Many people wonder if exercise will decrease, or increase, fertility having read or heard conflicting information. So what is the real answer? Exercise can both positively and negatively impact fertility, depending on the circumstances.

Exercise and  Decreased Fertility in Women

Weight is an important factor in fertility in women. With society’s increased acceptance of the super thin physique, there has been an increase in women experiencing fertility problems. For women who are excessively thin, exercise can actually decrease the chances of becoming pregnant. It is necessary to have some body fat in order to produce estrogen, which the body needs for the regulation of ovulation. Too little body fat can cause the body to ovulate irregularly, or cease ovulation altogether.

Over Exercise and Male Infertility

Occasionally, exercise can also negatively impact male fertility. For men with a low sperm count, exercise should be given special consideration. Sperm live most optimally at normal body temperature. With exercise, the body temperature typically rises, which can cause the sperm to die, lowering sperm count. It has also been found that excessively thin males have a lower sperm count.

Exercise and Increased Fertility

If a woman is over weight, exercise can lead to weight loss which will increase fertility. Extra body fat leads to increased estrogen which can hinder ovulation. Generally, a healthy lifestyle which includes a healthy diet and moderate exercise is widely accepted as positive factors in increased fertility in both men and women. Regular Exercise is known to be beneficial in these ways:

• Exercise is known to decrease stress, which can be a consideration in infertility. many people experience an increase in fertility with stress deduction techniques, such as exercise.
• Regular exercise can help regulate hormones and increase circulation.

Are there Specific Exercises to Increase Fertility?

Though many studies, both formal and informal, have been done on the subject, the jury is still out on specifically which exercises may increase fertility most dramatically. While all moderate exercise is know to be of positive benefit in most people, some may increase the chances a bit more. Moderate exercises to increase fertility include:

• Walking regularly is low impact and can help in weight loss and weight maintenance.
• Swimming is another great choice in moderate exercise.
• Golf
• Cycling is low impact and aerobic
• Yoga. Many yoga poses are thought to be very helpful in increasing fertility by increasing the circulation and blood flow to relevant parts of the body. However, there is even some debate as to which poses are most beneficial. The belief and acceptance of yoga’s positive impact on fertility is so widely held that many fertility treatment centers also include Yoga classes as part of their auxiliary programs.

Before beginning any exercise program, it is important to talk with your physician. An online support group would also have valuable information on area exercise classes as well as personal experiences as what exercises were helpful in increasing fertility.

Receiving a diagnosis of fertility problems can be difficult to understand and accept for some time. It may need some time to fully sink in before you are able to get proactive, ask good questions and seek out every option. Unfortunately, the time you are ready to ask questions may not coincide with prescheduled and short doctor appointments. Even when so much hangs on getting the information, it is impossible to get it done in a few short appointments.

So where can you go to get the information you need which may lead to the completion of your family? Divide and conquer! Many of the questions can be sorted either clinical or practical and personal. To get the best infertility help, go to the source.

Clinical Infertility Help

Infertility is complex in every way, from diagnosis to treatment. It is also expensive. So it makes sense to know as much as you can to make informed decisions right from the start. To begin getting clinical questions answered, it is necessary to gather as much information as you can from those in the field. These simple points can help get the best infertility help:

• As your doctor to write down the diagnosis
• Research it online at reputable medical sites and in online medical journals -noting treatment options and medications
• Cross reference any possible misdiagnosis
• Come back to your doctor with a list of specific questions

Practical Infertility Help

Another one of the best places to find infertility help is through support groups. Local support groups can offer a wealth of information on what help  is available locally, the most successful fertility treatment centers as well as personal support. Online, there are many support groups available tailored to your specific diagnosis, women or men only and general groups. The advantages of these groups are numerous and invaluable. In online groups you can find help for issues you may be having, find out what lies ahead, get person objective opinions and support from those who understand personally. Many of the advantages include:

• The opportunity to be somewhat anonymous and vent your feelings openly and honestly
• Get real infertility help and information of treatments, how they feel, how much they cost, and side effects before you undergo them
• Get information that your doctor may not yet have
• Compare treatment plans
• Find out about what your partner may be feeling through the experience of others
• How to deal with the practical things like baby showers for friends, family and coworkers
• How to answer all of the questions from friends and family
• Dealing with emotions, your own and your partner’s
• Caring individuals that know how you feel and just listen
• Groups for just men or women allow you to ask questions and vent without feeling like you are being monitored, corrected or judged

We are very fortunate to live in an age of information where nearly all that we want to know is right at or finger tips. With a little effort, information on infertility can be found in many places, and can be very valuable in your journey.

Many couples going through fertility treatments wonder if there are other natural steps they can do to increase their chances of becoming pregnant. Reflexology is one of the natural treatments gaining attention, with many couples attributing increased fertility and successful pregnancies to the natural treatment.

What is Reflexology?

Reflexology is an ancient healing art that was further developed in modern times. It is believed that certain points on the feet corresponds to related organs, glands and the nervous system. It is believed that applying pressure to these points, it positively influences health. It recent years, reflexology has gained attention as part of an overall treatment plan for some couples experiencing infertility.

How is Reflexology Thought to Increase Fertility?

Reflexology adherents believe that there are specific points on the feet strongly associated with the reproductive process. A series of applied pressure to the points associated with egg production and hormones may correct imbalances that may be hindering fertility. Reflexology is thought to increase fertility in these ways:

• The reduction of stress. The fertility process is undoubtedly one of the most stressful times a couple will encounter, and that stress can impact fertility. High levels of stress can trigger neuro-chemical changes which can hinder the release and maturation of the eggs.
• Help in balancing the endocrine system. Stimulating the ovary reflex point can help the body in ovulating.

What Evidence is There that Reflexology Can Increase Fertility?

Unfortunately, studies in this area have been few and the evidence remains largely in personal experiences. Since it has not been the subject of many large studies, any success  which could otherwise be attributed to the treatment goes uncounted. Additionally, any increase infertility in a couple undergoing traditional fertility treatments in conjunction with reflexology would also be attributed to the traditional treatment. If it is factored in at all, the medical community largely attributes any success to the reduction of stress which positively impacts fertility. However, many women who have been told that there was little point in undergoing fertility treatments due to high hormone levels, suggesting the ovaries may have stopped producing enough estrogen, have reported increased fertility with reflexology.

Are There Any Negative Side Effects?

As a natural treatment, there are no known side effects to reflexology treatment. It is for this reason that many women will undergo treatment in conjunction with other fertility treatments. Also, many feel that it is worth the effort, regardless of whether or not it has a stamp of approval in the medical community or not because the anecdotal evidence is so strongly in favor of increased fertility with the treatment.

Reflexology Does not Claim to be a Cure-all

The foundation of reflexology does not claim to be the cure all for any fertility problem. Rather, it is a safe and natural treatment that uses pressure to reduce stress,  increase blood circulation and strengthening the immune system. All of these factors play a role in fertility, and improving them can increase fertility.

Infertility can be an exhausting journey filled with many difficult decisions. One of the most difficult may be whether or not to use sperm donation as an infertility help and solution. There are many reasons a woman or couple may consider sperm donation as an option, an each of them comes with a complex set of things to consider by all those involved. Ultimately, it is a very personal decision and one that requires much consideration.

Personal Considerations of  Sperm Donation

For many couples, there is a great deal of uncertainty even after the decision has been made to consider sperm donation. Most fertility specialists, as well as others who have personal experience with infertility recommend therapy with someone who specializes in infertility issues and can offer help and insight into the many emotional issues involved. There are no right or wrong feelings and many are caught off guard by their own deepest thoughts. In addition to therapy, local and online infertility help support groups can help in dealing with many of the issues which may include:

• Male guilt and grief over the lost hope of a child biologically related
• Feelings of inadequacy
• Female guilt over the desire to be pregnant
• Spouse not fully understanding the desire to be pregnant
• Feeling like you are somehow unfaithful to your spouse
• Feeling that the spouse is putting too much of the decision making process in your lap
• Secretly not being on the same page
• Concerns of the husband is outwardly supportive but inwardly resentful
• Fears that the spouse may not feel as bonded to the child
• Fears of not knowing the donor
• Fears of using a known or related donor
• The unwanted, uninformed or misinformed comments
• The pressures of family to have a child
• Worries of whether or not family will accept the decision, or the child
• Feeling you may somehow be judged by friend or family for the choice of infertility help

Practical Considerations

When the decision has been made to pursue sperm donation as the best course of infertility help, a whole new set of considerations open up. One of the most important of the considerations is whether to use a known or unknown donor.

Known Donor

For some couples, using a known donor provides a great deal of comfort. One popular course of action is using the donated sperm of someone related to the husband, because though the child may not be the spouse’s biological child, it is still related. This can be very legally complicated and involves a significant waiting period before the sperm can be released from the bank after testing.

Unknown Donors

Using an unknown donor from a sperm bank is by far the most commonly used method of sperm donation. Though the child is not biologically related to the husband, it does allow you to browse through a profile book of donor and choose from someone who has similar traits. The sperm has already been tested for things like HIV and processed, so there not a long waiting period.

The decision to use sperm donation is a difficult one but is right for many people. One of the most important things to remember, particularly when choosing between sperm donation and adoption,  whether or not the child is yours biologically, it is a product of your union and because of that, every bit your own.

Infertility is something only those who have experienced it understand fully. It is not just a medical issue with which to be dealt; it is something that infuses every part of your life. Although infertility is a personal journey, it is one that many travel and sharing that journey has never been more possible than today.

Infertility Support

When a couple is diagnosed with fertility problems, the fertility treatment center is likely to recommend a support group. Many people find support groups helpful as they seek treatment and experience the many complicated emotional, social, economic and medical issues associated with infertility. Some of the advantages of local infertility help and support groups include:

• A close local group can be a source of information on local infertility helps
• Provide the opportunity to know others in the area who are dealing with the same issues
• A resource for local fertility centers

Online Forums Provide Infertility Help

With the advent of the internet, many online support groups have been created to provide valuable infertility help. While every person is unique, in the vastness of online support groups a person is very likely to find someone who’s diagnosis and circumstances are very similar to their own. Online support groups can provide the knowledge that there are many people out there who have been right where you are, and lead very full and happy lives while they deal with the many complexities of infertility. Some of the many advantages of online infertility help includes:

• The opportunity to remain somewhat anonymous allows the participant to express thoughts and fears more feely than they might otherwise in person.
• Online forums disseminate information very quickly and are often the best place to learn about new treatments, adverse effects and other relevant information.
• Dealing with anger and sadness may also be easier when discussed with the privacy that an online forum provides.

Online Forums Can Provide Practical Infertility Help

Although there are many medical issues with which online forums can provide help, everyday practical help is also very valuable. Dealing with infertility is emotionally exhausting, and many people can unknowingly be hurtful. It is difficult to be happy when it seems nearly every occasion is an opportunity to be reminded of your desire to have a child. An online support group can help in dealing with the emotions that come up when a kind, but somewhat thoughtless sister-in-law constantly updates her website with the potty training progress of her 1 year old or what to say when someone asks, yet again, if you plan on having children. many groups are for men or women only and gives each the place to vent feelings without the feeling of being monitored. An online community can help in dealing gracefully with the many every day situations that come up, such as:

• Attending baby showers for family and coworkers
• Lost pregnancies
• Probing questions
• Well meaning but uninformed advise
• Marital problems
• Financial stresses
• Dealing with physicians when you do not see eye-to-eye
• Practical help in dealing with the side effects of infertility treatments

Dealing with infertility can be a long and painful journey but one that can be rewarding with the added help of those who understand the difficulty personally. There is an amazing wealth of information and infertility help right at the finger tip, and always, many willing to share in the journey.

The use of cryopreservation in fertility treatments has been widely applied since the 1980s when pregnancy and live birth was first achieved from a frozen and thawed embryo. Since that time, reproductive technology continues to advance and now, in addition to embryo cryopreservation, egg cryopreservation is also becoming more common. New to reproductive technology, egg freezing is giving additional choices to couples trying to conceive or wishing to extend or preserve their time of conception. Having been recently developed, a relatively few number of people have yet chosen to have their eggs thawed yet although early results show a better than 20% success rate.

What is Embryo Cryopreservation?

Embryo cryopreservation, or embryo freezing, is a commonly used form of assisted conception treatment for couples experiencing fertility problems. Typically, to assure the highest possibility of success, more embryos are created than will be used in one IVF cycle. When there are embryos that are not used in an IVF treatment, many couples opt to preserve them for possible use in a subsequent treatment cycle. In order to be preserved, the embryos undergo the following process:

• The embryos are placed in thin vials which resemble straws
• A preservation solution is added to the vile to protect the embryo
• The vials are stored in a controlled freezer containing liquid nitrogen

The Thawing Procedure

• The Embryo is brought to room temperature
• The embryo is cleaned of any preservation fluid
• The embryo is warmed to body temperature

The Transfer Procedure

• A thin catheter is gently guided through the cervix and into the uterus
• The embryo is transferred to the uterus

Many women report that the Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) process is much less stressful than a “fresh” embryo transfer and many fertility specialists have much better results using embryo cryopreservation.

What is Egg Freezing?

Very new in reproductive technologies, egg freezing is offering new possibilities in couples trying to conceive. The egg freezing process is very much like the embryo cryopreservation process. In egg freezing, some of a woman’s eggs are collected to be frozen and used at a later date. Like in embryo cryopreservation, the eggs are stored in protective medium and frozen. Although so new that very little data has yet been obtained, the process is proving very promising. Already, 300 pregnancies have been achieved using the process. Typically, the process is considered for women 40 years old or younger. Though the principle is the same, there are some slight differences in the process which include:

• Some of the media used to process the eggs is different
• The eggs require a different cooling rate
• Egg freezing has not been around as long as embryo cryopreservation and long term data is not available

Preserving Fertility Options

Both embryo cryopreservation and egg freezing are options for those either having difficulty conceiving or those who wish to preserve fertility options and start a family at a later time.

Infertility is a personal and often emotionally draining journey that, while in it, feels desperately alone and as if there is no end. If you are having trouble conceiving, it may be encouraging to know that there is hope. Here are a few infertility success stories — personal journeys which may inspire you.

Amanda’s Story
After trying to conceive for 31/2 years Amanda went to see a fertility treatment center where she was diagnosed with polycystic ovaries. After some hard and stressful times, IVF helped her complete her family.

Zannyha’s Story
At 25, Zannyha and her husband were surprised to find that they were pregnant without trying too hard. The pregnancy was completely uneventful until the very last moment when her daughter went into fetal distress and was born dead. After this heartbreaking tragedy, the couple decided to wait before tying to have another child. After 3 years, when they decided they were ready to try again, they found it difficult to get pregnant. Within 5 years they had cashed in retirement funds and sold their home to pursue treatments at the fertility treatment center. The stress began to have an impact on their relationship and she felt that sex was purely for the purpose of getting pregnant, lacking romance or emotion. Just when they though all hope was gone, they found they were pregnant with their beautiful baby girl.

Helen’s IVF Story
Never dreaming that infertility would be part of her life, 33-year-old Helen and her husband went to a fertility treatment center after 2 years of trying to conceive. After a devastating miscarriage and months of emotional highs and lows, the couple welcomed a baby girl who is the joy of their life.

Kellie’s Story
Infertility is difficult, especially when you are surrounded by young couples all starting families. For Kellie, living on a Military base while experiencing fertility problems was a heart rending experience. With a husband who was deployed 3 times to Iraq, it was easy to assume that stress could be a contributing factor. Weight may have also been a contributing factor she feels and underwent a gastric bypass. However, after seeing the help of RE, she was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Soon, Kellie had the wonderful news that she was pregnant and after a grueling pregnancy, welcomed a new little girl to the family.

Mary’s Story
Mary and her husband endured 8 emotionally draining years of visiting the fertility treatment center and learning all there is to know about infertility. Having a child just did not seem like it would be part of their future, until, Christmas morning brought happy news.

PJ’s Story of Premature Menopause
At 35, PJ never guessed that she and her husband would have difficulty having a child. After a year of trying, she and her husband decided to see a specialist at the fertility treatment center for help. After 3 failed IUIs, they decided to investigate other options. Soon, PJ found to her surprise that she had conceived naturally.

1. When should a couple consider going to a fertility treatment center for consultation?
For couples 35 years old and younger and no known fertility problems, most fertility experts recommend seeing a specialist if conception has not taken place after a year or more of well-timed intercourse. Couples over 35 should consider seeking specialized help after six months, and those with known fertility issues should seek the help of specialists as soon as they are considering starting a family.

2. What Can We do to Increase Our Chances of Becoming Pregnant?
Naturally, increasing the amount of intercourse during a cycle will increase your chances of becoming pregnant, as well as having intercourse the day you ovulate or immediately before you ovulate.

3. How Do I Know When I am Ovulating?
If you have a regular cycle, approximate ovulation is easy to calculate. Counting forward from the first day of your period, ovulation occurs 15 to 19 days into the cycle. Your body also gives certain clues. The mucus changes and becomes the consistency of egg white. Some women also feel a sharp pain in the abdomen when the egg is released.

4. Is it Possible to Improve Sperm Count or Sperm Quality?
Most fertility treatment centers recommend wearing looser fitting undergarments as well as well as taking cool showers over hot baths to promote better sperm production. Smoking and alcohol consumption also play a role in poor sperm production.

5. When Can I Take a Pregnancy Test After IUI?
Taking a pregnancy too early can result in a false positive. The best time to take a pregnancy test is after 16 from the last IUI.

6. How Much Does Treatment Cost?
The cost of fertility treatment will vary depending on the fertility treatment center you choose and the treatment protocol. IVF treatments can cost between $10,000 to $20,000.

7. Is There an Increased Risk of Birth Defects in Babies Conceived Using Fertility Treatments?
Many studies are ongoing concerning the risks of birth defects associated with fertility treatments. Most studies do confirm a slight increase in the rate of some birth defects such as cleft lips, bowel problems and malformed hearts. It is unknown whether these abnormalities are caused by the treatment itself or if they are related to the root causes of the infertility.

8. Should Women Start Fertility Treatments With Their Regular OB on Clomid?
It is highly recommended that patients having difficulty conceiving consult a fertility treatment center before beginning treatment. Most physicians prescribe Clomid, which has a 12-cycle lifetime maximum recommended usage. Fertility treatment centers will run expansive tests before beginning treatments, including testing of the male partner, which may rule out the necessity of using Clomid altogether. Additionally, the use of some drugs may be counter productive in some women.

9. How Do You Choose A Fertility Treatment Center?
The International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination recommends seeking board approved M.D.s who have completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and clinics with success rates with in the national averages. Support groups can also provide information on reputable, experienced centers.

10. How Long Should Fertility Treatments be Pursued Before Investigating Other Options?
Choosing to continue fertility treatments is a very personal choice which depends on many factors. Factors such as age, finances, and stress all play a role. Ultimately, weighing the desire for a family through any means is weighed against the possibility of a family through biologic means.

For most Americans, Traditional Western Medicine is all they have ever known. Naturally, when experiencing infertility, they turn to the possible solutions offered by western medicine. However, western medicine is not the only approach available as more and more western medical practitioners open the door to alternative therapies that are widely accepted and relied upon outside of the United States.

Most times, when we think of fertility treatments, we think of the many advances that modern medicine has brought to fertility treatment centers and their patients. However, fertility treatments were not invented or popularized in the west. The benefits of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as treatment for infertility can be found in literature dating back to 11AD, and western medicine is only recently recognizing the benefits.

What is Acupuncture?
The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture involves the placement of thin needles at particular points and intervals on the body to direct and stimulate the body’s vital energy (qi). In TCM, a disruption in the energy patterns is thought to cause disharmony in the body which causes it to not function properly. It is painless and has no harmful side effects.

How Does Acupuncture Affect Infertility?
Exactly why acupuncture affects infertility has failed to be understood or scientifically explained by western medicine, but many studies show that it clearly does – positively. Although the practice continues to be considered alternative medicine, many studies are being done, and the subject is gaining widespread attention. Some possible reasons for acupuncture’s favorable influence on fertility include:

• The stimulation of the central nervous system which causes an increase in neurohormones and neurotransmitters
• Changes in the nervous system which regulate body temperature
• Changes in blood pressure, regulating blood flow to reproductive organs
• The releasing of endorphins
• Stimulating egg production
• Stimulating sperm health

What Do Studies Show?
In 2002, a study conducted in Germany followed 80 women who either received both acupuncture and IVF or IVF alone. It is reported that 42% of the women receiving both treatments became pregnant, while only 26% of those receiving IVF treatments alone became pregnant. An even more recent study conducted in the U.S. followed 114 Women. The study showed some compelling results:

• 51% of the women receiving both treatments became pregnant
• 36% of the women receiving IVF alone became pregnant
• 8% of the women receiving acupuncture experienced miscarriage
• 20% of those receiving IVF alone experienced miscarriage
• The group receiving acupuncture also experienced fewer ectopic pregnancies

Western Medicine Embracing Possibilities
Although, undoubtedly, much research will continue in the area, western medicine is embracing the possibilities that acupuncture offers. In fact, many acupuncturists are seeing an increase in referrals from primary care physicians and fertility treatment center endocrinologists. Additionally, many progressive fertility treatment centers now have acupuncturists on staff.

How or why acupuncture affects the ability to become pregnant remains elusive to modern science. However, the positive impacts for many are undeniable. Many find the possible benefits, coupled with no adverse impact, make acupuncture worth investigating.

Conflicting reports concerning the Sperm Injection Fertility Method have many couples  asking their fertility treatment center for clarification. A study, involving 1,000 babies born after intracytoplasmic sperm injection, ICSI, seemingly confirmed fears that there is an increased risk of birth defects when compared to the general population of all babies conceived using some type of fertility treatment or babies born without the use of any fertility treatments.

What is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Used primarily in male factor infertility, the ICSI process involves the fertility treatment center embryologist first selecting viable sperm using micromanipulation tools. The sperm is then injected through the outer shell of the egg and egg membrane, then into the cytoplasm of the egg. Fertilization using this process occurs in about 85% of cases.

ICSI is Most Commonly Performed in These Cases

Although there is no specific standard of care concerning which cases should or should not use ICSI, most fertility treatment centers consider them in these common scenarios:

• When there is a concern over a low yield of egg retrieval
• For couples having already attempted IVF treatment an experienced no or low rate of fertilization
• In male factor infertility cases that do not wish to use donor sperm
• Couples with low sperm concentrations or low sperm motility

What Do Studies Show?

Several studies conducted since the procedure was introduced in 1991 have, not surprisingly, conflicting findings. In most studies, there does seem to be an increase in the rate of  birth abnormalities in those babies conceived using ICSI as opposed to those conceived naturally. The controversy lies in how those results are interpreted.

A new Swedish study published in the Journal of Human Reproduction says that fears of birth defects resulting from the procedure are largely unfounded. The study asserts that the perceived increase in the rate of birth defects is mainly attributable to, or the result of, conditions associated to multiple or premature births. About 50% of the reported cases involved only minor conditions.

One Plausible Link

However, one specific birth abnormality did seem to be over-represented. Hypospadias may possibly be attributed to ICSI and is associated with paternal fertility problems. Hypospadias is an abnormality of the penis where urine passes through an abnormally placed opening on the undersurface of the penis. The condition is not serious and can be easily treated with plastic surgery.

On Going Studies

The ICSI procedure is fairly new and ongoing studies will no doubt continue and may shed new light on this treatment. ICSI for many couples represents their greatest hope of achieving a pregnancy and undue weight should not be placed on these results. The latest studies should reassure those seeking ICSI as a fertility treatment option, rather than cause concern. Couples considering ICSI should remember that thousands of healthy, normal babies are born every year using this procedure.

Any couple considering Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection as a fertility option should discuss any concerns they may have with their fertility treatment center doctor.