Still trying to get pregnant and looking for natural remedies that help the reproductive system?More natural and organic products are being displayed on the shelves at local supermarkets and specialty food stores than ever before with an array of healing assurances and natural cleansing and detoxifying options.

photo/Petr Kratochvil

Offering promises of increasing ovulation, sperm count & motility and ultimately conception, it is only natural we research some of these organic remedies as additional sources to consider utilizing on your journey into parenthood.

One product that seems to be a favorite is called FertiliTea. According to the manufacturers ingredients listed on their packaging, the tea contains only the following natural and organic ingredients.

• Chasteberry (Vitex) - stimulates the hormones involved in ovulation and helps restore female hormonal balance

• Red Raspberry Leaf - helps tone the reproductive organs

• Green Tea - is a powerful antioxidant that promotes fertility • Ladies Mantle – helps regulate your monthly cycle

• Nettle Leaf - is rich in vitamins, antioxidants and calcium

Fertility expert and creator of the all-natural organic product, Dr. Amos Grunebaum, says “FertiliTea is the only herbal tea that offers a complete spectrum of carefully selected fertility enhancing ingredients.”

Maca Root Supplements

According to researchers from the Mayo Clinic, an estimated 10 percent to 15 percent of couples are classified as infertile, which means that they’ve been trying to get pregnant with frequent, unprotected intercourse for at least one year with no success. In about half the cases, male infertility is  a factor.

photo credit/Alan Toniolo de Carvalho

There are of course many causes of male infertility known to the medical establishment today; however over the last twenty years, two newer potential causes are currently being examined further and believed to be associated with fertility issues in men; the laptop computer and the cell phone.

A study was done on the negative impact of laptop computer usage on 29 healthy male volunteers between the ages of 21-35 under the direction of Dr. Yefim R. Sheynkin, an Assistant Professor and Director of the Male Infertility and Microsurgery Program at Stony Brook University Hospital in New York and a summa cum laude graduate of Moscow Medical Academy.

Gradually declining sperm production has been noted in recent decades and the laptop computer may have a negative effect on fertility and sperm production.

Using 4 different brands of laptop computers, the study revealed that after one-hour of perching it atop the legs, balanced on the thighs, the bottom of a laptop rose from 88 degrees Fahrenheit to almost 104 degrees, thus causing the scrotum temperature to rise and adversely affect the health of the sperm. When scrotal temps rise by a mere 1-2 degrees Fahrenheit, sperm concentration may drop by up to 40%. This discovery is huge for laptop users!

The external pouch of skin that contains the testes is external for a reason. It allows sperm to develop at a lower temperature than the rest of the body. This is necessary for development of healthy sperm.

Fertility experts regularly advise their male patients avoid saunas, hot baths and whirlpools as well as not wear tight undergarments or shorts, as these too will increase scrotal temperatures and lead to a reduced number of viable sperm.

Copyright GetPregnant.org 2011

Cell phone and infertility has become a topic of debate in recent years. As the controversy presses on over the subject of cell phones and health, many couples struggling to conceive are wondering if cell phone usage really can cause infertility.

In a study published in the medical journal, Fertility and Sterility, Dr. Ashok Agarwal, PhD, Head of the Andrology Laboratory and the Director of Center for Reproductive Medicine at the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, reported a link between cell phones in talk mode and their adverse affect on sperm.

The report states researchers collected semen samples from 32 subjects, including nine patients and 23 healthy donors, and divided the samples into two parts to allow for both a test group and a control group. Specimens from the test group were then placed 2.5 centimeters from an 850 MHz cell phone in talk mode for 1 hour. Researchers identified this distance as being the typical distance between the testes and pant pockets; a common place for men to store their cell phones while talking on a hands-free earpiece.

Endometriosis is a medical condition in women in which endometrial like cells appear and flourish in areas outside the uterine cavity. Though they have been found in other regions of the body, they are commonly reported to be on the ovaries. Lined by endometrial cells, the uterine cavity is always under the influence of female hormones during reproductive years.

These endometrial-like cells in areas outside the uterus (endometriosis) are influenced by hormonal changes and respond similarly as do those cells found inside the uterus. Symptoms often worsen over time with the menstrual cycle.

Endometriosis is typically seen during the reproductive years and effects 5% to 10% of women of which approximately 30% have fertility problems. Symptoms may depend on the site of active endometriosis. Endometriosis is a common finding in women with fertility related issues.

Normally, at the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle; if a woman is not pregnant; tissue lining the inside of the uterus is built up and shed or discharged as a menstrual flow. However with endometriosis, endometrial-like tissue forms on the exterior wall of the uterus inside the abdominal cavity and unlike normal dispelling of menstrual flow, this has no place to go when it breaks apart, bleeds or sheds, thus it often remains in the abdominal cavity causing inflammation and swelling. Later on, endometrial tissue may become lesions, nodules, growths or implants. Less than 1% report cancer-related issues due to endometriosis.

How safe is it to get a mani-pedi in a busy nail salon while pregnant?

A high exposure to Acetone during early weeks of pregnancy may increase the chances of miscarriage according to scientific research and studies.

Prevalent throughout a nail salon, Acetone, is found in nail polish remover at every station.Either by inhalation or through the skin and nails, a woman’s contact with Acetone can affect the nervous system of the unborn, thus leading to developmental delays in her offspring or even miscarriage.

Before spritzing your body with seductive scents certain to capture your partners attention, you may want to reconsider.

Scientists from Analycen Lab in Sweden (who were acquired in 2007 by Eurofins Scientific, a life sciences company operating internationally to provide a comprehensive range of analytical testing services to clients from a wide range of industries including pharmaceutical, food and environmental sectors with over 6,000 staff in more than 100 laboratories across 27 countries) discovered links between colognes and cosmetics, and reproductive health issues, especially in young males.

Analyzing 34 leading brands of cosmetics, the researchers found more than three-quarters contained diethylhexyl phthalate or other phthalates, used to prevent fragrance loss. And, according to the study, damage to the reproductive system is possible in the adult male and female as well as the male unborn child. Impairment can occur as early as the first four to eight weeks of gestation. Scientists believe the phthalates can be absorbed into woman’s bloodstream through the epidermis or inhalation, thus causing severe health issues for some.

Some women who are trying to get pregnant may be having difficulty due to a pH imbalance. You can check your level at home and remedy the issue through many foods, spices and drinks.

For optimal hormonal functions in women, it is important to factor in the alkaline/acidity level balance when trying to conceive. Bear in mind, proper pH balance in women is vital to ones overall health and not just for conception and pregnancy.

A simple at home urine test can determine whether or not a woman’s pH balance is acceptable. Using Medical pH Test Strips one can determine levels quickly and easily. These strips determine ones urinary pH, which is generally a good indicator of how acidic total body pH is. An acceptable urinary pH range should be between 6.5 in the a.m. and 7.5 by evening.

Studies indicate hostile cervical mucus environments, often caused by high acidity levels in women, can hinder sperm and reduce the viable number of sperm considerably. To combat this dilemma, there are numerous dietary choices that can reverse high acidic levels and raise a woman’s alkaline level to an acceptable one or neutral one, thus allowing sperm to travel through the cervical mucus more easily.

The big ‘O’. What might the affect of a female orgasm have on fertility?

Well over 100 years ago, doctors actually prescribed an orgasm as a method to help couples conceive. The theory was a female orgasm just after a male ejaculation would help guide the semen from the cervix into the uterus. It was called an “up suck”.

The dynamics of a female orgasm are complex with a series of involuntary contractions of the muscles of the genitals. Medical research indicates the rich vaginal fluids created during arousal and an orgasm help guide sperm more easily.

It is wise to note that certain medications, including some over-the-counter antihistamines or diseases such as diabetes, will inhibit a women’s lubrication, thus making it more difficult for semen to travel viably.

“Medical research indicates the rich vaginal fluids created during arousal and an orgasm help                                 guide sperm more easily”.