Dr. Casey Means: Toxins & The Metabolic-Infertility Crisis + Blood Sugar Balancing Snack Pro-Tips

Rising Infertility

Infertility rates are rising alarmingly, with sperm counts dropping by 50% in the past 40 years and 26% of women worldwide now affected by polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a leading cause of infertility. Dr. Casey Means highlights the role of endocrine-disrupting chemicals and obesity in this crisis, noting that 40% of Americans are obese, which significantly impacts male fertility 1. She emphasizes the importance of metabolic health in addressing these issues, suggesting that individuals get lab work done to identify and improve metabolic dysfunction 2.

We are basically not able to do the thing that our bodies are. A lot of what we do in life, what our bodies are here for, is to set up a situation in which one could reproduce. And that's now, like, the body is, like, self shutting it down.

--- Dr. Casey Means

   

Metabolic Health

Metabolic health plays a crucial role in fertility, yet it is often overlooked in medical discussions. Dr. Means explains that metabolic dysfunction can lead to hormonal imbalances, affecting both men and women. For men, visceral fat can convert testosterone into estrogen, while insulin resistance in women can increase testosterone levels, both of which disrupt fertility 3. She argues that addressing metabolic health could improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce the need for expensive assisted reproductive technologies 4.

Every aspect of fertility, pregnancy success, postpartum and childhood health are related to metabolism. And it's not even remotely a part of the conversation in Ob gyn or urology.

--- Dr. Casey Means