Exposure to glycol ether, a solvent found in certain water-based paints, varnishes, thinners and stains, can disrupt your menstrual cycle or even cause a miscarriage. It can also diminish sperm quality. What you can do: If you're planning to do any painting or to refinish any furniture, avoid using paints, stains, varnishes, etc. that contain glycol ether. Although flame retardants used on mattresses, sofa cushions and carpet padding are meant to keep you safe, they may not be a safe bet if you’re trying to conceive. The chemicals in flame retardants can be absorbed into your bloodstream, and high levels of such chemicals have been linked to damaged sperm in men and trouble conceiving in women. What you can do: Although the two most commonly used flame-retardant compounds were banned in 2004 (so if you bought your mattress after that, you're probably fine), when buying new furniture, opt for pieces made of organic cotton, wool and latex, and avoid anything with a tag that says: "Complies with California TB117" (the law requiring furniture to be flame-retardant).

Sure, it’s touted as the supreme germ killer, but antibacterial soap can also kill your chances of conceiving. Antibacterial soaps, as well as some shampoos, dishwashing liquids and even some toothpastes, may contain triclosan — a chemical linked to endocrine disruption that may mess up your hormones and interfere with your reproductive system. And men aren't off the hook either: Triclosans could also be responsible for decreasing your partner's sperm count. What you can do: Check the ingredient lists for any soaps, shampoos, dish soaps and toothpastes you buy, and steer clear of any containing triclosans. BPA, or bisphenol A, is a chemical often found in hard plastics, including those used to make many microwave-safe food containers and water bottles, as well as in the linings of aluminum cans and, surprisingly, receipt paper. Studies have found that the higher the levels of BPA in men's urine, the lower their sperm count. A study also found that women with twice as much BPA in their bloodstreams had half as many viable eggs, and other research has shown a link between BPA levels and polycystic ovary syndrome (which can lead to infertility).

What you can do: Avoid canned foods and plastic containers with the recycling symbols No. 3 and No. 7 at the bottom, and wash your hands after touching receipts and money (since BPA can rub off receipts and onto your hands and cash).cheap mattresses stl Your shower curtain liner gets its soft plastic bendability from phthalates — and that's a problem. furniture stores in edmonton ab canadaMen with lower sperm counts, as well as those with damaged sperm, have been found to have phthalates in their blood. best foam mattress at ikeaThese chemicals may also be connected to endometriosis, a condition that can lead to infertility in affected women. What you can do: Unfortunately, phthalates are found in many plastics, plus in nail polishes, vinyl shower curtains, vinyl tiles, caulk and building materials.

Replace vinyl floors, shower curtains and products. An use glass containers instead of plastic when eating or drinking anything hot and when warming food in the microwave, as heat can cause these chemicals to leak into your food. Nonstick pans may be convenient for cleaning, but not for conceiving. The nonstick coating contains the chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which has been linked to reproductive problems. In fact, data shows that women with higher levels of PFOA in their blood had a harder time getting pregnant. And when they do conceive, studies have found that babies born to women with higher levels of PFOA in their blood are less likely to meet important developmental milestones. What you can do: Replace any Teflon pans, but also steer clear of other sneaky PFOA-containing products, like conventional microwave popcorn bags. Researchers have found that men who rest laptops on their laps while using them have higher scrotal temps, which may decrease sperm production and have a negative affect on the production of healthy sperm.

What you can do: Tell your guy to rest his computer on a desk or table. Chemicals entering the water supply might be behind the rise in male fertility problems. A study showed that chemicals found in medicines, including cancer drugs, as well as pesticides that enter our water supply (even in trace amounts), may reduce male fertility by inhibiting the function of testosterone. What you can do: Use a water filter to help reduce the amount of chemicals you and your partner are exposed to. Pesticides that you can drag into your home on your shoes, as well as perfluorochemicals (PFCs) contained in the padding of some carpets, may be linked to female infertility. Women with higher levels of these chemicals in their blood took longer to get pregnant than those with lower levels. Researchers believe the chemicals may have a toxic affect on the developmental and reproductive organs, and could also affect sperm quality. What you can do: Take your shoes off when you enter the house to avoid dragging pesticides containing PFCs into the house, and avoid replacing carpet while trying to conceive.

Chemicals found in detergents can disrupt a woman’s normal menstrual cycle and cause miscarriage in pregnant women, in addition to possibly affecting semen quality. What you can do: Switch from petroleum-based detergents to vegetable-based, fragrance-free detergents, which contain fewer chemicals. Experts: Dr. Myron Wentz and Dave Wentz, authors of The Healthy Home: Simple Truths to Protect Your Family From Hidden Household Dangers Find natural ways to boost your fertility here.Get answers to all your questions.One of the biggest complaints by owners of memory foam pillows and mattresses is the unpleasant, and potentially unhealthy chemical smell. Memory foam is manufactured using polyurethane and several other chemicals, so it isn’t surprising that it emits a chemical odor. This “off gassing” of volatile organic compounds is a common and well-documented property of memory foam pillows and mattresses. The fumes are often compared to those experienced in a freshly painted room.

If you are experiencing this odor, the good news is you may not have to endure the smell for long. The bad news is that some of the chemicals used in memory foam aren’t entirely benign.Many memory foam mattress owners report that the off gassing period ends after a number of days.(1) Of course there are many factors which influence this including the product, the type of foam, the sensitivity of the person, the room ventilation and more. Even if the initial odor goes away, it is natural to wonder if there are health issues related to off gassing.Most people do not report any health issues resulting from their memory foam pillow or mattress. However, there are various reports of headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions resulting from the odor produced by memory foam. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you’ll want to avoid sleeping on the foam during the initial off gassing period. You can leave the pillow or mattress in a well-ventilated area for a week or two and see if that helps eliminate or reduce the odor and symptoms.

If after several weeks, the issue persists, it is probably time to consider an alternative to memory foam.Many many people use memory foam products without reporting any side effects or related health issues. That said, there are various reports and studies which indicate that memory foam may be somewhat toxic. Reports include carcinogenic chemicals and formaldehyde gas. To manufacture memory foam, chemicals are added to polyurethane to make it more dense and viscous at the same time. Additional chemicals are required to make the polyurethane flame retardant. One of these, Pentabde (of the polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) family), was used until 2004. Pentabde is now known to be toxic to the liver, thyroid, and nervous system.(2) A study in 2000 specifically found mattress emissions to be toxic to the lungs of labratory mice.The long-term effects of memory foam and its toxicity is not fully understood, but there clearly is some reason for concern. Aproximately one-third of your life is spent in close contact to your sleeping surface, so it is important to consider you and your family’s health when selecting a pillow or mattress.

Are you interested in the support and comfort provided by memory foam, but want to avoid that chemical smell? There are several natural pillow options for those looking for a new pillow. Of course, our favorite is our buckwheat hull pillow. Besides being natural and chemical-free, buckwheat pillows are a great alternative to memory foam for a couple of other reasons.Memory foam is not breathable and this can result in a hot and sweaty pillow. The shape and particulate nature of buckwhat hulls leaves a lot of air space in your pillow between all of the hulls. This airspace allows warm moist air to escape, leaving your pillow cool and dry.While a memory foam pillow conforms to the shape of your head, the overall shape and thickness of the pillow is fixed, making the pillow less adaptable to your sleeping position. The fill in a stuffed pillow can be shifted and adjusted for a wider variety of shapes and sizes.If you’ve decided against a memory foam pillow and a buckwheat pillow isn’t right for you, other natural alternatives to memory foam include pillows filled with down, cotton, wool, latex, kapok or millet hulls.