Naturopathic Treatments for Fertility
For many people, the opportunity to create their own family by conceiving a healthy child is something they always took for granted. While we are hearing more and more about the statistics of “other” people who are struggling, we never imagine that this could be one of us. It is humbling and heartbreaking to have to confront and deal with this in our own lives.
In our clinic, while we treat many couples who struggle with fertility, you will always be treated with the individualized attention, compassion and intelligence you deserve. While there are “protocols” for treating certain aspects of fertility care, every one of our treatment plans is completely unique to the person we are seeing. Keeping in mind regular whole person care, we specifically treat fertility issues by:
- Treating female health conditions that may interfere with fertility such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, uterine fibroids, irregular menstruation and hormonal imbalances
- Treating male health conditions such as erectile dysfunction, low sperm count, poor sperm motility and hormonal imbalances
- Investigating the overall health of both partners to rule out seemingly unconnected issues that may be contributing to infertility such as autoimmune conditions, interference from medications, digestive health issues, nutritional imbalances and stress.
We work with you to either increase the chances of successful pregnancy naturally (without drugs) or to compliment conventional fertility therapy such as IUI and IVF
Acupuncture and Fertility
When used in conjunction with Western fertility treatments, acupuncture increases conception rates by 26%. A 2012 study from Tel Aviv University reports “When combining IUI with TCM treatments, 65.5% of the test group were able to conceive compared to 39.4% of the control group, who received no herbal or acupuncture therapy”. Acupuncture can increase fertility by reducing stress, increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs and balancing the endocrine system, according to several studies and medical research. Acupuncture can provide better blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, creating a stronger chance for an egg to be nourished and fetus to be carried to term. It can also help alleviate and reduce the side effects of the drugs used in IVF.
Acupuncture consists of the gentle insertion and stimulating of thin, disposable sterile needles at strategic points near the surface of the body. Over 2000 acupuncture points on the human body connect with 14 major pathways, called meridians. TCM practitioners believe that these meridians conduce Qi (“Chi” or “energy”) between the surface of the body and internal organs. It is Qi that regulates spiritual, emotional, mental and physical balance. When flow of Qi is disrupted through poor health habits or other circumstances, pain and/or disease can result. Acupuncture helps to keep the normal flow of this energy unblocked, thereby increasing a couple’s chances of conceiving.
The ideal time to influence your fertility and maximize chances of conceiving is three months prior to conception. This provides an adequate period of time to regulate the menstrual cycle, balance hormones and optimize egg quality. The second best time, is now!
For more information on acupuncture for fertility and acupuncture for IVF, click here.
Healthy Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an ideal time to be taking really good care of yourself, both physically and emotionally. So much is changing so quickly and it helpful to have a trusted health coach while you navigate through the transitions. It is important to eat well, take appropriate high quality supplements, get regular exercise and prepare emotionally for the blessings and challenges of being a new parent.
As primary health care providers, Naturopathic Doctors are able to work collaboratively with midwives and obstetricians as part of the healthcare/wellness team of pregnant women and their partners. Naturopathic Doctors can offer various appropriate and complementary treatments to pregnant women such as nutritional recommendations, herbal medicines, homeopathy, acupuncture and counselling to help alleviate some of the common symptoms of discomfort during pregnancy such as
- “morning sickness”
- back pain
- anemia
- yeast infections
- sleep issues
- heartburn
- emotional changes
