Couples trying to conceive children in America are currently struggling. According to the National Institutes of Health, 9% of men and 11% of Americans are experiencing fertility problems.1 And America is not alone in this public health issue. The UK fertility rate has fallen to its lowest level in decades.
Fertility rates are falling in the UK.
In a study2 Matthew Limb, a freelance researcher published in the BMJ, sums up the current population problems in an article titled “England and Wales Fertility to hit record lows by 2023”. Lim said the UK’s current fertility rate is at its lowest since 1938.
Using data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the findings show 591,072 children will be born in 2023, the lowest birth rate since 1977. Put in another context, the average Total Fertility Rate (TFR) for 2023 was 1.44. Children by woman. In 2022, the TFR was 1.49, down from 1.55 in 2021.3
Those aren’t the only numbers when it comes to discoveries. The average age of new parents has also increased – 33.8 years for fathers and 30.9 for mothers. The largest childbearing age-group in decline is adults in their 20s.
Greg Ely, head of public health monitoring at the ONS, explained: “When we look at fertility rates for women in different age groups in more detail, the decline in fertility rates in the 20 to 24 and 25 to 29 age groups is striking. .”4
The current rate of population replacement will be unsustainable.
What does this mean for the UK and other countries with low birth rates? Eventually, their economy will suffer. For example, the current population decline in Japan. In the year Their population rose to 128 million in 2008, but declined to 125 million in 2022. If this trend continues, they will have only 63 million people by 2100.
From an economic point of view, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) will decrease as the number of working-age citizens decreases. Small and medium businesses are closing because there are no substitutes. Social and public industries such as education and medicine are also experiencing shortages of workers.5
The only way to return population growth to a growing level is to encourage couples to have children, preferably two or more. According to the ONS:6
“For countries with low mortality in the long run to maintain or increase their population without positive net migration, the total fertility rate must be at or above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman.”
While having more children may seem like an easy solution, the barriers to raising a family are complex and deeply rooted in socio-economic problems. These include financial instability, rising housing costs and the cost of childcare.
For those who are actively trying to get pregnant but are having trouble, additional factors come into play. A significant, but often overlooked, issue is the widespread use of plastics containing endocrine disrupting chemicals. Over time, these materials accumulate in the body and turn into microplastics that damage the reproductive system, making parenting even more difficult.
Microplastics are a major cause of infertility.
Microplastics are small plastic items less than 5 millimeters in length. They come from a variety of sources such as plastic bottles and bags, synthetic clothing and even personal care products.7 And according to research8 Published in Frontiers in Endocrinology, a major contributor to the world’s declining infertility problems is the increased use of plastic.
“It is interesting to note that the massive increase in global plastic production has coincided with a population decline that appears to have accelerated since 2000.”9
According to reports, microplastics end up everywhere in your body. For example, a team of researchers at the University of New Mexico found microplastics in organs such as the kidney, liver, and brain through the colon.10 As expected, microplastics are now also found in reproductive organs. In a study published in Science of the Total Environment, he pointed out that microplastics embedded in the bodies of men and women cause problems.
“In the reproductive system, microplastics interfere with the blood-testis barrier and affect spermatogenesis in men, and cause placental insufficiency, ovarian cysts, endometrial hyperplasia and fibrosis in women. Moreover, microplastics can affect the offspring’s lipid metabolism and reproductive functions. .”
Based on these findings, the researchers believe that “microplastics disrupt the neuroendocrine system” and the chemicals that contain microplastics are the factors that cause reproductive effects.11 This is because most microplastics contain phthalates that leach out of the material.12 They lead to endocrine-disrupting problems. Other chemicals in microplastics include pesticides, pesticides, and bisphenol A.13
Much of the reason microplastics affect fertility is because they are xenoestrogens that mimic the effects of estrogen in your body. For example, phthalates belong to this category, and have been linked to an increase in various diseases. As stated in the study14 Published in Health Care
“Human epidemiological studies have shown significant associations between exposure to phthalates and adverse reproductive outcomes in women and men, for example, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, overweight/obesity, allergies and asthma.
How to reduce your exposure to microplastics
Based on the available evidence, it’s clear that reducing your exposure to plastics can help protect your fertility. There are many strategies that can easily fit into your lifestyle:
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Filter your tap water and avoid plastic bottled water – If you want to buy bottled water, choose glass bottles. Also, make sure the filter you use to filter your tap water can filter out microplastics. |
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Boil strong tap water – If you have hard tap water, boil it before using it for cooking or drinking. Research15 Boiling tap water for five minutes has been shown to remove up to 90% of microplastics in water. |
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Avoid plastic packaging – Choose products wrapped in glass, metal or paper. This greatly reduces the amount of plastic that touches your food. Use wax paper, parchment paper, or paper bags to store food at home instead of plastic wrap. |
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Use reusable containers – Replace single-use plastic bottles, cups and containers with reusable options made from safer materials such as stainless steel or glass. |
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Never microwave plastics – Heat causes plastics to leach chemicals into food. Use glass or ceramic containers to microwave. |
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Remove plastic cutting boards – Use a wooden or glass cutting board instead. |
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Choose natural fibers – Whenever possible, choose clothing and other textile products made from natural fibers such as organic cotton, wool and linen. Synthetic fabrics such as polyester can leach microfibers and leach xenoestrogens. |
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Washing synthetic clothes more often – When washing synthetic fabrics, use a microfiber filter in your washing machine to trap synthetic fibers and prevent them from entering the water system. |
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Choose food grade cosmetics and personal care products – Some cosmetics, toothpaste, and personal care products contain microbeads or other plastic particles. Look for products that are free of these ingredients. Ideally, choose all natural, food grade products. |
Pay attention to the omega-6 and omega-3 diet
Studies have shown that omega-3 fats increase fertility. One meta-analysis reviewed 11 studies.16 “Omega-3 intake significantly improves women’s pregnancy and fertilization rates,” researchers said. In another example,17 Omega-3 supplementation has a beneficial effect on male fertility.
“Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids improves sperm concentration and total motile sperm count in infertile men with oligozoospermia.”18
For best results, focus on increasing your omega-3 intake while reducing omega-6 fats, especially from vegetable oils. As I mentioned earlier, excessive intake of linoleic acid (a type of omega-6 polyunsaturated fat, or PUFA) affects cellular health and impairs energy production.
To improve your omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, try to keep your intake of linoleic acid below 5 grams per day – and ideally below 2 grams. Meanwhile, include foods rich in omega-3s, such as cold-water fish, in your diet. Excellent options include wild-caught Alaskan salmon, sardines, anchovies, mackerel and herring. Make sure to choose fish from clean, sustainable sources for maximum health benefits.
Additional strategies to increase natural fertility
Many internal and external factors affect male and female fertility, but I believe that following these basic common sense strategies and a healthy lifestyle can help solve the cause of infertility. Here is a summary of my recommendations:
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Reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals – These include heavy metals, endocrine disruptors, pesticides and herbicides, formaldehyde, organic solvents, dry cleaning chemicals, and paint fumes. Again, remember to avoid plastics as much as possible. |
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Avoid all vaccines, especially mRNA vaccines. If you’ve already had one or more Covid-19 vaccines, there are steps you can take to repair the attack on your system. The Frontline Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) has a treatment protocol for post-jab injuries. It’s called I-RECOVER, and you can download it at Covid19CriticalCare.com.19 |
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Avoid drinking unfiltered tap water – Our waterways are constantly being polluted by industrial waste and by-products. |
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Eat the right fertility diet- The best fertility diet is what to include and what to avoid. Avoid pesticide residues and eat real, locally grown food, ideally organic. Avoid factory-produced animal products, highly processed foods, and foods cooked in vegetable oil. Soy contains phytoestrogens that act on hormones, so include soy products in this list. It is also wise to add foods that improve sperm count for men.20 For their diet, include organic pastured eggs, bananas, asparagus, broccoli, pomegranate, garlic, and all foods rich in zinc (zinc plays a key role in sperm development).21). |
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Avoid common allergens: An overactive immune system attacks the body’s own cells, and the connection between food intolerances and anti-sperm antibodies is what causes celiac disease.22 |
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Reduce Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Exposure – Avoid holding your cell phone on your body when it’s on, and avoid using laptops and tablets on your lap. Turn off your Wi-Fi at night and make your bedroom an EMF-free zone. Read my article for more tips to reduce your EMF exposureResearch: Phone radiation kills cheek cells.” |
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Check for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) – Some STDs, such as chlamydia, have no symptoms. In men, chlamydia can lead to sperm abnormalities, including sperm antibodies. In women, it can cause scarring, blocked tubes and miscarriage. |
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Avoid alcohol, coffee and smoking- Organic coffee has many health benefits, but fertility does not seem to be one of them. On the contrary, studies suggest that the birth rate will decrease.23 Alcohol, smoking and recreational drugs can seriously affect fertility, reducing the size of your sperm and reducing the number of sperm. |
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Do regular exercise- According to research24 Exercising can help increase sperm count in men. |
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Normalize your weight Obesity contributes to infertility in both men and women. Maintaining a healthy weight can help improve the quality and quantity of sperm in men and increase a woman’s chances of conceiving.25 Partly by normalizing the menstrual cycle.26 |
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Reduce stress – Get enough sleep as it is an important factor in fighting stress. Incorporate tools such as Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), yoga, or meditation to help manage stress. |
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Clean your home environment – Use natural cleaning products or do it yourself. |
