Can Sleep Affect My Husband’s Fertility?

“Can sleep or the lack of it affect my husband’s fertility?” That was the question a newly wedded wife asked her counselor. And I guess it is the same question bothering many couples. And answer to the question is a big YES! 

 

Not sleeping well, too little or too much can indeed affect a man's ability to impregnate his wife. This is the findings of latest research.

The "sweet spot" appears to be 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night, said study author Lauren Wise, a professor of epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health.

Among the 790 couples the researchers followed, "we found both short and long sleep duration - less than 6 hours or 9 or more per night - were associated with a reduced probability of pregnancy," Wise declared.

Using 8 hours of sleep as the reference point, men who slept less than 6 or more than 9 hours a night "had a 42 percent reduced probability of conception in any given month," she added.

The main explanation is most likely hormonal, Wise said. Fertility experts know that testosterone is crucial for reproduction and the majority of daily testosterone release in men occurs during sleep, she explained.

Total sleep time, in turn, has been positively linked with testosterone levels in several studies, she added.

All of the couples in the study were trying to conceive, and they had been trying for no more than six menstrual cycles. The couples answered questions about sleep patterns and whether they had trouble sleeping. Those men who had trouble sleeping more than half the time were also less likely to impregnate their partner than those who didn't, the researchers found.

While the study found only an association between sleep and fertility, "it can't prove cause and effect," Wise said. 

But the link held up even after she took into account both the men's and women's ages, their body mass index, their frequency of intercourse, and other factors known to affect fertility. More research is needed, Wise noted.

"It is possible that poor sleep duration could contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle, decreased libido, a decrease in sex, but we tried to control for all those factors," she said.

The finding is welcome news to Dr. Peter Schlegel, vice president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

"There is very little data about how men's sleep may affect fertility," he said. "We know any stress can affect fertility for both women and men. This study strongly suggests that for men, aiming for the 7 to [less than] 9 hours of sleep helps to optimize their fertility and their chances of contributing to a pregnancy."

Based on this new research, doctors counseling couples should talk about how much sleep the men are getting, Schlegel said. As for women and sleep, "we don't know for sure," he said.

Other research suggests that eating more fruits and vegetables yields better production of sperm than meats and fats, said Schlegel, who is chair of urology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. Men who are at a healthy weight generally have better fertility, too.

One limitation of the study, Schlegel said, is that the researchers did not measure sperm counts. "But they looked at time to pregnancy," he said, and "most would say the chance of a pregnancy occurring is probably the best measure."

The findings were to be presented Wednesday at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's annual meeting, in Salt Lake City. Research presented at medical meetings is considered preliminary until it is published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

Culled:

How To Handle Miscarriage - 5 (Treatment of Threatened Miscarriage)

Not all of the cases of beginning miscarriage end in miscarriage. If the physician is sent for in time he can very frequently give directions that will, if carried out faithfully, avert the disaster.

Success is more likely to attend those cases in which the trouble has been caused by some accidental injury, as a fall, or blow, or extra exertion. This is more especially the case if the woman has previously borne children, is healthy and in good condition and whose womb is known not to be diseased.

In these cases there is a partial separation of the fetus from the wall of the womb, which causes the bleeding. The physician will direct that the woman be put to bed, in a quiet, darkened room. He will instruct the nurse to sterilize the external genital region: a sterile gauze dressing is then left in place.

Some form of prescription will be given to diminish the patient's nervous fear and to allay any tendency on the part of the womb to contract. It is always essential and very important to save everything that passes from the womb during the course of a threatened miscarriage in order that the physician may know exactly just what the condition is. Each cloth, each clot of blood will have to be examined before the proper treatment can be pursued in safety.

When the miscarriage cannot be prevented it is called an "Inevitable miscarriage."

Treatment of an Inevitable Miscarriage:

In these cases every precaution is taken, just as in a normal confinement, to avert blood poisoning. The hands, instruments, dressings, etc., are carefully rendered sterile and the whole field must be surgically clean. The physician will conduct the case as conditions justify and as the situation develops.

After Treatment of a Miscarriage:

It is one of the many thankless tasks of a physician's life to insist on each patient staying in bed at least ten days after a miscarriage. The average woman and frequently the intelligent woman fails to appreciate the absolute necessity for this procedure. It is necessary and it is the physician's duty to insist on it being done in the interest of the woman. Many of the multitudes of diseases of women are caused by disregarding advice on such occasions.

The Tendency to Miscarry:

If a woman, for any reason, has had a miscarriage, her womb will tend to miscarry at the same period during a subsequent pregnancy. If the miscarriage occurs during her first pregnancy the tendency to miscarry will be greater than if acquired after she has had a baby.

This is one of the reasons why young wives often fail to have children. They "get rid" of the first one or two, because they are not ready to have children, or because they want some enjoyment themselves before they are tied down with a family. Having established the habit their womb has been educated to abort, and it will keep this habit up, much to their astonishment and chagrin.

Young wives should therefore faithfully follow out all the rules of the Hygiene of Pregnancy laid down by their physician, and just like everyone else should endeavor to stay alive and live right.

The Biggest Dangers For Pregnant Women

The period of pregnancy is one of the most stressful stages of a woman’s life. And it is perhaps a period where almost everybody wants to give her a piece of advice. “Don’t do this, don’t do that!”

As a pregnant woman almost every aspect of your daily routine presents risks - from the food you eat to the way you sleep. This is stressful and it’s bad for you and for the baby too.

With new studies everyday and unverified advice from friends and family, it’s easy to get confused and inundated with information.

It has always been argued that pregnant women shouldn't drink; but a new study in the UK that surveyed 11,000 British mothers who drank mildly during pregnancy said majority found no harmful side effects and a reduced rate of hyper-activity in the children later. But is this not more confusing? What is the definition of mild drinking? What is moderate to you isn’t to the next fellow.

Our everyday products and conduct could become dangerous during pregnancy. The best way to go is to stick to basic facts.
Here are a few facts:

1.         Fish:
The Mayo Clinic recommends that it’s best you cook all your fish to 145 degrees inside and out. It’s also safe to limit yourself to 6 ounces a week.

·         High risk fish: Larger, older fish with high levels of mercury can damage the developing nervous system of a fetus.  Pregnant women are urged to avoid swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tilefish, raw fish or seafood, smoked salmon or other cured fish.

• Low risk: Protein-rich seafood is helpful in brain development, when consumed in moderation. Shrimp, canned light tuna (limit albacore tuna and tuna steak to no more than 6 ounces or 170 grams a week), salmon, pollock, catfish.

2.         Meat:
When it comes to meat, the main principle is how to avoid bacteria, because pregnant women are more likely to be susceptible. But the rule guidelines are fairly instinctive and simple. Keep off stale food and make sure everything is cooked through.

• High risk meat: Refrigerated meat-based spreads and raw, pre-stuffed poultry should be avoided as they tend to breed more bacteria. Deli meats and hot dogs should be cooked to steaming temperatures or just skipped to avoid the food-borne listeria. Liver is high in vitamin A which can cause birth defects if consumed in large quantities.

• Low risk meat: Any poultry or meat that’s fresh, well done and cooked through is safe to eat. 

3.         Eggs/Dairy/Cheese:
They’re protein-rich, satisfying and reasonably priced but are they really worth it? And for dairy products the rules get complicated when it involves pasteurized stuff. The pasteurization process kills listeria, a food-borne bacteria that can cause infection and miscarriages. With pregnant women 20 times more likely to contract the bacteria, the risks are real.

• High risk: Unpasteurized milk or cheese is off limits. Eggs Benedict, eggnog and certain sauces that involve partially cooked eggs, aren't worth the risk. Brie, Feta, Camembert, blue cheese, Mexican-style cheeses are all potentially hazardous. For safety and piece of mind, only consume something that says “pasteurized” on the label.

• Low risk: Hard-boiled eggs, cottage cheese, cream cheese, yogurt are safer bets. Hard cheeses like cheddar and Swiss are more likely to be pasteurized, but make sure you check the label.

4.         Beverages:
Liquids can be just as risky as solid food. But filtered water doesn't have the same appeal as say, a Diet Coke or even glass of wine. Know what's worth the risk.

• High risk: Multiple cups of coffee daily is not good. Consuming less than 200 milligrams, or one cup, a day is recommended. Caffeine can effect the baby's heart rate and growth, and possibly contribute to miscarriages and stillbirths.

Alcohol: Any liquor in the first 3 months can jeopardize your baby's well-being and regular drinking throughout the pregnancy is just a bad idea. Studies have found it leads to stillbirths, heart problems, facial deformities, mental retardation and slow growth.

Even moderate drinking may contribute to slowed development. When it comes to wine or beer, one drink a week after the first trimester isn't expected to do much damage. But it's not recommended by the Mayo Clinic. Keep off!

• Medium risk: Herbal teas: More research is needed on different types of herbal effects but at least one of them, red raspberry leaf, may cause contractions. 

Saccharine, still found in some diet sodas, can lead to birth defects as show by studies on rats. So skip it.  

• Low risk: Diet sodas that contain aspartame: No negative effects have been reported if limited to one can a day. The only risk is from another ingredient in diet beverages called phenylalanine. "Women with a condition called phenylketonuria (PKU - for which your baby will probably be screened for at birth), a rare hereditary condition in which the amino acid phenylalanine is not properly metabolized, are at risk because high levels of phenylalanine can cause damage to the fetus," warns nutritionist Allison Gamble in the magazine, Pregnancy Today.

5.         Depression:
Because of a variety of factors including hormonal changes, physical discomfort and increased stress, depression can rear its ugly head during pregnancy.

The change in mood affects proper eating habits, exercise and sleep patterns crucial to the baby's development. And the latest research says the ripple effect of risks can be high.

Premature delivery and low-birth weight is increased in depressed women. When depression gets really bad, antidepressants can be helpful. But are they safe to take during pregnancy? “Overall, the risk of birth defects and other problems for babies of mothers who take antidepressants during pregnancy is low.

Besides, very few medications have been proven safe without question during pregnancy and some types of antidepressants have been associated with health problems in babies. 

• High risk: Paxil, Nardil and Parnate are a few antidepressants that pose major health risks for a fetus.

• Medium risk: Prozac and Zoloft are both administered to pregnant women suffering from severe depression, especially in the first two trimesters and the risks are low. Persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns (PPHN) has been linked to the antidepressants when taken in the third trimester.

Wellbutrin, the quitting smoking aid and anti-depressant, has yet to show any negative side effects on the fetus, according to the Mayo Clinic, but that may be due to limited research. 

6.         Exercise:
A lot of pregnant women still desire to look like they were before pregnancy and many want to maintain their trim physique. Yes, exercise is crucial. Working up a sweat once a day, for about 30 minutes, is important for a healthy pregnancy regimen. But don't overdo it. The first step is checking with your doctor for recommendations catered to your own body's comfort level. 

• High risk: Before you lace up your sneakers, consider your own health. Exercising should be done with great caution if you're a pregnant woman with poorly controlled diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or placenta previa.

Lifting heavy weights, and exercising to exhaustion no matter what shape you're in can be dangerous for the fetus. 

• Low risk: 30 minutes or less of moderate exercise is healthy for most. Walking, swimming, rowing and stationary cycling are best, since they don't exert too much impact on the joints.

7.         Flying:
If you must travel by air,  be sure to plan accordingly. While flying is fine at certain points in the pregnancy, keeping hydrated and stretching to increase circulation is crucial.

• High risk: Flying after 36 weeks isn't recommended for fear of miscarriage or premature delivery. Also airborne radiation exposure poses a risk to frequent fliers, based on studies of miscarriages in flight attendants.
• Low risk: Flying between 14 to 28 weeks presents the lowest risk of miscarriage, so get your last trip in before you're flying with a screaming baby. And an occasional flight won't present any radiation risks.

"Decreased air pressure during flight may slightly reduce the amount of oxygen in your blood, but your body will naturally adjust," explains Dr. Harms. "And although radiation exposure increases at higher altitudes, the level of exposure for the occasional traveler isn't a concern."

8.         Wellness and beauty products:
During pregnancy, you might need to clear out your medicine or supplements collection and do a fetus-friendly shopping at your local drug store on doctor’s recommendation. To the pregnant woman, note that your medicine cupboard is not your friend.

• High risk: Accutane: A study by the Organization of Teratology Information Services (OTIS), found approximately 25-35% of infants born to women exposed to the acne medication during the first trimester of pregnancy showed a pattern of birth defects.  Miscarriage is also a risk. 

Retin-A: Check your anti-aging creams and makeup foundations for this chemical. It can pass through the blood stream to the baby, and the effects are still unclear. 

Tetracycline: Bone growth and coloring problems have been shown in some fetuses as a possible result of the drug, according to BabyCenter's pregnancy guidelines. 

• Medium risk: Salicyclic acid: It's been shown to cause birth defects but doctors have deemed it safe for once a day use in a product like a toner or a foundation with low doses of the chemical.

• Low risk:  Sunscreen products with the "active soy" ingredient as opposed to "soy" are less likely to discolor skin like estrogen-rich soy products. Any make-up labeled "mineral-only," "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic" means it's lightweight, oil-free and won't travel through your blood stream and infect your baby with harmful chemicals.

The pregnancy stage is a delicate one and pregnant women are delicate species. Care must be taken at this stage to avoid dangers associated with it. Remember, the simple rule is to follow the basics and always consult your doctor.

10 Facts To Protect Your Fertility

Children and having children is by far one of the most widely attested sources of joy in marriage. It is indeed good to have a wonderful wedding and dream of a great marriage. But after that what next, especially when there is delayed conception?

It is instructive to note that about one in every couple in Nigeria have issues with conception or attaining pregnancy. This has made fertility problem one of the commonest scourge people battle with. Besides the emotional torture, the low self-esteem it evokes due to societal perception of childlessness and the pains of contending with in-laws infertility could also frustrate or overwhelm ones finances and general attitude and well-being.

This is why we need to decisively take steps to protect our fertility even from tender ages and long before we get married. This is what we need to know and to do:

1.         If you are a woman, avoid multiple sex partners. Having more than one sex partner increases the danger of pelvic infection and damaged tubes.

2.         Women should shun pre-marital sex since this usually leads to unwanted pregnancies and abortions which lead to complicated infections and damage to tubes.

3.         Badly or inadequately treated sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in both male and female could lead to damaging infertility problems. Any sign or symptom of STD must be properly treated and resolved.

4.         At birth, male children should be examined to ascertain whether or not the infant have undescended testes to ensure early correction or remedy.

5.         MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccines should be given to infants to prevent mumps infection. This infection is connected with the late development of male infertility.

6.         Women should not rush to have fibroid or ovarian cysts operation just because they are discovered. Adequate and appropriate medical counsel should be obtained before accepting to do operation because about 30% of women develop scar tissue following such operations which could damage ones tubes.

7.         Women who are yet to give birth should essentially avoid the use of intra-uterine contraceptive devices (IUCD) when planning to apply any type of contraceptive.

8.         Women should not leave planning for pregnancy too late because the woman's fertility is reasonably affected by her age. As a woman advances in age, she becomes less fertile with the rate falling sharply after 35 years.

9.         As a woman, you must prepare for your pregnancy. This calls for equipping yourself with information and knowledge about pregnancy. It is a time to take your 400mg Folic Acid and vitamins. You must not neglect regular medical check-ups; and you should develop a positive mental attitude because pregnancy is demanding too.

10.       Eating of balanced diet helps couples to stay healthy. Smoking, drugs, and all other unhealthy habits must be shunned. Regular exercise is recommended as this greatly reduces the effect of stress.

Sourced & Adapted from a resource material of The Bridge Clinic - www.thebridgeclinic.com