Fertility has become a pressing concern, as up to 16% or 1 in 6 Canadian couples face fertility challenges during their lifetimes. Natural fertility declines rapidly in women over 35 and men over 40 and if like many couples you’re waiting longer to have a family it’s important to avoid everyday habits that can further compromise your fertility.
Here are the top 5 ways you may be inadvertently sabotaging your ability to conceive, along with simple steps you can take to address them:
1 – Crop tops may seem on-trend, but they can pose a fertility faux pas for those trying to conceive or regulate their menstrual cycle. Wearing cropped shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets exposes the abdomen and low back – an area of concern for fertility through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The TCM concept is that “Cold” entering the body through this frequently uncovered area can disrupt the flow of Qi (vital energy) and nutrient-rich Blood to the reproductive organs. This can hamper a healthy menstrual cycle and create an inhospitable environment for a growing baby.
As a bonus tip, keeping the feet covered and warm is also important, as the channels connecting the feet to the reproductive area can allow unwelcome “Cold” to enter the uterus, potentially contributing to infertility. Hot foot soaks can be beneficial for this reason.
2 – Indulging in cold, iced, or raw foods and beverages can be detrimental to digestion. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, these types of foods and drinks force the Spleen (the mastermind of your digestive system) to work harder to digest and transport energy throughout the body. Similar to how Cold can enter and weaken the body, cold, iced, and raw items are difficult to metabolize, placing an unnecessary burden on the system. While tempting during summer months, consuming an excess of these items can disrupt digestion and deplete warming, movement oriented Yang energy needed for conception. To counteract the cooling effects, it is recommended to pair cold/raw foods and drinks with a warm item, such as soup or tea.
3 – Having sex too frequently can actually backfire on your TTC (trying to conceive) efforts. While women are only fertile for about 6 days per month, constantly engaging in intimacy can turn the experience into a chore rather than a pleasurable one. Additionally, excessive ejaculation can reduce your partner’s sperm count and quality, which is a crucial factor in conception.
Instead of just “more is better,” it’s best to strategize when you have sex to avoid burnout. Focus on days 6-14 of your cycle, especially days 6-8 or as soon as your period ends and continuing every other day for about a week leading up to ovulation. To pinpoint your ovulation day, track your fertility signs like basal body temperature and cervical mucus consistency for 3-6 months beforehand. Using a cycle tracking app can also be very helpful in this process. The key is finding the right balance so good luck out there!
4 – When trying to conceive, it’s best to switch up your workout routine and avoid heavy, intense exercises. Instead, focus on moderate activities like walking, swimming, yoga, Pilates, and light weight training. Staying active and elevating your heart rate is important, but frequent, high-intensity workouts like hot yoga, HIIT, or bootcamp can actually be detrimental. If you’re at a healthy weight, there’s no need to push your body into a fat-burning state, as this can signal to your body that you’re in a reducing or shedding phase, rather than an open, receptive state ready to support a new life. Additionally, many essential hormones are produced in body fat, so you don’t want to flush those out and force your body to work harder to maintain hormonal balance. This is why women athletes who achieve very low body fat percentages often lose their menstrual cycles – not an ideal situation for those trying to conceive.
5 – Many of us struggle with the ‘state of lack’ – the subconscious belief that we are not enough or do not have enough. This could manifest as feeling a lack of love, space for a new being, support, passion, or time. These ‘shoulda-woulda-couldas’ can prevent us from being truly open to receiving. The antidote is to cultivate a practice of receptive gratitude. By opening yourself up to compliments, shared stories and coping strategies, and even hugs from trusted loved ones, you’ll start to see abundance flowing in. Reinforce this with daily affirmations like ‘I am fully open and receptive to blessed miracles in every wonderful way. Thank you!’
While some changes may be straightforward, others could be more challenging. Nonetheless, I encourage you to persevere. Feel free to reach out to me anytime for additional strategies and expert advice to support your journey towards pregnancy and a healthy, positive experience.
Yours in Health,
Karolina Kluska, R.Ac
