Unexplained Infertility: What You Can Do To Remedy It

What are the causes of infertility?
From a medical point of view, infertility is believed to be caused by the following factors, and in these proportions:

• Ovulatory failure (including Polycystic Ovary Syndrome): 20%
• Tubal damage: 15%
• Endometriosis: 5%
• Male problems: 26%
• Unexplained: 30%

If the above doesn’t seem to add up, it may be because many couples experience more than one problem when trying to conceive: for example, you may suffer from endometriosis, but your partner may also have a low sperm count.

Interestingly, the most common cause of infertility is ‘unexplained’, which means that following thorough investigations, doctors can find no specific or identifiable medical problem. Still, if a couple fails in their bid to get pregnant, there is something causing the problem. There is no harm in looking deeper – at lifestyle factors, nutritional deficiencies, and even emotional elements, even.

What are your choices?
The natural approach to fertility is and has been enormously successful, largely because fertility is multifactorial, meaning that many, many elements can be at the root of your fertility problems. Numerous studies have brought up that couples struggling with infertility had an 80 percent success rate when they included proper supplements to their diets and changes were made to their lifestyles. Given that the success rate for IVF itself is only around 25%, it seems worth it considering more natural options.

Preconception care:
Remember that it takes at least three months for your eggs to mature enough to be released during ovulation. It also takes at least three months for sperm cells to develop, ready to be ejaculated. This means that when you are trying to improve your fertility, you need to have three months before conceiving. This is called ‘pre-conception care’ and it’s as important to take as much care during this period as it is during pregnancy itself.

Are you eating the right foods?
If you’re trying for a baby, it goes without saying that a healthy diet is crucial to a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby. The fact is, your diet can help to correct hormone imbalances that may affect your ability to conceive.

Increase your fruits and vegetable intake
For a fertility, diet to improve egg quality, load your plate with fruits and veggies. They contain phytochemicals that are beneficial for fertility, so try to ensure that half of your plate at every meal is composed of fresh fruits and vegetables. Watermelon and asparagus, in addition to other raw fruits and vegetables, give the body a rich supply of glutathione, which is important for egg quality, where else green leafy vegetables such as kale may aid in estrogen metabolism.

Always choose whole foods over processed options
A diet rich in whole grains and vegetables, and has less processed meat, may protect against ovulatory dysfunction. A Spanish study of more than 2,000 women showed that only 17 percent of women who follow a strict Mediterranean diet had fertility issues, compared with 26 percent of women who ate fattier meats and processed foods.

Go for variety
When it comes to a truly healthy way of eating, the key is variety. It’s never a good idea to eat the same kind of food everyday, even if it’s organic, wholesome, and healthy. A variety of food will ensure that the body receives various nutrients it needs, and this is important for fertility health as well. The more variety you have, the more likely you’re able to complete the nutrient gaps you may be lacking and set up a healthier space for your baby to thrive in for the next 9 months.

Healthy fats are important
Nuts, avocados, olive oil, and grapeseed oil are all categorised as health plant-based fats that when taken in moderation, can reduce inflammation in the body, which helps promote regular ovulation and general fertility. Some good fats may even assist women who truly struggle with infertility. There have been studies indicating that women who consumed a certain quantity of monounsaturated fats in the form of avocados during an IVF treatment improved their success rate, as opposed to women who don’t eat good plant-based fats during their treatment cycle.

What to avoid if you’re trying for a baby
Some certain foods and drinks are known to lower fertility. They are:

Alcohol: Alcohol consumption has been known to reduce your fertility by half – and quite simply, the more you drink, the less likely you are to conceive. Research has also shown that drinking alcohol causes a decrease in sperm count, an increase in abnormal sperm, and a lower proportion of motile sperm. Alcohol also inhibits the body’s absorption of nutrients such as zinc, which is one of the most important minerals for male fertility.

In order to give yourself the best possible chance of conceiving, try eliminating alcohol from your diets for at least three months before trying for a baby.

Caffeine: There is plenty of evidence to show that caffeine, particularly in the form of coffee, decreases fertility. Drinking as little as one cup of coffee a day can halve your chances of conceiving and just two cups a day increases the risk of a miscarriage. One study showed that problems with sperm: sperm count, motility and abnormalities, increase with the number of cups of coffee consumed each day. Once again, it’s important to eliminate all caffeine-containing food and drinks for at least three months before trying to conceive. That includes colas, chocolate, black teas, and coffee, among other things.

Xenoestrogens: When you are trying to conceive, one of the most important things you need to do is to balance your hormones. It is extremely important to avoid anything that might cause an imbalance, and one of the main culprits is the xenoestrogens, which are essentially environmental estrogen, coming from pesticides and the plastic industry. One of the best ways to eliminate an excess intake of xenoestrogens is to eat as much organic produce as possible for the preconception period.

Smoking: Smoking has been linked with infertility in both men and women. It can even bring on early menopause, which will be of particular concern for women trying to conceive at an older age. Smoking also decreases sperm count in men, making the sperm more sluggish. It may also increase the number of abnormal sperm.

Fact
Unlike the cases of dairy, alcohol, and caffeine, where evidence regarding their role in causing infertility can be somewhat inconsistent, saturated fats, and sugar have been associated with poorer fertility outcomes in women and men. On the other hand, diets high in unsaturated fats, whole grains, vegetables, and fish have been associated with improved fertility in both women and men.

Don’t forget to take your supplements
Certain supplements can be very effective in re-balancing your hormones, as well as improving one’s overall health to increase the chances of successful conception. They are necessary because even the best diet in the world may not contain all the nutrients you need to give you the best chance of conceiving. By eliminating nutritional deficiencies you can dramatically increase your chances of getting pregnant. In order to do this it is essential that you are obtaining the right nutrients and in the right quantities to enhance your success.

Folic Acid
Folic acid has been proven to prevent spina bifida in an unborn baby, and it is essential that you get plenty both before and during pregnancy. Folic acid is part of the very important B-complex family of vitamins that are necessary to produce the genetic materials DNA and RNA, not only of the egg but also the sperm. Together with vitamin B12, folic acid works to ensure that your baby’s genetic codes are intact.

Zinc
A zinc deficiency can cause chromosome changes in both men and women, leading to reduced fertility and an increased risk of miscarriage. Zinc is necessary for your body to ‘attract and hold’ the reproductive hormones, oestrogen, and progesterone.

Zinc is found in high concentrations in the sperm and is needed to make the outer layer and tail of the sperm. A deficiency may also lead to reduced sperm count.

Selenium
Selenium is an antioxidant that helps to protect your body from highly reactive chemical fragments called free radicals. For this reason, selenium can prevent chromosome breakage, which is known to be a cause of birth defects and miscarriages. Good levels of selenium are also essential to maximise sperm formation. Blood selenium levels are lower in men with low sperm counts.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids
These essential fats have a profound effect on every system of the body, including the reproductive system and they are crucial for healthy hormone functioning. Omega 3 fatty acids also control inflammation which may interfere with getting and staying pregnant. For men, essential fatty acid supplementation is crucial because the semen is rich in prostaglandins which are produced from these fats. Men with poor sperm quality, abnormal sperm, poor motility or low count, have inadequate levels of these beneficial prostaglandins.

Vitamin C
One study has shown that women taking the drug clomiphene to stimulate ovulation will have a better chance of ovulating if vitamin C is taken alongside the drug. Clomiphene does not always work in every woman, but the chances are often increased when vitamin C is supplemented.

Studies show that vitamin C also enhances sperm quality, protecting sperm and the DNA within it from damage. Some research has indicated that certain types of DNA damage in the sperm can make it difficult to conceive or it can cause an increased risk of miscarriage if conception does take place. Vitamin C also appears to keep the sperm from clumping together, making them more motile.

Beta-Carotene
This is the vegetable precursor to Vitamin A and is completely safe during pregnancy. Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect egg and sperm DNA from damage by harmful free radicals which can affect the quality of both the egg and sperm.

L-Arginine
This is an amino acid found in many foods and the head of the sperm contains an exceptional amount of this nutrient, which is essential for sperm production. Supplementing with L-Arginine can help to increase both sperm count and quality.

L-Carnitine
This amino acid is essential for the normal functioning of sperm cells. According to research, it appears that the higher the levels of L-Carnitine in the sperm cells, the better the sperm count and motility.

Be at your healthiest weight
It’s been proven that women who experience unexplained infertility can improve their chances of pregnancy by achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Being overweight or underweight can alter hormone levels and throw ovulation off schedule.

In overweight women, as little as 5 percent weight loss could improve fertility. On the other hand, underweight women may experience irregular menstrual cycles or stop ovulating altogether, rendering them infertile. Those who regularly participate in high-intensity exercises – such as gymnastics or dancing, have an eating disorder or follow restricted diets, etc, are often found to be at risk.

If you happen to be overweight, remember too that the answer is never in fad diets, which can deplete your body of nutrients it needs for pregnancy. Instead, find a healthy eating plan that works for you by talking to a registered dietitian nutritionist.

Consider the following tips to reach or maintain a healthy weight:

• Exercise regularly: Along with healthy eating, include moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.
• Add some strength training twice a week: Having more body fat than lean muscle mass is not good for fertility since body fat affects hormone balance. Weights and resistance bands are popular tools for strength training. Other activities that may strengthen muscles include some types of yoga and pilates, as well as activities such as gardening and yard work.
• Eat well: Keep weight within a healthy range by following a healthy eating pattern and making better food choices. Include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein foods, and low-fat or fat-free dairy daily. Limit your intake of added sugars from sodas, cakes, cookies, sweets, etc..
• Balance calories and activities. Balance your food choices with your physical activity daily. It’s a step in the right direction for maintaining a healthy weight.