Hi there, I am running a very small group workshop to help you Decrease Stress and Increase Fertility. I started running these Fertile Mind Fertile Body Workshop 7 years ago and nearly 60% of those attending have become pregnant within 3-6 months after taking the course. We work on decreasing the stress associated with fertility issues as another way (one of the most often overlooked ways) of maximising your health and your fertility. Email Janet@sharkeyshealingcentre.com for more details. It is a small group so contact Janet asap if you are interested.
Thursday, June 07, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Magic Call 4: Focusing on Your Fertility: relationships
How to take the stress out of relationships when dealing with fertility issues, make sure to listen to the questions and answers at the end :)
Monday, May 07, 2012
I know with Mothers' Day coming up often when dealing with fertility issues, it can get quite stressful. My fertility patients over the last decade have always discuss how difficult and painful Mothers Day can be for them.
But this Mothers' Day I am hoping that you can shift your focus a bit and as a result take some of the stress off as you move up to and through the weekend.
This holiday can remind you of what you want but don't have YET. But it can also be a reminder to focus on what the day is really celebrating.
Here are two things I suggest you consider this weekend coming up.
1) This day, if you don't have children yet, can be a focus on your mom/mum. Taking time out to appreciate what she has done and that she gave you life. Here is a picture I found on facebook that I thought was worth sharing.
But this Mothers' Day I am hoping that you can shift your focus a bit and as a result take some of the stress off as you move up to and through the weekend.
This holiday can remind you of what you want but don't have YET. But it can also be a reminder to focus on what the day is really celebrating.
Here are two things I suggest you consider this weekend coming up.
1) This day, if you don't have children yet, can be a focus on your mom/mum. Taking time out to appreciate what she has done and that she gave you life. Here is a picture I found on facebook that I thought was worth sharing.
Appreciate, respect and honor your mom/mum on Mothers' Day. This will hopefully help you shift your focus from what you believe you lack to what you have right now. And even if you aren't close to your mom/mum or even aren't talking, at least attempt to appreciate that she created you for this journey we call life.
2) If you are not a "mother" yet, I would encourage you to think a bit outside the box this upcoming weekend. What do I mean by that? Well, what is a mother really? Webster says along with the traditional definition is that a mother is "a creator". So when/if your heart and mind are focusing what you think you lack, I would encourage you instead to focus on all the ways in your life you have been a creator. How you have created your relationship, your job/career or current situation, all the things you have created in your life and have helped you become the wonderful person that you are. Celebrate what you have created in your life. And if you believe that what you put out in the world returns to you, perhaps this shift in focus just might help you create more of what you want in your life now and in the future.
Over the years patients have also shared a few tidbits about how they have spent these holidays to help the deal with the pain of maybe their mum/mom having passed away or to help them shift their focus. One that comes up over and over again is instead of only keeping the focus on Mum/mom on Mothers' Day and Dad on Fathers Day, celebrate your relationship with each other on these days. Spend some quality time together. Talk to each other about what you appreciate about each other and make it a special day for your relationship. Because when you think about it, its your union that will help you create the life that you long for, so take some time to celebrate it and appreciate each other.
Also keep in mind that if you do feel sad or down or even angry on Mothers Day due to your current situation, that is normal to have those feelings and the thoughts that go with them. But once you are cognisant of those thoughts and feelings, shift your focus to help let it go as holding on those thoughts that don't support you isn't going to help you optimise your fertility. And if you are too low or feeling too defeated to do this, then reach out for help to your spouse, a counsellor, your Church or your support system to help you shift your focus.
Have a good weekend celebrating your life and all you have in it right now!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Focusing On Your Fertility: Magic Call 2; How to Find Your Way Out of Negative Thinking
Welcome to our second conference call in our Magic Series: Focusing On Your Fertility; Listen to Stacey the babymaker Roberts discuss how to find your way out of Negative thinking and move towards optimising your fertility.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Thyroid Often Overlooked Re Fertility
One of these such issues is thyroid health. Thyroid health is imperative in becoming pregnant and in holding the pregnancy so when a fertility issue persists, in my opinion, more detailed screening of the thyroid should be done, even if the standard tests have come up normal.
This is not only a woman's issue, i.e. any time there is an issue with the sperm count and quality, it could be related to the thyroid. So many times we see patients who have classic thyroid symptoms but have never had their thyroid screened beyond just doing the standard TSH testing. Most times if their TSH has come in within "normal" limits, they are told their thyroid is "normal" and there is nothing wrong. Then they begin doing their temperature charts for me and the temperatures indicate that the thyroid is not working optimally so I come back to them and request that they have their thyroid screened. Some people look at me like I am crazy and others just scratch their heads.
The confusion with the thyroid starts in the standard tests. Normally a physician will test TSH which is the hormone that is supposed to be reflective of how the thyroid is working. The pituitary makes more TSH if thyroid hormone is not enough or slows down in production if the thyroid is making too much. The pituitary which secretes TSH is continually monitoring the blood to see how much thyroid hormone is present so in theory this should be an accurate indicator of thyroid function, but it doesn't always seem to work that way. A scientist and MD Dr. George Gillson from Canada once stated in an International Hormone conference that TSH really only tells us what the brain needs for thyroid hormone, not what the rest of the body needs.
Therefore TSH can be normal but the thyroid hormone out put may not be optimal for you. Another excellent reference for this http://thyroid.about.com The range of "normal" for thyroid hormone varies quite significantly from lab to lab. One lab may say that .4 to 4.0 is normal where another lab may say .3 to 6.0 is normal. Our normal reference range, based onwhat we see in the clinic is 1.5 to 2.0 (with .3 to 3.0 being the full range we use), anything over 2.0 or below 1.5 gets our attention and we support the thyroid.
However even men and women who have TSH within this optimal range can show low thyroid out put on further inspection. I know, its confusing. If you have been dealing with fertility issues for awhile though its a good idea to have a more thorough screening. For example, I would suggest that you ask your doctor to test FT4 and FT3, and Reverse as well as thyroid antibodies.
T4 is the hormone produced by the thyroid. T3 and Reverse T3 are a byproduct of T4 and influence reproductive hormones such as estrogen, testosterone and progesterone. Your physician may be resistant to testing these if there is no apparent thyroid history or if TSH is normal so be ready to take responsibility for your own health and give him/her good reasons to test these. Or ask your naturopath if you can get them tested through him or her if your doctor refuses. Realise you will likely have to pay out of pocket for these tests.
The other test as above that should be considered if you have been dealing with fertility issues for a while and/or if you have had recurrent miscarriages or difficulty getting pregnant after a miscarriage or stillbirth, is thyroid antibodies. These are tested even less frequently than the thyroid hormones and its a shame as it has been shown that a woman with elevated thyroid antibodies (which can be elevated even if TSH is "normal") are 3 times more likely to experience post natal depression and more likley to experience miscarriage.
Most physicians do not test this if TSH is normal however thyroid antibodies can be elevated even with normal TSH. This fact has been cited over and over in scientific literature. Though traditionally physicians not familiar with its signficance regarding miscarriage will not treat elevated thyroid antibodies but instead they will usually tell you to wait until the thyroid fails (or TSH rises above its "normal" range before they will treat this. Based on research reviewed in the New york Times medical treatment for this is typically Thyroxine. This treatment apparently decreases the incidence of miscarriage by half.
Natural remedies for optimising thyroid function are also available from herbs and nutritional supplements. An Ayurvedic herb called Withania Somnifera and Chinese herb Bacopa Monneri are a few herbs that have been shown to effect support optimal hormone levels.
Reverse T3 is also an important test as it tells us whether the majority of T3 (which influences testosterone, estrogen and progesterone production) is active. If Reverse T3 is on the high end of the range or elevated, this can mean that you aren't producing adequate amounts of reproductive hormones. Most times Reverse T3 is elevated due to stress on the system. This could be emotional stress and or physiological stress such as being overweight or having irritants such as gluten in your diet.
All of these tests are extremely important for assessing your fertility as a whole. Many times our unexplained cases are "explained" once these tests are done and compared to our optimal levels for fertility.
Sharkeys Healing Centre Babymaker Magic call 1 April 22
Thursday, March 01, 2012
New Evidence for Fertility; Improve your Egg Quality
I have been supporting and following Dr. Jonathon tilly's research since 2004 when I saw headlines in the Sydney Morning Herald that women may be able to regenerate their eggs. His research has been dismissed and ignored for many years but now with evidence in human tissue Dr. Tilly has shown once again that there is real evidence that women were not born with x amount of eggs and run out of them but that women may regenerate them each month similar to how the sperm regenerates every 3 months or so.
Here is an excellent video for you about the study published in Nature
If this is true and women can regenerate their eggs like men do with sp then this is likely the main reason that our program works so well for couples when they have been told there is no hope for them.
We know from a study at Stanford University that the follicles in women can take 8 menstrual cycles to develop and within these follicles are the egg cells. So over this period of time women with lifestyle changes, and optimal hormone balance and nutrition could likely improve the quality of these eggs.
Egg cells are like any other cell in the body. They need nutrients and optimal hormone balance to grow from a stem cell and work optimally. Exposure to excessive amounts of toxins and/or trauma can impact cellular health as well we can see from so many patients creating viable pregnancies in our program why this all works. This sounds like common sense doesn't it? If you think of about it for a minute, does it really make sense that nearly every cell in the body has been shown to be able to regenerate (brain and nerve cells were thought to not regenerate until recent years) and the male counterpart of the egg, i.e. the sp does regenerate, but the egg doesn’t?? That does not make sense to me at all and now there is more scientific evidence to support what really makes most sense; it is likely that the eggs do regenerate each month and therefore what you put in your body and how you live your life is likely to effect these cells like it effects other cells in the body.
If you are interested in our program that has been a part of 6000 babies coming into this world, pls see our website www.sharkeyshealingcentre.com or www.naturalfertility.com
read thru our FAQ, and watch our video to determine if the program is right for you.
Alternatively to follow the Five Step Fertility Solution on your own you may be interested in ordering The Fertility Bible from our website or on your smartphone thru Kindle or direct from your Kindle device :)
Here is an excellent video for you about the study published in Nature
If this is true and women can regenerate their eggs like men do with sp then this is likely the main reason that our program works so well for couples when they have been told there is no hope for them.
We know from a study at Stanford University that the follicles in women can take 8 menstrual cycles to develop and within these follicles are the egg cells. So over this period of time women with lifestyle changes, and optimal hormone balance and nutrition could likely improve the quality of these eggs.
Egg cells are like any other cell in the body. They need nutrients and optimal hormone balance to grow from a stem cell and work optimally. Exposure to excessive amounts of toxins and/or trauma can impact cellular health as well we can see from so many patients creating viable pregnancies in our program why this all works. This sounds like common sense doesn't it? If you think of about it for a minute, does it really make sense that nearly every cell in the body has been shown to be able to regenerate (brain and nerve cells were thought to not regenerate until recent years) and the male counterpart of the egg, i.e. the sp does regenerate, but the egg doesn’t?? That does not make sense to me at all and now there is more scientific evidence to support what really makes most sense; it is likely that the eggs do regenerate each month and therefore what you put in your body and how you live your life is likely to effect these cells like it effects other cells in the body.
If you are interested in our program that has been a part of 6000 babies coming into this world, pls see our website www.sharkeyshealingcentre.com or www.naturalfertility.com
read thru our FAQ, and watch our video to determine if the program is right for you.
Alternatively to follow the Five Step Fertility Solution on your own you may be interested in ordering The Fertility Bible from our website or on your smartphone thru Kindle or direct from your Kindle device :)
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Importance of Vit D and Fertility
Now on to the fertility info; two studies caught my eye this last week.
The first is on Vitamin D and its importance in dealing with fertility issues. Austrian scientists have shown that vitamin d deficiency is associated with both male and female fertility issues. So get your Vit D levels tested by your doctor and shoot for mid range to optimize your levels.
Optimising Vit D can be done with liquid drops or tablets and some experts are recommended trying to get at least 10 minutes of sun exposure per day on as much of your body area as possible (without getting arrested lol) and no sunscreen. If through either of these methods your vit D levels do not increase then also check thyroid and adrenal hormone levels; TSH, FT4, FT3, thyroid antibodies, am cortisol and dhea. These tests may give you a clue as to what may be effecting your vitamin D levels and also your fertility. I explain the importance of these organ systems and how they are often overlooked in the Fertility Bible; Your 5 Step Fertility Solution to Becoming Pregnant Naturally or with IVF. Available on Kindle from your smart phone or in hard copy from our clinic.
The second study that was interesting was done right here in Australia. But before I discuss it I want to be sure you understand that I am not against conventional fertility treatment and do refer couples to IVF doctors as needed. However whenever I write something about becoming pregnant naturally and comparing it to IVF I am accused of being anti IVF, which could not be further from the truth. I am an advocate for patients having all the information they need to make an informed decision about what they do on their fertility journey. So that being said, here is the study results:
A new study from Australia followed 7000 women since 1996 who filled in health surveys including questions about fertility and pregnancy. Approximately 1400 women aged 28-36 (20%) reported having difficulty conceiving after one year. 600 of those women had fertility treatment (IVF or other fertility hormones) and 53% of them became pregnant (approx 318 women). Of the other 800 who did not do IVF or have other fertility hormones approx 352 (or 44% of 800) became pregnant. Interestingly enough there were more pregnancies in the group who didn�t receive treatment! Unfortunately the survey didn't report what those women who became pregnant without IVF were doing, i.e. lifestyle changes, dietary changes, herbs, supplements etc. But I doubt that most of the women were doing nothing. IVF may be an option for you, and I do refer people to IVF and recommend they prepare they bodies to get the best results from the procedures, but the main thing I was hoping you gained from this
article is there is hope after 12 months of trying.
And the conclusion related to the study emphasizes that no pregnancy after 12 months does not necessarily mean you are infertile but instead they mention that this state should be described as subfertile or as some of my patients have said, "fertility challenged".
The first is on Vitamin D and its importance in dealing with fertility issues. Austrian scientists have shown that vitamin d deficiency is associated with both male and female fertility issues. So get your Vit D levels tested by your doctor and shoot for mid range to optimize your levels.
Optimising Vit D can be done with liquid drops or tablets and some experts are recommended trying to get at least 10 minutes of sun exposure per day on as much of your body area as possible (without getting arrested lol) and no sunscreen. If through either of these methods your vit D levels do not increase then also check thyroid and adrenal hormone levels; TSH, FT4, FT3, thyroid antibodies, am cortisol and dhea. These tests may give you a clue as to what may be effecting your vitamin D levels and also your fertility. I explain the importance of these organ systems and how they are often overlooked in the Fertility Bible; Your 5 Step Fertility Solution to Becoming Pregnant Naturally or with IVF. Available on Kindle from your smart phone or in hard copy from our clinic.
The second study that was interesting was done right here in Australia. But before I discuss it I want to be sure you understand that I am not against conventional fertility treatment and do refer couples to IVF doctors as needed. However whenever I write something about becoming pregnant naturally and comparing it to IVF I am accused of being anti IVF, which could not be further from the truth. I am an advocate for patients having all the information they need to make an informed decision about what they do on their fertility journey. So that being said, here is the study results:
A new study from Australia followed 7000 women since 1996 who filled in health surveys including questions about fertility and pregnancy. Approximately 1400 women aged 28-36 (20%) reported having difficulty conceiving after one year. 600 of those women had fertility treatment (IVF or other fertility hormones) and 53% of them became pregnant (approx 318 women). Of the other 800 who did not do IVF or have other fertility hormones approx 352 (or 44% of 800) became pregnant. Interestingly enough there were more pregnancies in the group who didn�t receive treatment! Unfortunately the survey didn't report what those women who became pregnant without IVF were doing, i.e. lifestyle changes, dietary changes, herbs, supplements etc. But I doubt that most of the women were doing nothing. IVF may be an option for you, and I do refer people to IVF and recommend they prepare they bodies to get the best results from the procedures, but the main thing I was hoping you gained from this
article is there is hope after 12 months of trying.
And the conclusion related to the study emphasizes that no pregnancy after 12 months does not necessarily mean you are infertile but instead they mention that this state should be described as subfertile or as some of my patients have said, "fertility challenged".
Monday, November 14, 2011
What is Your Focus On Fertility?
Here is an excellent video to help you understand why you can feel so sad, depressed and disempowered when dealing with fertility issues. It's principles apply to life and is what many due to unknowingly sabotage their own happiness.
After watching think about how you can change your focus to what you have right now to take some of the pressure off regarding your fertility.
When we are dealing with difficult situations in our life (and fertility issues are one of the most difficult journeys someone can take) it is easy to lose focus on appreciating what we do have in life right now. This of course won't take away the issues you are dealing with regarding fertility but it will help you see find the pieces necessary to fill in the missing tile. But if your focus is only on what is missing, it is much more difficult to take action and move forward to create what you want.
So spend some time each day shifting your focus from what you apparently lack to appreciation of what you do have right now.
After watching think about how you can change your focus to what you have right now to take some of the pressure off regarding your fertility.
When we are dealing with difficult situations in our life (and fertility issues are one of the most difficult journeys someone can take) it is easy to lose focus on appreciating what we do have in life right now. This of course won't take away the issues you are dealing with regarding fertility but it will help you see find the pieces necessary to fill in the missing tile. But if your focus is only on what is missing, it is much more difficult to take action and move forward to create what you want.
So spend some time each day shifting your focus from what you apparently lack to appreciation of what you do have right now.
Monday, September 19, 2011
OAT Axis: What Most Doctors Do Not Explain To You When Discussing Fertility
The following video is by a medical doctor Dr. Lam, who talks about information that we, at our clinic, Sharkeys Healing Centre, and natural fertility.com focus on, on a daily basis. Why? Because this axis directly relates to your fertility.
When going through convention fertility treatment this is completely ignored and likely why many times conventional treatment doesn't help you create a viable pregnancy.
Watch this video to help understand what has been missing in your fertility program (unless you are a patient of ours already). Dr. Lam doesn't specifically mention fertility but this information is applicable to someone who has had recurrent miscarriage, endometriosis, unexplained fertility issues, Pcos (polycystic ovaries), or fibroids.
Enjoy the video!
A couple things to keep in mind:
When Dr. Lam says oestrogen dominance it may not mean excess oestrogen or high oestrogen. He is talking about the balance between oestrogen and progesterone so oestrogen dominance can mean high oestrogen or normal oestrogen but low progesterone. You can also have high oestrogen normal progesterone or high oestrogen and low progesterone. All of these are related to oestrogen dominance.
The thyroid and adrenals work very closely together. If one is not regulating, for example if you are on hypothyroid medication if your adrenals aren't functioning optimally then the medication may not be effective.
For further explanation about how the OAT axis could be impacting your fertility consider having a consultation with us at Sharkeys Healing Centre (Fertility Bible comes with the consultation) or consider investing in the Fertility Bible, Your Five Step Fertility Solution to Becoming Pregnant Naturally or with IVF. Available in hard copy in Australia and New Zealand or out of Australia on your Kindle or Smart phone (iPhone or android) with your Kindle App
When going through convention fertility treatment this is completely ignored and likely why many times conventional treatment doesn't help you create a viable pregnancy.
Watch this video to help understand what has been missing in your fertility program (unless you are a patient of ours already). Dr. Lam doesn't specifically mention fertility but this information is applicable to someone who has had recurrent miscarriage, endometriosis, unexplained fertility issues, Pcos (polycystic ovaries), or fibroids.
Enjoy the video!
A couple things to keep in mind:
When Dr. Lam says oestrogen dominance it may not mean excess oestrogen or high oestrogen. He is talking about the balance between oestrogen and progesterone so oestrogen dominance can mean high oestrogen or normal oestrogen but low progesterone. You can also have high oestrogen normal progesterone or high oestrogen and low progesterone. All of these are related to oestrogen dominance.
The thyroid and adrenals work very closely together. If one is not regulating, for example if you are on hypothyroid medication if your adrenals aren't functioning optimally then the medication may not be effective.
For further explanation about how the OAT axis could be impacting your fertility consider having a consultation with us at Sharkeys Healing Centre (Fertility Bible comes with the consultation) or consider investing in the Fertility Bible, Your Five Step Fertility Solution to Becoming Pregnant Naturally or with IVF. Available in hard copy in Australia and New Zealand or out of Australia on your Kindle or Smart phone (iPhone or android) with your Kindle App
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Altered gene likely to be associated with infertility in women
Scientists from Johns Hopkins University in the USA have discovered a gene that when altered in mice and in humans is correlated with low progesterone levels and unexplained fertility issues in women.
A new study by investigators from Johns Hopkins now suggests that altering of a gene also meant for regulation of cholesterol in the bloodstream appears to affect the progesterone production in women making it a possible wrongdoer in a substantial number of cases of their infertility.
A simple blood test for this variation of the scavenger receptor class B type 1 gene (SCARB1) was also created by the group though it mentioned that there is no affirmed therapy yet to attend the problem in infertile women.
A common link was found between the studies conducted on female mice and the one conducted on women with a history of fertility. In both the cases the link between deficiency in these receptors for HDL i.e the real healthy cholesterol and infertility appeared to be clear. The Hopkins team seems to be positive in tracing the genetic clue to infertility and developing a treatment for it as well if the study moves ahead as expected. The treatment is known to have been effective in female mice.
The study:
As a part of their study Rodriguez and her colleagues collected and examined the ovarian cells and fluid collected from 274 women unable to become pregnant for various reasons and undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) between November 2007 and March 2010. Around 207 of them proceeded to have their eggs collected followed by the process of fertilization of the eggs and implantation in their wombs.
2 days after the embryo transfer the scientists had to see for any signs of gestation sac or fetal heartbeat that could be affirmed only by evidence. All the nine women in the group with mutated SCARB1 were devoid of this evidence .This implied that none of them were pregnant. According to Rodriguez the genetic variation could be present in 8 to 13 percent of the population.
Despite being supplemented with progesterone as part of the IVF process, the levels of the same were found to be less in the nine women with the altered gene. Progesterone is crucial for sustaining a pregnancy in the earliest stages.
STACEY'S COMMENTS
Firstly I think this is great that scientists are continuing to look for what is presumeably overlooked in many couples dealing with fertility issues. Instead of just shugging their shoulders and saying it is "unexplained" scientists are attempting to help couples go from unexplained to explained.
My job I believe is to help couples make the next step, go from Unexplained to pregnant.
So I think there are a few things that need to be highlighted here.
1) testing for SCARB1 (can be done thru a blood test so ask your doctor if the blood test has become available for you in your area) could give your fertility team more information to suggest what an underlying problem may be and then address areas associated with low progesterone levels, but also keep in mind that only 9 of the 207 subjects showed a mutation in this gene so it was present in less than 5% of the subjects.
2) If there is an altered gene which effects cholesterol and progesterone its important to ask why this might be the case instead of just address the specific components i.e. cholesterol and progesterone. Its important to look up the chain of hormone pathways to determine why this may be an issue and address it at the point where its a problem, not at the end game. For example a medication now banned because of its potentially life threatening effects of lowering the good cholesterol is being considered to use as a treatment.
3) its interesting that scientists are considering trying to alter or overcome an altered gene with medication. Hasn't it been drilled in our head that are genes are our genes and that can't be changed? In comes the field of epigenetics which I believe this study supports. Epigenetics is basically telling us that our future is not presupposed by our DNA and that something outside of the genes and DNA can be responsible for issues with our genes and when these issues are addressed it may improve the situation for the better
So let's talk about what could potentially naturally help improve this or atleast what should be investigated before using a life threatening drug on women who are desperate to try anything to become pregnant. Herbs such as Chaste Tree have been shown to optimise progesterone production. Fish oil may help to optimise HDL levels and subsequently have a positive effect on progesterone since progesterone comes from cholesterol. And since the thyroid and adrenals directly impact progesterone productions herbs such as withania, rhemania and other thyroid and adrenal support may be warranted.
See your health care professional who has experiencing dispensing herbs and looking for natural support of hormone levels to optimise hormone balance. And as discussed having the blood test for SCARB1 may be a good option for you if you have been diagnosed with unexplained fertility issues.
A new study by investigators from Johns Hopkins now suggests that altering of a gene also meant for regulation of cholesterol in the bloodstream appears to affect the progesterone production in women making it a possible wrongdoer in a substantial number of cases of their infertility.
A simple blood test for this variation of the scavenger receptor class B type 1 gene (SCARB1) was also created by the group though it mentioned that there is no affirmed therapy yet to attend the problem in infertile women.
A common link was found between the studies conducted on female mice and the one conducted on women with a history of fertility. In both the cases the link between deficiency in these receptors for HDL i.e the real healthy cholesterol and infertility appeared to be clear. The Hopkins team seems to be positive in tracing the genetic clue to infertility and developing a treatment for it as well if the study moves ahead as expected. The treatment is known to have been effective in female mice.
The study:
As a part of their study Rodriguez and her colleagues collected and examined the ovarian cells and fluid collected from 274 women unable to become pregnant for various reasons and undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) between November 2007 and March 2010. Around 207 of them proceeded to have their eggs collected followed by the process of fertilization of the eggs and implantation in their wombs.
2 days after the embryo transfer the scientists had to see for any signs of gestation sac or fetal heartbeat that could be affirmed only by evidence. All the nine women in the group with mutated SCARB1 were devoid of this evidence .This implied that none of them were pregnant. According to Rodriguez the genetic variation could be present in 8 to 13 percent of the population.
Despite being supplemented with progesterone as part of the IVF process, the levels of the same were found to be less in the nine women with the altered gene. Progesterone is crucial for sustaining a pregnancy in the earliest stages.
STACEY'S COMMENTS
Firstly I think this is great that scientists are continuing to look for what is presumeably overlooked in many couples dealing with fertility issues. Instead of just shugging their shoulders and saying it is "unexplained" scientists are attempting to help couples go from unexplained to explained.
My job I believe is to help couples make the next step, go from Unexplained to pregnant.
So I think there are a few things that need to be highlighted here.
1) testing for SCARB1 (can be done thru a blood test so ask your doctor if the blood test has become available for you in your area) could give your fertility team more information to suggest what an underlying problem may be and then address areas associated with low progesterone levels, but also keep in mind that only 9 of the 207 subjects showed a mutation in this gene so it was present in less than 5% of the subjects.
2) If there is an altered gene which effects cholesterol and progesterone its important to ask why this might be the case instead of just address the specific components i.e. cholesterol and progesterone. Its important to look up the chain of hormone pathways to determine why this may be an issue and address it at the point where its a problem, not at the end game. For example a medication now banned because of its potentially life threatening effects of lowering the good cholesterol is being considered to use as a treatment.
3) its interesting that scientists are considering trying to alter or overcome an altered gene with medication. Hasn't it been drilled in our head that are genes are our genes and that can't be changed? In comes the field of epigenetics which I believe this study supports. Epigenetics is basically telling us that our future is not presupposed by our DNA and that something outside of the genes and DNA can be responsible for issues with our genes and when these issues are addressed it may improve the situation for the better
So let's talk about what could potentially naturally help improve this or atleast what should be investigated before using a life threatening drug on women who are desperate to try anything to become pregnant. Herbs such as Chaste Tree have been shown to optimise progesterone production. Fish oil may help to optimise HDL levels and subsequently have a positive effect on progesterone since progesterone comes from cholesterol. And since the thyroid and adrenals directly impact progesterone productions herbs such as withania, rhemania and other thyroid and adrenal support may be warranted.
See your health care professional who has experiencing dispensing herbs and looking for natural support of hormone levels to optimise hormone balance. And as discussed having the blood test for SCARB1 may be a good option for you if you have been diagnosed with unexplained fertility issues.
Sunday, April 03, 2011
Placebo effect and Nocebo effect: how could this impact your fertility?
Can what you believe about your treatment have an effect on its outcome? Sounds strange but more and more studies are showing this could be true. Your expectations may actually influence the result of your treatment.
You may have heard of the placebo response, where a person believes that something is good for them and it actually makes a difference physiologically in the body. For example someone is given a sugar pill instead of an antidepressant for example and they feel better because they believe the antidepressant is working for them (they weren't told they received the sugar pill). That is the placebo effect. But there is a less talked about response that I would also like to discuss. It is called the nocebo response.
The nocebo response is the exact opposite to the placebo response. And it could be significantly impacting your situation.
To understand the nocebo response and how it may impact your fertility let's first review a little bit more about the power of the placebo response, the opposite of the nocebo response. The placebo response refers to health benefits that are the result of something that should not have had any significant physiological response. It could be a pill or it could be a surgery, for example. One of the most amazing reports about the placebo response was referred to in a study on patients who had Parkinson's disease. The patients had brain surgery that was supposed to assist with decreasing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. All of the patients had holes drilled in their skull, however some had the real treatment and some only had the hole drilled in their skull, no real treatment.
Based on perceived treatment, or treatment patients thought they received, there were numerous differences and changes over time. In all cases, those who thought they received the transplant reported better scores re symptoms whether they actually had the treatment or not. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004 Jun;61(6):627.
In other words, if they thought they had the treatment, whether they actually had it or not, they noticed significant improvement for at least a year later. It was the belief that they had the actual treatment that seemed to affect the results, not the actual treatment. Amazing!
Now the nocebo effect is just the opposite. When patients truly believe something will go wrong, there is more likely a chance that it will. For example, in one study, women who believed that they were prone to heart disease were nearly four times as likely to die as women with similar risk factors who didn't hold such beliefs.
"They're convinced that something is going to go wrong, and it's a self-fulfilling prophecy" said Arthur Barsky, a psychiatrist at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital who published an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association beseeching his peers to pay closer attention to the nocebo effect. "From a clinical point of view, this is by no means peripheral or irrelevant."
Dr. Bruce Lipton (www.brucelipton.com) a research scientist and medical school lecturer has said this about the nocebo effect. "This is when a negative thought or belief is used to shape our biology. For example, if a professional person, a medical doctor or specialist, says you are going to die in three months and you believe him, then you may set this date into your perceptual clock, start to disentangle yourself from your life and actually die in three months.
Sound a bit crazy? Here's another example of the nocebo effect from an article written in the Washington Post in 2004.
Researchers at three medical centers undertook a study of aspirin and another blood thinner in heart patients and came up with an unexpected result that said little about the heart and much about the brain. At two locations, patients were warned of possible gastrointestinal problems, one of the most common side effects of repeated use of aspirin. At the other location, patients received no such caution.
When researchers reviewed the data, they found a striking result: Those warned about the gastrointestinal problems were almost three times as likely to have the side effect. Though the evidence of actual stomach damage such as ulcers was the same for all three groups, those with the most information about the prospect of minor problems were the most likely to experience the pain.
So what does this nocebo response have to do with your fertility?
Well what has the media, your doctor, your naturopath or anyone or anything you consult re your fertility issues say about your situation? What in the media have you heard that could be influencing your fertility? Or what have you heard from a prestigious person in your life that you have taken on as a belief for yourself about your fertility?
In my opinion this is such an important consideration for couples dealing with fertility issues because you are constantly bombarded by comments such as "your eggs are too old";"you don't have much time", "your only option is IVF", and many, many more. You are shown charts and graphs representing percentages that show a significant drop in fertility rates after 35. (which by the way are based on data more than 15 years old). You are told to hurry up or even asked why you waited so long.
Are you creating your own placebo or nocebo effect by taking on certain beliefs about your fertility?
Addressing these beliefs may significantly impact your fertility. For example, a small study of women who hadn't been ovulating received cognitive behavioral therapy and the results were that 80% of women in the study began to ovulate after receiving the therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy works on your beliefs, your thoughts, your values, which in turn can help to decrease the stress on your body. So by addressing the way they were thinking they were actually able to affect their reproductive cycle.
What are you thinking about that is effecting your fertility? Do you focus on the percentage of people not getting pregnant or the percentage of people that do? Which group do you see yourself in?
Our Fertile Mind Fertile Body workshops and CD set help individuals or couples figure out whether they are contributing to a placebo or nocebo effect. You learn techniques about how to get off the emotional rollercoaster that is causing more stress in your life and get rid of beliefs that are not supporting you.
What can you do to become more congruent with the current path that you are on regarding your fertility to initiate a move towards optimising your fertility?
Our creation story this week is short and sweet.
A couple who had been on our herbs for 6 months decided to attend our workshop. After doing so they decided to concentrate on their emotional wellbeing and their relationship. She felt she was letting him down because she was the one with the diagnosis. Her partner let her know that he married her because he loved her not due to whether or not she could have children. Children, he said, would be a bonus. She believed him, and started to let go of all of the destructive emotions and beliefs she held and within 6 months of the workshop they were pregnant, even though she had PCOS and was told she would likely never become pregnant naturally. Now, from a natural pregnancy, they have a beautiful baby girl and have defied the odds according to their doctors.
You may have heard of the placebo response, where a person believes that something is good for them and it actually makes a difference physiologically in the body. For example someone is given a sugar pill instead of an antidepressant for example and they feel better because they believe the antidepressant is working for them (they weren't told they received the sugar pill). That is the placebo effect. But there is a less talked about response that I would also like to discuss. It is called the nocebo response.
The nocebo response is the exact opposite to the placebo response. And it could be significantly impacting your situation.
To understand the nocebo response and how it may impact your fertility let's first review a little bit more about the power of the placebo response, the opposite of the nocebo response. The placebo response refers to health benefits that are the result of something that should not have had any significant physiological response. It could be a pill or it could be a surgery, for example. One of the most amazing reports about the placebo response was referred to in a study on patients who had Parkinson's disease. The patients had brain surgery that was supposed to assist with decreasing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. All of the patients had holes drilled in their skull, however some had the real treatment and some only had the hole drilled in their skull, no real treatment.
Based on perceived treatment, or treatment patients thought they received, there were numerous differences and changes over time. In all cases, those who thought they received the transplant reported better scores re symptoms whether they actually had the treatment or not. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004 Jun;61(6):627.
In other words, if they thought they had the treatment, whether they actually had it or not, they noticed significant improvement for at least a year later. It was the belief that they had the actual treatment that seemed to affect the results, not the actual treatment. Amazing!
Now the nocebo effect is just the opposite. When patients truly believe something will go wrong, there is more likely a chance that it will. For example, in one study, women who believed that they were prone to heart disease were nearly four times as likely to die as women with similar risk factors who didn't hold such beliefs.
"They're convinced that something is going to go wrong, and it's a self-fulfilling prophecy" said Arthur Barsky, a psychiatrist at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital who published an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association beseeching his peers to pay closer attention to the nocebo effect. "From a clinical point of view, this is by no means peripheral or irrelevant."
Dr. Bruce Lipton (www.brucelipton.com) a research scientist and medical school lecturer has said this about the nocebo effect. "This is when a negative thought or belief is used to shape our biology. For example, if a professional person, a medical doctor or specialist, says you are going to die in three months and you believe him, then you may set this date into your perceptual clock, start to disentangle yourself from your life and actually die in three months.
Sound a bit crazy? Here's another example of the nocebo effect from an article written in the Washington Post in 2004.
Researchers at three medical centers undertook a study of aspirin and another blood thinner in heart patients and came up with an unexpected result that said little about the heart and much about the brain. At two locations, patients were warned of possible gastrointestinal problems, one of the most common side effects of repeated use of aspirin. At the other location, patients received no such caution.
When researchers reviewed the data, they found a striking result: Those warned about the gastrointestinal problems were almost three times as likely to have the side effect. Though the evidence of actual stomach damage such as ulcers was the same for all three groups, those with the most information about the prospect of minor problems were the most likely to experience the pain.
So what does this nocebo response have to do with your fertility?
Well what has the media, your doctor, your naturopath or anyone or anything you consult re your fertility issues say about your situation? What in the media have you heard that could be influencing your fertility? Or what have you heard from a prestigious person in your life that you have taken on as a belief for yourself about your fertility?
In my opinion this is such an important consideration for couples dealing with fertility issues because you are constantly bombarded by comments such as "your eggs are too old";"you don't have much time", "your only option is IVF", and many, many more. You are shown charts and graphs representing percentages that show a significant drop in fertility rates after 35. (which by the way are based on data more than 15 years old). You are told to hurry up or even asked why you waited so long.
Are you creating your own placebo or nocebo effect by taking on certain beliefs about your fertility?
Addressing these beliefs may significantly impact your fertility. For example, a small study of women who hadn't been ovulating received cognitive behavioral therapy and the results were that 80% of women in the study began to ovulate after receiving the therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy works on your beliefs, your thoughts, your values, which in turn can help to decrease the stress on your body. So by addressing the way they were thinking they were actually able to affect their reproductive cycle.
What are you thinking about that is effecting your fertility? Do you focus on the percentage of people not getting pregnant or the percentage of people that do? Which group do you see yourself in?
Our Fertile Mind Fertile Body workshops and CD set help individuals or couples figure out whether they are contributing to a placebo or nocebo effect. You learn techniques about how to get off the emotional rollercoaster that is causing more stress in your life and get rid of beliefs that are not supporting you.
What can you do to become more congruent with the current path that you are on regarding your fertility to initiate a move towards optimising your fertility?
Our creation story this week is short and sweet.
A couple who had been on our herbs for 6 months decided to attend our workshop. After doing so they decided to concentrate on their emotional wellbeing and their relationship. She felt she was letting him down because she was the one with the diagnosis. Her partner let her know that he married her because he loved her not due to whether or not she could have children. Children, he said, would be a bonus. She believed him, and started to let go of all of the destructive emotions and beliefs she held and within 6 months of the workshop they were pregnant, even though she had PCOS and was told she would likely never become pregnant naturally. Now, from a natural pregnancy, they have a beautiful baby girl and have defied the odds according to their doctors.
Monday, January 03, 2011
Lipiodol flush: May help you increase your chances to conceive
The tip I am sending out today is very exciting for me to share because it has recently appeared to have helped couples who have dealt with unexplained fertility as well as endometriosis issues for several years. So if you or someone you know is dealing with this issue hopefully it will help you and or them create that life you long for
About 6 or 7 years ago I read about a study on a treatment that appeared to improve pregnancy rates in couples either naturally or with IVF. I read the study because a couple from New Zealand were my patients for a approximately six months when they had this procedure done and subsequently became pregnant naturally after trying for 5 or 6 years.
I was intrigued by the information in the study showing high pregnancy rates for those undergoing the procedure. But for the life of me, I could not find any physician in Australia doing the procedure consistently at that time and it seemed to fall out of favour despite the great results reported in several studies from 2002 -2007.
Recently however, a few physicians whose patients we regularly see have started using this procedure again and I am seeing great results. Pregnancies from couples who were "unexplained" and two women with a history of endometriosis have now become pregnant after years of trying.
What is the procedure? It is called the Lipiodol Flush. An iodised extract of poppyseed oil is put into the uterus and the tubes are flushed prior to a procedure or to enhance the endometrial receptivity for a natural pregnancy as well.
This procedure can be done through a hysteroscopy which would not require a patient to necessarily have a laparoscopy or go under anesthetic though each physicians protocols may vary. What is also interesting is that couples with endometriosis and unexplained fertility noted increased pregnancy rates even after the procedure. For example, within six months of receiving the treatment in comparison to couples who did not have the treatment at all there was a much higher pregnancy rate, 48% (pregnancies in couples that had the lipiodol flush) than those who did not have the treatment, 10% pregnancies. That is a very significant outcome.
Why would poppyseed extract work? No one knows really but it may make the uterus more receptive. Also I think the iodine present in the solution may help as well. Patients often have a aluggish thyroid that is overlooked because basic blood tests like TSH turn up normal even when many other symptoms show and objective finding show the thyroid may be sluggish. Iodine is an extremely important part of thyroid function so it is possible that the combination of iodine and the poppyseed oil holds the key to the great results for many after the procedure.
Whatever the reason this is definitely worth discussing with your fertility specialist. And if he or she is not doing it, you may want to ask why or find a doctor that will try it, especially if you have been diagnosed as unexplained or have had a previous history of endometriosis and the tubes are clear.
Please let me know your experience with this procedure should you have it done.
About 6 or 7 years ago I read about a study on a treatment that appeared to improve pregnancy rates in couples either naturally or with IVF. I read the study because a couple from New Zealand were my patients for a approximately six months when they had this procedure done and subsequently became pregnant naturally after trying for 5 or 6 years.
I was intrigued by the information in the study showing high pregnancy rates for those undergoing the procedure. But for the life of me, I could not find any physician in Australia doing the procedure consistently at that time and it seemed to fall out of favour despite the great results reported in several studies from 2002 -2007.
Recently however, a few physicians whose patients we regularly see have started using this procedure again and I am seeing great results. Pregnancies from couples who were "unexplained" and two women with a history of endometriosis have now become pregnant after years of trying.
What is the procedure? It is called the Lipiodol Flush. An iodised extract of poppyseed oil is put into the uterus and the tubes are flushed prior to a procedure or to enhance the endometrial receptivity for a natural pregnancy as well.
This procedure can be done through a hysteroscopy which would not require a patient to necessarily have a laparoscopy or go under anesthetic though each physicians protocols may vary. What is also interesting is that couples with endometriosis and unexplained fertility noted increased pregnancy rates even after the procedure. For example, within six months of receiving the treatment in comparison to couples who did not have the treatment at all there was a much higher pregnancy rate, 48% (pregnancies in couples that had the lipiodol flush) than those who did not have the treatment, 10% pregnancies. That is a very significant outcome.
Why would poppyseed extract work? No one knows really but it may make the uterus more receptive. Also I think the iodine present in the solution may help as well. Patients often have a aluggish thyroid that is overlooked because basic blood tests like TSH turn up normal even when many other symptoms show and objective finding show the thyroid may be sluggish. Iodine is an extremely important part of thyroid function so it is possible that the combination of iodine and the poppyseed oil holds the key to the great results for many after the procedure.
Whatever the reason this is definitely worth discussing with your fertility specialist. And if he or she is not doing it, you may want to ask why or find a doctor that will try it, especially if you have been diagnosed as unexplained or have had a previous history of endometriosis and the tubes are clear.
Please let me know your experience with this procedure should you have it done.
Monday, October 04, 2010
3mg of melatonin might just make the difference to improve egg quality
I found this article about the possibility of a treatment to improve egg quality and I wanted to research this to get more information for you.
This may just be what you need to get the results you are looking for with your treatment.
Scientists in Japan have noted that oxidative stress appears to effect egg quality in females. I have written about this before and have discussed this same concept published in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, from research at the Cleveland Clinic in the USA. Increased antioxidant capacity (decreased oxidative stress) in the follicular fluid is associated with improved pregnancy rates with IVF.
The scientists in Japan have supported this notion with a study using 3mg of melatonin and or 600mg (or approximately 800IU) of Vit E starting on day five of the preceding menstrual cycle before egg collection.
The women who received melatonin and a specific form of Vitamin E or melatonin alone showed improved fertilization rates, decreased oxidative stress and in the follicular fluid and doubled pregnancy rates from 10% to 20%. There unfortunately was no data available on live baby rates in the information I found.
Oxidative stress has been correlated with poor sp**erm health and continues to be correlated with egg health as well so this again supports why we are trying to decrease oxidative stress by using antioxidants for both the female and the male when they come to see us. Melatonin is one of your sleep hormones but is also a strong antioxidant.
In different countries you can find Melatonin either over the counter or by doctors prescription. In Australia you can only get 3mg from a physician. And in other countries I would recommend you ask your doctor about these studies and if they could provide a script if appropriate for you rather than relying on the over the counter brands simply because it is difficult to determine quality from one brand of over the counter supplement from another.
The Vitamin E that was used was alpha tocopherol. 600mg is equal to approximately 800IU which is more than what is in most multivitamins. This amount of this specific Vitamin E should be considered, but should also be reviewed by your health care professional to make sure you are not taking anything that would interfere with other medications being used in your cycle. For example if you take some sort of blood thinner with your cycle then you should review with your health care practitioner whether 800IU of Vitamin E is appropriate for you.
Also be aware that there are different forms of Vitamin E so read the label to make sure alpha (look for the alpha symbol) tocopherol is the Vitamin E you would take if appropriate.
This is a perfect example of how natural and conventional can work together to help you optimize your chances of creating a viable pregnancy.
Contact us at www.sharkeyshealingcentre.com to help us show you what else you can do to improve your situation
This may just be what you need to get the results you are looking for with your treatment.
Scientists in Japan have noted that oxidative stress appears to effect egg quality in females. I have written about this before and have discussed this same concept published in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, from research at the Cleveland Clinic in the USA. Increased antioxidant capacity (decreased oxidative stress) in the follicular fluid is associated with improved pregnancy rates with IVF.
The scientists in Japan have supported this notion with a study using 3mg of melatonin and or 600mg (or approximately 800IU) of Vit E starting on day five of the preceding menstrual cycle before egg collection.
The women who received melatonin and a specific form of Vitamin E or melatonin alone showed improved fertilization rates, decreased oxidative stress and in the follicular fluid and doubled pregnancy rates from 10% to 20%. There unfortunately was no data available on live baby rates in the information I found.
Oxidative stress has been correlated with poor sp**erm health and continues to be correlated with egg health as well so this again supports why we are trying to decrease oxidative stress by using antioxidants for both the female and the male when they come to see us. Melatonin is one of your sleep hormones but is also a strong antioxidant.
In different countries you can find Melatonin either over the counter or by doctors prescription. In Australia you can only get 3mg from a physician. And in other countries I would recommend you ask your doctor about these studies and if they could provide a script if appropriate for you rather than relying on the over the counter brands simply because it is difficult to determine quality from one brand of over the counter supplement from another.
The Vitamin E that was used was alpha tocopherol. 600mg is equal to approximately 800IU which is more than what is in most multivitamins. This amount of this specific Vitamin E should be considered, but should also be reviewed by your health care professional to make sure you are not taking anything that would interfere with other medications being used in your cycle. For example if you take some sort of blood thinner with your cycle then you should review with your health care practitioner whether 800IU of Vitamin E is appropriate for you.
Also be aware that there are different forms of Vitamin E so read the label to make sure alpha (look for the alpha symbol) tocopherol is the Vitamin E you would take if appropriate.
This is a perfect example of how natural and conventional can work together to help you optimize your chances of creating a viable pregnancy.
Contact us at www.sharkeyshealingcentre.com to help us show you what else you can do to improve your situation
Thursday, August 19, 2010
new discussion group re fertility
Hi, just wanted to let you know I am starting a discussion group on google called yourbabymaker, have a look and subscribe for more fertility info and discussions.
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Friday, May 21, 2010
Study Links Fertility Treatments to Autism
Stacey Roberts: We have to keep in mind that women who used these medications i.e. Clomid or IVF drugs likely had less than optimal hormone balance, undiagnosed subclinical thyroid issues or even possibly nutrient depletion among other possible scenarios that contributed to the fertility issues they experienced in the first place. So taking Clomid or IVF is not likely the cause of autism, but the less than optimal balance which contributed to fertility issues in the first place that is often ignored by the medical system as they move women thru fertility treatments without bothering to FULLY investigate the possible variables like lifestyle/diet issues, coeliac disease, thyroid issues etc, and treat the cause of the fertility issues. I believe if more couples took time to get as healthy as possible before conceiving and more doctors encouraged this before putting women on meds that in many cases can put them and their children at greater risk, then maybe these associations would be less evident.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1990567,00.html?xid=rss-topstories#ixzz0oZ5u58Yr
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1990567,00.html?xid=rss-topstories#ixzz0oZ5u58Yr
Sunday, April 25, 2010
antibacterial soaps, toothpastes and mouthwashes contain endocrine disruptor
from the la times:
The Food and Drug Administration announced April 8 that it will be taking a look at the safety of a widely used antibacterial chemical, triclosan.
Triclosan — as well as its cousin triclocarban — is found in liquid hand soaps, deodorant bar soaps, face washes, deodorants, toothpastes and mouthwashes, and as well as in germ-fighting cutting boards and socks.
Triclosan — as well as its cousin triclocarban — is found in liquid hand soaps, deodorant bar soaps, face washes, deodorants, toothpastes and mouthwashes, and as well as in germ-fighting cutting boards and socks.
A national health survey found triclosan in the urine of 75% of the 2,517 people who gave samples. The chemical can enter the body via absorption through the skin or the lining of the mouth.
What triclosan does once it enters the body is not clear. Research in animals has found hormonal effects of triclosan, including upsetting the normal balance of thyroid hormones, thereby impairing growth and brain development, and of the reproductive hormones estrogen and testosterone, leading to infertility. These effects are similar to other so-called endocrine disruptors, such as bisphenol A, dioxins and pesticides such as DDT. The FDA says it intends to evaluate this new research
Stacey's comment:
Even though the link to issues with fertility have not been established in humans yet, since you are trying to become pregnant, to play it safe, I would strongly recommend staying away from products like mouthwashes (if you have bad breath there are better ways to deal with this, try apple cider vinegar in water if no history of ulcers, stop coffee, and eliminate added sugar in your diet) , Colgate total Advanced Clean toothpaste (seems to be the only toothpaste that contains this chemical), antibacterials soaps (in the majority of studies antibacterial soaps haven't been shown to work any better than regular soap to addressing bacteria), and germ killing cutting boards.
This is one case that even if we don't know the exact effects on humans, we know this chemical effects thyroid hormone in animals and therefore their fertility, there is a chance that it could impact your fertility.
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