Common causes for infertility

Common Causes of Infertility include:

Alcohol
Smoking
Caffeine
Xenoestregens
Toxic Heavy Metals
Household Chemicals
Radiation
Body Mass Index
Blood Sugar Levels
Stress
Nutrition

Alcohol
Alcohol is poorly metabolized by women and can lead to a disturbance of the oestregen/progesterone balance. One study showed that women who drink 5 units or less a week were twice as likely to conceive within 6 months than women drinking 10 units or more.

Drinking alcohol once pregnant can also result in foetal abnormalities.

Research has also shown that drinking alcohol decreases sperm count, increases abnormal sperm, and lowers sperm motility. It has been shown to inhibit the body’s ability to absorb zinc, which is one of the most important minerals to promote fertility. It also affects a man’s testosterone levels and inhibits the liver’s ability to clear out excess hormones.

Smoking
Women who smoke have significantly lower levels of oestregen, which could lead to problems in conceiving. It can also cause an early menopause.

In men, smoking decreases sperm count and motility, increases the number of abnormal sperm, and reduces his testosterone levels.

Marijuana
Smoking marijuana has a profound effect on sperm motility, causing them to “burn out”: initially their swimming capacity remains uneffected, but the final push required to enter the egg is significantly impaired.

Caffeine
The risk of infertility is 55% higher in women who consume one cup of coffee a day, 100% higher in those who drink 1.5-3 cups of coffee a day, and 176% higher in women who consume more than 3 cups per day. Coffee can also effect foetal growth and increase the risk of miscarriage.

Problems with sperm count, motility and form also increase the more coffee a man drinks each day.

Xenoestregens
Xenoestregens are present in pesticides and plastic. They are environmental oestregens that are stored in body fat and can upset the natural balance of oestregen in our bodies, and therefore can have a effect on fertility. One should eat organic food and try to avoid, as far as possible foods and drinks that have been stored in plastic wrappers or bottles.

Toxic Heavy Metals
Our environment is laden with toxins, including heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and copper.

Mercury pollution has been caused by the burning of fossil fuels and the increased use of mercury in agriculture and industry. Traces of mercury can also be found in pesticides, dental fillings and fish (especially tuna). Mercury is extremely toxic and can effect fertility.

Lead is naturally present in the earth, but we can become overloaded with it from the metal in lead pipes. Severe intoxification by lead can lead to infertility and miscarriage. Make sure you filter all water used for drinking and cooking.

Cadmium is present in tobacco smoke, and it blocks the absorption of zinc, which is a vital nutrient for fertility.

Copper, although it is essential in our diets to some degree, an excessive amount can antagonize zinc, which is vital for fertility. The body can absorb copper from water pipes, copper jewellery, contraceptive coils and swimming pools.

Aluminium too, which is present in deodorants, indigestion pills, aluminium cookware and foil, can have a deleterious effect on fertility.

Heavy metal toxic overload can be picked up in hair analysis and remedied with certain supplements, such as antioxidants, Vitamin C, garlic and Vitamins B1 and B12.

Household Chemicals
Your own home can be full of toxic chemicals from solvent-based paints, chemical preservatives in the carpets, household cleaners, detergents, polishes and air fresheners. All of these may have an effect on fertility and on the unborn baby. Try to buy natural, biodegradable household clears from your local healthfood shop.

Radiation
Our homes are full of devices which emit electromagnetic radiation, including televisions, radios, electric alarm clocks, microwave ovens and VDUs. Research into the effects of non-ionizing radiation is still in its early stages, but it is better to remain aware and keep it to a minimum.

Body Mass Index
Fertility is at its highest, and pregnancy most successful when the body mass index is normal, within the range of 20-25. Overweight women (BMI 27) are 300% less likely to conceive and much more likely to miscarry if they do become pregnant. Losing even a little bit of weight can increase the chances of pregnancy quite significantly. One in three women who are overweight and lose weight get pregnant, and the risk of miscarriage is reduced by 2/3.

Women who are underweight (BMI 17) are 50% less likely to conceive.

Blood Sugar Levels
It is important to keep blood sugar levels balanced, by eating little and often and avoiding an excessive amount of sweet foods. If the blood sugar levels drop too low, adrenalin will be released, which blocks the uptake of progesterone in the luteal phase of the cycle. This can cause PMS, as well as effecting fertility.

Stress
Stress and depression are implicated in ovulatory irregularities, as well as abnormal sperm development. The lower your levels of stress, the greater your chances are at conceiving.

Genitourinary infections
There are many genitourinary infections, such as Chlamydia, mycoplasma and ureaplasma, that can contribute to infertility, miscarriage and premature birth. Each partner should be tested for these infections.

Nutrition
To optimize your health before you conceive, you should eat:

You and your partner should take a general ante-natal vitamin and mineral supplement.

Certain supplements are particularly important to enhance fertility:

Folic acid prevents spina bifida in the baby, and, together with B12, it is necessary to produce RNA and DNA.

Zinc is an essential component of genetic material and a zinc deficiency can cause chromosomal changes in you or your partner, leading to reduced fertility and an increased risk of miscarriage. Zinc is also necessary to efficiently utilize the reproductive hormones, oestregen and progesterone and it is an essential nutrient for sperm health. It is needed to make the outer layer and tail of the sperm. Low levels of zinc in a man’s diet can result in poor sperm count.

Selenium is an antioxidant. It helps protect the body from free radicals and protect from chromosomal damage, which can cause miscarriages and birth defects. It is also important for sperm formation and raises sperm count.

Essential Fatty Acids are essential for healthy hormone and reproductive function. They produce prostaglandins which have hormone-like functions. Semen is rich in prostaglandins and men with poor sperm quality, poor morphology, poor motility and low count benefit from taking essential fatty acids.

Vitamin E is another antioxidant which has been shown to increase fertility, especially in men.

Vitamin C, another antioxidant, enhances sperm quality, protecting it from damage by free radicals. It also increases sperm motility.

L-Arginine is essential for sperm production as the head of the sperm contains huge amounts of the substance. L-Arginine can increase both sperm count and sperm quality. However, it should not be taken by people who have the herpes virus, as it activates the virus and cause an attack.

L-Carnitine, too, is found in large amounts in sperm cells, and it increases sperm count and motility.