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Posts tagged #fertility
How can I heat up my love life while trying to get pregnant?
Having difficulties conceiving can surround your sex life with a significant amount of stress and pressure. Infertility can be physically and emotionally draining, and takes its toll on any relationship. Active intimacy and sex in a couple is important to strengthen your bond and keep that spark alive! Here are some tips for the bedroom
Sunblock Causing Male Infertility?
A new study by the National Institutes of Health links sunscreen to male infertility. Benzophenones are used in sunscreens and personal care products and are absorbed by the skin. These chemicals act as endocrine disrupting compounds, as they can interfere with the body's hormones. The recent study showed a 30% reduction in male fertility, leading to a longer time to pregnancy.
Infertility: The Trends
An estimated 15.5% of couples in the United States experience infertility, with that number going over 20% for couples over 35.
There are some suggestions that fertility in the US has been declining over the past decades. Reasons include the "modernization theory", or the idea that couples are waiting longer to start their families, often until after 35, which is when fertility noticeably decreases.
Another reason includes environmental exposures. Lead, pesticides, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (such as BPA, pthalates, and other "xenoestrogens"), alter normal hormone functioning and lead to decreased fertility. These environmental toxins may account for the declining levels of testosterone in men, which has been steadily declining 1% per year, which is the same rate of decline seen in sperm production.
Some studies show that despite the decreased sperm production, fertility levels have remained constant. But those numbers are no comfort to the millions of Americans struggling with starting their family. Some factors are uncontrollable. However, some factors, including exposure to environmental toxins, are more easily managed.
Looking to decrease your environmental burden and boost your fertility? Check out these tips.
For an even more comprehensive list, check this out.
How can I heat up my love life while trying to get pregnant?
Having difficulties conceiving can surround your sex life with a significant amount of stress and pressure. Infertility can be physically and emotionally draining and takes its toll on any relationship. Active intimacy and sex in a couple is important to strengthen your bond and keep that spark alive! Here are some tips for the bedroom:
Complement each other, daily. Does she look extra sexy after the shower? Did he make you dinner? Whenever possible, say nice things to your partner to encourage loving feelings between you two.
Create the right atmosphere and allow time for foreplay. Before the romance even begins, set the mood. Start with a massage, foot rub, sensual shower together, or a date night.
Avoid sex on a schedule. Scheduling sex around ovulation might help you get pregnant, but also can kill the mood. Focus on ovulation at a different time of the day, and keep your tracking tools out of the bedroom—looking at a flowchart beforehand can increase anxiety surrounding sex. Make a point to be in the moment with your partner, and not in your head focusing on something else (like body temperature)!
Connect on a deeper level. Communication between you and your partner is vital, and being spiritually aware of yourself and your partner can increase appreciation. It can also improve your sex life. Focus on enjoying every moment with them, with a goal of mutually satisfying sex.