Tuesday, May 21

Fertility Treatments for Jennifer Aniston

Posted on May 17, 2013 Julie Chang, L.Ac.

Fall Baby Booms Explained

Posted on April 1, 2013 Julie Chang, L.Ac.

Autumn is the time of year most associated with new babies, and there may be a scientific reason for it: human sperm are generally at their healthiest in winter and early spring.

Researchers found sperm in greater numbers, with faster swimming speeds and fewer abnormalities in semen made during the winter, with a steady decline in quality from spring onward.

Taking into account the approximately 70 days it takes for the body to produce a sperm cell, the researchers found that men with normal sperm production had the healthiest sperm in the winter.

However, for men with abnormal sperm production the pattern didn't hold. Those men showed a slight trend toward better motility during the fall and made the largest percentage of normal shaped sperm - about 7 percent - during the spring.

"Based on our results the (normal) semen will perform better in winter, whereas infertility cases related to low sperm counts should be encouraged to choose spring and fall," the researchers wrote.

Possible causes of these seasonal changes in sperm production and fertility may be due to factors ranging from temperature, to length of daylight exposure and hormone variations.

If you are a male, over 35 years old, and have been trying unsuccessfully to conceive for more than 6 months, get a detailed semen analysis done so you know how your little guys are doing. Call Zen Fertility Center at (858) 495-0771 to get more info on what semen analysis needs to be done.

If you already know you have impaired sperm quality, call us today so we can help you take advantage of this natural flow of manly mojo. That's code for improving sperm quality such as count, motility, and morphology.

4 Foods to Increase Fertility

Posted on August 23, 2012 Julie Chang, L.Ac.

What you put in your mouth can help or hurt your fertility. Here are a few suggestions to improve fertility while taking of your overall health.

1) Fresh fruits and vegetables provide antioxidants to protect cells, notably the eggs and sperm, from the damaging effects of free radicals which are produced naturally in the body as part of the aging process.

2) Complex carbohydrates like whole grain breads, pastas, and crackers, brown rice, quinoa, stone-ground cornmeal, and oatmeal keep blood sugar and insulins levels stable. Wildly fluctuating sugar levels from eating refined carbohydrates (white bread, white rice, bleached flour, etc) create an abundance of insulin which interferes with the normal production and distribution of fertility hormones.

3) Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are necessary fats that humans cannot synthesize, and must be obtained through diet. EFAs are necessary to regulate functions necessary for conception. They can be found in dark leafy green vegetables, avocados, walnuts, sesame and pumpkin seeds, sardines, and salmon.

4)Drink lots of water. Water flushes toxins from the body and facilitates circulation to the reproductive organs. Drink purified or spring water as tap water may have synthetic estrogen. Drink water out of a glass, ceramic, or stainless steel container, NOT plastic.

Eating a variety of fresh food that's in season provides the optimal nutrients your body needs to conceive, nourish the baby, and ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Increase Success Rate for IVF or Insemination with Acupuncture

Posted on August 16, 2012 Julie Chang, L.Ac.

Why Use Acupuncture with IVF or Insemination?

The field of fertility acupuncture exploded after the 2002 publication of a landmark study. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) by comparing a group of women receiving acupuncture treatment shortly before and after embryo transfer with a control group receiving no acupuncture. The results of the study showed pregnancies in 34 of 80 patients (42.5%) in the acupuncture group, whereas pregnancy rate was only 26.3% (21 out of 80 patients) in the control group.

Many acupuncture clinics use the protocol as performed in the 2002 study. However, due to our extensive experience in treating fertilty issues, we at Zen Fertility Center developed our own protocol and have significantly higher success rates than the 2002 benchmark study.

As shown in the chart below, Zen Fertility Center’s success rate when using fertility acupuncture with IVF far exceeds IVF alone thanks to the experience of our staff and our ongoing research in fertility acupuncture.

How does Acupuncture Work?

How can acupuncture have such a profound effect on the most technologically advanced fertility treatment available?

Insemination and IVF success rates can be optimized by:

• increasing the blood flow to the ovaries to nourish the developing follicles and create better egg quality and stronger embryos.
• increasing blood flow to the testicles for improved sperm quality to optimize the male’s contribution to embryo quality. (Note: this is particularly important in couples who experience repeated chemical pregnancies with IVF + ICSI.)
• regulating the body’s natural hormonal production which in turn improves ovarian function, egg quality, and proper progesterone levels.
• relaxing the body and reducing stress levels to improve reproductive function

Acupuncture can accomplish all this by very simply increasing blood circulation. The blood carries the nutrients, hormones, and other healing factors needed for the reproductive organs such as the ovaries, uterus, testicles, and brain to function optimally. Just as your body can heal itself from minor injuries by automatically increasing blood flow to the affected area with healing agents, the insertion of acupuncture needles creates "microcuts" that stimulate blood flow to the areas where the acupuncture needles are inserted.

Cost Effectiveness of Using Acupuncture with IUI and IVF

Consider that the cost of an IVF cycle averages $15,000 per cycle, and, according to a March 2011 study, patients need an average of 3.6 medicated fertility treatment cycles to have success with an overall success rate in 30% of patients. In addition, according to the Centers for Disease Control 2008 Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Report, only 30% of ART cycles using fresh nondonor egg or embryos resulted in a live birth.

Thus starting acupuncture as soon as possible to prepare for your cycle will result in the best success. Because the effects of acupuncture are cumulative, the more treatment you are able to receive before the actual cycle, the better the likelihood of success. Your treatment is adjusted to wherever you are in your cycle so if you haven’t started medications yet, acupuncture will help prepare you by regulating ovarian function for optimal egg quality. If you have started your injections, acupuncture will assist in improving ovarian function to produce more eggs in response to the medication. Preparing the uterine lining with acupuncture at this stage is also critical for implantation of the embryo. Stress is an important factor that can determine how successful a cycle is so managing it with acupuncture may be vital.

Recommendations to Prepare for Your Next Cycle

1. Reduce your stress with conscious deep abdominal breathing throughout the day.
2. If the cost of your IVF is particularly stressful for you, have your partner take care of paying all the bills so you can focus on the medical treatment.
3. Practice positive affirmations to change your negative thought patterns about your body or your fertility. An example is: “My healthy womb nourishes my baby”.
4. Eat healthier, less processed foods that are nutrient dense without added sugars and chemicals (i.e. preservatives, food coloring, etc.).
5. Ask your doctor about the success rate of your treatment so you have a realistic expectation.
6. Call us or your local acupuncturist today to start acupuncture.

Recurrent Miscarriages - Acupuncture as a Natural Therapy, Part 3

Posted on August 13, 2012 Julie Chang, L.Ac.

In our first article "Recurrent Miscarriages - Causes of Miscarriage, Part 1", we discussed what recurrent miscarriages are and possible risk factors and causes of miscarriages.  In the follow-up article "Recurrent Miscarriages - One Potential Cause of Miscarriage, Part 2", we looked in depth at one potential cause of recurrent miscarriages that can be easily tested for and addressed with natural solutions.  In this 3rd and final article on Recurrent Miscarriage, we will discuss a natural way to overcome a history of recurrent miscarriages, using acupuncture.

Treating Recurrent Miscarriage 

An individualized and well-constructed regimen of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and supplements offer effective solutions for unexplained recurrent miscarriages or those due to genetic factors, hormonal imbalances, immune factors, and stress.

Acupuncture’s effects to reduce the risk of miscarriage include:

• increasing the blood flow to the ovaries to nourish the developing follicles and create better egg quality and stronger embryos.
• increasing blood flow to the testicles for improved sperm quality to optimize the male’s contribution to embryo quality. (Note: this is particular important in couples who experience repeated chemical pregnancies with IVF + ICSI.)
• nourishing the developing fetus by improving the blood flow to the placenta and preventing uterine contractions.
• regulating the body’s natural hormonal production which in turn improves ovarian function, egg quality, and proper progesterone levels.
• relaxing the body and reducing stress levels to prevent early uterine contractions.

Although many doctors recommend abstaining for 3 months before trying to conceive in cases of recurrent miscarriages, the important distinction that is overlooked is that there MUST be treatment to support the body during this period. Abstinence alone will not improve the woman’s health because there is no treatment given to reverse the effects of repeated miscarriages on the mother’s body. Rather, using acupuncture treatment during this period is critical so that her body (and thus eggs) has enough time to get strong enough to carry a healthy pregnancy to term. Prognosis is often excellent because the woman is obviously able to conceive and it becomes a matter of providing enough support for her body to finish the job with the birth of a healthy baby.

A study by the Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Center in Colorado Springs found that acupuncture significantly reduces the miscarriage rate from 14% in the control group not receiving acupuncture with their IVF treatment to 8% of women in the group combining acupuncture with their IVF. For more information on the study, click here.

Recommendations to Prepare You for Your Next Pregnancy: 

1. Reduce your stress with conscious deep abdominal breathing throughout the day.
2. Practice positive affirmations to change your negative thought patterns about your body or your fertility. An example is: “My healthy womb nourishes my baby”.
3. Eat healthier, less processed foods that are nutrient dense without added sugars and chemicals (i.e. preservatives, food coloring, etc.).
4. If planning to start acupuncture, begin charting your BBT to help your acupuncturist determine if hormonal imbalances are a factor.
5. Call us today to start acupuncture.

Recurrent Miscarriages - One Potential Cause of Miscarriage, Part 2

Posted on August 10, 2012 Julie Chang, L.Ac.

In our previous article "Recurrent Miscarriages - Causes of Miscarriage, Part 1", we discussed what recurrent miscarriages are and possible risk factors and causes of miscarriages.

In this 2nd article of our 3 part series, we will look in depth at one potential cause of recurrent miscarriages that can be easily tested for and addressed with natural solutions.

MTHFR

One potential blood clotting disorder that can contribute to recurrent miscarriages are MTHFR gene mutations. Common mutations in the MTHFR gene can affect how your body processes homocysteine, an amino acid found in the blood, which increases risk of blood clots.

People with MTHFR gene mutations may have elevated levels of homocysteine, although not everyone with a MTHFR gene mutation is affected. (Note that elevated homocysteine is considered a potential risk factor for miscarriages independently and can be caused by other factors beside MTHFR mutations.) People with MTHFR gene mutations can have a decreased ability to metabolize folic acid and other B vitamins, also.

Most doctors do not test for either MTHFR or homocysteine levels because neither has a formally recommended treatment that is solidly shown to reduce the risk of miscarriage. If you would like to find out if this can be a potential cause for recurrent miscarriages, ask your doctor to test for homocysteine levels in your next blood work up. You can also independently get MTHFR tested with this laboratory - http://www.accesalabs.com/genetic?gclid=CImFgYic07ECFYUaQgodsnkAxw

If either result comes back abnormal, a natural way to decrease homocysteine levels is to increase B vitamin supplementation. Because homocysteine can be converted in the body into a harmless substance known as cystanthionine, and this conversion is dependent on vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid, increasing intake of these appears to be one simple way of decreasing homocysteine levels in the body.

A recommended supplementation program includes 800 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid per day in addition to eating foods rich in folic acid such as spinach, asparagus and broccoli, fruits, vegetables (especially green leafy vegetables), fortified breads and cereals, lentils, chickpeas, and most beans. Adding 10 mg of vitamin B6 and 400 mcg of vitamin B12 to this each day is likely to confer additional benefit in terms of homocysteine reduction. Zen Fertility Center carries and recommends Metagenics Vessel Care as a supplement to assist in homocysteine metabolism.

For a more comprehensive program to naturally decrease your homocysteine levels, consult with a fertility acupuncturist.  In our next article, we'll discuss how fertility acupuncture can help a woman have a healthy pregnancy after suffering multiple miscarriages.

Recurrent Miscarriages - Causes of Miscarriage, Part I

Posted on August 7, 2012 Julie Chang, L.Ac.

What is Recurrent Miscarriage? 

2 or more consecutive pregnancy losses is defined as recurrent miscarriage or recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL)

How Common Is Recurrent Miscarriage?

Miscarriages in the first trimester are thought to be as high as 50% with many women not even realizing that they are pregnant before miscarrying. After having one miscarriage most women go on to have a healthy pregnancy. Still there are a few women that will continue to have two or more miscarriages.

Risk Factors for Recurrent Miscarriages

Though any woman can experience recurrent miscarriage, certain factors increase a woman’s chances of experiencing multiple losses. These factors include:

• Age: As a woman grows older, her chances of experiencing a miscarriage increase with the risk rising steadily after the age of 30 and even more quickly after the age of 40.
• Lifestyle: Women who smoke, drink a lot of alcohol, or take drugs are more likely to experience recurrent miscarriage. Men who drink alcohol on the night of conception is related to a higher incidence of miscarriage. So remember - don't enter the bedroom drunk!
• Previous Miscarriage: Women who have already experienced two previous miscarriages are more likely to experience recurrent pregnancy loss.

Causes of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Unfortunately, 50% of couples experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss never find out the cause of their miscarriages even after testing. Yet, some causes of recurrent pregnancy loss have been identified.

Genetic Factors

The most common cause of miscarriages in the first trimester is genetic abnormalities in the embryo. Chromosomal problems causing poor embryo quality can be passed down from either the mother or father of the child.

Structural Abnormalities

Occurring in at least 2% of all cases of RPL, sometimes the shape or size of the uterus can impede upon the implantation of an embryo or prevent proper growth and development.

Hormonal Factors

Hormonal imbalances are believed to play a role in at least 20% of recurrent pregnancy losses. Women with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), high levels of luteinizing hormone and low levels of progesterone may experience recurrent pregnancy loss because the hormones needed to ensure a healthy pregnancy are unbalanced.

Blood Clotting Disorders

Blood clotting disorders appear to play a role in 15% of all cases of recurrent miscarriage. Blood clotting disorders prevent the placenta from getting a proper blood supply during pregnancy, causing the fetus to die.

In the next article, we'll cover one possible cause of recurrent miscarriages that can be easily detected and how to reduce the its impact.

Do Chia Pets Hold the Secret to Your Fertility?

Posted on July 25, 2012 Heidi Brockmyre, L.Ac.

Who would've thought that the seeds famous for sprouting hair on the beloved Chia Pet of the 80's also boast some serious nutrient-dense value? Although we've primarily used chia seeds to decorate our tchothke, the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas depended on this seed for its remarkable nutritional value. In fact, chia seeds ranked higher in worth than gold to these ancient civilizations. Chia seeds sustained messengers who ran long distances across rough terrain and strengthened soldiers in battle.

Packed with just about every nutrient I recommend that my fertility patients incorporate into their diet, chia seeds make a great addition to snacks and meals. Chia seeds are a complete source of protein. They contain fiber, anti-oxidants, iron, calcium, Omega 3 and 6. They stabilize blood sugar levels, support regularity, and lower cholesterol.

Soup's Up

Posted on July 23, 2012 Heidi Brockmyre, L.Ac.

Have I mentioned how important top notch digestive functioning is for your fertility? Well I’m gonna say it again. It’s essential. The quality of your eggs and uterine lining depend on not only what you digest but also how well you digest. What good is an antioxidant if it goes right through you?

So here’s another important Chinese medicine tidbit: incorporate lots of soups and stews into your diet. Westerners believe that salads are the definition of a healthy diet. Easterners disagree. Ever notice how gassy you feel after eating a big salad?

In excess, salads weaken the digestive system. Your digestive enzymes are like a fire warming up a pot, the pot being your stomach. Too many salads weaken the fire and inhibit the proper breakdown of nutrients.

So even in the summer, avoid eating too many salads. When you do, pair it with hot herbal tea, a cup of soup, or a warm whole grain. Your reproductive organs (and maybe the other people in the room) will thank you for it!

Fir example, one of my patients felt frustrated when her doctor cancelled her two consecutive natural IVF cycles due to growing cysts instead of healthy follicles. She also noted feeling fatigued and congested for weeks. I reviewed her diet with her learning that she ate mostly salads. I offered the same advice as above. She didn’t cut salads out completely but did regularly incorporate stews and soups. Within 2-3 weeks, her symptoms improved, the cyst resolved, and healthy follicles started to grow.