Infertility is an alarming modern epidemic affecting more couples than ever. It is said that one out of six married women today experience difficulty getting pregnant. What was once seen as a feminine problem is now known to affect men too.

The natural approach to treating infertility solves the root causes of the problem by addressing all the systems of the human body, rather than just focusing on the reproductive system.

Many couples that cant become pregnant suffer from a combination of sub-clinical conditions. These conditions cant cause infertility on their own, but, in combination, they can substantially reduce a womans chances of conception.

For example, although gluten intolerance alone cannot cause infertility, the resulting inflammation in the gut can minimise your nutrient absorption and lead to deficiencies in nutrients you need for optimal sperm, egg and hormone production and a healthy pregnancy. Exposure to heavy metals, radiation and toxic chemicals in some foods, drugs and other products can damage DNA. Recent nutrigenomic (a study of the effects of nutrients on gene expression) research suggests that what we eat can influence our gene structure and expression.

Minimise your exposure to toxic chemicals

Exposure to environmental toxins (in the form of industrial chemicals) in utero and neonatal period may dramatically affect adult fertility. Most chemicals used in everyday life do not go through the same checks that medicines do. Consequently, poisonous chemicals end up circulating in our environment, food supply, air and water.

The strongest evidence of heavy metals and environmental pollution adversely interfering with healthy reproductive function in women has been found for lead. Other compounds that can alter hormone function and result in adverse reproductive health effects include:

• Ovotoxicants can disrupt or even stop ovulation
• Endocrine disruptors interfere with hormone function and cause endometriosis and PCOS (polycystic ovarian disease).
• Phthalates in plastic food containers, cling wrap, IV bags, medical supplies, vinyl flooring and packaging at high levels have been associated with miscarriage and testicular toxicity. At low levels they disrupt hormonal balance.
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) chemicals used in rubber tires, plastics and pesticides.
• PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon) released from cigarettes, car fumes and road tar

Men are not spared

Sperm seems to be more sensitive to heavy metals and industrial pollutants than eggs. Many sperm abnormalities have been linked to these toxins. The majority of these chemicals can be found in the atmosphere, on the ground in cities and in waterways. They have also been described as reprotoxicants for their negative effects on sperm development and maturation.

Studies confirm that male sperm counts are declining and environmental factors, such as pesticides, exogenous estrogens (Xenoestrogens) and heavy metals may negatively impact on spermatogenesis (formation of sperm).

Top environmental toxins to avoid

Pesticides found on non-organic fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy products and unfiltered tap water.

Formaldehyde found in air fresheners, deodorants, floor polish and upholstery cleaners.

Bisphenols found in plastic containers.

Organic solvents found in petroleum based liquids found in household products, electronics, car repair, health care, photography, agriculture, printing, construction and cosmetics.

Dry-cleaning chemicals in paint fumes

Occasional exposure to one or the other toxic chemical is not of concern. What is of concern is the accumulation of these chemicals over a long period.

Dont drink unfiltered tap water. Our waterways are constantly being polluted by industrial waste and byproducts, pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides, herbicides and commercial cleaning products.

There are many companies polluting the water, regardless of the country you live in. It is either there is no environmental law at all or there is no law to prevent the XYZ chemical getting into the water.

Heavy metals are the most common of the reprotoxins reaching our water supply through industrial waste, jet fuel exhaust residue and a variety of other sources. Pharmaceutical drugs are commonly found in tap water. About 74 per cent of the US population takes prescription drugs.

Since the drugs do not metabolise fully, small quantities are excreted via faeces and urine and flushed away. Toilet water is often treated and filtered before being discharged into lakes and rivers thereby re-entering the water supply.

The trouble is that many drugs are not filtered out via the regular filtration process. Minute quantities of chemotherapy drugs, contraceptive pills, antidepressants, anxiolytics, anabolic steroids, HRT (hormone replacement therapy) and heart drugs have been found in tap water.

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