What you need to know if you’re trying to get pregnant
What you need to know if you’re trying to get pregnant and may have fertility questions. *By definition “fertility is the natural capability to produce offspring.” FERTILITY: Such a beautiful word! The image one might conjure up in his or her mind is of something lavish. After all, some of the synonyms associated with this word could be: abundant, arable, fruitful, lush, productive and rich. All of which bring allurement to consciousness. Close your eyes and try imagery with this word. Impossible to think of anything gloomy. Now try this exercise in relation to humans and conception. First thoughts may have been a beautiful, perfect, angelic baby or some of you may have given in to thoughts of the activities involved in producing this angel. Both are pleasing symbolisms. It’s assumed throughout a woman’s childhood that she will be able to reproduce someday. She likely spends a lot of time dreaming of what her children will look like in the future. Maybe she’s even explored her ancestry and or that of her love, fantasy partner. Even men presume his sperm will do what’s needed to bring life into this world. Neither male nor female child will have reason to consider the unthinkable: INFERTILITY. Unless a person is told otherwise, there really is no argument to contemplate a different outcome. Innocence is bliss. Infertility *By definition “the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term after 12 months of trying to conceive through unprotected intercourse.” The word “infertile” conjures up somber thoughts. Feelings of inadequacy, impotence or sterility may come to the heart, even when the word does not pertain to you. There is likely nothing anyone can say or do to help alleviate those grim feelings when you are the couple given that diagnosis. Statistically speaking, approximately 6.1 million or 10% of couples between the ages of 15 and 44 will encounter this conversation with their caregiver. A third of the issues are female, a third are male and the final third is a combination of the two. With the right support and knowledge more than ¾ of those families will go on to give birth to their own offspring. Let’s start at the beginning: A Love Story Egg= Maiden Sperm= Knight in Shining Armor Approximately every month an egg (maiden) will mature and be released from the ovary and travel into the fallopian tube to wait for her “knight in shining armor” (sperm). After ejaculation takes place inside the vagina, it’s a race to the “maiden”. A true “fight to the finish”. The vagina is a potentially hostile environment and can kill off weaker “knights” by the millions. This acidic territory is prepared to fight off invaders to prevent infections. Only the strong “knights” will make it to the cervix where the habitat is hospitable. Once he makes it past the enemy territory, the “knights” have a long, arduous journey to find their “maiden.” Assuming she (egg) is waiting for him (sperm), the “knight” will have to keep up his stamina to enter the “maiden” before the other robust “knights” (sperm). If he (sperm) is strong enough to penetrate his love (egg), fireworks go off in the form of a blastocyst and they will multiply and divide millions of times. Together they will continue the journey into the lining of the uterus (and live happily ever after), which has thickened to prepare for this fertilization. Once implanted, you have officially achieved pregnancy. Incidentally, if the knight and his maiden (sperm & egg) don’t make it, the lining and blood will shed. This is called menstruation. Who knew there were love/war stories inside our bodies every month? Read on for basic facts to consider: Females: Each woman is born with millions of immature eggs that are awaiting ovulation to begin. Ovulation can be affected by stress, illness or disruption of normal routines. The health of the woman determines the health of her egg and the chances of a viable pregnancy. The egg can only live 12-24 hours after leaving the ovary. Normally, one egg is released each time. Implantation of a fertilized egg normally takes place 6-12 days after ovulation. Some women will experience pain or aching near the ovaries during ovulation called mittleschmerz or “middle pain”. Some women may experience light blood or spotting during ovulation. A menstrual period can occur even if ovulation has not occurred. Ovulation can occur even if a menstrual period has not occurred. If an egg is not fertilized, it disintegrates and is absorbed into the uterine lining. Males: A single sperm is tiny, invisible to the naked eye. Millions of sperm will be released with just one ejaculation. The health of the male determines the health of his sperm and chances of impregnation. If sperm hit the air, they die within minutes. Sperm must be strong and vibrant to make the journey. Sperm must stay energized to swim from one end of the womb to the other. Sperm must move in a forward-moving manner for success. Most sperm will not make it to the awaiting egg due to exhaustion. Some sperm look for their maiden (egg) in the wrong fallopian tube. Some sperm may have been neutralized by natural antibodies or hostile cervical fluids. Hundreds of sperm will compete to enter the outer layer of the egg and only one will win the prize. Putting all of this into perspective, keep in mind that there is a very small window of opportunity to have the Knight and his Maiden unite. Odds are low if you’re a betting person. Achieving pregnancy may take more than throwing away your condoms or birth control pills. If you are new to this, start simple: change your lifestyle to bring out the healthiest forms of you and your partner. It takes at least a cycle of 4 months to replenish egg and sperm. This should give you enough time to optimize their vitality and ensure the love story has a happy and healthy ending. Don’t forget
The Magic of Cervical Mucus
The magic of cervical mucus is part of a series of fertility blogs. Be sure to read them all to gain the most insight and have the best chance of success. Cervical mucus (CM) is a fluid or gel-like discharge from the cervix (the neck of the uterus), the production of which is stimulated by the hormone estrogen. You are aware of this by feeling “wet” in your underwear. Its’ purpose is to accept, filter, prepare, and release sperm for successful transport of the egg for fertilization. Throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle, hormones will predict the amount and thickness of this fantastic material and let you know when ovulation is optimal. Without CM, the sperm will not be able to reach the ova. In this part of fertility enlightenment, we will learn about the magic of cervical mucus and discover how to optimize it to increase the odds of conception. A little biology lesson first: The four phases of the menstrual cycle Follicular– starts on the first day you begin to bleed and ends with ovulation around day 13, when your pituitary gland secretes a hormone (FSH) that stimulates egg cells in the ovary. It takes this long for the full maturity of the egg. All the while, your uterus is creating a nutrient-rich environment by thickening the lining for the assumption that implantation will take place. CM will increase in quantity and moistness and have a cream-like color. Towards the end of this phase, conception can occur. Sticky to creamy phase=non fertile to semi fertile. Ovulation– usually, on day 14, the pituitary gland secretes more hormones (LH) to send the matured egg out into the Fallopian tube. The cilia will sweep the egg to the end of the tube and wait 24 hours for sperm to impregnate her. CM is most plentiful and has the texture of raw egg whites (thin and stretchy) while your basal body temperature will rise slightly. Highest likelihood of conception. Clear, very wet & slippery phase=fertile. Luteal– days 15-28 (or until menses begins): if sperm did not make it in time, the egg cell disintegrates. The hormones that kept the uterine lining thick, just in case of success, get used up, and the next phase begins. **The luteal stage is equally essential for the success of pregnancy to occur. The hormone progesterone is released to prepare the bed (uterine lining) for the expectation of embryo implantation. If this phase is too short, the embryo will not embed successfully due to low hormones. CM begins to decline and become thicker. Potential for fertilization can occur at the beginning of this phase. Menstruation– begins on day one and usually ends on day 5, when the uterus sheds its lining of soft tissue and blood vessels & only occurs when conception did not take place. CM is at its driest phase, but over the next several days will begin again: yellowish-whitish, cloudy, and somewhat sticky to the touch. Least likely time that conception will take place. Dry or sticky phase=non fertile. Sperm survival and cervical mucus The short explanation is this; the sperm need help to transport past the vaginal fluids of which are all revved up to keep invaders out. This fascinating mucus needs to have low acid to keep the sperm alive along the way. While the body is smart and knows how and when to release the appropriate CM, you too can facilitate the sperms fate. Creating a favorable environment for the sperm to make it past the vagina is critical. PH is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline a substance is. The scale runs from 0-14, and the vaginal pH is generally self-regulating, ranging from 3.8-4.5- a little acidic. If the levels go too high or too low, this can cause infections that impede the chances of sperm survival. To keep the pH at a consistently healthy level, try these: Take probiotics to restore the balance of healthy bacteria to your system. Don’t douche. Eat unsweetened, natural yogurt. Don’t overuse antibiotics. Use condoms when not trying to get pregnant. These conditions can jeopardize you CM: Yeast or candidiasis Bacterial vaginitis Sexually transmitted diseases Anti-sperm antibodies or a high diet in acidic foods Dehydration Increased inflammation or infection of the cervix High progesterone Low estrogen Fertility medications (yes, they REDUCE CM) Cervical polyp or fibroid LEEP or cryosurgery to treat cervical dysphasia or HPV Talk to your health care provider about testing for any of the above conditions. It could be as simple as taking an antifungal or antibacterial supplement to get your mucus on track and increase the probability of conception. Once the pH is restored and balanced, achieving a fertile environment should be a cinch. Other ways to keep the magic alive in your CM Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! CM 90% water. Drink eight full glasses of clean, double-filtered water every day. Nutritional supplements- essential fatty acids, evening primrose oil, borage seed oil, L-arganine & vitamin c. Herbs- Shatavari, dandelion, licorice root, marshmallow root & red clover. Sperm friendly lube before intercourse. Emerita is great! Avoid caffeine and nicotine. Drink grapefruit juice. Keep chemicals out of the vagina- including anything with fragrance and dyes (check your toilet paper). Expectorant cough syrup- thins mucus in the body and may create the perfect consistency of CM. Eat raw garlic, dark green vegetables, carrots, and flaxseed. Avoid anything that dries up mucus in the body, like pseudoephedrine or allergy medications. Alternative therapies: chiropractic, aromatherapy, acupressure, acupuncture & reflexology are a few choices to assist in a healthier body. If you’ve been struggling with vaginal issues and can’t seem to get the CM just right, talk to an expert about a more detailed investigation. Some things may be out of your control, and delving past the obvious will get you on the right track. With proper guidance, you can get your vaginal environment optimal for a successful outcome. Learning the magic of cervical mucus can be a game-changer. Happy Parenting-to-be!
