Fertility food series- Pomogranate- The Wonder Fruit !!!!

It will not be wrong to call Pomegranate a wonder fruit, which is one of the earliest fruits that have been cultivated in different parts of the world. The ruby like seeds are historically revered as a natural aphrodisiac and symbol of fertility for both men and women.

To name a few, pomegranate is a rich source of antioxidants, zinc, folic acid, Vitamin C and vitamin A. When we turn the pages of history we can see that, the pomegranate fruit and its juice have been hailed as an amazing promoter of fertility. Pomegranate  help women  in  augmenting  fertility by boosting the blood flow to the uterus, thus helping the women conceive faster. 

This fruit not only aids to get pregnant naturally, but also  reduces the risks  of premature child birth. The high concentration of folic acid in this fruit helps to meet the daily requirement in pregnant women and thus in turn helps in the delivery of healthy babies. During pregnancy, there is  rapid cell growth and division wherein  the body requires more folic acid in order to keep the body hale and healthy. 

The  anti-inflammatory flavonoids in the fruit can help blood vessels remain open and promote blood supply to all areas of the body. This along with the potassium helps in reducing cramps in pregnant women.

Pomegranate increases sex drive and acts as fertility enhancers for men and is known to improve  the  sperm  quality  and  quantity. Pomegranate juice  is rightly called  Viagra juice,  as it is known to increase the libido. Regular intake of pomegranate juice will aid in the  increase  of density of sperm cells, reduce the number of spermatozoa with abnormal morphology and is effective in controlling erectile dysfunction.

This powerful fruit  is also packed with other amazing health benefits like fighting against the natural aging process,  protecting people from diseases, potential protection of the brain etc.

"All that man needs for health and healing has been provided by God in nature, the Challenge of science is to find it”

Dr. Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre
anitadane@gmail.com
www.giftivf.com
bangaloreivf.blogspot.in

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 15 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI , donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.

Fertility food series - Raw papaya salad with hibiscus and pumpkin flower

Eating salads everyday is a healthy practice, but if you eat the same type of salads everyday, you will tend to get bored. So be creative and pluck new, fresh and healthy ingredients from your garden. Hibiscus and pumpkin flowers have been traditionally used by our ancestors to treat infertility problems.  I have prepared this salad today for lunch, you can use your wild imagination and add more colour to the salad

Scrape raw  mature papaya (not ripe) after removing the skin(remove the sap by making shallow cuts on skin)Slice an onion finely. Cube raw mango or any other sour fruit like ambazham ( indian hog plum )  lovika (scram berry) or green apple into small slices. Mix them together with few tomato slices, add a dash of lemon juice, sprinkle some pepper and salt (optional,try to reduce the salt intake) according to your taste . And here comes the twist, decorate  the salad with petals of hibiscus flower and pumpkin flower.

Variety is the spice of life, so  try various salads. They are extremely nutritious and if made from ingredients in your backyard, they will be fresh, chemical free and retain all vitamins  and of course will be more easy on your wallet .

Hibiscus and pumpkin flowers are very high in antioxidants . Hibiscus is  popular and quite expensive in  Australia and many western countries in its dried form for making tea. In India, specially in Kerala, the shoe flower plant  is found in almost all households.  In tribal medicine ambazhams and shoe flowers are used for regulating menstruation.

Dr. Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

www.giftivf.com

bangaloreivf.blogspot.in

My dilemma as a doctor while choosing the Egg donor

                                          

Practice in the infertility field has given us lot of practical knowledge regarding patients insights and aspirations. But   I am still surprised  at the attitude of some of the patients, while choosing an egg or sperm donor.

I would like to believe that, for a couple who have not had children for long time, a healthy baby must be the main objective. But the society, especially  in India gives so much emphasis to the colour, looks and the caste.  Few of the parents are not worried about the donor’s nature, education, health, background or profession, but concerned with the color, appearance and religion.

Although we do not reveal the identity of the donors, we give the physical details and background of the donors. But many a times the demands of the intended parents are difficult for me to comprehend. These dark moments are distressing for me  compared to my otherwise contented and fulfilling profession. I am not generalising, I do meet parents, who doesn't care about the trivial factors and whose only concern is a healthy baby. 

As a doctor, I want to help the infertile couple, want to see their beaming faces while holding their baby. But it hurts and pains a lot, when I  think that we live in a society, where colour  and appearance is the only judging criteria for most of us. Changes are visible in some sections of the society, but I sincerely hope that this will spread to all parts of our society.

Dr. Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

www.giftivf.com

bangaloreivf.blogspot.in

Miscarriages - blessing or curse ??

 

Being an Infertility specialist and gynecologist for more than a decade, I have been lucky to witness the joy of a mother when she held her baby for the first time, but I also had to shed tears with heartbroken women when they lost their baby prematurely due to miscarriage.

The excitement and joy experienced by a couple, when they see a second line on UPT kit is no less than winning a marathon. But sometimes this joy is short lived and all their hopes are shattered by miscarriage or a scan report which indicates lack of growth of the  baby. As doctors, one of the toughest part of our job is to explain this to the patients, especially when it happens repeatedly. The sad and devastating look on the face of the aspiring mother  and the aggressive attitude of the spouse are both difficult to deal with.

It is shocking that miscarriage occurs in one out of every three pregnancies and many a times it happens before the detection of pregnancy and goes unnoticed. It is more common in sub fertile couple and women with PCOS, so infertility specialists have to deal with it frequently. I am  sharing some facts regarding the common  causes for miscarriages. 

In most cases, the baby stops growing because the foetus  is not normal enough to continue to grow.   (none of the foetus are perfect, but most of them are viable).The mother nature is actually blessing us by stopping such pregnancy to grow, as it may  have ended up in either physically or mentally abnormal child  who might have later died in an advanced pregnancy stage  or in  early childhood. Our  body is selective and often recognise that the embryo is genetically abnormal, so the uterus does not allow it to grow.  (uterus is apparently a huge lab where genetics is recognised ). Thus 60 % or more miscarriages happens due to genetic problems  with the embryo, due to the  abnormal eggs/ sperms or both.

In some cases, there can be  problems in blood circulation, like clot formation, which can cause blocks in the normal circulation of the tiny embryo resulting  in cessation of foetal heart beat. This condition can be screened in labs by doing certain blood tests during non pregnant stage and are called APLA screening (anti phospholipid screening) . Women who are found   positive are treated with blood thinning agents like aspirin and heparin injections ( low molecular weight heparin ) which gives successful results.

Autoimmune disorders like thyroiditis and many undiagnosed disorders can result in repeated miscarriages and medical treatment with steroid may have benefit in confirmed cases. Steroids should not be given without proper indication as they have lot of side effects.

Some acute viral infections can trigger a miscarriage, but  not a very common cause. The child might become abnormal because of foetal infection.

Hormonal problems, as in PCOS  charecterised by high circulating estrogen or lack of luteal support because of low progesterone is also a reason for  miscarriages in a very small percentage of women . Pumping  women with hormones is not needed to treat this. Best treatment for PCOS is diet and exercise and change in life style.http://bangaloreivf.blogspot.ae/2014/09/low-glycemic-food-chart-for-pcos.html http://bangaloreivf.blogspot.ae/2014/08/dr.html

There are abnormalities of reproductive organs, like uterus or cervix, which causes miscarriages in some women, which is again only a negligible percentage and screening in the form of scanning is sufficient to diagnose  in most of the cases. 

It can be inferred that, the common determinant  for the mishap is invariably genetic abnormality. So if we look at it positively, these miscarriages are  a blessing rather than a curse.  Proper tests must be done by checking chromosomal analysis of husband and wife and the dead foetus to diagnose the cause correctly. If genetic abnormalities are there in one parent or both the parents, it is better to opt for Donor egg or sperm or both and you will be blessed with a  healthy baby.

Dr. Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

www.giftivf.com

bangaloreivf.blogspot.in

Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 15 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI , donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.

Fertility food series - Salad recipe which can work wonders like the VIAGRA !!

Many men go to great lengths to procure  Viagra to improve their sexual performance, but most of them are unaware of it’s side effects. So why do you want to spoil your health by taking unnatural tablets, when mother nature has blessed us with all the natural ingredients. Put  together all the following ingredients, add some seasoning and the  outcome will be surprising. The salad will not only be delicious, but also work as Viagra.

The secret Ingredients 

Tomato cubed
Watermelon chunks
Ripe Pappaya cubed
Orange skinned and sliced
Lemonjuice
Green pepper corns  few
Shatavari (Indian asparagus) juice
Yellow and red bell pepper chopped
Passion fruit extract
pumpkin seeds few

walnut  few

 Dr. Anita Mani

Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

www.giftivf.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 15 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI , donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.

Fertility Super food - go bananas over bananas !!!!!!!

Can Bananas Improve Men’s Sexual Performance ??

The answer is yes, the  humble bananas freely available in every roadside shack all over  India. Although it is not as glamorous as apples or grapes, bananas have the advantage of being cheap, freely available and  are safe to eat as the plants don't generally need much pesticides or chemical fertilisers. Bananas are a rich source of vitamin B, B1,C, Bromelain, magnesium, Zinc, potassium. So whenever you feel hungry just grab a banana.

Men need a wide variety of vitamins and minerals in order to maintain a strong sexual vitality and bananas are rich in nutrients needed for a healthy sperm count. The vitamin B1, A, C and magnesium found in bananas play an active role in the production of sperm.  The mineral  zinc found in banana is considered as a miracle mineral to boost fertility and  helps to avoid agglutination of sperms ( sticking together )

Hormone regulators such as the B vitamin and Bromelain help regulate sexual desire and virility.

Bananas are also rich in magnesium and manganese – two minerals many men are deficient in and which are necessary for a healthy and fully functional prostate. This is the gland which produces the fluid component of semen. Failure to liquify is a fairly common complaint seen in sub fertile men due to the prostatic problems.

In Short it can be safely concluded “A Banana a day will keep your infertility specialist away” !!!!

Dr. Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

www.giftivf.com

bangaloreivf.blogspot.in

Fertility food series - Pumpkin leaves can work wonders !!!!!!!!!!!

Pumpkin leaves - fertility food series 

The pumpkin creeper running around in the compounds is a common sight ( well at least for those who gets to see some greenery ). Often, this humble neglected plant sprouts from the seeds of kitchen waste .

We are all aware that  pumpkins and even their seeds have nutritional properties, but you will be surprised to know that the leaves, tender shoots and stems have medicinal properties and can be used to make delicious preparations. These can be stir fried just like cabbage or carrots and if you like the taste, add some coconut, the result is amazing.

So maybe next time, you can try your hand at cooking with some fresh pumpkin leaves and stems, which is a good replacement for cabbage or cauliflower (It’s hard to believe, how much insecticides they contain) .

Few months back when I visited Nepal, apart from the serene beauty something else caught my attention. When we were staying in the tribal village of Sirubari, they used to make a preparation of pumpkin leaves which was delicious . It might even have aphrodisiac properties, we should do some pioneering research that nobody has done so far.

It seems to have benefits in improving the sperm production. Some of the other known health benefits of pumpkin leaves are:

1. Prevention of convulsion: The young leaves sliced and mixed with coconut water and salt are             stored in a bottle and used for the treatment of convulsion in ethno medicine.

2  Lowers cholesterol: These leaves have hypolipdemic effect and may be a useful therapy in                   hypercholestolemia.

3  Boost fertility: A particular study showed that pumpkin has the potential to regenerate testicular         damage and also increase spermatogenesis.

4. It has  liver protecting effects.

5.  It has antibacterial effects

6 .The leaves are rich in iron and play a key role in curing of anemia.

7. The leaves  are also noted for their lactating properties and are in high demand for nursing                    mothers.

8.  It has an hypoglycaemic (sugar reducing) effect and hence  is good for diabetic patients.

9.  It Increases Blood Volume and Boost Immune System

10. The high protein content in leaves of plants  will have supplementary effect for the daily protein         requirement of the body.

Dr. Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

www.giftivf.com

bangaloreivf.blogspot.in

Fertility food series - Magical plant Shatavari / asparagus !!!!!

                                

Shatavari or Indian asparagus  is an excellent remedy for enhancing fertility of  men and women and is used to treat a number of ailments. Shatavari has natural phyto-oestrogen hormone precursors that help women to maintain a healthy reproductive system. It is a reproductive tonic and  stimulates the production and balance of female hormones, making it the ideal herb for women of all ages. It has also been proved to act as  aphrodisiac and help in increasing libido.

Shatavari is the natural cure for infertility, loss of libido, threatened miscarriage and  menopausal problems. It nourishes and cleanses the blood and the female reproductive organs. For menstruating women, it helps to regulate monthly cycles and ovulation by maintaining a healthy hormonal balance. It is used to soothe PMS cramps, bloating and irritability. High  folic Acid content  helps to prevent anemia.

In Men, studies shows that  it acts as an excellent Aphrodisiac when combined with Ashwagandha. It promotes size, strength and stiffness of the penis.  It may be used in treating  impotence, spermatorrhea, and inflammation of sexual organs.

Known as an adaptogenic herb, Shatavari minimizes the negative effects of stress on the nervous system. This herb is good for anyone under pressure, helping the body and mind to cope with challenges.

Health Benefits

As a sweet, cooling, nourishing and soothing herb, it is considered by Ayurvedic practitioners to be the perfect energetic balance to clear some of the uncomfortable menopausal hot flushes, night sweats, memory loss, anxiety and dryness in the body. It can also be used to optimise fertility and increase the production of breast milk. Shatavari is considered to be the best general tonic for women in Ayurveda, clinically proven to promote fertility, strengthen the uterus, regulate menstruation, promote the flow of breast milk, assist in recovery from childbirth and alleviate many symptoms of the menopause. The natural alternative to HRT, it can be safely used through all stages of a women's life, and has been in use for over a 1000 years. It is the supreme woman's tonic. It contains phytoestrogens, a natural substance that rebalances oestrogen levels in women. These hormones play an important role in a woman's long term health, preventing heart disease and osteoporosis. It is also known to eliminate the Candida bacteria, so it can be a helpful remedy for thrush, if used regularly and consistently.

It has been shown to help the body detox from cancer treatment drugs, as it helps to stimulate the immune system and helps the body to eliminate toxins. Shatavari is useful in Cancer, convalescence, cough, dehydration, diarrhea, dysentery, female organ debility, fevers, hematemesis, herpes, hyperacidity, impotence, infertility, leucorrhea, menopause, lung abscess, sexual debility, stomach ulcers, rheumatism, soothes the dry inflamed membranes of kidneys, lungs, sexual organs and stomach. Asparagus increases breast milk and semen, nurtures mucous membranes, acts as immune system booster, blood cleanser, supplies female hormones, nourishes the ovum  etc. Since it is a slow acting plant remedy, it should be used over a period of time for full effect.

Visit the following links to know more about foods which help in enhancing fertility

http://bangaloreivf.blogspot.com/2014/10/fertility-food-series-pomogranate.html

http://bangaloreivf.blogspot.ae/2014/10/fertilty-foods-go-bananas-over-bananas.html

http://bangaloreivf.blogspot.ae/2014/09/fertility-foods-carrots-melon-tomatoes.html

http://bangaloreivf.blogspot.ae/2014/09/fertility-foods-nuts-dry-fruits.html

http://bangaloreivf.blogspot.ae/2016/02/sesame-seeds-for-infertility-pcos.html

http://bangaloreivf.blogspot.ae/2015/11/fenugreek-for-pcos-diabetes-and-other.html

Dr. Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

bangaloreivf.blogspot.in

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 15 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI , donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.

Too much exercise may impede fertility in men and women

Moderate exercise aid and abet in escalating the general health and fertility. But nothing in excess is good and sometimes, too much exercise can be the culprit behind infertility in both men and women. 

In men, excessive exercising along with the  intake of steroids have shown to decrease testosterone hormone and sperm count, cause prostrate irritation, which can negatively affect fertility. When the body of a man is overheated too often, the sperms are more likely to die and leave him infertile. Men who are underweight and have low body fat may experience problems of sperm motility and morphology.

The level of FSH and LH are reduced  by strenuous exercise. These are the key hormones in gamete production, ( sperms and eggs) so there will be less sperm production and reduced ovulation. Strenuous exercise can affect estrogen levels and cause irregular periods, sometimes even stopping menstruation completely ensuing in failure to conceive. It has been observed that often, women who take up strenuous sports like athletics or weight lifting  have difficulty in conceiving and  don't get their periods regularly. 

Women are biologically meant to have more fat than men for the function of child bearing. There can be lean periods, for which human body is storing up energy. The hormone estrogen promotes fat deposition in some areas like breast and thighs. Men are genetically coded to identify women who are fertile by their hour glass appearance. Vigorous exercise or stringent dieting, as in anorexia make women not only less fertile,  but less attractive. 

In the women undergoing IVF treatment, regular strenuous exercise over a period of time leads to poorer success rates. Unfortunately media and advertisement drives the whole world to think that thinner women are more acceptable. 

Walking, swimming, yoga, gardening etc are good forms of exercise, which will increase blood circulation and improve fertility. So the gist of the matter  is that moderate physical activity is imperative for a healthy body and can enhance fertility among  men and women, but excessive exercise can impede fertility.

http://bangaloreivf.blogspot.ae/2013/11/yoga-and-fertility-most-powerful-effect_25.html

http://bangaloreivf.blogspot.ae/2014/07/yoga-for-male-infertility.html

Dr. Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

bangaloreivf.blogspot.in

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 15 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI , donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.