For many people conceiving a child is simple, natural, and joyous.
While it can still be joyful and rewarding, for others the fertility journey is also long and winding.
People face infertility for many different reasons, everything from past injuries to chronic health conditions to environmental and lifestyle factors.
Identifying and treating infertility can be expensive, time consuming, and stressful.
Naturopathic medicine offers treatment options that can complement other fertility treatments, increase chances of conception, and treat infertility at its root.
A naturopathic doctor can offer support for the individual, the partnership, and the family along the way.
Note: the information on this page is written with cisgender men and women, and people in heterosexual pairings in mind.
What Is Infertility?
Infertility is a catch all term that refers to a range of situations.
Medically, a person or a couple is considered infertile if they have not conceived a child after a year or more of frequent, unprotected sexual intercourse, or after 6 months for people over 35.
Natural conception is a multistage process, and success at each stage depends on several factors.
First, one or both ovaries must release an ovum, or egg cell, in a process known as ovulation.
Within a few hours or days, sperm must travel past the cervix, through the uterus and into the fallopian tubes to meet the egg.
Millions of sperm will travel together and if one is able to reach and penetrate the egg, a blastocyst will begin to form.
The blastocyst travels through the fallopian tube into the uterus.
In the uterus, the blastocyst will shed its outer shell, the zona pellucida, and implant into the lining of the uterus.
Once fully implanted, the blastocyst develops into an embryo, and later into a fetus.
For all of this to happen successfully conditions have to be just right.
In men, fertility depends on:
- Producing healthy sperm
- Sperm travelling from the testicles into the semen
- Having enough sperm in the semen
- Proper movement and function of the sperm
For pregnancy to occur in women, each of the following steps must happen correctly:
- The ovaries release healthy, mature eggs
- The fallopian tube picks up the egg
- Sperm swim through the cervix and uterus into the fallopian tube and fertilize the egg
- The fertilized egg moves from the fallopian tube into the uterus
- The fertilized egg implants into the inner lining of the uterine wall
At each of these stages, physical structures, hormone levels, chemical imbalances, medical conditions and more can prevent pregnancy.
What Causes Infertility in Men?
Infertility in men can be the result of medical, environmental, or health and lifestyle factors.
Medical causes of infertility in men include:
- Varicocele, a swelling of the blood vessels that drain the testicles, that can lead to decreased sperm quality and sperm counts
- Blockages in any of the tubes in the sperm’s pathway, such as the vas deferens, ejaculatory ducts, or urethra
- Retrograde ejaculation, when semen enters the bladder instead of exiting from the head of the penis during ejaculation
- Undescended testicles are associated with decreased fertility
- Tumors, cancerous or not, that impact hormone production or other key functions
- Past surgeries that may have blocked or severed the vessels that deliver sperm into semen
- Infections that disrupt sperm production, or create scarring that prevents sperm from travelling as needed
- Autoimmune conditions that lead antibodies to attack sperm cells
- Hormone imbalances in the testicles, hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, or adrenal glands
- Chromosomal disorders or genetic disorders that impact development of the reproductive organs, like Klinefelter’s syndrome, Kallmann’s syndrome, and cystic fibrosis
- Some medications, including anabolic steroids, chemotherapy, ulcer drugs, and arthritis drugs
Excessive exposure to certain environmental factors can impact sperm production or function.
Industrial chemicals, radiation, or x-rays can reduce sperm production temporarily or, in cases of high exposure, permanently.
Exposure to heavy metals is also linked with infertility in men.
Infertility in men is also associated with use of certain kinds of drugs, alcohol consumption, smoking tobacco, and obesity.
Long term use of anabolic steroids can cause sperm production to decrease, while use of cocaine or marijuana may temporarily impact the quality and quantity of sperm.
Alcohol can impact testosterone levels and sperm production, and it may cause erectile dysfunction.
Liver disease, which can be brought on by excessive drinking, can also impact fertility in men.
Obesity is associated with hormone changes in the body, which may lead to imbalances in the hormones involved in fertility in men.
What Causes Infertility in Women?
In women, infertility is often more difficult to diagnose than it is in men.
A range of factors can prevent or impact conception at any stage in the process.
It’s important to note that in some cases, a cause for fertility cannot be identified.
In many cases, however, treatments and lifestyle changes can make all the difference.
Ovulation Disorders
Most cases of infertility are connected to issues with ovulation.
Ovulation disorders can be the result of hormone regulation or problems in the ovary.
Ovulation disorders include:
- PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, the most common cause of infertility in women – hormone imbalances lead to issues with ovulation and irregular menstruation
- Hypothalamic dysfunction can impact the production of hormones that stimulate the release of eggs from the ovaries
- Primary ovarian insufficiency can be brought on by chemotherapy, genetics, or an autoimmune response, and can result in low estrogen production and the end of egg production
- Excess prolactin produced by the pituitary gland can reduce the production of estrogen
Tubal Infertility
Damage or blockage in the fallopian tubes can either prevent sperm from travelling to the egg or keep the blastocyte, or fertilized egg, from passing into the uterus.
Common causes of damage to the fallopian tubes include history of ectopic pregnancy, past abdominal or pelvic surgeries, and pelvic inflammatory disease,
Ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube.
Ectopic pregnancies are usually surgically removed because they pose a significant health risk – this can lead to scar tissue blocking the fallopian tube.
Other surgeries in the abdominal cavity and the pelvis can also cause scarring that blocks one or both fallopian tubes.
Pelvic inflammatory disease occurs when the uterus and fallopian tubes become infected due to a sexually transmitted infection.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition in which the endometrium, the tissue that lines the uterus, begins to grow in other places.
This tissue is often removed surgically, and both endometrial tissue and surgical scar tissue can make it harder for the egg and sperm to find each other.
In addition, endometriosis can prevent fertilized eggs from implanting in the uterus.
Uterine or Cervical Health
Although many people have healthy pregnancies despite them, polyps and fibroids in the uterus can block the fallopian tubes or interfere with implantation.
An unusually shaped uterus, a weak cervix, or a narrowed cervix can all cause difficulties in becoming or remaining pregnant.
Cervical mucus also impacts fertility – if the cervix does not produce the best type of mucus, sperm may have difficulty travelling into the uterus.
Can Naturopaths Help with Fertility?
Many people find medical treatments for infertility stressful and tiring.
In addition, the cost of procedures and medications can really add up.
A person or couple may choose to see a naturopathic doctor for fertility support instead of seeking medical treatment, or in addition to it.
Either way, a naturopath will work to identify underlying causes of infertility and take a whole person approach to addressing them.
For any health concern a naturopathic doctor starts by collecting information to build a complete picture of the person or couple’s health.
For fertility treatment, naturopathic doctors look at family and personal medical history, diet and exercise, environment, sleep, life stress, menstrual cycles, and efforts to conceive so far.
A naturopathic doctor may also order tests and imaging if they are needed to help identify factors contributing to infertility.
Depending on the underlying challenges, naturopaths may suggest:
- Optimizing nutrition
- Lifestyle counseling
- Micronutrient support
- Stress management
- Menstrual cycle management
Ovulation Disorders
There are many naturopathic solutions that can address problems with ovulation.
Hormones such as estrogen, prolactin, melatonin, and progesterone can all impact ovulation and the likelihood of implantation.
Nutrition and exercise are key factors in stabilizing and balancing hormone levels.
A naturopathic doctor might suggest an exercise plan, a course of vitamin supplements, and a plan to reduce environmental or dietary exposure to substances that influence hormone production.
Scarring, Damage, and Fibroids
Scar tissue, injuries or damage from infection, and polyps and fibroids can all make it more difficult for sperm and eggs to travel, and for fertilized eggs to implant in the uterus.
Dietary changes, micronutrients, massage and acupuncture can all help heal tissues, reduce scarring, and prevent the growth of new polyps and fibroids.
Naturopathic treatments can also improve the production of cervical mucus, helping sperm move through the uterus and fallopian tubes even where scarring is present.
Poor Sperm Health
Sperm quality, quantity, and motility – the ability to ‘swim’ – are all key elements of men’s fertility.
Based on the needs and history of each person, naturopathic doctors might recommend lifestyle adjustments, diet and micronutrient supplementation, and stress management.
Drugs, smoking, and alcohol use all impact the production of healthy sperm.
A naturopath can offer support with smoking cessation, and offer micronutrient supports and counselling to ease the transition away from tobacco, drugs, and alcohol.
Book Your Appointment with Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND, Today
Seeking treatment for fertility can be emotionally challenging.
A naturopathic approach to fertility looks at menstrual and reproductive health but also takes a step back to understand the whole body, both partners’ health and needs, and the family context.
Book your appointment with Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND, today to take the next step on your fertility journey.