In the United States, couples trying to conceive a child are currently experiencing difficulties. According to the National Institutes of Health, 9% of men and 11% of Americans struggle with infertility.1 And it’s not just the United States that is experiencing these public health problems. In Britain, birth rates have fallen to their lowest level in decades.
Britain’s birth rate is falling
in research2 In a paper published in the BMJ, freelance researcher Matthew Limb explains the current population problem in a succinctly titled paper: “England and Wales fertility falls to record low in 2023.” Limb pointed out that Britain’s birth rate is currently at its lowest level since 1938.
Using data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the findings show that 591,072 children will be born in 2023. This figure is the lowest birth rate since 1977. To put it in another context, the average total fertility rate (TFR) in 2023 was 1.44. Children per woman. The 2022 TFR is 1.49, down from 1.55 in 2021.3
Those numbers aren’t the only thing relevant to the findings. The average age of new parents also increased to 33.8 years for fathers and 30.9 years for mothers. The childbearing age group that saw the greatest decline was adults in their 20s.
Greg Ceely, head of population health monitoring at the ONS, said: “When we look more closely at fertility rates among women of different ages, the decline in fertility rates has been most dramatic in the 20-24 and 25-29 age groups.”4
Current population replacement rates will be unsustainable
What does this mean for the UK as well as other countries with low fertility rates? Eventually, their economy will suffer. For example, consider the population decline currently occurring in Japan. The population peaked at 128 million in 2008, but fell to 125 million in 2022. If this trend continues, the population will be only 63 million by 2100.
From an economic perspective, a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) will decline as its working-age population declines. Small and medium-sized businesses have already begun to close due to lack of successors. Manpower shortages are also beginning to appear in social and public industries such as education and medicine.5
The only way to bring population growth back to a growing scale is to encourage couples to have more than one child, if possible. As the ONS points out:6
“In the long run, for a country with low mortality rates to maintain or grow its population without net migration, its total fertility rate would need to be above the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman.”
Having more children may seem like a simple solution, but the barriers to raising a family are complex and deeply rooted in socioeconomic issues. These include financial instability, soaring housing costs, and high child care costs.
For people who are actively trying to conceive but are having difficulty, additional factors come into play. One important but often overlooked problem is the widespread use of plastics containing endocrine disrupting chemicals. Over time, these substances break down into microplastics, which accumulate in the body and disrupt the reproductive system, further complicating the path to parenthood.
Microplastics are a major cause of infertility
Microplastics are small pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters long. They come from a variety of sources, including plastic bottles, bags, synthetic clothing and even personal care products.7 And according to one study8 According to a report published in Frontiers in Endocrinology, one of the biggest reasons for the decline in infertility problems worldwide is the increase in plastic use.
“It is noteworthy that the exponential increase in global plastic production is coupled with a well-documented population-wide decline in human sperm production, which appears to have accelerated since 2000.”9
According to the report, microplastics are present throughout the body. For example, researchers at the University of New Mexico noted that microplastics have been found traveling through the intestinal barrier and in organs such as the kidneys, liver, and brain.10 As expected, microplastics are now also present in our reproductive organs. In a study published in Science of the Total Environment, researchers noted that microplastics lodged in male and female organs were causing problems.
“In the reproductive system, microplastics disrupt the blood-testicular barrier, impairing spermatogenesis in men and causing placental dysfunction, ovarian atrophy, endometrial hyperplasia and fibrosis in women. Moreover, microplastics potentially affect the lipid metabolism and reproductive function of offspring. affects.”
Based on these findings, the researchers believe that the chemicals that make up microplastics are responsible for affecting fertility, noting that “microplastics disrupt the neuroendocrine system.”11 That’s because most microplastics contain phthalates, which leach out of the material.12 It can cause endocrine disruption problems. Other chemicals in microplastics include pesticides, Forever chemicals, and bisphenol A.13
A large part of the reason microplastics affect fertility is because they are xenoestrogens, mimicking the effects of estrogen in the body. For example, phthalates fall into this category and have been linked to an increase in various diseases. As noted in one study:14 Posted in Healthcare:
“Human epidemiological studies have shown a significant association between phthalate exposure and adverse reproductive outcomes, such as type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, overweight/obesity, allergies, and asthma in both women and men.”
How to reduce your exposure to microplastics
The evidence presented makes it clear that minimizing exposure to plastic helps protect fertility. There are a variety of strategies that can easily fit your lifestyle.
Filter your tap water and avoid water in plastic bottles — If you must buy bottled water, choose glass bottles. Also, make sure the filter you use to purify your tap water can filter out microplastics. |
Boil hard tap water — If you use hard tap water, boil it before using it for cooking or drinking. This is because hard water traps more microplastics. research15 Boiling tap water for 5 minutes has been shown to remove up to 90% of microplastics in water. |
Avoid plastic packaging — Choose products packaged in glass, metal or paper. This significantly reduces the amount of plastic that touches your food. At home, use wax paper, parchment paper, or paper bags instead of plastic wrap to store food. |
Use reusable containers — Replace single-use plastic bottles, cups and containers with reusable alternatives made from safer materials such as stainless steel or glass. |
Never use plastic in your microwave — Heat causes plastic to leach chemicals into food. Use glass or ceramic containers in the microwave. |
Avoid plastic cutting boards — Instead, use a wooden or glass cutting board. |
Choose natural fibers — If possible, choose clothing and other textile products made from natural fibers such as organic cotton, wool, and linen. Synthetic fabrics, such as polyester, release microfibers and leach xenoestrogens. |
Wash synthetic clothing less often — When washing synthetic fabrics, use a microfiber filter in your washing machine to trap the synthetic fibers and prevent them from entering your tap water. |
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 do not contain these substances. Ideally, choose 100% natural, food-grade products. |
Pay attention to your omega-6 and omega-3 intake
Studies have shown that omega-3 fats help increase fertility. In one meta-analysis that reviewed 11 studies,16 Researchers noted that “omega-3 intake significantly improves pregnancy and fertility rates in women.” In another example17 Omega-3 supplementation had beneficial effects on male fertility.
“Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids improves sperm concentration and total motile sperm count in infertile men with oligospermia.”18
For optimal results, focus on increasing your omega-3 intake while reducing omega-6 fats, especially from vegetable oils. As previously mentioned, excessive consumption of linoleic acid (a type of omega-6 polyunsaturated fat, or PUFA) can harm cellular health and impair energy production.
To improve your omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, aim to keep your linoleic acid intake under 5 grams per day, ideally under 2 grams. Meanwhile, include foods rich in omega-3, such as cold-water fish, in your diet. Wild-caught Alaskan salmon, sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and herring are great options. For the best health benefits, choose fish from clean, sustainable sources.
More Strategies to Increase Fertility Naturally
Although many internal and external factors affect fertility in men and women, I believe that following these basic common sense and healthy lifestyle habits will help address the root of infertility. To summarize my recommendations:
Minimize your exposure to toxic chemicals — These include heavy metals, endocrine disruptors, pesticides and herbicides, formaldehyde, organic solvents, dry cleaning chemicals, and paint fumes. Again, avoid plastic as much as possible. |
Avoid all vaccines, especially mRNA shots. If you have already received one or more COVID-19 shots, there are steps you can take to recover from an attack on your system. The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) also has a treatment protocol for injuries after the jab. It’s called I-RECOVER and can be downloaded from Covid19CriticalCare.com.19 |
Do not drink unfiltered tap water — Our waterways are constantly polluted with industrial waste and by-products. |
Eat an optimal fertility diet — An optimal fertility diet is as much about what you avoid as it is about what you include. Eat real, locally grown food, ideally organic, to avoid pesticide residues. Avoid meals prepared with factory farmed animal products, ultra-processed foods, and vegetable oils. Soy products are also included in this list. This is because soybeans contain phytoestrogens, which act on hormones. It is also wise for men to add more sperm-boosting foods.20 Eat a diet that includes organic free-range eggs, bananas, asparagus, broccoli, pomegranates, garlic, and all foods rich in zinc (zinc plays a key role in sperm development).21). |
Avoid common allergens — An overactive immune system attacks its own body cells, and the link between food intolerances, such as celiac disease, and anti-sperm antibodies is well established.22 |
Minimize exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) — Don’t carry your phone on your body while it’s on, and don’t use a laptop or tablet on your lap. Turn off Wi-Fi at night and make your bedroom EMF-free. For additional tips to reduce EMF exposure, read my article “Study: Phone Radiation Kills Cheek Cells.” |
Get tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) — Some sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia, have no symptoms. In men, chlamydia can cause abnormalities in sperm, including sperm antibodies. In women, it can cause scarring, blocked fallopian tubes, and miscarriage. |
Avoid coffee, smoking and alcohol — Organic coffee has many health benefits, but fertility doesn’t seem to be one of them. In fact, research results show that the birth rate is decreasing.23 Alcohol, smoking, and recreational drugs can also negatively affect fertility, reducing testicular size and reducing sperm count. |
Get regular exercise — According to research,24 Exercise helps increase sperm count in men. |
Standardize your weight — Obesity can cause infertility in both men and women. Normalizing body weight improves the quality and quantity of sperm in men and increases the chances of pregnancy in women.25 This is partly possible by normalizing the menstrual cycle.26 |
Reduce stress — Get enough sleep as it is an important factor in relieving stress. Incorporate tools like Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), yoga, or meditation to address stress. |
Keep your home environment clean — Use natural cleaning products or make your own. |
