The ACUPUNCtURE cLINIC
39 WEST STREET - MARLOW - 01628 474061
Pesticides
• In a study of Danish an unexpectedly high sperm count was found among organic farmers. Their sperm count was more than twice as high in those men as in a control group of blue-collar workers, suggesting that consuming organically grown foods may enhance fertility.
Abell A, Ernst E, Bonde JP. High sperm density among members of organic farmers’
association. Lancet 1994;343:1498.
• Men experiencing infertility were found to be employed in agriculture/pesticide related jobs 10 times more often than a study group of men not experiencing fertility problems.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine Vol 24; 587-592, 1983
• Miscarriage increases in women (2.1 to 4.7 times) were found after exposure to chemical
solvents. The major risk chemicals were those used in dry-cleaning, paint, paint thinners and
paint strippers.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine Vol 20; 241-249, 1991
Nutritional preparation
There is increasing evidence that good nutrition plays an important part in optimising conception and ensuring a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. Some lifestyle factors can adversely affect fertility for both men and women. Any changes to diet or lifestyle take about 3 to 4 months to have an effect - the time taken for sperm production and egg recruitment and maturation. Good nutrition for both partners must be a priority as it impacts on every aspect of your health and well-being. Nutritional fact sheets can be obtained free from the Acupuncture Clinic.
Body Weight
• A woman’s Body Mass Index (BMI) should ideally be between 20 and 25. If it is too high or too low, this will affect your hormone balance and menstrual cycles and can interfere with ovulation. A body BMI of 25 to 29.9 in women is considered overweight and has been linked to irregular or infrequent menstrual cycles, an increased risk of infertility, an increased risk of miscarriage and decreased success with fertility treatments. The positive news is that small amounts of weight loss (5-10%) may dramatically improve ovulation and pregnancy rates.
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
• A study of Danish men found that sperm counts were lower in those men that were overweight
(21.6 %) and those that were underweight (28.1%)
American Society for Reproductive Medicine Meeting October 2004
Fertility Preparation