Factors affecting fertility
One in six couples have difficulty conceiving.
Poor diet & nutrition
A healthy diet is crucial to a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby, many people are unaware of the fact that diet can help to correct hormone imbalances that may affect your ability to conceive. There are also certain foods and drinks that are known to lower fertility such as caffeinated beverages and aspartame containing foods.
Stress
Stress has a major biochemical effect on health and hormonal balance. It is important to have positive methods of dealing with stress while you are trying to conceive. Yoga, meditation, hypnotherapy, massage, breathing and enjoying time with your partner are all positive ways to deal with the negative effects of stress.
Environmental pollutants
Heavy metals disrupt normal cellular processes in the body and decrease fertility. Today these are present in paints, hair dyes, cosmetics, pollution, unfiltered water, fish, cigarettes, and kitchen utensils and appliances. Chemicals are all around us at and many have a strong influence on hormones; DDT, dioxins and PCBs to name a few. It is a good idea to switch to natural cleaning products and organic foods where possible for your health, fertility and the environment.
Immune system imbalance
Allergies and food intolerances result of immune system imbalance and can indicate chronic inflammation and often nutrient malabsorption necessary for a healthy conception.
Caffeine
Evidence shows that caffeine, particularly in the form of coffee, decreases fertility. Drinking as little as one cup of coffee a day can halve your chances of conceiving. On study showed that problems with sperm: sperm count, motility and abnormalities, increase with the number of cups of coffee consumed each day. It’s important to eliminate all caffeine-containing food and drinks for at least three months before trying to conceive. That includes colas, chocolate, black teas and coffee, among other things.
Alcohol
Drinking any alcohol at all can reduce your fertility by half – and the more you drink, the less likely you are to conceive. One study showed that women who drank less than 5 units of alcohol a week (equal to five glasses of wine) were twice as likely to get pregnant within six-months compared with those who drank more.
Research has also shown that drinking alcohol causes a decrease in sperm count, an increase in abnormal sperm and a lower proportion of motile sperm. Alcohol also inhibits the body’s absorption of nutrients.
Being overweight or underweight
Being significantly over or underweight affects fertility health in both men and women. If you are overweight we will recommend a weight loss and exercise plan as part of your preconception health plan. Women who are underweight often have difficulty will irregular menstrual cycles and anovulation.