Naturopathic Fertility Solutions
Fertility, Naturally
Let’s talk fertility, as always from the naturopathic perspective. First, why should we care about fertility, especially if becoming pregnant isn’t on one’s mind? Here are 2 important reasons:
Reason #1: Fertility is synonymous with optimal health.
Our bodies are designed to reproduce, and it prioritizes these functions above many others. Fertility is a sign of youth, balance, abundance, and vital force – it’s the peak state of the body’s temple. Even if pregnancy isn’t your goal, aiming for optimal fertility will naturally bring all aspects of your health into alignment so that you look, feel, and function your best.
Reason #2: Infertility is on the rise for both women and men.
Infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant after at least 1 year of unprotected sex. Unfortunately, this is a common problem – in the U.S., 1 in 5 *women are infertile (plus 1 in 4 of them have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term) and the there’s been a progressive and significant decline in men’s sperm count and quality over the past few decades.
*Women aged 15-49 years with no prior births
For those who do want to get pregnant, now or in the near future, let’s discuss the what, who, why, and when of preconception care.
What is preconception care?
Preconception care is the time and efforts spent prepping one’s mind, body, and spirit for bringing a new life into this world. It ensures a healthy environment for gametes (reproductive cells) to grow and typically involves mindset, nutrition, lifestyle, supplementation, as well as appropriate medical management.
Who needs preconception care?
The emphasis of preconception care tends to be on women; however, men are an essential part of the equation. Remember it takes 1 egg and 1 sperm to get pregnant – that 1 sperm is half of your future child, and it needs to be in tip top shape as well. Pregnancy is a partnership, both partners should be involved, proactive, and supportive throughout the journey.
Why Seek preconception care?
Once conception (the joining of the egg and sperm, AKA fertilization) occurs, placental development begins within the next week – it happens fast, you want to have done with prep work ahead of time. Good preconception care is critical for optimizing one’s ability to conceive, minimizing the risk of pregnancy complications, and promoting the health of your future baby.
When to start preconception care?
One should start preparing for pregnancy at least 3-4 months before trying to conceive, although up to 12 months is even better. This is because it takes the egg and sperm about 4 months to develop and mature – so you need this amount of time to maximize their health by taking in the right nourishment and taking out sources of harm.
Now that we understand all things preconception care, let’s discuss it’s core components with general recommendations – all of which directly impact egg and sperm quality:
Good Nutrition
✓ Well-balanced, Mediterranean style diet filled with whole, organic foods
Fertility-harming factors include trans fats, simple sugar, gluten, dairy, processed meat/soy, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs
✓ Appropriate supplementation (e.g., a quality prenatal, fish oil, probiotic)
Talk to your ND about other supportive supplementation and repletion protocols
✓ Emphasis on antioxidants (e.g. vitamin C) and mitochondrial support (e.g. CoQ10)
The egg has the highest number of mitochondria in the body and mitochondrial dysfunction as well as oxidative stress are primary causes of poor egg quality
Toxic Burden
✓ Assess toxic load with screening/testing and remove all toxic exposures
Heavy toxin exposure is a leading theory behind increasing infertility rates and a study from the EWG found an average of 200 industrial compounds, pollutants, and other chemicals in newborn cord blood
✓ Support organs of elimination (skin, liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph, bowels)
Sweating, liver/kidney support, deep breathing, lymph drainage, regular bowel movements
✓ Do a medically supervised detox if indicated (targeted or general options)
This should be done before conception to avoid fetal toxin exposure
Hormone Balance
✓ Test and optimize hormone levels (including sex-, stress-, thyroid-, metabolic hormones)
Estrogen builds the uterus and progesterone holds the fertilized egg within it!
✓ Make sure you are ovulating; track your cycles and monitor for signs
Signs of ovulation:0.4-0.8 F increase in temperature, egg-white discharge, higher cervix
✓ Rule out hormonal related causes of infertility (e.g. low progesterone, PCOS, endometriosis)
Non-hormonal causes should be ruled out as well (e.g. genetic abnormalities)
Stress & Emotions
✓ Reduce your workload and manage stressors
Stress can inhibit reproduction by interfering with the brain to ovary communication
✓ Support stress levels with relaxation practices, adaptogens, therapies like acupuncture
✓ Make energetic space for future baby, your body needs to feel that you are ready
Medical Care
✓ Pre-existing diseases/medications should be well-managed before trying to conceive
✓ One should be up to date with gynecological screenings (such as PAP smears)
✓ It may take around 3 months for cycles to re-regulate after coming off birth control
Although not mentioned above, it goes without saying that regular exercise, quality sleep, and maintaining a healthy body weight should be part of the preconception care plan.
Now, the question you’ve been waiting to ask – when is the best time to have sex for getting pregnant? The fertile window is 6 days long: 4 days before ovulation, ovulation day, and 1 day after ovulation. So, you can plan to have regular (every other day) and joyful sex during this time span!
Remember that certain aspects of preconception care may not be appropriate once pregnancy occurs – some may even be dangerous, such as taking certain herbs or nutrients in high amounts - talk to your doctors about transitioning to pregnancy specific care.
Keep in mind this is just an overview of the basics – preconception care has many depths and should be individualized to the person. It is highly recommended to work with a fertility specialist (such as an ND and gynecologist) to help guide you throughout your preparations, especially for cases of infertility.
Lastly, fertility and egg quality does decline with age due to natural causes and cumulative damage, but this doesn’t mean pregnancy is not possible for you – it just might require some extra support from your fellow health professionals!
Take Control Of Your Fertility Now
If you are ready to get start focusing on natural fertility, reach out to the EmpowerMed team of naturopathic doctors today. We take a collaborative approach to natural medicine, partnering with patients to help them achieve their unique health and wellness goals.
Contact us today at 760-456-7501 or use our booking link to schedule.
EmpowerMed Clinic is located just off the I-15 and Carroll Canyon within the Fitness Quest 10 Wellness Center of Scripps Ranch, San Diego County, CA. We serve the communities of North County San Diego, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, 4S Ranch, Mira Mesa, Ramona, Scripps Ranch, Santee, and more.
Written by Jordan Valdez, ND, RD
References
Dr. Chasse-Smeaton ND
Environmental Working Group