When I talk about hormonal health, I usually get deep into discussions around leafy greens, root veggies, healthy fats, and other wholesome foods. As far as I’m concerned, medications and pricey supplements are not the ideal fixes for hormonal issues ranging from amenorrhea to fibroids to PCOS. The real healing happens at breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
But in addition to reaping hormonal rewards through food, I also recommend that women drink their way to health with some easy, potent beverages that can have a big impact on the endocrine system. These recipes are simple, affordable, and — yes — totally tasty.
Here are my three favorite hormone-balancing beverages:
1. Warm Lemon Water
Sure, this one is simple — but the effects are profound! I’ve been recommending warm lemon water for years and many clients tell me it’s made a big difference in their skin, boosted their energy, and helped keep them feeling satisfied between meals.
Lemons are high in vitamin C, which has been shown to benefit the skin and boost immunity. Lemons have also been shown to help the liver detoxify the body and improve insulin resistance by regulating hormones like glucose and leptin.
Adding this powerful citrus fruit to warm water is also a tasty way to stay hydrated — an important component of overall health — and keeping your digestion in motion.
Instructions: I recommend women start their day with a big glass of warm water and a few squeezes of lemon first thing in the morning. Cheers!
2. "Woman Balance Tea": Red Raspberry Leaf, Dong Quai, and Nettle Tea
Raspberry leaf has historically been used to strengthen uterine muscles, and there’s some scientific evidence to back the claim that the herb can have a powerful effect on hormones. According to a study published in the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, women who drank raspberry leaf tea actually had shorter second stages of labor and fewer of their babies were delivered by forceps. Another study, published in The Australian College of Midwives Incorporated Journal, found that women who drank the tea were less likely to require C-sections.
Adding calcium-rich nettles to a raspberry leaf tea is also a great way to support bone health. But I consider the powerhouse ingredient in this powerful brew to be dong quai. An ancient root often used in Chinese medicine, dong quai has traditionally been used to address reproductive problems like dysmenorrhea and painful periods. One study published in Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology even found that a supplement containing the root was effective in treating menopausal symptoms without side effects. I like to call dong quai a hormone-balancing wunderkind!
Instructions: Just combine 1 bag each of dried red raspberry leaf with dried nettle leaf and dong quai to brew a tea and drink as often as you like.
3. Golden Milk
Golden Milk is the ultimate hormone-balancing concoction, and it’s also warming, soothing, and delicious. The combination of turmeric, coconut oil, coconut milk, sweeteners, and spices is warming and rejuvenating, and it’s something I recommend to clients with all kinds of endocrine issues.
Turmeric, the powerful, potent spice that plays a big role in Ayurvedic medicine, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and improve circulation and estrogen metabolism. In Ayurveda, turmeric is considered an important tool in combating everything from amenorrhea and endometriosis to fibroids and cysts, and the other ingredients, including coconut milk, are wonderful sources of healthy fats.
Anecdotally, I’ve found Golden Milk to be a great supplement for women trying to combat bad cramps, an underactive thyroid, or super-cold hands and feet. And — bonus — the recipe is easy!
Instructions: To get the most out of your milk, it’s best to first cook a golden paste by blending 5 tablespoons virgin coconut oil, 1/2 cup organic turmeric powder, 1 cup water, and 1.5 teaspoons black pepper in a pot and simmer for about 10 minutes. Once this cools, you can keep it in the refrigerator in a jar for about two weeks and just take a dollop every time you make the milk.
To make the milk, warm 2 cups of coconut milk and 1 teaspoon of the golden paste in a pot, and whisk until fully mixed. Then add cinnamon, honey, and maple syrup to taste. For an added kick, you can also add cayenne pepper!
So, how do I make sure I fit all three drinks into my day? I recommend lemon water in the morning before breakfast, Woman Balance Tea in the late afternoon, and the Golden Milk before bed.
source: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-23473/what-i-drink-every-day-to-balance-my-hormones.html?utm_source=quickanddirtytips.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pubexchange_module
Keep getting negative results every time you pee on a stick? Here are five fertility saboteurs that could be the reasons you’re not getting pregnant.
You already know the drill—when you’re trying to conceive you can’t leave the house without seeing pregnant bellies. Every time you turn on the TV there’s a sweet baby in a diaper commercial staring back at you. You always seem to spot at least four newborns snuggled up in carriers perched on top of grocery carts when you run into the supermarket.
Whether you’re a few months into trying or are thinking about starting a family soon (here are nine things to do before you conceive), you know doubt have babies on the brain. By now you likely know that many of us don’t get pregnant the first time we try. But what might be surprising news is that there are fertility saboteurs that can wreak havoc on your chances of conceiving. Here’s how to deal with five that could be obstructing your road to baby bliss.
1. Stress
When you mention to friends and family that you’re “trying,” you’ll almost guaranteed to hear someone say, “Just relax and it will happen.” Easier said than done. Stress, good or bad, is going to take its toll on you both physically and mentally. According to naturopathic doctor Via Bitidis, co-director of the North Toronto Naturopathic Clinic, balance and calm are a crucial part of trying to conceive. “When you’re stressed your adrenal system takes a hit.
Your body isn’t going to say, ‘Okay, let’s get pregnant.’ Learning to say no and to take time for yourself is important for improving your chances of having a baby.” Megan Karnis, medical director of The ONE Fertility Clinic in Burlington, Ont., agrees with a word of caution: “A lot of women think the best thing to do when you’re stressed is to take time off work. In my experience, that doesn’t help, because it makes a woman feel she has to get pregnant in that time and then the stress to get pregnant is so much higher,” she says. Instead of altering your day-to-day routine entirely, Karnis recommends counselling, art therapy, meditation and exercise to reduce stress levels.
2. Sleep deprivation
You already know that catching an adequate number of zzz’s makes that morning department meeting more bearable, but here’s another reason to get yourself to bed before the wee hours. Sleep deprivation puts stress on the body (there’s that pesky s-word again) and when you’re tired, you don’t run on all cylinders. “For people who don’t get enough sleep, their immune systems are down a little bit and they’re more likely to get infections, which will affect the reproductive cycle,” Karnis says. “This applies to men as well. Infections can cause fever and that excess heat can damage the sperm temporarily,” she says.
“Women who don’t get enough sleep can also start to feel anxious, which may cause missed periods.” Keeping yourself healthy is the baby bottom line, so set the PVR to record Mad Men and enforce a new bedtime.
3. Weight issues
A woman who is underweight or overweight may have some difficulty conceiving a baby. “An undernourished body may not ovulate properly,” says Bitidis. On the other hand, excess weight can have a significant effect on fertility.
“Just being over your ideal weight decreases your chance of getting pregnant even if you are ovulating regularly,” says Karnis. “The further you stray above 25 on the Body Mass Index, the worse it gets.” Maintaining a healthy diet and developing a reasonable exercise routine will do wonders for your mind and body,” Bitidis adds.
4. Cycle confusion
“A lot of women don’t understand their own cycles,” says Bitidis. Most of us were taught the typical 28-day cycle in health class back in high school, but every woman is different and cycles vary in length. “The biggest thing is timing,” Karnis says. “We teach women that ovulation is two weeks before your period. Most people think that it’s two weeks after, but that’s only if you have a four-week cycle,” she says.
You’ll have better luck conceiving if you monitor ovulation and start having sex at the right time. “We also teach people about sperm life—they can live for three days in the cervix, so you don’t have to have sex on the day of ovulation, it could be the day before. We also find that a lot of people don’t know that lubricant decreases sperm motility and transfer, so you shouldn’t use lubricant when you’re trying to get pregnant,” says Karnis.
5. Biofeedback
“Keeping a positive attitude is incredibly important. There is a huge mind-body connection. Try not to listen to the negative stories and try to be patient,
” Bitidis advises. Preparing for pregnancy up to a year in advance may be a good idea if you’re planning to start a family in the near future, that way you can focus on making lifestyle changes. If you’re trying now, remember that it can take time—experts say up to a year— to conceive. If you’re concerned that it has taken too long, speak to your healthcare provider about your options for fertility counselling and treatment.
source: http://www.todaysparent.com/trying-to-conceive/getting-pregnant/5-reasons-youre-not-getting-pregnant/
If you’re trying to get pregnant (or trying not to get pregnant), tracking your cycle is important. It will help you keep track of the most fertile days when you can more easily conceive.
A common fertility myth is that a woman can’t get pregnant when she’s on her period. While the odds for pregnancy are lower on the days you’re on your period, they aren’t zero.
Here’s what you need to know about fertility and having sex on your period.
How Does Conception Occur?
The ability to conceive is miraculous. It requires the meeting of a male’s sperm with a female’s egg. Once a woman’s ovary releases an egg, the egg lives for only between 12 and 24 hours. The male sperm can live for about three days.
The typical female cycle is 28 days. Day 1 is when she starts her period. A woman typically ovulates around day 14 (but it could be around days 12, 13, or 14).
Ovulation is when a woman’s ovary releases an egg for fertilization. If a sperm is available in the uterus, pregnancy can occur.
Ovulation can vary based on a woman’s cycle. Some women have a longer cycle of around 35 days between periods. Ovulation would then happen around day 21. Women with a shorter cycle of 21 days ovulate around day 7.
How Can a Woman Get Pregnant on Her Period?
It’s easy to mistake vaginal bleeding for the beginning of a period. It’s possible you could bleed during ovulation when you’re most fertile. This could easily be mistaken for a period. Having unprotected sex at this time dramatically increases your chances of becoming pregnant.
For the average woman, the ovulation cycle is somewhere between 28 and 30 days. This means that if you have sex while on your period, you won’t likely ovulate until several days later. But women with a shorter cycle wouldn’t have the same amount of time between having their periods and ovulating.
Another consideration is that a man’s sperm can live inside a woman for up to 72 hours after ejaculation. Toward the end of your period, your chances of becoming pregnant will increase.
If you’re curious about your ovulation patterns, you can track the number of days between your periods. This includes when you start your period, and then when you start your period again. Over several months, you can identify a pattern to determine roughly when your ovulation cycle occurs.
What Are the Chances a Woman Can Get Pregnant on Her Period?
A woman’s likelihood of getting pregnant can rise and fall throughout her ovulation cycle. While the average female’s monthly cycle may be 29 days, others may have a cycle that varies from 20 to 40 days, or longer.
The likelihood that a woman will get pregnant one to two days after she starts bleeding is nearly zero. But the likelihood starts to increase again with each successive day, even though she’s still bleeding. At roughly day 13 after starting her period, her chance of pregnancy is an estimated 9 percent.
While these numbers may be low, it doesn’t mean a woman can ever be 100 percent assured that she won’t get pregnant on her period.
Birth Control Precautions
If you’re trying to get pregnant, having sex on your period won’t likely help you to conceive unless your menstrual cycle is less than 28 days. But it’s always possible that you could become pregnant.
If you’re not trying to become pregnant, it’s important to have protected sex every time. This includes using some form of contraception like wearing a condom or taking birth control pills.
Birth control pills will not provide a barrier against sexually transmitted diseases like herpes, gonorrhea, or chlamydia. To protect yourself from unwanted infections, have your partner wear a condom.
The Takeaway
A woman’s ovulation cycles can vary, so it’s statistically possible you could become pregnant while on your period. While pregnancy is less likely in the earlier days of your period, the chances increase in the later days.
If you’re trying to become pregnant and haven’t conceived after a year or more of having unprotected sex, contact your doctor. They can recommend methods of tracking your ovulation, as well as fertility experts. They can provide testing and treatments that will help you increase your chances of conception.
source: http://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/sex-on-period#2
Whether you are trying to get pregnant or looking for ways to avoid pregnancy while engaging in sex, a common question is whether or not you can have sex and get pregnant on your period? Similarly, many people ask can you get pregnant right after your period or is it possible to get pregnant right before your period. You are not alone if either of these is one of your questions.
The probabilities of getting pregnant in these different situations vary. Some of the situations noted above are better for trying to conceive than the other, while one of the above is better for having sex with a lesser chance of getting pregnant.
Can You Get Pregnant On Your Period?
The question about whether you can get pregnant on your period or not is probably the most common of the three situations noted above. The answer is yes and no. The probability is that you would not get pregnant having sex during your period.
Apart from being messier and less desirable, having sex during your period will more than likely not result in getting pregnant. More than likely, your ovulation is several days away decreasing any chances of conceiving during this time.
However, there are exceptions. The above applies to women who have typical 28 to 30 day or longer cycles. If you happen to be one of the individuals who has a shorter cycle there is a chance you could get pregnant while having sex during your period.
Now you are asking, “How does that happen?” If your cycle is shorter, for example, every 21 to 24 days, this means you are ovulating earlier in the cycle. Sperm can live inside you for 2, 3 and up to 5 days. You could have sex towards the end of your bleeding and then actually conceive 4 or 5 days later with your early ovulation.
The probabilities of getting pregnant while on your period are low, but the possibilities are there. This is not the time to have sex if you are trying to get pregnant.
Can You Get Pregnant Right After Your Period?
Woman getting pregnant after her period
Yes, you can get pregnant right after your period. You are actually starting to move into your fertility window. On a typical cycle that occurs every 28 to 30 days, the fertility window is usually between Day 11 and Day 21. As noted above sperm can live 2, 3 and up to 5 days. If your period (bleeding time) last for 5 to 7 days, and you have sex right after that, you are approaching your fertility window.
If you stop bleeding on Day 6, have sex on Day 7, and ovulate on Day 11. It is possible that the sperm from Day 6 will be waiting in your fallopian tubes for conception. Of course, your chances of conceiving right after your period increase with each day after your bleeding has stopped. If you are trying to conceive this is a good time to start having sex. Increase your chances of conception by having sex every other day for the next 14 days.
Can You Get Pregnant Right Before Your Period?
Getting pregnant before your period
The likelihood of getting pregnant right before your period is extremely low. For women who have a typical cycle of 28 to 30 days or longer and their cycles are regular, it is fairly safe to say that your ovulation occurred between Day 11 and Day 21. The egg is only available for 12 to 24 hours for conception.
This would mean that the days right before your period are the safest for having sex without the expectation of getting pregnant. The number of “safe days” right before your period go up with longer cycles and lessen with shorter cycles.
If you know when ovulation occurred and you wait for 36 to 48 hours later, then you should be beyond the possibilities of conception. The further you move away from ovulation, the less likely your chance will be for conceiving. This is not the time to be having sex if you are trying to conceive. However, it is still a good time to enjoy the intimacy with your partner.
source: http://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/can-get-pregnant-period/
Your Odds of Conceiving at Every Point in Your Cycle
To hit the baby-making bullseye, you've got to aim for certain sweet spots of fertility in your cycle. Here's how to maximize your odds of conceiving throughout the month.
Phase 1: Your period
In essence, menstruation is the monthly shedding of the endometrium, the inner membrane of the uterus. For most women, this lasts between three and seven days. By the third day, levels of progesterone and estrogen are on the rise and working on rebuilding your endometrium.
Around day four, follicle ripening begins to go on the uptick. That means the ovaries are starting to prepare eggs for release. Unless you're a very early ovulator (the average timing for ovulation is 14 days before the start of your period -- track yours by using a basal body temperature chart or an ovulation predictor kit), there's little chance your man's sperm will actually have any eggs to work with during this phase of your cycle.
Your odds of conceiving: Almost nil. It's not detrimental to have intercourse, and some women see it as a good time to take a breather from the rigors of frequent baby-making sex.
Phase 2: Pre-ovulation
"I recommend having sex frequently -- two to three times a week, but every other day if you can -- shortly after you stop menstruating to cover your window of pre-ovulation," says Kelly Pagidas, M.D., a fertility specialist with Women & Infants Center for Reproduction and Infertility in Providence. Here's why: Around day seven of your cycle, you'll notice vaginal discharge that seems a little springy to the touch. Within a few days, it will turn white and creamy, a cue that your fertility is returning once again. It doesn't mean the egg is released yet, but it's a good indicator that ovulation is on the way and that your cervical mucus is a friendly environment for sperm.
Remember, sperm can live up to five days if it's trapped in fertile cervical mucus, so it behooves you to get a few of his swimmers in place. "One study showed that people who had sex only one time during this phase, even four to five days before ovulation, still got pregnant," says Steven R. Bayer, M.D., reproductive endocrinologist at Boston IVF fertility clinic in Boston.
Your odds of conceiving: Good. An egg isn't technically released during this phase but you'll want to step up your sexual routine in the event that you ovulate earlier than planned.
Phase 3: Ovulation
Welcome to prime time for conception! No matter how long your periods are, ovulation generally starts about 14 days before your next scheduled period. When it happens, your body temperature rises about a half a degree. But bear in mind that this takes place after you're already ovulating, which could be too late. "That's where ovulation kits becomes so helpful," Dr. Bayer explains. "Once it turns positive, have sex in the next 24 to 36 hours."
Another good indication of fertility is a change in the consistency your cervical mucus. "You'll see vaginal discharge that increases in amount and has the consistency of egg whites, signaling it's the perfect time to have intercourse," Dr. Bayer says. Test yours by sticking your index finger and thumb in your vagina to get a sample, then tapping your finger and thumb together. If the consistency is thin and spreads easily between two fingers, you're good to go.
Your odds of conceiving: High, if you have sex within 36 hours. Any eggs that are released live no longer than 12 hours. In fact, it's best if his swimmers meet your egg within four to six hours of its release. Data show that having every-other-day sex is just as effective as doing it every day, so no need to go crazy getting busy every hour (unless you really want to!).
Phase 4: Post-ovulation
Also known as the luteal phase, this final portion of your cycle lasts a minimum of 12 days and as many as 16. Progesterone starts to rise, signaling that the ovaries don't need to release any more eggs this month. Your cervical mucus will dry up and create a plug to prevent any additional sperm from entering the uterus.
It takes about six days for any fertilized eggs to travel to your uterus. If one implants in your endometrium, you'll start to see the rise in human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the hormone measured by home pregnancy tests, within a week.
Your odds of conceiving: Low. Once the egg has been released, there's not much that can be done until next month. But there's certainly no harm in having sex if you're in the mood!
source: http://www.parents.com/getting-pregnant/trying-to-conceive/ovulation-getting-pregnant/
It's a common misconception that if a woman has sex during her period she cannot become pregnant. While a woman is unlikely to get pregnant during her period, it is absolutely possible.
Defining a Period
"A period is defined as the blood loss that happens at the end of an ovulatory cycle, as the result of an egg not being fertilized by a sperm," explains Michele Hakakha, M.D., a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist based in Los Angeles and co-author of Expecting 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Pregnancy.
"Every month, a woman releases an egg on approximately day 14 of her cycle," Dr. Hakakha says. "Prior to the release of the egg, the hormones in a woman's body increase to prepare (and thicken) the lining of the uterus in case the egg is fertilized and a pregnancy occurs. If there is no fertilization, the lining of the uterus is sloughed off about 14 days later. This is called your period."
Most women have periods that last from two days to eight days and take place every 26 to 34 days. Ovulation (when an egg is released from one of your ovaries) typically occurs midway through the cycle and is the most fertile time in your menstrual cycle -- meaning, when you are most likely to conceive.
"The egg that is released during the process of ovulation survives for only 24 hours," explains Dr. Hakakha. "If it is not fertilized by a sperm during this time, it does not survive and comes out with all of the menstrual blood about 14 days later."
Most women have normal 28- to 32-day cycles, and if someone with this cycle has an average two- to eight-day period, she will not get pregnant during her period.
Your Ovulation Calendar: When Are You Most Likely to Get Pregnant?
Special Circumstances
However, not every woman follows a 28- to 32-day cycle. "In less common scenarios, a woman with a shorter menstrual cycle (24 days, for example), could have seven days of bleeding, have intercourse on her final day of bleeding, and ovulate three days later," Dr. Hakakha says. "Since sperm live for three to five days, she could definitely get pregnant."
In addition, some women experience breakthrough spotting or bleeding between periods. This can occur during ovulation and be mistaken for a period, making it difficult to establish the exact place in the menstrual cycle.
If you had unprotected sex during your period and are concerned that you may be pregnant, look out for symptoms like mild lower abdominal cramping, spotting (implantation spotting, a fairly common cause of bleeding once the egg has been fertilized), breast tenderness and moodiness. These symptoms can occur as early as two weeks after ovulation.
source: http://www.parents.com/getting-pregnant/ovulation/fertile-days/pregnant-period/
Yes, it's possible to get pregnant during your period.
You'd have to have a very short menstrual cycle, which is the time from the first day of one period to the first day of the next period, or a tendency to have long periods.
Conception occurs when an egg and sperm meet in a fallopian tube. Sometime during the middle of your menstrual cycle, most likely between the 12th and 16th days (if you have a 28-day cycle), an egg reaches maturity in one of the two ovaries. The ovary releases the egg into the abdomen, where it's quickly sucked up by the tulip-shaped opening of the nearest fallopian tube.
An egg can survive in your fallopian tube for about 24 hours after it's released from the ovary. And if sperm are present in your fallopian tube at that time, one of them may fertilize the egg and lead to a pregnancy.
If the egg isn't fertilized, it's shed along with your uterine lining during your period.
A typical menstrual cycle is about 28 days long, but some women have cycles as short as 22 days. If you have a shorter cycle, you could ovulate just a few days after your period ends.
And since sperm can survive in your reproductive tract for up to six days, if you have sex during your period, it's possible that the sperm may still be hanging around when you ovulate, ready to fertilize the egg.
It's also possible to mistake breakthrough bleeding — spotting between your periods — for a regular period. So you may be bleeding right at the time of ovulation, when you're most fertile.
If you were to conceive at this time, you might believe that you were having your period when you got pregnant.
source: http://www.babycenter.com/404_can-you-get-pregnant-during-your-period_1460117.bc
