Natural Treatment of Infertility
by Ruth Galbraith, ND
The excitement of discovering you’re pregnant and planning for the arrival of a baby is one of the greatest joys many couples experience. The pain and sorrow of being unable to conceive, or of losing a cherished pregnancy is correspondingly difficult, and can bring with it feelings of guilt, inadequacy and fear of future pregnancies being impossible or ending in miscarriage.
Infertilityby Ruth Galbraith, ND
Some 10% of reproductive-age couples suffer from infertility. Until recent years, the focus of infertility studies was heavily weighted toward the woman. It is now thought that causes of infertility are almost equally divided between men and women, and more research is being directed at causes of male infertility. Because the human reproductive system is so complex, impediments to conception may occur in many places along the reproductive route. In either men or women, the cause of infertility may lie in a number of areas, from the brain, which first signals the ovaries and testes to begin production of egg and sperm, to the gonads, to problems with maintaining a pregnancy once conception occurs. Causes of infertility may be hormonal, enzymatic, genetic, or structural. The brain may not be sending the right signals. The gonads may not be receiving signals correctly. There may be physical barriers to sperm meeting egg, or genetic, hormonal or structural imperfections may prevent successful fertilization or growth of a fertilized egg in the womb. The most common cause of miscarriage is genetic abnormalities in the fetus that are beyond anyone’s control and are not due to genetic imperfections in either partner, but rather happen by chance as the fertilized egg is dividing and multiplying. Other common causes of infertility include: scarring in the fallopian tubes, preventing egg from reaching sperm; abnormalities in sperm or sperm production; problems with a ‘hostile’ vaginal environment, causing sperm to perish before it reaches the egg; hormonal imbalances in either male or female partner leading to a glitch somewhere along the reproductive cycle (e.g. cessation of ovulation, abnormal production of sperm, endometriosis and many other problems); and underlying metabolic and endocrinological disorders that affect anything from absorption of vitamins and minerals necessary for reproduction, to hormone balance, to ability to maintain a healthy pregnancy. Conventional Treatment of Infertility
Conventional medicine has made amazing advances over recent decades, and the treatment of infertility is certainly one area where medical intervention shines. From drugs like Clomid that encourage ovulation, to artificial insemination (AI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), zygote intra-fallopian transfer (ZIFT), gamete intra-fallopian transfer (GIFT), and successful vasectomy reversals many years after the initial surgery, modern medicine has made incredible strides in its ability to help struggling couples achieve their dreams of holding a child in their arms. However, though conventional medicine has much to offer, I have nonetheless met couples who have been unable to achieve pregnancy after many years of treatment. At times, I have been rather surprised to discover that over the course of many months or even years of treatment, hormone levels were never measured, a nutritional analysis was never done, and investigation of certain disorders that may contribute to infertility was not part of the care received. Naturopathic Medicine for Infertility
Even when conventional medicine finds "no cause" of infertility or recurrent miscarriage, naturopathic doctors, who spend an average of 6 times longer with a patient at any given visit (1-1 ½ hours, as compared to 10-20 minutes), often uncover a cause that, once treated, allows a healthy, full-term pregnancy. Among the contributing causes of infertility that naturopathic doctors may discover, but which conventional medicine may never address are: Celiac Disease, hormonal imbalances, heavy metal toxicity, maldigestion, malabsorption, subclinical thyroid imbalances, food intolerances and adrenal fatigue. In general, the healthier a person is when attempting to conceive, the better the chances of conception and healthy full-term pregnancy. Naturopathic doctors are experts in nutrition, prevention of disease, and optimizing health. A naturopathic doctor can help fine tune general health, and may even uncover a disorder no other health care provider has yet considered. Additionally, naturopathic medicine has unique and very effective natural treatments for some of the chronic diseases that may plague either men or women having difficulties with conception. Some of these include hypertension, diabetes, PCOS, erectile dysfunction, poor sperm health, inhospitable vaginal environment, autoimmune disorders and endometriosis. Acupuncture for Infertility
When looking at the entire field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), acupuncture is another modality with a proven track record when it comes to treating infertility. It is often found that naturopathic doctors who work together with conventional fertility specialists and enlist the services of an acupuncturist have the best success rates of all when it comes to treating infertility. Like naturopathic medicine, acupuncture encourages the body’s own natural healing abilities. Acupuncture has been used successfully in the treatment of infertility for thousands of years, and is often used together with conventional reproductive approaches like Clomid, IVF or IUI to increase chances of the technology’s success. Acupuncture may also be used alone, for those not undergoing conventional medical treatment. Acupuncture, like naturopathic medicine, can be used to stimulate or balance hormonal activity, thus regulating menstruation, ovulation and pregnancy. In men, acupuncture can improve the concentration, volume, and motility of sperm. For both men and women, acupuncture is a great way to help mitigate the stress of infertility, and also addresses many of the hidden causes of poor health that may contribute to infertility. Chinese herbs are also often very helpful. Recent studies have shown that acupuncture can greatly improve the chances of a successful pregnancy in couples suffering from infertility. An American study showed that 51% of women undergoing IVF and acupuncture concurrently achieved pregnancy, while of those in the study who were receiving IVF alone, only 36% became pregnant. Follow up revealed that 8% of women in the acupuncture group miscarried, while the rate of miscarriage in the IVF-only group was 20%. A German study in 2002 showed similar results. If you or someone you care about is struggling with infertility, consider adding naturopathic medicine and acupuncture to the treatment regimen for the best chances of attaining a happy and healthy full-term pregnancy.