Photo credit: Salad Pasta With Roast Beef, by Naomi Kuwashima

How you eat affects your chances of making babies, says Times nutritionist Jane Clarke

CAREFUL WITH CAFFEINE
Although research is mixed, I suggest keeping caffeine intake down to a couple of cups of tea or coffee a day — especially men, because caffeine affects the mobility of sperm. (A sperm must flick its tail 800 times to move one millimeter.)

Caffeine is thought by some to delay conception — several studies say women who drink coffee find it three times as difficult to conceive within a year as those not drinking it. So give it up if you can. If you're watching the caffeine during the day and find yourself lacking energy at night, chocolate can be an ally, since it is high in phenylethylamine, which stimulates the production of feelgood and energetic endorphins. Why not indulge in a little good-quality, high cocoa-bean content chocolate therapy?

S IS FOR SELENIUM
Over the past few years, selenium has shot to the forefront of fertility research. Worryingly, selenium levels in European soil, and consequently in most food we eat (vegetables and vegetable-eating animals being its richest dietary sources), are far lower than, for example, in the US. Indeed, in a study of Scottish men, selenium supplements were shown to increase significantly the sperm cells' ability to swim, indicating they had been selenium-deficient.

However, we don't know enough about how much selenium we need in our diet to recommend supplements (although experts think it's about 60 micrograms a day for women and 75 men). So I'd advocate boosting your intake of the most concentrated dietary sources of selenium instead. These include Brazil nuts (254 micrograms per 100g), dried mushrooms (110 micrograms per 100g), lentils (40 micrograms per 100g cooked weight) and tinned tuna (80 micrograms per 100g).

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE
Zinc and vitamin C are both linked with fertility and libido, so it's vital to have a well-balanced diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and pulses. Zinc deficiency has been shown to cause low sperm count and mobility, which means eating plenty of fresh figs when they're in season, seafood such as oysters, lean red meat and crumbly cheese such as Wensleydale.

Vitamin C has been found to increase sperm production, thereby improving chances of conception — so think about plenty of freshly-squeezed fruit juices; green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli; and blueberries, kiwis, pomegranates, and the aptly named passion fruit. Cook foods lightly; eat as much raw food as you can, and as quickly after cutting and peeling as possible, to minimize the amount of vitamin C lost on exposure to the air.

FAT IS A FERTILITY ISSUE
The body needs essential fats — omega 3 and omega 6 oils — which are contained in oily fish such as salmon (preferably organic or wild), sardines, fresh tuna (tinned is fine, but contains fewer omega oils), herrings and mackerel, hemp oil, nuts and seeds. They're critical for both female and male fertility, regulating fluidity of cell membranes and allowing cells to function efficiently. Seeds and nuts (wholewheat products such as wholegrain bread, oat biscuits, and porridge are other options) are also rich in vitamin E, good for ensuring a healthy blood supply to the genitals.

Conversely, hydrogenated and partially-hydrogenated oils, trans-fats (in crisps, kinds of margarine — declared on labels, luckily) and saturated fats (in fatty meat and dairy) are to be kept low, as they block the absorption of the essential omega fats.

Full article: TimesOnline.co.uk

---

TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Getting Pregnant the Natural Way
(Women's Natural Health)
by D. S. Feingold, Deborah Gordon

-- Are you experiencing infertility?

Written by an authority in complementary medicine, Getting Pregnant the Natural Way is a compassionate guide offers natural approaches to help you now.

Drawing on the benefits of herbal medicine, homeopathy, nutritional therapies, and mind-body medicine - in conjunction with the latest medical therapies, Dr. Deborah Gordon explains the mechanisms of fertility and the possible causes of infertility, then outlines a simple six-step program to help you:

• Prepare your body, mind, and spirit for pregnancy
• Prevent, control, or reverse conditions impairing fertility
• Improve your overall feelings of health and well-being
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Create balance in your life

Uniquely created from a woman's perspective, Getting Pregnant the Natural Way offers support, wisdom, and hope for you to reach your goal of a healthy pregnancy.

Paperback: 272 pages
Click to order/for more info: Getting Pregnant the Natural Way

Start reading Getting Pregnant the Natural Way on your Kindle in under a minute!

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

---

Photo credit: Tea Cup, by Saxon

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: The effect of caffeine consumption on fertility was examined prospectively in 210 women.

METHODS: Women reported on caffeinated beverage consumption and pregnancy status monthly. Odds ratios for becoming pregnant were calculated for both high and moderate vs low consumption.

RESULTS: No significant association was found for any of the caffeinated beverages except tea. Drinking one-half cup or more of tea daily approximately doubled the odds of conception per cycle.

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that caffeine may not be the responsible agent for variation in fertility associated with consumption of the beverages examined.

Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Get a printable copy (PDF file) of the complete article (1.4M), or see the PubMed citation or the full text of some References.

Source: Differences in fertility associated with caffeinated beverage consumption

---

TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Inconceivable: A Woman's Triumph over Despair and Statistics
by Julia Indichova

-- A memoir of hope for the thousands of women struggling with infertility, from one who beat the odds by simply tuning in to her body and tapping her well of sheer determination.

At a time when more and more women are trying to get pregnant at increasingly advanced ages, fertility specialists and homeopathic researchers boast endless treatment options.

But when Julia Indichova made the rounds of medical doctors and nontraditional healers, she was still unable to conceive a child.

It was only when she forsook their financially and emotionally draining advice, turning inward instead, that she finally met with reproductive success. Inconceivable recounts this journey from hopeless diagnoses to elated motherhood.

Anyone who has faced infertility will relate to Julia's desperate measures: acupuncture, unidentifiable black-and-white pellets, herb soup, foul-smelling fruit, even making love on red sheets.

Five reproductive endocrinologists told her that there was no documented case of anyone in her hormonal condition getting pregnant, forcing her to finally embark on her own intuitive regimen.

After eight caffeine-free, nutrient-rich, yoga-laden months, complemented by visualization exercises, Julia received amazing news; incredibly, she was pregnant.

Nine months later she gave birth to a healthy girl.

Paperback: 208 pages
Click to order/for more info: Inconceivable

Start reading Inconceivable on your Kindle in under a minute!

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

---

If a baby is on your list of goals this year, Heidi Murkoff, author of the popular series of What to Expect books, gives these top 10 pieces of advice:

1) Start planning NOW.
2) Weigh your weight.
3) Cut back on caffeine.
4) Eat your oysters.
5) Keep cool, boy.
6) Put a cork in the cocktails.
7) Say yes to yams.
8) Watch a sexy movie.
9) Listen to your biological clock.
10) If at first you don’t succeed...

Read more: Top baby-making tips from 'What to Expect' pregnancy author Heidi Murkoff

---

TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Midlife Motherhood: A Woman-to-Woman Guide to Pregnancy and Parenting
by Jann Blackstone-Ford

-- What's a woman to do when she's facing menopause, toddlers, and elder care all at the same time?

Women who have been there and done that provide some insight in Midlife Motherhood.

Offering humor, warmth, and frankness, this is a hand-holding guide for the uninitiated.
What's on their minds:
• Common fears and concerns: from Down's syndrome to being too old
• Fertility challenges and what to physically expect from pregnancy
• How to juggle postpartum demands-parenting, working, caring for aging parents . . . and all at once!
• Hot flashes and warm bottles: coping with hormonal changes while caring for a new baby

Paperback: 288 pages
Click to order/for more info: Midlife Motherhood

---

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 7.3 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 suffer from in-fertility, which is defined as the inability to get pregnant after six to 12 months of trying.

And while a woman's increasing age is the most familiar reason for this condition — more and more women are waiting to have children — researchers are discovering that there are new and once-unconsidered factors at play.

And men are not exempt from this pregnancy problem, as one-third of infertility issues stem from the male partner.

Here are some of the latest findings and what doctors say you can do in response to them.

1. Move in moderation and watch your weight.

2. Cut back on caffeine.

3. Go gluten-free.

4. Avoid mercury.

5. Trim the fat.

6. Know your body.

7. Follow the sun.

8. Take charge and talk to your doctor.

Read more

Stock Photo credit: Shune
All rights reserved

---

TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Stay Fertile Longer: Everything You Need to Know to Get Pregnant Now--Or Whenever You're Ready
by Mary Kittel and Deborah Metzger

-- Many women today dream of having it all -- a challenging career, a satisfying personal life, a loving mate, and a baby whenever they're ready.

But there's no denying the fact that their biological clocks are ticking away.
The odds of conceiving drop by 15 to 20 percent for a woman in her early 30's and plummet to less than 50 percent when she's in her 40's.

The good news is that there are a host of natural strategies every would-be mom can use today to preserve and optimize her fertility, so that she can conceive quickly and easily when she's ready.

Paperback: 352 pages
Click to order/for more info: Stay Fertile Longer

---

Caffeine changes women's estrogen levels and has different effects in Asian and white women, a new study says.

More than 250 women, ages 18 to 44, took part in the study between 2005 and 2007. On average, they consumed 90 milligrams of caffeine a day, about the equivalent of one cup of caffeinated coffee.

Estrogen is the reproductive hormone produced by the ovaries.

Asian women who consumed an average of 200 milligrams or more of caffeine a day (equivalent to about two cups of coffee) had elevated estrogen levels compared to women who consumed less. But white women who consumed the same amount of caffeine had slightly lower estrogen levels than women who consumed less.

Read more

Photo credit: dspruitt 
Some rights reserved

---

TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Rewinding Your Biological Clock: Motherhood Late in Life
by Richard J. Paulson M.D., Judith Sachs

-- In 1996, Dr. Richard Paulson assisted a 63-year-old woman to conceive using in vitro fertilization with a donor egg, and she became the oldest woman in the world to give birth.

This incredible example of how assisted reproductive technologies, or ART, can change the course of nature, raises tough biological, emotional, and ethical issues.

Rewinding Your Biological Clock is a unique exploration of each of these issues, especially the "how-to" of peri- and post-menopausal pregnancy.

Written by a leading fertility specialist and a health educator, this original and daring book rethinks society's most fundamental beliefs about motherhood, aging and life itself.

Paperback: 356 pages
Click to order/for more info: Rewinding Your Biological Clock

---

If you have been trying to get pregnant but have been unsuccessful, there are a number of things that can be done to increase your chances if conception. While it takes most women an average of 6 months to 1 year to become pregnant, female fertility may be enhanced by simply living a healthier lifestyle.

1. No more caffeine.
2. Stop smoking.
3. Reduce alcohol intake.
4. Take your vitamins. Especially vitamin E.

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/x-12286-Houston-Pregnancy-Examiner~y2009m7d20-Increasing-female-fertility-naturally

According to the Mayo Clinic, male infertility is a factor in about half the cases of couples who are diagnosed as infertile. Following are five ways men can increase their fertility:

1. Avoid using lubricants which can hinder sperm motility.
2. Give up alcohol and limit caffeine consumption.

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/x-14154-Raleigh-Infertility--Miscarriage-Examiner~y2009m7d13-Five-ways-to-increase-male-fertility





Recent Keyword Searches: conceiving at 40, how to get pregnant after 40 years old, having kids after 40, are you still fertile when you still have your period at age 45?, can i still get pregnant after 45

Co-anchor Julie Chen, herself several months pregnant, played "True or False" with pregnancy guru Heidi Murkoff, author of "What to Expect Before You're Expecting" , to dispel lots of myths.

# Eating oysters helps you get pregnant: True.
# Cough medicine makes getting pregnant easier: True.
# I can keep drinking coffee until I get pregnant: False.
# I can keep drinking coffee until I get pregnant: False.
# Men should wear boxers instead of briefs to promote fertility: True.
To read an excerpt of "What To Expect Before You're Expecting," click here.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/18/earlyshow/health/main5022583.shtml

Photo by matchstick

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Canadian high school students may lack important knowledge about risk factors for infertility, survey findings suggest. For example, most students were unaware that some sexually transmitted infections can cause infertility.

"About 80 percent of students said they were familiar with the term infertility," Susan Quach, of Sunnybrook and Women's College Hospital Fertility Center in Toronto, told Reuters Health. But when asked more specific infertility-related questions, fewer students answered correctly, indicating a lack of knowledge that may increase their risk of infertility later in life, Quash said.

For example, more than 94 percent of the students did not know that sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea can lead to infertility, Quash and co-investigator Dr. Clifford Librach at the University of Toronto report in the journal Fertility and Sterility.

The researchers asked 772 ethnically diverse high school students to complete a written questionnaire designed to determine their knowledge of and attitudes about infertility. The students were 17.5 years old, on average, and 49 percent were female.

A total of 608 students completed the questionnaire and, as noted, the vast majority did not know that chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to infertility. About 25 percent thought fertility problems only occurred among women 40 years or older.

The researchers found that students from schools with low socioeconomic status more frequently gave incorrect answers and were significantly less aware of associations between sexually transmitted diseases and infertility.

Overall, about 73 percent of female and 67 percent of male respondents said protecting their fertility was important to them. Most also reported that their fertility was important to them. Fifty-five percent of the students said they were open to screening for sexually transmitted diseases as a means of protecting their fertility.

These findings highlight the importance of educating young people about modifiable risk factors for infertility, such as body fat, smoking, caffeine consumption, excessive exercise, drug use, and sexually transmitted infections, Quash and Librach note.

To assist the development of targeted and appropriate infertility prevention education, the investigators suggest that further infertility knowledge assessments should be conducted among students in rural or less ethnically diverse schools.

SOURCE: Fertility and Sterility, December 2008.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE4BS58L20081229?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100



Recent Keyword Searches: how to get pregnant at 40 years old, can a women get pregnant at 43, can i get pregnant with fybroids, am i too old to get pregnant, percentage of women over 45 to become pregnant

Picture by lorenarose5
Found today on the Women Over 40 with High FSH board:

Caffeine damages sperm DNA, study shows...2006
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10408327

Caffiene is good for men, not women.
Caffeine perks up sperm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/4480.php

Caffeine and a man's fertility - Ask the experts:





Recent Keyword Searches: pinapple pregnancy implantation, ovarian stimulation over 40, epo and reduced ewcm, in vitro fertilization birth defects, women having kids ufter 40 years old