For many couples trying to conceive environmental influences can play a big role in how quickly or easilly they get pregnant. And nowhere is this more true than in the bedroom . Here are five tips to make your love nest more fertility-friendly.
By Colette Bouchez
When it comes to getting pregnant, sometimes it's the little things that matter most! And for many couples trying to conceive - particularly those suffering with unexplained infertility - those "little things" can sometimes be linked to environmental factors.
Indeed, from the air we breathe, to the food we eat, to the furniture in our homes, there are many types of chemical and environmental exposures that science shows can make a difference for some couples trying to get pregnant.
This is particularly true of the bedroom environment - the place where not only many babies are "made" but also the room where we spend up to 8 hours a day every single day. Indeed, the more time we spend in a room, the more impact the environmental profile of that room can can have on our health - and our fertility
The good news: According to the brand new book "Green Fertility: Nature's Secrets for Making Babies" , oftentimes all it takes is a few small changes in your home and particularly your bedroom to dramatically reduce the kind of environmental exposures that might be impacting your fertility and keeping you from getting pregnant.
To help get you started thinking in the right direction here are five ways to make your love nest a more fertility friendly place - for you and your partner
1. Decorate Naturally! While it's often much less expensive to decorate with products made from "engineered wood", it's important to note that many of these pieces are manufactured using quite a toxic brew of chemicals including arsenic and formaldehyde, some of which can continue to "off gas" for up to 7 years or more. Since many of these chemicals have been shown in both animal and human studies to impact both egg and sperm production, over time exposures could have an impact on fertility. Moreover, the more "fake wood" products in your home, and particularly your bedroom, the more contaminated your air will be - and the more chemical exposures you will have. If you can stick to furniture made from natural wood - even if it means purchasing some items second hand. In the long run they will be safer and healthier - not just for your fertility, but your overall health.
2. Go Green & Plant The Seed! This doesn't just pertain to buying environmentally safe products - although that's a good idea too! In terms of your love nest, you should also GO GREEN, in the form of household plants! Plants are nature's original air cleaners and they can make an enormous difference in the quality of the air inside your bedroom - reducing the impact of chemical emissions and giving you more oxygen to breathe. To maximize the effect, place several plants in your bedroom - a great way to naturally enhance your fertility and your health!
3. Dry Clean Less - And Air Everything Out! Is your bedroom closet a toxic dump of chemicals? It might be if your racks are loaded with newly dry cleaned clothing still in those plastic bags. Studies show that many of the chemicals routinely used in dry cleaning can not only impact fertility but also have links to increased risk of miscarriage. Problems occur when we breathe in residues left on the clothes after the cleaning process. What can help: When possible have clothing hand laundered and not dry cleaned . If that's not possible, never put freshly dry cleaned clothing directly in your closet. Always remove the plastic bags and if possible air out the clothes in a garage or on a porch for at least 30 minutes before putting them in your closet. Because we're so used to many of these odors we sometimes don't even notice when the air in our bedroom is approaching a toxic level.
4. Let The Sunshine In! Winter fuel bills are high, and summer air conditioning bills even higher - a fact that leads most of us to seal up our doors and windows so that nary a drop of outside air comes in. But the truth is studies show that indoor air pollution is a far greater health threat than anything you'll breathe outdoors! As such it's important to regularly "air out " your bedroom and exchange stale air for fresh air whenever possible. Fresh air will also help dissipate any harmful chemicals that accumulate and help reduce the risk of mold and mildew.
5. Clear The Decks ... and keep your sleeping area clear of electronic devices. That means don't keep the cell phone charger right next to your bed - or fall asleep with your blue tooth headset on - no matter how important a call you're expecting! There is convincing evidence to show that continued exposure to the electromagnetic frequencies emitted by most electronic devices, can , over time, impact fertility in some couples. Your sleeping quarters should be free of all electronic clutter - which can not only help protect your fertility, but maybe even help you get a better night's rest!
Source: Green Fertilty: Nature's Secrets for Making Babies by Niels H. Lauersen, MD and Colette Bouchez
Source: http://www.GreenFertility.com
About the Author
Colette Bouchez is an award winning medical journalist and author of 9 books on women's health including her latest, with Dr. Niels Lauersen, " Green Fertility: Nature's Secrets For Making Babies" (Ivy League Press, NY).
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