After trying to conceive a baby for more than 12 months it is generally suggested that a couple consult their medical professional to perform a few tests to determine the cause of the couple not achieving a successful pregnancy. However, if the woman is over the age of 35, testing can be requested after six months, as fertility has begun it’s natural decline by this age.

The first step for you to take is for both partners to have some testing done to determine where the problem lies.

Generally the male partner is tested first as infertility testing for a man is less invasive than for a woman. Both a blood test and a semen analysis are performed. The semen analysis will tell you about the quantity and health of the male partner’s sperm while the blood test will show if there are any concerns with his hormone levels.

If there are any concerns with the male partner’s tests, it is likely that the female partner is not tested and the couple will work with the information they have already gained. There are times when sperm count and quality can be improved by diet and / or surgery and hormonal issues can be treated as well. However there are times when either the man’s body is not producing the quantity or quality of sperm required for no apparent reason. In these cases it is recommended that the couple look into assisted reproduction therapy (ART).

In the even of the male partner’s tests coming back all clear, the female partner will begin her testing, usually this will involve determining if she is ovulating. The doctor may request that the woman charts her cycle for a few months so she can see if she is ovulating that way. Alternatively, the doctor may request blood tests and ultrasounds at various times of the woman’s cycle to see if her hormones are working correctly and to see if her ovaries are working correctly.

If these tests come back showing that the female partner is ovulating, there are further investigations started. These will check on the health of the woman’s reproductive system and are quite invasive. A hysterosalpingography involves dye being injected into the woman’s uterus through her vagina, she is then given x-rays to determine whether there are any blockages in her fallopian tubes that are stopping the eggs from moving where they need to be. A laparoscopy looks at the health of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus and can determine if there are any issues such as endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or if there are any physical abnormalities in the organs investigated.

After testing is completed and an issue is found with either partner, the doctor will help to couple decide which direction to take next, usually this depends on the problem that has presented. Unfortunately though, up to 10% of couples that are tested for infertility in Australia will be diagnosed with “unexplained infertility” which means that they have not conceived a child within 12 months of having unprotected sex, but all of the tests rule out any of the usual problems.

There a variety of options available these days to overcome infertility, such as inter-uterine insemination, IVF, egg or sperm donations or even adoption. Once a diagnosis has been made these options are assessed until the most suitable one is found for your particular case.

Related posts:

1. Female Infertility

Having a new baby is one of the most stressful things that will happen in our life. There are so many things to worry about and you might start to feel as though you aren’t coping as well as you think you should. You may have the “baby blues” for a few days or you may have more severe feelings of depression.

It is said that there are roughly 10-20 percent of mother in Australia that suffer from postnatal depression. It is also estimated that 10 percent of first time fathers suffer from postnatal depression. Although they don't have the hormonal changes normally associated with postnatal depression, you must remember that father's lives are turned upside down when a baby arrives as well.

Postnatal depression is a serious mental illness that a lot of mothers (and fathers) suffer from, many silently, as they don’t want to admit that there is a problem.

After giving birth at your six week checkup, your doctor or early childhood nurse may give you a “test” to see how you’re going, this questionnaire is called the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. It was developed for the British Journal of Psychiatry in 1987 and is still used today as a guide to whether a mother may need some help for postnatal depression.

Below is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for you to use on your own. Please remember that scores provide only a rough guide as to whether a woman has postnatal depression. For a full diagnosis, it is important to see your doctor.

To complete the questionnaire, circle the response that answers most accurately how you have been feeling in the past seven days.

1. I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of things.
• 0 As much as I always could
• 1 Not quite so much now
• 2 Definitely not so much now
• 3 Not at all

2. I have looked forward with enjoyment to things.
• 0 As much as I ever did
• 1 Rather less than I used to
• 2 Definitely less than I used to
• 3 Hardly at all

3. I have blamed myself unnecessarily when things went wrong.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, some of the time
• 1 Not very often
• 0 No, never

4. I have been anxious or worried for no good reason.
• 0 No, not at all
• 1 Hardly ever
• 2 Yes, sometimes
• 3 Yes, very often

5. I have felt scared or panicky for no very good reason.
• 3 Yes, quite a lot
• 2 Yes, sometimes
• 1 No, not much
• 0 No, not at all

6. Things have been getting on top of me.
• 3 Yes, most of the time I haven't been able to cope at all
• 2 Yes, sometimes I haven't been coping as well as usual
• 1 No, most of the time I have coped quite well
• 0 No, I have been coping as well as ever

7. I have been so unhappy that I have had difficulty sleeping.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, sometimes
• 1 Not very often
• 0 No, not at all

8. I have felt sad or miserable.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, quite often
• 1 Not very often
• 0 No, not at all

9. I have been so unhappy that I have been crying.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, quite often
• 1 Only occasionally
• 0 No, never

10. The thought of harming myself has occurred to me.
• 3 Yes, quite often
• 2 Sometimes
• 1 Hardly ever
• 0 Never

Add up the numbers or your circled answers. The higher your score, the more likely it is that you are distressed and may be suffering from postnatal depression. If you score is high, or even if it is low but you feel depressed, please consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Get your baby gifts noticed with a unique gift from BabyBuds - lots of gifts for the new baby, new Parents, Grandparents and Siblings.

Related posts:

1. Postnatal Depression
2. Post Natal Depression

A very helpful way to get to know your body and to learn the best time to conceive a baby is by charting your cycle.

Charting your cycle involves a three steps, the main one is taking your temperature every morning, followed by observing cervical mucus and other cervical changes. To start with, you have to understand why you are taking your temperature.

Over the course of your cycle your basal body temperature changes according to what hormones are in your system. Your temperature starts off low, rises after ovulation and will then either go down to signal your period starting or remain high to signal a possible pregnancy. If you are charting your cycle, you can see graphically where your temperature is and what part of your cycle you are at.

Taking Your Basal Body Temperature

To check your basal body temperature it must be done first thing in the morning before you rise from bed and even before you speak. Set your alarm to wake at the same time each morning & before doing anything else after it goes off, still your thermometer in your mouth (or under your arm or you can even check your temperature vaginally if you choose). Any sort of thermometer will work, but the best type has two decimal places as they are the most accurate in showing any subtle temperature changes.

Record your temperature either on a piece of graph paper or on charting software or websites, such as Fertility Friend.

As the month goes on, you will see that your temperature changes with ovulation and becomes biphasic, which means there are two phases, a lower temperature phase prior to ovulation and a higher temperature phase after ovulation.

It might take a few months to get used to how your temperatures work, but you will start to see patterns emerging about when you will ovulate and how long your luteal phase (the time between ovulation and the end of your cycle) lasts.

The important thing to note is that once the temperature rise has occurred, ovulation has occurred and it is more than likely too late to conceive a baby. You need to be having intercourse prior to the temperature rise, so it is important to chart other ovulation indicators when charting your cycle.

Checking for Cervical Mucus

The next step to helping you understand your cycle is charting your cervical mucus changes.

Like with your temperature, your cervical mucus changes depending on what hormones are dominating at a certain time. Your mucus will change from sticky, to creamy, to water and finally, the mucus at ovulation is named egg white cervical mucus due to it’s consistency being much like that of an egg white.

The best way to check your cervical mucus is to simply look on the toilet tissue when you wipe and then note on your chart, the quality and consistency. At first it may be a bit hard to distinguish between the different types of mucus, but after a little while it becomes second nature.

When recording your cervical mucus on your cycle charting page or software, always record the most fertile mucus that you note for the day. For example you may have creamy mucus in the morning, but then watery mucus in the evening. It’s best to record the watery mucus as your body might be gearing up that night to ovulate.

Observing Cervical Changes

A third way to add to your chart is to observe the changes in your cervix. Some people are uncomfortable about checking this fertility sign, so rest assured that it is a secondary sign, the main two are your temperature and cervical mucus. However if you would like to check your cervix, following are the details on how to do so.

To check your cervix you will need to insert a very clean finger into your vaigna. You will feel a small round object (your cervix) that will have a small hole in it. Notice how it feels.

Prior to ovulation you should be able to feel your cervix quite easily as it starts out quite low in your vagina. Your cervix will feel hard, a little like the tip of your nose and the cervix opening will be closed when you are not in your fertile period. As you come closer to ovulation it will move up higher in your vagina and be quite hard to reach, now it should feel very soft, a lot like your lips. The opening will also be quite noticeable, as your cervix opens up at ovulation to allow the sperm to make their way through. After ovulation the opening will close again and your cervix will go back to being hard like your nose. In pregnancy the cervix stays very high and will become out of reach fairly quickly after ovulation, if conception hasn’t taken place your cervix will move down again ready for your next period to start.

Record your cervical observations on your chart as well.

After charting your cycle for a little while you will start to see some patterns emerging. Perhaps you don’t ovulate on the standard, day 14, maybe it’s earlier or maybe it’s a few days later. No two women are exactly alike and you will see that by browsing through a few different charts.

Special Offers
Get your baby gifts noticed with a unique gift from BabyBuds - lots of gifts for the new baby, new Parents, Grandparents and Siblings.

Related posts:

1. Conception
2. Menstrual Cycle
3. Conceiving

When you get to the end of your pregnancy you are generally uncomfortable, tired and a little bit over it all. Mostly though, you just want your new baby out in the world with you. There are a few natural induction methods that you can try to get labour started.

Please remember that any attempts at inducing labour should be supervised by a health care professional. Please don't try any of these methods without consulting your doctor first.

Following are six of the dozens of options you have to try and induce labour naturally, in no particular order.

Sex

As I’ve heard some midwives say, “the best way to get the baby out is the same way you got it in there!” While you might be skeptical, there is actual evidence that having sex can help with inducing labour naturally. Semen contains prostaglandins, which is on of the hormones that help labour to begin. In fact, when you go into hospital to be induced medically, often it will involve having a prostaglandin gel placed near the cervix to help it to ripen.

Nipple Stimulation

Another natural way to induce labour is through nipple stimulation, either by yourself or have your partner help you. This method of induging labour naturally relies on the release of oxytocin. As with prostaglandins mentioned above, oxytocin is another one of the hormones needed to start labour. During labour, if you are given an IV medication to help a stalled labour or to induce labour, it is a synthetic version of oxytocin used.

To release oxytocin, the recommendation is to massage your nipples by rolling them between your thumbs and forefingers for approximately two minutes and then rest for three minutes. Repeat this pattern for around 20 minutes.

Fresh Pineapple

The newest craze for inducing labour naturally is to eat freshly cut pineapple. There is an enzyme in pineapple (and also papaya, kiwi fruit and figs in a lesser amount) called Bromelain, which is believed to work in the same way as prostaglandins. The catch is that the enzyme is only found in fresh pineapple, so canned and cooked pineapple and pineapple juice aren’t going to help get things moving.

Spicy Food

The reason why spicy foods are suggesting as a way to naturally induce labour is because the food can cause spasms in the intestines. With the uterus being located close to the intestines, it may begin to contract at the same time. This induction method is usually classed in the realm of old wive’s tales but as long as you’re not suffering from heartburn it’s worth a try.

Castor Oil

Castor oil induction works on the same theory as spicy food, intestinal cramping causes uterine cramping and therefore a start to labour. This method will also cause your bowels to empty within a few hours of taking it. The biggest concern here is that your baby will empty his or her bowels as well which is quite dangerous, so please use this method only with strict medical assistance.

Acupuncture

To naturally induce labour with acupuncture, several acupuncture needles are placed in particular spots on the lower legs, feet and hands. Sometimes these needles will be stimulated with an electrical pulse, depending on the acupuncturist. You must be overdue before and have a doctor’s permission before attempting acupuncture to induce labour as it is quite effective and a lot of women will go into labour 6-48 hours after their first session.

While the following two things won’t necessarily induce labour naturally, they are both uterine tonics and will help with preparing your cervix and uterus for labour and birth.

Evening Primrose Oil

Evening primrose oil is a great source of prostaglandins and can be used to naturally induce labour from around 34 weeks. There are two options for using evening primrose oil, orally or internally, and both are quite effective at ripening the cervix.

The recommended oral dosage is two 500mg capsules every day from 34 to 38 weeks, at which time you can increase to 3-4 capsules per day.

It isn’t recommended to use the capsules internally until 36 weeks. At which time, one or two entire capsules can be inserted vaginally as close to the cervix as you can reach. It’s best to do this at bedtime, as the oil will pool at the cervix overnight while you are sleeping. You may have some excess oil discharge in the morning, so wearing a pad is recommended.

Raspberry Leaf Tea

The aim of raspberry leaf tea is to tone the uterine muscles and is thought to help your contractions be more efficient when labour starts. So whilst it isn’t a direct labour induction method, it can be quite useful. You can start taking the tea as a drink, which is quite bitter, or you can take capsules orally from around 28 weeks.

Special offers for expectant mums with Baby Buds
Get your baby gifts noticed with a unique gift from BabyBuds - lots of gifts for the new baby, new Parents, Grandparents and Siblings.

Related posts:

1. Sex As A Labour Catalyst
2. Labour
3. Birth & Labour

There’s a lot to be said for men taking certain vitamin and mineral supplements while they are trying to conceive.

Generally, with most couples, the female partner will start taking some form of prenatal multivitamin formula (like Elevit or Blackmores Pregnancy & Breastfeeding etc) or at the least a folate supplement (like Fabfol), as soon as the couple decides to try for a baby.

More often than not the male partner continues on as before trying to conceive with little regard for changing their lifestyle or increasing their intake of certain vitamins and minerals.

These days however, there are a few options for men in the way of multivitamin supplements that claim to assist with the production of better sperm and overall general health for conception.

The first men’s fertility health supplement to be released was Menevit (in 2008), made by the same people that do the very popular Elevit for women. The key ingredients in Menevit are vitamin C, zinc, vitamin E and folic acid, along with some other vitamins that make it a good well rounded multivitamin as well as a sperm health supplement.

The alternative is SpermMax (released in 2010) which also contains folic acid and zinc, but instead of being a multivitamin it is more aimed at sexual function and decreasing stress.

As you would guess from the ingredients of both of the men’s sperm supplements above, the main ingredient is zinc. Zinc is essential making sperm and the regulation of sperm motility (how the sperm move). The recommended daily intake of zinc is 20-60mg and with so few foods that are high in zinc (oysters, veal liver, sesame seeds & low fat roast beef are the highest) it’s no wonder that men’s fertility rates have been declining in the past few years.

The other common ingredient between the two is folic acid, or folate, which is well known as a supplement for pregnant women to prevent neural tube defects, but it is also beneficial for men’s sperm health as well. Research has shown that men who increase their folic acid intake have fewer abnormal sperm cells. The recommended daily intake for me is 200mg and it can be found naturally in lentils, kidney beans, broccoli and brussel sprouts, but these days there are quite a few different products that are labeled as having added folate.

Of course having a varied diet containing zinc and folate rich foods is the best way to go about things, but we all know with today’s busy lifestyle sometimes we don’t eat as well as we know we should. Sperm supplements such as Menevit and SpermMax are a great way to get the recommended daily intake when your diet is lacking in these essential sperm health vitamins & minerals. They are both simple to take, one tablet once per day, as with female prenatal vitamins they are recommended to be taken for at least a month prior to conception.

While the use of supplements for sperm health can be beneficial, they are not a guarantee to increase your sperm count or improve the health of your sperm. If you have any concerns about the health of your sperm, please see your health professional.

Related posts:

1. Sperm needs light
2. Male Infertility

If you are pregnant with your second baby you already know it is tougher second time round when you have a rambunctious toddler to keep up with. Those opportunities to rest when you need to are gone. Being tired all the time isn’t a happy or healthy situation for you and the rest of your family who may end up on the receiving end of your crankiness.

Here are some tips to getting your rest, important for a healthy pregnancy, during your busy days with your toddler.

1. Rest when your toddler is resting

You would have heard a million times the saying “mother sleeps when baby sleeps” and may have struggled to stick to it, thinking you could handle the sleep deprivation. Now, during pregnancy, it is quite important to force yourself to sit down, forget about the mounting chores, and rest while your toddler is resting.

2. Let others do the entertaining

Meet up with your friends who have kids as much as possible so your toddler can play with their kids while you try and sit back and relax.

Invite them around to your place as understanding friends will be more than happy to lend a hand in the entertaining.

Or, meet up in an indoor playground or fenced outdoor playground so your toddler can burn off energy while you sit and watch.

3. Encourage low intensity activities together

Precious time together with just you and your toddler will soon be in short supply. Take advantage of the time by engaging in activities that are restful for you but stimulating for your toddler like colouring in, making play dough together and then mucking around with it, doing puzzles, etc.

4. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and your toddler to be ‘ready’

Minimising stress is important for a healthy pregnancy. You may have devised a To Do list in your head of where you would like your toddler to be by the time your new baby arrives, such as being potty trained.

However, a new baby in the house is notorious for unsettling a toddler. So, along with a commitment to what you are trying to do, like getting out of nappies, you also need a good dose of commonsense and flexibility. Don’t put pressure on yourself with a rigid approach to meet an impending date, where the new arrival may set all your progress back anyway; it will be doomed to frustration and stress.

Get your baby gifts noticed with a unique gift from babybuds - lots of gifts for the new baby, new Parents, Grandparents and Siblings.

No related posts.

If you have been lucky enough to get any advice out of your mates on what to expect from fatherhood, it probably has been that “things will change”. Instead of going in with this vague idea of doom, here is more detail on the top five things that are going to change and how to deal with them.

1. You’ll get less attention from her

As your partner grapples with being a new mum her focus will be almost entirely elsewhere. Don’t wait to be asked what to do to help, get in there and find out what she wants your role to be.

2. You might get worried about money

Going from a comfortable double income down to perhaps only surviving on your pay is something you can plan for well in advance. Waiting until you are both tired to figure out a budget will probably result in a fight. Try to sit down and agree how your household budget is going to be run.

Do your research now into if you qualify for the Baby Bonus or Paid Parental Leave using the online estimator (click here) and submit your application in advance.

3. You will be sleep-deprived

Working together on looking after your baby in the night will help you both get some sleep and hopefully result in a happier household. Many fathers send mum to bed early and do a night feed with a bottle, say approx 10pm, before hitting the sack.

4. You might be worried you are not ready to be a dad

This is a pretty natural concern and it should cheer you up to know that the instinct will kick in, at some point. Allow yourself time to feel comfortable and confident in being a dad; don’t expect it all to happen at once.

5. You won’t be able to go out with your mates as much

Remind yourself that this is temporary. As you all settle into family life plenty of opportunities to go out with your mates will reappear. Then again, and you might not believe this, but you may not want to do the things you used to.

Get your baby gifts noticed with a unique gift from babybuds - lots of gifts for the new baby, new Parents, Grandparents and Siblings.

No related posts.

A study done by a  University of Sydney doctoral student, found that about a third of men with fertility problems have low levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D is found in oily fish and eggs, and is naturally produced by the body in natural light – hence its other name, the “sunshine vitamin”.

The same men were also found to be low in folate, and had higher levels of a specific amino acid that indicates cell toxicity.

Dr Anne Clark, medical director of Sydney’s Fertility First clinic, says; "Vitamin D and folate deficiency are known to be associated with infertility in women, but the outcomes of the screening among men in our study group came as a complete surprise.”

While worries about skin cancer could be to blame for the widespread vitamin D deficiency, work and lifestyle choices could also be contributing to the trend. Dr Clark says that “the amount of sun needed is just 10 to 15 minutes a day, outside in the heat of the day.”

After taking part in the study 123 of the men, entered into a program that included lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, cutting caffeine and alcohol intake, and losing weight. They also took antioxidants and a multi-vitamin for two to three months. The DNA of the men’s sperm was 75% less damaged by the end of the study.

Best of all, the group had recorded 40 pregnancies, more than half of which had been achieved naturally or with only minimal intervention.

Related posts:

1. Vitamin Supplements for Sperm Health

Researchers say angry behaviour even things such as door slamming, shouting loudly and even binge-eating whilst pregnant can affect the development of babies’ hearts.

Infants born to mothers more prone to these impulsive and aggressive acts had less variation in their heart rates after birth, the research found. Variation in heart rate is thought to be healthy because it indicates the body is flexible and adaptable to change. For example, different breathing patterns should affect the heart rate.

But if the heart does not adapt to change it is more at risk of disease and infection. It is already known that adults who have a lower variation in heart rate are more likely to develop heart problems.

Researchers also say the hormonal changes in the body which trigger aggressive behaviour may pass through the placenta to the unborn baby, and could have an influence on the way cells develop. And so staying relaxed and calm whilst pregnant is important – what a better excuse for a spa day!!

The study, led by researchers from the University of Sussex, recruited 49 pregnant women aged between 22 and 39 from childbirth classes. The volunteers were tested to see how likely they were to develop ‘impulsive, uncontrollable bouts of temper’. The women were asked in interviews to describe how they normally dealt with anger and their brain activity was monitored to see how they responded to certain sounds and images designed to prompt a negative reaction. They found 22 women fitted into the ‘angry’ category, nearly half of the volunteer group.

The researchers said this was a higher proportion than would be expected in the general population,  attributing this to the fact that the study had been advertised as investigating the effects of temper on foetal hearts and attracted volunteers concerned about their anger.

After the women gave birth, the electrical activity of the babies’ hearts was measured using an electrocardiogram, or ECG. They found newborns whose mothers were in the angry group had a lower variation in their heart rate.

Get your baby gifts noticed with a unique gift from babybuds - lots of gifts for the new baby, new Parents, Grandparents and Siblings.

Related posts:

1. Many Aussie mums quit rather than take unpaid leave
2. Smoking during pregnancy – psychosis link
3. Breathlessness during Pregnancy

Recent studies show that both male and female smokers have lower fertility levels than non-smokers and that men and women who are born to mothers who have smoked have a reduced chance of becoming a parent themselves. It is also known that smoking affects the chances of artificial insemination succeeding.

There are more than 4,000 known compounds in tobacco, the most commonly known being nicotine. It has been estimated that every cigarette reduces an individual's life expectancy by 14 minutes.

As well as placing undue pressure on the body's respiratory, circulatory, immune and eliminative systems, smoking interferes with the absorption of vitamins and minerals essential in maintaining reproductive health.

In males, smoking is known to impede fertility by:

• Lowering the sperm count
• Harming the mobility of the sperm
• Affecting the shape of the sperm
• Reducing the amount of semen
• Causing impotence

Sperm Count

Male smokers tend to have a sperm count that is 15 per cent lower than that of non-smokers. It is generally considered that a man has a low sperm count if he has less than 20 million sperm in a millilitre of semen.

There have been a number of reports that male sperm counts have declined over the past few decades and tobacco is known to be one of the key factors.

Other reasons thought to contribute to a low sperm count include nutritional imbalances such as deficiencies in vitamin E, zinc and vitamin B12, and hormonal imbalances. Smoking is also known to interfere with the absorption of vitamins and minerals and disrupt hormone balance.

Sperm Mobility

The health of the sperm will influence performance and therefore fertility. If there is poor mobility of the sperm, also known as "lazy sperm", sperm function and the chance of conception will be affected. Following ejaculation, the sperm may fail to travel the distance through the cervix and uterus to reach the egg where fertilisation can occur.

Quality of Sperm

The quality and shape of the sperm, as well as the quantity, influences the ability to conceive. For example, if there is a deficiency of zinc, the
sperm may fail to penetrate the egg inhibiting fertilisation. Smoking is known to interfere with the absorption of nutrients. Other important trace elements include calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium and copper.

Shape of Sperm

Some sperm are misshapen and therefore cannot function efficiently. The chances of successful conception are unlikely if the sperm are mutated.

Lack of Volume

Smoking has been linked to a reduction in the amount of semen during ejaculation. Low volume is a common complaint in smokers.

Impotence

Also known as erectile dysfunction (ED) impotence refers to the consistent inability for a male to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. Males may experience degrees of impotence as a total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections.

Erection begins with sensory and mental stimulation. Impulses from the brain and local nerves cause the muscles within the penis to relax, allowing blood to flow in and fill the open spaces.

The blood creates pressure in the muscles, making the penis expand. The membrane surrounding the muscles helps to trap the blood in the muscles thereby sustaining erection. Erection is reversed when muscles in the penis contract, stopping the inflow of blood and opening out-flow channels.

Any disorder that impairs blood flow in the penis has the potential to cause impotence. It is known that smoking can lead to the degeneration of the blood vessels that carry blood to the penis. An erection cannot occur unless blood can flow freely into the penis. Therefore it is important that these blood vessels are in a healthy condition to facilitate circulation.

Recent studies show that nicotine:

• Closes up the arteries that lead to the penis
• Reduce the pressure of blood in the penis
• Is thought to encourage blood flow out of the penis

Recent figures from the British Medical Association estimate that 12,000 'young' British males are impotent due to smoking. Furthermore the incidence of erectile dysfunction is thought to increase by 50 per cent for men in their thirties and forties.

It is known that smokers who quit immediately improve their chances of producing healthy sperm and conceiving. Health professionals advise couples planning a pregnancy to allow at least three to six months preparation before conceiving so the red blood cells can fully regenerate

Related posts:

1. Male Infertility
2. Things to Avoid
3. Giving up Smoking for a Baby