According to a survey by the World Congress on Fertility and Sterility, couples often resort prematurely to reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization to become pregnant, without first understanding their cycles and when they are most likely to get pregnant.
Twenty percent "of all couples unnecessarily seek treatment for infertility when, in fact, they are simply not getting pregnant because they do not time intercourse correctly," according to the study.
Infertility currently affects 6.1 million Americans.
In response to this problem, The American Infertility Association (AIA), a nonprofit patient advocacy organization, has published a new set of guidelines to teach women how to recognize their body's fertile time each month.
"Our motive is to increase awareness (about infertility)," AIA Executive Director Pamela Madsen told Reuters Health. "We've done a great job preventing pregnancy, but a horrendous job teaching about infertility."
Typically, a woman's most fertile period is several days long, ending on the day after ovulation. Understanding this timing is critical, because even though sperm can live up to several days inside the woman's reproductive tract, providing that conditions are conducive, the egg only survives up to 24 hours after ovulation.
The average chances of becoming pregnant in any one month decrease from 20% in women over 30 years of age to 5% in women over age 40.
Although recent advancements have made pregnancy possible for more than half the couples seeking treatments, the AIA suggests simply learning about the body's cycles may help a woman become pregnant, at a lower cost, and in a less invasive way.
The most basic thing to do is to chart the menstrual cycle on a calendar to determine the days a woman is most likely to ovulate.
A more precise method involves using a thermometer to measure the basal body temperature, which jumps slightly each month, just prior to ovulation.
Monitoring the mucus produced by the cervix, which tends to change in consistency around the time of ovulation, adds even more accuracy to the method.
However, according to the AIA, if women are using such methods and timing sex to coincide with ovulation, and still no pregnancy results, then it is time to see a doctor.
They recommend that a woman under age 35 who is trying to get pregnant should use these timing methods for no more than a year, and a woman over 35 for 6 months before seeking medical attention from a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist.
For more information about determining a fertile time period, visit the AIA Web site, www.americaninfertility.org.
World Congress on Fertility and Sterility Survey and American Infertility Association (AIA) Guidelines
This is a very sad illustration of our reliance on the "high-tech" quick-fix solution, before trying the more simple and basic approaches, some of which are described above.
However, in addition to the fertility prediction methods described in the article, there are other things that should be done long before resorting to any fertility treatments:
Diet - The first and most important factor would be proper diet. There are several reasons for this.
First, without a good diet, it is very likely that the woman will be nutritionally deficient in some manner. Without the proper nutrients, all of the body systems, including the reproductive system, will not work optimally.
Secondly, a woman may be allergic or sensitive to certain foods, which may trigger responses that impede the reproductive process. For example, there was a recent article in the newsletter about wheat and gluten products causing miscarriages in women with subclinical celiac disease.
Most women will never even know that they have these sensitivities or allergies. The most common culprits are dairy, wheat (and other gluten products), and soy, although it could be almost anything. If eliminating these foods does not help, I would recommend being evaluated by a qualified practitioner to find out if there are any other problem foods to be eliminated.
Additionally, insulin resistance has been shown to be associated with infertility, particularly with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Therefore glycemic control is very important, which can best be achieved with a good diet, particularly with the avoidance of sugars, grains, and juices.
Thyroid - Sluggish thyroid function is another common cause of infertility, so the PROPER evaluation of thyroid function is a MUST for women experiencing infertility. The mainstream approach to hypothyroid diagnosis is dreadfully inadequate and I would suggest reviewing my diagnosis protocol and finding a competent doctor to perform a good diagnostic evaluation.
Exercise - If there is a weight problem, fertility will be negatively impacted, so proper exercise and physical activity can be effective. In addition, exercise can reduce insulin resistance, which as stated above, can also cause infertility. Exercise can also provide benefit by improving circulation, which provides better oxygenation of the cells.
Stress - Excess stress will cause adrenal impairment which lowers cortisol levels. The lowered cortisol levels will distort estrogen and progesterone levels. The best way to check hormone levels is with saliva (see below).
If all of these methods and the fertility prediction methods mentioned above don't work, then there is a good possibility that there are some hormonal imbalances.
Salivary hormone testing is the best way to check hormone levels. The levels of all the sex hormones must be checked throughout the woman's cycle. Very often progesterone deficiency will be discovered, which can be addressed through proper, supervised use of sublingual or oral natural hormonal therapy. Progesterone cream typically does not work well.
Therefore, I would say that the American Infertility Association (AIA) Guidelines for what to do BEFORE going for fertility treatment are a good start, but don't go anywhere near far enough. They claim that 20% of all women going for fertility treatment can become pregnant simply by monitoring their fertility signals. However, by following the recommendations above, I'm confident that this percentage of successful pregnancies could go up dramatically.
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