Fertility Enhancement
At our Center we have had numerous patients who have had difficulty conceiving. I often tell them to not be surprised if after a few months of treatment they are expecting. It’s amazing what can happen when you put your body in balance.
Often times, infertility may be a symptom of hormonal imbalance, hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, impaired immune system, vitamin and mineral deficiencies and/or poor nutrition.
Most conventional infertility clinics use drug therapy, surgical and procedural interventions to promote conception. Infertility treatment can be extremely costly and can run into the range of tens of thousands of dollars. In Vitro Fertilization can cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 for each treatment. Even the best infertility clinics only have a success rate of 25% at best and the side effects of some drugs may be severe.
I will tell a couple who are having difficulty conceiving to address their hormonal imbalances and diet before spending a great deal of money on other forms of treatment. Let’s take a look at what needs to be in balance so that your body will be in optimal shape for carrying a child.
Progesterone
Progesterone means “promoting pregnancy” and plays a vital role for women trying to conceive. Progesterone enables the body to maintain a pregnancy, so those of you who have had miscarriages may want to take note of this. Progesterone makes possible the survival of the fertilized egg by promoting the implantation. Progesterone maintains the lining of the womb which feeds the developing embryo.
Progesterone is necessary to balance estrogen. If estrogen is unopposed, then women may develop infertility, endometriosis, amenorrhea (skipped periods), hypermenorrhea (heavy bleeding) and fibroids. Many of you who take birth control pills may suffer from estrogen dominance.
Lastly, progesterone is necessary for proper thyroid function. I suggest that you use natural, bioidentical progesterone in order to bring your body into balance. Natural progesterone can only be purchased from a compounding pharmacy. You may wish to contact a local compounding pharmacy to see if they know of any physicians in your area who know how to dose properly.
Thyroid
Having optimal levels of thyroid is critical for conception and a healthy pregnancy. Thyroid is essential for the healthy development of the egg, which is known as ovulation.
Hypothyroidism (low thyroid) can cause women to have a short luteal phase. They luteal phase is the time frame between ovulation and the onset of menstruation. The normal luteal phase is approximately 13 to 15 days. The luteal phase needs to be of sufficient duration to nurture a fertilized egg. Too-short a phase can cause what appears to be infertility, but is in fact failure to sustain a fertilized egg, with loss of the very early pregnancy at around the same time as menstruation would typically begin.
Hypothyroidism can cause an increase in prolactin, the hormone produced by the pituitary gland that induces and maintains the production of breast milk in a post-partum woman. Excess prolactin has a negative effect on fertility.
Optimizing your thyroid status reduces the risk of low IQ babies, pregnancy induced hypertension, low birth weight newborns, postpartum hemorrhage, stillbirths, placental abruption and congenital malformations. In addition, optimal thyroid function is required in order for the entire hormonal system to function properly.
In order to get your thyroid into the optimal range I recommend using Armour thyroid. It works extremely well with my patients and the thyroid is identical in make-up to your own. Armour thyroid contains both T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) and has been available for more than four decades.
Diet and Nutrition
Nutrition should be enhanced using a nutritionally balanced eating program. Without a good diet, it is very likely that nutritional deficiencies will develop. Vitamin and mineral supplementation are essential for optimal functioning of all the systems of the body, including the reproductive system.
An eating program which eliminates common food allergens is beneficial. A woman may be allergic or sensitive to certain foods, which may trigger responses that impede the reproductive process. For example, wheat and gluten products may cause miscarriages in women with subclinical disease of the intestines. Most women will never even know that they have these sensitivities or allergies. The most common foods that cause allergies are dairy, wheat (and other gluten products), corn, wheat, egg and soy.
Wanting a child is an instinctive desire that many couples share. The inability to conceive can put a great deal of stress on any relationship. My advice is for you to approach this in a very delicate manner. Leave the stress and worries outside the bedroom door and make sure you have fun in the process!
May the stork visit your home soon.
