Causes of male infertility

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

Many a time’s infertility is considered as female’s problem .This is the most prevalent of all myths having to do with infertility, and if a couple is unable to have a child, the woman is thought to be "barren." In fact, according to Resolve, a national infertility advocacy organization in the USA, men and women are about equally responsible when it comes to infertility.  In reality, 40% of infertility is due to female factors, 40% due to male factors and 20% due to both but let’s have a look at some causes of male infertility too:

1. Alcohol consumption: Drinking alcohol can lower testosterone levels, cause erectile dysfunction and decrease sperm production. Liver disease caused by excessive drinking also may lead to fertility problems.
2. Occupation or job: There are certain occupations can increase your risk of infertility, including those associated with desk jobs or extended use of computers or video display monitors, shift work, and work-related stress. Working on laptops while placing them on your laps is hugely associated with infertility in men as the heat caused by them often reduced sperm motility and sperm DNA fragmentation
3. Tobacco or smoking: Men who smoke may have a lower sperm count than do those who don’t smoke. Secondhand smoke also may affect male fertility. Nicotine and other harmful chemicals in cigarettes interfere with the body’s ability to produce healthy sperm count.
4. Wearing too-tight trousers or skinny jeans: Yes wearing tight inner wears or jeans could seriously damage your health. It can cut off circulation and cause nerve damage, swelling of the ankles and feet and fertility problems. Tight pants or skinny jeans do in fact damage the testicles; even low sperm count and can cause infertility in men. But that’s not all. Wearing skinny jeans is associated with many negative consequences

How to Deal with infertility?

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

If you're having a hard time coping with infertility, you're not alone. Infertility is indeed has become a challenge that requires personal change in order to meet the demands of the process.To be precise infertility means that you are unable to conceive despite of 1 year of trying for a baby. Although infertility feels like the greatest challenge that can't be overcome, those who reached out to us prepared the belief that there is always a hope. I have personally experienced that many women have said, “The more I realized that infertility changed my life, the more it made me take steps to change my life but coping with infertility is really a tough job”.

There is a lot to manage when you are trying to get pregnant and dealing with infertility issues. The most difficult could be the emotional ups and downs that inbuilt in the process. People around you can be insensitive and terrible in their comments. Social situations, like a baby shower or seeing moms with babies are extremely painful. Many women feel betrayed by their body and the injustice of the whole thing. They keep blaming themselves for such situations.

Last but not least, the common question; “What have I done that causes me infertility?” But we have to understand that sedentary lifestyle

Ten do’s and don’ts during IVF treatment

By Dr Shobha Gupta

When a couple chooses IVF for conception, it affects both the partners physically and emotionally. While the chance of conceiving during the first cycle of treatment highly depends on the reproductive health and other psychological factors, there are a few things that you can do to improve your chances of conceiving.

1. Prepare yourself for IVF: Note the date when your period starts, the number of days it lasts, and anything else regarding your menstrual cycle (at least for three months before starting the treatment). This can help your doctor chart your treatment. It could prove to be helpful if you experience any problems in conceiving. It can also be valuable in pinpointing the date of conception–and consequently your due date.
2. Avoid Stress: Try not to stress and be positive. avoid making major life changes such as moving to a new house or starting a new job the same time you’re going through the IVF process. As High stress levels are known to reduce fertility in both men and women and compromise the outcome of an IVF cycle.
3. Try Acupuncture: Acupuncture may be beneficial to women who are undergoing the IVF process when performed within one day of the embryo transfer as it helps in implantation and aids the process of conception.
4. Eat right: A few months before your IVF, begin eating a fertility diet. Getting nutritious foods is vital for producing healthy eggs and promoting implantation of the embryo. Continue eating a well balanced diet.Your diet should consist of 4-6 small meals each day and each should consist of some complex carbohydrate(such as brown rice or quinoa) interspread with fresh fruits and vegetables. For a fertility diet read here..
5. Stay hydrated always: Some women during IVF process suffer from OHSS (Ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome) so drink

Laughter is the best infertility medicine

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

It is tested and proven that Laughter is the best medicine for many different reasons. Anything that gets you laughing is good for your mind and your body. Voluntary laughter provides the same physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter. Stress & depression are known to be factors affecting infertility in both men & women. Laughter or humour therapy reduces stress, pain, depression, anxiety & tension caused due to infertility and it releases the endorphins which are also known as happy hormones which further improves fertility.

A recent study has been conducted in UK which says that Laughter may increase probability of IVF pregnancy. Researchers have found out that pregnancy rate almost doubled when a 'medical clown' visited the clinic after embryo transfer. 36 percent of women who were entertained just after the embryos were transferred fell pregnant