Combining Acupuncture & IVF Treatment for better results

There are many “alternative” treatments addressing fertility issues, which lead to the question “Does the combined treatments of acupuncture and IVF achieve more successful results?”

Acupuncture through its history has been attributed in helping a variety of ailments, all the while having an overall healing effect on the body. Acupuncture is increasingly being used to help with infertility. Women wishing to fall pregnant but struggling to conceive are turning to acupuncture, alongside IVF or donor-egg transfer.

The truth is that acupuncture although not generally used as a primary therapy for most fertility problems, is fast becoming a valuable support therapy for infertility.

Acupuncture can also treat a number of fertility disorders. Recent studies show that acupuncture has a positive effect on the female reproduction system by increasing and regulating blood supply to both ovaries and uterus, and promoting regular ovulation.

Combined with herbs acupuncture can treat elevated follicle stimulating hormones, repeated pregnancy loss, unexplained infertility, luteal phase defect, and male factor including men affected with sperm-DNA-fragmentation, among others.

Studies conducted regarding the benefits of acupuncture combined with infertility treatments have shown mixed results. It can be shown that acupuncture and infertility treatments together are substantially better than IVF treatments without acupuncture. The advantages that have been observed and the fact that acupuncture is both harmless and readily available, is regularly offered as an additional treatment to conventional infertility treatments.

One such study, (by Dr Eric Manheimer of the University of Maryland School of Medicine) indicated that the use of acupuncture may increase the success of IVF therapy by as much as 65%, with additional studies in Europe and the US offering signs that acupuncture treatments given on the day of implantation in IVF therapy can improve the success of implantation. On the other hand other studies have found no clear correlation between successful implantation and acupuncture – but have gone on to say that acupuncture is safe and would do no harm.

Acupuncture treatment length can depend on the issue at hand and consists of a number of visits with a licensed acupuncture provider, who will help you determine if acupuncture will help to you. Acupuncture can assist:

a. three to four months before insemination by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or donor-egg transfer, is a time to start acupuncture to get the optimum time for its therapeutic effects; and

b. acupuncture treatments are timed according to the phases of your cycle. The chance for a successful treatment increases if you can predict your ovulation or the start of your luteal phase. It takes approximately 120 days for an egg to mature before the ovary releases it during a cycle. This means that it may take up to six months of regular acupuncture treatments before your fertility improves.

c. the first twelve weeks period to help prevent miscarriage;

Acupuncture and infertility treatments do complement each other. Acupuncture helps to provide patients with the best level of comfort and relief, and can possibly reduce the impact of the most challenging aspects of IVF and other infertility treatments.

If you are planning a baby, having IVF treatment, or are already pregnant, acupuncture can assist in many, contact Louise Jeffery, Natural Fertility, (www.naturalfertilitysydney.com.au). Consultations in North Sydney and Sydney City. Louise would only be happy to hear from you so call 0406 680 463 or you can email naturalfertility@mail.com to discuss your needs.

Treating Male Fertility - How to Boost Male Fertility

In trying to have a baby, both partners play a vital role in ensuring they are healthy and fertile, especially their reproductive system. Infertility is not just the women’s problem. Men can have infertility problems too.

Fertility problems, especially pertaining to male infertility has increased considerably over the years. Many factors can contribute to male infertility problems such as sperm disorder, erection problems, hormonal problems, etc. There are treatments such as surgery and assisted reproductive therapy to treat male infertility but they can be very expensive and at times not assured of success and have side effects. This problem, however, can be treated naturally and safely by proper diet, vitamins and other supplements or herbal remedies.

Male infertility can be treated by improving sperm quantity, sperm quality and overall male reproductive health. The cause of male infertility problem may be due to their dietary and lifestyle changes that may affect with sperm production. Improving diet and making healthy lifestyle choices should positively improve male
reproductive health.

Male fertility can also be improved by making some sacrifices in your lifestyle by quitting smoking, reducing or stop alcohol consumption and avoid drugs. Smoking can lead to low sperm count, abnormal sperm and poor sperm motility whereas alcohol consumption is associated with defective sperm.

Improve your diet by taking food rich in protein, fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, poultry, legumes, nuts and seeds. Avoid processed and refined foods, saturated fats, hydrogenated oils and caffeine.

Try to overcome stress as it is harmful for the sperm. Obesity has linkage with infertility. Regular exercise can improve your overall health. It can also improve your blood circulation which is important for your reproductive system. It can also help you maintain better control over your erection and ejaculation. Keep hydrated by drinking lots of water. Water plays an important role in enhancing your fertility too. Rest and enough sleep are also vital in improving fertility.

Vitamins and minerals are vital to the reproductive system. It can enhance men’s fertility. Deficiencies can affect hormone function, inhibit sperm production, and contribute to the production of abnormal sperm. You should allow 3-4 months for the supplements to work. Folic acid is not only beneficial to women but also to men. Studies found that sperm counts in infertile men can increase after taking 6 mg of folic acid and 75 mg of zinc every day for six months. Sperm health can also be improved by taking vitamin C and E, zinc and selenium. You may also include L-Arginine and L-Carnitine, which are vital for semen volume and sperm motility.

Changes in sexual technique during the woman’s fertile period can help increase fertility in men. By having sexual intercourse on day 11 to 16 of the woman’s menstrual cycle, which is the most fertile period, conception is more likely to happen. The chances to become pregnant are more if sex is done in the missionary position, that
is the man on top. This way, the ejaculation of sperms will be directly to the recently released eggs.

Non-Hormonal Contraceptive are Just Around the Corner

The quest for a non-hormonal birth control pill seems to be going in the right direction as scientists and researchers develop a new contraceptive drug that avoids the side effects of hormonal birth control. During a recent conference of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the concept of RNA Interference was highlighted as a possible technique that will help develop the new contraceptive drug.
RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) Interference is a way of “silencing a gene” to stop it from working properly, inhibiting a sperm from entering the egg. Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston have identified a gene called ZP3 which is active in eggs just before they are fertilized. ZP3 produces a protein which allows the sperm to bind to the surface of the egg. If this protein isn’t there, the egg can’t be fertilized. The Boston team “silenced” the ZP3 gene in mice, and found they could not get pregnant.
At present, there is no contraceptive drug that is non-hormonal and reversible. “What we are trying to do is to think about contraception in a new way. Obviously, there are going to be hurdles and it is going to take a lot of time, but the need is there and we think it can be achieved,” said Dr. Zev Williams when he presented the research to the conference.
According to Professor Bill Ledger, from the University of Sheffield, a lot of women still had side effects, even on the modern hormonal contraceptives. “This is a new concept. If it were available, I am sure a lot of people would want to take it.”
Most hormonal methods of birth control can cause nausea, headaches, and low sex drive. It can also slightly raise the risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and strokes. They are designed to work by suppressing ovulation. However, in a small percentage of cases, ovulation may still take place. For some women, this may occur every single cycle. As a result, these contraceptives prevent pregnancy through a different method. Aside from suppressing ovulation, hormonal methods of birth control may also change the lining of the uterus so that implantation of a fertilized egg cannot take place. The embryo is then expelled from the body during the next menstrual period. These possibilities and side effects are causing controversy among women which make some of them avoid hormonal birth control altogether.
However, the production of this new contraceptive pill is still a decade away and may have its own side-effects. Researchers estimate that it will take about 10 years before clinical trials of RNA Interference contraceptive would be possible.
Obstacles need to be overcome and there is no guarantee that side-effects would completely eradicted, said Dr Martin Fabani, a researcher in the technique at Cambridge University. He even added that, RNA interference is fantastic and there was a big hype around it, but people are starting to see what we call ‘off-target’ effects - where the therapy has an unwanted effect elsewhere in the body. Every single application has some degree of off target effects.
The advantage of this research into ZP3 is that the gene appears to be active only in eggs prior to the moment of fertilization, and nowhere else in the body. It means that it could be switched off without necessarily affecting either the prior development of the egg and ovulation, or other parts of the body.

Development Of a Bracelet That Warns Of The Risk Of Overexposure To The Sun

A team of researchers from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, has developed an invention that changes color to alert the user that is being exposed to excessive sunlight, reports the BBC.

This device, slim and very little heavy, which warns of the possibility of receiving harmful doses of ultraviolet rays, can be worn on the wrist as a bracelet. Ultraviolet rays produce one chemical reaction in the device, which makes this release an acid on a layer of ink that changes color makes.

Andrew Mills, a chemistry professor and director of the research project, described the reaction of the ink as smart ink. “People believe that chemical reactions are something that happens in a test tube,” said Mills.

“But what you have here is a reaction in a very thin film of ink that produces a color change.” This is not the first device that records ultraviolet rays.

But what is so special, says Mills, is that it can be adjusted to give a signal instantly, just at the time of exposure to the sun is about to do us harm.

Mills has created a prototype of this film, combining a dye that changes gradually from yellow to blue, with a central stripe of ink that turns pink. “This late reaction is the newest feature,” explains the scientist. Just the indicator turns pink, says “you should retire from the sun, because if you stay, you burn.”

The device can also be adapted to different types of skin. Adding alkali to the dye slows the change of color. “Our plan is to form a company that believes in this technology-based products such as wrist bracelets or labels for clothes,” says Mills.

“We’ve already approached several manufacturers of products for skin care, who are interested in this technology.” Jodie Moffat, of the British Center for Research on Cancer, said that any product that emphasizes the importance of the damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays is valuable.

“Lucid Dreams” Dream at will

A lucid dream is when we realize that we are dreaming. This type of dreams may occur spontaneously or be induced through the implementation of certain practices and exercises. A curious phenomenon, and focus of various investigations.

Many scientific studies have been made in this regard. The most recent are those of Celia Green, founder of the Institute of Research psychophysical Oxford, and who is said to be the first to link the phenomenon of Lucid Dreams with the “false awakening” and the stage of rapid eye movements .

The oneironaut can often and spontaneously, this kind of sleep, although there is also the possibility of self-induced. Probably most people have ever had, one or more lucid dreams. What happens is that, as with common dreams have been forgotten later. Although they tend to be better remembered than typical dreams.

There are people who exercise for them and get to control them in different ways and that during the lucid dream there were different levels of sleep control. The more experienced dreamers gain control over their dreams almost at will. Among its abilities are the power to change the location of the dream, to visit sites known and imagined, flying, etc.. In these dreams all the elements are amplified, so often compared with spiritual experiences.

For their part, the English psychologist Keith Hearne says it has managed to make one set of oneironauts replicate a particular pattern of eye movement during dream experience, which would mean even more control of the sleep phase.

The Mental Health Of Parents Is Crucial In The Development Of Their Children

- The role of fathers in child’s personality has been underestimated.
- Children are more vulnerable than girls to father’s depression.
- The adolescent children of depressed parents with higher risk.

Good mental health of parents is crucial in the personal development of their children, especially boys, according to an article published in the British journal The Lancet. Boys seem to be more vulnerable as girls to the effects of a parent’s depression.

Although the development of children has traditionally been associated with mental health and personality of the mother, the first model to see the baby immediately after birth “, the authors believe that this view underestimates the father’s role in shaping personality of the child.

In particular, they stress that a child whose parents are alcoholics are more likely to develop in the future addiction to drugs or could even get to become a criminal in more extreme cases.

In his view, this influence is more on boys. In addition, adolescents whose parents have some form of bipolar are more likely to suffer from this disease.

Moreover, the authors also indicate that the behavior and personality of children can influence the mental health of parents, although state that generally, the transmission is in reverse.

Consumption Of Rolling Tobacco Increases , “Matter Of Economics Or Health?

The rolling tobacco sales in many countries have experienced a dramatic increase over 60% in the last eight months, a trend that consumers would explain the price cheaper than packs, while others argue that some brands without additives are less harmful than cigarettes.

Despite the price increase experienced by the rolling tobacco in June, remains far less expensive than cigarette packets because they contain twenty units and cost less than filters and cigarette papers.
The upward trend in consumption has been more evident this year, although some tobacconists have explained that the increase began in 2007, when sales were very low, and since then, they calculate that the increase should be close to 200%, reaching around 15%, compared to 85% which represents the snuff in pack.

This “new trend”, which sellers attributed mainly to young people, mostly men but there are a significant proportion of women in place for many years in other countries, as evidenced by the increase in sales recorded leak proof summer with the arrival of tourism.

But not all those who have decided for rolling tobacco for economic reasons, as some argue that there are brands which contain no chemical additives or wetting agents such as cigarettes, hence that consider less harmful.

This is one of the issues discussed in numerous Internet forums, where some brands are recommended and the doctors who smoke even talk about the merits of a particular snuff, while recognizing that its effects are in any case detrimental to health and that is healthier snuff not smoke.

Tooth bleaching Made By a “beautician” Can Be Dangerous

Tooth bleaching done in a consultation of aesthetics, “without any control and without the supervision of a specialist,” can be hazardous to the health of patients by high concentrations of peroxide containing bleaching agents, according to experts.

Hydrogen peroxide or carbamide used for the teeth whitening “can produce cracking, hypersensitivity, burns and even change the shape of the mouth” if you do not apply a licensed professional.

Also, ensure that the use of whitening toothpaste, chewing gum or other pharmaceutical products is “not effective” because concentrations below 1% “not permanently whiten” and above 6% “can have adverse effects health “if its use is not monitored.

In this case, “the impact of these products can last at most three or four days” because “what they do is not clear if the tooth wear,” he added.

Furthermore, Manuel A. Vigil also stressed that security is the use of amalgam in dental restorations.

This product, “presents some problems because it contains mercury, but in no case should be alarming on its use because there has not been a single case of severe illness or poisoning” by the use of amalgam, he said.

From the OECD “suspect that you are trying to do business with this topic for people to be alarmed and go to certain experts to remove the amalgam and will put them another product,” said Villa Vigil.

An Expert In Sleep Disorders Ensures That Bed Sharing Is Bad For Health

There are experts for almost everything. Some experts even to get into bed, so people figured it is true, for then announce the following advice: “Couples should consider separate sleeping for the sake of their health.”

That statement comes from Neil Stanley, a sleep disorder specialist, in the context of British Science Festival, said to share the quilt and hear snoring partners are two key ravages of sleep as a couple, reports the Spanish edition BBC.

A study by the doctor revealed that British couples - half-couples who sleep together always or usually experience a 50% more sleep-related disorders.

Stanley, who quite logically with the results of their study does not sleep with his wife, said that historically “couples did not share their bed and went back to the time of classical Rome to justify himself.

The doctor responsible for a major sleep laboratories in Britain at the University of Surrey, said people should consider the option of sleeping separately from their partners. Improving the quality of life is, in his opinion, the reward.

In 2015, the majority of separate rooms

This theory is not new. A couple of years, a survey by the National Association of Home Builders predicted that U.S. 2015, 60% of built homes have two master bedrooms, one for each partner.

As stated then, the desire to rest best was behind this trend, as several studies claimed that the lack of decent sleep can cause marital tension.

Showering Can Cause Health Problems, According To a Study

An act as innocent as taking a shower, could have a detrimental effect on our health, according to a latest study by U.S. scientists. The present study demonstrated, as reported in BBC News, the heads of the showers, to get dirty through use, become home to bacteria.

The type of bacteria that develops, Mycrobacterium avium is associated with pulmonary complications, in fact, belongs to the same family as the tuberculosis bacterium.

As described in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), which has published the study, the bacteria form a biofilm (microbial ecosystem) that attaches to the inside of the head, allowing it to stay there.

When water falls the shower head distributes bacteria-filled droplets that can easily be inhaled into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs.

The researchers, from the University of Colorado at Boulder, found “high levels” of the bacteria in 30% of the shower heads tested (fifty in total, chosen at random from nine different cities).

Avium Mycrobacterium levels found in these headers, they were 100 times higher than domestic pipe water supply.

The finding could explain why in recent years have increased cases of lung infections; what may be linked to the fact that the showers now are a more frequent practice with the bathrooms.

Next Page »