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Clinical focus
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Fertility and Pregnancy
Naturopathic care can optimize fertility and support a healthy pregnancy. Whether you are thinking about wanting to conceive in the near future or want to know ways to begin supporting the body in preparing for pregnancy, a naturopathic doctor can help you prepare your body and mind for pregnancy. A common starting point in assessing your overall health to prepare for a healthy pregnancy is by completing comprehensive bloodwork to get an idea of hormone levels and to screen for any vitamin deficiencies that could affect your ability to become pregnant.
Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy:
- Missed period
- Nausea and vomiting (morning sickness)
- Breast tenderness
- Heightened sense of smell
- Fatigue
- Increased urination
- Mild cramping in early pregnancy
- Food cravings and aversions
Potential Signs and Symptoms of Infertility in Women:
- Dysmenorrhea (painful periods, underlying conditions like endometriosis and fibroids)
- Inability to conceive (inability to become pregnant despite trying regularly after 1 year)
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Menorrhagia (heavy periods)
- Dyspareunia (painful intercourse)
Potential Signs and Symptoms of Infertility in Men:
- Testicular pain or swelling (or previous testicular injury)
- Erectile dysfunction or difficulty with ejaculation
- Reduced sperm quality or count
Infertility
If you are struggling with infertility, it can be emotionally and physically challenging. A naturopathic doctor can help support you and explore various treatment options with you. Figuring out the root cause is important and involves in depth bloodwork to assess hormones and screen for any vitamin deficiencies, cycle tracking, reviewing adequate nutritional intake, etc. Working together with your fertility specialists as a team to support you is most important.
Naturopathic Approach to Support Fertility and Pregnancy
Optimizing fertility and supporting a healthy pregnancy can be achieved through the use of different naturopathic modalities such as nutrition and lifestyle counselling, botanical medicine, therapeutic supplementation, individualized bloodwork, acupuncture, etc. If you are undergoing IVF or IUI, naturopathic support before, during and after IVF and IUI can improve implantation rates and support the body and mind. IVF and IUI support can involve the use of nutritional therapies, therapeutic supplementation, and acupuncture before and after IVF and IUI to help prepare the uterus for implantation.
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FAQs
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Your Questions, Answered
It is most accurate if you wait until the first day of your missed period to take an at home pregnancy test. At home pregnancy tests measure the pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which your body starts producing about 10 days after conception.
No! Exercise during pregnancy has many benefits! It helps to reduce pregnancy complications, prepares you for labour and delivery, supports postpartum recovery, improves sleep, improves mood, helps alleviate discomfort from back pain, constipation, etc. It is important to consult your medical doctor, midwife, OB or naturopathic doctor to help you put together an exercise regime that is suitable for you. It is important to listen to your body and stop if you experience any pain.
Do you have to choose between working with a fertility clinic or working with a naturopathic doctor?
No! It should be encouraged by both your fertility clinic and your ND to collaborate on your care. Working together as a team to provide you with the best care is my top priority.
