The life cycle of sperm is approximately 72 days for a male to produce mature sperm. While a fever today won’t likely hurt the mature sperm next in line for ejaculation, it is highly probable that you will see changes in sperm analysis 90 days from the fever, as those sperm where exposed to higher than normal temperatures at a crucial time in development.

Studies have shown a delay from 3 to 11 years between the onset of symptoms and the final diagnosis of endometriosis, with an average of 9.28 years before receiving a proper diagnosis![1] A key contributor to this delay are not only those mentioned above, but the fact that symptoms of endometriosis overlap with other conditions leading to misdiagnosis. Women with endometriosis are 3.5 times more likely to receive a diagnosis of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Women are also 6x more likely to have diagnosed with PID (pelvic inflammatory disease).

How soon should I come in for treatment?

The sooner the better. This doesn’t mean we can’t help you if you are late in your journey. We’ve seen it all from, “I’m trying to decide if I want to have a baby,” all the way to, "I’m having an IVF procedure in two weeks and I heard acupuncture can help.” After 10 years of doing this, my personal preference is to come 3 months prior to IVF if possible and as soon as you have made the decision to start trying to conceive. 

With natural conception the sooner we can regulate a menstrual cycle, educate and correct any timing issues, do diagnostic tests, and introduce the concept of becoming more Yin in order to receive life, the sooner we usually have success.  

With IVF we want to build the foundation to its peak level BEFORE going into a cycle. This is even more important when you consider the fact you will potentially harvesting eggs that will ultimately turn into more than one child. The length of follicular genesis of an egg ready to ovulate from the germ cell that it originated from deep within the ovary is 90-120 days. By treating the woman during this portion of the growth you can potentially have an outcome on its genetic expression that is positive while circulating as much nourishing blood to the ovaries and regulating the cycle to create an optimum uterine lining. 

It has been said that your birth story dictates how you will parent. It is the essentially the fractal that plants the seed for how you will FEEL about mothering. At first blush it can seem like an overwhelming concept, but if you think about it in generalities it’s simplicity shines through. For most of us, our thoughts dictate our feelings which dictate our actions and actions give rise to our results or circumstance. 

Acupressure for starting labor.

Metta Loving Kindness Meditation to lift your spirits.

Vaginal Steaming For Fertility

The more energy you have, the easier it is to conceive.

I'd always been fascinated by the limits of the human body. I was about to find out that pregnancy and birth provided a far greater teaching of the body's extraordinary capabilities than mere athletics ever would. 

Most of us think that we can't possibly or we don't deserve to excel in all areas of our life. We believe that if everything is great, the only thing left is for us to crash and burn. Even more of us sub-consciously believe that by limiting our selves in one area we are protecting ourselves from the reality of failure in an area we don't want to fail in.

What will you create this year?

Pregnancy is something that is received, never achieved. 

Preserving your fertility starts here.

Alright ladies, here are some acupressure points you can use to induce labor naturally or help a stalled labor get back on track. To be clear, please don't start these until your are full term. Also, because we are using pressure instead of needles (acupuncture), it's going to take some effort on your part. What do I mean by this, I mean you or your partner are going to have to do them every hour or so and sometimes for days to really get things rolling. So, don't try it once and decide it didn't work. Make a decision and keep at it.

Herbs that address the root cause of your painful periods can help to make your time of the month barely noticeable and less like a trip to yet another dreaded star wars movie. The best part is, because they work on the root cause typically you only have to take them for 3-6 cycles before they have a lasting effect.

What do you do when your purpose is growing and shifting? How do you move forward?

Dive into change in my guest post "Everything changes, even your dharma!" featured on my teacher davidji's website. Read on to learn about that sweet spot, known as the intersection between the impulse to change and the knowledge of the path. 

Ashley: What do you think people will get out of combining these two great traditions? 

Hillary: I think they will understand the vast importance of SILENCE. Getting quiet and turning inward is something that is so undervalued in our society and even looked upon as somewhat selfish by some. I think this experience will help people to experience a profound shift within themselves. I hope it will help them to see how yummy silence can be, even for small periods of time.

If life stopped today...what would your legacy be?