Fertility

Trying to conceive involves many variables from mom but dad makes up half the equation too! To ensure a healthy pregnancy, both men and women have to be ready. Here are PregPrep’s top 4 tips for helping dad-to-be prepare for little one.

CHECK WITH DOCTOR. Healthy or not, men should see a doctor for a full physical exam before trying to get their partner pregnant. Besides chronic disease, medication, and problems with ejaculation/erections/libido, anything can affect fertility, so be sure he reveals his family history to his physician.

EAT HEALTHY. A healthy diet rich in fruits and veggies not only improve sperm quality but certain antioxidants found in said foods, like Vitamin C and E, boost sperm count and motility too. Lean protein, low-fat dairy, and whole grains also enhance overall sperm health. Make sure you and your partner are working on this together--it makes eating healthy a lot easier and more fun.

CHOOSE BOXERS. Some experts claim that testicles can overheat in briefs, thereby affecting sperm production. While this may seem silly, it’s always better to play it safe, right?

RELAX & HAVE FUN. Between tracking cycles and everything else you have to consider, trying to conceive can get stressful. But don’t make baby-making feel like a chore. The process can take many months, so unwind and enjoy each other’s company. Ever consider honeymoon #2?

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From eating yams for conceiving twins to taking cough syrup to ease the passage for sperm, we have always been looking for ways to boost fertility. While those myths have long been debunked, we have five tips to actually help you turn up your baby-making mojo.

Get It On! (All Month Long.) Focusing on your most fertile window is fine, but frequent sex is more likely to get you pregnant. For one thing, ovulation may happen earlier or later than you expect; having sex throughout the month increases your chances of conceiving whenever your body decides it's go-time. Regular sex – i.e. waiting no more than two or three days between doing it – has also been shown to increase sperm count, keeping your partner primed and *wink * potent.

Clean Your Bodycare Routine. What you put on your body is just as important as what you put in your body; if you're trying to conceive, it's time to cut the chemicals and toxins out of your bodycare routine. Start fresh – and fertile – with the Nine Naturals’ toxin-free Body Wash, Body Cream, Deodorant, and Sunscreen, plus get key nutritional support to bolster fertility and promote ideal reproductive health with physician-formulated natural supplements in the PregPrep Make That Baby Kit .

Eat Real Food. Minimize processed foods and instead make healthful, whole food choices like fresh produce, full-fat dairy and quality proteins. Try to stick with organics – pesticides have been shown to negatively impact male fertility and may similarly affect ovarian function--and make sure your meat is hormone and antibiotic-free. Continuing to eat well once you conceive will help you grow a healthy baby, too, so start making wise food choices now and, well, don't ever stop!

Hydrate. Dehydration can lead to sub-par cervical fluid, which helps the sperm find its way to an egg. Drink lots of water throughout the day, enough so that your urine is a light yellow color. Plus, keeping hydrated has other health and beauty benefits too!

Go Straight Edge (ish). If you smoke, quit. Toxins in cigarettes will damage your eggs, not to mention every other part of your body (and baby), so just kick that habit – even if it's a social, once-in-a-while one – to the curb. You don't have to kiss coffee or alcohol completely goodbye, but keep your intake moderate so your body can maintain its optimal baby-making biological balances.
If you're trying to conceive sooner rather than later, try out these tips! The key is to make sure you're healthy, making conception easier and the environment for baby better.

This wonder food can improve every aspect of your baby-making, from preconception to pregnancy and postpartum.

Article & Photo courtesy of Well Rounded NY

Whether you are currently trying to conceive, pregnant or just gave birth to your precious little one, homemade bone broth should be like the best friend you talk to every day. Bone broth has been getting a ton of attention lately, especially here in NYC, and rightly so: it’s literally one of the most nutrient-dense foods we can consume. Loaded with every amino acid and mineral our body needs, along with protein, fat and collagen, it’s the ultimate almighty when it comes to improving health, digestion, immunity and fertility in every aspect–from preconception to conception to pregnancy to postpartum. Literally every part of the pregnancy journey can be supported by this wonder food.

In my clinic, I actually call bone broth ‘baby glue.’ The collagen from bone broth works as an amazing tonic to not only improve a woman’s fertility when she is trying to conceive, but to hold her pregnancy once she does conceive.

If you’re pregnant, the nutrients in this yummy broth are amazing for baby, and according to an ancient South American proverb, drinking bone broth regularly through your pregnancy will help ease labor pains! Lastly, when it comes to postpartum, bone broth is wonderful for regulating hormones, supporting ample milk production, helping your body heal from delivery and building back all the energy you put out during labor and delivery.

As a women’s health and fertility expert who is a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), bone broth has been a part of my health optimizing protocol for over a decade. I use bone broth as the cornerstone of my fertility-enhancing protocol because it has an ability to improve not just hormonal health but also the quality of egg (and sperm).

In addition to using acupuncture and Chinese medicine to restore my clients’ health and fertility, I also guide my patients to overhaul their lifestyle—nutritionally, emotionally and physically. In TCM we see animal products, particularly the bones, as providing not only imperative nutrients for the body but supplying us with what we call Jing. Jing, in TCM is kind of like the fountain of youth. When we begin to run out of Jing, we age faster than we should. Alternatively, when we have plenty of Jing our health is vibrant, our skin is radiant and we age at a much slower pace. I mean, who doesn’t want to age more slowly?

Get on the bone broth wagon and not only slow down your aging process (and improve the quality of your hair, skin and nails) but also preserve your fertility.

Why bone broth?
Let me break it down. When one cooks down the skin and bones of an animal into a broth (I usually use a whole pastured organic chicken as it’s bit easier to work with), the nutrients—namely fat, collagen, protein and minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium—seep out into the broth making it a rich, nutrient dense and fertility-boosting concoction. Bone broth also helps improve digestion, boost the immune system, strengthen bones, teeth and joints, nourish hair, skin and nails, balance the thyroid and combat the toll stress takes on the body.

Clinically, I have seen a dramatic increase in the fertility of my patients who are compliant and drink a cup of bone broth daily. And, for myself—I got pregnant with ease at the age of 40 and think that my daily bone broth consumption had a lot to do with it!
It’s not as hard as it sounds

I know many of you are saying, “I don’t have time to cook this!” Aha! I assure you it’s really not that much time. Yes, the soup needs to cook down for about 8-12 hours, but prep time is literally 30-45 minutes all in. And, one batch will make at least a 3-4 week supply of broth. Personally, making homemade bone broth is one of my favorite things to do—in the hectic-ness of life, it really slows me down. Cooking this concoction feels nourishing, therapeutic and really, really good for my soul.

My favorite bone broth recipes can be found here. I have adapted these recipes from the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.

But, actually, before you link to the recipes, here are 5 secrets to making good bone broth:

1. Use the highest quality of bones you can find — bones from grass-fed animals ONLY.

2. One hour before cooking, add vinegar to the stock pot (or slow cooker) full of water and bones to draw the minerals out of the bones into the broth.

3. For a more robust taste, roast and brown the bones in the oven before adding them to the stock. Do this especially if you’re using beef bones. When I use a whole chicken, I don’t typically roast it.

4. Always used filtered water and cook slowly for 8- 12 hours. The longer you cook the bones the more medicinal value you will receive from them. Be mindful that more water will have to be added due to evaporation.

5. Be in the moment when you’re making it and see the process as a therapy in and of
itself.

You deserve a daily dose of bone broth! Happy cooking!

Get more tips on how to naturally improve your fertility here.

This article is by Aimee Raup, courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.

Fertility specialist Aimee Raupp opens up about her own journey to conceive.

Article & Photo courtesy of Well Rounded NY

Last September, I turned 40. Just a few months prior, I fell in love with an amazing 43-year-old man. The relationship moved fast; we quickly moved in together and started talking about building a family. We both wanted children, and preferably more than one. Since we planned to marry, we questioned whether we should do that first, and then start to create our dream family. But rather than wait, we decided to just go for it.

We started trying to conceive in October and we agreed to not put too much pressure on it: we would just continue to have fun sex as we were already doing and see what happened. He offered to get his sperm checked and I said, “No. If we’re not pregnant in six months, then we can both get tests done.” I thought about getting my hormone levels checked with my gynecologist, but I put that task on the back burner as well. I just wanted to have sex and not focus on the getting pregnant part. I wanted to hold onto the faith I had in my body and in its ability to do what I believed and hoped it could do—conceive with ease, regardless of the fact that I was now 40 years old.

In all honesty—I never shared this with my partner—I did expect it to take at least three months, or probably more, to get pregnant. I know how long it can take a couple to conceive when both partners are over the age of 40. I know the increased risks of miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities with age. I’ve heard about and read all of the same statistics we all hear about: the emotionally draining tests, the roller coaster ride of multiple rounds of IVF or Clomid, the painful shots, the mounting bills and the nights of tears. And, as much as I have always had faith in my body and its ability to conceive, I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say these thoughts weren’t causing me some turmoil.

In fact, I know the road of fertility challenges better than most because I practice Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and have specialized women’s health and fertility for the 10 years. I have helped hundreds of women on their path to conceiving and giving birth to a healthy child. I have written books and speak publicly on the topic, and I know all of the potential fertility challenges that exist because I have gone through them with my clients. I have witnessed way too many heart-wrenching fertility struggles. But, through my experience, I also know that most all the women I work with do wind up conceiving healthy children at some point–even in their 40s.

When I work with fertility clients, I guide them to adopt certain lifestyle changes—like becoming omnivores, eating organic, meditating, sleeping 7-8 hours each night and practicing gratitude—to optimize their fertility. Based on my decade of clinical experience and my years of extensive research, I believe that when we practice these lifestyle habits, we truly have the ability to change our health and improve our fertility–even in our 40s.

I’ve seen clinically how these tweaks in behavior can dramatically shift health in a positive direction. Many women, when they adopt these lifestyle changes, see improvement in their menstrual cycles and their ovulation; their hormonal imbalances balance out; their thyroid comes back into harmony; their lives change for the better; they are happier in the present moment; and, overall they are healthier on a global scale: mind, body and soul. It is then that I see them conceive—when mind, body and soul are in sync.

So, now it’s my turn to be a testament to what I preach: the way you live your life has an impact on your health and your fertility. And in my clinical opinion, chronological age pales in comparison to biological age.

As I am writing this, I am 16 weeks pregnant. I got pregnant the second month we tried. Last week, we got the results from my maternity 21 and nuchal translucency tests and they not only showed that the baby boy inside of me is healthy, but also that I have the same genetic odds of anything going wrong with this pregnancy as a women half my age. The doctors have told me there is no need for any further testing. We are in the clear.

I can’t tell you what a relief that news was. That’s not to say that when I go to the bathroom, I still make sure there’s no blood on the toilet paper or that I randomly catch myself squeezing my breasts (sometimes in public!) to make sure they’re still sore, or when I feel cramping in my low back, I fear I am miscarrying—even though I know it’s just the baby growing. I guess this is just the beginning of being parent and worrying about your child’s well being. It’s absolutely surreal.

For as many times as I’ve been on the other side of this with one of my clients, nothing compares to now knowing it and living it first hand. It truly is a miracle. And then to know that my odds of having a healthy baby are the same as someone half my age–I feel that is a true testament to all the work I have done on my health over the years. I really believe the way I live my life has reversed my aging process, or at the least slowed down the aging process of my body and its cells.

I’m living proof that 40 and pregnant happens and it can happen naturally, with ease and fun. I am proud to say that I treat my body like the palace I believe it is, and even though I had—and, will likely continue to have—moments of worry and fear over the health of my baby, I never lost faith in my body and its ability to conceive a healthy child at some point. For all this, I am beyond grateful.

As I always say in my clinic: you have the power to change your health and improve your fertility. My pregnancy at 40 years old is evidence of that.

Author, acupuncturist, and herbalist Aimee Raupp is a women’s health and fertility expert. Follow along on her blog for more on her pregnancy journey and check out her latest book, Yes, You Can Get Pregnant: Natural Ways To Improve Your Fertility Now and Into Your 40’s.

This article is by Aimee Raupp, courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.

Whether a woman is trying to conceive for the first time, or perhaps second or third time, preparing for pregnancy is often the first thought. That is why we are pleased to introduce you to PregPrep, a company a company that is devoted to helping women become pregnant.

1) What is the story behind PregPrep?

We launched PregPrep to help all women who are ready to get pregnant. My sister-in-law, Dr. Lara Oboler, conceived the idea when she was trying to have a baby. While researching ways to conceive naturally and quickly, she discovered that mucolytics (used to break up chest congestion) can help thin cervical mucus, making it less “sticky” and allowing the sperm to swim more easily to the egg. As this made medical sense, she gave it a try and became pregnant in the first month - with all 3 of her babies!

So Lara and I teamed up (after consulting with top OB/GYNs) to create PregPrep’s Natural Conception Kit - doctor formulated supplements that promote conception during the most important days of a woman’s cycle.

2) What role do mucolytics can play in increasing fertility?

Mucolytics are compounds commonly found in cold and cough medicines to thin out mucus in the lungs. They also thin out cervical mucus, allowing sperm to travel more easily to the egg. The main ingredient in our FertilPrep is N-aceytl Cysteine (NAC), a naturally occurring amino acid, mucolytic, and highly effective antioxidant. NAC is safe for use pre and during pregnancy.

3. What’s in each Natural Conception Kit and how is it used?

PregPrep’s Natural Conception Kit empowers women to take charge of their conception journey and optimize their chances of conceiving. Our kit contains 3 safe, natural, doctor-formulated products that work together to target a woman's most fertile days. Included in the trio of products is a bolstered, natural mucolytic and antioxidant (which works to facilitate successful transport of sperm to egg), a unique, specialized pre-conception vitamin, and a select blend of aroma therapeutic oils to encourage overall well-being during the pregnancy journey. We have created a therapeutic program; every day a woman trying to conceive is putting the essential nutrients in her body that can help the conception process.

4. How is PregPrep different from regular prenatal vitamins & what makes it so effective?

PregPrep’s VitaMelts are unique. They focus on providing women with the essentials they need pre-pregnancy, Folic Acid, Vitamin D, and B12. Conventional prenatal vitamins are used pre, during, and post pregnancy. They are incredibly large, difficult to swallow, and can cause nausea and constipation. VitaMelts are small, pleasant tasting, and cause no unpleasant side effects.

PregPrep’s FertilPrep is a doctor-formulated supplement that targets a woman’s 5 most fertile days (the 5 days pre-ovulation) to optimize her fertility. FertilPrep thins cervical mucus to help ease the transport of sperm to egg. It contains N-acetyl Cysteine (NAC), a naturally occurring amino acid + highly effective antioxidant, as well as a blend of natural supplements including chaste berry extract and evening primrose oil which work together to ensure hormonal balance and support.

5. Aside from using the PregPrep kit, what are top 3 things women can do to prep their bodies for pregnancy?

1. Nurture with Nature: Women should become informed about how the nutrients found in certain foods can promote optimal fertility and health (and how others can actually impede fertility). Even achieving a healthy weight was recently shown to have a positive effect on conception success.
2. Find Your Rhythm: It is important for women to get a good sense of their monthly cycle and physical cues that signal ovulation to have the best odds for success. But there is another kind of rhythm that is equally important to consider: the rhythm and balance of one’s personal life. Achieving a blend of work and play that maximizes satisfaction and minimizes stress can have a huge impact on all the body’s functions, including the reproductive system
3. Take The Wheel: Our philosophy is: “Good things come to those who go out there and make them happen”. Our kit was designed to allow women to take charge of their conception by harnessing the benefits of key nutrients at the right time. Women have a tremendous power to shape their destiny by being proactive with their health choices. And it’s not about feeling pressure to adhere to an exercise regimen or diet. It’s about being good to yourself, taking responsibility for and reveling in, the things that bring you joy.

Angela Le is charting the path towards positive conception…and conversation.

Article & Photo courtesy of Well Rounded NY

As women, we don’t talk about fertility nearly enough. Whether from shame, embarrassment or even ignorance, it often becomes a topic reserved for hushed voices or spoken about behind closed doors. And yet, there are so many more women than you realize struggling to conceive, and exploring the many different paths you can take to make a baby. The lucky women among them get to travel those paths with Angela Le.

As founder of Fifth Avenue Fertility Wellness in NYC, Angela has helped thousands of women and men struggling to conceive. Her practice is integrative in every way: a licensed and board certified acupuncturist, Angela works in collaboration with physicians–including renowned holistic physicians Dr. Frank Lipman at Eleven Eleven Wellness Center and Dr. Sami David–to incorporate Eastern approaches to traditional Chinese medicine with Western biomedical research. She’s also a firm believer of treating patients physically, emotionally and spiritually.

The results are not only beautiful, healthy babies–and there are many, many of those–but also beautiful, healthy mommies. “I want my patients to leave with not only improved fertility and general health,” she says, “but also a new set of skills that they will have for a lifetime and can use as a mother.”

Below, Angela opens up about fertility, conception and conversation.

What was the first birth you ever attended?
I was 15 years old when I attended the birth of my godson. I was my sister’s doula, unofficially! My godson’s birth was such a special moment for me and it felt like such a privilege to be able to attend, let alone assist. Any fears around the birth process took an immediate backseat to the awe and magic of that experience.

Tell us about your journey–literally across the world–to find your path.
Honestly, my path found me. I’ve always been a seeker–in adventure, travel and spirituality. A series of coincidences led me to meet an amazing woman in Nepal, an acupuncturist. After meeting her, I realized Traditional Chinese Medicine could be a career that embodies all of my passions and gifts, allowing me to integrate mind-body-spirit in a powerful way.

Why did you decide to focus on fertility?
I specialize in fertility because there is an opportunity to educate, empower and transform during the time a woman is trying to conceive. I saw my first fertility patient in 1998, and she was so deeply committed to the process of getting healthy for both herself and her future children that it created opening of sorts. She was open to being an active, instead of passive, participant in her healthcare, and that allowed for me to help her with deep healing–physically, emotionally and spiritually.

What’s the goal of your practice?
The goal of my practice is to help women achieve their dream of becoming a mother. I also want to teach women how to nurture themselves. I teach life skills and often get back to the basics with patients–how to nourish yourself properly and how to exercise, sleep, meditate and interact with self-love are all very powerful techniques. It’s important that these skills are sustainable–I want my patients to leave with not only improved fertility and general health, but also a new set of skills that they will have for a lifetime and can use as a mother.

What are the most common reasons your patients visit?
My practice supports patients through the entire fertility journey, so patients will typically see us for preconception work or support through fertility challenges, such as diminished ovarian reserve, advanced maternal age, recurrent miscarriages, PCOS, endometriosis, high FSH, fibroids, male factor concerns, and support through IUI/IVF procedures, including donor cycles. They continue treatment throughout their pregnancy and postpartum care.

When should women start exploring their fertility?
I believe women should start exploring their own fertility as early as possible. Body literacy is an important first step that is often ignored today. I think we can empower young women about their reproductive health through education and start the conversations earlier, from a place of curiosity instead of fear. The book Taking Charge of Your Fertility is a great place to start.

When trying to get pregnant, how does a woman know it’s time to see a fertility expert?
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine says that women under 35 should try naturally for one year before seeing a fertility expert, while women over 35 should see one after six months. I believe that it is never too soon to start preparing yourself for pregnancy through preconception work. Ideally, the work I do at Fifth Avenue Fertility Wellness would start about three months before a woman wants to start trying to conceive.

Why is integrative fertility work so crucial? How do Eastern and Western philosophies work together in this field?
Eastern and Western integration is crucial for fertility work because they focus on two different aspects of the process. Western medicine is working on the physical level, while Eastern medicine treats the whole person, including emotional and energetic aspects of whatever the issue is. When Eastern and Western medicine work together, the body is both treated and restored simultaneously. One of the reasons I work in an integrative practice is because every couple needs something different and we want to provide them with as many choices and options as possible under one roof.

Why do you think women are often reluctant to talk about fertility with other women, or in public? What’s with the shame?
I think there is a deep sense of self-worth tied up in the basic instinct to bear children. Women particularly are programmed this way from childhood. When conception does not come easily, they feel like their bodies have betrayed them and that there is something ‘wrong’ with them. As a result, many women feel shame and embarrassment, and are reluctant to share their story.

How do you judge your success with a patient? Is a baby always the final outcome?
On one hand, success is defined by pregnancies and healthy live births. The public will certainly judge me by those numbers. On the other hand, there is another, almost deeper, level of success. If I’m able to return a woman back to herself, and no matter what the outcome is she is stronger, happier, and more in tune with her own desires and her authentic self, than I feel like I’ve succeeded. For me, the happiest moments are when I’m able to help a woman birth both herself and a baby.

This article is by Jessica Pallay, courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.

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Article & Photo courtesy of Well Rounded NY

Planning for baby made a bit simpler with the help of this one app.

As any woman who is trying to conceive will tell you, when she decides that she’s ready to have a baby, she wants that baby now. After all, weren’t we always warned that we could get pregnant at the drop of a hat? But for many of us, things don’t always go as planned. A simple online cry for help brings up countless forums on prime positions, pregnancy tests and the dreaded two week wait, but very little of the info we all need to understand our bodies and fertility and do our best to get those families started.

There are countless apps in the market to track your period and determine peak days of ovulation so when a few friends recommended that I download one, I headed to the web to learn more. After experimenting with Fertility Friend and Glow, I found the perfect match with the simple and user-friendly design of Kindara. Not only does Kindara educate you on FAM, the Fertility Awareness method, but it also serves as a useful journal of your body’s changes throughout each monthly cycle (this is super helpful if you require fertility treatments in the future–your doctor will want to know as much about your cycles as possible!).

Once you understand the signs to look for (cervical fluid, cervical position and basal body temperature–I own this basal thermometer), you simply enter the data into your app and toggle to the chart to search for signs that your body is nearing ovulation. You might find that although you have a typical 28 day cycle, you aren’t ovulating until day 18 and have been timing things incorrectly all along. Or maybe your cycles are as inconsistent as can be and you want to visit your OB/GYN to find the right tips or supplements to help you regulate your ovulation.

After using Kindara for nearly one year now, I’m a huge fan of the simple daily data entry, alarm reminder to check your basal temperature / cervical fluid and the option to connect with other users, whether to view their charts or share your own as a way to learn more about each cycle. You can also add other measurables to indicate days when you had a few too many drinks (this can affect the next day’s temperatures) or to keep track of a vitamin or supplement you’ve added to your routine. The notes function allows you to add more detailed info (cramping on the left side? feeling really moody?) so that all the specifics you might need to know are in one place. An added bonus is keeping track of when you are intimate with your partner. If I notice that it’s been a number of days, I’ll go out of my way to make time for my husband and I to be together, no matter how many emails are waiting to be answered (or what time of the month it is!).

And according to FAM, keeping track of these changes in your body isn’t just helpful when you’re trying to conceive. It’s also a great tool for those looking for the opposite but not interested in condoms or the pill. While not 100% fool-proof, many women swear by timed intercourse as a natural form of birth control.

Whatever your path to becoming a mom or holding off on babies for now, you’ll go into it with a new and empowering understanding of your body. We’re wishing you well!

This article is by Liz Kerins Pacheco, courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.

Google “BPA news” and the laundry list of articles that pops up is enough to take any pregnant woman’s breath away. Just last week, the presence of BPA (or bisphenol A) has been linked to breathing problems in kids with prenatal exposure to the chemical. So - what exactly is it, and why does it pose such a danger?

BPA is an industrial chemical found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. This means the chemical is often found in water bottles, food can linings, bottle tops, baby bottles - even water supply lines and dental sealants. If a bottle or food container has a #7 stamped on the bottom, it is likely to contain BPA.

Since a small amount of packaging materials can migrate into the food and drink it contains, especially if the container is heated, there has been an increased public awareness about the safety of ingesting the chemical. According to the FDA, there have been many exploratory studies on the dangers that BPA present. These studies link BPA exposure to a variety of health problems such as reproductive disorders, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

During pregnancy, it’s especially important to avoid exposure to BPA as it can impact your health and your baby’s health. Minimize BPA exposure by:

1. Avoid eating canned Fruits and Veggies, And Instead Opt For Fresh: Because BPA lines the cans in which these foods are packaged, you’re better off avoiding them. Fresh fruits and vegetables are so much healthier and tastier anyway, so opt for heading to your local farmer’s market and grabbing what’s in season!
2. Skip Drinking Water That’s Bottled In Plastic: Instead, go for glass, stainless steel or BPA-free plastic bottles.
3. Don’t Microwave Your Food In hard Plastic Containers: Much has been made in the news lately about polycarbonate plastics seeping into food when heated. To be safe, store your food in glass, stainless steel or BPA-free containers and never put plastic in the microwave. If non-plastic substitutes are unavailable, follow this rhyme to help you remember which plastics are safer: 4, 5, & 2 – all the rest are bad for you!
4. Avoid Smoking And Secondhand Smoke: Yes, this is a no-brainer, but it bears repeating. Women who were exposed to secondhand smoke had higher BPA concentrations than those who weren’t.

The female endocrine system is vast and delicate. Our hormones can respond to the most- subtle changes in our modern lives. We women often feel like our hormones regulate us – and not the other way around. But, the truth is, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine offer tools that help us understand our hormones and take an active role in regulating our hormones. The science of acupuncture helps elucidate our bodies’ delicate hormone balance and provide a blueprint for lasting symptom relief and optimal fertility.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the insertion of ultra-thin, sterile needles into specific points on the body which reside on channels or meridians. Acupuncture improves blood flow and circulation to the reproductive organs and glands. Blood carries oxygen, hormones and nutrients to the developing follicles in the ovaries, uterus and testes; and to the hypothalamus and pituitary glands - thus regulating the hormones these organs secrete, and promoting healthier cycles, egg quality, endometrial and sperm health.

Acupuncture and The Menstrual Cycle

According to Chinese Medicine, the only symptom of a woman’s period should be regular bleeding about every month and not the pain, bloating, acne, and other symptoms that most women experience. Menstrual discomforts arise from hormone imbalance. This imbalance can be caused by a host of reasons, but environmental, lifestyle and stress are usually at the top of the list. What Chinese Medicine strives to do is find the first domino in the symptom chain – and offer individualized therapeutic treatment with acupuncture, herbs, nutrition and lifestyle suggestions to bring the body back into balance and reduce our hormonal “side effects”. It can be extremely helpful in regulating a variety of hormone imbalances – such as: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome; Amennorrhea; Annovulatory Cycles; Endometriosis and Pre-Menstrual Symptoms (PMS).

Acupuncture & Fertility

Chinese Medicine is a proven therapy for treating cases of functional infertility, such as irregular ovulation or idiopathic sperm factors. The most effective way for Chinese Medicine to be used as a 'primary' treatment in functional fertility is in adjunct to Basal Body Temperature (BBT) charting. Usually within three menstrual cycles of weekly acupuncture, visible changes in follicular, ovulation and luteal phases can be seen. Within six cycles, pregnancy can be achieved. For male factor, elevated results in sperm count, motility and morphology tests should be expected after three consecutive months of regular treatment. The optimal time to begin using a modality like Chinese Medicine for optimizing fertility is 3-6 months before you’d like to become pregnant. This can resolve cycle imbalances without the stress of timed intercourse and “trying to conceive,” and also lay the groundwork for a healthy pregnancy If you have already been trying to get pregnant for some time, Chinese Medicine can still support you. Treatments can begin immediately wherever you are at in your cycle. Appropriate herbal formulas that are safe for conception can also be provided, along with stress relief and symptom management. Wherever you are at, holistic modalities like herbal medicine, acupuncture, Mayan abdominal massage or reiki can be incredibly supportive throughout the whole process – and improve pregnancy outcomes.

Acupuncture and IVF & ART

Acupuncture can also be used as an adjunct to IVF & ART as it can improve pregnancy outcomes, alleviate stress and reduce side-effects associated with hormone therapy. It is cost- effective, minimally invasive, has no side-effects and will not negatively interact with other forms of treatment. Optimum recommendations for acupuncture during IVF & ART are one- three months before cycling to improve egg quality; pre- and post-embryo transfer to improve pregnancy outcomes; and post-transfer through week 13 of pregnancy to prevent miscarriage. Of course, as with all treatments, consult with your health care provider first.

Erin Borbet is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Board Certified Herbalist, Labor Doula and Founded Grow Wellness Acupuncture in 2008, a Holistic Health Clinic specializing in the treatment of Women’s Health Concerns. She secured her Masters in Oriental Medicine from Pacific College and has trained all over the world, including a year clinical rotation at a TCM hospital in Hangzhou, China. Erin and her team offer gentle and effective treatments through the use of Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and Nutrition consultations at their Midtown Office and through Skype Consultations. Grow Wellness Acupuncture: grow-wellness.com Email: [email protected]

First comes love, then comes marriage… we all know what comes next, right? But, what happens when it is not so easy to conceive?

Somehow, it seems everyone around you is pregnant or has a new baby; your inbox is flooded with invitations to baby showers, and it seems everywhere you look there is a pregnant woman. Yet, despite months of trying, pregnancy has not happened for you. Sound familiar? If so, you are not alone.

Infertility is defined as failure to conceive after 12 consecutive months trying, or 6 months for women over age 35. Feeling overwhelmed and out of control is a common, understandable response to infertility. Not only does a woman’s mental health and sense of self worth suffer, but often marriages can similarly be negatively impacted by repeated inability to conceive. Here we address common questions surrounding the role of mental healthy in fertility.

Is It My Fault? The Self-Blame Game Of Infertility

No, it is not your fault. Nor is it your partner’s fault. Up to 15% of couples experience difficulty with conception, and this often heralds an intensely difficult, stressful time for a couple. On average, women are often more negatively impacted emotionally and physically by infertility than men, though men can and often do similarly have a sense of failure and inadequacy.

Does Infertility Cause Mental Health Problems?

Infertility is associated with and often causes many different emotional and behavioral changes. The most common changes include:

• Anger
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Marital problems
• Sexual dysfunction
• Social isolation
• Sense of loss
• Decreased self-esteem

Depression and anxiety are relatively common results of infertility; up to over 50% of couples presenting for infertility treatment suffer from symptoms of depression, and roughly 25% begin infertility treatment with active symptoms of anxiety.

Does Mood Impact Fertility?

We now clearly see that inability to conceive may lead to poor mental health. But, is the opposite true? Do depression and anxiety negatively impact fertility?

There is significant debate on this topic, but overall research indicates that poor mood can impair a couple’s chance of conception. Stress, anxiety and depression may modify physiologic functioning, including altering levels of various hormones associated with ovulation and eventual conception such as cortisol, luteinizing hormone, and prolactin.

Women with elevated biomarkers for stress, specifically cortisol and alpha amylase, and those with a history of depressive symptoms have twice the risk of infertility as compared to women without mood symptoms. Multiple studies have shown a correlation between increased sense of distress during infertility treatment and lower likelihood of conception.

What’s A Girl To Do? How To Improve Mood In The Face Of Infertility

If you are experiencing symptoms of depression and/or anxiety while trying to conceive, the first thing to do is to prioritize your mental and physical health. Addressing symptoms of depression and anxiety through various modes of psychotherapy can often improve your mental state during infertility treatment and thus increase the likelihood of successful conception and pregnancy.

Many women find group therapy beneficial as it can allow for a sense of camaraderie and may decrease the feeling of isolation and loneliness often experienced during this difficult time. Individual therapy is another option, and may be effective in one of many forms, including but not limited to Psychodynamic, Psychoanalytic, Cognitive Behavioral or Supportive therapies.

Online supports exist in abundance for women struggling with conception; there are blogs, chat rooms, email lists, newsletters, and social media-based forums. As with anywhere else online, it is important to be cautious with providing too much personal information and to remember that your story may not be the same as someone else’s, so always check with your doctor rather than believing what you read.

A few of the many online support options include:

• Baby Bump
• Fertile Thoughts
• Fertility Ties
• iVillage's Infertility Support Board
• What to Expect - Trying to Conceive

Women with more moderate to severe symptoms may require treatment by a psychiatrist. Often women are hesitant to consider pharmacotherapy for depression or anxiety while trying to conceive due to fears about safety of a medication once pregnant. However, research has failed to connect use of antidepressants with a decrease in fertility, and there are medications that are generally considered safe for use in pregnancy. Future articles will address use of medication in pregnancy, so stay tuned.

Obstetricians and Reproductive Endocrinologists may be an initial source for a referral to a specialized mental health provider. RESOLVE, the national support group for women experiencing infertility, has a professional services directory available on their website with names of appropriate mental health providers.

In addition to addressing mood symptoms online and/or with a professional, women can also improve their chance of fertility by making healthy life choices.

• Eating a well-balanced, healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables
• Avoiding tobacco and alcohol
• Exercising regularly
• Trying alternative methods such as acupuncture, meditation and massage

Take care of yourself. Try not to isolate from your partner, rely on support from family and friends, and consider, prioritize and nurture your emotional health during this difficult time. Almost any habit that can enhance your physical health and wellbeing will likely improve the likelihood of successful conception and pregnancy.

Carly Snyder, M.D. is a Psychiatrist in New York City with a focus and expertise in Reproductive Psychiatry. Dr. Snyder is the Clinical Course Director for the Reproductive and Perinatal Psychiatry Program at Beth Israel Medical Center. She holds faculty appointments in Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology at Beth Israel Medical Center, and a teaching appointment at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Snyder serves on the Board of Directors for Postpartum Support International, and is a member of the Women’s Mental Health Consortium in NYC. Dr. Snyder also sees patients in her private practice located on the Upper East Side of New York City. She received her undergraduate degree from Emory University, attended NYU School of Medicine and completed residency at Beth Israel Medical Center, with additional sub-specialized elective training at Weill Cornell’s Payne Whitney Women’s Program.

Dr. Snyder treats women experiencing emotional and psychiatric challenges at any age. Her approach uses a combination of traditional psychiatric methods with integrative medicine-based treatments to optimize the whole body, mind and well-being. Dr. Snyder provides individualized treatment that focus on improving a woman’s physical and emotional health. In addition to more traditional psychiatric modalities, she has extensive experience treating patients with natural supplements, either alone or in combination with pharmacotherapy. For more information, visit Dr. Snyder’s website or follow her Twitter.