How to Naturally Maximise Your Fertility

Poor fertility can be a source of heartbreak and stress for many couples. Estimates suggest around one in seven couples in the UK experience difficulties conceiving.

However, there is much you can do to maximise your chances of having a baby. Read on to discover why sometimes it can be hard to conceive, and how to naturally support fertility, whether you’re a man or a woman. 

Fertility Explained

To become pregnant, a woman must produce a healthy egg, and it needs to be fertilised by healthy sperm. Following this, the mother’s womb should safely nurture the egg as it develops. To stand a fighting chance, as many sperm as possible should be produced, and they must be able to swim rapidly towards the egg.

How do Hormones Support Fertility?

Human bodies are designed to reproduce. This ability is down to a delicate balance of hormones. Many factors can contribute to hormone imbalance.

The main female hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, are both needed for fertility. Progesterone prepares the womb lining for pregnancy and allows a pregnancy to continue. Oestrogen is crucial for ovulation and to develop the womb lining. If progesterone is low, or oestrogen either too high or too low, fertility may be impaired.

Signs you may have a hormonal imbalance include irregular or heavy periods, as well as conditions like uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and PCOS. 

On the other hand, testosterone is the male hormone needed for making babies. Low levels of testosterone can lead to lack of libido, reduced sperm volume, and erectile dysfunction. Men produce oestrogen, too, but if its level is too high, it can block testosterone’s activity.

Now we know unbalanced hormones can make conception less likely, we need to dig deeper and work out why hormones become unbalanced in the first place.

• Poor Gut Health

The bacteria living in your gut microbiome play a role in inactivating oestrogen once it’s done its job. If the bacteria are out of balance, they won’t perform this role effectively, and oestrogen levels may rise. 

• Stress

If mum-to-be is constantly stressed, her body will prioritise making stress hormones over progesterone, impacting fertility. Men’s testosterone production falls when they’re stressed, too. This makes sense as nature would prefer women didn’t become pregnant in an environment hostile to their baby. 

Research found women with increased amounts of a specific marker for stress in their saliva took almost 30% longer to conceive than those who had lower levels of the stress marker (1)

Problems conceiving can in themselves represent a significant source of stress. This means stress management techniques become even more important at this time. Poor sleep is a significant source of stress, so make this a priority. Meanwhile, it’s a good idea to emphasise stress-busting nutrients like magnesium, B vitamins, and vitamin C.

• Nutrient Deficiencies

Nutrients are crucial for hormone balance, egg development and to keep the uterine lining healthy. Meanwhile, men need good levels of nutrients to make healthy and mobile sperm. It’s important to ensure nutrient levels are optimal before conception to support mother’s and baby’s health during pregnancy. 

Some important nutrients to support fertility include:

Folate - needed to build baby’s brain and spinal cord. Optimal folate levels can take some time to restore, so it’s a good idea to pay attention to your levels several months before conception. 

Vitamin D - in notoriously short supply in the UK over the winter months. It’s needed for an egg to implant into the uterus, for optimal testosterone levels and healthy sperm. 

Omega 3 fats – in research, women who took omega 3 supplements had an increased chance of becoming pregnant (2). In men, omega 3 may help improve semen quality. 

Vitamin B12 – Studies found insufficient B12 in women is linked with problems conceiving. 

Zinc – this mineral is needed for healthy ovaries, and to produce mobile sperm. 

Co-Enzyme Q10 - an antioxidant helping to protect a woman’s eggs from the effects of ageing (3). It also supports energy production within sperm cells. This nutrient is made in the body, but production slows after your twenties, so it may be worth considering a supplement. 

• Alcohol

Alcohol consumption is linked to hormone imbalances in both women and men.

• Belly Fat

Fat sitting around the belly encourages the conversion of testosterone to oestrogen and reduces its activity. In women, deposits of belly fat are correlated with reduced likelihood of conception. 

• Toxins and Mould

Many environmental chemicals produced nowadays interfere with hormone balance. They mimic oestrogen, amplifying its effect. Such chemicals are found in many plastics, household cleaning, laundry and even skincare products. They’re also found in pollutants from industry and chemicals used in food production, such as pesticides. Therefore, it’s a good idea to avoid heating and storing food in plastic containers, switch to glass water bottles, use cleaning and personal products made from natural ingredients, and eat organic wherever possible. 

Toxic chemicals emitted by household moulds, known as mycotoxins, can also disrupt hormone balance. They spark off the body’s stress response, adversely affecting sperm maturation and quality (4). In addition, they copy and block the action of hormones like oestrogen and testosterone (5). 

Help and Support to Maximise Your Fertility

The best idea is to start early. Maximising the nutritional status and hormone balance in both parents-to-be during the 3-6 months prior to conception will help your chances of conceiving and increase the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy. This period provides an ideal opportunity to provide a foundation for the future health of your baby. 

If you feel you would benefit from one-to-one support, we take a personalised approach to maximising fertility, including dietary enhancement, lifestyle modifications, and detoxification protocols. These all work together to help balance your hormones and prepare your body for parenthood. A great first step is an Integrative Health Assessment to look in depth at your nutrient status, toxic burden and stress levels. 

Our strength is the wide range of therapists we can call on, depending on your personal circumstances and needs. Women’s Health Specialist Anga Gonzalez combines Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, and Massage to enhance reproductive health. On the other hand, if stress is impacting your hormone balance, you may benefit from Emotional Freedom Technique to help release emotional blocks impairing fertility. 

We offer a range of functional tests delving deep into the imbalances impeding your fertility. For example, the Mycotoxin Mould Panel assesses a sample of your urine to determine whether moulds may be contributing towards poor fertility. The DUTCH Complete provides a comprehensive assessment of your reproductive hormones, and can reveal whether stress is contributing to your health issues.

To start your journey towards optimum fertility, contact us today.

References

1. Preconception stress increases the risk of infertility: results from a couple-based prospective cohort study—the LIFE study - PMC
2. Effect of omega-3 supplements or diets on fertility in women: A meta-analysis - ScienceDirect
3. Coenzyme Q10 restores oocyte mitochondrial function and fertility during reproductive aging - PMC
4. Endocrine Effect of Some Mycotoxins on Humans: A Clinical Review of the Ways to Mitigate the Action of Mycotoxins - PMC
5. Endocrine activity of mycotoxins and mycotoxin mixtures - PubMed