As more and more women are putting off starting their family until after their career has been established more and more women are also finding they are experiencing difficulty with fertility.  There are several natural methods of fertility treatment in order to improve your chances of conceiving.  Here are a few things that you can do in order to achieve pregnancy.

One of the most important factors in your fertility is smoking.  Most people are aware of the fact that smoking and pregnancy don’t mix and that smoking will impact fertility as well.  Smoking, nicotine and the chemicals involved will dramatically reduce both male and female fertility and conception rates.  In one study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility sperm counts were 17% lower individuals who smoked than those who didn’t.  Unfortunately, it may not be just a matter of quitting smoking as it is not only from smoking your own cigarettes.  In a study published in Human Reproduction researchers found that second hand smoke also reduces pregnancy rates.  The good news is that by reducing your exposure you’ll actually get pregnant faster and easier.

Researchers have also identified another link between stress and fertility.  Although the link is less clear physicians are convinced that it does exist.  There is no direct data showing an obvious link but more and more smaller studies will indicate stress relief will have an effect on fertility.  There are numerous case studies of women who have given up the stress of attempting to conceive and gone on to adopt a child only to become pregnant during the adoption proceedings, or within six months after the adoption was completed.

Nutrition is another factor in fertility that affects rates of conception.  In a study published a group of Harvard researchers found that 79% of the infertile couples in the study had a lower than average intake of foods which were high in anti-oxidants.  In another study published in the New York Academy of Medicine researchers found that one week after a daily dose of vitamin C sperm counts rose by almost 140%.

Women who suffers from polycystic ovary disease will also find that losing a little as 5% of body weight he can encourage accurate ovulation and therefore pregnancy.  Many women who suffer from polycystic ovary disease are obese or overweight and researchers know that by cutting down on calories and engaging in weight loss they can improve their fertility.

Foods that should be avoided if you’re having trouble becoming pregnant are alcohol, caffeine and xenoestrogens.  Alcohol can reduce fertility by as much as 50% and decrease sperm counts.  Caffeine, found in coffee, tea and in chocolate, will reduce both male and female fertility levels.  Xenoestrogens found in chemicals and pesticides can disturb the balance of hormones and are often the cause of fertility issues.

Another factor that contributes to fertility is sleep.  Experts believe that the hormone leptin which is required for appetite and weight regulation, also plays an important role in fertility.  When a woman does not get enough sleep these levels will decrease and cause irregular ovulation.  Chronic sleep deprivation will make the entire system irregular.

Men have specific fertility issues also.  Some things they can do to increase their chance of contributing enough energetic sperm are to take a multivitamin, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, reduce their stress, get regular exercise and watch their weight.  Some of the same factors which contribute to infertility in women will also contribute to a lower sperm count or a poor health of sperm in men.

Whatever the causes of infertility it can only help to take better care of overall health; nutrition, sleep, stress and decrease exposure to toxins such as alcohol and smoking to improve the rate of fertility and the success of conception.

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Cellulite is the term used to describe pockets of fact under the skin data fax in 90% of post-adolescent women. These dimples caused by fat deposits just below the surface of the skin generally appear on the stomach and thighs and often after puberty. Some women describe it as orange peels syndrome or cottage cheese skin.

While 90% of women will be affected most men never say it. It is classified using three grades. Grade 1 sees no clinical symptoms but there is a microscopic underlying anatomical change to the fat cells. Grade 2 cellulite requires the skin to show some pallor and have decreased elasticity in addition to the microscopic examination. Women who experienced grade 3 cellulite have visible roughness of the skin, similar to an orange peel, along with all the other signs in Grade 2.

Researchers believe that cellulite is more common in women because they are more likely to have particular types of fat and connective tissue which increases the risk of the developments of this condition. Although the causes are not well understood doctors believe that the main ones are hormonal factors, genetics, diet, lifestyle factors (more prevalent in smokers and those who do not exercise) as well as clothing.

Wearing underwear with tight elastic across the box may contribute to the formation of cellulite because it limits the blood flow to that area. People who eat too much fat, carbohydrates or salt may also have a greater amount of cellulite and researchers believe that oestrogen, insulin, thyroid hormones and prolactin are all part of the production of cellulite in the female body.

Interestingly, cellulite is not a condition that is a result of being obese or overweight. Contrary it is a condition that happens as frequently to those who are overweight as those who are thin. Cellulite does tend to develop during times of hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause and premenstrual syndrome.

Despite regular exercise and a well-balanced diet it is still possible for cellulite to form. However, an unhealthy lifestyle will worsen the appearance of cellulite and poor exercise and diet can also result in poor circulation and water retention which will further the effect of cellulite. The loss of skin thickness as an individual ages increases the appearance of cellulite even though the amount of cellulite does not increase.

While some hold out hope that liposuction will remove the cellulite, a surgical procedure is not often successful to remove this condition. It is best to seek the advice of a medical professional before deciding that this procedure is the way to remove the fat cells.

The lymphatic system is another factor in the creation of cellulite. When the flow of limbs is slowed down circulation tends to be poor and relies almost on gravity to move it back up. This stagnation encourages the formation of cellulite and will also result in fatigue and creates a condition which is conducive to disease and cell degeneration. Efficient lymphatic drainage should be a main concern of both men and women, not only to help eliminate cellulite but to improve health and vitality as well.

Cellulite is not a "fat" problem so it does not respond to diets or weight-loss programs. It is a progressive condition and the earlier treatment is started the better the chance the individual has of stopping it. While oestrogen does contribute to cellulite some women are more prone to the condition because of genetic factors rather than hormonal balance. No matter what the reason, in order to halt the progression and improve the overall appearance women should address their lifestyle choices, exercise and diet to improve their chances of staying swimsuit ready all year long.

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As you may have read in our previous posts, there are many factors which can affect your chances of getting pregnant – especially for couples in their mid-thirties and over. While there are lots of ways you can go about increasing your reproductive health, there are also natural remedies available to supplement your efforts. Natural remedies such as Native Remedies Fertile XX have been used for thousands of years to support the reproductive health of both men and women. Such remedies are specifically designed to provide all of the nutrients you require to optimise conception conditions.

In the case of men natural remedies can help your body to produce mature, healthy and mobile sperm. This is particularly important as men get older, at which point testosterone and sperm count levels decrease. A natural fertility remedy can support your reproductive health, promoting efficient functioning of organs such as the prostate, seminal vesciles, testes and penis. They can also ensure healthy testosterone levels and help with libido should it be required.

For women natural remedies provide a support network to encourage a nurturing environment for both conception and carrying. A well constructed remedy can help to promote regular and healthy cycles, whilst also helping to control hormone levels and strengthening sexual organs. From conception to nursing having the right body chemistry can help you and your child to enjoy optimum health and happiness. Best of luck.

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As touched upon in our previous post, fertility issues are becoming more and more common in modern society as women delay having a family. These fertility issues affect men as well as women and as such there are a few things you can all do to help your chances of having a child – no matter what your age!

A major influence on fertility is smoking. It is pretty much common knowledge that smoking is not advised while pregnant. Not so common may be the knowledge that smoking actually affects fertility – and therefor your chances of getting pregnant in the first place. Unfortunately this does not just hold true for first-hand smoke – passive smoking can also have an affect meaning that to maximise your chances you will need to reduce your exposure to any smoke.

Another influence on your fertile potency is stress, which although difficult to measure does have an effect. A classic example which demonstrates this is that of a couple who having given up on conceiving naturally have turned to adoption – only to then succeed once they have adopted a child. It is believed that a large contributory factor to this trend is the reduced stress on any couple who have stopped trying.

If you’re thinking about starting a family then you should also consider your lifestyle. As already mentioned smoking is a big ‘no-no’ but it goes further than that. Nutrition is also a key component, with one harvard  study showing that 79% of infertile couples had a lower than average intake of anti-oxidant foods. Male fertility can be greatly affected by vitamin intake, expecially C and E. Both partners should also have a watchful eye on their intake of alcohol and caffeine. What is clear is that for both men and women, a healthy lifestyle will increase your chances of healthy conception and child birth.

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In modern society it is becoming more and more common for women to delay having a family until later in life. Whether it be because of career development, or simply the fact there is less pressure now to get married and have a family early, the modern woman is more frequently attempting to have their first child on or beyond the age of 35. With this trend comes increasing fertility challenges – apparent in all stages right from conception all the way through to child birth.

In terms of conception the challenges arise due to changes in ovulation and the quality of the eggs. The lining of the uterus can’t always support a pregnancy and allow implantation of a fertilised egg. Should you be successful in conception then the risks extend further as you will have to consider a higher risk of mis-carriage, diabetes and hypertension throughout the pregnancy. On top of this there is also increased risk to your baby, with premature and still born risk factors also being higher.

Having said all this it’s not all doom and gloom – far from it in fact. As science and technology improve the risk factors and our ability to negate them are always improving. You can also help yourself by making positive health and lifestyle changes. Weight control, exercise and quitting smoking, alcohol and caffeine are all good examples of changes you can make to help you body be more receptive to child birth and increase your chances of having a healthy baby.

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For migraine suffering women around the globe a silver lining has been revealed in the form of a breast cancer study in Seattle. It seems that women who suffer regularly from migraine headaches have a much lower risk to breast cancer.

The study of 3,412 women carried out by the researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, suggests that the risk is lowered by as much as 30%. Though they do also warn that further investigation is still required into the results.

The connection it seems is to the fluctuation of hormone levels, conditions stimulated by events such as being pregnant or using the pill.

"This gives us a new avenue to explore the biology behind risk reduction" reported Dr Christopher Li.

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Although a link between breast cancer and alcohol consumption has been established for a number of years, it is reported that most women do not realise it. In an article by Rebecca Smith in the Telegraph she reports that 8 out of 10 women don’t know that alcohol is a cause of breast cancer, while just one large glass of wine a day increases your risk by a fifth.

Dr Sarah Cant, Policy Manager at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: "Drinking moderate or high levels of any type of alcoholic drink has many health consequences, including an increased chance of developing breast cancer.

"Although many factors might affect our risk of getting breast cancer, limiting how much we drink is one thing we can do to try to reduce that risk – it’s never too late to change your drinking habits."

If you like a tipple though it’s not all bad news. Students in the US are working on a beer that will actually protect you against cancer. Now there’s an education system that seems to be flourishing.

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A recent new poll has found that 45% of women have received conflicting advice about pregnancy leaving mass confusion as to what they should and shouldn’t be eating and drinking. Issues such as the amount of alcohol they were allowed, what kind of foods they could eat, and any potential body changes were found to be confusing issues in the poll of 1,303 mothers. In response to this we decided to do a little digging ourselves and this is what we found:

What You Can Eat?

It’s important to maintain a well balanced and healthy diet which should include a nice variety of foods including:

• - fruit and veg with at least your five portions a day.
• - starchy food such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Try to use wholegrain where possible for extra fibre
• - protein from lean meats, chicken and fish – eat oily fish at least once per week.
• - eggs (hard boiled), beans and lentils
• - dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yoghurt

It’s important to try and cut down on cakes and biscuits and any unhealthy snacks to avoid excessive weight gain.

What to Avoid?

To avoid making you or your baby ill during pregnancy try to avoid:

• - certain types of moldy cheeses such as soft blues, camembert or brie
• - avoid all pate including vegetable ones
• - raw or rarely cooked meat
• - liver products and others containing high vitamin A
• - some types of fish such as shark, swordfish and marlin. Also avoid any raw shellfish
• - too much caffeine. avoid it all-together if you can
• - for high risk babies (i.e. with lots of hereditary allergies) you may want to avoid peanuts in case your baby is allergic. The counter to this is that if you avoid peanuts this could result in your baby developing a peanut allergy.

What About Alcohol?

Generally it’s recommended that if you are pregnant you don’t drink any alcohol.  If you have to have a drink though make sure you don’t have more than 1 or 2 units, once or twice each week. NEVER get drunk.

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According to a study by Dutch researchers too much coffee can reduce the chances of a woman with fertility problems getting pregnant. The study followed the progress of 9,000 women who had received IVF to see if they fell pregnant naturally. Although around 1 in 7 did, the results of the study showed that drinking 4 cups of coffee or more per day could reduce the chances of conceiving by a whopping 26%.

Some experts though were quick to stress that although these findings were interesting, the results of the tests should be still treat with caution. The whole thing was best summed up by Fertility expert Professor Bill Ledger from the University of Sheffield:

“A lot of women can have 20 cups of coffee a day and get pregnant while falling off a log, but if you’re already subfertile it could push you over the edge.

“It is only a problem if you are subfertile and you overdose.”

Although the studies may be inconclusive would we be overstating the obvious by suggesting that if you are having fertility problems then best to stay off the coffee anyway – just in case!

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Research has found that the chances of women carrying a gene that can lead to breast cancer has risen dramatically over the last 60 years. The  research, carried out by the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Centre in Manchester, warns that the current figures of 1 in 10 women developing breast cancer by the age of 80 could rise to 1 in 7 by 2024. Changes in women’s health has been attributed to lifestyle choices with experts encouraging women to have families earlier and avoid long term use of female hormones in HRT and contraceptives.  Regular exercise and a healthy diet could also make a difference.

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