Archive for Health Issues
Herbal Remedies to Boost Fertility
Posted by: · Commentsin Categories : Herbal Remedies, Relationships & Sex, Women's Health
Fertility drugs usually have undesirable side effects in women who want to get pregnant. One option to consider to boost fertility, is the use of herbal remedies. These natural remedies help the uterus become toned and healthy, balance hormones, reduce stress and calm the nervous system.
Some herbs that are considered helpful in overcoming fertility problems are:
- Damiana – Stimulates nerves, metabolism, circulation and the genitals. The leaves are used in tonics and teas to restore impotence and sexual vitality. Damiana also helps to relax the nervous system.
- Dong Quai – Has been proven successful in promoting fertility during the time between ovulation and menstruation. This herb should only be used in combination with other herbs that promote fertility.
- False unicorn root – Used as a tonic to promote a healthy uterus. It also helps the ovaries, bladder and kidneys to become more alkaline.
- Nettle leaves – Chlorophyll and minerals contained in this herb are great to balance hormones. When used as a tonic, it helps to keep the uterus healthy. Kidneys and the adrenal glands are also benefited by the use of nettle leaves.
- Raspberry leaf – This is perhaps the most popular of all herbal remedies used to increase fertility. It’s high in calcium and is also used as a tonic for the uterus.
- Red clover blossom – Some consider this as the most useful herb to increase fertility and establish pregnancy. Used daily, it can help balance hormones. This herb is also high in magnesium and calcium and contains trace minerals.
Calcium and Magnesium are also important in ensuring the conception of a healthy baby and the ability to carry it for the full nine months. Research the use of vitamins, minerals and herbs to better understand how you can benefit from their use in the quest to establish a pregnancy.
Fertility problems are complicated and varied, but many couples have used herbal remedies with excellent results. Keep in mind that nutrition and lifestyle can be important factors in treating infertility.
Infertility is defined, as women who are unable to get pregnant, or men who are unable to impregnate a woman despite repeated attempts for at least one year. It is important to remember that we are referring to women who are of normal childbearing age and not those who can’t get pregnant because they are near or past menopause.
There isn’t just one overall reason for female infertility — there are many common causes. Thankfully, great strides have been made in medical technology and now the majority of infertility causes can be treated. Once the problem is diagnosed and corrected, many women can go on to experience a viable pregnancy. It’s helpful to know a few of the most common infertility causes.
One of the most common causes of infertility in women is fibroids. Fibroids are benign tumors usually found inside the uterus, but sometimes they can grow in other places. They can grow outside the uterus, underneath the uterine wall or at the cervix. Depending on their size and location, fibroids can delay or prevent pregnancy.
If the fibroids are inside the uterus and become large enough, they can cause extremely heavy monthly periods. One woman began to hemorrhage because of uterine fibroids and had to have an emergency hysterectomy to stop the bleeding.
Fibroids cause anemia and anemia can cause infertility as well. If you have heavy monthly cycles, get checked for fibroids and have the doctor check your iron count as well.
Fibroids can grow so large that they can cause the uterus to extend and appear anywhere from the size of a six week to a few months pregnancy. Fibroids may be treated with medications or surgery, depending on the severity of the problem.
Another cause of infertility is endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition in which the uterine tissue grows in areas where it shouldn’t rather than in the uterus lining. If endometriosis is severe enough, it can cause scarring. Endometriosis can be treated with hormone therapy or surgery if needed, to remove scarring.
Having diabetes can cause infertility. Some studies suggest that the cause of infertility in overweight diabetic women is a direct result of being overweight while others suggest it is due to the overall health risks associated with too much weight gain. However, poor control of blood sugar levels does raise the risk of miscarriage.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (also known as PCOS) can also cause infertility. Two of the widely known symptoms of PCOS are noticeable facial or body hair and monthly periods that are not regular.
This condition can be diagnosed by having an ultrasound done or by having bloodwork drawn and the blood tested for too much androgen. Androgen is the hormone that makes a man look like a man.
For example, growth of coarse facial hair and hair growth on the back are part of the effects of androgen hormone associated with men. This condition can also lead to insulin resistance, weight gain and type II diabetes, which is why it’s important to catch it early and get treatment.
Female infertility may also be caused by too much caffeine, medication or by thyroid malfunction. Get a check up done to see if one of these reasons is the cause of infertility.
Male impotence is when a man can’t get or maintain an erection during sexual stimulation. The word “impotence” may also be used to describe other problems that interfere with sexual intercourse and reproduction, such as lack of sexual desire and problems with ejaculation or orgasm.
There are many reasons for male impotence, but the primary causes are illness, psychological, unknown causes that go undiagnosed or a combination of these reasons.
There are more physical problems than psychological reasons for male impotence. These include diseases such as diabetes, heart or muscular problems and addiction to alcohol or drugs.
Some prescription medications can also cause impotence. Common psychological problems include being in a bad relationship, worry (financial, career or loved ones), anxiety and depression.
There are several drugs that are available that can help alleviate these difficulties.
As men age, certain problems such as hardening of the arteries can prevent a man from receiving enough blood flow to the penis to maintain an erection. Impotence is the major complaint from men over forty years of age.
Sometimes a combination of occurrences, both physical and mental, may cause erectile dysfunction in men. For example, if a man has a physical problem that he’s unaware of, he may become distressed and depressed when he’s unable to get an erection. It’s extremely important to find out if there’s a physical cause for impotence so that it can be treated – then, the mental anguish should disappear.
Another common reason that a man may experience occasional impotence is when there are distractions during intimacy. For example, if the phone rings during a period of sexual stimulation, the man may become distracted by the noise and unable to maintain the erection. Children or pets can also cause distraction, and if an interruption occurs during sex, the man may be unable to recreate the “mood” in order to perform sexually.
If a man is turned off sexually by insensitive comments from his lover, erectile dysfunction may occur. This type of psychological problem can be overcome by talking to the sex partner about feelings and sensitivity. Both partners may need to seek help from a professional to learn how to deal with the feelings, and the problem can eventually be overcome.
Other controllable reasons for erectile dysfunction could be associated with the prostate gland. This usually occurs in men over forty-five years old and is completely controllable when you seek help from a doctor. Prostate inflammation (Prostatitis) is a very common condition among men and erectile dysfunction or impotence can be the result.
It’s important to seek a health care professional’s help and be absolutely truthful in relaying your problems to him or her so that he can correctly diagnose the cause for male impotence or erectile dysfunction.
It’s Time to Have a Frank Discussion with Your Partner About Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
Posted by: · Commentsin Categories : Men's Health, Relationships & Sex
Erectile dysfunction, or ED, can be a total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. These variations make defining ED and estimating its incidence difficult. Estimates range from 15 million to 30 million, depending on the definition used.
Erectile dysfunction is a sensitive subject and most men would rather avoid talking to their significant other if and when they do experience it. But erectile dysfunction is a serious problem that should be discussed with your spouse or lover so that you’ll know how and which treatment options are right for you.
You might be in one of two situations. Either your lover has erectile dysfunction, and you want to talk tot him about it – or you have the problem and would like to talk to your partner about it. You need to know how to handle either situation.
How to talk to your partner if he suffers from erectile dysfunction (ED):
- Be sensitive. Let your partner know in a sensitive and understanding manner that you want to help him deal with his problem. Offer to go to the doctor with him so that he’ll know the level of your concern and eagerness to work with him to resolve his erectile dysfunction problem both physically and emotionally.
- Never blame him. Don’t blame your lover for his inability to get and maintain an erection. Don’t even tease him about it. The psychological impact on him may be devastating
- Approach him with knowledge. Let him know that many other men also suffer from erectile dysfunction and that treatment options are readily available.
How to talk to your partner if you suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED):
- Don’t rush into a discussion. Approach the subject of your sex life at a time when you aren’t stressed or in the middle of an argument. And, make sure you have the time and privacy you’ll need to discuss the problem for as long as you need to.
- Do your Research and be ready with suggestions. There is so much information available about erectile dysfunction that you should be able to research causes and treatments that might be right for the two of you.
- Tell your lover how important this problem is to you. Don’t diminish the effects that erectile dysfunction has had on your relationship.
No matter which side of the problem you’re on, be sure that you express how you feel to the other person. You may be angry, sad, frustrated or hurt about this difficulty in your relationship. However, when you talk openly and continue to be honest with each other, together you can decide on the best course of action for both of you.
Advances in suppositories, injectable medications, implants, and vacuum devices have expanded the options for men seeking treatment for ED. These advances have also helped increase the number of men seeking treatment. Gene therapy for ED is now being tested in several centers and may offer a long-lasting therapeutic approach for ED.
For More Information:
American Urological Association (AUA)
1000 Corporate Boulevard
Linthicum, MD 21090
Phone: 1–866–RING–AUA (746–4282) or 410–689–3700
Fax: 410–689–3800
Email: aua@auanet.org
Internet: www.auanet.org
www.urologyhealth.org
AUA can refer you to a urologist in your area.
Penis Size and Male Enhancement Products
Posted by: · Commentsin Categories : Men's Health, Relationships & Sex
They say that a good woman won’t care about your size. If she loves you for who you are, it wouldn’t matter how big (or small) your penis is.
A man who has had size issues obviously did not write that. As a man, you feel less confident and it tends to hurt your self-esteem.
Most women don’t actually care about the size of the penis. For them, it’s more about how the man uses whatever he has. But penis size can detract from a sexual experience if the man is so small that he can’t remain inside the vagina for any length of time.
Over time, size has come to matter more. Ancient Greeks generally regarded a small penis with more desirability. Larger penises were seen as gross and comical.
Today, the outlook has changed and men desire a larger penis because they feel it relates to their virility as a man. It is now a cliché to ask, “Does size really matter?”
Many men actually mistake the length of their penis, thinking they’re smaller than they actually are because they’re looking down and gaining an inaccurate view. The average penis size is five to seven inches long.
In a 2005 study, 55% of men said they were not satisfied with the size of their penis. On the other hand, 85% of their partners were very happy with the size of their penises.
A perfect size means different things to different people. Luckily, there are many male enhancement products on the market today so you won’t have to wait and worry anymore – you can do something about it if you’re not satisfied!
To know your size accurately, measure it many different times and in different states of erection. Measure from the base of the penis to the tip. That’s the length. Now, measure the girth in three different places while you’re erect – at the base, below the glans penis, and right in the middle of the penis shaft.
Now, you no longer have to worry about your penis size. You have many options to increase its size. That’s why male enhancement products are so popular today.
However, the size of your penis should not be such a big issue that you risk your health. Whatever male enhancement product or method you use, you need to be careful that it won’t damage the nerves or cause other permanent damage to your sexual organs. Know the difference and only use male enhancement products that will not cause irreparable harm.
Some poorly made male enhancement products can cause side effects that irritate the penis, resulting in swelling that the buyer mistakenly believes is penile growth.
Learn more about a natural penis enlargement system with guaranteed results…
(Note: This is an affiliate link).
Stress Reduction Tips for Women
Posted by: · Commentsin Categories : Relaxation & Stress Reduction, Women's Health
Between careers, kids, aging parents, relationships, finances and who knows what else, women have a lot of things that can potentially cause great stress in their lives. Stress can cause our immune systems to become compromised, depression, weight gain or loss, loss of sex drive, difficulty with concentrating and just plain crabbiness.
What can we do to help ourselves with all this stress? There are many ways to relax and de-stress every day. You can try things like meditation, visualization, a nice bath, writing in a journal, a good workout or some self-pampering.
The problem is that many women say they simply don’t have time for any of this. The simple answer to that is that if you don’t take time to take care of yourself, you’re going to be ineffective at best at taking care of anyone or anything else.
You really need to find time to allow yourself to de-stress. Here is a list of techniques and things you can do to reduce stress in your life:
1.) Organize, simplify and delegate. Stop thinking you can or you have to do everything all at once and all by yourself. Find ways to better organize your life and your home. Use calendars and lists.
Get rid of the clutter that you don’t use or need (be brutal), stop worrying about dusting the house every week – if it’s that important, have one of the kids do it or hire a housekeeper to come in every other week. Or, better yet, realize that the sun doesn’t rise and set depending on whether your coffee table is dust-free or not.
2.) Practice tried and true forms of relaxation. Meditation isn’t difficult to learn and it can do wonders for helping you reduce stress in your life. Even if you only meditate for 10 or 15 minutes a day, you can use a mediation CD to learn, or join a class.
Another method used for deep relaxation is visualization or guided imagery. You can purchase CDs that guide you to a state of deep relaxation and back out again. For many women, these are very helpful.
3.) Get some exercise! You can use Asian exercise forms such as Qigong or Tai Chi which can be learned in class or by using an instructional DVD. Yoga is also wonderful for helping to reduce stress.
These forms of exercise have other benefits beside stress reduction. You can also reduce stress by doing a more traditional workout every day – or even every other day. Join a gym, or get a workout buddy. Walk or run for exercise or take a kickboxing class to really get some pent up energy out.
Other good ways to reduce stress include:
- Writing in a journal every day. Just let it all out.
- Allow yourself to go to the spa for a massage once in awhile and really enjoy the experience.
- Practice deep breathing and pay attention to your breathing all day long. If you notice yourself shallow breathing, stop and concentrate on taking some good, healthy, deep breaths.
- Take a warm bath and follow by cuddling up in your favorite pajamas with a good book.
The pressure to perform is intense for women. We are mothers, partners, daughters, employees and employers. We serve on committees and help with the local volunteer group.
Sometimes we get stressed out. The need for time to relax and pay attention to our own bodies and minds is great, and we cannot ignore that need. If we do, we may end up not being able to serve others or ourselves in the ways we want to.
Visit our bookstore to get more ideas to reducing stress in your life.
Discover the Healthy Eating Secrets You Can Use to Lose Weight & Feel Better Than You Have in Years. With all the foods out there claiming to be low-fat or fat-free or cholesterol free and with all the conflicting research that one day says a particular food is bad for you and the next says it is good, deciding how to “eat healthy” can be extremely difficult. Learn more about 