11 Most Common Myths About Male and Female Infertility

1. 'He doesn't have any fertility problems; he's already a dad.'
Contrary to popular belief, male fertility is finite. Similar to female fertility, male fertility decreases with age, particularly after age 40.

Researchers have found a direct link between paternal age and an increased risk of autism and schizophrenia. Men pass along as many as four times more genetic mutations compared with mothers. As a man ages, the concentration of mobile, healthy semen and semen volume overall will decrease.

2. 'All the women in my family had more babies in their 40s, so I am fine.'
Although family fertility history is taken into account during treatment, it can neither help nor hinder fertility potential. Previous successful pregnancies also do not signify a bump-free conception route.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11% of couples experience secondary infertility, which is defined as a couple with a child being unable to conceive again after a year. Once a woman hits 40, there is a less than 5% chance (PDF) she will get pregnant in any given month (compared with 20% at age 30).

3. 'I smoke, but I don't have to give it up until I'm pregnant.'

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The American Society for Reproductive Medicine estimates that up to 13% of female infertility diagnoses are due to smoking. Believe it or not, smoking as few as five cigarettes a day each has been associated with lower fertility rates in both men and women.

4. 'We have sex within 24 hours after ovulation.'

After ovulation has ended, becoming pregnant is impossible. Ovulation -- when an egg drops from the ovary into the fallopian tubes -- occurs once a month, roughly seven to 10 days before a woman's period. For pregnancy to occur, sperm must meet an egg during this one- to two-day time period.

To boost your odds, have sex before and during ovulation, as sperm can survive in the reproductive tract for three days. If a woman's monthly cycles are irregular, visit a specialist to discuss ovulation. Ovulatory disorders are the most common infertility diagnosis for women.

5. 'I don't have to worry about my eggs until I'm 40.'

At birth, a woman has 7 million eggs, which slims down to 400,000 at the onset of puberty. During a woman's lifetime, approximately 400 to 500 eggs will be released. As a woman ages, the ovarian reserve declines. A woman's egg supply takes a rapid decline in the late 20s, again in the 30s and then most notably after age 35.

6. 'I do yoga and exercise. I'm in great shape. Age won't affect my fertility.'
A healthy body and mind can boost fertility, but it cannot reverse the age of ovaries and semen. For both men and women, age is a critical component of fertility potential.

7. 'I know we could stand to lose weight, but ...'

When men or women carry extra weight, hormonal shifts occur in the body that can affect ovulation and semen production. The great news is that couples can team up to lose weight, become active together and boost their fertility.

Although it is estimated that 70% of women with infertility are also obese, losing as little as 5% to 10% of body weight can boost fertility in men and women.

8. 'Only women need to take supplements before a pregnancy.'
It has long been known that women should take folic acid to prevent certain birth defects, but folic acid is now known to be an important supplement in male fertility.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley found that men had a higher rate of chromosomal abnormalities in their sperm when their diet was low in folic acid. Coenzyme Q10 has also been found to increase sperm count and sperm motility, and vitamin E also improves low sperm count.

9. 'STDs affect my health, but they don't affect trying to have a baby.'

For both men and women, sexually transmitted diseases can affect the ability to have children. STDs can cause scarring and blockage of the male reproductive structures. If STDs go untreated in women, they can lead to an episode of pelvic inflammatory disease, which is a leading cause of infertility.

10. 'It doesn't matter how much coffee I drink.'

Believe it or not, that venti at Starbucks might be working against you. One study found that "women who consumed more than the equivalent of one cup of coffee per day were half as likely to become pregnant, per cycle, as women who drank less."

Caffeine can decrease fertility, so be sure to limit intake. It's better to opt for decaffeinated or half-caffeinated coffee, and remember there is caffeine in tea, colas and chocolate.

11. 'We have sex every single day so we can get pregnant faster.'

Having sex every day only slightly increases pregnancy when compared with having sex every other day, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. If a man has a normal sperm count, sperm concentration does not decrease during daily sex.

Source: CNN

THE EBOLA VIRUS!

The Ebola virus  is a rare and deadly infection that causes bleeding inside and outside of the body. I am sure you have heard of it lately on the news and the media. Ebola strikes mainly in remote villages of Central and West Africa, but it has spread to some African cities, too. The disease, also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever or Ebola virus disease, kills up to 90% of people who are infected. Since the outbreak of the deadly strain of Zaire Ebola in Guinea in February, around 90 people have died as the disease has traveled to neighbouring Sierra Leone, Liberia and Mali. The outbreak has sent shock waves through communities who know little of the disease or how it is transmitted. The cases in Mali have added to fears that it is spreading through West Africa. There was a scare recently that the deadly virus has found its way in Ghana but health authorities in Ghana has debunked the rumour after testing a 12 year old girl who died of a viral fever and was rumoured to be Ebola Virus. Could People in the U.S. Ever Get Ebola? So far serious Ebola cases have only shown up in Africa. Ebola can spread from country to country when people travel. So it is possible for Ebola to reach the U.S. if someone who is infected travels here on a plane. But there are safety measures in place to prevent people from coming to U.S. airports with the disease. Airline crews are trained to spot the symptoms of Ebola in passengers flying from places where the virus is found. Crews are told to quarantine anyone who looks infected. 

How Do You Get Ebola?

You can get Ebola by coming into contact with the blood or body fluids of an animal or person who is infected such as handshakes, kissing and hugging of infected human and animals. People often get sick with Ebola when they care for or bury a person who has the disease. Someone also can catch the virus by touching contaminated needles or surfaces. 

What Are the Symptoms of Ebola? 

Symptoms of the Ebola virus show up 2 to 21 days after someone is infected. As the virus spreads through the body's cells, it damages the immune system and organs. Ultimately, Ebola causes levels of blood-clotting cells, called platelets, to fall, which can lead to severe bleeding. 

Many of the early symptoms of Ebola look like the flu or other mild illnesses. They include: Fever Headache Muscle aches Sore throat Weakness Diarrhea As the disease gets worse, people who are infected may develop: Bleeding inside and outside of the body Rash Trouble breathing.

How Can You Tell if Someone Has Ebola? 

Sometimes it's hard to tell if a person has Ebola from the symptoms alone. Doctors may first test for other diseases that have the same symptoms as Ebola, such as: Cholera Hepatitis Malaria Meningitis Typhoid feverTests of the blood and tissues, such as the ELISA test, also can help diagnose Ebola. If someone might have Ebola, they should be isolated from the public immediately to help prevent the spread of Ebola. 

How Is Ebola Treated? 

Right now there is no real treatment or cure for Ebola. Doctors try to manage people's symptoms by giving them: Fluids and electrolytes through a vein Nutrition Oxygen.

How Can You Prevent Ebola? 

There is no vaccine to prevent Ebola. People can avoid catching the disease by not traveling to areas where the virus is found, avoid bush meat, contact with bats, Health care workers can prevent infection by wearing masks, gloves, and goggles whenever they come into contact with people who may have Ebola. 

What Causes an Ebola outbreak? 

Usually an outbreak starts when someone comes into contact with the body fluids or waste of infected animals, such as monkeys, chimps, or fruit bats. Once a person is infected, he or she can then spread it to others. 

There are five different types of Ebola virus that cause the disease. Four of them are known to cause the disease in humans. The Ebola virus first appeared during two 1976 outbreaks in Africa. Ebola gets its name from the Ebola River, which is near one of the villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo where the disease first appeared.

However the best way to deal with the virus here before it get it's take in our country is to take the following precautions: 

1. Wash your hands frequently

2. Get hand sanitizers for people to use in your offices and homes. And let them know why.

3. Get one for your kids to use in schools and public places frequently, and if possible one for their class. Let them know why.

4. Be careful with hand railings, doors and other utilities used by the public.

5. Most importantly, this is the time to avoid bush meat of which you don't or are not sure of its source.

6. Lastly, watch out for people with flu like symptoms such as fever and malaria.

* please note it has no cure yet, so the best way to staying healthy is prevention. It sure make sense to share this information around. YOUR HEALTH IS YOUR WEALTH.

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