Massage

Massage is another homeopathic way that can help with the infertility process. There are many things that factor into infertility, one main factor that we have talked about before is stress. Stress can really have a huge impact in several areas of life. One of the benefits of using massage for infertility treatments is that it does help relax and reduce stress.

This quote really helps clarify how massage can help:

“Fertility Massage assists in loosening entangled tissue and frees the reproductive organs. The massage is a combination of acupressure, abdominal massage techniques, and reflexology points that assists in stimulating your body's natural hormones and increases blood flow to the reproductive organs. Scientific studies have shown massage to be an effective technique in the treatment of infertility.”
(http://www.fertilityproregistry.com/content/massage.asp#ixzz1ZVdrLnGY)

If you would like to learn more about how massage can benefit and increase fertility this web site really goes into depth about the different types of massage used for infertility as well as its bennifits: http://www.fertilityproregistry.com/content/massage.asp.

Eternal Family Unions Bring the Greatest Happiness

In light of our anniversary, what is more fitting then a quote about marriage? I am so grateful for being blessed with such a compatible spouse. He compliments me perfectly and I am so very blessed to have him in my life. Marriage is such a blessing and it is through our marriage, we have grown to be the people we are today. Happy anniversary sweetheart and I look forward to many more years. I whole heartedly agree with this following quote from Elder Nelson:

Eternal Family Unions Bring the Greatest Happiness

"Brethren and sisters, material possessions and honors of the world do not endure. But your union as wife, husband, and family can. The only duration of family life that satisfies the loftiest longings of the human soul is forever. No sacrifice is too great to have the blessings of an eternal marriage. To qualify, one needs only to deny oneself of ungodliness and honor the ordinances of the temple. By making and keeping sacred temple covenants, we evidence our love for God, for our companion, and our real regard for our posterity—even those yet unborn. Our family is the focus of our greatest work and joy in this life."

Russell M. Nelson, "Set in Order Thy House," Ensign, Nov. 2001, 71

The difference between Holistic and Allopathic Medicine

This is something that can be very confusing at times but to break it down in leman terms here is a definition between the two.

Holistic medicine is a natural way of healing using herbs, energy and the body to heal. Chiropractors, Massage therapists, hypnosis, and acupuncturist would all fit into Holistic health providers.

Allopathic medicine is a more scientific approach to healing, using chemicals (drugs), surgery, and lab work to heal. OBGYN’s, Family practice doctors, endocrinologists, and surgeons would all fit into Allopathic health providers.

While both are very different, one is not exactly better than the other. I believe that there is a great advantage of using a combination of the two practices. By combining Holistic care along with allopathic care, patients can receive better success rates then they could have alone.

When looking at the different fertility options out there don’t hesitate to look at both types of treatment. Since we are all so individual, you never know what might work well for you.

Using Acupuncture for infertility

Acupuncture is something that has been used for thousands of years and is something that is still in practice and useful today.

What is Acupuncture? It is defined as, “Acupuncture is the insertion of ultra-thin, sterile needles into specific acupuncture points on the body which reside on channels or meridians; these are pathways in both the exterior and interior of the body. These points, when needled, can regulate the way in which the body functions.” (http://www.americanpregnancy.org/infertility/acupuncture.htm)

When should I use acupuncture?  There are varying reports as to when a woman should start using acupuncture but through all my research a common theme is that acupuncture is something that takes time. It is something that woman can’t do for just one month; it is something that should be used over several months.

What are the benefits of using acupuncture for infertility? When acupuncture is used in conjunction with modern medicine, it has been reported that those treatments are more successful than just the treatment alone.

CBS news wrote an article concerning this, stating, “Marshall cites a 2002 German study suggesting that acupuncture may, in fact, work. The study looked at 160 women undergoing IVF, half of whom received acupuncture along with IVF, and the other half who received IVF alone. They found pregnancy rates among the women undergoing acupuncture were significantly higher.” (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/07/23/earlyshow/saturday/main631441.shtml)

Acupuncture also helps relieve some of the very common issues with fertility. The American Pregnancy Association address what infertility conditions acupuncture can help with:

“Acupuncture can be used to treat any type of fertility disorder including spasmed tubes. (Spasmed tubes are often de-spasmed with acupuncture, though blocked tubes will not respond to acupuncture). Acupuncture is often combined with herbs to treat elevated follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), repeated pregnancy loss, unexplained (idiopathic) infertility, luteal phase defect, hyperprolactinemia (when not caused by a prolactinoma), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) with annovulatory cycles, and male factor including men affected with sperm-DNA-fragmentation.” (http://www.americanpregnancy.org/infertility/acupuncture.htm)

http://www.mycollegesandcareers.com/2010/06/acupuncture-helps-with-infertility/

Herbs and infertility

Is there another option to medicines and doctors? Yes there is. Modern medicine is just that Modern. Thousands of years ago they didn’t have In Vitro or clomid. They had herbs and other practices. Granted thousands of years ago they had fertility idols and prayed to the goddess of fertility. We have come a long way from that and understand why there are certain herbs that do promote fertility.

Here is a list of herbs that help promote fertility:

·         Red Clover: Red clover is one of the most popular fertility remedies. High in vitamins, calcium, and magnesium, red clover helps to nourish the uterus and relax the nervous system, enabling conception. It is taken as a tea, daily.

·         Raspberry Leaf: Raspberry leaf is high in calcium and therefore works to restore hormonal balance. It is excellent when taken alongside red clover.

·         Lady’s Mantle: This herb assists in building up the uterine lining and regulating menstruation. It is meant to be drunk as a tincture, once a day.

·         False Unicorn Root: False unicorn root not only restores hormonal balance in women, but it also helps to stimulate the ovaries and encourage ovulation.

·         Stinging Nettle: Stinging nettle contains high levels of chlorophyll and minerals, which helps to regulate the body’s hormones as well as ovulation and menstruation. It is taken as a tea once daily.

• (Courtesy of http://www.sharedjourney.com/nat/herbal.html)  

·         DONG QUAI: This herb is traditionally valued as a very effective fertility promoter. For best results, herbalists suggest using this herb in tincture form during the days between ovulation and menstruation only. Use this herb in only in combination with other fertility herbs.

·         FALSE UNICORN ROOT: This herb is a uterine tonic which also helps to alkalinize the ovaries, bladder and kidneys. 5-15 drops of the tincture per day is the standard dosage.

·         DAMIANA: This herb has been used traditionally for toning the nervous system, balancing hormones and increasing sex drive. It needs to be used consistently over several weeks. You can buy the bulk dried herb and make capsules.

·         (Courtesy of http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/fertilityherbs.html)

·         Vitex (ChasteBerry:)This is a well-known herb that has been used for centuries for hormonal imbalances in women.

·         Dandelion root: A great liver tonic! This helps cleanse your liver and remove the build up and toxins that accumulate. A lot of menstrual problems/infertility issues are made worse because the excess hormones tend to “back up” in your liver. Dandelion Root will help keep your liver working properly which will help it rid your body of all the excess “crud” you don’t need.

·         Milk Thistle: A key herb for the liver; one that is so important for the treatment of PCOS. Milk Thistle helps your liver cells against damage, and promotes healing of damaged cells. This improves the overall function of your liver .

·         White Peony Tea: This has been shown to positively influence low progesterone, as well as reduce elevated androgens (testosterone) and acts to regulate estrogen and prolactin levels.

·         SX Fraction (Maitake Mushroom Extract): Recent studies suggest that Sx Fraction helps to maintain a healthy blood sugar level and reduce insulin resistance.

• (Courtesy of http://pcosinfo.com/herbal-remedies-and-pcos/)

Holistic medicine and fertility

This week we will be talking about some alternative fertility treatments. Usually when people think about fertility, they think about going to the medical doctor. Well there are alternatives to the allopathic way of dealing with things. The holistic approach can consist of many different things and just like medical treatments not all are created equally and not all will work the same for every individual.

This week we will look at treatments such as massage, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and yoga. All of which have claims to helping people get pregnant.

The pros and the cons

Pros

1)      Great option for those with tubal and sperm mobility issues. Since IVF bypasses the tubes, this allows women who have tubal issues to be able create an environment where the sperm and eggs can actually meet up. Also since the sperm are placed in the same dish as the eggs, there is no need for them to fight against the hazards of the woman’s reproductive organs. For both situations it eliminates those harmful conditions and places them on very fertile grounds.

2)      Gives women an opportunity to be pregnant. Even 20 years ago, a woman who was faced with infertility had two options, adopt or go childless. IVF gives couples the chance to have their own biological children and to experience being pregnant.

 

Cons

1)      Cost. IVF is very expensive and can range anywhere from $5,000 to 15,000 plus. The range is so big because each couple may need something different and with each difference come diverse price tag.

2)      It’s an intensive process. Not only can it be physically draining but it also very emotionally taxing. By taking the hormones, this can result in several bruises at the injection site, the chance of over stimulation, and lots of mood swings.

3)      No guarantee. There is no guarantee that IVF will even result in a pregnancy or even a live birth. This table from http://fertilitysuccessrates.com/blog/national-average-fertility-success-rates.html Shows the ranges for success on a national level:

Percentage of fresh, non-donor cycles resulting in live birth in 2008:

Younger than 35	35-37	38-40	41-42
41%	31%	22%	5%

4)      There are health risks. Like any medical procedure, you will want to discuss all of the health risks that are associate with you situation with your doctor.

The biggest thing to remember with IVF is that this is a big decision and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Take time to talk it over as a couple and research as much as you can about your doctor, their success rates, and the procedure. Most of all make it a matter of prayer because this is not a decision that should be made alone.

Placement

Once the eggs have matured, this takes two to three days, the embryos are now ready to be transferred.

www.americanpregnancy.org/infertility/embryotransfer.html is a great article that talks about how the embryos are transferred. Here is what they have to say:

“The patient is usually requested to have a full bladder which makes the uterus easier to see with an abdominal sonogram. The sonogram serves as a guide for the physician who is performing the procedure. A predetermined number of embryos are loaded into a fine transfer catheter which is passed through the cervix. The sonogram guides the physician to the appropriate spot at the top of the uterus, and the embryos are deposited from the catheter into the uterus. Following the procedure, the patient will usually remain in a recovery room resting on her back for approximately two hours.”

Once the procedure is done the may be instructed to go home and rest. Some doctors will encourage the woman to stay in bed for the next few days to allow maximum chance of implantation but each doctor is different and has different requirements. After that the wait is on for pregnancy symptoms and to take that pregnancy test.

Joy and Opposition

While I was looking for a good quote tonight I came across this quote. I love it! It really does show that through our trials come great joy.

" 'Men are, that they might have joy' (2 Nephi 2:25) and 'for it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things' (2 Nephi 2:11) are not contradictory; they are complementary."

Donald L. Hallstrom, "Turn to the Lord," Ensign, May 2010, 79

The petri dish

Once the eggs have been retrieved, they are placed in a petri dish and then the man’s swimmers are added as well. They are then incubated together. This give the sperm a chance to fertilize the eggs and then for the eggs to split and start growing.

“The next day, called "Day 1" in the lab, the eggs will be examined under a microscope to determine whether fertilization has occurred. If it has, the embryos will be ready to transfer into the uterus within 2 to 4 days of "Day 1."  (http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/fertility/Details.aspx?channel_id=2048&section_id=1016&article_id=4452&article_type=2)  

http://www.myfertilitycenter.com/tidbits/embryo-stages.php 

Collecting the eggs or oocytes

Once the ovaries have been stimulated and the eggs are about to hatch it is time for the doctors to go in and retrieve them.   This is how it is done:

“Mature eggs will be collected by ultrasound guided needle aspiration. This technique is performed in the office with IV sedation. Follicles are located by ultrasound and then a needle is guided through the vaginal wall into the ovary to aspirate the eggs from the follicles.” (http://www.michiganivf.com/in-vitro-fertilization/four-steps)

I found this great picture that show everything that goes on during the retrieval.

http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/fertility/Details.aspx?channel_id=2048&section_id=1016&article_id=4452&article_type=2

Follicle Stimulating Hormones

The first step to IVF is to stimulate the ovaries so they will produce many follicles. This is done by using follicle Stimulating Hormones. FSH is defined a “hormone found in humans and other animals. It is synthesized and secreted by gonadotrophs of the anterior pituitary gland. FSH regulates the development, growth, pubertal maturation, and reproductive processes of the body. FSH and Luteinizing hormone (LH) act synergistically in reproduction.”

There are different types of drugs that are used to stimulate this hormone and this is something that your doctor will tell you what type will be best for your situation. If you would like to learn more about the different drugs you can check out this website: http://www.fertilitydr.com/fertility-drugs-fsh.html .

IVF

The scary but ever so known: In Vitro Fertilization. This week we will be covering all about IVF, how it works, what the benefits are and what to be aware of.

This is really becoming a very common procedure but it is not for everyone and to do a round of in vitro is a decision that cannot be taken lightly.

Con’s

1)      Success rates are similar to those of natural conception. IUI’s may bypass issues that may be preventing conception but the chances of achieving pregnancy are about that of any couple. According to lifescript.com, “In general, the success rate of intrauterine insemination ranges from five percent to seven percent, depending on factors such as age, overall health, and possible fertility problems in either person. Using fertility drugs before the procedure increases the success rate up to 20 percent, however.” (http://www.lifescript.com/Health/Conditions/Womens-health/Pregnancy/The_Pros_And_Cons_Of_Artificial_Insemination.aspx)

2)      It can be uncomfortable. During the procedure, the doctor or nurse may have a hard time finding the cervical opening. This can cause a bit of pain and may take more time as they try to find the opening.

3)      Timing. Ovulation doesn’t always occur at a time that will fit with our schedules. Balancing work and other responsibilities can be hard when you only have a 24 hour window of opportunity to make it into the doctors. This may result in having to wait another month or having to cancel plans.

Pros

Here are some of the benefits of doing insemination:

1)      Simplicity. It one of the infertility treatments that is not terribly complicated and has the least amount of instructions.

2)      Lower amounts of drugs. Usually clomid is the drug of choice for this treatment, which is not as intensive as the other infertility medicines,

3)      Cost. Because there are less steps involved and this is procedure that can be done with a nurse and not the doctor, the cost associated with it is a lot less.

4)      Good option for sperm issues. This give the man’s swimmers extra help because it alleviates all the dangerous vaginal cannel.

5)      Good option for cervical and mucus issues. Just like the sperm issue, insemination bypasses these problems.

What the world needs…

Is a bit more Christ like Love.

Our whole journey is about love and how we want to share that love with children of our own.

"Love is what inspired our Heavenly Father to create our spirits; it is what led our Savior to the Garden of Gethsemane to make Himself a ransom for our sins. Love is the grand motive of the plan of salvation; it is the source of happiness, the ever-renewing spring of healing, the precious fountain of hope. As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "You Are My Hands," Ensign, May 2010, 70, 75

The waiting period

One of the hardest things about insemination is the waiting period. Waiting and waiting and waiting. You would think that with all this technology they would invent a way so that we didn’t have to wait but I guess that would kind of defeat the whole processes. Inevitably waiting will always be a part of this game.

So such is life. As you wait try to do things that take your mind off the waiting period and onto things that are actually in your control. Easier said than done but it was worth a shot.

The steps

Once ovulation has been indicated, you will schedule a time in the next 24 hours to go into your fertility doctor’s office so to complete the procedure.  First off your wonderful hubby will need to give his swimmers to the doctor’s office so they can prep them for the procedure. They have to separate the sperm from the rest of the semen because if this is not done, it can cause massive cramping in the uterus. If you live close enough to the doctor’s office they may allow this to be collected at home but if not, it can be done right there in the office.

About two hours after the semen has been collected it is now the woman’s turn. Frankly I think the guys have the easy part. The woman the will then undress from the waist down, laydown on the exam table and then her feet will be placed in a set of stirrups.  This allows for easier access. This procedure may or may not be done by the actual doctor. In fertility clinic many of the nurses are trained on how to do an insemination.

The sperm will have been placed in a sterile syringe that will have a long tube attached to it. This tube will then be inserted into the uterus were the sperm will be injected. The woman will then be required to lie on her back for about 15 min to make sure that the sperm stays in. After the waiting period, she is free to leave and instructed to take a pregnancy test in 2 weeks.

Insemination

I have mentioned insemination before but today we are going to take a deeper look at it. The first step in the insemination process is to make sure that you are ovulating.

Most doctors will start off with proscribing 50 to 100 ml of Clomid, (whatever has induced ovulation before). Ovulation is usually verified through taking home ovulation kits or through a vaginal ultrasounds.  Once ovulation has been verified, the insemination processes begins.  

A shadow of our past and a building block of our future.

This is a blog about infertility and our journey to have a family. Ten years ago today, the world stopped. We held our breath. We prayed. We cried. We mourned. We all can remember exactly where we were on that day and what we did. We knew what had happened.  

At this moment in time, the nation united, in prayer and hope. We all shared a common ground because we were all affected by this day. Affected yes; in the same way no.

Today the nation remembers more than just the devastation that happened on that day, we celebrate life, love, diversity, and moment in time that has changed us all. How it has changed us is different but that change is what is shaping our great nation today.

God bless America!

My experience

I have taken clomid a total of 9 different months and for me each month resulted in the same result. For the first 6 months I took it, we didn’t know that I had underlying conditions that would make it hard for me to get pregnant. I think the worst thing about being on clomid was the heat flashes and how sore my breasts would get after ovulating.

Some of the benefits for me though is it did help me to ovulate and when I was on it, my cycle was regulated.

Now my husband might have a different story about how I handled the mood swings and our doctor told Robert that he would need a football helmet to deal with my mood swings. I think the biggest thing is to just have open communication and patience with each other, as you figure out how it will affect you.

Dosage

Usually if you have never take clomid before, your doctor will probably prescribe a 50 mg dosage, to start off with. This is normally done for about 3 months. If ovulation is not achieved the doctor may then prescribe a 100 mg gram dosage.

Most of the time a doctor won't go hirer than 150 mg because it requires very close monitoring and also if it pregnancy is not achieved with in 3-6 months, your fertility doctor should have you trying other treatments.

The biggest thing is to listen to your body and keep your doctor informed about how this drug affects you and if you do achieve ovulation. If after a few months of ovulation and there is no pregnancy there may be underlying issues or other treatment options should be pursued.

Don’t forget to pray

One of the things that Robert and I have done several times is pray before we start a new drug or new treatment. We would pray to know that what we were doing was right and that the procedure/medicine would work properly.

Prayer is a very powerful tool and can keep us in balance with the will of the lord. He is in charge and by praying it allows him to open the windows of knowledge and peace to our minds.

So the message for today is, don’t forget to pray! 

The Con's

1)      The side effects. This includes but is not limited to: mood swings, weight gain, heat flashes, irritability, bloating, extremely soar breasts, breast growth, heavier menstrual flow and ovulating pains.

2)      The chance of having multiples. While some of us may not think this is a bad things, once there is more than one baby involved, the pregnancy becomes a high risk pregnancy.

3)      Increase chance of cancer. By taking clomid, it does elevate a woman’s chance of contracting ovarian cancer years after taking the drug.

4)      Overstimulation of the ovaries. This happens when the ovaries have been stimulated to much causing multiple cysts to form an the ovary. These may explode or cause other potential life threatening situations.

5)      It doesn’t work for everyone. Yes is may work for may but there may be underlying factors that may prevent a viable pregnancy from happening.

The Pro's

Some of the benefits of taking clomid are:

1)     The cost. Compared to the cost of other fertility drugs, it is probably the least expensive fertility drug out there. 

2)     It’s effective. According to www.babyhopes.com, “Somewhere between 40 and 80 percent of women who take Clomid will have success in creating ovulation. This, of course, does not guarantee they will have a successful conception, however. Of those patients who successfully ovulate as a result of taking Clomid, somewhere around half of those will have a successful conception within six months.”

3)     Lower risks. Clomid has a very low result in twins and an even lower chance of triplets. Also since it is an oral medication, there isn’t a risk of muscle damage from injections. There are always risks that are associated with taking any kind of fertility medicine, but since the dosage is lower, those risks are lower as well.

4)     Don’t have to take it every day.  This drug is usually taken with in the first 10 day of the women’s cycle and is only taken for 5 days.

5)     Less monitoring. With this drug your doctor will monitor you every month to make sure that cysts are not developing but you do not need to monitored during the month or the months after you have taken clomid. 

The first attack

One of the every first thing that a doctor may put a woman on is clomid. Quite a few infertility problems come because the woman may not be ovulating correctly. Doctors have found that clomiphene or more comonly know as clomid can help women ovulate. "Clomiphene is used to induce ovulation (egg production) in women who do not produce ova (eggs) but wish to become pregnant (infertility)." (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000752/).

Like I said, clomid is usually a doctors first response to infertility and many of you may have already experienced the joys of clomid but for those of you who haven't, tomorrow I'm going to go into more detail about the this drug.

Infertiltiy options

When it comes to infertility, there are many different treatment options. This month I would like to talk about these different options and way out the pros and the cons. Just because there are many options out there doesn't that every option is going to be a good fit for you and your family.

You have to know your body and understand what is best for it. This can be a daunting thing but in the long run the more you know the better off you are.

How will you draw your stairs?

Often, what seems an impossible climb is just a staircase without the steps drawn in. 

~Robert Brault

Become a possibilitarian.

Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see the possibilities - always see them, for they're always there.

~Norman Vincent Peale, The Tough-Minded Optimist

Feasting on his words

“May we feast continuously on the words of Christ that will tell us all things we should do.”

 Elder D. Todd Christofferson