Fertility Talk. Exploring The Root Causes Of Infertility. Kolawole Bisiriyu.

Transcription

1 Fertility Talk. Exploring The Root Causes Of Infertility Kolawole Bisiriyu

2 You can give away this book as a gift.you HAVE NO Right to edit the contents.

3 Disclaimer Do not consider this User-generated content as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read in this material. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. We understand that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor

4 Infertility is defined as the inability for a couple to become pregnant after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse. The male partner, the female partner, or both, may have a fertility problem. In women over 35 years old, an evaluation and possible treatment is needed after 6 months of unprotected intercourse. A person who is infertile has a reduced ability to have a child. It usually doesn't mean a person is sterile -- that is, physically unable ever to have a child. Up to 15% of all couples are infertile, but only 1% to 2% are sterile. Half of couples who seek help can eventually bear a child, either on their own or with medical assistance. Men and women are equally likely to have a fertility problem. In about one in five infertile couples, both partners contribute to fertility problems, and in about 15% of couples, no cause is found after all tests have been done. This is called "unexplained infertility." For many couples, infertility is a crisis. Fertility problems often come with feelings of guilt or inadequacy. But a diagnosis of infertility is not necessarily a verdict of sterility. What Causes Fertility Problems in Men? In men, the most common reasons for infertility are sperm disorders, including: Low sperm count. Too few or no spermatozoa in the semen. Low sperm motility. Sperm don't move as well as they should. Malformation of the sperm. Blocked sperm ducts. Another common problem is a temporary drop in sperm production. This happens when the testicles have been injured, such as when the testicles have been too hot for too long or the man has been exposed to chemicals or medications that affect sperm production. Spending a long time in a hot tub, for example, or wearing underwear that holds the testicles too close to the body can increase the temperature in the testicles and impair sperm production.

5 Sometimes there is a physical reason. In the relatively common condition called varicocele, veins around the vas deferens (the duct that carries sperm from testicle to urethra) becomes dilated -- similar to a varicose vein in the leg. The pooling of blood in these veins keeps the temperature inside the scrotum too high. Certain lifestyles, like increased alcohol intake and smoking, can also have a negative effect on sperm count. Age, too, is a factor: Men 40 years and older have decreased fertility. What Causes Fertility Problems in Women? The primary reason for infertility in women is anovulation, or lack of ovulation (release of eggs from the ovary). The major cause of anovulation is a condition called polycystic ovary disease, or PCOS. Another reason for female infertility is the inability of the fallopian tubes to carry eggs from the ovary to the uterus, usually due to scar tissue that may have resulted from prior infection or from a condition called endometriosis. Sometimes, fibroid growths, endometriosis, tumors, cervical problems, or irregular uterine shape can prevent an egg from implanting in the uterus. And, cervical mucus may damage sperm or impede their progress. Age is a primary factor of female infertility. In women, fertility declines with age, and even more so after the age of 35. Conception after age 45 is rare. Being overweight or underweight can also play a role in having trouble getting pregnant. Evidence suggests that couples trying to get pregnant should see a doctor as soon as they start trying to conceive -- especially if either or both partners have medical issues. During the visit, they can explore whether there are any problems that should be treated to improve fertility and increase their chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby. Women trying to conceive should add a supplement of at least 600 mcg folic acid, either alone or as part of their prenatal vitamins, to decrease the risk of fetal

6 malformations. Folic acid may also decrease the risk of a miscarriage. The folic acid supplement should be started at least 1 to 2 months prior to conception to maximize its effectiveness. So that said. Besides age, and lifestyle many of these factors are as a result of hormonal imbalance in the body. I will attempt to let you know what hormones are. So what are hormones? Hormones are a chemical compounds that are made by the glands and organs of your endocrine system. These glands release hormones into the blood, where they travel until they wash over the cells to which they were sent. In this way, hormones act as messengers on behalf of the brain and nervous system. When a change happens in your body, the nerves send a signal to the brain. Your brain interprets this message and sends a new message telling an endocrine gland or organ to release one or several hormones. Hormones affect every part of the body and elicit a wide range of responses. When we get scared, adrenaline is released, which speeds up the heart and breathing rate, making it possible to run away from danger or fight in defense. When we eat food that raises blood sugar, the brain signals a release of insulin from the pancreas that breaks down the sugar into a form that the body's cells can use for energy. Hormones work to help the body perform every process necessary for life, from growth and reproduction to digestion. Not only do hormones affect you; you affect hormones as well. For instance, mood affects the release of certain hormones. When you're sad or depressed, a stress hormone called cortisol is released in response. In this case, the hormone didn't make your body do something; rather, your body caused a hormone release. Signals from both outside and inside your body can affect hormone release. Hormonal imbalance can therefore be an indication that the hormone levels in the person's body are not within a normal range.

7 Research has indicated that a hormone imbalance can be caused by a number of things, including stress and aging. Both males and females can suffer from a hormone imbalance. Symptoms that may occur are bone loss, sexual dysfunction, depression and mood swings. What are the major causes of hormonal imbalance? Stress Stress reduces progesterone levels, which result in too much estrogen. When stressed, your body relies on progesterone to create the hormone known as adrenal corticosteroids to work against it. Although these hormones guard against stress, when your body is constantly stressed it's unable to make enough progesterone to be changed into anti-stress hormones. This causes adrenal exhaustion, leaving no room for left-over progesterone needed for other functions of the body. Environmental Toxins Environmental toxins such as those found in insecticides, gasoline fumes, herbicides and personal care products can stimulate certain hormones in the body to be produced, causing a hormone imbalance. These man-made toxins can accumulate in the body, dangerously affecting a woman's reproductive organs. Petrochemicals (PCBs) are found in products such as paints, lubricants, varnishes and inks. They have high amounts of xeno-estrogens, meaning they imitate estrogen. When they occupy the estrogen receiver areas of your body the good estrogen is unable to do its job properly, resulting in hormone imbalance. Environmental influences such as air and water pollution can contribute to unnatural hormone imbalances in females. A diet heavy in processed foods,

8 coupled with a change in the life cycle, can contribute to an already delicate balance of estrogen and progesterone. High stress levels brought on by work, family and personal demands, compound any external factors contributes to hormonal imbalances. Fatty Diet Nonorganic animals that are fed estrogenic steroids to fatten them are slaughtered for meat. When people eat the beef of these livestock the estrogens enter the bloodstream resulting in estrogen levels rising. This is why some people switch to an organic diet. Also many of our local foods that we consume this days contains real fats. Eating Disorders Serious eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa can cause hormones to become imbalanced. This occurs because eating disorders can lower the levels of reproductive hormones such as estrogen and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Eating disorders force stress hormones to increase, which causes reproductive hormones to decrease. Besides estrogen and DHEA, the growth hormones and thyroid are also affected by eating disorders. Simple ways to correct Hormonal Imbalance 1. Get a hormone check to see which hormone levels are high and which levels are low. The three main hormones that are the culprits for many hormonal problems are estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. When some are elevated and some are low, it can cause a host of problems including infertility, depression, weight gain, and acne.

9 2. Make sure that all the meat, dairy and eggs that you eat come from organic farms where the animals are not treated with growth hormones. Animal growth hormones can have unwanted effects on the natural hormone balance in humans. 3. Regular exercise has also been shown to have an effect on hormones. Hormone imbalance and a sedentary lifestyle often go hand in hand. Take time out of your schedule to jog, work in your Garden, lift weights, and stretch. And make energetic love at least once a week. 4. Reduce the amount of stress in your life. There have been links between hormonal imbalance and high levels of stress. Attempt to manage your stress with relaxation techniques, such as meditation. 5. Adjust your diet. Rapid weight loss and weight gain can lead to a hormonal imbalance. Eat a well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. 6. One natural method used by sufferers of hormonal imbalance is to participate in a body cleanse, which involves following a short fast and taking herbal medications to remove toxins from the body. It is important to know what is causing your delay and attempt to get rid of it instead of acting on them say. The first series ends here. I will entertain any questions you may have. Just send your questions to my mail at expertkolawole@gmail.com or give me a call on

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