Lets get Physical!

I have been out of action lately. I haven't been able to make it to my regular training sessions at Urban Workout (http://www.urbanworkout.com.au/) and Im feeling it! Its hard juggling work, being a mother and play, but Im really missing the benefits of movement and exercise, and I realise for me, how important it is to make time for it. I was chatting with a patient about this during the week - we shared ideas as to how importance and priority in your life switches, as you feel the need. I NEED to move, I need to get outside and be amongst the trees, birds and make my way to the local coffee shop! So today, I got the pram out and grabbed my lovely friend and we went for a walk. How much better for it I feel, I can't tell you!

There is now evidence to suggest that exercise has an antidepressant effect on the body. This can be especially beneficial for the postpartum mother. Grabbing the pram and getting out and about is an awesome way to get yourself moving as well as being outside enjoying the fresh air and sunshine (another thing that has an antidepressant effect on the body). Benefits of exercise isn't limited to the mother of course, we all share the need to exercise.

Our bodies require some level of movement daily to assist in maintaining overall health. Regular exercise helps to prevent diseases including high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Best of all, adding some exercise to your routine will improve your mood, because when we exercise we release 'feel good hormones' including endorphins, serotonin, adrenaline and dopamine. By exercising we also decrease the amount of 'stress hormones' present in the body (cortisol). Building up cortisol in the body can lead to a host of issues, including infertility, depression, anxiety and other stress related illnesses. It is important to use exercise to move through these hormones and to balance the body adequately.

Time is a factor for most, especially busy mothers and fathers and making the time can be really difficult. As little as 10 minutes each day is enough to 'recheck' your hormones and give your body the daily dose of hormones it requires. Making this part of your daily routine means that you don't need to find the time - its just part of your day! As an added bonus, you will most likely sleep better too! Getting stress under control means that your quality of sleep will also improve and you will have a well rested nights sleep meaning that the day ahead will appear brighter also.

So, for me, I am making myself promise to not go so long without some form of physical activity. I feel so much better just from taking a walk, meeting up with a friend and the icing on the cake, watching the kids roam about the play ground. You see, Olivia got her dose of exercise too, and now she is sound asleep letting mummy blog this to you!

Why fertility drugs may work for some and not for others

Nothing has changed this week, in terms of drawing on clinical experience for a topic for my blog. It is sometimes tricky to write from an objective point of view, when so often much of my material I write about goes against the grain. This topic is no different. I feel somewhat drawn to discussing fertility drugs, specifically clomid/serophene/clomifene or similar this week - going by not one, but several instances in the clinic where women have been prescribed it because western medicine has nothing else to serve them.

Clomid is an interesting drug. If you are unfamiliar with it, its is a prescribed fertility drug that basically encourages the body to ovulate. Whilst it does successfully induce ovulation by up to 90%, only 5 - 25% of women taking it will fall pregnant as a result. Unfortunately, the chances of miscarriage in women using the drug is higher. One of the main side effects of Clomifene is that it dries up the cervical fertile mucus, necessary to nurture, feed and transport sperm to the ovum. Without this, it is very difficult for pregnancy to result. But wait... there's more! Clomifene also thins the uterine lining, making it harder to conceive, since the fertilised egg requires a thick healthy endometrium to implant into. I suspect these two factors alone (decreased mucus and thinning of the lining) may be why pregnancy rates are so low by those taking Clomifene.

We see alot of women through their fertility journey - some taking or have previously taken clomid. Good news for them is that Acupuncture and Herbal Medicines have been shown to improve both uterine lining and cervical mucus as it works on hormone regulation and supporting body function. This is a result of increased blood flow to the reproductive organs, as well as TCM supporting the overall workings of the body. Furthermore, acupuncture has also been show to decrease miscarriage rates substantially. Clomid or not - both these factors are extremely important to address in the overall scheme of fertility.

As to why drugs work for some and not others - it entirely depends on the constitution of the patient. Some patients need less support and others need a lot! One thing remains the same however - any form of supportive treatment will benefit a patient no matter what the constitution. Its just another reason why I love TCM! (Traditional Chinese Medicine)

Of course, if I had my way with every patient, it would be to enable them to grasp the concept of making their body work properly. Encouraging body systems to work as one, certainly possible with alternative treatments, lifestyle changes & education. Sadly, this isn't always possible, but it is possible to support a women's fertility whatever stage of that journey she is at.