We’ve talked before about minimising potentially harmful chemicals if you’re trying to conceive, and some newly published research agrees.

The Telethon Institute of Child Health Research in Australia has found a possible link between women working in certain industries and a common birth defect.[1]

They looked at pregnant women who are exposed to heavy metals in labs, petrol stations and in the defence industries. The sons of these women were two and a half times more likely to be diagnosed with hypospadias, a problem that affects the penis.

Sons of women who work as hairdressers or in the beauty industry are also thought to be at higher risk of this diagnosis as they are often exposed to phthalates, a group of common chemicals found in many personal care products, detergents and plastics.

The researchers are keen to point out that more work needs to be done to get more detailed information about the risk, and these are only preliminary findings.

So to reduce your risk of exposure to toxic chemicals when you’re trying to become pregnant, look at the common household items in your home, and consider swapping them for natural products. If you’re concerned or think you’ve been exposed to a lot of chemicals through your work, you can always check your toxic levels with a Mineral & Toxicity Analysis.

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[1] http://www.ichr.uwa.edu.au/media/1065

If you’re trying to conceive, it’s all too easy to get caught up in the different ways to try and improve your fertility while forgetting the basic baby-making skill - sex.

And regular sex can be good for you too. Some research has shown[1] that women who enjoy regular sex (at least once a week) have more stable periods and fewer fertility problems than women who don’t. It helps as a stress-reducer and can generally make you feel happier.

For men too, regular sex can reduce DNA damage and improve motility.[2] But it’s important not to overdo it as too much ejaculation can reduce the number of viable sperm, so fertility experts now agree that every other day is about right.

The important thing to remember is to enjoy yourselves, and not to get too hung up on your fertility status.

Go with the flow and it might make all the difference!

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 [1] Cutler, W. et al (1985) ‘Sexual behaviour frequency and biphastic ovulatory type menstrual cycles’,  in Physiology Behaviour 34, 804-810.

 [2] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8125934.stm

We talk a lot in our blog posts about wide ranging issues around fertility. But we’ve talked less about our own approach to natural fertility and how it might benefit you if you’re trying to conceive.

As you know, we’re both homeopaths and this is the first element of the treatment we provide. We’re all unique individuals. Sounds obvious but what it means in practice is that we all react differently to the stresses and strains of life, and are affected in different ways by our family and medical history. We have the capacity to get our systems working at their best, but sometimes our bodies need a little help.

Homeopathy is a system of medicine which stimulates our body’s own balancing and healing mechanisms. Because homeopaths take a holistic view of their patients, the links between physical, emotional and psychological health are very clear.

So if you’re looking for a natural approach to your fertility issues, homeopathy could be for you. If you’d like to know more about how our treatment could help, and how it works with other types of treatment, do look at our frequently asked questions page. And then, why not drop us an email? We’d love to hear from you.