Infertility

What is infertility?

Infertility is a condition which involves being unable to conceive children. Infertility can occur in men and women. Common treatments for infertility are Insemination and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Infertility can result in many psychological consequences such as depression, hopelessness, guilt, and reduced self esteem. A person going through infertility treatments may feel anxious, scared, and worried.

How is infertility related to canned food?

Canned food contains a chemical called BPA, and BPA exposure can cause infertility in men and women. In fact, one study conducted by Harvard researchers (https://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20130731/plastics-chemical-bpa-may-harm-human-fertility-study#1) concluded that BPA disrupts the human reproductive system. The researchers exposed 352 eggs to different levels of BPA. In the end, exposure of the eggs to BPA decreased the amount of eggs that matured and increased the amount of eggs that degenerated. On top of this, the eggs that matured did so abnormally, increasing the risk for birth defects and infertility. BPA’s association with an increased risk of infertility might be because BPA can disrupt normal body functions due to its ability to imitate hormones such as estrogen.

How can infertility be avoided?

First of all, don’t eat canned food or eat in plastic as both of these things can contain BPA, which is linked to infertility. Certain cancer treatments can also result in infertility, so avoid cancer by not smoking and eating products with preservatives and/or BPA. Have a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Consult a doctor to educate yourself even more about infertility, so you can further avoid it in the future.