The AFA Blog

Please exercise

by Fred Licciardi, M.D.

Please exercise.

In the preceding centuries, tremendous physical activity was required for human survival, and yet, reproduction carried on. Imagine the exhaustion and stress if we had to spend one week hunting or farming with few tools or resources. Yet probably, under these conditions, most women would be able to get pregnant.

Excessive extreme exercise causing weight loss will cause ovulation to stop because the body figures that there are not enough nutrients stored for both the woman and a fetus. If she can just barely feed herself, she can’t feed the growing baby. The same is true for an anorectic. But here we are talking about extreme extreme. Moderate exercise is fine.

Surprising to me, I did come across a paper from Harvard showing that women who underwent moderate levels of exercise had lower pregnancy rates that those who did not. Like we always say, it’s just one paper. I do not really believe it. The Harvard doctors that I know do not restrict moderate exercise.

Exercise is bad if you are taking fertility drugs because the medications make the ovaries grow. Normally the ovaries are about the size of a walnut, and the drugs increase the number of follicles, therefore the ovarian size increases. Sometimes the ovaries can get to the size of plums or even oranges. They hang inside the pelvis. As they become heavier, they become more likely to twist, and this is called torsion. Here the twisting cuts off the blood supply and causes the ovary to choke. This really hurts, and is treated by laparoscopy. Exercise will increase the odds of this twisting. So in this case, exercise is not good.

Exercise increases blood flow to all areas of the body. The uterus and ovaries are organs that would love to get as much blood flow as they could.

Exercise clears your head. Yes, endorphins are released with strenuous activity, and these can help us fell better, but I think it’s more than that. My theory is that it’s not just about increasing the good chemicals; it’s about getting rid of the bad. Increased blood flow flushes away the old stale thought chemicals that are just hanging around causing trouble. Get rid of them.

Even better, do exercise that requires tremendous concentration. This really clears you head. Any sport will do: sailing, golf, soccer, basketball, biking, you name it. Some are more strenuous than others, but they all work. Same thing; flood your brain with fresh blood and new thoughts, lose the waste products.

Exercise builds muscle mass. This is also good. It just makes you feel better if you have a little tone. Even if you think you are fat, the tone goes a long way. It’s healthier to have some tone and muscle. It helps with balance and lowers you chances of getting injured during an accident (falling, for example).

And people with a little tone just age better.

Not to mention all of the obvious benefits of upping your cardio-vascular reserve.

I am not an expert in Yoga, although I have happily done it a few times. It's very good alternative.

So you don’t have time for exercise? Yes you do, make time. If you are tired, go to gym tired, it works just as well. You will sleep better.

If you do decide to take my advice (and the advice of others), go all out. A little exercise once a week is better than nothing, but more is better. You need at least 2 sessions per week of vigorous activity to really make a difference. Don’t start on any aggressive workout without checking with our doctor first, and consider a trainer at least initially.

Passover and PCOS - a Guide to Healthy Eating

by Corey Whelan

Tonight, Jewish families and their friends will be gathering around Passover seder tables, to tell the story of Moses and the exodus of the Jewish slaves from Egypt, centuries ago.  Like most holidays, this one will feature an abundant feast as well as the camaraderie of loved ones.  For many women who have  polycystic ovarian syndrome however, the feast on the holiday table may feel like a carbohydrate laden land mine waiting to go off.  As someone who has successfully combated PCOS through diet and exercise, I wanted to share some info on PCOS as well as a few of my own eating strategies with you.

First off, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, affects around 10% of women of reproductive age and is quite prevalent among Jewish women, particularly those of Ashkenazi descent.  An endocrine disorder, PCOS is categorized by insulin resistance and results in irregular menstrual cycles, hirsutism and struggles  with weight, as well as infertility.   There is thought to be a genetic component to PCOS and insulin resistance, which is why it is more prevalent in certain populations than in others. 

A hormone, one of insulin's jobs is metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.  For women who are insulin resistant, the body's normal metabolic response is reduced, causing weight gain, which is triggered by the intake of foods that are high in simple carbohydrates.  Some research currently links the insulin resistance - carbohydrate connection to decreased fertility as well.

So what's a girl to do when faced with the potato kugel, matzoh ball soup, and sweet wine that are mainstays at the Passover table?  Here's what I do.  

• While eating  matzoh is pretty much required this time of year, remember that just one sheet of unleavened bread has the equivalent in carbs and calories as one slice of the leavened stuff, and limit your portions.  For other foods, consider making substitutions.  It's easier than you might think.
• Instead of the usual potato kugel, break tradition by making a delicious new variety using  spinach or zucchini and mushrooms as the main ingredients.
• Instead of sweet wine, pour a drier variety, and drink in moderation.
• Hold the matzoh balls!  Your mom's chicken soup will be just as tasty without this usual plop in, and you won't feel laden down and sleepy by the end of the seder.
• As with every meal you eat all year round, fill up on healthy veggies, lean protein and some fruit instead of going for the starchier foods.
• Impress everyone by reaching for the fresh fruit when its time for dessert instead of the candied ones.

Another wonderful new holiday tradition to consider is a late night walk as a family after the meal to help burn off calories and build muscle. 

Take advantage of the fact that many people are now trying to limit their carbohydrate intake in order to break the insulin resistance cycle, and lots of cookbooks and websites are cleverly catering to this population of health conscious folks.  There are tons of free recipes available for you to download, here are a few you can try:

• http://cookeatshare.com/popular/low-carb-kosher-for-passover-recipes
• http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/
• http://kosherfood.about.com/od/pesach/Passover.htm

For those concerned with gluten or who have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, you can buy gluten free matzo here:

http://glutenfreebay.blogspot.com/2008/03/new-source-for-gluten-free-oat-matzo.html

Next year in Jerusalem!

 

Update on the Safe Chemicals Act - some good news from Capital Hill

by Kimberly Inez McGuire

A bit of good news for reproductive health today coming from Congress! Signaling their clear intention to protect families from toxic chemicals in everyday products, Senators Frank Lautenberg, Barbara Boxer, Amy Klobuchar, Charles Schumer and others today introduced the “Safe Chemicals Act” to upgrade America’s outdated system for managing chemical safety.  (Click here to watch video of Sen. Lautenberg talking about the bill.) This bill comes on the heels of a USA Today article highlighting the alarming rise in early puberty among girls and would go a long way toward protecting the reproductive health and fertility of millions of Americans. 

Reproductive Health Advocates to Congress: Protect Women’s Health, Pass Chemical Policy Reform

Statement by Kirsten Moore, President & CEO of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project, on the introduction of the Safe Chemicals Acts of 2011 by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ):

“Amid an increasingly partisan backdrop, this bill gives Americans from across the political spectrum something they have been clamoring for—better laws to protect our families from toxic and untested chemicals in everyday products. Reforming our chemical laws is a prime example of how government can work for the people by protecting our reproductive health and our children from the threat of chemicals like lead, formaldehyde, and asbestos. The introduction of the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 is a critical first step to creating a healthier tomorrow for women and their families. This bill also presents a profound opportunity to protect the most vulnerable among us, from pregnant women and children to low-income communities and communities of color, which are disproportionately affected by toxic chemicals.”

Statement by Tracey Woodruff, PhD, Director, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment at the University of California San Francisco, former EPA scientist, and Board member of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project:

 “Mounting scientific evidence demonstrates that commonly-used chemicals can harm reproductive health and contribute to infertility, miscarriage, early puberty, and decreased sperm counts. Thousands of other chemicals have never been studied. It’s time to use current science to study chemicals used in everyday products, place common-sense limits on those that can adversely impact our health, and provide consumers with the information they need to protect their families.”

 Background: The Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 will provide long overdue reform of the 35-year-old federal law that regulates toxic chemicals, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This new legislation would give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stronger authority to test and regulate the 84,000 chemicals on the market today. Studies have linked exposure to many commonly used chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA), to a host of reproductive health problems including infertility, miscarriage, birth defects, early puberty in girls, low sperm counts, and breast cancer.

 For more information about this legislation and how toxic chemicals impact reproductive health and fertility, please visit: http://www.rhtp.org/fertility/SafeChemicalsAct2011.asp

Kimberly Inez McGuire is the Senior Associate, Programs & Policy Reproductive Health Technologies Project
www.rhtp.org / www.judgment-to-empathy.org

For more information about this bill, or how you can support efforts to reduce toxic chemical exposure, please contact [email protected] or 202-530-4401.

Protecting reproductive health from dangerous chemicals

by Corey Whelan

I was privileged to attend a Congressional briefing in Washington, D.C. yesterday, specific to toxic chemical exposure and reproductive health.  The briefing was coordinated through the Reproductive Health Technologies Project and the Guttmacher Institute, as well as Congressional Reps. Louise Slaughter (D,NY), Diana DeGette (D,CO), Lois Capps (D,CA) and Rosa DeLauro (D,CT).

The panel of speakers was comprised of moderator Kirsten Moore, President & CEO of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project; Katie Huffling RN, MS, CNM, Environmental Health Program Coordinator of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Celinda Lake, President of Lake Research Partners, Andy Igrejas, Director of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, and Elizabeth Nash, Public Policy Associate of the Guttmacher Institute.

One of the stated goals of yesterday's briefing was to move forward, through verifiable scientific data as well as statistical analysis of public opionion, regulatory changes that could positively impact upon the levels of toxic chemicals that Americans are routinely exposed to, thereby reducing risks to reproductive health and overall health.  

The most significant fact brought forth to me personally, was the verification that over 200 scientific studies have definitively and negatively implicated BPA (bisphenol A) in cases of cancer, metabollic disorders, premature puberty, male factor infertility and reproductive health issues.  

A number of important findings and action plans were brought forth by both the speakers and the audience.  These included:

NIEHS (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) - All complex diseases have been shown to have both a genetic and environmental component.  A growing body of research is beginning to suggest that many adult diseases and disorders, including asthma, diabetes and obesity, may be traced back to exposures that occur during development.  Research supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and others are finding that in utero or neonatal exposures to environmental changes may make people more susceptible to diseases later in life.  In addition, a growing body of evidence suggests that numerous man-made chemicals may interfere with the endocrine system.  Scientists refer to these chemicals as endocrine disruptors.  Endocrine disruption is an important public health concern.

Guttmacher Institute Policy Review - In a long-awaited announcement, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially acknowledged concern about the effects of bisphenol A on the health of fetuses, infants and young children.  The statement marked a notable refersal of the agency's earlier position that BPA did not pose a health risk to humans.  Equally notable, however, was the fact that the FDA took no steps to restrict BPA's use.  Instead, it provided recommendations for parents to reduce exposure and said the government would continue to study the chemical's toxicity.

Safer Chemicals Healthy Families - A reformed Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) would serve as the backbone of a sound and comprehensive chemicals policy that protects public health and the environment, while restoring the luster of safety to U.S. goods in the world market.

There was much more.  It is understandable that the American public is, and should be, concerned about our daily toxin exposure, and the number one action item on anyone's list should be to keep in touch with your Congressional and Senatorial representatives about this issue.  Everyone needs an action plan.  Several potential and key, proactive behavioral changes were suggested by the Reproductive Health Technologies Project:

• Refuse Receipts, as the powdery coating on them contains BPA.
• Keep Plastic Cool, as heat causes chemicals to leach out of them and into food
• Leave Shoes at the Door, to keep pesticides and other chemicals out of your home
• Don't Be Fooled by Fragrance, and avoid cosmetics and cleaning products that list fragrance as an ingredient.  It is code for phthalates, another known endocrine disruptor
• Look Up Your Lipstick - check it out at http://cosmeticdatabase.com
• Filter Your Drinking Water, to remove common contaminants like arsenic and lead
• Buy BPA Free, if your product does not contain BPA it will say so on the label
• Toss the Teflon, as this chemical has been linked to cancer and early menopause
• Limit Canned Food, another known source of BPA
• Dust, Vacuum and Mop Frequently, to cut down on chemcials that accumulate in household dust

The American Fertility Association is proud to be aligned with powerful, proactive advocates who are working for the public good.  For more information on endocrine disruptors and fertility, visit The AFA's library.

 

 

A world on fire.

  by Corey Whelan

It feels like the whole world is on fire right now.  Civil unrest and natural disasters have been nudging the stressometer up notch by notch in our collective unconsciousness for awhile now, I think.  I remember reading newspaper articles years ago about the Cold War and how constant anxiety about the bomb was increasing the daily stress that Americans (and I'm sure Russians too) lived with, like a sort of  low level whirring sound in the brain that you forget is there, but that never really recedes.  

Headlines this weekend about that fool, that monster, that idiot in Florida and the violence that has ensued since he burned the Koran pumped up the jam just enough to flip me out completely.  It just feels like open season now, not just on Americans world wide, but on the whole species Human Being.  As it has always been, I guess.

I thought about all this while I was running this morning.  Three miles in and I started to think about stocking up on bottled water.  Five miles in and I started to think about the talk I need to have with my children about all this and how I don't want to.  Seven miles in and I remembered the reason why I started running in the first place.

Many of you who haven't known me for forever find it hard to believe that once upon a time I weighed around 50 pounds more than I do now.  Pregnancy with multiples, and a marriage that was shredding itself to bits turned into a lust for bagels, maple syrup and low fat dulce la leche frozen yogurt that I deluded myself into thinking was ok for me to eat on a daily basis.  And then 9/11 happened.

My babies were small then.  I remember thinking, if I have to run out of a burning building with one kid under each arm, would I be able to do it?

And the answer was no.  I was too overweight and out of shape to run and get my babies and myself to safety if I ever needed to.

So I went for a walk.  A very long walk.  And a few days later I went for a run.  A very short run.  And I threw out the bagels and all the high carb crap I had let my PCOS insulin resistant body get addicted to and I slowly became my old, healthy-weight self again.  Strong, thin, and robust.  My own personal best for my own physical self.

People, look.  I don't know what's coming next, none of us do.  But I do know that no matter what comes, and also no matter what doesn't come, the species human being, all of us, deserve the right to be our own personal best.  For me it's being a runner who weighs 115 lbs.  For you it may mean being a walker or a tennis player who weighs 135 lbs.  But whatever your own personal health best is, I urge you to acheive it.  It is better for your fertility.  It will be better for your pregnancy and your baby, God willing.  It will be better for you no matter what life brings.  Really.  

Think about maybe joining in and doing what The AFA staff will be doing for NIAW.  Think about doing a Fertility Bootcamp, if that feels like a fit for you.  Think about doing something.  And then just do it.  

I don't know what's coming next.     

The AFA Launches Zumba® for Fertility for NIAW®

The American Fertility Association (The AFA), a national non-profit family building organization, is excited to announce its 1st annual Zumbathon® for Fertility, to take place during National Infertility Awareness Week® (NIAW).   The first event will be on Wednesday, April 27th at William Alexander Middle School (M.S. 51) 350 Fifth Avenue Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY at 7:30 p.m.

The AFA is committed to supporting men and women to be their healthiest, not only when they are trying to conceive, but for their entire lives.  More importantly, The AFA wants all women to get pregnant safely, and to give birth to healthy babies.  It was through this heartfelt ideology, shared by the entire AFA staff and board of directors, that Zumba® for Fertility was born.

Multiple studies show that fertility potential can be enhanced through healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating right and exercising regularly. Exercise has also been proven to support stress reduction, a common side effect of infertility treatment.  Additionally, highbody mass index (BMI) has been definitively correlated with increased risk of complications during pregnancy, and even fetal death.    

The AFA's staff is comprised of five members, residing in four states.  The organization represents different regions of the United States, yet share a common health conscious ideology that transcends borders.   Zumba® for Fertility was born out of our passion for the staff’s personal health, and because they’re passionate about bringing healthy messages to all individuals who are currently trying to create their own families. 

Zumba® for Fertility will take place in the hometowns of the staff’s residence; Brooklyn, NY, New London, NH, Charlotte, NC, and Phoenix, AZ.  Tickets are $20 and tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. 

Health conscious reproductive endocrinologist, Richard Grazi, M.D.  of Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine in Brooklyn has enthusiastically signed on as the first sponsor.

Long time AFA staff members and Brooklyn residents Corey Whelan and Melinda Micciola are excited for the first event in their hometown.  Whelan says, “Women who are trying to conceive often disassociate from their bodies during the seemingly unending process of infertility treatments.  Zumba®, as well as other forms of exercise, can help women to not only reconnect with their physical selves but to also have fun in the process.  And fun, for men and women going through this predicament, is a goal unto itself.”

“We commend RESOLVE for drawing attention to the challenges of those facing infertility during National Infertility Awareness Week®,” states Ken Mosesian, Executive Director of The AFA. “The AFA continuously works to normalize the conversation about infertility in the mainstream, and is confident that our Zumba® events will further that goal.”

 

About The AFA

The American Fertility Association, a 501 (c) (3) national non-profit organization, is a resource for infertility prevention, reproductive health and family building. The AFA's services are provided to consumers and are available to everyone. These include an extensive online library, daily fertility news, a toll-free support line, and education outreach events.

Photo:  123RF

 

Food Packaging Significant Source of BPA Exposure, New Study Finds

The American Fertility Association congratulates allied non profit organization, The Breast Cancer Fund and the Silent Spring Institute on their groundbreaking new study on BPA exposure and women's health.  The AFA has been sounding the alarm on BPA and other toxins that affect reproductive health for many years; our most recent press release quoted Executive Director Ken Mosesian as stating, "The AFA is proud to be a thought leader in this arena, and looks forward to definitive answers being realized.  We recognize that more research is urgently needed."

  A peer-reviewed study published today in Environmental Health Perspectives suggests that food packaging is a substantial source of exposure to the endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA), which laboratory studies have linked to breast cancer, infertility, early puberty, and other serious health problems. In this unprecedented human study, scientists at the Breast Cancer Fund and Silent Spring Institute discovered an average drop of 60 percent in BPA levels when study participants ate a diet that avoided contact with BPA-containing food packaging, such as canned food and polycarbonate plastic.

“This study suggests that removing BPA from food packaging will remove the number one source of BPA exposure,” said Janet Gray, Ph.D., Science Advisor to the Breast Cancer Fund and professor at Vassar College. “The study should serve as a call to action for industry and government to get BPA out of food packaging and to fix the broken chemical management system that allows it to be there in the first place.”

The study, “Food Packaging and Bisphenol A and Bis(2-Ethyhexyl) Phthalate Exposure: Findings from a Dietary Intervention,” tested the levels of BPA in the urine of five San Francisco Bay Area families who had a high likelihood of regular exposure to food packaging containing BPA (they consumed canned foods and beverages, ate meals outside of the home, used polycarbonate water bottles, and/or microwaved in plastic). The families were provided with three days’ worth of freshly prepared organic meals with no canned food, and using only glass storage containers. The families’ urine was evaluated while they ate their typical diets, again during the period when they were provided with freshly-prepared meals, and then again after returning to their normal eating habits. While the families were eating the fresh-food diet, their BPA levels dropped on average by 60 percent. Reductions were even more pronounced—75 percent—for those with the highest exposures. When families returned to their regular diets, their BPA levels increased back to pre-intervention levels.

In addition to BPA, participants were tested for phthalates, plastic-softening chemicals that can interfere with reproductive development. Levels of DEHP (a phthalate used in food packaging) dropped by an average of 50 percent during the intervention; and the highest exposures dropped by over 90 percent.

"Our study provides clear and compelling evidence that food packaging is the major source of exposure to BPA and DEHP,” said Ruthann Rudel, lead author of the study and Director of Research at Silent Spring Institute. “The study shows that a fresh-food diet reduces levels of these chemicals in children and adults by half, after just three days."

BPA and the phthalate DEHP are both used widely in food packaging. BPA is used to make polycarbonate plastics and is used in the lining of food cans, and DEHP is an additive used in some food containers and plastic wraps to increase flexibility. BPA and phthalates are both known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals because of their effects on hormone systems. BPA has been shown to mimic the hormone estrogen, and exposure has been associated with effects on the developing brain, reproductive system, and mammary and prostate glands in laboratory studies. Phthalates have been demonstrated to interfere with androgen signaling and male reproductive development in laboratory and human studies.

“The findings of this food packaging study suggest that if the food and food-storage industries reformulated packaging to remove BPA and phthalates, or if there were a federal ban of these chemicals in food packaging, a large portion of the population would experience a rapid reduction in the levels of these chemicals in their bodies,” said Dr. Gray. “Industry and government need to ensure the safety of any substitute chemicals before they are put into use.”

Suggestions from the Breast Cancer Fund and Silent Spring Institute for reducing exposure to BPA and DEHP include cooking at home with fresh foods and making some changes in the kitchen, such as avoiding canned foods, choosing glass and stainless steel food and beverage containers, and not microwaving in plastic. After aggregating the results of tests of 300 canned food products, the Breast Cancer Fund found that BPA especially leaches into canned foods that are acidic, salty or fatty, such as coconut milk, soup, meals (e.g., ravioli in sauce) and vegetables. For additional tips or to download a shopper’s guide, visit www.breastcancerfund.org.

  

An Alternative Solution - Herbs and PCOS - How to use them to improve your fertility.

By Stacey Roberts, BSPT, Q Herbalist, Natural Fertility

 Rachel came to me after trying to have a baby for 4 years.  She was at her wits end.  She tried IVF but had hyperstimulated and was unsure of whether to try again.

 She had not had a menstrual cycle in 3.5 years no matter what medication she was on.  Rachel used a variety of medications to try to get her ovulating but nothing helped.

 After six months on an herb formula, Rachel began to spot.  She called me, very excited.  I was actually getting a little despondent myself after six months and nothing happening.  I asked her to send in her charts so we could see what was going on and lo and behold, she wasn’t going to have a period.  She was pregnant!  Rachel has now had 2 beautiful little girls while utilizing the herbs.

 What happened?  How did Rachel conceive when she was told it couldn’t happen?  Afterall, she wasn’t even having a period.

When a woman is dealing with Polycystic Ovaries it is important to remember that this syndrome is a symptom of an imbalance in the system.  Polycystic ovaries commonly occur when a woman is experiencing insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes.  So the very first step in addressing this syndrome naturally is through the diet. 

Step 1:  Optimize your Eating Plan

• Remove white flour products and other high glycemic foods. 
• Choose carbohydrates that are low glycemic
• With each meal make sure you have a protein and or a good fat to slow dose the glucose response in the blood.  This helps to take stress off the system.
• ELIMINATE sugar.  Sugar and sweeteners are major enemies of women with Polycystic Ovaries so get them out your the diet. 
• Eliminate empty calories from soft drinks and alcohol that also disrupt your sugar levels.

 Step 2:  Optimize a Supplementation Program

• Use a broadspectrum of antioxidants and minerals to help improve cellular health and address the underlying issue with glucose and insulin.

• Besides Vitamins A, B, C, D3, E and folic acid (a type of vitamin B) it is also important for women to have appropriate amounts of selenium, zinc, chromium, and iodine in their diet and supplementation program to improve their situation. 

• Herbs such as Gymnena (not to be taken with drugs that are used for resistance eg. Metformin and others) and Cinnamon have been shown to help support optimal glucose metabolism.

• With Rachel it was also helpful to take herbs that support her thyroid such as Withania and Bacopa. 

• Other herbs to support ovulation are Peony and Agnus Castus (Chaste Tree).

• When dealing with herbs always consult a qualifed herbalist to assess your situation otherwise you may be taking too much or too little of the necessary herbs.  And the supplementation program including herbs must only supplement the diet.  With PCOS, diet is number 1!

Step 3: Minimize Toxins

• Exposure to voluntary toxins from smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and chemically laden skin care products, improper use of plastics (i.e. heating food in plastic containers, etc) and even air fresheners and cleaning products can impair your fertility according to various studies.

• Always use “green” products when you can and avoid products whose ingredient list is full of scientific names you cannot pronounce.

• Herbs such as St. Mary’s Thistle (Milk Thistle), Schisandra, and even Bladderwrack are herbs that can be used to help the body properly remove toxins from the system

 Step 4:  Appropriate Exercise Program

• A balanced exercise program including cardiovascular fitness and resistance training can help make the body more insulin sensitive and along with an optimal diet can reverse insulin resistance in some individuals.  Polycystic Ovaries have been reversed when hormone balance returns to normal.

• Seek out a qualified personal trainer or physical therapist to help you set up the best program for you.

 Step 5:  Support the Mind Body Connection

• Several studies show that addressing stress and the mind body connection has helped women with ovulation disorders such as Polycystic Ovaries.  In a study performed at Emory University, 80% of patients who previously were not ovulating spontaneous ovulated after hypnosis sessions. 

 Rachel knows the importance of addressing all of these steps at one time versus trying one thing for a while and moving on to the next without appropriate guidance.  But now after addressing her situation by following the five steps above perhaps Rachel can help her little girls avoid the difficulties that she experienced trying to conceive as well as the other negative consequences that women with Polycystic Ovaries can face, i.e. high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid issues, and autoimmune diseases.

 It is important to note that all treatments should be done under the auspices of a trained professional.

Stacey Roberts, PT, MH, Phd-C is a leading herbalist and internationally recognized expert on complementary medicines. She is the owner of Sharkey's Healing Centre and resides in Melbourne, Australia.  She is a guest contributor to The American Fertility Association's online library, directory, and blog.

 

 

A Chemical Blowout: Frizz, Formaldehyde and Infertility

By Kimberly Inez McGuire

The first whispers of summer are in the air, foretelling sunny days, sultry nights, and trips to the beach. For better or worse, it also means that many women crowd into salons and spas in a frenzy of pre-summer health and beauty rituals. And it’s no small task to prepare for all the bared skin and exposure to the elements—that’s right, ladies and gents, I’m talking about the Brazilian.

No, not that Brazilian. I’m talking about the Brazilian Blowout (also known as Keratin Treatment), a salon procedure that claims to “improve the health and condition of the hair,” “eliminate frizz,” and “smooth the cuticle.” These are tantalizing promises to a curly-haired woman like me. Between my Irish ringlets and Puerto Rican kink (thanks, Mom and Dad!) my hair can be a handful—and the swampy, sticky DC summers don’t help. Neither do the countless women’s magazines, ugly duckling movies, and makeover TV shows that portray hair like mine as a problem, a “before” picture in desperate need of a stick-straight “after.” So, when I see photos of Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, and Nicole Richie rocking smooth, shiny locks, I hear the siren call of hassle-free hair and think, “Why not?”

In a word? Formaldehyde. Yes, that same stinky soup that held the dissecting frogs in 10^th grade biology is now available in your local high-end hair salon. Initially, this rather disturbing information came to light late last year when salon workers reported headaches, eye irritation, difficulty breathing, and nose bleeds, all symptoms of short-term formaldehyde exposure. When Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) tested samples of Brazilian Blowout products, they found dangerous levels of the chemical, including in products explicitly labeled “Formaldehyde Free.”

Investigators have concluded that the process of applying the solution to hair, and then using a blow dryer and flatiron, aerosolized the formaldehyde, making it easy for salon workers and clients to inhale. This is a great discovery if you’re looking for an effective biological weapon, but definitely bad news for women’s health. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, and scientific studies have linked it to miscarriage, stillbirth, menstrual disorders, and female infertility. Just last week, the beauty industry’s own scientists finally acknowledged that they cannot guarantee the safety of formaldehyde-containing hair straighteners. And by the way, this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of toxic cosmetics targeted to women of color.

Now, you’re probably thinking, Brazilian Blowout products have been recalled, right? Because putting a nasty chemical like formaldehyde into a product that women all over the country use must be illegal, RIGHT? Sadly, this is not the case. While Canada has stopped the distribution of these toxic products, Ireland has issued a recall, and the California Attorney General’s office has filed a lawsuit, there has been no nation-wide recall or federal government action to stop the use of these harmful products. And it’s certainly not for lack of effort by women’s health groups like Women’s Voices for the Earth, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the National Healthy Salon Alliance.

Unfortunately, the laws that are supposed to protect us from toxic cosmetics are 70 years old and badly broken—and the Brazilian Blowout brouhaha is a symptom of a failed system. There are no safeguards in place to prevent dangerous products from coming on the market, and no real labeling requirements—which is exactly how a product touted as “Formaldehyde Free” was found to contain dangerous levels of formaldehyde. There are over 12,000 ingredients used in cosmetics, yet 89 percent of them have not been reviewed for safety. In fact, voluntary recalls and anemic self-regulation are all that stands between American families and toxic chemicals in everyday products—from Brazilian Blowout to body wash, baby bottles to blue jeans.

I checked the Brazilian Blowout website today, and the company is heavily featuring a new product called “ZERO” which, they claim, “releases 0% Formaldehyde.” Given that there’s no real oversight of claims like this, I’m skeptical. The company is also standing behind their original formulation—you know, the one that gave salon workers nosebleeds and could be making clients infertile.

Women and workers deserve better. Fortunately, there is something we can do (besides just pulling our hair out from frustration). In the coming months, Congress is expected to introduce legislation that would update our national chemical policy, ensure that products are safe before allowing them in our homes and workplaces, and provide consumers and federal agencies with the information they need to protect human health. To make sure Congress lives up to this important responsibility, you can sign a petition asking President Obama to create a cancer prevention plan that stops the use of cancer-causing chemicals (like formaldehyde) in products we use every day.

Until we have common-sense regulation of chemicals in cosmetics and everyday products, the status quo—labels that lie and products that poison—will continue. So, until I can trust that a Brazilian Blowout isn’t going to give me cancer or make it hard for me to have kids someday, I’m keeping my curls, thank you very much. And I’ll use some of the time I’m not sitting at the salon to sign that petition to President Obama and send it to 10 women I care about. Because beauty is pain sometimes, but this is ridiculous.

Quick tip: How safe are your cosmetics? Find out here.

Kimberly Inez Mcguire is the Senior Associate, Programs & Policy for the Reproductive Health Technologies Project.

Experts at UN Meeting Urge Action to Combat Environmental Causes of Cancer.

Important and significant actions designed to reduce or eliminate environmental toxins in the workplace were urged today by experts attending a United Nations convened scientific meeting.  Interestingly, many of the same toxins known to contribute to escalating cancer rates world wide have also been linked in multiple studies to infertility and birth defects of various types.  The press release appears in its entirety here:

EXPERTS AT UN MEETING URGE ACTION TO COMBAT ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES OF CANCER.

UN press release

(New York; 18 March,  2011)

Medical experts attending a United Nations-convened scientific meeting today called for action to address preventable environmental and occupational causes of cancer, noting that nearly one in five of all cases of cancers are attributable to the environment, including work settings.

“Many environmental and occupational factors, including certain chemicals, radiation and airborne particles, can cause cancer,” said Maria Neira, the Director for Public Health and Environment at the UN World Health Organizations (WHO), which convened the meeting in the Spanish Principality of Asturias.

“These cancers could be prevented and reduced by changes in national and international policy to limit people’s involuntary exposure to these substances,” she added.

The cancers related to the environment, which comprise roughly 19 per cent of all cancers and cause 1.3 million deaths each year, are often the result of situations where people have limited control over the quality of air they breathe, the water they drink, and the level of chemical contamination in indoor and outdoor environments and at places of work.

In their “Asturias Pledge,” the experts urged governments to include environmental and occupational preventive measures in their national cancer control programmes, and ensure enforcement of national and international standards for environmental and occupational carcinogens.

They recommended that WHO lead a global effort in highlighting the importance of primary prevention of cancer, assess the impact of environmental and occupational interventions on primary prevention of cancer, and develop guidance for implementation of evidence-based interventions.

Civil society should raise awareness about practices and processes that increase carcinogenic risks, raise awareness, educate and advocate for funding to implement effective primary prevention of those types of cancers, the experts suggested.

Industry, for its part, should support and implement measures aimed at preventing the cancers. It should also contribute to policy development relating to the mitigation of occupational risks and workers’ exposures; eliminate or reduce exposure to known and probable carcinogens, and better inform workers on the risks they face in the workplace and protect them from carcinogens.

Reducing and eventually eliminating the exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens is the most effective way to prevent a number of cancers, according to WHO. Stopping the use of asbestos can prevent lung cancer, mesothelioma and cancers of the larynx and ovaries, for example. Replacement of benzene with safer solvents will prevent leukaemia, the agency said.

 

Asturias Pledge

Environmental and Occupational Determinants of Cancer: Interventions for Primary Prevention

Asturias (Aviles and Gijon), Spain

17 – 18 March 2011

http://www.who.int/phe/news/events/international_conference/Call_for_action_en.pdf

 

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Environmental and occupational risk factors are estimated to be a substantial contributor to the cancer burden, many of them are modifiable and often result from involuntary exposure of populations, but have yet to be seriously addressed by cancer prevention programmes. The burden of cancer is currently shifting towards heavily populated low- and middle-income countries and is predicted to increase due to a rise in life expectancy as a result of economic development. Therefore, environmental and occupational interventions are key for reducing the incidence and mortality of cancer, can be cost-effective and contribute to the overall well-being of communities.

 

In line with World Health Assembly Resolution WHA58.22 on Cancer Prevention and Control, where countries were urged to pay special attention to cancers for which risk factors are avoidable, including environmental and occupational factors, we, the participants in the first WHO International Conference on "Environmental and occupational determinants of cancer: Interventions for Primary Prevention", call for a broad, public health driven response bringing together public heath, environmental, occupational and cancer control communities in a multi-sectoral and collaborative approach, to tackle known and preventable causes of cancer, using scientific evidence to raise awareness and promote environmental and occupational interventions in support of primary preventive measures:

 

 

TO GOVERNMENTS

1. Further develop surveillance of the burden of cancer, support research and build capacities for systematic identification and measurement of environmental and occupational risk factors as part of national cancer control programmes.

 

2. Include and implement evidence-based environmental and occupational preventive measures as part of policies, legislation and regulations, creating synergies among public health programmes, with NGOs and private and public institutions.

 

3. Adopt and enforce national and international legislation for protection against environmental and occupational carcinogens.

 

4. Support campaigns for behavioural change, including in the work place, to protect individuals from environmental and occupational cancer risks, through innovative approaches and collaboration with the media, and using easily accessible public information about the risks and protection measures.

 

 

 

 

TO WHO

1. Lead a global effort to highlight the importance of primary prevention of cancer through healthy environments, raising awareness and bringing together public heath, environmental, occupational and cancer control communities.

 

2. Shape the research cancer agenda so as to take account of environmental- and occupational-related cancers, including a better characterization of causes and assessment of the effectiveness of behavioural change and environmental and occupational interventions for the primary prevention of cancer.

 

3. Encourage governments to include environmental and occupational prevention measures as part of national cancer control programmes.

 

4. Develop guidance for the implementation of evidence-based environmental and occupational interventions based on population needs assessments.

 

5. Support the implementation of environmental and occupational prevention measures in developing countries and countries in transition through technical assistance, training and other means.

 

6. To support implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the World Health Assembly Resolution WHA60.23 on Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: implementation of the global strategy.

 

7. Encourage governments to provide funding to further study environmental factors as potential causes of cancer and to support primary prevention of cancer due to known environmental and occupational risk factors.

 

8. Establish a coordinated network of institutions at national and international level to support policy development and implementation of primary prevention measures for environmental- and occupational-related cancers.

 

 

TO CIVIL SOCIETY NETWORKS

1. Increase awareness raising about environmental and occupational determinants of cancer.

 

2. Advocate for the enforcement of national and international standards for exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens and to enhance protection of workers.

 

3. Further develop innovative campaigns and strategies to raise awareness about individual behavioural change to support primary prevention of environmental- and occupational-related cancers.

 

4. Strengthen involvement in policy development and implementation related to the mitigation of environmental and occupational risks.

 

5. Advocate for research on environmental- and occupational-related cancers and on effectiveness of prevention measures, including those related to behavioural change.

 

6. Advocate for funding to tackle primary prevention of environmental- and occupational-related cancers, including support for awareness raising, education, and wider implementation of measures known to be effective.

 

7. Support the development of a global network of international environmental-, occupational- and health-related NGOs to advocate for the introduction of environmental and occupational aspects to the global cancer agenda, and with other actors to engage with the media in support of primary prevention of environmental- and occupational-related cancers.

 

 

TO INDUSTRY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR

1. Incorporate measures for primary prevention of environmental- and occupational-related cancers into existing corporate initiatives and business management programmes.

 

2. Where necessary, develop substitutes, products, technologies and processes to eliminate the use of carcinogens, evaluate their effectiveness and support international technology and information transfer.

 

3. Provide information to governments, workers and consumers about hazardous substances and products, ensure clear labelling and responsible marketing.

 

4. Train workers, suppliers and sub-contractors in preventing exposures to carcinogens and establish prevention and mitigation measures.

 

5. Partner with governments and civil society groups in support of primary prevention of cancer.