Rebecca Fett

Eggs begin meiosis three to four months before they are recruited for ovulation, and during that time they are particularly vulnerable to environmental and other toxins. This book argues that you can improve your fertility by reducing the environmental damage caused in those last 3-4 months, by eliminating exposure to heated plastics/BPA/phthalates/etc., and by taking supplements.

I'm torn. The audience for fertility books is mostly pretty desperate, so I like that its interventions are much cheaper than medicalized fertility treatment. I don't like that the studies it cites seem suspiciously tied to a particular clinic, or that that clinic and the author seem to have ties to some of the (expensive!) brand-name supplements it suggests. The book was published in 2014 so the science has presumably advanced as well.

That said... this content does seem to make a difference. I know men whose sperm quality went up and couples who had exceptionally low rate of abnormal IVF embryos after implementing the suggestions. This book also linked the multiple food allergies of a child in my life to the phthalates of extensively used scented baby lotions, an association that is blatant now that I know about the study showing the link. I suppose I think literally everyone should follow the recommendations for what to avoid, and folks seeking increased fertility may want a second opinion on supplements.… (mer)