Women Infertility - Symptoms, Test and Diagnosis, Diet and Supplements for Healing the Disorder - Research Paper Example

submitted Health Sciences and Medicine: Women Infertility Introduction Infertility in womenis a problem, which includes failure to ovulate, uterine disorders such as endometriosis and fibroids, and blockages in the fallopian tube. Infertility in women is a situation whereby a woman experiences difficulty in conceiving despite regularly having sex with their partners without using contraceptives over a period of more than a year. Nonetheless, this is a problem that sometimes can be addressed through medical attention. For example in the United States, roughly 15 to 25 percent of all couples are infertile. Doctors are the only people who can make diagnosis if a person has had sex for more than one year withoutconceivingfor a period of one year, while having sex without protection. Infertility remains a problem for many women and sometimes men too suffer problems of infertility. This paper highlights some of the pathogenesis, common symptoms and current conventional treatment. It further addresses the issue of nutritional protocol to include diet and supplements, not only for healing the disorder, but also for prevention. Explain why the diet and supplements suggest are appropriate for this particular illness. Symptoms of Female Infertility There are few symptoms and present controversies surrounding female infertility: a) In capability of becoming pregnant. b) The controversies surrounding the infertility problem is associated with a range of emotional problems facing the couples. Such challenges affect mostly the childless couples. And some argue that having at least one child may cool the tempers regarding infertility. Causes of Female Infertility There are numerous factors that cause female infertility, which include the following: a) Fallopian tube blockages or damages: when fallopian tubes of a woman are damaged, there is little possibility for a woman to conceive. It is vital to note that the fallopian tubes play an important role of carrying the eggs from the ovaries to the uterus and when they are damaged, there is no possibility of contact between the egg and sperm. Fallopian damages create many other problems that contribute to female infertility such as: endometriosis, pelvic infections, pelvic surgeries that may lead to scar formation and fallopian tube blockages (Jorge, Walter, and Skerrett, 71). b) Cervical problems: a cervical causes a small number of women to suffer from cervical conditions that may cause issues when it comes to conception. Cervical conditions are likely to bur sperms from passing through the cervical canal. Nonetheless, this is a treatable problem and many gynecologists will always advice women that it can be treated and women to conceive. Many of such cases have successfully been addressed through intrauterine insemination. c) Hormonal causes: hormonal problem may cause female infertility because many women have a problem with their ovulation process. The process of synchronizing hormonal changes that causes the release of female egg from the ovary and the thickening of the uterus lining or the endometrium in preparation of fertilized egg to fail. This failure causes the problem of a woman becoming incapable of becoming pregnant. Nonetheless, these problems may be detected through the use of basal body temperature charts, blood tests, and ovulation predictor kits that assist in detecting hormonal levels (Agarwal, Nabil and Botros 181). d) Uterine problems: the abnormal anatomy of the uterus, which happens when a woman has polyps and fibroids are possible causes of infertility in women. Fibroids or tumors are very common in women uterus and these are very probable causes of infertility in women. Fibroids and tumors disrupt implantation by blocking the fallopian tube. In fact, an abnormally shaped uterus causes problems that bur women from becoming pregnant. e) Cervical stenosis: this is also referred to as the cervical narrowing that is usually caused by an inherited malformed cervix. In addition to this, there are cases whereby the cervix fails to produce the best type of mucus that enables sperm to move from the cervix into the uterus. In some cases, unexplained infertility may occur in women and in this case a cause of the infertility is hardly found because there are usually numerous minor factors underlining the infertility problem. Unexplained infertility in women presents a dilemma that must be addressed through considering various factors. Further research reveals that certain factors are likely to make a woman infertile and these factors include: age, smoking, weight, sexual history, and alcohol (Kimberley 56). The Pathogenesis of Infertility in Women An increasing age makes the quantity and quality of a woman’s eggs to decline. When a woman reaches late 30s, she loses more follicles that lead to release of fewer and poor quality eggs. This causes a lot of cases of miscarriages and sometimes creates problems when it comes to conception. Smoking damages a woman’s cervix and fallopian tubes (Herrmann 62). This problem leads to ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages when a woman is luck to conceive. Smoking causes depletion of female eggs prematurely, thus; reducing a woman’s ability to get pregnant. Overweight women have problem conceiving because it hinders normal ovulation and having a body mass index (BMI) increases the frequency of ovulation and probability of getting pregnant. Finally, sexual history and alcohol are some of the causes of infertility. For instance, if an individual has been having unprotected sexual intercourse and have been infected by gonorrhea or syphilis and chlamydia, she is likely to have problems of fallopian damages. Test and Diagnosis of Women Infertility When a woman has experienced problems of conceiving for a reasonable period of time, it is vital to seek for further evaluation and treatment of infertility. Fertility tests include various issues such as: a) Ovarian Reserve Testing: this test assist in determining the quality and quantity of eggs that re available for ovulation to occur. Women having problem of depleted egg supply and sometimes, women over the age of 36 years are likely to be subjected to imaging tests and blood test too. b) Ovulation testing: Ovulation prediction kit helps a woman in carrying out a test at home to assist detect surge in luteinizing hormone (LH). The LH is a process that happens prior to ovulation and if a woman has not had a positive ovulation test. It also includes a blood test for progesterone, which is a hormone produced after ovulation and this helps ascertain that a woman is ovulating. Additionally, other hormone levels such as prolactin must also be checked to determine ovulation in women. c) Hysterosalpingography: When an X-ray contrast is injected into a woman’s uterus, it helps determine whether or not the uterine cavity is normal and the fluid passes out of the uterus and spilled out through the fallopian tubes. In case of abnormalities, a woman must be subjected to a further evaluation. In some case, a woman is likely to improve her fertility after this test because it flushes the fallopian tubes. d) Imaging tests: Pelvic ultrasound helps check problems associated with uterine or fallopian tube. In this case, the X-ray above must be done to check the uterine lining and sometimes it can be done through regular ultrasound. e) Hormone testing: this process also helps in checking the level of ovulatory hormones and thyroid or the pituitary hormones, which controls the reproductive system. f) Sometimes it depends on the woman’s situation to help determine the test to be employed in a particular case. Sometime a woman may do the minimally invasive surgery also known as Laparoscopy. This involves insertion of a device to examine a woman’s fallopian tube. Laparoscopy assists in finding the endometriosis blockages, scarring, and irregularities of the fallopian tubes. In addition to this, a woman may undergo through genetic testing to determine whether or not there is a genetic defect causing infertility (Linda, Eileen and Robert 152). Diet and Supplements for healing the disorder and preventing Female Infertility One may not value the kind of food he/she eats when it comes to issues regarding problems conceiving. It is noteworthy that there are supplements that boost chances of one getting pregnant because the supplements have essential nutrients. Some of these supplements that assist in boosting fertility include: a) Antioxidants: the American Diabetic Association affirms that antioxidants are likely to repair damaged cells. This is because they may help impact the quality of a woman’s egg or sperm cells. The examples of antioxidants essential for improving fertility in women are: selenium, Vitamins C&E, a trace of minerals. b) Most people are likely to benefit from adding mineral zinc in their diets. Zinc helps in egg cell development and zinc deficiency may cause problems with sperms and egg cells’ development. c) Amino acids or carnitine produced by human body helps in turning fats into usable energy. Research reveals that lack of L-Carnitine may negatively impact mobility and sperm count. d) For women, it is essential to use multi-vitamin and mineral supplements that are essential for prenatal vitamin. This is because they contain nutrients level with nutritional supplements that promote fertility. It is essential because it further helps in achieving and maintaining hormonal balance, which backs up the procreative process (Harris 23). Nutritional Diet and Supplement Protocol or Plan (Natural Fertility Treatment Plan Schedule) 1st Week Homeopathic Initial Consultation & protocol prescription 90 minutes 2nd Week Naturopathic DietPreliminaryDiscussion 60 minutes 4th Week Naturopathic Nutrition supplement 30 minutes 5th& 6th Week Homeopathic Nutrition supplement 30 minutes 8th Week Naturopathic Nutrition supplement 30 minutes 9th& 10th Week Homeopathic  re-assessment & follow-up 60 minutes 12th Week Final session - conclusion of protocol & ‘next steps’ Supplements Taking the amino acids such as L-ornithine, L-arginine, L-glutamine, L-lysine, and L-glutamine in combination with niacin and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) prior to having sex increases the hormonal level. Taking the suggested supplements above raises hormonal levels by roughly 20% while the couples are asleep, this happens naturally.Some other essential amino acids are valine, tryptophan, leucine, carnitine, and tyrosine also helps but should be taken during bed time. The suggested diets are helpful in prevention and ensuring that fertility hormones or hormonal imbalance is addressed through eating appropriate diet. Moreover, these supplements are also essential for men also since they are likely to improve hormonal imbalance and have minerals indispensable for fertility. Conclusion Over the years, female infertility has been a problem for many women. Infertility in women is a situation whereby a woman experiences difficulty in becoming pregnant even after having unprotected sex for more than a year. It has the symptom of not being able to be pregnant; however, it remains a controversial issue globally. Its causes include: fallopian tube blockages or damages, cervical problems, presence of fibroids, hormonal imbalance, and uterine problems among other problems. Since it is a controversial issue, it is usually associated with age, smoking, weight, sexual history, and alcohol. It can be diagnosed or treated through various evaluations such as ovarian reserve Testing, imaging test, hysterosalpingography, ovulation testing and hormonal testing. Research further indicates that certain supplements are essential in addressing the infertility problem in women as elaborated above in this paper. Further research to understand the complexities involved concerning women infertility to address the problem successfully. Work Cited Agarwal, Ashok, Nabil Aziz, and BotrosRizk.Studies on Womens Health. New York: Humana Press, 2013. Internet resource. Chavarro, Jorge, Walter Willett, and P J. Skerrett.The Fertility Diet. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008. Print. Giudice, Linda, Eileen Santa, and Robert Pool.Assessing the Medical Risks of Human Oocyte Donation for Stem Cell Research: Workshop Report. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press, 2007. Print. Harris, Darcy L. The Experience of Spontaneous Pregnancy Loss in Infertile Women Who Have Conceived with the Assistance of Medical Intervention. , 2009. Internet resource. Herrmann, Wolfgang, and Rima Obeid.Vitamins in the Prevention of Human Diseases. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 2011. Print. Oxington, Kimberley V. Stress and Health: New Research. New York: Nova Biomedical Books, 2005. Print. Speroff, Leon, and Marc A. Fritz.Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2011. Print. Read More