The above photos were taken by my dear self just recently during my trip to Japan with my dear hubby. If you would like to purchase these photos do let me know and I can show you more photos from my previous shooting. No cut & paste please without my permission!
Just so you know.... this could also be a serious problem if not check once a while.
Definition of Fallopian tube
One of the two Fallopian tubes that transport the egg from the ovary to the uterus (the womb). In the diagram, the Fallopian tubes are not labeled but are well shown running between the uterus and ovaries.
Function in fertilization
When an ovum is developing in an ovary, it is encapsulated in a sac known as an ovarian follicle.
On maturity of the ovum, the follicle and the ovary's wall rupture, allowing the ovum to escape and enter the Fallopian tube. There it travels toward the uterus, pushed along by movements of cilia on the inner lining of the tubes. This trip takes hours or days. If the ovum is fertilized while in the Fallopian tube, then it normally implants in the endometrium when it reaches the uterus, which signals the beginning of pregnancy.
Occasionally the embryo implants into the Fallopian tube instead of the uterus, creating an ectopic pregnancy, commonly known as a "tubal pregnancy".
What are Blocked Fallopian Tubes?
To understand what blocked fallopian tubes are, you need to know what a fallopian tube is. The fallopian tubes are two thin tubes, one on each side of the uterus, which help lead the mature egg from the ovaries to the uterus.
When an obstruction prevents the egg from traveling down the tube, the woman has a blocked fallopian tube. It can occur on one or both sides. This is also known as tubal factor infertility, and is the cause of infertility in 40% of infertile women.
How Do Blocked Fallopian Tubes Cause Infertility?
Each month, when ovulation occurs, an egg is released from one of the ovaries. The egg travels from the ovary, through the tubes, and into the uterus. The sperm also need to swim their way from the cervix, through the uterus, and through the fallopian tubes to get the egg. Fertilization usually takes place while the egg is traveling through the tube.
If one or both fallopian tubes are blocked, the egg cannot reach the uterus, and the sperm cannot reach the egg, preventing fertilization and pregnancy. It's also possible for the tube not to be blocked totally, but only partially. This can increase the risk of a tubal pregnancy, or ectopic pregnancy.
What is Hydrosalpinx?
A specific kind of blocked fallopian tube, hydrosalpinx is when a blockage causes the tube to dilate (increase in diameter) and fill with fluid. The fluid blocks the egg and sperm, preventing fertilization and pregnancy.
Can You Get Pregnant With a Blocked Fallopian Tube?
If only one fallopian tube is blocked, but the other is clear, it may still be possible to achieve pregnancy. It depends on how well the ovary on the side of the clear tube is functioning, and also what caused the blocked tube in the first place.
Plus, since ovulation takes place on different sides from month to month, when the ovary on the blocked side ovulates, pregnancy cannot be achieved. So it may take longer to get pregnant.
What are the Symptoms of Blocked Fallopian Tubes?
Unlike anovulation, where irregular menstrual cycles may hint to a problem, blocked fallopian tubes rarely cause symptoms. A specific kind of blocked fallopian tube, called hydrosalpinx, may cause lower abdominal pain and unusual vaginal discharge, but not every woman will have these symptoms.
However, some of the causes of blocked fallopian tubes might lead to hints of a problem. For example, endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease may cause painful menstruation and painful sexual intercourse. But these symptoms don't necessarily point to blocked tubes.
What Causes Blocked Fallopian Tubes?
The most common cause of blocked fallopian tubes is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is most often the result of a sexually transmitting disease, but it isn't always related to an STD. Also, even if PID is no longer present, a history of PID increases the risk of blocked tubes.
Other potential causes of blocked fallopian tubes:
- Current or history of an STD infection, specifically Chlamydia or Gonorrhea
- History of uterine infection caused by an abortion or miscarriage
- History of a ruptured appendix
- History of abdominal surgery
- Previous ectopic pregnancy
- Prior surgery involving the fallopian tubes
- Endometriosis
How are Blocked Tubes Diagnosed?
Blocked tubes are usually diagnosed with a specialized x-ray, called a hysterosalpingogram, or HSG. This test involves placing a dye through the cervix, using a tiny tube. Once the dye has been given, the doctor will take x-rays of your pelvic area.
All About Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
If all is normal, the dye will go through the uterus, through the tubes, and spill out around the ovaries and into the pelvic cavity. If the dye doesn't get through the tubes, then you may have a blocked fallopian tube.
It's important to know that 15% of women have a "false positive," where the dye doesn't get past the uterus and into the tube. The blockage appears to be right where the fallopian tube and uterus meet. If this happens, the doctor may repeat the test another time, or order a different test to confirm.
Other tests that may be ordered include ultrasound, exploratory laparoscopic surgery, or hysteroscopy (where they take a thin camera and place it through your cervix, to look at your uterus). Blood work to check for the presence of Chlamydia antibodies (which would imply previous or current infection) may also be ordered.
What are the Potential Treatments for Blocked Tubes?
If you have one open tube, and are otherwise healthy, you might be able to get pregnant without too much help. Your doctor may give you fertility drugs to increase the chances of ovulating on the side with the open tube. This is not an option, however, if both tubes are blocked.
In some cases, laparoscopic surgery can open blocked tubes or remove scar tissue that is causing problems. Unfortunately, this treatment doesn't always work. The chance of success depends on how old you are (the younger, the better), how bad and where the blockage is, and the cause of blockage.
If just a few adhesions are between the tubes and ovaries, then your chances of getting pregnant after surgery are good. If you have a blocked tube that is otherwise healthy, you have a 20% to 40% chance of getting pregnant after surgery.
But if thick, multiple adhesions and scaring are between your tubes and ovaries, or if you have been diagnosed with hydrosalpinx, surgery may not be a good option for you. Also, if there are any male infertility issues, you might want to skip surgery. In these cases, IVF treatment is your best bet.
Also important to note is that your risk of ectopic pregnancy is higher after surgery to treat tubal blockage. Your doctor should closely monitor you, if you do get pregnant.
For more info go to: http://infertility.about.com/od/causesofinfertility/a/blocked_tubes.htm
While looking for health article in the www I stumbled on this very interesting topic. Decided to post it on my blog because of its very true and real content. Please read below. The red is my comment following on the discussions.
Would you know if you were in a toxic relationship? Are you dealing with toxic family members or people in your life who manage to drag you down, make you feel angry, worn out, deflated, belittled, ridiculed or confused? Are you dealing with conflicts and problems because of a toxic parent, sibling, co-worker, spouse, friend, toxic in-laws or other extended family members? [Yes, I am dealing with one very toxic relative which is my hubby's mother and the family members who constantly jealous and trying to bring my hubby down. I rather be an oprange than have this kind of redicilous family members!!!] Are toxic family members causing stress, anxiety and even symptoms of depression during the holidays and special occasions, a time that is supposed to be about family, love and togetherness?
Most of us could write a laundry list of names of people who make us feel miserable whenever we’re around them, spewing their noxious negative attitudes, behaviors and gossip like nauseating toxic waste. Have you ever wondered what makes toxic people tick, or why some family members have the tendency and inane ability to be two-faced in their relationships with others in the family?
Who Are Toxic People?
Toxic people are extremely negative, miserable, whiny, jealous, inconsiderate, financially irresponsible and entitled, manipulative, narcissistic, selfish, disrespectful, gossip mongers who have no boundaries. [This is very true. The Toxic people which I was referring to is my in-laws who really like to gossip around.] Everyone and anyone is fair game for toxic people, with toxic relationships creating undo stress and anxiety for everyone involved. If you are dealing with these problems and conflicts in your life, know that you are not alone.
According to mental health specialists and psychologists, toxic people are “highly insecure people who only feel better about themselves if they make others feel worse, and they make up about ten percent of the population. A toxic person, including family members and in-laws, cause over 50% of all communication and relationship stress in others, health problems such as headaches, stomach pain and digestive problems, due to negative baggage brought on from low-esteem”.
Understanding how low self-confidence and low self-esteem causes some people to grow up to become toxic adults may help you feel better about yourself. However, having some understanding, compassion and empathy for bad childhood experiences and memories that continue to fester and linger in their personalities does not change the fact that their toxic attitudes and behaviors will continue until you stop allowing them to hurt you and your life. [I know how to stop her from hurting me or my family member including my hubby BUT the very disappointing thing is that my hubby is very weak in dealing with her own mother!!!]
Toxic people are this way because they can and often do get away with it, and it works well for them. If it didn’t work, and work very well, they wouldn’t continue doing it. [This is also true. For one fact is that she can't break my relationship with my hubby so she divert the sparrow to my parents.]
Toxic People Will…if not dealt with:
- Rob us of our dignity. [true but I did not allow her to do that to me nor my family including my hubby]
- Destroy our self-confidence. [true... just look at my hubby]
- Increase our stress levels. [true... especially when my hubby thinks of what his mother had done]
- Cause health problems. [true.. my hubby health is not too well recently]
- Destroy our morale. [true... my MIL tried to go behind his son back by telling all those nonsense about how he has spent all his money]
- Destroy family relationships. [SO true... my hubby relationship with his father and other siblings and relatives were destroy by his birth mother]
- Foster negativity. [Yes.. she tried to tell my parents that I am the bad person here which she has forgotten who she was.]
- Decrease productivity.
- Get you fired from your job.
- Drive you to bankruptcy. [SO SO true... my MIL is sitll waiting till this day that my hubby will finally go bankcrupt and go back crying to her]
How to Deal With Toxic People and Family Members:
Recognize that toxic people have issues within themselves, and their toxicity has everything to do with them and nothing to do with you. In life, everyone has to take personal responsibility for their own choices, attitudes, actions and behaviors. Toxic people do not do this. [My MIL just say whatever she likes to mainpulate the fact and don't feel responsible or sorry for what she had said.] You become their personal target. They habitually turn things around and manipulate you to the point where you feel bad, you feel guilty, you feel like you are at fault, therefore responsible for their problems.
You may even begin to feel like you’re “going crazy” or “losing your mind”, wondering if you have become the victim of a psychopath desperately trying to manipulate and control you. [This is a fact that she like to control her son's life until now and also tried to control mine too!!!] Once you recognize the toxic behaviors that are engulfing your life and health, it allows you to take your power back.
Keep emotionally toxic people from ruining your health and happiness by setting limits and personal boundaries, assertively speaking up for yourself, and standing your ground. [I do set boundary by not speaking with this kind of bitch again and my hubby still need to stand on his own ground.] Don’t make someone else’s problems your own, but physically and mentally distance yourself from the negative and toxic people in your life, which may or may not include cutting the person out of your life entirely.
Knowing what it means to “let go” of negative people, along with their personal demons and issues, allows you the strength and determination needed to live your life without the constant barrage of criticism that can easily erode your own self-esteem, health and well-being. [The bitch like to instruct her own son to do all her dirty work for her... and she remain the angel in ppl's eyes.]
Dealing with family members and in-laws can be especially difficult and stressful. If there are family members or in-laws that treat you like their personal doormat, criticizing and ridiculing you for everything and anything, you may have to consider putting a strict limit on how often you associate with them, if at all. [It happened to us and I have set the limit not to contact them again.]
Holidays and special occasions can quickly become a dread, where just the thought of being around toxic relatives or friends causes your blood pressure to rise to unhealthy levels. [everythime during CNY she will call to my parents and ask them to ask her son to go back to show that how powerful she is. But my parents is not her remote control.] You have the right to decide who to associate with and who not to associate with, who is or isn’t invited or welcome to step foot into your home, including toxic family members.
Toxic people need years of in-depth therapy, not you. You can’t change their attitudes or behaviors, but you can change yourself. You have to decide for yourself how much pushing around you will or will not accept. Allow yourself the personal right to disengage, disassociate, and detach. Use your God-given backbone when dealing with toxic friends, co-workers, family members or in-laws etc, with the understanding that detachment is not a sign that you don’t care but that you are doing what is necessary to preserve your personal health and happiness.
Surround yourself with positive influences, people who genuinely care about you and are supportive of you. These loved ones are a great defense and support group against the negativity of all kinds of toxic relationships or toxic family members, allowing you to choose for yourself to no longer be a victim of their malicious and abusive behaviors. [I'm always glad that my parents is very supportive of what I do in my life and not contorl my every moves.]
Are you dealing with problems and conflicts of being in a toxic relationship? Do you struggle with how to respond and react to ridicule and criticism from toxic family members? Share your personal story or even ask a question by leaving a comment below.
What Is Testosterone & What Is Low T?
Testosterone is an important hormone made by the body. In an adult male it helps maintain:
- Sex drive and sexual function
- Muscle mass and strength
- Mood and energy levels
- Bone strength
Normal Levels of Testosterone
In healthy men, there is a range for testosterone levels (also known as T levels) that is considered normal. The brain and the testes work together to keep testosterone in this range. When levels of testosterone are below normal, the brain signals the testes to make more. When there is enough testosterone, the brain signals the testes to make less.
Normal levels of testosterone are based upon age. Shown here are those amounts.
Age -- Normal Testosterone levels*
25 to 34 years old -- 446 to 786 ng/dL
35 to 44 years old -- 445 to 879 ng/dL
45 to 54 years old -- 394 to 818 ng/dL
55 to 64 years old -- 366 to 756 ng/dL
65 to 74 years old -- 327 to 721 ng/dL
*Normal T levels are based on age (noted in chart). T levels are measured in units called nanograms (ng) per deciliter (dL). Your doctor may look for a reading that is normal for your age. Typically, a man's T level is considered low if it is below 300 ng/dL.
If your T level is below 300 ng/dL and you have at least one symptom of Low T, you may have a medical condition called Low T, which should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
What Is Low T?
Typically, a man's testosterone level is considered low if it's below 300 ng/dL. Low T can be caused by a signaling problem that occurs between the brain and the testes that causes the production of testosterone to drop below normal. Low T also can occur when your body can't make normal levels of testosterone. Low T is a medical condition that can lead to fatigue or low energy, decreased sexual function, and depressed mood.
Low T affects more than 13 million men in the U.S. ages 45 and older. Even though it's natural for men to lose testosterone as they age, the medical condition hypogonadism (hī pō gō na dizm), also known as Low T, is not a natural part of aging. Common symptoms include lack of sex drive, low energy and decreased sense of well-being. There is typically no cure for Low T. It is a medical condition that requires ongoing treatment.
The good news is, it can be easily diagnosed by your doctor with a simple blood test and treated with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to raise your T levels back to normal.
Signs and symptoms of Low T may be clear and easy to recognize. But at first look, you may not think they point to Low T.
Take a look at the symptoms below to see if any seem familiar to you. You may be surprised how easily they can be overlooked.
Signs and symptoms of Low T may include:
* Fatigue or loss of energy
* Low sex drive (reduced desire to be intimate)
* Sexual dysfunction (weak erections, failure to get erections)
* Depressed mood
* Decreased sense of well-being
* Increased body fat
* Loss of muscle mass
* Decreased bone strength
These symptoms may be a sign of Low T or other health conditions and should not be ignored. Low T can be diagnosed by your doctor with a simple blood test.
Normally, a man's testosterone level is considered low if it's below 300 ng/dL. It's important to keep your testosterone at a normal level for your age.
How to Treat Low Testosterone Naturally
Low testosterone levels can cause a variety of male health problems, including depression, low libido, fatigue and unsightly weight gain. While many men try to increase testosterone through costly testosterone injections and other androgen supplements, few realize that their homone imbalance can be restored naturally. If you suffer from low testosterone levels, here are some effective ways you can increase your levels.
Instructions:
Step1 - Getting more zinc in your diet is one way to boost low testosterone levels. Zinc is one of the key components in the chemical makeup of this male hormone. Foods naturally high in zinc include read meats, eggs, and dairy. You can also get more zinc by taking a multi vitamin.
Step2 - Ginseng and saw palmetto are two herbs that have been used for centuries to enhance male function. Ginseng and saw palmetto are inexpensive yet effective in treating low testosterone.
Step3 - Researchers have found that men who eat monounsaturated fats, such as those found in nuts and olive oil, had naturally higher levels of testosterone. Mono unsaturated fats are also heart healthy.
Step4 - Besides adding testosterone boosters to your diet, there are also physical fitness methods to increase testosterone and restore male hormone imbalance. One activity is to exercise with weights. Weight lifting and strength training will increase low testosterone levels over time.
Step5 - Getting enough sleep and having sex will also stimulate your body's natural production of testosterone.
Step6 - Eliminating excess body fat also helps improve the testosterone balance. When a person carries too much body fat, it stimulates the production of estrogen, which effectively "cancels out" the effects of testosterone.
Step7 - Lastly, cutting back on alcohol and smoking is also known to have a positive impact on the levels of testosterone. If your body has to spend a lot of energy cleaning out toxins, there are fewer resources to devote to testosterone production.
Step8 - Before you shell out money for expensive creams and injections, try some of these techniques to boost your t levels naturally. Although creams and injections are very effective, hormone balance can be restored for far less money.
Dr. Fisch concludes, “Men who maintain their health can have the desire for sex until the day they die.”
I'm baaacccckkk!!! :) First of all, thank you Lord for the safe journey home. Amen. 
