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How Conception Takes Place and Why it May Not be Happening Alternative Therapies to Assist Conception
Many women and couples spend years vigilantly controlling their reproductive lives, only to discover that, when at last they are ready to have children, they cannot conceive. Some studies suggest that 20 to 35 per cent of couples will have some trouble conceiving at some point in their lives. Only half of those couples actually seek medical help. Of these some will resort to alternative therapies and some conventional medicine and some may be offered treatment using ‘Assisted Reproductive Technology’.
To have any understanding of how these methods work it helps to have a rudimentary understanding of how pregnancy occurs, particularly in respect of the chemicals which are produced by the body both before, during and after conception. Most forms of Assisted Reproduction work by substantially altering the (usually female) natural reproductive cycle, both with chemicals and, in some cases, surgery.
the female cycle
The menstrual cycle is usually taken to be a regular 28 days, and divided into two phases of activity. The first two weeks is the oestrogen/follicular phase, where everything is geared toward production of the egg (ovulation). The second two weeks is the progesterone/luteal phase, where ovulation has occurred and the uterus (womb) prepares for a possible pregnancy.
Day 1 of the cycle is the first day of real bleeding, meaning a flow of red blood, not brownish discharge. Oestrogen levels gradually rise until about Day 11/12, when the brain recognises that enough FSH has been secreted, and starts to decrease levels, releasing only enough to mature one follicle and the egg within it. Rising oestrogen stimulates the pituitary to produce lutenizing hormone (LH), an egg-releasing hormone. LH levels surge on about Day 12/13, and cause the ovaries to produce more oestrogen, which in turn causes ovulation. This is when a mature egg bursts out of its follicle and is wafted into the Fallopian tube, beginning the journey to the uterus. The ends of the Fallopian tubes consist of tiny waving tentacles called fimbria, which are designed to ‘catch’ the egg as it emerges from its follicle. However, it has been estimated that the fimbria catch only about 60% of eggs.
For the egg to be fertilised, both it and the sperm must be in the right place - the top half of the 4 inch fallopian tube - at the right time. After fertilisation, the embryo begins the 4-5 day journey down the tube to the uterus, all the time being nourished by the fallopian tube. During this time the embryo’s cells divide so that when it eventually reaches the uterus, it consists of 32 cells. By 14 days after fertilisation, the embryo is secure in the endometrium. Miscarriage becomes less and less likely as the pregnancy progresses. back to the menu
The medical profession, which refers to men’s reproductive system as ‘plumbing’, understands far less about the male reproductive cycle than it does about the female cycle. The hypothalamus sends LH-RH to the pituitary, signalling it to send out FSH and LH to the testicles, which in turn stimulate the testicles to make the male hormone testosterone. Although testosterone controls the sex drive and is often associated with virility, if it is produced in too great a quantity it can inhibit the production of FSH, which in turn will reduce sperm production. It is therefore a great misconception to associate high virility with high fertility.
What can go wrong A report compiled in 1992 list the main causes of infertility in the UK as:
However, a later study from a different source lists the main causes:
Problems with men
Sperm disorders account for almost 75% of male infertility problems. Due to various factors, average sperm counts have dropped dramatically since the 1960s, and now normal male fertility is assessed at 20 million sperm per millilitre of semen. In addition, it appears that quality and quantity are linked, and men with a low sperm count frequently produce poor quality sperm. Quality is assessed in terms of motility (the ability to swim) and morphology (the shape of the sperm cell). Doctors suggest that sperm disorders may be connected to:
Only 5% of men suffer from a complete lack of sperm. Problems with women
The main symptoms are no period, infrequent period, too frequent period, very light period.
The biggest cause of ovulation failure is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). One in five women suffer from multiple cysts on their ovaries, but this should not be confused with PCOS, where the cysts are caused by a hormone imbalance, and are accompanied by other symptoms. Obesity is a significant factor in this disease, and consequently PCOS is often treated with hormone treatment and weight reduction. It has been estimated that around 25% in Britain, and almost 50% in USA, of female infertility is caused by tubal damage. - pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), usually as a result of sexually transmitted disease (particularly chlamydia), infection after pelvic surgery (i.e. abortion), infection related to IUD contraceptive device, infection from naturally occurring micro-organisms migrating from anus or urethra - pelvic and abdominal surgery, where adhesions and scarring block part of the fallopian tube - abdominal disease, for example appendicitis, peritonitis, colitis - endometriosis resulting in scar tissue and adhesions Problems with other reproductive organs: - cervix, including hostile mucus, ‘incompetent’ cervix, damage sustained in childbirth/miscarriage - womb, including fibroids (non-cancerous tumours) which distort the shape of the uterus and can interfere with implantation, or block the opening to the fallopian tubes This accounts for a fifth of female infertility, and is prevalent in women aged between 30 and 40 who have not had children. In can be asymptomatic, with the woman unaware that she has the condition until, for example, it is revealed by a laparoscopy investigating other problems. In other woman, the symptoms can be severe, giving, amongst other things, extremely painful periods, pain during penetrative sex, and painful bowel movements. It will obviously interfere with fertility if it results in scarring and adhesions to the ovaries or fallopian tubes. However, little appears to be understood about how mild endometriosis can adversely affect conception. One argument is that the condition is related to a hormone imbalance, which somehow affects the chemical balance in the vagina, making it increasingly hostile to sperm. It is currently treated by surgery, where the affected areas are burned off by laser, depending on the severity of the condition, or hormone treatment preventing ovulation, or a combination of both. One in five pregnancies end in miscarriage, or ‘spontaneous abortion’. 75% of these occur in the first twelve weeks. No one really knows why miscarriage of a pregnancy happens, but doctors suspect: - immunity problems (woman’s body rejects the foetus as a foreign body) - drugs/alcohol/radiation/smoking/other chemicals This can happen at any age, and may be caused by serious damage to the ovaries from infection, radiation or drugs used in the treatment of cancer. It may also be caused by the sufferer being born with fewer eggs than normal, or a tendency to release a greater number of eggs than normal at ovulation. Doctors suspect that autoimmunity may be a significant factor in as many as half the cases, but this is not as yet properly understood. Age
Over a third of all couples seeking medical help will be diagnosed with ‘unexplained infertility’. This can mean one of three things;
Although for mainstream medicine this problem remains much of a mystery, alternative practitioners tend to treat it as a product of imbalances of energy or malnutrition, a severe vitamin and mineral deficiency, allergy or the presence of harmful toxins. What can be done? Most couples experiencing problems with conceiving approach their family doctor as their first port of call. The GP should be able to establish whether there is a problem, by carrying out a number of fairly routine tests. These are likely to include a basic sperm analysis, and simple blood tests taken on certain days of the woman’s cycle, to establish whether she is ovulating. In addition, the GP may examine the woman for any obvious problems, such as cysts, fibroids or other obvious damage to her reproductive organs, and to look at the man’s penis and testicles for any malformation, signs of infection, lumps or varicocele. However, in the absence of any obvious problem, it may be the case that the GP will be reluctant to begin any investigation at this stage. As it can take the average couple anything up to a year to conceive, and longer if the woman is over thirty (when fertility levels begin to decline) the GP may well advise the couple to go away and try naturally for at least another year. Whilst this may be sound advice for many couples, it can be incredibly frustrating for those still experiencing problems, especially given that serious investigations might be delayed for anything up to 18 months. However, couples should insist on immediate investigation where there are past problems with:
Fertility Awareness Through The Basal Body Temperature Method As a woman trying to conceive one of the most obvious methods is to chart your Basal Body Temperature. The basal body temperature is one of the indicators of ovulation. This is often the first to be suggested by doctors and even women who have been unable to conceive for years could be asked to chart their BBT when they approach a medical practitioner for help.
Worldwide, the basal body temperature method is the oldest and most widely practiced Fertility Awareness Method. Every woman is different and your temperature may vary from the norm, but most women ovulate (release an egg from the ovary) at about day 14 of their menstrual cycle, plus or minus 2 days. The egg is viable for about 1 day, and sperm can live for 2-3 days. How to chart your basal body temperature Make a chart and keep a daily calendar record of your temperature. Specifically, you should use a basal body temperature thermometer which reads your temperature in easily readable tenths of a degree. The first day of your period is considered day 1 of your cycle; and you place an "x" on the chart for each day of your period (not spotting). Take your temp by mouth, and make sure you do this for the same amount of time, around 5 minutes, each morning, immediately after waking and before getting out of your bed. Also at the same time write down your results. On the same record, chart your menstrual cycle, beginning with day 1 as the first day of your period. If possible, chart your temperature pattern for a few months before relying on it. Your most fertile days are those just before your temperature begins to rise during ovulation. It's difficult to predict this time, so practice the temperature method until you know your pattern. A monthly change in your basal body temperature is one of the signals that all may be well with your ovulatory functions, as progesterone increases a slight increase in temp should occur. This change could be as slight as 0.5 to 1.0 degree elevation. Once that temp rise has occurred, a woman may have missed the opportunity to conceive This leads to the importance of charting for several cycles in a row, to suggest a pattern. Most doctors would suggest a woman keep track of her BBT for a minimum of three months. The end chart will give you an idea of whether or not you are ovulating on a typically regular basis. It may also give you some idea of when your most fertile days are during the average month. It is not uncommon for your BBT to be influenced by a number of factors: physical activity, alcohol intake, amount of rest, medicines, etc. So make a note of any and all of these factors when you are charting. Understanding this very basic fertility-prediction method is a simple, yet crucial step in empowering yourself on your journey. Most doctors and family planning clinics can help you learn more about basal body temperature charting and other Fertility Awareness Methods and offer advice on charts and thermometers. Acupuncture works towards optimum health for both partners to improve the chances of a natural conception. This includes hormonal balancing and the freeing of blocked energy that may be preventing conception or weakening the organs that support conception. Period problems and general health issues such as stress insomnia and digestive disorders are also addressed. The ‘conception meridian’ and the energy supply to the womb may also be stimulated. And acupuncture can also be used to support other methods of fertility and to help reduce any side effects of IVF. Massage techniques also claim success. As the muscles relax stress levels are reduced and the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid improved. The nervous system and the endocrine system may also be influenced to bring about a hormonal balance and an increased nerve supply to the womb. The use of essential oils can also be deeply soothing and contribute towards a balancing effect on the entire physiology. The motion of massage creates heat and friction which stimulates the circulation and helps cleanse the tissues of chemical impurities. The right essential oils cleanse and nourish the tissues to aid in their repair and development. Like acupuncture, massage can also be used as a supporting therapy along side another or others to improve your ability to conceive. Stress is a major factor in disease and is the root cause of many disorders, including infertility. This is due to hormonal changes and other biochemical responses that stress imposes upon the body which imbalances the nervous system, reduces the natural healing abilities of the body and can easily depress reproductive function. A certain amount of stress is healthy and normal to our every day lives. The tension that builds towards an event say, the expectance of a loved one, or of work to be completed, which dissolves with their appearance or the works completion is natural. Unresolved tension is not natural and circumstances and relationships that place you in a constant state of anxiety are best avoided. All our emotional feelings are supported by deep changes in our bodies starting with our muscles and the sense of dis/ease becomes pathological disease when there is no relief. There are two major means of dealing with stress and these are meditation to quieten the mind and yoga or relaxed stretching exercise to relieve inherent muscular tension. Contrary to popular belief yoga and meditation have more to do with science than eastern religion. Both can be practiced by people of all religious denominations. They are highly documented regimens for harmonious living, well tried and tested over generations. A nutritional expert will also provide you with a more detailed understanding of foods to favour and avoid when trying to concieve. Generally foods to avoid are those that are hard to digest and foods to favour are those that are nourishing and being easy to digest demand less energy during digestion. A healthy nutritious diet to strengthen your digestive system will help balance your energy and support your body’s inner intelligence, encouraging a better chance of conception, either on its own or again as a supportive therapy. According to Ayur-Vedic medicine a good digestion and proper diet is especially important for fertility as the sperm and ova are the end result of the proper nourishment of all the major tissues in the body. Poor nourishment of any single major tissue group could prevent the final product of their combined functioning, sperm and ova, from being produced properly. Gems of Tibetan Wisdom for Conception
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