Illnesses Go to......... ADD/ADHD Addiction Alzheimer's Disease Arthritis Asperger's Syndrome Asthma Brain Cancer Breast Cancer Cancer Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Colitis Colon Cancer Coronary Disease Crohn's Disease Diabetes Drug Addiction Environmental Illness Fibromyalgia Heart Disease High Blood Pressure Hodgkin's Disease Hypertension Hypothyroidism Infertility Inflammatory Bowel Disease Insomnia Leukemia Lyme Disease Lymphoma Metabolic Syndrome Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Multiple Sclerosis Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Osteoarthritis Osteoporosis Parkinson's Disease Prostate Cancer Raynaud's Ringing in the Ears Sleep Disorders Syndrome X Tinnitus "The evaluation and treatment of infertility requires a great deal of time, resources, and energy. It requires the participation of the couple, physicians, nurses, technicians, counselors, and many others."   IntegraMed America BACKGROUND INFORMATION How the Reproductive System Works from Healthsquare.com "As you weigh your options, whether to encourage pregnancy or forestall it, your best resource is a working knowledge of the organs, glands, and hormones that prepare your body for motherhood." Overcoming Infertility: Tactics and Techniques from PDR Health "If you're having difficulty conceiving, you have plenty of company.  Roughly 10 to 15 percent of American couples are having fertility problems at any given time. About 1 in every 5 married women in the U.S. seeks medical help to conceive at some point in her childbearing years." Preserving Your Fertility: Risk Factors from RESOLVE "There are several factors that can influence your ability to get pregnant; environmental factors, age, smoking, a history of sexually transmitted diseases, heavy alcohol consumption and more.  Carefully review your fertility risk factors and if you identify a symptom or risk factor that applies to you, consult with your physician. Early detection and treatment are critical to achieving a successful outcome." Infertility: Causative Factors by Linda Lazarides Includes Abstracts of Journal Articles Linking Diet to Infertility. Understanding Infertility from IntegraMed America "Infertility is not a "woman’s" problem. It is a medical problem of the male or female reproductive system. In 40% of cases, the cause is traced to the woman, another 40% of cases are traced to the man. The rest are caused by unknown factors or a physiological incompatibility." When Should You Consult an Infertility Expert? from iVillage.com "Recommended levels of care: Patients should discuss their particular situation and establish a time line for the completion of evaluations and treatment regimens with their health care provider. Eventual referral to a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist is routinely a part of the overall plan if success is not achieved." Male Infertility Male Factor Infertility from IVF.com Detailed Male Infertility Overview from IVF.com Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Coping with Male Infertility by Lauri M. Aesoph N.D. Articles from What Doctors Don't Tell You Infertility: The Latest Risks, the Safer Alternatives Infertility: What to Do Instead Fertility Awareness Method Fertility Awareness Method from Kaiser Permanente Fertility Awareness Method from Feminist Women's Health Center "Fertility awareness is a collection of practices that help a woman know which days of the month she is most likely to get pregnant.  A woman can learn when ovulation is coming by observing her body and charting physical changes. She can then use this information to avoid or encourage pregnancy." Articles from Dr. Joseph Mercola Couples Turning to Infertility Treatments Too Early Exposure to Chlorinated Water May Increase Risk of Stillbirth Wheat Sensitivity (Subclinical Gluten Intolerance) Linked To Repeated Miscarriages "Women who experience recurrent miscarriages or those whose fetuses show intrauterine growth retardation may have undiagnosed celiac disease." Nutrasweet Lowers Sperm Counts "Male infertility is often due to disabled sperm, including low sperm count syndrome, which is likely caused by environmental changes or changes in lifestyle and eating habits that have occurred over the past 30 years, according to one researcher." Pesticides May Decrease Male Fertility "On-the-job exposure to pesticides may reduce sperm quality, according to results of a study conducted in couples seeking in vitro fertilization (IVF) therapy.  Fertilization rates were significantly decreased for couples with paternal pesticide exposure." Nail Polish and Other Cosmetics May Cause Infertility "Women of reproductive age should avoid using certain nail polishes, perfumes, and hair sprays containing an ingredient known to cause lifelong reproductive impairments in male rats, The Environmental Working Group, an environmental advocacy group, is cautioning." U.K. Sperm Counts Fall by One-Third "Along with genetics and environmental and occupational influences, other factors that may play a part in the lowered sperm counts include artificial sweeteners like Nutrasweet, pesticides, alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity and radiation." Fish/Cod Liver Oil in Pregnancy Useful for Allergy Prevention "Researchers have found that taking omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil supplements during pregnancy might help prevent allergies in babies born to women with a history of hay fever or asthma." Hypothyroidism and Pregnancy Thyroid Disease, Fertility and Pregnancy (Part 1) by Mary J. Shomon "According to Dr. Rubenfeld, women with Hashimotos Thyroiditis have a slightly higher than normal risk of miscarriage, even if under treatment and with a normal TSH. The reason, however, is unknown. For women with successfully treated hyperthyroidism, the risk of miscarriage is practically the same as a woman without a thyroid problem." Thyroid Disease, Fertility and Pregnancy (Part 2) by Mary J. Shomon "The keys to a healthy pregnancy with thyroid disease? Compliance and care. Taking your thyroid hormone as prescribed for maximum absorption, and at least two hours apart from the prenatal vitamin with iron, and receiving regular medical care are the most important things a woman can do to help ensure a health pregnancy." Hypothyroidism Increases the Risk of Miscarriage by Mary J. Shomon "Based on findings from a report in the Journal of Medical Screening, doctors are claiming that miscarrriages could be reduced if screening for thyroid problems were a standard part of prenatal testing." Mercury and Infertility Mercury and Seafood Linked to Infertility from Joseph Mercola, D.O. Fertility and Dental Mercury by Sam Ziff "The doctors at the clinic have successfully treated fertility problems with a combination of vitamins/minerals and amalgam removal." Medline Citations on Mercury Infertility, Blood Mercury Concentrations and Dietary Seafood Consumption: A Case-Control Study. by C. M. Choy, et al. "Higher blood mercury concentration is associated with male and female infertility. Higher seafood consumption is associated with elevated blood mercury concentrations in our infertile population." Relationship Between Semen Parameters and Mercury Concentrations in Blood And in Seminal Fluid From Subfertile Males in Hong Kong. by C. M. Choy, et al. Working With Mercury: Cause of Infertility in Women? (Article in Dutch) by A. H. Schuurs "It seems warranted to conclude that negative reproductive effects are unlikely unless, due to a failing hygiene, the concentration of mercury vapour exceeds the MAC (maximum approved concentration) for women." Heavy Metals and Fertility I. Gerhard, B. Monga, et al. "Diagnosis and reduction of an increased heavy metal body load improved the spontaneous conception chances of infertile women." TREATMENTS/THERAPIES Infertility from Alternative Medicine Channel Overview, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Naturopathy Infertility Infocenter from Holistic Online.com "Infertility is not a disease.  Rather, it is a symptom that something is preventing the reproductive processes from working properly, and needs treating.  We will cover the causes, how infertility is diagnosed, and options available to you both with conventional medicine and alternative and mind-body medicine." Effective Natural Treatment for Infertility by Jacob Teitelbaum MD "Comprehensive Medicine, which includes both prescription/surgical and natural therapies, can often help when regular day-to-day medical approaches cannot.  Infertility is one such case.  It is important to recognize that 40% to 50% of problems with infertility are secondary to the man having a low sperm count or underactive sperm activity.  Because of this, I recommend the man and woman both do the things noted below to increase their fertility." Three Ways to Increase Fertility by Lauri M. Aesoph N.D. One Homeopath's Experience Treating Infertility by Jacob I. Mirman, M.D. Lupron, Infertility, and Women as Guinea Pigs by Nicholas Regush "It’s a disgrace.  A drug named Lupron that is unapproved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of infertility is being used widely at infertility clinics." New Discovery May Help Doctors Treat Infertility by Healthy News Service "New research suggests that medications commonly referred to as fertility drugs may be ineffective for women who lack a gene called the estrogen receptor beta." Acupuncture Infertility, Acupuncture And Herbal Medicine from New York Center for Acupuncture and Complementary Medicine "When combining alternative medical techniques such as acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine with traditional Western medicine, it is extremely important that all members of the treatment team communicate well with each other.  Communication between the patient, the alternative medical practitioner and the reproductive clinician is a delicate process." Acupuncture and Infertility by Sandra Joslyn Tallarico "Good candidates for trying medical acupuncture are people who have a functional, rather than a structural reason for infertility (for example, damaged fallopian tubes are structural.)" Chinese Medicine and Assisted Reproductive Technology for the Modern Couple by Roger C. Hirsh, OMD, L.Ac. "Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy are ancient Chinese methods used for the treatment and prevention of disease.  These systems are as ancient and effective as any other medical techniques used in the world today.  They have been practiced consistently for the past five thousand years in the Orient. " Infertility and Chinese Medicine Treatments by Marjorie Singler, L.Ac., M.A. The Ancient Art of Infertility Treatment by Colette Bouchez "When it comes to getting pregnant, old world techniques may be just what today's high-tech doctors will order." OTHER RESOURCES Advanced Reproductive Care, Inc. A national network of fertility centers. American Infertility Association "Dedicated to assisting women and men facing decisions related to family building and reproductive health - from prevention and treatment of infertility to social and psychological concerns." American Society for Reproductive Medicine A provider of "multidisciplinary information, education, advocacy and standards in the field of reproductive medicine." Articles about Infertility from What Doctors Don't Tell You Infertility from Internet Health Resources Infertility Education, Service Providers, Resources Infertility from MedlinePlus Infertility Network A charitable organization providing information on all aspects of infertility: medical treatments, psychological impact, adoption, child-free living, current legislation and advocacy efforts. Infertility Resources from Internet Health Resources IntegraMed America A national network of fertility centers. IVF.com A service provided by the medical staff of Georgia Reproductive Specialists. Planned Parenthood RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association "We are a dynamic organization dedicated to providing education, advocacy and support for men and women facing the crisis of infertility." Trying to Conceive from iVillage.com Podcasts Dr. Hoffman and Dr. Chang on Fertlity 2-14-07 RECOMMENDED BOOKS Please click on the picture of the book or the title to order.
Raymond Chang, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Getting Pregnant	Karen Bradstreet, Overcoming Infertility Naturally
Julia Indichova, Inconceivable: Winning the Fertility Game	Toni Weschler, Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control and Pregnancy Achievement
Merryl Winstein, Your Fertility Signals: Using Them to Achieve or Avoid Pregnancy Naturally	Sam Ziff and Michael F. Ziff, Infertility and Birth Defects: Is Mercury from Silver Dental Fillings an Unsuspected Cause?
Amy Ogle, R.D. and Lisa Mazzullo, M.D., Before Your Pregnancy: A 90 Day Guide for Couples on How to Prepare for a Healthy Conception