naturopathic medicine

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Infertility & preconception care

Infertility

One in six couples have difficulty conceiving children. Yet, for many, the reasons for infertility can be readily identified and treated. Dietary, lifestyle and environmental factors can greatly affect reproductive health. These include stress, drugs, caffeine, alcohol, infections, immune dysfunction, reproductive conditions (PCOD, endometriosis), and poor diet.

Infertility may be due to problems in either the male or the female. Male problems may be contributory in 30-40% of infertile couples.

There are many natural therapies that can be effective for helping infertile couples, improving reproductive and general health, without the side-effects of most orthodox approaches. Correction of nutritional deficiencies is important for proper reproductive function, hormonal balance and healthy sperm and eggs. Specific herbs and nutrients can be used to detoxify the body of any toxic substances or clear up infections that may be compromising fertility.

A vast body of evidence shows the adverse effects of stress on fertility. Indeed, this stress is known to intensify for couples the longer they fail to conceive. Naturopathic medicine not only treats possible physiological causes, but emotional causes of infertility too.

Preconception Health Care

Preconception care is one of the most loving and responsible choices you and your partner can make together, not only for you and your child's health, but for future generations. Preconception health care prepares your body for a successful, healthy pregnancy, as well as a problem-free birth and satisfying breast feeding experience.

Preconception care aims to provide your body with the building blocks necessary to create a healthy baby. Ensuring that there is an adequate supply of essential nutrients for healthy sperm, eggs and the growing fetus, along with the absence of any substances that may compromise a fetus's development.

Prenatal vitamin and mineral supplementation has been shown to reduce pregnancy complications such as pre-term delivery, low birth weight, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia and infant morbidity and mortality.

It is important that both parents take part in the preconception care process to enhance the child's chances of maximizing its potential - physically, mentally and emotionally.

Benefits of Preconception Health Care:

For Females:

Balancing out hormone levels and regulating ovulation
Improving uterine health and the health of ovaries and egg
Enhance the quality and quantity of fertile mucous
Identification and treatment any infections of the reproductive tract eg. candida.
Treats Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Reduces polycystic ovaries.
Reduce the risk of miscarriage.

For Males:

Balancing out hormone levels and boosting testosterone levels.
Improving the health and quality of sperm.
Improving sperm count and motility.
Improving prostate and testes health.
Identification and treatment of any infections of the reproductive tract.

Lisa can help improve your chances of conceiving and design a preconception plan for you and your partner.

When should you start your preconception plan?

Sperm can take up to 116 days to develop and mature and finally be ejaculated. During this time sperm are susceptible to damage from toxins such as drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, nutritional deficiencies and illness. The egg takes 100 days to mature where it is similarly vulnerable to damage. So the health of today's sperm and egg is indicative of the health of the male and female over the last 3 months. Therefore it is recommended to start your preconception health plan at least 4 months prior to trying to conceive.

Can caffeine reduce fertility?

Caffeine intake is linked to sub-fertility in both males and females, miscarriage and low birth weight. Some research concluded that women who drink more than 1 cup of coffee a day have a 50% reduced chance of conceiving.