Fertility of women: thus fulfilling the wish to have children!

How women can increase their fertility

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Diet during pregnancy

Finally pregnant! But what now? Can a pregnant woman continue to exercise, how heavy can she lift, and what foods should she avoid? Couples who are expecting a child suddenly ask themselves numerous questions. After all, they already want the best for their offspring.

nutrition

Just like when you are trying to conceive, women should have a particularly balanced diet when they are pregnant. However, she doesn’t have to eat for two. The energy requirement only increases by around ten percent from around the 16th week of pregnancy. You will need more of some nutrients than usual during this time. For example, the iron requirement during pregnancy is doubled. And the amount of folic acid required also increases by 50 percent.

Whole grains and fresh fruit should therefore be on the daily menu. Milk and milk products contain calcium, which is necessary for the child’s bone structure. Legumes such as soy and chickpeas are good sources of protein and should be consumed at least once a week. Meat also provides plenty of protein and iron. But it should always be well cooked and as low in fat as possible. More than two to three meat meals a week are not necessary. The omega-3 fatty acids and iodine contained in sea fish are important for the development of the child. One to two servings of fish a week are sufficient to supply the body with these nutrients. Drink enough, in total it should be about two liters of water or herbal and fruit tea a day.

Four to five small meals a day are ideal to always provide you and your child with the nutrients they need. It also prevents unnecessary cravings. Women who suffer from morning sickness can sometimes prevent this by eating a slice of bread before getting up.

Raw animal products

raw milk cheese, sushi and Tartar are animal foods that have not been preserved by heating. These products can contain pathogens that are sometimes dangerous for pregnant women or unborn children. These include, among others Listeria, Toxoplasma and salmonellae. While they usually cause little or no symptoms in healthy adults, they can be life-threatening to the unborn. It is therefore advisable to avoid raw animal foods – including uncooked or only slightly fried eggs – during pregnancy.

Typical Raw milk cheeses include Roquefort, Brie and Camembert. The latter two do not necessarily have to be made from raw milk. Every raw milk cheese is labeled as such. Most cheeses are made from pasteurized milk, so there is no danger. On the contrary, milk products are even good calcium donors for the bones of the embryo.

Also You can safely eat hard cheese made from raw milk. This is because it is heated during manufacture and also contains so little water that the pathogens cannot survive there. Since listeria is preferably on the rind of cheese, you should always cut it quite generously during pregnancy, even if it is not a raw milk product. Red smear and sour milk cheeses are also affected more often and should therefore not be consumed. Packaged salads that contain sprouts and germs are sometimes populated by listeria.

When preparing food, take special care to clean your hands thoroughly during pregnancy and to change the dishcloths frequently. You should also clean the dishes and kitchen appliances very well. So that the possible pathogens do not contaminate all food, you should store and prepare meat and eggs separately from fruits and vegetables. Always wash fresh fruit and vegetables thoroughly before eating.

Exercise during pregnancy

Exercise is good for pregnant women because it keeps you fit, improves blood circulation and optimally prepares the mother’s body for childbirth. However, if the pregnancy progresses with complications (premature labor, high blood pressure, etc.), you should definitely ask your doctor for advice. Sports that improve fitness are particularly suitable. The joints are optimally protected during swimming and water aerobics. Dancing and walking provide exercise and a good mood at the same time. Jogging, walking and aerobics are also good for mother and child. However, you should always listen to your body. If it hurts somewhere or you feel that it is getting too much, then take it easy.

Some exercises, such as Yoga and Pilates, in which the abdominal muscles are stressed, should no longer be carried out from the middle of pregnancy. The best thing to do is to ask your trainer which exercises you can take part in and which you cannot. Sports that are particularly injury-intensive (skiing, inline skating or riding) are better postponed until after pregnancy.

Numerous associations, the adult education center and hospitals offer a wide variety of courses especially for pregnant women. There are dance classes, water aerobics or ergofit for mums-to-be. These courses have the additional advantage that you will meet like-minded people from your area with whom you can exchange ideas now and later. Part of the course fees are covered by numerous health insurance companies.

Pregnant women and cats

Cats are, after raw pork and sheep meat Main carrier of toxoplasmosis. Because especially free-range cats, but also domestic cats that are fed with raw meat, are sometimes affected by toxoplasmas. A pregnant woman becomes infected with the pathogen for the first time in her life Toxoplasma gondii, this can result in serious damage to the child. However, if the woman has previously undergone toxoplasmosis (usually unnoticed or with mild flu-like symptoms), her immune system forms antibodies that protect her from another onset of the disease throughout her life.

Cat owners can use a simple text to determine whether they have antibodies and therefore do not have to take any precautions when handling the house tiger. A veterinarian can also easily determine whether the cat is infected. If the woman has no antibodies or has not had this tested, the partner should take care of cleaning the litter box as a precaution. When handling free-range cats, you should always wash your hands thoroughly after petting them. As a rule, however, it is not necessary to temporarily abolish the animal, as some gynecologists still advise.

Carrying and lifting

In general, pregnant women should not lift heavy loads. There is no general answer to the weight you are allowed to carry. If you yourself have the feeling that the shopping bag is too heavy for you, let your partner carry it. Even when moving, you should take care of your body as much as possible and not just drag the heavy boxes. If the pregnancy is without complications, there is of course nothing to be said against holding an older sibling or carrying the laundry box. Always keep your back straight when lifting and bend your knees instead of stooping, because the changed body proportions put additional strain on the spine in the event of unfavorable movements.

Smoke

Since nicotine can harm the unborn child, cigarettes should be absolutely taboo for expectant mothers. Because the oxygen supply to the placenta is Smoke minimized. Miscarriages and stillbirths occur more frequently, and there are also more malformations among the offspring. On average, the children of smokers have a lower birth weight than others. Since they undergo nicotine withdrawal after birth, they are usually more restless and scream a lot of.

But passive smoking can also have a negative impact on the child’s health. The expectant father and other people should therefore also be considerate during this time and go outside to smoke.

alcohol

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to severe mental and physical disabilities. Even occasional drinking can harm the unborn baby. Because the alcohol gets into the child’s body and attacks the organs, especially the brain. Experts therefore advise you to avoid alcohol completely during pregnancy. A solidarity partner who also does not drink alcohol during this time can make it easier for expectant mothers to do without.

caffeine

Coffee consumption during pregnancy is similar to the desire to have children: According to various studies, up to about 200 milligrams of caffeine appear to be absolutely harmless to the unborn child. This means that you shouldn’t drink more than about two cups of coffee a day. But be careful: caffeine is also found in black and green tea, in chocolate, cola and energy drinks!

Dye hair and perm

The chemicals that are used when coloring the hair or laying a perm are proven to get into the body through the hair roots. It is likely that they will reach the embryo through the blood. Although it is not yet clear whether and how they can harm the unborn child, doctors generally advise against such treatments during pregnancy.

air travel

Generally, air travel is not considered dangerous for the unborn child. Because the body is more exposed to cosmic radiation at altitude, you should avoid flying very often. In addition, since there is an increased risk of thrombosis for the mother during pregnancy, it is advisable to wear support stockings and to move frequently during the flight. If possible, only fly in regions where good medical care is guaranteed. Many airlines no longer take pregnant women at a later stage to avoid premature birth on the plane.

Medication in pregnancy

Always ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking medication during pregnancy. Herbal remedies can also have a negative impact on the unborn. For example, also tell your dentist about pregnancy. Because there are both dental narcotics that can cause contractions as well as alternative substances that are safe for both mother and child.

Maternity Protection Act

Tell your employer as soon as possible that you are pregnant. Because then the provisions of the Maternity Protection Act apply to you. Among other things, the law states that you are exempted from activities that can harm the health of the child.

Fertility and menopause

The beginning of the menopause heralds the end of Fertility of women on. With the menopause, the latest Menstrual period, this process is complete. The woman can no longer have children.

The Fertility of women begins at puberty, peaks at around 18 to 25 years, and then steadily decreases. If there is a 30% chance of becoming pregnant during this phase, the chances decrease to around 15% from the age of 33. With each woman’s menstrual cycle, the number of available egg cells is reduced until they are finally used up, sometime around the woman’s 50th year.

menopause

The time from about 40 to menopause are considered menopause designated. During this time there are hormonal fluctuations and irregularities in the cycle. The bleeding is sometimes weaker and shorter, then very heavy again and lasts longer. The eggs mature more and more irregularly, and it becomes more difficult to get pregnant. However, it is not impossible, so you should continue to use contraception during this time unless you do not mind starting over again with a straggler.

The time until menopause is associated with more or less severe menopausal symptoms for many women. The fluctuations in the hormonal balance lead to irritation of the hypothalamus, the control center in the brain, which interferes with the signal transmission to the pituitary gland. This in turn is responsible for controlling the body temperature, so that extremely annoying hot flashes and sweating can occur. Dizziness, rapid heartbeat, depression, mood swings and sleep disorders can also be side effects of the decreasing estrogen concentration.

Herbal, estrogen-containing natural products can be extremely helpful for menopausal symptoms. The so-called phytoestrogens alleviate the hormonal fluctuations and thus reduce the symptoms. Particularly rich in phytoestrogens are e.g. Red clover, soybeans, black cohosh, flaxseed and cereal bran. Hops, lemon balm, valerian and St. John’s wort help with irritability and sleep disorders, sage reduces sweating.

The process of fertilization

An egg is fertilized about a week after the end of menstruation or 14 days after the last rule has started. Seven to ten days later, it nests in the endometrium. At the end of the following week, she is then securely attached with a simple placenta that connects the developing embryo to its mother.

Through the placenta nutrients are transported from mother to baby, and his waste is returned to the mother’s cycle. This organ is crucial for the normal course of pregnancy because it produces hormones that are important for the health of the baby, for the uterus and the female genital organs. In addition, the hormones prepare the woman’s body for childbirth.

When the egg has traveled about a third of its way in the fallopian tube, it is fertilized by a sperm cell that is in the vagina after ejaculation. A few seconds after ejaculation, the sperm cells set off with whipping tail movements.

In this way, the sperm reach the acidic area of the vagina through the cervix – which has become more slimy and permeable during ovulation – into the uterus. In a few seconds they cross it and get into the fallopian tube. Sperm cells are chemically attracted to the relatively large egg cell and settle on the entire egg surface.

However, only one sperm cell succeeds in penetrating the outer layer of the egg cell. The outer layer of the egg hardens and all other sperm cells can no longer penetrate. This whole process, from ejaculation to fertilization, generally takes less than 60 minutes. During sexual intercourse, millions of semen are expelled in the vagina. Only around 2000 reach the fallopian tubes.

The egg cell lives for at most one day – unfertilized

The matured, unfertilized egg cell can probably only survive for twelve hours, but at most one day. Sperm cells cannot be fertilized for much longer than 24 hours, 36 hours is the limit. So fertilization can only occur if sexual intercourse takes place one to two days before ovulation or directly after ovulation.

Only the head of the sperm cell merges with the egg to form a single cell. Body and tail are lost. The cell divides in the first 24 hours, on the fourth day it is already a round ball consisting of over a hundred cells. The cell ball moves freely in the uterus for three days; it is fed by a type of milk that is secreted by the glands in the wall of the uterus.

At the end of the first week of life, he planted himself deep in the mucous membrane. This process is known as implantation. Here, the cell ball is surrounded by the mother’s blood all the time, which facilitates the supply of nutrients and the elimination of waste materials from the embryo. Until the 12th week, the developing baby is referred to as an embryo, then as a fetus.

The emergence of twins

If an egg is fertilized and then splits in two, identical twins grow up that have the same sex and a placenta. But most twins came from two fertilized eggs and separate placentas and amniotic sacs.

Every month, one of the ovaries is stimulated by a hormone (FSH, follicle stimulating hormone) to mature an egg. When one ovary is no longer functional, the other can do all the work. If the egg is not fertilized, it comes out of the body through the vagina during the next menstruation.

Fertility and desire to have children today

All friends proudly carry their round bellies in front of them, show cute baby photos and meet at the PEKiP course or in crawling groups. Only you do not want to recruit young people, although they have hoped every month for a long time that their days will not come this time. And then there are those annoying, indiscreet questions that they try to avoid every time: “Well, when is it finally so far with both of you?“Women in particular often suffer very psychologically during the waiting period, so the dream of having your own child can be a tough test for you and your relationship.

Around every seventh partnership is unintentionally childless

Even if you have the feeling that you are the only one with problems getting pregnant, this affects around 1.5 to two million couples in Germany alone. Estimates assume that almost every seventh partnership in Germany remains temporarily or permanently unintentionally childless.

However, it is very difficult to record exact numbers. After all, many couples use contraception for years before the fertility should be implemented in reality and they choose young people. Others, for example, only use condoms sporadically and let it matter because they are not sure whether they really want a child or not. In addition, very few women become pregnant directly in the first month after they stop using the contraceptive. So they are currently considered to be unintentionally childless, but this need not be the case in the long term.

The World Health Organization (WHO) speaks of one sterile partnership, if there is no pregnancy after 24 months with regular unprotected intercourse.

Increasing age when wanting children

If the women had an average of 25 when they gave birth to their first child in 1965, they are statistically about 30 years old today (www.bib-demografie.de/cln_090/nn_1881710/DE/DatenundBefunde/06/Abbildung/a__06__18__veragel__alter__muetter__geburt__1kind__best__ehe__d__200__o__1960. But as you get older, the likelihood of getting pregnant decreases. The fertility of women is significantly lower at the age of 30 than at the age of 25. The fertility drops even more from the age of 35. While healthy 20-year-old women have to wait around two to three months on average for a successful conception, 40-year-old women consider two years to be normal.

And sperm production in men also decreases with age. The number of viable sperm in 45-year-olds is reduced by an average of half compared to 18-year-olds.

Since many couples often only decide to become pregnant with increasing age, this is a decisive factor for the increase in temporary or permanently unwanted childlessness. And even with fertility treatments and gentle methods of increasing fertility, the likelihood of pregnancy decreases to the same extent with age. Because sometimes biology places its limits on the desire to have children.

About equally affected men and women

There is still a widespread opinion that infertility is almost always due to women. But reality looks different. The causes of unwanted childlessness can only be found in women in around 30 percent of cases, just as often as in men. Fertility restrictions are also proven to be 30 percent by both partners. No medical reasons can be found for at least ten percent of the couples who want to be examined because of their unsuccessful desire to have children.

So if you wait in vain for the next generation, you shouldn’t just look for possible causes in yourself. Your male partner can also increase their fertility through a healthy lifestyle or additional vital substances.

More and more couples undergoing fertility treatment

If the offspring do not want to adjust, many couples can be treated in fertility centers and reproductive clinics. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, 200,000 couples seek medical help every year because they want to have children. In 2003 alone, around 20,000 children were through one in Germany artificial fertilization emerged. After all, that makes up about two percent of newborns.

However, the number of artificial inseminations in Germany fell by almost half in 2004, since the statutory health insurance companies have since reimbursed less costs.

In addition to the possibilities of artificial insemination, we also present effective, natural measures on our pages for increasing the fertility of women.

menstrual cycle

Although the regularly recurring female cycle is sometimes annoying for many women due to bleeding, menstrual pain or PMS symptoms, it is an important prerequisite for pregnancy. An egg cell can only mature due to the cyclic hormonal interplay, while the endometrium prepares itself for the implantation of an embryo.

On irregular menstrual cycle can therefore indicate that the Fertility of women is restricted. Because only if the process is precise can the development of the sex cell function optimally.

Duration of the menstrual cycle

A very regular menstrual cycle is 28 days, but the duration of 25 to 35 days is still completely normal. Only when this period is not observed is one of the following menstrual disorders: If the interval between two consecutive menstrual periods is less than 24 days, this is known as polymenorrhea. If, on the other hand, menstruation occurs only every 36 days to six months, the cycle is called oligomenorrhea. If the intervals are even longer, medical specialists speak of an amenorrhea, in which ovulation usually does not occur.

First half of the cycle (follicular phase)

The first day of the menstrual period was arbitrarily set as the start of the menstrual cycle. A cycle ends on the last day before the rule. With the menstrual period, the old endometrium is rejected. Then it rebuilds itself. The latter is primarily stimulated by the female sex hormone estrogen, which is largely formed in the ovaries.

During this time, several follicles mature in one of the ovaries under the influence of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (unit consisting of an immature egg cell and surrounding auxiliary cells), of which only one is later usually ready to jump. The follicular cells form the hormone progesterone, which further supports egg maturation.

Ovulation

During ovulation, which takes place about 12 to 16 days before the next rule, the mature egg cell is expelled from the surrounding follicular cells together with some auxiliary cells under the influence of the luteinizing hormone (LH). At the same time, these cells remaining in the ovary are traversed with blood vessels, which increases the progesterone concentration not only locally, but throughout the body.

The egg cell now makes its way through the fallopian tube to the uterus. It can only be fertilized by a sperm within the following 12 to 24 hours. Then she dies. However, sperm survive in the woman’s body for several days. Therefore, the most fertile time is not on the day of ovulation, but shortly before.

Second half of the cycle (luteal phase)

After ovulation, the follicle remaining in the ovary, which is now called the yellow body, forms even more progesterone. The lining of the uterus is optimally supplied with nutrients and thus prepared for implantation. If there is no pregnancy, the luteal body dies, which means that it no longer produces progesterone. This in turn leads to the mucous membrane being rejected and another menstrual period occurring.

Pregnancy occurs

If, on the other hand, fertilization by a sperm occurs in the fallopian tube, the two cell nuclei unite to form a zygote. This begins with cell division on its way through the fallopian tube, so that when it reaches the uterus it already consists of 16 cells after about four days.

If the pregnancy is successful, the hormonal interplay between the embryo and the yellow body ensures that the endometrium is not rejected. Since the yellow body continues to produce progesterone, the pregnancy is retained. It is only after about ten to twelve weeks that the placenta (mother cake) is sufficiently developed to replace the yellow body during hormone production.

Hormones that play a role in the female cycle

Not just female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone are necessary for the menstrual cycle to function properly. Many other messenger substances in the body also play a decisive role in the finely tuned control loop.

Thyroid values that deviate from the norm can also mean that no egg cell matures or the cycle is disturbed in any other way. Excessive production of male sex hormones or sub-optimal concentrations of different neurotransmitters in the brain also upset the female cycle.

At a Luteal weakness – a very common diagnosis infertility and fertility – the corpus luteum produces too little progesterone, so that the second half of the cycle is shortened. The egg cell then matures and can be fertilized, but there are problems with implantation.

Increase female fertility – the blog

Welcome to the blog about women’s fertility. Many women who are longing for a child not only have to wait months but years. Again and again waiting for the next menstruation, hoping that the rule does not come – and then the rule comes, you are not pregnant and disappointed again.

This phenomenon of ever-decreasing fertility is due to a variety of causes, notably:

Lack of vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids
Hormonal disorders
an ever-aspiring pregnancy.

We explain the causes and show you how you can increase your fertility. Completely natural and without hormone treatment. We also show how hormone treatment works, what you should consider and how to find the best doctor for hormone treatment.