Infertility

🌿 Overview

Infertility is the failure to conceive after a year or more of regular intercourse. It affects 20% of American couples. About 60% of couples conceive within 6 months and 90% within a year under healthy conditions. Low sperm count or anatomical abnormality is the primary male cause; ovulatory dysfunction is the primary female cause. Both are frequently rooted in nutritional deficiencies, toxic exposures, hormonal imbalances, infections, or lifestyle factors. Undiscovered gluten intolerance has enabled both men and women who thought they were sterile to become parents after adopting a gluten-free diet. Smoking significantly reduces both male and female fertility.

Common signs

• Failure to conceive after 12+ months of regular intercourse during ovulation
• In women: irregular or absent periods (possible ovulatory dysfunction)
• In women: unexplained weight changes or excess body or facial hair (possible hormonal imbalance)
• In men: history of mumps, testicular trauma, or varicocele

🔎 Why it happens

Common causes and triggers — spotting yours is often the first step to relief.

• Nutritional deficiencies (vitamin E, folic acid, zinc, selenium, B vitamins, essential fatty acids)
• Female: ovulatory dysfunction from hormonal imbalance, low body fat, or thyroid problems
• Female: plugged fallopian tubes from past infections (STDs, PID, IUD use)
• Male: low sperm count from heat exposure, alcohol, drugs, toxins, or infections
• Both: smoking, alcohol consumption, caffeine, and anabolic steroid use
• Both: gluten intolerance (undiagnosed celiac disease) is a surprisingly common cause
• Both: heavy metal poisoning, pesticide exposure (estrogenic pesticides cause infertility in animals)
• Both: stress, excessive exercise, and overweight

✅ What to do

Gentle, practical steps you can take at home — start at the top.

1. For women: VitaminA natural substance your body needs in small amounts to stay healthy, like vitamin C or D. More → E (400 IU) is very important for conception.
2. Folic acid (5 mg) helps female fertility.
3. VitaminA natural substance your body needs in small amounts to stay healthy, like vitamin C or D. More → B6 (50 mg daily) boosts fertility in women with irregular or absent periods.
4. PABA (100 mg) stimulates the pituitary and sometimes restores fertility.
5. Do not take more than 1,000 mg vitaminA natural substance your body needs in small amounts to stay healthy, like vitamin C or D. More → C daily (it can reduce female fertility).
6. Selenium (500 mcg), vitaminA natural substance your body needs in small amounts to stay healthy, like vitamin C or D. More → A as carotenes, B complex, zinc (30 mg), and CoQ10.
7. Herbs for female fertility: false unicorn root, black cohosh, dong quai, wild yam, chasteberry, red clover, and yellow dock.
8. Natural progesterone cream or wild yam applied to the abdomen.
9. Try a strict gluten-free diet for 3-6 months.
10. For men: VitaminA natural substance your body needs in small amounts to stay healthy, like vitamin C or D. More → C (500 mg twice daily) and vitamin B (200 mg) increase male fertility.
11. Zinc (30 mg), selenium (500 mcg), and arginine (4 grams daily -- found richly in sunflower seeds) help raise sperm counts.
12. Choline (1,000 mg).
13. Ginger, ginseng, and schisandra may reduce male infertility.
14. Do not overheat the testes (avoid hot tubs, tight underwear, fevers); keep testicular temperature below 96 degrees F.
15. Both: Try a strict gluten-free diet.
16. Eliminate smoking, alcohol, caffeine, and all drugs.
17. Avoid stress and overwork.
18. Maintain ideal body weight.

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🍽️ Eating to help

Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.

Nourishing whole-food diet with adequate protein, essential fatty acids (flaxseed oil, 2-4 tsp. daily), and a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals. Try gluten-free diet (eliminate wheat, oats, rye, barley) for 3-6 months. Eliminate sugar, white flour, refined foods, caffeine, and alcohol. Avoid hot tubs and saunas. Include sunflower seeds (rich in arginine for sperm production), garlic, and red raspberry leaf tea.

💬 Ask Remy about Infertility