Could a Man?s Midlife Crisis be Hormones?
Posted on February 7, 2010 - Filed Under Uncategorized
A male midlife crisis is often associated with ?the male crazies? when men make decisions to that reinforce their ebbing youth and fights the winds of aging. Be it buying a new sports car, altering physical appearance or some other action of age defiance, men are saying, ?I refuse to admit that I am getting older,? or ?I refuse to admit that I am mortal?.
Consider that underlying changes are taking place in a man?s chemistry during this time. Starting about age 27, key hormones start to decline. Hormones control the entire chemistry of the body. A decline in hormones such as testosterone, thyroid, DHEA and growth hormone cause symptoms to appear such as, mild to moderate depression, drop in energy and mental sharpness, decreased muscle and increased belly fat and a drop off in sex drive. It may well be hormone change and subsequent symptoms that cause a man to fight the demons of ?the change?.
Hearing the phrase ?the change? conjures up associations with menopause symptoms associated with declining hormone levels in women. Even the word hormone is most commonly associated as being ?a women thing.? While there have been significant studies of the impact of the female hormone estrogen and the process of menopause, much less attention has been paid to the male hormone equivalent testosterone. Fortunately for men, more research is occurring.
Typically observed in a male?s peak earning years, the idea of a midlife crisis (the change) is generally well known. The idea that it may be connected to hormone decline — a male menopause, also known as andropause is not generally considered. So what is male menopause? Starting in a male?s late twenties and noticeable by age 35, testosterone along with thyroid, DHEA and growth hormone levels decline and cause symptoms often associated with a ?midlife crisis?. Hormone levels will continue to decline for the rest of his life.
Quoting Dr. Eugene Shippen an innovator in male hormone treatment in addressing the fact that hormones must be taken ?for the rest of his life, ?This is an issue of prospective. Your father and grandfather had the same problem. You are fortunate to be born in time when you have a choice to fix or not fix the problem. Considering hormone treatment?s positive impact on quality of life, this is a non-decision easily made. Your must fix it?
For years men have been going to their doctor and discussing why they have a low sex drive, low energy, weight gain, irritability, depression, hot flashes and more. These symptoms are often considered individual and unrelated, however as male hormone research progresses the connection between these symptoms and declining male hormone levels is being realized.
Male v. Female Menopause:
Most people have a lose understanding of the menopause process for women and the symptoms associated with it. This is the result of decade?s worth of research and data. Today we now know that every living being, male and female, human or animal, is governed by hormones. A women?s menopause is different than a man?s because the decrease in hormone levels happen more suddenly and also occur later in life. A male?s hormones may decline more gradually over time, but is just as real.
Did you know: Testosterone and estrogen levels are inversely proportional. As male testosterone levels decline, estrogen levels tend to increase. A classic example of this is acquired weight in the stomach area, also known as a ?beer belly.?
Overcoming a Midlife Crisis ?the change? with Hormones:
Most people can think of at least one example of knowing a man going through a midlife crisis. What is happening is a man fighting the fact that he is getting older. Fighting the symptom of andropause, he tries to get his youth back. While this may cause a temporary high, the actions he takes will be short lived because the hormones and the daily feeling of irritability, depression, fatigue, hot flashes and decreased libido do not go away unless you treat the source, the hormones.
Where to Begin:
Testing hormone levels such as testosterone, thyroid, DHEA and growth hormone from a male hormone doctor is the first step. If the test shows that you have low hormone levels your doctor can recommend a customized male hormone treatment program that will safely restore your hormones back to healthy levels.
Author Bio: Jim Michels is an expert on testosterone treatment. For over ten years his company, reNEW MAN has focuses on low testosterone level treatment through creams and testosterone injections for men.
Starting a Fitness Boot Camp: The Right Exercises
Posted on February 6, 2010 - Filed Under Uncategorized
In this day and age when the fitness bug has bitten almost every second person in the world, your fitness training business can really go places. By starting a fitness boot camp you can gain popularity as well as substantial amounts of money as a fitness trainer. Fitness boot camps have grown in popularity mainly because they offer an intensive workout experience amid natural surroundings. And in order to give the participants at your boot camp, that intensive workout, you need to choose the right exercises.
Warming Up
The exercise schedule should ideally begin with a warm-up session. This is because you will, in all probability be making the participants start early in the morning when the muscles are still taut after sleep. In order to prepare the body muscles for the actual exercises, warm-ups will thus be necessary, if you want to prevent any injury.
The main benefits of warm-ups such as stretching, before starting a fitness boot camp workout session are:
Increased muscle temperature and flexibility
Increased body temperature and dilation of blood vessels
Flexibility in joints and an improved range of movement.
The Exercises
Next, comes the all important workout session. This should ideally not be more than 45 minutes long so as not to exhaust the participants completely. The main types of exercises that you should look to incorporate are:
Push ups: this is a great exercise for the body, which helps to increase core strength. It affects the muscles of the chest, shoulders, arms, abdomen and legs.
Plyometric exercises: the vision behind starting a fitness boot camp is to make people healthy. These exercises are also aimed to do the same by improving athletic ability in terms of speed and power. The best Plyometric exercises are hops, jumps and bounding movements. For example you can ask the participants to jump from the top of small box and ?rebound? from the ground onto the top of bigger box.
Interval training: this involves alternate phase of intense and easy activities. While the intense activities help in rapid consumption of energy, the interval phase gives the body the opportunity to replenish the energy and oxygen reserves.
Core strength exercises such as abdominal crunches, sit-ups, side bends etc
Speed training with the help of different varieties of sprints, such as 10, 20 or 30 meter drills.
You can end each training session with some gentle stretching so as to help the participants cool down. Also obtain some feedback from them about the exercises they did.
Fun and Games
In the course of serious workouts, do not forget that you also promised the participants, while starting a fitness boot camp, a lot of outdoor activities that would add the element of fun and help in team building.
So, you can plan for team competitions such as a tug-of-war or partner exercises such as a three legged race. You can even set up obstacle courses and team relay races.
The right exercises are one of the most important things you need to select before starting a fitness boot camp. If your exercises are effective while being challenging, people will keep coming back to your boot camp!
Author Bio: Chris McCombs is a personal trainer whose business was so successful that he now shows other trainers thinking of starting a fitness boot camp the best way to go about it. His site also has a lot of information on how to get referrals for personal training
Slimming Pills Work For Men & Women Who Hate Exercise
Posted on February 6, 2010 - Filed Under Uncategorized
Not all men and women who work five to six days a week consider slimming pills, but they think that exercise is not such a great idea for busy people who are trying to lose weight. After all, it doesn?t involve only sweating and breathing hard, you have to wear proper matching outfits, invest in shoes and expensive equipment such as a racquet if you choose a sport like tennis, and then book a court session.
It also involves allocating time every weekend for one or two hours of fun, and maybe the same during weekdays for maybe two or three days, not factoring in rest time for a recovery period. So, seriously, who has time to exercise? If you think that you can find time and could commit yourself to do it, I guess you must be prepared to sacrifice some things in return, but if you are not a too-busy person as they say, then there won?t be any problem with that.
The one reason why everyone from bodybuilders to fitness instructors to doctors to nurses and dietitians recommend exercise is because it controls one component of slimming down and it?s none other than Energy Expenditure. But there is another half of the equation ? Energy Intake. Basically, you will lose weight if, and only if, the energy you expend is more than the energy you take in. But since people have less time and even less inclination for exercise, a lot of us are counting on modulating our energy intake rather than expenditure to lose the kilograms.
Cutting down your energy intake also means one thing - Eating Less. Many weight management programs aim to make you lose weight by simply manipulating your energy intake using slimming pills. The problem with some of these programs is that they may tell you that they work, under the right conditions. However, it is never spelled out explicitly what these conditions are. Hence, if you don?t lose weight, they can just say that the conditions were wrong. Talk about an easy way out. Yet, these slimming pills continue to sell. That?s because of client testimonials. But beware, while before and after photographs cannot lie, they can be photoshopped, but the question of how would you be able to know which photos were edited and which were not, is another issue.
And as dramatic as these cases are, they do not always reveal the whole truth. That a pill worked for the men and women on sales brochures does not mean that it has worked for all the people who took it. Simply picking the four or five who lost weight out of 50 who didn?t would skew the client testimonials entirely, and it is just another way to tell a white lie. Chances are, these four or five people lost their weight by being able to stick to a recommended diet and by persisting to an intense exercise routine at the same time.
The testimonials sell to potential customers like you, because nobody expects outright dishonesty. The truth is, some companies are honest and some are not, just as some doctors are good and some are not. There are good physical trainers and bad ones, and there are excellent nutritionists and lousy ones, and there are safe and effective products as well as bad ones.
But now, as Science & Technology improve year-by-year, picking slimming pills and other weight loss supplements that work is not a problem anymore. And for your benefit, Slimming Products Hub had already handpicked the best & safe slimming pill, weight loss aid and fat burner that really works for men & women, and not the one that only slims down your wallet.
Author Bio: Zion?s Slimming Products Hub features only the best and effective slimming products available online. Visit: http://slimmingproductspills.blog.com and I bet you won?t regret.
How to Lose Weight Without Risking Your Health!
Posted on February 6, 2010 - Filed Under Uncategorized
For many people losing weight is daunting at best. So many people today struggle with losing their excess weight and keep it off. This also holds true for the fact that finding the quickest and easiest way to weight loss is different for each person and what works for one person may not work for another. While the most common factor in weight loss is a balanced diet, exercise and of course the drive to succeed for many there might be other things that can assist in their weight loss goals.
Step One
Get realistic with your goals. By setting realist goals for yourself you will find it is easier to achieve them and this will help be the driving force behind your weight loss. Remember that short term goals are best since they are easier to achieve and once you reach them you can then set new goals.
Step Two
Find an exercise program that works for you. For some people they find joining a gym works best but for others it is easier and more economical to work out at home. Either way make sure that the program you choose will not only work for your weight loss but also for your lifestyle.
Step Three
Choose a healthy diet. Learn the difference between what you think is healthy food and what is actually good for you. Remember that anything you eat in large amounts is not healthy, even fruits and vegetables.
Step Four
Learn to prepare the food you love that is also good for you. For so many people the rush of daily life causes us to gain weight. This comes from not only lack of exercise but also from convenience food such as fast food. If it is easy to prepare the chances of you going home to eat are higher.
Step Five
Plan your meals in advance. If you have meals and snacks readily available when you are hungry you will find it is easier to choose the right and healthy foods compared to a snack or meal that is not good for you. Portion out snacks into small ziplock bags and precook meals so they are easy and fast to warm up. This will make getting a meal easier and help keep you on the road to weight loss.
Step Six
Start a food journal. Studies show that people who keep food journals have a higher success rate of losing weight. This is because you have to account for everything you eat each and every day. You may not have realized that the quick candy bar you just ate in 3 minutes was 400 calories or that handful of cereal you grabbed was over 100 calories but once you have to write it down you will see exactly what you are really eating.
Step Seven
Consider using an HGH supplement like GHR1000, Genfx, Sytropin, Genf20 plus and Provacyl. These products are safe to use and can help encourage your weight loss to help you get to the thinner, healthier and happier you.
Author Bio: To lose weight safely requires a lot of patience. To lose weight consider an exercise Routine, eating healthy, giving up cigarettes and alcohol. To speed up the process consider an HGH supplement like GHR1000, Sytropin and Genf20 Plus.
Organic Botanical Body Wash
Posted on February 6, 2010 - Filed Under Uncategorized
The insecticides and other harmful chemicals that are found in several household products and merchandise have been linked to a number of illnesses like allergies, respiratory diseases, cancer, fatigue, depression and other skin conditions, such as eczema among others too.
Another horrifying fact is that these products are used by many people for washing their clothes and bathing in. Fortunately, there alternative products available which are certified as being natural and organic, and which do not contain any additives or harmful chemicals in them. One good example of which is botanical body wash.
The chemicals that are used in most body wash products remove moisture from your skin. Another problem is that these synthetic chemicals are inhaled and absorbed into your body and, over time, the build-up of these toxins is very unhealthy. The only reason that they are used is because these chemicals are cheaper than natural and organic ingredients.
The majority of body care produce available in the market these days cause skin problems, such as rashes, allergies, eczema, psoriasis, redness, acne, dermatitis and flaky, dry, itchy skin patches. However, organic body washes, like botanical body wash for example, only makes use of natural ingredients. They are full of minerals and vitamins that help nourish, rejuvenate and revitalize your skin, leaving it smooth and soft, and with a healthy, natural glow.
Botanical body wash contains ingredients which not only help cleanse your skin, but also maintain its pH level and moisturize it. To lower the risk and amount of harmful chemicals being absorbed into your skin and entering your body, organic skin care products contain ingredients derived from plants that are one hundred percent free from herbicides, pesticides and other chemical fertilizers which are commonly used for cultivation.
Most organic and all-natural body washes make use of botanical oils such as olive, coconut, palm and jojoba oil as their active ingredients. A lot of them also contain sea salt, purified water, tea tree oil, rose hip seed oil, seaweed extract, herbal extracts, chamomile, lavender, natural oil taken from mango, apricot, papaya, sunflower, and Vitamin E.
Botanical body wash also makes use of natural extracts and essential oils which not only help in cleansing and treating your skin, but also proven aroma-therapeutic. The Kawa Wawa extract found in botanical body wash, which is derived from a native pepper tree in New Zealand, is perfect for refreshing and stimulating your skin. The Indian Alma extract, on the other hand, helps immensely in rejuvenating your skin cells, whereas the French lavender heals and brings back your skins natural and healthy glow.
An increasing amount of people are now realizing the health benefits brought about by organic body washes and natural products. So, what are you waiting for? It is time to start giving your skin and the body the care and attention that it deserves. The longer you leave it before taking such an approach to looking after yourself, the harder it will be to restore yourself back to your best.
Author Bio: You can always find Trilogy Botanical Body Wash or any of the ever popular Trilogy Shampoo through a reputable reseller.
The Perfect Candidate For Teeth Whitening
Posted on February 6, 2010 - Filed Under Uncategorized
The types of people who enter in to whitening their teeth generally fall in to three categories and here we look at them in more detail.
Like so much in the modern world but teeth whitening has grown a reputation because it works and is so impactful as the results everyone can view but lets look at who is whitening their teeth.
Beauty Improvement
For these people teeth whitening falls in to the same category as tanning, fashion hair and the latest mobile phone. They want to look good and feel good about themselves and therefore having bright white teeth is important they maintain their personal appearance. With some of these individuals they have tanning by spraying or sun beds and this shows of the teeth even more.
Maintaining a nice smile is not just for the vein as we all take differing levels of care in clothes or hair but now even the less stereotypical types are opting for teeth whitening as the finished results can take years off your age.
Challenged For Confidence
This group of people are the type that hold their hand over their mouth when they laugh as they are embarrassed with their smile. Teeth whitening actually gives people self confidence by removing the staining and showing brighter whiter teeth these individuals can start to smile again and gains some self esteem. Laser whitening is perfect as the results are instant and requires little work from the individual and have good results ranging up to ten shades on average.
Cosmetic Dentistry
These are the people who are looking to replace a veneer,cap, crown or filling and therefore will get their teeth whitened so the dentist can match the cosmetic teeth to the new whiter colour of the natural teeth. The time to do this is around a week or ten days before the dentists appointment as sometimes the teeth will drop a shade or two after the teeth whitening so best to plan ahead.
Options
There are plenty of products and services to whiten the teeth and with modern technology and a growing multi pound industry there is lots to research and read on the internet. In the main there are three option which include home kits, laser whitening and dental trays or bleaching trays as they are referred to.
Pricing
With the above options you can start and test how likely the teeth will whiten by starting with a home kit for as little as twenty pounds. These kits require regular usage and will have little impact for deeper more compound type of staining. Bleaching trays or laser is very popular because they are more powerful and have good results when the treatment is finished.
Teeth whitening is not an exact science because everyone has different types of teeth and differing types of staining and therefore a one service fits all does not work. People who are considering teeth whitening need to think about the longer term and managing the staining as the porous element of the teeth will get re-stained.
If you are unsure go and get some advice from your local dentist.
Author Bio: For further information on laser teeth whitening visit Bedford teeth whitening or simply Prices Whitening Teeth UK
What Exactly is the Kick Start Diet?
Posted on February 5, 2010 - Filed Under Uncategorized
DIET. Don?t we hate hearing that word. If you?re not dieting yourself, then somebody you know will be dieting. It?s a never ending cycle that we put ourselves through again and again, especially at the beginning of each year by way of our New Year resolutions.
Every year thousands of people decide that they want to lose weight, and every year thousands of people fail to lose weight. So why do they make the commitment in the first place, yet never see it through? What is it that makes them give up so easily and quickly?
Many dieters get very discouraged in the early days of a diet if they don?t see the needle on the scale dropping quickly, so the Kick Start Diet was designed to do exactly that: kick start your diet. If you can see a definite drop of the needle on your scale you will feel much more enthusiastic about your weight loss journey.
You will be more encouraged to eat the right foods and will hopefully try to do more exercise. This is exactly what the Kick Start Diet is all about, helping you to see a result as soon as possible. Most other diets don?t have this quick initial result and this is what makes dieting so difficult for some. They want to see a result for their actions and are disappointed when it doesn?t happen as quickly as they would have liked. The Kick Start Diet can give that quick initial drop in weight, making it a favorite among many dieters.
There are basically three stages of this diet: the seven-day eating plan, the re-introduction of low GI foods, and finally, finding the right balance and types of food that you are happy with. Each stage needs to be followed closely, but you can also mix it up a bit and swap many of the food items around so you don?t get bored.
The first stage centers around soup. This soup consists of a variety of vegetables and can be eaten at any time. Basically you can eat as much of the soup as you want. This helps to give you the sense of not being deprived and makes you feel full. It can also aid your immune system if you don?t normally eat many vegetables and it can also increase your energy levels. On different days of this eating plan you are required to eat different assortments of foods, plus the soup of course.
The second stage involves the re-introduction of normal foods into your daily meals. These foods need to have a low G.I. (glycemic index) count of 55 or less. You can do this by preparing your usual meals but replace most, if not all, of the items with ones that have a low G.I.. You can also continue to eat the soup to help you feel fuller if needed.
Stage three is basically trying to find a good balance of normal, low G.I. foods that work for you. You can go back to the first stage whenever you fall off the wagon.
Author Bio: The items needed to make the soup and the plan you need to follow can be found at http://kickstartdiet.com.au
Infertility? Stress Reduction Can Help You Get Pregnant
Posted on February 5, 2010 - Filed Under Uncategorized
For couples trying to conceive, there is no bigger crisis than the one caused by infertility. Stress is a common involuntary response to the difficulties they now face, especially among women who undergo medical treatment or assisted reproductive technology. But emotional stress is not the only thing that infertile couples have to contend with; injections, blood tests, and surgery are just as stressful to your body and your finances. Although it is true that you have no ultimate control over the outcome of an IVF cycle, you can control your emotional responses to the treatment, which will enhance your overall chances of conceiving. In fact, doctors observe a higher pregnancy rate among women coming in for their second IVF cycle because they feel more relaxed and less stressed. So take some time off from worrying about your fertility, and head to the nearest spa to pamper yourself. Here are some ways you can reduce stress caused by infertility.
Massage
Although scientific data on massage and fertility levels are scant, you can?t deny that a full-body massage will make you forget about all your cares in the world. In the January 2004 issue of the International Journal of Neurosciences, several researchers set out to examine the effect of massage on 36 healthy adults. The participants were divided into three groups ? one had a moderate massage, one had a light massage, and one had vibratory massage (think of those massage chairs that vibrate). Throughout the massage, the volunteers? brain waves were being tracked and imaged by an EKG. The researchers discovered that while a massage did decrease anxiety and stress in all three groups, the group that received the moderate-pressure massage experienced the biggest dip in stress levels.
Of course, not all massage provides the same effect or uses the same strokes. Some massages like shiatsu might be a little too vigorous and rough for your desires. Ask the massage therapist of a relaxation massage that uses moderate pressure on the body?s outer layer of tissue.
Acupuncture
The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture involves the painless placement of thin, hair-like needles on pressure points connected to your reproductive system. Studies show that taking a course of acupuncture before and after an IVF cycle increased the chances of conceiving, but the procedure can also address a wide range of maladies. Let your acupuncturist know if you?re feeling particularly stressed, and he or she will apply pressure on specific points to help calm you down.
Yoga
The practice of yoga can reduce stress and anxiety by teaching you approaches that will benefit the body and mind. Some types of yoga can promote fertility too! Reproductive health specialists recommend taking restorative yoga, a type of yoga that teaches the mind, body, and spirit how to relax. This type of yoga also makes use of asanas or poses that will promote healthy blood flow to your uterus. Yoga classes provide a calm environment conducive to relaxation, but you can also practice yoga at home. Try poses that involve forward bends and reclining; these are known to increase the blood flow to the abdomen and reproductive system.
Get in touch with your feelings
Never underestimate the power of catharsis ? the practice of purging of emotions by immersing yourself in them. Getting in touch with your feelings and acknowledging your frustrations may help you feel less anxious about infertility. Remember, there is no such thing as a right or wrong way to feel. Share your thoughts and feelings with your partner, or obtain support from others sharing your pain. A study shows that infertile women who participated in 10-weeks of support group meetings had a pregnancy rate of up to 55%, compared to 20% among women who did not join a group. Overcoming your stress with the support of compassionate listeners will help you feel more relaxed and confident the next time you try to conceive.
Author Bio: Diana Farrell is the author of the trademarked Full Embrace Program Series on overcoming infertility that has helped many couples get pregnant. If you would like to know more about infertility stress and effective natural ways to overcome it and get pregnant faster, please visit http://www.PregnancySuccessProgram.com.
PCOS and Infertility - Know the Warning Signs
Posted on February 5, 2010 - Filed Under Uncategorized
One of the difficulties of detecting polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is that most of its symptoms seem completely unrelated to each other. In fact, the physical symptoms are easily overlooked until a woman realizes that she has difficulties conceiving. Infertility is the most well-known sign, but the hormonal fluctuations behind PCOS also trigger skin problems, hair growth, and irregular periods. Educating yourself on these symptoms will give you a better understanding of the relationship between PCOS and infertility.
Irregular menstrual cycles
Some women develop PCOS as early as their teenage years when its presence appears in conjunction with irregular menstrual cycles, a symptom that affects 75% of PCOS sufferers. Irregular, infrequent, or absent periods are variations of this symptom, with most women experiencing heavy and painful menstruation when it finally arrives.
Menstrual cycles go out of whack because of the hormonal imbalance that causes PCOS. Before eggs become mature enough to be released, they grow inside little sacs or cysts. During every cycle, the ovaries start preparing 20 eggs a month for maturation. Eventually, one of these eggs will become the ?dominant? egg, or the egg that will eventually be released from the ovary into the fallopian tube. However, women with PCOS do not have enough estrogen to make one egg dominant. As a result, no egg is released, and the 20 mature eggs remain as cysts. This causes the production of male hormones called androgens while lowering the amount of progesterone in the body. The end result of this hormonal imbalance often times includes the symptoms of anovulation (failure to ovulate), amenorrhea (failure to have a period), and irregular cycles.
Infertility
As a result of irregular menstrual cycles and ovulation problems, many women with PCOS suffer from infertility. It is not an absolute certainty, because some women with PCOS have no problems ovulating and conceiving. However, some women with PCOS experience irregular ovulation (making it difficult to time intercourse) while some women do not ovulate at all. Many times those who felt that their irregular menstrual cycles was due to stress will only discover that they have PCOS when they get evaluated for fertility problems.
Anomalous hair growth
It is very common for women with PCOS to have anomalous hair growth patterns or unexplained changes in hair growth. The high levels of androgens can cause hirsutism - excess hair growth on the arms, legs, back, face, or pubic region. Although not all women with PCOS experience hirsutism, 95% of women with these symptoms have PCOS.
The converse can also be true; women with PCOS may experience hair loss similar to male pattern baldness. The ovarian cysts cause an increase in the androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from testosterone. DHT attaches itself to hair follicles, causing them to reach their ?resting phase? sooner. With each growth cycle, the hair produced by the affected follicles becomes thinner until they finally stop growing.
Skin problems
Some unexplained skin conditions can be the result of PCOS. The most common problem is severe or persistent acne along the jaw line, back, or chest. This is caused by the hormone DHT?s over-stimulation of the oil glands, causing an increase in oil that clogs up pores and cause acne. Other skin problems include darkening of the skin and skin tags. Darkened skin around the neck, skin fold, underarms, or groin may be the effect of an insulin resistance ? one of the known primary causes of PCOS. Skin tags, or thick lumps of skin, are usually found along the bra line, neck, or armpit area.
If you recognize these symptoms in yourself, see your doctor and find out if PCOS is affecting your fertility. Although there is no pill that can get rid of PCOS for good, there are many treatments that can reduce the severity of the symptoms and help you get pregnant.
Author Bio: Diana Farrell is the author of the trademarked Full Embrace series of books on overcoming infertility that have helped many couples get pregnant. For more about PCOS and infertility and natural ways to overcome it, please visit http://www.PregnancySuccessProgram.com.
Acupuncture and Fertility Success With Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
Posted on February 5, 2010 - Filed Under Uncategorized
The causes of infertility can be varied and are sometimes difficult to identify. Whatever the cause, fertility problems can often be overcome with surgery, medications, or assisted reproductive technologies (ART) ? a modern medical approach where the egg, sperm, or both are handled by a doctor to increase the chances of conceiving. Yet there is a limitation to these procedures. Even though hundreds of thousands of babies are born with the help of ART every year, the success rates are slim and decrease with the woman?s age. ART come with a hefty price tag as well; one cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF) can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000, or more.
Recent studies show a direct link between acupuncture and fertility when integrated with conventional ART procedures. The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture brings a number of positive effects on the male and female reproductive system, increasing the chances of successful implantation and reducing the likelihood of miscarriage. Here are just some of the ways acupuncture can improve the chances of a successful ART procedure.
Induces relaxation
Western researchers have been doing studies on acupuncture for decades but in 2002, the journal Fertility and Sterility published a study that increased the treatment?s popularity among infertile couples. This study, which was led by Dr. Wolfgang Paulus from the University of Ulm in Germany, found that 42% of women who received acupuncture before and after an ART procedure got pregnant compared to 26% of women who got pregnant with ART without acupuncture. In that same year, researchers from Cornell University Medical School published a study in the same journal. According to this paper, acupuncture increases the chances of conceiving because it reduces anxiety and stress. Stress hormones can over-stimulate the nervous system, causing the blood flow to be diverted from the uterus and go to the stress-coping glands instead. Acupuncture can restore the blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, thus enhancing fertility.
Regulates hormone production and improves egg quality
One of the benefits of acupuncture to female fertility is its ability to treat problems in the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, the regions of the brain responsible for hormone production. The acupuncture needles also stimulate the release of beta-endorphins, which influences the production of reproductive hormones that control the menstrual cycle, such as the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), gonadtropin releasing hormone (GRH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). The treatment?s effect on the body?s hormones results in regular ovarian functions, normal menstrual cycles, increase of follicles, and healthier eggs.
Reduces the side effects of fertility drugs
Most ART procedures include a course of fertility drugs to induce the release of multiple eggs and increase the chance of successful implantation. The irony is that many of these drugs, particularly Clomid, can also cause infertility by producing a thin uterine lining that cannot sustain an embryo for long. Acupuncture can reverse these side effects by improving the blood flow to the uterus and helping produce a thick, uniform uterine lining. This effect was documented in a study in Human Reproduction in 1996. Women who received two acupuncture treatments with their IVF cycle ? one 25 minutes before the embryo transfer and another 25 minutes after ? had a higher pregnancy rate than the women who did not get acupuncture with IVF.
Lowers the chances of miscarriage
Many studies look at the pregnancy rate after IVF and acupuncture, but what matters more is if the pregnancy is carried to term. A paper presented in the annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine shows that acupuncture can increase the live birth rate of ART procedures. This study looked at 131 women who went through an IVF/ICSI procedure; 48 of them went through an acupuncture treatment while 83 declined. Although the rates of successful embryo transfer were almost the same (50% of the acupuncture group versus 45% of the control group), the miscarriage rate in the acupuncture group was significantly lower at only 8% (versus 14% in the control group). The rate of ectopic pregnancy was also lower ? nobody in the acupuncture group got an ectopic pregnancy.
Should I get acupuncture with my ART procedure?
Since acupuncture is a safe and painless technique that causes no harmful side effects, most fertility experts say it?s a good idea to get acupuncture treatments to complement an ART procedure. Scientific evidence points to its benefits for increasing success rates of ART and in addition, the relaxation provided by acupuncture is enough to recommend the procedure, what with the stress of coping with infertility and expensive ART treatments. Those who have conceived after ART and acupuncture are most assuredly grateful about the positive outcome despite the additional cost of the acupuncture treatments combined with the cost of ART.
Author Bio: Diana Farrell is the author of the trademarked Full Embrace series of books on overcoming infertility that have helped many couples get pregnant. If you would like more information about acupuncture and fertility and other fertility enhancing tips please visit http://www.PregnancySuccessProgram.com.
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