4 – Put your home game plan together. Just because it’s holidays doesn’t mean you have to eat as if you’re at a party entire season! In fact, because you will be socializing more at this time, this is even a better reason to eat as well as possible when home. ·Always plan ahead when going to a party or event that evening. This could include eating fewer calories throughout day or cutting down on fat. ·Avoid making desserts just for family. There will be plenty to sample at events. ·Choose extra fruits and vegetables. This would be a perfect time to strive for 5 per day. Make a pact to eat healthier at home during this period than ‘usual’. It may even rub off to create habits that last past holidays! ·If you receive a lot of candy, cookies or alcohol as gifts, give them to others as gifts, or bring them to work to share with others.

5 – Determine your exercise plan of action. Many people strive all year to get a regular exercise program going, only to let it slide over holidays. Then, once New Year comes, they again struggle to re-start a regular program. The best way to avoid this from happening year after year is to plan ahead for such things. ·Hire a personal trainer. Whether you find someone to come to your home or meet him/her at gym, this could help keep you on track during holiday season. Just that motivation alone might keep you going! ·If you have a stationary bike, elliptical trainer or treadmill at home, put it in front of TV so you can watch either news or your favorite show. Another option is to get a book on tape or audio files of seminars to listen to while working out. Because life is so busy during this time, you will be able to accomplish two things at once; exercise and enjoy some entertainment. ·While doing chores at home, put some music on and build up a sweat dancing.

The holidays are a great time to enjoy friends and family. Many holiday events are centered around food and eating, and we are so busy that often our exercise routines fly out window. Use these strategies to plan your course of action for holidays. This could be a great time of year to find help, such as a personal trainer, a Registered Dietitian or perhaps a life coach to help you stay focused and in control.

The stress factors that acupuncture addresses stems from both psycho-emotional factors as well as physical etiologies. For example, extremely painful pre-menstruum or mid cycle pain can be debilitating. This type of physical stress, no doubt produces emotional stress as a result of missed work, manifest pain and other life-style factors resulting from such extreme pain; all can mitigate function of reproductive system.

Aceto corticotropic hormone is released as a response to acupuncture needle stimuli. ACTH has an antiinflammatory mechanism which may for example, help with tubal factor based infertility as a response to pelvic inflammatory disease.

The insertion of acupuncture needles has been shown to effectively increase blood circulation. Acupuncture is very effective in treating, for example, Reynaud's Syndrome. Enhanced microcirculatory patency to uterine lining does, undoubtedly contribute to a healthier and more growth oriented endometrium, especially when utilizing electrical stimulation on inserted acupuncture needles on points known as zigongxue which reside superior to ovaries. The points zigongxue are located 3 inches inferior to umbilicus and three inches bilateral to anterior midline.

"They reviewed existing evidence regarding role of acupuncture in treatment of infertility, and identified a number of studies indicating that acupuncture can be beneficial as an adjunct to other infertility treatments, including IVF. Only one randomized controlled study examined independent effect of acupuncture on IVF outcomes, but this indicated a positive effect.

The reviewed authors also highlight evidence that shows effects of acupuncture may be mediated through neuropeptides that influence gonadotropin secretion, which could in turn affect menstrual cycle. The technique can also reduce stress, which is known to adversely affect fertility, and has been implicated in regulation of uterine blood flow."

"Using acupuncture during assisted reproduction may improve pregnancy rates, say researchers. However, they acknowledge that mechanism behind this effect is unclear, and team plans to carry out further studies to confirm, and further investigate, their findings.

Noting that acupuncture has been shown to affect autonomic nervous system, Dr. Wolfgang Paulus (Christian-Lauritzen-Institut, Ulm, Germany) and colleagues postulated that therapy could increase endometrial receptivity via control of related muscles and glands.

The researchers randomly assigned 160 women receiving assisted reproductive therapy to undergo IVF with or without acupuncture, before and after embryo transfer. In acupuncture subjects, needles were placed at points believed to influence reproductive factors, for example by improving blood flow to uterus.

Paulus et al report that acupuncture group had a higher rate of pregnancy compared with those not given acupuncture (43 percent versus 26 percent). They conclude, therefore, that acupuncture could be "a useful tool" for improving pregnancy rates during certain infertility treatments."

In Part III we will look at combined elements of Eastern and Western medicine along with herbal medication in treatment of infertility.