Diagnosis

Fallopian tube obstruction can be diagnosed in a number of ways.  Laparsocopy is a surgical procedure which uses a small lighted tube that is inserted through a tiny incision (cut) on the abdomen.  With this procedure, a surgeon is able to see directly into the abdominal cavity and check the state of the fallopian tubes on the outside and the inside by injecting colored dye through the cervix and watching for its appearance at the end of the tube.

Hysterosalpingogram is a procedure in which a dye is injected into the uterus and the uterus is examined via X ray to see if the dye spills into the tubes and pelvic cavity.  These diagnostic techniques are quite invasive so they are not done routinely unless a woman has been trying to conceive for a long period of time without  success (and male factor infertility has been ruled out).

Causes

The common reason for the fallopian tube blockage is a pelvic infection which may produce minor symptoms or no symptoms at all.  However, if the infection was left untreated it can cause scarring, adhesions and complete obstruction of one or both tubes.  In cases of PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), opportunistic bacteria coming from the uterus can spread to the fallopian tubes since they are the structures closest to the uterus.  If a woman is experiencing acute infection, antibiotic therapy is indicated in order to prevent damage to the fallopian tubes.  However, if a woman already has obstruction and damage of the fallopian tubes, a surgery that can repair the damage may be indicated.

Endometriosis can be another possible cause for fallopian tube obstruction.

It’s also possible that fallopian tubes are blocked only some of the time.  This type of blockage is referred to as a “functional blockage”.  This scenario is typical in women who experience a lot of stress.  Stress tends to constrict pelvic musculature and decrease blood flow and this can be a factor in inability to conceive.  This type of functional blockage responds very well to acupuncture as well as Chinese herbal medicine.   Also, excessive mucous buildup within the tube can create a plug and cause blockage.  In Chinese medicine, this would be refered to as “damp accumulation” and would be treated through dietary therapy, herbs and acupuncture.

Infertility Treatment for Blocked Fallopian Tubes

If there is an extensive damage and scarring in both fallopian tubes  it is very difficult (or nearly impossible) for a woman to conceive and IVF is probably the best route to take.  IVF was actually developed for women with extensive fallopian tube obstruction and damage since it can bypass the problem.

Using acupuncture prior to an IVF treatment is a wise decision since  it can help decrease side effects of drugs, decrease stress levels and remove any stagnant blood and energy in order to ensure successful implantation.

Microsurgery is another treatment option for women whose tubes are not damaged along too much of their length.  Surgery seems to be more effective if the damage is in the area closer to the uterus.

The good news is that modern technology does help women with tubal blockage have a healthy pregnancy and birth. If you decide to use assisted reproductive technology, you should make an effort to take good care of yourself in order to create optimal conditions for a new life to flourish. Nutritious diet, proper rest, moderate exercise and stress reduction are the most important things that you can do to improve your health as well as increase your chances of conception.

If you trying to conceive it is important that you refrain from taking drugs that belong to NSAID category especially around ovulation time.  Tylenol can be used since it does not belong to this category but it is definitely better to avoid any over the counter medications if possible.

If you are suffering from chronic pain, it is important to address the root cause of the  issue and use safer and more gentle alternatives like acupuncture, herbal medicine, physical therapy, massage, yoga therapy, nutritional therapy, essential oils and others.

Common herbs that are used to decrease inflammation and relieve pain are ginger and turmeric. Both are commonly used in cooking in China and India.  Adding ginger and turmeric to your food will not only add nice flavor and color to your dishes but also help with pain control.  Magnesium is a muscle relaxant so if you suffer from muscular pain and stiffness taking an Epsom salt (magnesium) bath can help.  Fish oil and cold liver oil can also help decrease inflammation and provide pain relief.

Myrrh, the resin of a tree Commiphora myrrha, has been used in both traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine to fight pain caused by inflammation.  It is commonly paired with frankincense to create a powerful pain control formula.

Please consult with the licensed health care professional for treatment option that is appropriate for your condition.

Here are some of the highlights:

“Human fertility has been decreasing since the birth of intensive agriculture over 50 years ago.  Average sperm counts among healthy American men dropped 58 percent between 1938 and 1988. In Europe, sperm counts dropped by 3.1 percent each year between 1971 and 1990.  Studies from Belgium, France and Scotland have also shown losses in sperm quality, motility, development and the number of normally shaped sperm.

The reason for falling sperm quality and quantity is thought to be a cocktail of dietary hormones  and pesticides , some of which can disturb the body’s own hormones. Some pesticides have been linked to masculinisation of female animals, feminization of male animals, eggs found in the testes of roach in UK rivers, low egg viability, enlarged ovaries and reduced penis size in Florida alligators and female-female paring in birds.

A study published in The Lancet in 1994 found that organic farmers had much higher sperm counts than other blue-collar workers.  Sperm counts were more than twice as high in organic farmers (363 million sperm per milliliter of semen) as in a control group of welders and printers (164 million per milliliter).

Men who consume mostly organic produce have higher sperm counts and greater sperm quality than men eating regular, pesticide-treated produce. And conventional farmers who do not eat organic food have a significantly lower proportion of normally-shaped sperm.”

If you and your partner have been trying to conceive without success and you consume conventionally (pesticide rich!) foods please consider switching to organic food.  If your think that eating organic food is too expensive you can refer to one of my previous article titled “Pesticides”.  It will give you a list of most and least pesticide contaminated foods.

To read the original article click here.

Image source: http://www.scienceprogress.org

Directions
It’s easier to perform femoral massage if somebody else does it for you.  However, it is possible to do it alone as well.  If you are planning to do it alone, I recommend that you use a tennis ball instead of using your hands and lay on your abdomen instead of laying face up.

Locate the femoral artery in your groin area.  It is a large artery just beneath the crease in your groin between your thigh and lower abdomen.  Search around the groin area for a pulsing sensation.
Once you have located the femoral artery, apply pressure over it with your fingertips.  You want to apply enough pressure to stop the pulsing of the artery.  Hold the pressure for 30-45 seconds.  The blood is now backing up and increasing the pressure in the iliac arteries, forcing more blood into the pelvic organs.
Release the pressure and let the blood flow normally.  When the hold is released, you should feel a warm sensation rushing down your leg as the blood supply returns to the lower extremity.
Repeat on the opposite side.  Perform this femoral massage sequence 3 times in a row, twice a day, before ovulation time.

Cautions
Do not perform femoral massage if you are or might be pregnant.  Also, do not practice this technique if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, circulatory problems, or a history of strokes or detached retinas.

Acupuncture is another great treatment technique that can decrease overall stress, normalize hormonal secretions, increase blood flow to the pelvic organs and strengthen the immune system.  In combination with Chinese herbal medicine it is a powerful, natural and safe way to enhance fertility and increase overall health.

Why is this a reason for concern?

Well, there is nothing innately wrong with cow’s milk. The problem lies in the methods of production, preparation and amount of consumption. In the U.S., milk is usually served cold, unspiced, homogenized and in large amounts. Cows at the industrial farms are milked most of the day which makes them develop infections. In order to keep the production going, cows are given antibiotics as well as growth hormones so guess what?  All of that ends up in the milk that you drink. You would be shocked to know that FDA allows a certain percentage of pus from the infected udders to pass into the milk that you drink every day. And not to mention that these animals are kept indoors sometimes never seeing the sunlight and are given genetically modified grains and other foods that nature never intended for them.
Human beings are the only species that drink milk from another animal. However, since I am not an extremist in any sense, I think that people don’t have to completely give up the consumption of milk in order to stay healthy. As long as you are not allergic to it or notice symptoms such as: gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation or increased phlegm production (to name a few) you should use it skillfully and in small amounts.

Here are some tips for your next milk shopping:

- Make sure that the milk that you are buying is not homogenized. Homogenization process denatures the milk of its natural enzymes that help its digestion. In the old days, milk used to be praised for the thickness of the cream that it contained on the top. The farmer that had the thickest cream on his milk used to be able to charge more money for it. Homogenization process disperses the fat and does not allow the cream to form on the surface. It is a completely unnecessary process and it makes the final product look nothing like real milk.

-Buy only organic and hormone free milk. Why would anybody add growth hormones and antibiotics to their body? There is absolutely no good reason for it.

-Fermented milk products like yogurt and kefir are easier on your digestive tract and have added benefits of adding friendly bacteria to your guts. The more friendly bacteria you have the better since it keeps the bad guys (unfriendly bacteria) in check. In many cultures people consume small amounts of fermented milk products every day in order to keep their digestive system healthy.

-Avoid pasteurized milk if possible. Pasteurization process has made mass-produced milk consumption safer in terms of eliminating bacterial contamination. However, pasteurization does not make the milk more digestible nor does it eliminate the risk of potential viral contamination. The incomplete heating of pasteurization seems to cause the partial breakdown of milk proteins into tangled coils. These disorganized tangles are difficult for digestive enzymes to hold on to and break down. For some people, this may be why pasteurized milk causes them to be constipated, while boiled raw milk does not (raw milk refers to the milk that has not been pasteurized nor homogenized and is hard to obtain in majority of stores unless you live in California, if you are motivated enough to look for it please see the websites listed on the bottom).

-If you are able to find raw milk, it is always good to boil it before consumption. You don’t need to boil it for long periods of time, it is enough if it boils once and then you can take it off the flame (make sure you watch it closely since it can boil over very fast).

-Since milk has cold energetic nature, it is always good to warm it up and add warming spices to it like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and black pepper. After warming, you can add a little bit of honey to enhance its healing properties.

Useful sites:

http://www.pcrm.org/ – Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

http://www.realmilk.com/ – A Campaign for Real Milk, distributors of raw milk

Sources:

http://www.alternet.org/story/13557/

The Ayurvedic Cookbook by Amadea Morningstar and Urmila Desai

More info: Weston Price Foundation