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Solutions to your tough problems: some women's health issues are difficult to treat. We found the natural answers you've been waiting for - Annual Women's Health Guide
Natural Health, Dec, 2002 by Julia Tolliver Maranan
Check Your Weight. Weighing too little or too much can disrupt your reproductive system, because body fat affects hormone production. To find out if your weight is healthy, calculate your body mass index (BMI) by multiplying your weight in pounds by 703 and then dividing that number by your height in inches squared. The ideal BMI for a woman trying to conceive is 20 to 27. If you are on either side of that range, talk to your doctor about adjusting your eating or exercise habits.
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Slow Your Pace. For some women, intense exercise suppresses fertility, says Domar, although experts aren't sure why. If you're not trying to lose a significant amount of weight, exercise at a moderate to easy pace two to three times a week and keep your heart rate under 110 beats per minute. Good forms of moderate exercise include yoga or walking for about two miles. Moderate exercise also encourages relaxation and reduces stress, which may increase fertility.
Take Fertility-Enhancing Vitamins. Studies have tied vitamin deficiencies to infertility, and nutrient deficiencies can harm a developing fetus. So Domar recommends taking a prenatal multivitamin (available from your physician) or a basic daily multivitamin that contains 400 mcg of folic acid. (If yours does not contain that much folic acid, take a separate folic acid supplement.) But don't exceed the daily value of any vitamin or mineral without the supervision of your doctor or nutritionist, says Domar. Some nutrients, like vitamin A, can build up to toxic levels in your body and can cause birth defects. To further protect against consuming too many nutrients, read the labels on fortified foods like cereals and energy bars. Some brands can contain up to 100 percent of the recommended daily value of some vitamins.
Ask About Supplements. Depending on the cause of your infertility, certain herbs may help you conceive. Ask your doctor about trying the following herb or about taking a combination supplement.
Chaste tree berry (Vitex agnus-castus; also called chasteberry or vitex) has been used for centuries in Europe and China to balance hormones. It treats infertility by normalizing levels of the hormones that help to stimulate ovulation. Chaste tree berry should begin to take effect after three to four months, according to Hudson. The usual dosage is 40 drops of a liquid extract or 175 mg of standardized capsules per day, but it's best to work with a practitioner if you want to take it.
A supplement that combines herbs and nutrients, called FertilityBlend, may also help speed conception, according to a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published earlier this year in the Journal of Women's Health and Gender-Based Medicine. In the study, researchers gave 29 women who were having trouble conceiving this supplement or a placebo. After three months, four of the 14 women taking the supplement became pregnant, compared to none of the women in the placebo group. FertilityBlend is available at pharmacies and natural food stores, or through the manufacturer (866,222-9862; www.fertilityblend.com). According to lead researcher Lynn Westphal, M.D., assistant professor in the department of gynecology and obstetrics at Stanford University in California, daily doses of FertilityBlend contain 400 mcg of folic acid, 6 mg of vitamin [B.sub.6], 12 meg of vitamin [B.sub.12], 225 IU of natural vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol), 18 mg of iron, 400 mg of magnesium, 70 mcg of selenium, 15 mg of zinc, 80 mg of chaste tree berry, 200 mg of green tea (Camellia sinensis), and 800 mg of the amino acid L-arginine.
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