The need to increase fertility is a fairly common problem and affects far more people than you would think. It’s devastating to find out that you and your partner are having trouble conceiving and often, both women and men feel immense stress and pressure of infertility without being able to open up about it.
I am a firm believer in taking care of your mental, physical, and spiritual health for fertility. I know there are some couples who are unable to conceive without medical intervention. But there are also couples who may have trouble at first but eventually end up conceiving after making positive lifestyle changes.
I was fortunate to get pregnant with 4 healthy kids and this isn’t something I take for granted. I believe that making certain lifestyle choices to increase fertility and reduce fertility issues, is something anyone can benefit from whether or not it leads to a healthy pregnancy.
In this post, I want to address some positive changes you can incorporate into your life to increase your fertility. There are many ways to increase fertility and reproductive health, and one is by doing a fertility cleanse.
In the Asian culture, a fertility cleanse (or a fertility detox) is a very common step women take in their childbearing years, and it can help anyone wishing to conceive.
Fertility Cleanse: Why And How To Do It
What is a Fertility Cleanse?
A fertility cleanse is a natural option to increase fertility. It includes using special herbs to gently get rid of inflammation, toxins, and excess hormones in your body that could be contributing to infertility. It has been proven that eating a healthy diet is one of the most powerful factors in increasing fertility naturally. Eating organic whole foods is a big part of a fertility cleanse.
Over time, our body accumulates toxins from our surroundings, including air, water, food, and products that we put onto our skin.
A cleanse is the perfect way to release these toxins and have a positive effect on your fertility journey.
A fertility-boosting cleanse is a good option for women who are planning to become pregnant. This kind of cleanse is specifically important to areas of your body, such as maintaining the circulation to the reproductive system. It is recommended to do a fertility cleanse prior to trying to conceive and not during because there are certain herbs used that are not safe during the preparations for pregnancy.
Fertility Cleanse Benefits
1. Your body will get a reset
The majority of women’s bodies carry loads of environmental toxins. A fertility cleanse will give your body a much-needed reset and promote overall optimal health. According to Dr. Sangiuliano, “After we detoxify, we get pregnant faster because of egg quality and the environment of our womb is much healthier for conception”.
2. Increased uterine health
Every menstrual cycle, a woman’s uterine lining should be released that was created for an embryo to implant. However, if your uterus is not cleansed this doesn’t always happen. Going through a fertility cleanse will help ensure a healthy uterine environment by increasing circulation and toning the uterine muscles. Drinking red raspberry leaf tea will help with this.
3. Weight loss
Weight loss may not be a goal of completing a fertility cleanse, but if you are eating whole foods and sticking to the fertility diet, it will definitely be a direct result. I like to think of it as a positive side effect. You might find that once you’ve adapted to a whole-food diet, it’ll be easier to stick to healthier eating habits during and after the pregnancy.
4. Improved sleep
Taking herbs regularly and eating superfoods has so many benefits beyond your reproductive health. Improved sleep is one of the best benefits of a fertility cleanse. Sleeping well will result in other things such as reduced stress and increased energy.
5. The possibility of conception
Of course, the greatest benefit of going through a fertility cleanse is the possibility that it will play a big part in getting pregnant. While it can be a big adjustment to alter your diet, get regular exercise, and give up certain foods and drinks you’ve enjoyed before, it will all be worthwhile once you conceive and welcome a new and healthy baby into your life.
How to do a Cleanse for Fertility
While there are several resources online, you should always talk to your fertility doctor before beginning a fertility cleanse. What works for one woman, may not work for another and these are merely suggestions to improve fertility, not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure infertility. You should always check ingredients to be sure they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Here are some tips on how to do a fertility cleanse.
1. Order a fertility cleanse kit
We are fortunate to live in a world where almost anything can be bought online. Fertility cleanse kit is no exception. Many companies also sell male fertility cleanse kits, which can help improve sperm count and viability. Most of the kits include products such as teas and capsules made with natural herbs specific to aiding in improved fertility. Here are a few that I’ve found to have great reviews:
Fertility Cleanse Kit by Fertilica
Fairhaven Health Fertility Kit
2. Track what you eat
As seen in this article, many doctors believe that what a woman eats has a greater impact on her ability to conceive than her actual weight does. Eating organic, nutrient-rich, whole foods is what you should focus on. In my opinion, it’s one of the greatest factors in improving fertility. Prep your food ahead of time to make any changes in your diet easier to maintain.
I personally enjoy simple, nutritious meals. I minimize salt and sugar intake and try to make my food taste as natural as possible. This means going light on all the sauces, dressings and seasonings and adjusting my tastebuds to enjoy food in its natural state.
3. Eliminate sugar as much as possible
There’s a lot of evidence that sugar can actually harm your proper ovarian function.
I try to avoid sugar as much as I can and am mindful of how much sugar I’m eating. I treat myself to one to two servings of sweets a day and avoid any sugary drinks like soda. Also, I avoid sugar in teas and coffee as much as possible.
4. Get rid of alcohol and tobacco use
Caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco can harm your kidneys, uterus, and liver, which are the three main parts of your endocrine system responsible for keeping your hormonal balance in check. They are also known to increase depression and anxiety (and a hormonal IMbalance), which is not something you want to deal with while trying to conceive.
5. Drink herbal tea
May herbs can help with the detoxification process. These herbs can be found in tea, making it an easy way to help your body. I list some helpful herbs for fertility later in this post, but common ones are red raspberry leaf and dandelion.
I also swear by my homemade dates, ginger, and cinnamon tea which I’ll share in a separate post.
6. Regular exercise
We all know how good regular exercise is for your body. Whether you are going on daily walks, riding your Peloton, or hitting the gym, the most important thing is that you’re moving, sweating, and getting your blood flowing. Exercising has so many benefits, one of which is releasing toxins that are dormant in our bodies.
7. Castor Oil Therapy
Castor oil is a method used for centuries to help heal your body and prepare it for conception. It is known to increase circulation, reduce inflammation, and boost the immune system. You can use a castor oil kit like this to apply it topically.
8. Take a detox bath regularly
Taking a hot bath with Epsom salts is one of my favorite ways to relieve stress, and it has many health benefits as well. Epsom salts help to reduce inflammation, aid in absorbing nutrients within the body and also support the body’s ability to remove toxins and heavy metals. Using hot water will help naturally remove toxins as well.
9. See an acupuncturist
I love using acupuncture to improve my health and believe in its efficacy. In fact, the first thing I did after giving birth was see an acupuncturist who could help me re-align and balance my hormones after birth.
An acupuncturist inserts very small, thin needles into specific points of the body to stimulate blood flow to that area. When used as a treatment for infertility, proponents of acupuncture say it can help by boosting blood flow to reproductive organs and balancing hormones.
Like many alternative treatments, there are mixed reviews about acupuncture but I personally believe that it works. I’ve been using acupuncture for healing and treatment since I was a kid!
Best Fertility-Boosting Foods and Herbs
As I’ve mentioned above, there are many whole foods known to increase fertility. Following a fertility diet will optimize the fertility cleanse process. Here are some fertility foods to add to your regular diet
- Avocado
- Leafy green vegetables
- Citrus fruits
- Bone broth (I’ll share my recipe in a separate post)
- Dates
- Eggs
- Greek Yogurt
- Asparagus
- Walnuts
- Salmon (anti-inflammatory)
- Chickpeas
- Water
- Turmeric
- Milk Thistle
- Red raspberry leaf
- Dandelion Root
- Licorice Root
- Ginger
- Flax-seed
- Black cohosh
- Red clover
- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
- Primrose oil
Would you try a reproductive cleanse to improve fertility?
Let me know if you’ve ever done a fertility cleanse. What worked for you and what didn’t?
To any moms struggling to conceive, I’m sending you all my love and would be interested to hear if a fertility cleanse helps you.
