New study links higher sperm count to vitamin

Troubled with low sperm count, viability, motility or morphology? A recent study published in the Journal of Andrology from the American Society of Andrology cites FertilAid supplements for men may improve sperm dynamics for some men.

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

Celebs open up about fertility treatments

With so many couples encountering fertility issues these days, one place they can go to seek comfort and information is in the stories of successful fertility treatments for the women of Hollywood, the runways, the media, the music industry and even politics.

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’.

Sweet success for ‘Hollywood moms’ who give birth after 40

For the latest pregnancy, health and conception tips visit Cindy Ferda’s National Examiner column here. 

When it comes to pregnancy over 40, nothing beats a good dose of Hollywood moms over 40 conceiving and successfully giving birth to make women across the globe hopeful they

 too can achieve their goals of having a family.

Beautiful Naomi Watts, 41, known for her roles in ‘King Kong’ and ‘Mulholland Drive’ and partner Liev Schreiber welcomed a son, Samuel Kai seven weeks ago. It is the second child for the duo.

‘Life on Mars’ star Lisa Bonet, 41, and her husband, ‘Stargate Atlantis’ actor Jason Momoa announced the birth of baby boy Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa. Bonet also has a 20 year old daughter, actress Zoë Isabella Kravitz from ex-hubby Lenny Kravitz.

Academy-award winning actress Nicole Kidman, 41, and country singer hubby Keith Urban welcomed 6lb. 7oz. daughter Sunday Rose last July. Kidman has two adopted children Isabella and Connor with ex-husband Tom Cruise. Sunday Rose is her first biological child.

At 41, actress Halle Berry and Versace model boyfriend Gabriel Aubry brought home their new daughter Nahla last March. This is the first child for the pair. Reports from Hollywood state Berry, now 42 along with beau Aubry are hopeful for yet another baby.

With more women in the workforce than ever before, studies indicate that the numbers of advanced maternal aged moms are increasing yearly as not only celebs are putting off baby-making but women across the country as well. Whether it’s a forty-plus hour work week amassed in Hollywood or as a business professional, countless numbers of women are opting out of procreating until well into their thirties and early forties to pursue their careers early on.

Accordingly, infertility clinics are popping up across the country to accommodate the abundant calls they receive on a daily basis. The latest CDC report filed indicated more than 10% of women or 1.2 million who tried to conceive turned to fertility treatments and testing for help.

Assisted reproductive techniques like in vitro fertilization (IVF), the egg-stimulating drug Clomid, egg or sperm donation, utilizing a surrogate or gestational carrier; these are just a sampling of the methods and treatments being offered and used by Hollywood moms and women across the globe.

From ‘Lipstick Jungle’ star Brooke Shields, 41 at the time of delivery of Baby Grier to ‘Desperate Housewives’ star, Marcia Cross who used IVF and welcomed fraternal twins Eden and Savannah at almost 45 to Courteney Cox-Arquette who at 40 also using IVF brought daughter Coco into the world to hard-hitting CNN anchorwoman Nancy Grace, another admitted IVF-user who at 48 gave birth via c-section to twins John David and Lucy Elizabeth, these women are an inspiration to the millions of women each year attempting to fulfill their dreams and the nursery.

Click here to view the ‘Hollywood Moms over 35 Baby Gallery’ for a little extra inspiration.

Get Pregnant. Where do you stand statistically?

Recent studies indicate a healthy woman under the age of 35 who has unprotected intercourse on average of twice a week for three months has a 57% chance of conceiving a baby.

Six months of exposure will bring results on average of 72% while one year of baby-making will bring the number to approximately 85% and two years of trying to conceive reaches near 93%. If you are over 35, simply divide the above numbers in half. These are still great numbers!

Let’s talk eggs!

Now, for a bit of information on the life-span of “the egg”–viable and non-viable.

Studies also show a female embryo in the womb of her mother at only 4-5 months has between 6-7 million eggs also called or referred to as “oocytes“, dropping down to 1-2 million by birth. Puberty brings this number down to 300,000 – 500,000.

The menstrual cycle claims several hundred more over the decades of normal periods and by the time a women reaches her mid to late 30’s some studies indicate the number drops to a mere 25,000 eggs remaining in her ovaries.

Once into her 40’s, another study suggests she may have approximately 1.5 % of her original supply remaining. Regardless of which study you choose to agree with, there are usually plenty left after age 35 to consider the odds favorable – possibly between 25,000 and 90,000. Beyond all of this, eggs are also lost through natural cell death, as well.

Throughout the life span of a woman’s eggs the number of genetically viable ones naturally decreases with age and the proper distribution of the genetic contents may be lost or uncertain. Of the genetically abnormal pregnancies, most go on to miscarry in the first or second trimester of pregnancy and of the women who are over 35, there is even a higher risk of miscarriage with normal and/or abnormal pregnancies and several studies suggest women over 40 have a 1 in 3 or 4 chance of miscarriage.

But do not dismay. Many women go on to eventually conceive and deliver healthy babies well into their 40’s.

Seek help. Find additional helpful information and explore adding prenatal supplements to your diet. Always speak to your physician.

There is a plethora of information and ideas, methods and suggestions you may want to ponder and consider utilizing…ovulation predictor kits, ovulation calendars, natural fertility boosters, fertility handbooks, healthy diets chocked-full of greens, pre-natal vitamins months in advance, basal thermometers, best suggested sexual positions to conceive, large quantities of water to keep the body well-hydrated, suggested exercise routines, books on healthy eating, homeopathic remedies, herbal teas, female infertility information, male infertility information, yoga and relaxation techniques, and all the “dos” the “don’ts” and the pitfalls and myths to take in stride all geared to help you get educated, do what is best for you and get pregnant.

And if need be, assisted reproductive technology (or ART) is available across the globe with outstanding results in many categories in this day and age. Much scientific and medical advancement are being developed and cultivated on a regular basis.