In Africa, children are the fabric of any society, without which no meaningful social and economic progress is considered worthwhile. The inability to have children can lead to distress, depression as well as discrimination.

What is Infertility?

Infertility is a condition characterized by the failure to establish a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse or due to impairment of a person’s capacity to reproduce, either as an individual or with his/her partner. In other words, it is when a couple is unable to achieve pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.

How common is infertility?

The number of couples facing infertility challenges is on the increase. A WHO (April 1991) report reveals that about 50 to 80 million couples are affected worldwide, while in Nigeria at least 25% of married couples face this challenge. Subsequent research by the WHO (December 2012) further collaborates this assertion as the prevalence of the condition has remained similar in estimated levels and trends from 1990 to 2010.

Female fertility

Female fertility is a woman’s ability to conceive and give birth to a biological child. A couple’s fertility will be questioned if both partners cannot achieve pregnancy after consistent unprotected sex for at least one year. For couples above 35years of age, failure to achieve pregnancy within 6month of consistent unprotected sex can be a serious concern.

Common Signs of Infertility in Women.

A woman with any of the following symptoms may not have to wait for 1 year before going to see a doctor.

1. Irregular menstrual periods

The average woman’s menstrual cycle is 28 days long but anything within a few days of that can be considered normal if the cycle is consistent. A woman whose menstrual cycles vary so greatly that she cannot even begin to estimate when her next period might arrive is experiencing irregular periods. This can be related to hormonal issues, or to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Both can contribute to infertility.

2. Painful or heavy menstrual periods

Most women experience cramps with their menstrual periods. But painful periods that interfere with daily life may be a symptom of endometriosis.

3. Absence of menstrual periods

It is common for women to have an “off month” occasionally. Factors like stress or heavy workouts (exercise) can cause a woman’s menstrual period to temporarily disappear. But if she fails to see her period in months, it is time for her to get her fertility checked by a gynaecologist.

4. Symptoms of hormonal fluctuations

Signs of hormonal fluctuations in women could indicate potential issues with fertility. Any woman who experiences the following issues should talk to her doctor:

• skin issues (e.g. acne, hair loss)
• reduced sex drive
• facial hair growth
• thinning of hair
• weight gain

5. Pain during sex

Some women have experienced painful sex their entire lives, so they are convinced within themselves that it is normal. Pain during sex is NOT normal. It could be related to hormonal issues, endometriosis, or other underlying conditions that could also be contributing to infertility.

For pregnancy to occur, every step of the human reproduction process must happen correctly. The steps in this process are:

• One of the two ovaries releases a mature egg.
• The egg is picked up by the fallopian tube.
• Sperm swim up the cervix, through the uterus and into the fallopian tube to reach the egg for fertilization.
• The fertilized egg travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus.
• The fertilized egg implants (attaches to) and grows in the uterus.

Causes of infertility in women

In women, several factors can disrupt this process at any step. Female infertility is caused by one or more of the factors below.

• Ovulation disorders, which affect the release of eggs from the ovaries. These include hormonal disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperprolactinemia and thyroid problems (hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism).
• Uterine or cervical abnormalities, such as polyps or fibroids in the uterus.
• Fallopian tube damage or blockage, which is often caused by pelvic inflammatory disease.
• Endometriosis, which occurs when tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside the uterus.
• Primary ovarian insufficiency (early menopause), which occurs when the ovaries stop working and menstruation ends before age 40.
• Pelvic adhesions — bands of scar tissue that bind organs after pelvic infection, appendicitis, or abdominal/pelvic surgery.
• Medical conditions associated with the absence of menstruation, such as poorly controlled diabetes, celiac disease, and some autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus.

Treatment

Nutritional supplement and herbal supplements have been in used in the treatment of gynaecological disorders since time immemorial. Medicinal plants like Saraca indica, Symplocos racemosa, Mesua ferrea, Nardostachys jatamansi are highly effective and safe treatment options.

M2–Tone (tablets and syrup) is a comprehensive supplement for menstrual health and comfort.

M2-Tone offers a broad approach to women’s health by supporting proper hormone utilization and balance.

By World Health Organization standard, one of the possible causes of unexplained female infertility is unhealthy endometrium. M2 Tone improves endometrial health and assists in unexplained female infertility through:

• Increase in endometrial thickness
• Improves endometrial blood flow
• Enhances uterine receptivity and implantation

The pro-estrogenic (Phytoestrogens) property of M2-Tone assists women to combat physical and emotional discomfort during menstruation. M2-Tone offers a broad approach to women’s health by supporting stress-free menstrual cycles by maintaining adequate levels of female hormones in the body.

M2-Tone (tablets and syrup) is a comprehensive formulation for menstrual disorders. It restores the rhythm in a woman’s life. It normalizes heavy/scanty menstrual bleeding and reduces painful bleeding. The value propositions of M2-Tone (tablets and syrup) are:

• Restoration of a woman’s emotional balance
• Relief of emotional stress
• Improvement of a woman’s endocrine function
• Restoration of hormonal balance
• Relief of pain
• Relief of anxiety

Dosage

15mls to be taken twice daily or 2 tabs to be taken twice daily, for 3 menstrual cycles.