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by Janelle Sorensen, Chief Communications Officer, Healthy Child Healthy World

Like a lot of other women, I went many years doing everything I could to NOT get pregnant. Ironically, when my husband and I decided it was time, we couldn’t - at least not right away like we had expected. And not even after months of charting my cycle and strategically waiting for peak ovulation. Luckily, it only took 8 months of effort before we successfully conceived, a time frame much shorter than many couples these days.

In fact, today, one out of every six couples experience difficulties conceiving. An estimated five million couples are classified as infertile which means not being able to get pregnant after one year of trying (or six months if a woman is 35 or older).

Elisabeth Röhm, best known for her role as Serena Southerlyn on Law & Order, is one of these millions and on her blog on People.com she opens up about her personal struggle to conceive her little girl.

There are certain experiences that almost every woman looks forward to as a right of passage. Pregnancy is one of them. To me, it’s as big as death, and it seems like an impossible situation when you discover that you will not give birth in your lifetime — or if you do, it will be after extensive medical assistance and cost a small fortune. It is devastating when you simply can’t do it the natural way and your body can’t function as you believed that it would during your whole young adult life.

Let me just say that the process of the discovery that I would be unable to get pregnant naturally was a huge heartbreak. I was at the doctor just doing the run of the mill check-up when we decided to do some more extensive testing. The results were disappointing, to say the least. My follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were through the roof and it looked as if I might be going into early menopause. This is not what a 34-year-old woman wants to hear when she thinks time is still on her side.

The truth is that most people, especially me, take for granted how easily our bodies function when they are healthy. Now all of these years later, I have many friends who have had children in an unconventional way. The subject has become more mainstream and people are more open about it. From friends who simply couldn’t hold pregnancies...to people like me, who simply were hormonally unable to conceive — there are a lot of us.

Indeed there are. It should be compellingly disconcerting to us as a species that the average sperm count is half of what it was 50 years ago;  that reported fertility problems have increased nearly 50% in just 20 years; and that miscarriages, still births and birth defects are all increasing. As reproductive health has declined, chemical production has increased dramatically and many scientists and health professionals are seeing a connection.

Here are a few chemicals that have been linked to decreased fertility and how you can avoid them.

2-butoxyethanol

• Found in Glass cleaners, all-purpose spray.
• Avoid it by making your own non-toxic cleaners or buying safer products from companies that disclose ingredients and don’t use it.

Alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEs)

• Found in laundry detergents, stain removers, and all-purpose cleaners.
• Avoid it by making your own non-toxic cleaners or buying safer products from companies that disclose ingredients and don’t use it.

Ammonium quaternary compounds

• Found in some disinfectant sprays, toilet cleaners, and alcohol-free hand sanitizers.
• Avoid them by reducing your use of disinfectant products and using safer alternatives when necessary.

Phthalates

• Found in fragrances in cleaning products, personal care products, cosmetics & nail polish (though they’re not always listed on the label).
• Avoid products with synthetic fragrance or look for products labeled “fragrance-free.” Look for nail polishes labeled “three-free” or “phthalate-free.” Here are more tips for avoiding phthalates.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

• Found in flame retardants used in foam furniture, electronics, fabrics, carpets and plastics. The chemicals are being phased out nationwide, and certain PBDEs have been banned for use in California. But they are still found in products made before 2004.
• The main exposure route is through ingestion of dust, so wash your hands often, dust and vacuum with a HEPA filter regularly.

Bisphenol-A (BPA)

• Found in polycarbonate plastic (#7 PC), canned foods, thermal receipt paper, and more.
• The quickest way to reduce your BPA exposure is to stop eating canned foods (or look for those labelled “BPA-free”). Here are other ways you can avoid BPA.

The newest study on BPA published in Fertility and Sterility found that the chemical can adversely affect women under-going IVF. Although the results are preliminary, the study's authors caution that women undergoing IVF may want to limit their exposure to BPA prior to and during the IVF cycle, given the prior published data suggesting a negative effect on egg quality as well.

Learn more:

• Fertility Foods For Father’s Day
• Ten Tips To Prepare For Your Pregnancy
• Failure To Thrive: How Chemicals Are Compromising Reproductive Health

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Elisabeth Rohm, Healthy Child Healthy World’s newest Luminary Board member! Here’s what she had to say about joining our movement:

“Knowledge is power. I am grateful to Healthy Child Healthy World for providing the knowledge and tools that it takes to care for ourselves and our families in a conscious way. I try everyday to improve in this way so that I can be a healthful participant in this world and as an example to my daughter Easton. Healthy Child keeps me educated so that I can accomplish these changes in my life. It is not only our responsibility to ourselves but to the global community to commit to a non-toxic lifestyle. I live by their motto, 'No one can do everything. Everyone can do something.' Together, as a community we can take the steps towards a happier, healthier life. I owe a debt of gratitude to the purpose and mindfulness of Healthy Child and am honored to participate in their Luminary Board.”

The information included on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her health care provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan.

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