The “Seven Classic Risk Factors and Symptoms of Infertility” plus 4 more

Seven Classic Risk Factors and Symptoms of Infertility
Prenatal Training Pro
Running Training Tips - Running While Pregnant
How to Use an Ovulation Calendar to Get Pregnant Fast
When Does a Fetus Become a Boy Or a Girl During Pregnancy? I'll Tell You

Seven Classic Risk Factors and Symptoms of Infertility

Posted: 30 Nov 2009 10:27 AM PST

At one point in time infertility was thought to be the primarily caused by feminine issues; however, we now know that both men and women share responsibility, in half and half of cases. If you or your partner have tried to get pregnant and have not had success, you are not alone. Infertility is a stressful and frustrating situation for many people; fortunately, common causes are often due to simple lifestyle factors, so it is important to understand the risk factors and symptoms of infertility before rushing out for new fertility treatments.

1.) Inability to get pregnant after a year of unprotected sex. Most couples will get pregnant within six months of unprotected sex. There have been a few cases where timing is the main issue - the couple is not having sex when the female is ovulating - so make sure that this possibility is ruled out by your doctor before going to a fertility specialist. Not getting pregnant quickly is not always one of the symptoms of infertility.

2.) Absent or irregular periods. A typical menstrual cycle runs its course for about four days and repeats itself in approximately 28 days. Most healthy women over the age of 16 are supposed to complete this cycle regularly, with the exceptions of pregnant or menopausal women. If your periods have been or used to be normal until a certain point, many triggers can throw menstruation off balance, such as stress, malnutrition, extreme weight loss or gain, or illnesses such as hypothyroidism or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). These conditions must be addressed before a healthy pregnancy can take place. Irregular menses can be, but is not necessarily, one of the symptoms of infertility.

3.) History of endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or pelvic inflammatory disease. Endometriosis is a condition where endometrial (uterine) cells are found outside the uterus, in areas such as the ovaries and pelvis. Such cells impact fertility through anatomical distortions or through the release of substances that harm normal ovulation. Moreover, endometriosis can cause hormonal imbalances that disrupt fertilization, as does PCOS. These ailments can certainly indicate that symptoms of infertility exist.

4.) The use of drugs and alcohol. Dependence on drugs and alcohol contributes to poor health in general which in turn impacts reproductive hormones. Moreover, use of recreational drugs such as marijuana or cocaine will temporarily reduce the quality of sperm in males, while excessive caffeine consumption, such as more than two cups of coffee a day, may reduce fertility in females. Any addictions to the aforementioned substances puts physical stress on the body, which can lead to...

5.) Emotional stress. The relationship between infertility and stress is not clear, but many doctors have found that stress negatively affects whether or not a couple will get pregnant. This may be due to high amounts of cortisol, the stress hormone, inhibiting fertility hormones needed to conceive. Although high stress is not one of the symptoms of infertility, it is certainly related and needs to be avoided.

6.) Impotence or ejaculatory problems. Infertility may be a result of certain birth defects in males. Some men have hypospadius, a birth defect in which the urethral opening is located on the underside of the penis. As a result, sperm will not be able to reach the cervix unless this is surgically corrected. In other men, no ejaculate will appear at all, or the tube needed to carry sperm from the testicles is either blocked or missing.

7.) History of cancer or STDs. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments can severely impact sperm and egg production. Seek advice from your medical practitioner if you or your partner have had radiation treatments near the reproductive organs.

If any of these potential problem areas are present, you have a basis for concern, But concern doesn't mean you cannot conceive. It only means you have a direction to follow on your solution to getting pregnant. Discuss these issues with your physician who will likely provide proper testing. Then, you will be closer to your goal.

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Prenatal Training Pro

Posted: 30 Nov 2009 10:20 AM PST

Although pregnancy can be a very thrilling time in your life, it can also elicit many feelings of frustration as your changing body limits your activities. Keep in mind these restrictions are not only for your health and well-being but for that of your unborn baby and they are only temporary. Your doctor or midwife is responsible for your medical care; however, you might want to consider hiring a prenatal training pro to guide you in your exercise regimen. It is very important for you and your baby to remain as healthy as possible during your pregnancy.

Choosing A Qualified Prenatal Training Pro

Your doctor or midwife may be able to recommend a qualified prenatal training pro to assess your current level of condition and design a program that is safe and beneficial to both you and your baby. If you engaged in regular physical activity prior to your pregnancy share this with your prenatal training pro so he knows exactly what type of exercise you are not only interested in but may have developed a proficiency at. If you were not much of an exerciser prior to your pregnancy, now is not the time to start learning a new sport. Likely, your prenatal training pro will start you off with some simple brisk walking, swimming and yoga exercises. As your pregnancy changes your exercise regimen will change to meet your growing body and the development of your baby.

Be sure that your prenatal training pro comes well recommended prior to hiring him. Also, confirm that he has experience working with pregnant women. There may even be a special certification, aside from a personal training one, that affords him the necessary expertise to train pregnant women. Do your homework! When you are confident the prenatal training pro you have chosen is qualified and competent ask him about the specific type of athletic gear you may require to participate in the activities scheduled. Also, share any concerns about your physical limitations prior to beginning. You will learn that during pregnancy your ligaments will loosen up considerably in order to accommodate your expanding body so you may feel more flexible and limber than you did before. Just be aware not to overdo it when you first get started.

Work As A Team

Speak to your prenatal training pro about your preferences regarding workout times. If you find you experience severe morning sickness then an afternoon or early evening session might be ideal for you. If you have other children to take care of, and they are in school during the day, then you might want to fit your prenatal training in during that time frame when you can really focus on your exercises and won't be interrupted.

Have Fun!

Research shows, whether you are pregnant or not, that you will stick with an exercise program longer if it includes activities that you enjoy. Before you lace up your athletic shoes, sit down and think about what activities you enjoy. Remember, as your pregnancy continues you may have to alter your choice of exercises, but the important thing is to stay active.

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Running Training Tips - Running While Pregnant

Posted: 30 Nov 2009 10:09 AM PST

If you're thinking of running while pregnant, you should be fine. Most doctors now agree that moderate exercise during pregnancy is good for both mother and baby. Women who exercise before and during pregnancy generally have less complicated pregnancies and births.

However, you should not continue to run during pregnancy as if absolutely nothing has changed. Your body changes when you are pregnant. For example, ligaments and bones soften, to accommodate the baby, which means that you are more susceptible to injury. Your temperature regulation mechanisms are strained, which means it is easier to overheat, which could damage the fetus, especially in the early stages of pregnancy. You should avoid intensive exercise with high heart rates to avoid depriving your baby of oxygen.

You should check with your doctor before running while pregnant, both to discuss general guidelines, and to check that you are not particularly at risk.

If you develop any of the following symptoms, you should stop running immediately and consult a doctor:

-Bloody discharge or amniotic fluid leakage from the vagina
-Sudden swelling of the ankles, hands or face
-Persistent, severe headaches or visual disturbance
-Elevation of pulse race or blood pressure that persists after
-Excessive fatigue or any palpitations or chest pains
-Persistent contractions (they may suggest the onset of pre-mature labor)
-Unexplained abdominal pain
-Insufficient weight gain.

If you do decide to continue to run, here are some guidelines:

-Don't run to exhaustion; and don't run at high levels of intensity (e.g. sprinting) which may affect the baby's oxygen supply;
-Be careful not to overheat, especially during the early weeks;
-Be careful not to dehydrate: you may need to drink more water than you are used to;
-Maintain your blood sugar levels: you should eat more than you are used to
-Don't try to stick to a training schedule: run as you feel inclined and listen to your body and to your baby;
-You might want to use a heart rate monitor to ensure that you don't elevate your heart rate too much
when running no longer feels comfortable, consider other exercise, such as swimming or aqua-jogging, to keep fit. An exercise bike will help you to keep fit, and may be useful later on if you are at home alone with the baby.

Breastfeeding

If you decide to breastfeed your baby, monitor the baby's weight gain carefully. If the baby does not appear to be putting on weight as quickly as expected, this could be because running is reducing the amount of milk you produce, and you may need to cut back on exercise.

You may usually find it more comfortable for your breast if you run after rather than before a feed. You can, however, safely breastfeed as soon as you like after running. Immediately after exercise your breast milk may contain lactic acid: this will not harm your baby, but some babies don't like it. You may need to wait for an hour after your run for the lactic acid level to return to normal.

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How to Use an Ovulation Calendar to Get Pregnant Fast

Posted: 30 Nov 2009 09:56 AM PST

Do you want to know how to get pregnant faster? Getting pregnant is the dream of most newly wed couples especially those who have established themselves financially and are already quite stable.

The addition of a child in the family should not be mistaken as an added liability and added expense because of its many responsibilities and complications. But having a new baby or child at home would bring joy and smiles to the entire family.

Knowing how to use an ovulation calendar is one of the best ways to predict your ovulation date and increase your chances of getting pregnant. Finally there is a solution that could reverse your current pregnancy problem and help you have a baby that you always wished for.

So where can you get an ovulation calendar? It is actually a personal record of your menstrual cycle and basal body temperature changes. It is best used to determine when is your ovulation date.

Now maybe you are asking why is it important that I should know more about my ovulation date? Simple. The ovulation date signifies the time the female's egg cell travels to the fallopian tubes from the ovaries. This is important because fertilization will only occur if the egg cell meets a sperm cell and is fertilized. This time is critical because if the egg cell passes the females' reproductive organs without meeting the sperm, there will be no fertilization and no pregnancy.

The sperm cell can only live 2-3 days maximum. After which it dies and will be unable to fertilize the egg. The best time to have coitus or sexual intercourse is on the day of ovulation or at most 5 days before if you want to get pregnant.

Some theories have been speculated and have been widely accepted that coitus on the exact day or day before ovulation would almost guarantee a male baby while coitus 3-5 days before will almost guarantee a baby girl.

Now that we have come to understand the importance of knowing the ovulation date, let us now try to determine your ovulation day because it varies with individuals.

For a female with 28 days menstruation cycle, most likely the 14th day is your ovulation day. For females with an irregular menstrual cycle, your ovulation date would also be irregular and varied.

The best way to predict it naturally is knowing your cervical mucus changes and basal body temperature changes.

Cervical mucus changes that is consistent with egg-white consistency signifies the date of ovulation. Basal body temperature changes with a significant increase in temperature signifies the ovulation date.

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When Does a Fetus Become a Boy Or a Girl During Pregnancy? I'll Tell You

Posted: 30 Nov 2009 09:34 AM PST

I sometimes hear from people who hope that they can influence their baby's sex or gender after they become pregnant. They assume or hope that as long as the baby's genitals have not yet been formed, they still have time to try different things to make sure that they get either the girl or the boy that they've been hoping for. Unfortunately, this is not the case. I will explain this more in the following article.

A Look When Your Baby's Gender Or Sex Is Determined: I know that this is often not what folks want to hear, but once you are successful in becoming pregnant, the baby's gender is taken out of the equation. Once the sperm chromosomes fertilize the egg, what you get is either going to be an XY which eventually becomes a male baby, or an XX which eventually becomes a girl baby. There is nothing that you can do to derail or change this outcome.

The confusion comes in, I think, because early in the pregnancy, boy and girl babies look virtually the same. And, some people think that all babies start out as girls but then eventually, if the baby grows boy parts, then it becomes male. They also think that if these boy parts don't appear, then the fetus remains female. This isn't entirely accurate. As I said, a baby's gender is determined once the egg is fertilized. Just because it takes ALL of the body parts a while to develop does not mean that the gender has not already been determined.

A Look At How And When Gender Becomes Evident Or Able To Be Determined: Just because you can't see the differences in the beginning, this does not mean that they aren't present. However, I'm going to look at how and when these differences become evident. As I've alluded to, during the first six weeks of development, girl and boy babies look pretty much the same (both the internal and external genital structures are similar for both boys and girls - at least during this initial time period.) Both have gonads at this point. However, later these will evolve into either ovaries or testicles, depending upon which gender you are going to have. Boy babies begin to produce testosterone as early as 9 - 10 weeks after conception.

I'm often asked how early in pregnancy are you able to determine your baby's gender. By week 12 at the earliest and by week 14th at the latest, the sex organs are formed. But, they still aren't recognizable by most. Usually by week 16 - 18, these differences can be seen by ultrasound. Sometimes, amniocentesis will be necessary and this procedure can tell the baby's gender much earlier. However, there are small risks involved with this procedure so it's not commonly done unless there is a reason other than wanting to know your baby's gender.

I've often heard that girl babies have faster heart rates than boys. But the reality is, heart rates change rapidly during pregnancy and this isn't a scientific way to determine gender. Sure, it's fun to guess, but this method only provides you with guesses.

If You've Not Yet Pregnant, You Still Have Time To Influence Your Baby's Sex Or Gender: I hope this article has shown you that once you do get pregnant, you won't be able to change your baby's gender at that point. However, if you're still trying to become pregnant, then there is still time to change your routines and methods.

You will want to determine when you ovulate and then to tweak your timing depending on whether you want a boy or a girl. (Couples wanting boys should conceive later than those wanting girls.) You will also want to look your vaginal PH as well as the positions that you use to send the sperm to the egg. I believe that all of these things can help to determine whether you'll ultimately become pregnant with a male or a female. But, as I said, this window is only open before you have a successful conception.

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