Possible Signs of Infertility

There are various reasons why men and women alike have a difficulty to conceive or bear an offspring. Some women have absolutely no idea that they already have the problem until such time that they are already ready to procreate. There various types of infertility with a wide range of clinical manifestations that affect both men and women.

Women are advised to visit their physicians as soon as the idea or the decision is being made about wanting to bear a child. A couple may have already given it a “go” for quite some time but have observed that nothing seems to work even though they have been “trying”. “Trying” may mean that the couple has already copulated for more or less two years but not below one year, without any protection, and have done the act on an average of thrice a week. For the fertility problem to be properly diagnosed, the couple must first visit their OBGYN or their primary care physician. Once the OBGYN has made his or her final diagnosis, the couple may then be referred to a specialist. Women should be very careful especially with their monthly flow because one of the earlier and most common signs of infertility in women is an irregular menstrual cycle. Some women are only “visited” once every three or five months or every other month which is normally not the case. Women should also know that having an irregular menstrual flow is just ONE of the many signs of infertility that appear with infertility. Women who also have weight issues specifically those who are overweight and those that are underweight are at risk too. Women who are too thin do not have the essential nutrients necessary to promote the growth of the fetus and women who are too fat oftentimes experience hormonal problems which consequently affect their reproductive functioning. One other factor and cause that can lead to infertility is substance and alcohol abuse. Illegal use of substances disrupts the normal functioning of the body thus leading to infertility.

Men are also affected by infertility and the signs and symptoms are apparent similarly to that seen in women such as the “weight issues”. The anatomic location of a man’s genital areas such as an undescended testicle is one factor. Among the outside causes are wearing very tight and constricting underpants or jeans and the too much exposure to heat on their scrotal area.

Women should also take the extra measures in ensuring that copulation is done during the days when she is ovulating. To do this, the woman can keep track of her basal body temperature or use an ovulating kit to ensure that they are doing the coupling at the right time of the month.

Relationship Between PCOS and Infertility

One of the most common causes of infertility in women is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS and infertility go hand in hand especially when there is an excess of insulin production as a bodily response in women in the increased male hormones or androgen levels. Women who have PCOS are resistant to insulin thus leading to diabetes.

At the stage of a regular and normal menstrual cycle, the development of several follicles can be observed inside the ovaries wherein every follicle is the possessor of an egg. A follicle remains during the course of the menstrual cycle which will produce the egg that participates during ovulation. LH hormones spike up making the egg burst from the follicle once the egg has reached its maturation. Ovulation is not achieved with women who have PCOS because there is normally not enough female hormones necessary for it to happen thus unable to grow into mature eggs. A number of the follicles develop into cysts instead. PCOS may appear as a “string of pearls” inside an ovary during an ultrasound because these are already the undeveloped follicles. There will also be several small cysts surrounding the outside portion of the ovaries. The uterus lining also thickens because progesterone which is normally produced during ovulation is missing.

The followings are the signs and symptoms of PCOS and infertility:

Amenorrhea or the absence of menstrual flow. PCOS worsens in time. There are roughly 5 to 10 percent of women who are of childbearing age suffering from PCOS. A staggering 25% of women are unaware that they have PCOS and thus have not been diagnosed. Although there are several women who are still able to conceive even when they have irregular cycles.

Other symptoms that women should also watch out for are increased hair growth on the back, chest area or face; alopecia or thinning of hair, overweight or obesity, increased insulin levels or Type Two Diabetes, acne and/or pelvic pain.

Because women with PCOS do not ovulate, they have very slim chances of getting pregnant. Women do have the option to get corrected from this problem and one of the easiest ways to start with is to shed off the extra pounds. Women who have Type Two Diabetes and even those who only have insulin abnormalities can take Metformin which is a drug that improves the insulin absorption of the body. Because this drug does not lower the blood sugar, it is safe to use. Clomid is also included in the treatment plans for PCOS and infertility because it blocks the estrogen receptors in the brain thus triggering the body’s production of more FSH and LH, the hormones responsible for signaling the body to ovulate. Some women also opt for In Vitro Maturation (IVM) or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

Useful Infertility Statistics

Couples who think that they are the only ones having infertility problems are mistaken. You are not alone in your struggle on having no children. There are others who are going through the same disappointments as you.

Approximately 7.3 million women as early as 15 and as old as 44 have the inability to produce an offspring. These women continue on with their lives unknowingly until such time they decide to build a family of their own while others have gotten themselves pregnant only to be struck by a polycystic ovarian syndrome. Still others have undergone fertility treatments in the hopes that they can undo the obstacles. Infertility statistics tells the public in general that in the year 2002, there were 11.9% or 7.3 million women who have tried an infertility intervention, 6.1 % have sought professional advice, 5.5 % have tried to prevent a miscarriage by seeking medical help, 4.8 % have gone through a fertility test, 3.8 % have taken in ovulation drugs, and 1.1 % have been the recipients of artificial insemination. 11.8 % of women have impaired fecundity problems which mean that they too have a difficulty in carrying a child to full term aside from the fact that they have a problem of getting themselves pregnant.

With age, eggs are being lost, this alone women should be aware of. Infertility statistics show that 15.3 % of women between the age of 35 and 39 years old have received any infertility service. 17.3 % of childless women became the recipients of infertility services between 30 and 34 years old, and 2.9 % of women between 15 and 29. Married women who have not yet conceived are between the ages of 15 and 44. By the age of 40 and 44, 27.4 % of women are already infertile, 22.6 % at the age of 35 and 39, 16% by the age of 30 and 34 and 11 % by the ages of 15 and 29. Although these figures detect difficulty in impregnation, women must still not lose hope. 38% of women at the age of 31 have had children through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), 22% by the age of 39. However, as the woman reaches 43 years of age, there are only 10% of women who are lucky enough to get pregnant. Desperate measures have allowed women to use egg donors. IVF success was less than 10% for mothers who used their own eggs at the age of 40. Women on the other hand who used egg donors who were less young had a success rate of 45%.

Infertility Insurance Options

There are still a couple of options left for couples who have been devastated by the sad news of infertility. The only obstacle for them in achieving it is their financial capacity.

Many infertility treatments are now available in the market only that they are too expensive that most unfortunate couples are unable to afford among these is In Vitro Fertilization which is quite an effective method. One treatment alone costs thousands of dollars and it usually takes more than one treatment for it to be successful. Fertility medications on the other hand are a staggering $1, 000 on a monthly basis and $4, 000 for assisted reproductive technology procedures. These figures are too difficult to reach for couples without any financial aid. Couples are fortunate enough to be receiving supplemental infertility insurance that covers the treatments that they need without going bankrupt. These types of insurance are usually easy on the budget and can be taken from a couple’s existing insurance company although there are different restrictions on every policy the reason why couples should still need to look into their benefits before actually deciding on one. A monthly premium will offer you a plan that covers different fertility treatments which are usually diagnostic fertility tests, artificial insemination, as well as other kinds of assisted reproductive technology procedures such as laparoscopic surgery. Infertility insurance usually offers the cheapest fertility treatments available that will most likely work for the couple as well as fertility treatments for a specific number of cycles between three and five. However, the utilization of donor eggs and sperm are not normally included in the infertility insurance.

Infertility insurance is available in three different types:

Standard health insurance which compels you to pay their monthly premium as a substitute for specific fertility coverage.
Refund programs which compel you to immediately pay your fertility treatments. If after the treatment the couple is still unable to conceive, the program pays them back 70 to 100% of the amount spent.
Financing which can be availed of by getting a loan to cover for the infertility procedures done. If the couple is still unable to conceive after the procedure, they are no longer in debt for the loans.

Sad to say, not all couples are able to avail of the infertility insurance. Before a couple can be approved by the company, they must first pass the specific qualifications being set before the final decision can be made. A couple who has an existing insurance policy is at an advantage because this is usually one of their qualifications. Couples must also be below 40 years old. The infertility problem should also exist for 1 to 5 years already.

Infertility Information To Consider

It is all but natural for people to want to have children. However, there are some incidents that bring about unfortunate circumstances in which a couple is denied the opportunity to have this. This is otherwise known as infertility. Infertility is the inability to biologically conceive after a year of regular sexual intercourse, or the inability to carry a full term pregnancy.

Infertility information is provided almost everywhere – magazines, internet, and many others – it is recommended that people should be aware of such so as to provide early intervention if any is necessary. It may include areas of interests such as the causes and treatments available for it.

Infertility is a condition that affects both genders; however, majority – more than half of the cases – usually lie with the female. The remaining percentage of the cases is due to sperm disorders, or perhaps unexplained causes. Since it is essential for a woman to be able to menstruate properly in order to become pregnant, ovulation problems prove to be the common cause of infertility. Aside from such condition, tubal blockage, uterine problems, and previous tubal ligation can also cause infertility in women.

Other serious conditions such as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is a hormonal disorder, are also major causes of infertility. Perhaps, you may even come across information that would tell you how certain sexually transmitted diseases such as Chlamydia or gonorrhoea can cause serious pelvic inflammation (PID) when untreated, and can cause infertility in women. This is due to the scarring which can block fallopian tubes when bacteria proliferate through the uterus, into the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and into the surrounding tissues.

Luckily, there are remedies for such. PCOS is treatable through medications such as Metformin, a drug that reduces symptoms of PCOS, helping the body to absorb insulin, thus correcting hormone levels. Also, PID can be corrected by IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation). Yet, there are other factors that may be causing infertility. Here is some infertility information on the basic factors that might be causing it. A woman’s age is a major factor since as a female age, the less ability she has to conceive naturally. Also, lifestyle factors such as smoking, too much alcohol consumption, illegal drugs consumption, being overweight, or even too much exercise or stress are all contributing factors to infertility.

So if you are trying to have a baby, go through infertility information – you may need it, you may not. There’s no harm in knowing more about it, right?

Acupuncture Treatments and Infertility

In such a complex world, rarely can one find something that monopolizes a certain service or product. Everything in this world has been designed to have variation, offering people choices. In the world of health, there are many methods available in treating one’s self. Your choices may range from medical, to herbal, to Eastern medicine. Medical treatment is what is commonly used today. It involves doctors, hospitals, and drugs. On the other hand, Eastern medicine alternatives such as acupuncture have also proven to be effective.

A treatment concerning acupuncture and infertility has been seen to be effective. Acupuncture is a technique that involves inserting and manipulating fine needles into particular body points to relieve pain, stress, and even aid in a number of medical conditions. This procedure stimulates the central nervous system, thus regulating the blood pressure, as well as releases endorphins. Endorphins impede pain which causes the body to have a feeling of wellness, and also releases neurotransmitters and neurohormones which aids the body in healing itself.

When talking about acupuncture and infertility, it is possible to treat such condition with this procedure. Infertility and hormonal imbalances can be effectively regulated through the increased blood flow to the vital organs. Acupuncture can be used to treat elevated follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), repeated pregnancy loss, unexplained (idiopathic) infertility, luteal phase defect, hyperprolactinemia, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) with irregular cycles, and also men affected with sperm-DNA-fragmentation. Aside from treating such conditions, acupuncture is also benefited by less serious ailments and conditions such as relieving stress. It is very effective in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression – which are also the causes that result in the crashing down of one’s immune system, causing more ailments and conditions to develop.

With these in mind, it just makes sense that a couple, with the woman in particular, who is undergoing fertility treatments would benefit from the stress relieving effects of acupuncture. Pre and post embryo transfer acupuncture is recommended to ensure success. However, as with any other procedure, there is none that is risk free; each procedure, medical or therapeutic, has their risks. The biggest risk that acupuncture may have with such is that a miscarriage may develop if incorrect points are hit.

In addition, it is not only acupuncture and infertility that works well together; it can also work well with pregnant women in labor. Specifically, this procedure is known as electro-acupuncture which is a good alternative to the usual medical painkillers. Plus, it can result to shorter hospitalization time, thus saving you more money on hospital bills.

However, it is important to remember that although acupuncture may have a lot of benefits, there are quite a number of treatments that work better and more efficiently with traditional medical interventions.