Fertility

It is always my hope that those wishing to get pregnant come to see me before they try to conceive (TTC). In this scenario, we have time to prepare the body and address any deficiencies. Preparation may look like:

• Running lab work to assess and address deficiencies

• Supporting the liver’s detox pathways

• Regulating menstrual cycles

• Assessing the foundations of health and optimizing health overall

While that may be ideal, it’s pretty rare that we actually prepare for fertility. Rather, when we decide we want to become pregnant, we want to be pregnant like yesterday! In these cases, we avoid detox and certain herbs/nutrients, but there is still lots we can do to support the body.

In many cases, patients come for an assessment because they have been trying to conceive and have not been successful, or they’ve experienced a miscarriage or recurrent miscarriages. Whichever point you’re at in your fertility journey, there’s always a way for us to start supporting you. Our approach in these cases always goes back to the foundations of health - assessing and addressing the following:

• Sleep and energy

• Stress levels and oxidative stress

• Nutrition

• Digestion

• Female hormones

• Blood sugar levels and insulin regulation

• Nutrient status

• Liver function

• Oxidative stress

• Thyroid function

• Mitochondrial function

Step-by-step approach to treatment

Comprehensive intake and relevant lab testing
We always start by discussing your complete health history, any past pregnancies, and your current experience of trying to conceive. Equally important to assess are the foundations of health, including your stress and energy levels, your sleep and your digestive health. Relevant lab testing is always discussed. By obtaining lab results - specifically bloodwork - we get a clearer insight into the function of your body’s physiology. These insights are a great tool for guiding treatment for fertility. Naturopathic doctors are trained to look for lab results to be within optimal ranges, not just what may be considered conventionally “normal”. This is because you may be within all the normal lab parameters but still experiencing very real symptoms.

Lab tests commonly run to assess health status and fertility concerns may include:

• Female hormones

• Ovarian reserves

• Blood insulin and glucose markers

• Cholesterol panel

• Nutrient status

• Liver panel

• Thyroid function

• Inflammatory markers
  

Supporting the foundations of health
While waiting for labs, we always start treatment by addressing the foundations of health that need support. These include stress levels, sleep quality, energy levels, digestive function and nutrient deficiencies.

Customized treatment plan
Once lab results have been interpreted, a customized treatment plan will be created just for YOU to optimize health for successful fertility. This is not a one-size-fits-all treatment plan, but one that is specific to your individual health concerns, and that addresses your body’s physiology. You will leave your appointment with your written treatment plan as well as any relevant handouts so that you feel equipped to start your treatments when you get home and a plan for when to try to conceive.
We understand that starting on a new regime of supplements and implementing lifestyle and dietary changes can be overwhelming. If you need support along the way, know that we are here for you. Additional check-in appointments can be made to support you on your journey to optimal health.

Follow up testing and treatment adjustments
Depending on your initial lab results, repeating labs in 3 months after the initiation of your treatment plan may be recommend to see progress of treatment. A discussion will always be had about what supplements should be stopped when you become pregnant, however it is still recommended to check in with your naturopathic doctor to discuss which supplements to continue and which to stop.

Maintenance - addressing any new concerns
It is our hope that if your goal is to become pregnant, we will see you through that process and also support you during your pregnancy. Pregnancy check-ins occur at least once per trimester as well as scheduled postpartum appointments.