What is infertility?

Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after one year of regular intercourse without birth control. It affects one in 6 women in Canada. Infertility may be due to the male partner, female partner, or a cause may not be determined. Common causes of female infertility are increased age, hormonal irregularities, ovulation disorders, endometriosis and polycystic ovarian disease.

How can naturopathic medicine help?

Naturopathic medicine can assist with improving your odds of getting and staying pregnant in most cases. With a thorough intake of your concerns, a complete physical exam, an analysis of any lab tests you may have had, and a good understanding of your menstrual cycle, we can explore a variety of avenues. Ideally, and when appropriate, the man and woman will both explore how naturopathic care can assist them with fertility.

Each case of subfertility is considered individually. All patients and all couples are unique and therefore, their treatment plan is unique as well, tailored to their concerns and situations. Treatment options include:

• Nutritional counseling to ensure adequate vitamins and minerals necessary to support conception and pregnancy. In addition, this is a good time to identify food sensitivities and allergies in order to minimize stressors in your body, which may be contributing to infertility.
• Detoxification through gentle, supervised methods. In addition to supportive homeopathic and botanical medicine, women can decrease their toxic load substantially through regular saunas (when appropriate), dry skin brushing and choosing organic food. Depending on your individual situation, we can decide on a plan to eliminate/ cut down on environmental toxic exposure in order to decrease the toxins in your body.
• Chinese medicine and acupuncture are very often indicated for women who are experiencing difficulties conceiving. Acupuncture has been shown to increase blood flow to your uterus and balance hormonal regularities, which may be contributing to infertility. Acupuncture can be timed carefully to assist with successful IVF (in-vitro fertilization) or IUI (intra-uterine injection) if these are options you are considering.
• Lifestyle counseling may include assessing any lifestyle factors that may be contributing to your infertility. Smoking, alcohol intake, exercise and weight (high or low) are just some examples of lifestyle habits that may contribute to infertility. It is important to support couples in identifying and changing any lifestyle habits that may be coming in the way of conceiving.
• Fertility awareness and fertility signs tracking is one option we have for determining your most fertile days in a way that is non-invasive, inexpensive and accurate. No two cycles are alike, and women vary greatly in cycle length, ovulation day and fertile days. This process will assist you in determining exactly what is going on during your own unique cycle.

Can visiting a naturopathic doctor help with Assisted Reproductive Technology?

Yes! Naturopathic medicine can be a complementary supportive therapy that can improve the success of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as IUI and IVF. Chinese medicine and acupuncture have been shown to support ART in the following ways:

• Increased number of follicles resulting in increased number of eggs and increased fertilization rates in IVF
• Increased blood flow to the uterus resulting in a thicker endometrial lining
• Regulating hormones and the menstrual cycle
• Decreased number of miscarriages
• Improved semen analysis in males
• Stress reduction and management

Whether you are only beginning to explore your fertility or you have been faced with the challenge of infertility for some time, an holistic approach to your concerns can offer both an alternative to IVF and IUI and an adjunct to these treatments.