How to Avoid Holiday Fertility Traps: Food, Family & Alcohol
For many women and couples having difficulty or trying to conceive, the holidays - full of indulgence and with such an emphasis on family and children - can be an especially painful and difficult time. While it’s traditionally a time to celebrate, three all-too-common health and fertility traps – food, alcohol and family stress – can sometimes pose a health threat and take away some of the usual holiday cheer.
Marie Davidson, our staff psychologist here at Fertility Centers of Illinois counsels many patients on how to cope with these obstacles during the holidays and offers the following strategies for surviving the social settings and staying healthy while trying to conceive.
Food:
Eat before you go: Have a nutritious snack half an hour before you leave so you won’t be ravenous. Peanut butter on whole wheat bread and a glass of skim milk works well. Employ weight watcher tricks: If you control amounts, you won’t overeat. Put small portions of the offerings on your place, focusing on greens, veggies, grains and some protein. Even try a little dessert. It’s the holidays so don’t deprive yourself! Eat food slowly: And with appreciative attention. Even combine eating with conversation as it will slow you down. Foods to avoid: Chips, dips, cream sauces and gravies – and seconds.
Alcohol:
Be your own boss: Before you go, make up your mind that you are the boss and just say no. Everyone has to eat, but that doesn’t apply to drinking. Avoid pressure: If you are pressured to have a drink, simply accept it, take a sip, carry it around for a while and set it down somewhere else. Prepare responses: If you’re not comfortable with “No thanks, I’m getting my body in share for pregnancy” prepare other responses you are more comfortable with. E.g. “I had a big night last night”, “Alcohol hasn’t been agreeing with me lately”, or “I just don’t feel like it now, maybe later” How much is too much: When trying to conceive, alcohol should be limited to the equivalent of one glass per day.
Family:
Limit family time: Be selective about the events that you attend and if traveling from out of town, consider staying at a hotel to allow yourself some couple time and an escape zone. Protect yourself first: If family gatherings and questions about children its just to difficult for you, its ok to not attend or simply opt out of some family gatherings. Take time for you and your partner: Why not just spend with your partner? Take your own vacation and just focus on the two of you and your family building dreams. Prepare canned responses: It’s important to anticipate the family questions – Any news? When are you having a baby? Etc. Play around with different things to say so you’re not caught off guard.
It is important that you do your best to enjoy the spirit of the season and if you think you need a little extra support, helpful websites include: www.resolve.org, www.theafa.org, www.asrm.org.
Fertility Myths: Experts Separate Fact from Fiction (Part II)
There is endless misinformation on the topic of Infertility which causes unnecessary stress and anguish for many aspiring parents. This month, we have four more frequently asked fertility myths to share with you. To listen to a detailed discussion of these myths and more, visit the “FCI News and Events – FCI In The News” section on this site, to hear our very own medical director, Dr Angie Beltsos share her expertise on this topic on the Conceive On Air Radio program.
(continued below)
Watch a personal story about Fertility Myths from our documentary –
You should limit exercise when trying to conceive.
False: Regular exercise is a must, but stick to low impact alternatives such as walking, swimming and yoga, when in the middle of a fertility treatment or Ovulation time. High intensity activities place excessive metabolic stress on the body, so it’s best to avoid long distance running or anything too high impact. Holistic fertility specialists, Pulling Down The Moon offer some great yoga for fertility programs that have been designed specifically for women trying to conceive. (www.pullingdownthemoon.com)
If you have a regular period, you should be able to conceive.
False: Surprisingly, having a period does not necessarily mean a woman is ovulating or releasing an egg. Fertility can be impacted, even though there appears to be no disruptions to the menstrual Cycle. If you and your partner are under the age of 35 and have been trying to get pregnant for one year without success, you should speak to your physician. If you are over the age of 35, it’s probably best to seek treatment if you have been trying to conceive without success for six months.
You should try to conceive 24-72 hours after you ovulate.
True: However, there is some confusion regarding when to have sex if actively trying to get pregnant. It is best to time intercourse close to ovulation, but once you ovulate your egg will only survive for about 24 hours (not 72). If you do not start having intercourse until the day you ovulate, you may only be giving yourself a 12 hour window to get pregnant. Ideally, you will want to have intercourse one to two days before and after ovulation, so as to increase the chance of the egg and sperm meeting. Another common problem is that many women can’t tell when they’re ovulating. If so, you may miscalculate your ovulation day and possibly have sex on all the wrong days. Having sex regularly, three times a week is one of the best ways to ensure its being done at the right time. Timing ovulation can be done with ovulation predictor kits, Basal Body Temperature charting and monitoring ovulation symptoms.
With modern technology, it is ok to put off having children until later in life.
False: While there are definitely more fertility options today along with an abundance of news about celebrities and women having children well into their 40’s, the truth is that some of these of these women may actually be using donor eggs or even Surrogate carriers. The longer you wait to try to become pregnant, the slimmer your chances of conceiving. For women, fertility starts to decline at age 28 and dramatically declines by age 35. After 40, women who do become pregnant face a 50 % chance of miscarriage. The earlier a couple seeks a fertility evaluation, the better able they’ll be to conceive.,br> We hope sharing these myths and dispelling just some of the misinformation helps you on your fertility journey. Remember, there are many things that you can do, day to day, to increase conception odds. If you are unsure about anything, be sure to consult your physician.
Controversial Debate: Should Doctors be Allowed to Deny Treatments to Gays & Lesbians?
GLBT communities face many obstacles. While the state of California’s recent approval of Proposition 8 sheds light on one aspect of this controversial issue, many also face restrictions to fertility treatments, denying them the path to parenthood.
CA Supreme Court Rules in Support of Equal Treatment:
A California court recently ruled that fertility doctors must make their services available to lesbians, despite their own personal objections. A lesbian patient was denied in vitro Fertilization on the basis of her sexual orientation; however doctors later claimed they would have denied such treatment to any unmarried couple.
Medical Discrimination against Lesbians:
It has also been noted that lesbians have significantly less access to fertility treatment than straight, single women or married women as a surprising percentage of medical providers restrict treatment to married women only. Unfortunately, in most jurisdictions, there is no law that prohibits a medical institution from imposing a “married-women-only” limitation and no federal law that bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Controversy in Europe and Across the Globe:
The British government recently threw out proposals blocking lesbian couples from having IVF, unless they agreed a “father figure” would be involved in raising the child. Many other European countries have laws banning Infertility therapies that deny same-sex couples the chance to start a family - some do not allow egg or sperm donations, while others have completely outlawed surrogacy. As a result, many come to the US (and FCI) to seek fertility treatments and fulfill their family dreams. In Australia, a recent government proposal included steps to protect non-biological parents and children born through surrogacy, but gay couples were excluded from the proposal.
While these issues bring to light aspects of medical discrimination, physicians at FCI support equal access to fertility treatments for all. They recognize that as fertility specialists, their role is to provide the highest standard of medical treatment possible and help all patients overcome their family building challenges. Good parenting is about raising children in loving, supportive family units.
Fertility Myths: Experts Separate Fact from Fiction
Issues of Infertility affect nearly 8 million people in the United States, representing 12% of women in their prime reproductive years. With so much information out there, we thought we would take the opportunity to dispel some of the most universal fertility misconceptions and help raise awareness of the growing issues that currently affect 1 in 8 American couples:
A doctor won’t see you for treatment until you have been trying for one year.
False. There may be some doctors don’t offer certain infertility treatments or medications until you have been trying to conceive for one year, but it’s a good idea to see a doctor and have a gynecological checkup as soon as, or before you plan to start trying. They can make sure that you are in good health, screen for any obvious issues, and give you some important guidelines for trying to get pregnant.
There are certain foods you can eat that will naturally boost your fertility. True. Eat organic, fresh, nutrient-filled whole foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains as much as possible. Drink plenty of water everyday and avoid smoking, caffeine, alcohol, fried foods and saturated fats. For women who have an elevated BMI, decreased caloric intake is critical. Also, a recent study showed normal fat content (whole milk products) like whole milk and ice cream improves fertility. (Harvard study 2008).
Infertility occurs more frequently in women, than in men.
False. Infertility is a problem that affects both men and women fairly equally. Approximately 35% of the time, infertility is related to a male factor and 35% it is due to a female. 20% of infertility cases are a combination of both male and female factors and 5-10% of cases are unexplained. It is imperative that couples work together to support each other through the difficult process.
These are just some of the most common fertility myths that patients discuss. Keep your eyes posted for more misconceptions exposed in coming weeks.
Breaking Research:Lifestyle Factors May Cause Male infertility
With Infertility affecting nearly 8 million people in the United States, there has always been a focus on women and what they can do to overcome challenges and boost fertility. What many do not know is that male factor issues account for approximately 30-40% of infertility cases among couples.
Researchers nationwide are starting to pay closer attention to pinpoint what might cause infertility in men, with recent studies suggesting that weight, prescription medications and overall environment may decrease sperm quality and reproductive potential.
Obesity: A new research study from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine suggests that obesity may reduce fertility in men. Scientists found that obese subjects were less likely to have fathered a child and showed notable hormonal differences linked to reduced reproductive capacity.
Prescription Medication: Research out of the Cornell Medical Center in New York also reported that some of the most common antidepressant drugs such as paroxetine (Paxil), and possibly others, may reduce male fertility by damaging the DNA in their sperm. Similar levels of sperm DNA damage have been associated with Embryo viability in couples trying to conceive.
Air Pollution: Recent research conducted through the University of Utah’s division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility analyzed air quality data and linked it to sperm quality data. Preliminary results showed that as fine-particle pollution increased, sperm Motility dropped. The data will be reviewed by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in November.
Doctors at FCI believe ongoing research is one of the best ways to create further awareness of the issue of male infertility. In order to protect reproductive health, they suggest all men follow simple, everyday guidelines that include a healthy, balanced diet, maintaining normal weight, adequate exercise and taking a multivitamin - especially those with antioxidant properties shown to improve sperm quality. Moderate intake of alcohol and caffeine is sensible; however avoid the use of tobacco and all illicit drugs. Remember, fertility is not just about the woman. Couples must work together to support each other in order to make their family building dreams come true.
