benefits omega 3 6 9 fertility

If the mathematics don’t add up, it’s because many couples experience more than one problem when trying to conceive: for example, you may suffer from endometriosis, but your partner may also have a low sperm count.

Interestingly, the most common cause of infertility is ‘unexplained’, which means that following thorough investigations, doctors can find no specific or identifiable medical problem at the root. But this is where a natural approach can come into play. If a couple fails to become pregnant, there is obviously something causing the problem. It’s no good labelling infertility ‘unexplained’. The answer is to look deeper – at lifestyle factors, nutritional deficiencies and even emotional elements.

Natural treatment plans are, by their nature, extensive and really do need to be adjusted to suit your individual needs. I will, however, go through the most important points below. Remember that it takes at least three months for immature eggs (oocytes) to mature enough to be released during ovulation. It also takes at least three months for sperm cells to develop, ready to be ejaculated. This means that when you are trying to improve your fertility, you need to have a three-month period before conceiving. This is called ‘pre-conception care’ and it’s as important to take as much care during this period as it is during a pregnancy itself.

If you are going for IVF treatment or another assisted conception procedure, you should follow the recommendations listed below in order to increase the chances that the procedure will work.

Both you and your partner should follow the dietary recommendations explained in the Nutrition Section (The Foundation of Health) Although it goes without saying that a healthy diet is crucial to a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby, many people are unaware of the fact that diet can help to correct hormone imbalances that may affect your ability to conceive. There are also certain foods and drinks that are known to lower fertility.

Alcohol will affect both you and your partner. In fact, drinking any alcohol at all can reduce your fertility by half – and the more you drink, the less likely you are to conceive. One study showed that women who drank less than 5 units of alcohol a week (equal to five glasses of wine) were twice as likely to get pregnant within six-months compared with those who drank more. Research has also shown that drinking alcohol causes a decrease in sperm count, an increase in abnormal sperm and a lower proportion of motile sperm. Alcohol also inhibits the body’s absorption of nutrients such as zinc, which is one of the most important minerals for male fertility. As difficult as it may seem, you should eliminate alcohol from your diets for at least three months in order to give yourself the best possible chance of conceiving.

There is plenty of evidence to show that caffeine, particularly in the form of coffee, decreases fertility. Drinking as little as one cup of coffee a day can halve your chances of conceiving and just two cups a day increases the risk of a miscarriage. One study showed that problems with sperm: sperm count, motility and abnormalities, increase with the number of cups of coffee consumed each day. Once again, it’s important to eliminate all caffeine-containing food and drinks for at least three months before trying to conceive. That includes colas, chocolate, black teas and coffee, among other things.

Xenoestrogens are essentially environmental oestrogens, coming from pesticides and the plastic industry. When you are trying to conceive, one of the most important things you need to do is to balance your hormones. It is extremely important to avoid anything that might cause an imbalance, and one of the main culprits is the xenoestrogens. One of the best ways to eliminate an excess intake of xenoestrogens is to eat as much organic produce as possible for the pre-conceptual period. For more information on how to control xenoestrogens see my book Getting Pregnant Faster.

Smoking has definitely been linked with infertility in women. It can even bring on an early menopause, which is a particularly important consideration for older women who may be trying to beat the clock. Smoking can decrease sperm count in men, making the sperm more sluggish, and it can increase the number of abnormal sperm. With men, the effects on fertility are increased with the number of cigarettes.

Scientific research has shown that certain vitamins and minerals can increase your chances of getting and staying pregnant. In order to maximise your chances of conceiving it is very important that you and your partner are in optimum health. By eliminating nutritional deficiencies and improving sperm production and mobility you can dramatically increase your chances of getting pregnant. In order to do this it is essential that you are obtaining the right nutrients and in the right quantities to enhance your success.

Supplements are necessary because even the best diet in the world mayl not contain all the nutrients you need to give you the best chance of conceiving.

It is now known that folic acid can prevent spina bifida in your baby, and it is essential that you get plenty both before and during pregnancy. And that’s not all: folic acid is undoubtedly important, but it is just part of the very important B-complex family of vitamins that are necessary to produce the genetic materials DNA and RNA, not only of the egg but also the sperm. Together with vitamin B12, folic acid works to ensure that your baby’s genetic codes are intact. Remember: it’s not enough to take folic acid alone when you are trying to become pregnant. All of the B vitamins are essential during the pre-conceptual period. Research has shown that giving B6 to women who have trouble conceiving increases fertility and vitamin B12 has been found to improve low sperm counts.

Zinc is the most widely studied nutrient in terms of fertility for both men and women. It is an essential component of genetic material and a zinc deficiency can cause chromosome changes in either you or our partner, leading to reduced fertility and an increased risk of miscarriage. Zinc is necessary for your body to ‘attract and hold’ (utilise efficiently) the reproductive hormones, oestrogen and progesterone.

And it’s equally important for your partner: zinc is found in high concentrations in the sperm. Zinc is needed to make the outer layer and tail of the sperm and is, therefore, essential for the health of your partner’s sperm and, subsequently, your baby. Interestingly, several studies have also shown that reducing zinc in a man’s diet will also reduce his sperm count.

Selenium is an antioxidant that helps to protect your body from highly reactive chemical fragments called free radicals. For this reason, selenium can prevent chromosome breakage, which is known to be a cause of birth defects and miscarriages. Good levels of selenium are also essential to maximise sperm formation. Blood selenium levels have been found to be lower in men with low sperm counts.

These essential fats have a profound effect on every system of the body, including the reproductive system and they are crucial for healthy hormone functioning. Omega 3 fatty acids also control inflammation which may interfere with getting and staying pregnant. For men essential fatty acid supplementation is crucial because the semen is rich in prostaglandins which are produced from these fats. Men with poor sperm quality, abnormal sperm, poor motility or low count, have inadequate levels of these beneficial prostaglandins.

Many of the women I see in the clinic have been taking evening primrose oil supplements – an Omega 6 fatty acid – for years and have not been eating enough Omega 3 oils, or taking them in supplement form, to counterbalance this. Some women are also taking combinations such as Omega 3, 6, and 9 in supplement form because they have heard that we need a good balance of all the Omega fatty acids. This is true, but you have to take into account what your own levels may be in the first place. It is no good adding in more Omega 6 if you have already got enough or in fact too much in your body. (You can now have a blood test to tell you if you have the correct levels of Omega 3 to Omega 6 in your body see below). To check whether you have sufficient levels of Omega 3 please click Omega 3 Deficiency Test (at home finger prick blood)

Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant and has been shown to increase fertility when given to both men and women. Men going for IVF treatment with their partners have been given vitamin E, and fertilisation rates have, as a result, increased from 19 to 29 percent. It has been suggested that the antioxidant activity of vitamin E might make the sperm more fertile.

Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, and studies show that vitamin C enhances sperm quality, protecting sperm and the DNA within it from damage. Some research has indicated that certain types of DNA damage in the sperm can make it difficult to conceive in the first place, or it can cause an increased risk of miscarriage if conception does take place. If DNA is damaged, there may be a chromosomal problem in the baby, should the pregnancy proceed. Whether or not DNA damage does have these effects has not been conclusively proven, but it’s worth taking vitamin C and the other antioxidants as a precautionary measure.

Vitamin C also appears to keep the sperm from clumping together, making them more motile. One study has shown that women taking the drug clomiphene to stimulate ovulation will have a better chance of ovulating if vitamin C is taken alongside the drug. Clomiphene does not always work in every woman, but the chances are often increased when vitamin C is supplemented.

This is the vegetable precursor to Vitamin A and is completely safe during pregnancy. Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant which helps to protect egg and sperm DNA from damage by harmful free radicals which can affect the quality of both the egg and sperm. Free radicals are highly unstable and set off a process called oxidation which can have harmful effects on the every cell in the body. Beta- carotene will be contained in your multivitamin and mineral.

This is an amino acid found in many foods and the head of the sperm contains an exceptional amount of this nutrient, which is essential for sperm production. Supplementing with L-arginine can help to increase both the sperm count and quality. Note: People who have herpes attacks (either cold sores or genital herpes) should not supplement with L-arginine because it stimulates the virus.

This amino acid is essential for normal functioning of sperm cells. According to research, it appears that the higher the levels of L-Carnitine in the sperm cells, the better the sperm count and motility.

Furthermore, by adopting a healthier lifestyle you will be more likely to prevent fertility problems which is discussed in detail in the rest of this ebook which you can read by clicking on Understanding Fertility ebook at The Natural Health Practice

This is the herb of choice for helping to restore hormone imbalance and increasing fertility. In one study 48 women diagnosed with infertility took agnus castus daily for three months, 7 of them became pregnant during that time and 25 of them regained normal progesterone levels. Agnus castus is particularly helpful for those women who have a luteal phase defect (shortened second half of the cycle) or those with high prolactin levels, because it stimulates the proper functioning of the pituitary gland which controls the hormones.

Agnus castus works to restore hormonal balance and can be used where there are hormone deficits as well as excesses it:

Caution

You should not take any of the above herbs if you are taking, The Pill, Fertility drugs, HRT or any other hormonal treatment or other medication unless they are recommended by a registered, experienced practitioner.

I suggest that you follow this three month plan and do not try to conceive within that time. Why? Because when you follow the plan, your fertility will begin to increase. Everything needs to be working at optimum levels before you conceive, both to prevent a miscarriage, and to give you the best possible chance of having a healthy baby.

Susan and her partner were 30 and 31 respectively, and they’d been trying to have a baby for four years before coming to my clinic. They had been diagnosed with ‘unexplained fertility’ and had had four unsuccessful attempts at IUI. Susan had many problems with her periods: she had a regular cycle, but bled heavily with spotting and headaches before her period. At ovulation, her abdomen swelled up and she felt nauseous.

Both Susan and her partner were tested for infections and the tests came back positive to one infection, which was easily cleared up by antibiotics. Susan was deficient in a number of nutrients, including zinc, selenium, calcium and magnesium, and her partner had low zinc and high aluminium levels. I therefore recommended that he cut out tinned soft drinks and switch to an aluminium-free deodorant. Because I was concerned that the imbalance causing the problems with Susan’s cycle could also be a factor in her inability to conceive, I also used a combination of balancing herbs, such as agnus castus, to alleviate Susan’s spotting and heavy bleeding. Susan and her partner followed the three month programme and waited until their mineral levels were back to normal. Nine months from their first appointment day, they conceived, and, not surprisingly, had a baby another nine months later.

If you are under the age of 35 and have been trying unsuccessfully to conceive for six months, follow the dietary and supplement suggestions given below for three months. At the end of this period, begin trying to conceive again. Give yourself six months before embarking on any fertility treatments or investigation by your doctor or a gynaecologist.

If you have been trying for six months and are over 35, follow the recommendations but visit your doctor and ask for tests to begin during that first three-month period. If you are given a diagnosis of unexplained infertility, then try for six months on your own before going for medical treatment.

If you are under the age of 35, follow the suggestions below for three months. Then try on your own for six months before embarking on fertility tests.

If you have been trying for six months and are over 35, follow the recommendations but visit your doctor and ask for tests to begin during that first three-month period. If you are given a diagnosis of unexplained infertility, then try for six months on your own before going for medical treatment.

Fertility Mineral Deficiency Test with Supplement Programme (hair) Find out what the mineral and heavy toxic levels are in your body

This test measures the deficiencies and excess levels of 12 different minerals (including calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium and zinc) and 6 heavy toxic metals (including aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and nickel) that may be present in your body. Find out more – Fertility Mineral Deficiency Test with Supplement Programme (hair)

Online Personalised Supplement Assessment Programme Discover what vitamins and minerals you need and should be taking

The analysis of this comprehensive questionnaire will give you a three monthly supplement programme to help balance any vitamin and mineral deficiencies you may have. Find out more – Online Personalised Supplement Assessment Programme

Female Hormone Test (saliva) A total of eleven saliva samples are collected at home at specific times across one cycle, and sent to the lab for analysis. This simple test will chart the level of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone across the month, to work out a pattern that may reveal:

This test can be done even if you have irregular cycles. Find out more – Female Hormone Test (saliva)

Vitamin D Deficiency Test (at home blood finger prick) With all the news in the press about the benefits of having good levels of vitamin D e.g. prevention of cancer, especially breast cancer, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis it is important that you know whether or not you are lacking in this vital vitamin.

There is an increasing wealth of research linking low levels of this vitamin with infertility and immunological problems. It’s thought that Vitamin D plays a role in helping the body to maintain a pregnancy. By making mice deficient in vitamin D they can actually make them infertile. So if you’ve had a miscarriage or implantation is a problem, it is recommended that you check your level of vitamin D. Having an optimum level of vitamin D is also crucial for men as it has been associated with sperm motility and having a good amount of normal sperm. To find out whether you are deficient in Vitamin D Deficiency Test (at home blood finger prick).

Omega 3 Deficiency Test (at home blood finger prick) If you want to find out if you are getting enough Omega 3 fatty acids from your diet and whether you have the correct balance of essential fatty acids.

Fish oil has also been shown to help prevent blood from clotting inappropriately so it can be beneficial to women in whom recurrent miscarriages have been linked to a clotting problem. The Omega 3 oils also control inflammation. If you want to find out if you are getting enough Omega 3 fatty acids from your diet and whether you have the correct balance of Omega 3 to Omega 6 essential fatty acids please click Omega 3 Deficiency Test (at home blood finger prick).

Infection Screen (urine) Find out if an infection is stopping you conceiving or staying pregnant

Infections in the vagina may have a serious impact on your ability to conceive and to hold on to a pregnancy. These infections may have existed for many years with low activity and often present no symptoms. If you are having problems conceiving or have suffered from successive miscarriage or IVF failure or if you have a persistent vaginal secretion it may be worth considering having an Infection Screen.

Infections in the prostate gland may affect both the quantity and quality of the sperm, so an infection screen is advisable, especially if everything else has been ruled out.

It is advisable to get this organised at a specialist clinic like my one as the NHS infection screens can be very basic. Find out more – Infection Screen (urine)

Semen Analysis (semen) A comprehensive test to assess both quality and quantity of sperm

A good semen analysis not only assesses the sperm for quantity and motility but quality and is best done in a specialist clinic as the quality of the results can vary considerably.

A man can now have a comprehensive semen analysis to check for sperm count, motility, abnormal sperm, agglutination (sperm clumping) and sperm antibodies.  It is then possible to use nutritional interventions to improve the semen analysis.   Find out more – Semen Analysis

Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test (semen) Find out if you have healthy sperm DNA

The success of a viable embryo depends to a certain extent on the genetic DNA of the egg and the sperm. The Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test is designed to check whether the DNA of the sperm is liable to fragmentation (the breaking down of some of the sperms DNA strands). There is always a small amount of DNA fragmentation in sperm but this can be overcome or repaired by the egg after fertilisation. However if the fragmentation is beyond a certain level, the repair process cannot compensate enough for the damage and normal embryonic development will stop, meaning that the pregnancy can’t continue.

A high level of fragmentation in sperm cells represents a cause of male infertility that a conventional semen analysis cannot detect. So a man may be told that his sperm is normal in terms of the count, motility and morphology but could have high levels of sperm DNA fragmentation. Results from the medical literature have confirmed that regardless of whether you are trying to conceive naturally or with the help of IUI or IVF, a high level of sperm DNA fragmentation will seriously compromise any possibility of a successful pregnancy. Find out more – Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test (semen)

Ovarian Reserve Test (blood) Find out your egg store

This test measures AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone) which is a hormone made by your ovaries and helps your eggs mature each month. It is also important in the production of the female sex hormone oestrogen. The level of AMH indicates how well your ovaries are functioning and represents the quantity of your egg store. The lower the level of AMH the lower the fertility level is likely to be. This is a useful test also if you are thinking about doing IVF as a low levels has been shown in clinical trials to predict poor response to IVF treatment. In order for IVF or ICSI to work, your ovaries have to respond to the drug stimulation by recruiting a group of follicles, so if AMH is low then it is more than likely that the response will be poor.Measuring AMH is also useful for women with suspected polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as the level is normally very high due to the greater number of follicles on the ovaries.This test can be done at any time of the cycle, even if you are not having a cycle. Click Ovarian Reserve Test (blood).

Immune Problems (blood) Is your immune system stopping you getting and staying pregnant?

Immune problems may account for a large number of cases of unexplained infertility and pregnancy loss. Problems with the immune system occur when your body’s normal immune response to a pregnancy goes wrong. Your body naturally produces antibodies to fight off infection or foreign substances but during pregnancy your body should respond differently to an embryo and should form a protective blanket around it. Because half the baby’s DNA is not yours (it belongs to your partner or sperm donor), your immune system has, in effect, to quieten down in order to stay pregnant and not reject the baby. In some women, however, instead of protecting the embryo their immune system attacks it as if it were an infection or invading organism. Find out more – Immune Problems (blood)

There are a number of tests that can pinpoint whether this is a problem e.g. Natural Killer Cells and Antiphospholipid Antibodies

Natural Killer Cells (blood) Natural killer cells are important. They make up 50 per cent of all white blood cells and are needed to control rapidly dividing cells like cancer. The theory is that some women produce too many natural killer cells which will aggressively attack any cells that grow and divide, offering protection against cancer but making pregnancy impossible. Find out more – Natural Killer Cells (blood)

Antiphospholipid Antibodies (blood) Antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs) are the most common kind of abnormal immune system problem. Up to 15 per cent of women with a history of recurrent miscarriage have this syndrome – and a 90 per cent miscarriage rate, without treatment. And APAs can also prevent implantation, preventing pregnancy in the first place. Phospholipids are a sort of glue needed in early pregnancy. Some women, however, produce APA blood-clotting antibodies which attack cells that build the placenta and increase the risk of miscarriage.

Anticoagulants help to prevent clotting caused by APA and both low-dose aspirin and heparin (a blood thinner) are often prescribed. Supplements of omega 3 essential fats, vitamins C and E and garlic also help to thin the blood so you should not take these if you are on blood thinners. NB. Please note some of the recommended tests are only available in conjunction with a consultation at one of my clinics. Find out more – Antiphospholipid Antibodies (blood)

After three months you would then have a re-test in order to monitor your progress and adjust your supplement programme according to your new condition.

If you need help in obtaining any of the supplements, herbs or tests mentioned, click, Fertility options at The Natural Health Practice. They can supply all of them for you online or if you prefer to talk to somebody first you can also order by mail order on the telephone. The products supplied by this company are always of the highest quality.

Ensure you are getting the right nutrition.Follow the dietary recommendations outlined in the free The Foundation of Health ebook For more information on the special dietary recommendations for fertility, read the rest of the ebook on Understanding Fertility ebook at The Natural Health Practice

The supplement programme below should be taken for at least three months in order to achieve best results

With all of the above for your partner, plus:

To avoid having to purchase numerous supplements for all of the above and to make the process easier, I have put together a supplement programme which contains all the nutrients mentioned above and in the correct dosages. For more information about these click Fertility Supplement Programme

If you would like to order these special supplements for you and your partner now, you can do so through the Natural Health Practice by clicking Fertility Supplements at The Natural Health Practice.

A good herbal formula should contain:

The tests below have been specially selected to be the most helpful if you are concerned about fertility.

Fertility Mineral Deficiency Test with Supplement Programme (hair)

Online Personalised Supplement Assessment Programme

Female Hormone Test (saliva)

Vitamin D Deficiency Test (at home blood finger prick)

Omega 3 Deficiency Test (at home blood finger prick)

Infection Screen (urine)

Semen Analysis (semen)

Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test (semen)

Ovarian Reserve Test (blood)

Immune Problems (blood)

Natural Killer Cells (blood)

Antiphospholipid Antibodies (blood)

NB. Please note some of the recommended tests are only available in conjunction with a consultation at one of my clinics.

After three months you would then have a re-test in order to monitor your progress and adjust your supplement programme according to your new condition.

If you need help in obtaining any of the supplements, herbs or tests mentioned above, click, Fertility options at The Natural Health Practice. They can supply all of them for you online or if you prefer to talk to somebody first you can also order by mail order on the telephone. The products supplied by this company are always of the highest quality.

The section above forms part of a larger ebook on Infertility.

In the rest of the ebook you will learn what the medical approaches to Infertility are and how to combine them with the natural approach. This is called Integrated Medicine and is the way that healthcare of the future is moving towards. You will also learn what medical tests will give you an accurate diagnosis of your condition and if you really need to have them. The medical treatments for Infertility are then examined which can include looking at either drugs or surgery. Each treatment is then discussed and the pros and cons of the options explained. The Integrated Approach to Infertility is considered in some detail so that if appropriate you can know how to combine the best of both conventional and natural medicine.

At the end of the ebook is a practical step by step summary of what you can do to help yourself.

If you would like to read the rest of this ebook click, Understanding Fertility ebook at The Natural Health Practice and you will be given details of how you can download the whole ebook.

Disclaimer

The contents of this site are for information only and are intended to assist readers in identifying symptoms and conditions they may be experiencing. This site is not intended to be a substitute for taking proper medical advice and should not be relied upon in this way. Always consult a qualified doctor or health practitioner, especially if you are pregnant, taking the pill or on any medication. Your situation will need to be looked at individually and you should not attempt to self treat. The author and publisher cannot accept responsibility for illness arising out of the failure to seek medical advice from a doctor.

The views expressed by third parties placing material on these pages are not representative of the views of the author or publisher. The Author and Publisher cannot monitor the content not produced by us and has not reviewed all the third party material published on this site and the Author and Publisher accept no liability whatsoever in relation to the content of third party material placed on these pages.

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Essential fatty acids are well, essential to a healthy body and a strong reproductive system. They are the good fats the body needs to stay healthy and strong. Without these essential fatty acids, your body’s ceils are unable to rejuvenate, which can cause disease. Once you do become pregnant, the right level of essential fatty acids in your diet is vital in order to give your growing baby the nutrients it needs to develop properly.

There are three main types of essential fatty acids that are linked to fertility: Omega 3, Omega 6 and Omega 9. Although Omega 9 can be produced by the body in some amount, neither Omega 3 nor Omega 6 can. That means that the only Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids you get are from either the food you eat or the supplements you take.

How important is it to take a essential fatty acids supplement if you eat a well balanced diet? No matter how well you eat, most women fail to get the proper amounts of the Omega fatty acids in their diet. This can have a devastating affect on their fertility. When it comes to building strong fertility health, the Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids are important because they help to:

Once pregnancy has occurred, keeping your essential fatty acid levels high remains of utmost importance. They not only help in the development of the baby’s main structures and organs, but low levels of EPA in the mother during pregnancy have been linked to premature birth; low birth weight babies and even hyperactivity in children later on.

Now that you know how important Omega essential fatty acids are to your fertility, you may be wondering what the absolute source of them are. Of course, eating foods high in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids is very important. Borage oil, flaxseed oil and olive oil are three best sources for getting enough of these essential fatty acids. While cooking with these oils are helpful (and healthier), this approach won’t give you the necessary dosage each and every day. Eating cold water fish is also a good way to increase Omega 3 and Omega 6 levels, but you must be careful not to eat any fish form contaminated waters, which can be a challenge these days. Nuts and sunflower seeds are another high EPA containing food.

Supplements are an easy way to get the right amount of EPA’s in your system, especially when trying to conceive. For best result, look for supplements derived from fish or flaxseed oil. When choosing fish oil capsules, be sure to buy only those that come from deep cold water fish is the cleaner areas of the world (New Zealand in particular).

What About the Men?

Of course women have to be particularly careful about the nutrients they take in when trying to conceive and while pregnant; but what about the men? Getting the right amount of Essential Fatty Acids is important for them too, especially if they are finding it difficult to get their partner pregnant.

Omega 3’s are vital to sperm production and both Omega 3 and Omega 6 can help to increase circulation to the genital area, increasing a man’s fertility health. When there are not enough essential fatty acids in a man’s body, cholesterol will replace the membrane of his sperm, which can allow free radicals to infiltrate the sperm and cause it to become malformed or too weak to fertilize an egg. By simply increasing your intake of EFA’s in the diet, most men can dramatically increase the amount and health of their sperm as well as increase their motility, which can – and will—give them a better chance at conception.

Getting pregnant doesn’t have to difficult. Nature has a lot of wonderful ways to help things along, including offering Omega 3, 6 and 9 essential fatty acids in the foods you eat in order to increase your chances of conception success. For best results, also add a daily supplement to your fertility treatment regime.

Click here to buy Fertilica Omega 3,6,9…

Surrogacy: One real-life experience Image courtesy Satory Kobayashi at Flickr.com There is no probably no other such controversial topic related to building a family as surrogacy. Though I’ve spent years emerged in investigating and understanding all kinds of infertility-related topics, I must admit that I’m not completely sure how to feel about surrogacy. Is surrogacy a renting-a-body type of business? Or is it the finest art of altruism that human beings are capable of? […]

Melatonin helps improve egg quality in IVF: Recent evidence Many women undergoing IVF often take melatonin in addition to other supplements, in a hope to improve egg quality before the treatment. In my counselling sessions, I was asked several times how much melatonin should be taken given that doctors seem to recommend anything between 300 µg and 10 mg?! I know research evidence which clearly showed several years back that melatonin can work synergistically in […]

My employers asked about my maternity plans. I wish I had told them this. The information contained in this article is not legal advice. Rather, the article contains my own thoughts and experiences, as well as some inconvenient truths. In my experience, all employers will try to uncover the status of your private life. Here are some of the conclusions I came to. Photo credit: ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.com How to handle inappropriate interview questions […]

The best exercises for women who are trying to conceive: Sia Cooper from Diary of a Fit Mommy I was glad when Sia Cooper, founder and owner of Diary of a Fit Mommy connected with me and showed interest in my blog. I knew immediately that I wanted to talk to her more, because Sia is an expert in a topic which I will address more in the future: how to best prepare your body […]

How to live a fertility-friendly life Recently, Helen Lindop (from BusinesPlusBaby) and I talked about realities of female fertility and getting pregnant over the age of thirty-five. What is it that women should do better? Do we sufficiently understand the mechanics of our fertility cycles and biological clocks? Here is how the conversation went: Helen: Can a woman do anything to improve her fertility after the age of 35? And why do some doctors say […]

What kind of man make good fathers? The first morning that I woke up next to my ex-husband, I realized that he could never be a good father and that we would never have a family together. I just knew it. But why did I marry him? The answer is simple – he was popular, smart, a good writer, good in bed, and he fell love with me during a very sensitive time in my […]

Should you use basal body temperature to determine ovulation? I’ve been delaying writing this post for months and probably longer. Maybe I thought that women all around the world will give up on BBT charting altogether because there are better methods than measuring basal temperature to determine ovulation. But no one seems to be tired of BBT temping. On the contrary, the market is flourishing with fancy fertility apps and many women I’m coaching tell […]

Why are healthy snacks so difficult to find? As I walked through a nearby park this morning, I had the impression of seeing only two kinds of people: either very fit ones who were typically jogging and working on becoming even skinnier, or obese ones, simply passing through the park. This reminded me that the holiday season is about to begin and that soon, I will be making efforts every day to not gain weight around […]

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You’ve likely already heard that omega-3 fatty acids are important for maintaining heart health and good cholesterol levels. But did you also know that they can boost male fertility? Recent studies have shown that men who struggle with infertility tend to have lower levels of omega-3. Researchers have found that increasing the amount of omega-3 in your diet can result in stronger, higher-quality sperm. For men looking to improve their fertility, increasing their omega-3 level can be one step towards a solution.

There are two particularly important kinds of omega-3 fatty acids: docosahexnoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), both of which are found in fish sources. DHA is the one that has a positive effect on male fertility. A study at the University of Illinois found that DHA plays a central role in sperm formation. Healthy sperm have a pointed structure at the top called an acrosome. This structure functions much like a sharp hat, enabling the sperm to pierce through the egg’s outer layers. The acrosome also contains a collection of enzymes that helps the sperm to fertilize the egg. DHA is essential to building these acrosomes. Without DHA, sperm remain round at the top and lack those crucial enzymes. For this reason, not getting enough omega-3 can result in weaker sperm. And that will have a harder time fertilizing the egg.

Omega-3 fatty acids are naturally found in oily fish, including salmon, sardines, anchovies, bluefish, herring, tuna, and mackerel. You can boost your level of omega-3 by eating these 2-3 times a week. Because omega-3s are so good for you, you’ll benefit your health in other ways, too. If you don’t love fish, you can get up your omega-3 intake by taking a supplement. Either a direct fish oil supplement or a pill derived from fish. If you’re shopping for supplements, you’ll likely see omega-3 supplements made from plant sources such as flaxseed oil, walnuts, soybean oil, and canola oil. Unfortunately, these plant sources are not a good source of DHA, the specific kind of omega-3 needed to build strong sperm.

Keep in mind that omega-3 is not a magic cure to infertility. Unless you have undergone a blood test that shows low levels of omega-3, it’s hard to know if that’s what’s solving the problem. Taking an omega-3 supplement is a good way to improve your chances of strong, fertile sperm. However, this supplementation works best when performed alongside other fertility-friendly steps. For example – maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthily, exercising, avoiding smoking and heavy drinking, wearing loose undergarments, and consulting with your doctor. By taking a well-rounded approach, you can be confident that you’re doing everything in your power to improve your odds of conception.

CONCEIVE PLUS®

Fertility support is an essential part of conception, whether you are just starting out or have been trying for some time. Regular lubricants are proven to have negative effects on the fertilization process and should be avoided when you are trying to conceive.

Omega-3 fatty acids found in some foods have a wide-range of health benefits. The omega-3 supplementation results in higher antioxidant activity in human seminal fluid and enhanced sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology. Considerable number of infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia might be benefit from omega-3 fatty acids administration.

Infertility caused by idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia(OAT) syndrome without any female factor represents one of the biggest patients group in the daily practice of urologists. Despite great advances in the field of infertility, still many cases of male infertility are diagnosed as idiopathic and remained untreated. In low-income communities where health service resources are restricted and basic health needs are unmet, health resources are not used to provide expensive technologies for the treatment of infertility. Social and family consequences of infertility, especially in developing and under developed communities are devastating. A decrease in male fertility has been occurred over the years.1 Sperm density had fallen by 40% over the past 50 years.2 One of the reasons for the impaired semen parameters over the years is dietary factors.3, 4 The significant effects of dietary fatty acids (FAs) on male fertility have been well documented both in animal and human studies.5, 6 There are three types of natural FAs: saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential FAs, because they cannot be synthesized by the human body. Docosahexanoic acid (DHA), eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and α-linolenic acid are the main omega-3 PUFAs. Linoleic acid, γ-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid (AA) are the main omega-6 PUFAs. The first mechanism by which omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs affect spermatogenesis, is by the incorporation into spermatozoa cell membrane. Omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs are structural components of cell membranes.7 The lipid bilayer of cellular membranes is maintained by the presence of these PUFAs.8 The successful fertilization of spermatozoa depends on the lipids of the spermatozoa membrane.9 Deleterious health effects of increased dietary omega-6/omega-3 ratios have been documented in many studies.10 The ideal ratio is 1:1. During the past 100 years, omega-6 PUFAs of Western diets have increased dramatically. This has resulted in an omega-6/omega-3 ratio of 25:1 to 40:1.11 Increased omega-6/omega-3 ratio in spermatozoa has also been implicated in impaired semen quality in oligozoospermic and/or asthenozoospermic men.12 Spermatozoa from asthenozoospermic and oligozoospermic men exhibit decreased concentrations of DHA compared with those from normozoospermic men. Conquer et al.13 demonstrated that, compared with normozoospermic men, spermatozoa from asthenozoospermic men have diminished concentrations of DHA and higher concentrations of oleic acid. Safarinejad et al.,14 investigated PUFA composition of the blood plasma and spermatozoa in men with idiopathic OAT. They found that, fertile men had higher blood and spermatozoa levels of omega-3 PUFAs compared with the infertile counterparts. Also, the serum omega-6/omega-3 PUFAs ratio was significantly higher in infertile men. These findings have also been replicated in human clinical trials. Attaman et al.15 evaluated the relation between dietary fats and semen quality in 99 men. They concluded that, higher intake of omega-3 PUFAs was positively correlated with sperm morphology. In another randomized clinical trial, 238 infertile men with idiopathic OAT were randomized to EPA and DHA, 1.84 g day−1 or placebo for 32 weeks.16 A significant improvement in total sperm count and sperm cell density was observed in the omega-3 group. The second mechanism by which omega-3 PUFAs improve semen quality, involves anti-oxidant activity. Oxidative stress is one of the main issues associated with male infertility. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) significantly and adversely affect sperm function at high concentrations. Imbalance between antioxidant capacity in seminal plasma and the production of ROS results in oxidative stress. The seminal plasma anti-oxidant capacity plays an important role in sperm function. Balanced seminal plasma antioxidant activity prevents the oxidation of various macromolecules such as DNA, proteins and lipids.7 Omega-3 PUFAs are among important antioxidants. In a study by Safarinejad et al.,14 seminal plasma enzymatic antioxidant levels of catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. Significantly lower levels of catalase- and SOD-like activities were found in infertile men compared with fertile men. In addition, catalase- and SOD-like activities were significantly positively correlated with sperm density, sperm motility and sperm morphology.

The omega-6/omega-3 ratio in spermatozoa cell membrane has outmost importance in maintaining normal sperm integrity and function. Oxidative stress to sperm DNA can result in increased DNA fragmentation. In humans, there is a positive strong correlation between sperm motility and sperm membrane DHA concentrations. Infertile men have higher mean AA/DHA ratio and AA/EPA ratio than fertile men.14

Also, other supplements with anti-oxidant activities such as selenium,17 coenzyme Q10,18 and pentoxifylline19 have demonstrated favorable efficacy in infertile men with idiopathic OAT. Recently supplementation with omega-3 PUFAs has received great attention in the course of psychiatric, neurologic and cardiovascular diseases.20 The incorporation of omega-3 PUFAs, including ALA, EPA and DHA, into the diets has also beneficial effects on fertility. As omega-3 PUFAs have excellent safety profiles, are widely available and cost effective, and have had beneficial effects on spermatogenesis in human studies, they might be considered as nutritional supplementation to improve semen quality. We frequently treat infertile men with idiopathic OAT who were candidate for assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) using above mentioned supplementations. The cost of ART protocols is high. Selection of infertility treatment often interrelated to different issues such as efficacy, cost, mode of administration and its potential side effects. Legal, cultural, social, economical and religious inquiries have considerably restricted the available choices in some countries. Each community has own concerns. In some communities use of donor sperms or oocytes is not acceptable, and in poor-resource areas ART protocols have not been resulted in improvement of quality of infertility care. The prevalence of infertility is highest in countries that experience the severe conditions of war, poverty, and starvation. In developing and underdeveloped areas, if infertility occurs, it is the female partner who is frustrated, disinherited, and ostracized and suffers from unstable marriages, divorce, polygamy, domestic violence and economic deprivation, and may even endure life-threatening medical intervention. In some communities, female partners are discerned as a source of evil, subjected to physical and psychological violence and are even killed. We urgently need effective, inexpensive, and safe medications for dealing with OAT in idiopathic infertile men.

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