When it comes to fertility, this can be an all-encompassing time in a women’s life. For many women, something happens and their ovaries just start “tingling” and suddenly you’re ready to make a baby… but unfortunately the stars don’t always align and many people can be left frustrated and unsure where to go.
This is where an ND can come in! There are many tools in an ND’s kit but understanding what’s going on is a good place to start. So, whenever I am supporting a woman with her fertility I consider three areas for potential optimization:
- Hormone balancing
- Egg quality
- Anatomical issues
Let me break down each of those areas to give you a better sense of how each of those comes into play.
Hormone Balancing:
As one of my sisters keenly coined the term #monesmatter, it is true that our hormones have a big impact on how we feel and on our fertility. Often when considering one’s fertility, addressing any imbalances between estrogen and progesterone are highly important.
Progesterone is our main hormone for holding a pregnancy, and thus increases significantly in the second half of the cycle. Patients with a history of miscarriages can sometimes have an issue producing enough progesterone. Estrogen on the other hand, I like to refer to as the “juicy hormone” as it is what helps vascularize (aka add blood flow to) the uterus to keep that baby nourished during a pregnancy.
Having these assessed, either through cycle monitoring with an endocrinologist or through salivary or urine testing with your ND, can help identify any underlying imbalances. Even taking it back a step further, considering your thyroid and adrenal function can be hugely helpful as these play back into your body’s ability to make progesterone and estrogen… which may have caused the imbalance in the first place!
Egg Quality:
Now there is good news and bad news here; bad news is that age (which we can’t control) is the biggest factor when it comes to egg quality. But the good news is that the other factors such as mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress, and pelvic blood flow, we can improve!
With egg quality, lifestyle factors can make a big difference. A diet high in colourful vegetables, de-stressing practices such as meditation, dog walking, talk therapy, and limiting your exposure to toxins such as cigarettes and heavy metals, are all ways to improve egg quality.
When it comes to boosting pelvic blood flow, acupuncture is an awesome way to get things flowing, not to mention is super relaxing and can help balance hormones too!
Anatomical Issues:
When it comes to physical barriers in the pelvis, this is where a gynecologist or fertility MD can really shine. Issues such as blocked fallopian tubes or a deviated uterus are things that would be seen using special imaging and require more than what is in an ND’s toolkit. So, if I’m suspicious of something anatomical, that is a great time for a referral to a fertility clinic.
At the end of the day, there are lots of things that can help balance and support your body for optimal fertility. Knowing that you are not alone and helping you to decide what’s the best route of action is what an ND can offer. From herbs, diet, meditation and acupuncture, finding the best combo for you is ultimately the key.
For questions or more info, check in with any of my ND’s.
In health,
Dr Chanel Cressman ND
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