Fertility Food: Avocado

Borrowed from this site.

Avocados are considered fertility food.  Why?  What is it about this fruit that makes it so?

Avocados provide a great source of Vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant and an important fertility nutrient for both men and women.  It improves sperm function and helps to regulate ovulation and improve cervical mucus.

Avocados are high in folic acid and vitamin B6 which help to regulate sexual hormone function that help to optimize sexual health.  Folic acid or folate, also known as vitamin B9 contributes to spermatogenesis in men and oocyte maturation, implantation and placentation in women.  Moreover, adequate folate intake during pregnancy is essential for normal tissue growth and helps protect against a number of congenital malformation including neural tube defects.

They are high in monounsaturated fat, the good and healthy kid of fat that helps lower cholesterol.  Fat plays a very important role in our endocrine system, which regulates the hormones involved in reproduction.  Estrogen, for example, is manufactured and stored in fat, so you want to get your fat in, just make it the healthy kind, which is the mono- and poly-unsaturated varieties.

Avocados also contain good enzymes which aid in digestion.

They are also high in fiber, which helps regulate blood sugar levels, and are filled with other great nutrients, such as potassium and vitamin C.

Avocados are in season now… Grab the opportunity to eat more…

Enjoy eating your avocados!!! :)

APAS Test Results

I got my APAS test results yesterday and here's the report:

Well, of the 5 items tested, only 1 was a little over the normal range, my KCT.

I made a chart to compare the results of my APAS tests from 2009-2012.  So far, I have done the test 3x already...  Looks like there were some improvements in my results over the years... Yipee! :)  But the fact remains, I'm still positive for APAS... huhuhu!  Hope the next time I test for this, it would be within normal range already... :)

MY APAS TEST RESULTS
	1st Test*		2nd Test*		3rd Test**
	7/7/2009		5/26/2010		6/26/2012
	RESULT	CONTROL	RESULT	CONTROL	RESULT	NORMAL RANGE
Lupus Anti-coagulants
KCT	105	70	90	75	79	52-78 sec
APTT	30	25	27	25	35	25-39 sec
DRVVT	30	30	35	30	39	37-47 sec
Anti-Cardiolipin Antibodies
ACA IgG	7.52	15 U GPL U/mL	4.07	15 U GPL U/mL	3.9	0-12 GPL U/ml
ACA IgM	8.58	15 MPL U/ml	8.13	15 MPL U/ml	1.2	0-10 MPL U/ml
*Tested at Reproductive Immunology Center Asia
**Tested at Manila Endocrine Laboratory

Read on to learn more about APAS test.

Antiphospholipid Antibody Test (APA)

Antibodies are special cells that are supposed to help our bodies attack foreign invaders, like bacteria from colds and infections. Sometimes though, the body mistakes its own cells for invaders and attacks them, causing a host of problems. This is the case with antiphospholipid antibodies - they attack our own cells.

Antiphospholipid antibodies are proteins that circulate around in the bloodstream. These proteins bind to cell membranes, making them sticky. This prevents our blood from flowing properly, resulting in blood clots. These antibodies can endanger the health of both you or your baby. High levels of antiphospholipid antibody are often associated with unexplained infertility including: recurrent miscarriage, stillbirth, placental insufficiency, implantation failure and increased rates of IVF failure.

It is thought that antiphospholipid antibodies compromise the placenta which nourishes your baby. Because the antibodies cause clotting, the embryo is cut off from oxygen and nutrient support. As a result, spontaneous miscarriage or fetal death can occur. Clotting can also cause distress to the placenta, making it difficult to have a successful implantation. (Source: sharedjourney.com)

There are several kinds of antiphospholipid antibodies. The two most commonly measured kinds are 1). lupus anticoagulant and 2). anticardiolipin antibody.  These two are closely related, but are not the same antibody.  This means that a person can have one and not the other.

1.Lupus Anticoagulant

Lupus anticoagulant is a specific type of antiphospholipid antibody that exists in your bloodstream.  It is actually a protein, which causes your blood to clot differently in your arteries and veins than it normally should.  

A specialized blood tests called coagulation tests measure blood clotting and are used to find the lupus anticoagulant.  Here are the tests done: 

a). Kaolin Clotting time (KCT)

b). Activated Partial Thromboplastin time (APPT)

c). Dilute Russel Viper Venom Time (DRVVT)

Each of these tests works to detect lupus anticoagulant by measuring the time it takes for a sample of your blood to clot in a test tube.  If it takes longer than normal for your blood to clot inside the test tube, it is more likely that you have lupus anticoagulant in your blood.

2. Anti-Cardiolipin Antibody (ACA)

Cardiolipin antibodies are proteins found in your body that work against cardiolipin. Cardiolipin is a molecule found in your blood platelets and various cell membranes. It is one of a group of molecules called phospholipids. You need cardiolipin in order to help regulate blood clotting throughout your body. Sometimes though, your body can mistake cardiolipin for an attacking substance. As a result, your body creates soldier-like molecules to fight against the cardiolipin. (Source: www.sharedjourney.com)

Women with cardiolipin antibodies have a harder time getting pregnant and carrying their pregnancies to term. This may be because anti-cardiolipin antibodies can cause tiny blood clots, preventing blood from flowing to the reproductive organs or placenta.

Treatment for high antiphospholipid or anticardiolipin antibodies

If you do test high for antiphospholipid or anticardiolipin antibodies, you may be recommended to take low-dose aspirin and the anticoagulant Heparin as treatment. Treatment is aimed at reducing the number of clots in your blood, and restoring blood flow to the placenta.

If you are suffering from unexplained infertility or recurrent miscarriages, it might be a good idea to undergo APAS testing as this might be the cause of your inability to get pregnant or maintain a pregnancy.   Ask your reproductive endocrinologist or your OB about it.

This might just help you... Knowledge is power!

Blood Test at Manila Endocrine Laboratory

I just had my blood tests done here at Manila Endocrine Laboratory this morning. It's been more than a year since I last checked my LAT, APAS and NK Cells.  Since we're planning to go through IVF, we decided to have these rechecked again and see if there are still problems...  At least, we can still work up on the problems before going to Taiwan for the IVF.  Though our doctor in Taiwan do not believe that my immunological problems are the cause of my infertility, we chose to work up on this side as well.  Better safe than sorry.  This is because I have heard some people who have gone through IVF without fixing their immunological problems first, and they got negative results in the end... 

This is the gate of Manila Endocrine Laboratory.

  

Took this picture while inside the car because it was raining this morning when we went there.

Go straight inside and you'll see this clinic.

This is the blood extraction area.

The tourniquet (tight band) has been placed around my upper arm... and now the medical technician is looking for the vein...

After putting alcohol on the skin over the chosen vein, the needle connected to a syringe was then inserted into  my vein. Ouchy!!!

Extracting bbloooooddd....

After extracting the required amount of blood, the needle was removed.  The small wound was pressed on with cotton for a few minutes to stop bleeding and prevent bruising.  My blood was then placed in these vials. (Only 4 vials in front)

Cost of the tests:
Lymphocytes Antibody Test (LAT) - Php3,500
APAS Test - Php5,000
Primary Immuno Deficiency Panel 1 (for NK Cells) - Php5,800

Total: 14,300

Only a few laboratories do these testings and prices vary.  LAT and APAS tests can be done in PGH-Medical Research Laboratory (Contact Number 5548400 Loc. 3232) every Monday to Friday, 8-10am. Results are released every Friday. Prices are Php3,500 and Php6,410 respectively.

For the Primary Immuno Deficiency Panel 1, you can also have it tested at St. Luke's Global (Contact No. 7897700), 2nd floor pathology for Php5292.  Actually, even if you have it checked at the Manila Endocrine Lab, they will send it to St. Luke's Global for the testing because they are only the ones who can do this kind of testing here in the Philippines.  APAS and LAT testings can also be done in St. Lukes, but are more expensive.

Results:

The results of my APAS tests will be sent to me via email tonight. As for the LAT and NK cells, most probably I will get them on Saturday.  

They run the LAT testings every Friday morning and results are out in the afternoon or by Saturday mornings. So if you want to get your results asap, it would be better to have your blood extracted by Thursday of the week.

For the NK cells test, it usually takes about 2-3 days for the results to come out if you do it in St. Luke's.  So here in Manila Endocrine Lab, results are expected around 3-4 days since they have to bring the blood to  St. Lukes.

Note:  Fasting of 4-6 hours is needed if you are going to do the APAS test.

How to go to Manila Endocrine Laboratory:

That's all for today.  I will update you again of the results as soon as I get them. Till then...

Reasons for Sleeping and Waking Up Early

Borrowed from this site.

Here are the reasons why we need to sleep and wake up early:

From 9:00-11:00 pm

- This is the time for eliminating unnecessary / toxic chemicals (detoxification) from the antibody system (lymph nodes).

- This time duration should be spent by relaxing or listening to music.  Being in an unrelaxed state during this time will have a negative impact on your health.

From 11:00 pm  to 1:00 am

- Detoxification process in the liver takes place.

- Ideally, you should be in a deep sleep state.

From 1:00 - 3:00 am

- Detoxification process in the gall takes place.

- Ideally, you should also be in a deep sleep state.

From 3:00 - 5:00 am

- Detoxification in the lungs takes place.

- There will sometimes be a severe cough for cough sufferers during this time, since the detoxification process had reached the respiratory tract.  There is no need to take cough medicine during this time so as not to interfere with toxin removal process.

From 5:00 - 7:00 am 
- Detoxification in the colon takes place. 

- You should empty your bowel.


From 7:00 - 9:00 am  
- Absorption of nutrients in the small intestines takes place.

- You should be having breakfast at this time.

- For those who are sick, breakfast should be earlier, before 6:30am.

- For those wanting to stay fit, take your breakfast before 7:30am.

- For those who always skip breakfast, you need to change your habit.

- It is still better to eat breakfast late until 9-10am rather than no meal at all.

Note: Sleeping so late and waking up too late will disrupt the process of removing unnecessary chemicals. 

Aside from that, midnight to 4:00 am  is the time when the bone marrow produces blood. 

Therefore, have a good sleep and don't sleep late. 

I got this information through email and have opted to post it here in my blog to remind you (We need this from time to time.) and also to remind myself to SLEEP EARLY AND WAKE UP EARLY.  The best sleeping time is 10pm in the evening to 6am in the morning.  

Though it is not specifically pinpointed here as to what time our body works on the reproductive organs, nonetheless, we know for a fact that lack of sleep can have a negative impact on conception. This is because during sleep, our body reserves energy, optimizes nutrients and releases toxins.  This in turn helps our body function well and this includes our reproductive organs.  Therefore, lack of sleep can wreak havoc on our fertility.

I know that if I want to conceive, I need to get enough sleep and go to bed early.  However, this is really becoming a big challenge for me... So many things to do, so little time...  Discipline... I need discipline!

My goal then is to sleep and wake up early.  Hope I can do this. :) 

Inspirational Quotes from Paulo Coelho

Here are some inspirational quotes from Paulo Coelho which I feel applies to those who are coping with infertility.  May these quotes help you find some hope, faith and courage as you go through with your infertility journey.

Feel free to add more inspiring quotations... 

Have a wonderful weekend ahead of you!

God Whispers

I received this very timely message from GodWhispers this morning and would like to share  it with you all... 

Believe and trust that God is working on our prayers!  Have a nice day! 

Live.Laugh.Love.

Another Infertility Song: No Less Than A Woman (Infertility) By Lady Saw

Feeling “less than a woman,” or less manly, when struck by infertility is a feeling many coping with infertility experience. 

But let me tell you that you are not defective nor a failure as a woman if you do not have a child.  

Your worth transcends your ability to procreate…  

You are a worthy person irrespective of your infertility.  Always remember that! 

Here is a song, “No Less Than A Woman,” from Jamaican reggae singer Lady Saw to remind you that not having a child doesn’t make you less than a woman.  

Lyrics

Intro:
Infertility is a word that a lot of people are ashamed to mention
A lot of people are so illiterate when it come to that word
They act as if it's a crime if you can't have a child
But I don't think so, I don't have a child, I may one day
But in the mean time I am going to share all my love.


Chorus:
Not having a child don't make me less than a woman,
You see I got so much love to give, to so much unwanted kids,
You can say all you want about me trying to ruin my reputation,
But I have so much love to give to so much unwanted kids,
Listen to my song


Verse 1:
I may not know the joy of giving birth,
May not experience the pain and all the hurt,
But I know how it feels to lose a child,
And if pain is pain then I am hurting inside
If infertility makes me less than a girl,
What would I say to many women in this world
Would you tell them have faith,
Would you tell them be strong
Or would you tell them that they're less than a woman?

Chorus:
Not having a child don't make me less than a woman,
You see I got so much love to give, to so much unwanted kids,
You can say all you want about me trying to ruin my reputation,
But I have so much love to give to so much unwanted kids,
Listen to my song


Verse 2:
I would give anything to have a child of my own
But in the meantime let me share my happy home
With the less fortunate, take away some of the stress from a child
Who has never known love and happiness
Miscarriages remind me of baby carriages
Broken hearts bring failed marriages,
The pain never go away, we try to keep them at bay
Oh I wish if my baby could have stayed


Chorus:
Not having a child don't make me less than a woman,
You see I got so much love to give, to so much unwanted kids,
You can say all you want about me trying to ruin my reputation,
But I have so much love to give to so much unwanted kids,
Listen to my song


Verse 3:
Some people have kids and wish them never did,
Some kids grew up hating the life weh them live,
Some have it easy, some have it hard,
Some mothers abandon dem pickney like dawg
But wanti wanti dem can't get it
And getti getti get and run weh lef eeh
Me nuh have none so you know me will take eeh
Me have a lot of love so send me little pickney on


Chorus:
Not having a child don't make me less than a woman,
You see I got so much love to give, to so much unwanted kids,
You can say all you want about me trying to ruin my reputation,
But I have so much love to give to so much unwanted kids,
Listen to my song

Outro:

You see, what I am saying is this song is dedicated to all the females who have been trying to have children but never succeed. Some have miscarriage just like myself, but you know what, don't give up, have faith, one day you may just succeed. You know what I'm saying, and don't feel you are less than a woman because you don't have a child 'cause once you give you love to other children that counts. You know what I'm saying.