29/07/2009 by Tums2Mums.

During a first HypnoFertility session I take an individual’s personal, medical, fertility and pregnancy histories which also includes their thoughts, feelings and beliefs about these things.However, I am clear to explain that none of what they tell me is ‘weighted’ in any way.  There are after all plenty of drug addicts, alcoholics, smokers, obese, older women and those who have had huge suffering in their pasts who become pregnant every day (something that I’m sure is a great frustration to them).  

The thing that I am most keen to learn in amongst all of their preparations is when they are thinking about having a baby what are they imagining?  This might seem like an unusual question but it is an important one for a number of reasons and I’ll start my explanation off by looking at the subconscious mind a little more closely.

• It runs your body - all those things that happen without you thinking about it (heart rate, salivation, perspiration, and so on)
• It makes appropriate changes in your body based on what it perceives as your reality
• It doesn’t know the difference between real and imagined events. Think back to the last time you saw a thriller or a horror movie - do you remember you heart beginning to race, maybe had goose bumps, on the edge of your seat holding your breath as they climbed the stairs to their impending doom. It wasn’t happening to you - it wasn’t your reality so why was your subconscious making all those changes within your body?
• It doesn’t understand words and so responds to the world using imagery
• It is driven by emotion.

Therefore, whatever you are imagining your subconscious believes to be real and is making the necessary changes in your body for you to be able to function. This is OK as long as you don’t spend huge amounts of time involved in ‘negativing imagining’ (something that you may not even be aware that you are doing).

A response to my question above can often be “but I am a very positive thinker – in fact I’m obsessed with wanting a baby that is all I focus on”.  And I ask “yes, but what are you IMAGINING in relation to having your baby?”  

They may well be constantly thinking about wanting a baby but so often what they are imagining is the lack of one. This in turn creates very strong negative emotions which the subconscious can potentially perceive as some sort of physical danger and in turn shut down their reproductive system.  The subconscious then waits for them to relax and settle down indicating that all is now safe and well and so return body functions back to normal, but if the danger is perceived how do they ever reach the place of safety?

There may well be of course much deeper routed events and beliefs causing the subconscious to place them in what it sees as survival mode but becoming aware of and working positively with the imagination is certainly a huge step in the right direction.

The good news is you can stop those negative thoughts: When you become aware of a negative thought imagine a big red cross through it and say ’stop’ or ‘no’.Physically push it away and immediately replace it with a positive IMAGE that makes you FEEL good.

The mind cannot hold two opposing thoughts at the same time (try it for a moment think of something that makes you feel sad and another that makes you feel happy - at the same time - you cannot. You can switch quickly between the two but you cannot think about them both at the same time). So all the time you are focusing on the positive image you can no longer focus on the negative one.

It does take practise - your subconscious will be comfortable with what you are currently doing. Although the more you make the effort to cross out the negative images and replace with the positive ones that makes you FEEL good the easier it will become.

By doing this you will ensure that your subconscious isn’t needlessly getting you ready for an emergency state. Instead ensuring that all body functions are working normally. Make sure that when you are thinking about wanting a baby that you are actually imagining holding that baby in your arms.

This was posted by Dany Griffiths of Tums 2 Mums

To find out more about Dany and the work she does supporting couples through Fertility, Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond… click on the link below:

http://www.tums2mums.com/

http://tums2mums.blogspot.com

Posted in Hypnofertility, Hypnotherapy, Alternative medicine, Alternative Therapies & Fertility | 2 Comments »

28/07/2009 by admin.

We received this lovely e-mail this month & wanted to share it with you through the fertility blog

Hi - another one for you (if a little late!).  I had had many  miscarriages and when I remarried at 42 I didn’t really expect to have  a child, but charted for a couple of months and so became aware of the various TTC websites; after reading Pre-Seed recommendations on them,  I ordered some online and we used it for our 4th cycle TTC. Needless to say we conceived immediately and have a darling son who is now 13  months old.  I have just stopped breastfeeding him and so we’re TTC- ing number two, if we can (I’m now 45). Of course, we’re using Pre- Seed again. Even if we don’t succeed, your lovely product makes it an  enjoyable experience.  Thank you to Dr Ellington and the teams in both  the US and the UK.

For more information about Pre-Seed click here

Click here to buy Pre-Seed online

Posted in Pre-Seed Lubricant | No Comments »

28/07/2009 by yourgreatlife.

So, you’re pregnant again after a miscarriage.  You may have let nature take its course, or gone through another cycle of assisted conception.  Either way, you have achieved your goal, and it was supposed to feel like a triumph, worthy of celebration.  But, now that you are there, how do you really feel about it?

 Start at the beginning - Women, who are trying to become pregnant after having experienced one or more miscarriages, often express desperation to become pregnant again and then experience a huge range of emotions about this next pregnancy, including everything from hopeful but mildly worried, to terrified. Because I often work with women who are still feeling the emotional, and even the physical, effects of their loss, we tend to focus on making sense of facts and recognizing feelings: shock, grief, guilt, blame, loss of hope and confidence. I like to go back and work through her expectations around that previous pregnancy. Then, it is easier to understand the reason for, and the depth of, her feelings about her miscarriage and gain some degree of closure. 

 Shattered dreams, plans and self-esteem - For example, especially if it was a woman’s first pregnancy, the pictures in her mind of how that pregnancy would unfold will have shattered.  She may have spent considerable time, even in the short period of a first trimester pregnancy, falling in love with her baby.  If it was an unexpected pregnancy, she may have had to come around to the idea and begun making mental adjustments to the unfamiliar territory of motherhood. Perhaps she focused on romantic daydreams of herself and her partner experiencing a new, intimate connection with each other over her swelling, pregnant belly.  So, on top of her grief over the baby she will never know, she could also be missing the specialness of that imagined, future time in her relationship.  He may or may not be aware of that aspect of her emotional response to the miscarriage. She may also have expected the pregnancy and her child’s birth to transform her in some way: to give her more significance: mother, mother of his baby, mother of someone’s grandchild, part of the “club” of friends who are mothers, or on the same level as her sisters who have children. Not only could miscarriage mean she had failed in her own eyes, she could perceive that she is a failure in the eyes of others, even when it isn’t true.

Walking on Eggshells - What happens to this couple when they are fortunate to conceive again? In my experience, no matter how often a woman reads or hears that many couples go on to have a healthy, full-term baby after experiencing miscarriage, there is a lot of walking on eggshells in a subsequent pregnancy.  If she excitedly discussed her previous pregnancy with family, friends and colleagues, she may not even tell anyone she is pregnant again. To some extent, it is impossible to suspend fear entirely because we have the negative memories of having placed our trust in God, medicine or both and it resulting in enormous pain.  In the new pregnancy, that trust is somewhat reduced in all except those who have absolute, blind faith that a Higher Power will deliver what is meant to be. The need to exert control over something that is largely out of our control is all so understandable, and at the same time, such a shame because it means that she will experience less unreserved joy.

Achieving a Deeper Level of Understanding - In trying to support a woman through this next pregnancy, I believe that the best route is to go back to the basics: her identity, her values, what she wants out of life, her level of satisfaction with all aspects of herself and her lifestyle, sorting out her wants from her needs, and measuring her competing interests. To each of these areas, I would ask her to reflect upon how any of them was changed by her experience of miscarriage and finally, to anticipate how they will be changed by having the child she now carries.  The progression of the coaching process will reveal, layer by layer, how deeply she believes in herself, where her strength lies and how she will use it, no matter what lies ahead.  Those are the qualities that will make her a good mother and provide them both with a great life. 

Self-Coaching - If you want to do this for yourself, I suggest that you buy a journal with lined paper and set it up for a self-coaching process by putting each of the categories (previous pregnancy, miscarriage, subsequent pregnancy) above at the top of separate pages, with several pages in between each, headed by the sub-categories (ex. Who am I? My values, my aspirations, what I need to be happy, my satisfaction level at the particular time, my strengths, my frustrations, my expectations, how any of this has changed, etc…) Then, write on them at your own pace; whenever a flash of insight occurs, or in purposeful sessions. Don’t worry about your language or whether you are “making sense.” This is just for you. It is not about gaining an explanation for your miscarriage; it is about understanding yourself and what you want, accepting that there are no guarantees in life and opening the door to what is to come.

Supporting Her – This way of going back to the beginning, before the trauma of the loss, can, work for those closest to her as well; encouraging her to talk about her first pregnancy, this one and what makes her to want to become a mother. It is important to pay attention to her signals of being willing, ready and able to talk.  However, you can communicate a state of openness, verbally or through body language.  Looking directly into her eyes will show emotional availability and not expressing any criticism about how she is acting will go a long way toward building trust. Please, don’t ever try to stifle her by saying “Forget about it. Surely it won’t happen again.” You can’t give her any guarantees and may provoke resentment, anger or being misunderstood. She is not looking for you to solve her problems; she may just need you to listen and give sincere comfort.Instead of shutting off those dreams and memories that existed in her with the previous pregnancy, I would encourage them to flow. They are the reason that she is risking her body, heart and mind again.  By remembering and talking about her positive reasons for conceiving and carrying the first baby, she can reach a level of acceptance and underlying strength to move forward into the new pregnancy with renewed courage.  She deserves to embrace and enjoy carrying this child who is, at no other time, more a part of her than right now.

Lisa Marsh is a fertility coach, supporting those who are trying to conceive, experiencing loss, secondary infertility, assisted conception, alternative parenting and loss of fertility through illness, medical treatment and menopause. You can find out more about Lisa’s work by visiting her blog: http://yourgreatlife.typepad.com or contact her directly at lisa@yourgreatlife.co.uk .

Posted in Self Coaching, fertility coach, Pregnancy after miscarriage, TTc after miscarriage, Miscarriage | No Comments »

25/07/2009 by Duofertility.

New research indicates that sex every day may enhance the genetic quality of men’s sperm, and could improve their chances of conception and becoming a father.

Couples trying for a baby are usually recommended to only have sexual intercourse every other day in order to avoid reducing the man’s sperm count. A low sperm count may negatively affect men’s fertility levels and chances of fatherhood.

However, a new study conducted at Sidney IVF, a centre for infertility treatment, suggests that daily sex for a week could significantly enhance the genetic quality of sperm. Although refraining from sexual intercourse for a few days allows the sperm count to recover, the quality of sperm may be damaged from infrequent ejaculations.

It is believed that the DNA of sperm may become damaged while sperm rests in the epididymis due to heat and oxygen-free radicals exposure. Therefore, the longer sperm rest in the epididymis, the greater the risk of genetic damage. Dr Greening, who led the study, said that “through simply clearing the epididymis and testicles, DNA damage has less time to occur. There’s less time for vandalism.”

Since frequent ejaculations empty the sperm reservoir, newly produced sperm of higher genetic quality are more likely to be quickly available. Having sex every day during a woman’s most fertile days is therefore critical to achieving pregnancy, according to Dr. Greening.

The findings of this study are of particular relevance for couples undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. Before IVF, the man is usually asked to refrain from ejaculating for a few days before providing a sperm sample which is used to fertilise his partner’s eggs. Many couples do not have frequent intercourse during IVF treatment either.

A pilot study conducted two years ago found that daily ejaculation decreased levels of DNA damage by 12 per cent. The study was carried out on 42 men with high levels of sperm DNA damage, and was then repeated on a further 118 men. Incidences of DNA damage in the sperm of 81 per cent of these men fell by 12 per cent, although sperm DNA damage increased in the remaining 19 per cent of the men involved in the study.

According to Allan Pacey, a senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield, clearing the sperm reservoir is particularly important in cases in which the sperm have high levels of genetic damage. There appears to be a clear trade-off between the quantity of sperm and genetic damage; according to the study, if a man has a decent sperm count but high sperm DNA damage, ejaculating every day will increase his chances of becoming a father.

 Click here for information about the DuoFertility Female Fertility Monitor Device.

Posted in Male Fertility, Fertility, Male Fertility Issues | No Comments »

21/07/2009 by admin.

NEW 6 pre-filled vaginal applicator packs.

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Click here to find out more about Zestica Fertility

Posted in Sperm Friendly Lubricants, Zestica, Fertility Lubricant | No Comments »

17/07/2009 by admin.

Just a quick reminder to our fertility blog readers, that the 5% discount coupon code for July is bloom

Use at any of these sites below

www.accessdiagnostic.co.uk

www.accessdiagnostics.co.uk

www.value-med.co.uk

www.buyclearblue.co.uk

• Coupons valid until end of July 2009. 

• One coupon per order

• Coupons can be used multiple times

To use coupon code enter the code exactly as it is typed above and then click update

Posted in Access Diagnostics Coupon Code | No Comments »

17/07/2009 by admin.

Running on empty, feeling overwhelmed, too much on your plate

‘The Art of Extreme Self Care-Transform Your Life One Month at a Time’ by Cheryl Richardson

I listened to this book as an audio book that I downloaded from itunes, at a time in my life when I was feeling overwhelmed. It is Cheryl’s very personal tale of how she managed a stressful time in her life with extreme self care.

I found the book very useful, and have in fact followed quite a few of the the recomendations in the book. I have listened to it several times when I feel that my self care is slipping & I need a quick reminder to look after me.

As women with busy lives we often forget to take care of our own needs. This book serves as a timely reminder.

If you have a book recomendation for a book that has helped you, or you have a book that you would like reviewed please post in comments.

Posted in Self help books, Self care, Stress relief, Womens Health, Stress | 1 Comment »

13/07/2009 by yourgreatlife.

An Essential Of Fertility Treatment Is Choosing The Right Doctor For You 

A key ingredient to a positive experience with fertility treatment is a good relationship with your doctor and his/her medical team from your GP to your RE.  Perhaps more than any other medical treatment, fertility treatment delves into the most intimate areas of your life.  From your first enquiry about difficulty conceiving, you step into a different relationship with them than when you were in for general health checks.  The focus may be on your reproductive health; however, to varying degrees you are inviting them to be part of your hopes and dreams.  As time goes on, you will entrust them, from the receptionist up to the specialist, with details of your values, spiritual beliefs, the strength of your relationship, your views on and knowledge of sex, birth control, procreation, parenthood, and so much more.  You will be phoning frequently for appointments, lab tests, scans, results, advice and simply to ensure that they don’t forget your life has turned upside down. 

Depending upon your age (+/- 35) and medical history, the question of your fertility may have been completely unexpected.  Even if you are a positive sort, the threat to such a fundamental part of your being, your images of the future and your relationship may lead to thoughts such as “What’s wrong with me?”  “What did I do wrong?” or “Why us?” Hopefully, your doctor has enough experience and sensitivity to anticipate this and will explain the next set of investigations or results in a way that turns your panic into measured concern.  Actually, I might as well say it right now:  you must step forward and meet the doctor more than halfway. Leave embarrassment, shame, guilt and anxiety at the door as they will do you no good and the stress they cause may actually harm your chances of becoming pregnant. 

Infertility takes conception, which should be a natural function, out of your control. For many women, that loss of control is deeply uncomfortable, and even frightening.  I have seven years’ experience of ups and downs in this area, with a combination of recurrent miscarriage and periods of infertility.  I’ll admit to periods of pure numbness, and then heartache, followed later by many glass-half-empty tears.  My GP seemed wholly indifferent to my plight. I wasn’t offered further medical investigations, treatment or counselling.  Why didn’t I change doctors?  Somehow, while I was adventurous and outspoken in other parts of my life, I lost my voice when it was a question of my fertility. I can only conclude that, with infertility looming like a big, dark cloud above me, I felt too vulnerable to assert my needs.  

My response, as an American used to private healthcare, was to ask women friends for a recommendation, then dig deep in my pockets to pay for the services of a Harley Street consultant.  I realise that not everyone would be willing or able to cough up all their holiday, Christmas and rainy-day funds, however, if it matters enough for you to know more about your condition, overcome it and to become pregnant, do anything you can to find the right doctor for you, whether NHS or private.  A sad truth of our fertility and physical stamina is that time will eventually run out and you don’t want to have regrets that you didn’t do everything you could have to create your family.  (Yes, I am aware that a 66 year old woman has just had her first child, but seriously, do you want that to be you?). With today’s search engines, researching each fertility doctor and clinic you are considering for success rates, good standing with their professional association and the number of times they have performed certain procedures is so easy now. If you make an informed choice and use your instincts, you will be paid back with peace of mind and trust. 

So, you have reached a point where you need medical assistance to conceive.  Maybe, you have a short-list of fertility specialists and clinics within a reasonable distance (Or not. I went abroad for my IVF.)  Here are a few tips to help you choose a medical team and achieve and maintain a good relationship with them.   

• Look everywhere (your doctor, insurance company, friends of friends, internet fertility forums, etc…) for recommendations of a good reproductive endocrinologist (RE) and clinic.

• Think about whether you and your partner respond better to male or female doctors. This may affect your ability to talk openly and honestly, endure frequent physical examinations or trust their opinions.

• Ask if you will always see your preferred doctor.  If not, ask to meet the other doctors before agreeing anything.  Burning with resentment at an appointment will interfere with your sense of well-being and your relationship to the staff.

• Educating yourself about your condition makes “hearing” your doctor that much easier and takes the edge off your anxiety.  However, don’t trip over the doctor’s toes with unqualified self-diagnosis.

• Do not be afraid to go for a second opinion. An experienced, confident doctor will understand that you have difficult decisions to make.

• Try to identify each person as friend or foe (for instance, the dragon lady who answers the phone or guards the appointments schedule; it’s her job) and find ways to get them in your corner.  Be conscious about your demeanour; pleasant, patient and worried goes a lot further than impatient, aggressive or hysterical.

• Be bold. In the waiting room, ask other patients if they have been happy with the medical practice and if they have any tips for you.

• Whether you choose the most sought-after doctor in the field or someone out of the public eye, you should expect his full attention and compassion during your appointment, but understand that he may not have extra time for chatting and hand-holding.

• The medical and non-medical staff at the RE’s office may display a professional demeanour that masks real caring. They can’t get emotionally involved with each couple. Be content with friendliness and patience when you have questions or a few tears.

• If the fertility clinic offers counselling or coaching for your emotional well-being, take advantage of it! This may very well provide the empathy, attention and support to balance out the doctor’s more scientific approach.

• If, after you have begun with one doctor, you are not comfortable with anything from his bedside manner to the distance from your home or workplace, find someone else.  Don’t stress out.

• The best thanks you could give your doctor is a recommendation to other couples. Those baby photos in his office, with joyful commentary from grateful parents, are better marketing material than he could buy.  You may need your RE’s services again someday, so if you recommend him to someone else, ask them to mention it when they meet him.

• The nurses are often there at unreasonably early hours 6 or 7 days a week to allow for patients who have to get to work. A word of appreciation or a bag of croissants won’t go amiss there either.

It is easy to be swept up in the flood of instructions, procedures, an artificially induced cycle, frequent trips to the pharmacy, lessons on self-injecting, an endless list of incomprehensible medical terms and rules of a fertility clinic.  It’s all made more difficult by the high level of emotion that accompanies infertility.  It quickly strips the “trying for a baby” of romantic ideals.  Work on feeling positive, hopeful and supported (perhaps the topic for my next blog).  Central to your fertility plan and within your control, is your choice of doctor’s practice, including his practice manager, receptionist, nurses, and professional support for your emotional well-being.  You should be absolutely convinced that you are all on the same team, wanting the same result and doing everything that can be done to achieve it.  You deserve it.

This post was posted by Lisa Marsh

To find out more about Lisa Marsh of Your Great Life click on the link below

http://yourgreatlife.typepad.com

Posted in Life Coaching, Fertility Services, Fertility Treatment, Fertility Advice | 3 Comments »

10/07/2009 by Tums2Mums.

Hi everyone

My name is Dany Griffiths, I am a Hypnotherapist specialising in Fertility, Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond (supporting parents in a variety of ways and also working with children).I was asked if I would be a guest blogger on this site and I welcomed the opportunity with open arms as I am incredibly keen to raise more awareness of the power of hypnosis when supporting couples with fertility issues.As I shall primarily be talking about the work I do with fertility on this blog I thought for my first entry I would give an initial explanation of what HypnoFertility is. 

Following blogs will break down the different elements of the power of hypnosis and give a general insight into particular cases and sharing some success stories too (keeping all identities private of course).If you have any questions you would like me to answer please comment at the end of my blog entries and I will use these questions to create further blog entries. 

Alternatively, you can email me and I will leave my details at the bottom of this post.A diagnosis of infertility – whether it is explained or unexplained can leave you feeling extremely disappointed and without hope. But this does not mean the end of your hopes of having a child. 

There are things you can do to increase your fertility and help you become a parent.  I have worked with many couples who have wondered if they will ever become pregnant and have a family of their own. Some of these couples have been trying for a baby for years and some have spent a lot of time and money on medical treatments and other complementary therapies without success.  A wide variety of factors affect fertility, and there are many potential causes of infertility. These range from physical and chemical factors to emotional and psychological factors.  Many treatments focus solely on what is going on with the body hypnotherapy brings the mind into the process.  The mind has a huge impact on the reproductive process in fact some actually say that even when there are physical problems causing fertility issues these too have been created by the mind.  Hypnotherapy can actually help to decrease the effects of infertil­ity, and it can also work to help increase fertility. 

Worry = Negative Self Hypnosis

Hypnotherapy = Positive Change

 The struggle with infertility leaves couples highly emotional and stressed – which is completely understandable, given everything that they have to go through.  It can affect every aspect of their life, from their relationships with each other, family and friends to their career.  Unfortunately, these heightened levels of stress and increased negative emotions can further affect their ability to become pregnant. Research has shown that stress affects the hormonal system in fact when we have acute stress in our lives for whatever reason it can actually send a message to the subconscious that we are in very real danger and sends the body into survival mode.  Our reproductive system plays no part in our individual survival and therefore it can be shut down.  Reducing stress, relieving anxiety, lifting depression and increasing their sense of control enables couples to cope better and take better care of themselves during this time.

As part of the treatment individuals will learn a variety of self-help tools, including self-hypnosis, which can be used for many things including deep relaxation. Relaxation techniques help women to cope with, and heal from, the stress of infertility while also substantially increasing the rates of conception.   One of the key differences with hypnotherapy is being able to work with the client to remove ‘blocks’ that may be affecting their ability to conceive.  The subconscious may have taken difficult events, known or unknown consciously, from the past (not necessarily related to a woman becoming pregnant or a man wanting to become a father) that has inadvertently sent a message that it is unsafe to become pregnant and this in itself can be changing the reproductive hormones within the body.   Once these blocks are removed positive suggestions can then be given to the subconscious to promote healing and the acceptance that becoming pregnant and carrying a baby to full term is absolutely the right thing for that individual.Hypnotherapy represents a safe and powerful way of increasing fertility either as a sole therapy or mixed with almost any medical procedure with impressive results.  Women also find that should they use hypnosis to support them through fertility treatment such as IVF that they were able to respond to treatment more positively than expected from both a physical and emotional perspective.

dany@tums2mums.com

www.tums2mums.com

http://tums2mums.blogspot.com

Posted in Birth Coaching, Hypnofertility, Birth Coach, Hypnotherapy | No Comments »

10/07/2009 by yourgreatlife.

Hi, I am Lisa Marsh, of Your Great Life, saying my own hello as a guest blogger. I will be writing from the perspective of someone who has experienced both recurrent miscarriage and secondary infertility in the past. I have been incredibly fortunate to have two healthy children within the seven years of TTC and am not planning to have any more children. I hope that my experience will be inspiring to some of you.

As a direct result of my personal experiences in this area, I went on to train as a life coach and as a miscarriage helpline volunteer. I run a miscarriage support group and find that issues of infertility are entwined with miscarriage, such as PCOS, in the members’ reproductive health. I am now devoting my entire professional practice to fertility clients, starting with TTC and continuing into the loss of fertility due to ageing (menopause), disease and chemotherapy.

I am really looking forward to being a part of this forum. Please give me some feedback on my blogs and let me know what you want to hear about.

Posted in Guest blogger, Self care, Stress relief, Positive Living, Miscarriage | No Comments »

06/07/2009 by admin.

As we did a quick round up of the current health tips for men to maximise their fertility we only thought it fair to do one for women so here goes:

• Make sure you are having sex around your fertile time. The fertile window for women is very short and so this step is crucial.
•  Use a sperm friendly lubricant when you are having sex around your fertile time. Many popular lubricants can damage sperm and inpair their motility, so make sure you use one that has been created for couple trying to conceive.  Click here to find out more about sperm friendly lubricants.
• Take a folic acid supplement either alone or as part of a pre-conceptual vitamin and mineral supplement
• Aim for a healthy weight. Being overweight or underweight can reduce your fertility.
• Give up or reduce smoking
• Reduce stress & make time for relaxation
• Reduce alcohol intake & check with you doctor or pharmacist to see if any medicines you are taking could impair your fertility
• Exercise moderateley (avoid overexercising as this may impair fertility)
• Eat a healthy balanced diet, with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables
• Enjoy sex (arousal & female orgasm may increase the chances of conception)

Posted in Fertility Tips, female fertility | No Comments »

01/07/2009 by admin.

There has been a lot of coverage of male fertility issues in the news this week, so I thought it would be worth doing a quick review of the info and some tips for improving male fertility

The good news is a recent study has shown that having sex frequently is good for male fertility.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5697634/Couples-trying-for-baby-should-have-sex-daily.html

Not so good news is that extreme cycling is very bad for fertility. Read this article if you guy spends a lot of time cycling, even if its at the gym.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8124458.stm

And those laptops are still causing problems !

http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20090515023655data_trunc_sys.shtml

Tips for maximising male fertility:

• Avoid anything that gets the testicles over heated, as excess heat can damage sperm-this is why the testicles are external and not inside the body. Things that may cause overheating are:laptops on the lap, saunas, hot baths, tight underwear, cycling, medical conditions such as varicoele (varicose veins in scrotum-if you think you have this see your doctor)
• Stop smoking as smokers have higher incidence of sperm problems
• Keep alcohol consumption within safe limits
• Eat a balanced healthy diet high in antioxidants, eat lots of fruit and veg & cut down on the meat-make sure he gets his 5 a day. A recent Spanish study has shown that men who eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, in particular peppers, spinach and citrus fruits, have higher quality and faster swimming sperm. http://www.bionews.org.uk/new.lasso?storyid=4397
• Check if he is on any medication that may damage sperm eg antidepressants, check with your doctor http://www.naturalnews.com/026483_SSRI_fertility_DNA.html
• Exercise moderately-remember keep those testicles cool, and wear loose fitting boxers and clothes. May be best to avoid the tight lycra
• Avoid recreational drug use-research has shown that cannabis may reduce male fertility http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3586115.stm
• Taking a multivitamin containing L-Cartinine may help eg Wellman

Click here to find out more about male fertility supplements

Click here to find out about home male fertility testing

Posted in Male Fertility, Male Infertility, Fertility Tips, Smoking & Fertility, Sperm Motility, Male Fertility Test, Sperm, Male Fertility Issues | No Comments »