In our experience at
, a majority of patients who have taken fertility drugs suffer from a wide range
of side effects ranging from fatigue, irritability and depression to bloating,
pelvic pain, weight gain, ovarian cysts, nausea, vomiting and insomnia. In addition,
drug therapies and related assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) used to
help women achieve conception can be quite expensive, and are often not covered
by medical insurance plans. A better approach, from both a health safety and
financial perspective, is to consider natural medicine treatments for infertility.
(Please note that if the cause of the infertility is blocked fallopian tubes,
natural medicine treatment is not an option.)
In our experience at
, an underactive thyroid gland, a condition referred to as hypothyroidism, is
perhaps the most common hidden factor causing infertility in women. While modern
medical practitioners usually test the thyroid, they miss most of the cases because
they put unwarranted reliance on the TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) results.
The so-called normal range of TSH is derived from an American population among
whom hypothyroidism is common. As a result, the “normal” range is
not accurate. In fact, many of our patients have become pregnant once thyroid
medication was started. In addition, patients with a tendency to have early miscarriages
can also be helped by safe and inexpensive thyroid therapy.
Stress or depression also plays a key role in infertility. Pregnancy rates
after treatment of depression approximate the success rate of the fertility drugs.
Infertility is a very emotional issue for most women, and the pressure to conceive
definitely reduces the chances of success. We all know or have heard of couples
who finally conceived when they stopped trying so hard and relaxed, or when they
decided to adopt! Natural medicine treatment for stress and depression offers
effective alternatives to anti-depressant drugs.
Infertility may also be due to a failure to ovulate. Testing and balancing
of hormones using natural hormone treatment can help. We test the levels of sex
hormones at multiple intervals throughout the woman’s menstrual cycle in
order to determine which component (estrogen or progesterone) in the ovulatory
process is missing or deficient. Sometimes lack of central hypothalamic stimulation
of the ovaries can be overcome using non-hormonal glandulars made from beef or
sheep hypothalamus, and thus the side effects and cost from the gonadotrophic
drugs can be avoided.
Gonadal failure can also be caused by heavy metals, which seriously interfere
with endocrine gland function. Anyone who has smoked has had multiple amalgam
dental fillings or eats a lot of fish could be a candidate for heavy metal testing.
If detected, the metals must be chelated out before endocrine function can be
restored.
A variety of other conditions can be associated with female infertility, including:
- gluten sensitivity (celiac disease)
- endometriosis
- excessive coffee, tea, or soda intake or inadequate caloric intake
- environmental toxins
- being under or overweight
- selenium, magnesium, B12, or folic acid deficiency
- smoking and alcohol consumption
- exercise-induced anovulation
Fortunately all of these conditions are easy to treat with the help of natural
treatment.
Here’s a summary of what’s usually involved in a natural medicine
consultation for infertility for both members of the couple:
- food allergy testing
- metabolic typing
- hormone testing
- getting an ovulation kit to determine if the female is ovulating: no spike
at ovulation means probably no ovulation
- daily temperature checks for both the male and the female: low body temperature
means low hormones
- have intercourse on days 7, 9, 11, and 13, assuming the woman ovulates on
day 14 of her cycle
- loose-fitting clothing and underwear for the man
- getting down to the ideal body weight
In fact, one of the simplest things for an infertile couple to do is get down
to their ideal body weight. This often self-corrects a lot of biochemical abnormalities.
In our experience many women who have difficulty conceiving have been on birth
control pills for a long time, so they need to lower estrogen. Hormonal and allergic
imbalances would also need to be addressed. In addition, women with menstrual
irregularities often have too many omega 6 fats and/or B vitamin deficiencies.
We treat this with omega 3 and vitamin B supplements. Progesterone deficiencies
have been found to lead to early miscarriages. This is easily treatable with
a little progesterone cream and chasteberry supplement. Finally, back pain may
also interfere with conception, and Chiropractic treatment for the back pain
has been known to deal with infertility issues. Chiropractic is a simple, natural
technique that helps the body heal injured and weakened tendons and ligaments
by stimulating the nervous system (master controller of your body). |
