Environmental Pollutants and Fertility

Perhaps you've overheard the news reports or glanced at the articles. You're aware that environmental pollutants are a growing concern, but now, as you are trying to expand your family, it is becoming particularity important that you pay attention to these findings. Analyses show that pesticides, plastics, cleaning agents, and other chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis contain toxic substances which disrupt our hormonal balance and increase our risk for infertility. Arm yourself with knowledge and learn about your options as you and your partner start on the journey towards parenthood.

Pregnancy Planning And The Environment

According to a press release issued by Friends of the Earth, there are over 300 recently developed substances our bodies can store that cause hormonal imbalance. Furthermore, women who are exposed to heavy metals such as lead, aluminum or cadmium are more likely to have irregular cycles and suffer from even more dramatic hormonal fluctuations. To enable your body's natural detoxification system to work properly and insure hormonal balance, it is important to take measures to avoid these harmful substances.

Limit Pesticide Consumption

The only way to remove pesticides from the surface of fruits and vegetables is by peeling them or removing the outer layers of leafy vegetables.But sometimes its not quite practical to peel everything - imagine trying to peel bunch of grapes! For those fruits and veggies that you can not peel, the go-to method of rinsing under water hardly removes the harmful residues. After peeling, the best way to remove pesticides is by soaking your produce for 10-30 minutes in a solution of water with a bit of dishwashing detergent or vinegar.


If you don't have the patience to soak your produce, a produce spray, available in most healthfood stores, is also a good option. Spray your produce and wash thoroughly before eating. You can also create your own produce spray by mixing up a 3:1 water to vinegar solution to keep in a spray bottle by your sink.


Nutritionist advise including a wide variety of fruit and vegetables into your diet to avoid ingesting too much of one particular pesticide.

Protect Yourself Against Plastics

Until recently, no one thought twice about our bombardment with plastics - plastic bottles, plastic food wrappers, plastic dishes, plastic bags and plastic containers for everything - but today, there is growing concern among scientists about these products.


Dramatic hormonal alterations were found in those who had high levels of the chemical compound Bisphenol A (BPA) that is common in plastics. One study proved that women who experienced one or more miscarriages had triple the concentration of Bisphosphate A in their blood than women who had never suffered a miscarriage. Another highlighted a scary phenomena where male workers developed breast after inhaling dust containing BPA.


Take these steps to protect yourself, especially if you are trying to get pregnant.

1. Use plastic containers and tableware that are clearly marked BPA-Free or that do not contain any softening agents. If you cannot determine this clearly from the product description or label, don't buy the product.

2. Do no cook or reheat food in plastic. Do not use plastic containers in a microwave oven.

3. When you buy food sealed in a plastic film, remove the food from the packaging straight away and store it in a suitable container. Be especially careful to avoid keep high-fat foods in plastic containers as Xenoestrogens are easily transferred to foods with a high fat content.

4. When you buy hard cheese sealed in plastic film, scrape the surface with a knife before consuming.

5.  Use glass bottles! Water is probably the most important ingredient in a healthy diet and detoxification regime, and there has been a huge increase in the consumption of bottled water. However, while this bottled water might be filtered, because it is stored in plastic, it absorbs BPA. We recommend you refill your own non-plastic water bottle instead of using toxic plastic bottles.

Avoid Heavy Metals

You might not realize just how often you are exposed to heavy metals. Aluminum cookware, metal cans, foil coatings, and even the material used to correct teeth are also causing concern among the scientific community for their high levels of BPA and other toxic substances. Below we will address some of the more common metals and their effect on fertility, and what you can do to avoid them.


Aluminum

Scientific studies have shown that aluminum impairs the absorption of nutrients and can negatively impact fertility. Aluminum is found in everyday goods such as antacids, deodorants, anti-clumping agents in dried milk, aluminum kitchenware, drink cans, and foil.


- Replace all your aluminum pots and pans with kitchenware made from iron, glass or stainless steel.

- Do not drink carbonated drinks from aluminum cans. Carbonated drinks in cans have high concentration of aluminum from the inner lining of cans that dissolves into the drink.

- Buy aluminum-free deodorants.


Mercury

You might already know that pregnancy women should avoid fish with high levels of mercury, but you probably don't realize where else mercury is shows up. Mercury is not only unsafe for pregnant women, it has an effect on your ability to get pregnant as well. Studies have shown that Mercury reduces fertility by accumulating in the pituitary gland, which is crucial to stimulating the production of sexual hormones. An alarming finding shows that female dentists and dental assistants, who are often exposed to mercury, have a particularly high rate of miscarriages.


The mercury in your teeth fillings can escape in the form of mercury vapor and pass into our bodies when we consume hot drinks such as tea or coffee, brush our teeth or chew gum. One study, in which over 100 research reports and medical files were assessed, concludes that the accumulation of mercury in the body can cause many different symptoms such as allergies, chronic exhaustion, depressive episodes, flu-like ailments, menstruation complaints, reduced sperm levels, ovulation disorders, and miscarriages.


If you need a tooth filled, ask your dentist for alternatives to the standard metal filling. Special tests can reveal if mercury is escaping from your fillings. If you find that it is, dentist can replace the fillings. However if the test reveals that there is no indication that mercury is passing into your body, you should not have the replacement work done while trying to get pregnant because large amounts mercury could be released during the procedure. Our advice is to have all of your necessary dental treatments completed three months before attempting to get pregnant.


Copper

Copper is one of the essential trace elements, but it too can be toxic in high concentrations. The body can absorb copper from water pipes or from contraceptive coils. The main problem with copper is that if its concentration increases too sharply, the absorption of zinc, and important component in fertility, will be impeded.


Try not to wear copper jewelry if you are trying to conceive, and if you cook in copper cookware, make sure the surfaces are not scratched.


Cadmium

Cadmium is a highly toxic heavy metal found in cigarette smoke that has a very harmful effect on male and female fertility. Quit smoking and protect yourself against second hand smoke.

Chemicals in the Home

That fresh, chemical smell that permeates your house after you give it a good cleaning ––you know, the one that smells like a mixture of pine and bleach? Well, many experts believe that these chemicals are actually a great risk to your fertility because of the volatile off-gassing. Its important to live in a clean environment though, so lets take a look at some of the natural alternatives that do just as good, if not a better job, of eliminating those messes.


Vinegar. It's a magic cleaning agent with virtually endless possibilities.

- A dash of vinegar on a damp cloth is ideal for cleaning unvarnished wood.

- Add a few drops to your steam cleaner to it kills house dust mites and bacteria.

- A good alternative to floor cleaners, which contain lots of chemicals: add a cup of vinegar to a bucket of water.

- In a spray bottle, mix vinegar and water in the ratio of 1:1 for a natural window cleaner.


Baking soda also has excellent cleaning properties.

- Create your own room spray by mixing a few drops of essential oil with baking soda.

- For fresh clean carpeting, sprinkle baking soda over it before vacuuming.


While thinking about expanding your family, you might decide that this is the perfect time to expand or redecorate your house. Be careful though, many materials used in renovations have been linked to infertility.


Paints that contain solvents and turpentine substitute release gases which can hang in the air for weeks after the painting work has been finished. Also, new carpets often contain the preservative formaldehyde, which can irritate the mucous membranes of eyes, nose and throat and are generally unhealthy. An American study of women who were suffering from unexplained infertility revealed a high concentration of two chemicals which are present in carpets, leather upholstery and wood preserving agents.

Toiletries and Cosmetics

Many commercial toiletries contain detergents and artificial fragrances which can irritate your skin and mucous membranes. Read labels before making any purchases, and avoid those with chemicals.


For an all natural relaxing bath, try adding dried or fresh fragrant herbs (lavender, rosemary or peppermint), essential oils, or a cup of Epsom salts to warm water. Try switching to natural, organic soap which you can purchase in wholefood shops or pharmacies.


If you want to get pregnant it is best not dye your hair or use any chemical hair treatment that comes in contact with your scalp. Highlights are a good alternative to a full hair dye because to chemicals do not come in contact with the scalp. If you are already pregnant, it is recommended that you wait until your fourth month before dying your hair. There are also wonderful all-natural hair dyes available at health food stores.

Nature Knows Best

For better or for worse, advancements in technology have created a lot of unnatural products and byproducts, but when you are trying to concieve nature is still knows best. Making a baby and becoming parents is one of the miracles of nature that connects you right back to the majestic organic world we live in. Stay one step ahead of the game by keeping your food, environment and lifestyle choices wholesome and natural.

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Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Fertility

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Sexually transmitted diseases are a common cause of fertility issues. Many STDs have mild symptoms, but their affects on conception, and on a fetus fetus if pregnancy is achieved, are hardly mild at all.


Treatment for these diseases is usually simple, and of course, it is always better to diagnose and treat a problem before pregnancy than during pregnancy.


Take a look below at the information we've compiled on common STDs that have a severe impact on your pregnancy plans, and our recommendation for a pregnancy planing check-up requisite for both partners.

Pregnancy-Planning Health Check-up

We recommend all couples who wish to have a baby undergo the following health check-ups:

• - STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) test

• -Vaccination status checked and updated

• -Smear Test performed by your gynecologist

• - Breast Cancer (and other forms of cancer) exams

• - HIV test

• - Overall medical history of both partners

Typical Symptoms of STDs for Women

• - Itching, sores, tenderness or pain in the vagina

• - Abnormal vaginal discharge which has an unusual smell or color

• - Pain when urinating

• - Pain in the lower abdomen

• - Discomfort during sexual intercourse

• - Abnormal bleeding

• - Lumps or sores in the genital area

Typical Symptoms of STDs for Men

• - Discharge from the penis

• - Sores in the genital area

• - Frequent need to urinate and pain when urinating

• - Swollen lymph nodes in the groin area

• - Pain in the testicles or in the prostate

Chlamydia - The Hidden Dangers

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that often goes unnoticed because of its mild systems. For those looking to become pregnant however, Chlamydia is a ticking time bomb. If the infection goes untreated for an extended period of time, 10-40% of women will develop pelvic inflammation. Pelvic inflammation is the cause of numerous fertility and pregnancy related issues.


If chlamydia infection goes untreated, it can spread to the higher reproductive organs including the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. The untreated chlamydia infection can also trigger an inflammation of the neck of the uterus resulting in an impaired the uterine lining causing serious fertility issues.


Women infected with chlamydia face an increased risk of miscarrying, developing an ectopic pregnancy, or experiencing premature water-break (amniotic fluid surrounding the unborn child). A study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development concludes that pregnant women who are infected with chlamydia are two to three times more likely to experience a miscarriage.



As many as one in ten men are infected with chlamydia, and are also at risk for decreased fertility. The infection can often spread to the testicles causing a decrease in the quality and quantity of the sperm. Low sperm count makes conception much less likely, and the compromised quality of the DNA within the sperm can cause problems with the development of a fetus. A man infected with chlamydia is also at risk of unknowingly passing the infection to his partner.


Cyclotest now offers a home testing kit that enables you to discreetly test for Chlamydia in the privacy of your own home. Everything you need to get results is included in the kit with no need to mail in messy lab samples or wait for results. The Cyclotest chlamydia home testing kit delivers results within minutes, so you can start treatment immediately. If you are currently trying to conceive, this knowledge is indispensable.

Gonorrhoea and Fertility

If untreated, gonorrhoea can result in pelvic inflammatory disease and the closing of the fallopian. It can compromises fertility and increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.

Yeast Infections and Fertility

Although candida, or yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted disease, it significantly impairs cervical mucus and can therefore affect fertilely. Yeast infections can also prevent you from becoming pregnant simply because they cause sex to be painful, which takes away your desire to have sex. If you experience a burning or itching sensation in the vagina or a white clumpy discharge, make sure to speak to your doctor.


It is important that you get a yeast infection treated before or during pregnancy because your baby can become infected during delivery while passing through the birth canal causing significant and painful diaper rash and oral thrush that often results in difficulties breast-feeding. The vaginal secretions of pregnant women encourage the growth of yeast, therefore infections are quite common during pregnancy.



Yeast infections develop when the yeast that occurs naturally in our bodies becomes too plentiful. An unhealthy growth of candida albicans, or yeast, may occur if you eat foods with a very high sugar content. To avoid contracting a yeast infection, modify your eating habits by avoiding refined sugar and adding live bacteria that helps restore the natural balance of intestinal flora such as that found in live yogurt.


Antibiotics are usually used to combat yeast infections because they easy to take and very effective in eliminating the problem. But although antibiotics are safe, treating the infection naturally, especially during pregnancy, is an even better approach. Probiotic food supplements containing the bacterias acidophiles and bifidobacterium are ideal for warding off yeast infections. Another natural anti-fungal agent is garlic.


To prevent fungal infections, avoid wearing tight-fitting jeans, synthetic underwear, or unnecessary panty-liners. The washing cycles of modern low-temperature washing machines fails to kill off Candida albican spores completely so you may become re-infected by your own underwear. Try increasing the temperature of your washing cycle, or adding a laundry disinfectant to your rinse cycle. It is also a good idea to avoid foods with high sugar contents such as candy, cakes, processed foods, fizzy drinks and alcohol.

Antibiotics and Fertility

Antibiotics taken to treat an infection are necessary to destroy harmful bacteria but can also wipe out beneficial bacteria from the body. This in turn can cause other imbalances, such as fungal infections. To avoid these complications, it is advisable to take a probiotic food supplements with different strains of beneficial bacteria for three months after your antibiotic treatment. Avoid probiotic drinks as they often contain a lot of sugar and end up aiding the fungus in the body.

Importance of Examinations

STDs often go unnoticed and therefore regular examinations are important in order to diagnose and treat the disease as soon as possible. It is especially important to be diagnoses before becoming pregnant as treating STDs during pregnancy can often be much more difficult.

Check out the original article here: http://ethicalfamilyplanning.com/sexually-transmitted-diseases-and-fertility

A Healthy Body and A Healthy Mind for Conception

As you dream of those tiny baby fingers wrapped around your own, you know one thing for sure - you want to give your baby the best start to life possible. Well, now is the time to give yourself a mind/body makeover because the best start for your baby begins with healthy, happy parents.

10 Rules for Good Nutrition and Reproductive Health

Your commitment to eating wholesome foods will obviously affect your health, minimizing your risks for heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses, but it can also have a direct effect on your sex life and fertility. Current research shows that excess weight can decrease fertility and a Danish study interestingly concluded even if just the man is overweight, fertility can still be effected. So why don't you sit down with your partner and see how many of our 10 Rules for Good Nutrition and Reproductive Health you can integrate into your lives. The benefits will speak for themselves- we guarantee it.


1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Choose wholefoods that are high in fiber.

3. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.

4. Eat highly nutritious proteins with every meal.

5. Make sure you have an adequate supply of highly nutritious oils.

6. Never skip breakfast and don’t eat after 8.00 pm.

7.Keep your blood sugar levels constant by eating small meals often. Try eating every three hours.

8. Avoid caffeine and sugar.

9. Choose organic foods when possible.

10. Reduce your intake of the following foods: red meat, saturated fats, ready meals, industrially produced foods and foods with high additive and preservative contents.

Keep Calm and Get Pregnant

Stress has such strong effect on our internal balance that women often find that their periods are interrupted, or stop completely, when they are subjected to extreme levels of stress. The biological havoc that a missed or interrupted period causes is not something you want deal with, especially while you are trying to conceive.


At the same time, many women find that rying for a baby is actually makes them more stressed.  It is normal to be plagued by worry about the pregnancy, fear of disappointment, a myriad of other concerns about pregnacy and parenthood, but remember that it is in your best intrests to relax and let nature take over. Below, we lay out a few tips that can be helpful in decreasing your stress levels and remain calm an relaxed during this monumental time.


- Lower your stress levels by making sure you are getting adequate levels of essential vitamins and minerals

- Eat well. You'll feel better and be less stressed.

- Plan your meals at the beginning of the week. That way, you won't have to worry about what healthy foods to choose when you are hungry.

- Set aside time each day to do an enjoyable and relaxing activity. Put it on your calendar, relaxing is indispensable.

- Meditation classes, yoga, aromatic baths or listening to calming music can help take the edge off a particularly stressful day.

- Make lists. You'll feel great ticking off each task as you accomplish it, and will be less stressed knowing you are taking care of of everything you need to be.

- Avoid unnecessary tasks which may ease your conscience but nevertheless increase your workload.

Get A Good Night Sleep

We tend to think that the real sleep deprivation comes after pregnancy, when your little baby is up yet again, hungry or needing a diaper change, but before you even get to that point, millions of women are putting their fertility at risk by not getting enough sleep.


Sleep recharges every internal system we have, and our reproductive systems are no exception. Without adequate sleep, our bodies focus on the most critical functions, and push anything secondary out of the way. For some women, this means that they will ovulate irregularly, or stop ovulating all together. Additionally, ovulation is shown to occur most often while sleeping, between the hours of midnight and four AM. If you do not respect your bodies need to relax and recharge, it can not take care of these critical functions for you.

A Bit of TLC for Your Body and Baby

Don't underestimate the importance of giving your body a bit of tender loving care while you are trying to conceive. We live in a high paced, stressful world, and many times our most basic critical needs, our physical and mental health, are pushed to the side. Take the time to eat healthy, relax, and sleep well. Your body, and your baby, will thank you.

Read the original article on our website here: http://ethicalfamilyplanning.com/stress-sleep-diet-and-getting-pregnant