Troubled with low sperm count, viability, motility or morphology?

Recently, a 90 day blind study was conducted to determine if treatment with FertilAid improved sperm quality in men. Funded (only in part) by the makers of FertilAid for Men, 14 subjects who met the parameters of low sperm count, low percentage of motility or low percentage of normal morphology as well as those who had not taken any vitamins for at least one month were chosen to participate.

Initially, these subjects provided 2 baseline semen samples before being randomly selected to either receive the vitamin, FertilAid or be given a placebo for the following 90 days.

Under the World Health Organization guidelines, routine semen analysis was performed by the same lab at the on-set of the study and then again at the conclusion of the 90 day analysis.

After 90 days the randomly selected 8 recipients of the vitamin showed an improvement in sperm quality; specifically with the number of normally-shaped motile sperm produced; versus the 6 who consumed the placebo and showed no signs of improvement.

The conclusion is that in spite of the small size of the study, significant improvements were found in men taking FertilAid and that larger studies should be conducted to confirm the results seen within this study.

An expert in the field of optimizing reproductive health for couples trying to conceive, Cindy Ferda offers conception solutions to those experiencing fertility issues. She is the author of How to Get Pregnant Quickly & Naturally and CEO of GetPregnant.org

Yin Yang Huo aka Horny Goat Weed

Albeit a funny name; don’t let the name dissuade you. Horny Goat Weed has been used medicinally for thousands of years. A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the all natural botanical has been used to remedy kidney and liver disorders and joint issues to its use and reputation as an all-natural aphrodisiac and natural alternative to Viagra. It has garnered many accolades from users and non-traditional health care practitioners.

Known to stimulate sexual interest and activity in men, the testosterone-like effects will increase sperm production, sperm count and semen density as well as desire, thus leading to more frequent intercourse. Women benefit from the supplement with an increased libido due to the expansion of the circulatory systems blood vessels, allowing for improved blood flow to the female organs.

The legend of Horny Goat Weed’s origination is that it was discovered by a Chinese goat herder who noticed an increase in sexual activity among his herd after repeated consumption of the plant (also called Yin Yang Huo and Inyokaku), and then he used it himself with stellar results.

In studies with mice, after being fed Horny Goat Weed, they showed a marked improvement in testosterone levels, sperm count and frequency of intercourse. The herb’s main function is its physiological effect on the dilation of blood vessels which trigger hormones to enhance blood allowing it to reach responsive tissues. It stimulates the supra renal glands, and triggers increased hormonal secretions.

Still today, considered one of the most valued herbs in TCM, this plant with long and wide heart-shaped leaves thrives in China and Japan, but can be grown almost anywhere. It can be purchased in the form of a supplement at most health food and vitamin stores for about $20.

The main ingredient, icariin, is known to help with erectile dysfunction and is an all-natural alternative to Viagra which is made up of synthetic chemicals.

If you or your partner are looking to spice things up in the bedroom; or improve issues like low sperm count or mobility, low libido, erection dysfunction, menstrual pains, renal failure, high blood pressure, premature ejaculation and even asthma and bronchitis, then Horny Goat Weed supplements may be just what you are looking for.

An expert in the field of optimizing reproductive health for couples trying to conceive, Cindy Ferda offers conception solutions to those experiencing fertility issues. She is the author of How to Get Pregnant Quickly & Naturally and CEO of GetPregnant.org

Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross and her rep announced to media outlets she underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments using her own eggs to conceive. She gave birth to fraternal twin girls Eden and Savannah at the age of 44. Cross delivered the twins 6 weeks early.

Former Friends and Dirt star Courteney Cox-Arquette underwent several in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures and suffered multiple miscarriages as well before conceiving and delivering daughter Coco at almost 40.

Lipstick Jungle star Brooke Shields told press the scarring she had from having pre-cancerous cells removed from her cervix may have initially caused fertility problems for she and husband Chris Henchy.

The couple decided to ramp up their conception chances with IVF. After her first in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF), Shields got pregnant but miscarried.

After multiple procedures, at 37, Shields finally got pregnant and ultimately gave birth to her first child. In April 2006, at 41, Shields delivered another baby girl named Grier. This time, reps for the couple say it was completely natural.

Beautiful 70’s model superstar, Cheryl Tiegs embarked on the journey into motherhood one more time at the age of 52. Surrogacy was her answer. Tiegs used her own eggs along with hubby Rod Stryker’s sperm. The couple’s surrogate delivered healthy twins.

Outspoken CNN superstar, Nancy Grace gave birth to twins John David and Lucy Elizabeth at age 48 via c-section in November 2007. It is believed the couple used a fertility treatment like in vitro fertilization (IVF) to conceive.

Hollywood superstar Jennifer Lopez gave birth, at 39, to fraternal twins Max and Emme via c-section. The couple sought IVF treatments and successfully conceived. It is believed J-Lo followed a strict healthful diet to conceive and carry to term. This included 3 cups of spinach each day.

Former star of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman turned successful painter and jewelry designer, Jane Seymour experienced numerous miscarriages before she underwent numerous cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF) to finally conceive twin boys at age 45.

Enduring a difficult pregnancy, Seymour delivered 6 weeks early. During her pregnancy, Seymour developed preeclampsia, a potentially dangerous condition that raises the blood pressure and may lead to convulsions if not treated properly.

Reps for Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former presidential hopeful John Edwards told press the couple sought fertility treatments for their last two children, but have not specified which procedures they used. Edwards did get pregnant and delivered a healthy baby girl at age 48 followed by their son at age 50.

Actor Dennis Quaid, 53, and wife Kimberly, 36, sought out a surrogate to carry their embryos. In November 2007, their gestational carrier (surrogate) delivered twins Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Santa Monica.

Former Good Morning America anchor Joan Lunden also turned to surrogacy after several failed IVF attempts. At age 52, Lunden and hubby Jeff Konigsberg turned to a surrogate who birthed twins. Two years later, the same carrier delivered another set of twins. Lunden’s rep does not say however, if the eggs were in fact Lundens.

Supermodel Christie Brinkley underwent numerous in vitro fertilization procedures and three miscarriages in her attempt at expanding her family at age 43. Finally conceiving at 44, Brinkley sustained a pregnancy and birthed third child Sailor Lee Cook.

There are countless other celebrities who have undergone fertility treatments or are currently undergoing fertility treatments today. In an effort to get the word out to other women that there are methods that work, they and their spokespeople are much more open and candid about fertility procedures available today.

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An expert in the field of optimizing reproductive health for women and men, Cindy Ferda has released her newest book on conception entitled ‘How to Get Pregnant Quickly & Naturally’.

The Center for Preimplantation Genetics Diagnosis offers a high-tech procedure that selects healthy embryos that are free of chromosomal abnormalities and defects; thus raising the chances of conception and delivery of a healthy baby.

This state of the art procedure is done in lab along with an IVF treatment. After medication is given to the female to stimulate egg production an ultrasound guided needle is used to retrieve eggs from the ovaries. United with sperm, they are placed in an incubator for fertilization and growth to the 4-12 cell stage. One or two cells from each embryo will be biopsied and genetic testing begins.

The center then tests for chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome, Turner syndrome and/or Klinefelter syndrome. Testing is also done for single gene inherited defects like cystic fibrosis and/or sickle cell disease.

At this point only embryos free of defects and/or abnormalities would be transferred to the mother’s uterus between day 4 and 5 following egg retrieval.

According to The Center for Preimplantation Genetics Diagnosis,

“PGD technology reduces the potential for adverse pregnancy outcomes for couples ‘at risk’ by testing the embryos for certain genetic abnormalities before they are chosen for transfer back to the woman. For example: 10 embryos resulted from an IVF cycle and through PGD testing, six were identified as genetically abnormal and four were normal. Armed with this knowledge, only the normal embryos would be selected for embryo transfer thereby reducing the possibility of miscarriage or birth defects”.

An expert in the field of optimizing reproductive health for women and men, Cindy Ferda has released her newest book on conception entitled ‘How to Get Pregnant Quickly & Naturally’.

According to the Mayo Clinic, less than half the men with sperm counts between 12.5 and 25 million sperm per milliliter are able to get their partner pregnant and less than one-quarter with sperm counts less than 12.5 end up impregnating their partners.

The good news however is, there are treatments available to remedy low sperm count.

If you and your partner have been trying to get pregnant for 6 months (for those over 35) to one year (for those under 35), consider scheduling an appointment with your doctor, urologist, reproductive endocrinologist or an infertility specialist to have your sperm analyzed and begin a treatment plan if deemed necessary. It is also advisable the female see her doctor or OB/GYN to check for fertility issues as well. Boosting female fertility can sometimes compensate for a lower sperm production level.

Generally, to achieve pregnancy in a partner, the hypothalamus or pituitary glands in a man’s brain must produce normal hormonal levels. If your doctor finds your levels are too low, he may recommend gonadotropin injections. For some men, normal levels may be achieved within a month or two, for others, it can take up to a year of injections. These levels can be diagnosed by simple in-office blood work.

A common cause of male infertility is varicoceles. This is a swollen vein or veins in the scrotum. This may cause only slight discomfort, if any, but can affect fertility. A varicocele can lower sperm count and is sometimes responsible for abnormally shaped sperm. A simple surgical correction can often remedy this setback. Testing for this issue is often detected by use of an ultra-sound.

An infection of the male reproductive tract can be identified with a simple blood test. High numbers of white blood cells may be a sign of an infection within the reproductive tract. A dose of antibiotics may cure the infection and restore normalcy.

Lack of zinc and folic acid in a man’s diet can lead to lower sperm count. A Danish study revealed men who added both a zinc and folic acid supplement to their diets increased their chances for impregnating their partners.

To maintain or achieve a higher healthy sperm count, doctors also advise men not smoke, avoid excessive drinking, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight, avoid hot baths and saunas, avoid tight clothing restricting the scrotal region, remove the cell phone from the front pocket and not put the laptop computer on the lap as it causes an increase in scrotal temperature.

It is also advisable to keep environmental toxins at bay. Exposure to toxic chemicals like bleach and paints or pesticides can reduce sperm count or even change the morphology of the sperm.

Researchers at the university, lead by Dr. Yeo, followed 79 women with a history of preeclampsia from 2001 to 2006 to determine the differences between women who walked for exercise and women who stretched.

Yeo and her teams’ findings showed that stretching could in fact provide extra protection against preeclampsia because stretchers produced more transferrin than walkers did. Transferrin is a plasma protein that transports iron through the blood and protects against oxidative stress on the body.

They say these new findings are contrary to the former belief that rigorous exercise was the way to alleviate preeclampsia risk.

Preeclampsia, also called toxemia or pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), is a condition that affects between 5% and 8% of pregnancies each year, and accounts for numerous maternal and fetal issues worldwide.

Women who may be prone to the disease are those who have a previous personal history or family history of preeclampsia, those with a history of high blood pressure, those with PCOS, those carrying multiples, those with autoimmune disorders or Lupus, those over 40, those with a body mass index of more than 30 % and those with poor nutritional habits.

Additionally, women who do not consume a healthy diet, remain sedentary, and who do not take the required prenatal supplements before and throughout their pregnancy may increase their chances of contracting preeclampsia. Although preeclampsia is often easily detected with noticeable symptoms, there are instances where it can come about from nowhere, endangering the life of both mother and child if gone untreated.

According to the Preeclampsia Foundation at www.preeclampsia.org, preeclampsia, toxemia, PIH, PET, as well as ephegesis gestosis refer to serious, closely related hypertensive conditions of pregnancy.

The foundation says toxemia is actually an older term used, which was based on a belief that the condition was the result of toxins or poisons in the bloodstream.

Preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia in the later stages of pregnancy, if not monitored. Eclampsia is one of the most serious complications of pregnancy and can lead to eclamptic convulsions or seizures that may lead to coma, brain damage, maternal or infant death.

In an effort to reduce blood pressure and preeclampsia symptoms, anti-hypertensive meds may be prescribed, and in rare instances, diuretics. A more recent clinical approach is to use magnesium sulfate.

If the mother or child’s health is at risk and blood pressure cannot be controlled, steroid treatment may be advised to help mature the baby’s lungs and ready him for an early delivery.

Those with a history of preeclampsia may have a restricted diet and exercise routine outlined for them by their health care provider in an attempt to stave off the harmful illness.

On a final note from the study at Chapel Hill; researchers found that at the end of the participants’ pregnancies, almost 15 percent of the women in the walking group had developed preeclampsia and less than 5 percent of the women from the stretching group actually developed the dangerous condition.

Signs of Preeclampsia

When a pregnant woman’s blood pressure readings reach 140/90, more than twice in six hours, it is often a sign of preeclampsia. Other signs related to the onset of preeclampsia are swelling and excess protein in the urine.

If a pregnant woman experiences any of the following symptoms, she should contact her doctor immediately to check for preeclampsia and/or determine the cause of the issue.

• High blood-pressure
• Severe headaches
•  Swelling
•  Changes in vision
• Upper abdominal pain, usually under the ribs on the right side
•  Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness
• Decreased urine output

Generally, preeclampsia does not affect pregnant women prone to the illness until after the 20th week of pregnancy.

After a doctor closely monitors a woman’s blood pressure, tests urine for protein levels and diagnoses preeclampsia, the healthcare provider may do additional tests to check that the liver and kidneys are functioning properly.

Additional blood work may be required to see if the blood has the normal number of platelets.

And finally, monitoring the baby’s development is of the utmost importance at this time as it is vital to be certain the baby is continuing to receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients. A steroid treatment may be given in an effort to mature the baby’s lungs.

In 1953 the first (fowl) sperm cryopreservation was reported. In 1986, Australian fertility specialist Dr. Christopher Chen reported the world’s first pregnancy using slow frozen oocytes (eggs) from a British controlled-rate freezer.

For many years doctors recommended a controlled-rate and slow freezing cryopreservation process to store eggs which offered less than exemplary results for women hoping to become pregnant. Prior to 2002, the success rate of live births from frozen eggs was a mere 1-3% globally.

Today however, an innovative new flash-freezing procedure known as Vitrification is on the rise showcasing stellar results at fertility clinics across the globe.

Vitrification is the latest breakthrough in egg freezing. It is a rapid freezing technique in which a high concentration of cryoprotectant (which is like a form of anti-freeze) is used in place of the water in the cell. Now free of ice and crystals, (which in the past had diminished egg survival rates) the resultant egg is now a solid glass-like cell. Eggs can successfully be stored for years. Most doctors seem to agree that this new procedure greatly improves the chances of egg survival during the freezing and subsequent thawing process.

When a woman is ready to use her stored frozen eggs an embryologist will need to inject the hardened shell with a needle carrying sperm for fertilization to occur. This technique is known as ICSI or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection.

A female egg is the largest cell in the human body. Containing a large amount of water, the ice crystals that form during a slow freeze can jeopardize the integrity of the cell.

The vitrification process is showing enormous improvement in egg survival rates, fertilization, pregnancies and ultimately births.

As with the formerly widely used slow-freeze cryopreservation technique, resultant chromosomal abnormalities remain consistent with those not using either of these freezing methods.

According to a report from the American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s official journal Fertility and Sterility, “the techniques of vitrification of oocytes and the subsequent warming process being used today are producing results equal to those using fresh oocytes and are, certainly, far superior to those utilizing slow-freezing techniques”.

With major advancements in our knowledge of egg/oocyte preservation, oocyte physiology and new laboratory techniques, the success of egg preservation is rapidly changing.

With egg/oocyte survival rates of over 90% after vitrification and warming, fertilization rates of 75%–90%, pregnancy rates of 32%–65%, and live-birth rates of over 50% , these numbers bring new hope to those who have had to delay pregnancy.

There is a growing faction of women in both the US and in the UK who are rejecting traditional medical advice and hospitals, and opting to stay home and give birth with no drugs, no midwife and no medical support. Supporters’ suggest it is how having a baby was always meant to be, but doctors warn freebirthing could have catastrophic outcomes.

A supporter of home birthing, Jana Kutarna, and a contributing writer for Pregnancy Solutions says women should take charge of giving birth. “Many women don’t realize that in our culture they are trained to give away the responsibility of their birthing to doctors and to midwives. In reality, insurance companies are not responsible for the birth, only the mother is”. And with that mindset, Jana delivered a healthy baby girl at home with no help from a doctor or even a midwife; guided only by a mother’s instinct.

The Discovery Health Channel continues to air the documentary “Freebirthing”. This unassisted childbirth documentary follows the story of 3 women preparing to give birth at home without any medical assistance.

The remarkable footage of the extraordinary deliveries is shown in their entirety.

Initially, 9 pregnant women who were planning to deliver at home were interviewed for the doc and all 9 women went on to deliver successfully. 2 sought non-emergency medical care following delivery; one for stitches, the other for slow placenta.

Even celebrities are raising awareness of staying at home to birth a baby the natural way.

Actress, talk show host and activist Rikki Lake recently produced a documentary entitled “The Business of being Born”. After Lake felt disenchanted with her first child’s delivery in a medical setting, Lake opted for home delivery the second time round. Not only does she talk the talk, she walks the walk. Lake successfully delivered a healthy baby girl, cameras running, in the peace and quiet of her own home in NYC in this documentary.

To sustain a healthy pregnancy, women must maintain healthy levels of progesterone at all times.

As a woman’s body prepares for ovulation, progesterone levels go up. The corpus luteum can stimulate the production of progesterone for about two weeks and if a conception occurs, the pregnancy itself takes over the stimulation of progesterone. With no pregnancy, the lining of the uterus deteriorates and a period begins.

If a newly pregnant woman’s progesterone level begins to diminish, then miscarriage would be imminent.

Many women who have experienced one or more miscarriages or are known to have a luteal phase defect (LPD) are being presented with a new option by their providers.

Prometrium, a synthetic form of progesterone that may help maintain a pregnancy and ward off miscarriage. Normally prescribed to menopausal women requiring hormone therapy and/or women experiencing abnormal periods, Prometrium can also be prescribed to women experiencing spotting or bleeding early in the first trimester or women with a history of recurrent miscarriage.

Available in tablet form a doctor will generally prescribe a 100-200mg dose to be taken orally once or twice a day. Suppositories and cream are available as well.

To determine the efficacy and safety of progestogens like Prometrium as a preventative therapy against miscarriage, a recent study (by Haas DM, Ramsey PS ‘Progestogen for preventing miscarriage’ Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 2) was conducted on 2118 women who participated in 15 trials. The study revealed no significant difference between progestogen and placebo or no treatment groups for a majority of the participants.

However, in a subgroup analysis of three trials involving women who had recurrent miscarriages (3 or more), treatment showed a statistically significant decrease in the miscarriage rate compared to placebo or no treatment.

Additionally, no significant adverse effects from taking Prometrium were reported regarding mother and child at this time, however many people feel there are not enough facts supporting its safety and warranting its overuse.

According to their own website, the most common adverse events reported in (postmenopausal) women receiving prometrium 200 mg were: breast tenderness, dizziness, abdominal bloating, vaginal discharge, chest pain, and diarrhea.

And most importantly, they actually warn not to use while pregnant. 

Further research indicated the long-term maternal and neonatal/fetal adverse effects of progestogen administration in early pregnancy also warrant further investigation.

Until then many non-supporters feel it is imperative Progestogen be removed from the treatment list for preventing miscarriage. Increasing awareness among policy-makers, health-care providers and patients about the fact that the practice is not based on evidence is a good start.

While Google, Bing and Yahoo search engines have all but replaced encyclopedias and dictionaries, eBooks are today’s convenient way of obtaining all kinds of literary material including pregnancy related books immediately from the Internet.

With the simple click of a mouse these eBooks can be downloaded right away, then you as the buyer have the option of printing it out and (or) keeping it conveniently on your computer or laptop for easy instant access.

When browsing through the shelves of the local bookstore it can be difficult deciding which book best suits your specific needs, so after evaluating and critiquing several of the eBooks relating to conception and pregnancy that are currently available on-line, we narrowed our search for the cream of the crop to the following three eBooks.

These best-sellers were created by reputable authors and true experts in the field and the prices ranged from $14.95 to $39 which is a small price to pay when you consider the thousands of dollars you could spend on unnecessary fertility specialists.

$39 eBook ‘Pregnancy Miracle’ by Lisa Olson – This top-selling author sheds light on getting pregnant naturally with her successful program. An alternative health and nutrition specialist, health consultant and Chinese medicine researcher, Lisa Olson teaches couples how to reverse infertility and get pregnant within 2 Months.

This eBook snagged our attention because of the quality of the content and the fact Olson guarantees her method with a 60-day money back guarantee. This book is available for $39 on her site here and it’s definitely worth a strong consideration.

$14.95 eBook ‘Get Pregnant Quickly & Naturally’ by Cindy Ferda – At $14.95 this is clearly the best bargain we could find anywhere on the net; it sells elsewhere for $29.95. This no-nonsense material offers the nuts and bolts necessary to conceive naturally while concentrating on providing the best health environment for your baby.

A national columnist for The Examiner’s Family and Parenting Pregnancy division, Cindy Ferda combines years of gynecological and obstetrical information from experts in the fields of reproductive medicine and holistic practices and presents them in this eBook.

‘How to Get Pregnant Quickly & Naturally’ contains great health tips as well as the newest secrets of conception and strategies for getting pregnant.

The book also includes an in-depth look at the advantages of fertility diets that not only are proven to increase a woman’s chances of getting pregnant, but also decreases the chances of a fetus having neural tube defects and other potential deformities.

Utilizing this same information the author conceived naturally at 44 and is now offering to share her knowledge and personal experience in conception, fertility issues, fertility enhancing foods and keys to improving sperm count and sperm motility naturally.

$29.59 ‘The Full Embrace Pregnancy Success Program’ by Diana Farrell, M.A. – This eBook reveals secrets about the most powerful and rare health treatments you can do yourself at home for FREE that will vastly increase your chances of conception within 8-12 weeks. To date the information in this book has helped thousands of couples beat infertility and achieve pregnancy.

We hope you find this information helpful and please comment back to this section to let us know how these eBooks have helped your quest to fertility so we can share your success with our other readers.