Welcome to October, the month dedicated, since 1995, to breast cancer testing, and to the health and well-being of women.

In fact, it’s essential to take care of your body every day and listen to the signals of it not working properly. This health approach is applied more and more by both patients and healthcare practitioners. This allows for detecting pathologies that were still invisible, several decades behind.

This is the case for endometriosis, which affects nearly 10% of women in the world. According to the French association for combatting endometriosis, Endofrance, this pathology suffers from a major delay in diagnosis, as it takes approximately 7 years for a healthcare professional to identify it.

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of tissue similar to the endometrial mucosa outside the uterine cavity. During menstruation, some of this tissue, which contains endometrial cells, is released by the tubes. These cells are not destroyed by the immune system and proliferate on nearby organs. It is this proliferation on the organs that is responsible for pain and may lead to complications.

The natural ingredients for improving menstrual comfort

While 1/3 of endometriosis types are labelled as “superficial” and do not require surgery, the pain is clearly present for all women affected, and can be crippling to everyday life. Some natural ingredients are recognized as improving menstrual comfort and allow for soothing the pain related to this condition:

  • PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) is an endogenous lipid produced naturally by the body in times of stress or pain. Several scientific studies demonstrate its significant efficacy in reducing pain.

  • NAC (n-acetyl cysteine) is an amino acid of natural origin. It is involved in regulating inflammation and oxidative stress.

  • Resveratrol is a polyphenol of natural origin, involved in particular in regulating inflammation.

  • Alchemilla (Lady’s Mantle) is a medicinal plant known for its benefits in premenstrual syndrome. It soothes menstrual discomfort and abdominal cramps. 

  • Rhodiola is an adaptogenic plant. It promotes the body’s adaptation to emotional stress and acts on reducing fatigue linked to stress in particular.

  • Saffron promotes relaxation, contributes to emotional balance and improves the mood.

  • Zinc, Selenium, and Vitamins C and E contribute to protecting the cells against oxidative stress.

Among the repercussions that endometriosis can have on a woman’s life, and one of the most marking, remains the risk of infertility. In fact, difficulty conceiving is an issue being faced by more and more couples. Endometriosis is far from being the only factor in this increasing difficulty.

Infertility in couples, a worrying public health issue

Approximately 1 couple over 8 consults a healthcare professional for conception-related difficulties. This is a true public health issue. According to the INSERM [Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medical = French national health and medical research body], this problem may be linked to several factors, such as:

  • Genetics
  • Modern lifestyles (alcohol, stress, smoking, drop in sleep quality, unbalanced diet, excess weight, etc.)
  • The postponement of the age at which a child is desired (average age changing from 24 in 1975 to 29 in 2019) *
  • Hormonal problems in women and men (among the most common: PCOS, ovarian insufficiency or endometriosis in women; testicular insufficiency in men)

When a couple has difficulties in conceiving, it is essential, initially, to adapt their lifestyle in order to optimize the chances of conception. As an accompaniment to measures such as stopping smoking, establishing a balanced diet, ensuring a daily sleep quota and regular physical activity, natural pre-conception health products can help to boost fertility in men and women.

The formulae are designed to provide couples with all the essential and recognized nutrients.

*INSEE [Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques = French national institute for statistical and economic studies] report on birth-rate and fertility, 27/02/2020

What are the nutrients essential for optimizing conception?

Whether in men or women, some natural ingredients, often produced by the body, can help the latter to regain or maintain the overall balance needed by the conception process.

For women

  • Myo-inositol is a molecule produced naturally by the body that contributes to the proliferation of reproductive cells, maintaining oocyte quality and restoring ovulation.

  • Vitamins C and E, Zinc and Selenium are excellent antioxidants that protect the reproductive cells in particular from oxidative stress and free radicals.

  • Iodine is recommended by the ANSES [Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail = French agency for food, environmental and occupational health & safety] at a rate of 200 to 250 µg per day for women wanting to become pregnant. It acts in synergy with Selenium and contributes to good hormonal balance.

  • Folic acid (vitamin B9) is itself recommended at a rate of 400 µg per day, as of the desire to become pregnant and until three months after conception. It also plays a role in hormonal balance.

For men

  • Carnitine, Taurine and Coenzyme Q10 are substances naturally present in the male body and in the spermatic environment. They play a key role in sperm maturation and mobility.

  • Vitamins C and E, Zinc and Selenium are excellent antioxidants that protect the reproductive cells in particular from oxidative stress and free radicals. Scientific studies have demonstrated a causal link between antioxidant supplements and improved spermatic parameters, as well as increased pregnancy rates.

Consequently, scientific literature has very clearly proven the interest of a healthy lifestyle and natural assets within the framework of wanting to become pregnant.

Once the pregnancy starts, it is important to maintain these habits while continuing the micro-nutritional supplements, both for the mother’s well-being and for the correct development of the foetus.

What are the nutrients essential for pregnant women?

In France, 15% of pregnancies result in a miscarriage**.

Miscarriage can result in both physical and mental consequences. While this situation is sometimes inevitable (genetic abnormality in the foetus, uterine malformation, etc.), it is important to do everything possible to promote the pregnancy developing correctly and prevent the risks of miscarriage linked to the woman’s general health condition.

Adopting a good diet, allowing yourself to rest and maintaining physical activity suited to the pregnancy are in fact essential, as is ensuring that the pregnant woman has a sufficient supply of essential micronutrients.

  • Folic acid (vitamin B9) is not synthesized by the body. It is therefore provided by food (green vegetables, legumes, egg yolks, etc.) or by supplements. It plays an essential role, as of the first weeks of pregnancy, in preventing a serious anomaly in the embryo’s nervous system.

  • Vitamin D3 is essential to ensure the mineralization of the child’s skeleton. This is the only vitamin that can be synthesized by the body, yet 75% of women of reproductive age present a vitamin D deficiency.

  • Iron contributes to red blood cell formation and reduces fatigue.

  • Selenium permits normal thyroid function.

  • Iodine plays a key role in the production and regulation of thyroid hormones, which act on the body’s overall balance.

  • Magnesium contributes to reducing fatigue as well as to normal muscle function.

  • Zinc is essential in the cell division process.

  • Omega 3 plays a key role in foetal development. In order to fully benefit from the effects of omega 3 without any danger, it is important to turn to purified oils (free from heavy metals, persistent environmental pollutants, etc.). The EPAX label remains a gauge of quality in this regard.

**Proposition of law No. 5100 “For better treatment of miscarriage”, 22 February 2022.