Fertility Preparation Suggestions
To help your body produce the healthiest eggs and sperm possible, there are several things we suggest. It takes approximately 100 days for a resting ovarian follicle to be initiated and grow toward a pre-antral, antral, and then finally a dominant follicle state which is ready for ovulation. Similarly, it takes about 60-90 days for the final stage of sperm maturation. It is during this time that diet & lifestyle can contribute to the health of the eggs and sperm either negatively or positively.
For this reason, we recommend both male and female partners begin acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy about three months prior to wanting to conceive. At your initial appointment, we will make herbal, nutritional/diet, and lifestyle recommendations to help positively effect the eggs and sperm during this time.
Some general recommendations for both partners are below:
- Avoid cigarette and marijuana smoke
According to a British Medical Association report, it was found that: male smokers have a lower sperm count and a higher percentage of malformed sperm; males who stopped smoking improved both sperm count and quality; women smokers take longer to conceive, but those who have quit smoking do not take longer to conceive; women smokers are twice as likely to be infertile as non-smokers; and both men and women smokers have a poorer response to fertility treatment. (British Medical Association, 2004, www.bma.org.uk)
- Avoid Coffee
An American study of 1,900 women found a 55% higher risk of not conceiving for women drinking 1 cup of coffee per day. For those drinking 1½-3 cups of coffee, the risk was 100% higher, and 176% higher for 3+ cups a day. (Yale University School of Medicine, Epidemiological Reviews Vol 14, pg 83, 1992)According to a Journal of the American Medical Association study, drinking coffee before and during pregnancy was associated with over twice the risk of miscarriage when the mother had 2-3 cups of coffee a day. (JAMA, December 22, 1993)
A Danish study found a caffeine intake of 3 or more cups a day by women or their partners doubled the rate of miscarriage. (American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 160, No 7, 2004, 661-67).
- Avoid Chemicals/Pesticides – Eat Organically and non-GMO foods
A Yale study on rats found that the use of products with the contaminant bisphenol-A (BPA), which is found in food storage containers and dental sealants, may cause fertility defects. (Yale University (2007, February 15). Plastics In Common Household Items May Cause Fertility Defects. ScienceDaily. Retrieved June 7, 2010)A 2008 study of the impact of pesticides on women’s fertility found those with exposure at work or home took longer to get pregnant. Those with work exposure to pesticides were 30% less likely to conceive each month. (Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 50(12):1335-1342.)
In a Danish study of organic farmworkers, sperm count was found to be more than twice as high as the control group, suggesting organic foods can enhance fertility. (High sperm density among members of organic farmers’ association. Lancet 1994;343:1498.)
Another study linked men experiencing infertility to be 10 times more likely to have an agriculture/pesticide related job than those not experiencing fertility problems. (American Journal of industrial medicine Vol 24; 587-592, 1983)
Exposure to chemicals used in dry-cleaning, paint, paint thinners, and paint strippers were found to increase miscarriage rates by 2.1 to 4.7 times as much as those not exposed to chemicals. (American Journal of Industrial Medicine Vol 20; 241-249, 1991)
An unpublished study on hamsters linked genetically modified soy (which is grown on 91% of US soybean fields) to sterility and infant mortality. Similar reports from all over the world have also linked reproductive issues of livestock with the use of genetically modified soy or corn feed. (Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Association for Gene Security)
157 infertile couples undergoing IVF treatment in Hong Kong were found to have higher blood mercury concentrations based on dietary seafood consumption than a control group. It was concluded that the higher blood mercury concentration was associated with both male and female infertility. For more information on which fish are highest in mercury, go to http://www.epa.gov/fishadvisories/advice/. (BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Volume 109 Issue 10, Pages 1121 – 1125)
Avoid using plastics for food and water storage – A new (2010) study to be presented at Endocrine Society’s 92nd Annual Meeting in San Diego in June found women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) are more vulnerable to the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), found in plastic household items. The study found higher levels of BPA, which disrupts hormone levels, in women with PCOS. The study also found as the levels of BPA increased, that corresponding higher levels of the male sex hormone testosterone and androstenedione were also seen.
- Avoid Alcohol Use
A 2001 study of couples undergoing IVF and GIFT found that alcohol consumption for women was associated with a decrease in the number of eggs aspirated, an increase in miscarriage by 2.21 times if consumed within a week of the procedure, and 2.86 times as likely of reduced success if consumed within a month of the procedure. For men, those who drank in the month before the procedure increased risk of miscarriage from 2.70 to 38.04 times, as well as reduced IVF success by 2.5 times as much with the ingestion of just one drink a day. (Fertility and Sterility 2003;79:330-339)An increase in miscarriage rates was associated with alcohol consumption in the week prior to conception for both men and women. Ten or more drinks a week was associated with a 2-3 times greater risk of miscarriage, and for men it was a 2-5 times greater risk. (American Journal of Epidemiology Vol 160 No 7 2004 661-67)
- Avoid hot tubs, jacuzzis
A three year study analyzing data from infertile men showed that repeated exposure to hot tubs or Jacuzzis can lead to male infertility, although it was found to be reversible in half of the men who discontinued the practice. (University of California – San Francisco (2007, March 7). Hot Tubs Hurt Fertility, Study Shows. ScienceDaily.)A study found the heat generated by placing laptop computers on your lap can impact sperm production and development, leading to fertility problems. (Loyola University Health System (2009, June 13). Laptops Linked To Male Infertility. ScienceDaily.)
