Why Fertility Rates Are Dropping & What You Can Do About It.
Did you know that fertility rates have dropped 50% worldwide in the last 50 years? You might be curious to know how environmental toxins are impacting this decline. so in this blog we’ll explore how chronic exposure to chemicals and heavy metals are affecting women and their partners, and what to do about it.
How Reproductive Health Has Changed
According to Dr. Shanna Swan, Ph.D, reproductive health has been declining since the 1980’s in the following ways:
Fertility has dropped 50% worldwide in the last 50 years.
In western countries, sperm counts & testosterone levels have been declining for the last 40 years & it has resulted in men having only half the number of sperm that his grandfather had.
Women’s production of healthy eggs continues to decline and the experience of miscarriage is much higher.
And many other species are showing reproductive abnormalities and declining fertility.
These are just a few statistics from epidemiologists like Dr. Swan who study environmental impacts on fertility. You can read more about her historical research, here:
A Love Letter to Anyone On Their TTC Journey
Before describing the link between infertility and environmental toxins there’s an important message that needs to be given to women & their partners.
Please know herein that your TTC (trying to conceive) journey is not one of blame but one of compassion and empowerment. This is an opportunity for both men and women to improve their reproductive health in partnership. Remember that our bodies are resilient beyond measure, and it takes curiosity and bravery to discover the hidden toxins in our daily life and want to do something about it. This next chapter of clean living will tip the scales in your favor and is to be celebrated!
Know that the explosion of chemicals and their affect on fertility is the fault of chemical companies and the entities that have not protected us. This is not on you, and that’s why we’re here to support you with the nontoxic living practices that will optimize your fertility.
How To Avoid Endocrine Disruptors In Our Daily Lives
Since the industrial revolution chemicals have been dumped into our water, air, and soil at an alarming rate. In particular, the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC’s) that impact fertility have not been regulated safety. They have been allowed to flood the marketplace and they’re invited into our homes daily by the things we do. consume, & buy.
EDC’s are in everything from food storage, to home fragrance, children’s toys, even our clothing. But since we know where to find them we can do something about it! Remember that our bodies are designed to heal, and priming them for fertility can start with cleaning up our homes. Here are 4 ways you can start reducing your exposures to EDC’s today:
Cook more home cooked meals as this will reduce chemicals like phthalates & PFAS that can migrate into your food from plastic packaging. Both phthalates and PFAS are EDC’s.
Avoid synthetic “fragrance” in things like cleaning supplies & laundry detergent. And start to learn about EDC’s under the word "fragrance” & choose items with 100% essential oils instead.
Choose a good water filter that removes EDC’s like: PFAS, pesticides, microplastics, & heavy metals.
And use a stainless or glass water bottle instead of plastic. This will reduce the EDC’s that can migrate into your favorite beverage from the plastic. Do the same for your coffee cup whether it’s iced or hot-most coffee shops will even give you a discount.
When changes like these are put into place, the reduction in EDC’s can be measured in the body quickly. So when we reduce exposures our bodies truly do respond!
<> If you want to take your health one step further, find a Naturopathic or Functional Medicine doctor who offers a total tox burden test and detox protocol. Practicing Integrative Nontoxic Living is a perfect companion for any detox protocol before conceiving. We know this next chapter will be transformational, and remember that small changes do matter! <>
