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.
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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.
Being over or under weight
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.
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