Infertility - finding the cause is the first step

The environment needs to be just right for the egg to be fertilised otherwise it becomes extremely difficult and stressful which makes it harder to conceive. This is where a Naturopath comes in.

Some reasons for infertility in women include Genetic mutation - Stress - Anxiety - Depression - Absence of menstruation - coeliac disease - poorly controlled diabetes - some autoimmune diseases - tobacco use - alcohol use - PCOS - Endometriosis - oestrogen dominance - low progesterone - fibroids -

A lot of the problems mentioned above are a consequence of a genetic mutation. Finding out if there is a genetic mutation is so important to conception. Knowing this information will change your treatment plan and increase your chances of conception. This is the most common cause of infertility.

Male reproductive health is also an important factor and infertility can occur due to issues such as abnormal sperm production or function which can be connected to conditions such as diabetes or infections including STD's or overexposure to environmental toxins such as alcohol, tobacco, medications such as antibiotics and steroids.

Stress and anxiety has a large impact on fertility as well as post pregnancy and can be a risk factor for post natal depression. A herbal formula can be created specifically for you signs and symptoms to manage both of these.

Fertility can be affected by both stress and anxiety levels. Stress affects the hypothalamus which is a gland in the brain that controls the hormones that are required to release eggs. When the hypothalamus is affected by stress and anxiety it can cause irregularity in ovulation or even no ovulation. No eggs = no pregnancy. It is called ‘stress induced anovulation’.

It is also important to address any anxiety and depression prior to conception. When there is a history of anxiety and depression prior to pregnancy there is a higher risk of it reoccurring and intensifying during pregnancy and after the baby is born. This can lead to complications during pregnancy and post natal depression.

Planning a family is an exciting time and sometimes there is no planning involved. Either way one of the most important factors that is often overlooked is preconception care.

Preconception care has many components. Some examples are, nutrition, fitness level and toxin exposure. All of which play a role in the ability to conceive as well as the level of complications during pregnancy and after birth.

Planning and setting up the internal environment for at least 3 months prior to conception is the ideal time to start.

What is the treatment plan for infertility?

Everyone is different and therefore each and every treatment plan will also be different with a different time frame as some areas take longer to repair than others.

For a lot of patients there is a genetic mutation that is preventing them from conceiving. Once this is identified via functional testing changes can be made to bypass this mutation giving you a much better chance at conceiving.

It also depends on the presenting symptoms eg PCOS, insulin resistance, oestrogen dominance, low progesterone and overall reproductive health.While most of these symptoms/conditions are also connected to the genetic mutation improvements to health will need to also be made prior to conceiving to ensure a successful healthy pregnancy.

It takes two to make a baby which also means that if infertility is an issue then both parties involved need to be analysed. This is the reason why people choose to see a Naturopath as we have a holistic approach to natural health and treat the underlying cause as well as the presenting symptoms. We tailor everything just for you. Your plan may include dietary changes, a herbal tonic, nutritional supplements, lots of mapping, and taking temperatures.

Who am I?

I am a Bachelor qualified Naturopath who specialises in improving metabolic processes in the body. Major areas for improvement include gut, thyroid, kidney, skin and liver health. Conditions such as hypothyroidism, fatty liver, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type II diabetes, & irritable bowel conditions. I help my patients by giving them symptomatic relief while working on repairing the underlying causes of metabolic stress and waste accumulation. Patients experience amazing results which are seen in their blood tests with improved thyroid markers, cholesterol, and liver markers.  As well as lower blood pressure and see relief from improved gastrointestinal symptoms like the ones that mean you need to know where every single toilet is before you leave the house.

Melissa Callaghan BHSc, BTeach
Clinical Naturopath

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