Not Getting Pregnant? There's Always Hope!
Posted: Sunday, December 06, 2009
by Kristen Burgess
http://www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com
Even if you've been trying to get pregnant for months on end with no positive pregnancy test, there's still hope for you.
It's good to try some in-home testing if you're not getting pregnant. Chart your cycles and use some inexpensive in-home tests. You can have the tests sent right to your home (in discreet packaging if you don't want everyone to know your business).
Ovulation test kits detect your luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. LH surges just before you ovulate - somewhere between about 12 and 48 hours. You'll be able to time intercourse properly - and also help you figure out if you're ovulating or not.
Fertility Monitors are another option. They work in different ways depending on which monitor you're using. Some read hormone levels in your sweat, others in saliva, and still others detect LH and estrogens in your urine. They all help you determine when you're at peak fertility.
By charting your cycles you can figure out if you're ovulating and if your levels of progesterone are too low to sustain pregnancy. If your progesterone levels are too low the time from your ovulation to your next period will be shorter than normal (normal is 12-14 days).
Get outside help: Consider outside help as soon as you feel like you should. If you've been charting six months and still haven't gotten pregnant it's a good idea to get some outside advice. You have choices in the kind of help you get.
The first choice is your OB/GYN or family doctor. Your doctor will consult with you and order some tests or get you a referral. They can perform basic fertility tests and order a sperm analysis done on your partner's semen. Your test results and the charts you've been keeping at home can help them decide the best treatments for you.
They may suggest further options. Drug therapy stimulates ovulation (Clomid is the brand name drug). There are side effects to this drug, including possible over-stimulation. Another side effect of the drug is that dries up cervical mucus, which is actually pretty important for getting pregnant! Look into sperm-friendly lubricant if you're taking Clomid.
In-vitro fertilization (IVF) or tubal embryo transfer (TET) are two procedures you can consider. In both IVF and TET your hormonal cycle is overridden and stimulated by daily injections of hormones. This simulates a "normal" cycle - just with a lot of eggs released. the eggs are collected and fertilized outside of your body. In IVF they fertilized embryo(s) is placed into your uterus. In TET the embryo is placed into the fallopian tube.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), and Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT) are both procedures that allow sperm to be placed much closer to where they fertilize the egg. In an IUI, sperm are placed inside the uterus. In a GIFT procedure they're placed in the fallopian tubes.
Alternatives: There are also other options for you to consider. Acupuncturists, Naturopaths, and Chinese Medicine doctors all bring an unique perspective to fertility issues and may be able to help you get pregnant.
In fact, alternative medicine for fertility is being looked upon positively by more and more conventional doctors. Acupuncture is especially gaining respect in the medical community.
Supplements and treatment plans created by these practitioners tend to take your entire state of being into consideration. They look at everything - not just thy physical symptoms - but also the emotions, mindset, attitude, and energy levels you have. Your treatment will be determined by what will balance. In that way these practitioners offer you an excellent chance at getting pregnant, naturally - and of increasing your own health and well being.
Increase your chances of getting pregnant naturally! My free 7-part mini-course goes over tips on how to identify your most fertile period, what to eat for your future baby's health (and your fertility), best positions for the "baby dance," and more - so you can conceive quickly and carry your healthy baby to term.
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