Preconception Risks in Your Perfume

Ahhh, the soothing scent of lavender in your new shampoo, but is it lavender that gives your shampoo that fragrance, or is it more likely a concoction of chemicals that mimics the natural scent? Most cosmetic and personal care products have added fragrances. Even items such as eye shadow can contain scents, and some items with no apparent fragrance actually have scents masking their true odor creating a scent that seems odorless. These trade secrets can have harmful affects on your fertility and the success of your pregnancy.


Obesity Increases Pregnancy Complications

Many Americans struggle with weight issues. Sixty two percent of women are overweight, considered to be a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more. And almost half of the overweight women are actually obese, having a BMI of 30 or more. Evidence shows that resolving weight issues before conception can help a woman have a healthier, more successful pregnancy. Excess weight can lower fertility and lead to pregnancy complications from minor aches and pains to more serious dangers.



Third-hand Smoking Dangers During Pregnancy

By this point everyone is well aware of the risks of smoking. And women planning a pregnancy are advised to quit smoking well before they get pregnant and to avoid second-hand smoke throughout their pregnancy. Now new research shows that third-hand smoke also poses a risk- and much like first and second-hand smoke, third-hand smoke is especially dangerous for pregnant women, developing babies, and young children.

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Flouride Safety for Preconception and Pregnancy

Since the 1950’s many communities in the United States and other parts of the world have added fluoride to the public drinking water supplies. The program of fluoridation was started with the intention of reducing tooth decay. Since then there has been a great deal of controversy about the safety of fluoridation. Concerns range from increased risks of tooth staining and brittleness (dental fluorosis), bone brittleness (skeletal fluorosis), bone cancer, hormone disruption, premature puberty, and altered neurological development in babies. While planning your pregnancy it is a good idea to learn about the risks fluoride may pose to your baby and to review your own fluoride intake.


Fertility and the Link Between Light and Obesity

For generations humans lived largely with natural lighting. The rhythms of daily life were based on sunrise and sunset. When the sun went down, it usually meant bedtime. Those cycles of light and dark helped regulate some of the body’s natural processes including hormone changes and fertility. However, these days many people spend late night awash in the artificial glow of laptops, televisions, and lights. Now new research indicates another reason to pay attention to your late night activities.


New Study Links IVF to Autism

In the past thirty years there have been a number of breakthroughs in reproductive medicine. For many couples who have been unable to conceive, in vitro fertilization is the difference between being able to have a baby or not. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the process in which egg cells are fertilized by sperm outside the womb. When other types of reproductive assistance fail, IVF is often tried. Today, 1% of all American babies are born with the help of IVF. But a new study from Tel Aviv University suggests that IVF may increase the risks of an increasingly common health problem.


Celiac Disease and Infertility

Celiac disease is a disease estimated to affect one in every 133 Americans. However, most of these 2 million people don’t even realize they have this autoimmune disorder. Its symptoms include bloating, cramping, and diarrhea, which are often mistaken for other gastrointestinal problems. Celiac disease is an allergic reaction to gluten. Gluten is found in almost all wheat products as well as oats, barley, rye, and other foods. In addition to its recognized effects, infertility seems to be an effect of celiac disease.
