According to them, 60% of the women, who are taking the appropriate supplements during the course of IVF, get pregnant.

Dr. Rina Agrawal claims that the pills contain substances such as vitamins A, C, E, zinc, selenium, and folic acid that can increase fertility and that our diet usually lacks.

The scientists have tested this theory on 56 women aged 18-40 years. All of them were unsuccessfully trying to conceive a baby during the last year, using the IVF technology.

One half of the women, who participated in the experiment, received miltivitamins daily, and the other half had only pills with folic acid (which is believed to help get pregnant). As a result, it turned out that 60% of the women from the first group successfully conceived a child in the first three months. In the second group, only 25% of the women got pregnant after three months.

According to Doctor of obstetrics Dennis Walsh from the University of Nottingham, England, the pain during childbirth has its own advantages for both mother and baby. He emphasizes that painkillers, such as epidural, violate the natural process of psychological connection between the mother and the child.

Dr. Walsh says that labor pain often helps to regulate the time of delivery, reinforces psychological connection between the mother and the baby, and prepares the woman for motherhood responsibilities.

Over the past 20 years, the use of epidural anesthesia has doubled. In fact, it is used only on demand of women in labor, even despite the fact that the medicine increases medical risks during childbirth and despite the availability of alternative and less invasive ways to control pain symptoms.

Meanwhile, according to Dr. Walsh, the pain has positive physiological effects, allowing to set the rhythm for the contractions and activate the production of endorphins, the hormones that help to adapt to the feeling of pain.

The doctors have noted that the use of epidural anesthesia facilitates side effects, such as the need for hormone replacement therapy during labor and the use of forceps for the child to be born safely.

According to the research by Swedish doctors, one should not overuse these painkillers at least because of the fact that the risk of drug addiction among the adolescents, whose mothers received morphine drugs during labor, is five times higher.

The nervous system of the baby “remembers” the narcotic analgesic. And then, if one day the teenager gives it a try, there will develop a fast and strong addiction.

Dr. Walsh says that alternative methods of reducing pain are safer for both the mother and the newborn baby. For instance, he suggests using the technique of hypnosis, massage, yoga, and birthing pools.

It is believed that the woman, who is psychologically ready to deliver a baby, who is able to breathe properly, is well aware of all the phases of labor, who is able to control herself and is aimed at the result, can cope well without painkillers.

Previously, the scientists have been making statements that during the period of strong stress and crises boys are less likely to be born. For instance, this tendency was observed in America immediately after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Then the number of boys born in New York City reduced considerably. The same was observed in Germany in 1991, when the former GDR stepped into the period of economic decline and political chaos. Then there was a significant decline in the number of newborn boys.

The recent study not only states the fact, but explains it as well. The reason turns out to be in the increased level of the so-called stress hormone in pregnant women, cortisol in particular. The women, who had had a higher level of cortisol before pregnancy, more often gave birth to girls. High cortisol levels must in any way impede the implantation of male embryos in the uterus. But, of course, the process of determining the sex of the expected child is controled by the chromosome set in sperm, and this fact is never going to be disputed by scientists. In addition, male embryos are more prone to miscarriages, when cortisol levels are high.

Source of the image: Photl.

In recent years, there has been a constant struggle with the excess weight, the nutritionists have insisted that extra weight, in addition to other health problems and appearance, leads to difficulties in conceiving. However, these risks have never been compared with those of underweight women.

The study conducted by the American scientists showed that thin women are less likely to become pregnant than those, who are overweight, and even obese.

During the study, 2,500 women (who were trying to conceive with the help of IVF at the Fertility Center of Chicago) were divided into three groups according to their weight: very thin, normal, and obese. During eight years, though at different periods, these women were observed in the center and were trying to get pregnant.

As a result, those who belonged to the group with normal weight, got pregnant in 50% of cases. Among obese women, 45% became pregnant, and only 34% of very thin women from the group were able to conceive.

Very thin women were those with the body mass index (BMI) ranging from 14 to 18. For example, a woman with the height of 162.5 cm and the weight of 44.45 kg could have such a BMI (BMI 17).

It is known that thin women have a reduced amount of the female hormone estrogen which is often associated with infertility among excessively thin women. However, this study considered only the women, who were undergoing the IVF procedure, and all their hormones were brought back to norm. The women from all three groups produced the same number of ovules, and the problem with the conception happened at a later stage, when the fertilized ovule was implanted in the uterus. The embryo finds it more difficult to penetrate into the uterus of very thin women. That is the verdict of the scientists.

Source of the image: Photl.

The Cryos international network of sperm banks announced that they had gotten enough donations to enable them to pick and choose, so they initiated a research and found out that most of their clients shy away from having redheaded babies.

Except for Ireland, where redheads are going strong, redheaded donors are wanted only if the woman has a penchant for auburn hair or the sterile partner has the same hair color.

According to the largest sperm banks, apart from these cases the demand for redheaded babies is practically negligible.

Source of the image: Photl.

The idea of such a database belongs to London Sperm Clinic. In addition to a detailed description of the appearance of the donor, the questionnaires contain the information about one’s personal qualities and hobbies. When delivering their biomaterial to the Bank, the donors fill out a questionnaire and write a brief curriculum vitae explaining the reason that forced them to donate the material to the bank. By the way, most men viewed the donation as the act of philanthropy.

The staff of the clinic, in their turn, describe their impressions of the donor, and their opinion can also be seen in the questionnaire.

Source of the image: Photl.

According to the results of a series of recent studies, problems with teeth and gums can have a negative impact on female fertility. Thus, the women who had gum diseases required on average two more months to get pregnant than the girls who did not have such problems.

The experiment conducted by the scientists from the University of Western Australia, in Perth, shows that it took the ladies, who were brushing their teeth and using dental floss regularly, approximately five months for the conception, while those women who were not so careful in following the rules of oral hygiene needed about seven months to get pregnant. According to Professor Roger Hart, the leading author of the study, it proves that the women who want to become mothers, should necessarily consult their dentist.

The doctors explain the connection between women’s tooth health and their fertility by the fact that periodontal disease leads to the accumulation of a huge number of different pathogens in the mouth. These pathogens cause bad breath and may spread all over the body due to bleeding gums. As a result, other inflammatory reactions may start, and that will have a negative impact on the process of implantation of the embryo in the uterus.

Find the top dentists in Chula Vista to keep your gums healthy and teeth shining white!

Source of the image: Photl.

Norwegian scientists got interested in this problem and conducted a study involving nearly 3000 women. The research took into account all the circumstances of the participants’ life.

The conclusion was unexpected: pregnancy in most cases was prevented by excessive involvement in fitness. Intensive training in gyms to keep fit and to facilitate the flow of future pregnancy turned against the women and their ability to become a mother. The doctors still have not figured out the reasons for the relationship between physical activity and infertility, but they can say with confidence that it is necessary to reduce the intensity of physical exercises just a little, and in a year the reproductive function will be restored.

So all is good in moderation even such a useful thing as fitness.

Source of the image: Photl.

Three generations of women in her father’s family had the defective gene and got ill with cancer after the age of 20. The scientists say that the women with this gene may develop breast cancer with a probability of 50% to 80%.

The embryos resulting from artificial insemination were subjected to genetic analysis. As a result, the mother received the embryo without the defective gene – the so-called BRCA 1 which is responsible for inheriting the risk of breast cancer.

Thus, the British couple was the first pair who could adjust the genetics of their unborn baby. As a result, subsequent generations of this family will get rid of genetic predisposition to this tumor.

According to the attending physician Paul Serhal from University College Hospital in London, there is no guarantee that the child will never have breast cancer because this disease can develop without any hereditary predisposition. However, the scientists have thus managed to significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Source of the image: Photl.

Made from soft material, the Simple Wishes Bra embraces the body comfortably whatever your curves are. You don’t need to take off other clothing to put it on, just get it on over your shirt or nursing bra. Whether to wear it with or without straps is up to you. Let it take care of your breastpumping for you and get extra time to do what you need or just to relax.

Source of the image: Mommyreviewed.

Boffins from the University of Nevada fed caffeine to mice, whose reproductive system resembles that of humans, and found that it produces a particular effect on the fallopian tubes making their smooth muscles more relaxed and loose.

When the egg is to get transported, explains author Sean Ward in the article published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, it’s up to the fallopian tube muscles to provide the necessary impetus – but caffeine interferes with the proper contractions, with the effect that the common run of pregnancy gets disrupted or the woman can develop ectopic pregnancy, that is the embryo is unable to find its way past the fallopian tube and begins to develop there.

It helps understand the processes that lead to ectopic pregnancy, which is “an extremely painful and potentially life-threatening situation in which embryos get stuck and start developing inside a woman’s fallopian tube.”

The experiments on mice, as Ward points out, revealed a lot about how the intake of caffeine tampers with the natural process of child-bearing in women, and go to show that a high consumption of caffeine containing drinks lowers the chance of a healthy and successful pregnancy.

Besides, the new insight into the functionality of the fallopian tubes can give doctors valuable hints towards a better treatment of pelvic inflammation and sexually transmitted diseases.

Source of the image: Photl.

Psychologists have always pointed out that women control their own emotions worse than men, and are prone to excessive self-criticism. Due to such statistics, many researchers have accepted the theory of Larry Summers, who says that women are just inherently programmed to be more nervous. This idea has irked many women in the psychological (and other) circles.

New evidence suggests that modern ladies are absolutely erroneously accused of being too emotional. It is a consequence of cultural trap. It is society and parents that willingly or unwillingly make ordinary girls become hysterical women. According to the research conducted by Michelle Craske, an expert in this field, during the first days of life male infants show an increased level of anxiety. Until the age of eleven, boys and girls are equally susceptible to anxiety, but at the age of 15 years, in contrast, girls are six times more prone to “bouts” of bad mood than boys. The researchers note that a significant difference in the upbringing of boys and girls affects their behavior in adulthood.

Parents will comfort the girl, who has a bleeding knee, and the boy will be told to bear the pain quietly, as a man would do. In addition, cultural prejudice treats boys as more capable and having such qualities as courage and perseverance in achieving their goals, while the girls are usually defended against any challenges. The researchers have concluded that teens experience a “hormonal storm” which equally influences the behavior of boys and girls, but emotions and concerns are perceived differently by the children of different sexes.

Source of the image: Photl.

According to the author of this idea, Miriam Simun, the post-graduate student at the New York University, this product is a temporary trend because in future she plans to deal with the question of ethics of modern biotechnology, and the first step in this direction should be the revolutionary type of cheese produced by her.

As noted by Miriam Simun, the cheese made of women’s breast milk is a starting-point for an active discussion of this topic. From her point of view, some people like the product, and some of them find it disgusting. Mrs. Simun found three breastfeeding mothers who agreed to have their milk turned into cheese. She scanned the mammary glands of the women to diagnose possible diseases, and then the milk was subjected to pasteurization, and finally cheese was made of it.

3 kinds of cheese are presented in the gallery, and their taste depends on the predominance of a particular kind of food in the diet of a lactating woman. The cheese is of great demand, and many speak about its useful properties. Simun hopes that her cheese will make people think about the future use of resources of the human body – blood, hair, and sperm – to help those who will need it.

Source of the image: Momlogic.

According to the experts from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, who have conducted this research, the breast milk contains genes which may be associated with the risk of transmitting hereditary breast cancer. Furthermore, this method of analysis is among the simplest and cheapest ones.

The experiment involved 250 women who gave samples of breast milk. The scientists studied its DNA molecules to determine whether there were any changes in the genes. In addition, all the participants of the experiment were biopsied so that the tumor, if any, could be undoubtedly identified. As it eventually turned out, the women whose biopsy results were positive had certain components in their breast milk which would help identify symptoms of cancer.

The specialists point out that this method of diagnosis may be one of the most effective non-invasive methods of determining breast cancer of all currently known. For example, the widespread mammography, which is regularly recommended to all ladies of mature age, is not effective for diagnozing young women who have not reached their menopause, especially if they are breastfeeding the child. As a result, tumor is sometimes difficult to find when using traditional methods.

Source of the image: Photl.

A series of experiments conducted on several species of mammals has shown that immunotherapy can help control fertility. As pointed out by the researchers, the data obtained in the course of the study can be applied to human beings because the mechanisms of their immune system and the process of formulating necessary pregnancy hormones are almost identical to the mammals tested.

So, as a result of certain diseases, the body may produce appropriate antibodies, which reduce the production of progesterone in women and testosterone in men. According to the leader of the research, Professor of biology Bridge Saxena, in the nearest future the scientists are planning to use the data they have obtained to begin the development of a special drug that helps to control the process of reproduction of cats, dogs or other pets.

After proving the efficiency, safety, and reversibility of such interference, the techniques of immunotherapy based on the use of specific recombinant proteins will be used in the treatment of disorders of the reproductive system in humans, as the dostor says. For example, it can be helpful in the case of excessive androgens in women which is a frequent cause of their inability to get pregnant.

Source of the image: Photl.

Developing ovules continues at the age of 30 and 40, but the stock of potential ovules in the ovaries is almost completely exhausted by this time. And though the body chooses the best cells from the remaining number, their quality deteriorates with age which complicates conception and increases the risk of having an unhealthy baby.

At birth, the girls’ ovaries contain about 300,000 potential cells. However, there can be exceptions: some infant girls have up to 2 million cells in their ovaries, while some others have only 35 thousand. In any case, their number is declining faster than it has been thought before. By the age of 30 years, a woman has on average about 12% of the original stock remaining, and by 40 years, she has only 3%. Thus, many ladies are greatly mistaken when they think that they keep being fertile until they produce ovules.

The researchers believe that their findings will help predict the time of early menopause among women and determine the most favorable period for the removal of ovules from the patients’ cancer-stricken ovaries and their subsequent freezing. The doctors also advise women to undergo regular fertility checks in order to avoid problems with conception.

Source of the image: Photl.

However, the scientists have analyzed the data obtained from 13,000 of British women and got to know that 2,800 of those who had had a miscarriage or a stillborn baby, in most cases were worried and experienced depression during the next pregnancy and even after the birth of the baby. A lot of women had been in a depressive state for 3 years after the birth of a healthy infant.

Professor Jean Golding says the study is important for the family members of the women who have lost a child, since they tend to think a woman quickly forgets the problem. The received results show that it is different.

Dr. Emma Robertson Blackmore from Rochester University in the United States adds that the discovery is of great importance for physicians since, assessing the risk of prenatal or postnatal depression among women, they usually do not take into account other risk factors such as family history of depression, stressful life events or lack of social support.

Source of the image: Photl.

According to the law, the woman will have to undergo ultrasound examination 1-3 days before the abortion. Afterwards, the doctor will show the pregnant woman the resulting images, comment on them, and let the woman listen to the heartbeat of the fetus, if the time of pregnancy allows it.

The author of such legislative initiative, Sid Miller, noted that the procedure would make the pregnant fully understand all aspects and possible consequences of the abortion. The opponents of the new law are convinced that watching the ultrasound image of the fetus should worsen the emotional state of women who inevitably experience stress connected with the abortion.

Texas authorities who were against the adoption of the law failed to introduce a number of amendments to the document. In particular, there was a suggestion that, in case the woman refused to have the abortion, the tuition fee of the future child would be paid from the state budget.

The new law has already been approved by both the upper and the lower houses of Parliament of the State of Texas and will come into force as soon as the state governor signs the document.

Source of the image: Photl.

The essence of the experiment was in the fact that a professional “medical clown” spent half an hour in the patients’ wards after the placing of the embryo into the uterus. The main purpose of this visit was to reduce the patient’s stress.

It had been earlier reported that a nerve-point massage, aimed at reducing stress during the placement of the embryo into a woman’s uterus, doubled the chances of getting pregnant. Scientists believe that the more relaxed a woman is during the placement of the embryo in the uterus, the greater the likelihood is that it will consolidate and begin growing.

In addition, as in any study, there is a possibility that the result is a pure coincidence. Nevertheless, it is worth trying. The clowns are not intrusive and do no harm. As for the people, suffering from infertility, they will have one more reason to smile and forget about the problem.

Source of the image: Photl.

The scientists’ opinions vary as to the question of useful effect of the antioxidants on the process of conception. A recent experiment has proved that antioxidants reduce ovulation. In the course of the study, the scientists added antioxidants in the ovaries of laboratory mice, and as a result, the ovaries produced too few ovules, which in its turn would reduce the probability of conception significantly.

Source of the image: Photl.

The corresponding law should be applied to early abortions (during the first nine weeks) which are conducted with the help of medicines, as BPAS claims. In 2009, there were 69,000 such abortions in Great Britain. 55,000 abortions per year fall to the share of BPAS, The Independent informs.

According to the legislation in force, a woman who is on the early stage of her pregnancy and willing to have a medicinal abortion should attend hospital twice to get her pills. The first portion of drugs blockades the production of hormones connected with pregnancy, and the second one provokes an abortion.

However, BPAS believes that women are to be provided with two medicines simultaneously as well as with clear instructions on how to take them. The representatives of the organization are sure that lack of necessity to visit the hospital one more time is better for a woman’s health and psychological state. But the government objects to such interpretation of the law. According to the experts from the Health Protection Agency, the law adopted in 1967 means that the woman should take both pills for a medicinal abortion on the territory of a medical institution. The decision on this issue will be made by the Supreme Court of the UK.

Source of the image: Photl.

The scientist collected data on 17000 babies born in Britain since 1958.

The scientist divided the subjects into two groups – “attractive” and “unattractive”. The group of participants, who have been considered beautiful since childhood, had boys and girls. However, the subjects in the “average” group had mostly boys.

Thus, men who blame their wives for not bearing sons for them, are simply very handsome and have chosen very beautiful wives.

Source of the image: Photl.

Physical wilting is an individual process. Aging process of a woman’s ovaries is by no means less individual; this process is not directly related to the woman’s age. Some women lose fertility when they are rather young, other still have it in their fifties.

British obstetricians developed a special test, which allows every woman to determine whether it is a good idea to bear a child after 30. If the woman’s fertility is decreasing, the test will warn her that delaying childbirth is not a good idea.

This test is the result of the six-year study, which was conducted by biologists at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Dr. Gillian Lockwood began her research after observing that many young women repeatedly fail at conventional In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment.

While studying a large group of young women, the British scientist discovered that those who failed at IVF also had low levels of inhibin B hormone. It turns out, that level of this hormone is related to functionality of the woman’s ovaries. So, as ovaries lose their ability to produce healthy eggs – levels of this hormone drop at the same rate. Results of this simple test are based on the level of inhibin B hormone in the woman’s body.

Dr. Gillian Lockwood says that many patients who fail at IVF, a lot of them are career women, say that if they knew that their fertility was decreasing they would not have delayed childbearing for so long. The new test will help women stay on top of their fertility and motherhood.

Source of the image: Photl.

Before the mistress of the house settles down to enjoy her holiday she will have spent 42 hours getting everything prepared – short of two whole days given over to shopping, getting Christmas gifts bought and wrapped up and festive dinner cooked. Not forgetting her household chores augmented by decorating the place.

Shopping, of course, devours an incredible amount of time – the average mother, as researchers estimated, spends over 20 hours buying presents with 3 extra hours buying food; she visits around 40 shops during this period.

Having delivered home 39 Christmas gifts on the average, women get busy wrapping them and writing cards, which runs well over 5 hours.

Moms’ Christmas Tasks and Time
Presents – buying takes 20h 13m; wrapping 3h 50m; writing Christmas wishes 1h 54m.
Meals – buying 3h 3m; cooking 3h 32m.
House chores – cleaning up 2h 47m; making decorations 2h 16m; decorating 2h 27m.
Making costumes – 2h 14m.

The tasks may seem not so burdensome, said a spokesperson for HobbyCraft, but it appears that they spell a few days of strenuous work for mums who “tend to get left with the majority of the Christmas jobs.”

Source of the image: Photl.

There can be many issues created by infertility and some of them are:

• The emotional agony of not conceiving month after month.
• Tests to figure out the possible problems.
• Finding the right option that may aid in conception.
• The outrageous expense of choosing the medical process of conceiving.

Things to do for the Man Wanting to Conceive

You should convince him that the test is not a struggle to prove his masculinity, but an easy process of sperm donation. A fertility test is actually useful, because it will push away all the emotional troubles and find any possible problems. You should make him understand clearly that the test will speed up your conception process and make you feel much better.

The Sperm Test

The test is indeed nothing to be stressed about. It is very easy, and he may even be allowed to collect his sample at the convenience of your home. If it’s not allowed, then he will be asked to go to a private room and deposit his sample; he will even have access to “appropriate pictures” to help him. Of course, it might feel awkward when he will give over the transparent plastic cup filled with his seeds for future generations, but you will soon laugh it away with friends.

The day of the results is perhaps the toughest at day, especially the part of coping with the outcome. The results depend on two things – the shape and size of the sperm (also called morphology) and their ability to swim (also called mobility).

The Sperm Quality

A sad but unexplainable fact is that men’s sperm has degraded in quality over the last few decades (mobile phones are one of the suspects), so an increasingly number of people have to hear that their sperm are no Michael Phelps. These tragic comments are indeed a punch to the self respect of a man, so it is your duty to be very considerate with him, just like you can expect him to be considerate with you if it was the other way around.

Ask for Medical Help in Case of Male Infertility

But most men don’t have to fear anymore, because modern medical achievements have made it possible to turn even the worst swimmers effective. Their progeny can continue due to the blessings of artificial insemination, fertility drugs and IVF. You should explain all your possible options and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each one. You should unanimously agree on an option and advance.

How to Cope with Male Infertility

The most difficult issue of male infertility is finding a way to alleviate the desperation of their partners for not being able to get pregnant. If a woman decides that they want a baby, they usually become very obsessed with it. This obsession is not easily comprehensible by a man, but this is simply a matter of hormones.

Suggestions for the Would-be Pregnant Woman

Take it easy, because conception can take a while. On average, mid to late 20’s old woman can take up to 4 cycles; the numbers increase with age. If you panic in front of him, then this will only pressurize your man and stress him.

Have Fun While Having Sex

Don’t let your desperation ruin the fun of making a baby.

Seek for Medical Help Together

Visit the doctor together in case you are worried about not becoming pregnant. Decide together if you think testing is required or not.

Ask Other Parents for Advice

Seek advice from friends with kids and ask them what worked for them; convince your man to do the same with you.

Never Pressurize!

There are tons of stories out there that say how a couple gave up after years of trying to have a baby and then finally got pregnant. Statistically it seems that pressure has an effect on your chances of becoming pregnant. So take it easy and find ways to relax.

Think about your fertility

It’s better to decide beforehand what to do if things don’t go according to plan. So talk about the chances of fertility and your possible actions.

Support Each Other

The journey of pregnancy to birth to parenting is an adventure that relies heavily on communication, emotional support and consideration. Infertility is like an assassin as bad as miscarriage, and this causes lots of emotional misery.

Source of the image: Photl.