Circulation and FSH

Every acupuncturist I've seen (and there's been a few) mentions that my circulation needs some help. I believe them, my feet, hands and nose are usually cold. Read any website for fertility acupuncture and you'll read about how herbs and acupuncture help increase blood flow to the reproductive organs. When an acupuncturist has success with lowering high FSH, they always mention one of the things they did was aim to increase blood flow in the patient. It makes sense, the ovaries need a good supply of healthy blood, oxygen and nutrients delivered to them so they can do their thing. Good circulation is a big factor in healthy eggs and a healthy uterine lining.
Here is a great article on reversing the clock on fertility, by Dr. Randine Lewis, and the importance of good blood flow.

 In Dr. Randine Lewis' The Infertility Cure, she speaks of the femoral massage, where you press the large artery in your groin to direct more blood flow to the pelvic area. Here's a link on how to do it.

What about good old exercise? It's something I've always struggling with, it doesn't come naturally to me, and my work is quite sedentary. My friends in their late 30's, who are easily popping babies out, are all sporty, fit women. I don't mean exercise junkies, just healthy regular exercise. I'm trying to do at least 30 minutes of walking a day every day.

Google natural ways to boost circulation, and you'll see there's lots of suggestions like cayenne, garlic, ginger and rosemary. L-arginine, an amino acid, causes the blood vessels to open up and allows more blood flow. I see lots of talk about L-arginine being suggested as a fertility supplement by both western and eastern doctors. It's supposed to improve success rates in IVF also.
Also, drink plenty of water as dehydration isn't good for blood flow.

May the blood flow!

More articles:
How to Naturally Lower Your FSH
How to Improve Egg Quality

The Autoimmune's relationship with Fertility and looking for Balance

I was diagnosed with high thyroid antibodies and Hashimotos thyroiditis a few years ago. The levels go up and down, something I really need to get retested for... When I first asked my doctor for the test she refused, I had to beg, “it’s my money, my thyroid!” I’m so glad I put my foot down with this.

It’s very common for women with POF to have one or more auto-immune diseases. So maybe for those of us with POF, auto-immune diseases are another sign that things are off balance in our system? Is there are relationship between the illnesses? I ask doctors these questions and they often say they just don't know yet. Looking at the body as a whole, Hashimotos could be causing more problems then is currently known, and the thyroid is such a huge thing with fertility. Many people often have two or more autoimmune diseases concurrently.

There is a lot of info on the web about the close relationship between autoimmune diseases and POF. I definitely recommend getting your thyroid antibodies tested. 

Do you know about anti-bodies that attack the ovaries? Many women with POF are found to have these anti-ovarian antibodies.

There's definitely a lot more to say on this subject so I'll be doing more posts on it.

I’ve just recently started taking colostrum. It is supposed to do wonders for restoring balance to the body, including healing autoimmune diseases. It contains: proline-rich pol-peptides which modulate the immune response; cytokines regulate intensity and duration of immune response and are antiviral and anti-tumorous; interlukin- 10 reduces inflammation; and lymphokines regulate the immune response. Enough scientific talk from here, here are some good articles:

Colostrum and the Autoimmune Diseases

Colostrum and Autoimmune Disorders

I’ll let you know if I have any success with this colostrum, but many people have with all kinds of illnesses, so it’s worth a shot. Can only make me healthier!

Can good DHEA levels be your missing link?

Was it mine? No I don’t think so. I had my DHEA levels tested (saliva test) and my levels were really good. Blah! I really wanted them to be low as this would have been an answer, but am grateful to have a normal lab test result, it’s been awhile! 

Many women with with POF have had been able to successfully get pregnant, but it's not for all of us.

DHEA is produced in the adrenal glands. It is often seen as the “hormone of youth”.

Many women with high FSH are low in DHEA. About 2-10 percent of all women with POF have adrenal insufficiency, and among these women about 70 percent have adrenal cortex antibodies.

The Center for Human Reproduction in New York is having some wonderful success using DHEA for women with POF.

Here is a link to a woman’s story on using DHEA.

Here's a link on DHEA and the risks written by a health practitioner. 

Another thing I would consider is magnesium oil. This is the only natural product I can find that has been proven to raise DHEA naturally. It’s estimated approximately 80% of us magnesium deficient, our soils are depleted of it. Could this be a major contributor to POF? In many of the articles and books I have read, low DHEA means low magnesium. 

It works much more quickly than taking magnesium orally. Transdermal application definitely seems the way to go. It definitely is a safe option, as you cannot over do it if taking magnesium through the skin. Taking too much orally can give you the runs! Here’s an interesting article on magnesium and DHEA, showing the power of magnesium oil.

I've been using magnesium oil for a month now, no side-effects at all, except when you rub into broken skin, oowww!

Any thoughts?

First Day on the Blog

I’m collecting positive bits of information about anything to do with helping to lower high FSH and reverse premature ovarian failure. I’ve been experimenting on myself for a couple years now and have found out about lots of great stuff, none of which has helped me yet, but has helped others, and may help you!

Not sure what this blog will turn into, but we want anything positive posted. Maybe you've had success: regulating your cycles; improving follicle count; lowering FSH; and getting pregnant? We know there's lots of you out there!

I was given the high FSH low estradiol premature ovarian failure, move onto donor eggs diagnosis three years ago. Aaah, what a dark time and sometimes still is, but frankly life’s too precious to stay in that hole, and we must with all the effort we can muster, pull ourselves up and out.

This blog’s reason is to give some hope and share some info, links, stories etc. No, I’ve never been able to conceive in my years of trying, but many other women with high FSH have. No I’m not a doctor, but doctors haven’t been able to help me, so I try and help myself, because I honestly don’t know how to stop trying. I’ve been waiting for some wonderful pregnancy news to share my story, but why wait? I am collecting all this info that may help one person out there. It's very true, one way does not work for every body, this I know, but I’ll keep trying till I feel it’s time to stop, and in the meantime I’ll share any useful information I can. I want to be accurate with any info I relay, and will always add links so you can check it out yourself. Every blog will have a different theme, well that's the plan today anyhow.

Ok, I’ve never blogged in my life, what the hell is a blog? Hopefully I can make this practical and easy to navigate. With any of the information provided, be sure you do some of your own investigating and make sure it feels right for you before trying.

Maybe if we put our heads together on this one, we can at least improve the odds!