Fertility in Your Forties: Part Two

No matter what your current age, the information in this post should be helpful for you if you are desiring to have more children. If you are in your forties, it could be critical! As we age, the quality of our ova (eggs) declines. This can contribute not only to infertility, but to the recurrence of miscarriage.

All information in this post is taken from a resource that I think should be in every woman’s library: Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition by Marilyn M. Shannon. I recommend the updated, fourth edition as it has important information on newer medical breakthroughs and discoveries. This book comprehensively covers everything from good nutrition, overcoming reproductive problems such as PMS, cycle irregularities, polycystic ovary syndrome, and menstrual pain, pregnancy and postpartum nutrition, repeated miscarriage and birth defects, premenopause, perimeonpause, and menopause, increasing energy and more. It is a wonderful handbook. I’ve only had mine for three months and have referred to it again and again.

Before an ovum can be fertilized, it must complete a cell division phase called “meiosis I”, during the two days just before ovulation. “As the ova age, their ability to do this properly declines, contributing to infertility, early miscarriage without proper development of the newly conceived child, and even Down syndrome. In addition, the reproductive hormones, FSH and LH decline in the early years of premenopause, so that their hormonal “push” of the ovum to complete meiosis I may be insufficient.” (pg. 135)

Did you know that your nutrition before you conceive is just as critical as it is after you conceive? You maybe did. But I’ll bet you didn’t know why! I think understanding the “whys” behind all the recommendations is just as important as understanding the recommendations. That’s what motivates us to follow through. One of the reasons I love this book is because she explains a lot of unknown “whys”, making it easier to make those important changes that could be the difference between a healthy child and a miscarriage.

What your body needs to make that meiosis I cell division happen properly is adequate progesterone levels as well as nutrients that are known to be important for proper cell division. “If progesterone levels during the second half of the cycle are normal, it is likely that FSH and LH in the first half of the cycle are also normal. Studies cited in Chapers 5 and 7 show that vitamin B6 and vitamin C can raise progesterone levels. Other B vitamins and the mineral magnesium support the activities of vitamin B6.” (pg. 135)

The nutrients needed for proper cell division include folic acid, B12, zinc, and the essential fatty acids, especially the omega-3 alpha linolenic acid. You should be taking in 5-10 grams (5-10 capsules) of flax oil OR fish liver oil from a pure source (1 teaspoon) per day. You need to take 400 IU of vitamin E along with that to prevent the flax or fish oil from oxidizing in your system, rendering the benefits useless. (THAT was something I never knew…I took flax supplements…but not with vitamin E!!! See what a waste we run into when we don’t have the knowledge we need?)

Her daily recommendations for age-related infertility include the following:
Vitamin B6     300 mg
Folic Acid    4,000 mcg
Vitamin B12 1,000 mcg
Vitamin C 1000-1500 mg
Vitamin E 400-800 IU
Zinc    25-50 mg
Flax oil   5-10 g
OR Fish liver oil 1 teaspoon (Cod liver oil is a healthy choice)
Probiotics such as acidophilus.

You can buy these kinds of supplements individually or in a combination supplement. Just make sure that the daily overall total is at the levels above.

You may be interested to know that the author of this book had her last child two months before she turned 48. : )

Now let’s talk a little bit about age-related miscarriage.

“In counseling women in their 40s who would like to have more children despite having had a recent miscarriage, I encourage more than just nutrition. There is a kind of internal courage, an emotional resolve, that is required. That is, if you are hoping to have more children, you need to hold the hope for another child firmly against the pain and fear of another loss.” (pg. 168)

This is just the point I was referring to in my first post. If you avoid pregnancy, you will not have to suffer another loss. But then you also forgo the wonderful privilege of having anther child.

There has been breakthrough research that has shown how the B vitamin, Folic Acid, plays a huge role in not only reducing the incidence of neural tube defects, but also of congenital heart defects, oral clefts, limb formation defects, Down syndrome, and even cancers and leukemia. Here’s what they’ve found.

“It is known that folic acid works together with two other B vitamins–vitamin B6 and B12–to reduce the production of the amino acid homocysteine. It is beyond the scope of this book to explain the biochemical details, but in low concentrations homocysteine is normal to the cells. If folic acid especially, or the other two B vitamins are deficient, homocysteine builds up and creates havoc within cells. For example, it causes problems within the linings of the blood vessels, making it a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This also explains why it is harmful to the placenta, which is a vascular organ. When it comes to pregnancy, homocysteine may be the actual culprit involved with the birth defects listed above, as well as with problems such as abruption of the placenta.

“In addition to vitamin B12 and vitamin B6, the mineral zinc works along with folic acid. Vitamin C is necessary for the absorption of folic acid. It may be that several nutrients found in multivitamins tougher make a difference in preventing birth defects.” (pg. 170)

Friends, I’ve just scratched the surface of what this book has to offer. It is rich with information that is critical for good heath whether you are wanting more children or are already in your menopause years. I’ve decided that this book will be August’s giveaway resource! If you are already subscribed to receive our posts via e-mail, then you are automatically entered to win a free copy of this book! If you would like to join the growing list of readers, just sign up on the sidebar! And if you like what you read here, be sure to share the knowledge on Twitter, Facebook, and your other social networks!

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May God bless you with good health!