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The good news is that, although you cannot get rid of pollution, you can take some reasonable measures to reduce your exposure to pollution and save your reproductive health.
Tips To Protect Yourself From Pollution
1. Stay Informed About Air Quality
Air pollution varies significantly from day to day, so staying informed adds value to your life by helping you decide when to venture out.- What to do: See air quality reports on mobile apps/site daily. When the Air Quality Index (AQI) is high, attempt to remain indoors / reduce activity outdoors or avoid it when the pollution is maximum (usually early in the morning and late in the night in cities).
- Why it matters: The abundance of pollutants, such as PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide, may elevate the degree of oxidative stress in the body and influence fertility in men and women.
2. Wear a Quality Face Mask Outdoors
Not every mask will save you from pollution. A simple cloth mask might not suffice given the high pollution in your area.- What to do: Use masks with N95 or N99 filtration, which can filter out fine particles. Check to ensure that it fits tightly around your nose and mouth. Change masks according to the recommendation to be effective.
- Why it matters: A fitting mask will minimise your contact with the dangerous small particles that may find their way to your bloodstream and alter your hormonal and breathing balance.
3. Limit Outdoor Exercise During High Pollution Hours
Exercise is important for fertility, but doing it outdoors during high pollution times can do more harm than good.- What to do: When air pollution is high, consider doing some indoor exercises, such as yoga, strength training, or stand-up cycling. When possible, go outside in mid-morning or early afternoon when pollution is typically low.
- Why it matters: During your workout, you breathe deeper and thus take in more pollutants when the air is not clean.
4. Improve Indoor Air Quality
Even when you are inside, you might be thinking you are safe, and yet that too does damage to your health, considering you live near a traffic spot or an industrial one.- What to do: Employ air purifiers equipped with HEPA filtration to reduce dust, smoke, and other particulate matter. On high pollution days, keep windows closed. Indoor plants such as peace lilies and spider plants can filter some toxins.
- Why it matters: Cleaner indoor air reduces overall exposure to harmful particles, giving your body a better environment to prepare for pregnancy.
5. Avoid Exposure to Secondhand Smoke and Chemicals
Even in tiny concentrations, cigarette smoke and heavy fumes of chemicals are hazardous to health and may result in impaired fertility in the long run.- What to do: Avoid smoking areas. To clean your house, avoid using chemical-loaded sprays; utilise natural cleaning agents. Keep paints, pesticides, and chemicals in your living areas.
- Why it matters: The cancer-causing chemicals may get into your bloodstream and affect your reproductive hormones, hence it becomes difficult to get pregnant.
6. Wash Fruits and Vegetables Thoroughly
Pollution doesn't just come from the air; pesticides and industrial dust can settle on food, too.- What to do: The cancer-causing chemicals may get into your bloodstream and affect your reproductive hormones, hence it becomes difficult to get pregnant.
- Why it matters: Reducing your exposure to harmful chemicals may be healthy for you, and it could affect the health of your eggs and sperm.
7. Drink Clean, Filtered Water
Water can contain toxins (which can be heavy metals or industrial water pollutants) with long-term impacts on fertility.- What to do: Use a good water filter to remove heavy metals, chlorine, and bacteria from the water. Avoid drinking from unknown or untested water sources.
- Why it matters: Bathing in clean water enhances metabolic and reproductive health by reducing the body's toxin burden.
8. Protect Your Skin from Pollutants
Pollutants don't just enter your body through your lungs; they can also be absorbed through your skin.- What to do: When returning home from outdoors, wash your face and exposed skin immediately. Use gentle cleansers to remove fine particles and apply a moisturiser to protect the skin barrier.
- Why it matters: Reducing skin exposure lowers the overall amount of toxins that can enter your body.
Healthy choices are important when you are trying to conceive. It is not only to protect yourself against pollution when you become pregnant, but also to have a healthier body, as well as a healthier environment, for you and your baby.
Whether you’re trying to conceive or navigating IVF, you’re not alone. Join our supportive communities to connect, share, and find strength with others on the same journey.
FAQs of Tips to Protect Yourself from Pollution While Trying to Conceive
- Can air pollution really affect fertility?
Yes. It has been found that exposure to excessive air pollution over a long period of time may disturb the hormone balance, the quality of eggs and sperm, and even the early pregnancy. - Should I stop exercising outdoors completely if pollution is high?
Not always. It is possible to alternate between indoor and outdoor exercising when pollution is high and indoors on days when the air is relatively clean. - Are air purifiers worth it if I’m trying to conceive?
Yes, particularly in an urban or industrial setting. A high-quality air cleaner using a HEPA filter will significantly reduce the presence of damaging indoor particles, which should aid in establishing a healthier indoor environment to conceive in.
