Hormones | Fertility | Prenatal | Gut health | Anxiety
Urinary tract infections (UTI's) are common and annoying. They are generally caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the urethra/urinary tract - commonly the culprit is E.coli. Usually there should be a relative abundance of good bacteria - Lactobacillus - which keeps the E.coli at bay, however when this bacterial balance becomes imbalanced, E.coli can overgrow and a UTI can rear it's head.
Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is a complication that can arise in pregnancy. When it happens, the aminonic membrane (the sac) surrounding the baby breaks (ruptures) before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Once the sac breaks, there is an increased risk of infection.
The vagus nerve is the 10th cranial nerve and is the longest nerve in the body. It is the nerve that connects the brain to the digestive system and vice versa. The gut-brain axis is controlled by the vagus nerve. Activation of the vagus nerve can be beneficial in treating both digestive disorders and supporting healthy mood.
It is estimated that up to 50% of infertility is due to male factors. That's right, there are plenty of women undergoing IVF when the issue preventing conception is not to do with them, but is to do with the male partner involved. Compromised sperm.
When we cease taking the pill there can be a flare up of androgens, which are male-type hormones such as testosterone. When coming off the pill we want to lower our production of androgens as this is what can cause post-pill acne.
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the reason women undergo pap smears or smear testing. HPV is a common virus which can reside in the cervix, and if it stays there for long enough, can result in cervical cell changes (CIN) and eventually can result in cervical cancer.
I was recently interviewed by Alexa from Inner Wellness Co. about gut health and the digestive system. The full article and many others can be found on her website.
Sometimes getting supplements in can be tricky, and you need to get creative. I have many a trick up my sleeve for sneaking supplements and medicines into little ones, or to hide the taste and texture from even the fussiest of adults.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC’s) are a class of chemicals that mimic, block or interfere with our hormones, such as oestrogen. They can lead to hormone imbalances, infertility, miscarriages, preterm birth, low birth weight, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), sperm abnormalities and breast cancers.
So often the onus of fertility and infertility is placed on women. This is an interesting narrative, as the research shows that second only to female age, male factor infertility is the most common cause of infertility. When looking at male fertility, the two most important aspects are the creation and the movement of sperm. …