Tuesday 29 May 2012

IS OUR BIOLOGICAL CLOCK TICKING? FERTILITY IN OUR LATER YEARS

 IS OUR BIOLOGICAL CLOCK TICKING?  FERTILITY IN OUR LATER YEARS


There is a vast majority of women trying to conceive in there 40’s. A high percentage of women I see in my clinic are in the mid 40’s. While the statistics can be discouraging, it still doesn’t mean you can’t have a baby.  Did you know, we are born with around 1 to 2 million eggs and by the time we have our first period they are pared back to around 300,000.  At which point they take turns ripening then bursting out of their follicle to be released through ovulation as part of our menstrual cycle. The number of eggs we have left therefore decreases with each menstrual cycle. On average a women ovulates 487 times during her lifetime. To have baby in your 40’s is therefore not impossible. There is a myth that at the age of 35 years the alarm bells go off, “there are fewer oocytes and poorer fertility outcomes”.  However, if we look at the way we treat ourselves it’s a surprise the alarm bells of our ovaries don’t start ringing at age 25. For women that are leaving it a little longer, they need to be educated about their fertility and equipped with the knowledge so they can make the informed decision about having a baby later in life. For some it can be as easy as “let’s have a baby and fall pregnant”. And for others the process can be a little more challenging.   Whilst people can blame it on age, there is a lot more to it other than your chronically age. Age can be a factor, however I see a lot of older women falling pregnant.

It is true and I will be one of the statistics; having a baby later in my life, getting married later and establishing my career. Realistically, if I had the chance I would have had a baby earlier.  That unfortunately is not a choice I currently have. The reality is we are getting married later, forging our careers and pushing off having babies till later in life.  However, I am putting the necessary steps in place to look after my health and my fertility.

Primary care of our health is so important for those who are leaving having children till later in life. For so long now we’ve all heard “you are what you eat, exercise is so important, stress is the underlying cause of some many illnesses”. All of this advertising we constantly keep hearing and seeing rings true.  Advice I offer my patients is all about making lifestyle changes in a holistic fashion. My view is about treating the patient holistically. It’s not just a get pregnant approach. We focus on a healthy pregnancy and healthy person. In doing so, we are creating a fertile, mind, body and soul.

We need to educate women about Fertility. If you are leaving it till a little later in life. Here is some great advice:

  • KNOW WHERE YOUR CURRENT FERTILITY IS!!!
  • GO AND SEE YOUR GYNAECOLOGIST
  • HAVE A PELVIC ULTRASOUND
  • HAVE YOUR HORMONES TESTED
  • GET YOUR PARTNER TO HAVE A SPERM ANALYSIS

This advice will help you understand where your current fertility is and help you plan for your future. You can take charge of your health and begin to put the steps in required to have a healthy baby.  Even better may avoid having to go down the path of IVF.  At Angea Fertility Clinic we can help you on your path to improving your health and most of all increasing your fertility. 

Brown Rice Congee with Apples and Dates. It's a date!

Brown Rice Congee with Apples and Dates. It's a date!

It's that time of year again and all you want to do is snuggle up in front of an open fire.  During the colder months I can't even imagine beginning my day with a cold breakfast. It sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it.  This brown rice congee is delicious and warm and is the perfect way to start your day.

From 7 am to 11 am, energy flows through the acupuncture meridians (Stomach and Spleen) that are dominated by the Earth element. The Earth element governs our digestive functions in the body. Breakfast is the perfect opportunity to redefine your experience with food. We all must begin our day with Breakfast, I can't stress this enough.  Certain foods and herbs will strengthen your digestive system and Earth element, rather than exhaust it. During the cold winter months, it is a good time to experiment with making congee. Why not try it with grains; millet, quinoa, and amaranth.

2 cups of brown rice
1 to 1 ½ cups apple or pear juice to cover
2 green apples or your favorite kind (sliced thinly)
¾ cup dates (pitted and sliced)
1 teaspoon coconut oil (optional)
1 to 2 tablespoons honey or agave (optional)
A little cinnamon + 1 Cinnamon Stick
Pinch of salt
Filtered water (if needed while cooking)

You can add any fruit and nuts you like.

Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and allow about four hours for it to cook. Check it about every 30 to 45 minutes and add a little filtered water as needed.

Once cooked serve with good quality yoghurt, shredded coconut, nuts and seeds, chia seeds, and fruit and berries if you like

Note: If the congee tastes too sweet next time try using half juice and half filtered water as your liquid to cover and do not add extra sweetener.

Friday 25 May 2012

Let's get to the Naked Truth

THE NAKED TRUTH

Let's get to the Naked Truth about our fertility. For many I am sure you are asking the same questions. Here is the perfect opportunity to start an open forum and get those questions OUT and INTO the OPEN. I am here to answer any questions you have. Let's get started.




Monday 21 May 2012

Now is the Time

When ever I feel down or lost for inspiration I turn to the written wisdom of others.



Now is the time to know
That all you do is sacred.
Now, why not consider

A lasting truce with yourself and God.
Now is the time to understand
that all your ideas of right and wrong
Were just a child’s training wheels

To be laid aside
When you can finally live
With Veracity
And love.

Hafiz is a divine envoy
Whom the Beloved
Has written a holy message upon.

My dear, please tell me,
Why do you still
Throw sticks at your heart
And God?

What is it in that sweet voice inside
That incites you to fear?
Now is the time for the world to know
That every thought and action is sacred.

This is the time
For you to deeply compute the impossibility
That there is anything
But Grace.

Now is the season to know
That everything you do
Is sacred. 
      
–Hafiz
Now is the Time

Sunday 20 May 2012

OUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE

A healthy menstrual cycle is an important aspect in women's physiology as it reflects the proper functioning of the reproductive organs. There are 4 phases in the menstrual cycle. Each phase relates to a dynamic change within the female body.
  1. Menstruation
  2. Post Period
  3. Ovulation
  4. Pre -Menstruation

With each phase different hormones are triggered and this causes the body to respond in different ways. Modern physiologists describe the menstrual cycle in terms of hormones made by the ovaries (estrogen & progesterone) and their actions on the follicles, the tubes, the endometrium (lining) and the uterus. In Chinese Medicine we talk about the involvement of Qi & Blood with the influence of Yin/Yang.



The average menstrual cycle is 28 but can range from 24-35 days.








Day 1-5: Menstruation
Day 1 is the considered the first day of the 28 day cycle. If an egg has not been fertilized it disintegrates. Low levels of both estrogen & progesterone during this phase cause the endometrium (lining of the uterus) to break down and shed in the form of menstrual blood. Bleeding last an average of 5 days.
Note: if your period begins in the evening ie 5pm or during the night 3am then Day 1 is taken from the next day.
The nature of the menstrual flow and its accompanying symptoms are all significant in pinpointing any glitches in the movement of qi and blood. Any obstructions to the menstrual flow can have implications for infertility.
The timely arrival and departure of the period is therefore crucial to the transition, growth and decline between yin & yang and the interplay of qi and blood.

Days 1-13: Follicular Phase
Early in the menstrual cycle the pituitary gland in the brain produces rising amounts of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) which acts on the ovaries to promote the development of several follicles, each one containing an egg. Only one follicle will reach maturity. Toward the end of this phase, the ovaries secrete increasing levels of estrogen which causes the uterine lining to begin thickening in preparation for a potential fertilized egg.

Days 10-18: Ovulatory Phase
The pituitary gland and hypothalamus release a surge of lutenizing hormone (LH) about midway through the cycle. This causes the mature follicle to bulge out from the surface of the ovary and burst, releasing the egg. Ovulation usually occurs around day 14 of the cycle. The egg then begins to travel down the fallopian tube into the uterus. This is the time woman are most likely to fall pregnant.

Day 15-28: Luteal Phase
After releasing the egg, the ruptured follicle develops into a structure called the corpus luteum (an endocrine body), which secretes increasing amounts of progesterone.
The corpus luteum is the only structure which produces the hormone progesterone in large quantities. The progesterone causes the endometrium to thicken further and prepare to support embryonic development. If the egg is fertilized, the corpus luteum begins to produce chrionic gonadotropin (HCG) pregnancy hormone which maintains the corpus luteum and its progesterone secretion. The egg moves to the uterus and attaches itself to the endometrium about six or seven days after ovulation, where it begins to develop into a fetus.

If the egg is not fertilized, the corpus luteum degenerates after about 14 days and levels of progesterone and estrogen drop. This causes the endometrium to break down and shed, and a new menstrual cycle begins.

Wednesday 16 May 2012

You are what your Eat. Improving your Fertility through your diet

 

Fertile Diet: Natural Fertility Management Eating Plan

One of the easiest and simplest ways to influence our level of health and wellness and enhance our fertility is by changing both the way we eat and what we eat. We are more likely to obtain the benefits of the food we consume, if we have good digestion, eat regularly, eat a range of nutritious foods, eat in a relaxed environment and choose foods from a variety of different food groups. Today, a significant portion of our food has been altered and processed so by the time it reaches our mouths the nutritional value has decreased and the amount of toxins and chemicals we ingest has increased. For this reason I encourage you to buy foods that are fresh and organic. Remember, the food you are eating provides your body with the building blocks needed to produce healthy eggs and sperm and ultimately a healthy baby.

FATS
Good Fats = essential fatty acids such as Omega 3 and Omega 6 oils which are beneficial to many different aspects of our health
Sources = olive oil, flaxseed oil, avocado, deep sea oil fish, nuts and seeds

Bad Fats = saturated fats which upset your nutrient/hormone balance
Sources = deep fried food, butter, margarine, check labels for amounts of saturated fats

PROTEIN
You need an average size serving (equivalent to the palm of your hand) of protein providing food 2-3 times a day. This can be from
1. A primary protein (complete protein) which comes from an animal source and contains all essential amino acids or
2. A combination of secondary proteins, which come from plant sources and need to be combined in order to provide full range of amino acids: nuts/grains/seeds/legumes.

Protein Providing Foods:
Fish: 2-3 x week but beware of potential mercury problem. Suggest a deep/sea/ocean/cold water fish which are less polluted eg: mackerel, trevally, sardines, salmon and avoid larger varieties, such as tuna, barramundi, orange roughy, flake which are likely to be higher in mercury.
Chicken: only use chemical free or certified organic and trim the skin to avoid fats
Eggs: excellent source of protein and should be only limited if allergy exists or they cause gastrointestinal upset. Again suggest certified organically fed.
Diary: minimal intake of cow’s milk and cheese as it can contribute to mucus and malabsorption problems. Natural cultured non-flavored yoghurt is good. Rice and Soy Milks are OK but avoid genetically modified, high fats and sugar brands. Soymilk should be whole bean and organic.
Red Meat: eat in moderation once to twice a week. Avoid organ meats/offal and poor quality sausage mince. Also suggest avoiding deli meats, which are high in fats, offal content and preservatives. Trim all fat.
Legumes: split peas, lentils, chickpeas, beans, tofu, tempeh. Good plant protein and carbohydrate.
Nuts/Seeds: raw, unsalted and fresh essential. Easily oxidized so keep refrigerated and eat within 2 weeks. Nuts should not taste bitter. Use in stir-fries, salads, pasta and snacks.

CARBOHYDRATES:

The balance of protein to carbohydrate foods should be approximately 1:1 although you can eat as many non-starchy vegetables as you like. There are two types of carbohydrates simple and complex. The rule of thumb is simple. It’s important your diet consists of plenty of the “good” complex carbohydrates (non-starchy vegetables and whole grains). And less of the "bad" simple carbohydrates (sugar, white flour products like white bread and pasta) which can disrupt your hormone balance and leach nutrients from your body stores causing you to crave more of those foods.

Starchy Vegetables: potatoes, green vegetables. All ‘eyes’ or ‘scabs’ on root vegetables should be removed. Vegetables should be steamed, stir-fried or dry baked not microwaved.
Fruit: 2-3 pieces daily including juices with fresh ginger.
No dried fruit.
Grains: whole grain bread (yeast free)/rice/pasta whenever possible
Avoid any refined flour products and bakery products
Sugar: We want to minimize all sweet things as much as possible including sugar substitutes, undiluted fruit juices, cakes, biscuits, soft drinks and chocolate
Alcohol: Avoid Alcohol. Alcohol is toxic to the fetus and leaches nutrients.

Wednesday 9 May 2012

AMH READINGS





What does a low AMH reading indicate? And how does it relate to your IVF Cycle?

AMH is the Antimullerian hormone. This test correlates to the size of your residual follicular pool. Basically your egg reserve. When applying the results in clinical practice in IVF it will generally indicate that you will yield or produce a smaller amount of eggs than with someone that has a higher reading. Lower AMH levels have been associated with poor response to ovarian stimulation (generally they will use a higher dosage of Gonal F, maybe up to 450mg), low oocyte yield (not producing many eggs) and embryo quality. Doppler ultrasound evaluation showed, women who respond poorly to ovarian stimulation for IVF have compromised blood flow to their ovarian follicles.

1. Acupuncture can help improve your egg quality
2. Acupuncture can increase blood flow to the reproductive organs, which dramatically improves a woman’s response to hormonal therapy.
3. Acupuncture reduces stress
4. Acupuncture improves blood to the uterus and follicles.

Did you know when you orgasm it also improves blood flow to the endometrial lining and follicles. The more orgasms you are having the better. If you can't orgasm during penetration, I tell my clients to finish the job themselves.



On a serious note, when you begin your IVF cycle please make sure your doctor has tested your AMH levels. If you are unsure what you needed to be tested for,  we can help you at Angea. We have a specific list of blood tests that we have all our Fertility patients take before starting on their Fertility Journey.