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Signs and Symptoms of Infertility

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Signs of infertility are really straightforward: Either a couple conceives or they don’t – and if they don’t for over a year – this is a sign of infertility.

Several reasons for women’s diminished fertility with advancing age include a reduced health of their eggs and a reduced ability of their ovaries to release them. There’s also an increased risk of fertility-reducing health issues and miscarriage risks with age.

A woman’s highest fertility is in her 20’s, with her 30’s being a time when she is still relatively fertile. She will start having difficulty conceiving as she gets into her mid to upper 30’s. Miscarriage risks start to come into play in her late 30’s. Fertility decreases appreciably in smokers and drinkers. With more women choosing careers today that put off child-rearing, aging has become the primary reason for infertility.

When women fail to conceive after a whole year of intercourse, they are considered to fall in the Primary Infertility category. If they have conceived once before but have gone a year without conceiving (while trying the whole year), they are considered to be in the Secondary Infertility category.

Infertility issues plague both men and women equally, according to some experts, while others say women comprise sixty percent. Statistics show that ten percent of actively trying couples have trouble conceiving, with four of five conceiving within a year. A “normal” amount of time to conceive is considered to be up to two years.

Complete physical exams are necessary for many couples, in order to assess their fertility levels. Since males have a large percentage of the fertility issues (even if it is less than fifty percent), it is important that both partners be tested.

As a baseline for later comparison, one of the first tests done will be a woman’s LH – or Luteinizing Hormone and her FSH – or Follicle Stimulating Hormone. Normally, these tests are done on a woman’s first visit and her third visit to the specialist. The tests for these two hormones – LH and FSH – can also be performed on the male as well, if deemed appropriate by the fertility specialist. These hormones are both critical for the development of sperm cells.

There are many other fertility tests available to the fertility specialist. Some of these – for the female – are the cervical mucus test, hormone tests (other than LH or FSH), and ultrasound tests. The cervical mucus test is done less often now, but sometimes it’s done because the male does not want to be tested. For this test, two to eight hours after intercourse, the doctor will test the vaginal mucus for the presence and health of sperm.

Ultrasounds are a good way to for the fertility specialist to examine the condition of the uterus, ovaries, and cervix without complicated and invasive examination techniques. Ultrasound can also be utilized to determine if ovulation has occurred.

Reproductive Endocrinologists can test for many other important hormones, other than just the luteinizing hormone and the follicle stimulating hormone. The primary ones are: androstenedione, DHEAS, total testosterone, progesterone, estradiol, prolactin, free T3, and free testosterone.

Treating infertility is a subject for an entire series of articles, but in a nutshell, infertility treatments run the gamut from simple drugs to surgery. Infertility treatments can get very expensive and time-consuming – and rarely covered by insurance, so it boils down to how bad a couple wants to conceive. Certain treatable infertility problems include Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS, which is treated with the drugs clomiphene and metformin together.

Another drug treatment for infertility (for the female again) is clomiphene for ovulation problems – inability to ovulate. Hormone shots are the next thing that a woman can try, although these can have unpleasant side effects such as bloating and feeling sick. But one of the most significant side effects of hormone therapy is having triplets or more babies.

There are other infertility treatments, but one of the most intense and expensive is IVF, or in vitro fertilization. If you decide to go this route, you should know that acupuncture (by professionals trained specifically in acupuncture fertility therapy) has proven to increase the success rate of IVF pregnancies. Be aware, however, that IVF also increases the chance of multiple births: 1 in 3 IVF couples will be parents of twins.

Janet has been writing helpful articles on fertility and pregnancy for years. Discover more about the signs of infertility and ways to track fertility with innovative solutions such as the Clear blue Fertility Monitor and other helpful tips on the website.

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Stress Relief Alternatives For The Hectic Woman

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Am I the only women who finds the idea of stress relief stressful? Just how am I supposed to find time in my busy schedule to relax? I know that sounds terrible, but I also happen to know I’m far from being alone. We live in an increasingly hectic and unremitting world of constant motion. But it isn’t good for our health, which is why I’ve been taking a little time out to examine the various stress relief options for women.

Perhaps I am not alone, but I must confess that my life has been so frantic that I’ve never really paused to think about the number of ways in which I could relax. Downing two or three glasses of wine every evening is clearly doing me no good at all, which is why I have been delighted to discover the wide range of stress relief options that are easily available.

Perhaps I have a habit of starting at the end of lists rather than the beginning, but my list started with yoga. My first assumption was that yoga is all about contorting your body in weird ways without falling over, but in truth it’s very easy to get started with yoga, and can be very relaxing too. The benefits of yoga extend to both the physical body and the mental well-being.

Having untied myself from the yoga class my next visit into stress relief alternatives was meditation. I thought this would be easy, but I spent most of my time trying to pick between the many ways in which meditation can be undertaken. I chose a meditation CD which I played whilst lying in the dark with my eyes closed. Very relaxing, although I have no recollection of the second half of the disk!

Although not personally undertaken to any very serious degree the next item on my list of stress relief alternatives was physical exercise. My idea of physical exercise is racing to the back of the shop to be first to the sale rail, but I have several friends who assure me that regular physical exercise can be one of the best stress relief therapies available. I’ll have to take their word on that, the pizza’s just arrived.

The next item on my list certainly focused on the relief half of stress relief. Women’s toys are now so varied and ingenious that they seem to be able to cater for bits of me even I didn’t know existed. I had a browse through an online store, my responses varying from disbelief to confusion to sheer rampant fascination. I spent more time exploring this method of stress relief than physical exercise, although as it did make me a little out of breath, it must have burnt up at least a few calories.

Sometimes of course it’s just not convenient (or decent) to enjoy such methods of stress relief, and so a suitably convenient method is of course to listen to relaxing music. I have an iPod onto which I have saved a whole heap of relaxing songs and music. When I need to unwind a little I can slip the headphones on, close my eyes and try to make sure that I don’t fall asleep and start dribbling in public.

Finally, the one method of stress relief I seem to find hardest of all – finding the time for plenty of rest. Just recently I have had almost no time for rest because I’ve been too busy researching the various stress relief alternatives, but along with eating healthily, getting plenty of sleep and organismic ‘me’ time, there are certainly several alternatives available – it’s just finding the time to try them out.

If you are searching for ways to de-stress your self then check out this new site that offers ideas on chilling out using adult toys as well as rabbit vibrators as effective remedies. Ideal for the body and soul, there are alternatives such as exercise, meditation and just plain rest. Something in fact for every woman irrespective of how stressed out you really are in today’s anxious world.

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3 Ways to Handle Treatment for Toenail Fungus

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There are a number of individuals who are searching for an effective treatment for toenail fungus . The proper name for the condition is onychomycosis. Today there are an estimated 48% of United States citizens who battle with toenail fungus involving at least one of their toes. Almost 50% of the American population will combat the problem before age 70 and they will need to find toe nail fungus treatment that works.

Onychomycosis is actually quite common and the risk of developing the condition goes up according to your age. Toenail fungus is highly contagious and easily transmittable from one person to another. However there are some effective natural toenail fungus solutions for the problem.

Onychomycosis is a serious condition that causes disfiguration as well as discoloration, eventually destroying the nail. Toenail fungus is caused by a fungi referred to as dermatophytes; which is fueled by a moist warm environment.

These Dermatophytes are destructive because they invade and feed on keratin which is what the hard surface of toenails is constructed from. When the toenails become infected by the fungus you will see them turn yellow or brown. These infected toenails will thicken and become malformed. The nail can become so thick that it makes it uncomfortable to wear shoes. Untreated toenails can eventually fall off which is why toenail fungus treatment is so important.

Known factors actually promote the outbreak and growth of toenail fungus. Wearing dank, dirty shoes and walking across moisture laden floors put you at risk for developing fungal breakouts. The places where you are most likely to contract onychomycosis include public settings such as gyms, showers, pools and restrooms. These environments are all places where the disease is rampant and easily spread.

Other contributing factors include a poor hygiene, not drying toes properly after bathing, wearing tight- fitting shoes or hosiery and an abnormal pH level in the skin. People with chronic diseases such as diabetes or HIV are particularly at risk.

Using natural home remedies to treat toenail fungus has proven to be effective. These home remedies include eating a diet with a high level of beneficial bacteria or probiotics, warm water and natural apple cider vinegar, oregano and olive oil or Listerine mouthwash.

One of the most common natural toenail fungus treatments is tea tree oil. This oil is often suggested by physicians because it is cost-effective and free of side effects which prescription medications can sometimes cause. Tea tree oil has natural antifungal properties and should be used as a topical treatment only. Physicians recommend that you use 100% tea tree oil.

The oil should be applied to the surface of the nail, as well any surrounding tissue which has been affected by the fungus. Additionally, you should wash your feet several times a day with tea tree oil soap or shampoo. As with any herbal therapeutic regimen, contact your doctor prior to use. Be careful, as overuse may cause irritation.

Stop wasting effort and see the most effective Treatment for Toenail Fungus and kill Toe nail Fungus issues fast.

Top 10 Skin Care Tips

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by Jenny Polly

Everyone of us dreams about the perfect flawless beautiful skin. Healthy skin is a dream that eludes everyone but a very few can achieve that. Healthy Skin is great boost to your over all appearance. Here is a list of ten of the most happening ways to achieve a great skin. From diet to fitness regime from stress to relaxation everything has its impact on the persons skin.

  1. * Always consult a skin care specialist before opting for one skin care product. You must know your skin type to judge the best among the lot.
  2. * Hydrating the body’s internal system is really important to keep the skin glowing the more water you drink the more hydrated your skin is, the more hydrated it is the more efficient is the collagen content distribution.
  3. * Cleansing the skin is very important as well. By cleansing the skin the skin pores would be open. Especially when you are out of your house it is important to keep cleaning the skin. Cleansing it daily for about two to three times is really important.
  4. * Be gentle, after all its your skin. Using a scrub or exfoliating agent every now and then is not good.
  5. * Keep your skin moist at all times. This is one of the most important skin care tip. Don’t let your skin get dry. Dryness causes the outer layer of your skin to break, leading to a rough and unattractive appearance. Use moisturisers/ emollients. Moisturisers work best when applied while the skin is still damp.
  6. * Avoid the frequent use of soap on your face. Soap should only be used from below the neck
  7. * Use sunscreen to protect yourself from suns harmful UV radiations. You can use day-time moisturisers that have sunscreen built into them. Use them even when its cloudy. UV radiations are known to cause skin cancer, so follow this skin care tip without fail.
  8. * A bit of exercise and good sleep are essential too, not just for skin care but for your health as a whole. Lack of sleep can lead to formation of wrinkles below your eyes and lack of exercise can cause your skin to slack. Moreover, exercise and sleep also help in beating stress. So besides being a skin care tip, this is also a health care tip.
  9. * Treat skin dilemmas with care. This skin care tip is about not ignoring any skin dilemmas. Consult your dermatologist before you go on to use a skin care product (lest you do end up harming your skin even more).
  10. * Beat the stress. The harmful effects of stress are known to everyone, however, sometimes stating the obvious is essential too (and hence this skin care tip found its place here). Yes, stress harms skin too. So, take a break or indulge in a warm bubble bath or just get good sleep.

Top Exercises For Arm Toning

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by Katherine Crawford M.S.

Have you been searching high and low for the best arm toning exercises? If so, you’ve probably found a lot of answers, too many answers.

There is simply an overabundance of subjective opinions on what works and what doesn’t for arm toning. Some opinions even put you at risk for injury.

So how do you decide on all the different information out there? Well, for the average woman it’s nearly impossible. If the experts can’t agree, how are you supposed to?

In response to this issue, I have decided to embark on a massive review of many different arm toning exercises. Some will be pretty, some will be ugly. Today I am going to analyze hammer curls:

1. Summary. This is an excellent exercise for the forearms that gets overlooked quite often. It’s a slight spin-off from the regular dumbbell curl and works the outer part of your biceps.

2. Technique snap-shot. Grab a dumbbell with each hand, stand upright and keep your palms facing your torso. Then, raise both dumbbells while keeping your palms facing your torso. Lower the dumbbells and repeat.

3. Common mistakes: Letting the back hunch which compromises your posture. And not keeping the palms of the hands fixed in place which reduces the effectiveness of the exercise.

4. To do or not to do: If you want toned arms ASAP and if you want to get rid of arm flab ASAP, then you shouldn’t do this exercise. It simply places too much emphasis on the forearms and not the upper arms. Your time is much better spent doing exercises that target your upper arm area. The area where the jiggle lives

That’s it for today’s review of exercises for arm toning. Hopefully, I have made your exercise search a little easier. Don’t miss my next review of arm toning exercises!

About the Author:
Author Katherine Crawford, a Harvard exercise expert and former arm fat victim, teaches women how to accelerate arm toning. Discover how to get sexy and toned arms by exploring her blog about flabby arms now!

The Smokey Eye Makeup Look

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by jessica oniell

Smoky makeup seems to be the favorite of many women today. Teenagers and adults love to have a dramatic look on the face especially when attending parties with friends, formal occasions, or night outs. This article will give you a step by step instruction on applying smokey makeup look.

Step One: Do the Basic ,Basic means preparing your face when applying smokey makeup look. Wash your face and apply concealer to dark spots to hide blemishes. Apply foundation and powder. You should put liquid foundation on the areas of the eyes so that the eye shadow that you are going to put later on will stick and not be wiped off easily.

2) Getting Ready for the Liner – The use of eye liner adds great detail to your eyes and makes them stand out. The Asian look of smokey eye makeup will enhance your eyes so eyeliner is important to add to the look. Use the liner on the bottom and top rims of the eyes. A small eye will benefit from using the eyeliner from midway on the bottom of the eye drawing it towards the outside. A larger eye will look great if you draw the line from the beginning of the inner eye to the outside.

Step Three: Work on the Shadow, Using a brush, apply eye shadow to the eyelids, and perhaps another color on top. Smudge them to blend them in. You can use a shimmer just below the brow line to create the dramatic effect. You can also opt to apply light eye shadow on the bottom rim of the eyes and smudge it a bit to create a more smoky look. You may also apply a dark shade of eye shadow able a lighter one and smudge the darker shade to the side for another smokey look.

Step #4 – Smudges Should Be Cleaned ,When smudging your eye shadow some of the powder will naturally fall under the eyes. Make sure you wipe these off so you will avoid a messy look and your eyes will look great.

Step Five: Make the Lips Nude ,Because you’ve been very detailed on the eyes, you might want to go nude on the lipstick that you choose. This is done to create balance on the overall look and not to get it a little over the top. You can opt to choose plum colors or flesh color for the lipstick. You may also use lip gloss to create a sexier look. However, you may choose a red lipstick if there is a need to do so. Models use red or darker lipstick to make the smokey look appear super dramatic. You just have to remember to have this look on the proper occasion to avoid looking odd.

Gray and black are the traditional colors used to create the look of Asian smokey makeup. Other colors may be used if they are intense and creative. Pinks and violets are two that can be made to look just as good as the gray and black. The best way is to create your own look by experimenting to see what looks the best rather than just copying the looks used by others. Different makes a very unique statement.