Preserving Fertility – Stopping the biological clock

In recent years, the option of freezing eggs has become reality for women. This has been a breakthrough for women in a sense that we can control our time, when we want to be mothers and that we do not have to be dependent on ‘limited time’ that seems to keep on ticking.  Our ever-evolving science gets the credit: we can freeze our eggs at 30 and still choose to become mothers well into our 40’s. 

But before we jump into freezing eggs, we should take some time and evaluate our state of health.  We should approach this process as if we’re getting ready for pregnancy.  The better we can take care of our bodies, the better the outcome maybe.  This is a bonus for the “under 34” population for time is on their hands.  Even if you are in the  “over 34” category, still, preparing for optimal eggs to retrieve to freeze would result in better embryo later down the line. 

So, what can one prepare for egg preservation?  Let’s first start by evaluating the current diet, life-style and attitudes.  What you eat and how you carry yourself will ultimately affect our egg quality.  The burnt out life-style may not be the most conducive in preparing for the best quality eggs to come out.  Yes, we are born with all the eggs that we’ll release in our lifetime.  But they grow and interact with the ovarian environment for sometime before they are ready to ovulate.  Think of this as the soil where the seeds will grow – the ovarian environment is the soil and the egg is the seed.  If the soil is well nourished and well tended, the seeds will have better chance at growth to bear fruit.  If the soil is like sand, nothing will grow – even if the seed is perfect. You want to fertilize the soil before you plant the seed.  This concept is probably one of the most important concepts in Chinese medicine – the importance of preparation before taking an action.  

Here are a few thoughts a woman should consider to begin the process:

·      Make a list of how you will plan the process and how you will take action.

·      Make an appointment to see your PCP and Ob/gyn for a full physical and a fertility screening.

·      Evaluate your menstrual cycle for regularity – in Chinese medicine, women who have healthy, regular menstrual cycles are likely to be more fertile than those who do not.

·      If you are over weight or under weight, the weight within ‘appropriate range’ according to your height and age will be helpful to get you in a more ‘fertile’ state.

·      Start eliminating toxins and environmental contaminants from your daily living such as less use of plastics, microwaves, conventional foods, etc.

·      Start a regular exercise routine, eat organic, hormone free, antibiotic-free and non-GMO foods as much as possible.

·      This will also be a good time to learn about your family medical history – this may or may not affect your fertile capacity but to make sure to have the most healthy eggs as possible. 

·      Attend a special workshop on “Fertility Preservation” on Tuesday, May 20, at 6pm at the Tiffani Kim Institute!

Preparing to freeze eggs will be like preparing to get pregnant.  The healthier a woman prepares herself for the process, then the more likely, the healthier her eggs will be for her journey!

Jeanie Lee Bussell, L.Ac., Dipl OM, MSOM