Unexplained Infertility, Autoimmune Issues, and the Birth of a Brand called BOND
My story of infertility started like any other - I was unable to conceive naturally. This experience was compounded by my history of digestive issues and hormone imbalances, factors I never imagined would be intricately linked to my fertility.
Disclaimer: This article is sponsored by BOND
Unexplained Infertility, Autoimmune Issues, and the Birth of a Brand called BOND
Trying to conceive and maintain a pregnancy has been my greatest obstacle, and I hope that it doesn’t have to be yours. That hope, combined with my experience, is what inspired me to create BOND, a brand focused on hormone and reproductive wellness. But before delving into that, here’s my story…
You might expect me to start with the technicalities of my journey – the four IUIs, egg freezing, and multiple rounds of IVF, however, the complexity of my fertility journey lies far beyond these treatments. After many years of trying desperately to conceive, I uncovered the root of my infertility: my immune system. Discovering that your own body is the primary reason for your inability to conceive naturally and, once you achieve conception, to sustain the pregnancy, was a hard pill to swallow.
At the time I was trying to get pregnant, I was also experiencing a number of other health issues. I woke up every morning with sharp pains in my stomach, had trouble with digestion (likely IBS), and suffered from a host of food intolerances, including gluten. I had high inflammation and high cortisol levels, and my sex hormones most definitely were unbalanced.
After my IVF cycles started failing without cause, I knew I needed to find a larger answer for myself. I started doing research and asking my reproductive endocrinology and infertility doctor many questions. Sadly, my efforts were met with limited support, and I would need to take matters into my own hands. I decided to pursue my research further and picked up a no-longer published book by a deceased doctor who studied the connection between the immune system and fertility. This led me to understand that the issues I was experiencing outside of my inability to conceive were not at all disconnected from my infertility, but potentially the cause of it.
At the end of the book was a list of resources, including three doctors who specialize in autoimmune fertility - one of them just a short drive from my house. After months of research and finding my way to an autoimmune fertility specialist, I discovered that I have high ANA or anti-nuclear antibody levels in my blood. What this meant was that I had antibodies sitting around the nucleus of my cells semi-dormant - but on alert - and ready to attack bacteria, bad cells, and, in my case, foreign embryos. I was put on several medications to help keep my immune system from attacking a pregnancy, which allowed me to carry my son, Elijah, now 5. It was really complicated, and really, really hard to get him in my arms.
Now, five years later, I still don’t feel like the world inside of our doctor's offices has progressed much further. Many of us are still left without answers, to do our own research, with 35% of us having no idea where our infertility stems from.¹ However, one recent study of, over 287 women with unexplained infertility showed some striking similarities²:
To me, stats like these help to solidify the importance of preconception health.
Supporting your immune system and microbiome, supplementing with antioxidants and omegas, adding key nutrients to support healthy hormone production, and nurturing key nutrient levels are all daily habits that can be impactful to preconception health and fertility.
That’s because in order to conceive, your body has to accept what is referred to as a semi-allogenic embryo. It’s simplest, although odd, to think of it like a tumor. The maternal body requires hundreds if not thousands of new immunological responses to take place for the implantation of the embryo to be successful.³ If the body including the immune system and microbiome are not cared for prior to entering into this highly sensitive time period, it will be hard to sustain a pregnancy past 8 weeks.
Who knew? And I wanted others to know too. These discoveries became a catalyst for my next chapter and BOND was born. BOND, which I launched last year, is a collection of supplements reimagining holistic hormone and reproductive health. BOND’s proprietary formulations, designed to balance hormones, preserve fertility potential, and lay the foundation for a healthier body, feature science-backed ingredients that work together to balance hormones, protect egg health, and provide cycle support. The formulations were created with deep thought into the immune system and proper functioning down to the cellular level.
With BOND, I’m hoping to address women’s health more holistically and encourage a more proactive conversation around reproductive wellness and its link to immunity. That includes nurturing overall health and well-being through smart supplementation. Here are my suggestions and I truly hope BOND can support you on your journey:
● Daily Balance: A multivitamin drink specially designed to balance your hormones, cycle, and reproductive health using a unique blend of 15 essential nutrients. Scientifically formulated to safely support hormone balance, gut health, and prepare your body for conception, this blend features Methyl Folate, Vitamins B6, C, D, and B12, Fiber, Custom Probiotics, Inositol, and NAC.
● Conception Boost: This formula helps promote ovulation and egg quality through ingredients such as CoQ-10, Choline, Selenium, in addition to helping improve reproductive cycles with nutrients such as Vitamin B6, B12, Trans-Resveratrol, and L-Glutamine. It also primes your body with essential vitamins and minerals for pregnancy and delivers 50 billion CFU probiotics to support women's reproductive health as well as a healthy gut. Stack this with Daily Balance for fertility-boosting benefits and complete prenatal wellness.*
● Myo & D-Chiro Inositol: Find your way to a more regular menstrual cycle with our inositol blend, mirroring your body’s perfect production rate of myo and d-chiro inositols. This carefully-engineered formula supports your ovulation and insulin sensitivity, contributing to less variability in periods and a healthier fertility profile.*
● Vitality (for men!): A comprehensive solution for male fertility support, Vitality supports sperm quality, count, motility, and overall health. With key ingredients like CoQ10, catalase, Vitamin D3, and NAC, it helps to combat oxidative damage to sperm through its clean formulation.*
About BOND
BOND is a new female-founded line of hormone and reproductive health supplements pioneering a more proactive and empowered approach to caring for your whole body and fertility potential. We believe it's never too early to start thinking about the future. That's why we lead with education, sharing what we know, and bringing proven solutions to market more quickly. Using thoughtfully sourced ingredients, backed by new research developments, BOND provides the essentials needed to form and strengthen the bond with yourself and those you may wish to make in the future. BOND's proprietary line of hormone and reproductive health supplements include Daily Balance, Conception Boost, Myo & D-Chiro Inositol, Vitality & Reproductive Support and Cycle Support launching in 2024. For more information, please visit Bond.life and follow us on Instagram here.
1 Sadeghi, Mohammad Reza. “Unexplained infertility, the controversial matter in management of infertile couples.” Journal of Reproduction & Infertility vol. 16,1 (2015): 1-2.
2 “Potential biomarkers of infertility associated with microbiome imbalances.” American Journal of Reproductive Immunology. 86(4), e13438. Published online May 17, 2021.
3 Mor, Gil et al. “The unique immunological and microbial aspects of pregnancy.” Nature reviews. Immunology vol. 17,8 (2017): 469- 482. doi:10.1038/nri.2017.64
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider or qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog.