Fertility

Nothing is more rewarding than helping a couple achieve a healthy pregnancy and guide them into parenthood. There are so many factors affecting fertility. We work with women and couples in all stages of healthy fertility. 

• Pre-conception: 
  • We want to help mama optimize her hormonal landscape for a healthy pregnancy. Learning to eat clean, live clean, and minimize environmental toxins will help to prepare her body for a healthy pregnancy. 
  • It is important to assess for possible environmental toxin exposures, nutrient deficiencies, and potential hormone imbalances. 

• Healthy menstrual cycle: 
  • We want to help assess and regulate her hormone balance and assure her cycles are supportive of conception. If her cycles are too short, too long, too close together, or too far apart, her chances of conceiving are much less.  
  • Our doctors assess for possible hormone imbalance by reviewing her menses history, measuring hormones (blood tests), and monitoring ovulation. 

• Pregnancy – the 10-month journey: 
  • As magical as the transformation of pregnancy is, there are many steps along the way, many associated symptoms and many naturopathic treatments available to support her through the 10 months.
  • The doctors at Living Wellness offer adjunct naturopathic care during pregnancy. We do not provide obstetric care or deliveries. Your Living Wellness physician will discuss the potential options and give you referrals for MDs/obstetricians and or midwives in the Phoenix Valley.  

• Fourth Trimester: 
  • The doctors at Living Wellness offer support for new moms in those first few months after baby arrives. There is so much change, and there are many naturopathic supportive approaches. 

Possible causes of infertility: 

• Uterine problems 
  • Endometriosis 
  • Polyps 
  • Fibroids
  • Scarring 
• Tubal problem 
  • Prior infections can cause scarring and close the tubes
  • Adhesions in the pelvis keeping the tubes closed 
  • Endometriosis 
  • Damage from prior ectopic pregnancies 
• Ovulatory or cycle problems 
  • Hypothyroid affecting cycle regularity 
  • Adrenal insufficiency affecting cycle regularity
  • Low body weight affecting healthy hormones needed cycle regularity 
  • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) 
  • Prolactinoma or a prolactin-secreting tumor in the brain 
  • Premature ovarian failure or early menopause 
• Cervical problems 
  • Polyps or stenosis (narrowing) of the cervical canal 
  • Infections
  • Cervicitis or infection/inflammation of the cervix 

Fertility Nutrients (source Spectracell Laboratories). We often measure these Micronutrients in a blood test to individualize our nutrient treatments. 

• Vitamin C deficiency – lowers progesterone production.
• Vitamin D deficiency – causes arrested follicular development.
• Vitamin A deficiency – teratogenic defects and increased newborn morbidity risk.
• Vitamin E deficiency – causes infertility.
• General B-vitamin deficiency – decreased ATP and cellular energy production.
• Folic Acid deficiency – leads to spontaneous abortion and neural tube defects.
• Vitamin B12 deficiency – reduced DNA and RNA production.
• Pantothenate deficiency – lowers progesterone production.
• Vitamin B6 deficiency – disrupts estrogen metabolism.
• Vitamin B3 deficiency – increased DNA damage.
• Calcium deficiency – abnormal hormonal messaging.
• Magnesium deficiency – disrupts estrogen and progesterone metabolism.
• Zinc deficiency – leads to birth defects, low birth weight, and infertility.
• Chromium deficiency – worsens blood sugar and exacerbates PCOS.
• Selenium deficiency – increases sperm and egg cell oxidation.
• Choline deficiency – abnormal fetal nervous system development.
• Inositol deficiency – causes abnormal fetal development.
• Carnitine and glutathione deficiencies–abnormal fetal development, birth defects, & spontaneous abortion.
• Carnitine and CoQ10 deficiencies – reduction in sperm motility and sperm count.
• Poor antioxidant function – contribute to both male and female infertility.

Learn About Obstacles to Fertility in Our Free Webinar Replay

Naturopathic Treatments for Infertility

To successfully treat infertility, it is imperative that your physician assess the underlying root cause so that they can individualize their treatment. Treatments will vary depending on if you are dealing with a uterine problem, an ovulatory problem, a tubal problem, or a cervical problem or a combination. Treatments will include a combination of the following: 

• Herbal medicine
• Homeopathy 
• Nutritional medicine. Check out the nutrient deficiencies associated with fertility 
• Hormone support or possible bioidentical hormone therapy 
• Microcurrent 
• Environmental medicine