Why You Should Avoid OTC Painkillers Around Ovulation What Happens During Ovulation? Ovulation is the process of releasing ovarian cells and an egg from the ovaries through a rather complicated sequence of events which is initially triggered by the release of hormones. Hormones allow for your brain to communicate with the rest of your body and therefore prompt each step in the process crucial to reproduction. Hormones let your body know when it’s time to ovulate and allow the release of an egg from a woman’s ovaries, which then becomes susceptible to fertilization by sperm. If fertilization is successful, estrogen helps the uterine lining to thicken and expand, increasing blood flow to the uterus and allowing for the proper collection of the zygote (fertilized egg). Prior to fertilization, your body attempts to send you signals to warn you that your body is about to experience ovulation, similar to the light that comes on in a car, signaling that it is time for an oil change. Unfortunately the body’s warning signs aren’t quite as mild. A prevalent phenomena that women experience prior to ovulation is a twinge of pain in the lower abdomen, which is commonly referred to as mittelschmerz (German for “middle pain”), which informs your body that it is ready to for fertilization and can successfully receive sperm. This discomfort is often mistaken for everyday pains, which leads women to seek relief in the form of painkillers. How Do Painkillers Work? Painkillers work as two different types: narcotics and aspirin drugs. Narcotic and opioid drugs interrupt the messages that are sent from your nerve endings to your brain and then work within the brain to numb the perception and sensation of pain. On the other hand, aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) actually works to kill the pain. These workhorse drugs seek out the source of the pain and suppress it. When cells are damaged, they produce an enzyme which creates prostaglandins that send pain signals to the brain and often trigger blood clotting. Upon taking aspirin medication, it diffuses into the bloodstream via the stomach. This transportation system allows the drug to find the damage site and halt the production of prostaglandins, resulting in a reduction of both pain and inflammation. What Does This Mean For My Fertility? Because prostaglandins play a key role in follicle maturation and contraction of the uterus, NSAID pain relievers can severely alter the process of ovulation and restrict the expansion of uterine lining. If the lining is not able to properly thicken, the ability of fertilized eggs to implant themselves into the uterus is significantly hindered, resulting in temporary sterility. What Are Safe Alternatives? Acupuncture Yoga Massage Exercise Resveratrol rich foods (red grapes, cranberries, blueberries) Heat therapy Call Today For An Appointment: (561) 459-0528
Why You Should Avoid OTC Painkillers Around Ovulation
Why You Should Avoid OTC Painkillers Around Ovulation What Happens During Ovulation? Ovulation is the process of releasing ovarian cells and an egg from the ovaries through a rather complicated sequence of events which is initially triggered by the release of hormones. Hormones allow for your brain to communicate with the rest of your body and therefore prompt each step in the process crucial to reproduction. Hormones let your body know when it’s time to ovulate and allow the release of an egg from a woman’s ovaries, which then becomes susceptible to fertilization by sperm. If fertilization is successful, estrogen helps the uterine lining to thicken and expand, increasing blood flow to the uterus and allowing for the proper collection of the zygote (fertilized egg). Prior to fertilization, your body attempts to send you signals to warn you that your body is about to experience ovulation, similar to the light that comes on in a car, signaling that it is time for an oil change. Unfortunately the body’s warning signs aren’t quite as mild. A prevalent phenomena that women experience prior to ovulation is a twinge of pain in the lower abdomen, which is commonly referred to as mittelschmerz (German for “middle pain”), which informs your body that it is ready to for fertilization and can successfully receive sperm. This discomfort is often mistaken for everyday pains, which leads women to seek relief in the form of painkillers. How Do Painkillers Work? Painkillers work as two different types: narcotics and aspirin drugs. Narcotic and opioid drugs interrupt the messages that are sent from your nerve endings to your brain and then work within the brain to numb the perception and sensation of pain. On the other hand, aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) actually works to kill the pain. These workhorse drugs seek out the source of the pain and suppress it. When cells are damaged, they produce an enzyme which creates prostaglandins that send pain signals to the brain and often trigger blood clotting. Upon taking aspirin medication, it diffuses into the bloodstream via the stomach. This transportation system allows the drug to find the damage site and halt the production of prostaglandins, resulting in a reduction of both pain and inflammation. What Does This Mean For My Fertility? Because prostaglandins play a key role in follicle maturation and contraction of the uterus, NSAID pain relievers can severely alter the process of ovulation and restrict the expansion of uterine lining. If the lining is not able to properly thicken, the ability of fertilized eggs to implant themselves into the uterus is significantly hindered, resulting in temporary sterility. What Are Safe Alternatives? Acupuncture Yoga Massage Exercise Resveratrol rich foods (red grapes, cranberries, blueberries) Heat therapy Call Today For An Appointment: (561) 459-0528