A review of seven clinical trials of acupuncture given with embryo transfer in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) suggests that acupuncture may improve rates of pregnancy. IVF, which involves retrieving a woman’s egg, fertilizing it in the laboratory, and then transferring the embryo back into the woman’s womb is an expensive, lengthy, and stressful process. Identifying a complementary approach that can improve success would be welcome to patients and providers.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) involves fertilizing a woman’s eggs in a laboratory, then transferring the resulting embryos to the woman’s uterus.
Here are common reasons why a woman may turn to IVF to help her conceive, courtesy of the Duke University School of Medicine:
* Scar tissue on the reproductive organs.
* Damaged fallopian tubes.
* Endometriosis.
* Difficulty conceiving with other infertility treatments.
* Low or abnormal test of the male partner’s semen.
Below is a graphic to illustrate the procedure. If you are interested in finding out more about In Vitro Fertilization you should contact a specialist in the field and they can guide you with the pros and cons of the procedure.
Could having the occasional small bowl of ice cream lead to a midnight craving for pickles and ice cream?
It’s common knowledge that diet and exercise have profound effects on your health. Can they affect your ability to get pregnant, too? Until now, the answer to that question was a qualified “Maybe.” Today, it’s “Yes!” thanks to exciting findings from a landmark long-term study of female nurses. As described in The Fertility Diet, ten simple changes in diet and activity can have profound effects on fertility. You can increase your chances of getting pregnant with such simple strategies as:
Avoiding trans fats
Eating more beans, nuts, and other fertility-boosting plant protein
Embracing whole grains such as oatmeal and barley
Having a glass of whole milk or other full-fat dairy product every day (a small bowl of ice cream every now and then counts, too!)
Staying away from sugared sodas
The Nurses’ Health Study exhaustively examined the effects of diet and other lifestyle changes on fertility among nearly 20,000 female nurses. It scrutinized everything from alcohol to vitamins. In plain language, two of the study’s lead researchers translate its groundbreaking findings into changes you can put into practice today, setting the stage for a healthy pregnancy and forming the foundation for an eating strategy that will serve you well for the rest of your life. The Fertility Diet also offers a week’s worth of meal plans and fifteen delicious recipes.
Take a look at the book for more information and it may help answer your questions about diet and the effect it has on fertility.
Here are more details and comments about the book.
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