What is fertility?
Fertility is about the ability to get pregnant. More than 8 out of 10 couples where the woman is aged under 40 will get pregnant within one year if they have regular unprotected sex. More than 9 out of 10 couples will get pregnant within 2 years. In 2019, fertility rate for Nigeria was 5.32 children per woman. Fertility rate of Nigeria fell gradually from 6.47 children per woman in 1970 to 5.32 children per woman in 2019.
If your aim is to get pregnant, fertility drugs and supplements could help. Doctors usually prescribe drugs; some couples usually opt out of this to prevent side effects associated with chemicals in the system. Fertility drugs boost your chances of conceiving a child. It is also helpful if you want to get pregnant with twin or multiples. Fertility drugs work in two ways, either by ovulation induction or creating a hormonal balance to induce fertilization.
Over The Counter Fertility Drugs In Nigeria
Fertilization and Ovulation induction drugs are more common and widely used in Nigeria.
Clomid: This is a synthetic drug for oral use that attempts to replicate oestrogen. It has a similar structure to the hormone, providing a more suitable environment in the uterus for ovulation. This is usually used with doctor’s prescription. It has the best results after numerous clinical trials and it is inexpensive.
Ovulex: Ovulex is made up of natural substances, it does not contain any harmful chemical substances. It does not get you pregnant immediately, it only prepares your body by building up your hormone levels.
Herbs and hormones such as progesterone constitutes the ovulex drug. Taking this supplement, exercising regularly, having proper diet and regular sexual intercourse will increase the chances of conceiving a child without any harmful side effects.
Maca Pills: Maca also serves as a libido booster. It is a very effective fertility pill that can be used without prescription. It is a cruciferous plant processed from the root of Peruvian ginseng. It is found in mountainous regions of the South American country, Peru. During Incan times, farmers found out that maca was a very good herb for fertility and it is still relevant till date. This fertility enhancing pill is both applicable to men and women.
Recently a study was carried out at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, the country’s capital. The research was conducted regarding maca effect on young adults ranging from 24 years to 44 years. The study showed a strong correlation between maca intake and sperm per ejaculation. It is also shown that maca intake improves sexual desire.
Maca pills restores hormonal balance between oestrogen and progesterone, providing a conducive environment for fertilisation. It is largely reported by female users that they experienced stronger sexual desires and sexual function.
FertiliTea for Women: This is a delicious, natural, healthy herb tea that has been scientifically tested and patented by foremost fertility expert Amos Grunebaum. This tea reverses hormonal imbalance between the oestrogen and progesterone, creating a healthy reproductive system. The major ingredients in this tea include chasteberry, raspberry leaf, green tea, ladies mantle, nettle leaf and peppermint leaf. These ingredients are natural, fresh and has high quality. It contains no chemicals or preservatives.
Chasteberry – This promotes hormonal balance needed to catalyse ovulation. It is used as a herb treatment for infertility. It is very effective for women with irregular cycles and ovulation failures.
Rasberry leaf – This is a highly nutritive leaf, it strengthens and prepares the uterus/pelvis region. It is very effective when combined with peppermint leaf.
Green tea – Age and environmental toxins perform oxidative damages on the body over time. Green tea is an antioxidant that reverses this damage, therefore promoting the health of the reproductive system.
Ladies mantle – This invigorates the uterus, especially among women with irregular cycle.
Nettle leaf – Nettle leaf constitutes a combination of vitamin A, C, D, K and minerals such as potassium, sulphur, iron and phosphorus.
Peppermint leaf – This gives the tea its delicious taste, it compliments raspberry leaf and promotes sexual desire.
Fairhaven Fertilaid for Women: This is a NAFDAC approved herbal supplement that contains all-natural ingredients and vitamins needed to promote fertility and reproduction. This supplement was created by obGyn and foremost fertility expert Amos Grunebaum. The comprehensive formula contains minerals, vital vitamins, antioxidants, folic acid all in the right quantity, serving as a prenatal supplement also Natural herbs such as chasteberry, ginseng, red clover blossom and gingko biloba help provide a hormonal balance to promote fertility without any side or harmful effects. See: How to Use Goron Tula For Fertility
This supplement is not recommended for anyone undergoing IVF, pregnant ladies or anyone with a pre-existing health condition.One bottle contains 90 capsules, therefore could last one month or more.
FertileDetox for Men and Women: As you age, the reproductive system becomes toxic. This supplement detoxifies the reproductive system and removes toxic compounds. The air we breathe, toiletries we use, food we eat and cleaning products we use all contain chemicals that lodge in our tissues and build up in concentration over time. The liver and the intestines are responsible for detoxifying the body, unfortunately not all toxic compounds are removed because chemicals can be secreted and hidden in fats. Prolonged exposure to these chemicals reduces sperm count and increases the onset of infertility. This product helps to eliminate the remnants of these toxic chemicals hidden in the fatty tissues, thereby promoting sexual health. Its ingredients include vitamin B, C, E, zinc, manganese and molybdenum.
Mengquian Fertility Supplement: This is a fertility and hormonal supplement that detoxifies the body and improves reproductive health. It leaves you skin looking younger by reducing stress and its effects.
Green Herb’s Camvacon FreeFlow: This is another NAFDAC approved and highly regarded fertility supplement that is recommended for infertility in women with irregular menstrual flow, ovulation failures and blockage of the fallopian tube. This enables conception to occur.
FairHaven OvaBoost: This product is preferable for women who are over the age of 30 and are trying to conceive a child. It promotes egg and ovary function. The antioxidants in the supplement help in detoxifying the reproductive system. It is more effective when combined with fertilAid. It’s main ingredients are vitamin E, grapeseed and alpha lipoic acid. This supplement was designed using top notch scientific data with the aim of protecting egg and ovary from damage and promoting its healthy function in reproduction.
WHAT IS THE BEST FERTILITY DRUG FOR TWINS?
Triplets-and-more increasingly are the result of drugs given to women to make them produce eggs – not from using multiple embryos from IVF, or lab-dish fertilization, new research shows.
More than one-third of twins and three-quarters of triplets and higher multiple births in the U.S. are due to fertility treatments of all types, according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Brown University report in the New England Journal of Medicine.
How to conceive twins with fertility drugs
Medications designed to increase fertility typically work by boosting the number of eggs produced in a woman’s ovaries. If more eggs are produced, it’s also likely that more than one can be released and fertilized. This occurs at the same time, causing fraternal twins.
Clomiphene and gonadotropins are commonly used fertility drugs that can increase your chances of having twins.
Clomiphene is a medication available only through prescription. In the United States, the brand names for the drug are Clomid and Serophene. The drug is taken by mouth, and dose will depend on a person’s individual needs. It works by stimulating the body’s hormones to cause ovulation. Studies have shown that women who use this drug for fertility treatment are more likely to have twins than those who don’t.
Gonadotropins describe a type of fertility medication given by injection. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is given by itself or combined with luteinizing hormone (LH).
Both hormones are made naturally by the brain and tell the ovaries to produce one egg each month. When given as an injection, FSH (with or without LH) tells the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Because the body is making more eggs, there is a higher chance that more than one will become fertilized.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine estimates that up to 30 percent of pregnancies that occur while using gonadotropins result in twins or multiples. Both of these drugs are generally considered safe and effective. But like any medication, there are potential risks and side effects that go along with using fertility drugs. SEE: How Good Are Life Extension Supplements
Does family history increase your chances of having twins?
If both you and your partner have a history of multiples in the family, your chances of conceiving twins is higher. This is especially true for women who have fraternal twins in their family. That’s because they’re more likely to have inherited the gene that makes them release more than one egg at a time.
According to The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, women who are fraternal twins themselves have a 1 in 60 chance of having their own twins. Men who are fraternal twins have a 1 in 125 chance of fathering twins. See: The Effects of Bitter Leaf on Fertility
Does your ethnicity influence if you’ll have twins?
Some research has shown that differences in ethnic background can impact your chances of having twins. For example, black and non-Hispanic white women are more likely to have twins than Hispanic women. Nigerian women have the highest rate of twin births, while Japanese women have the lowest.
Chances of having twins after 30
Women who are over age 30 — especially women in their late 30s — have a greater chance of having twins. That’s because they’re more likely to release more than one egg during ovulation than younger women.
Mothers between ages 35 and 40 who already have given birth have an even higher chance of conceiving twins.
Are tall or overweight women more likely to have twins?
Fraternal twins are more common in women who are larger. This could mean taller and/or overweight. Experts aren’t sure why this is the case, but suspect it might be because these women take in more nutrients than smaller women.
Will you conceive twins if you’re taking supplements?
Folic acid is a B vitamin. Many doctors recommend taking it before and during pregnancy to reduce the risk for neural tube defects like spina bifida. Prior to becoming pregnant, doctors recommend taking about 400 micrograms of folic acid per day and increasing this amount to 600 micrograms during pregnancy.
There have been some small studies that suggest folic acid may increase the likelihood of conceiving multiples. But there aren’t any large-scale studies to confirm that this increases your chances for multiples. If you are trying to get pregnant, taking folic acid will help protect your baby’s brain development.
Will you conceive twins if you’re breast-feeding?
In 2006, a study was published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine that found that women who were breast-feeding and got pregnant were more likely to conceive twins. But there aren’t additional studies to support this information. For this reason, breast-feeding isn’t considered to be a factor that increases your likelihood to conceive twins. SEE Benefits and Side Effects of Ukwa (Breadfruit) During Pregnancy
Will your diet affect if you’re having multiples?
A quick internet search reveals many “home remedies” and diet suggestions for conceiving twins. A healthy diet can help you grow a baby after conception. However, eating certain foods doesn’t mean you’ll have multiples.
How common is it to have twins/multiples?
The birth rate for twins in the United States rose more than 75 percent from 1980 to 2009. An estimated 3 percent of pregnant women are carrying multiples in the United States each year.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine reports that twins happen naturally in about 1 out of every 250 pregnancies. The rate is much higher in women who get fertility treatments. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, approximately 1 out of every 3 pregnancies with fertility treatments will be multiples. Read : Zobo Drink and Pregnancy
Pregnancies with twins and multiples are considered higher risk than single pregnancies. If you do get pregnant with twins, you’ll likely need frequent doctor visits so you can be closely monitored.
