Can A Naturopathic Doctor Help With Women’s Infertility?

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For some, it’s easy to get pregnant without any outside intervention.

For others, it seems like an impossible feat.

Infertility is defined as the inability to get pregnancy despite having frequent, unprotected sex for a period of at least a year.

If you have been struggling with infertility, naturopathic medicine can help.

Naturopathy offers holistic, patient centric solutions for the treatment of fertility challenges in women.

Keep reading to learn more about infertility in women and how a holistic pediatric naturopathic doctor near me can help.

How Common Is Infertility In Women?

Infertility is often associated with shame and stigma.

However, fertility problems are surprisingly common.

According to the Government of Canada, approximately 16% of cisgender heterosexual couples in Canada experience infertility.

About one third of these infertility struggles are caused by factors on the woman’s side.

Let’s take a look at some of those factors.

What Causes Fertility Issues In Women?

Several reproductive steps must happen correctly for pregnancy for occur, including the release of eggs from the ovaries, fertilization, and the fertilized egg’s trip to attach itself to the inside of the uterus.

Disruptions to any one of these processes may lead to infertility in women.

Therefore, exact causes of infertility are often hard to diagnosis.

However, there are several known risk factors for infertility.

1. Age

Age can have a significant impact on your ability to get pregnant.

By age 30, approximately 91% of cisgender women can still get pregnant.

By age 40, this number drops drastically to 53%.

And naturally, once menopause hits, it’s over.

One of the reasons for infertility in mature women is follicle loss, which begins speeding up by your mid 30s.

This results in fewer and poorer quality eggs, which making it more difficult to conceive and increases your risk of miscarriage.

2. Endometriosis

Endometriosis occurs when tissue in your uterus begins to grow in other places.

This may be caused by extra tissue growth as well as scarring caused by its surgical removal.

Such scarring can block your fallopian tubes and prevent sperm from reaching your eggs.

Additionally, endometriosis may also disrupt the implantation process, which can cause damage to the sperm or egg.

3. Thyroid Disorders

Hyperthyroidism, a condition which causes an underactive thyroid gland, has been linked to infertility in women.

If you have hyperthyroidism, your body may not produce enough of the hormones needed to release an egg from your ovaries.

Additionally, some of the underlying causes of hyperthyroidism, such as autoimmune disorders, can also cause infertility in women.

4. PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, is an ovulation disorder that results in hormone imbalances, which in turn can affect ovulation.

Symptoms of PCOS include insulin resistance, obesity, abnormal hair growth on the face or body, and acne.

PCOS is the most common cause of infertility in cisgender women.

5. Hormonal Imbalances

Follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are two hormones produced by the pituitary gland and are important for ovulation.

Numerous factors can cause you to experience an imbalance of these hormones, including physical and emotional stress, high or low body weight, and recent weight gain or loss.

If you are struggling with hormonal imbalances, you likely will experience irregular or missed periods.

6. Infertility In Your Partner

Perhaps unsurprisingly, fertility issues in your partner can also make it difficult to get pregnant.

Past surgery or injury to testicles, past or current cancer treatments, history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and drug and alcohol use can all contribute to fertility issues in men.

Naturopathic Tips To Improve Women’s Fertility

Naturopathic medicine can help provide solutions for many of the factors that contribute to fertility issues in women.

Below are some tips recommended by naturopathic doctors to help infertility in women.

1. Eat Antioxidant Rich Foods

If you are trying to conceive, it is important to take good care of your health before conception.

One of the ways you can do this is through good nutrition.

Antioxidants, such as those found in strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and pumpkins have been found to improve fertility on both sides of the equation.
So, next time you’re at the grocery store, load up on some antioxidant rich foods.

2. Maintain A Healthy Weight

Being significantly over or underweight can affect your ovulation.

A naturopathic doctor can help you learn how to achieve a healthier weight in order to improve your chances of getting pregnant.

3. Limit Your Use Of Recreational Substances

Not only does the use of recreational substances, such as alcohol and tobacco, contribute to infertility in women, it can also increase your risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.

Smoking can cause damage to your cervix and fallopian tubes.

On the other hand, excess alcohol consumption has been shown to reduce fertility.

Limiting your uses of recreational substances may lead to increased chances of getting pregnant.

4. Reduce Your Anxiety

Some studies suggest that anxiety and stress can affect fertility, as well as cause poorer results in infertility treatments.

The reduction of anxiety thus plays an important role in fertility.

5. Address The Root Cause Of Your Fertility Issues

Finally, naturopathic medicine works with you to find the root cause of your infertility.

While treatments like IVF attempt to overcome fertility, an Ottawa naturopathic doctor is interested in discovering why fertility issues are happening and address them at the source.

Your naturopathic doctor will also provide you with education along the way.

Book Your Appointment With Dawdy Naturopathic Today

Infertility issues can bring up a lot of mixed emotions including shame, embarrassment, and depression.

I’m Kimberly Dawdy, a naturopathic doctor with a special interest in infertility, and I can help.

Contact me today to book your first appointment.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND
Dawdy Naturopathic Clinic
6899 Sunset Blvd,
Greely, ON K4P 1C5
-https://g.page/dawdynaturopathicclinic

Dawdy Naturopathic Clinic offers a variety of naturopathic health solutions for individuals and families in Ottawa and the surrounding area.