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.

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.

Why Use Acupuncture with IVF or Insemination?

The field of fertility acupuncture exploded after the 2002 publication of a landmark study published in Fertility and Sterility by Paulus et al. 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.

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:

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

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:

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.

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.