I’ve noticed a lot of my female clients and friends have a history of miscarriage or trouble getting pregnant. I feel like this is becoming more and more common so I started researching what are the root causes of infertility. In fact according to the CDC, about 12% of women ages 15-44 have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant. The Mayo Clinic also states that about 10-20% (or higher) of known pregnancies could result in miscarriage. What are causes of infertility:
- PCOS - High levels of androgens such as DHEA and/or testosterone.
- Estrogen Dominance - elevated levels of estrogen with too low progesterone.
- Luteal phase defect - short luteal phase due to low progesterone
- Hypothyroidism - subclinical low thyroid which can affect release of egg during ovulation, cause luteal phase defect, high prolactin, or imbalance in sex hormones.
- Stress - stress causes release of cortisol. Too much cortisol takes away from the production of sex hormones which can affect fertility. Watch my video about stress & hormonal imbalance.
- Genetics - MTHFR mutation results in lower levels of folate and B12 which can result in miscarriage or birth defects.
- Long term use of BCPs - increasing SHBG which binds up free sex hormones. Low sex hormones including testosterone can cause infertility.
- Intestinal inflammation - causes bad bacteria to release endotoxins which them cause inflammation in the endometrium (lining if the uterus).
- Toxins - endocrine disrupting chemicals such as BPA, Parabens, phthalates, and triclosan which can cause elevated estrogens.
If you’re having trouble getting pregnant or history of miscarriage, contact us to help you figure out the root cause and guide you on ways to nourish your body for a healthy pregnancy.
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