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Fertility Labs: Learn More While “Waiting” for an Infertility Diagnosis
Have you experienced this frustrating road block? You’ve been trying to conceive with no luck, but technically you haven’t been trying long enough to warrant any extensive lab work to be ordered by your physician. This pickle can leave you stranded and stuck without information you could act on. If you’re halted in this strange in-between time, I wanted to provide you with a list of labs that you could request from a practitioner outside the traditional health care system. The good news: you can advocate for yourself. With telehealth on the rise, and a variety of growing practitioners involved
The Emotional Toll of Infertility: Managing Stress and Mental Health
Stress and infertility are deeply intertwined. The emotional toll infertility has on expectant parents is immensely draining. From hormonal imbalances to lifestyle factors, the impact of stress on reproductive health is complex and often underestimated. By understanding this connection, you can empower yourself to manage stress and improve both emotional resilience and the chances of getting pregnant. What is Stress? The World Health Organization defines stress as worrying caused by a difficult situation. Infertility is a complex process that branches into many possible stressors. Some may find it difficult to accept that they cannot conceive naturally. For women, it is
Insulin Resistance: A Silent Roadblock to Fertility
If you and your partner face challenges in your journey to conceive, it's important to know that you're not alone. A recent Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism study shows roughly 44% of young adults live with insulin resistance. Thus, the correlation between insulin resistance and infertility is worth recognizing. What is Insulin Resistance (IR)? The Cleveland Clinic defines insulin resistance as when the body's tissues do not react appropriately to insulin, causing high blood sugar levels. How your body utilizes glucose (sugar) can be explained like a lock and key. A lock symbolizes the cells that form your body,
Infertility Treatments: Western vs. Eastern Medicine
The inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse may lead to a diagnosis of infertility. This condition can be frustrating for couples and individuals. It has contributed to anxiety, depression, and divorce. Although treatments are available, education and research have been limited. Oftentimes, women endure the hardship of attempting treatments, failing to conceive, and just giving up. Instead, the mindset around treatment should be focused on facing this challenge with hope and grace for you and your body. OBGYNs and fertility specialists treat symptoms to achieve conception by using Western medicine therapies. In comparison, Chinese medicine doctors, Ayurvedic
PCOS Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
As a society, we are gaining more knowledge around Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to understand women's reproductive health better. Women are becoming empowered to conquer conditions like these through research and education. PCOS occurs when there is a hormonal imbalance affecting the ovaries. Any woman of childbearing age can develop this condition. PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility, and several other complications like type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease. Symptoms present differently for each woman, making diagnoses challenging. However, recognizing an imbalance is the best way to advocate for proper diagnosis, treatment and knowledge to
Ovulation and its Effect on Fertility
Ovulation and its effect on fertility are central to understanding the process of conception. This critical phase of the menstrual cycle involves the release of a mature egg, creating the opportunity for fertilization. By exploring the intricacies of ovulation and the factors that influence its timing and quality, we can better understand its profound impact on fertility and overall reproductive health. What is Ovulation? Once a month, an egg is released from an ovary, also known as ovulation. This process usually takes place on day 14 of a 28-day menstrual cycle. When a woman is ovulating, her body experiences a
All About Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common plight in the infertility community. I’d love to dive deeper with you in regards to what endometriosis is and how it connects to other reproductive disorders, including infertility. Let's talk all about endometriosis. Endometriosis is inflammation of the peritoneum. Let’s break this down: Inflammation: when your tissues get hot, red, angry, and swollen. Think of a sprained ankle that swells and gets hot and discolored. You could also picture a rash on your skin, or any drug commercial on TV that shows a glowing ball of red pain. Peritoneum means the tissue in between your organs.
Nutrition for Fertility
On August 1st, we had the pleasure of hosting the "Nutrition for Fertility" educational workshop, sponsored by Vytyl and presented by Elanie Welch, the Renegade Nutritionist. The workshop provided invaluable insights into the critical role nutrition plays in fertility and overall reproductive health. You can watch the entire presentation on our YouTube Channel @hopefulmamafoundation. Here’s a recap of the key points covered: 1. Input = Output: How Nutrition Impacts Fertility and Pregnancy Elanie kicked off the workshop with a fundamental principle: "Input = Output." She emphasized how what we consume directly influences our fertility and the ability to carry a
Antioxidants for Infertility
Nutrition plays an important role in fertility, but it’s a vast topic that’s hard to cover all at once. One type of nutrient goes by the name “antioxidant." Antioxidants are always important, but they really shine when it comes to achieving and sustaining a healthy pregnancy. Antioxidants for infertility also have equal importance for both men and women. What do Antioxidants do? By definition, antioxidants help cancel out the damaging effects of free radicals or oxidative stress (anti-oxidative stress = antioxidants). Free radicals are constantly being formed in your body, but when they go unchecked, they damage sperm and egg
Sleep and Fertility
How’d you sleep? It seems like an easy breezy question, but often has a complicated answer. I know for my husband and I, this is a hot topic in the morning. “Well, it took a while to fall asleep, but then I was good.” “I tossed and turned a lot. Weird dreams.” “Like a rock… I think?” Sleep isn’t only important for fertility, but for overall healthy living and longevity. If you can work towards healthy sleep, many other things will fall in line, fertility included. The Hopeful Mama Foundation is supported by its audience and donors. When you purchase
