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Unexplained Infertility

Timing intercourse for the most fertile days of the month is the first option for maximising chances of pregnancy

For some couples with unexplained infertility, timing of intercourse (or their way of having sex) may be the main barrier to conception. Although it may be embarrassing for many people to discuss this with each other or a doctor or nurse, being sure that semen is being deposited into the woman's vagina, and at the right time of month, is the first step to conception. Eggs are only available for fertilisation for a relatively short time, and sperm can only survive for 48 to 72 hours, so getting the timing right is essential, especially when fertility is low.

The most fertile time is just before and after a woman has ovulated (released an egg). This does not necessarily occur in every menstrual cycle, or at the same time every month. There are four ways a woman can estimate when ovulation time is for her:

Calculating when ovulation is due

Charting body temperature every morning at about the same time

Observing changes in the mucus discharged from the vagina

Using home ovulation test kits.

Women are at their most fertile about 12 to 14 days before a period is due. The first day of a period is regarded as 'Day 1' of the menstrual cycle. If a woman's menstrual cycle was exactly 28 days long, then ovulation time would be around day 14. However, the length of women's menstrual cycles varies a lot. Noting the day the period begins in a diary can help with these calculations.

A woman's temperature rises slightly (perhaps half a degree Fahrenheit) when she ovulates, and stays higher until her period starts. Keeping charts of temperature as well can help provide information about when fertility is higher. When a woman ovulates, the mucus (thick fluid) discharged from the vagina can noticeably change, becoming more clear and slippery (and perhaps increasing in quantity).

In all techniques of assisted reproductive technology, the chance of multiple pregnancy is increased when more than one embryo or egg is transferred. Although some would consider having twins to be a happy result, there are many problems associated with multiple pregnancy, and problems become progressively more severe and common with triplets and each additional fetus thereafter. Women carrying a multiple pregnancy may need to spend weeks or even months in bed or in the hospital.

A recent treatment option for women with multiple pregnancies is that of selective fetal reduction, in which one or more of the fetuses is selectively destroyed ( usually by injecting a toxic chemical, potassium chloride , into its heart under ultrasound guidance). In most cases, the killed fetus is then reabsorbed by the body - and the other fetuses continue to grow. Of course, the risk of all the fetuses being lost because of a miscarriage ( as a result of inadvertent trauma during the procedure ) is also present, and is about 10% in experienced hands.

There is approximately a five percent chance of an ectopic pregnancy with IVF and GIFT. This is not because of the procedure, but rather because women going through IVF already have damaged tubes, which predisposes them to having an ectopic.

IVF is physically demanding - and stressful ! The effects of blood tests, anesthetic and operation are tough on your body. Hormone stimulation causes lethargy and fatigue, not withstanding the sometimes extensive travelling required each day. Some people find treatment conflicts with their employment or other commitments.

Dr Jonas Lunar Fertility Cycle

Astra International, a private clinic in Vienna, became the leading exponents of the Lunar cycle theory, ignoring the continued horror of the orthodox medical world. They too analysed the data of thousands of pregnant women, and found correspondences with the Lunar cycle to be as high as 97.7 percent.

What then are the implications today of Dr Jonas' theory? Firstly that each woman has a planetary blueprint of her fertility. This blueprint is her Sun/Moon angle at birth, and it comes into operation during her menstrual years.

For example, a woman was born with the Moon at 17 degrees Aquarius and the Sun at 19 degrees Leo. Her Sun/Moon angle is therefore 178 degrees. This means that she will experience her Lunar fertile peak just before the Full Moon and will have the possibility of conceiving at this time of the month throughout her fertile life. In other words, the days immediately preceding the Full Moon each month are the ideal time for her to try for a baby - or, should she not wish to conceive, a time when she must be extra careful with contraception.

Indeed, contraception should be used for three and a half days before the Sun/Moon angle recurs and for 12 hours afterwards. This accounts for the three-four day possible sperm life and 12 hour egg life.

There is a greater chance of conception when the lunar phase is the same as at the mother's birth than by using any other measure of fertility (such as temperature, ovulation, mucus, etc.) For example, if a woman was born when the Moon was full, she will be fertile when the Moon is full. If she was born during the first quarter of the Moon, she will be fertile at that time.

It is necessary to allow time for the sperm to travel to reach the egg. Jonas allowed 12 hours. Conception occurs when the sperm impregnates the egg, and it is this moment that is used to determine the sex of the child. Ergo, if the exact phase of the Moon occurs at 10:00 am, sexual relations (or artificial insemination) must occur the night before so that some viable sperm are present where they need to be at the exact moment of maximum fertility. The highest potency, when the egg is ready to be impregnated, lasts about one day or around 20 hours. Best is to schedule intercourse before the fertility peak. You can go for a good 16 hours beforehand.

Today's Moon Phase

»Calculate your Sun/Moon Phase

Stress And Infertility

Stress has become a buzzword today . It is one of the most over used words in our vocabulary - and one of the most poorly understood ones as well. Stress is defined as any event that a person perceives as threatening, and in order to protect itself, the body responds to stressors with a classic "fight or flight" response, which nature designed to allow survival. In response to stress, the hypothalamus produces a hormone called corticotropin releasing factor ( CRF) which activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system , causing it to releases neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) called catecholamines, as well as cortisol , the primary stress hormone .

The relationship between stress and infertility is still poorly understood today. While there is little doubt that infertility causes considerable stress, the question whether stress can cause infertility, and whether stress reduction can enhance pregnancy rates in infertile couples, is still very controversial.

Fortunately, advances in reproductive endocrinology and medical technology as well as in psychological research have de-emphasized the significance of psychopathology as the basis of infertility, and modern research shows that there is little evidence to support a role for personality factors or conflicts as a cause of infertility. This perspective unburdens the couple by relieving them of the additional guilt of thinking that it is their mental stress that may be responsible for their infertility.

Biologically, since the hypothalamus regulates both stress responses as well as the sex hormones, it’s easy to see how stress could cause infertility in some women. Excessive stress may even lead to complete suppression of the menstrual cycle , and this is often seen in female marathon runners, who develop " runner’s amenorrhea". In less severe cases, it could cause anovulation or irregular menstrual cycles. When activated by stress, the pituitary gland also produces increased amounts of prolactin, and elevated levels of prolactin could cause irregular ovulation. Since the female reproductive tract contains catecholamine receptors catecholamines produced in response to stress may potentially affect fertility, for example, by interfering with the transport of gametes through the Fallopian tube or by altering uterine blood flow.

However, more complex mechanisms may be at play, and researchers still don't completely understand how stress interacts with the reproductive system. Research has shown that the brain produces special molecules called neuropeptides, in response to emotions, and these peptides can interact with every cell of the body, including those of the immune system. In this view, the mind and the body are not only connected, but inseparable, so that it is hardly surprising that stress can have a negative influence on fertility.

Stress can reduce sperm counts as well. However, how relevant these research findings are in clinical practise is still to be determined.

In addition to these direct effects, stress can also suppress libido , cause erectile dysfunction, and result in a reduction in the frequency of intercourse, which in turn could also reduce fertility. Also, many women start overeating in response to the stress of infertility. The increased fat cells then disrupt the hormonal balance, making a bad situation even worse.
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