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It may seem like an odd question, wondering if there are actual signs of infertility. After all, it’s a pretty safe bet that if a couple are having regular, unprotected sex for many months without a resultant pregnancy, then this should be a pretty obvious sign in of itself. However, many couples realize that they simply cannot be having as much sexual activity as they would like, and that it does take several details to be all aligned at the same time in order for conception to take place. They may wonder if they perhaps are just victims of circumstance or if medical intervention is really necessary. If this sounds like you, then let’s take a moment to discuss the true signs of infertility, and if you find that any of these are present in your case, you can be sure to mention them to your doctor during that appointment.

Amenorrhea.

Amenorrhea is the term used to describe when a woman does not have menstrual periods when she should. Women normally do not menstruate before puberty, during pregnancy, and after menopause. At other times, she should have regular menstrual cycles every month; if she doesn’t, this may be a sign of infertility or another treatable medical condition, however, there are some conditions that cause this cessation of periods that may also cause infertility.

Amenorrhea can be caused by any number of changes in the organs, glands, and hormones involved in menstruation. Possible causes include:

Failure of the ovaries (female sex organs that hold eggs).
Problems in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) or the pituitary gland (a gland in the brain that makes hormones involved in menstruation).
Poorly formed reproductive organs.
Hormonal imbalance due to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

In these cases, amenorrhea may be a sign of infertility in the woman.

Miscarriages.

A miscarriage is the loss (death) of a baby before the 20th week of pregnancy. According to the March of Dimes, as many as 50% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage - most often before a woman misses a menstrual period or even knows she is pregnant. About 15% of recognized pregnancies will end in a miscarriage. Miscarriage itself is not necessarily a sign of infertility, however, if miscarriages happen because of difficulties with a woman’s reproductive system, then the two may be related.

Other signs of infertility.

An OB/GYN may look for other causes for a woman’s difficulty in conceiving, including endometriosis, a condition in which the tissue lining the uterus (the endometrium) is found outside of the uterus, pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection caused by bacteria that starts in the uterus and can spread to other reproductive organs, stenosis (narrowing) of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus (the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a baby grows), often caused by scarring, and tumors (also called “fibroids”), or growths on the inner wall of the uterus. All of these can also be considered signs of infertility that would necessitate medical intervention.

Get Your Free Report about Infertility The Myths, The Truth, and the Easy Ways You Can Increase Your Odds of Conceiving at http://www.Infertility-Facts.com now!

When a couple are experiencing problems with conception, there is usually a good chance that their doctor can pinpoint their exact reasons for infertility ‘ and we say reasons, plural, because sometimes there are actually more than one simple reason. For example, many people assume that conception problems are simply a woman’s issue, perhaps because she is the one who is completely responsible for pregnancy. However, common reasons for infertility are typically about 50/50 between the man and woman, meaning that it may very well be the man’s problem just as commonly as it is the woman’s.

However, there are some other rather common reasons for infertility that no one seems to want to talk about. This is probably due in part to the fact that these reasons are somewhat embarrassing to many people, or they deal with issues that people don’t want to change; it can be easier for them to simply say that it’s a medical issue rather than a lifestyle issue.

For example, one of the more common reasons for infertility that people don’t care to discuss has to do with smoking. Many people don’t want to talk about their smoking and their problems with conception, usually because they simply don’t want to give up those cigarettes! It’s easier for them to convince themselves that it must be something else, and that way they don’t need to address this habit. Also, if they were to be told that their smoking is interfering with their plans for conception, then they may feel guilty or feel as if they are letting their partner down.

One of the other embarrassing reasons for infertility has to do with body weight. Doctors are now finding out that there is a very strong link between obesity and issues with conception. While there is much yet to be discovered, it’s thought that when men and women are obese, the practices that keep them such ‘ poor diet, lack of regular physical exercise ‘ also harms their bodies in ways that medical science had not previously known was possible. Some of the reasons for infertility being interfered with by body weight include the fact that harmful cholesterol adheres not only to the heart’s arteries, but to the many small vessels that are involved in the reproductive system. Excessive body weight puts undue pressure on the uterus and fallopian tubes, interfering with ovulation (the dropping of an egg from the fallopian tubes to be fertilized) and with a fertilized egg then implanting itself to the lining of the uterus as well. If this does not happen, a fertilized egg can be miscarried before a woman even knows she is technically pregnant.

What is truly sad about these common reasons for infertility is that they are preventable with some simple lifestyle changes. Yes, it’s difficult to stop smoking and to lose weight, but if it means finally being able to conceive and achieve your dream of bringing a child into the world, you would think that potential parents would do whatever they could to correct and address these potential reasons for infertility as soon as they possibly could.

Get Your Free Report about Infertility The Myths, The Truth, and the Easy Ways You Can Increase Your Odds of Conceiving at Infertility-Facts.com now!

With so many more persons being overweight and out-and-out obese these days, many are wondering if there really is any truth to the rumor that obesity and infertility go hand-in-hand. How is it that being overweight can interfere with your reproductive abilities? How can a few extra pounds mean that much damage to your body? What about those that are obese that have been able to conceive? In order to examine these issues fully, let’s take a look at some of the suspected reasons that obesity and infertility seem to be related.

Reasons for Obesity

Regardless of what some people may assume, it’s generally accepted among the medical community that obesity does not just happen. Some would like to think that it’s all genetic, but many scientists know that when a person changes their eating habits and physical activity levels, they lose weight. So saying that obesity and infertility are two things that you can do nothing about is rather shortsighted ‘ which also should be thought of as good news. If obesity and infertility were all a matter of genetics, then you would be trapped, with no choices or things you can do to fix the situation.

So, when studying the reasons for one’s obesity, we see the connection to infertility. High-fat diets add to elevated cholesterol levels in the body, and as we see cholesterol clinging to the arteries and areas around the heart, it does the same to the reproductive system. Cholesterol chokes out a man’s ability to produce healthy sperm and a woman’s ability to ovulate a healthy egg.

Additionally, another connection between obesity and infertility may have much to do with exercise and physical activity. Exercise gets the blood circulating properly and in a healthy way, and this oxygen-rich blood is necessary for all functions of the body, including the reproductive system. Without the antioxidants provided by blood that’s been freshly filtered through the lungs, any malformation or problems the body has is not going to be fixed or repaired the way it should be.

Extra Body Weight

Another connection between obesity and infertility seems to be the extra body weight itself. This extra weight on a man may block his sperm ducts, and blocked sperm ducts are one of the most common reasons for infertility in men. Additionally, a woman who has extra weight around her midsection may also have problems with ovulation, as this puts undue pressure on the fallopian tubes. It also puts this pressure on the uterus, causing it to contract unnaturally. When a woman’s uterus is compromised, a fertilized egg cannot attach itself, and she will miscarry it before she even knows she is pregnant.

So it seems as if there are some reasons to be concerned about the connection between obesity and infertility. Again, no one wants to be told that they need to lose weight, or to think that their own body weight may be interfering with their plans to have a baby, but at least they know that there is something they can do about the situation!

Get Your Free Report about Infertility The Myths, The Truth, and the Easy Ways You Can Increase Your Odds of Conceiving at http://www.Infertility-Facts.com now!

Sometimes the biggest challenge of being home with the kids is, well, the kids. Especially the ones too young for school. It’s exhausting not having a break from them at times. It can be hard to get anything done, whether you’re trying for a bit of housework or trying to earn money from home.

Even if you’re most comfortable with long stretches of work, parenthood often means learning to do more with small bouts of fast work. That’s just how kids are. You have to work hard, work fast and hope they’re feeling cooperative.

Here are some basic activities your kids may enjoy:

1. Having a friend over.

Believe it or not, once they’re used to each other this can really work. An extra child in your house can make it easier because the kids focus on playing with each other, not on trying to get your attention.

Work this one right and you can also earn trades with another stay at home parent. You take their kids, they take yours. Lots of fun for the kids and free quiet time for mom!

2. Water play.

Kids love water. I give my kids a plastic container full of water with some sponges and they take it outside and start scrubbing. This works best with some dish soap added so they have bubbles to enjoy as well.

Water painting can also work. Take a bowl of water, some paintbrushes, and some of the non-glossy ads you get in the mail or your newspaper. You can also use just plain newsprint. Young children love seeing the color change as the paper gets wet.

If the weather is warm enough you can also just set up sprinklers and work on things where you can still supervise as necessary.

3. Paper and scissors.

Get some child safe scissors, give your child some paper, and let him or her at it.

You may have to watch things a little, as these are sharper than the ones we had as children, and experimentation will inevitably happen. But if you make the consequences good enough for any cutting of hair, clothing or other unauthorized objects the interest in cutting random stuff up goes way down.

The negative can be the cleanup. My kids can get paper just about down to confetti levels when they’re in the mood.

4. Mother’s helper.

I haven’t often used this one, but if a neighborhood child who isn’t quite old enough to babysit wants to earn a little money, this is a great way to let them help you. They just play with the kids and come to you with problems such as diapers, snack time or injuries.

5. Forts.

Kids love to make forts or tents. You can drape a sheet over the table, across some chairs, make it out of couch cushions, whatever works. It’s great for the imagination.

If you have a closet under the stairs you can also have what my family calls Narnia. You could refer to Harry Potter if that’s what your kids prefer, of course. They just play in the very back, doing whatever it is they want to imagine.

This is particularly fun if you are lucky enough to have an under stairway closet that has a turn in it. Kids love places that feel secret.

Stephanie Foster blogs at http://www.homewiththekids.com/blog/ about being a stay at home mom. Get more tips by subscribing to her free newsletter for stay at home moms at her site.

You will no doubt have the need for a babysitter at some time or another. It is critical to know that the sitter you choose is someone you can trust. If the babysitter is only for a few hours you maybe able to rely on references, but if the sitter is long term a more detailed investigation is in order.

Do a thorough background check on all permanent babysitting candidates.
Before you even consider hiring someone to sit with your child, conduct a thorough background check on them. There are numerous agencies who will do this at a small price. Choose a reputable one. Make it known to all candidates that a background check will be conducted. If they are serious they will understand. Be aware of those who object.

Ask for references and contact each of them.
Along with the background check, ask for references. Contact every reference of the candidates who pass the background check. You can do this by phone or by mail or other. This may slow the process, but it is of the utmost importance. The time you take now can mean the difference between life, possibly serious injury or even death. References will be only glad to tell you if something is wrong with your candidates.

Ask the candidate questions that give you insight.
Ask many questions. Make them as in depth as necessary. Make sure they are the right questions. The kind that spark emotion are best. Questions should shed light on whether you can trust your child with the potential sitter. For example, You might ask; If my child is crying and will not stop even after you have tried everything, what will you do? The answer and the way it is given is most important. Pay attention to subtle clues.

Observe reactions during the interview.
Nonverbal clues are more important than verbal clues when interviewing a sitter. When you ask questions, be aware of actions that do not match the answers. Long pauses or quick answers can signify a problem.

Long pauses may mean a search for the right answer is taking place inside the candidates mind. Quick answers maybe canned statements with no substance. A few selective test questions may help you gauge the candidates nonverbal clues before proceeding through the interview.

Observe how they dress.
The way a person dresses can give you an indication of how they view their work. Sloppy unprofessional dressers may work the way they dress. Be careful not to assume that a one time good dresser is an all time great worker. You can be sure that a sloppy dressers habits will not improve if they come to work for you. Meet the person on several occasions in order to gauge a medium.

Do they have bad habits?
Its important that you know if the candidate is prone to bad habits. Bad habits may interfere with the individuals work. For example, smoking is addictive. In addition to the health risks it may become more important than the care of your child.

By the same token a drinker may become consumed with taking a drink. Drinkers have been known to raid the employers liquor cabinet. They have also been known to fall asleep and leave children unattended. Its your right to ask. Any defensive acts toward the questions maybe a signal.

Hire a private investigator.
It may seem like lots of trouble, but hiring a private investigator is not far fetched. A private investigator can tell you things about the candidate that you may not see. They can identify questionable lifestyles and let you know what kind of people are associated with the candidate. If you think this is going to far; think about the last time you heard or read about a child dying while in a sitters custody. Still think its too much?

Give the sitter a test run under controlled conditions with the child.
A meeting between the sitter and child can give you some indication of how the relationship will be. If the child does not like the sitter it is probably wise not to consider. You can usually tell within a few minutes if a child is comfortable with the sitter. This is especially true with small children.

Children have a sort of a sixth sense about people. They will readily display disfavor towards ones they believe who will cause them harm. It will be to your advantage to trust yours and your childs intuition. This controlled meeting will give you great insight. Remember this is a controlled meeting. When a sitter is hired it may still be necessary to inconspicuously monitor the sitters activities.

Johnny A. Jenkins, Distribution Director
of Repeller Technology,
has a huge selection of hidden surveillance equipment, tips and advice to fit most situations. Make your surroundings safer for you and loved ones today
at: Repeller
Technology.