Antifertility Foods? (long)

[sarahsmom]

Just wondering if anyone is aware of this or believes in it. I'm reading in one of my ttc books that certain foods will actually prevent conception. Peas have a history dating back to 1949- researchers realized the Tibetian population was very stable and through analyzing their diets, focused in on peas. They discovered that a natural chemical in peas does have contraceptive effects. Capsules containing this chemical cut the pregnancy rate by 60% and sperm counts dropped by 50%! In the 90's, studies here in the US established the antifertility effects of pea oil- so much so that it is now being studied as a possible natural contraceptive.

It also mentions soy and soy products- it's a plant form of estrogen. For those ttc, this excess estrogen is enough to induce a hormone imbalance that may affect egg production and ovulation. However, I've read on ff that some women take a soy supplement cd1-5 or 3-7 instead of Clomid and that it functions the same- affecting estrogen levels. You just wouldn't want to take it or eat it the entire cycle.

It goes on to mention caffeine, MSG and a few other additives. St John's Wort, Echinacea and Ginkgo also have negative effects on either the egg or sperm.
Just wanted to share and compare notes... any others you've heard about? Do you agree or disagree?

Just wanted to add (in another chapter) it says making love between October and March can double your chances of pregnancy! Egg quality as well as positive changes in the uterus can increase in direct relation to the changes in temperature, climate and light that occur during these months. Hope they're right!
Hugs, Susan

[nikkimount]

Wow.. That's really interesting. And all this time I thought I was eating those excess peas to make sure I was healthy enough to concieve and I could actually be preventing conception.

[sarahsmom]

Nikki, This might be a good excuse to say NO Thanks! I don't like peas anyway, so no big loss! ;D Susan

[Sue]

The book that I am reading also mentions the negative effects of caffeine, St. John's Wort, enchinacea and gingko biloba. I don't take any of those things so I've now banned my DH from those products as well. He thinks I'm too paranoid but it can't hurt to cut those things out for a while. I also just got my first order of Preseed in the mail so I can't wait until ovulation time so we can put it to use and see if it works! I'm currently just on CD3 so we have some time.

[mandee]

hmmm...I don't know if I can give up my caffeine while TTC!!

Question though...if any of you drink, do you abstain from alcohol just during the 2WW, or all together? I honestly don't think a drink hurts *me* once in a while, so I may drink when I'm not in the 2WW, but during, I will not.

[laurie]

I have wine before I ovulate and then abstain until I know what's going on.

[fidget]

Very interesting stuff and I guess I do believe it. I think I read the same information a while ago but never really thought about it. I must believe it because I use non of those items in my diet. Any bit of pro-active info is good info. Thanks for sharing.

Tanya

[lish]

Ok, so I know this is probably all silliness. But I have spent hours researching unexplained infertility and miscarriage, conception, implantation, yada yada yada. And while most of what I read is probably old wives tales, I have found some foods that may aid in conception, implantation, etc. And so while your thread is about anti-fertility, I offer this up instead:
Red Raspberry Tea, tones uterus (I have 2 cups a day but not after I o, because it could cause contractions)
Yams, a natural source of progesterone (lunch Monday thought Friday)
Celery, helps prevent UTI (lunch as well)
Pineapple, bromelaine is rumored to aid implantation in IVF (so I figure why the heck not?)
So you're all thinking I'm insane, and so do I, but might as well give myself and hopefully a healthy baby the best chance possible.

[XicaChica]

I have read about this stuff and whther it's true or not, I dont know. But it's interesting! I dont like peas myself it doesnt bother me.
As for the drinking, I know I will get heat for this but I drink when I feel like it, 2ww or not. The first week, your body doesnt even recognize pregnancy because the baby has not implanted yet. I am not a heavy drinker..maybe about once a week, I'll have a beer or 2, if that. I have read that there is not evidence that occasional drinking impairs fertility. I refuse to place my life on hold, I have been TTC for 3 years now.
One thing I did stop is smoking. I was not a heavy smoke (5 cigs/day). But I read somewhere that if you smoke, it ages your reproductive system by 10 years!! I quit immediatly!

[my3girls]

I did a bunch of research when we were trying earlier this year & this is what my OB recommended -
Caffeine hurts girls but helps guys - my OB did say that I could have a 1/2 cup of coffee in the morning sometimes if I was really dragging from baby dancing all night thought
She told me not to take any extranious herbs b/c they don't know the side effects of a lot of them on fertility & none are really shown to help significantly
She has me take "Juice Plus" pills every day - you can find a generic (cheaper) form in health food stores - the 4 pills (2 vegatable/2 fruit) have your entire daily recommended serving of fruits & veggies in them - that way anything you are able to eat is just a great backup. If you ever look at the recommended servings - there is no way I can eat like that every day.

& MOST IMPORTANT - do not forget your pre-natal pills &/or folic acid!!!!!

Good luck to all of you!! I have one last appt with the RE today & hopefully he will clear me & I will get to come back to this board full time later on this week!

[marsij]

I've read about the soy thing recently, and have decided NOT to take it. I have PCOS, and I guess that means I already have an abundance of estrogen, so all I'd be doing is making matters worse. As for the pea thing, that's the first I've heard of it! Guess I need to do more researching....