by Michelle Anama Abari | Apr 27, 2022 | Health & Wellness
Knowing your body posture and how to increase body posture in general is very essential for the human body. Posture is the position in which you hold your body while standing, sitting or lying down.
A good body posture involves training your body to stand walk, sit and lie so as to place the least strain on muscles and ligaments while you are moving or performing weight-bearing activities.
Knowing how to increase body posture is very important for your long-term health. Here are some ways on knowing how to increase your body posture…
5 Ways to Improve Body Posture
Before I dive deep into ways on how to increase body posture, it should be cleared that there are 2 main types of body posture
- Dynamic posture: This is associated with postures like walking, running, or bending to pick something.
- Static posture: This is associated with postures like sitting standing and sleeping.
Now that the knowledge on categories of posture has been cleared, you can now get to understand ways on how to improve body posture. Some ways include…
1. Participate in Yoga
This point has helped me a great deal in my posture, if I do say so myself.
Yoga helps an individual’s bones and muscles get flexible, not only does it do this, but it also increases the circulation of blood and gives an individual peace of mind. Just reading these benefits, it is obvious that yoga is a yes when it comes to having a good posture.
Yoga can be beneficial to the body posture because all its poses are centered on building core strength which helps in spinal alignment. These core strengths are used to help maintain muscles and bones which help support the body. Yoga is really good for the body and it helps improve the body posture of an individual and also helps the individual on how to increase body posture for his or her body.
2. Exercise Regularly
Exercise to most is stress. As a matter of fact it is, but did you know that it helps with good body posture?
Exercising has been proven to improve body posture of any individual. You do not need to do a straneous exercise to get fit and have the right posture, all you need is to get comfy in a workout attire and get right into working out. Working out does not necessarily have to be at the gym, you can workout from home.
Exercises strengthen your core and buttock muscles, and back extensions, will help correct a slouching posture, for instance. The bottom line is that exercises help you to improve your body posture and flex your muscles.
3. Eating Healthy of Foods
Most if not all of us love food, but did you know that you can eat what you love moderately and not slouch while doing so? Yes, you definitely can.
You should know that when you gain more weight than your muscles and bones can carry, you begin to affect the flexibility of your spine, the strength of your joints, and your posture. Fresh vegetables and fruits tend to have a very low energy density, meaning they contain very little calories per every gram you consume of them. Adding these vegetables to your diet can help you avoid gaining weight that can lead to health problems.
Changing what you eat for weight loss will surely improve your body posture and also help you in ways on how to increase body posture because less but nutritious meals will lead to large stomach which most times lead to slouching which in turn makes you tired on time.
4. Good Self-Confidence
You may ask how self-confidence relates to body posture, well it actually does relate. Have you ever stopped to observe people with charisma walking? How they carry their heads high and keep their shoulders broad whenever they walk or stand? Or how they walk into a room and everyone’s eyes are on them irrespective of their height? Yeah, that’s the power of self-confidence.
Richard Petty, co-author of the study and professor of psychology at Ohio State University said:
“Most of us were taught that sitting up straight gives a good impression to other people. But it turns out that our posture can also affect how we think about ourselves. If you sit up straight, you end up convincing yourself by the posture you are in.
Self-confidence gives you a high morale and happiness about yourself that it controls the way you walk, talk, sleep, sit or even stand, it really has a lot to do with posture. Take for instance, most people who slouch, they are usually the go-with-the-crowd people; they don’t like talking much because they do not want to attract attention to themselves. These type of people find it tedious to acknowledge the fact that self-confidence helps improve your body posture.”
5. Try Weightlifting
Don’t think weightlifting is for those heavy duties you see in the gym that all those big men lift in the gym. There are different equipment for weightlifting which range in sizes and all.
There are some that are 1-40kg; it all depends on what works for you. Weightlifting has a very huge effect on your spine and arms. The spine has a natural curve and so, the weightlifting helps to keep that curve in shape and not to allow it curve the more by slouching or straighten too much as a result of too much pressure on weightlifting. That is why it is advised to have a dumbbell that is efficient for you, it can be 1, 2, 3, 4, or even 40kg dumbbell you have, it all depends on your body weight and body capabilities.
Weightlifting in its light has a lot of benefits, and improving your body posture is sure one of them.
Now that we are familiar with bad postures and ways of tackling these postures lets go to…
Correct Body Postures
The correct postures do not need much, to take to be correct, all you need to do is…
- Keep your back straight at all times.
- Always raise your neck higher than your shoulders.
- Don’t slouch.
- Keep your shoulders firm and leveled.
- When sitting, keep your legs closed and back up and straight.
Now that you know the correct body postures, it’s also relevant to know exercises for these body posture and some of them include…
- Sit ups
- Jumping Jack’s
- Child’s pose
- Plank
- Crunches
- Press ups
- Jogging
Does posture corrector really work?
Conclusion
Having a good posture entails a lot of things and learning to motivate yourself to workout is also a good way to good posture.
When you have good posture, you fall in love with your body more and you look healthy. Knowing how to improve your body posture is a necessity and should be treated as such.
FAQs
What is responsible for body posture?
Several muscles including the large back muscles and the hamstrings are critically responsible for body posture, especially good posture.
What happens if your body posture is not correct?
You will be exposed to back pain, spinal dysfunction, joint degeneration, rounded shoulders and pot belly.
What causes bad posture?
Bad posture can come about as a result of illness, injury, genetics, lack of exercise, eating too much, day to day effects of gravity on the body.
How can I maintain a good posture?
You can maintain a good posture by standing up straight, keeping your shoulders back, put your belly in and also put your weight mostly on the balls of your feet.
Why is it important to have a good posture?
Proper posture improves spine health, and you should know that the spine is one of the most important organ In the body. Without the spine you can’t walk, talk and even sleep well. Sitting and standing with proper alignment improves blood flow, helps keep your nerves and blood vessels healthy, and supports your muscles, ligaments and tendons.
by Johnson Temiloluwa | Apr 19, 2022 | Business & Finance
Do you smell fish? It’s probably just your nose, it’s not me (or my article either). Does the title seem scam-ish? I get it, it does but it’s true. However, there are legit ways to get paid to search the internet, all you have to do is just keep reading this article. Note! This is not to say there are no scam zones, of course, there are. Be watchful of that.
We surf the internet every day, it’s only fair to want to make money out of it.
Without further ado, let’s jump right in, I’ll be sharing with you in this article how to get paid to search the internet. There are different ways to make money by just searching the web, this is why I have categorized it into three easy-to-understand ways.
Let’s go!
Evaluators for Search Engines
Google, Bing, Safari, etc. are examples of search engines. Now you have an idea? No? Okay.
Evaluators for search engines evaluate and grade the search results that appear when a user types in a specific phrase. They rate how useful the top search results are, if the map is right, or if the search results are what you were looking for, depending on the assignment. In essence, they do research by using these search engines, measure if these engines provide exact or near useful search results(as regards how relevant the answer to the search was, the accuracy and how long it took to get a reply), then they give their feedback.
As easy as it sounds, the recruitment process is technical and they usually want someone with a degree of some sort.
If you are excellent at doing research and are currently in a culture stance, you can be an evaluator for search engines too, here are companies that will pay you for your services.
1. Lionbridge
This company is global and has been providing its service for more than 20years, it is legit. There are other roles you can take when you work with this company, translator and content writer are examples.
2. Flexjobs
Check everything they are about and how to apply for their job openings. It’s a company that offers opportunities for people to work from home, and surf the net.
3. Appen
Saved the best for the last. Appen is a notable website in this regard. They call their evaluators – raters. Sounds comfortable, huh? Check them out here
Earnings of being an evaluator (or rater): $15-$17 per hour depending on the website.
Using Smaller Search Engines
Everyone loves Google. At least I’m sure of myself, I love Google. It’s the first thing I check when I don’t know the meaning of a word or a phrase, anything at all. There are other search engines, you know?
These other search engines don’t have enough traffic and can’t compare themselves to the number one leading search engine in the world. Hence, they created a scheme and incentive for people who use them.
It’s a way of motivating you to try them out also. Almost whispering, “Pick me! Pick me! You know you need that money”
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the apps where you can make money. They have a website, that’s why it is in this article too. The moment you sign in to the website, there’s a $10 incentive waiting for you. And for each time you use this search engine, you get points. This point is called the “Search Win”. Over time, this point is accrued to cash and they make the money rain.
How does the money get to you? Through PayPal or gift cards.
2. FusionCash
This is another search engine that pays you to search online using their website. It’s easy to navigate and quite reliable too.
How does the money get to you? PayPal, direct deposit, or gift card.
3. InboxDollars
This is a popular site where you can get paid to search the internet. The user experience on the app is quite easy. Here’s how it works: for every four searches you make, you get rewarded with one cent. There are also other ways to get paid on the website, they include; opting to read emails, replying to surveys, and engaging in the site’s offers.
How does the money get to you? PayPal, direct paper check, or gift card.
4. Microsoft Rewards
This is a search engine owned by Microsoft. The reward for each search is 5 points.
How does the money get to you? It doesn’t get to you in cash, only gift cards.
Giving Your Data Out
Some companies share surveys in order to collect your data and turn them into information, they use this info for market advertising and research.
In essence, you don’t give your personal details out. All you have to do is get paid for searching the internet by inputting your email address and engaging with the posts on their web or apps. Basically, think of it as your phone’s ability to do searches and the app is saving the places you’ve searched. Do you get it?
Here are apps that collect your data in that way;
1. HoneyGain
For iPhone users, this is your app if you want to get paid for surfing the net. They don’t have an android version yet. However, it’s not so profitable as you only get paid $1 for each 10gigabyte worth of data.
If you still want to check them out, do that here.
How do you get paid? Gift cards!
2. Nelson Computer and Mobile Panel
When this app collects your data, it serves as user experience testing. Over time, they use the information they have accrued to improve or change their online products/services. You get paid monthly. How? Gift cards!
You can download the app and start earning.
3. MobileXpression
The name of the app kind of explains what it does, I’ll tell you why. You can get paid by using this app when you install it and just leave it to run while you use your phone like you normally would.
It runs in the background and picks up on how you use your phone, and how the phone internet is harnessed. Hence, the “mobile ‘xpression”.
By the side, you can log on to the app and take surveys or engage in their special offers.
How do you get paid? Gift cards.
Conclusion
It’s the 21st century, there are many ways to earn money using our devices. Getting paid to search the internet is one of them. Find which works for you and start earning. For more ideas on what to do at home in order to earn, check how to be a freelancer in the comfort of your home.
Do you make money online? How?
Talk to me in the comment section below. Cheers!
FAQs
Is there any trick to making money online?
Nah, I don’t think so. All it takes is consistency. If you want to make it legit, that’s all it takes.
How much can I earn by making money online?
As much as you want to. Again, consistency takes time.
How much does a search engine evaluator earn yearly?
Good year, $60,000 to $80,000.
Can my earnings be paid directly to my account?
Yes, but not all websites do that. However, most of them pay through PayPal or gift cards.
Can I be scammed when making money online?
Yes, yes, and yes. You can. Be watchful. However, the list I made above is reliable to an extent. You should check ’em out.
by Precious Alex-Toji | Apr 11, 2022 | Personal Growth
Knowing how to handle criticisms better is a valuable skill necessary for thriving in the workplace and society at large. We are humans and imperfections are a part of our DNA. We do not have the chance to always be perfect at what we do, hence, those who can see our flaws have the right to criticize and call us to check.
However, if you do not know how to handle criticisms better, you would have issues relating to people around you. Particularly because it is easier for others to see our flaws and give correction and people find it difficult to take or even learn from correction.
Types of Criticisms
Criticisms are opinions, judgments, or values someone has on a person’s work, actions or thoughts. It can be a positive or negative opinion and is usually aimed at pointing out flaws.
There are two types of criticism and you can identify them by how they are delivered- Constructive criticism and destructive criticism.
Constructive criticism is a good type of criticism aimed at pointing out your flaws and showing you how to work on them. Receiving constructive criticism can help you improve better if you work on it.
Destructive criticism, on the other hand, is a type of criticism that has no aim of improving a person. It is done without carefulness or consideration of a person’s feelings. Although it may have some truth in it, it would be difficult to act on it because the criticism comes with so much anger and hurt.
The difference between these two types of criticism is in the delivery. When criticizing someone, do it with understanding. My mum would say, “Correct a person the way you’d love to be corrected”.
Knowing that criticisms can come with so many emotions, here are 7 tips on how to handle criticisms better.
7 Tips on How to Handle Criticisms Better
1. Control Your Emotions When Receiving Criticisms
You are much less likely to learn from your mistakes if you react angrily to every correction you receive. And trust me, you’d receive corrections every day.
The first tip on how to handle criticisms better, is by knowing how to control your emotions. It is natural to want to react when you are being criticized but this method does not prove effective. Instead, it stops you from learning.
The more emotional we are, the more defensive we become.
The best emotion to show is no emotion. When you know you are building a defensive wall around your actions, take a deep breath and pause. It is a simple but effective way to cool down that immediate reaction building up.
If you know you are not in the state of mind to respond appropriately, ask if the conversation can be had another time and give your reasons why politely.
2. Learn to Listen Attentively
Attentive listening involves paying attention to what is being said and giving your speaker nonverbal signs that you understand.
Receiving criticism can be very uncomfortable and our natural technique is to withdraw and act nonchalantly or even dismiss the correction.
Once I was cooking at home when my sister told me not to take a certain action until she told me to. I did not listen because, first, I am older than her and secondly, I had years of experience in cooking compared to her. Let’s just say, when I was done, I wished I had listened to her.
When you’re being criticized, learn to listen objectively. This means, paying attention to the corrections with an open mind without jumping to conclusions immediately. Listening to corrections gives you a view of your actions from another angle different from yours.
As Dale Carnegie said in his book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People”-
“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.”
Dale Carnegie
3. Focus on the Suggestions and Not the Tone
And we have come to the hard part of criticism – the delivery.
See, I need you to understand this – people are very different. How I would take or interpret your words or actions will be different from how another person would. Again, how your parents will correct you will be different from how your boss in the office would.
Do not think or expect everyone would criticize with a friendly tone.
Some people may have valuable suggestions that can help you improve but their tone and manner of approach may affect how you receive them. In situations like this, pay attention to the message, not the messenger.
Subsequently, you can approach the person and appreciate their feedback while politely letting them know how you felt about their manner of approach.
4. Avoid Taking Criticisms Personal
I don’t know if you’ve noticed but people hate to be corrected and when you correct them, they tend to take it as an attack.
As much as you hate being criticized, you also dish out criticism to others. Shocked?
Alright, check this. Has someone done something or said something and you felt it was wrong and you pointed it out to the person?
How you view criticisms will determine how you handle criticisms better. When you understand that constructive criticisms are meant to point out our mistakes, you’d learn to appreciate them more.
5. Always Ask Questions From the Feedback
A good way of checking how helpful a criticism will be is by asking questions from whoever is giving out the feedback.
Not all criticisms are valuable. Some are given out of a place of anger and hate. These are destructive criticism and they usually have no solutions on how you can work better on them.
A good way to work on criticisms is by asking questions on how best to work on the flaws being identified. Especially when the corrections are coming from people you trust and have a good relationship with.
I was to work on a group project with a few course mates and we planned on working on a presentation. During practice, I was always interjecting my mates and interrupting their speech. A close friend of mine within the group called me aside and told me the negative effect of my actions and gave me tips to work on them.
Subsequently, I had to learn how to let them speak without interrupting them with corrections. Only after their full speech did the group point out where they needed to work on and improve. The presentation was a success!
The purpose of criticism should be so you can improve.
6. Receive Criticism With Humility
One good way of how to handle criticism better is by being open to corrections irrespective of your age, status, or position.
Did I just shake a table?
It is easier to receive criticism from people above us but what happens when the suggestions are coming from those, we consider junior.
You see, the Nigerian “do you know who I am” attitude has blocked us from being open to correction. And, you don’t need to be on the third mainland bridge to exhibit it.
Every time you belittle suggestions from people you feel are inferior to you in age, status, position, or class, you are saying “do you know who I am. Why should I listen to you?” Just as how I refused to listen to my sister when I was cooking.
Be open to corrections from everyone. We do not always know it all.
7. Resist the Urge to Criticize Back
Coined from the popular saying “resist the urge to shalaye”, resisting the urge to criticize back is a better way to handle criticisms.
When you are being corrected and you realize that the flaw isn’t from you but the person criticizing, it is always best to avoid criticizing back, immediately. That would only add fuel to the burning fiery emotions.
Instead, nod in the affirmation that the criticism has been well received and give your feedback later when emotions are not misfiring.
Also, when receiving criticism, that is not a time to also remember the flaws of the person. Responding to criticism with another criticism has proven to be a very bad move.
Conclusion
In this article, I have shared 7 tips on how to handle criticisms better. The real effect is not just in reading but putting these tips to practice.
Criticisms are part of our daily interactions. We can be better at handling them by keeping an open mind, controlling our emotions, and paying attention to suggestions.
What tip do you wish to work on? Let me know by dropping a comment in the comment section. Personally, my favorite part has to be tip 6.
FAQs
What are criticisms?
Criticisms are opinions or judgments we have of the actions, behaviors, or thoughts of others.
Is criticism bad?
There is nothing wrong with receiving criticisms. They help us know our flaws and prove that we can work to be better every day.
How to respond to criticisms?
The best ways to respond to criticisms are by remaining calm, paying attention to what is being said, and asking questions on how to improve.
What are the types of criticisms?
There are two types of criticisms. Constructive criticism is given with the aim of correction and improvement while destructive criticism is done without regard for a person’s feelings.
How do I criticize someone?
When criticizing, understand that the person has feelings too. Give corrections just as how you would love to be corrected. This involves appreciating a person’s effort, giving out the corrections, and ending with an appreciation again.
by Happiness Hassan | Mar 27, 2022 | Family & Parenting
Setting rules helps everything go as planned. However, when it comes to parenting, flexible parenting plans should be adapted in place of rules. This is because rules have consequences attached to them and these consequences hurt children. Furthermore, consistency style in parenting views rules as the basis of the relationship between parents and their kids. Sadly, in such homes parents will unconsciously force their will on their children and their kids have nothing to say but to obey in silence. In contrast, learning how to be a flexible parent is all you need to inculcate both discipline and love as your parenting style. This in turn, boosts the love bond between you and your kids.
What is Flexible Parenting?
A flexible parenting style is a parenting approach that works based on teamwork between parents and their kids. In other words, parents aren’t rigid in their dealings with their kids but are open to new possibilities, considering the needs of everyone involved before a conclusion can be reached about a matter. Indeed there is no such thing as perfect parenting, similarly, being authoritative doesn’t make you a good parent, rather creates a separation between you and your kids.
Why is Flexibility More Important than Consistency in Parenting?
1. Flexible Parenting Enhances Effective Communication
Exchange of pleasantries with your kids every morning when you wake up and each time you return from work isn’t tagged effective communication. As a parent you need to know deep things about your kids; their challenges, fears, likes, dislikes, what’s bothering them and more.However, a flexible parenting plan will help you loosen up your rules by boosting effective communication between you and your kids.
2. Builds Self-confidence in Children
Being flexible means you’re open to the opinion of your kids regarding certain decisions. Interestingly, allowing your kids to make suggestions and decisions by themselves is one way of boosting self-confidence in children. In addition, they will feel valued and cared for because they now know you have their needs at heart and not just imposing your will on them.
3. Enhances a State of Mindfulness and Calmness
The state of being mindful isn’t restricted to meditative techniques of calmness, but a flexible parenting plan also guarantees calmness in your life as a parent. How? By bringing you into the consciousness that your kids will do the right thing even in your absence. Oftentimes, parents set rules to control the behavior of their children when away, but this shouldn’t be as it indirectly affects the self-esteem of your children.
4. Boost Self-discipline in Children
Rules aren’t what make children self-discipline rather it makes them feel controlled and may never grow up to be emotionally mature. But, as you begin to understand how to be a flexible parent it becomes easier for you to teach your children instead of controlling them. In essence, teach your kids about the rights and wrongs they deserve to know. This method helps kids feel empowered and take responsibility for their life even as they grow up.
5. Problem-Solving Skills
Kids learn how to be independent as they grow up through problem-solving. Yes, you’re their parents and are expected to provide solutions to all their problems, but spice things up by frequently letting them think through their problems and provide solutions. Their solutions may not be perfect but at least they have learned something tangible through that experience. Most importantly, problem-solving skills boost the intelligence quotient of children.
How Do I Become a Flexible Parent?
1. Choice Teamwork Over Self-centeredness
Oftentimes, parents feel they are fulfilling their parenting duty by doing everything as regards the family alone. This might sound great but it’s a form of self-centeredness. Sadly, some parents make family decisions without considering their spouses, not to mention their kids. If you must learn how to be a flexible parent you should willingly embrace teamwork.
For instance, don’t do the house chores alone while your kids stay back and watch you. In response to this, assigned household chores for kids to them, in addition, working together as a family boosts unity and strengthens the love bond.
2. Be Open to New Ideas
Everything is subjected to change even in parenting. Therefore, stop using the same parenting approach your parents use to bring you up on your kids. I’m not saying it’s wrong but those parenting styles that are outdated due to changes in times and environment should be modified. In essence, inculcating a flexible parenting plan involves accepting new ideas that work. Remember we learn every day, so, be open to learning from friends, family, experiences, situations, parenting books, and even from your children.
3. Involve Your Children in Making Decision
Don’t assume you know what’s best for your children, as you may not be correct at all times. Therefore, feel free to involve your children in making decisions, their contribution might be little but it can also be a pointer to the solution needed. The importance of children making decisions can’t be overemphasized because it helps them become independent, disciplined, responsible, emotional, and socially mature among other benefits.
4. Listen to Your Children More Often
As a parent when things go wrong or your kids make mistakes don’t be quick to act in anger by giving them tedious punishment. In contrast, hear them out, get to understand what led to the mistake, and see where you can help. This parenting approach makes your kids feel understood and secure to always run to you for help when things go wrong. Furthermore, to avoid acting out in anger you should learn how to identify and control your emotions, this will guide you on how to maintain your peace amidst unpleasant situations and take the best possible actions.
5. Teach Your Children
Most parents interchange teaching with controlling. Hence, they find them trapped in the web of using force to make their children obey them. This parenting approach only deprives you of having a healthy relationship with your children. Therefore, teaching your children the do’s and don’t of life is a basic requirement in the flexible parenting plan. The moment your children can differentiate between right and wrong and the results attached to both decisions, I assure you they will always go for the best option.
6. Prioritize Your Self Care
Parents who are plagued with mental and emotional issues like anger, depression, emotional neglect, bipolar disorder, anxiety among other disorders tend to be authoritative— using force to make things go their way. This approach doesn’t make things better but seeking medical help will improve their condition. Perhaps, you desire to learn how to be a flexible parent amidst your mental and emotional issues, it’s great but the first step to begin is by seeking medical help to avoid hurting yourself and your kids any further.
7. Practice More of Acceptance
Acceptance in this context means accepting the feelings and emotions of your kids. In other words, learning to be more empathetic, by doing so you will be mindful of how you set rules and make decisions. This attitude guides you in taking into consideration what your kids will feel when you take that decision you’re about to take. Better still, put yourself in their shoes and analyze the outcome if you were to be at the receiving end of that decision.
Conclusion
There are no set rules and guidelines for parenting and this is what makes learning how to be a flexible parent of great necessity. It’s on the wings of flexibility you’re able to do things differently, adapt to the methods that work, say no to unprofitable rules. Most importantly, place the love you have for your kids above every parenting decision.
Therefore, as a parent what’s your experience with flexible parenting approach?
FAQs
What are the 4 types of parenting styles?
Permissive parenting (lenient attitude from parents who only steps in when issues get serious), authoritarian parenting (Parents impose their will/authority on children without consideration), Neglectful parenting (nonchalant attitude from parents, having fewer rules, guidance and parenting attention) authoritative parenting (Uses rules with consequences, considering the children)
Why should parents be flexible?
Giving a child proper upbringing is only achieved when there is a healthy relationship between parents and their children. In other words, adopting a flexible parenting approach helps enhance the relationship with your children. Hence, your children become open to telling you things and run to you for solutions at any time.
What is soft parenting?
Soft parenting is a parenting style involving fewer rules and regulations and giving more attention to a child’s emotions. In essence, parents are more concerned about their children’s emotions and wouldn’t do anything to hurt them. This parenting approach is one way to make a child emotionally mature.
What parenting style is the best?
Research has revealed that an authoritative parenting style has great benefits to a child. This style still utilizes rules with consequences attached but involves positive discipline and welcomes a child’s opinion. This in turn makes a child self-disciplined and becomes more responsible.
How do I know if I’m a flexible parent?
Being flexible in parenting isn’t a day job but takes a series of processes. However, the main sign that shows you’re becoming a flexible parent is when your children become free to tell you everything about themselves without fear or constraints.
by Abdulsalam Yunusa | Mar 23, 2022 | Health & Wellness
Infertility in couples is a global issue that often results in devastating psychological consequences and sometimes even breakup of marriages. If you have been trying so hard to conceive but unable to, you are not alone. According to the World Health Organization, 48 million couples and 186 million individuals live with infertility worldwide. These figures cut across both genders and result from a variety of causes.
What is Infertility?
Infertility is defined as the inability of a couple to achieve a pregnancy after at least 12 consecutive months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse if the lady is below the age of 35, or 6 months for a lady above 35 because of the chances of getting pregnant in women decreases as they age. Nevertheless, women experiencing miscarriages are not considered infertile.
What Causes Infertility?
There are numerous causes of infertility in couples, and this can be classified as follows:
- Infertility due to problems with the female reproductive system
- Infertility due to problems with the male reproductive system
Causes of Infertility in Females
- Problems with ovulation e.g due to hormonal imbalance, tumors, eating disorders, excessive exercise as seen in athletes.
- Uterine fibroids
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Blockage of fallopian tube e.g. due to untreated or poorly treated sexually transmitted diseases
- Complications of unsafe abortion
- Early menopause (total cessation of menstruation)
- Endometriosis
- Cancer of the female reproductive organs, as well as cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy
READ ALSO: What You Need to Know About STDs
Causes of Infertility in Males
- Abnormal production and function of sperm
- Abnormality with sperm transportation
- Cancer of male reproductive organ and cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy
- Overexposure to industrial chemicals and toxins
- Depression
- High blood pressure
- Abuse of steroids
- Substance abuse
- Alcohol use
- Regular exposure of the testicles to heat e.g via hot baths in bathtubs, sitting in close proximity to bus engines in local public transports
Risk Factors for Infertility
If you have any of the following risk factors, you are at a greater chance of becoming infertile, so it is important to know them and seek expert advice and care as soon as possible. This includes the following:
- Age (increase in age decreases fertility, especially in females)
- Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa
- Excessive alcohol intake and drug use
- Exposure to toxins e.g. from industrial waste, household, and farm chemicals
- Obesity or underweight
- Untreated or poorly treated sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis.
- Stress and depression
How to Diagnose Infertility in Couples
After failing to conceive despite several attempts, a diagnosis of Infertility is made by fertility doctors. However, this is not until several investigations have been carried out.
Female Infertility is diagnosed by taking a detailed history, followed by conducting a physical examination of the pelvis, and a series of investigations such as blood tests, hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, a transvaginal ultrasound, etc. The woman is also asked to record signs of ovulation at home
For males, history taking and physical examination are done as well, after which an ultrasound of the scrotum is performed to identify any testicular problem; blood hormonal tests are done to check hormone levels, while semen analysis is used to check the quantity and quality of the sperm.
Ways to Improve Fertility
Fertility can be improved by doing the following.
- Treatment of erectile dysfunction in males
- Maintaining normal weight
- Eating healthy food
- Use of fertility drugs to raise hormone levels necessary for conception
- Surgical opening of blocked fallopian tubes and removal of uterine fibroids in females
- Intrauterine insemination when sperm count of the man is low
- In vitro fertilization, I’m which the eggs and sperms are collected from the woman and man respectively, then fertilized before returning it to the uterus.
Fertility Clinics in Northern Nigeria
When having a strong suspicion of Infertility, or after getting diagnosed at a peripheral hospital, the next thing to do is visit a fertility clinic. Fertility clinics have a team of experts including urologists, gynecologists, chemical pathologists, radiologists, and other professionals that work together to help people trying to conceive.
Fortunately, the number of fertility clinics is now growing in northern Nigeria. You can get fertility treatment at teaching hospitals, some general hospitals, and several private fertility clinics.
Some fertility clinics in Northern Nigeria are:
- Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, and other teaching hospitals in northern Nigeria.
- NISA Fertility Hospital, Kaduna
- GetWell Hospital Kano
- Bridge Clinic Abuja
- Hope Valley Fertility Clinic, Kaduna
- Royal Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri
- AVON Healthcare, Kano
- Hyelhara Fertility Clinic Gombe
Prevention of Infertility
Preventing yourself from experiencing the brunt of infertility is something you will definitely want to do, especially if you are at risk. Here is how you can do that:
- Avoid pre- and extra-marital sexual intercourse
- Treat all sexually transmitted diseases timely and appropriately
- Stay physically active by engaging in moderate exercises appropriate for you
- Ensure good blood sugar control if you are diabetic
- Avoid drug abuse, alcohol, and cigarette use
- Consult with your physician and fertility expert for evaluation and advice before using any pharmaceutical or surgical contraceptive method
- Keep a healthy weight
- Avoiding the acquired risk factors as much as possible
Conclusion
Infertility in couples is no doubt an issue of serious concern, especially to the newlywed. It can affect couples emotionally, strain them financially, and sometimes even result at the end of their relationship. Seeking help as soon as you notice the problem is very important, as this will increase your chances to conceive.
Do you have a personal story about infertility that you would love to share with us? Please use the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.
Thanks for reading!
FAQs
What can cause Infertility in a couple?
The causes of infertility are numerous; this could be from structural abnormalities of either or both of the male and female reproductive systems, hormonal imbalance due to abnormalities of the endocrine system, diseases like diabetes and sexually transmitted diseases, excessive alcohol use, substance abuse, some medications, weight disorders, etc.
Can infertile couples conceive?
This depends on the cause of their infertility. With timely and appropriate evaluation and treatment, a good number of couples will be able to conceive. Some go ahead to conceive even without treatment. However, it is important to note that some causes are permanent, therefore such couples will not be able to conceive.
Can infertility break up a marriage?
Unfortunately, a lot of marriages break up due to infertility. While some break up after several failed attempts at treatment, other couples break up after putting in just a little effort to reverse the possible cause.
How can I help an infertile couple?
Do not rush to help infertile couples, until they are really interested in your help. This is a private matter, and some couples are okay despite their inability to conceive. However, when they are interested in your help, you can refer them to genuine fertility clinics with proven records of success.
