Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Where do Eggs come from? Part 3

We'll start with cycle day 14. This is the textbook perfect day of ovulation. The day of ovulation that varies and determines when the period will start. So if a woman has cycles that change in number of days, it is the number of days between menstruation and ovulation that varies. The number of days between ovulation and menstruation does not usually change. The ovaries have been working, from day 1 to mature follicles into eggs. They have been stimulated by Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland in the brain.

There are usually several follicles being primed for ovulation each month. By day 14, the body has chosen one (sometimes more) dominant follicle to release. It's much bigger that the other follicles that are maturing, and the rest give up the race. The follicle is triggered to release the egg by a spike in Luteinizing Hormone (LH surge) from the pituitary gland. An ovulation test kit measures the urine for this usually high amount of LH. The follicle bursts and releases the egg, which causes some women to feel some pain or a little bit of bleeding. The egg that is released goes into the fallopian tube and journeys towards the uterus.

So how can a woman tell when she is fertile? You may know of someone who has been trying to get pregnant that takes their temperature every morning. Around ovulation time, the Basal Body Temperature (BBT) of a woman should go up as well. Cervical mucous will also change, becoming more stretchy. This is to help the sperm with their journey towards the eggs.

In most cases, the egg does not fertilize and the corpus luteum degenerates. If the egg does fertilize, the embryo secretes a hormone that keeps the corpus luteum around and secreting progesterone, which keeps the endometrium thick to support the embryo.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have been used to improve the quality of eggs (which generally goes down as a woman ages), and to create a thicker endometrium (required for implantaion of the embryo). It's also being used to address a number of other factors that may come up when dealing with fertility. Infertility treatment is a very exciting specialty in the field of Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine because there is currently a lot of research in the area, and efficacy rates are very good, especially when compared to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), and Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI). Visit www.AcuSpaWellness.com for more info on Acupuncture & IVF.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Where do Eggs come from? Part 2

Let's get started with the nitty-gritty. Day 1 of the menstrual cycle is the first day of bleeding. Healthy cycles do not start with light spotting, but with moderate bleeding. Heavier bleeding at the beginning of the cycle means that hormones are functioning correctly.

Day 1 is the beginning of the luteal phase, named after the corpus luteum. The corpus lutem is what we call the leftovers in the ovary after the egg has been released. The corpus luteum secretes progesterone, which helps to keep a fertilized egg in the uterus.

Menstrual flow is what happens when the lining of the uterus (endometrium) breaks down and is shed. The actual amount lost is typically an ounce and a quarter - slightly more than a shotglass-full. Excessive bleeding can lead to low energy and anemia, while light bleeding means the endometrium may not be thick enough to support a fertilized egg. An "ideal" period from a Chinese medicine point of view would have no PMS pain, and start with about 3 days of flow, and end with 2-3 days of spotting. It's start day would be predictable, with cycles happening each 26-30 days. Cycles should be the same number of days, and should not require regulation via birth control pills.

As an aside note, please know that most gynecological complaints are not cured by the birth control pill. Usually the birth control pills mask the symptoms of a disorder, and/or delay the symptoms from worsening. The underlying condition remains. Birth control pills are prescribed by gynecologists for a range of complaints, from fibroids and heavy bleeding to lack of periods and painful cramping. Use of traditional Chinese medicine, on the other hand, is directed at balancing the hormones and re-establishing a properly functioning reproductive system.

More information on Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine and Fertility is available at www.AcuSpaWellness.com