FERTILITY

Irregular cycles, hormonal imbalances, insulin resistance, and fertility challenges are just a few of the daily struggles of PCOS. Fortunately, there’s a science-backed supplement with 13 clinical trials; a supplement that can help you reclaim your health: We’re talking about Sinopol®.

It contains three key ingredients that are designed to target the symptoms of PCOS and support metabolic and reproductive wellness. Each sachet or tablet contains a blend of Myo-Inositol, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and Folic Acid, ingredients clinically shown to improve insulin sensitivity, regulate menstrual cycles, and boost fertility outcomes.

What sets Sinopol® apart from other supplements is its patented fast-slow technology which ensures sustained absorption and 24-hour support. Whether you’re trying to conceive, manage weight, or simply feel more balanced, Sinopol® offers a way to support your journey.

Women using Sinopol® have reported*:

• Improved cycle regularity: From 2 to 5 cycles in 6 months.

• Reduced insulin resistance:
  66,7 % reduction in post­meno­pausal women and 35 % reduction in adolescent girls.

• Reduction of unwanted hair growth: 16,4 % reduction in hirsutism.

• Better outcomes with fertility treatments: 44 % increase in pregnancy success in women  undergoing IVF.

• And the best part? You don’t need a prescription for it, and thanks to the NAPPI code you can potentially claim it from your medical aid.

Sinopol® is available over the counter nationwide, at Dis-Chem, Clicks and independent pharmacies.

The sachets taste pretty good, but if that’s too fussy for you, you can take it in tablet form. Both are equally effective. 

Take control of your PCOS. Choose Sinopol®, because every woman deserves to feel her best.

STEP #1

TALK TO YOUR PARTNER

Couples should decide together that the time is right. Talk about things like affordability, timing and the age gap between your children, childcare and work options. If this is your first baby, you can also talk about parenting style and possible support systems.

You can also both consult a doctor and tell them about your plan, so that any potential problems can be detected and treated early. This can prevent unnecessary stress and disappointment.

Dr Mokgohloe Phasha, an obstetrician-gynaecologist practising at Netcare Park Lane Hospital in Johannesburg, says that a pre-conception visit “offers the chance for women to enter pregnancy as their healthiest self, and lay the optimal foundation for their future baby. Although pre-conception appointments have an important role in ensuring a healthy pregnancy, sadly, few people fully appreciate the value this holds both for mother and baby and for managing potential risks before falling pregnant,” she says.

STEP #2

FOCUS ON HEALTH

Your fertility depends on your age, health, emotions, menstrual cycle and the type of contraception you use, and how long you have been using it. Young women tend to get pregnant easily because their eggs are younger and because the cervix remains open longer during ovulation (the fertile days of the cycle).

Women who are overweight can have a hormone imbalance because oestrogen is stored in fat cells and because their insulin regulation can be messed up.

It’s also not good to be too thin. Underweight women can stop ovulating.

So the sooner you and your partner start eating right, the better. You also feel better when you eat healthily. Include a wide variety of nutritious foods, and eat from all the food groups. Eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and dairy every day will help ensure that you get your daily recommended amount of vitamins and minerals needed for optimal fertility. It’s also a good idea to start taking a special pregnancy supplement now.

The benefits of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy are well known, but often women only realise they are pregnant after their first trimester, missing a golden window of opportunity to prevent neural tube defects. “This inexpensive intervention has proven to significantly reduce the risk of spina bifida, which can lead to paralysis of the baby’s legs. The mom-to-be’s folic acid requirements are met ahead of conception,” Dr Phasha advises.

Women who are under unusually high stress can also temporarily stop ovulating or ovulate at longer intervals, which means there is less opportunity to conceive a baby. A messy menstrual cycle makes things difficult and frustrating and also takes the fun out of sex.

STEP #3

UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE

A woman’s fertility is related to a complex network of hormones that connect the pituitary gland in her brain to her ovaries, uterus, cervix and breasts. These organs have receptor cells that are sensitive to the amount of hormones in the blood. The concentration varies daily, depending on whether you are fertile or infertile, pregnant, breastfeeding or in your menopause.

Men are fertile all the time, but a woman is only fertile for five days in her menstrual cycle. Measure your cycle from the first day of your period to the first day of your next period. During this time, there is a 24-hour window period in which you can get pregnant.

Usually, a woman is in her fertile phase in the middle of her cycle – when she ovulates. This is when an egg is prepared for fertilisation, the ovary releases it, and it slides down the Fallopian tube. Fertilisation (when the egg and sperm meet) must occur within 24 hours. The key to conception is knowing when this 24-hour period has arrived. To conceive a baby, a couple must have sex when the woman’s body is receptive to the sperm. This happens during ovulation when the vagina becomes a sperm-friendly environment thanks to special mucus at the cervix. The slippery mucus is released into the vagina and helps the sperm swim. Once the sperm reaches the cervix, the mucus can keep it alive for five days while it waits for the egg.

Men should be able to produce a teaspoon of semen that contains between 300 and 500 million sperm. Most of the sperm gets lost in the vagina during sex, and less than a third eventually makes it to the cervix.

STEP #4

MAKE A BABY

Yes, you need to get busy between the sheets, but improve your chances of conception with the following knowledge.

1. Avoid sex during your period.

2. For the four days after your period, you can have sex every other night. Although sperm cannot pass through the cervix at this stage, regular sex can ensure a constant fresh supply of sperm.

3. When your ovaries become active, your cervix will first secrete sticky mucus. Avoid sex during this time for a few days, as this will help increase sperm count.

4. When your vaginal mucus becomes as smooth as raw egg white, and your genitals feel slightly swollen and sensitive, it’s time to have as much sex as you want. Sperm can survive in your body for up to six days, but an egg only lives for 12 to 24 hours. That’s why sex before, during and after ovulation is recommended, as it increases the chance that sperm and egg will meet.

5. After the ovulation period, you can of course remain sexually active, but the window period for conception is over for now.

6. Wait until your period is a week late before taking a pregnancy test. If fertilisation has occurred, it takes the egg 10 days to travel to the uterus. During this time, the cell mass increases (it is called a blastocyst) and the cells that will become the placenta already exist. The cells attach to the lining of the uterus. The lining is what is usually shed and excreted during menstruation. You will produce the hormone hCG, which is excreted in your urine, and this is what makes a pregnancy test positive.