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Infertility - Female

It is a strange fact of nature that after years of taking precautions to prevent pregnancy, all too often, once a couple decides they want a baby, it doesn't happen as quickly as they had planned.

Between 10 and 20% of couples are infertile - that is they are unable to conceive after one year of unprotected sexual intercourse.

In about 40% of these cases the problem is sperm related. In 10% of cases no cause can be found. In the remaining 50% of cases something about the way the woman's body functions prevents pregnancy from occurring.

There can be many reasons why a woman has difficulty becoming pregnant. If she is underweight or obese, had a recent weight loss or has a poor diet she may find it difficult to conceive. Other causes of infertility include hormonal imbalance, pelvic inflammatory disease and chlamydia, which is often undiagnosed.

What Can Help
	Start eating a healthy, well balanced diet. Avoid animal fats, sugar, junk foods and fried foods.
	Try to cut out caffeine. A recent study showed that women who drank more than 300mg of caffeine daily (2 - 3 cups of coffee) may reduce their chance of conceiving by as much as 25%.
	Cut out alcohol. It has been shown that even moderate consumption of alcohol (about 2 drinks per day) can reduce the chance of pregnancy.
	Quit smoking - and try to avoid cigarette smoke
	Stay out of hot tubs and saunas, and avoid vigorous exercise as these can cause changes in ovulation
	RELAX ! Stress is well known as an excellent contraceptive.

Some Nutrients Worth Considering
	Multivitamin and mineral supplement - a good place to start to ensure your body gets adequate nutrition
	Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), 50mg three times daily - Some studies have shown that women who take this supplement improve their chance of pregnancy
	Vitamin B complex, 50 mg daily - Important for reproductive function
	Vitamin E, 400 - 800 iu daily - Needed for the balanced production of hormones
	Vitamin B12 - Infertility is an early symptom of Vitamin B12 deficiency.
	Folic Acid, 400 mcg - a small number of studies show increased Folic Acid intake increases fertility.
	Zinc, 75 mg daily - deficiency may disrupt the normal menstrual cycle. Some studies have shown that zinc can help correct infertility.