Fertility Over 35- Anti Ageing For Egg and Sperm Quality
Navigating Ageing and Infertility: Why Anti-Ageing Should Be Part of Your Fertility Plan
If you’re trying to create your family and finding it’s harder than you hope it would be, then just like you, I've walked the path of struggling to conceive and for me this meant going through IVF.
It’s the most crazy mix of feelings, standing at a crossroad of hope and uncertainty. And the dichotomy of fear it’s not going to happen and positive anticipation and hope that it will.
Also being a Fertility Naturopath at Natural Fertility Co (previously called Sharkey’s Healing Centre) since 2005, I understand the intricate puzzle pieces that need to fall into place for that longed-for moment of conception.
So, as someone who has not only supported hundreds and hundreds of other people to create their family but has also been through the heartache and triumphs of infertility and IVF, I'm here to share a crucial insight that could be the missing piece for you if you’re over 35 and trying to conceive: the connection between ageing, infertility, and the power of anti-ageing in your fertility plan.
Why is ageing a problem?
Ageing, a natural part of life, can sometimes cast a shadow over our dreams of parenthood. As we embrace the passing years with happy memories, adventures and stories, our bodies undergo changes that impact our fertility journey.
The ticking of the biological clock can feel like an unrelenting reminder, leading us to wonder if it's too late to fulfill our dreams of becoming parents. The truth is, as we age, our reproductive capacity diminishes, making it vital to address the multifaceted challenge of ageing when crafting your fertility plan. What I mean here is that we need to dive into what actually happens as our bodies age and then knowing that information we can try to work on these areas to our best ability to try and help optimise fertility.
Now ageing, isn’t just because of what’s happening to the cells of your body it’s also because of your exposure to environmental elements over your lifetime, foods that you’ve eaten, habits that you’ve lived with, health conditions you’ve experienced, your body weight etc and how this can impact genes being turned on or off- that’s called epigenetics. You can call that your Epigenetic clock.
What does ageing do to eggs and sperm?
Let's delve into the science: age affects the quality and quantity of eggs, making conception more challenging. And when it comes to sperm, they are also impacted by age. A male may keep manufacturing sperm but the integrity of the DNA within the sperm can be impacted with age. But don't despair—knowledge is power. By acknowledging this aspect of the journey, we're empowered to make informed decisions and take action.
Embracing Anti-ageing Strategies
Anti-ageing isn't just about maintaining youthful looks; it's about nurturing the vitality of our bodies. And that includes trying to help with health eggs and sperm for fertility.
Main areas that we need consider here for anti-ageing are:
- Reducing oxidative stress
- Reducing inflammation
- Supporting a healthy robust microbiome
- Reducing stress
- Supporting a health immune system to prevent infection
- Enhancing mitochondrial function
Integrating Anti-Ageing into Your Fertility Plan with Natural Fertility Co
Crafting a fertility plan requires a holistic approach. This means considering your diet, supplements, lifestyle, exercise, herbal medicine. We can get really targeted with this by:
- Adding the most appropriate antioxidants to your supplement plan to protect eggs and sperm
- Adding in nutrients to support mitochondrial energy for healthy eggs
- Ensuring you are having adequate protein for healthy cells
- Making sure your diet supports optimal blood sugar levels, insulin levels. This may include fasting and some reduction in caloric intake depending on where you are are in your fertility and IVF process.
- Pre and probiotics for microbiome support
But one of the biggest factors here is exercise. A recent study showed that “sedentary women were found to have telomeres that indicated they were biologically 8 years older than women of the same chronological age who exercised more”
Telomeres are like the little caps on your shoelaces. So telomeres are like the little caps on the end of your DNA strands. So it’s important that these stay long and healthy.
So if you’re dealing with an issue with egg quality or sperm DNA fragmentation then exercising a few times a week is no longer the recommendation, it’s now suggested that you get moving every single day. And that’s great to know, because it’s a simple practical strategy that you can easily start yourself.
At Natural Fertility Co, we love using herbal medicine and supplementation as a part of your egg quality, sperm quality plan. And with more and more information on the ageing and how this infleunces this we are able to incorporate the actions of herbs and specific supplements to include anti-ageing strategies as a way of supporting egg and sperm health further.
The journey you're on is a testament to your strength, resilience, and unwavering commitment. Just as age is a reflection of the life you've lived, so too can it become a cornerstone of your fertility success. By embracing the wisdom of anti-ageing practices with us, you're not just defying the passage of time—you're shaping a future where your dreams of parenthood become reality.
Please remember that you're not alone and you absolutely don’t have to figure this all out by yourself; I'm here to provide guidance, compassion, and unwavering support every step of the way.
Book in for your first appointment if you haven’t already and if you are a patient and want to explore this further, please let me know.
Are you ready to fast track your fertility progress and dive deeply into hidden fertility blocks and gain a clear path to overcome them? Then join us for your 1 month Fertility Intensive. This comprehensive program provides personalised guidance, clinical naturopathic care, and a roadmap tailored to your unique needs. By joining the Fertility Intensive, you'll have the opportunity to optimise your health, fertility, and chances of conception. Fast tracked in one month this moves you forward in optimising your fertility in only 4 weeks. Plus, the bonus part is that you’ll be supported by our Naturoapth, Jaclyn, as often as you need her.
With over 7000 babies born through our clinic we can’t wait to help you on your path to parenthood too.