Maximise Your Fertility In Autumn

If you’ve read my posts on the other three seasons, you’ll know that each season has unique qualities that affect our health differently according to ancient Chinese medicine principles.

If you haven’t read them, sign up for my free guide here and I’ll also email the seasonal tips at the start of each season. In the meantime, I’ll send you free fertility advice on diet, lifestyle, mindset, and more.

Autumn is a time when nature’s energy and activity start to decline due to the decreasing intensity of the sun. It’s important for us to adjust to this change to protect our health.

During this season, we experience a reduction in energy as nature focuses on letting go. Leaves fall, fruits release their seeds, and our Qi (the vitality that supports bodily functions) begins to sink deeper into the body in preparation for winter’s rest phase. This natural transition occurs whether we adjust to it or not.

So, why is this important for fertility?

By aligning with this natural process, we support our health and well-being. If we fail to adjust to it, we over-consume our vitality, leading to a decline in general and fertility health.

The year is divided into high and low energy phases, much like the 24-hour clock.

Summer is akin to midday, when the day is bright and warm, and everything is active and consuming energy. In contrast, winter is like midnight, when it’s darker and colder, and everything rests and recharges its vitality and energy more frequently and for longer periods.

We all know we need to sleep for 6-8 hours daily to recuperate our energy and stay healthy. However, few people realise that autumn and winter are like the nighttime of the year, requiring even more rest than in summer and spring.

When we ignore this natural rhythm and push through these darker months, it’s as if we are staying up late into the night and the results is that we don’t recharge our reserves of vitality (Qi), energy, and other essential substances our body needs for the coming year.

These essential substances are the foundation of our fertility, as well as our general health.

Insufficient recharging of our vitality (Qi) and other substances negatively affect our body’s ability to function properly, leading to a decline in reproductive health. Healthy eggs and sperm require energy, vitality, blood, and nutrients to perform at their best.

Just as a plant declines without sufficient nourishment from soil, water, light, and temperature in its environment, the same is true for eggs, sperm, and all other aspects of the human reproductive system.

What to Do:

Thankfully, the ancient Chinese left precise instructions on how to best adjust to each season for optimal balance, including fertility health. Here are some key actions I recommend to support your fertility in autumn (note that the months mentioned are for the Northern Hemisphere, but the information can be applied to the correct months for the Southern Hemisphere):

1. Physical and Mental Activity:

• Slow Down: Reduce the pace of life in both physical and mental processes.
• Exercise Less Intensely: Avoid over-consuming your reserves of Qi and essential substances through intense physical exercise.
• Wrap Up Projects: Conclude ongoing projects so that when winter arrives (November to end of January), you can properly rest and take life extra easy.

2. Rest and Sleep:

• Adjust Sleep Patterns: Go to bed earlier and get up with the sunrise. In the morning, take in the fresh, clean autumn air.
• Rest During the Day: Rest or take it easier during the day as needed, and don’t push through things if you’re tired.
• Additional Resources: Check out my detailed article on rest and sleep for winter here.

3. Sun Exposure:

• Vitamin D Production: Until October, you can still produce Vitamin D through sun exposure. Regular sunbathing, out of the wind, will help build your stores for winter.
• Avoid Sunscreen During Sunbathing: To ensure you get the necessary UV rays for Vitamin D production, avoid using sunscreen but be careful not to get burnt. Sunbathing in this way is crucial for Vitamin D production, as natural production is more effective than supplementation. However, it must be done safely and according to the conditions of your local weather and sun intensity.

4. Adjust Your Diet:

• Seasonal Abundance: There is an abundance of food in autumn, and many of these foods are beneficial when trying to conceive. Here’s a link to an article on pumpkin for fertility.
• Dietary Recommendations:
  • Avoid Cold Foods and Drinks: They reduce your digestive activity and ability to create more vitality, which is fundamental to fertility health.
  • Avoid Raw Foods and Salads: These also reduce digestive efficiency. See my article here on 6 reasons why raw food is a problem (which I wrote as a winter tip).
• Eat a Balanced Diet Including:
  • Protein (1/3rd of your diet): Include fish, meat, and eggs.
  • Fibre (1/3rd of your diet): Include all green leafy vegetables, leek, onion, scallions/green onion, garlic, and ginger.
  • Starch (1/3rd of your diet): Include rice and other grains, root vegetables, pumpkin, squash, marrow, eggplant, tomatoes, mushrooms, and the last of the seasonal fruits like apples, pears, and berries.
• Enjoy Mealtimes: Take time to enjoy your meals and relax during mealtimes.
• Regular Eating Schedule: Eat regularly and ideally not late at night.

This is just a small part of my broader dietary approach, but it should be sufficient to help you incorporate some good autumn foods into your diet.

To get really clear on the right actions to take for your unique fertility health, check out my free ebook the “8 Missed Clues Your Fertility Is Out of Balance” here.