EXPERT’S CORNER

fertility-boosting remedies

Increase your chances of conceiving the natural way. Q: I’m in my late 30s and pretty healthy. My partner and I would like to start a family, but we’ve been trying unsuccessfully for over a year. Any advice?

A: Women often seek medical advice for infertility because they have a shorter window for conception. But the problem is just as likely due to the man. Besides lower testosterone levels worldwide, many sperm donors who undergo semen analysis are being diagnosed with agglutination, a condition where sperms stick together and are less lively. This is usually due to inflammation in the prostate or urethra, generally caused by a sub-optimal diet including chemicals from processed food.

In fact, synthetic chemicals in our environment are thought to be one of the leading causes of infertility in general. Numerous studies, for example, link pesticides to fertility problems in both men and women. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that were once used in plastics have contaminated our food supply. PCBs decrease fertility by lowering progesterone levels, diminishing ovulation, and reducing estrogen clearance. And the aforementioned decline in testosterone levels over the past 25 years coincides with the introduction of GMO crops and the corresponding increased use of pesticides.

Dietary Solutions

To combat the chemical stew in our environment, both members of a couple trying to conceive would do well to enjoy a 2–6 week period of detoxification and cleansing 1–3 times per year. This means eating a clean, fresh diet of mostly

organic vegetables, good quality fish, and eggs or organic nut-based proteins. Two or more servings per day (versus 1 or fewer per week) of low-fat dairy products have been associated with an 85 percent decrease in fertility. The protein component of dairy (casein) causes the problem, but these effects were only observed with low-fat dairy consumption. High-quality organic or grass-fed full-fat dairy actually seems to increase fertility.

Keep blood sugars steady by minimizing grains and completely avoiding processed foods. Drink mostly water, along with kombucha or herbal teas. Coffee is a vasoconstrictor (like nicotine) and will mess with oxygen delivery to all tissues.

And watch your weight. The risk of infertility rises with obesity, which is affiliated with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome, which has many manifestations but basically inhibits ovulation). Inositol, a readily available supplement, is well documented to promote ovulation in women with PCOS.

—Doris L., Baltimore, MD

Key Fertility Nutrients

Micronutrient deficiencies can inhibit a healthy pregnancy: particularly iron and folic acid. It’s easy to check your levels of these nutrients with an inexpensive blood test (CBC), and you can also check your ovarian reserves with a somewhat more expensive blood test known as AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone). For women, once you have determined that you’re ovulating (you observe mid-cycle egg-white stretchy mucous, and your ovulation detector confirms this is high-estrogen mucous, indicating fertility), try taking the following supplements:

Phosphatidyl choline—1,200 mg three times daily. Vitamin E—800 IUs daily. High potency B complex—with 230–500 mg of B1 (thiamine). Vitex (tincture or capsule)—Work with a knowledgeable practitioner for dosing.

For men, once a semen analysis shows that you have live swimmers, you should avoid hot tubs, tight pants, and cycling. If possible, also avoid taking antibiotics, particularly the erythromycin group, which reduces sperm production. Supplements that can help promote male fertility include:

* Vitamin E—400–800 IUs daily. * Glutathione—500 mg daily. * Zinc—50 mg daily. * Vitamin C—1,000 mg daily.