More Sunshine = More Babies??
As amazing as modern medicine and science is, sometimes it really does just take something natural to make (or break) a miracle. And when you really think about it, it does make sense.
Take the sunshine, for instance. We know that on the one hand, it can make us burn and peel and feel miserable. And worst case scenario, it can give us cancer. On the other hand, we can’t survive without it. It affects everything around us. Sunshine helps all the plants and animals to grow. It keeps our planet at just the right temperature so we can survive. It helps us differentiate between day and night. It is literally the center of the universe. So why shouldn’t it play a part in our own body cycles as well?
There has been increasing findings that the sun and the natural Vitamin D it provides can play a factor in diseases like Multiple Sclerosis and even the body’s natural immunity. But what about fertility? Studies on the role of light in both women’s and men’s cycles started back in the 1960s. But not until recently are these multidisciplinary studies showing that yes, light does play a factor in fertility – perhaps a major factor.
In terms of the body, light keeps the “circadian pacemaker” (basically the body’s master clock) on track with the usual 24 hour day. If we don’t get the right kinds of light, our bodies go out of synch with the world, and our body systems go out of synch with our bodies. We need to have a very clear distinction between the light of day and the dark of night for our bodies to perform at its top notch potential. But in a world of increasing technology where many of us spend the majority of our week working inside with artificial lights and the glow of computer screens, and our nights surrounded by more artificial lights, blinking screens, glows from charging cell phones, IPODs, digital clocks, etc., how are we supposed to help our bodies stay on track?
Ann Douglas offers several tips in the winter issue of Conceive Magazine -
1. Try to keep your body in synch with the solar day. To cue your body to stop producing the nighttime hormone, melatonin, take a walk in the morning (outside).
2. Enjoy the sunshine – That whole Vitamin D thing is currently believed to affect at least 1000 different genes in our bodies that control every tissue. Studies are showing that melatonin may act directly on the reproductive tissues – meaning that women are more fertile during the time of year when there is the most daylight.
3. Don’t leave out your man! Vitamin D is very important in male fertility as well. Light also boosts the luteinizing hormone which raises testosterone levels in men.
4. Try to keep a regular schedule not only in your everyday life, but in travels as well. Flying across time zones can really throw off your body too.
5. If you’re in an area where you just can’t get enough sunlight, consider using alternative light therapies. There are devices to block blue light, to increase light exposure, and to mimic the natural rhythm of moonlight which can help regulate ovulation.
For more info on some of these options, check: lowbluelights.com and luness.com
Source: Douglas, Ann. Light and Fertility. Conceive Magazine Winter 09/10 Vol. 6 Issue 4 pp. 46-49.
The Reminder of the Holidays
It’s amazing how the holidays can add to your own personal emotional roller coaster. On one hand, it is a great way to forget about some of the stress of planning for a family. There are a lot of other things that you are forced to concentrate on – getting the right gifts, decorations, parties, planning, travel, dealing with family, heartwarming movies and stories, the magic of the season.
On the other hand, the holidays are a time for children. They’re the ones that get to believe in Santa Claus. They’re the ones that we help create the magic for. If you’re Christian, we celebrate the holiday in honor of the birth of the infant Jesus Christ. The baby who would change the world. When you’re at those holiday parties, often, everyone else’s children are there too. The discussion focuses on what they’re doing for their kids for the holiday. The kids are talking about what’s on their lists. “Watch it, Santa’s watching,” is a term heard everywhere. When it comes to gift time, the kids open first. The kids have the huge stack of gifts.
If you have to travel, you realize that everything revolves around the family members who have kids. The timing of events, the days of travel, who’s house you go to, even the rooms where everyone sleeps are based around those with kids.
Frustrating when it’s never you, isn’t it?
New Year’s comes around and everyone else can’t wait to get rid of their kids for a night so they can go out and party the adult way. When that ball drops and the two of you kiss, the only thought on your minds are, “God, I hope this year is it. This is the year it’s going to happen for us. What I wouldn’t give to have my baby with me right now.”
It seems like no one understands. And how can they really, unless they’ve been in the same situation as you?
I know I felt it more than usual this year. Other years, I still had a lot of hope. The holidays weren’t a really big deal. This year, it hurt more than usual. I guess because we’ve been trying for so long now.
I’m not saying that I don’t still have a lot of hope. Because I do. In fact, maybe even more. But I’m also more frustrated, and maybe that was part of it. The holidays have always been a magical time for me, even in recent years. So I know that despite what seems like kids being thrown in my face, I still have to hold on to that magic. I still have to enjoy that New Year’s kiss, and I still have to wish on the sparkly ball, or that sparkly star in the sky that this year IS going to be the year. This is going to be the year that changes everything!
Here’s to a hopeful New Year for all of us! (I’m tipping my pretend glass of champagne to you)
Happy New Year!
Clomid
After a year of trying, one of the first drugs your doctor will likely put you on is Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate). An ovulatory regulator, Clomid can help stabilize and time your cycle. It is a great start, however there are a lot of issues with this therapy. Clomid can severely thin out your uterine lining, as well as change the cervical mucous. Both of which can actually make getting pregnant even harder! Even if the sperm meets the egg, it will not be able to properly attach to the uterine wall and you still will not be pregnant.
This is not to say that you will not be able to conceive on Clomid, because there are many people that have. It just means that you need to be sure that you are following proper monitoring procedures. I did not know anything about this issue when I first started, and the doctor that started me on it did not do the proper monitoring. So it is likely that the first few months I was on this drug, we were just wasting our time. When I switched doctors, I found out that the drug was making my lining almost half the size it should be for proper implantation!
What is the proper monitoring procedures? Internal ultrasounds are your best bet (especially when paired with blood monitoring). This way, your doctor can make sure you are making sufficient follicles and measure your lining at the same time. If caught soon enough, you can also go on another drug that will help increase the lining.
Another issue with Clomid is side effects. Obviously every woman is different and not every woman will experience all of the side effects of Clomid (if any at all). I had a very hard time with this drug. I felt absolutely INSANE on it. Crazy mood swings, hot flashes, dizziness, nausea, headaches, appetite changes, weight gain, jaw clenching, and speed-like effects were just a few of the side effects I dealt with. Some women also experience vision changes as well.
Clomid has a limited time of use. It is recommended that you do not stay on Clomid any longer than 6 months, so be sure that you are following the proper protocols so you can maximize your chances while you are on this drug, and hopefully will get your baby sooner rather than later!
The Initial Excitement
So you and your husband decided to have a baby!
It’s a great moment – the moment when you realize that you are truly ready to start your family.
It’s exciting.
It’s one of the few pure moments in your life.
And trying to achieve that goal of having a family is fun too! At least, at first it is. You have fun with it – candles, music, sexy lingere, everywhere, anywhere – it doesn’t matter, because you are going to have a baby!
A few weeks go by.
Then a few months.
Suddenly, it is not quite as fun anymore. You start trying to figure out the best days to do it. But yet – still no double line on that stick. That initial excitement is gone, and now it is a job. And with jobs, come stress. And not so much fun.
Ah, what happened to that initial glow?!
On a bright note, no matter how it feels – you are not alone.
And there is hope.
There are a lot of new advances today that they didn’t have even just a year ago.
The most important thing to remember is – DON’T GIVE UP!
The IF Factor
The IF Factor. What is it?
Often “IF” is used as an abbreviation in the world of infertility. But for those that are caught in the infertility game, “if” is a word that comes up in all forms. “What if I am never going to have a child?” “If we do this, will it work this time?” ”This can be the nursery if we get pregnant.” “I’m going to have to take my HcG shot tomorrow if it’s really the right time.” “If I have too much alcohol, will it hurt our chances?” “What if the stress of this gets to be too much?”
IF
It’s a word that comes up often in infertility. But I would even go so far as to say that it’s not just a word, “IF” is also a state of mind. It’s that feeling of always being in limbo, so to speak. Everything you do hinges on something else. You may not even feel like yourself, your body, or your world is yours anymore.
The IF Factor
It is the elephant in the middle of the room.
It is the state of being.
It is the world of the couple dealing with infertility issues.
The IF Factor
Welcome!
Welcome to The IF Factor!
This is a blog related to infertility, the many questions that surround it, and the emotional roller coaster ride that it presents. Keep checking back for first-hand accounts, articles, tips, and an overall supportive & positive community to help you and those around you make it through to the end of the ride.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
