How to boost your fertility

How to boost your fertility - When it comes to fertility, age is not on our side but there are steps women and men can take to give them the best chance of conceiving, writes Emily Dunn.

Tick, tick, tick. For women planning to one day have children, that is the sound of the biological timekeeper counting down the number of years, months or days they have left.

For the most part, fertility is determined by our genes. Of the 1 million to 2 million eggs a woman is born with, just 400 will ever mature and as both women and men age, the quality of the sperm and the egg will decline.

There are, however, ways to protect and boost reproductive health for both women and men trying to conceive and for those who think they might one day want to.

''The older you get, the longer you will have had the opportunity to be exposed to fertility-reducing conditions,'' says Devora Lieberman, a fertility specialist with Genea, formerly Sydney IVF.

''Your eggs and ovaries will continue to age along with you but you also have longer times to experience things like pelvic infections and endometriosis that can affect fertility.''

Lifestyle factors such as weight gain can also make conceiving more difficult and habits such as smoking cause long-term damage, ageing the ovaries by up to a decade.

''It is not OK to say I will smoke in my 20s and then give up in my 30s when I want to have a baby,'' Lieberman says.

Paying attention to genetics, such as the age your mother is when she reaches menopause, can help but according to Lieberman, there is no magic wand to determine how much time a woman has left.

''There are plenty of women with normal ovarian reserves who struggle to get pregnant and a lot with low reserves who get pregnant very quickly,'' she says.

''There are so many other factors involved, such as egg and sperm quality.

''There is no test any of us can do to tell us whether a woman is fertile. We can sometimes tell if she will be infertile or a challenge but my best advice is to start trying.''

IN YOUR 20s

Biologically at least, a woman in her mid-20s is at the ideal age to conceive.

For most, however, babies are still a distant possibility. Women and men in their 20s who plan to have children now or in the future can still take steps to safeguard their reproductive health.

''The most important thing is that the woman is only half the baby and sperm problems are the most common reason for couples seeking IVF treatment,'' says the director of Fertility First in Sydney, Anne Clark.

''Guys forget that sperm cells are not made magically; the cells that turn into the sperm are affected by what they do to their body throughout life.''

Which means that both men and women in their 20s who plan on having children either now or later should maintain healthy habits, such as avoiding excessive weight gain, avoiding recreational drugs, not smoking and practising safe sex, because some sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, can lead to fertility problems if untreated.

For women, the pill is both a contraceptive and a protector of reproductive health.

''It reduces menstrual blood flow and so lowers the risk of endometriosis, tubal disease and ovarian cysts,'' Clark says.

''If women have these, they will develop at a slower rate.''

Some women in their 20s also consider freezing eggs when theirs are in peak condition, most commonly for medical reasons - such as chemotherapy or a genetic predisposition - that mean they will one day require IVF to screen affected embryos.

Frozen eggs, however, still have a low success rate when it comes to conception.

IN YOUR 30s

For many women, looking after their fertility and reproductive health is something that starts only when they want to have a baby, which for most Australians is some time after they turn 30.

It might be the ideal time emotionally, socially and financially to have a baby but physically they are likely to have to work a little harder than most twentysomethings to conceive. Again, Clark points out that the health and age of the father should be given equal importance.

''From the mid-30s on, a man's level of sperm DNA damage increases,'' she says. ''If you look at miscarriage risks, if you have a woman in her early 30s whose partner is 40 or older, her chance of miscarriage is three times higher.''

Many women will discover conditions that affect fertility, such as endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), only when they start trying for a pregnancy.

Medical treatments such as surgical laparoscopy and prescription drugs are available to treat these conditions, however, an increasing number of young women are also looking to alternative medicine.

The director of the Acupuncture IVF Support Clinic in Sydney, Jane Lyttleton, says acupuncture can both help restore ovulation frequency and treat some of the other symptoms of PCOS, such as acne and excessive body hair, while Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can treat the symptoms of endometriosis.

''More and more young people with PCOS are coming in to us with a view to preserving fertility,'' Lyttleton says.

''Younger women with endometriosis will also seek out Chinese medicine.''

The average age of Lieberman's female patients is just over 38 and most have been trying to conceive for at least a year.

She says that while some prefer to see a naturopath or an acupuncturist first, a fertility specialist can determine whether there are any obvious barriers.

''There are simple steps such as a semen analysis and ultrasound,'' she says. ''The next steps are up to the couple. It is shame to spend six months going down that path and then find out there is a problem.''

IN YOUR 40s

Contrary to the myth that women trying to conceive in their 40s have given priority to their careers and mortgages, Lieberman says the most common reason is women finding the right partner.

''The vast majority of women I see in their late 30s and early 40s say it took them that long to find a man they want to have children with,'' she says.

While stories of celebrities falling pregnant in their late 40s are popular with the media, experts agree that in reality, these cases are rare. By the age of 42, a woman's chance of falling pregnant using her own eggs is greatly reduced.

For those who find themselves in that situation, using donor eggs is one option. However, single women wanting to use their own eggs do have an advantage, according to Clark.

''A single woman in her 40s has the advantage of having a younger partner - all donors are under the age of 35,'' she says.

For those undergoing IVF treatments, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help.

''There are some trials done that show acupuncture can increase implantation rates,'' Lyttleton says.

''It also reduces some of the side effects of IVF treatments, such as bloating, back ache and headache.

''Most women tell us they come because they feel so good afterwards; it helps them to cope better with the treatment.''

Fertility boosters

Don't smoke. Almost one-third of fertility problems are related to cigarette smoking.

Maintain a healthy body weight.

Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine and don't use recreational drugs.

Eat foods rich in folate (including asparagus, bran flakes, broccoli, oranges and spinach).

Eat foods rich in iodine (including fish, bread, dairy products and eggs) and take supplements.

Ensure you take adequate vitamin D. ( smh.com.au )

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Foetus parties: Womb with a view?

Foetus parties: Womb with a view? - The US tradition of having a baby shower to celebrate an impending birth is now commonplace in the UK. But "foetus parties", where people gather to view 3D and 4D scan pictures are also gaining in popularity.

In this week's Scrubbing Up. Prof Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, outlines her fears about the "commercialisation and the commodification of pregnancy and childbirth."

Births are becoming more complex. If we look at the age of mothers as an indicator of complexity, then in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the number of births to women aged over 40 years has increased by more than 50% since the start of the century.

'People gather to look at scans of unborn babies'

With more mothers giving birth later in life, these mothers bring with them greater expectations and aspirations about childbirth.

Between 2001 and 2010, the number of births to women aged 40 or over rose by 71%.

This ageing of mothers means greater demands on maternity services as pregnancies to older women are more likely to involve complications, which demand more of midwives and others in the maternity team.

However, I think the worrying trend towards the commercialisation of pregnancy and trend in "foetus parties" can add to the burden and can increase the expectation for mothers which midwives then have to deal with.

There is a worry that supposed diagnostic scans are now being used for entertainment. Across the country services for "foetus" parties are popping up.

There are companies across the country that provide gifts for parties featuring images of the foetus from a fridge magnet for £3 to a teddy with 3D scan image for £15.

Some companies provide a champagne celebration scan package for £165 and a VIP scan package for £185. This is a far cry from the original purpose of ultrasound.
Foetal rights?

It was originally introduced as a screening tool to help early detection of babies with serious problems, allowing future planning of the pregnancy on the back of this.

Ultrasound is a vital technological support to women and professionals during pregnancy and, generally, aims to ensure that women can make informed decisions about their baby's future and that pregnancy management is tailored appropriately. For example, if a baby is found to be growing slowly a decision may be taken to deliver early.

However, the trend towards using ultrasound and technology via foetus parties as a "consumer tool" raises various ethical questions.

If a woman is celebrating much more overtly than she might normally do regarding a pregnancy at an early stage during the pregnancy and, then, at a later stage a serious problem emerges; a mother may need increased counselling after raising everyone's expectations of her pregnancy at a foetus party, only to learn of complications later on.

Also, does this escalate the thinking held by some that a foetus should have a life of its own before birth and, therefore, have rights of its own?

At the moment, UK law allows for the mother to make decisions on behalf of her baby until the baby is born. Using technology in this way seems to have the potential to upset this position and raises the spectrum of women being accused of doing wrong to their foetus, as happens in the USA.

Another issue that worries me is that there is the whole issue of the consumer society and who is able to access this new facility of having a 4D scan?

Does everyone have equal access to this celebratory technology or is it only something available to the better off and the rich and famous, leading to more class envy, alienation and a sense of inequity?

And last but not least, what about the foetus? Is this "yummy mummy" or WAG parenting taken to its absolute zenith and what does it do to the child being "branded" in this way? ( bbc.co.uk )

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Why is infant mortality still a U.S. problem?

The U.S. infant mortality rate is one of the highest among all developed countries

Why is infant mortality still a U.S. problem? -- If a measure of a successful society is its ability to prevent infant deaths, then there is an ugly truth in the United States today that public health officials know but the public largely does not: Too many of our babies are dying, and they don't have to.

Public health officials, doctors and researchers from around the world are gathering in Washington this week for the 139th annual meeting of the American Public Health Association to address the pressing public health issues of the day, and it is imperative that they focus their attention on protecting the most vulnerable members of our society.

The U.S. infant mortality rate is one of the highest among all developed countries. The disparity in rates within the United States is alarming as well, with black babies dying at more than twice the rate of white babies.

The most recent statistics from 2007 show that the U.S. rate of almost seven deaths per 1,000 live births ranked the U.S. behind the majority of other developed countries. Thirty developed countries have lower infant mortality rates, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, all of them spending much less than we do on health care

Within the United States, infant mortality ranges from a high of almost 10 deaths per 1,000 in Mississippi and Alabama to about five deaths per 1,000 in Washington and Massachusetts. Although the overall rates have been slowly declining since 2000, the huge gap between whites and blacks continues to exist. American women who are most likely to lose their babies are non-Hispanic black women, with a rate almost 2 1/2 greater than that for non-Hispanic white women.

This is one of the greatest injustices in our country: that a baby's chance of having a healthy life is largely dependent on where he or she is born. States and local communities vary widely in what care their leaders choose to provide to women and children. But these higher rates can be lowered by implementing strong initiatives at the state and federal levels. And maternal and child health experts know what needs to happen, based on what's worked in places with lower rates.

Preventing infant mortality is not just about prenatal care. There are four key periods in the lives of women and their children, each vital in determining whether an infant lives or dies: before pregnancy, during pregnancy, at birth and during the first year of life.

Interventions that work during each of these periods must be consistently supported to reduce infant mortality. These include teen pregnancy prevention programs, such as the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy; family planning services (the Women, Infants and Children -- or WIC -- nutrition program, which provides federal grants to states, is one good example); Back-to-Sleep education campaigns that help reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; full coverage of prenatal care and child health; and cessation programs for pregnant women who use tobacco or other substances.

These are examples of services that should be available for all women and infants, regardless of where they live. Currently, the United States does not ensure that women have access to comprehensive health care services for the four key periods. Countries with universal health care that includes women's health coverage (including family planning) before and after pregnancy -- that is, prenatal care as well as infant and child health care -- have better outcomes than the United States.

We need it all. Prenatal care is necessary, but taken alone won't solve our scandalously high infant mortality rates. Policies and regulations are needed in all states and in all hospitals to make sure we give infants the best possible care. It will take a village of support to lower infant mortality and improve health and development of our nation's children.

Since 1935 the U.S. government has supported maternal and child health through Title V of the Social Security Act, which demands that states be a "point of accountability" to ensure the health of mothers, women, children and youth.

Healthy Start programs funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services since the early 1990s have helped communities provide an array of services and support to pregnant women who face challenges getting access to quality medical care, housing, food and other services.

Both Title V and Healthy Start are regularly at risk in budget discussions. To do better as a nation, we must develop and sustain the political will to fund both programs fully as well as support all services and policies we know help prevent infant deaths. Continuing to provide a patchwork of fragmented services for mothers and infants across the country will do little to improve our infant mortality rates.

When it comes to the budget, Congress must prioritize services that will prevent poor and minority children from dying or suffering from other conditions that result from inadequate health care for mothers and their babies. Now is the time for our society to reflect its values. We can do better for our women and children. We must. ( cnn.com )

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How Does Laptop Wi-Fi Affect Male Fertility?

How Does Laptop Wi-Fi Affect Male Fertility? - The digital age has left men's nether parts in a squeeze, if you believe the latest science on semen, laptops and wireless connections.

In a report in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, Argentinian scientists describe how they got semen samples from 29 healthy men, placed a few drops under a laptop connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi and then hit download.

Four hours later, a quarter of the sperm were no longer swimming around, compared to just 14 percent from semen samples stored at the same temperature away from the computer.

And nine percent of the sperm showed DNA damage, three-fold more than the comparison samples.

The culprit? Electromagnetic radiation generated during wireless communication, say Conrado Avendano of Nascentis Medicina Reproductiva in Cordoba and colleagues.

"Our data suggest that the use of a laptop computer wirelessly connected to the internet and positioned near the male reproductive organs may decrease human sperm quality," they write in their report.

"At present we do not know whether this effect is induced by all laptop computers connected by Wi-Fi to the internet or what use conditions heighten this effect."

A separate test with a laptop that was on, but not wirelessly connected, found negligible EM radiation from the machine alone.

The findings fuel concerns raised by a few other research teams.

Some have found that radiation from cell phones creates feeble sperm in the lab, for example. And last year urologists described how a man's sitting with a laptop balanced on his knees can crank up the temperature of his scrotum to levels that aren't good for sperm.

So between the heat and the radiation from today's electronic devices, testicles would seem to be hard-pressed.

But that is not at all clear, said Dr. Robert Oates, who has managed to father two kids despite having both a laptop and an iPad.

The president of the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, Oates told Reuters Health he doesn't believe laptops are a significant threat to male reproductive health.

"This is not real-life biology, this is a completely artificial setting," he said about the new study. "It is scientifically interesting, but to me it doesn't have any human biological relevance."

He added that so far, no study has ever looked at whether laptop use has any influence on fertility or pregnancy outcomes.

"Suddenly all of this angst is created for real-life actual persons that doesn't have to be," said Oates, also of Boston Medical Center.

According to the American Urological Association, nearly one in six couples in the US have trouble conceiving a baby, and about half the time the man is at the root of the problem.

While the impact of modern technology is still murky, lifestyle does matter, researchers say.

Earlier this month, a report in Fertility and Sterility showed that men who eat a diet rich in fruit and grains and low in red meat, alcohol and coffee have a better shot at getting their partner pregnant during fertility treatment.

"You should be keeping yourself healthy," including staying lean, eating healthy foods, exercising, not taking drugs and not smoking, agreed Oates.

And for those laptop worries, he mused, "I don't know how many people use laptops on their laps anyway." ( foxnews.com )

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Myths and Facts About Erectile Dysfunction

Myths and Facts About Erectile Dysfunction - A subject like erectile dysfunction is bound to be surrounded with as much legend as fact when it comes to causes and treatments. Check out these six common myths about ED and the facts to dispel the rumors.

Erectile Dysfunction and Age

Myth: ED is just a normal part of growing older and men just have to learn to live with it.

Fact: Although ED is more common among older men, that doesn’t make it “normal” -- or something you just have to live with. It’s not unusual for older men to need more stimulation to help get them aroused than they did when they were younger. But there’s no reason you should have to accept a lack of sexual function as one of the inevitable consequences of getting older. Many men are able to get erections and enjoy sex well into their senior years, and there’s very likely no reason that you can’t be one of them.

Myth: Erectile dysfunction doesn’t hit younger men. It’s only a problem for older guys.

Fact: Although erectile dysfunction is more common in men over 75, men of any age can develop erectile problems.

Erectile Dysfunction and Overall Health

Myth: ED may be upsetting, but there’s nothing dangerous about it.

Fact: Although the ED itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, ED is often one of the earliest warning signs of other underlying health conditions that can be quite serious. One of the most common underlying health conditions is diabetes. Erection problems can also be a symptom of heart problems such as hypertension (high blood pressure) or atherosclerosis, as well as hormone imbalances and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

That’s why it is essential to see your doctor if you have erectile dysfunction. Not only can a thorough medical examination help you identify the cause of the problem and find a treatment that can return you to a more active sex life, it may also alert you to a bigger health condition that needs immediate treatment.

So if you are experiencing erectile problems, it is important to see a qualified physician immediately for a complete physical examination and testing. You can find an urologist in your area by contacting the American Urological Association.

Myth: If you have trouble getting an erection, it’s because you’re not attracted to your partner.

Fact: There are many reasons why a man might experience erection problems. Although lack of sexual attraction to one’s partner might be one of them, it’s actually far more likely to be something else. ED can be caused by:

• Heart problems, such as high blood pressure and atherosclerosis
• Diabetes -- between 35% and 50% of men with diabetes experience ED
• A variety of prescription drugs, including medications for blood pressure, anxiety, and depression
• Neurological disorders, like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis
• Hormonal imbalances
• Mood or emotional problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression
• Lifestyle habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol
• Certain types of prostate and bladder surgery

Treating Erectile Dysfunction

Myth: If I have erectile dysfunction, I’ll have to take pills for the rest of my life.

Fact: There are many options for treating erectile dysfunction. The FDA-approved medications specifically for ED treatment are effective for many men. These include medications taken by mouth, injected directly into the penis, or inserted into the urethra.

Because erectile dysfunction can also be the result of an underlying health condition like atherosclerosis or high blood pressure, treating the condition may help alleviate your erection problems, too. If a prescription medication causes ED as a side effect, ask your doctor if you can be switched to another medication. Don’t stop taking any medication before talking to your doctor. If pills don’t work out for you, keep in mind that prescription medicines aren’t your only option.

You may also be able to make a few lifestyle changes. Quitting smoking, losing weight, or decreasing your alcohol intake can significantly improve your sexual potency and help your erection problems.

Psychotherapy has also been effective for many men who experience anxiety-related erectile dysfunction associated with sexual performance. You can find a trained counselor with experience in this area of treatment by contacting the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT)

Mechanical vacuum devices and surgical treatments may also be helpful for men with erection problems.

Myth: I can treat ED myself without seeing a doctor by using herbal remedies and supplements for erectile dysfunction.

Fact: You run several risks when trying to take supplements for ED. The exact contents of many of the supplements marketed for ED are not known, and it’s possible they could contain dangerous compounds or ingredients that might interact with other medications you may be taking.

In addition, many online sites will not advise you about the potential risks and side effects of taking the remedies they sell. And, of course, taking supplements without talking to your doctor means you aren’t being examined for conditions like diabetes and heart disease that may contribute to ED.

Your best option for successfully and treating ED is to consult with your doctor, who may refer you to a physician who specializes in the care of erectile dysfunction. ( webmd.com )

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Mystery Behind Virgin Births Explained

Mystery Behind Virgin Births Explained - An eastern diamond rattlesnake recently gave successful birth five years after mating, according to a new paper that describes this longest known instance of sperm storage, outside of insects, in the animal kingdom.

The study, published in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, also presents the first documented virgin birth by a copperhead snake. In this case, the female never mated, proving that snakes and certain other animals can either give true virgin -- dadless -- birth, or may store sperm for long periods.

Actual mate-less virgin birthing, known as parthenogenesis, "has now been observed to occur naturally within all lineages of jawed vertebrates, with the exception of mammals," co-author Warren Booth told Discovery News. "We have recently seen genetic confirmation in species such as boa constrictors, rainbow boas, various shark species, Komodo dragons, and domestic turkeys, to name a few.

An eastern diamond rattlesnake, like the one shown here, recently gave birth five years after mating.

Booth, an integrative molecular ecologist at North Carolina State University, analyzed DNA from the female copperhead that had been on exhibit -- without a mate -- for years at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Molecular DNA fingerprinting excluded the contribution of a male in her giving birth, which produced a litter of four normal-looking offspring.

The eastern diamond-backed rattlesnake's birthing moment was even more dramatic, as she suddenly produced 19 very healthy offspring consisting of 10 females and nine males. DNA analysis confirmed that the 19 babies have a dad.

"This snake was caught when it was around one year old, and therefore would be considered sexually immature," said Booth, who co-authored the paper with Gordon Schuett of Georgia State University. "It was housed in isolation from males up to the time that it gave birth. Therefore, this snake was mated in the wild as a sexually immature juvenile."

He and Schuett said internal sperm storage tubules or an ability to twist a portion of the uterus might explain how the rattlesnake stored sperm for five years. To manage the second trick, Booth said "a region of the uterus becomes convoluted and contracted, which may act as a plug sequestering the sperm until ovulation."

Fish, birds, amphibians, insects and other reptiles can also store sperm for long periods.

Mammals are less successful, but a recent study on the Greater Asiatic Yellow House Bat found that females of this species could store sperm for several months. In contrast, women can store it for just hours or days.

Women are incapable of giving true virgin birth since certain genes must come from the man as well as the woman. Schuett explained that, in laboratory settings, scientists have gotten around this requirement for mammals by creating parthenogenic mice.

Both types of unusual birthing, true virginal and long-term sperm storage, have drawbacks and benefits. Storing sperm allows females to overcome climate challenges and other obstacles. Giving virgin birth may hurt genetic diversity and yield only all-female or all-male progeny. On the other hand, it could also weed out mutations that can make individuals less fit.

William Holt, a professor of reproductive biology at the Zoological Society of London's Institute of Zoology, told Discovery News that "this analysis is highly significant because it shows that some previous reports on long term sperm storage in snakes (interpreted as such in good faith by the original authors) were, in fact, caused by parthenogenesis."

Holt believes the implications are that "some species have developed reproductive mechanisms that appear to promote inbreeding, much like cloning technology, and are therefore counter-intuitive in the context of maintaining genetic diversity as a way of promoting fitness."

Paolo Prodohl, a professor of population and evolutionary genetics at Queen's University Belfast, said the next step in this line of research is "robust genetic analysis" to tease apart true virgin births from those due to long-term sperm storage. Schuett added that such studies could directly benefit humans, through possible health breakthroughs and improving our ability to store sperm. ( foxnews.com )

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Study Finds Vitamin E May Increase Risk of Prostate Cancer

Study Finds Vitamin E May Increase Risk of Prostate Cancer - Vitamin E may have cardiovascular and brain-boosting benefits, but a new study found that men who took 400 international units of the supplement every day have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

“The results show that men who took vitamin E alone are actually at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer by about 17 percent, compared with a placebo,” said Dr. Eric Klein, who treats prostate patients at the Cleveland Clinic and co-chaired the study.

Researchers studied the effects of vitamin E on more than 35,000 men over the course of seven years because they originally thought vitamin E – and selenium – would decrease the risk of developing prostate cancer.

The study’s results were not what the researchers expected.

Researchers said they need to determine exactly why vitamin E can increase the chances of developing prostate cancer.

“The increased risk really emerged after men stopped taking the vitamin E,” Klein said. “People think of vitamins as innocuous substances, but in fact, that’s not true. They’re active agents; they’re part of our normal physiology and getting too much of things that are normal for us can sometimes be harmful.”

Dr. David Samadi, a Fox News Medical A-Team member and chief of robotics and minimally invasive surgery at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City agreed. "We now have a better understanding of the relationship between vitamin E and prostate cancer. Their key finding...is the reason I am so cautious of prescribing alternative medicines.We should base our practice off of evidence-based clinical trials."

In the U.S., prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancers in men. ( foxnews.com )

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Chronic Pain and Sex: a Couple's Gentle Battle With Fibromyalgia

Chronic Pain and Sex: a Couple's Gentle Battle With Fibromyalgia. Chronic Pain and Intimacy: One Need Not Preclude the Other. Cynthia Armistead, 41, is in nearly constant full-body pain. She has fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and severe arthritis, forcing her to take morphine to get through the day. And, on a pain scale of one to 10, a good day is a six.

Nevertheless, the Decatur, Ga., woman is determined to maintain a healthy sexual life with the love of her life, a man she met 10 years ago. And he is just as determined to make the adjustments necessary to keep their relationship going strong.

For some couples, chronic pain is a serious consideration when it comes to intimacy

"There are times when the air on my skin hurts," Armistead says. "It's not just a disease of pain, it's a disease of hypersensitivity."

Doctors call this allondynia. It means that the brain interprets neutral or pleasant stimuli —, like gentle touch or running water from a faucet —, as pain. Patients also commonly experience hyperalgesia, which is an extreme reaction to painful stimuli.

Dr. Theresa Lawrence-Ford of Duluth, Ga., describes putting moderate pressure on one's fingernail bed to illustrate.

"It would take a patient half as much pressure to experience the feeling as someone without fibromyalgia," she says.

Women are about nine times more likely than men to experience fibromyalgia, according to the American College of Rheumatology, which also estimates that 6 million Americans, of 2 percent of the general population, are afflicted.

As for Armistead, the chronic pain and fatigue she suffers has forced her to abandon her career as a technical writer. But she has not given up on joy.

Ten years ago she fell in love with a man who is understanding of her condition, and willing to do whatever it takes to make their relationship continue to work.

"You really have to focus on the non-physical aspects of love when you're in a relationship with a person in chronic pain," says her partner, Sam Chupp, 40. "You have to concentrate on the mental and spiritual bond in order to carry you through times she has a flare [the worst period of pain]."

Armistead says that "25 percent of the time I'm in flare. When I'm in flare I don't even want to be looked at hard."

Nevertheless, says Dr. Cynthia Lawrence-Elliott — who's in private practice with her sister, Lawrence-Ford — when it comes to this disorder, it is important to follow what she calls the ABCs of a healthy sensual life.

"A is acceptance and adaptation," says Lawrence-Elliott, who once treated Armistead. "B is for learning the basics and for doing what it takes to boost one's self-esteem. Ignorance coupled with fear are common enemies of sexuality. C is connect and challenge."

By connect, Lawrence-Elliott means that one must shed any shyness when discussing one's body with a physician or partner. By challenge she means that it's necessary to challenge oneself to do so, even when the issue is embarrassing.

Armistead and Chupp seem to be following the doctor's recommendations chapter and verse. No matter how much her body hurts, Armistead says she wants to maintain some version of intimacy with Chupp. To this end they have dedicated two nights a week to spending time alone with each other, sacred time that they guard very strictly.

Armistead does everything she can to feel good on their scheduled nights. She refrains from shopping or going to appointments on those days (that would make her too tired), and her teenage daughter (from a previous marriage) goes out with friends.

The challenging part is that even though they can schedule time for each other and stick to it, there's no way to schedule random flare-ups. The key, Chupp says, is not to set specific goals for the night.

"We just say we are going to enjoy each other, no matter what it turns out to be," he says. "Cuddling is a wonderful thing and can happen a lot more often than sex."

"I'll put it this way. Sometimes you want to share a big fancy dinner with her, but it turns out you just have to have a sandwich by yourself," he says.

The estimated 12 million American couples who deal with this disorder may be grateful that Chubb and Armistead are not overly shy in answering questions about how one makes love to a partner who has what Armistead calls "skin hunger," which is the normal need to be touched.

"I haven't been able to stand a massage for years," she says. "We've learned to be very gentle," she adds, noting that hypersensitivity is not always a bad thing. "I take my morphine. A warm bath loosens my muscles. But mostly, being aware, being able to say — well, it's important in any relationship to be able to say — 'that's a bit too hard' makes all the difference."

It also takes a creative mind, says Chupp. Happily, they are both good storytellers. They have shared story nights where they say they inhabit imaginative worlds peopled with characters of their own creation.

"It's not super kinky or like Dungeons and Dragons," he says. "It's a way to take our minds off her pain. One thing I really like about Cynthia [his partner] is that all you have to do is look at her and she blushes."

Chupp has advice for those whose partners suffer from chronic pain. "Millions of pillows. Low impact positions. And realize this is not something you can do in ten minutes — it takes hours and hours. You have to think of it as an entire evening."

Sounds like a dream for millions of women —, with or without chronic pain. And it's doctor-approved. "Sex can decrease pain because it releases positive hormones like endorphins," Lawrence-Ford says. "Endorphins decrease physical and emotional distress, enabling the patient to reclaim her sensual life and sexual intimacy."

Armistead and Chupp agree. "You have to scale back your expectations from high school —, but high school was never this good," he quips. "When you are in love with someone and she is in pain all the time, when she wants to have sex with you in spite of it, it means she really wants to have it. You feel chosen and special." ( abcnews.go.com )

READ MORE - Chronic Pain and Sex: a Couple's Gentle Battle With Fibromyalgia

More Sex May Help Damaged Sperm

More Sex May Help Damaged Sperm. Daily sex could help men with damaged sperm, some doctors say. For men with fertility problems, some doctors are prescribing a very conventional way to have a baby

In a study of 118 Australian men with damaged sperm, doctors found that having sex every day for a week significantly reduced the amount of DNA damage in their patients' sperm.

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In a study of 118 Australian men with damaged sperm, doctors found that having sex every day for a week significantly reduced the amount of DNA damage in their patients' sperm. Previous studies have linked better sperm quality to higher pregnancy rates.

The research was announced Tuesday at a meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Amsterdam.

Dr. David Greening of Sydney IVF, a private fertility clinic in Australia, and colleagues looked at 118 men who had damaged sperm. Greening and colleagues told the men to have sex every day for a week. After seven days, the doctors found that in 81 percent of the men, there was a 12 percent decrease in the amount of damaged sperm.

Many fertility experts suggest men abstain from sex before their partners have in-vitro fertilization, to try to elevate their sperm counts.

Sperm quality can also be improved if men don't smoke, drink moderately, exercise, or get more antioxidants.

Since concluding the study, Greening says he now instructs all couples seeking fertility advice to start by having more sex. "Some of the older men look a little concerned," he said. "But the younger ones seem quite happy about it."

Experts think sex helps reduce the DNA damage in sperm by getting it out of the body quickly; if sperm is in the body for too long, it has a higher chance of getting damaged.

Some experts said that while Greening's research is promising, it doesn't prove that daily sex for men with fertility problems will actually produce more babies.

Greening said he and his colleagues are still analyzing the study data to determine how many women got pregnant.

"Looking at sperm DNA is just one part of the puzzle," said Bill Ledger, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Sheffield, who was not connected to the research. "Maybe this will improve pregnancy rates, but we still need to do more studies."

Ledger said instructing couples with infertility problems to have more sex could stress their relationship. "This may add even more anxiety and do more harm than good," he said. He said couples shouldn't feel pressured to adjust their sex lives just for the sake of having a baby.

Greening said the study's findings were ultimately very intuitive. "If you want to have a baby, our advice is to do it often." ( abcnews.go.com )

READ MORE - More Sex May Help Damaged Sperm