Natural Fertility: Environmental Toxins
Environmental contaminants and toxins play a large role in our ability to get pregnant.
Toxins
We have a lot of good evidence that shows smoking negatively impacts fertility. Women run out of eggs earlier and go to menopause 1-4 years earlier. It increases the risk of miscarriage. It also negatively impacts sperm.
Alcohol has not clearly been established with negative impact on fertility, but there is enough evidence that it may for women who consume 2 or more drinks per day or 4 drinks in a week. The recommendation is no more than 1 drink a day and no alcohol at all once you are pregnant.
High levels of caffeine consumption like 500 mgs or 5 cups of coffee a day has been associated with decreased fertility. Consuming 200 mgs per day gives a higher chance of miscarriage. We recommend one cup of coffee per day. I recommend paying attention to the levels of caffeine in the coffee you are drinking.
Marijuana has been hard to study because it is illegal in most states, however we are starting to get more data now. We have seen literature that states the rate of infertility was higher in women who reported marijuana use than those who did not. We have not seen that it negatively impacts sperm, but the recommendation is to avoid exposure to these potentially toxic substances.
Environmental contaminants
This is a hard one but very important. A lot of people tend to avoid this because they do not like the data or they think it is a health scam to try to get you to buy organic food. I think the data makes it clear that the environment we live in which encourages consumerism has led to things that are not necessarily safe for our bodies. I could do an entire episode on this topic, but for now I will hit the high points.
BPA is an endocrine disruptor meaning it interferes with how your hormones function specifically estrogen, testosterone, thyroid hormones and more. As you know, BPA is in many plastics and has been associated with bad outcomes in the human body including decrease in egg quality, poor embryo development in the lab and lower pregnancy rates. Just because BPA is now well-known to be bad, they are replacing BPA with other toxins. Although products may say BPA-free it does not mean that it is safe. My best advice is to avoid plastics that are getting hot such as in the microwave or water bottles that have at some point been exposed to heat. I recommend glass or stainless steel drinkware and food storage. Even the linings of cans sometimes contain BPA which is starting to be phased out. Limiting processed foods and even thermal receipts at stores are important. Say no to a receipt, get it emailed to you, or wash your hands if you have touched a receipt.
Phalates are used in plastics, vinyl, cleaning products, nail polishes, and fragrance. One study shows they are high in food processing and packaging. We believe these phalates cause high oxidative stress and have been associated with poor embryo development and pregnancy rates. The best thing to do is limit processed and fast foods. A big offender here is a coffee maker. I recommend a French press, Chemex or pour over when you make your own coffee. Also, limiting fragrance is important. We use fragrance-free detergents and soaps. They also make phalate free nail polishes you should consider.
PFCs (Perfluorochemicals)- I did a huge project on these in fellowship because this topic fascinates me. You can find these in the teflon in your non-stick pans. So when you cook at home stick to stainless steel and cast-iron. That non-stick coating contains PFCs that are not good for your body.
Pesticides - Organic fruits and vegetables are important especially if they do not have a peel that you are removing. Grapes, strawberries, broccoli etc should be organic and washed thoroughly.
I understand removing all of these things from your consumption isn’t easy, but being aware is a good place to start. Next up we will talk about how diet plays a role in your fertility.