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admin2024-06-25 00:33:232024-06-25 00:40:57Could Your Thyroid be Causing Infertility?Toxins & Infertility
How Environmental Toxins Cause Infertility
Over the last several decades, awareness has increased about the effect of “lifestyle” factors on overall health and longevity. More and more individuals are making conscious choices in their day-to-day lives to improve their mental and physical well-being: taking up yoga, eating more organic foods, and meditating to combat the effects of stress.
But while many people focus on healthy personal lifestyle choices, they often remain unaware of the dangerous day-to-day environmental exposures that are impacting their physiology. And the chemicals present in our everyday activities can have seriously damaging effects on our health.
One area in which the problem of environmental toxins has received recent attention is in clinical studies examining infertility. A growing body of scientific research is now mounting that points to the detrimental impact of environmental chemical exposure on fertility and reproductive health.
Environmental exposures to chemicals in our daily lives can be difficult to avoid, as chemicals are universally present in so many of our daily activities and situations. In this article Austin’s top natural fertility doctor, Ruthie Harper MD, examines the interconnections of environmental factors with the female body, that can result in reproductive problems. Below are just some of the toxins that permeate American lifestyles that can cause or contribute to infertility in women.
Heavy Metals & Infertility
Lead, mercury, and boron can all compromise both male and female fertility.
Lead – ubiquitously found in batteries, metal products, paints, and plumbing pipes – interrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary function and imbalances hormone levels, leading to fertility problems. Lead can also lower sperm quality in men, as well as can cause irregular menstrual cycles in women. Boron, found in glass, ceramics, and leather goods, has a similar effect.
Mercury is not only found in thermometers, batteries, and industrial emissions, but it also enters our bodies through contaminated seafood. As mercury accumulates in the body, it has been shown to be related to infertility by disrupting the proper development of the sperm cells (spermatogenesis) – which can potentially cause fetal birth defects.
Air Pollution & Infertility
Air pollution refers to particulate matter and ground-level ozone that is suspended in the air we breathe. Toxins such as carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere by vehicles, the burning of fuels, and industrial and manufacturing processes. When the body breathes these gases, it is believed to have a significant, negative impact on many physiological functions, including fertility and reproduction.
Because people are simultaneously exposed to many pollutants in the air, clinical studies have had difficulties identifying specifically which toxins in the air impact fertility. But research has shown that exposure to high levels of air pollution interfere with the development of the male and female sex cells, and are also associated with both increased miscarriage rates and higher incidence of fetal birth defects and malformations.
Endocrine Disruptors and Infertility
Endocrine disruptors are substances that mimic natural hormones – obstructing normal hormone activities, as well as wreaking havoc on the endocrine system. And when the body’s reproductive hormones and endocrine functions are “out of whack” infertility issues can occur.
Unfortunately, endocrine disruptors are found virtually everywhere in daily life – from personal care products, to cleaning solutions. Below are some of the most commonly used endocrine disruptors that have been repeatedly shown in clinical studies to negatively affect fertility in women.
Bisphenol A – “BPAs” – are used in manufacturing many plastics and can be found in items like microwaveable food containers and water bottles. BPAs are associated with recurring miscarriages, as well as with embryonic chromosomal abnormalities.
Phthalates are found in cosmetics, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and even many children’s toys. They are known to cause irregular ovulation – reducing fertility and delaying the ability to conceive.
Solvents found in glues, paints, dyes, detergents, pesticides, nail polish, insulation, food containers, cleaning products, and more have been proven to cause hormone disruptions that reduce fertility.
Older Moms Mean Longer Exposure to Toxins
And, aggravating the problem of toxin exposure and infertility, is delayed maternal age – which increases the timeframe for pollution exposure in women of childbearing age.
In the United States, due to societal factors, economic concerns, and professional pressures, the average childbearing age in women has gotten much older than it was a few decades ago. The average age at which women bore their first child in 2018 was 26.9 years old – up from 21.4 years old in 1970. This represents an almost 7 year delay in giving birth.
And a delayed age of childbearing in modern lifestyles also means that there is a much wider window of opportunity for exposure to environmental toxins before a woman attempts to become pregnant. In other words, seven more years of exposure to chemicals before she tries to conceive may also further contribute to the adverse effects of the environment on fertility.
Infertility Doctor – Austin, TX
As is very obvious from this long list of everyday items containing toxic chemicals, the environmental factors affecting infertility have sadly become a core component of day-to-day modern life.
But while clinical studies have revealed a direct correlation between environmental exposure and female reproductive issues, completely avoiding all potential fertility disrupting toxins is not simply realistic for most women.
However, top Austin fertility doctor Ruthie Harper, MD is a proponent of encouraging couples to try and minimize exposure to known toxins, if they are struggling to conceive. While breathing the air on the way to work cannot be avoided, plastic water bottles and toxic nail polish can be eschewed for healthier options. Even transferring food from plastic to china before microwaving is a small step toward reducing chemical exposure!
If you are having fertility issues, paying more attention to environmental chemical exposure is just one of the many ways that Dr. Harper can help you restore your overall health – so that your body is “in balance” and better equipped to conceive a child naturally.
FERTILITY BLOG
Thank you for visiting our Blog, where Dr. Harper keeps you updated on the latest treatments, technologies and information in the field of natural fertility medicine.
Dr. Ruthie Harper opened her internationally recognized medical practice in Austin, Texas, in 1999. Since that time, she has consulted with more than 10,000 patients, offering the most advanced techniques in natural, holistic and integrative health and wellness.
Check back often for new and informative articles, as well as special offers and exciting events. Or call us today to schedule your fertility consultation … and take the first step toward having the family of your dreams!
512.343.9355
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