Miracle happens sometimes…..

Infertility is perceived as a social problem in our country, with various medical manifestations. However, advances in medical science have made it possible for infertile couples to experience the joy of parenthood Guru Infertility Center Madurai provides treatment for men and women under one roof.

What is Infertility?

Infertility is defined as a couple’s inability to conceive after one year of unprotected intercourse.

What is ART?

Any medical technique that helps couples conceive can be called as an assisted reproductive technology.

What are the various treatment options available for infertility?

Treatment for Male Infertility

• Sperm retrieval: Sperm has to be collected before fertilization using intrauterine insemination (IUI) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can take place, the sperm must be collected and prepared.
• Sperm Washing: Sperm is washed from the seminal fluid to improve the ability of sperm to move towards the egg.
• Intrauterine Insemination (Artificial Insemination): This is the least complex of fertility procedures and the preliminary step tried in uncomplicated cases of infertility.
• Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI): When male infertility is the main factor for infertility, intracytoplasmic sperm injection is used.

Treatment for women Infertility

• Lifestyle changes: body weight control, quit smoking, avoid excessive exercise, Quit or limit caffeine and alcohol. Stop any unnecessary medications.
• To increase your chances of getting pregnant, some factors are considered like Planned sexual activity at the time of ovulation, Frequency of Intercourse, Dealing with Stress, Fertility restoration:
• There are several fertility drugs for abnormal LH and FSH production.
• Several surgical procedures can correct problems or otherwise improve female fertility.  issue removal, Tubal reversal surgery (microscopic), Tubal surgeries
• Treating the underlying medical conditions like PCOS, Hyperprolactinemia Immunological infertility, Endometriosis. Depending on the severity of the condition, drug treatment, surgery of assisted reproduction is used.

At Guru Infertility center provides best ART Treatment at Madurai .It is affordable to the common people as there are cashless treatments. It is a ray of hope for all childless couples.

FERTILE TURTLE BRACELET

As many of you may have already seen on my website, I have started a new line of fertility jewelry with natural stones and fertility symbolism from around the world. Our newest addition is the "Fertile Turtle" Bracelet. This is a fun and meaningful piece of jewelry with genuine rose quartz and white turquoise.

Rose Quartz

The pink color of rose quartz is thought to attract love energy. Rose quartz is thought to carry feminine energy and it targets the heart chakra. Rose quartz promotes vitality, energy and fertility and it is commonly thought of as a fertility stone. It can also be helpful to put rose quartz on your belly when you do become pregnant.

White Turquoise

More rare than the traditional Turquoise, White Turquoise brings calmness, aligns the chakras and unites male and female energy. It reduces acidity which is good for female fertility. It has anti-inflammatory properties and it helps to alleviate pain and cramps.

The Turtle

The turtle symbolizes fertility, they lay a large number of eggs and have a large number of offspring. Turtles have 13 squares in the middle of its shell and are connected to the 13 full moons each year. They also have 28 smaller squares around the outside which are associated with the 28 days of the lunar month corresponding to a woman’s cycle.

IMPORTANT CHAKRAS FOR FERTILITY

If you've never heard of a "chakra", it is a Sanskrit word and it means wheel or vortex. A chakra is thought to be part of the non-physical body through which energy moves. Although there are many more than 7, typically the following represents the main chakras of the body:

You can see that each chakra has a name and is associated with a particular color and stone.  The sacral chakra governs both female and male fertility.  I have created a new page on my website with much more.

WHAT KIND OF TEA HELPS YOU GET PREGNANT?

Ive written many times about fertility tea recipes and formulas that are on the market...but what about just the regular tea you usually find in grocery stores or in restaurants?  What about green tea?  Well, it turns out that both green tea and regular tea have many helpful ingredients and nutrients that can improve overall health and fertility.  Regular tea and green tea both have polyphenols and hypoxanthine which may be responsible for more viable embryos and possibly a greater chance of fertilization. Both of these teas contain caffeine, so the decaffeinated variety may be best because there is evidence that caffeine can harm fertility and contribute to miscarriage.

Life is a Trigger

You may have noticed that it's been winter all year here at Conceiving Hope.

Sometimes life is permeated with a grey, foggy haze that doesn't lift. That's the best way to describe 2016. The death of a parent. The death of another child. The death of an aunt. The death of a friend. A new diagnosis - this time a disease brought on by pregnancy itself. And so winter wasn't coming, it just never left.

I'm mostly still back at January 22nd, even now. Remembering every bit of that morning before I knew my world had changed.... remembering a peace that was a lie. Freshly fallen snow that morning, a hot cup of tea, a slow start to the day, and time spent soaking it in. Yet far away, the loss of a parent in those same moments. It's strikes me even now how eerily silent it was that morning. Hauntingly so, as crystals formed, and snow flakes settled and everything in the world was frozen for a moment...

Grief is a strange sensation. Like the snow that morning, it is mostly silent - but discernibly there. And after the snow, it's even like the feel of sticky morning dew on bare skin in springtime. Or like a thick, hot breath inwards on a particularly humid summer evening. Or that first crisp scent of Autumn in the air that catches your nose.

They are all so distinct, aren't they? Familiar, yet new. Recognizable, yet different. There, yet not really. The deafening quiet of that snowy morning and particularly the change of the seasons this year are some of the most poignant to me still, as I think back on the loss. The world kept going, but I did not. And loss upon loss, I became numb. I didn't even keep up motions in my numbness. I just was. Or am. Or something...

In 2016, all of life has seemed a trigger. Maybe it's hope delayed? Or maybe this is some Phoenix metaphor where I have to be burned to ashes before some dramatic rebirth. Perhaps my Hashimoto's is conjuring up exactly that scenario. I'm not sure, nor does it really matter much which it is. I just am. Or whatever is left of me, anyway.

Losing a parent is so very different than losing a child. Almost everyone can relate to one, and very few can relate to the other. Yes, losing a parent is expected at some point, but even in the shared experience - the reality of it is utterly unique and unshareable.

I buried my father on my birthday. And since the year I was born, it always snows that day. It did that day too. I'm not sure how it's 8 months past that day already, but it is. I'm still in winter, stuck in January, and the rest of you kept going.

WHAT IS MACA? CAN IT HELP FERTILITY?

Maca For Fertility - How It Works and How To Use It

One of the most common questions I get is from men and women who have heard about using maca to boost their chances of having a child.. Judging from these questions, there's a good deal of misinformation out there regarding how to use maca in this way. That's why I wanted to offer this detailed article.
How Maca Helps Both Men and Women
Maca is one of a few herbs that are believed to be "adaptogens." These special kinds of herbs adapt to a variety of conditions within a given body and help restore it to a healthy balance. Maca in particular works on the endocrine system to balance hormones in both men and women.
Scientific studies, some of which are referenced below, have found that using black maca boosts sperm count in men and even increases sperm activity. Similar studies show that females given maca respond with increased regularity in cycles and easier ovulation. Another result of taking the herb is a marked increase in libido for both men and women.

 

In addition to balancing hormones taking this superfood powder also provides excellent nutritional support. It is rich in amino acids, phytonutrients, fatty acids, vitamin and minerals. Both men and women who are properly nourished greatly increase the likelihood of conceiving a healthy child.
Tips On Using Maca To Boost Your Chances of Conception
If you do decide to use maca in this way there are several things that you should do and keep in mind in order to maximize your success.

1. Use only high quality, fresh, certified organic products. Unfortunately there are many inferior products on the market that are made from chemically grown maca or from old maca roots that have lost their potency.
2. Use the right amount. Using maca in this way is considered to be a therapeutic usage and therefore you need to take a therapeutic dosage consistently and regularly.
3. Both partners should take it For maximum efficacy you and your partner should be taking the powder. Maca comes with a number of other benefits, so it should be easy to convince him/her to do so.
4. Women should consider using red maca. It's the rarest and most nutritionally dense form of the plant. It's also the best for female fertility.
5. Men should use black maca. It has been shown to increase sperm count and sperm motility

Scientific Studies on Maca Relevant to This Topic

• Gonzales, G. F., et al. "Effect of Black maca (Lepidium meyenii) on one spermatogenic cycle in rats." Andrologia. 2006 Oct; 38(5): 166-72.
• Bustos-Obregon, E., et al. "Lepidium meyenii (Maca) reduces spermatogenic damage induced by a single dose of malathion in mice." Asian J. Androl. 2005 Mar; 7(1): 71-6.
• Ruiz-Luna, A.C., et al. "Lepidium meyenii (Maca) increases litter size in normal adult female mice." Reprod. Biol. Endocrinol. 2005 May; 3(1): 16.
• Gonzales, C., et al. "Effect of short-term and long-term treatments with three ecotypes of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on spermatogenesis in rats." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Feb 20; 103(3): 448-54.



Supplement with Maca

• Gonzales, G. F., et al. "Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on spermatogenesis in male rats acutely exposed to high altitude (4340 m)." J. Endocrinol. 2004; 180(1): 87-95.

Conclusion
If you are looking to increase your chances of getting pregnant naturally, without invasive surgical procedures, maca is certainly the supplement to try. Adding maca for fertility to any program or strategy can only help your overall health and chances of conceiving a child.

INOSITOL FOR FERTILITY AND OVULATION

So what exactly is inositol (or myoinositol)?  It is one of the B Vitamins (actually thought of as vitamin B8).  For women who are trying to conceive, inositol has been associated with higher quality eggs and may help with blastocyst development.  For women who have been diagnosed with PCOS, Inositol may help with insulin sensitivity of the ovary.  If you are taking a multivitamin, be sure it has the recommended daily amount of inositol.  There are also a number of supplements on the market that focus on inositol and other essential nutrients for those trying to conceive.

ALMONDS, HELP YOU CONCEIVE, FERTILITY SYMBOL

I have often talked about almonds as a fertility food, but I never knew that they were considered a "fertility symbol" for the ancient Romans!  As this article explains, perhaps they knew about the extreme nutritional value of almonds even back then.  Read more:

The Facts on Almond Nutrition

Almonds can be found in such common places as on top of a salad or as a snack while on a plane. They are packed full on nutritional value and are tasty to eat. Almonds are so versatile that they can be used as a key ingredient in dessert or found as a snack in between meals.
Did you know that one ounce of almonds has as much calcium as ¼ cup of milk as well as providing 35% of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin E. Vitamin E has been proven to help prevent some forms of cancer.
Almonds are also high in folic acid which helps prevent birth defects and have higher levels of magnesium than those found in spinach or oatmeal.


The phosphorous found in almonds helps to build strong bones and teeth and some of the other nutrients contained in almonds are protein, fiber, iron, zinc, copper and phytochemicals.
Almonds come with a long and rich history. Almonds are mentioned in the book of Numbers which dates back to around 1400 BC. Then around 300BC explorers traveling along the "Silk Road" between Asia and the Mediterranean brought along almonds to eat. These explorers consequently began to grow almonds in such new regions as Morocco, Greece, Israel, Italy and Spain.
During Roman times almonds were considered to be a fertility charm. Maybe ancient Romans new of the nutritional value of almonds and figured it couldn't hurt with fertility. During the mid 18th century almonds made there way from Spain to California. It took a century or so for the almond trees to become established and produce the volumes of almonds we see today.
Then by the early 1900's the San Joaquin and Sacramento areas of California were well established as leaders in the almond industry.
Shauna Hanus is a gourmet cook who specializes in creating gourmet recipes. She has extensive experience cooking with easy to find grocery items to create delightful gourmet meals. She is also the publisher of a no cost bi-monthly gourmet newsletter. Her newsletter is always fun and informational packed with tips and trivia you can use everyday.

46, SPENT SAVINGS ON IVF, GETS PREGNANT NATURALLY

I can certainly relate to the woman in this story, she struggled with infertility for years and she and her husband spent their life savings on IVF.  After they finally let go, she gets pregnant naturally out of nowhere.  This woman has now become a fertility counselor because she is convinced that there is a mental stress component to infertility.  She and her husband spent every waking moment trying to conceive and this most certainly affected their stress level.

From the article:
We put so much pressure on ourselves to have a baby that everything became very regimented, we focused all our energy on conceiving...
...And three years later I became pregnant, now I'm living proof that really letting go of all the anxiety around conceiving naturally can be solved by changing your mental attitude...
 ...After going through the heartbreak of not being able to conceive for seven years, Liz, who was already a trained therapist, decided to specialise in fertility problems to help other couples who have been through similar struggles.

The Persistent Infertility Advocate

In the past couple of weeks, I’ve been teaching an “Empathy and Empowerment” presentation about how to support, relate and assist infertility patients on their journey. Yesterday, I spent a good portion of my day doing these sessions that includes many different elements of empathy, how to support and be sensitive to someone dealing with infertility and I include a list of things to NOT say to those going through infertility treatment (i.e. “God has a plan, be grateful for what you have, maybe there’s a reason, don’t give up, etc.) I also get into making sure that patients feel empowered to take an active role in their fertility treatment decisions (we tell people about the success rates of IUI versus IVF, etc.) I take great pride in not only making the “fertile world at large” aware of the impact infertility can have on an individual or couples life but also, how they can help not say something that will get them punched in the face.

As I headed home at the end of the day feeling positive, I got a comment on my blog from someone who called themselves, “Unknown”. It said,

“I have ready many of your posts as well as your piece on Recombine’s site. There are a few different definitions of Infertility but bottom line is that one who is truly infertile cannot conceive. You have two children. Can you really speak for those of us who are unable to have children? You say to find humor in it, I haven’t yet.”

To be blunt, my first reaction was annoyance as I felt like someone just pooped on something I’m passionate about. However, I decided to practice what I preach, be empathetic and publish the comment so I could respond. However, when I went Blogger to approve it, the comment disappeared. I have it in my email which is why I’m able to still have what it said. So I’m writing this post to share it (as this person clearly did want this to be shared/read) but also because I’d like to address it.

First, to “Unknown” directly: I’m so very sorry to hear things have been unable to conceive AND that this has been so tough. It’s not fair, it makes little sense and I can’t even imagine how incredibly frustrating this journey (or rollercoaster) has been for you. I thank you for bring this important point up and for your honesty.

Second, I’m going to try to explain why I remain an infertility advocate despite the fact that I do have two kids. Please know that this is something I even asked myself and even went through a period where I struggled with how to proceed in the infertility world so I’m happy to share my reasoning.

There’s a well-known and vocal infertility advocate named Carolyn Savage who I’ve had the honor of connecting with. When I was pregnant with my second child, I asked her about whether anyone who had kids could be an infertility advocate. She said to me, “Of course. That’s like saying anyone who survived breast cancer can’t be an advocate for it.” That resonated with me… but still I grappled with my advocacy role.

After a few weeks, something hit me that changed my mind and has kept me going since. When I was deep in the trenches, I was EXTREMELY private about how I couldn’t conceive. It was several years of not telling my family, friends, and co-workers. That’ why I started this blog. To privately have an outlet because I felt so guarded and quite frankly, ashamed. I felt like a huge failure and literally every time I’d get my period or fail an IVF cycle, I’d spend days in bed not talking to anyone being depressed.

If any of you know me (and some do), my guess is you’d describe me as boisterous (i.e. LOUD! ), outgoing, jokey and hopefully, good hearted New Yorker (but not as rude). When I was going through those years of treatment though, I was not any of those things. I avoided social situations, distanced myself from friends who had children or who were pregnant and stayed home silently wondering what was going to happen, how I was ever going to pay treatment or how I could get out of any event where someone was going to ask me why I don’t have kids yet.

Now here’s the thing “Unknown” – Right now, there are many, many people in the position I was in then. They are private about their struggle, they are perhaps depressed, they are not their usual selves, and they too feel like they can’t be open about what they are going through. They don’t want to share their story because they are understandably protecting themselves. Perhaps that’s why you even used “Unknown” and not your real name, which again – I understand.

For me though, its years later and I’m in a place where I can raise awareness about infertility, share my story, write for (as you mentioned) Recombine, Huffington Post and Time Magazine about infertility rights and coverage. I can go on CNN or go to Washington, D.C. to talk to Congress about increasing fertility coverage for those, who like me, had none. While someone is somewhere at home dealing with this journey, I’m putting myself out there, using my real name where everyone (family, friends, foes, the public at large, etc.)  can support me or judge me, judges what I’m saying and in the case of some of my Huffington Post pieces, make comments like, “It’s selfish to do infertility treatment. Just adopt.” I do this though to speak for those who currently can’t. My goal is make this medical diagnosis known, to raise awareness, support and real benefit coverage and in the process, raise the level of sensitivity around the topic.

I also know there are many like me in the infertility community who do go on to have children that find themselves in a tough spot. We were formally diagnosed with infertility. That was three doctor’s opinions in my case – I have poor egg quality and infertility and that was certainly the CPT code used on all of my medical treatment. However, the debate remains that if you do go on to have children, even if it is, in fact, through fertility treatment, are you still considered an infertile? I hope you’ll all weigh in on that in the comments section as I know there are varying opinions on this.

On this note though, what I would like to ask Unknown is would it be better if I was active in the infertility community and then as soon as I had kids, I left and said, “Ok, thanks! Bye!” To me personally, that’s worse. The community supported me when I needed it and now it’s absolutely my turn to support those who need it. Whether you think that’s wrong or right, I don’t have it in my heart to just peace out like that.

Also, on the note of humor, I volunteered for several years at Gilda’s Club. As you may know, Gilda’s Club was named after Gilda Radner, a very well-known and respected comedic actress who was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. Her husband, Gene Wilder, who also just recently passed away, said that Gilda Radner kept her sense of humor throughout her grueling treatment and right up until her death. When I volunteered in “Noogieland” which was the children’s department, one of the main overall objectives was to use humor as a coping mechanism. It doesn’t dismiss the horrible issue you’re dealing with but it can help buy you even moments of sanity. It also, I hope, takes away infertility’s power… to make fun of it and show, “I can laugh at you so f*ck you!” I’m certain not everyone sees it that way but given your options, laughing at it or letting it kill your sense of humor, I’d suggest trying to laugh at it every time.

Here’s the bottom line: Anyone who wants to be unhappy with me, my journey, and my sense of humor absolutely can. I’ll even connect you with a few ex-boyfriends if you’d like to talk smack about me. You can hate that I did end up having children as quite frankly, I can imagine that I might feel similarly. What I can only hope though is like me or not like me, you still see that I am doing all I can to help bring attention to this issue that affects one in six, and somehow do my part to help make things better for those who are going to go through treatment or for those going through treatment right now. I would hope that even if you don’t like me or get me, you’d at least respect that.

All of us, whether in the infertility closet or not have the power to make a difference. Whether we send a letter to our local Senator or HR Department about the importance and need for fertility benefits, whether we create an anonymous profile on Twitter or FertileThoughts or any other support forum you like to help support and share information with others or even if you educate just one person about infertility – that it exists, we all can be an infertility advocate in a way we choose and that we feel comfortable.

So, Unknown – I do have children and I apologize if that or my sense of humor has hurt you in anyway. If you at all feel comfortable though, I’d encourage you to do something that does make you feel empowered by helping the cause. I will never stop being an infertility advocate. Instead, I hope you join me and become one as well.

WHY IS WHEATGRASS SO GOOD FOR FERTILITY?

Even before I was trying to conceive, I had heard about the benefits of wheatgrass.  When I joined an infertility support group a number of the women there were talking about "wheatgrass shots" which were supposed to help them get pregnant.  So, is there any truth to the claim that wheatgrass can help you conceive?  Well, yes, it seems there is.  Not only is wheatgrass a great source of chlorophyll which can help remove toxins from your body, it also has 8 essential amino acids and many more nutrients.  In addition to all of the overall health benefits, if you are trying to conceive, it can help create an "alkaline" environment which is more sperm friendly than an acidic environment.

 

TRUE STORIES, NATURAL PREGNANCY OVER 50

One of my most popular web pages is about women who, "against all odds" got pregnant naturally over the age of 50.  Almost all of these were unplanned probably because they didn't think they could get pregnant at their age.  Heck, the media is obsessed with how you probably have a better chance at getting struck by lightning than you do getting pregnant over the age of 40!  And yet the unexpected rate of pregnancy over 40 is second only to teenagers!  It seems like there is a disconnect between what is reported and the reality.  Here are 8 cases of women who spontaneously conceived over age 50.

WOMAN 48 GETS PREGNANT ON HONEYMOON (NATURALLY)

I'm surprised I didn't find this story earlier, in 2014 Susan Devere reconnected with her then "ex-husband" and they decided to give their relationship another chance.  What is amazing is that there were 30 years between their first and second marriage!  They found each other through social media and one thing led to another resulting in their second marriage.  I guess fate intervened and Susan became pregnant for the first time at the age of 48.  Read more:

After marrying at the age of 18, Susan and her husband Alan fell out and divorced at the age of 20. The couple didn’t speak for almost 30 years but then found one another on friends Reunited and decided splitting up was a terrible mistake. Within four months they got married in Las Vegas and against all the odds just three weeks after they came back, Susan discovered she was pregnant.
Susan had never been pregnant before and has no other children. Alan – who has a daughter from a previous marriage – was shocked.

Chocolate Cyst Removal

Chocolate Cysts are a type of ovarian cyst which is also known as endometriosis. These are cysts in ovaries occur by endometrial tissue that is similar to the lining of the uterus. The word "Chocolate cyst” is derived from the physical appearance of the cyst. The old dried blood makes the color of the cyst as brown. It can vary its size from 0.5 to 8 inches in diameter. if the cyst breaks, contents in it will enter into the pelvic cavity and ovaries. This causes pelvic pain and some of the pelvic organs may stick together. If it happens with ovaries and fallopian tubes it can result in infertility. If the chocolate cyst is affecting women during their reproductive period it may cause pelvic pain associated with menstrual cycle.

SYMPTOMS OF CHOCOLATE CYSTS

Most common symptoms of  chocolate cysts are:

• Painful Periods : Pain will start a few days before the periods, then last for the end of it.
• Painful Sex : The pain will last for few hours after sex.
• Pain in Pelvic Area
• Pain in the lower abdomen.
• Infertility : The egg may get blocked when it passes through fallopian tubes.

DIAGNOSIS FOR CHOCOLATE CYSTS

We can diagnose the chocolate cyst with x - rays or ultrasound screening. The positive result of the test is called CA125 which indicates  the presence of the chocolate cyst.

TREATMENT FOR CHOCOLATE CYSTS

Chocolate cyst may cause Infertility.  So it is very important to remove the cyst through a surgery. In most cases, doctors will suggest laparoscopic surgery for removing the cyst, so that cyst can be treated with a small incision. If the cyst is very large or if there are multiple cysts then the surgeon will suggest another method to treat that is called " oophorectomy or otherwise removal of the ovary may be required.

Guru Hospital Madurai provides effective treatment for the chocolate cyst at affordable rates. It is one of the leading infertility and women care center in Tamil Nadu which provides the Best Infertility Treatment. For more information,

45 YEAR OLD AUDRA MCDONALD, SURPRISE PREGNANCY

 Audra McDonald is an actress and singer who has appeared on Broadway and in the series "Private Practice.  She found out that she was unexpectedly pregnant last May.  I love when celebrities announce their over-40 pregnancies, because it sheds light on the fact that getting pregnant over 40 can be quite normal.  The media frequently focuses on the doom and gloom of older age pregnancies, so here's the good news!  Read more:

 from the article:

"Who knew that tap dancing during perimenopause could lead to pregnancy?" McDonald tweeted. "Will and I are completely surprised – and elated – to be expecting a new addition to our family. I am so very grateful to everyone in New York and London for allowing me to rearrange my schedule to accommodate this little miracle.

MAKE A FERTILITY SALAD, HORMONE REGULATING VEGGIES

I had daily salads when I was trying to conceive. Not only are they great for your overall health, but there a number of vegetables that can enhance fertility by providing antioxidants, vitamins, fiber and other hormone regulating nutrients. They are also quick and easy to make because they don't require cooking. Read more:

Fertility Salad Recipe

Start with red (purple) cabbage. This is a great hormone regulator because it is loaded with phytoestrogens and antioxidants. Cut it in half and save the rest for later. Shred about 1 cup with a cheese shredder as finely as possible. Raw cabbage can be a little hard to digest, so if it is shredded finely, it will help.

Cut up about 1/3 of a large cucumber. Cucumbers (especially the seeds) are considered a fertility enhancer in women.

Peel a ripe avacado, cut in half and discard the pit. Cut ½ of the avacado and save the rest for later. Avacados are a great source of the good fats and they can help enhance progesterone production and keep the balance between estrogen and progesterone.

Cut a tomato in half and cut into cube size pieces. Tomatoes are a good source of lycopene which can reduce inflammation and help with endometriosis.

Add about 1 tbs of extra virgin olive oil (a great source of the good fats)

Add some balsamic vinegar if desired

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy!

AMETHYST, FERTILITY AND ENDOCRINE FUNCTION

Amethyst is one variation of quartz which is reported to have a number of helpful effects on the human body.  If you are trying to conceive, Amethyst is said to help hormone production by targeting the endocrine glands and the immune system.  It receives energy to sustain life and it gives the wearer energy to connect with all there is. It is even thought to help the human body fight off diseases like cancer.
Amethyst is thought to target the Crown Chakra which can help one connect to a higher

Amethyst, Rose Quartz Bracelet

consciousness and awareness.  It can help foster spirituality and was even used by Catholic priests because of this association.  Amethyst is frequently worn or used during meditation because of it's ability to help you connect  to the spiritual aspects of the universe.
Not only does Amethyst have all of these powerful qualities, but it is a beautiful stone and is seen in differing shades of purple.  The "purple ray" of Amethyst has been associated with Archangel Zadkiel who is thought to help with turning negative energy into positive and help with forgiveness and tolerance.

FIRST BABY AT 46 AFTER FAILED IVF

This story sounds very similar to mine.  A woman goes through failed fertility treatments and gets pregnant naturally in her mid forties.  Yes, all the doctors frown at you and give you the "give it up" look.  Okay, they are only doing their job, but fertility doctors usually only see the hard cases.  The women in this story got pregnant despite a fairly stressful life, high FSH, and a blood clotting disorder.  I guess when it's meant to happen, it does!

 Read more:

On my 45th birthday, my chances of getting pregnant, according to the popular statistics, reached zero. I cried, and my husband assured me we could keep trying naturally. I said “ok,” but I thought he was being foolishly optimistic.  We stopped all medical treatments, and I gave up all the alternative approaches to boosting fertility I’d been using too, like acupuncture and herbs.
There Go All the Theories about What To Do and What Not to Do
Six months later, just after mother’s day and just after I wrote this post, we learned I was almost seven weeks pregnant. At the time, my beloved father-in-law was dying, and I’d been spending 4-6 hours a day in a Japanese hospital with him, where once again, I couldn’t understand any of the nurses or doctors. So there goes the theory that we just have to relax or not be stressed and we’ll get pregnant.

CAN BEE POLLEN HELP YOU CONCEIVE?

Bee Pollen And Fertility - Can Bee Pollen Supplements Help People To Conceive?

If you have an interest in bee pollen or royal jelly, then you will almost certainly have come across articles discussing bee pollen and infertility. The big question is however, can pollen really boost fertility, or are we simply seeing shrewd internet marketers preying on people who are in a vulnerable position.
Before I continue, I must admit that I am a huge fan of bee pollen, so any articles I write are naturally a little bit biased, although I do try to keep them as unbiased as possible. So, do I really believe bee pollen can have a positive effect on fertility? I most definitely do, but it is not because I think pollen has any type of supernatural properties.
Bee pollen has been confirmed as a "complete food" since it contains every nutrient necessary to sustain life. In theory, a person could live on royal jelly and water, although to the best of my knowledge, nobody has yet attempted this. One woman did do a six month experiment during which she only had bee pollen, water, fresh juice, and an occasional salad.
The human reproductive system is an extremely complex system, and it can be severely disrupted by even small nutrient deficiencies. For this reason alone, it is to me, clearly obvious that pollen from bee hives can benefit anyone with infertility problems, unless of course they are permanently infertile for medical reasons.
Certain treatments such as radioactive treatment and chemotherapy treatment can render a person permanently infertile. In such cases, pollen from bee hives is not going to restore fertility. If on the other hand a couple is struggling to have a child simply because the man has a low sperm count, then bee pollen may very well swing the balance in their favor.

 

Of course there are no guarantees, but then again, even the most expensive fertility clinics in the world don't offer guarantees, simply because they are not able to. Some couples spend millions of dollars at these clinics, and they still end up not having a child of their own.
Most medical experts agree that certain vitamins and minerals are particularly important when you are trying to get pregnant, and the same applies when you are pregnant. Any vitamin of mineral your doctor recommends will be present in royal jelly.
Another way to look at this would be to look at the bees themselves. Irrespective of how big a colony is, you can be rest assured it is only the queen bee laying all those thousands of eggs. Let's face it; queen bees are ultra fertile, and yes, they live entirely on bee pollen and royal jelly.
What drew people's attention to pollen from bee hives and fertility in the first place? In 2011, researchers at Damanhour University decided to carry out a few experiments using rabbits. They noted that the rabbits that were placed on a bee pollen diet became significantly more fertile than the rabbits that were fed a regular diet. Fertility rates went up, sperm counts increased and sperm motility improved. Interestingly enough, survival rates also increased when baby rabbits were given bee pollen.
Pollen from bee hives can benefit one's health in many ways, but as with all natural dietary supplements, people need to make sure they only buy them from reputable suppliers. Lastly but not least, if you are allergic to bees, then it is best that you discuss matters with your doctor prior to taking any pollen.
______________
I truly hope you have found this article interesting, and if so, you can read many other articles relating to bee pollen and fertility

Comprehensive Infertility Treatment in Madurai

Infertility is a condition in which a female cannot conceive after unprotected intercourse for over a year. Conception or pregnancy depends on following factors like:

1) The production of healthy sperm

2) Healthy eggs

3) Unblocked fallopian tubes

4) Ability of sperm to fertilize the egg

5) Sufficient embryo quality.

For the pregnancy to be normal, the embryo must be healthy and the woman's hormonal environment adequate for its development. If these factors are impaired it can result in infertility.

Causes of Infertility

• Advancing maternal age
• Ovulation disorders
• Tubal occlusion (blockage)
• Uterine fibroids
• Endometrial polyps
• Male factors affecting sperm function
• Endometriosis

Treatment of Infertility

    Infertility treatment provides by Guru Hospital are:

• ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology)

• IUI (intrauterine insemination)

          This procedure is less expensive ,standard AI procedure,  less risk    for multiple births.

•  IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)

             IVF is perform in the laboratory. It can performed in four stages:

• Ovarian stimulation
• Egg Retrieval
• Fertilization and Embryo Culture
• Embryo Transfer and Cryopreservation

•   Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

         It is used  for couples when male infertility is the main reason.

•   Surrogacy

•   Donor Egg

Guru Multispecialty Hospital, Madurai is an Infertility center with high-tech technologies. We offer the best treatment for all types of infertility problems in male and female.

ACTRESS MOLLY SIMS, SURPRISE PREGNANCY AT 43

I know we all like to follow the personal lives of celebrities, so most of them share their successes and their struggles.  Actress Molly Sims was already the mother of two and got pregnant by surprise at the age of 43.  Yes, this happens frequently to women who are in their 40's.  The unexpected rate of pregnancy in women over the age of 40 is second only to teenagers.  This is probably because the media and medical community have told us all how infertile we are leading many women who aren't necessarily trying to conceive to get a little lax with their birth control!



Read more:
Molly said: 'It's a Hail Mary! I'm so happy - we're so blessed. We were so shocked, but we're thrilled.'

The 'Yes Man' actress admitted the pregnancy was unplanned and joked it was the result of 'what happens when I go visit my husband on the movie set.'...

She told People magazine: 'Being 43 is a little worrisome, cause I'm like 'OK, you are going to be 90!' But then Mick Jagger [is having a baby at 72] so we're like okay, we feel good about ourselves.'

STEVIA VS ASPARTAME AS A SWEETENER

Much has been written about the safety of aspartame especially if you are trying to conceive. Some softdrink and beverage manufacturers have discontinued the use of aspartame due to declining public opinion of the safety of this sweetener. Although many unsafe claims have been disputed, many people are now looking at stevia as an alternative. Here are some of the different brands and an explanation of what is in them:

Natural Stevia Based Sweeteners for Your Health

Introduction
From a health standpoint sugar is your enemy but this does not mean you must give up sweeteners. The sweetener stevia is made from the leaves of stevia rebaudiana, a plant that is native to South America. In December 2008 Stevia was approved as a natural sweetener by the Food and Drug Administration. This cleared the way for many people to be able to enjoy its benefits.
Since approved as a sweetener the use of stevia has risen rapidly in the US. It is now available under the brand names such as Only Sweet, SweetLeaf, fructevia, Slimtevia, Nustevia, PureVia, Reb-A and Truvia. The following is representative but not an exhaustive list of stevia based sweeteners.
Stevia products
SweetLeaf
SweetLeaf is made by using the leaves of the stevia plant and extracting their naturally sweet taste with only cool, purified water. No chemicals, alcohols, or additives are used. SweetLeaf is the only chemical-free, zero-calorie, zero-carb, zero-glycemic index, 100% natural sweetener. Stevia is very sweet and contains zero calories. It is a good choice for use when trying to lose weight. A teaspoon of table sugar for example, contains 16 calories. Stevia seems to be the ideal sweetener for people watching their weight and needing to control their blood sugar. It however has a bitter after taste that some people find objectionable.
Fructevia
Fructevia is a blend of Rebaudioside A an extract from stevia, Fructose, Magnesium Carbonate,and nutritional supplements called Fructo-Oligosaccharides.
Fructevia is about three times as sweet as sugar so you use 1/3 to half as much. The company guaranties Fructevia will not have a bitter after taste. There are no genetically modified organisms (GMO's) in Fructevia and it contains no Gluten or chemicals. It is completely a product of nature. Fructevia is a healthful sweetener but much sweeter than sugar yet with a small fraction of the calories and virtually no effect on blood sugar. It is the Fructose that keeps the stevia from being bitter. This is particularly true when only small amounts are used.
The Magnesium in Fructevia is an important mineral for your health including nerves, muscles, bones, and heart. Studies have reported that Americans are dangerously magnesium-deficient.

 

What is fructose?
Fructose, or fruit sugar, in Fructevia is a monosaccharide (simple sugar) found in many plants. The glycemic index for Fructose is low (19). Fructose has the lowest Index rating of all natural sugars. Fructose is not the same as high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
SLIMTEVIA
The ingredients of Slimtevia are basically this same as that of Fructevia. Slimtevia like Fructevia adds a little fructose to eliminate the bitter after taste and still have a product that does not raise your blood sugar level. Slimtevia like Fructevia doesn't spike your blood sugar and does not have the bitter taste associated with pure stevia.
NuStevia
An individual packet is one serving which is tsp. powder (1). A packet of NuStevia contains 80 mg of stevia and 920 mg of Maltodextrinand a very small amount of natural flavors. Thus NuStevia is only 8.96% stevia and over 91% is maltodextrin. The glycemic index for maltodextrin is 150 which is high.Maltodextrinis a type of carbohydrate. It is produced from starch by partial hydrolysis. The actual glycemic index for maltodextrin (150) is high. The amount of maltodextrin however a serving of NuStevia White Stevia is less than a gram. This mixture with 91% maltodextrin is reported to not have the bitter after taste associated with regular stevia even though it will increase your blood sugar level a little. 1 tspof NuSteviais as sweet as 1 tspof sugar (1 cup= 1 cup).
Truvia
The development of Truvia was supported by a major large soft drink company who was instrumental in causing FDA to approve the use of stevia. The power of money is interesting indeed. Truvia is a stevia-based sugar substitute. Truvia is a combination of two different types of sweeteners: rebiana and erythritol with natural flavors. Erythritol is a "sugar alcohol" made by fermenting glucose with yeast. Sugar alcohols are generally recognized as safe but they can cause bloating, gas, diarrhea and can have a laxative effect. Erythritol tends to present less of a problem of these effects than other types of sugar alcohols.
Rebiana is the main ingredient in Truvia. It's a purified form of rebaudioside A, which is one of the components of the stevia plant. Since its introduction in 2008, Truvia has become the number two selling sugar substitute in the United States, surpassing Equal and Sweet'n Low. It is still small next to Splenda which reportedly has negative health implications. Splenda is not a stevia product. Splenda represents 60% of the sugar substitute market. Splenda will give you a big sugar spike as it is 95% Malto-Dextrin or some variant thereof. The Glycemic Index is higher than Table Sugar. Truvia and PureVia are both stevia extract sweeteners sold by major economic powers who market soft drinks.
PureVia
PureVia is Pepsi's sweetener developed from stevia. It is low-calorie sugar substitute developed jointly by PepsiCo and Whole Earth Sweetener Company PureVia is a blend of several different ingredients. It contains dextrose, cellulose powder; natural flavors as well as the stevia extract rebaudioside A.

Summary
Some stevia products such as sweetleaf are made by just extracting the sweetener using water without any additives producing a safe and healthy product. Fructevia and Slimtevia add a little fructose to eliminate the bitter after taste associated with stevia. They are a healthy sweetener that does not raise your blood sugar level. NuStevia uses Maltodextrin to eliminate the bitter taste of stevia. A serving contains 80 mg of Stevia extract and 920 mg of Maltodextrin. Thus NuStevia contains only 8.96% stevia and over 91% maltodextrin. Truvia and PureVia are developed sweeteners from stevia and made by two major soft drink manufactures.
_______________
Purchase your pesticide free aronia and blueberries from (Blueberry Croft Farm and Nursery). We understand both the theory and practical applications of growing aronia and blueberries. The farm is a reputable source for quality aronia and blueberry plants. Over 30 varieties of blueberries are grown and sold.

ECTOPIC 17 TIMES HIGHER WITH IVF

Ectopic Pregnancy - Higher Incidence With IVF and Frozen Embryos

Wow, I was astounded to read this article about how frozen embryos increase the chance of ectopic pregnancy.
 I had two ectopics, which both were the result of IVF. Statistically, there is a higher risk of ectopic with IVF, but frozen embryos have a 17 times greater risk! If ectopic pregnancies rupture, it can be life threatening. Read more:

Using frozen embryos in fertility treatment raises the risk of a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy by 17 times, researchers have found.


Using frozen embryos in fertility treatment raises the risk of a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy by 17 times, researchers have found.

Scientists had thought that the risk of ectopic pregnancy was only slightly increased for frozen embryos compared with the use of "fresh" embryos. The American researchers said they had been surprised by the results and were not sure of the reason.

Alison Cook, a spokeswoman for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, which regulates fertility treatment in Britain, said the study was a "serious concern". "We have never come across these figures before. We will be studying the research," she said.

When a woman first has IVF treatment, doctors usually transfer between one and three "fresh" test-tube embryos into the uterus.

In the past 10 years technology has meant that increasing numbers of couples are choosing to freeze some of the created embryos, giving them a chance of trying further IVF cycles if the first one fails. After the first attempt, women can use the frozen embryos without having to go through the painful process of hormone treatment, egg retrieval and fertilisation for a second, third or even fourth time.

Frozen embryo storage also allows patients having chemotherapy treatment and other women to create fertilised embryos and delay motherhood until they want to try for a family.

 Doctors are becoming increasingly concerned at the effect of the freezing process on embryos. Last month, the fertility expert Lord Winston called for more research, and warned that some women were, in effect, being experimented on before the dangers were known.

A study carried out by Lord Winston's team at the Hammersmith Hospital in west London has shown that some types of embryo freezing may alter behaviour of a gene that supresses tumours. Delaying the transfer of embryos to a mother - another technique used in some clinics - also seemed to interfere with genes in animal experiments, he said.

The new study by scientists at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, to be presented to the annual confe- rence of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in Texas today,has revealed more concerns. The researchers compared 2,452 cycles of IVF using fresh embryos, with 392 using frozen transfers. They found that 1.8 per cent of the fresh cycles led to an ectopic pregnancy, compared with 31.8 per cent of the frozen attempts.

ST. GERARD TO PROTECT PREGNANCY, FERTILITY

No matter what your religious beliefs, it can be comforting to pray to particular saints who are known to help with difficult situations or who will help protect.  Saint Gerard is known not only as a saint for infertility, but also a saint to help protect pregnancy and motherhood.  My site has a page devoted to prayers to St. Gerard and Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

48 YEAR OLD HAS SURPRISE PREGNANCY

Of course, with all the talk about how you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than getting pregnant over 40, when it does happen, women and couples are dumbfounded!  Yes, women do get pregnant over 40 and they do get pregnant in their upper 40's. Another page on my site talks about my surprise pregnancy at the age of 40
Here is a story of a woman who had a baby at the age of 48 and got pregnant by surprise.

From the article

At first, Robin Brussel thought she was experiencing perimenopause. Hormonal changes at the age of 47 aren't uncommon after all. Being pregnant wasn't on her radar. So you can imagine her surprise when her doctor told her that she was in fact, pregnant.
Robin, mother to four older children ages 18 to 28, would be having a baby at 48! The baby would be the first for herself and husband of four years Mark, 56. Mark also has older children, the oldest being 36 so he was also not "expecting" such news.
...New dad Mark recalls his thoughts upon finding out that his wife was pregnant, "When she told me she was pregnant, I said, 'Unbelievable. It's gotta be a mistake, you gotta go to the doctor.' My concern was that they were healthy. When the doctor said that, I was excited about it."
Being a dad at this age will help keep him young, he said. Teaching Noah how to throw a baseball and other sports, "I'm sure gonna try" he said.