It is still unknown what causes PCOS but most experts are in agreement that insulin is a major player. Insulin resistance, the primary underlying problem in PCOS, is the condition in which normal amounts of insulin do not adequately produce a normal insulin response from fat, muscle and liver cells. Some of the symptoms of insulin resistance include:

• Fatigue
• Weight gain and difficulty losing weight
• Increased blood pressure
• Increased blood triglyceride levels
• High blood sugar
• Depression

The good news is that there is a suitable diet for PCOS that can help with insulin response and weight gain. It all starts with understanding carbohydrates.

There are two types of carbohydrates: simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates, found in many processed foods, are absorbed by the body faster by the body, which leads to a sudden increase in blood sugar and are therefore identified as high glycemic foods. Simple carbohydrates are often called the “bad” carbohydrate and should be curbed or eliminated if you are dieting for PCOS. Sugar and pasta are full of simple carbohydrates, for example.

Complex carbohydrates are found in foods such as wholegrain breads, oats, muesli, fibrous vegetables (celery, broccoli, lettuce, etc.) and contain a good amount of fiber. These carbohydrates break down into glucose more slowly than simple carbohydrates thus providing a steady stream of energy throughout the day. Natural complex carbohydrates are a much better choice if you are attempting to improve PCOS through diet.

In addition to low glycemic food consumption, it is important to note that carbohydrates should always be consumed with a protein or a good fat (such as olive or canola oil, part-skim cheese, etc.). Drink plenty of non-caffeinated fluids throughout the day as lower carbohydrate consumption can lead to dehydration.

In summary, a PCOS diet filled with fiber-rich complex carbohydrates, including whole grain foods and low glycemic fruits and vegetables my not only help bring PCOS symptoms under control but can significantly help with weight gain issues and high blood pressure.

The first thing you need to know in determining the best days to conceive is how long your cycle is, because ovulation will typically occur 14 days prior to the next period starting. This means that if you have a 30-day cycle, ovulation will typically occur at about day 16. If you have a 28-day cycle, ovulation will typically occur around day 14. If your cycle length is not consistent you may want to try an ovulation detection kit. These can be found at most drugstores.

One other item to consider is the fact that sperm have the ability to survive in a woman’s body for a few days waiting for the egg to show up. The egg, however, will only survive for about 24 hours after ovulation. For this reason, having intercourse in the days prior to ovulation will typically provide you with the best opportunity for conception. Among the reasons why this is the most fertile time is an increase in cervical fluid and the mucus consistency changes to a more opaque, slippery and stretchy substance. You would be able to stretch the mucus up to 2-4 inches between your fingers. This change is necessary to provide a healthy environment for the sperm that helps them survive for several days.

The three days prior and the day of ovulation are often the best times for intercourse for successful conception. The male partner should abstain from intercourse and masturbation for 3-4 days prior to the first intercourse to allow his body to produce sufficient motile sperm.

Calculating the best days to conceive is one of the best ways to improve your chances for conception. Know your menstrual cycle, buy an ovulation kit and keep track of important dates. Ensure the male partner is aware of his role and that he prepares himself accordingly. Intercourse timed properly with ovulation is one of the big factors toward successful conception.

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Some studies suggest that one cause of low sperm motility may be nutritional issues.  During a meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine it was stated that the more produce a man consumed, the more sperm motility improved.  Results of a questionnaire indicated that men who consumed the fewest fruits and vegetables had the lowest sperm motility.  One possible explanation for this is that antioxidants may help to protect the sperm from damage that may lead to low sperm motility.

Some naturopathic  nutritional changes may help to correct low sperm motility:

• Drink plenty of water each and every day.  The importance of this cannot be overstated.
• Consume natural foods with a focus on vegetables, grains, nuts, fruits, fish and lean meats such as turkey or chicken.
• Consider a zinc supplement.  Taking 60 mg of this essential mineral every day over several months may improve sperm motility.
• Consider a vitamin E supplement.  Take 400 IUs twice daily. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps to improve the sperms’ ability to impregnate.
• Vitamin C is another antioxidant that helps to prevent oxidative damage and is believed to help prevent sperm from sticking together (sperm agglutination).

Some things to avoid include:

• Stay cool.  Testicles may become overheated by wearing tight underwear or by prolonged soaks in baths or spas.
• Do not smoke.  There is an association between smoking and low sperm count, low sperm motility, and abnormal sperm morphology (shape).
• Curb alcohol consumption.  Alcohol consumption has been associated with causing defective sperm.
• Avoid saturated fats and hydrogenated oils.  Instead, use olive or canola oil.

Proxeed, a fairly new nutritional supplement, contains many of the nutrients believed to aid in low sperm motility and male fertility in general. The ingredients in ProXeed improve sperm count, concentration, and motility when taken orally for about 2 months.  Since Proxeedis available without a prescription it may be a good starting point toward improving low sperm motility but those considering it should consult their physician first.

Acupuncture

Combined with IVF treatments, acupuncture has been shown to increase fertility. Studies have not proven what exactly its benefits to fertility are. However, some studies have shown it to be effective at enhancing the benefits of other treatments.

Used for about 5,000 years in Chinese medicine, acupuncture is widely known to possess extraordinary benefits and is used in treating many different ailments. It has become increasingly popular in America over the last few decades.

To find licensed acupuncturists, contact The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture or The National Institutes of Health.

Ovulation

The odds of your getting pregnant have a lot to do with the regularity of your menstrual cycle.

One way to figure out when you are most likely ovulating is to count fourteen days from the end of your last menstrual cycle; this is because ovulation is believed to happen right around the middle of an average 28-day cycle. Obviously, if you have a regular 28-day cycle, all you have to do is subtract fourteen days from your current menstrual cycle to obtain the day you will probably be ovulating; but since not all cycles are exactly 28 days, this can vary among women. Another way to more accurately pinpoint days of ovulation is to buy an ovulation test from your local drugstore or pharmacy.

Talk to your doctor if you have been trying to become pregnant for more than one year, as there may be other conditions that are interfering with your ability to get pregnant.

The placenta will begin to discharge HCG into the blood and urine once the fertilized egg has embedded itself. In as early as six days after implantation, before your first missed menstrual period, HCG can be found in your blood.

The growth of the fetus is effected by HCG and it helps to preserve pregnancy. The baby’s health and information about the pregnancy can be determined by the amount HCG is increased to. After delivery, HCG will not be detected in the blood.

If there are twins or triplets, there will be even more HCG discharge amounts. If a ectopic pregnancy occurs, which is when the egg does not implant in the uterus, but in a place such as an oviduct, less HCG is released.

Usually, urine is tested to determine a pregnancy. This examination doesn’t tell the levels of HCG, but will show if the results are above the normal non-pregnant level. Home pregnancy kits are widely available and show HCG in urine.

Many times health problems occur due to obstructions in the meridians that run through the body. These obstructions cause energy to swell in some areas of the reproductive organs, while other areas become energy-deprived. In an acupuncture procedure needles are put on blocked sites, which stimulates the nervous system to send chemicals into the reproductive organs. As a result, enough energy is released to cure infertility problems experienced by both men and women.

If you’re still wondering just exactly how acupuncture treats infertility, here’s the simple answer. A regular flow of blood to the reproductive organs can be created by acupuncture and hormones can be instantly regulated; this in turn boosts ovarian function for women and speedy sperm production for men.

Other treatments can be used in conjunction with acupuncture to cure infertility. You can take Chinese herbal medicine, which has a restorative effect on the kidneys, or use acupuncture on the soles of your feet, behind the ears, near the genitals, and on the palms.

Special acupuncture fertility treatments like IVF and ICSI can be used concurrently with the standard needle-based form of acupuncture. Another infertility treatment provided by some organizations is electro-acupuncture.

A number of studies have shown that acupuncture has been very successful in treating women with infertility difficulties, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), severe pelvic pain, and pain during intercourse. And according to these studies, a high percentage of men have been successfully treated with acupuncture to cure various reproductive issues.

It is clear that infertility and acupuncture are highly compatible.

The highest zinc content is found in oysters. But meats such as liver, chicken, and turkey also are very good sources of zinc, so it is unlikely that people have a deficiency of zinc. There are also significant levels of zinc in dairy products. Since vegetarians do not eat meat, they are at the greatest risk of having a zinc deficiency. For adults, not having an appropriate amount of zinc in the system may cause changes in the condition of hair and skin, and it will depress the appetite. Other people may have trouble absorbing zinc, including people who are hospitalized and are receiving nutrients via a feeding tube, alcoholics, and women taking birth control pills.

This method of treating fertility issues should not be commenced without having first consulted a medical professional. Large doses of zinc supplements may affect copper absorption in the body and therefore have a negative effect on the immune system. Further, large doses of zinc may decrease the quantity of high-density, or good, cholesterol in the bloodstream. And if you are on any medication, taking zinc supplements is probably not a good idea.

One of the vital elements in the production of sperm, and the development of both primary and secondary male sexual characteristics, is testosterone. Only people who are physically active on a regular basis can develop normally in these areas. This is a dilemma because overweight people often are not very active and this produces a noticeably smaller testosterone level in many obese people. The inference is that overweight people have a lower sex drive than previously.

This dilemma is compounded by the fact that estrogen, the female hormone, is a natural secretion of fat cells and is also present in some common substances, making it even easier to be infertile. It should be noted that estrogen contamination and overweight are not the only factors contributing to the rise of male infertility. There are several other causative factors.

With the help of medical professionals, with the use of natural supplements and with the adoption of improved eating practices, it is very possible to defeat obesity. It is possible to use herbal dietary supplements to fight overweight. A dose of zinc on a daily basis is required to produce high quality motile sperm.

Nutritious home made meals have been taken over by fast food. Men should maintain a healthy diet consisting of the proper vitamins and minerals to help increase sperm count and quality.

Over time, caffeine beverages, such as soda or coffee, in excess can hurt sperm production. Caffeine, especially in coffee according to several medical studies, can significantly reduce fertility. Your chances of conceiving is cut in half with just one cup of coffee per day.

Alcohol can also have damaging effects on the health of sperm cells. Alcohol can have unhealthy results to your overall health and will have the same effects to life-giving characteristics of spermatozoa. Alcohol decreases sperm counts, reduces sperm mobility, and increase abnormal sperm development. Alcohol also prevents the absorption of nutrients like zinc, which happens to be one of the more important minerals for male fertility.

Smoking also increases toxins in a body which does damage many cells as well as sperm cells. It could increase the amount of abnormal cells and reduce sperm mobility and count.

Testosterone levels and energy is increase in people who exercise regularly. These activities should be conducted in moderation in order to avoid fatigue or affect sterility.

The diagnosis of PCOS requires an ultrasound or scan of a woman’s abdomen. The common symptoms of PCOS are irregular, heavy or absent periods; ovarian cysts; infertility, weight gain; obesity; acne; skin growths; dark skin patches; high cholesterol; fatigue or the inability to concentrate; decreased sex drive; excessive facial or body hair; male pattern baldness; and an excess of male hormones.

Hormonal defects or imbalances are the causes of PCOS, which is classified as a disease. Every woman will experience different symptoms, so you don’t have to have all of the symptoms listed here to have PCOS. For some women, the effects of PCOS are quite mild; other women may have severe symptoms.

Studies on PCOS have shown that the best way to deal with the disease at present involves a correct diagnosis and proper treatment of symptoms. The treatment options for PCOS vary for different levels of the disease. One good approach is to eat a healthy, balanced diet and get plenty of exercise. Regular visits to your doctor are essential for blood tests and monitoring insulin levels. You may also choose to try alternative treatment options for your particular form of PCOS.