It’s normally us women who are constantly reminded about our age and how it negatively affects our fertility but now it seems that the same rule applies to men too.  A recent French study of over 12,200 couples having fertility treatment suggests the chance of a successful pregnancy falls when the man is aged over 35.  It adds that the chance is significantly lower if he is over 40.  Previous studies have shown that both natural and assisted conception is more difficult if the man is over 40.  The researchers told a European reproductive health conference that it was likely the problems were caused by DNA damage in sperm.

According to a recent BBC article, Dr. Allan Pacey, a fertility expert at Sheffield University and secretary of the British Fertility Society, said: “There is a growing evidence from a number of studies to show that men are not totally immune from reproductive ageing. “Previous studies of couples trying to conceive naturally or undergoing IVF have shown that men over the age of about 40 are less fertile than younger men.  Moreover, if they do achieve a pregnancy their partners are more likely to miscarry.”

This study reinforces the message that men aren’t excused from reproductive ageing and it’s just as important for men to consider their age as women.  This also applies to the general responsibility of fertility issues - it’s all too easy and common for the woman to take it all on herself and feel wholly responsible, but this complex process often involves both the man and the woman.  We would encourage men to consider their overall health even in advance of planning a family, by looking at their diet and lifestyle so that they have the best possible chance of producing sperm of the highest quality.

We were honoured when Kindred Spirit magazine called us to say they were writing an article, Homeopathic Help, in their March/April 2010 issue and would like to feature a case study from Juno Natural Fertility.

With kind permission we told them the story of Davina, who’d been trying to conceive for two years. Davina suffered with polycystic ovaries and was under a lot of emotional strain since her gran became ill around the time that she’d started trying for a baby.

As well as highlighting homeopathy’s role in fertility, the article also went on to look at other ways that homeopathy can help people with their health and featured a case study of someone who used to suffer with sore throats and tonsillitis until she experienced homeopathic treatment.

You can read the whole article in our news section.

This month Natural Health magazine is taking a look at the Pill and some of the health problems that have been linked to it, including irregular cycles, mood swings, loss of libido and more serious health issues such as infertility, high blood pressure and heart complaints.

They asked a number of fertility experts, including Juno Natural Fertility, to explain some of the risks associated with the Pill and to offer advice for combating these side effects and helping your body to restore its natural state of equilibrium.

You can read the whole article, Is the Pill harming your health?, here.

We’ve talked before about chemicals affecting fertility, but as it’s hit the news again in the last week or so we thought we’d bring these new findings to your attention. Chemical toxicity in the system does seem increasingly likely to be a factor amongst couples struggling to conceive.

This is due to the use of flame-retardant chemicals also known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the last 30 years, which can now be found almost everywhere; in the soil, sediment, food, air and house dust.  As a result of their widespread use research has shown that ‘97% of Americans have detectable levels in their body’.  The effect these chemicals are having on our general health, and more specifically fertility, is now being questioned.

According to a recent Economist article, ‘Kim Harley of the University of California, Berkeley, and her colleagues decided to look at whether levels of PBDEs in women affected their fertility. They took blood samples from 223 women on low incomes living in California, most of whom were Mexican, and asked them how long they had taken to become pregnant.  Their research, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, found that each tenfold increase in the blood concentration of PBDEs was linked to a 30% decrease in the probability of becoming pregnant each month.’

Although this research is fairly conclusive about the negative effects of PBDEs on fertility, more research is needed to know the full extent of the problem.  At Juno Natural Fertility a key part of our treatment involves carrying out a Mineral and Toxicity Analysis.  Based on the results we’re able to give you tailored homeopathic remedies and supplements to detox any chemicals found in your system and restore mineral levels in the body.

You can read the Economist article in full here, and to find out more information about our Mineral and Toxicity Analysis visit our website.

We’ve found a great endorsement for using homeopathy when you’re trying to get pregnant. It comes from Bella Online, a US community site, and talks about the possible benefits of homeopathy if you’re in this situation.

Homeopathy is an approach to wellness. That’s the slant in the article and that’s what appeals to us. We know there are many factors that can influence whether you’re able to conceive, and we aim to address all these when you start on the Juno programme of treatment.

The article points out that homeopathy looks at the whole person - body, mind and spirit - and treats you as an individual. Don’t forget there’s no substitute for consulting a professional homeopath, as they’ll be able to spot patterns and connections in your health history that you’ve probably never thought about.

Take a look at the article, and then think about using homeopathy to help with your conception problems.

A week or so ago we did a live webchat as part of Babyexpert.com’s Fertility Month - as you may know from an earlier post.

It was a great privilege to hear from lots of women who wanted help with their particular fertility problem and were looking for our advice. And clearly there is interest in using natural ways to help with these issues.

We covered a range of topics - from recurrent miscarriage and possible ovulation problems, to dealing with the effects of stress from trying to conceive and minimising the impact of a city environment on the body.

We also advised on mineral and toxicity testing, using Australian Bush Flower essences, and talked in general about the potential of homeopathic treatment.

Why not check out the Babyexpert.com webchat page? You’ll see the questions and our answers - and there may be something there to help you.

Don’t forget… we’re always available to answer your individual questions. All you need to do is to ask the experts and one of us will respond personally. We look forward to hearing from you.

This week we’re pleased to have been asked for expert advice in an article for Zest magazine. The piece, Life after the pill, brings together various solutions for women who experience problems post-pill.

When you stop taking the pill, it can take some time for your hormonal system to get back to normal, and that can be quite a rocky road for some women.

If you’re planning to start a family, we believe natural remedies are the way to go if you have to cope with painful periods, mood swings and other symptoms of hormone imbalance.

We mentioned a couple in the article - Pulsatilla and Sepia. Pulsatilla is a good remedy if you become very emotional before your period, and experience pains on the first day. And if your periods are painful with a low dragging pain, try Sepia for natural relief.

You can read the whole article in our news section.

It’s Fertility Month on Babyexpert.com and we’ve been invited to answer their readers questions live on a webchat tomorrow (Monday 11th January) from 12 - 1pm. So if you have a burning question you’d like to ask, then why not join us or simply log on to see what everyone else is talking about, as we’re sure there’ll be lots of interesting questions and answers. Click on the link below for more info and register to ask your question:

http://www.babyexpert.com/Getting-Pregnant/Natural-and-homeopathic-fertility-webchat/v1

Hope to see lots of you there!

Well here we are - the first post of 2010! At this time of year we’re full of ideas for new projects and hope for new possibilities. But you might be feeling a bit sluggish and run down, and even if you haven’t overdone it, the festive period can take its toll.

If you’re trying to conceive, clearing your body of the toxins that accumulate at this time of year is a great way of boosting your system and getting ready to continue with your natural fertility plan. So why not try a simple detox with a difference? The difference is that this detox is homeopathic.

Get hold of some Nux vomica 6c, which is easily available on the high street. Take one pill a day for five consecutive days, and give yourself a month off from trying to become pregnant. This will give your body time to detox, allow your hormones to rebalance and get you fighting fit again.

If you can also take some regular exercise, drink plenty of water and eat fresh, nutritious food this will help flush out and detox your system. You’ll be bursting with those new possibilities in no time!

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.