Archive for the ‘Medical Problems’ Category
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, is a condition which affects the ovaries. This syndrome affects about 10% of women and usually begins shortly after puberty. PCOS and pregnancy are not mutually exclusive, in fact many women who develop polycystic ovaries can still bear children. In some cases though, these cysts can cause a hormonal imbalance, and this is where the trouble starts for women looking to get pregnant, and this hormonal imbalance can drastically alter their bodily functions such as their reproductive organs, making a PCOS pregnancy impossible without intervention.
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One of the most common causes of PCOS is the overproduction of testosterone in women. This can lead to other noticeable side effects as well which may hint at the possibility that PCOS may be present. Some of these symptoms of high testosterone levels include acne, unnatural feminine hair growth (such as on the cheeks, chest and/or back), high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and any number of hormone imbalances such as insulin and progesterone.
If Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is believed to be affecting a woman’s ability to get pregnant, there are several treatment methods available, which can limit or completely remove the negative effects of PCOS on pregnancy. These treatment methods can typically be broken down into two categories, drug dependant treatments, and natural treatments. Which treatment plan a patient decides to choose will largely be based on personal choice.
If going the way of drugs, the most common treatment plan will include birth control pills, androgen (male hormone) reducing pills, and drugs to help further regulate the patient’s hormone levels. In some cases, the patient may wish to undergo surgery to remove the cysts, though since the cysts themselves are rarely the actual cause of infertility, this method should be a last resort, unless the ovaries have grown overly large, in which case a doctor may recommend they be removed. One issue with traditional drugs is the potential for unwanted side effects, and the drugs can also prove to be costly.
On the natural health front, treatment plans are usually tailored to the individual, and usually involve improving their general health first and foremost, which may help to clear up the PCOS, before taking more aggressive action if all else fails. These treatment programs could include things like acupuncture, an increased emphasis on supplement intake, exercise, body detoxification, the creation of an improved diet, and much more. Natural health has shown remarkable results where traditional medicine has at times put its arms up into the air and shrugged.
Regardless of the effect of PCOS on pregnancy, all women should have the causes of PCOS treated, whether they plan on having children or not. Leaving the PCOS (and the underlying causes) untreated, could lead to several serious diseases in the future, such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
For more information on overcoming PCOS for pregnancy and general health reasons, as well as a host of other pregnancy related information, feel free to check out Lisa Olson’s Pregnancy Miracle, a top notch guide on all things pregnancy.
Click here if you have had PCOS and want a baby!
Fibroids and pregnancy would seem to have an unshakeable connection. After all, fibroids (also called uterine fibroids) are large benign tumors which grow within the uterus. Generally though, the only real connection between fibroids and pregnancy issues are when the fibroids appear alongside endometriosis, which itself can cause infertility.
Learn how women are embracing pregnancy in spite of fibroids.
The symptoms of fibroids are easily spotted by sufferers, which may be why fibroids are quite common, affecting as many as 40% of women. Some of these symptoms include heavy vaginal bleeding, severe pain during sexual intercourse, an uncontrollable bladder, and changes in pelvic pressure.
While fibroids are quite common, particularly among black women, rarely do fibroids actually hamper a woman’s ability to bear children. On average, less than 10% of fibroids cases negatively affect fertility, so unless the fibroids are causing other symptoms, such as the above mentioned, which are not desired, it’s likely not necessary to do anything about them.
Potential treatments of fibroids depend on the size and volume of fibroids present. There are a number of invasive surgery options which can be used to remove the fibroids from the uterine wall, but these costly procedures should generally be an absolute last resort option. It should also be noted that having one of these surgeries may force the woman to have a caesarean section in the event of a future pregnancy.
Another option is drugs, though I must also preface these with the disclaimer that these pills can come with some major side effects such as bone loss and menopausal effects such as anxiety and hot flashes. If she’s willing to stare the side effects in the face, the woman will usually be prescribed hormonal medications which can cut down on the bleeding caused by the fibroids, and help regulate her menstrual cycle. This treatment is not an option for women over 35 who are also smokers.
One treatment plan that is not an option for those with fibroids where pregnancy is still desired is a hysterectomy. This procedure involves removing the uterus, which stops the female’s menstrual bleeding, and any future fibroids growth, but also makes it impossible for that woman to ever bear a child.
One potential treatment is to have acupuncture or acupressure sessions performed on the relevant qi points. These treatments can help shrink the size of the fibroids by removing the root cause of the trouble, the stagnation of blood at key points. Herbs are also used to help speed this process along and ruin any possible chance that fibroids and pregnancy will make an unfortunate connection within you.
The effect of fibroids on pregnancy is just one of the issues discussed in Pregnancy Miracle, a long and detailed e-book which tackles every conceivable issue surrounding pregnancy with incredible thoughtfulness and understanding. You can’t go wrong picking it up if you or anyone you know is planning on getting pregnant in the future. Its focus on natural health as it relates to pregnancy is vitally important in this increasing age of consumer advocacy and awareness.
Learn how women are embracing pregnancy in spite of fibroids.
Endometriosis infertility is a condition characterized by benign cell growths or tumors, outside the uterus. These growths can occur in a number of different areas, including the pelvis, vagina, and bladder. While these growths are benign, they can cause noticeable symptoms, most notably pain, and can also affect fertility.
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The exact prevalence rate of endometriosis is unknown, as many women can have the condition without being aware of it, as symptoms and their severity can vary between women. It’s estimated to affect anywhere from 5-20% of women, typically between the ages of 25-35, though it can strike at any time during a woman’s child bearing years, and in rare instances, even into post-menopause.
Symptoms usually boil down to pain in the pelvic region, though many women get no pain at all. For those women that do experience pain, it is often around the time of ovulation (may have thigh pain), during their menstrual period or during and after sex. The only other hint that endometriosis might be present would be an unexplained infertility issue, as endometriosis typically causes infertility by blocking the passage of eggs along the fallopian tubes. Endometriosis infertility can also be caused as a result of increased hormone levels in affected women. Furthermore, endometriotic cells can release other harmful substances which adversely affects the ability to conceive as well as the health of the developing embryo.
Some of the rarer symptoms of endometriosis include diarrhoea, constipation, heavy and / or irregular menstrual bleeding, mood changes and tiredness. Because the symptoms are vague, or often not present at all, the condition can be difficult to diagnose, and requires a procedure called a laparoscopy, which allows the doctor to see inside the abdomen and identify the presence of these growths. This is usually one of the final tests done when all other avenues have been exhausted.
As it’s still not known exactly what causes endometriosis infertility, it’s more difficult to accurately diagnose a cure that attacks the root of the problem. The growths can be surgically removed if they’re thought to be the primary cause of a woman’s infertility, though the good news is that many women with endometriosis can still bear children. Other avenues for reducing the size of the growths, or eliminating them altogether include drugs, or holistic treatment plans.
Those affected by endometriosis infertility also have the option to try conceiving through other methods to help bypass the endometriosis, such as IUI or IVF. This way be an easier way to get pregnant rather than having surgery to remove the growths, though IUI and IVF don’t offer guarantees of success in and of themselves. Endometriosis growths may also lessen over time on their own, though they could also get worse, as this varies from patient to patient, so it’s not recommended to simply try waiting them out if you’re hoping to get pregnant quickly.
If you’d like more information on endometriosis infertility, other infertility issues, and the ways to beat them, there are a few great books on the subject, such as Pregnancy Miracle, which offers a great collection of advice and information pertaining to both western and eastern medical and holistic practices.
Click here to overcome Endometriosis Infertility.
The effect of an ovarian cyst on pregnancy can vary, so while some women may be able to ignore their cysts altogether, others will likely need to have their situation looked into by a doctor. These ovarian cysts are extremely common (and should not be confused with polycystic ovarian syndrome), and in most cases are completely benign (non-cancerous), functional and safe. In fact if left untreated, most ovarian cysts will disappear of their own volition within a number of weeks.
Click here to overcome your Ovarian Cyst and begin Pregnancy Plans today.
These ovarian cysts are small fluid filled sacs that develop in a woman’s ovaries, though there are numerous variations and causes for them. Some of the different cysts which could be affecting a woman’s ovaries include endometrioid cysts, corpus luteum cysts, hemorrhagic cysts, and follicular cysts.
A common effect of many of these cysts is that they can cause notable pain, though many of them are relatively harmless otherwise. This pain is usually the only way a woman will be able to tell on her own that ovarian cysts may be present, though some women will also experience the sensation of increased pressured or fullness in their pelvic region.
Ovarian cysts are commonly treated with birth control pills, as this prevents the ovaries from producing eggs, which is how these cysts are formed. Of course, treating ovarian cysts in this manner when attempting to get pregnant is not an option, so other options would need to be looked into, such as through natural health methods. Some of the underlying causes which could be causing ovarian cysts include genetics, early menstruation, hormone imbalances, and increased upper body fat.
In most cases though a doctor will advise you to simply let the cysts heal on their own, unless they are thought to be directly causing infertility, or in the event that they’ve gotten so large that they need to be removed, in which case the patient will be forced to undergo surgery. Otherwise an ovarian cyst pregnancy is entirely likely, and extremely commonplace. As the cysts can cause a good deal of pain for many women, it may be advised to use over the counter pain relievers or medications.
If you were worried about an ovarian cyst undoing pregnancy plans, there’s really very little to worry about. It is still recommended to visit a doctor if you think you may have ovarian cysts, as it’s possible the cysts could be caused by a more serious underlying condition, and the pain will likely warrant a prescription, or over the counter pain pills at the least.
For more information on the relationship between the ovarian cyst and pregnancy, as well as many more important facts about pregnancy, please check out Pregnancy Miracle by Lisa Olson. It’s a work that has changed the lives of thousands of women worldwide, and helped restore the flame of hope in many women who had but the faintest flicker of hope that a pregnancy miracle would ever happen for them.