Stork® OTC, an FDA cleared over-the-counter medical device you use at home to assist your chances of becoming pregnant.

Try Persona Pro
X
  1. Tips For Conceiving with Just One Ovary
Two ovaries, each connected to the uterus by a fallopian tube. That’s the standard arrangement we were taught in health class. Of course, no one’s body completely matches the textbooks. For various medical...

    Tips For Conceiving with Just One Ovary

    Two ovaries, each connected to the uterus by a fallopian tube. That’s the standard arrangement we were taught in health class. Of course, no one’s body completely matches the textbooks. For various medical reasons, a woman may have an ovary surgically removed. Read more on the Stork OTC blog https://www.storkotc.com/blog/conceiving-one-ovary/

  2. 3
  1. Tilted Uterus: Not as Scary as It Sounds

    A tilted uterus — also known as a retroverted uterus — is one which tilts backward toward the spine. This is a common anatomical variation, occurring in about 20% of women. Four out of five women have a uterus that tilts forward, called an anteverted uterus

    Many women with retroverted uterus don’t even know it since it usually doesn’t affect day-to-day life. On its own, a tilted uterus doesn’t impact health and reproduction, but it can sometimes have a negative effect on sex and menstruation. It may also be the result of an underlying condition with more serious complications.

    Symptoms & Causes of Tilted Uterus

    In many cases, a tilted uterus has no noticeable symptoms. When there are, the most common symptoms are pain during intercourse and painful menstruation. Other less common symptoms include:

    • Back pain
    • Increased likelihood of urinary tract infections
    • Incontinence

    So, what causes a tilted uterus? First, it’s possible to simply be born with the genes for a retroverted uterus. But there are also events and conditions that can cause an anteverted uterus to tilt:

    • Scar tissue from an infection, surgery, or endometriosis can adhere the uterus to the pelvic wall in a tilted position.
    • The uterus may become tilted when the ligaments that support it weaken during pregnancy. After giving birth, the uterus may not return to its original position.

    Things to Consider When Trying to Conceive with a Tilted Uterus

    By itself, a tilted uterus does not affect your chances of conceiving. However, if it causes you to have painful intercourse, there are steps you can take to relieve that pain. It is important to find positions that are the most comfortable since you will need to be having sex regularly to maximize your chance of getting pregnant.

    Many women with tilted uteruses prefer having sex facing their partner, since the uterus is tilted away. In addition, the position you choose should allow the woman to control the depth of penetration. Thrusting too deeply can increase the chance of painful intercourse.

    If you do become pregnant with a tilted uterus, you may experience more lower back pain during the first trimester. You may also have more frequent urination during that time, as the uterus rests on your bladder. But by the twelfth week, the growing baby usually causes the uterus to shift forward, eliminating these problems.

    If you suspect you have a tilted uterus, you may want to ask your doctor about it, since there is a small chance it’s connected to another underlying condition. If you want more information about improving fertility or tips for conceiving, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or sign up for our newsletter below.

  2. 0
  1. The Lowdown On Menstrual Cycle Hormones

    If you were lucky enough to attend a middle or high school sex ed class that delved further into menstruation than a cursory glance, you may know about the important role your hormones play in your menstrual cycle. If you’re like the majority of Americans, you may have never had a deeper look into monthly hormonal fluctuations and all the ways they can affect your body, your mind, and your mood. Whether you’ve known the biological reason you get cramps and crave chocolate chip cookie dough (straight from the fridge, thank you) or not, understanding menstrual cycle hormones can help you become more aware of your body and your fertility.

    Your Menstrual Cycle

    Before we talk about all of the different hormones that are play during your menstrual cycle, let’s talk about your cycle overall. Throughout each month, the pituitary gland in your brain is communicating with your ovaries. If, during ovulation, your egg is fertilized and implants properly into your uterus, you’ll see a pink plus sign on a pregnancy test. If your egg is not fertilized, your uterus will shed its lining and you’ll get your period.

    The number of days in your cycle is measured by counting from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. On average, cycles are 28 days long but can range from 21 days (a shorter cycle) to 35 days (a longer cycle). This, of course, only applies to women with an average cycle — there are a lot of variables to take into account and many women have even shorter or longer cycles, both indicating that you may not be ovulating or ovulating regularly. If this is the case, you should see your doctor.

    The average menstrual cycle lasts between 5 and 7 days but, again, can be longer or shorter. If you’re bleeding for more than 7 days, it’s possible that you are not ovulating.

    Understanding the Role of Each Hormone

    There are three main hormones that affect your menstrual cycle. These are estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. Here’s an overview of each:

    Estrogen — Your ovaries are the main source of estrogen in your body, though, your adrenal gland produces some, too. Your entire body uses estrogen in different ways and it plays a key role in controlling the menstrual cycle and becoming pregnant.

    Testosterone — Women tend to have lower levels of testosterone than men do but it is still present and contributes to the menstrual cycle, sex drive, and overall sense of well-being.

    Progesterone — The main role of progesterone is to control the build up of your uterine lining, helping to maintain it if you become pregnant. If you don’t become pregnant, your progesterone levels dip, your lining sheds, and you get your period.

    Your Menstrual Cycle Hormones, By Phase

    Now that we’ve gone over the basics — what a menstrual cycle is, what an average cycle looks like, and which hormones are dominating your cycle — let’s dive into a week-by-week look at how your hormones work each month. Keep in mind that the “days” given are based on an average menstrual cycle and yours may differ.

    Menstrual Phase (Days 1 – 7) — Rising Estrogen

    On the first day of your period, your estrogen levels are at their lowest all month. This entire week they begin to climb and can make you feel more social and optimistic. This is why it’s not uncommon to feel terrible right before your period and happier and less stressed once you actually start bleeding. Progesterone and testosterone are both laying low during the first week of your cycle but they are still there, behind the scenes.

    Follicular and Ovulatory Phases (Days 1 – 14) — Rising Estrogen and Testosterone

    Your progesterone levels are still taking it easy but estrogen and testosterone are both rising during your follicular phase. Let’s back up, though. Your follicular phase starts on the same day as your period begins but lasts until ovulation begins (on average, around day 14 of a 28-day cycle).

    During ovulation, your brain signals to your ovaries to begin growing eggs, one of which will mature in a follicle. Your uterus is simultaneously growing a new endometrium (or uterine lining). Due to peaking estrogen levels, your brain signals a surge of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) which send your matured egg into your fallopian tube to await fertilization.

    Emotionally, you’re likely to feel more confident and daring, thanks to this estrogen-testosterone power combination. You also have a higher pain tolerance during this phase, so if you must get a bikini wax, do it now.

    Luteal Phase (Days 15 – 28) — Rising Progesterone; Declining Testosterone, and An Estrogen Rollercoaster

    Immediately after ovulation, you begin the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle. This lasts until the day before you get your next period (unless you become pregnant). The egg you released into your fallopian tube during ovulation stays there for 24 hours. If it isn’t fertilized by sperm within that time, it disintegrates and triggers the shedding of your uterine lining by using up any remaining progesterone. If it is fertilized, it will implant into your uterus where progesterone will continue to keep the endometrium lining healthy to support a pregnancy.

    So many things happen during the luteal phase. To understand the hormones better, let’s break it in half.

    The first half of your luteal phase may feel a bit like a less severe version of PMS. This, too, can be blamed on plummeting levels of estrogen (the second dip you’ll experience in each cycle). During this time, your progesterone levels are climbing, making you feel more introspective and cautious, while your testosterone takes a nosedive.

    The second half of your luteal phase brings your estrogen levels back up (told you it was a rollercoaster this week!) while your progesterone continues to rise. By now, you shouldn’t be having any PMS symptoms.

    Now, your cycle starts all over again, providing that you aren’t pregnant. If you are, you can look forward to 9 months without a period. Understanding how hormones work during your menstrual cycle can actually make managing your fertility easier. The more you know about how your body works, the easier it is to notice fluctuations that could be affecting your ability to get pregnant or just have a happy, healthy period.

    Learn more at www.storkotc.com

  2. 0
  1. Link
    The Lowdown on Menstrual Cycle Hormones | in the Stork® OTC Blog
  2. 1
  1. Link
    5 Herbs and Natural Supplements to Increase Your Chances of Pregnancy
  2. 0
  1. Conceiving with Clomiphene

    Clomiphene, known under various brand names including Clomid, Serophene, and Milophene, is a drug that stimulates ovulation. It is prescribed to women with irregular or even absent ovulation (anovulation) to “jump start” the normal cycle or to improve the timing of ovulation in preparation for intercourse or intrauterine insemination.

    How Clomiphene Works

    Clomiphene works by binding to receptors in the hypothalamus that would normally detect estrogen. The balance of estrogen along with two other hormones – follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) – controls the cycle of ovulation. If the hypothalamus cannot properly detect estrogen, production of the other hormones continues for longer, stimulating the development of follicles in the ovaries and promoting ovulation.

    Because it affects the levels of three critical hormones, Clomiphene does have several side-effects. In addition to more typical concerns like nausea and headaches, these effects include:

    • If you take a fertility test that measures levels of LH soon after clomiphene treatment, there is a high chance of a false positive. Keep this effect when tracking ovulation.
    • Clomiphene can reduce the production of cervical mucus, potentially keeping sperm from entering the uterus.
    • One in five patients may experience reduced estrogen production, resulting in a thin uterine lining. If the lining is too thin, the fertilized egg may not be able to implant.

    Impact on Fertility

    Clomiphene has been a reliable treatment for infertility due to poor ovulation for over 40 years. After three ovulations, 50% of women taking clomiphene can be expected to conceive. For women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common cause of anovulation, treatment with clomiphene results in ovulation in 80% of cases, and 30% – 40% of those cases result in pregnancy.

    Clomiphene increases the chance of becoming pregnant with twins, because the increase in ovulation may cause the body to release more than one egg at a time. For pregnancies following clomiphene treatment, the chances of having twins is about 10%, compared to the 3% chance for pregnancies overall.

    If you want more information about improving fertility or tips for conceiving, follow us on social media  

    Facebook

    Instagram

  2. 1
  1. Link
    Conceiving with Clomiphene | The Stork® OTC Blog
  2. 0
  1. Endometriosis Part 2: Progression and Treatment

    Let’s continue our look at endometriosis, a complicated disease that is not always fully understood but which can have a serious impact on your ability to conceive. How is the disease categorized? How does it affect fertility? And what are some possible treatment options?

    Stages of Endometriosis

    Endometriosis progresses through four stages, differentiated by the amount and location of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Three particular kinds of tissue are used to diagnose the current stage of the disease:

    • Endometrial implants are the basic sign of the disease, endometrial tissue growing throughout the pelvic area.
    • Endometrioma is a cyst caused when endometrial tissue grows on the ovaries.
    • Adhesions are scar tissue that forms due to inflammation, which can be caused by endometriosis as well as arising as a complication of surgery.

    The stages are tracked by the presence and amount of each of these types of tissue:

    • Stage I, or minimal, features a few endometrial implants and minimal adhesions.
    • Stage II, or mild, sees more implants forming deeper throughout the pelvis but still has minimal adhesions.
    • Stage III, or moderate, features many deep implants, some endometriomas on the ovaries, and more noticeable adhesions.
    • Stage IV, or severe, is defined by many endometrial implants, large cysts on the ovaries, and dense adhesions.

    While a patient’s stage of endometriosis is defined by these tissues, their symptoms are not necessarily tied to the stage. Pain, heavy bleeding, fertility problems, and the various other symptoms of endometriosis can vary greatly from one patient to another, even for those in the same stage.

    Effects of Endometriosis on Fertility

    When looking at infertility as a symptom of endometriosis, no direct scientific link has been made between the minimal and mild stages and a decreased fertility rate. While 30% – 40% of infertile women have endometriosis, most women with the disease are not also infertile.

    The connection is stronger with moderate and severe endometriosis, as the presence of more and deeper tissue — and especially endometriomas on the ovaries — can lead to structural issues that impair ovulation and conception. While some studies show that treatment of severe endometriosis has a greater chance of improving fertility than simply doing nothing, the fertility rate for these patients remains as low as 1% – 2% per month.

    Treatment Options

    The main treatments include medications and surgery. Since the primary treatable symptom is the pain, many doctors will begin by prescribing over-the-counter pain relievers. Typically, these will be non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen.

    Hormone treatments can slow or stop the growth of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus. The simplest of these are hormonal contraceptives like the birth control pill, which can help control pain, especially during menstruation. Other hormone treatments can slow the growth of endometrial tissue. But all hormone therapies will disrupt a woman’s menstrual cycle and definitely impair fertility.

    To preserve your fertility options, you may need surgery to remove endometrial implants and other tissue. Such procedures may be performed laparoscopically or with more traditional abdominal incisions. Surgery is often necessary if the pain from endometriosis is too severe for painkillers alone.

    You should consult with your doctor to determine what treatment options are right for you. If you are trying to get pregnant, understand that surgery may be recommended, and it may be followed by a course of hormone therapy for several months.

    If you want more information about improving fertility or tips for conceiving, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or sign up for our newsletter below.

    Original source: https://www.storkotc.com/endometriosis-part-2/

  2. 0
  1. Link
    Endometriosis, Progression & Treatment | in the Stork OTC Blog
  2. 0
  1. Endometriosis – Part 1

    Endometriosis: Symptoms and Causes

    Endometriosis is a disease in which the endometrium — the tissue that makes up the lining of the uterus — grows outside of the uterus itself. It affects 1 in 10 women in the United states, but many don’t understand the symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose. So, how does endometriosis begin, and what signs should your watch out for?


    Early Warnings

    The main symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain, typically during menstruation. Unfortunately, girls are taught that such pain is normal, so many women write off their initial symptoms. If the pain continues or occurs at other times, such as during intercourse, they may grow more concerned and seek help from a doctor. Other symptoms include heavy bleeding during or between periods, as well as fatigue, diarrhea, or nausea, especially during menstruation.

    Endometriosis, Long Term Effects

    Left untreated, endometriosis can cause infertility by disrupting the structure of the reproductive system, literally pushing it out of shape and affecting both ovulation and a woman’s ability to conceive. Many women find out they have endometriosis while being treated for infertility. In fact, women with infertility are 6 to 8 times more likely to have endometriosis than women with normal fertility.

    Endometriosis, Diagnosis

    Endometriosis can be diagnosed through a manual pelvic exam or by an abdominal or transvaginal ultrasound. These tests may not definitively point to endometriosis, however, especially if growths are small. Other medical treatments may be tried, but if symptoms persist, a doctor may recommend minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. This procedure uses a tiny camera to look for endometrial growths and may involve taking a small tissue sample for biopsy.

    Potential Causes for Endometriosis

    The exact cause of endometriosis or whether there even is a single root is unknown, but there are many theories as to possible causes:

    • Your immune system normally clears away endometrial cells outside of the uterus. Immune system disorders may disrupt how your body detects these cells and let them multiply.
    • It is possible for menstrual discharge to flow up the fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity in a process called retrograde menstruation. The endometrial cells in the discharge could then multiply.
    • Endometrial cells could adhere to an incision scar after abdominal surgery.
    • Hormonal or immune system disorders could actually change other cells outside the uterus into endometrial cells.

    There is also strong evidence that endometriosis has a hereditary component. A woman is five times more likely to develop the condition if a sister also has it, and 50% more likely if even a cousin has it. Genetic testing may be able to diagnose endometriosis much earlier than the standard tests used today.

    In our next installment, we’ll look at the stages of endometriosis, treatment options, and the potential impact on natural fertility. If you want more tips for conceiving or information about improving fertility, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or sign up for our newsletter below.

    Original Source: https://www.storkotc.com/endometriosis-part-1/

  2. 0
X
X
X
X