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.