What is Fertility?

Fertility simply refers to a couple’s chances of becoming pregnant. If you are fertile, than there is a good chance that you will become pregnant at some point in time. Though pregnancy may not happen right away, if both a man and a woman are fertile, they will conceive a child eventually. Certain factors play a key role in determining fertility. In order for a woman to be fertile she must produce a viable egg during each monthly cycle. In order for a man to be fertile he must be able to produce strong and healthy sperm that can fertilize this egg. Numerous factors play a part in these roles including your diet, lifestyle and stress management. Keeping in mind the following guidelines, they will increase both your chances of conceiving and improve the health of your baby also.

Start a 3 month plan incorporating Diet, Exercise, Lifestyle and Stress management.

Why 3 months?

1. It takes 3 months for eggs to mature and be ready for ovulation
2. Men also take 3 months to produce a batch of sperm
3. The body requires 3 months to eliminate toxins and increase to optimum nutrient status

Diet

Optimize nutrient intake using following information. Eat a diet sufficient in Carbohydrates, Fibre, EFA (essential fatty acids) with a healthy amount of protein. Drink plenty of water 6-8 250 ml glasses per day.

Decrease Saturated Fats

Increased amounts of Saturated Fats are associated with increase in oestrogen causing an oestrogen imbalance. They also trigger body to produce inflammatory substances which can also increase period pains. They also block the body’s ability to absorb Essential Fatty Acids or “good” fats.

Food Sources: Reduce meat and dairy. Avoid all processed foods, such as biscuits, cakes, white bread, white pasta, and white rice. Aim for whole foods in their natural state.

Increase your Good Fats

Especially the omega 3 as they help decrease inflammation in the body, hormone balance and development of a baby brain, eyes and nervous system.

Food Sources: You will find good fats especially Omega 3 in oily fish e.g. salmon, mackerel, trout, sardines, herring, fresh tuna. Also found in walnuts, flax and pumpkins. Vegetable sources include kale and cabbage.

Increase Fibre intake

Fibre helps control the levels of Oestrogen. Old oestrogen enters the gut where fibre binds and helps excrete it from the system thus preventing re-absorption of old oestrogen into circulatory system leading to oestrogen dominance and hormonal imbalance.

Soluble fibre: found in vegetables, fruit, oats and beans.

Insoluble fibre: wholegrains and nuts.

Optimise fertility vitamins & minerals

Vitamin B6 – hormone balance and fertility.

Food Sources: Eggs, banana, mushrooms, oats, soya, sunflower seeds, salmon, mackerel, lentils.

Vitamin C – can trigger ovulation, with Vitamin E it may keep you fertile longer and improve the quality of the eggs.

Food Sources: Fruit, vegetables, citrus fruits, berries, green vegetables such as brussel sprouts and cauliflower.

Vitamin E – plays an important role in egg production.

Food Sources: Seeds, nuts, egg yolk, oily fish and broccoli.

Folic Acid – critical to baby’s health and in lowering risk of low birth weight, premature birth, and/or neural tube defects, such as Spina Bifida and Anencephaly.

Vitamin A – Important for your baby’s embryonic growth – including the development of the heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes & bones and the circulatory , respiratory and central nervous system. It also helps with infection resistance and fat metabolism. It also helps to assure you that your cervical fluid will be sperm-nourishing, fertile consistency. It also increases the amount of fertile fluid.

Food Sources: Coloured fruit & vegetables.

Zinc – essential for conception. Important for men to ensure the head of the sperm is hard and can penetrate the egg to fertilise.

Food Sources: Almonds, fish, beans, yogurt, oats, corn, eggs, peas and wholegrains.

Others Important Nutrients:

Magnesium: nuts, vegetables, brown rice, eggs & sunflower seeds.

Manganese: help boost sperm quality, improves health of baby.

Food Sources: Wholegrains, seeds, leafy green vegetables, green beans, sweet potatoes, onions, strawberries, bananas, apples & eggs.

Selenium: essential for sperm production.

Food Sources: Found in eggs, nuts (Brazil), broccoli & garlic.

Calcium: needed for babies bones, teeth & nervous system.

Food Sources: Organic dairy products, salmon, oranges, prunes, sesame seeds, almonds, pulses, wholegrains and green leafy vegetables.

Royal Jelly: Royal Jelly is rich in amino acids (29 to be exact), lipids, sugars, some vitamins, fatty acids and most importantly, proteins. It contains high levels of vitamin D and E as well as ample levels of Iron & Calcium.

Evening primrose oil: This is an essential fatty acid that you can take from your period until ovulation to improve fertile mucus. It is not recommended to take this after ovulation as it can cause mild contractions in the uterus and prevent implantation.

Co Q 10: Improves ovulation and even rejuvenates eggs so that they act like younger eggs, can be linked to higher success rates in IVF. In men it is thought to have a protective action on sperm, improving the count and motility.

Other considerations:

Fitness

Exercising encourages hormonal balance which in turn increases your fertility, aim for 30 mins a day gentle exercise. Try incorporate Yoga or Pilates to de-stress.

De-stress

Chronic stress leads to high levels of the hormone cortisol, however in order to continually make cortisol your body requires progesterone, decreasing the amount available for your fertility cycle. Stress can also affect the release of other hormones necessary for your cycle. It can also affect libido inevitably affecting chances of conceiving.

Detox your lifestyle

Avoid environmental toxins e.g. organic foods as much as possible, avoid plastic containers and bottles which contain xenoestrogens disrupting your hormone balance and instead use cast iron, steel or glass cookware.

Watch your weight

A certain amount of body fat is essential for conception however if too low you may stop ovulation. If it is too high, it can interfere with ovulation as excess fat causes imbalance in the ratios of reproductive hormones. Men being overweight can affect the quality and quantity of your sperm.  Achieve optimal weight through healthy eating and exercise.

Decrease Caffeine

Coffee can delay conception for a year, its best to try to avoid completely if you can.

Decrease Alcohol

Alcohol may increase production of oestrogen. Alcohol may decrease fertility by half and increase risk of miscarriage. 1-2 glasses of wine ok if special occasion only, however if you experience any hormonal imbalances it is best to avoid completely.

Don’t Smoke

Smoking may increase the risk of miscarriage; it may decrease oestrogen by interfering with ability of cells in the ovaries to make oestrogen. Smoking can increase the rate at which a woman loses eggs causing early onset of the menopause.

Overview

It is always best to try to get your daily Vitamins, Minerals and Essential fatty acid’s through food sources, but this is not always possible, this is when supplementation comes in.

Female Vitamins & Minerals to maximise Fertility     

• Pre-natal Multi Vitamin & Mineral – improves nutritional status

• B complex – reduces stress and is a nervous system tonic

• B6 – synthesis of RNA & DNA – will be in B complex

• Folic Acid – 400mcg

• EPA (essential fatty acids) – for healthy glandular function and hormone balancer

• Selenium – deficiency is linked to infertility

• Vitamin E – use D-alpha-topherol form, carries oxygen to sex glands

• Zinc – for cell division

• Vitamin C – improves hormone levels

• Vitamin D – boost levels of progesterone and estrogen, which regulate the menstrual cycle & improve the likelihood of successful conception

• Co-enzyme Q 10 – needed for basic functioning of cells and fertility benefit for women with low egg reserve

• Royal Jelly – has been shown to help balance hormones, to increase libido and support egg health

• Evening Primrose oil – improve fertile mucus

Male Vitamins & Minerals to maximise Fertility

• Multi Vitamin & Mineral – to improve nutritional status

• Vitamin E – increases sperm count and carries oxygen to sex organs – D-alpha-topherol form

• Vitamin C – helps to manufacture healthy sperm, prevents sperm from sticking together and can improve their motility, can increase sperm up to 1/3 – 500mg twice a day

• Vitamin D – essential for the healthy development of the nucleus of the sperm cell, and helps maintain semen quality and sperm count. Vitamin D also increases levels of testosterone, which may boost libido

• Zinc – cell division and improves desire & ejaculation

• Selenium – lack of selenium is linked with sterility

• Vitamin B Complex – stress and nervous system tonic

• L-Arginine & L-Carnitine – crucial for male fertility and sperm development

• Coenzyme Q10 – energy for sperm

I treat fertility patients with Acupuncture and Naturopathy. For advice on recommended daily amounts, the best brands and where to get supplements please contact me.