Author | Lightnews

Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 2d

Questions for your doctor:

- Have you checked my prolactin levels?

- Could stress be affecting my fertility?

- Is my body weight supporting optimal hormone function?

- How might my sleep patterns be impacting conception?

Don't accept "unexplained infertility" without exploring these.

Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 2d

The takeaway: Your hypothalamus is the gatekeeper of fertility.

Before expensive interventions, optimize these four pillars:

- Stress management

- Energy balance

- Prolactin levels

- Sleep/circadian rhythm

Your brain decides if conditions are right for reproduction.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 2d

I'm not saying to avoid fertility treatments. They're miraculous when needed.

But before spending $20K+ on IVF, shouldn't we ensure your brain's fertility circuit is actually switched ON?

Most doctors never check.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 2d

The most frustrating part? Many fertility struggles aren't about your ovaries or testes at all.

They're about your brain perceiving danger - whether from stress, starvation, or sleep deprivation - and hitting the emergency brake on reproduction.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 2d

Why 90 days?

That's roughly how long it takes for:

- A full ovarian cycle in women

- Complete sperm development in men

- Hormonal systems to recalibrate

Your reproductive system isn't broken - it's responding exactly as designed to perceived threats.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 2d

The 90-day fertility reset protocol:

1. Screen for high prolactin (treat if needed)

2. Restore energy balance (>30 kcal/kg FFM/day)

3. Lock in 7.5-9 hours sleep with consistent timing

4. Deploy structured stress management

5. Consider targeted meds for specific conditions

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 2d

Did you know your sleep schedule might be more important than those expensive supplements?

Optimizing sleep is associated with 18% higher conception rates.

Yet how many fertility doctors ask about your sleep patterns vs pushing you toward IVF?

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 2d

For women with hypothalamic amenorrhea (where stress shuts down ovulation), cognitive behavioral therapy reduced cortisol and restored normal hormonal function.

The body responds QUICKLY when you remove the brakes from your reproductive system.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 2d

The research is compelling:

In women with PCOS (where GnRH pulses are too frequent), NK3R antagonists reduced testosterone by 0.80 nmol/L and LH by 10.17 IU/L in just 12 weeks.

Translation: We can now directly control the brain's fertility switch with medication.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 2d

So what derails this delicate system?

Four major saboteurs:

1. Chronic stress (cortisol/CRH)

2. Energy deficiency (low leptin)

3. High prolactin levels

4. Circadian disruption (poor sleep/shift work)

Fix these, and you can restore fertility within WEEKS.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 2d

Let's get nerdy for a second.

A tiny network called KNDy in your hypothalamus controls GnRH pulses, which regulate LH/FSH, which determine:

- Ovulation in women

- Sperm production in men

- Hormone balance in both

This is your reproductive command center.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 2d

The hidden fertility switch in your brain that no one's talking about...

Your hypothalamus contains a "pulse generator" that controls your entire reproductive system. When it malfunctions, fertility tanks.

But here's the kicker: You can hack this circuit.

A thread on the science:

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 3d

If you're trying to conceive or planning to in the future, give yourself the 90-day shampoo challenge

Your future children are worth it

And if you found this thread valuable, share it with someone who needs this information

Knowledge is power. Especially when it comes to your reproductive health.

Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 3d

The fertility industry wants to sell you expensive treatments.

But what if you could improve your odds by simply changing what you wash your hair with?

Sometimes the most powerful interventions are the simplest ones hiding in plain sight.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 3d

I'm not saying throw out all your beauty products. I'm saying be strategic about the ones that matter most.

Your scalp has excellent absorption. Shampoo sits directly on it. And you use it regularly.

It's the perfect storm for exposure to fertility-disrupting chemicals.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 3d

For those serious about optimizing fertility:

• Make these changes at least 90 days before trying to conceive
• Both partners should switch products (yes, men too!)
• Consider monthly urine testing to track your levels
• Add targeted antioxidant support

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 3d

The solution is simpler than you might think:

1. Switch to fragrance-free, paraben-free shampoos
2. Wash your hair less frequently
3. Minimize how long shampoo sits on your scalp
4. Avoid "antibacterial" preservatives like triclosan

Small changes, big impact.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 3d

Why isn't your fertility doctor talking about this?

Most medical training barely touches environmental exposures. But the science is solid - these chemicals are in your follicular fluid, affecting your eggs directly.

Higher levels = fewer eggs retrieved during IVF.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 3d

The good news? This is fixable.

Unlike many fertility factors, you can dramatically reduce your exposure to these chemicals within DAYS.

And since egg development takes ~90 days and sperm development ~74 days, making changes now can impact the reproductive cells you'll be using months from now.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 3d

One study found that higher urinary parabens predicted significantly lower chances of conception:

• 4% lower with propylparaben
• 10% lower with butylparaben
• A staggering 58% lower with heptylparaben

These aren't small numbers. This is your fertility we're talking about.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 3d

The research is clear:

Women with higher levels of these chemicals show:
• Lower monthly fertility
• Fewer antral follicles
• Altered FSH levels
• Fewer mature eggs during IVF

Men don't fare better - showing poorer sperm quality and altered sperm epigenetics.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 3d

These aren't just random chemicals. They're endocrine disruptors that target specific receptors in your ovaries and testes.

They mess with your steroid hormones and can even disrupt your body's natural circadian rhythm that controls reproduction.

Think that's harmless?

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 3d

Here's the shocking truth: Chemicals in shampoo (parabens, phthalates, UV filters) don't just sit on your scalp. They absorb through your skin into your bloodstream.

And when they enter this way? They last LONGER and remain MORE ACTIVE than if you'd swallowed them.

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 3d

THREAD: Your shampoo might be sabotaging your fertility.

I've been digging into the research, and what I found is alarming. Those fancy fragranced shampoos? They're full of chemicals that disrupt your hormones and reproductive system.

Let me break this down for you...

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Code to Conception @codetoconception.bsky.social · 4d

So stop obsessing over those test strips.

Stop "saving up" sperm.

Stop missing your most fertile days.

Start having more sex.

Start earlier in your cycle.

Start improving your chances.

Your future baby will thank you.