Can Illegal Drug Use Affect My Fertility?
It has been well documented that illegal drug use can have a negative impact on a person’s life and wellbeing. In fact, the health implications are drastically increased with each use. Side effects can vary between users but most illegal drug use has documented profound implications – from addiction, lung problems (like emphysema and COPD), destruction of brain cells, learning disabilities, and even death. Unfortunately, for many trying to conceive, using illegal drugs could also bring on the difficulty in both getting pregnant and carrying a baby to term. Marijuana and Your Fertility Marijuana can cause issues with fertility in any stage; from trying to conceive to carrying a healthy baby to full term. Repeated usage of marijuana...
How Common Is A False Negative Pregnancy Test And What Causes It?
An article about what can cause a false negative pregnancy test and what can go wrong with a pregnancy test.
Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) - Its Role In Trying to Conceive
What Is Evening Primrose Oil (EPO)? Evening primrose oil has been used to help women with fertility, and with menstrual issues, for hundreds of years. This oil has been cold-pressed from the seeds of the Oenothera biennis (evening primrose) plant, which is, strangely, not a primrose at all, but gets its name from the fact that the flower looks similar to English Primrose. Its healing properties were first discovered in Medieval Europe when it was called the “King’s cure-all” because it helped fight many ailments and illnesses. Currently, it is still used to help with a variety of physical issues - everything from eczema to high blood pressure to fertility issues and pre-menstrual syndrome. It is even used as a...
Can Medication Affect Pregnancy Test Results?
All pregnancy tests look for the presence of a particular pregnancy-related hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG. This hormone is present in the blood and urine of all pregnant women and is the first step in acknowledging pregnancy. Different Types of Pregnancy Tests Blood-based pregnancy tests or home pregnancy tests will determine if you are pregnant. In most cases, a woman will conduct her urine test at home, and then after receiving a positive result will have a pregnancy blood test ordered by her doctor for further confirmation. However, not all urine tests are alike. Some have an increased sensitivity to hCG and can detect as little as 20 mIU of hCG within seven to ten days past ovulation....
Depo Provera - What Are The Chances of Getting Pregnant?
Getting to Know Depo Provera Depo Provera is a woman's birth control method. It is a progestin-only contraceptive injection that given four times a year. Depo Provera does not contain estrogen, so it is safe for women how can't take birth control pills with estrogen. The Depo shot is safe if you have recently given birth and if you are breastfeeding. According to WebMD, the Depo shot is immediately effective as long as you get it within five days of the start of your period. It lasts for at least three months, and you need to get another shot every 12 weeks. How worry free does that sound ladies? No more worrying about organizing your pills and taking them on...
Can The Day Of Conception Determine A Baby's Gender?
There are tons of old wives tales out there that you have most likely dismissed as being just a tale, like how the day of conception can determine a baby’s gender. If you want particular sex for your baby, the day of conception can help you to determine what sex your baby will be. What Determines Gender? Your male partner’s sperm determines the gender of your baby. Each of his sperm has either male or female traits, and the one that reaches the egg first decides which sex the baby will become. In other words, if a sperm with male chromosomes reaches the egg first, a baby boy will be conceived. If the sperm with female chromosomes reaches the...
What Is A Chemical Pregnancy?
Article discusses what a chemical pregnancy is, common reasons they happen, and the difference between a chemical pregnancy and a miscarriage.
Why is There a Brownish Tinge to My Cervical Mucus?
Cervical Mucus: What is It? Cervical mucus plays an important role in your ability to get pregnant. Your cervix secretes the mucus at the entrance to your uterus. The hormones in your body direct the changes to your cervical mucus. As your menstrual cycle progresses, you will find that the color and consistency of your cervical mucus will change. When you aren’t particularly fertile, your cervical mucus (CM) will be cloudy in color and very sticky. As you get closer to ovulation, your body produces more estrogen. The estrogen causes your cervical mucus to become more slick and clear. It will have the consistency of raw egg whites and is called fertile cervical mucus. What is the Importance of Cervical...
What to Expect with a Pregnancy Blood Test
Couples who are trying to get pregnant are frequently confused about how pregnancy blood tests are performed and what they mean. There are two main types of pregnancy tests – blood tests and urine tests. Both tests detect pregnancy by noticing a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) which is also commonly called the ‘pregnancy hormone’ because it is created soon after the embryo has attached itself to the uterine lining in the womb. This hormone is easily measurable in the blood and urine within 10 days of fertilization, or 1 to 2 days after implantation has occurred. Two Types of Blood Tests A quantitative blood test measures the exact amount of hCG in the blood. Based on the results, the age...
Is Bleeding or Spotting During Ovulation Normal? Should I Worry?
What happens if I bleed during ovulation? Is ovulation bleeding normal?