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fertility in summer

7 Ways How Hot Weather Could Be Affecting Your Fertility

When the sun shines and the weather warms many of us simply enjoy the long summer days. However, for those trying to conceive, hot weather and fertility have some surprising connections. For couples trying to conceive, it’s an important factor that could be damaging their chances of a successful pregnancy.

Whether it’s sperm levels, menstrual fluctuations, or low birth weights, the relationship between hot weather and fertility is complicated. But you should understand the effects, especially if you’re already struggling to get pregnant.

Let’s take a closer look at fertility in summer and what you can do to boost your success.

7 Ways Hot Weather Can Affect Fertility

Hot weather affects the fertility of both men and women – and not in all the ways you’d expect. In Chinese Medicine, summer and excessive hot weather can affect fertility by creating an Yin Yang imbalance as well as affecting the vital energies (Qi) and bodily fluids essential for reproductive health. Here are 7 ways how hot weather can affect fertility:

1

Yin Deficiency

Yin and Yang are core concepts in TCM. Yin is associated with cooling, nourishing, and moistening functions, while Yang is dry and warm. Excessive heat in the summer months can deplete Yin, leading to a deficiency that manifests as a lack of essential fluids.

In terms of fertility, Yin Deficiencies create a dry internal environment that is not ideal for reproduction health, causing irregular menstrual cycles and poor egg quality.

Recommend Supplement: Yin Maintenance

2

Reduced Sperm Quality

The most obvious connection lies in men’s sperm quality. Increased temperatures, whether from external heat or internal body heat, can negatively impact sperm quality. The testes are designed to be cooler than the rest of the body, and exposure to high temperatures can reduce sperm count and motility.

As one meta-analysis explained, high ambient temperature negatively impacts sperm quality, including “decreased semen volume, sperm count, sperm concentration, motility, and normal morphology.”

3

Menstrual Cycle Irregularities

Ever noticed changes in your menstrual cycle during summer? You’re not imagining things. Menstruation is influenced both by hot weather and sunshine. High temperatures can lead to dehydration and stress, which can disrupt the menstrual cycle and ovulation. This can make it more challenging to predict fertile windows and achieve pregnancy.

During the summer, one study noted increased FSH secretion, larger ovarian follicle size, and higher frequency of ovulation. Another study noted, IVF is most successful when eggs are harvested in summer: summer live birth rate of 3% vs. autumn live birth rate of 26 per cent.

That being said, severe “hot days” may have the reverse effect. When the average daily temperature is above 27 °C, the birth rate drops eight to ten months later, spiking at nine months. Each hot day reduces birth rates by 0.4%, or around 1,100 births. One potential mechanism is these fluctuations in the menstrual cycle, driving it earlier than expected.

Related: 6 Hormonal Changes in Summer : How Does Heat Affect Hormones?

4

Heat and Dampness Accumulation

Extended length of exposure to hot weather can cause accumulation of internal excess heat. For fertility, the accumulation of Heat and Dampness can be particularly detrimental. When combined with high humidity in the summer months, this external heat can also develop Dampness within the body.  In women, it can lead to conditions such as damp-heat resulting in symptoms like abnormal vaginal discharge, urinary tract infections, and irregular menstrual cycles, in turn affecting fertility in summer.
5

Preterm and Low Birth

It’s not just the underlying fertility factors that are affected. Your fertility in summer is also related to the survivability of the uterus. For example, a 2020 systematic review found that maternal exposure to heat was associated with preterm birth in almost all assessed studies.

Furthermore, in one study, unusually warm temperatures (defined as warmer than 90% of similar days in past years) during weeks 1-7 or 15-21 saw the biggest increase in preterm birth risk.

6

Emotional Stress

Heat usually flares up emotional stress, triggering the release of cortisol – a hormone that can interfere with reproductive hormones. Chronic stress occurs due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures, leading to hormonal imbalances, menstrual cycle disruption, and reduced sperm quality, which TCM recognises as factors that can disrupt the balance of Qi and Blood.

Long-term emotional stress also impacts pregnancy, placing increased pressure on the developing foetus and depriving it of resources.

7

Increased Risk of Dehydration

Hot weather increases the risk of dehydration. Not only is dehydration a factor behind Blood Stagnation, but it also leads to thicker cervical mucus in women, making it more difficult for sperm to travel and reach the egg.

In men, dehydration decreases seminal fluid volume, reducing the chances of successful fertilisation and impairing overall sperm quality.

Related: How To Increase The Fertility of Cervical Mucus

fertility in summer

Tips When Trying to Conceive During Summer

  • Protect Yin Energy: Replenish your Yin stores and prevent your body from overheating during the summer months. Avoid excessive sun exposure and stay in cool, shaded areas. Excellent activities for protecting your Yin energy include swimming, drinking cool, refreshing beverages, and taking a gentle evening walk.
  • Add Yin Supplements To Your Routine: Yin Maintenance by GinSen are multipurpose herbal food supplements. A popular Yin tonic that can be added to your daily routine to help with issues arising from Yin deficiencies such as hormonal imbalance, fertility concerns and sleeping difficulty. Yin Maintenance provides moisture and cooling effects on the body, along with eliminating toxic body heat.  Buy here.
  • Consume Cooling Foods: Foods have energetic properties, according to TCM. Yin foods – think watermelon, cucumber, and leafy greens – nourish and cool the body, whereas spicy or fried foods only ramp up your Yang energy. Opt for the former and reduce the latter.
  • Acupuncture: Acupuncture is known to increase blood flow to reproductive organs, balance hormones, and lower overall stress levels – all factors in fertility. Whether you’re just trying to conceive or pursuing IVF, a course of acupuncture is advisable to increase your fertility success rate. We always recommend visit Acupuncturist who are certified and have number of years under their belt.

At GinSen, all our Acupuncturist are are certified and members of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), and The Royal Society of Medicine (RCM) and have over 30 year of experience in field of fertility.

Book Your First Acupuncture Session

  • Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water, herbal teas, and enjoy hydrating fruits like berries and pears. Keeping hydrated ensures your body is in optimal condition, preventing you from becoming dehydrated.
  • Manage Stress: Stress is disastrous for fertility. Practice stress-reducing activities like meditation, tai chi, or yoga. Work on your mind-body connection to stay calm and relaxed even as the temperature rises.
  • Exercise: Gentle exercises are crucial to your overall health. However, avoid overly strenuous exercises during the hot weather. Opt for walking, swimming, tai chi, or similar exercises to boost your fitness without draining your body.
fertility in summer
fertility in summer

For more information about how Chinese Medicine can help you with fertility in summer, book your free consultation with our Chinese Medicine experts today

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We can’t guarantee the treatment result, as the symptoms of conditions are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person. The treatment length and recovery time also varies for individual. Please visit our clinics website: GinSen where a specialists will discuss your care and provide a consultation, and the treatment will be designed to meet your individual needs.

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