Handmaid’s Tale: Fact or fiction? Fertility & Conception
You may have seen my post a couple of weeks ago when I attended a Pre Pregnancy (Fertility) and Postpartum event with other fellow Nutritional Practitioners – I have decided to share a few facts with you that you may find of interest!
It is now considered the ‘norm’ for couples to start thinking about having a family over the age of 35 (and in many cases not until their early 40s!). This is understandable, taking into account modern economic factors and work commitments. However, could this late start be a contributing factor in causing fertility issues?
Recent studies have found that 40% of both sexes struggle with fertility and 1 in 7 heterosexual couples now have difficulty conceiving.
In developing countries 25% of couples have difficulty conceiving, so more couples are turning to IVF treatment. Since 1978 there have been 6 million IVF births! So we do really need to support the health of the female whilst going through treatment to achieve the best outcome for both mother & baby, by considering her nutritional, emotional, physical and psychological well-being.
FEMALE HEALTH
There are many contributing factors when looking at female fertility issues, but one lesser known fact I learnt from my course was that Common Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) can cause miscarriage later on in pregnancy (post 14 weeks). This is an infection that ladies may not realise they have! So how would you know if BV was a problem for you, especially when you do not have any symptoms? One way is to see a Nutritional Practitioner, as they have access to a specific test that measures the health of the vaginal microbiome, by simply taking a non-invasive vaginal swab.
Diagnosis of unexplained fertility issues in women is increasing each year, such as: PCOS, Fibroids & hormonal issues which may increase the risk of infertility.
Stress can also play a role in infertility, as stress hormones can interrupt with the normal female cycle and disrupt reproductive hormone balance. Psychological issues such as PTSD (Post traumatic Stress Disorder) may disrupt reproductive hormone balance: PTSD is common in females who have suffered miscarriages and who have gone through unsuccessful fertility treatments such as IVF.
I would always recommend taking a simple urine test such as the DUTCH test prior to and after any IVF treatment to determine hormone and adrenal health pre and post pregnancy, to ensure balance within the reproductive system. The health of the female is paramount pre, during and post pregnancy.
MALE FERTILITY – LOSING THAT STIGMA
A couple of interesting facts – Male infertility is more common than we might think! 1 in 5 men has a sperm count below the World Health Organisation (WHO) reference range, with 1.6% annual sperm count on the decline in the West.
Male fertility is often not discussed due to its social stigma. But, did you know that as many as 1 in 20 men are infertile? There are over 30 million men in the UK (Statista 2018), so considering such a large proportion of men are affected by infertility, why isn’t it more widely spoken about?
Sperm count is down nearly 60% since 1973, and in the UK only 3.6% of medical research council funding is spent on male fertility.
WHAT CAUSES LOW SPERM COUNT?
Low or poor quality sperm can be caused by many factors such as Nutritional deficiencies, environmental toxic exposure, sperm abnormalities and anatomical disorders, psychological distresses, genetic factors – The list goes on!
A healthy diet is associated with improvement of semen quality. For example, high consumption of alcohol, cola & coffee and the use of recreational drugs can negatively affect the quality, along with any potential food allergies or intolerances! Such as sensitivity to gluten or Coeliac Disease.
There are a lot of questions to be asked, such as any hormone imbalances, previous history of Mumps, Cancer treatments, erectile dysfunction, genetic factors, STI’s & Gut (Microbiome) health.
DNA Fragmentation, which is not considered to be a problem under the NHS, and therefore not commonly assessed by doctors. There are for example links being found between the effects of taking long-term medication and damaged DNA.
Simple things, like testicles, overheating! They should be kept cool. Avoid tight-fitting pants (including cycling shorts), avoid hot tubs, saunas and be careful with where you keep your mobile phones – the electromagnetic field may be interfering with your body so if you’re trying for a family simple measures you can take include not using your laptop on your lap!
Certain professions may have an impact on Sperm quality and production, for example, if the job involves high stress levels or exposure to toxic chemicals.
HOW CAN WE IMPROVE THE CHANCES OF CONCEIVING FOR BOTH MEN & WOMEN?
Avoid ENDOCRINE disruptors from toxins and chemicals from skincare & cleaning products, as these may contribute to reduced chances of conception (due to the hormone-disrupting chemicals!). If this is something that you’re concerned about we have lots of natural skincare alternatives, and are investigating household, toxin-free products too – please remember we absorb 60% of what we put on the skin! Both good and bad.
Environmental factors play a part in fertility: Is there any mould or mycotoxins in your home? Did you know 60% of UK buildings are thought to have damp! And we must consider what we eat, through food grains, wheat (gluten), vegetables & fruit – See the Dirty dozen https://www.ewg.org for more information!
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO IMPROVE FERTILITY HEALTH IN BOTH SEXES?
Avoiding hormone-disrupting chemicals: the World Health Organisation (WHO) produced an extensive list of disruptive chemicals in 2012 – for example, xenoestrogens (BPA), hormone disruptors (Beeswax candles, air freshener diffusers), Pesticides, phthalates, Dioxins, PCBs.
Ensure males wear loose-fitting pants to allow the testes to be free whenever possible – rule out anatomical issues with testes ensuring they are not undescended (the male genitals are designed to hang free with no restrictions and they need to be kept cool!).
Avoid sugar or high carbohydrate foods (high Glycemic Load) - 23 Studies show that lipophilic foods and refined sweet stuff may impact negatively on sperm quality. While certain vegetables and fruit may improve sperm quality, some meat and dairy products do not. (Food intake and its relationship with semen quality: a case-control study, Mendiola J, et al. Fertil Steril.2009 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/183141116/)
Limit alcohol, caffeine, red meats – eat grass-fed, organic meats, cold-water salmon and oily fish (sardines, mackerel etc).
Get tested for hormone imbalances, gut function or full-bloods to rule out any imbalances or inflammatory markers, especially if you have been trying for a while to get pregnant, or if you have suffered an unexplained miscarriage. This applies to both Males & Females! It’s important to rule out any health concerns, particularly with Heart health or Diabetes. Visiting your doctor, or nutritional practitioner is essential.
An interesting study recently involving mice showed that introducing a specific strain of probiotic orally effectively increased sperm count and supported the health of ageing reproductive organs in both sexes.
If you need more information regarding testing, have been affected by something in this article, or would like to look at any nutritional factors to support your fertility and increase the chance of conceiving then please book in with me for a free 20 minute consultation on how I can help you.