Smoking cessation. There is a 60% increased infertility risk with smoking.
Caffeine reduction. Consumption of more than 250mg/day decreased the prob- ability of becoming pregnant within one menstrual cycle by 45%. Overall 1-2 cups of coffee per day has no apparent adverse effect on fertility.
Chemical toxins and pollutant re-
moval/avoidance. Solvents like those used in dry cleaning or printing industries were shown to increase relative risk of infertil- ity by 40% in women exposed to them. Numerous studies have shown detriment to sperm health from chemical and environ- mental toxin exposure.
Proper timing of intercourse. De-
termining when ovulation occurs isn’t something most first timers TTC think much about. According to an Albert Einstein Col- lege of Medicine 2019 study, only 20% of women knew they were fertile 3-6 days out of a month’s cycle, and 16% of woman in the study believed they were most fertile during their menses. A woman is typically most fertile for a 3-6 day window, ap- proximately 14 days after start of flow in a regular 28 day cycle.
Well timed intercourse often needs to be taught to couples TTC. Learning a woman’s fertile window is imperative for decreasing time to conception. Women are not typically taught the signs to identify the fertile window in their cycle.
How Can a Woman Tell if She’s Fertile? The first sign a woman is fertile is by
having a healthy, symptom free, regular cycle. Once unwelcome symptoms start to be experienced, there is a chance fertility is not optimal. Symptoms indicate hormone imbalances and imbalanced hormones can affect fertility. The second way patients can check their fertility, and fertile window, is by using what I call the “body’s ovulation prediction kit.”
Cervical position: High in the vaginal
vault with an open cervical os indicates ovulation.
Cervical fluid: Noticeable egg-white in texture and slippery discharge, not having any cervical fluid changes throughout the month indicate support is needed. Cervical fluid is the superhighway in which sperm use to travel to the egg for fertilization. No changes, thick, or dry fluid does not allow for sperm to travel easily if at all to fallo- pian tubes.
Basal body temperature (BBT): Al- though this morning temperature reading does not tell you when you will ovulate, after a few months of mapping BBT, you will be able to identify the fertile window within a few days. This simple reading can give much insight concerning the health of the woman.
The body’s ovulation prediction kit can help couples know when to have inter- course more frequently to increase chances of conception. Teaching couples how to identify a fertile window often reveals fertility problems when cervical fluid or BBT have unexpected patterns. Women that map BBT often learn they are pregnant prior to taking a test, since these readings don’t drop at the typical time before men- ses if fertilization has occurred.
As simple as some of these suggestions to boosting fertility seem, it is the simple things that are often the most impactful, long lasting, and least invasive. It is often easy to excuse some of the above lifestyle habits when many people who eat poorly, drink heavily, smoke, and work with chemicals daily, to name a few detriments towards fertility, are able to conceive with- out any trouble. Genetics can explain some of the discrepancy seen when fertility strug- gles occur in otherwise healthy individuals but not in otherwise seemingly unhealthy individuals. This is why it is most important to be evaluated as a whole person, at a functional medicine level, and with great consideration on how your lifestyle, dietary practices, and mental resilience impact you and your partner.
Dr. Nicole Kerr, ND, LAc is the owner of an all-natural fertility clinic in Wallingford CT, Fertility Oasis. At Fertility Oasis, Dr. Kerr teaches her patients the importance of
preconception care and about all treat- ment options available to couples wanting and/or struggling to conceive. Male and female infertility factors are addressed to offer comprehensive fertility care for her patients. Fertility Oasis, 857 N Main St Ext Suite 1, Wallingford CT, 203.265.0459
fertilityoasis.com. See ad on page 20.
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www.NaturalNutmeg.com 37
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