Menstrual Period - Cycle and Fertility

The time during the menstrual cycle when a woman is potentially most fertile depends on the life span of sperm as well as the life span of the egg. While an egg lives for about 24 hours, a man’s sperm can live inside a woman’s body generally up to five days and possibly up to seven days. Although the total number of days in a woman’s cycle may vary, ovulation usually occurs 14-16 days before the onset of the next menstrual period. For women who have regular cycles between 26-32 days, pregnancy is most likely to occur between days 8-19 of the menstrual cycle.

It is more difficult to predict ovulation in women with irregular periods and therefore some women may become pregnant at any time of the cycle. In women with regular cycles, knowing when ovulation is most likely to occur can help to both plan and prevent pregnancy. A 28 day cycle occurs in only 12% of woman.



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Article Courtesy: http://healthcenter. ucdavis.edu/topics/contraception/cycle.html

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Menstrual Period Cycle

Problems With Your Cycle

Having your period can be a real pain, in more ways than one. If you suffer from menstrual cramps, read up on why women feel such pain every month. You'll also get some handy tips on how to get rid of those menstrual cramps. But cramps don't only occur when you have your period. Women who notice period-like cramps half-way through their cycle may have mittelschmerz, a type of cramping that happens when you ovulate. However, if your menstrual cramps are so intense that you regularly experience severe pain, then you may actually have dysmenorrhea.
Menstrual Suppression

With all the physical pain that periods can cause, its no wonder some women wish they could skip their period all together. Now a new type of birth control is giving women this opportunity. But is it all that it's cracked up to be? Take a look at Debating Menstrual Suppression to decide for yourself.
Menstrual Products

Should you use tampons or pads? Read about the pros and cons of these most common menstrual products. However, if you are concerned about the chemicals in pads and tampons or about protecting the environment, you should know about the many choices of alternative menstrual products including a menstral cup, reusable menstrual pads and natural sea sponges.
Natural Treatments

Another area of increasing popularity is alternative menstrual relief. Such treatments include the use of herbs and vitamins in order to treat menstruation problems, such as irregular menstruation, as well as common menstrual symptoms, like cramps.
Your Period

Whether you are trying to get pregnant or want to avoid pregnancy, charting your period is helpful. A menstrual chart will indicate when you can expect to ovulate so you'll know when you are most fertile. Keeping a chart is especially helpful for women with diabetes, since there is a link between the menstrual cycle and blood glucose levels.

Women get concerned if they have a late period. Aside from being one of the first pregnancy symptoms, find out the reasons for a late period or a missed period. If you find yourself wondering, 'why is my period late,'then take a look at this helpful chart. Perhaps your periods aren't late but tend to be irregular. Then you'll want to take a look at Irregular Periods which outlines some of the causes for why your period may not always arrive when it should. Women who haven't had a period in over three months, though, may be experiencing amenorrhea, and possibly anovulation, and should make an appointment with their doctor for a check-up.
Sex And Your Period

Another subject relating to their periods that many women have questions about but are often afriad to ask is sex. Can you have sex when you are menstruating? How likely are you to get pregnant? What about STDs? Find out the answers you need to know in Periods and Sex: Q&A.
Important Information

It's important that all women, especially teens, read up on toxic shock syndrome. Women affected by menorrhagia are at an increased risk of developing TSS. Although rare, you should know the symptoms of TSS as it can be very serious. Another important menstrual problem that occurs in many women is endometriosis. Learn more about this painful disorder and what you can do about it.

Article Courtesy: www.epigee .org/guide/foreword.html
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To read more about DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF INFERTILITY please follow this link:
Overcoming Infertility

Menstral Period

Menstral Period

The average woman will have about 500 periods in her lifetime, beginning around the age of 12 until about 51 years of age. Having our period is supposedly what changes us from a girl into a woman. But other than a few black and white overheads we are shown in our school-age years, just how much are we actually taught about this supposedly life-changing experience so unique to the female sex? The truth is, not a whole lot.

That is why we have composed a guide to understanding this wondrous cycle of the body, complete with information you might find particularly useful if you are considering becoming pregnant.

How It Works

Menstruation refers to the monthly shedding of the lining of the uterus (the womb), released through the vagina. The menstrual cycle begins the first day a woman bleeds – in other words, the first day of a period. Most periods last between 3 and 5 days, although anywhere between 2 and 7 days is still considered normal.

But what causes the uterus to shed its lining in the first place? Interestingly enough, it all begins in the brain. A gland called the hypothalamus (also responsible for the regulation of our thirst, hunger, sleep and sex drive) sends a chemical messenger to another gland in the brain called the pituitary. The pituitary then secretes a follicle-stimulating hormone and a leutinizing hormone that cause follicles in the ovaries to mature. This is called the follicular stage and it usually occurs between day 6 and 14 of a menstrual cycle.

These follicles then release oestrogen, causing them to ripen in preparation for ovulation. Within about seven days, the oestrogen will have caused the lining of the uterus to become sufficiently thickened for the pituitary to release more of the leutinizing hormone, triggering the follicle that is most developed to release an egg (ovum). This stage is called ovulation, and it usually takes place between day 10 and 14 of the cycle. (The birth control pill works by blocking the final release of the leutinizing hormone, in turn preventing the release of an egg.)

Although the average duration of a menstrual cycle is between 21 and 28 days, a woman can be normal and healthy and only have 3 or 4 cycles a year. Of course, missed or irregular periods should always be referred to a health care professional, since they could also be the sign of a more serious underlying problem.

More About Ovulation
When a baby girl is born she is already equipped with all the eggs she will ever use (and then some – 450 000+). They are then stored in her ovaries until she reaches puberty, at which point the eggs are sufficiently matured to begin ovulation. In other words, she can now become pregnant.

As we have already learned, it is the circulation of hormones present in the blood stream that causes an egg to mature. Once this has occurred, this egg will shoot down the ovaries through the fallopian tubes, and down into the uterus, where the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) has been thickened and is ready to receive it. If the egg is fertilized (meaning if it has united with a sperm), it will then grow into a fetus. If is it not, the lining, along with some blood, will be discarded through the vagina (in other words, a period will occur).

In rare cases, the fertilized egg will implant itself outside the uterus, in the fallopian tubes. This condition, called ectopic pregnancy, can be life-threatening and should be immediately referred to a medical specialist.

Can You Feel Ovulation?
Some women may experience certain signs of ovulation, such as slight abdominal pain or minor bleeding. In general, however, ovulation is not accompanied by any uncomfortable symptoms.

More commonly, women will notice an increase in watery, vaginal discharge, which is secreted by the cervix just before ovulation. This discharge is what helps to carry the sperm towards the egg. Therefore, women wishing to become pregnant may use a mucous monitoring system or a speculum to determine when this is most likely to occur.

However, women who plan their sexual intercourse around their ovulation as a means of natural family planning should be aware that ovulation is not the only time a woman can become pregnant. Because sperm can remain alive inside the uterus for up to 7 days (though it is commonly thought that the majority only survive 3 to 5 days), having unprotected sex a few days prior to ovulation can still result in a pregnancy. Once an egg has been released from the ovaries, though, it only has a 24-hour window during which it can be fertilized.


What Causes Discomfort During Menstruation?

Some 85% of women report some emotional or physical changes around the time their period occurs. Nearly half say they experience cramping during the first few days of their cycle. The release of prostaglandin, a substance that causes the muscles of the uterus to contract, is thought to be responsible for this.

Some other common symptoms of menstruation include bloating, diarrhoea, swollen and tender breasts and headaches. Emotional symptoms such as general moodiness (including depression), irritability or food cravings are also widespread. These are all side effects of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), which is brought on by rising and falling hormone levels just before the period begins.

What You Can do to Relieve Your Symptoms
There are many things women can do to limit their PMS-related symptoms, such as:

* Avoid caffeine. Coffee, teas, colas and chocolate (as tempting as they may sound) should be avoided. They all contain caffeine, which constricts blood vessels, causing tension. Red meat, refined sugars, dairy and high-fat foods are also common PMS enhancers.

* Eat lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains for added iron and fibre. A balanced diet can help with everything from limiting your PMS symptoms to increasing your ability to become pregnant.

* Increase exercise. This will help to improve the circulation of blood and oxygen, which may relieve painful cramping.

* Reduce stress: Meditate, get a massage, or take a bubble bath; whatever you do, reducing your stress levels will help to relax tense muscles.

* Keep your abdomen warm. Use a heating pad or hot water bottle to ease your cramping.

When You Should See Your Doctor
You should consult a physician if you experience any of the following:

* Your period lasts longer or is heavier than usual

* Your period stops suddenly

* You have severe abdominal cramping

* You experience significant bleeding between periods

* You are concerned you might be pregnant (or your period is more than five days late)

* You have stopped taking birth control and have not had a period within six weeks

* You feel sick after using a tampon

* You have any other concerns about your period or the possibility of becoming pregnant

To read more about DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF INFERTILITY please follow this link:
Overcoming Infertility


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Article Courtesy: http://www. womens-health .co.uk/menstruation.html

What is Infertility?

What is infertility?

Infertility means not being able to get pregnant after one year of trying. Or, six months, if a woman is 35 or
older. Women who can get pregnant but are unable to stay pregnant may also be infertile.

Pregnancy is the result of a process that has many steps. To get pregnant:

* A woman's body must release an egg from one of her ovaries (ovulation).
* The egg must go through a fallopian tube toward the uterus (womb).
* A man's sperm must join with (fertilize) the egg along the way.
* The fertilized egg must attach to the inside of the uterus (implantation).

Infertility can happen if there are problems with any of these steps.

To read more about DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF INFERTILITY please follow this link:
Different Aspects of Infertility
 

 

Fertility Techniques - Overcoming Infertility

Birth defects tied to fertility techniques'

Infants conceived with techniques commonly used in fertility clinics are two to four times more likely to have certain birth defects than are infants conceived naturally, a new study has found.

 The findings applied to single births only, not to twins or other multiples. The defects included heart problems, cleft lip, cleft palate and abnormalities in the esophagus or rectum. But those conditions are rare to begin with, generally occurring no more than once in 700 births, so the overall risk was still low, even after the fertility treatments. Cleft lip, for instance, typically occurs in 1 in 950 births in the United States, and the study found that the risk about doubled, to approximately 1 in 425, among infants conceived with the fertility treatments.
The procedures that increased the risk were so-called assisted reproductive techniques, like in vitro fertilization, which require doctors and technicians to work with eggs and sperm outside the body. The study did not include women who only took fertility drugs and did not have procedures performed. "I think it is important for couples to consider the fact that there may be a risk for birth defects," said Jennita Reefhuis, an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the first author of the study. But Reefhuis (pronounced REEF-house) also said that although her study linked fertility procedures to birth defects, it did not prove the connection or explain it. If the connection is real, it is not known whether the procedures increase the risk for birth defects, or whether infertility itself raises the risk.
Fertility doctors, she said, "may not believe my findings." James Grifo, director of the fertility clinic at New York University Medical Center, said, "The good news is that the risk is low." Grifo said more research was needed to test the findings, because the study included only 281 women who had fertility procedures. He said that if the association with birth defects was real, the underlying cause was more likely related to the patients' infertility than to the treatments. Twins and other multiple births have a higher risk of birth defects than single births and whether infertility treatment adds to that risk is unknown.
Alan Fleischman, vice-president and medical director of the March of Dimes, said: "I think it's an important study. It's confirmatory of the direction we have been concerned about, an increase in some structural birth defects in babies born with assisted reproductive techniques compared to those born without such. And yet the numbers are still small, the risks are low."
Women considering fertility treatment should be informed that there might be a risk of birth defects, Fleischman said, but they need not be "overly concerned". NYT NEWS SERVICE

INFORMED CHOICE: Women considering fertility treatment should be informed that there might be a risk of birth defects, experts said

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To read more about DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF INFERTILITY please follow this link:
Overcoming Infertility
 

 

Menstruation Cycle - Birth Pills

Today's birth control pills include hundreds of options to prevent pregnancy and/or address reproductive health issues such as cramps, acne and cysts.

By MARY SHEDDEN


Long gone are the days when the term "the pill" applied to one medication with just one function: birth control.

Today's birth control pills include hundreds of options to prevent pregnancy and/or address reproductive health issues such as cramps, acne and cysts. Though there are many alternative forms of contraception these days — from patches to implants and vaginal rings — an estimated 11.6 million women ages 15 to 44 use the pill, making it by far the leading method in the United States. When used properly, they can be more than 90 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.

And yet, since the first birth control pills appeared in 1960, potential health problems have been an ongoing source of concern, primarily because of a link to blood clots and an increased risk of cervical, liver and breast cancers.

More recently, however, numerous scientific studies have linked the medication to reduced risks for ovarian and endometrial cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Tampa gynecologist Jill Hechtman says that although all the research and controversy may be puzzling, women should remember that every kind of birth control pill has its benefits, risks and side effects. "Every single one has its own positives and negatives," she says.

Adding to the confusion are some high-profile lawsuits and Food and Drug Administration penalties against the makers of Yaz, the nation's most popular oral contraceptive. In 2008, Yaz was preferred by 18 percent of the women taking oral contraceptives, according to IMS Health's annual review of pharmaceutical sales.

Earlier this year, the FDA ordered Bayer Healthcare to correct its ads promoting Yaz's power to quell acne and cramps — and apologetic TV commercials now on the air reflect just that. Several class action suits targeted Yaz for containing hormones that boost potassium levels, which can be dangerous for women with kidney, liver, or adrenal disease.

Hechtman says while Yaz isn't for everyone, it can be a reasonable option for some women, including those at risk of polycystic ovarian syndrome, a disorder characterized by infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods, excessive hair growth, acne and obesity, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Hechtman, who does not receive financial support from any drug maker, says a woman and her health care provider should weigh the scientific facts alongside the woman's medical history and lifestyle needs. For example, several oral contraceptives minimize or eliminate menstrual cycles altogether, something Hechtman says is healthy when done appropriately.

"All birth control can be effective unless you don't use it properly," she says.

Women who want birth control to help treat conditions such as cramping or heart disease, as well as those who smoke, first need to consider the risks of any form of birth control. They'll find that most of the birth control pills on the market today contain a combination of estrogen (hormones naturally produced by the ovaries) and progestin (which mimics the reproductive hormone progesterone).

Pills containing higher levels of estrogen have been cited in some studies for possibly increasing health risks. "That's what we think increases the risk of blood clots and heart attacks," Hechtman says. Low-estrogen combination pills are popular, but they've been found to increase the risk of breakthrough bleeding.

That doesn't mean progestin-only or "mini" pills are the solution. Hechtman says these pills have to be taken at the same time every day, and they, too, tend to increase the chance of spotting between periods.

Finally, Hechtman warns, what works for a friend may not be the best option. She says some women try several different oral contraceptives before finding one that meets their needs with minimal side effects.

"The most important thing you can do is talk to your doctors about what you are looking for."

WHICH PILL IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Today, hundreds of different kinds of birth control pills exist, many of which treat health conditions unrelated to birth control. There are several key types of pills on the market including:

Traditional pill: Taken every day, it releases estrogen and progestin for 21 days, and a placebo is used the other seven days when the period happens. Comes in both monophasic – where the same amount of hormones are released in each dose – and triphasic – where hormone dosage changes each week.

Extended cycle, three month: A low-estrogen dose is taken every day for three months, with a seven-day placebo regimen that allows for menstrual bleeding.

Extended cycle, one year: A low-dose pill designed to be taken for a full year, with no hormonal breaks. Menstrual bleeding is suppressed altogether.

Mini-pill: The progestin-only pill is taken at the same time every day and in a cycle similar to traditional birth control pills. Periods do take place.

Sources: Mayo Clinic, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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To read more about DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF INFERTILITY please follow this link:
Overcoming Infertility
 

Overcoming Infertility

Discover the principles to becoming pregnant naturally from women who succeeded despite long years of trying even after failing many medical tests and procedures regarding their inability to conceive.

You see now, how old knowledge and old experiences are good but when you get new knowledge and new experiences and combine it with your old ones –you definitely will get a new result.

Dr. Irina

"You Can Overcome Infertility"

Which will tell you about all the infertility treatments used by modern doctors. You will learn in which situation what treatment is more appropriate for you, why the treatments fail sometimes and what kind alternatives exist, plus learn how to increase your chances using these methods.

Here is one of my recent letters...

***

Hi Dr Irina

I just could not wait to tell you this, at last it looks like we have succeeded with conception. I have been trying to have a baby for nearly 10 years. I failed 6 IVF's and I think it's all because of my PCOS .

The last IVF treatment was really different from the many treatments I had before. My pregnancy is 29 weeks now and I feel kicking and moving inside my belly all the time. I had an ultrasound test done yesterday and doctor said it is a girl and everything is going well.

I really love when my girl moves inside me - it means she is all right and healthy.
I talk to her and sing songs as you told me to do for better brain development of the baby.

***

To read more about DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF INFERTILITY please follow this link:
Overcoming Infertility