Infertility 101

Just 30 years ago, most couples could conceive naturally with no problem. In fact, an entire generation has struggled to prevent pregnancy more often than not. But now it is estimated that between 10 and 15 percent of couples have been unable to conceive after a year of trying. Why? That’s quite a loaded question... loaded with possiblities and complicated in so many ways. The most common medical causes of infertility include irregular ovulation, disorders of the Fallopian tubes, endometriosis, history of pelvic inflammatory conditions or infections, chronic use of contraceptives and hostile mucus in women. In men, it can be a varicocele, low sperm count, poor sperm motility and even problems in intercourse. It seems to be an even distribution of causes between men and women with another 20% given the term idiopathic, meaning that no one knows.

However, many of these causes are actually symptoms of undiagnosed disease, infection, lifestyle, toxicity and nutritional deficiency. Even unnoticed problems such as chemical, pesticide or radiation exposure can interfere with the delicate cycle of fertility. For instance, studies have shown that women with a history of endometriosis are often zinc deficient. Smoking, drinking, oral contraceptive use and caffeine can all also contribute to zinc depletion.

Often the production of hostile cervical mucus is a response to some undetected abnormality in the partner’s sperm, again often the result of nutritional deficiency, toxicity, smoking, drinking and social drugs. In one patient, his extremely poor sperm quality was the result of working on a television show day in and day out and being exposed to high levels of EMF radiation and electrical emissions. Frequently the man assumes that the woman is the issue, when in fact, lifestyle choices and past history can affect a man’s sperm in a way that makes it undetectable in testing, but the woman’s body will still react. For this reason, doing an intensive cleanse for the man is just as important as it is for the woman before conception.

Often women live with dysfunctional menstrual cycles their entire lives without realizing that your cycle is a symptom of your general health and that your reproductive health before conception may affect the health of your pregnancy and your baby, as well as your fertility. Just because your mother had a dysfunctional period does not mean you should. These are not hereditary traits, they are the sign of a problem and it is important they be treated as a problem:

* Irregular periods where your cycle is shorter than 27 days or longer than 31 days. * Irregular ovulation with occasional cycles or cycles that are frequent with no ovulation. * Hormonal imbalance including cycles with the pre-ovulatory phase is longer than 17 days, or the post-ovulatory phase is less than 12 days. * Amenorrhea — total lack of menstruation. * Premenstrual syndrome including sore, swollen or lympy breasts, fluid retention and bloating, food cravings, fatigue, digestive upsets, headaches, aches and pains, depression and premenstrual tension. * Dysmenorrhea — painful periods, possibly accompanied by nausea or vomiting. * Menorrhagia — dysfunction menstrual bleeding which is too profuse or frequent including clots. * Inadequate mucus — little or no fertile mucus present mid-cycle. * Recurrent vaginal infections, candida, yeast or thrush accompanied by itching, burning and possibly discharge.

In addition there are many conditions that women may have sought treatment for, but still continue to plague them. There are natural options for treatment for each of these conditions and they should be cleared up before conception including endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, STD’s, ovarian cysts, PCOS, fibroids and cervical dysplasia. Even undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction or adrenal fatigue can play a huge role in the ability to conceive. Many times an individual will test normally on a thyroid test, but still be hypothyroid symptomatically. Adrenal fatigue is something that is relatively unable to be detected in allopathic clinical testing. So exploring those possibilities may answer a lot of questions.

The reality is that many things can prevent you from conceiving, or at the very least can affect the health and well-being of your child. The time to address these issues is before you even try to conceive. Beginning with a good 21 or 30 day body cleanse and then continuing with large amounts of whole nutrition and avoiding caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and artificial foods, you can completely change your body and your chances of having a healthy, happy baby.

By also treating contributing conditions such as viral infections, chronic yeast issues, PCOS, menstrual problems, endometriosis and body pollution, you can avoid a serious health issue or dangerous illness down the road. Remember, it is not normal, nor healthy to live with infections, menstrual dysfunction, impotence, gland dysfunction, or any other chronic imbalance. Do it for your child and for youself.... before it’s too late.