We can all benefit from making a few simple lifestyle changes to minimise our exposure to toxins, and to give our bodies a chance to detoxify themselves. Here are some of the more obvious toxins that we can encounter, and their effect on fertility:

• Alcohol: In women, excessive alcohol consumption can disrupt the menstrual cycle, leading to irregular ovulation which may impact fertility. Chronic alcohol use may contribute to conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In men, alcohol can reduce testosterone levels, sperm production and sperm quality. It may also lead to erectile dysfunction and impaired sexual function.
• Smoking: In women, smoking is associated with an increased risk of infertility, miscarriage and early menopause. It can also hinder the success of fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF). In men, smoking has been linked to lower sperm count, reduced sperm motility and abnormal sperm morphology. It can contribute to erectile dysfunction and may impact the success of assisted reproductive techniques.
• Vaping (E-cigarettes): Vaping is considered by some to be less harmful than smoking, but e-cigarettes do contain harmful chemicals that can have adverse effects on the reproductive system and hormone levels.

If you or your partner are trying to conceive, it’s vital that both of you adopt a healthier lifestyle, included avoiding or minimising the use of alcohol, tobacco, and vaping products. Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and moderating your alcohol consumption, can positively affect your fertility and reproductive health. Counselling can support you through these stressful times.

Endocrine disruptors are chemical substances, such as phthalates, parabens, bisphenols (e.g. BPA), triclosan, triclocarban and heavy metals, that can interfere with the body’s endocrine system (glands and hormones). They can be natural or synthetic and are found in a variety of everyday products, including agricultural chemicals, personal care products, plastics and foods like soya beans. These substances can enter the body through ingestion or absorption through the skin. Endocrine disruptors can mimic, block or interfere with the body’s natural hormones (especially oestrogen), creating imbalances and adverse effects relating to growth, immunity and reproduction.

The potential health effects of exposure to endocrine disruptors include reproductive issues, developmental abnormalities, impaired immune function, and an increased risk of certain cancers. Foetuses are particularly vulnerable to the effects of endocrine disruptors during critical periods of development. Therefore, it is advisable to minimise your exposure to endocrine disruptors by making informed choices about the products you use.

To minimise the absorption of endocrine disruptors, you can make informed choices about the products you use regularly. The main product categories associated with endocrine disruptors are listed below, along with some suggestions on how to reduce your exposure:

Pesticides & Herbicides: Try to avoid regular (non-organic) produce because much of it contains pesticide residues. Where possible, choose organic fruits and vegetables. And, if you can’t get organic, wash fruit in dilute spirit vinegar solution (2 tablespoons per pint of water), and wash vegetables in dilute baking soda solution (1 teaspoon per pint of water), then rinse with fresh water.

Soya contains two isoflavone chemicals (genistein and daidzein) that are phytoestrogens. Although phytoestrogens are natural and plant-based, they mimic oestrogen, so can disrupt female hormone balance. So, you’ll probably want to minimise your consumption of soya products (e.g. edamame beans and tofu) while you are trying to conceive.

Plastic Containers: Where possible, avoid plastic bottles, packaging, containers, chopping boards and clingfilm. Also, try to avoid tinned foods, canned drinks, paper cups, fast-food wrapping paper and till receipts, because they are lined with BPA-containing plastic. Instead, use stainless steel, glass or BPA-free plastic containers. Hot food and drinks leach more micro-plastics and endocrine disruptors than cold food and drinks, so try to avoid heating food and drinks in plastic containers.

Bottled Water: Bottled water has probably been leaching endocrine disruptors, micro-plastics and nano-plastics from the bottle for months before you drink it, which is far from ideal. So, instead of buying bottled water, why not invest in your own stainless-steel bottle and fill it with your own filtered water. There is a separate section on tap water and water filters below.

Non-Stick Cookware: The EWG Factsheet on Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity states the following in relation to non-stick cookware: “PFAS…are associated with multiple adverse health effects, including immunotoxicity, cancer and increased cholesterol, as well as developmental and reproductive toxicity.” And “PFAS chemicals readily cross through the placenta and have been detected in cord blood, indicating direct exposure to the developing fetus. PFAS are also detected in breast milk”. So, please avoid using cookware with non-stick coatings that contain perfluorinated compounds like PFAS, PFOA or PTFE (Teflon). Instead, use stainless steel, cast iron or ceramic cookware.

Cleaning Products: Try to avoid regular household cleaning products because most contain phthalates, glycol ethers and synthetic fragrances. At the very least, choose fragrance-free options, but ideally choose natural cleaning products with clear ingredient lists. Liquid Castile Soap, for example, can replace hand soap, face wash, shower gel, bubble bath and washing up liquid. For kitchen and bathroom cleaners, try Purdey & Figg – and get £10 off your first order. For laundry powder, try Allavare and use coupon code fertility for 10% off. For dishwasher tablets, and other household cleaning products, Attitude is a good brand.

Perfumes & Fragrances: Avoid perfumes, aftershaves, air-fresheners and most scented candles, because they contain synthetic fragrances that probably contain phthalates. Choose naturally scented products, such as those made with essential oils, e.g. Neom Organics.

Did you know that perfumes and aftershaves are banned in many fertility clinics because the chemicals they contain can negatively impact fertility, and interfere with procedures such as IVF?

Antiperspirant Deodorant: Aluminium Chlorohydrate and Aluminium Zirconium Trichlorohydrex Glycine are the active ingredients in most antiperspirant deodorants, which block sweat glands to reduce perspiration. Research on the effects of aluminium on fertility is fairly limited, but it is easily absorbed into the skin, and some studies have shown that it can adversely affect fertility and foetal development. Aluminium at low levels has been shown to affect male fertility more than female fertility, including reduced sperm count, decreased testosterone levels, sperm damage and DNA fragmentation. Natural deodorants by brands like Salt of the Earth are almost as effective as conventional antiperspirants, but avoid the nasty side effects. Since switching to this brand, we no longer get the itchy armpits that we used to get from conventional antiperspirants.

Cosmetics & Toiletries: Avoid products containing phthalates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. Choose products labelled phthalate-free, paraben-free and fragrance-free. Consider using natural, cleaner alternatives such as Tropic Skincare.

Feminine Hygiene: Avoid regular tampons and sanitary pads because they often contain endocrine disruptors like phthalates, bisphenols, parabens and triclocarban. Consider tying period pants, organic cotton sanitary pads or organic cotton tampons, which are all made without synthetic materials, additives or fragrances.

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Tap water quality varies considerably depending on where you live, but here are some of the chemical contaminants that are commonly found in tap water that can impact fertility:

• Heavy Metals: Elevated levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and antimony can be harmful to fertility. Lead exposure is of particular concern as it has been associated with reproductive issues.
• Endocrine Disruptors: Certain chemicals in water, such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, are known as endocrine disruptors. These substances can interfere with the endocrine system, affecting hormone balance and reproductive function, including sperm quality.
• Chlorine is commonly used to disinfect water, but its byproducts, such as trihalomethanes (THMs), may have reproductive implications at high concentrations.
• Pesticides & Herbicides: Residues from agricultural runoff, including pesticides and herbicides, can find their way into water sources. Some of these chemicals may have endocrine-disrupting properties.
• Perfluorinated Compounds: PFCs, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), have been studied for their potential impact on fertility. These chemicals are sometimes found in water sources due to industrial contamination.
• Pharmaceuticals: Trace amounts of pharmaceuticals (including contraceptive pills) and personal care products may be present in water supplies due to incomplete removal during the water treatment process. While the concentrations are typically low, the long-term effects of chronic exposure are still not fully known.

In an ideal world, you’d invest in a reverse osmosis water filter, which removes all toxins and impurities, but they can be expensive to buy, install and maintain. But at the very least, please get yourself a good quality water filter jug such as a Klar Water Filter, which removes chlorine, heavy metals, micro-plastics, pesticides, PFOA and PFAS. It’s a bit more expensive than a regular water filter but it removes a lot more toxins, and the cartridges last twice as long (60 days).

According to a 2023 Australian study, the “COVID-19 spike protein is pathogenic, from both virus and vaccine”. The study describes how lipid nano particles in the vaccines go to the ovaries and the testicles where they install the genetic code for producing the harmful spike protein. So, in addition to disrupting ovarian function, the spike proteins could also damage eggs, of which women only have a finite number.

A 2022 British clinical study called “The Eva Project” concluded that “Women vaccinated against COVID-19 usually perceive mild menstrual and premenstrual changes.” 78% of women who took the vaccine have disrupted menstrual cycles, and by that mechanism alone, fertility is affected.

A 2022 Israeli study discovered a “sperm concentration and total motile count deterioration 3 months after vaccination followed by later recovery.”

These studies show that fertility is adversely affected (by spike proteins) following COVID infection or vaccination. The effect on male fertility is only temporary because fresh sperm are continually being produced every 3 months, but the effect on female fertility could be longer lasting.

In summary, you should expect your fertility to dip for a few months after a COVID infection or vaccination. The Spike Protein Detox Protocol on our Fertility Supplements page can help to remove the harmful spike proteins from your system faster than normal. Energy Healing may also help to support your reproductive system through this process.