Drinking During IVF Reduces pregnancy rates: BBC

IVF couples warned over drinking

Couples trying to conceive are urged to think about their lifestyle choices

Couples trying to conceive through IVF could be significantly harming their chances if they share the equivalent of a bottle of wine a week, experts warn.

If both partners drink six units a week – equivalent to half a bottle of wine each – their chance of a live birth is cut by a quarter, a study suggests.

Doctors said couples may want to “play it safe” and not drink at all to maximise their chances of IVF success.

The findings are based on a US study of more than 2,500 couples.

The study was presented at a fertility conference in Atlanta.

In the study, men and women who each had six UK-equivalent units a week – the equivalent of two strong pints of beer or two large glasses of wine – or more “significantly reduced their likelihood of pregnancy”.

It may be that if you are trying for a baby with IVF and want to maximise your chances of success, you may want to ‘play safe’ and not drink at all Tony Rutherford of the British Fertility Society

For women, it cut their chances of getting pregnant by 18%, while men reduced their chances of a live birth by 14%.

Overall, half of the women and a third of the men drank less than one alcoholic drink a week, while 4% of women and 5% of men drank at least once a day.

Women who had between one and nine units of white wine a week were 24% less likely to have a live birth and had a 23% greater chance of failed implantation of the IVF embryo.

Men who drank a beer daily contributed to a 30% lower chance of a live birth and a 38% greater chance of failed implantation.

Abstinence

Dr Brooke Rossi, who led the study at the Harvard Medical School in Boston, told doctors at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine conference: “In general, women are told they should stop drinking when they are trying to achieve pregnancy.”

Tony Rutherford, of the British Fertility Society, said: “This is further evidence to suggest that alcohol does have an impact and that those women who try for a baby should think about their lifestyle choices.

“Eggs and sperm take at least three months to develop so women have got to stop smoking, reduce alcohol consumption or, if you are overweight, correct that weight that far ahead if you want to maximise your chances of conception.”

He said the couples in the study had fertility problems, so there might be other reasons why alcohol affects their chances of a live birth.

But he said: “It may be that if you are trying for a baby with IVF and want to maximise your chances of success, you may want to ‘play safe’ and not drink at all.”

Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians and chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said the advice to abstain applied to both partners in a couple if they were having difficulty conceiving.

Earaches, Tinnitus and Home Remedies

Hearing loss can be sudden or gradual and can be caused by infection, trauma, changes in atmospheric pressure, earwax buildup or impaction.

Two types of hearing loss:
Conductive hearing loss: passage of sound waves in impeded in the external or middle ear. This can be due to:

a. Earwax buildup
b. Middle ear infection
c. Inflammation
d. Excessive rigidity of the tiny bones in the middle ear that convey information to the inner ear

Sensorineural Hearing loss: damage to the structures of the middle ear
a. damage to the 8th cranial nerve or the acoustic nerve
b. can be present from birth or can be caused by certain drugs, illnesses, exposure to loud noises, smoking or trauma

Causes:
Infection or inflammation after a respiratory tract infection
Trauma (often from cotton swabs)
Microorganisms from swimming or bathing

Hearing loss with ear pain may be associated with:
1. Eardrum damage
2. strain or perforation
3. an infected cyst in the eardrum or middle ear
4. Mastoiditis

Tinnitus is the continuous buzzing or ringing in the ears with no obvious cause. It may occur by itself or as a symptom of another issue/
Otitis media or middle ear infection is the most common cause for hearing loss for children. Otitis media is usually a temporary issue but chronic ear infections can cause permanent damage.

Hearing loss in babies can be detected by:

A failure to startle or blink at loud noises
Failure to babble, coo, squeel, monotonal babbling
Ability to sleep through loud noises consistently
Toddlers: failure to speak clearly by age two
Showing no interest in being read to
Habitual yelling & shrieking when playing or communicating

Suggestions for helping ear issues:
Coenzyme Q10: 30 mg. daily. Powerful antioxidant that boosts immunity and increases circulation to the ears.

Manganese: 10 mg. daily
Essential fatty acids to reduce earwax buildup
Vit E: 600 IU daily, antioxodant, increase circulation
Vit D: 400 IU daily
Zinc lozenges 50mg daily: quickens immune response

Herbs:
Echinacea helps poor equilibrium and reduces congestion as well as helping the body to fight infection.

Eucalyptus, hyssop, mullein and thyme have decongestant properties, which may alleviate ringing in the ears.

Gingko biloba helps reduce dizziness and increase blood flow to the head.

Mullein oil can be used as ear drops to help soothe infection.

Eat fresh pineapple to reduce inflammation. Include garlic, kelp and sea vegetables to your diet.
For ear wax buildup:
Use 1 part vinegar and one part warm water, place a dropper full in the ear and let it settle then drain. You can also use hydrogen peroxide. Repeat in the other ear and do 2-3x a day. If the wax is hard apply warm garlic oil to the ears instead for a few days. Make sure to flush out the ear with warm water.

For ear infection use a few drops of warm garlic oil to the ear.
Any hearing loss that does not resolve on its own in two weeks should be evaluated by an ENT.

凌晨三點鐘

I’m really enjoying the courses I’m taking, and I realize I’m actually doing the readings out of pure interest, and not obligation. I’m hoping my midterms will be much smoother; it’s not that stressful either, though I’m doing six and six courses this school year.

It still amazes me how people know each other. I feel like last year I didn’t get to know enough people from across cultures, class, ages. This year I’m definitely getting more of that, as discussions really facilitate discussion and helps us get to know each other. The friendships I’m making this year are definitely more meaningful so far.

Another note on my most recent interview with CCP (commerce community program). Went pretty smooth: I find that interviews all have similar questions, with the exception of one extra unique question. In this case it was “if you could do one thing before the end of the day what would it be?” Caught me off guard but I realize my passion in education as I surprised myself by saying that I’d like to visit Africa to see the education programs implemented there to help them.

Today I got a call from the co-chair who recommended me to go for an interview for a similar position on another committee: “Building Success”, which was focused on helping graduates from downtown east side and teaching them about time management, business skills, confidence, and friendship. I didn’t know about this position, but it definitely sounds way more suitable than just internal coordinator for the Student Engagement Team (to get Sauder students more involved).

My wrists were feeling fine for a bit, even at work, but recently with more typing (notes, econ quizzes, etc), it’s starting to bother me again. Should go to acupuncturist again.

Some things coming up:

Oct 2

- Lunch with Max/Paul
- Interview with CCP for Building Success positions
- Perspectives Icebreaker
- TA (Taiwanese Association) Icebreaker
- Dumpling making with Jerry’s family!
- PAY DAY (thank god)

Oct 4
- YWib (Young Women in Business) mentorship program interview
Oct 8
- TA Icebreaker
Oct 11
1 year anniversary!

To do:

1. Econ CH 6,7,8; Quiz 5,6
2.  ENGL 221 readings”The Eolian Harp” Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “Hymn to Intellectual Beauty” Percy Bysshe Shelley
3. HIST 329 readings “Baptizing Novices: …” Podruchny
4. PSYCH 309 readings: Grea, Heath, and Goodale papers
5. Apply for change of midterm dates (Oct 20, three midterms)

Here’s a good song: 凌晨三点钟 by 張智成