Fertility Health Feed

Ayurvedic remedies and ED
Ayurvedic medicine is a holistic, whole-body approach to health. It originated thousands of years ago in India. This practice promotes a combined use of herbal compounds, dietary guidelines, and specific exercises. It seeks to address the spiritual and social components of a person’s well-being in addition to their physical health.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) causes men to have difficulty maintaining an erection during sex. It’s a common problem, especially in men over the age of 40. Treating ED often involves addressing underlying psychological and physiological concerns that appear disconnected from sexual function. Research suggests that ayurvedic medicine approaches may aid the treatment of ED.

Indian ginseng-
Withania somnifera is an herb commonly used in ayurvedic medicine. It’s also called Indian ginseng and ashwagandha. It has been found to improve sperm count and fertility in men. Indian ginseng does this by regulating hormone levels and making your cells healthier.

The herb also is used to improve mental clarity and help reduce stress. Both factors can have an impact on ED symptoms.

You can purchase this herb from most drug stores and health food stores. It’s available as a powdered root extract and in capsule form. In order for it to be most effective, a high daily dosage (up to 6,000 milligrams per day) is recommended.

Asparagus racemosus-
Asparagus racemosus is a particular species of herb that grows in regions of India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. It’s known as shatavari, or “curer of one hundred diseases.” The Asparagus racemosus root is used in many preparations of ayurvedic vajikarana mixtures: It’s meant to improve sexual function and health.

Some studies have shown its effectiveness on the male reproductive system in its capability to improve circulation and calm nerves. Both of these benefits should aid men with ED. In the ayurvedic tradition, it’s also believed to be an aphrodisiac that promotes love and loyalty in those who use it.

Asparagus racemosus extract is available as a tincture and as a powder, but there has been little to no research on what the optimal daily dosage for a person would be.

Safed musli-
Safed musli, or Chlorophytum borivilianum, is also a vajikarana herb. It has shown an aphrodisiac effect in multiple lab studies, and some research suggests that it boosts sperm count. The recommended daily dose of safed musli is 2 grams per day. It can be purchased in capsule or pure powder form.

Cassia cinnamon-
Cinnamomum cassia is a type of cinnamon extracted from the bark of an evergreen tree that grows in regions of India. The extract of the Cinnamomum cassia twig is sometimes called cassia cinnamon or Chinese cinnamon. It has been demonstrated to improve sexual function.

Cassia cinnamon is different from the species of cinnamon most typically used to season sweet foods. This means ground cassia cinnamon powder isn’t as easy to find. Be careful to make sure you’re purchasing the correct kind of cinnamon.

It’s also important to note that not much is known about the maximum daily dosage of cassia cinnamon, or how much someone should take to see improvement of ED.

Yoga
To really embrace the ayurvedic method of treatment for any health condition, physical activity should be part of your treatment. The practice of yoga is being researched more and more for its health benefits. Yoga combines stretching, concentration, and meditation, improving circulation and reducing stress levels.

The stress-level benefit alone might be enough to improve symptoms of ED, but yoga has also been shown to promote healthy levels of testosterone. Provided you’re healthy enough to engage in light aerobic exercise, you can begin a yoga practice at any time by attending a class led by a yogi or even following an exercise DVD or app at home.

What Is Male Infertility?

Male infertility is when a man has a poor chance of making his female partner pregnant. It usually depends on the quality of his sperm cells.

The following aspects of sexual function and semen quality may affect fertility:

Libido: Otherwise known as sex drive, libido describes a person's desire to have sex. Foods or supplements that claim to increase libido are called aphrodisiacs.

Erectile dysfunction: Also known as impotence, erectile dysfunction is when a man is unable to develop or maintain an erection.

Sperm count: An important aspect of semen quality is the number or concentration of sperm cells in a given amount of semen.

Sperm motility: An essential function of healthy sperm cells is their ability to swim. Sperm motility is measured as the percentage of moving sperm cells in a sample of semen.

Testosterone levels: Low levels of testosterone, the male sex hormone, may be responsible for infertility in some men.

Infertility can have multiple causes and may depend on genetics, general health, fitness, diseases and dietary contaminants.

Additionally, a healthy lifestyle and diet are important. Some foods and nutrients are associated with greater fertility benefits than others.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (pcos) is seen in approx 30-40% of infertile females. Most of these women are overweight or obese, the severity of the disease is directly proportionate to wt gain. Increased weight causes insulin resistance, rise in male hormone levels leading to pimples and excessive hair growth and irregular cycles. Ultimate treatment should be aimed at weight loss, lifestyle modification, diet and exercise. Medications like oral contraceptive pills, metformin help to reduce insulin resistance and male hormone levels to some extent. But the results will be temporary unless backed by weight loss. Pcos in lean females need to be treated with medicines and is more difficult to treat. These females should seek advice of fertility expert early after marriage, so that simple options like ovulation induction help them. They need to keep it in mind that they have higher chance of miscarriage than females without pcos. So, do not neglect if you are getting irregular periods, consult your gynaec or fertility expert.

Pregnancy can be easy and smooth, while on the other hand, it might be time consuming, marred with conception difficulties all along the way. Pregnancy may seem exciting to some, whereas it can be stressful for others. Regardless of whether it is the first child you are planning or have had a successful pregnancy previously; there are some tips you need to keep in mind in order to improve fertility and give birth to a healthy child.

Some fertility boosting factors are:

1. These fantastic swimmers are at the very root of male fertility. Some important components which need to be taken into consideration are sperm count, sperm motility (the ability of the sperm to swim around the female reproductive tract) and morphology (shape and size of a sperm). In order to have all these parameters in check and working fine, one needs to abstain from smoking and limit alcohol consumption among many other lifestyle modifications.

2. Having unprotected vaginal intercourse during the woman’s fertile days in a month helps improve chances of conception.

3. Fertility becomes a challenge when you are either overweight or underweight. The weight of a woman affects ovulation (The release of eggs from the ovaries) and causes hormonal imbalance; factors which make it very difficult to conceive. Keep your weight levels in check and that could prove primarily essential in bettering your fertility.

4. Staying well nourished boosts your odds of conceiving! Make sure to include enough protein, iron, zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin D in your diet, because deficiencies in these nutrients have been linked to lengthened menstrual cycles (and therefore less frequent ovulation) and a higher risk of early miscarriage. Ask your gynaecologist if you should take a daily multivitamin supplement. And be sure to eat protein-rich foods, such as meat, fish, low-fat dairy products, eggs, and beans.

5. Beware of STDs or Sexually Transmitted Diseases. One is the most prone to STDs of any kind if he/she happens to engage in unprotected sexual intercourse; having a number of sexual partners just ups the chances of getting afflicted by STD. Protected vaginal intercourse helps prevent STDs, thus enhancing fertility and subsequently, chances of conception.

6. According to several studies, the lubricant one chooses surprisingly plays a significant role in determining fertility. Not all lubricants boost fertility and sperm motility (sperm count). Baby oil or egg whites are a few good examples of such lubricants.

7. While a limited amount of caffeine consumption is good, overdoing it might spoil and hamper fertility. Limit caffeine intake and keep it within a level of 200-250mg a day.

8. Smoking, besides playing havoc with every organ in the body, affects the reproductive organs and thus fertility. In men, it leads to reduced sperm count and in women, it causes DNA damage. Stub the bud right now and never get back to it.

9. Certain toxic chemicals can lead to female and male infertility. So it is advisable that you stay away from chemicals such as pesticides, organic solvents and lead, the primary toxins which pose a severe threat to fertility.

10. Exercising regularly can never go wrong. It gives you the strength and stamina, boosting your overall health. However, vigorous exercises, especially when you are trying to conceive, will do you no good. It might adversely lead to the suppression of certain hormones such as progesterone (pregnancy stimulating hormone) and might affect ovulation, hence affecting fertility. Aim at a regular 20 minutes session of light exercises; mild cardiovascular exercises such as walking can work wonders, especially in such circumstances.

Also known as tubal sterilization, tubectomy is a permanent method of contraception in women. It is a surgical procedure in which a portion of the fallopian tubes are blocked to prevent an egg that is released from the ovaries, from reaching the uterus. In case an egg is present in the uterus, it carries with it the risk of fertilization, thus, can lead to pregnancy. Sometimes the patient may change her decision and ask for a reversal of the process. However, it should also be kept in mind that the surgery is a complex one. The results are often not guaranteed.

The Procedure

• Tubectomy refers to cutting or blocking a small portion of the fallopian tubes that prevent the released eggs from reaching the uterus.
• The surgeon reaches to the fallopian tubes by cutting open a portion of the abdomen in case of an open surgery.
• Laparoscopic techniques are also available to conduct the surgery.
• The fallopian tubes are blocked by an artificial clip to prevent the passage of eggs.

Are there any risk factors involved?

1. Tubectomy may create a number of health complications in the long run.
2. Tubectomy is not advised for patients who have previously undergone abdominal surgeries.
3. Major risks of injury such as perforation surrounding blood vessels, internal haemorrhage or a severely life-threatening situation such as ectopic pregnancy may occur later on. Ectopic pregnancy is when fertilization and implantation occur within the fallopian tube instead of the uterus.
4. Tubectomy is even more challenging than vasectomy and has higher chance of giving rise to health complications.

Although the procedure is complex, it has a few advantages as well. Minimally-invasive surgeries help in quicker recoveries. It is almost 99% effective as a measure of birth control and thus provides a permanent solution. This surgery can even be done immediately after delivery. Sometimes, in rural areas, family welfare departments, government hospitals and primary health care centres offer free surgery and care to aid and educate about family planning.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection i.e. ICSI is different from conventional IVF i.e. In Vitro Fertilization because a single sperm is selected by the embryologist to be injected by a needle into the egg rather than a dish with many sperms placed near the egg so that the fastest swimming sperm enters it. Once the sperm is injected directly into the egg, it fertilizes, after which the embryo is transferred into the womb or uterus. 

Your doctor might recommend ICSI treatment for you if you have an extremely low sperm count resulting in infertility or other medical sperm conditions such as poor motility or poor morphology. It may also be suggested if prior attempts at IVF procedures have failed in fertilizing the egg or the fertilization rate is extremely low. You must also consider ICSI treatment if you resort to embryo testing or if the sperm needs to be collected from the epididymis or testicles surgically. 

However, you must keep in mind that if your partner has a genetic problem resulting in low sperm count, it could be passed on to your child, if you decide to use your husband's sperm for this process.

Success Rates of ICSI:

The success rate of ICSI treatment depends on your age and your fertility problem. Your eggs are healthier when you are young and as you age, chances are that they will become less healthy.

1. 35 per cent if you are under 35 years of age
2. 29 per cent if you are between 35 to 37 years of age
3. 21 per cent if you are between 38 to 39 years of age
4. 14 per cent if you are between 40 to 42 years of age
5. 6 per cent if you are between 43 to 44 years of age
6. 5 per cent if you are above 44 years of age

Advantages of ICSI Treatment:

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection gives you a chance to conceive a child genetically when most other options are exhausted. Males may be unable to ejaculate on the day the eggs are collected due to anxiety. ICSI proves to be advantageous because sperm may also be surgically extracted for this process. It is extremely helpful for those couples who suffer from unexplained infertility. However, one of the most important factors is that ICSI treatment does not affect your child's physical or mental health.

We’ve seen the scientific facts and statistics, but how does using Moringa benefit men emotionally and physically?

Most people would agree that sex is an important factor in maintaining a healthy relationship.  What is great is that there are many health and emotional benefits for both men and women that can be attributed to having regular sex.

Dr. Lisa cites a Duke University study that showed that having sex 200 times or more per year could increase your lifespan by six years. By engaging in intercourse more often, there is also a natural boost in self-esteem and self-confidence.

Here are just a few examples of the benefits of sex in a relationship or marriage:

** Sex is good for your heart.  Regular sex can ward off heart attacks
** Having regular sex can boost your fertility
** Enjoying a regular sex life can lower risk of developing prostate 
    cancer for men in their 50s
** Having regular sex can help relieve stress
** A healthy sex life helps control weight by burning calories
** It reduces blood pressure
** moringa seeds enhance sexual performance in men

So now you know the importance of a healthy sex life; why not try and see just how Moringa can enhance sexual performance for men.

WAYS TO TAKE MORINGA

There are many ways to take Moringa in it’s natural form.  You can drink Moringa tea. Moringa leaves can be eaten fresh, cooked or dried.   Moringa leaf powder can be incorporated into your diet regime by adding Moringa into your recipes.  You can also take Moringa seeds to enhance your sexual performance
 
Moringa supplements are a great way to regulate your intake safely.  For example using moringa capsules will give you a longer, stronger erection and is said to promote growth in penis size.

Finally remember to get medical advice to ensure you take Moringa safely.