Should women who are ttc be worried about Coronavirus?
Possibly. Coronavirus is going to stick around for a bit. Infectious disease specialists are expecting at least a year before the last cases of coronavirus are presenting to clinics. And, although there is no reason for panic or concern if you are currently pregnant, I would consider putting conception on pause for a few months because conceiving during these times of pandemic could be stressful, and should you contract the virus, it could be more challenging for the immune system to fight it off.
With that said, there is a lot you can do while on “pause.” Taking a potential break from active fertility treatments does not mean you can’t do anything. This would be a great opportunity to optimize your body, rebalance your hormones, and work on some of the underlying causes that are potentially causing your infertility.
For women who are not actively ttc, should they run to the doctor to freeze their eggs?
Not necessarily. There is no data at this time that suggests anything to the effect of coronavirus hampering your chances of future fertility. This virus has an affinity for the lungs, heart, and kidneys. And, of course, all of those are essential organs for the body’s function, there is no evidence that it directly causes reproductive harm.
What can women who are actively trying to conceive do to protect themselves against the possibility of contracting this virus?
Besides using the basic precautions of hand-washing, using hand sanitizer, and practicing isolation, women who are actively trying to conceive can take extra precautions to protect their immune system. Strengthening the immune system is one of the best things to protect against this virus.
Although this virus is strong, please know that we have the ability to fight it. No, we do not have all the research on THIS strain of coronavirus. But, there is a lot of good research on things to boost the immune system, as well as anti-virals that have been proven effective against previous severe viruses (such as SARS and MERS).
Some basic things to do, safe for pregnant women and those trying to conceive:
– Make sure that your levels of Vitamin D are optimal (between 40-60 nmol/L is optimal)
– Zinc is really important for the immune system, and has also shown to reduce viral replication for other upper respiratory viruses. Although there is no research for this strain of coronavirus, there is plenty of data suggesting that zinc can help in reducing the replication of viruses in the body, hence stopping the progression of viral illness.
– Vitamin C has shown to be crucial for the immune system and has been used to support the immune system for decades against a variety of different infections. This one is always a safe bet!
Other precautions could include taking a good probiotic, as this will support the health of the gut, which in turn is supporting the immune system. 70% of our immune system is located in the gut. So, keeping our gut healthy and happy should be a top priority.
In addition to the above, there is evidence suggesting that supporting the immune system through a variety of herbs can be beneficial *if you’re not pregnant!*. These herbs may not be deemed safe in pregnancy, so you need to be absolutely sure you’re not pregnant and stop taking any herbs as soon as there’s a positive pregnancy test. My top herbal recommendations for immune support are as follows:
* Astragalus – shown to support the upper respiratory system and boost immunity in general. In addition, studies have shown positive effects on other strains of coronavirus.
* Echinacea is good for preventative measures against colds and flus in general. In addition, it has shown anti-viral activity, so could be a good botanical to utilize through this extreme viral season.
* Licorice- this herb probably is the most promising one for fighting coronavirus. Licorice binds ACE receptors which would make it harder for COVID-19 to bind to the same receptors, make the virus less likely to take hold in the body. In addition, licorice has been studied and demonstrated to have positive effects against many viruses throughout history. Additionally, licorice has an anti-inflammatory effect, by down-regulating inflammatory cytokines. So, it is one of the best botanicals we could have in our home medicinary.
If you would like a 4 ounce bottle of our anti-viral botanical blend ($55 + shipping and handling), please reach out to us at [email protected] with your Name, Address, and Phone number. In the email please also state that you understand that this blend is not meant to be a prescription or treatment for coronavirus. Within 24hours, you can expect a call from Gracie who will get your cc info so that we can mail the herbal blend to you.
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