Sub fertility, IVF and naturopathic medicine

It’s interesting how we often spend a large part of our lives trying not to fall pregnant and then when the decision is made to start a family it can be surprising to some couples just how hard it is to actually conceive a baby. There are many things to consider when it comes to overcoming this difficult situation.

Firstly, a couple is not considered infertile until they have been trying to conceive for at least 12 months. Even a healthy fertile couple can take up to this long to achieve a pregnancy. Next, it is important to have a good look at your and your partner’s general health. There are many, many health aspects to consider when it comes to making your body ‘baby ready’. Both the prospective mother and prospective father must be in good health. My male patients are often surprised at just how crucial it is to have good quality sperm. If sperm aren’t healthy it not only causes possible problems with conception but it can also be the cause of repeated miscarriages. I strongly encourage at least 3 months of healthy eating and abstinence of social toxins such as alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and recreational drugs before even trying to fall pregnant. This is called pre-conception health care.

Naturopathically, we can address the many causes of sub-fertility quite successfully. There are cases, however, where naturopathic medicine may not be able to repair fertility but the 3 month pre-conception health care period and naturopathic support will certainly give couples a higher chance of success with Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). If a couple decides to go down this track then I completely support their decision to do so and assist them with herbal medicine and nutritional supplementation.

What is In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)?

In a nutshell, IVF is a type of assisted reproductive technology whereby eggs are removed from the prospective mother’s ovaries and are combined in a dish with the prospective father’s sperm. If a successful fertilization occurs and a zygote forms (a bunch of cells, the very beginning of a baby) it is placed back into the uterus of the prospective mother. This by-passes the normal but intricate path of conception where there could be any number of problems stopping a pregnancy from taking place.

IVF is a very invasive and expensive process and it is the complete opposite of a natural conception, however, with the right support and a healthy understanding of what is going on it need not be a bad experience.

What will I have to do if I decide to go through with IVF?

Depending on the type of cycle your doctor chooses to put you on, there are strong medications involved. Your natural hormone levels as well as many other variables will determine what medications are prescribed and at what doses. Self administered injections (usually in the lower abdomen) will be part of the regimen, these are usually female hormones which are identical to the hormones your body produces but in larger amounts.

How can a naturopath help?

During an IVF cycle, naturopaths usually do not prescribe herbal medicines to the prospective mother. It is best to let the IVF medications do their job uninterrupted. Basic nutritional supplementation and healthy eating are advised. If the IVF cycle is unsuccessful, then herbal medicines are fantastic to support and provide a tonic affect in between cycles. Herbal medicines are very specific and can be prescribed to target specific issues regarding hormonal balance, healthy ovarian function, healthy cervical function and stress. Sperm respond very well to herbal medicines and nutritional supplementation so these will be prescribed by a naturopath throughout an IVF cycle for the prospective father.

I always recommend that my patients visit an acupuncturist during the pre-conception period as well as throughout IVF attempts. Research has shown that acupuncture may improve the success of IVF outcomes. I highly recommend that my clients purchase the e-book Pregnancy Miracle to gain more insight to how acupunture and Chinese herbs can increase fertility naturally. This book may even give you the tools you need to achieve a natural pregnancy before going down the IVF road. Click here to learn more about the book.

As a naturopath, I highly encourage couples to attempt conception naturally for the first 12 months whilst doing all they can to improve their general health. After this if they wish to use IVF I completely support them through this process. Even if the combination of medical intervention and naturopathic support proves to be unsuccessful, my patients are markedly healthier than they were previously. Being healthier helps them to cope far better with whatever the outcome may be, stress levels are far lower, menstrual periods are less painful and energy levels are much higher. Whatever decision you make when it comes to starting a family, always consider the idea of naturopathic support.