Soy is estrogenic in nature and the results suggest that exposure to estrogenic chemicals in the womb or during childhood has the potential to affect a woman’s fertility as an adult and possibly providing insight into some cases of unexplained female infertility.

We are already aware that neonatal exposure to plant estrogens or other environmental estrogens may have long- term effects on adult female reproductive health as one of the features of oestrogen dominance.  Wendy N. Jefferson, at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), has previously demonstrated that neonatal exposure to plant estrogens results in complete infertility in female adult mice.

Causes of infertility included failure to ovulate, a reduced ability to support embryo development before implantation, and failure of the uterus to support effective implantation.   The new research indicates that changes can be seen that led to harmfully altered immune responses which would likely contribute to infertility.

What Can You Do?

If you are a soy milk fan, and for health reasons cannot switch, there are other milks available such as goat or sheep and rice and almond milks can be found in health stores.

However, the most important thing when dealing with fertility is to ensure hormone balance, and in particular that good levels of progesterone are present.   To ensure a viable pregnancy has the best possible start, then supplementation with bioidentical natural progesterone cream is recommended before conception.

It is suggested you continue to use it up until the end of the first trimester – unless you have a history of miscarriage in which case it is recommended you continue up to week 36 when your own body’s progesterone levels will be well established.

If you wish to read more about pregnancy please see the following articles:

http://www.bio-hormone-health.com/2010/03/15/dr-bonds-common-questions-3-preventing-miscarriages/

http://www.bio-hormone-health.com/2011/05/16/natural-progesterone-helps-reduce-premature-births-by-half/

Apart from the actual development of the egg and ovulation itself for all these stages to succeed they require the presence of progesterone. Any failure in the production of progesterone at any point can result in a miscarriage.

What Can Go Wrong

Sadly it is not uncommon to find that women who have reached their mid thirties are producing insufficient progesterone in the second half of their cycle. This failure in progesterone levels can be enough to prevent the survival of the egg or embryo – a condition known as luteal phase progesterone deficiency. The result is the endometrium will be shed and a bleed occurs which can mean that either a pregnancy will never have started or that, if it did, a miscarriage has occurred.   Often these miscarriages are so early that they are not recognized as such and are considered to be a late period.

Some miscarriages that occur a little later, at 10-12 weeks, are due to the early death of the embryo and may also be due to a lack of progesterone, but there may also be other reasons.

Anovulatory cycles, where ovulation is not present though a normal period appears, are another common problem in trying to conceive.  If this is the case then hormone treatment is suggested, but supplementing with bioidentical natural progesterone may stimulate the feedback mechanism between the ovary and the pituitary and re-establish the normal hormone cycle and ovulation.

What Can Help

The first step is to ensure that a woman is ovulating every month and that her progesterone levels are strong enough to go through the initial conception process and establish a viable foetus.

Normally a woman’s own body will take over the production of the large amounts of progesterone needed – between 300-400mgs per day.  However if there is any history of difficulty in conceiving or miscarriage then it can be very helpful to supplement before and during the pregnancy with bioidentical natural progesterone cream to ensure that good base levels are available to the body.

When pregnant, doctors may suggest additional progesterone for the first trimester in these circumstances, but for those with a history of miscarriage doctors experienced in natural hormone usage suggest that it continue to be used up until week 36 when the own body’s progesterone levels will be well established.

Useful Reading

If you would like more information on progesterone’s role in conception and pregnancy you might find it helpful to read the following articles:

http://www.bio-hormone-health.com/2010/03/15/dr-bonds-common-questions-3-preventing-miscarriages/

http://www.bio-hormone-health.com/2011/05/16/natural-progesterone-helps-reduce-premature-births-by-half/

http://www.bio-hormone-health.com/2010/11/12/saturated-fats-can-harm-sperm-quality-by-almost-50-percent/

They used all previous data in their study, plus their own latest findings on the Anti-Millerian Hormone (AMH) – a hormone produced by growing, egg-producing ovarian follicles.

This is a major study involving data from 3,200 women that set out to map how levels of AMH vary at different points in the lives of healthy women. From this they were able to deduce how a woman’s AMH level compares with the average for her age, which can reveal how many eggs she has remaining. The study found that AMH levels peaked at the age of 24 but had almost halved by the time women were in their mid-30s and were almost nonexistent by their late 40s.

In practice this will allow women in future to compare their own hormone levels with the average for their age to see whether they should be concerned about their future fertility. The tests will indicate whether they are likely to have an early or later menopause, meaning they know whether they have to try for a baby sooner rather than later.

Professor Scott Nelson, from the University of Glasgow, said a major use of the new findings could be in helping young cancer patients wondering how their treatment may have affected their chances of having a baby.

As one in five babies are now born to women aged over 35, it will also help women who postpone their family because of their careers not to leave it too late. These findings could indicate whether they are likely to have an earlier menopause and hence should not delay trying to conceive, or whether their fertile life will end later.

The gene responsible is the scavenger receptor class B type 1 gene (SCARB1) and this new research follows up studies in female mice that first linked a deficiency in these receptors for HDL – the so-called “good” or “healthy” cholesterol – and infertility. Now researchers report finding the same link in studies of women with a history of infertility when they analyzed ovarian cells and fluid collected from 274 women unable to become pregnant for various reasons and undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Endocrinologist Annabelle Rodriguez, M.D., an associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins said “Right now, the benefit of this research is in knowing that there might be a genetic reason for why some women have difficulty getting pregnant. In the future, we hope this knowledge can be translated into a cure for this type of infertility.”  She believes the genetic variation could be present in 8 to 13 percent of the population and that means potentially being able to help a substantial number of women.

The researchers have also developed a simple blood test for this variation of the gene, but this knowledge has not so far led to any approved therapy. It would seem logical though to ensure that a woman’s progesterone levels are healthy and balanced before looking to start a family.

It is particularly important to be vigilant about the symptoms of PCOD if you are intending to start a family as it is the most common cause of female infertility.

You may have one or more of these symptoms:

1.         Irregular or absent menstrual periods

2.         Male sex characteristics such as excess hair on the face and body, deepened voice, and male-pattern baldness

3.         Acne

4.         Weight gain or obesity

5.         Difficulty conceiving or infertility

6.         Diabetes or insulin resistance

7.         Decreased breast size

The Risks

Women with PCOD are at higher risk for hypertension, high cholesterol, fatty liver disease, sleep apnoea and endometrial cancer as well as seriously affected fertility. These are serious conditions so you should be checked by a doctor if you notice any of the listed symptoms.

The key to dealing with PCOD is achieving, and maintaining, a good hormone balance and avoiding anything that could lead to estrogen dominance. This includes avoiding xenoestrogens from the environment and from beef and dairy which may contain residues of estrogenic hormones used as growth promoters. Maintaining good progesterone levels and keeping a healthy weight will also help as will having regular exercise. Many women have found that following an anti-inflammatory diet has been helpful. Also include whole soy foods in your diet as these contain isoflavones which may help regulate hormone imbalances.