Monica Hendrix asked:


You don’t need to turn to prescription drugs to get your libido up for thousands of years natural herbs have been used all around the world and here we will look at enhancing libido with Maca a herb that could help your sex drive soar.

Maca is a great libido booster and here we will look at how it can combat mild erectile dysfunction and impotence.

Definition

Maca scientific name is Lepidium meyenii, and it’s an annual plant which produces a radish-like root. The root of maca can be dried and stored and has a long life it will keep for up to seven years.

The plant is cultivated in Peru’s Central Highlands.

Maca’s use dates back thousands of years to the times of the ancient Inca and legend has it that Incan warriors would consume Maca before battle to give them both increased strength and stamina. The legend goes that after an important battle and conquering a city the Incan soldiers were forbidden from taking

Maca in order to protect the enslaved women from the warriors increased sex drive.

What It Does

It’s a good story and it’s well known but does the herb actually help increase a low libido?

Maca contains numerous vitamins, minerals, enzymes, essential amino acids and contains nearly 60 phytochemicals. Maca is defined as an adaptogen and this means it adapts to the bodies metabolism and helps to heal the body to achieve an overall sense of wellbeing and higher sex drive as a consequence.

Maca helps bring numerous areas into harmony and balances the functions of the hypothalamus and pituitary master glands - it also balances and improves the efficiency of the adrenal glands, as well as the thyroid and last but not least, the pancreas.

On a sexual level Maca helps increase production of and improves the efficiency of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone.

Maca is a natural herb and can be taken by both men and women with no side affects.

Will Maca Increase Your Libido?

The simple answer is Maca is proven to help but you need to be in general good health and your level of health overall will have an influence on how effective Maca is.

It improves energy and sex drive by increasing overall wellness and is packed with nutrients so not only will it do you good it will help your overall sexual wellness as well.

Its safe to take and has no side affects (unlike prescription drugs) so the best thing to do is try it. Today, many companies are combining Maca with complimentary herbs all in one pill so you get a cocktail to enhance sex drive.

Maca is a great herb - try it and see if it can increase your libido and you maybe glad you did.



Glenn

Kelly Price asked:


The first reported use of maca root goes back thousands of years when Inca Warriors of South America ate maca to give them greater strength and stamina before battles. In more recent times it has gained popularity to increase libido naturally, let’s see why more and more people are using to boost sex drive.

Impotence, erectile dysfunction and low sex drive is not a new problem and ancient societies found and used, there own herbal remedies and Maca is one of them.

Today, many people don’t want to rely on prescription drugs and want natural solutions, making Maca and many other natural herbal cures more popular than ever before.

For thousands of years Maca has been used throughout South America as a general nutrient, body tonic, to enhance libido and improve reproductive health and it’s now popular all over the world.

The Plant

Maca, Lepidium meyenii, is an annual plant which produces a radish-like looking root. It’s grown and cultivated in Peru’s Central Highlands and has a life of about seven years when harvested.

The legend of the maca plant goes back to ancient times, when after conquering a city the Incan soldiers were prohibited from using Maca in order to protect the women of the city from the higher sex drive of the warriors, which Maca was considered to give them.

Why it Works

Maca contains large amount of nutrients including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids and contains around 60 phytochemicals.

Maca is an adaptogen, this means it adapts itself to the body’s metabolism to give a greater sense of wellbeing and vigor.

It balances the functioning of the hypothalamus and pituitary master glands, the adrenal glands, the thyroid and the pancreas. Maca increases and optimizes the levels of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone in the body and this is why it such a good herb for overall wellbeing and increasing libido.

Like many other natural sex enhancers there are those that swear by Macca and those that dismiss it.

The best way to find out if it works for you is to simply try it - it will do you good anyway and will probably give you an increased libido as a result.



April

I love my maltese asked:


has anyone experienced this? any insight welcomed. what was your outcome? thanks.

Virginia

Crystal8138 asked:


Hi, I’ve been having brown discharge on and off for almost a year. Almost everyday I have to wear a pantiliner because whenever I stand up too long I start having light brownish thick discharge or sometimes watery discharge coming out. It’s very frustrating because I’ve gone to a few OB dr and had blood test, pelvic and transvaginal ultrasounds, pap smear, etc. All they can find is a little tiny cyst around my ovary which won’t cause infertility according to my doctor. However, no doctors can tell me what cause this non stop brown discharge. It’s not a lot and I only use one pantiliner per day (whenever I feel like I need to use it) but it’s very bothersome and frustrating since I am TTC and I’m not sure if this problem will prevent me from getting pregnant. By the way, I have very low progesterone and I don’t get my period every month. I wonder if anyone had this kinda problem before? Also, what other test do I need at this point?
I have never used BCP before and I’m definitely not pregnant so this can’t be the cause of my problem.

Pearl

Cathy Taylor asked:


Breast tenderness, or any kind of breast pain, tends to frighten women because we immediately think the big “C” word. But doctors report that more often than not, it’s not cancer, but some other cause such as water retention or benign lumps that enlarge during menses and shrink afterward.

Some women don’t mind this symptom so much because it creates a ‘womanly’ feeling that they enjoy. But chronically tender nipples and breasts get old quick when experienced month after month.

Typically there isn’t one cure that will get rid of all of the symptoms of sore breasts, but there are many simple and alternative methods that do offer relief over time.

Fibrocystic breasts or that thick and lumpy feeling, are typically a sign of relatively high estrogen and low progesterone levels.

Research has shown that progesterone cream can significantly reduce this symptom, as well as other supplementation such as with magnesium, Vitamin E, a high-quality omega 3 and Vitamin B6. Increasing fiber and eating dark green leafy vegetables can help flush out excess estrogen. Consider a short fast or detoxification.

Because estrogen may dominate and progesterone not be produced enough during menopause, symptoms such as breast tenderness are exacerbated. Stress seems to be a factor adding to this symptom and exercise can reduce the effects of it.

What are my other options

Do the Basics

Start with you primary care physician and make sure you’ve had a mammogram. For those of you concerned about radiation, have your doctor order thermography. If you have lumps, you probably need to know that they are benign to obtain peace of mind.

Improve your Diet

Your diet can have a significant impact on breast tenderness. Eliminate caffeine rich foods such as:

-coffee

-colas, and

-black tea

These kinds of stimulants have a significant effect on breast tenderness and women report almost immediate relief when they stop using them. Salt works the same way for other women.

Try Massage

This one probably sound too good to be true, but the truth is massage stimulates the lymphatic system and gets necessary fluids moving throughout your body again. It’s also great for elimination and things like cellulite.

Take Time for Yourself

There’s no business like the “self” business. It’s critical that women find time for themselves. To relax and splurge and just enjoy life. Take a break often and do something you love! It’s the best therapy around.



Joyce

Andrew Jones asked:


“Dietary Supplement Progesterone Now Makes Creams Obsolete”

The verdict is in: Oral progesterone beats topical creams hands-down

Until now, if you needed to supplement your natural levels of progesterone, you had only one choice: Messy, hard to apply creams. Oral progesterone just wasn’t available at any price.

All that’s been changed. Bio-identical progesterone has recently become available as an inexpensive dietary supplement in capsule form finally giving women another option to choose. Creams no longer have a monopoly.

Since progesterone cream first exploded on the scene 40 years ago millions of women have used this method to treat a variety of conditions, primarily PMS.

However these women soon learned they had to apply huge amounts in order to achieve the desired response. Not only that, but progesterone creams were a sticky mess difficult to apply and often staining the user’s clothes.

But women were stuck it was either creams or nothing.

Fresh developments have changed that once and for all.

Why Creams Are Ineffective

But first - what exactly are the scientific problems with progesterone creams?

Low Dosage: The FDA limits cream manufacturers to a 3% concentration of hormone in their preparations. This tiny quantity forces users to slather on huge amounts to get any noticeable effect at all.

Wildly Erratic Absorption: Hormone absorption is exceedingly unpredictable, even on the same spot of skin! The culprit? Skin temperature and sweat glands - causing wide variations in how much progesterone gets into the body.

Measurement Inconsistency: Most creams indicate that you place a “dollop” on your skin. But what’s a dollop? Even with pre-measured applicators, a dollop of cream is difficult to measure. It’s like toothpaste - do you squeeze out the exact same amount every time you use the tube?

Inconsistent Hormone Mixture: Due to mixture settlement (a normal occurrence with creams) actual strength can vary within the tube itself. You never know exactly how much progesterone you’re actually applying.

Manufacturing Variations: Few batches of progesterone cream are exactly alike. From a manufacturing perspective, it’s extremely difficult to get the same cream mixture and consistency each and every time. A batch made last month may be as much as 20% off from one made today.

Frequent Skin Irritation And Inflammation: Creams are known for causing unpleasant skin conditions forcing users to rotate where they apply them on the body. Unfortunately, rotating to a different spot insures a different absorption.

Hidden Expenses: Once women figure out that they have to use several times more cream than the instructions indicated, their expenses go through the roof. They end up paying $40 - $60/month.

Inconvenience: Creams are simply messy, sticky and inconvenient to use.

In a nutshell, progesterone creams are wildly inconsistent, are FDA dose limited and most importantly simply ineffective at the recommended amounts.

Advantages of Capsules vs. Creams

So what are the advantages of taking dietary progesterone in a capsule form?

Precise Capsule Dosages: Each clinically tested capsule contains precisely 50 mg the optimal dosage recommended by leading physicians.

There’s No Guesswork: Unlike cream preparations, users always know exactly how much bio-identical progesterone they’re getting.

No More Skin Concerns: No worries about skin irritation, inflammation, sweat glands or temperature. You just swallow the capsule(s).

Absorption is Complete: There’s no guessing how much progesterone was actually absorbed. Gastro-intestinal assimilation is virtually always 100% - even if there is food or alcohol in the stomach during, before or after the capsule is swallowed.

Convenience: Swallowing capsules is far more convenient than applying a cream. Plus you don’t stain your clothes or walk around waiting for the cream to dry first.

Inexpensive: Oral progesterone can be purchased for less than $20/month.

It’s clear: Progesterone creams are now rendered completely obsolete. There’s no scientific, therapeutic, or rational reason for anyone to continue using a progesterone cream preparation. In every aspect - oral progesterone is simply superior.

It’s time for users to bid their creams a fond farewell and turn to bio-identical progesterone supplements in easy and convenient capsule form.



Catherine

Diepiriye S. Kuku-siemons asked:


Q & A on Hormonal Contraception

By, Diepiriye S. Kuku-Siemons, MPH

1. What is meant by Hormonal Contraception? Which hormonal contraceptives are available in India?

Hormonal contraceptives are made up of single or combination female sex hormones: estrogen and progesterone. Synthetic progesterone is commonly referred to as progestin’. The most popular hormonal contraception is the Combined Oral Contraceptive pill (COC). Other hormonal contraceptives include injectables, subdermal implants that release progestins, transdermal patch, vaginal ring, and emergency contraceptive pill.

2. What is the Pill?

Combined or progestin only pills are taken daily and are an effective way to control fertility. If taken consistently and correctly, annually only one in one hundred women using the Pill would be expected to become pregnant.

For many women, especially non-smokers under 35, the benefits of the Pill outweigh the disadvantages. Modern oral contraceptive pills contain lower doses of hormones than before and have far fewer sideeffects. Since its introduction over 40 years ago, users and researchers have confirmed many non-contraceptive benefits of the pill including improved acne, regulation of heavy menstrual cycles as well as decreased risk of osteoporosis and ovarian, endometrial and colorectal cancers.

3. How does the Pill work?

During a woman’s monthly cycle, the release of hormones triggers the ovaries to release an egg. Around this time, the ovaries release further hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, designed to inhibit further conception. These are responsible for many of the changes in a woman’s body during the menstrual cycle.

The Pill mainly works by:

Preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg

Thickening the mucus at the cervix making it more difficult for sperm to enter the womb

Rendering the lining of the womb unsuitable for a fertilised egg to be implanted

4. What is meant by Combined oral contraceptives (COC)

Combined Oral Contraceptives contain a synthetic version of oestrogen - called ethinylestradiol - plus a synthetic version of progesterone, known as a progestogen. The progestogens in current pills are classed as either “second generation” (e.g. norethisterone, levonorgestrel) or “third generation” (e.g. desogestrel or gestodene).

Some brands of oral contraceptive pills are taken for 21 days, followed by a break of seven days before the next course of 21 days. The dose of the oestrogen can be either of a standard strength - 30-35 micrograms or low strength - 20 micrograms. Some products contain pills with two or three different doses of oestrogen to be taken at different times of the cycle.

For women who cannot take oestrogen-based pills, or for those who wish to avoid oestrogen, the progesterone-only pill may be an alternative. The progestogen-only pill, sometimes called the “mini pill” (inaccurately, as it is no smaller than the combined pill) is slightly less reliable than a COC, an is suitable for lactating mothers.

5. What are injectables?

The most common injectable hormonal contraceptive is Depo Prover a hormonal substance also known as DMPA (depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate) that is injected into the muscle in the upper arm or buttocks. Each injection provides contraceptive protection for up to three months without any daily hassle. Injectable hormones prevent pregnancy by suppressing ovulation (egg formation) and thickening the cervical mucous to make sperm entry difficult. In addition it also thins the endometrial lining. As a natural effect of this action, most women experience harmless menstrual cycles changes that naturally return to normal shortly after cessation of the method. DMPA carries several non-contraceptive benefits including less anemia with no menstrual bleeding, and increased protection from certain cancers.

Depo Provera is a safe, effective, convenient, private, reversible mid-term spacing method. Professional/Regulatory bodies worldwide endorse the safety and effectiveness ofDMPA.

The WHO conducted trials and approved Depo Provera for usage as Contraceptive method in 1979, the United States FDA in 1992, and the UK FDA in 1996.

Drugs Controller of India approved it for clinical trials and usage in the 1998. The Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecological Societies of India, FOGSI approves of the WHO guidelines and continues to promote greater quality of care by insisting that health care providers inform and counsel users regarding the myriad of contraceptive choices with respect to the individual’s medical history and examination. Injectables have expanded basket of choice and its benefits outweigh the clinically insignificant side effects

6. May breastfeeding mothers use Hormonal Contraception like injectables?

DMPA does not affect the quality or quantity of breast milk and is therefore a reasonable choice for breastfeeding mothers. DMPA can be started as early as 6 weeks after delivery.

It is important to note that fully or nearly fully breastfeeding (at least 85% of the baby’s food is breast milk) before the monthly period resumes usually indicates that a woman is unlikely to become pregnant for up to six months after delivery. This natural form of birth spacing is known as the Lactational Amenorrhea Method of contraception, LAM.

7. What are the other hormonal contraceptive methods Patches and implants?

Patches

Combined hormonal contraceptives are also available as an adhesive skin patch (Evra), which is worn for three weeks out of every four.

Implant

An Implant is a narrow flexible rod about the size of a match (40mm x 2mm) that is inserted under the skin of the upper arm. The rod releases a constant amount of progestogen to give contraception for up to three years. The contraceptive effect is reversed soon after the implant is removed.

8. Should a woman stop using injectables or any other hormonal contraception because she has no menstrual bleeding for a long time (Amenorrhea)?

Menstrual cycle changes should not discourage women from exploring these methods. Amenorrhea is a normal response to injectables as well as several other hormonal contraceptives. There is no medical reason to stop using hormonal contraceptives because of amenorrhea. Moreover, absence of bleeding can make some women healthier because it helps to prevent anemia.

9. Can young women, older women, and women without children use Injectable contraceptives?

You and old women may use DMPA. A health care provider will be able to determine an individual’s eligibility given their specific case history and a current medical examination. The effects of hormonal contraceptives are completely reversible. In fact, a recent World Health Organization statement reaffirms that extended use of Depo Provera does not lead to permanent health changes. DMPA users return to normal fertility an average of 4 months after the last injection.

10. Is it a misconception that use of COC or other hormonal contraceptives run a risk of causing cancer?

Oral contraceptives have not been proved to cause any common cancer. In fact, Oral Contraceptives and DMPA/Depo Provera have been shown to help prevent two common forms of cancer: Cancer of the ovaries and cancer of the endometrium (lining of the womb). DMPA appears to be safe for women of any age. The World Health Organization declares DMPA safe, and concludes that the advantages of the method generally outweigh any theoretical disadvantage. In general, young women can use DMPA.



Sally

Jean Morgan asked:


In a woman’s body, the hormones estrogen and progesterone work together in what could be called a sort of “ying” and “yang” relationship. There is a delicate balance that exists between these two in the body of a healthy woman.

In the months making up a woman’s reproductive years, estrogen is produced in higher levels during the first 14 days of her 28-day menstrual cycle (Note: Not every woman’s cycle is exactly 28 days). Its job is to cause the thickening of the lining of the uterus and a change in the cervical mucus in preparation for a pregnancy.

In the second 14 days of the menstrual cycle, progesterone is secreted from within the womb itself, causing the endometrium (surface of the lining of the uterus) to be thick with mucous. If pregnancy does not occur, progesterone further causes the unfertilized egg and thickened lining to be sloughed off in the menstrual period.

If either estrogen or progesterone becomes imbalanced within their relationship to one another, the timing of the entire menstrual cycle can be thrown off or completely disrupted. In addition to that, a number of other problems or symptoms occur including weight gain, water retention, anxiety and depression, mood swings, unclear thinking, low blood sugar levels, fatigue, sleeplessness, night sweats, headaches and more.

The amount of estrogen and progesterone produced in the body fluctuates from month to month and is affected by various factors including overall health, differing stress levels, environmental factors which can cause “estrogen dominance”, diet and physical activity. The goal for enjoying optimum health is to maintain the bodies hormonal balance through attention to diet and exercise, diminishing sources of stress and anxiety, and protection from harmful environmental circumstance so that the body’s systems, including the production of hormones estrogen and progesterone operate harmoniously.



Angel

Cindy Heller asked:


Infertility drugs are the major forms of treatment for infertility. They are prescribed either on their own or in conjunction with other methods of infertility treatments. Infertility drugs are meant to increase the chance of conceiving a baby. They do this by stimulating the body to produce more of needed hormones for conception. Female infertility drugs also help the body to produce better quality eggs. The same drug used on a man will help his body to produce more testosterone. There are many different types of infertility drugs available on the market.

Types of Infertility Drugs

Clomid is one of many infertility drugs and it is normally prescribed for many infertile couples. Clomid is popular because it helps a woman’s body to start to ovulate properly. Clomid stimulates the ovaries to produce mature eggs. This is essential for increasing the success rate of pregnancy. Clomid is well known in the United Kingdom. It is readily available in the United Kingdom as well as in many online United States pharmacies.

Clomid can cause birth defects in unborn children. If you think that you are pregnant, you need to can stop the medication and consult your doctor immediately.

Clomid stimulates the receptors that regulate the production and release of the female hormones, estrogen. There are three hormones that the Clomid are designed to work on. They are the Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH), and the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and the Luteinizing Hormone (LH). These hormones are essential for the proper working of ovulation in the female and are vital for pregnancy to occur. Clomid is very effective in reproducing the effect of low estrogen levels. The brain senses the low estrogen levels and commands the production of the three hormones mentioned. The net effect is the production of mature eggs by the ovaries.

Clomid is also used to treat anovulation, PCOS, and irregular periods in women. The Clomid is usually taken for certain days of the menstrual cycle. The drug may be taken on days 3 to day 7 of the cycle or days 5 to day 9. The starting dosage of Clomid is 50 mg. More than one cycle of the medication before the result is apparent. If there is not effect in the ovulation, the doctor will need to consider increasing the dosage. Six cycles is usually the limit for Clomid. If unsuccessful, the usage of Clomid will need to be discontinued and the patient assessed for other options.

Progesterone

There is a direct linkage between the lack of progesterone and infertility in female. Progesterone is a naturally occurring hormone in female. It is necessary for regular menstrual cycle. Progesterone is created after ovulation. Progesterone is also essential for maintaining the twelve-week-old placenta during pregnancy. The combination of progesterone and infertility treatments is a good aid to pregnancy.

Progesterone is an integral part of in-vitro fertilization. Progesterone and infertility treatments are both required to bring about the fertilization of the egg. Progesterone is prescribed to cause the uterine lining to thicken in preparation for conception. It will make it easier for the fetus a chance to attach to the uterine lining. Thus, progesterone and infertility treatments work together. Progesterone is essential because it increases blood flow to the uterus lining.

Progesterone will cause some side effects such as a bloated feeling, breast tenderness, tiredness, nausea, headaches and experience of mood swings. For user of suppository, there may be additional vaginal discharge. However, the uses of progesterone and infertility treatments are generally safe. If you have any medical history, consult your doctor before using progesterone and infertility treatments.

Hypothyroidism Medication

If you are a female and have low thyroid or hypothyroidism, you will have abnormal ovulation cycles and are most likely overweight as well. You experience fatigue easily and have little drive for physical activities. All these contribute to conception problems. For the male, there can be erectile problems, premature ejaculation, and low testosterone level.

If you have low thyroid function you will be put on thyroid medication to tackle the problem. You can continue the medication if you get pregnant but you will need to watch your medication closely. The medicine will not go affect the placenta or go through mother’s milk to the baby.



Marc

Low Jeremy asked:


The most definite and obvious sign of infertility is the weakness of a person or a couple to conceive a child within a period of a year of unprotected sexual intercourse.

Though that may be quite simple, the struggles that this sign entails create dramatic changes in a couple’s life.

In most cases, people have no knowledge that they are actually patients of infertility. The main reason- the lack of immediate symptoms.

Infertility by nature is a condition that does not deal with the physical-external make-up of the person affected by it. There are no external measures and symptoms that we may conduct and observe when examining if a person is infertile. In fact, before any diagnosis is made pertaining to infertility one has to undergo a series of extensive examinations, physical tests and other techniques which themselves are very taxing.

In case that the couple was able to conceive yet have undergone multiple miscarriages, they probably may fall under the category of infertility. However, it would still be safe if they consult a physician first for further analysis of their case.

If you are experiencing the absence of menstrual bleeding yet the results of pregnancy test tells you that you are not pregnant, then you might be a patient of infertility. If this condition prevails for some months it is likely that something in your reproductive system is impaired.

Once you experience pain somewhere in your pelvic area, it would be best that you disclose this with a physician. Abnormal pain may be caused by conditions like endometriosis and internal infections.

Watch out for basal temperatures. These are good indications that your system may be having some troubles. Abnormal rise or fall of basal body temperature is linked with hormonal imbalances that concern mostly the hormones needed for ovulation.

Say if your basal body temperature is low while undergoing the first part of your cycle that may indicate too high estrogen release in your body. Meanwhile, high basal body temperature at this stage could possibly indicate low progesterone.

Anovulation may be indicated through the absence of upward shifting of the basal body temperature.

On the other end of the scale, male infertility seems to posses no clear signs except the obvious- erectile dysfunction.

This condition is characterized by the inability to create erection, which may be contributed largely by the abnormalities in the blood vessels, specifically those found in the penis. Diseases and conditions like stroke, abuse of alcohol, and major problems in the circulatory system may also cause Erectile Dysfunction.



Natalie