Are you Infertile? How to check

Despite widespread information about sex education and increased public awareness, couples find it difficult to get to know about fertile problems. Newly-wed married couples feel signs of infertility related problems after six months to one year, however the scarcity of not knowing about it further adds to their troubles. The recent studies revealed that more than seven million couples are troubled with infertility due to various reasons. To realize the dream of having a baby, you need to check it out if you are a case of infertile.

Hormonal Imbalance/Irregular menstrual cycle 

Hormonal imbalance in both men and woman are the first signs of problems related with infertility. If you find an abnormality on menstruation cycle like irregular periods, very heavy bleeding might result infertility. Never wait, do visit a gynecologist immediately. On the other hand, in case of men, the most common hormonal imbalance are erectile dysfunction, abnormal hair growth and low libido. Low sperm count or sperm production in most cases are not strong enough to make the fertilization possible. Some studies states that multiple sexual relations also do not result conception. It is not always women to blame for infertility issues as 35 to 40 % of cases with infertility are found in both men and women, the only way to act on symptoms is to deal with the problem at medical centres.

Psychological/Physical Problems 

If you are facing depression in your daily routine work there is an every chance you may not be able to conceive. Start living a stress-free life as according to a Harvard study, 55 percent of women who participated in mind and body programs got pregnant, compared to 20 percent who didn’t practice. Weight issues, poor nutrition-being under weight or over weight and immune problems are the other factors that can decrease in chances of conception.

Struggling with Infertility-Know the Cure

The first and foremost thing is that the patients should first address any underlying medical condition that may be contributing to fertility problems. Treatment can be addressed in multiple ways such as fertility drugs and surgery (may be used to repair blockage in fallopian tubes).

Different approaches of Fertility Treatment-

• That several approaches that are used to treat infertility given as:
  To measure lifestyle issues that may include unhealthy lifestyle, managing depression and anxiety, problems in sexual activity, ovulation disorders etc.
• To induce fertility drugs such as clomiphene and gonadotrophins
• To undergo through Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

Choosing a Fertility Clinic
It has now become an established fact from the studies that if a couple is unable to conceive after 1-2 years of regular unprotected sex, they may be having problems related with fertility. Some studies even recommend the couple should immediately consult a fertility specialist. The biggest concern is for the women who are 35 or older, and if they do not become pregnant within six months to one year, they may start exploring other option to start a family.

Choosing a good fertility clinic is extremely important as far as your reproductive health is concerned. Fertility clinics can help by assessing your medical and sexual history, identify potential causes of infertility, and recommend treatment. Before going to address issues, you should make sure the clinics offering assisted reproductive techniques are regulated by the government or not, the archival history about the past treatments, the success records of IVF, Surrogacy and other treatments.

For seeking this information, we have made your job easy; however, it would be wise to do a little research by yourself where to go. The clinic should always provide the following information:

• The live birth rate for other couples with similar infertility problems.
• Background information about the doctors particularly their experience in assisted reproductive technologies
• Lookout for a fertility clinic that offers the wide range of services such as embryo freezing, a large database of egg donors etc.
• Choose a clinic where doctors are working full time. Part time doctors are burdened with busy schedules and preoccupied with their other full time job.

7 foods to boost fertility in men and women

What you eat goes a long way in defining your health, mental agility and fertility. Did you know foods rich in Vitamin C and magnesium boosts testosterone in men and decreases the chances of miscarriage in women? Yes, foods can boost your fertility and rev-up your sex life, especially if you are planning a pregnancy. So wondering what to eat to get started?

Foods that boost fertility in men

Here are a few foods that can improve fertility in men and boost sperm-health:

Fresh fruits

Fruits are high in Vitamin C and antioxidants which improve sperm quality and count. It is wise to consume at least two portions of fresh fruits daily, if you are planning a baby. Have fruits like sweet lemon or mousambi, oranges and mangoes which are rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants. Don’t miss on pomegranates, studies indicate that pomegranate extracts can improve sperm quality and boost production of testosterone. Moreover, if you are on IVF treatment make it a point to chomp on fruits daily. This is because consumption of fruits reduce oxidative stress, and the antioxidants helps to change the parameters that could lead to decline in sperm count, supplementing the treatment and increasing chances of conception. 

Garlic

Garlic has a lot of therapeutic properties and one of them is to recover testicular functions and improve male sexual health. It is also believed to have aphrodisiac properties and improve blood circulation. However, other studies indicate that excessive consumption of garlic can inhibit testicular functions and impair sperm count. So limit yourself to having two to four cloves a day to improve your sexual health, besides boosting your cardiovascular functions. 

Fish

Fish contains Essential Fatty Acids which helps improve circulation around the reproductive system and boosts sperm quality in the process. Studies indicate that the sperm count in men who consumed fish increased considerably compared to men who ate meat. In fact men in sub-fertile couples are encouraged to increase their fish intake to improve semen quality and sperm count to up their chances of conception.

Foods that boost fertility in women

Here are few foods that help boost fertility in women:

Green Vegetables and dairy products:

Studies indicate that meat, especially chicken or turkey, can be detrimental towards ovulatory fertility in women reducing their chances of getting pregnant. In fact, having one serving of meat increases the chances of infertility by 32 percent in a woman. However, to increase your protein intake turn to vegetable and diary products which have a protective effect on the ovaries. Eat more of leafy green vegetables, paneer, tofu, to improve your protein intake and ovulation thereby increasing your chances of conception. 

Nuts

A variety of nuts including almonds and walnuts which are rich in Vitamin E improves female sex drive while protecting the embryos from miscarriages.

Potatoes

It’s found that baked potatoes are rich in Vitamin B and E which enhances cell division, increases the likelihood of a healthy ova being produced. Consumption of potatoes also secretes enzymes that help in implantation of fertilized egg and reducing chances of early miscarriage.

Eggs


Eggs are an extremely small power-packed nutrition source that boosts fertility. It contains Vitamin B12 and folate which minimises birth defects. In addition, it’s rich in antioxidants and cartenoids which boost fertility in women.