state and her lifestyle will reveal her overall condition. The
treatment of her overall condition, as well as regulating her cycle, makes the
treatments more effective.
In my clinic the success rate for helping couples get pregnant is between
75% - 80%. I firmly believe by subtly changing your outlook, diet and
lifestyle, you will increase your chances of getting pregnant.
To begin with, congratulations for taking control of your fertility issue and for
opening this book. As I’ve said already, it’s not a quick fix, the body needs at
least 3 months to restructure and replenish its resources to be in its optimum
fertile state… so be patient.
When giving your body time to heal itself with the tools and suggestions in
this book you may notice slight physical and emotional changes happening.
Sometimes certain symptoms appear or disappear during the process
and these can more often than not be looked at positively – your body is
responding to the process.
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“Without forgiveness life
is governed by an endless
cycle of resentment and
retaliation.”
- Roberto Assagioli
Chapter 3 - Your Cycle
Getting to know your cycle is one of the main keys to unlocking your fertility
issues. You need to appreciate what is happening to your body at every
stage of the month so that you can interpret signs and work with your
natural rhythms to enhance your fertility.
A woman’s physical journey into adulthood follows a 7 year cycle (as
opposed to men’s which follow an 8 year cycle). At about 7 years of age,
blood moves to the upper part of the body and teeth mature, by 14 years of
age menstruation begins by the refinement of blood to the uterus. Women
are at their most fertile between the ages of 21 to 28 and by 49 the blood
starts to degenerate, the uterus becomes less functional and menopause
begins.
The menstrual cycle (see BBT chart below, BBT: Basal Body Temperature)
can be divided into a number of stages starting with the first day of
menstruation (Days 1-5), through post menstruation (Days 5-13), ovulation
(approx. Day 14) and pre-menstruation (Days 15 – 27).
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A regular menstrual cycle i.e. on time and relatively pain free, is a sign that
the blood and energy circulation are in order. Anything other than that are
indicative of disharmony, either hormonally related or the result of external
factors like stress, diet or emotional upset.
Temperature
BBT CHART
37.2
37.1
37
36.9
36.7
36.7
36.6
36.5
36.4
36.3
36.2
36.1
36
1
3
5
7
9
11
13
15
17
19
21
23
25
Days
Stage 1: Menstruation (Approx. Days 1 – 5)
If fertilization and implantation does not take place during the last month –
menstruation occurs. The menstrual phase signals the reproductive systems
rest period.
The menstrual blood begins to empty, and the woman starts to shed her
lining. As you can imagine, this phase is dominated by the movement of
blood. This is the best time of the cycle to regulate blood in women who
have blood disharmonies such as amenorrhea (no period) and painful,
heavy or light periods. As your treatment coincides with the natural blood
movement in the body any treatment given at this time must take into
account the regulation of blood.
14
27
Bleeding generally lasts from 4-6 days with the heaviest bleeding on day 1.
There should be no pain from uterine, abdominal cramping or lower back
discomfort.
The blood should be red, not dark-brown and thick, or pinkish and watery.
Clots also are a sign of imbalance.
Avoid strenuous or aerobic exercise during this stage. Consider doing
more relaxing activities such as yoga, meditation or qi gong (breathing and
meditation). In the Chinese and other eastern cultures the menstruation is a
time for the woman to withdraw, reflect and rest.
Temperature
BBT CHART
37.2
37.1
37
36.9
36.7
36.7
36.6
36.5
36.4
36.3
36.2
36.1
36
1
3
5
7
9
11
13
15
17
19
21
23
25
Days
Stage 2: Post-Menstruation (Days 6 – 13)
The follicle and the lining are now discharged. Once again they start to
grow again in preparation for ovulation, fertilization and implantation. As
with menstruation, these two phases are known as the follicular side of
15
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the cycle and being follicular the hormone estrogen keeps the basal body
temperatures lower than the next half of the cycle. This stage is the most
important time of the month for enhancing your chances of conception.
The body starts rebuilding the uterine lining and growing the follicles again.
This is accomplished through an overabundance of blood to both produce
the lining to foster the possible implantation of the follicles.
During this phase we focus on building blood. This happens from the end
of the period at about day 5 right through to ovulation.
It’s important at this time to get the blood flowing smoothly. Aerobic
exercise and femoral massage are very important at this time.
Sperm can survive up to 72 hours in favorable conditions waiting for the
egg to arrive. It is important at this time to have sex frequently to increase
the chances of conception.
Temperature
BBT CHART
37.2
37.1
37
36.9
36.7
36.7
36.6
36.5
36.4
36.3
36.2
36.1
36
1
3
5
7
9
11
13
Days
16
15
17
19
21
23
25
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Stage 3: The Ovulation Phase (Day 14)
The egg breaks out of the ovaries and the fallopian tubes move to gather
and direct the embryo into the uterus for implantation.
Following a slight drop in temperature just prior to ovulation signaling
the depletion of the follicular phase, the luteal phase rises the basal body
temperature by about half of one degree Celsius or one degree Fahrenheit,
resulting in a rise in the hormone progesterone after ovulation.
At ovulation, day 14 on the chart, the blood has nourished the lining and
follicles. Only when the blood has fully completed this process can ovulation
occur. This is why it is important to nourish blood during the follicular
phase.
Ovulation occurs causing the wall of the follicle ruptures and releasing the
egg which then begins its journey into the fallopian tubes.
At this stage the follicular phase is complete and transforms into the luteal
phase. This process is mirrored physiologically by the threshold levels of
oestrogen hormone needing to be reached before ovulation can occur.
There will have been a change in the cervical mucus from being thick and
creamy to thin and elastic providing the sperm a clear thoroughfare for
fertilization to occur a few days previous.
Hence, treatment at this time should be to regulate the energy and blood to
encourage this natural movement taking place within a woman.
Deep breathing and visualization can work on the subconscious to
encourage implantation and development of the embryo. Keeping both
your feet and abdomen warm at this time is very important to keep the
basal body temperature (BBT) elevated.
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Exercise is also very important in the second half of the cycle but keep away
from heavy lifting and high impact activities that involved bouncing.
Temperature
BBT CHART
37.2
37.1
37
36.9
36.7
36.7
36.6
36.5
36.4
36.3
36.2
36.1
36
1
3
5
7
9
11
13
15
17
19
21
23
25
27
Days
Stage 4: The Pre-Menstrual Phase (Approx. Days 15 – 26)
The egg travels along the fallopian tube and into the uterus where
implantation can occur within the endometrium of the uterine lining. The
temperature (and a heat sensitive hormone called progesterone) should
remain elevated for 12 to 14 days and then drop, signaling the onset of
menses if fertilization does not occur.
If conception occurs, your temperature will remain elevated and even jump
to a higher level.
During the pre-menstrual phase the luteal energy can become disturbed
and rise up causing common symptoms such as irritability, pain,
constipation or diarrhea, headaches, bloating and so on.
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Throughout this phase, the progesterone has been secreted by the corpus
luteum which warms the uterus and dries up the cervical fluid to help
provide the best environment for the embryo to develop.
Chinese medicine realized the significance of a warm womb a long time
ago. “Cold in the uterus,” is an extremely common diagnosis of infertility
in Chinese medicine, which can be caused if the contraceptive pill has been
used for a prolonged period of time or if used straight after having a baby.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to warm the body during the
luteal phase to ensure a healthy menstrual cycle. Keeping a hot water
bottle by your side in the bed at night is also useful at this time as it will
stimulate the rising of the basal body temperature. It is essential to keep the
basal body temperature at a high level as if the heat sensitive progesterone
drops a miscarriage may occur if pregnant. Cold feet are also a good sign
that your uterus is cold as the meridians of the sex organs start in the feet.
Warm foot baths are very useful to counteract this.
During the premenstrual phase the luteal phase peaks ready to move blood
and transform back into the follicular phase. This phase may last anywhere
from 2 to 7 days. The luteal energy and blood must to able to move
smoothly throughout the body for this transformation to occur without PreMenstrual Syndrome (PMS) symptoms as mentioned above.
Most women in the west believe that menstrual and premenstrual pain is
normal; they take painkillers to manage the discomfort. But before taking
painkillers it is important to realize that the medication can also affect your
fertility. Pain is a sign that the flow of energy and blood is impeded. There
may also be a noticeable craving for sweet and processed foods typically
experienced a few days prior to menstruation should stop once the core
body temperature drops.
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Many of the unpleasant symptoms associated with pre-menstruation can
also be alleviated by simple dietary changes such as avoiding sweet foods
and choosing more bitter flavors to disperse the blood and energy.
20
“The doctor of the future will
no longer treat the human
frame with drugs, but rather
will cure and prevent disease
with nutrition” - Thomas Edison
Chapter 3 - YOUR DIET
Fertility and pregnancy as mentioned earlier is a whole body event and not
just something related to our reproductive system. Healthy nutrition is a
requirement as what we eat has a direct impact on how our bodies function.
As Hippocrates said “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be
your food.” One of the main reasons people find it hard to conceive is due
to their diet. Too many people eat ready-meals high in preservatives, fats,
salt and sugars; and too few people eat a balanced diet of freshly prepared
foods. The quality of food you eat plays a vital role in the optimal functioning
of your body, its hormones and cellular activities.
In this chapter we are going to go over what to eat to increase your chances
of getting pregnant. The Baby Program diet is not only a diet that will boost
fertility for both males and females, but also a diet for optimal health. As
you incorporate this diet into your lifestyle I‘m sure you will notice other
improvements in your well being beyond the benefits to your fertility.
Maintaining a health body weight will increase your chances of conception
by supporting your body and its hormonal activities. If you are trying to
conceive you should strive to maintain your BMI (Body Mass Index) within
normal range for your size, see chart below. Chapter 6 on exercise we will
also discuss BMI.
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Weight in kilograms
6’6
6’5
6’4
6’3
6’2
6’1
6’0
5’11
5’10
5’9
5’7
5’6
5’5
5’4
5’3
5’2
5’1
5’
4’11
4’10
50
60
UNDERWEIGHT
6
7
8
70
OK
80
OVERWEIGHT
90
100
110
OBESE
120
130
140
150
1.98
1.96
1.94
1.92
1.90
1.88
1.86
1.84
1.82
1.80
1.78
1.76
1.74
1.72
1.70
1.68
1.66
1.64
1.62
1.60
1.58
1.56
1.54
1.52
1.48
CLINICALLY
OBESE
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Weight in stones
24
25
Weighing too much or too little can interrupt normal menstrual cycles, throw
off ovulation or stop it altogether. Excess weight lowers the chances of IVF
(in vitro fertilization) or other assisted reproductive technologies being a
success. Being at a healthy weight, or aiming toward one, is great for allround menstrual and ovulatory function and will also improve your chances
of getting pregnant. Working to achieve a healthy weight can improve your
sensitivity to insulin, your cholesterol, your blood pressure and your kidney
function. It will, in time, give you more energy and help you look and feel
better.
Infertility in men has received very little attention; weight is one area
in which there has been some research though. Studies indicate that
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Height in metres
Height in feet & inches
40
overweight men aren’t as fertile as their healthy-weight counterparts. Excess
weight can lower testosterone levels, throw off the ratio of testosterone to
oestrogen and hinder the production of sperm cells with good motility.
I am regularly asked what foods to eat when pregnant but you have to
realize that what you eat in the months prior to getting pregnant (when
trying to get pregnant) is just as important as what to eat once you are
pregnant?
Eating an alkalizing diet for your body is my recommendation always. Of
course, everybody is different - but most of us should aim to eat 70-80%
alkaline foods and a maximum of 20-30% acid forming foods.
This does not have to be measured in calories, grams or anything technical,
just look at your plate! Is 70% of the food on it alkalizing? And for the
other 30%? You can do with this what you like, but feel free to go for
some oily fish, whole-meal pasta or wild rice for example.
Conversely, approximately 70%-80% of what we eat in the west is acidic
foods - processed (high fat and sugar, low fiber and nutritional value foods),
pre-made food, take-away or eaten at restaurants. The remaining 20%30% consists of food prepared at home which is predominantly animal
based (meat, chicken, eggs, bacon, ham, salami, fish, cheese, milk) with
two or three vegetables and a piece of fruit ‘on a good day’. Of course
there are always exceptions to the rules, and some people eat a very healthy
and balanced diet.
It’s time to change this lifestyle and aim to eat 70 – 80% alkaline foods.
Below is a list of some of the alkaline and acidic foods.
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Note: If you know you are allergic to any other the above foods eliminate them from your diet
Alkaline Foods
Vegetables
Fruits
Asparagus
Artichokes
Cabbage
Lettuce
Onion
Cauliflower
Radish
Swede
Lambs Lettuce
Peas
Courgette
Red Cabbage
Leeks
Watercress
Spinach
Turnip
Chives
Carrot
Green Beans
Beetroot
Garlic
Celery
Grasses (wheat, straw, barley, dog, kamut etc.)
Cucumber
Broccoli
Kale
Brussels Sprouts
Lemon
Lime
Avocado
Tomato
Grapefruit
Watermelon (is neutral)
Rhubarb
Fats & Oils
Flax
Hemp
Avocado
Olive
Evening Primrose
Borage
Coconut Oil
Oil Blends (such as Udo’s Choice)
Drinks
Green Vegetable Drinks
Fresh vegetable juice
Pure water (distilled or ionized)
Lemon water (pure water + fresh lemon or lime).
Herbal Tea
Vegetable broth
Non-sweetened Soy Milk
Almond Milk
Seeds, Nuts & Grains
Almonds
Pumpkin
Sunflower
Sesame
Flax
Buckwheat Groats
Spelt
Lentils
Cumin Seeds
Any sprouted seed
Others
Sprouts (soy, alfalfa, mung bean, wheat, little
radish , chickpea, broccoli etc)
Bragg Liquid Aminos (Soy Sauce Alternative)
Hummus
Tahini
General Guidance:
Stick to salads, fresh vegetables and healthy nuts and oils. Try to consume plenty of raw
foods and at least 2-3 liters of clean, pure water daily (ideally enhanced with pH drops).
24
Note: If you know you are allergic to any other the above foods eliminate them from your diet
Acid Foods
Meats
Pork
Lamb
Beef
Chicken
Turkey
Crustaceans
Other Seafood (apart from occasional oily fish
such as salmon)
Others
Vinegar
White Pasta
White Bread
Wholemeal Bread
Biscuits
Soy Sauce
Tamari
Condiments (Tomato Sauce, Mayonnaise etc.)
Artificial Sweeteners
Honey
Convenience Foods
Sweets
Chocolate
Microwave Meals
Tinned Foods
Powdered Soups
Instant Meals
Fast Food
Dairy Products
Milk
Eggs
Cheese
Cream
Yogurt
Ice Cream
Drinks
Fizzy Drinks
Coffee
Tea
Beers
Spirits
Fruit Juice
Dairy Smoothies
Milk
Traditional Tea
Fats & Oils
Saturated Fats
Hydrogenated Oils
Margarine (worse than Butter)
Corn Oil
Vegetable Oil
Sunflower Oil
Seeds & Nuts
Peanuts
Cashew Nuts
Pistachio Nuts
Fruits
All fruits aside from those listed in the alkaline
column.
General Guidance:
Steer clear of fatty meats, dairy, cheese, sweets, chocolates, alcohol and tobacco.
Packaged foods are often full of hidden offenders and microwave meals are full of sugars
and salts. Over cooking also removes all of the nutrition from a meal!
25
Few 20 year olds think that they’ll have a fertility issue later on down the
line. Very few think that their diet will have a cumulative effect on their
bodies that will catch up with them in their late twenties, thirties, forties or
later.
The plan I want to lay out here is to understand the importance of acquiring
the proper nutrition from your food intake, and to avoid the items that
you should not have. I don’t promote a vegetarian diet and I understand
everyone has their own needs but I do recommend that the bulk of your
diet comes from organic plant sources i.e. vegetables.
To start on the diet journey the secret is to eat with your cycle. The
suggestions below are not to be taken literally – it’s a guideline to emphasis
eating these foods around these times.
Follicular phase (First half of cycle)
After the menstrual blood is lost in menstruation and in order to build up
the lining or the womb and develop the follicles in the ovaries more blood is
needed. It is important at this stage of the cycle to eat blood nourishing and
building foods like cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, sprouts, and
cauliflower), beets and spinach which stimulates the more efficient use of
oestrogen. Organic pieces of red meat would also be beneficial at this stage
too.
Luteal phase (Second half of cycle)
Around ovulation and a few days thereafter I recommend taking fresh
pineapple. The Bromelain, an enzyme in pineapple, helps with implantation.
Omega-3, an essential fatty acid found in deep sea fish, flaxseed and
pumpkin seeds, almond nuts, and dark green and vegetables such as
broccoli, cauliflower, beets, carrots, kale, cabbage, turnip and sprouts are
also very important for ovulation, specifically in egg release from the follicle
and development of the corpus luteum.
26
At the luteal phase of the cycle I also recommend eating warming foods
and foods that are heated and hearty. Roast vegetables and warming
soups would be great. The aim is to raise the basal body temperature and
stimulate progesterone production.
Once again it is recommended that dairy be avoided as it interacts with
normal hormonal activity in the body as a whole.
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“As far as we can discern, the sole purpose
of human existence is to kindle a light in the
darkness of mere being.” - Carl Jung
Chapter 5 - Embracing Supplements
Embrace supplementing your diet with natural high potency multivitamin
and mineral complexes as well as with an iron, folic acid and B vitamins.
Below I have discussed the most important supplements to enhance your
fertility. Many of the foods we eat in the western world are so processed that
they lack the essential vitamins necessary for fertility.
Using supplements is an excellent way to help your hormones naturally come
into balance, as well as to treat many types of fertility problems. However, as
with any natural remedy, remember to consult with your doctor before trying
any supplements.
Selenium
Although selenium is just a trace mineral in the body, meaning it is found
there in very low quantities, it‘s incredibly important for combating stress
and resulting adrenal fatigue. This supplement has a calming effect on the
body, and it can reduce cortisol output, helping to calm down the adrenals
so that they can begin to function normally again.
28
Vitamin D3
This is another important vitamin that helps the body combat adrenal
fatigue. In supporting the adrenal glands, D3 helps to reduce oestrogen
dominance and to increase fertility in women.
Lycopene
If you feel that you are struggling with adrenal fatigue or oestrogen
dominance, it’s important to note that Selenium, D3 and Lycopene are even
more helpful when taken together.
Since none are found in the body in large quantities, it’s important to ensure
that you’re getting the right dosage without getting too much. Follow the
recommended dosage, and as always, consult with your practitioners.
This mineral is a powerful antioxidant that also helps support the adrenal
glands. It is also tied to function of the liver, and it can help the body clean
out extra oestrogen and solve problems related with oestrogen dominance.
By supporting the adrenal glands, it can also help solve the problems related
to adrenal fatigue.
Progesterone Cream
Progesterone is a critical hormone that affects the health of the vagina,
uterus, and cervix. During ovulation, the body releases progesterone to
prepare the uterus for implantation. If a pregnancy occurs, the pituitary
gland secretes more of the hormone for the placenta so it can provide a
healthy environment for the baby until birth. Women who have a history of
miscarriage or a deficiency in progesterone can benefit from progesterone
cream. Together with a hormone called oestradiol, progesterone cream
can delay the shedding of the endometrium, the area of the uterus where
implantation takes place, and make the cervical mucus more receptive to
sperm. Experts recommend using progesterone cream after ovulation, and
throughout pregnancy. If you stop taking the cream too suddenly after
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pregnancy, the sudden drop in progesterone can induce menstruation and
cause a miscarriage.
Progesterone is also useful for overcoming the many types of fertility
problems that are caused by oestrogen dominance such as uterine fibroids,
endometriosis, ovarian cysts and PCOS.
Multivitamins
A quality multivitamin is a must for every woman trying to conceive, not
just for fertility, but also to provide a growing foetus with the nutrients it
needs to stay healthy. In terms of fertility, however, studies show that a daily
multivitamin reduces risk of ovulatory fertility issues. A study by researchers
from the Harvard School of Public Health discovered that women who
took two or less multivitamin tablets a week had a 12% reduced risk of
ovulatory infertility. The odds were greater among women who took 6 or
more multivitamin tablets a week – they were 41% less likely to suffer from
ovulatory infertility. Multivitamins should be taken while trying to conceive
and all throughout the pregnancy. Make sure you get a quality multivitamin.
In general, this does not mean buying the cheapest brands. Ask your health
advisors for recommendations.
Digestive/Systemic Enzymes
Digestive/Systemic Enzymes cause your bodily reactions to work faster
and more efficiently. They can eat away at scarring and fibrosis, are antiinflammatory and are also important for healthy immune function. Because
of these properties, they can be very beneficial in overcoming endometriosis
and adhesions.
Folic Acid
The B-vitamin folic acid is another important vitamin for pre-natal care.
Women who are trying to conceive are strongly encouraged to take
600mcg folic acid a day for their future baby‘s health and for their own
30
fertility. Although researchers are not sure about how folic acid works to
secure pregnancy, the Nurses ‘Health Study suggests that it can assist in
embryo survival. One of the most common birth defects caused by a folic
acid deficiency is called neural tube defect (NYD), which usually occurs in
the first month after fertilization. Pregnancies affected by NTDs usually
result in miscarriages or stillbirths. Babies who do survive are born with
serious birth defects like spina bifida. For many years it has been understood
that folic acid should be taken to prevent birth defects. Recent studies have
shown that it is also a beneficial supplement for increasing pregnancy rates.
Essential Fatty Acids
Our carbohydrate-rich diets make most of us deficient in omega-3 fatty
acids, a healthy fat found in deep sea fish like tuna and salmon. Studies
show that omega-3 fatty acids can treat polycystic ovararian syndrome
(PCOS), a condition that is linked to high insulin levels. Women who have
PCOS usually fail to release a mature egg during their menstrual cycle.
Although lowering their insulin levels through diet restores their fertility,
women with PCOS are still at risk for miscarriage. The other factor that
aggravates fertility problems is a deficiency in the long chain omega-3 fatty
acid called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Research on women with PCOS
shows that consuming omega-3 fatty acid supplements helps sustain a
healthy pregnancy and lowers the risk for premature birth.
Royal Jelly
Studies have shown that Royal Jelly is beneficial in regulating the menstrual
cycle and overcoming hormonal problems. This is an excellent supplement
that is used for increasing egg quality and good to take for everyone,
especially for women nearing the end of their fertility window. It is also
recommended for women with PCOS. Do not take Royal Jelly if you are
allergic to bee stings or honey, as it may cause an allergic reaction.
31
Wheat Grass
As mentioned in the diet chapter, it is important to eat more alkaline foods
and cutting down on acidic foods which helps provide cervical mucus
with the right pH levels for conceiving and successful implantation. Sperm
require an alkaline environment to survive long enough to reach the egg,
and acidic cervical mucus can kill off most of them. Wheatgrass juice is
a supplement you can take to increase the alkaline levels of your cervical
mucus. Aside from that, wheatgrass also contains small amounts of vitamin
A, B12, E, magnesium, calcium, iron, and phosphorus. Since wheatgrass
contains no harmful compounds, it can be taken every day and throughout
pregnancy.
Zinc
Zinc deficiency is one of the most common nutritional problems. It is vitally
important for growth and proper cell division in a foetus. Zinc deficiency
among many other things, impairs body’s ability to properly maintain
pregnancy in women and produce healthy sperm in men. Unfortunately
zinc competes for absorption with the most of the nutrients from food and
is often called the “lonely mineral”. This means it is one of the minerals
which are most likely to be deficient. On top of that, artificial hormones in
the form of oral contraceptives and ovulation drugs significantly reduce its
levels further.
CO-Enzyme Q10
Co-Enzyme Q10 is a substance that is present in every cell of our body and
is important for energy production. Research has shown that CoQ10 levels
are lower in women who have miscarried.
L-Arginine
The amino acid L-Arginine plays an important part in a number of
physiological functions. As a precursor to nitric oxide, it promotes healthy
circulation and relaxed blood vessels. It is also thought to improve female
fertility by supporting endometrial secretions, increasing cervical mucus,
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and enhancing female sexual arousal. These findings have been verified
by researchers from the University of Modena in Italy. Their study, which
was published in the July 1999 issue of the Human Reproduction journal,
concluded that L-arginine supplements increased the likelihood of IVF
pregnancy among women with problematic uterine and follicular Doppler
flow. There are no known side effects to taking L-Arginine supplements.
This supplement is recommended for everyone, and especially those over
the age of 35.
Supplements for Women to Avoid
Vitamin C in High Doses
While it is vital that you get enough vitamin C while trying to conceive,
taking too much can actually harm your prospects. In fact, high doses of
vitamin C are sometimes used as a naturopathic way to induce miscarriages,
and there is evidence that overly high doses of the supplement can cause
spontaneous miscarriage in women who want to be pregnant. Also, high
doses of Vitamin C can cause cervical mucus to thicken and become too
acidic, making it difficult for sperm to survive long enough to get to the
egg.
It takes more than 1,000 mg of the vitamin a day for this to happen, so
just make sure that between your supplements and dietary intake, you‘re
staying below this threshold.
Powerful Supplements for Men
Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids
Vitamin C and bioflavonoids have very important roles in the treatment
of male fertility problems. Vitamin C can help sperm keep from sticking
together so that they can more effectively get to the egg. Both of these
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supplements also help maintain the structure of healthy veins, which
means that Vitamin C with bioflavonoids is particularly important for men
struggling with varicocele.
Multivitamins
Men can benefit from a multivitamin formula even more than women
because statistics prove that the average man does not consume enough
fruits and vegetables, the best sources of vitamins and minerals for optimal
health. In fact, over 80% of men have eating habits that prevent them from
obtaining the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals. To
boost your fertility, consuming a quality multivitamin should be an essential
part of your diet. Although multivitamins are not designed to improve male
fertility per se, they contain important amino acids, vitamins, and minerals
like zinc, which go a long way to improve sperm production and quality.
Zinc
The mineral zinc contains over 200 enzymes and plays a critical role in
sperm production, testicular development, and sperm motility. In fact, zinc
levels in the testicles are higher than those in other tissues. Studies on male
infertility show a direct relationship between inadequate zinc levels, low
testosterone, and low sperm count in infertile men. Although there are few
large-scale studies on the effects of zinc supplementation on male fertility,
small studies show that taking three 25mg zinc supplements a day can
improve sperm count and raise testosterone levels. Choose a zinc sulfate
supplement, as this is the most absorbable form of zinc.
Essential Fatty Acids
Omega-3 essential fatty acids have two positive effects on male fertility. Its
anti-inflammatory properties encourage greater blood flow to the penis
while preventing infertility due to prostatitis, or the swelling of the prostate.
But well-functioning genitals are just one aspect of male fertility. Sperm
cells have to be strong, healthy, viable, and mobile for fertilization to occur.
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Omega-3 essential fatty acids make up most of the sperm cell‘s membranes,
and studies show that infertile men have low levels of an omega-3 fat called
DHA in the sperm. If there aren‘t enough omega-3 fats in the body, the cells
take in cholesterol and other unhealthy fats to form the cell membranes.
Co-enzyme Q10
Co-enzyme Q10 is known to protect cells from free radical damage, but
a recent study in Fertility & Sterility shows that this anti-oxidant can boost
male fertility as well. 22 men with poor sperm motility participated in the
study and took 200mg co-enzyme Q10 supplements daily for six months.
During the start of the trial period, sperm samples showed that the men
had low levels of co-enzyme Q10 in the semen. But as the co-enzyme
Q10 levels increased, so did their sperm motility improve. An Italian study
published this year also had similar findings: co-enzyme Q10 supplements
reduce male infertility due to unknown causes.
L-Carnitine
The amino acid L-carnitine is most known for its ability to turn fat into
energy, but new studies show that it can improve sperm motility and
increase sperm count in infertile men. Research from the University of Rome
shows that a combination of L-carnitine and a related amino acid L-acetylcarnitine was able to reduce infertility in 60 men aged 20 to 40. After the
trial period, sperm samples from men who had the poorest sperm motility
showed significant improvements in both forward and total movement.
Four spontaneous pregnancies even occurred while the study was ongoing.
Selenium
To maximize sperm production, the testicles require steady levels of
selenium in the body. Selenium plays a key role in epididymis function,
in sperm formation, and maintaining the sperm‘s mitochondria (energy
generator). It‘s not surprising then that a deficiency in selenium is related
to male infertility due to defective sperm. A study by researchers from the
35
University of Padua shows that selenium supplements protect sperm from
oxidation, thus increasing sperm quantity and quality. Selenium‘s antioxidant properties also have an indirect effect on infertility, most notably in
protecting omega-3 fatty acids from free radical damage. Selenium is also
a wonderful supplement to support the thyroid and to counteract damage
caused by adrenal fatigue.
L-Arginine
L-Arginine‘s role in the formation of nitric oxide has a positive if indirect
effect on male fertility. It relaxes blood vessels, which improves blood
circulation and flow and prevents conditions like erectile dysfunction. As
a stand-alone amino acid, L-arginine triggers the pituitary and thymus
glands, which are both involved in sperm production. Although the body
can naturally produce L-arginine, the amount varies and some men are
unable to produce the appropriate amounts. A recent double-blind study
from the University of Chicago concluded that L-arginine supplements can
improve sexual performance in men, especially those who have nitric oxide
deficiencies. The study recommends consuming L-Arginine 45 minutes
before intercourse for maximum effect.
Do’s and Don’ts
Always follow the instructions on the labels of the products.
Also consider the following:
Fat Soluble Vitamins should be taken with healthy fats. Those include
Vitamin D and E, whereas Water soluble vitamins such as Vitamin B and
Vitamin C should be taken with water.
Iron Supplements may interfere with Zinc levels. And conversely large
intakes of Zinc interfere with Copper and Iron absorption (Vitamin C
enhances Iron absorption)
36
Taking any B vitamin will enhance the absorption of other B Vitamins but
too much of one may deplete the others.
Coffee and tea affect the absorption of some nutrients.
37
“True religion is real living;
living with all one’s soul, with
all one’s goodness and
righteousness.”- Albert Einstein
Chapter 6 - Exercise, Massage and
breathing routines
Exercise
The benefits of exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle are widely known.
When people make moderate exercise changes and introduce it as part of
their daily routine they can improve their overall health and fitness levels.
Many people are unaware that there is a connection between exercise and
fertility. Whether you are thinking about general health or struggling to get
pregnant, the following advice about exercise will be beneficial.
Regular exercise when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle can help
to increase fertility levels. Women wanting to conceive can use exercise to
prepare their bodies for the changes that pregnancy brings.
As mentioned before striving to maintain your BMI (Body Mass Index) within
normal range for your size is important. Regular exercise is good for both
physical and mental health. In addition, exercise reduces body fat. About
30% of oestrogen comes from fat cells. Too much fat in the body can alter
your hormone balance and therefore lower your chances of conceiving.
38
Unfortunately, as seen later on in this book, stress can lead to fertility
problems – interfering with ovulation and menstruation also. Exercise can
be a great stress buster. When you exercise, endorphins are released, which
encourages your body to cope better with pain and stress. Research has
shown that regular exercise helps to maintain healthy sleep patterns and, in
doing so, encourages relaxation and good health.
Not all exercise is healthy. Over-exercising is also one of the causes of
infertility in women. Women who exercise excessively are at risk of losing
too much body fat. Body fat helps to produce oestrogen in the body. Just as
too much body fat causes hormone imbalance, too little body fat can cause
irregular ovulation. It is common for women who over-exercise to develop
amenorrhea which stops the menstrual cycle entirely.
Women need to find the exercise program that is right for them. A Harvard
based study found that women who were trying to conceive were 3 times
more likely to be successful if they took a fertility oriented yoga course at
the same time. It is believed that yoga helps to relieve stress and anxiety
and therefore increases the likelihood of conceiving. Alongside yoga, a brisk
cycle or walk for 30mins 3 to 4 times a week will greatly enhance fertility.
Exercise with your cycle
During Menstruation: Conserve energy and exercise gently and
meditatively with deep breathing, yoga, tai chi and Qi gong.
Post Menstruation: Gear exercise around stretching, walking and weight
training, gently building up muscles.
Ovulation: Get out as much outdoor and aerobic exercise as possible
including swimming, jogging, cycling, and dancing. (Avoiding heavy lifting)
Pre Menstruation: Keep up your strength with Qi gong, yoga, stretching
and walks. (Avoiding heavy lifting)
39
Massage
We all know that a massage not only reduces pain and relieves stress, but
also has other health benefits. Massage of the femoral artery around the
pelvic region is completely natural and is a technique that women can use
without any external aid to boost their reproductive ability and handle their
menstrual cycles better. The massage increases blood circulation to the
pelvic organs nourishing the ovaries for optimal egg production and the
uterus for endometrial lining. Caution must be exercised as to when this
technique is preformed as it is not to be done when you are menstruating
or when you think you are pregnant – so to be safe it should only be done
during the follicular stage of the cycle after the period has finished and
before ovulation.
Fertility massage can be very beneficial if you suffer from blocked fallopian
tubes, or you have Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) or Ovarian Cysts,
or Endometriosis. Hormonal imbalances, menstrual cramps and poor
circulation can also be relieved from fertility massage.
You not only feel relaxed when doing the massage but any adhesions, if
any, are broken down and fresh oxygenated blood will flow more freely
nourishing the different muscles and organs of the pelvic region.
Four Easy steps for performing Fertility Massage
1. Press down on the area between your thigh and your lower abdomen.
This artery branches off to supply blood to the uterus, fallopian tubes and
ovaries.
2. Circulate the area with your fingertips and hold down for 15 – 20
seconds. The pressure increases and forces the blood back into the pelvic
region nourishing the organs.
3. Releasing the pressure you will feel a warm sensation run down your legs
to the extremities.
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4. Repeat the exercise, three times, twice a day, from when your period
finishes and up to ovulation or the day before embryo transfer
Breathing Routine
Clear breathing is an ancient exercise for breathing and relaxation. In
addition to reducing stress, the practice may also enhance the body’s focus
on the reproductive organs. Daily practicing this breathing exercise can be
thought of as breathing life into and through the uterus.
6 steps involved in performing clear breathing:
1. Close your eyes and clear your mind.
2. Place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth just behind the
top of your front teeth.
3. Breathe deeply in through your nose and concentrate on bringing your
breath from your nose and down the midline of your body, between your
breasts, down your abdomen and to a region about 2 inches below your
navel.
4. Move your focus to the muscles of your genital area and below your
navel to your uterus. While doing this gently contract your pelvic floor
muscles as if you were trying to stop urinating.
5. Release, and as you exhale, send the energy from the coccyx up the spine
to the top of the head, down the forehead, and out your nose.
6. Repeat the breath movements until they become one smooth,
continuous movement.
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Focus your attention on the lifting energies, and as you exhale, feel a
sense of release, surrender and letting go. Know that you cannot control
conception and implantation—you can only allow your body to do what
it was meant to do. As you feel the lift, release all desires, attachments,
worries and fear.
Feel yourself free of obstructions, open and receptive.
42
“You must be the
change you wish to
see in the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Chapter 7 - Lifestyle hazards
We live in a society where we are bombarded with chemicals and toxins. All
the time we are exposed to chemicals in our food, in the packaging around
it, in pesticides, additives and preservatives. In our houses, we can be in
contact with chemicals through household cleaners, aerosols, new carpets
treated with moth-proofing, and anti-woodworm and wood preservation
treatments to name but a few.
Outside, the environment is equally laden with toxins – traffic fumes, factory
pollution, pesticides sprayed on parks and railways. Dangerous chemicals
seep out from landfill sites. The list goes on and on.
All this affects your fertility. Logic tells us that toxins must be one of the
main reasons why an increasing number of couples are facing difficulties
conceiving.
The fact is that we are living in a ‘sea’ of hormones.
Certain lifestyle factors can interfere with a couple’s ability to conceive as
well the other issues mentioned – stress, diet and exercise. Environmental
hazards and poor overall health tend to have a major negative influence on
43
both female and male fertility. Sometimes, simple changes to your lifestyle
can help to increase your fertility and help you to conceive.
Environmental Hazards
Toxic fumes, lead, and other poisons can cause serious fertility problems,
especially if you are exposed to them on a daily basis.
Try to avoid foods and other substances treated with pesticides, herbicides,
fungicides, paint fumes, radiation, chemical cleaners or solvents.
Household Chemicals
Think about the number of chemicals we have in our houses – all those
cleaners and aerosols. There is plenty of evidence that the chemicals they
contain can be harmful.
In an American study, published in 1991, women with a history of
unexplained infertility and recurrent miscarriages were found to have high
levels of two chemicals commonly found in carpets, leather upholstery and
wood preservatives.
Some chemicals can even stop women conceiving, or the egg may fertilize
naturally but not be able to grow or develop.
Environmental Oestrogens
Environmental oestrogens can affect the hormone levels in your body,
negatively influencing your fertility. Your body produces its own oestrogen
to help regulate ovulation and menstruation. However, it also gets extra
synthetic or plant estrogens from food items such as dairy products, plastic
containers, and other types of food packaging. Too much oestrogen can
throw your reproductive cycle out balance. This can make conception
difficult, so it is a good idea to try to limit the amount of environmental
estrogens that you take by limiting or avoiding dairy products completely.
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Alcohol
Most of us know by now that alcohol and pregnancy just don’t mix. Alcohol
consumption is not recommended at all during pregnancy and for good
reason - it can cause serious birth defects and may trigger foetal alcohol
syndrome. When you are trying to conceive, it is also important to limit your
alcohol consumption or cut it out altogether. Alcohol can have detrimental
effects on your fertility, making it more difficult to become pregnant.
Women who drink between 1 and 5 alcoholic drinks a week are actually
associated with decreased conception rates. Women who regularly
drink alcohol are also at increased risk for experiencing such imbalances
as irregular periods, irregularities in ovulation, early menopause and
miscarriages.
Men who regularly drink alcohol are also at risk for experiencing fertility
problems, including reduced testosterone levels, reduced sex drive and
problems with sperm motility and morphology.
Smoking
Cigarette smoking can be a tough habit to quit, but if you are trying to
become pregnant, now is a great time. Smoking is a big no-no during
pregnancy, and it can also impact negatively on your fertility. Female
smokers are 3 to 4 times more likely to have problems getting pregnant.
They are also at increased risk for menstrual irregularities, tubal factor
infertility and implantation problems.
Men who are smokers are also compromising their fertility. Male smokers
increase their risk for erectile dysfunction and chromosomal abnormalities
within their sperm.
There are a variety of aids available to help you quit smoking. From gum to
patches to botanical supplements to acupuncture, these aids have made
quitting easier than ever. It is important to let go of the habit and look at
the bigger picture.
45
“Tension is who you think you
should be. Relaxation is who
you are.”
- Chinese Proverb
Chapter 8 - Stress levels and
relationship strains
Stress
Stress can be the ultimate fertility preventer. Stress often triggers a change in
the regular hormonal balance in our body somewhat like the fight or flight
response of adrenaline. This can interfere with ovulation, menstruation and
conception.
In Chinese there is no word for stress but the closest physical phenomenon
state is Energy Stagnation. The most common reason for Energy Stagnation
is unfilled desires i.e. the desire to have a child can cause this stagnation.
It’s time to give in and let go!
There are various methods to resolve stress and stagnation symptoms.
One of the most practical and easy ways to relax is to laugh and have fun.
There are so many strategies for this - having a good conversation with
friends, joining parties, participating in games, getting involved in sports and
recreational activities, dancing or reading funny publications just to name a
few.
46
Make your mind up to create changes in your life to support greater health
for your mind, body and spirit. When you are trying to conceive, aim to be
as stress-free as possible.
If you’re trying to get pregnant and you are under stress, your body’s
cervical mucus may give you a warning that something’s wrong. Rather
than noticing increased cervical mucus as you come close to ovulation, you
might notice patches of mucus combined with dry days – it is as if your
body is trying to ovulate but the stress is holding it back and delaying it
(Energy Stagnation). You won’t know that you’ve ovulated unless you’re
using an accurate method of detection, such as an ovulation kit or charting
your basal body temperature and cervical mucus. Even then you may not be
totally sure that you’ve ovulated.
On a more positive note – stress-induced delays or irregularities to ovulation
should not stop you getting pregnant. That is provided you are having sex
every 2 to 3 days especially through the second and third quarter of your
cycle to optimize your chances of success.
Establish a support system of friends and/or family that will help you along
the way. Talk to them and your partner about your concerns, fears and
hopes on getting pregnant. Extra support can always be found on the many
online websites dealing with infertility problems. You should also be able to
find a support group near you or get in touch with a specialist therapist for
support.
Relationship Strains
The longer you try to conceive, the more worrisome and stressful it
becomes.
Stress as mentioned above can lead to and release an array of emotions, all
of which, when in excess, have a detrimental effect on fertility.
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Some things to start with would be coming to an acceptance between
you and your partner, that you are both on the same page, want the same
thing, and will go through this together.
Look into your past, and see if there are any things that you have set aside
that may be playing a role in your conception difficulties, ‘skeletons in the
closet,’ sexual trauma or abuse issues. For the first time start to explore
what could be lingering more strongly than you thought. In the next
chapter we will show you ways of releasing these hidden issues.
Most importantly, remember why you and your partner started this journey?
Because you love each other so much that you have decided to make a
family.
Make an effort to keep it alive, enjoy the spontaneity of sex with one
another, schedule weekend getaways, go for romantic picnics, sit by the fire
and watch your favorite film. Anything you practice you get better at, so
practice making your relationship shine!
This may be the single most important concept of the whole fertility
enhancement experience. If you’re going to a conventional infertility
consultant it will seem like they are doing everything they can to take the
magic out of making a baby, it will seem methodical and sterile. It’s a huge
support if you both can keep focused together and enjoy the other parts of
your lives.
Look at taking this step into the land of fertility as an empowering one. You
are taking control of your life, your fertility, your right to be informed and
make wise choices that will affect you extremely profoundly.
Know your alternatives, always step back and look at the big picture, and
never push each other away.
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Keeping Your Relationship Healthy
Below are ways to protect your relationship during the empowering times:
Focus on yourselves as a couple. Take into account that the two of you
came first, before any thought of a baby. It’s hard, but you can’t let it
consume your lives. Even when a child comes, the two of you still need to
be a healthy couple before you can be good parents.
Schedule non-fertility dates. On these dates, neither of you should talk
about children, infertility, medical treatments, adoption or anything to do
with what you’re going through.
It is so important to be spontaneous with regard to sex. That can mean not
discussing fertility before, during or after having sex. Consider having sex in
a different location or even a different environment. What about checking
into a local hotel for just one night? The key is to make it so spontaneous,
so much fun, that you take the ‘work’ out of it.
If things are just getting too much take a break from trying to get pregnant.
Decreasing the stress and anxiety in your sexual relationship will ensure
that your sex life will remain a source of pleasure and relaxation for years to
come.
Get physical together. Exercise is a fabulous stress buster. Consider taking
up tennis, dancing, cycling or sailing—all fun, physical activities you can do
together. Consider taking a yoga class together. It will not only strengthen
your body but also teach you about the importance of breathing. Of course,
there’s nothing wrong with long walks either.
Respect each other and your differences. Each of you will deal with the
situation differently. Just because one of you doesn’t cry or talk for hours
about the fertility problem it doesn’t mean they aren’t hurting. Men are
more likely to distance themselves from the issue and close up. Understand
that this may be his way of coping.
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Sit down and talk! He cannot read your mind. If you need him to be more
supportive, tell him, but be specific. If you need time to be alone because
you’re angry and upset and don’t want to take it out on him, tell him so he
doesn’t think you’re shutting him out. If you have a hard time verbalizing
your feelings, try writing them down in an email or letter to him.
Agree on how far you both will take this. You can easily exhaust your bank
account, marriage and emotional reserves through infertility treatments.
It’s a good idea to talk before the roller coaster ride begins about which
treatments and how many you’ll undergo and how much money you’ll
spend.
Seek outside help if needed. Even if you think your relationship will weather
the infertility storm, it’s still a good idea to talk to a couples’ therapist.
You also may consider joining a support group for people going through
infertility treatments.
Share your fertility struggles. Studies find that couples who keep their
fertility issues a secret from friends and family tend to withdraw and have
more psychological and relationship problems than those who open up. Talk
with your partner about whom you will share information with and how
much you will share. He may want to tell his mother everything, but you
may think his mother’s questions are intrusive or judgmental. He may not
want your friends to know that he has a low sperm count or many other
details of your fertility treatments.
Stress and relationship strains are very common during your fertility journey
but it is just as important to step back and understand your uniqueness.
Each individual has their own personality and every couple will bring a
different dynamic to the situation which can be used as an empowering
experience for you both.
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“The truth is that we can learn to condition our minds, bodies, and emotions
to link pain or pleasure to whatever we
choose. By changing what we link pain
and pleasure to, we will instantly change
our behaviors.”
-Anthony Robbins
Chapter 9 - The mind set and
subconscious emotions
Your sole journey is unique only to you and by letting your mind negatively
rules your world can keep things away from you. When you start to become
aware of your thoughts (as with your body) you can simply let the negative
ones go. You can acknowledge them and explore where these thoughts
originated but it’s important to release them and look at where you are now
at this present moment.
Try to live in the present moment and be grateful for each and every idea
and though. Embrace the positive ones and learn and express yourself
with them. The negative ones can be accepted but treated as an amazing
opportunity to learn and move forward from.
Don’t berate yourself for having negative thoughts, everyone does!
The simple process of becoming aware of those thoughts, your subconsciousness gains greater control of your mind, your well-being, and your
levels of happiness. If stress is therefore reduced, your body becomes more
balanced, which can result in improved fertility.
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Fears and inhibitions can pose a mental or physical block to pregnancy and
as such you need to become aware of them. Fears, inhibitions, thoughts
and beliefs from a long time ago have the same effect on our conscious
and subconscious mind and the body. So there is a lot to be said about the
things we read, saw, heard as we were growing up. We may have forgotten
about them but our subconscious mind has not. There are many effective
methods for releasing old negative emotions which are standing in our way
of living a full and a happy life.
Looking forward with positive affirmations is an important way to stay
optimistic in your fertility journey. Be realistic; unless your doctor has told
you that there is no way that you can conceive then there is a chance that
you can get pregnant.
Even if you cannot specifically remember the exact reasons from these
repressed emotions don’t worry. You don’t need to, it’s important to trust in
yourself and release them from your mind and realizes these mental blocks
can be overcome and you can become pregnant.
Steps to release your mind set and subconscious emotions relating to
infertility:
Become fully aware of how you feel and write it down. Write down all the
thoughts that come up while feeling each emotion. These are the anchors
which keep the emotion in place.
For each emotion write down what exactly makes you feel that way (a
person, a situation, something about you).
The emotion will intensify or change when you hit the cause and when it is
allowed to flow.
52
If it’s a person that’s making you feel the way you do, write a letter to that
person explaining exactly how you feel and why. You don’t have to send the
letter; you can throw it out as a symbol of letting go of that emotion in your
life.
If you’ve had a miscarriage or a termination write a letter to the spirit that
was with you and explain to them that you miss them or why you could not
look after them at the time (if you had a termination).
Become aware of your real emotions. Many times we consciously desire
one thing but subconsciously believe the opposite. Maybe you have
an underlying emotion deep within you which is preventing you from
becoming pregnant. If that may be the case write down on a piece of paper
why you possibly would not want to be a parent or want to be a parent
but are afraid of being pregnant. Sometimes it’s the fear of pregnancy that
keeps it at bay.
Doubts and negative emotions can be overwhelming for couples dealing
with fertility problems. As I’ve said before by releasing these emotions and
realizing these mental blocks can be overcome you can become pregnant.
Finally, don’t compare yourself to others. Understand that your journey is
totally unique and if you are destined to get pregnant your time will come.
Remember: Relax and have fun. Sex isn’t just about making babies. Keep
the pleasure and passion fully alive in your relationship.
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“Life is all about timing... The
unreachable becomes reachable,
the unavailable become available,
the unattainable... Attainable.
Have the patience, wait it out it’s
all about timing. “
- Stacey Charter
Chapter 10 - Mastering the art of timing
When trying to predict your most fertile time it is important to listen to your
body’s wisdom rather then going out to buy the latest overpriced ovulation
predictor. Mother Nature has a holistic may of letting you know when you
are most likely to conceive.
Mucus fluctuations – Probably the most reliable of signs. It’s important to
watch for the change in appearance, increase in quantity, and change in
consistency of cervical mucus. This is the sign that ovulation is taking place.
Heightened Sex Drive – Around this time you may feel more attractive to
the opposite sex for the duration of your peak fertility.
Slight pain – If you’re like 20 percent of women, your body feel a twinge
of pain or a series of cramps in your lower abdominal area. This monthly
reminder of fertility is thought to be the result of the maturation or release
of an egg from an ovary. Pay close attention, and you may be more likely to
get the message.
Check the calendar – Ovulation most often occurs halfway through your
menstrual cycle — the average cycle lasts 28 days, counting from the first
54
day of one period (day one) to the first day of the next period. But as
with everything pregnancy-related, there’s a wide range of normal here
(anywhere from 23 to 35 days), and your own cycle may vary slightly from
month to month. By keeping a menstrual calendar for a few months, you
can get an idea of what’s normal for you. (When you become pregnant,
this calendar will come in handy to get a better estimate of your baby’s due
date!) If your periods are irregular, you’ll need to be even more alert for
other signs of ovulation
In ideal conditions sperm live about 72 hours in the female, but the
fertilizable life of the egg is only about 12 hours. Conception is more
likely to result if intercourse takes place in the day or two before ovulation
so everything is ready when the egg is in the correct place. In one
study published recently in the “New England Journal of Medicine,” no
pregnancies occurred in the days after ovulation; instead, they resulted from
live sperm waiting when ovulation occurred.
It is important to mastering your peak fertility state which in time will
increase your chances of conception.
55
“Do you remember the things you were
worrying about a year ago? How did
they work out? Didn’t you waste a lot of
fruitless energy on account of most of
them? Didn’t most of them turn out all
right after all?”
Dale Carnegie
Chapter 11 - the Radiant world–
Energy lines
Alongside a healthy mind, body and lifestyle – a healthy home must also be
recognized. Many years ago the ancient art of Feng-Shui developed in China.
Feng-Shui meaning ‘wind and water’ is the name the Chinese gave to the
skill of assessing a place and aligning it to optimize its energy flow.
Modern science has only recently shown that the entire universe is composed
of different types of radiation. This is true of every physical object, whether
it’s the sun, a stone or a living animal; they all transmit specific radiation of
their own. However, very little is known about their effects on us humans.
If we are exposed to harmful radiation over a prolonged period of time either
sleeping or working in a bad place the effect can be quiet harmful especially
from a health and fertility perspective.
Very frequently fertility problems occur if your bed is placed over a negative
energy line. This is also the reason why many couples find that they get
pregnant when on holidays, and then in turn miscarry when they return back
to sleeping at home.
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Negative energy lines can be transformed into positive ones if there is an
adjustment to the layout of the room. Most importantly is the direction of
your bed. The best direction for sleeping is: with your head to the north and
feet to the south; or head to the west and feet to the east. (Or as close a
possible.) If however you live close to a river or the sea, then you should lay
at right angles to the direction of the water. If you can’t change the position
of your bed sometimes even swapping sleeping sides of the bed can do the
job.
From my experience, if you have been trying to conceive for sometime then
this modification is essential. A successful change of bed position does not
suddenly free the body of radiation that had built up and absorbed over
the years but over time it will release the blockage. You may initially, as
with changes in diet and lifestyle, notice some withdrawal symptoms like
excessive tiredness or troubled sleep but give it a couple of weeks and these
will have dissipated.
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“Success is a state of
mind. If you want
success, start thinking
of yourself as a
success.”
- Dr. Joyce Brothers
Chapter 12 - Planning for success
When you have read through this entire book at least one time and
completely understand all of the concepts, you can review the steps that
follow and start planning your own personal pregnancy success program.
A helpful tool as you map out your own program will be to write it down in
our companion book, The Baby Program Journal.
If you are creating a plan for both yourself and your partner, print two copies
of the journal as each of your programs will undoubtedly be at least a little
different.
Read through the journal and follow the steps. Always make your choices of
treatments based primarily on what your doctors and specialists recommend,
and also your own personal interests.
So now, fill in and plan the program. Then work with it to get you underway
towards a better chance at getting pregnant fast!
There is no time like the present – so let’s go for it!
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“We choose our joys and sorrows
long before we experience them.”
Kahlil Gibran
The conclusion - Lengthening your
fertile life
A woman’s fertility starts to decline in her late 20’s and drops sharply after
35 and further still when she hits 40. We all know that fertility and age go
hand in hand but as you’ve read in this book it is possible to elongate our
fertility life.
The reason behind this sharp decline in fertility, as discussed earlier, is firstly
due to the amount of toxins that have been accumulating in our bodies since
birth. A woman’s eggs have been with her since she was born and whatever
has been in contact, ingested or inhaled has had a positive or negative
impact on our body as a whole. And secondly, the lack of nutrients from our
diet has resulted in poor energy levels, faster aging and deterioration of the
cells including eggs and sperm.
As you continue on your path with your new lifestyle changes, be gentle
with yourself. If you miss a day of your program, don’t beat yourself up, just
pick up the next day and begin again.
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If you follow the natural secrets in this book you will be able to keep
yourself in good fertile condition. However you have to stay realistic and
depending on your age, state of health and genetic inheritance, you may
still require other options. Time should be given to yourself for the best
possible chance of a successful and healthy conception and pregnancy.
Remember, above all else, to treat yourself and your partner with love and
compassion. You are doing everything you can to have a child. Now is the
time to leave the rest up to a higher power, whatever shape or form that
spiritual body may take for you.
My hope is that you will hold your passionate wish to conceive close and
dear. But, learn to hold it gently. May you be blessed with the wisdom to
keep your heart open to finding other ways to meet your needs if your first
strategy doesn‘t work out the way you want it to.
And may you find your family whether it comes through you or to you.
Good luck on your journey.
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Appendix
Understanding Western Medical
Treatment Options
The Baby Program primarily focuses on
Eastern, Alternative and natural treatments
to overcome infertility. For informational
purposes, we have included this appendix
on Western medical treatments. If you
choose to try medical treatments, many
of the natural approaches described in
this book can be used complementary to
the traditional Western approach. Just
remember to involve your doctor in your
process and not to mix herbs with fertility
drugs, unless you have your doctor’s
permission.
Preparing for Your First Doctor Visit
Before you set your appointment for your
first doctor visit, it’s helpful to get prepared.
One way to begin this process is to make a
list of the details concerning your attempts
to have a baby. This information is vital if
your doctor is to begin to get a handle on
the root cause or causes of your problem.
There will undoubtedly be questions your
doctor will ask of you and your partner. It‘s
helpful to get some clarity and think about
these things ahead of time so that you
can provide the most accurate information
possible. Here is a list of sample questions
you may be asked:
How long have you been having intercourse
without birth control?
How long have you been seriously trying to
get pregnant?
How often do you have intercourse?
Do you use any lubricants during
intercourse?
Do either you or your partner smoke?
Have either of you been treated for any
medical conditions, including sexually
transmitted diseases?
What are your stress levels like?
Are you both satisfied with your
relationship?
Your physician may then turn to each of you
individually and ask you certain questions.
For the woman, these questions may
include:
What age did you begin menstruation?
What are your periods like? Are they
regular? How long are they? And do you
bleed excessively (are they heavy)?
Have you ever been pregnant?
Have you been previously evaluated for
infertility?
Have you been charting your ovulation?
How many cycles?
Are you currently being treated or have
you ever been treated for other medical
conditions?
What medications, if any, are you currently
taking?
Are you taking any dietary supplements,
vitamins, minerals or herbs?
How are you eating? What’s your typical
diet like?
Do you exercise -- and how much?
Has your body weight changed in the last
several months or so?
Similarly, he’ll ask the male a few questions
as well.
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At what age did you start puberty?
Do you have any sexual problems? Are you
having difficulty maintaining an erection?
Do you ejaculate too soon or not at all?
Do you use recreational drugs? If so, how
often?
What, if any, prescription medications are
you currently taking?
What supplements are you taking, including
vitamins, other nutrients or herbs?
Do your regularly take hot baths or steam
baths?
Have you ever conceived a child with a
previous partner?
When you walk into your doctor’s office
two things will happen, guaranteed. He
or she will ask you some of the questions
we’ve just covered. And you’ll have a head
full of questions of your own.
Here are only a few of the questions that
most couples ask when they walk in for a
consultation. Some of these questions, no
doubt, are already on your mind.
Why can’t we conceive?
Do we need to undergo tests? If so, what
kinds?
Do you have any idea yet what our first line
of treatment might be?
Are there any side effects associated with
this particular treatment?
If we use this treatment, is there a chance
(and how great of one) that we’ll end up
with a multiple birth?
How long will we be on this treatment?
What if this doesn’t work? Is there
something else we can try?
What, if any, are the long-term
complications of this treatment?
How much will this treatment cost?
Will our insurance cover it?
Testing and Diagnosis
Many couples today hold off on parenthood
until they are settled in their careers and
personal lives. When the ―right time‖ finally
comes, they often discover that their
fertility potential isn’t as strong as they had
imagined it would be when they are ready
to start a family. One of the first steps that
your doctor will likely recommend is to
undergo certain tests to try to determine
the cause of your infertility.
Fertility Tests for Women
The initial screening should determine if
you have a problem ovulating. If you have
already begun tracking your cycle using a
basal body temperature thermometer or
other methods, let the fertility specialist
know because this provides valuable
information on your ability to ovulate. If
not, you will have to take a test designed to
measure the levels of luteal hormone (LH)
and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in
your reproductive system. High amounts of
these two hormones can point to a fertility
problem in the ovaries, or primary ovarian
failure. Low levels of LH and FSH suggest
a problem with the pituitary gland or the
hypothalamus, the two regions that control
hormone production.
It is likely you will be administered the
following blood tests to see if a hormonal
imbalance is behind your fertility problems:
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Day 3 FSH Test: This test is done on
the third day of a woman‘s period to
measure the amounts of follicle stimulating
hormones. An abnormally high level may
call into concern the quality of her eggs.
uterus and fallopian tube and involves
taking a special x-ray of the reproductive
organs. Before the x-ray, a dye is injected
into the uterus and fallopian tubes to make
it easier to locate blockages.
Day 3 Estradiol Test: Also performed
on the third day of the period, this test
evaluates the levels of the hormone
estrogen in the body.
Laparoscopy: This is a minor surgical
procedure that involves inserting a small
tube with a camera that provides a clear
view of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian
tubes. Laparoscopies are useful for locating
scar tissue, endometriosis, and other
physical abnormalities.
Plasma Progesterone Level Test: This test
should be taken just before menstruation
because progesterone levels are at their
peak towards the end of the cycle. Low
progesterone levels suggest a problem with
ovulation.
The next step in the testing process
will determine if you have any physical
impediments in the uterus, fallopian tubes,
or ovaries:
Abdominal Ultrasound: Abdominal
ultrasounds provide a general image of
your reproductive system. A hand-held
probe is placed on the abdomen and emits
high-frequency sound waves to produce an
image of your uterus.
Transvaginal Ultrasound: The procedure
is similar to the abdominal ultrasound,
except the probe goes through the vagina
and provides a clearer picture of the uterus,
fallopian tubes, and ovaries. A transvaginal
ultrasound can detect ovarian cysts,
fibroids, or how the follicles develop during
a cycle.
Hysterosalpingogram: This ultrasound
is designed to detect any blockages in the
If the ovulation test and ultrasounds show
no abnormalities, other tests can identify
the source of infertility. One variable
the initial screening cannot account for
is whether or not the vagina and cervix
provide a hostile environment for sperm.
A post-coital cervical mucus test can
determine if the woman‘s cervical mucus is
causing the infertility.
This test assesses the following parameters:
Presence of Viable Sperm: Healthy postcoital cervical mucus should have healthy
sperm that move forward.
Spinnbarkeit: This medical term describes
mucus viscosity, or its ability to stretch.
Ferning Patterns: Healthy cervical mucus
should dry in a fern-like pattern.
The post-coital test is fairly straightforward
and resembles a pap smear exam. The
only difference is that you need to have
intercourse 2 – 8 hours before your
scheduled appointment. Do not use
lubricant during intercourse as this can
63
affect the sperm, and avoid douching or tub
baths afterwards.
Fertility Tests for Men
During less enlightened times, infertility
was thought to be a woman‘s problem,
but science has proven that issues with the
man‘s sperm account for at least 40% of
infertility cases.
The most important fertility test for men is
the sperm and semen analysis.
To prepare the sample for analysis, the
man needs to abstain from sex for at least
two days. A fresh semen sample not more
than a half hour old is delivered to the lab
using a clean, spotless container. Lubricants
should not be used while collecting the
sperm sample because these can kill sperm
and affect the test results. Once the sample
is in the lab, a technician will check the
semen and sperm for the following:
Volume of Ejaculate: The normal amount
of semen ranges from 2 ml to 6 ml. Any
lower than 2 ml can hint at a problem
with the prostate and seminal vesicles. Any
volume higher than 6 ml is also a problem
because it decreases the concentration of
sperm in the semen.
pH Levels: The pH level of healthy semen
is alkaline to protect the sperm from the
acidic levels of vaginal fluid. An acidic pH
might mean an ejaculatory duct obstruction
or problems with the seminal vesicle.
It may be a more cost effective method for
the male partner to be the first to begin
fertility testing.
Fertility tests for women are generally
more complex, invasive, and expensive. If
a problem on the male part can be quickly
determined this may be a path to a faster
solution and pregnancy.
However, it is important to bear in mind
that infertility can sometimes involve a
health issue for each partner.
The Amount of Fructose: The seminal
vesicles produce a sugar called fructose in
order to provide enough energy for the
sperm to swim. A lack of fructose suggests
blockage in the male reproductive tract.
Sperm Count: This measures the number
of healthy sperm present per ml of semen
in one ejaculation. Generally, a high sperm
count means higher fertility; however,
studies also show that 15% of infertile
men have healthy amounts of sperm. If
there is no sperm present, there might be a
blockage that can be treated with surgery.
Morphology: This measures the
percentage of sperm cells with normal
shape.
Motility: This measures the percentage of
sperm that can ―swim‖ or move forward
normally. The sperm and semen analysis can
also check a related variable called motile
density, or the number of sperm that can
64
move forward normally in a certain volume
of semen.
If there are any irregularities in the sperm
and semen analysis, the doctor may order
one of the following tests to identify the
cause of the problem:
Physical Exam: A physical exam is
usually performed by an urologist and
involves examining the testicles, the penis,
epididymis, palpating the prostate, and
making sure the entire external genital area
still has full sensation.
Hormone Testing: Hormones control
sperm production. It can happen rarely that
a hormonal imbalance is the cause behind
male infertility.
Immunobead Testing: There are rare
instances where infertility is due to the
body‘s destruction of sperm cells. Although
it seldom happens in men, there have
been cases where a man‘s immune system
develops antibodies to fight off his own
sperm. An immunobead test can detect
these antibodies.
Common Treatments
Fertility Drugs
The first option most doctors present to
couples unable to have a baby is taking
fertility drugs. These drugs are often
prescribed to women who experience
infertility due to ovulation disorders. The
purpose of these medications is to regulate
ovulation or in some cases actually induce a
woman’s system into ovulation.
Just what drugs are prescribed varies.
There’s a list of about nine medications that
your prescribing physician may have you
take.
The first one is called Clomiphene. The
brand names these go by include Clomid
and Serophene. Taken orally, this particular
medication is often given to women who
are not ovulating because they suffer with
polycystic ovarian syndrome. But it may also
be prescribed for other ovulatory disorders.
Clomiphene works by triggering the
pituitary gland to release more of the
hormones FSH and LH, which in turn
stimulate the growth of an ovarian follicle
which contains an egg.
The drug Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
or hCG is usually given in conjunction with
this drug. hCG stimulates the follicle to
release an egg.
There’s another medication, called Human
Menopausal Gonadotropin or hMG doctors
may prescribe as an injection. This particular
drug works best for those women who
can’t ovulate because the pituitary gland
itself isn‘t functioning correctly. For these
women, the pituitary gland fails to stimulate
the monthly cycle.
This drug bypasses the pituitary gland
to influence the ovaries directly. Not
surprisingly, hMG -- which is probably under
the brand name of Repronex -- contains
both FSH and LH.
Another method of stimulating the cycle
of the ovaries is simply through the use of
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FSH independently -- without any other
medication. You’ll recognize if you’re taking
this through the brand names of Gonal-F
and Bravelle.
Don’t be surprised if along with your
prescription of FSH, your physician also
hands you a second one for hCG. These
two are often used in combination.
If the cause of infertility is a menstrual cycle
that’s irregular or erratic, then you may be
receiving Gn-RH, known as Gonadotropinreleasing hormone analogs. This specific
treatment is quite often used for those
women who ovulate prematurely. By that,
I mean she has her period before the lead
follicle is mature enough. This form of
treatment supplies the pituitary gland with
the Gn-RH, enabling the doctor then to
induce follicle growth through the use of
FSH.
Another medication that may be prescribed
orally is called Metformin -- you’ll probably
discover the brand name is Glucophage. It’s
recommended when your physician believes
that your infertility is caused by insulin
resistance. Insulin resistance, by the way, is
suspected as a cause in the development of
polycystic ovarian syndrome.
If your menstrual cycle is irregular
because you have higher than normal
levels of prolactin, then you may very
well find yourself taking the medication
Bromocriptine. Sold under the name of
Parlodel, this is the hormone which triggers
milk production in women who have just
given birth.
Fertility Drugs: So how many children may I
have?
The use of fertility drugs may help you
become pregnant. But it may also mean you
conceive multiples. This is especially risky
when you use the types of drugs which
are injected into your system. While the
oral medications also increase the odds of
conception of more than one child, they are
not as high as with the injections.
Now that’s not to mean you’ll end up with
eight children. Not by any stretch of the
imagination. But you may have twins or
even triplets.
That’s why -- and you’ll discover this if you
take the treatments yourself -- that your
specialist monitors the use of these drugs
very carefully. While you’re on these drugs
you’ll be taking blood tests, hormone tests
and ultrasounds. The last of these is to
measure the size of the ovarian follicle.
Multiples raise the risk of your babies being
born prematurely which in turn puts them
at greater risk of health and developmental
problems.
Reducing the Risk of Multiple Births
There are some ways in which the risk of
experiencing a multiple conception can
be mitigated. For example, if a woman is
taking hCG injections, the ultrasound shows
the physician the amount of follicles that
have developed. If it appears that there
are too many, which increase the risk for a
multiple birth, the physician may withhold
an injection.
66
If too many babies are actually conceived, a
question may be raised by your physicians
about removing one or more of the existing
foetuses. Called multifetal pregnancy
reduction, this method gives the remaining
foetuses better odds at survival.
This procedure also carries serious
questions, both emotional and ethical,
for couples. This is one of those possible
complications in fertility treatment that is
best discussed before treatment begins. It’s
a decision that just can’t be made lightly.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) Intrauterine
insemination (IUI), or artificial insemination,
is a minimally-invasive procedure where a
concentrated amount of active and healthy
sperm is placed directly into the uterus.
The Procedure
Preparations for an IUI procedure depend
on the fertility challenges for each individual
or couple. Sometimes a woman is given
fertility drugs to increase follicle production.
This procedure is called a stimulated cycle.
However, stimulated cycles are not always
recommended as doing so increases the
risk of multiple pregnancies. An IUI cycle
without fertility drugs is called a natural
cycle or unstimulated cycle.
The IUI procedure takes place during the
woman‘s ovulation. Sometimes an injection
of the human gonadotrophin hormone will
be given to induce ovulation.
A sperm sample is collected several hours
before the IUI to give the lab technicians
enough time to separate the sperm using a
specialized method. Techniques vary among
clinics, but the general idea is to separate
live, healthy, motile sperm from dead sperm
and to remove seminal fluid from the final
concentration.
Once ovulation is confirmed by either a
urine test kit, blood test or ultrasound the
doctor inserts a tube through the vagina
and cervix to place the prepared sperm
near a fallopian tube. For women with
unexplained infertility, the sperm sample
may be mixed with a larger volume of
fluid to help it travel to the fallopian tubes.
This technique is called a fallopian sperm
perfusion and takes a few minutes longer
than a regular IUI.
After the sperm has been placed, the
woman will rest for several minutes before
leaving the clinic. A pregnancy test can be
taken in two weeks.
Pregnancy Rates of IUI
The take-home baby rate of IUIs depend on
the woman‘s age, the duration of infertility,
the cause of infertility, the quality of sperm,
the type of fertility drugs used (if any), and
other factors.
Success rates are lower among women
older than 35, men with poor quality sperm,
women with low ovarian reserves, women
with tubal damage or pelvic scarring,
women with moderate endometriosis, and
couples with over 3 years of infertility.
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When is IUI Recommended
by Doctors?
IUI procedures are recommended in cases
where the man has decreased sperm
motility or a low sperm count. In normal
circumstances, a woman‘s cervical mucus
aids the sperm‘s advance toward the egg by
providing protection from the relative acidity
of the vagina. When the mucus becomes a
less than ideal environment for the sperm,
it is termed hostile cervical mucus, and can
actually impede. the sperm‘s journey. The
IUI procedure provides a way to circumvent
this potential fertility obstacle.
Couples with mild endometriosis or
unexplained fertility may also be advised
to use IUI as the first step in assisted
reproductive technologies.
And women who do not have a male
partner can use IUI and sperm donated
to a clinic. This procedure has a higher
chance of pregnancy than self-insemination
techniques done at home.
Generally several cycles (three to four
months) of IUI are recommended by doctors
to increase the opportunity for success. For
this reason women over the age of 40 are
often advised to bypass this option in favor
of the more aggressive IVF treatment, which
might produce faster pregnancy results.
Advantages and Risks
The first advantage to IUI is that it is
the most affordable form of assisted
reproductive technology, with a single
procedure costing an average of $500. This
amount covers the sperm preparation and
the insemination procedure. If you have
the right insurance plan, it may even cover
a few courses of IUI treatments. Another
advantage of IUI is that it is non-invasive,
painless, and completely straightforward.
If you are doing an unstimulated cycle, the
procedure will likely have very minimal side
effects.
However, there are risks to drug stimulated
cycles. There‘s always the possibility that the
woman may develop an adverse reaction to
the fertility drug used with the treatment.
Stimulated IUIs also have an increased risk
of multiple pregnancies. While the doctor
carefully monitors the ovulation cycle to
avoid follicle overstimulation, the chances
for a multiple birth are greater for women
undergoing drug-stimulated IUI cycles than
they are to natural birth cycles.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Assisted reproductive technology takes
many forms, depending on the specific
needs and situation of the couple involved.
The most common of these is In Vitro
Fertilization or IVF.
IVF involves fertilization of a woman‘s egg
cells by the sperm outside of the womb.
It’s not only one of the most popular
treatments for infertility, it’s also recognized
worldwide as the established medical
therapy for this condition.
Considering its popularity, you may be
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surprised to learn that less than five percent
of infertile couples use this procedure.
This is likely because most infertile couples
do not opt for assisted reproductive
technology. And this may be because it is
relatively expensive and IVF is one of the
more expensive ART treatments over just
using fertility drugs or IUI, for example.
The IVF Process
The first step in the process of IVF is the
administration of hormone injections in
a daily regime designed to stimulate your
ovaries into producing multiple oocytes
(eggs).
Patients require regular monitoring by a
doctor, as well as frequent blood tests
to track the effect and progress of the
hormones.
Once the eggs have are matured, a specific
drug is administered which will bring about
ovulation. Once this occurs, then a surgeon
inserts a needle through the vagina and
on into the ovaries in order to retrieve the
eggs as well as the fluid in which the eggs
are residing. This is called ― egg retrieval
and is usually performed under general
anaesthesia.
Testing then occurs to insure that the eggs
are indeed within the fluid.
At the same time the egg retrieval is
taking place, the male partner provides
the laboratory with a semen sample. He’s
requested to refrain from ejaculation for
several days prior to his giving this sample.
The sperm, then, are separated from the
semen itself.
At that point, the sperm are combined with
the eggs in a laboratory dish. This is the
part of the procedure from which we get
its name: in vitro fertilization. The “in vitro”
part of the name refers to a process (and
technically any process) which occurs in a
laboratory outside a living creature.
Surprisingly, it takes only 18 hours to know
if the sperm has fertilized the eggs and if
they have begun the process of growing
as embryos. If the sperm “have done
their job” then the eggs are incubated.
Laboratory staff then carefully monitors
the progress for the following two to three
days.
When the oocyte(s) has developed to the
size of 6 or 8 cells, the next step in the
process is the transfer. The doctor transfers
what are now referred to as embryos from
the laboratory dish into the woman’s uterus.
He or she does this by going through the
cervix using a catheter.
For the two weeks which follow, the female
partner will be given more hormones which
may include injections of progesterone.
If the implantation takes hold, the eggs
actually attach themselves to the uterine
wall and continue to grow, meaning that
she is pregnant. A pregnancy test will be
given to confirm that indeed everything is
on course.
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When IVF is Most Useful
IVF is often recommended when both
fallopian tubes are blocked. Using IVF
may help a woman avoid surgery on her
fallopian tubes. IVF, in fact, has reduced the
need for this surgery by nearly 50 percent.
It’s also used in the presence of
endometriosis, cervical factor infertility,
and various disorders which disrupt regular
ovulation. A doctor may also recommend
this procedure when the cause of fertility
can’t be established.
IVF is also used when male infertility is a
factor. In this case IVF would be combined
with ICSI, which will be discussed in the
next section.
and the number of eggs retrieved. The rates
of success also vary from clinic to clinic, but
in the best case scenarios are rarely better
than 35-40% for a live birth under the most
optimal circumstances.
However, there is a lot you can do to
improve your chances of success if you
decide to opt for IVF. Acupuncture alone
has been proven to promisingly increase
the success rate of IVF. And it’s my belief
that if you follow the suggestions in this
book, under the approval of your doctor, by
creating and following through with your
own, The baby Program, your chances of
giving birth to a healthy baby through IVF
will increase even more.
The Risk of Multiple Births
with IVF
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
(ICSI)
A disadvantage to IVF is the increased
risk of multiple births. And it only goes
to reason since there is usually more than
one fertilized egg being implanted into
the female partner. About 63 percent of
women using IVF give birth to single babies;
32 percent of births are twins and 5 percent
are triplets or more. Most well regarded
clinics do not transfer more than 3 embryos
these days so the chance of getting
pregnant with more than triplets through
IVF is slim.
How ICSI Works
IVF Success Rate s
The success rate of IVF depends on a
number of factors such as the age and
overall health of the female, egg quality,
Science has found a way around male
infertility due to poor sperm count or sperm
quality. A treatment called Intra-Cytoplasmic
Sperm Injection (ICSI) increases the chances
of success of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) by
injecting a single sperm inside an egg cell.
This method is also used in case the man‘s
sperm is unable to penetrate the egg‘s
membrane due to poor sperm motility, low
sperm count or sperm weakness.
The ICSI procedure begins after the
retrieval of the eggs and the acquisition
of sperm in an IVF procedure. Using
inverted microscopes and specialized
micromanipulation tools, a lab technician
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chooses individual sperm from a sample
with a hollow needle. The needle is very
carefully inserted through the egg‘s
membrane to assist the sperm in entering
the cytoplasm, or inner part, of the egg.
Approximately three days after fertilization,
the embryos are then transferred into the
uterus, just like a regular IVF.
In summary, when ICSI is combined with
IVF, the fertilization process is made to
happen, rather than allowed to happen on
its own, as with a regular IVF procedure
without ICSI. Thus, the chances of the egg
being fertilized by the sperm are greatly
increased when ICSI is used with IVF. Using
ICSI with IVF may bring the chances of
those cases where male factor infertility is
involved or of question up to at least an
equal plane of those who go through IVF
where male factor infertility is not a factor.
and then transferred inside the fallopian
tubes of the woman using a surgical
procedure called a laparoscopy.
Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer
(GIFT)
Because GIFT‘s success rate is now just
about equal to that of IVF and because
of the potential disadvantages of GIFT,
it is not as widely used as it used to be.
However, some couples are drawn to this
particular technique because it allows them
to deliver a baby closer to natural means
than through the procedure of IVF. These
people may choose GIFT for the sole reason
that they would prefer for the fertilization
of the egg to take place inside their bodies,
instead of in a lab.
GIFT resembles IVF very closely. But where
IVF fertilizes a woman’s egg outside of
her body, this technique allows the egg to
become fertilized in her fallopian tubes.
GIFT used to have a higher success rate
than IVF, but with recent improvements, IVF
is now the more popular treatment.
Much like IVF, the procedure of GIFT
involves stimulating the female oocytes
using various medications. Then when they
have matured they’re collected using a
process called aspiration. From here, three
or four of the eggs are combined with no
less than 200,000 sperm inside a catheter
As with any procedure, there are some
disadvantages to it. One of them is the
more invasive nature of the technique
compared to IVF as GIFT makes use of
a more serious surgical procedure. GIFT
also possesses a greater risk of multiple
births, which in turn can create pregnancy
complications -- some of which may be
serious. Another possible negative is that
GIFT does not allow knowledge of whether
or not the egg and sperm have fertilized
as we do with IVF. Also, those who elect to
go through a GIFT procedure must be sure
that their fallopian tubes are functioning
properly. Otherwise this procedure will not
work.
Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer
(ZIFT)
Zygote Intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) is one
of the least used assisted reproductive
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technologies in the United States for several
reasons. Unlike a regular in vitro fertilization
(IVF) procedure, ZIFT is an invasive treatment
that requires a surgical incision to complete
the transfer, which adds to the complexity
and risk of the procedure. It is also more
expensive than a regular IVF. However, ZIFT
also has its advantages, and the availability
of ZIFT practitioners and live births is
currently on the rise.
How ZIFT Works
The ZIFT procedure is similar to Gamete
Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT) in that it
makes use of the fallopian tube to incubate
fertilization, as well as laparoscopic surgery
to insert the sperm, egg, or zygote. The
difference is that GIFT transfers sperm and
an unfertilized egg into the fallopian tube,
whereas ZIFT transfers a zygote or fertilized
egg. A regular IVF procedure is non-invasive
(non-surgical) and transfers a fertilized egg
through the vagina instead.
A ZIFT procedure generally starts with
a woman taking fertility drugs that
trigger the production of multiple eggs.
Once these eggs have matured, they are
surgically retrieved then combined with
the partner‘s sperm in a laboratory. After
a day, the fertilized egg is ready to divide
and is referred to as a zygote. Through
laparoscopic surgery, one to four zygotes
are inserted into the fallopian tube. Over
the next several days, the woman is closely
monitored for successful implantation and
pregnancy.
Advantages of ZIFT
As with GIFT, ZIFT is preferred by couples
who want a more ―natural‖ conception
as this approach allows the egg to travel
through the fallopian tube in order to
reach the uterus for implantation. An
advantage of ZIFT is that the doctor
confirms fertilization of the egg before it
is inserted into the fallopian tube. GIFT,
on the other hand, will require some
waiting to see if fertilization occurs. It is
also easier to decrease the likelihood of
multiple pregnancies with ZIFT but as with
any assisted reproductive technology, the
chances are still fairly high. Because of
this, the American Society for Reproductive
Medicine recommends that women
younger than 35 have no more than two
zygotes transferred, women aged 35-37
have three or less, and women 38-40 have
no more than four.
Risks
The biggest risks of the ZIFT procedure
come from any complications of the
laparoscopy, such as puncture of internal
organs, pelvic infection or side effects from
the anaesthesia. The risks of an ectopic
pregnancy are also high. For this reason,
as with GIFT, women with abnormalities of
their fallopian tubes should not consider
ZIFT treatments.
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