Cervical Hostility Towards Sperm and What You Can Do About It

Sperm meets egg and baby is produced. Getting pregnant should be as easy as that. But it isn’t. The average ejaculation contains 200 million sperm, but within several hours, those vast numbers have dwindled to just 1/10th of that amount. So, what reduces those numbers so drastically?

There are a lot of things within the woman’s body that may be unfriendly to male sperm including cervical mucus. While cervical mucus is intended by nature to work as a guide, helping push sperm along through the vagina and into the cervix and beyond, as well as offer important nutrients to give the sperm the energy it needs for the long journey ahead, in some cases it can actually work against the sperm it is intended to help.

In some cases, a woman’s cervical mucus can actually go on the attack, killing sperm before it ever has a chance to make it to the awaiting egg. This is called Cervical Hostility.

When this problem arises, a man’s sperm is unable to penetrate the cervix and therefore a pregnancy becomes impossible. So, what causes the female body to become so hostile to the one thing she needs to fulfill her dream of motherhood?

Here are a few common things that may induce cervical hostility:

An infection in the lower reproductive tract. This can cause the vaginal fluids to become tainted, killing or otherwise damaging sperm as they enter the vaginaToo many anti-sperm antibodies in the cervical mucus. When activated, these antibodies actually work to immobilize sperm, preventing any from entering the cervix. A poor, acidic diet. Healthy cervical mucous is alkaline in nature. To have a more alkaline cervical mucous eat a diet high in vegetables and stay away from processed foods, soda, meat, dairy and sugar.Cervical mucous that is too thick or scanty. If the cervical mucous is too thick it will be hard for the sperm to travel. If the cervical mucous is scanty or not present it will also be impossible for the sperm to make its way to the egg.

If you suspect cervical mucus hostility as a cause for your infertility, there are some ways to test for it. You can have your doctor remove a sample of cervical mucus 8-12 hours after intercourse for closer examination. This will help show the physicians the degree of penetration of the sperm.

If more than 20 actively moving sperm are found per field, cervical hostility is not a concern. If there is less, than further testing is needed to determine if the woman’s body is indeed attacking her partner’s sperm. If so, there are several options available:

-An herbal blend such as Women’s Best Friend may help to clear up any lingering infections.
-FertileCM may be used to help thin the cervical mucus and make it more manageable and friendly as well as promote the production of cervical mucous if it is scanty.

-Systemic enzymes have been used successfully in cases where there is an immunological attack on the sperm.

-If your cervical mucous is thin or scant you can also use a sperm friendly lubricant such as Pre-Seed which has been specially and scientifically designed to mimic the cervical mucous while not harming sperm.

- Diet and proper supplementation can also make a difference. Cervical mucous should be more alkaline, so eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables helps to keep the body healthy and more alkaline. Foods such as meats, processed foods, dairy and sodas cause the body to become more acidic. In addition keeping hydrated and drinking 8 glasses of water a day will help to provide the body with enough water to produce cervical mucous in addition to its other millions of processes it uses water for every day.

-IUI and IVF: Intrauterine insemination and IVF can be used if the cervical hostility can not be sufficiently treated. The procedures allow pregnancy to occurs by bypassing the vagina but are very expensive with a low success rate (15-30%) and require a lot of hormone medications.

-Steroid treatments may help stop antisperm antibodies from developing in the first place. One warning here though: they can cause serious side effects in some women.

Cervical mucus hostility is often one of the last things tested for in infertile women, yet it can be quite common among infertile couples. Be sure to check for this common affliction if your doctor has been unable to find another cause for your inability to get pregnant.
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Do You Know How to Eat for Fertility? Here are My Top 10 Fertility Diet Tips…

“A human being is made up of roughly 63% water, 22% protein, 13% fat, 2% minerals & vitamins. Every single molecule comes from the food you eat and water you drink…” – Patrick Holford… Founder of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition

Diet plays such an important role in health that it has always been my first question and answer when clients ask me how to heal this, or help with that. When it comes to fertility and pregnancy it is of the up-most importance to eat a healthy whole food diet. Everything you eat and drink has an impact on your health and the health of your baby. Pre-conception nutrition is important not only to make sure you are prepared for a healthy pregnancy, but to also avoid many fertility issues. Here are some of my top tips on eating a healthy fertility diet…

1. Eat as many raw fruits and vegetables a day as you can – at least 5 servings of veggies and 3-4 servings of fruit. General serving size is one small peach or 1/2C of veggies. Here are some ideas to get enough fruits and veggies into your diet daily:
Eat fruits as snacks in between mealsEat a large salad as one of your mealsMake sure 50% of your plate is veggiesEat a dark leafy green with dinnerDrink fertility smoothiesDrink fresh vegetable juices daily

2. If you eat animal protein focus more on cold water fish instead of beef or chicken. Fish are abundant in omega 3 fatty acids which are essential in a fertility and pregnancy diet. If you are vegetarian in addition to eating beans and lentils daily add some nuts from tip #3 to get Omega 3 daily.

3. Eat 1 heaping teaspoon of ground seed or 1T of seed oil (such as hemp or flax) a day. This will assure that you are eating some essential fatty acids every day. Seeds high in Omega 3 are: flax, hemp, pumpkin, walnut. Seeds high in Omega 6 are: sunflower and sesame.

4. Eat 3-4 serving of WHOLE grains a day. Quinoa, millet, oats and rice are some of my favorites. Amongst many things, whole grains supply B vitamins and fiber which are both essential for a healthy fertility and pregnancy diet. Try to mix it up and eat a wide variety of while grains and avoid processed grains.

5. Drink 8 glasses of clean water a day (reverse osmosis or spring water being the best). Avoid bottled water as the plastics leach estrogen-mimicing chemicals into the water). One tip is to start the day with a quart of water with lemon in it and drink as much as you can upon rising and finish the rest in the next half an hour. That will take care of half of your water for the day and help the body to gently cleanse itself in the morning.

6. Avoid food that is burnt, fried, browned, has hydrogenated oils, saturated animal fats and microwaved foods. These types of cooking and ingredients can cause the body to create free radicals which can negatively affect cell DNA. The key to healthy ova (egg) and sperm is intact DNA. If the DNA has been impaired by free radical damage is one cause of miscarriages, blight ovum and inability to get pregnant.

7. Avoid sugar and sweeteners in all forms – white sugar, high fructose corn syrup, etc. Sugar negatively effects the blood sugar levels which can effect hormonal balance and ovulation. A great alternative is stevia.

8. Avoid alcohol on a daily basis and keep the coffee down to one cup or even better quit all together. I like Cafix, it is a great coffee alternative that satiates the coffee taste buds.

9. Take a whole food multivitamin DAILY. When trying to conceive or in preparation it is best to use a whole food prenatal multivitamin that contains folic acid, iron, zinc, b12, and vitamin C… nutrients that are necessary for a healthy pregnancy before you are even pregnant.

10. Drink a fresh juice or make a smoothie daily. Juices and smoothies are a great way to get a huge amount of nutrients in an easy to assimilate form.
If you would like to learn more about eating a natural fertility diet check out these resources:
The Natural Fertility Diet
21 Day Fertility Diet Challenge
Fertility Smoothies for Optimal Health
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The Fertility Plan

A Complete Guide To Overcoming Infertility Naturally.

Check it out!

Fertility Secrets is a Popular Guide to Self Help Fertility Treatment

This eBook is packed full of practical help and guidance for the man and woman wanting to improve their chances of having a baby. It covers medical conditions, conventional and alternative, diet, supplements, excercise, stress, hormones and lifestyle.

Check it out!

Is a Procreation Vacation a Vacation?

Some call it a procreation vacation, others an ovulation vacation. Some even call it a babymoon (though a babymoon can also mean time spent bonding with a newborn, or a vacation taken before birth.) Whatever you call it, the idea is pretty much the same - you go on vacation, with the goal of relaxing and getting pregnant.

These fertility-focused vacations are becoming quite popular. Some are aimed towards the fertile (as far as they know) crowd: couples who want a baby, and want to make the conception memorable. Or, according to this must-see video at DadLabs.com, couples who want to not just make conception-night special, but are aiming for a particular due date.

Other fertility-focused vacations are aimed at the infertile couple. The vacation may include acupuncture treatments, massage, "fertility diet" foods, and that sort of thing.

Maybe I'm cynical, or maybe I'm thinking about this from the perspective someone who tried "to just relax" without success - but how can a procreation vacation be a vacation?

Vacations are for letting your hair down, hangin' out in the sun (or skiing down some slopes), and eating out at fancy restaurants, tie required of course. Vacations are for cuddling all morning, followed by breakfast in bed, and a show that night.

Vacations are for getting away from the stress. Not bringing it with you.

To me, personally, a vacation that focuses on conception is not a vacation. A pricey vacation that can "fail", if it doesn't end with a positive pregnancy test, hardly sounds like a relaxing adventure.

It also sort of reminds me of how unromantic it became to hear the words, "Let's make a baby," right before sex. After months (and years) of trying, that might be the biggest turn off possible.

For the couples without fertility issues, who think they are going to get the birthday or month they want, I can't help but smirk. Good luck on that. Even fertile couples do not have a 100% chance of success in any given month.

Even if you think you have timed it all perfectly, and you get pregnant when you planned, and your due date does fall on your dreamed birthday -- you still are unlikely to have a baby that day. Babies rarely arrive on a schedule.

I will say this: procreation vacations are great for the hotel industry. As a marketing scheme, it's an awesome idea. But for the couples that give out the big bucks for this baby-making mission? I don't know...
I just feel like focusing a vacation on "procreating", or even making it your mission to relax, is missing the point. I think it'd be more appropriate to offer fertility retreats. The goal would not be to conceive that month, or "relax more to increase fertility", but instead, it'd serve as a get away from all the stress and pressure that comes with trying to conceive.

It other words, it would just be a vacation. From everything - even from the babymaking!
What do you think? Do you think a vacation that focuses on relaxing, or conceiving, could really be a good vacation? Would you go on one? Please leave your comment below!
Hat Tip: To The Fertility Advocate, whose post on Procreation Vacations got me thinking.
Related articles you may also enjoy:
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A Clomid Primer

Starting Clomid can be an exciting time. It can also be a bit nerve wracking. Often it's something tried at the beginning of fertility treatment, which means there's a whole lot of hope along with a whole lot of questions.

I remember way, way back in 2004 when I first tried Clomid. At that point, I was being treated by a gynecologist, and had not moved onto a reproductive endocrinologist (otherwise known as a fertility doctor.) I was so hopeful it would work out. And while I did get pregnant, I ended up miscarrying.

Clomid wasn't the solution for me, but it is the solution for many infertile couples with ovulation problems or unexplained infertility. It may be your golden ticket to pregnancy.

Here are plenty of articles about Clomid, with answers to common questions:

Are you starting Clomid? If yes, be sure to share with us how you feel about getting started on Clomid here. (You can also read what others felt regarding Clomid treatment.)

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Learn how to eat for fertility? Here are my top 10 fertilizer power Tips...

"A human being is composed of approximately 63% water, 22% protein, 13% of fat, 2% minerals and vitamins." Each single molecule comes from the food you eat and you drink... of water "-Patrick Holford..." Optimum Nutrition Institute founder

Power plays an important role in health it has always been my first question and answer when clients ask me how this cure or help with that. When it comes to fertility and pregnancy, is the importance above to eat a whole food healthy food. Everything you eat and drink has an impact on your health and your baby's health status.Nutrition project is significant not only to ensure that you are ready for a healthy pregnancy, but also to avoid many problems of fertilité.Voici some of my top tips on a diet... of healthy fertility eating
1. Eat as much raw fruits and vegetables every day you can - at least 5 servings of vegetables and 3 to 4 servings of fruit General portions is a small peach or 1/2 C légumes.Voici a few ideas to get enough fruits and vegetables in your diet:
Eat fruit as a snack between mealsEat a great salad as one of your mealsMake that 50% of the base is veggiesEat a papery dark green with fertility smoothiesDrink dinnerDrink fresh juice from vegetables daily
2. If you eat animal to focus more on fish cold-water instead of beef or chicken protein. Fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential in a regime of fertility and pregnancy.If you are vegetarian to eat beans and lentils daily add some nuts peak # 3 for daily Omega 3.
3 Eat 1 tsp heaping seed ground or numbers of oil seeds (such as hemp or flax) a day.This will ensure that you are eating all day to certain essential fatty acids.Rich in omega 3 seeds are: flax, hemp, pumpkin, the noyer.Riches in omega 6 seeds are: sunflower and sesame.
4 Eat cereal portion of 3-4 in any one day.Quinoa, millet, oats and rice are some of my many things favoris.Parmi, whole grains provide optical fibre and B vitamins that are essential for a healthy diet of fertility and pregnancy.Try to mix and eat a wide variety of all-grain and avoid processed grains.
5 Drink 8 glasses of water a day (reverse osmosis or being the best spring water).(Avoid as chemical products then estrogen-mimicing plastic bottled water in the water).A Council is start the day with a quarter of water with lemon in it and drink as much as you can in the climb and finish the rest in the next half an hour.Who will take care of half of your water for the day and help the body to gently cleanse the morning.
6 Avoid foods that are burnt, fries, toast, have hydrogenated oils, animal fat, saturated and express food in the microwave.These types of kitchen and ingredients can cause body create free radicals which may adversely affect the DNA cell.The key to healthy ova (eggs) and semen is DNA intact.Si DNA was brought by the damage of free radicals cause miscarriages, irritating ovum and inability to obtain speakers is.
7 Avoid sugar and sweeteners in all its forms-white sugar, syrup high fructose, corn etc.Effects negatively sugar blood sugar levels to best hormonal balance and ovulation .an excellent alternative is stevia.
8 Avoid alcohol on a daily basis and keep the coffee to a cup or even better quit all together.I like Cafix, it's a great coffee alternative that satiates the taste buds of coffee.
9 Take a food multivitamin set DAILY.When you try to design or in preparation, it is better to use a prenatal multivitamin whole foods containing acid folic, iron, zinc, b12 and vitamin c nutrients that are necessary for a healthy pregnancy even before you're pregnant.
10 Drinking a fresh juice or make an everyday smoothie.Juices and smoothies are an excellent way to get a huge amount of nutrients in an easy to understand form.
If you want to learn more about natural power of fertility see the following resources:
The diet of natural fertility
Regime fertilization day challenge 21
Fertility Smoothies because for optimal health

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