Information about Cervical Cancer

The only obvious sign of infertility is when there is no conception after a couple has tried for many months. In fact, if a couple hasn’t conceived after at least one year, then problems may exist.

The truth is, there is no real sign to determine if infertility issues are present. The only clue is when being tested for a particular issue and if the tests return positive, then action can be taken to rectify the problem if possible.

Cervical Mucus

This article is not intended to provide false hope but one area which has gathered momentum in recent years is the subject of cervical mucus.

Lack of or very little cervical mucus, or the presence of it in acidic form in a woman is said to have an impact on the male’s sperm having the ability to travel towards the egg. Cervical mucus plays a role in this process and without it, the sperm will have difficulty achieving it’s aim.

How can this help you in relation to being a sign of infertility? Well, one of two ways. You can either perform your own test for the presence of healthy cervical mucus or talk to your doctor about it before taking any action.

Collecting Mucus Samples

If you are performing the test at home make sure your hands are hygienically clean. By simply inserting the finger as close to the cervix as you can and collecting a sample, you’re looking for fluid which is of a clear and slippery nature.

This is considered highly desirable and it’s when a woman is at her most fertile. Obviously, heading into and during ovulation will be optimal time for getting pregnant. You’re aim is to monitor this and assume your best chances of becoming pregnant is when the mucus is at this level.

If you’re not sure about conducting such a test then your doctor can give you further information.

As mentioned earlier, this is just a guide and not the answer to your fertility problems. You must keep in mind the art of conception is a complex thing and there are many variables which can affect getting pregnant.

Remember, the problem may not lie with you but your partner. Male infertility is just as common and that’s why it’s always suggested to remain positive during this investigative period. You’ll not really get a sign of infertility until all avenues have been explored.

Don’t get me wrong…the whole spine is important but your neck spine or cervical region is the most important.

Why?

The neck is the closest part of your spine to the brain which is the main control center of the body. Communication comes from your brain, down the spinal cord, out the nerve roots, to nerves that branch into smaller and smaller nerves going to all parts of the body.

Research has shown that the brain stem (the lower part of the brain even extends down to the 2nd or 3rd vertebrae (bones of the spine). Because of this, there is a greater amount of nervous system in the upper cervical spine.

We have a greater amount of nervous system reactions and communications going on in the brain compared to the rest of the spine or back. Remember it is the main control of the entire body…

Also, if you think about it, it’s like a hose to a sprinkler system…if you block flow at the source of the water, then now water gets to any of the sprinkler system or lawn for that matter. If you have a blockage to the last sprinkler head in the line, you get water to the whole lawn except the area at the end where the last sprinkler would supply.

The nervous system and spine is much the same! If you have a problem high up in the spine it may cause problems all the way down the line!

Think about an extreme case where someone has a major accident or injury to the neck and because of it they become paralyzed from the neck down. Now, this is an extreme example that I would hope no one would ever have to go through, but on a small scale even mild pressure creates some loss in communication to the rest of the body.

This pressure can manifest it self as neck or back pain, headaches, arm and hand problems, muscle tension just to name a few.

SYMPTOMS LIKE PAIN ARE THE BODY’S WAY OF TELLING US SOMETHING IS WRONG!

…And over time if we keep pressure there it tends to get worse!

What causes pressure on the upper neck blocking the flow of the nerves? -Misalignments of the spine!!! - When the vertebrae get shifted from poor posture, repetitive stress or strain, or traumas like falls and whiplash, malpositions or misalignments can occur.

Some of the time the body corrects itself…but sometimes it does not.

What can be done to eliminate possible neck spine misalignments?

Use a good neck support pillow. A good pillow is one that puts your spine in its best position, which allows the spine and spinal cord to stay relaxed and keeps all of the nerves free from any blockage or interference.

Sciatica is the name given to the disease in which there is pain, tingling or numbness due to irritation of the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve, which originates in the lower back and extends down into both the legs till the feet. Cervical Spondylosis is the name given to the disease in which there is pain, tingling or numbness due to irritation of the nerve roots that form the brachial nerve, which originates in the neck and extends down into both the arms till the hands.

Both diseases are discussed here together, since the causative factors, symptoms and the treatment required for both are very much similar, only the location of the pain is different. The pain of sciatica is in the lower back, radiating down to the leg and foot, whereas the pain of cervical spondylosis is in the neck and shoulder, radiating down to the arm and fingers. Sciatica pain has typically more of a dramatic onset, usually due to a ruptured or herniated disc which presses on the nerve roots and causes the pain. The pain can be severe enough to cause acute limitation of movement. This can happen in cervical spondylosis too, however, here it is more common to have a gradual onset of pain due to degeneration of the neck vertebrae.

In Ayurveda, sciatica is called as “Grudhraci” and cervical spondylosis is called as “Vishwachi”. Ayurvedic treatment of sciatica consists of the following procedures: (i) “Snehan” ( use of local medicated lubricants) (ii) “Swedan” (local fomentation) (iii) “Basti” (Medicated enema) (iv) “Anuloman” ( mild laxative treatment for prolonged periods) (v) “Dahan” (local heat branding ) and (vi) “Shaman” ( symptomatic oral treatment).

Vishgarbha oil in acute condition, and Mahanarayan oil ( containing mainly Asparagus racemosus) for chronic pain is used for local snehan procedure. Local fomentation can be done mainly in two ways. The first is “Naadi swedan” in which, a jet of medicated steam is directed at the back and affected leg, usually after the snehan procedure. A decoction of Nirgundi (Vitex negundo) is usually used for this procedure. The second procedure is called as “Awagah swedan”, in which the patient is made to recline in a tub filled with warm decoction of Nirgundi, Dashmool (Ten Roots) or ErandMool (Root of Ricinus communis).

Medicated enemas are given using Vishgarbha oil, Mahasahachar oil and Mahanarayan oil.

Castor oil and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) treated with castor oil are used for mild, prolonged laxative treatment.

Local heat branding is used by some physicians to reduce severe pain in the leg. The branding is usually done at the site of maximum tenderness in the lower back or buttock .

Oral medications include Mahavat Vidhwans, Vata Gajankush, Maharasnadi decoction, Triphala Guggulu, and Yograj Guggulu. Guggulu (Commiphora mukul) compounds and other herbal combinations are given for prolonged periods depending upon the symptoms and severity of pain.

Most patients respond well to these medicines and are usually cured in a period of 1- 3 months. For degeneration of the cartilage or bones, prolonged treatment may be required. Though rare, it is important to rule out other cause of sciatica, like tumor. If there is gross structural damage to the back-bone, this may have to be first treated surgically. Ayurvedic herbal medicines, given later, may help in recovery of nerve damage.

The same treatment applies to cervical spondylosis, except that enema and laxative treatment may not be helpful here, and the heat branding is done on the shoulder blade. Fomentation is done using the “naadi swedan” procedure. A specialized form of enema, called “Tikta-ksheer basti” is used in severe cervical spondylosis, and the repeated use of this enema gives results where other treatments have failed.

It is advisable to avoid cold (refrigerated) food products, as also foods which may cause abdominal bloating. It is also better to refrain from very vigorous and heavy work or exercise.