283-SYNCPodcast_Semen

[00:00:00] Jenny Swisher: Welcome friends to this episode of the Sync Your Life podcast. Today we’re diving into yet another impact on our hormone health, and that is what’s happening with plastics in our environment. And is it really showing up in men’s semen? Yes, you heard that right. Plastic is showing up in high amounts in male semen, affecting infertility rates and male health.

[00:01:18] Jenny Swisher: And while this podcast is dedicated to women’s hormone health, I also know that I have several women following this who are looking to conceive in the future. And well, it takes two to tango. Last week, I dove into the topic of why young girls are getting their periods so early, as early as age 9 to 11.

[00:01:34] Jenny Swisher: And I shared with you recent research from JAMA on the fact that girls are getting their periods young because they’re applying upwards of 200 chemicals per day to their bodies, thanks to skincare and cosmetic trends. Endocrine disruption plays a huge role in our overall health, from the air that we breathe to the things that we put in, on, and around us on a daily basis.

[00:01:53] Jenny Swisher: And of course, it’s not just women who are affected. Men are too, and while we’re also seeing testosterone issues become more widespread in men, we’ll save that topic for another day and we’ll deep dive today into the recent research on plastics found in male semen. This information will shock you.

[00:02:09] Jenny Swisher: According to Science Direct, a research study collected semen samples from 40 men. The study states, We found that microplastics were detected in all semen samples, with two particles per sample. This study reveals microplastic contamination in semen from individuals without occupational exposure, with PS, PE, and PVC being the most prevalent.

[00:02:30] Jenny Swisher: And exhibiting differential correlations with sperm progressive motility and highlight the need for further research into the potential reproductive impacts of microplastic exposure. This means that men who do not work in industrial careers around these materials were the ones being tested and they still had outrageous levels of plastics in their semen samples.

[00:02:50] Jenny Swisher: You may recognize that I said PVC as one of the most prevalent plastics found. And yes, you’re correct if you’re wondering if that’s the same as PVC piping that’s used in water lines. Friends, the water that we drink out of the tap is contaminated with endocrine disruptors, chemicals, and toxins. And if you’re not filtering the water that you’re drinking, you’re doing a huge disservice to your family’s health.

[00:03:11] Jenny Swisher: We need proper filtration and proper electrolytes and minerals added back in. And both are things that they just don’t teach us. We assume that the water we drink is clean and healthy, when in fact, it’s full of these microplastics. It’s full of fluorides that can harm our thyroid, and so much more.

[00:03:27] Jenny Swisher: According to this same research study, through pathways including contamination of seafood, water supplies, and even the air, humans are likely to ingest microplastics on a regular basis. To date, the extent and implications of human microplastic ingestion are not fully understood, but are of growing concern for public health.

[00:03:45] Jenny Swisher: We’re finding microplastics in semen and even in breast milk, and it begs the question, what is this doing to our bodies? Globally, there are about 15 percent of couples experiencing infertility, among which male factor infertility accounts for 50 percent of the cases, and male infertility has increased along with a deterioration of semen quality in recent decades.

[00:04:06] Jenny Swisher: However, the cause of this remains unidentified in about 40 percent of men. Friends, every man tested in this study, so that means all 40 men, had levels of up to eight different plastic polymers.

[00:04:18] Jenny Swisher: Just like in last week’s research shared on young girls, every girl tested had levels of chemicals in her blood. Another study published in 2020 showed that men with higher levels of BPA in their systems had lower testosterone levels and sperm quality was also significantly reduced. Lower sperm count, reduced motility, and structural abnormalities were found in their semen.

[00:04:38] Jenny Swisher: It. So what exactly do we do about this? Well, controlling ourselves and our lifestyles is where it begins. I said this last week, and I’ll say it again. It starts in the home. Reducing our exposure to endocrine disruption via the products that we put in, on and around our bodies, both men and women, helps us reduce our toxic load.

[00:04:58] Jenny Swisher: This means making simple swaps in our skincare for men too, our home cleaning products, and also supporting the body in its natural detoxification processes. with things like glutathione. I will link up for you in the show notes my favorite skincare, home care, and even my detox supporting products. From there though, we need to look at where these sources are coming from.

[00:05:17] Jenny Swisher: Investing in a good quality air purifier in your home, a water filtration system like a Berkey, and maybe even going so far as to even investing in a shower filtration system so that you’re not bathing in the stuff can also be beneficial. Of course, there are other lifestyle factors to fertility and hormone health that matter too. I call these the five fundamentals of hormone balance, and they’re crucial for both men and women. Proper nutrition, bio individual supplementation, sleep, managing our traumas, and exercise all play a role in keeping our bodies healthy and optimized.

[00:05:48] Jenny Swisher: But as I’ve said a million times before, if you’re doing these things and you’re still bathing in the fragrances and cosmetics, you’re fighting an uphill battle. Around one year ago, I launched a Functional Fertility course that I co created alongside Alyssa Broadwater, who’s a registered dietitian in Functional Fertility, and the program is phenomenal for anyone looking to conceive.

[00:06:07] Jenny Swisher: We cover all of this in detail, and we cover both men and women, proper testing for each, lifestyle changes that can be made, and so much more. If you’re listening to this because conceiving is in your future, check it out at sync. jennyswisher. com slash fertility. It is well worth it to learn more about these things and to control the controllable.

[00:06:26] Jenny Swisher: My friends, this is shocking research that we’re getting lately. Girls starting their periods before the age of 10, men with high levels of plastics in their semen, and even now in the fall here in the Midwest, plastic particles make up one of the top environmental allergens in the air. Endocrine disruption is wreaking havoc on our hormone health.

[00:06:42] Jenny Swisher: And until we make the changes that we can in our homes and with our own bodies, we will continue to see disease and cancer rates skyrocket. Make the simple swaps. Do it gradually, but make it a priority. As always, I hope this helps you. I hope that this information is enough to make you rethink the things that you’re putting in, on, and around your bodies.

[00:07:01] Jenny Swisher: Have your significant other listen to this as well. Men are affected too, and while they may not apply as many chemicals to their bodies every day, they are still affected. So thank you as always for tuning in, my friends. I’ll link up all the research and my favorite products in the show notes as usual.

[00:07:13] Jenny Swisher: Until next time, we’ll talk soon.