If you’re looking into naturopathic treatments for infertility, you’re not alone. A growing number of people are turning to naturopathic medicine as a way to improve their chances of conceiving. But what is naturopathic medicine, and what can it do for you? Here are seven fast facts about naturopathic infertility treatments.
- Naturopathic treatments are safe and effective for infertility, and they don’t have any harmful side effects.
- Naturopathic treatments can help to improve fertility in both men and women.
- Naturopathic treatments can help to address the root causes of infertility.
- Naturopathic treatments can help to increase fertility rates and improve pregnancy outcomes.
- Naturopathic treatments can be used in conjunction with other medical therapies to improve fertility outcomes.
- Naturopathic treatments are affordable and accessible, and they can be used regardless of your location or budget.
- Naturopathic treatments offer a holistic approach to improving fertility, which means that they address the physical, mental and emotional needs of the individual.
Ways to Optimize Your Natural Fertility
When you’re trying to conceive, it’s reassuring to know that you have some control over certain factors. Understanding your fertile window and adopting a healthy lifestyle can increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
Here are ten things you and your partner can do to improve your natural fertility:
1. Factoring in Your Age and Your Male Partner’s Age
It is possible to become pregnant in your mid-30s or later, but it can be difficult for some. The age of a woman is significant because all women have a limited number of eggs. The total number of available eggs and the quality of the eggs decrease as they age. Furthermore, older women are more likely to have fertility-related conditions such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids.
After 6 months of trying, approximately 80% of couples will conceive. Women aged 35 and up are advised to consult a fertility specialist after failing to conceive for 6 to 8 months.
Men’s fertility does not appear to decline until they reach the age of 50. However, the offspring of older men are at a higher risk of autism, especially after the age of 50.
If you are a woman, you may need to see a doctor sooner if you have certain conditions. Your partner may also be suffering from a condition that necessitates male evaluation as soon as possible.
2. Know When You Ovulate
Women are fertile only a few days each month, in the small window preceding ovulation. The number of fertile days varies not only between women but also between cycles. The more consistent your menstrual cycle, the easier it is to track your ovulation. Knowing when you ovulate is essential for determining when your fertile window is.
A woman can track her ovulation in a variety of ways. An over-the-counter ovulation predictor or ovulation test kit may be the most convenient option for some women. The kit detects the rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) that precedes ovulation in the urine.
The ovulation kit should be used first thing in the morning before you drink anything. If the test is positive, ovulation could happen anytime within the next two days.
For the best chance of pregnancy, intercourse should begin on the same day of the LH surge and every day afterward for about 3 days.
Monitoring your cervical mucus is another way to track ovulation. The cervical discharge varies throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle. The mucus will be drier immediately following the end of a period. The amount of cervical mucus increases in the days leading up to ovulation, and it will look and feel like egg whites (slippery and clear) and be stretchable to at least 2 inches between fingers just before ovulation.
During the days of slippery mucus, you have the best chance of becoming pregnant. After ovulation, the cervical discharge thickens and decreases in quantity until the next period. If you had slippery, clear mucus yesterday and notice thicker, scantier mucus today, you must have ovulated within the last 24 hours. Intercourse before and during the day of ovulation, rather than afterward, increases the likelihood of pregnancy.
Normal ovulation usually occurs between days 12 and 15 of the cycle, so if the LH kit does not become positive or if the cervical mucus doesn’t become thin and slippery during these days then you should consider seeking help.
3. Reduce Caffeine Intake
Caffeine consumption (more than 5 cups of coffee per day) has been linked to decreased fertility in women. Furthermore, drinking more than three cups of coffee per day while pregnant may increase the risk of miscarriage.
Most women can tolerate up to two 8-ounce cups of coffee per day. A small coffee at many chain coffee shops is 10 or even 12 ounces, so keep this in mind when ordering.
Caffeine can also be found in teas and energy drinks. It is recommended that you limit your daily caffeine intake to 200 milligrams or less. Drinking 1 to 2 cups of coffee or its equivalent per day before or during pregnancy has no negative effects on fertility or pregnancy outcomes.
Caffeine consumption has no effect on sperm count or motility, which is surprising.
4. Eat a Healthy Diet
When a woman is trying to conceive, she should eat a well-balanced, healthy diet. Special diets, such as vegetarian or low-fat diets, are typically appropriate for pregnant women who have chosen to live these lifestyles. There is, however, no scientific evidence that changing to a special or regimented diet will increase the chances of conception.
To help protect against neural tube defects, women who are trying to conceive should take a folate supplement (at least 800 micrograms daily).
Furthermore, recent research has demonstrated the importance of vitamin D in female fertility. Vitamin D is involved in egg development and maturation, and women who are vitamin D deficient have a lower chance of conceiving than women who are not.
This is especially true for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), where vitamin D deficiency can significantly impair ovulation and conception.
Foods that are rich in vitamin D are dairy products and oily fish such as mackerel, salmon, and tuna. Orange juices, soy milk, and cereals are also fortified with vitamin D.
5. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Obesity or being underweight can make it more difficult to conceive. These symptoms may also indicate an undiagnosed underlying health condition, such as thyroid issues, hypertension, or diabetes.
Obesity is frequently linked to ovulation problems and miscarriages. Women with a BMI of 30 or higher may have slower follicle growth and ovulate later, resulting in a lower chance of a successful pregnancy. If your cycle lasts more than 32 days, you will almost certainly require medical assistance to improve your ovulation.
Similarly, women who are extremely thin (BMI of 18 or less) may have irregular cycles or do not menstruate at all.
If at all possible, try to keep your BMI between 20 and 30. Consult your doctor if you are extremely overweight (BMI of 35 or higher) or extremely underweight (BMI of less than 18).
Do You Need a Naturopathic Doctor Specializing in Fertility in Gilbert, Arizona?
Atlas Health Medical Group in Gilbert, Arizona specializes in providing Naturopathic Fertility Treatment to the East Valley including Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, San Tan, and Queen Creek. When women with PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome start thinking about becoming pregnant, they find that it can be challenging and they may suffer from infertility. Infertility is defined as struggling to become pregnant after trying for 1 full year, or if you are over 35 years old- after 6 months of trying. Some women have even been told by their ob/gyn that they won’t be able to have a baby without IVF or a fertility specialist. However, we have worked with many women diagnosed with PCOS and I have been able to help them reach hormone balance in order to naturally conceive! We pride ourselves on setting the standards of patient care and result-driven treatments. This approach has allowed us to become the leading Naturopathic clinic in Gilbert, Arizona. Our patients return to health and live the life they intended. Contact us today for your first appointment!
