Preseed.com Blog

This preview has an interesting story on my Fallopian Tube research, looking at sperm cell storage.  (CLICK HERE for a preview)

The show details the journey sperm undergo to reach the egg.  It has several Reproductive Physiologists discussing their research, as well as helping to explain how fertilization occurs.  It is a fun way to learn about this topic for most age groups!

Blessings ~
Dr. E

Check out the conceiveonline.com feature “Sex Ed: What You Need To Know To Make a Baby”, with a nice recommendation for Pre-Seed by Dr. Mary Jane Minkin of Yale!  http://conceiveonline.com/sex-fertility/sex-ed-for-babymaking/?cmpid=enews030210

In previous surveys of Pre-Seed users, approximately 35% of respondents reported that they used Pre-seed to supplement low volume fertile cervical mucus or improve poor quality fertile cervical mucus.  INGfertility is currently seeking federal funding to study the use of Pre-Seed as a “cervical mucus replacement or supplement” for trying to conceive couples. An important early component of this research is to gather a larger data set on this topic. Specifically, we are interested in obtaining more information from Pre~Seed users’ own observations regarding cervical mucus quality and outcomes while using Pre-Seed.

If you have used Pre-Seed in the past, we would be very grateful if you can take a few minutes to fill out our survey.  Please forward this newsletter to your TTC community so that they can participate in this survey as well.  Thank you for your valuable assistance as we move forward with this exciting area of important research.

Blessings ~
Dr. E

Check out the great mention of Pre-Seed by Dr. Greene from Sher Institute in this month’s Conceive!  Dr. Greene discusses that most lubricants are toxic to sperm and states that “The only one I use in my office is Pre-Seed”.  Dr. Greene has a great book and blog on trying to conceive,  “Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertility” and you can read more at  http://www.thegreeneguide.wordpress.com/.   

Blessings-
Dr. E

A new study by Sanchez et al (Fertility  & Sterility, Jan 2010) showed how high levels of reactive oxygen species (“oxidative stress”) can decrease the ability of sperm to swim towards the follicular fluid which surrounds the egg at ovulation.  Normally sperm can “smell” or orient their movement towards this follicular fluid, to make sure they get to the egg at the right time to fertilize it. This is called chemotaxis.  It isn’t really “smelling” but it is a chemical beckoning of the sperm toward the fluid which bathes the egg in the ovary and which is released with the egg into the Fallopian Tube at ovulation. 

Sperm can be exposed to high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), in men with low grade (often unnoticed) genital infections and men that have some kinds of infertility. For most men, semen contains antioxidants that protect sperm from excess ROS damage.  Infertile men have statistically lower levels of antioxidants in their semen, and thus can have higher levels of ROS. 

Although the clinical impact of this study’s finding haven’t been proven yet, it suggests that sperm from men with high levels of ROS in their semen, may lose the ability to “smell” and swim specifically towards the egg, as well as sperm from men with normal ROS levels in their semen.

What can you do to optimize your fertility?

Rule out any subclinical genital infections if you are having trouble conceiving. This includes making sure any semen analysis specifically stains for and counts white blood cell presence. 

Try antioxidant fertility vitamins (such as FertilAid) when trying to conceive.  Laboratory studies have also shown that arabinogalactan (part of Pre-Seed’s© patented formula) can limit oxidative stress (or ROS) damage of sperm.

Dr. E

“Sizing Up Sperm” airs on March 14th at 9 pm on the National Geographic Channel.   It is an amazing documentary of the journey sperm go through to fertilize an egg.  Dr. E was invited to help tell the story, where she introduced the concept of “gourmet” sex for TTC couples to Canadian and  UK audiences when the show aired there last year.

It is an entertaining and educational show, and is also appropriate for most middle school children or older. 

Please let your community know about this special event!  To learn more you CLICK HERE to review the NGC press release.

We Just received an updated kudos note from Drs. Katz & Tabisel at the Women’s Therapy Center in Plainview, NY (see below).  These remarkable physicians have a unique practice in women’s sexuality and do wonderful empathetic healing for women with pelvic pain (vaginal pain during intercourse and other times).  As a woman who had vulvodynia in my younger days, as a mom and now as a menopausal sexually active woman, I have profound respect for the work of these two women.  Their kind comments about Pre-Seed mean a lot to me personally.

The doctors have a great blog which discusses all kinds of items about sexuality in a dignified but real world way.  Check them out here http://womentc.wordpress.com.

We recommend Pre-Seed to our patients who are trying to conceive but fear that using lubrication will hamper their ability to conceive.  We have found it to be of excellent viscosity and can handle average thrusting during intercourse. It is not sticky (as are some lubricants) and can be used for clitoral stimulation in addition to intercourse.  We most certainly endorse this product.  ~ Dr. Ditza Katz & Dr. Ross Lynn Tabisel, Women’s Therapy Center, Plainview, NY

Dr. E

You can now buy Pre-Seed® along with all your homecare health needs at http://www.walgreens.com/store/catalog/Intimacy/Fertility-Friendly-Intimate-Moisturizer/ID=prod6010235&navCount=0&navAction=push-product.  We welcome our new partner and hope you all will show them your support!  Keep watching www.preseed.com for exciting news regarding our growing list of retail locations in 2010.

A recent study from the Cleveland Clinic found that Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) were 7 fold higher in 54 men with male factor infertility versus 51 men with normal sperm.  ROS are highly reactive, free radical chemicals (consisting of one or more unpaired electrons).  They are made by sperm as part of normal function, but can also be made by white blood cells or abnormal sperm in higher, damaging levels, which if present cause “ oxidative stress”.  Most of us think about free radical or oxidative stress regarding aging of our faces and concerns with how we look as we age.

However, oxidative stress is a big problem for sperm as it can cause damage to the sperm’s ability to swim, its  normal shape and most importantly to the sperm DNA or genetic material.  All of these changes can impact fertility and pregnancy outcomes.  Several factors can increase ROS in semen including smoking, varicoceles, and genital tract infection.  Some studies suggest that low grade genital tract infections are very under diagnosed in men, and I happen to agree with this.

Normal men have fairly high levels of antioxidants in their semen to keep ROS and oxidative stress at the right levels.  However, between 25 and 88% of infertile men (study dependant) have elevated ROS in their semen, which can lead to loss in ability to swim (motility), loss of normal shapes (changes in morphology) and breakage in the DNA structure (leading to fertilization failure, pregnancy losses, and even childhood diseases). 

The new study by Desai et al., (Fert &Ster Nov 2009) found that the level of ROS in a semen sample could be used to predict over 75% of the infertile men, with ROS levels being much, much higher for these men than for the men with normal sperm parameters. 

Why is this important?  Because having ROS measured in sperm samples from couples with infertility could: a) help identify if there is a male factor involved in the infertility and b) help identify men for whom further diagnostics and therapies may be helpful. These would include, low grade infections which may need special antibiotics, such as men with ureaplasma or mycoplasma infections.  Also, identifying men with high ROS could increase compliance with antioxidant vitamin therapy, such as those found in fertility supplements (e.g. FertilAid).

In general, couples planning on assisted reproduction may be able to improve outcomes by decreasing semen ROS values prior to treatment. Of course, those trying naturally could also benefit from lowered oxidative stress.  I suggest anyone who is TTC at least try fertility vitamins with antioxidants for 6 months.

To have an ROS assay done, couples in the Northwest could contact Dr. Muller at University of Washington.  The Cleveland Clinic can also perform this assay, as well as other referral clinics with an andrologist on board. 

For our part, we know that minimizing sperm ROS damage is important. The bioactive plant sugar, arabinogalactan, became part of Pre-Seed’s patented formula after finding that it decreased sperm ROS production.  This protective effect on sperm, echoes a larger body of literature which has found an antioxidant effect of arabinogalactan on many other cell types as well. 

Hope your New Year is going well!

Blessings-

Dr. E

Wow, we had a huge response to our Pre-Seed and Pre sample holiday gift! We received more than 4,700 sample requests in just over two weeks!

Remember, we continually provide samples to healthcare clinics. If you are interested, please check with your RE, OB/GYN, Family Doc, Midwife, Acupuncturist or Naturopath to see if they have Pre-Seed or Pre’ samples.  If they don’t, they can always contact us at orders@ingfertility.com to become part of our healthcare sampling list.

Have a wonderful Holiday!

Blessings -
Dr. E