What Every Woman Needs To Know About Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer - the cancer of ovaries has been known as a ‘silent killer' in the past because it's hard to diagnose. Its symptoms are:

• Persistent tummy or pelvic pain
• Increased tummy size or persistent bloating – not bloating that comes and goes
• Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly

Some women may also experience other symptoms like:

• The need to wee more frequently
• Changes in bowel habit
• Extreme fatigue or pain

If you have these symptoms more than 12 times in a month, you should seriously consider going to see your doctor.

According to the American Cancer Society about 1 in 75 women will get ovarian cancer in her lifetime, but young women are rarely affected. The risk escalates starting at age 63

Trying to conceive? First quit smoking

If you are a chain smoker and trying to get pregnant then please stop smoking as cigarette

smoking is harmful to the ovaries, and the degree of damage is dependent upon the amount and length of the time a woman smokes or is exposed to a smoked environment. Nicotine and other harmful chemicals in cigarettes interfere with the body’s ability to create estrogen, a hormone that regulates folliculogenesis and ovulation. Female smokers also have decreased rates of fertility and decreased fallopian tube function. It not only can lead to all kinds of serious problems with the baby but also reduces the chances of IVF producing a live birth by 34% and increases the risk of an IVF pregnancy miscarrying by 30%. A pregnant woman who smokes also adds a risk to pregnancy. If you smoke for many years or smoke many cigarettes per day, your risk for fertility problems is increased. When you smoke, more than 7000 chemicals spread throughout your entire body and all of your organs. This can lead to serious fertility problems like blocked fallopian tubes, damage to your reproductive organs, premature

Boost up your fertility at 40+ with these tips

By Dr Shobha Gupta 

According the reports by National Statistics Bureau , people have been increasingly delaying childbearing until later life, resulting in rising the number of infertility cases. The main reason of delaying chlid bearing would be the increasing importance of a career and the rising costs of child rearing.

It is a proven fact that as the body ages, getting pregnant can be more challenging as compare to people in their teens and twenties. Many women considering pregnancy in their 40s will then look to IVF treatment as their last resort. In my opinion before jumping to IVF treatment; there are lifestyle choices that every woman needs to consider to improve her fertility and likelihood of having a healthy baby. 

1. Get sexually active 

Have sex at least every other day during your fertile window. Understanding your own menstrual cycle (which you can do here) is probably one of the most important things you can do, studies show you're most likely to get pregnant if you have sex within a day or so of ovulation. Ovulation usually happens about 14 days after the first day of your last period. 

2. Eat good 

Include nuts, vegetables and pulses in your diet for healthy fibre and limit sugar content. Being overweight can seriously affect your chances of conceiving so, maintaining a healthy weight, and and cutting out the processed foods should assist both your chances of conceiving and the potential health of the foetus. 

3. Give yourself a pre natal vitamin boost 

Vitamin D and Folic acid are both recommended by the NHS to encourage the healthy development of the foetus and in particular its neural pathways. 

4. Be aware of changes in your body 

If you notice symptoms like sudden weight gain or

Indirect causes of female infertility

By Dr. Shobha Gupta 

Women being infertile are still a taboo but at the same time our technology is so advanced that it doesn’t let it untreated for a long time. There are several issues which are accountable for female infertility. Today, I will list out some of the indirect causes of female infertility. 

1. Obesity: Obesity is a chronic medical condition characterized by too much body fat Being overweight affects everything.  Yet another growing problem in today’s time among the population is infertility caused due to Obesity. I see at least 30 to 35 patients in a day coming to me for infertility out of which 10% are obese.  

2. Smoking: Cigarette smoking is harmful to the ovaries, and the degree of damage is dependent upon the amount and length of the time a woman smokes or is exposed to a smoked environment. Female smokers also have decreased rates of fertility and decreased fallopian tube function.  

3. Overworking: Getting in to the office early, staying till late. Always working on the computer. Working too much regularly can have negative effects on your physical as well as mental health as all these factors bring ever increasing stress. Stress in your life can lead to unhealthy body conditions like upset stomach, elevated blood pressures, poor sleep patterns, slowing of metabolism etc. which can actually throw your life out of gear and these

Let's talk about male infertility

By Dr. Shobha Gupta 

Infertility as we all know means inability to conceive despite of one year of trying. In most infertility cases we cannot ignore male factors as there is a very big myth that infertility is woman’s problem. But actually out of 100% nearly 30% of all infertility cases, the cause is attributed to a problem in the male, 30% of cases, the cause is attributed in female and 30% to both male and female factors and rest 10% is unknown. 

Infertility in males is also very common these days. Let’s have a look at some facts about male infertility: 

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. 

3. Tobacco consumption 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. 

4. Hormonal imbalances: Low thyroid hormone levels can cause poor semen quality, poor testicular function and may disturb libido.  May be caused by a diet high in iodine.  Reducing iodine intake or beginning thyroid hormone replacement therapy can elevate sperm count.  This condition is found in only 1 percent of infertile men. 

5. Stress: It is one of the main reasons of infertility in today’s time .It can interfere with certain hormones needed to produce sperm. Severe or prolonged emotional stress, including problems with fertility, can affect your sperm count. Men may consider it an

Is stress making you infertile - a connection to consider seriously

Dr Shobha Gupta

Deccan Herald

There have been controversies from so long that whether stress can cause infertility or infertility causes stress. A new research conducted in US stated that stress causes infertility in women. Infertility is a term used to explain the inability of a woman to conceive after two years of constant efforts whereas the term Stress is the most over used word in today’s world. We can say that both stress and infertility are co-related terms.

Too much stress may cause infertility among women, says a new research conducted in US. Women with high levels of stress were 29% less likely to get pregnant each month than those women with lower levels, the researchers found. An estimated one in seven couple in India have fertility problems and mostly there is no known medical explanation. It is believed that 10% of the general population suffers from some form of infertility. India has a population of over 1.2 billion, the number of Indians suffering from infertility is huge. Of every 100 couples reporting to fertility clinics, 40 per cent are cases of male infertility, 50 per cent are of women, and the remaining 10 per cent of both partners being infertile.

If get diagnosed with infertility, many couples feel smashed out and blame their destiny which is no longer in control of them or their life plan. They become stressed.

Navbharat Times

Women with prolonged and hectic jobs are mostly at risk, and are often denied about the stress in their lives. Women often found more stressed than men. Trying to get pregnant adds more pressure on already stressed women. But thanks to technology due to which we have found the treatment for infertility through IVF or IUI. Today women as well as men are also trying stress management techniques to overcome this problem.

On the other hand, Men who work in night shifts affected more as compared to men working in morning shifts with infertility as their biological clock is very badly disturbed. They usually sleep during the day and to keep themselves awake,

Quit Smoking

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

Cigarette smoking is harmful to the ovaries, and the degree of damage is dependent upon the amount and length of the time a woman smokes or is exposed to a smoked environment. Nicotine and other harmful chemicals in cigarettes interfere with the body’s ability to create estrogen, a hormone that regulates folliculogenesis and ovulation. Cigarettes are not the only source of PAHs - they're also produced when coal, gas and oil are burned, and they're present in car exhaust, tar and char-grilled meat - but inhaling cigarette smoke is the most common - and direct - form of exposure.

Female smokers also have decreased rates of fertility and decreased fallopian tube function. It not only can lead to all kinds of serious problems with the baby but also reduces the chances of IVF producing a live birth by 34% and increases the risk of an IVF pregnancy miscarrying by 30%. A pregnant woman who smokes also adds a risk to pregnancy.

Not only women but have studies show that men who smoke are less fertile than men who don't smoke. It makes sperm cells more sensitive to oxidative stress, smoking itself increases the concentration of free radicals in the seminal fluid. Free radicals can cause sperm DNA fragmentation as well as issues with sperm motility and fertilization

We also tell couples seeking treatment for fertility to stop smoking at least three months before we attempt IVF because sperm needs at least that much time to be produced from germ cell to full sperm

Life Management strategies recommended:

• Start by quitting
• Eat a well-balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
• Avoid excessive alcohol taking
• Exercise Regularly
• Be Nature friendly
• Be Your Own Bodyguard

QUIT SMOKING TODAY..!!

Some common facts about male infertility

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

Infertility is a complex and often misunderstood condition, which is why there's so much confusion surrounding it. Infertility in males is also very common these days. Let’s have a look at some facts about male infertility: 

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.

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.

4. Hormonal imbalances: Low thyroid hormone levels can cause poor semen quality, poor testicular function and may disturb libido.  May be caused by a diet high

Say NO to Tobacco for the sake of your parenthood

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

Tobacco use has been considered controversial for long although scientific evidence regarding its health hazards. Consumption of tobacco is mainly in the form of bidi, followed by cigarette, hukah, chilum, chutta, etc. The habit of smokeless tobacco (also referred astobacco chewing) is also very common. Some common forms of smokeless tobacco include khaini, Mainpuri tobacco, mawa, mishri etc.

According to Global Adult Tobacco survey nearly 0.9 million tobacco-related deaths occur in India annually as compared to 5.5 million worldwide which is expected to increase to about 10 million during 2020s. The report also revealed that 8 to 10 lakh persons die of tobacco related diseases every year and this reflects a higher mortality than the combined deaths resulting from other major diseases, such as tuberculosis, HIV AIDS and malaria.

Many of us are aware about the diseases that caused by consumption of tobacco which is mainly cancer of oral cavity, larynx, oesophagus etc. But several research studies have also identified smoking or consuming tobacco in any form adds multiple risk factors of infertility especially in men; risk of osteoporosis, bone fractures and early age wrinkles also.

Male fertility is affected by a variety of lifestyle habits that include tobacco use. A large population of Indian men