Is Infertility a Modern-day Problem?

For some time now this issue of infertility has weighed heavily on my heart and with so many people struggling with infertility in my life right now (including me), I figured it was about time for this post. Before I fully step onto my soapbox, I’ll just warn you that I am passionate about this issue. You've been warned:)!

Is infertility a modern day problem? Well, I cannot say for sure since I was not around centuries ago, but there is much supporting research that it is indeed a modern day problem. That is not to say that no one used to have trouble getting pregnant or have miscarriages, but looking at statistics it would appear there was significantly less infertility. Now, many people would disagree as to the reasons, but this being a food dominated blog, you know what I’m going to say… "Look at our diets.” Whenever there seems to be an unexplained reason for increased diseases, medical conditions, etc. my first response is to look at what we are eating.

Clearly, not every problem can be cured with diet, however diet plays a HUGE role in decreasing symptoms and in many cases eliminating the ailment. So let’s talk about infertility, something I, myself have struggled with for years. I was blessed with two wonderful children; however it took 3 years for the first child and nearly 3 years for the second. It turns out that my problem is a relatively easy fix (I ovulate very infrequently), however what about women who seemingly are great candidates and yet still cannot get pregnant.

Here’s the brief story of my infertility… before getting pregnant I had the worst diet I have EVER had. Still not terrible by the Standard American Diet (SAD) terms, but a lot of quick meals, A LOT of refined white flour (pasta, crackers, rolls, bread, packaged biscuit/cookie mixes), frozen vegetables, A LOT of nonfat milk and yogurt and lean meats. I was finishing undergraduate college and then entered a post-graduate program, started teaching and was definitely stressed. Prior to getting pregnant I had cleaned up my diet and lost nearly 40lbs and began drinking a fertility tea. I’m fairly confident that my diet played a HUGE role in getting pregnant. It is well known that being overweight can inhibit pregnancy, so that in combination with eating better while drinking a tea (which is supposed to help you ovulate), may have done the trick. Because it took 3 yrs. to get pregnant the first go round, when we were having trouble the second time around my doctor suggested that we try Clomid to see if I even ovulate. Well sure enough I did and we were pregnant first try, I am thankful for my doctor and Clomid, because it identified the problem and of course gave me my second child. That being said I wish I had found the info I now know years ago and tried to solve my issues naturally first. Clomid and other infertility treatments are not without side affects. In the scheme of things my infertility issues are small compared to the many women today who have much more severe infertility and miscarriages.

Do a search on the web for infertility and ways to solve it naturally and there is an overwhelming amount of research being done, many articles all pointing to our diets. The use of fertility drugs and many other infertility treatments is on the rise, we should be looking for the cause, not just the solution. I know first-hand what it feels like to want a child so deeply and being thrilled when someone offers you a quick and easy solution, however are we setting ourselves up for continued failure if we never address the cause or root of the problem? YES, YES, and YES!!

Here is some of the alarming information I found when researching:

-Diet should be the first thing we look at when infertility is a problem. In many cases women have fixed their infertility by eating a diet full of Real-food, with plenty of full-fat dairy, and good grass-fed animal fats (butter, chicken, beef, lamb and eggs).

-Soy should be avoided, particularly when trying to get pregnant. The studies done on soy are disturbing to say the least and warrant your attention. Soy is used so widely in American foods that unless you cook all your food from scratch you are most likely getting soy. The more processed the food, the higher the chance of soy. Not all soy is bad (fermented soy in moderation is acceptable), however Americans are consuming far too much. Soy has been linked to premature menopause, low birth weights, early puberty and an imbalance of hormones. In a previous post on Omega oils, I wrote on the unhealthy ratios we are currently getting in all our food and the imbalance is likely affecting hormones…Not enough Omega 3 and far too much Omega 6. Wouldn’t you know it; soy contains way too much Omega 6! At the end of the post there are some articles for further reading on the dangers of soy.

-Vitamin A and D are both needed during pregnancy, but both are needed prior to pregnancy as well. Most Americans these days are vitamin D deficient and vitamin D helps hormone production. Vitamin D has been used to treat PMS, PCOS and many other reproductive issues. If you are trying to conceive or are currently pregnant you should be taking a quality supplement of both Vitamin A and D (I would recommend, Cod Liver Oil).

-Steer clear of Trans fats, they are terrible for you to begin with, but have serious consequences for your reproductive health. Avoid them as much as possible.

-Refined Sugar, yes you have heard it before, but what if it was standing in the way of you having a child…would you give it up then?? Sugar in the body affects your metabolism, your immune system, and many other functions; you’d be hard pressed to find anyone in the medical or health community in support of refined sugar.

-Organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible. I know this is extremely hard, especially when you are on a budget. My thinking is this…if you can afford it, ALWAYS go organic, if you are on a budget shoot for mostly organic and by on sale or buy local where you know they do not use pesticides, lastly if you are on a serious budget, then put your money into good quality dairy and protein and hope that your good diet will overcome any ill affects of the pesticide residue :). Pesticides have been shown to have negative side effects in many areas in the body and infertility is no exception. It is known that women living near crops where pesticides are sprayed have had a difficult time getting pregnant and increased miscarriages rate, but what about the amount of those pesticides we eat on a daily basis. Pesticides are meant to be tough, they do not wash off easily and our bodies cannot simply pass them through. No, these harmful chemicals are causing numerous health problems, including infertility!

Those are some good starting points if you are struggling with infertility. It just cannot be a coincidence that infertility plagues numerous women every year and the number is rising. Could it be what we are eating? Are the foods we consume making us less fertile? If you are interested in reading more on anything I've covered check out the articles and blogs below. Additionally, when diet is great and you still struggle with infertility, I'd seek out a nutritional therapist or holistic nutritionist for support with supplements and reversing previous damage. Essential Oils are also an option for those who already tried diet and are still struggling. Essential Oils have been used for years for women and hormone balance including oils like Clary Sage, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Bergamot, and Sage Lavender.

Article from Scientic American: "Could Eating To Much Soy Be Bad For You?

Article from Dr. Mercola: "Think Soy is Healthy? Here’s Why it’s Not as Good as You Think"

If you are ready to dive into natural fertility check out these sites: Naturally Knocked Up, Natural fertility Info.com, Kelly the Kitchen Cop, If you are ready to get really into Real-food for your fertility then check out Food Renegade. And lastly, if you are curious about how Essential Oils can help with infertility and healthy pregnancy let's chat!