images

FLL Logo
Invitro Logo
M&M Logo

The AFA thanks Google, a premiere sponsor, for their online advertising grant.

Google Logo


The American Fertility Association Blog

Green Birth Control?? What About Green Hamburgers?

July 29, 2009 - Wednesday
Posted by admin

By Jennifer Rogers

Created Jul 28 2009 - 7:00am

Green seems to be the color on everyone’s mind, and lately that has come to include birth control [1]. A green contraceptive is something we should work toward but it won’t prevent the growing number of gender bending fish in our waterways.

Synthetic estrogen used in oral contraceptives contributes only 1% to the total amount of estrogens excreted by humans [2].  Additionally, almost half of this synthetic estrogen is filtered out during our wastewater treatment processes. Of all the estrogen sent into our water supply through human biology, only a very minute fraction is synthetic. Clearly, there are other sources contributing to gender confusion in fish [3].

If we really care about our environment and our water supply, I’d like to suggest an alternative culprit: hamburgers. It turns out cows, chickens and pigs contribute an estimated 90% of estrogens to the environment. Yes, 90%. So if we really want to green our water supply, we need to start by greening our dinner. How? Well, first we’d stop pumping our livestock full of hormones or, at the very least, we would treat agriculture manure. Studies have shown that hormones from animal manure reach both surface and ground water and that livestock pumped full of hormones increase their excretion of these hormones up to six fold.[1]

If we are going to be concerned about synthetic human estrogen in our water, we also need to pay attention to other likely culprits, and both industrial and agricultural sources need to be considered.

I find it troubling that we have dramatized the contribution of estrogens in our environment to women on the pill. I’m not suggesting we should ignore the impact of estrogens in our environment. In fact, quite the opposite. Clearly, the types and sources of estrogens in the environment are diverse and cumulative. Natural estrogens (agriculture and natural human excretion) as well as synthetic estrogens and estrogen-mimicking compounds (other pharmaceutical uses, industrial chemicals, pesticides, plastics, etc) are present in our waterways and cannot be discounted as sources of the observed phenomena in fish, even at trace levels. What I am suggesting is that we stop the knee-jerk response that reducing estrogens is as simple as reducing women’s use of birth control pills. It is estimated that unregulated agricultural run off annually contributes 13 tons of hormones to our water sources. Clearly, we need to broaden the conversation.

What else can we do? First, we need to reform our chemical policy in the United States so that harmful estrogen-mimicking compounds found in our everyday products stay off the shelves. The burden cannot and should not be on individuals and communities to protect the health of their families. Instead, we need reform that requires pre-market safety testing of all our consumer goods and personal care products. Second, as the 50th anniversary of the pill is on the horizon, I’d like to ask my friends and allies to take some time to appreciate and even celebrate contraception. Modern contraception enables women to choose the number and timing of their children, which is central to our health and economic well-being. And, where all women have access to affordable contraception, birthrates decline and population growth slows. Slower population growth is not a panacea for today’s environmental problems, but it can ease pressure on natural systems that are reeling from stress. So, contraception is good for women—and for the planet.

In the meantime, we might think about forgoing that next hormone-riddled bacon cheeseburger. 

References: Callantine MR, et al. “Fecal elimination of estrogens by cattle treated with diethylstilbestrol and hexestrol.” Am J Vet Res. (1961) 22:462-465.


Jennifer Rogers is the Programs and Policy Director for the Reproductive Health Technologies Project (http://www.rhtp.org) where she is responsible for developing and leading key reproductive health projects and advocacy initiatives for the organization. Prior to joining RHTP, Jenn was the Director of Programs at the American College of Preventive Medicine, where she developed and oversaw ACPM’s adolescent and environmental health initiatives. She received her Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health from Boston University where she also served as a reproductive health advocate for the Massachusetts Emergency Contraception Network.

Categories
Fertility and the Environment • Reproductive Health

(0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink



Environmental Toxins, Autism, and Love

July 21, 2009 - Tuesday
Posted by admin

I have such a lighthearted step right now, I can’t begin to tell you.  My heart is singing.  I just sent my son Connor alone to the grocery store with a shopping list for the very first time!  He went. He spent money. (Bread crumbs, long grain and wild rice, orange juice and green tea).  He kept the receipt, and got the right change.

Connor is 14 years old.  He is also autistic.  In truth what he has is called Asberger’s Syndrome which I used to call the “Cadillac of autism spectrum disorders” because these kids have such high IQ’s.  What a silly thing to say, really, but understandable when your head is reeling from the diagnosis you feared most and the kid being discussed in a room full of experts is your own.

I’m proud of my son.

Some of you know he was the victim of a violent attack earlier this year because of his autism.  The details don’t matter anymore, except to say that he circumvented the house of the young men who attacked him in order to go to Golden Farm to buy groceries today.  That took courage.  These men never heard him play Beethoven’s 7th on the piano I guess, or read aloud from Lord of the Rings.  They just saw a young man, gawky and tall, that they perceived to be a weaker link.  Perhaps perception is not always what it seems.

Now that The AFA has become so focused on the avoidance of environmental toxins (poisons, really) to safeguard reproductive health.  I think a lot about Connor’s autism in a different way than I did when he was younger..  Please read this article on environmental toxins and autism in the SF Gate: to learn more about toxins in our environment.

As a patient advocate and educator, I feel a drive to move this information forward.  As a mom, all I can think is, did I poison my son.

People.  Something’s going on here.

You don’t have to be a scientist to notice that the kids filling up the classrooms of the special ed schools today are disproportionately born through reproductive technology, and a huge number of them are from twin sets.  Is there a link? 

Something is going on here.  We all must be a part of the machine that drives this inquiry forward. 

Because it’s the children that matter.  Our children.

Corey Whelan
Program Director
The American Fertility Association

Categories
Fertility • Fertility and the Environment • Fertility Preservation • Infertility • Reproductive Health

(2) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink



What do male frogs with eggs, genital defects and your everyday products have in common?

July 20, 2009 - Monday
Posted by admin

By:  Heather Sarantis

Yesterday as I trolled the New York Times, I was excited to see that Nicholas Kristof was at it again. I am a fan of his under normal circumstances, but his recent columns focusing on hormone (or endocrine) disruptors just really hit the nail on the head.

Hormone disruptors are substances not naturally found in the body that interfere with the production, release, transport, metabolism, binding, action or elimination of the body’s natural hormones. They can scramble messages that natural hormones normally transfer between cells.

They are used in numerous everyday products, including plastic bottles, cosmetics, the lining of food containers, medical devices, pesticides and many others. And the vast majority of people are being exposed to them–some tests showing more than 90% of the people tested by the Centers for Disease Control having certain hormone disruptors in their bodies.

Kristof’s columns highlight several important trends. First, we are seeing evidence of hormone disruptors in wildlife, such as male fish developing eggs, which means their use is widespread enough that they are dispersing into the environment. Second, we are seeing evidence in humans – for example, baby boys developing genital malformations or young girls entering puberty prematurely, which means we are putting ourselves and our children at risk for reproductive and other health problems.

Researchers have known for years that hormone disruptors may cause health problems. For example, Bisphenol A, a hormone disruptor found in some plastic bottles (including some baby bottles), was known to have potential health problems as early as the 1930’s.  But scientific consensus about chemical safety–and subsequent regulation–is often a tough row to hoe. Last month marked a big success in the struggle – the Endocrine Society released a ground breaking report stating that exposures to endocrine disrupting chemicals are a growing threat to human health and well-being. Recognition from professional societies such as this is critical in tipping the scales toward better safety regulation of chemicals, and many of us who work on chemical safety applaud the Endocrine Society for taking a bold stand on this issue.

So, what do hormone disruptors mean in everyday terms? If you are reading this blog, you are likely either thinking about having children or are several months or even years into trying have children. This is a good time to be learning about these chemicals.  What a woman is exposed to throughout her life, especially during pregnancy, can have long-term impacts on her baby’s health. There are too many hormone disruptors, and too many health risks from exposure to list them all here, but they can increase risk for a wide range of reproductive health problems, such as impaired fertility or infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, miscarriage, shortened lactation and breast cancer.  For a more complete understanding of these issues, see Girl, Disrupted: Hormone Disruptors and Women’s Reproductive Health.
No formula currently exists that can determine the exact effects hormone disruptors will have on a person’s health. Research indicates that the effects depend on the potency and dose of the chemical, the timing of the exposure (especially if exposure happens during pregnancy), and overall health. Taking good care of your general health is important, and other ways to protect your and your potential future babies’ health include:

1. Support policies to prevent exposure to hormone disruptors and other chemicals that have not been proven safe. Current standards for chemical use do not adequately protect us. New national policies are needed to identify and phase out harmful chemicals and to require that safer substitutes be used.
2. Use healthier products when possible. There are many easy, affordable and simple changes anyone can make at home to reduce their exposure to environmental contaminants. For ideas on how to make these changes, please see www.womenshealthandenvironment.org.

Heather Sarantis is the Women’s Health Program Manager at Commonweal/Collaborative on Health and the Environment. She is the author of the women’s health and environment toolkit, works on the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and does many other things to help people reduce the exposure to harmful chemicals.

Categories
Endometriosis • Family Building • Fertility • Fertility and the Environment • Infertility • Miscarriage • PCOS • Pregnancy Loss • Reproductive Health

(0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink



How to Defend Against Swine Flu and Boost Your Immune System

May 4, 2009 - Monday
Posted by Lisa

by Karen Spencer Dees,  Ph.D.

1. SLEEP DEPRIVED NATION - The body rejuvenates and strengthens itself when it is at rest. For the most part, we require approximately 8 to 10 hours per night. Sleep has been linked to balanced hormone levels (including human growth hormone and the stress hormone, cortisol). The right amount of sleep can help to keep weight down, clear thinking and reasoning, improved mood, and vibrant, healthy skin.

Specifically with regard to our immune system, a study published in the journal Seminars in Clinical Neuropsychiatry indicates that “significant detrimental effects of immune functioning can be seen after a few days of total sleep deprivation or even several days of just partial sleep deprivation.” Get your zzz’s!

2. WATER, WATER, WATER - Staying hydrated can alleviate headaches, alleviate depression, hydrate skin - keep you youthful and happy! AND ... Water flushes the body of toxins! You should be drinking daily, your body weight in pounds, divided by two = number of ounces of water per day. Add Electrosport for replacement of electrolytes after exercise with Fortune Delight.

3. ELIMINATE REFINED WHITE SUGAR. If you really want to boost your immune system, experts suggest that you eliminate sugar. Your energy levels will improve, your weight distribution will change, you will think more clearly, have less cravings, and your immune system will be strengthen ... dramatically!

4. FILL UP YOUR PLATE (and YOU) with Fruits and Veggies! The nutritional value that you receive from raw fruits and vegetables is unparalleled. Their vitamins (with an emphasis on Vitamins A and C), phyto-chemicals that give fruits and veggies their color and antioxidants protect cells against environmental toxins and give your immune function a real big boost!

5. TEA TIME. Green tea is a rich source of a type of antioxidant called a catechin. Preliminary research has found that a specific catechin called epigallocatechin gallate (egcg), may give the beverage antigen-fighting abilities. In other words, it may well boost your immune system. Calli Tea and Fortune Delight are excellent choices!

6. INGEST FRIENDLY BACTERIA. Foods that contain probiotics, bacteria that stimulate immunity cells in the gastrointestinal tract, are found in yogurt or kefir drink. One drink per day may well keep infections away! Make sure that you look for yogurt (or kefir) that contains ‘live active cultures.’ I recommend Vitadophilus

7. STRESS-LESS. Our bodies respond to our emotions, to stress and upset, to feeling anxious or harassed and can manifest a cold, sore throat or more. Do create a space within yourself, within your physical environment (home or office) in which you can relax, calm down, take in a deep breath and let it go. Add Ese for anxiety, Top for mental stress and Joi for physical stress.

8. SHAKE IT! Exercise makes our body stronger, it increases the circulation of blood and nutrients, and it helps flush the body of toxins.

BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM!!! Daily Alpha 20C for the entire family

Imagine that your immune system is your own personal army. Your troops guard against attacks from ‘alien’ forces, and they defend against invaders. If we ignore, abandon or mistreat this system, it weakens.

However, when we take care of our personal army, when we keep the troops happy, energized, and performing at their peak, we can boost our immune system and our chances of staying healthy are increased dramatically.

Karen Spencer Dees, Ph.D.
Board Certified Holistic Nutrition
http://www.karenspencerdees.com

 

Categories
Fertility and the Environment • Fertility Preservation • Reproductive Health

(0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink



Life Is Change

March 4, 2008 - Tuesday
Posted by Ken

Change. It’s a word that both inspires and terrifies. On one hand there’s the opportunity for growth and adventure, on the other, we’re called out of the familiar and the comfortable.

And yet all of life is change. In the few seconds that it took you to read the sentences above, we have all changed. We’re older, cells have died and been recreated, new thoughts have emerged, and old ones have been rekindled. The only constant in life, the saying goes, is change.

Organizations experience change as well, and I’m writing to share with you the changes that have taken place at The AFA. As some of you may know, Pamela Madsen, The AFA’s founder, recently resigned her position as Executive Director. As she stated in her farewell blog, “I have given everything that I had to give.”

Her contributions to The AFA were considerable, and her commitment to those facing reproductive challenges unsurpassed. So I acknowledge all that Pam did to bring The AFA from infancy to this point in its growth. Simply stated, we could not have gotten here without her.

Though Pam is no longer with the organization, the rest of the staff remains, fully committed to taking the good work that has been done and building upon it.

I was hired, two years ago, to consult with The AFA to help position the organization for growth and development in a rapidly changing field. Now, the board has asked that I continue to work with them as the Acting Executive Director while a dedicated board committee conducts a national search. The committee members have invited me to formally apply for the position, which I intend to do.

I am certain that the board will hire the most qualified person to fill the position of Executive Director, and regardless of the outcome, I will work with The AFA - in whatever capacity the boards requests of me - to help guide this organization through an incredibly exciting time in its history.

It is a great privilege to continue to work with such tremendously dedicated staff members and board of directors who are focused on working together to deliver the very best education and support services possible, and to effectively advocate for your interests at every opportunity.

During the past few months, this unique team of staff, volunteers and board members has continued and expanded the work of The AFA, producing three separate e-Newsletters, answering support line phone calls, conducting phone-coaching sessions, producing the first Family Matters San Francisco Conference, and building alliances with other non-profits across the country.

There’s much more to report, including an updated website, an expanding mission to help lift the conversation about fertility into the larger conversation about reproductive health care, an emphasis on preventing STDs in order to protect fertility, the relationship between fertility and the environment and our work with the lesbian and gay communities in their efforts to create families. And of course, our core work with people who are experiencing reproductive challenges.

Thank you for your support. You have my word that you can count on us to continue to earn your trust and respect every day, to produce the best quality work possible, and to do it all with integrity.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at: Ken.Mosesian@TheAFA.org

Working together, we can make a difference—for good.

Categories
Fertility • Fertility and the Environment • IVF • LGBT • Reproductive Health

(2) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink



Page 1 of 1 pages