Alternative Remedies

Men get off relatively easy when it comes to infertility. The woman is advised to do all sorts of things to improve her chances of conception, but the man is often let off the hook when it comes to making lifestyle changes. Often the female partner is told to watch what she eats and drinks while the male partner (even if male factor plays a role) is rarely similarly inundated with advice revolving around not eating certain foods, drinking caffeine or alcohol, smoking, exercising or not, etc. Most couples undergoing fertility treatments do know the "rule" that the male should not ejaculate 2-3 days prior to providing a sample, but many don't know that the sperm that… [more]

I was very reluctant to stop taking my Progesterone In Oil (or PIO) shots and move on to the Crinone 8% vaginal progesterone gel. When I begged my doctor to let me stay on the shots (crazy I know) he told me that I would love the gel - that it would be so much easier, a lot less painful, and would work just the same. Crinone 8% is most commonly used by women undergoing fertility treatments to provide progesterone to change the lining of the uterus to aid in implantation and then to sustain a pregnancy. I did not begin to take Crinone until after I was done with the PIO shots and continued to take it through 12… [more]

Much has been said about the benefits of acupuncture for someone suffering through infertility. Of all the crazy, wacky things I tried to help me get pregnant -ingesting Mucinex and Robitussin, anything to do with kegels, holding my legs propped against the wall for an hour, and so much more - the one thing that I never pursued was acupuncture therapy. Knowing that I was desperate and literally willing to try pretty much anything, it is kind of surprising to me that at no time in the five plus years of trying to conceive did I even really seriously contemplate visiting an acupuncturist. I don't know if it was too new-age, alternative for my simplistic and medically conservative outlook… [more]

My predecessor, Karianne, wrote some interesting posts on the mind/body connection as it relates to fertility. That got me thinking about the mind/body connection and how big a role that the mind plays in being able to conceive.

Generally speaking, I see a big connection between the mind and the body. For example, when I was repressing my emotions from a traumatic childhood, I had a very poor immune system. Now that I have dealt with my past, my immune system has become much stronger. Sports fans have known for decades that a team can be less talented but "want the win" more, propelling the underdog to win the championship. People used to believe that it was not physically possible to run a… [more]

When I went to a Reiki appointment recently, I noticed a flyer called "Yoga for Fertility" posted on the bulletin board. I have gotten into yoga over the past few years, but I never did any yoga while I was going through fertility procedures. I find the thought of using yoga to assist with conception fascinating.

The flyer starts out talking about what yoga is and then talks about the frustrations of infertility. According to the flyer, the "meditative nature of yoga" can be helpful in healing both the body and the mind. It claims that the yoga class will help to "lengthen the spine," which gives more room to the reproductive organs. That's interesting. I never thought about giving my reproductive… [more]

I have just finished reading an article about the nutrition status of United States women in regards to folate. Folate definition from pdr health. The term folate is used in two different ways. Folate, a member of the B-vitamin family, is a collective term for a number of chemical forms which are structurally related and which have similar biological activity to folic acid. Folate is also the term which is used for the anionic form of folic acid. Folic acid or pteroylglutamic acid (PGA) is comprised of para-aminobenzoic acid linked at one end to a pteridine ring and at the other end to glutamic acid. The pteridine-para-aminobenzoic acid portion of the molecule is called the pteroyl group. Folic acid is a synthetic folate form which is used for food fortification and… [more]

Last week I had posted some information about different types of massage and their relationships with fertility and my exposure to each type. Yesterday, I went in for a massage treatment myself and for the first time experienced lymphatic drainage massage. It was absolute heaven. Here is what ZitaWest.com has to say about describing lymphatic drainage massage. By its name, it may sound like Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) means you are about to have the whole of your lymphatic system drained away, but it is actually a very gentle form of massage aimed at moving the lymph under the skin. The lymphatic system is an important part of our immune system and is also designed to assist in the removal of waste products from the cells of… [more]

I have taken extra certification classes in reflexology and it is so interesting. Also, it can be pretty painful as well, when the practitioner discovers an area that needs to be worked on. But, it is effective in promoting many types of improvements, and, some say, can help with fertility. There are certain areas on the feet that correspond to the ovaries, which when manipulated can help with ovarian function. Overall, reflexology can provide whole body stimulation and provide a rejuvenating feeling or a feeling of relaxation, depending on the work being done. The recipient is normally seated in a comfortable chair or lays upon a table to receive treatments. It is important though, to let your practitioner know that you are trying to… [more]

Developed in the early 19th century by Swedish physiologist Henri Peter Ling, Swedish massage can be very gentle, or somewhat intense, depending on the masseuse's style and the client's tolerance. In a Swedish massage, the masseuse might rub oil onto your body with long, gliding strokes, a kneading motion, vibration, or tapping in order to urge muscles to purge lactic acid, improve circulation, and foster a general sense of relaxation. Now here is my type of massage. Literally. This is the type of massage that I am licensed in. Although in the above quote, I do take offense to being called a "masseuse" as the politically correct terms are either "massage therapist" or "massage practitioner". I treated myself to my first massage while I was in… [more]

Here is the definition of shiatsu massage. I did learn a few manuevers from shiatsu while attending massage school, but only the very basics. I employ only one shiatsu move in my daily massage routine at the spa, but it is very effective to release some of the tension within the muscles along the spine. Within my community, we don't have anyone that specializes in shiatsu, but I believe that in larger cities it is more readily available to massage consumers. Spiritual Massage Techniques Shiatsu is a Japanese acupressure massage technique, wherein the practitioner applies gentle pressure to a series of points on the body to stimulate healing and relaxation, and to correct any imbalances. Some people describe Shiatsu as acupuncture without needles, as the massage is done… [more]