Fertility Problems and Treatments: a Closer Look

Infertility, Supplements, and Fertility Medications

Infertility Issues touch 1 in 5 trying-to-conceive couples. This means that of the over 10 Million couples just in the US who are trying to conceive, about 15% will experience some difficulty in becoming pregnant. Women and Men contribute equally to fertility issues, but there is support for trying-to-conceive couples.

Below is a list of definitions for a few common infertility issues and ovulatory disorders.

Oligomenorrhoea (erratic periods): There is a defect in the feedback of estrogen from the ovary to the brain. In spite of this, levels of F.S.H., L.H. and estrogen are normal, but there is usually a menstrual disorder with either oligomenorrhoea or secondary amenorrhoea.

Anovulation: Defined as the failure to ovulate, anovulation [1] is typically caused by hormonal imbalances or hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction.

Amenorrhoea (never have a period or periods have stopped): The pituitary gland fails to produce F.S.H. and L.H. This, in turn, affects the ovaries, which fail to produce estrogen. Amenorrhoea is usually the representing symptom.

Menopause-like Conditions: The ovaries fail to respond or may be resistant to F.S.H. As is the case in menopause, the F.S.H. levels are very high and the estrogen level very low.

Polycystic Ovary Disease: This is a condition where there are multiple tiny cysts in the ovaries. The L.H. level is characteristically high with normal F.S.H. and estrogen levels. There is often oligomenorrhoea or amenorrhoea.

Hyperprolactinaemia: The level of the hormone prolactin is very high while the levels of F.S.H. and estrogen are lowered. This condition is known as hyperprolactinaemia. There is either oligomenorrhoea or amenorrhoea.

Other resources:

> Fertility Acupuncture
[2]> A New Era in Infertility Therapy [3]
[4]> Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and Anovulation [4]
> Luteal Phase Defect (LPD) and Infertility [5]
> Infertility and Sperm Health [6]
> Clomid and Ovulation Induction [7]
> Ovulatory Disorders [8]
> Assisted Reproductive Technologies [9]
> Infertility Disorders, Tests, and Treatments [10]
> Ovulatory Disorders, PCOS, and Male Infertility [11]

[12]

Prescription Drugs for Infertility / Ovulation Induction

Women in treatment for infertility issues, such as undergoing advanced reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), may use drugs to stimulate their ovaries to produce/release ova (release of the egg from the ovarian follicle = ovulation). Fertility drugs are categorized under two rubrics (oral or injectible). Clomiphene citrate (Clomid or Serophene) falls into the first category and injectible infertility medications like Humegon, Pergonal, Repronex, Fertinex, Follistim and Gonal-F. This latter category called gonadotropins (PergonalR, HumegonR, RepronexR, FollistimR, Gonal-FR ) and are designed to stimulate the ovary to produce many follicles each cycle. These medications can be combined with intercourse, intrauterine insemination, or In-vitro fertilization (IVF).

Clomid: Clomiphene citrate (brand name Clomid, Serophene) is used to induce ovulation. Clomiphene citrate is an orally administered medication. Clomiphene citrate appears to act on the hypothalamus and is useful for women who do not ovulate because of hypothalamic or pituitary problems. Given early in the menstrual cycle (day three to seven), it suppresses the amount of naturally circulating estrogen. This "tricks" the pituitary into producing more follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). These hormones then stimulate the ovary to ripen a follicle and release an egg. Of patients who are properly screened for use of this drug, about 70 percent will ovulate, and 40 percent of those will become pregnant. To read more about clomid, click here.

Follistim: Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is a naturally occurring hormone. FSH is important in the development of follicles (eggs) produced by the ovaries. FSH is also important in the development of sperm. Follistim is used to stimulate a follicle (egg) to develop and mature. It is used when a woman desires pregnancy and her ovaries can produce a follicle but hormonal stimulation is not sufficient to make the follicle mature. Follistim is also used to stimulate the development of multiple eggs for in vitro fertilization.

Non-Prescription Herbal-Nutritional Fertility Supplements

There are currently two leading non-prescription fertility supplements: FertilAid and Fertilityblend [12]. Both supplement brands offer a men and women's formula and are formulated by medical professionals and nutritionists, with proprietary vitamins/herbal formulas validated by clinical studies and established scientific research. Both FertilAid and Fertilityblend for women contain vitex (chastetree berry, vitex agnus-castus). Studies on vitex yield impressive results in increasing a woman's chance to conceive. Both FertilAid and Fertilityblend [12] for women offer vitamins formulations as well, and include folic acid, a vitamin that has been shownto decrease the risk of birth defects.

According to Jill Stansbury, N.D., the herbs most commonly used to promote fertility include:

Chastetree berry (Vitex agnus-castus): Stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland, which promotes ovulation. May restore normal periods in women with amenorrhea. Amenorrhea is defined as the absence of menstrual periods.

Dong quai (Angelica sinensis): Commonly used to treat female complaints, dong quai tones a weak uterus by promoting metabolism within the organ, improving menstrual cycle rhythms and regulating hormonal control.

Red clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense): This fertility promoter is rich in isoflavones, estrogenlike compounds.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): A Japanese study found licorice helps women with high testosterone and low estrogen levels, a circumstance commonly found in those with polycystic ovary disease.

Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa): Acts in same capacity as chastetree berry, but also contains isoflavones, which help bind estrogen receptors in the body.

Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa): The pharmaceutical industry has used wild yam for decades in the production of steroids and hormones such as progesterone and cortisone. In its natural form, this herb may help prevent habitual miscarriage due to hormonal imbalance.

Before using any herbal tintures or herbal medications, do consult with your doctor. Also, as the makers of FertilAid and Fertilityblend indicate, do not take any herbal fertility or HRT medications or while you are pregnant or breastfeeding.