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How To Boost Your Fertility Naturally At Home
How To Boost Your Fertility Naturally At Home – The textbook definition of infertility is the inability to conceive after a year of unprotected intercourse! Approximately, 10-15 percent of couples have fertility problems. There are two types of infertility; primary and secondary.
The former means the inability to conceive at all, while the latter means inability to conceive after having children previously. Male factors account for infertility about a third of the time, similar to female factors. In the remaining cases, the cause is either a combination of both female and male factors or unknown.
Understandably, the inability to conceive can be very frustrating and stressful, but there are a number of supplements and treatment options available. Of these supplements and treatments, the best one will depend on the cause of infertility.
However, after about two years of trying to get pregnant, 95 percent of these couples conceive successfully without needing treatment. That said, before making the first step towards supplements and treatments, make the appropriate lifestyle changes. These changes should not be taken as a substitute, but as a complement, to fertility treatments.
Symptoms of Infertility:
The most obvious sign of infertility for both sexes is the inability to conceive after a year of unprotected sex, and too long or too short a menstrual cycle in females. Some other uncommon signs and symptoms may be caused by inherited disorders, dilated testicle veins, hormonal imbalance or blockage of sperm.
These signs include:
– Sexual dysfunction
– Lump, swelling, or pain in the testicles.
– Abnormal breast growth.
– Inability to smell.
– Low sperm count
– Recurrent respiratory infections
– Decreased body and facial hair
Causes of Infertility:
Fertility is multi-factorial. This means that there is an endless number of confounding factors that can be the cause of fertility problems. For this reason, the success and effectiveness of treatments and supplements vary so much.
Apart from age, female fertility problems are commonly caused by ovulation problems, cervical problems or damage to the uterus or fallopian tubes. Male fertility problems are mostly caused by low sperm count and erectile dysfunction. As mentioned, the best treatment is dependent on the cause of infertility. The best supplements and treatments for these common causes are discussed below.
Male fertility How to increase sperm count Low sperm count is the leading cause of male infertility. It is associated with factors such as vitamin and zinc deficiency.
That said, making some changes to your diet will be a step in the right direction. Apart from changes in diet, lifestyle changes have proven to increase both the volume and the thickness. All these and other, ways to increase sperm count are discussed below.
1. Fenugreek Supplement:
Fenugreek is a popular medicinal and culinary herb. Studies done to show the use of this supplement to improve libido, sexual performance, and sperm volume have shown promise.
In one study, 60 men took 600mg of Testofen daily for six weeks. Testofen is a supplement extracted from fenugreek seeds. After the duration, they had improved sexual performance, libido, and most importantly, sperm count.
2. Vitamin C:
Reactive Oxygen Species are always being produced by the body. They are kept in check by antioxidants such as Vitamin C. If they exceed safe levels, they lead to a condition known as Oxidative stress. Extremely high levels of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress have been linked to infertility in men.
Taking enough vitamin C supplements will not only increase sperm count, but also sperm quality. In a particular study, infertile men took 1000mg of Vitamin C supplements twice a day for two months. The result was increased sperm count by more than a hundred percent, and sperm motility by 92 percent.
3. D-Aspartic Acid Supplements:
D-aspartic acid (D-AA) is an amino acid that is sold as a dietary supplement. D-AA is mostly found in testicles and sperm and semen cells. In infertile men, D-AA levels were significantly lower than in fertile men.
According to a study, taking 2.66 grams of this supplement will increase testosterone levels by 30-60 percent and motility and sperm count by 60-100 percent. Although D-AA supplements improve fertility and testosterone levels in infertile men, they don’t do the same to those with normal or high testosterone levels. At high doses, they even tend to lower the levels.
4. Vitamin D:
Vitamin D also assists in boosting testosterone levels and ultimately, sperm count. Men who have low testosterone levels are more likely to be vitamin 0 deficient. Ina certain study, 65 men with vitamin D deficiency and low testosterone levels took 3000 IU of vitamin 03 daily for a whole year increased their testosterone levels by about 25 percent.
5. Exercise regularly:
Being physically active has a number of health benefits, increased testosterone levels and better semen quality being among them. Too much exercise, however, may have the opposite effect, and lower testosterone levels. You can minimize the risk of this happening by taking enough zinc and vitamin C.
6. Relax:
Stress has adverse effects on your sperm count, fertility, and overall sexual satisfaction. These effects are caused by a hormone known as cortisol. Prolonged high levels of stress raise the levels of cortisol in the body.
This, in turn, lowers the level of testosterone and sperm count. The best way to deal with stress is through relaxation techniques. A walk, meditation, spending time with close friends and exercising.
7. Take enough Zinc:
Zinc is one of the cornerstones when it comes to male fertility. This essential mineral can be found in meat, eggs, fish, shellfish and other animal foods. The lower the levels of zinc in the body, the lower the testosterone levels and the lower the sperm quality and count.
This increases the chances of infertility. There are a number of zinc supplements that one can take to keep everything in check. Additionally, taking zinc supplements water down the decrease in testosterone levels caused by intense exercise.
8. Eat Maca Root:
Studies, which have been confirmed by reviews, show that a daily intake of 1 5-3 grams of dried mace root improves libido and sexual performance alongside sperm volume and motility. In healthy and fertile men, this dosage doesn’t have any effect on the levels of testosterone and other reproductive hormones.
Other ways to increase sperm count
– Lead a healthy lifestyle.
– Lose excess weight.
– Reduce alcohol intake.
– Avoid taking too much soy.
– Eat a lot of walnuts.
– Get enough sleep.
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve and/or maintain an erection sufficient for male sexual performance. It is mostly age-dependent and affects close to 30 million American men. The most common and functional treatments for erectile dysfunction is Viagra and similar supplements.
Erections happen when the penis is filled with blood. Erectile dysfunction occurs when blood flows out of the penis at the same rate it is flowing in. Viagra and related drugs keep the arteries open for the erection to develop properly. Taking the drugs orally has a 75-85 percent success rate.
In some cases, however, the rate may be lower especially in old men, and those with conditions that increase chances of erectile dysfunction such as heart disease, obesity, hypertension, nerve damage, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy and sleep apnea. Nevertheless, a higher dose can do the trick.
There are a couple of ways you can go about erectile dysfunction; using natural remedies, making lifestyle changes, and using supplements.
1. Natural remedies to erectile dysfunction
One of the oldest methods is vacuum constriction. This method requires the use of a cylinder. The penis is placed inside it and the air is pumped out to create a vacuum. The vacuum draws blood into the penis and a band is fitted at the base of the penis to help maintain the erection.
The other way you can go about it naturally is injecting prostaglandins. With a simple injection of the drug in the penis about 15 minutes before sex, your penile muscles will be relaxed and the arteries dilated. The result is an erection that lasts 30 to 60 minutes. You can find these drugs in gel and suppository form, but they won’t be as effective.
2. Lifestyle changes
Erections are closely related to blood flow. As such, any lifestyle measure for improved cardiovascular health helps with erectile function.
The most important is exercise which, in addition to improving vascular function and boosting nitric oxide, strengthens pelvic floor muscles, another key factor in achieving and maintaining erections.
Leafy greens and nitrate-rich vegetables increase the synthesis of nitric oxide. Studies have shown that berries, red wine, dark chocolate and green tea reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction.
The leading cause of erectile dysfunctions for men under 40 — you guessed that right it is smoking. Quitting goes a long way in preventing erectile dysfunction.
Supplements for erectile dysfunction
– Amino Acids
Amino acids such as L-citrulline and L-arginine increase nitric oxide synthesis, the erection trigger. These acids can be found in high amounts in herbs such as maca, ginkgo, ginseng, horny goat weed, Yohimbe, and Tribulus.
– Pycnogenol
This is a French maritime pine extract. Controlled clinical trials have shown how effective it is In one study, 50 men with sexual dysfunction took a combination of L-arginine, L-citrulline, roburins (from French oak) and pycnogenol. A month later, their erectile function was normal.
Female Fertility Supplements to get Pregnant:
The supplements listed below, when taken with a healthy diet and proper lifestyle changes, are effective not only for a healthy pregnancy and fertility boosting but also for optimum nutrition.
Some of them work faster than others but to get the best results, consult your doctor on which combination may or may not work. Although listed in the Female Infertility’ section, some of these are just as effective in men.
1. Zinc
Apart from the sperm count and testosterone level functions in men discussed above, intake of zinc assists with fertility and ovulation in women.
The office of dietary supplements at the national institute of health gave a recommendation of 8 milligrams of zinc per day. Foods rich in zinc include oysters, lobsters, beans, whole grains, and other dairy products.
2. Folic acid
This is the most important supplement to women trying to get pregnant. It is used by the body to make red blood cells. During pregnancy, it minimizes the possibility of the occurrence of a neural tube defect, while making extra blood for you.
The daily recommendation is about 400 micro grams. Your daily intake can be found in citrus fruits, leafy greens, and whole grains.
3. Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme 010 is produced by the body for the basic functioning of cells. Taking this supplement improves the quality of eggs, as well as increases the sperm count in men.
4. Omega 3-free fatty acid
Even though this fatty acid is very essential during pregnancy, the body doesn’t make it by itself. The only way to get it is through foods such as fish oil and other nut or plant oils. It is mostly important to take it when one is undergoing IVF treatments.
5. Iron
Iron is important as it is used to create hemoglobin to carry oxygen. If your body doesn’t have enough oxygen, your organs and tissues won’t get enough oxygen to function well.
The daily recommendation for women is 18 mg, while that for pregnant women is 27mg. you can find sufficient amounts of iron in multivitamins, red meat, leafy green vegetables, and tofu.
6. Calcium
Generally, adults between the age of 19 and 50 should consume enough calcium for strong bone and teeth formation, and prevent osteoporosis.
The same goes for the growing baby. About 1000 mg of calcium daily for women looking to get pregnant should be enough. You can take it as a separate supplement, or take it in meals such as milk and leafy green vegetables.
7. Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 not only helps with getting pregnant, it also does away with the nasty symptoms that accompany conception. It is recommended that women trying to conceive should take at least 10 mg daily for it to work.
Conclusion Most couples, after a year or two of trying to get pregnant, are successful without needing treatment. However, if you are short on patience, the above supplements are sure to work for you.
They all have the same goal; improving cardiovascular health for sperm, and egg health. That said, coupling them up with the recommended lifestyle changes, your fertility will be back to normal in no time.