Fertility and IVF Support
Preconception Health care
One of the most important components of preconception health care is that both parents optimize their health and wellness prior to conceiving their child. Factors such as poor diet and lifestyle habits, inadequate nutrient intake, stress, thyroid imbalance and toxins can impact on hormonal balance and cause decreased fertility in both men and women. Today, it seems quite common for couples to encounter a problem with fertility and we are now seeing a dramatic increase in referrals to IVF practitioners, herbalists and acupuncturists.
Natural Fertility treatment helps couples optimize their health and wellbeing for natural conception by addressing lifestyle and dietary factors that support a healthy body. For many women, identifying hormonal problems and understanding fertile signs during their menstrual cycle has been lost due to the use of the oral contraception pill. By teaching women cycle charting and temperature observation, women learn to identify signs associated with hormonal imbalance, stress cycles as well as optimal fertile signs that increase a healthy conception.
Men’s health is often over looked in preconception care but has been shown to be a rising cause in 68% of infertility cases. In Australia, it is estimated that 1 in 20 men have some kind of fertility problem due to poor sperm development. A highly processed diet, emotional, physical or toxic stress as well as poor lifestyle factors can impact on the quality of sperm health and male fertility problems. Complications in pregnancy such as miscarriage and severe nausea are often due to poor sperm or egg quality that cannot be overridden or corrected by IVF procedures.
To optimize fertility and hormonal health, good dietary habits and nutritional support should commence 3 to 4 months prior to conceiving. The critical stage for neural tube closure in the developing fetus is around day 21 to 24 of a women’s cycle once she has conceived. Therefore supplementing with folate prior to this time is essential in preventing neural tube defects. Folate is only one of the vital nutrients that a developing baby requires at conception. Folate supplementation should not be used alone and can often mask a B12 deficiency, so it is essential that women are assessed and prescribed the appropriate combined nutrients that support cellular function and hormonal health for both mother and developing baby. Other essential nutrients include; Iodine, vitamin A & D, magnesium, calcium, iron, essential fatty acids such as DHA and optimal Zinc intake in conjunction with a healthy well balanced, low GI and chemical free diet.
Research indicates that a preconception period that focuses on improving the health of both partners is optimal in achieving a healthy full term pregnancy and provides your new child with the building blocks essential to good health.
IVF Support
There is a lot of controversy around the use of herbal medicine during preconception and IVF treatment. Many Gynecologists and IVF specialists insist that couples avoid herbal treatment during up regulation and transfer of eggs to avoid interference of IVF procedures. Treatment supporting fertility health both prior to and post IVF treatment with herbal and nutritional supplementation has been both supported and recommended by many studies.
Any treatment that optimizes both your total health and fertility during IVF treatment needs to be encouraged and recommended to couples. A study by Foresight, the Association for Pre-conceptual Health care in the UK has shown that couples going through IVF are up to 47% more successful if they used a preconception health care program prior to IVF treatment. Optimizing sperm and egg health prior to fertilization both increases successful conception and decreases the risks associated with miscarriage and DNA damage that may contribute to problems during pregnancy and post birth.
Preconception health care improves chromosome and mitochondria production, pregnancy health and your child’s long term health out come.
Pregnancy & Post Pregnancy care
The news that you are pregnant is a wonderful time for most women, especially if their fertility has delayed there dream of having a baby. Quite often though, once conception has occurred many women neglect the fact that a stress free pregnancy and optimal nutrition is an essential part of their pregnancy and post natal plan . A baby’s body is built entirely from the nutrient reserves of its mother. If your developing baby is in need of key nutrients when there are not enough to go around, your babies needs will always come first. As a result, any nutritional deficiency in a mother before she conceives or during her pregnancy will affect her health during and post pregnancy. Tiredness, fatigue, nausea, morning sickness, cravings, pre-eclampsia and post natal depression are all related to nutritional deficiencies, either as a result of increased demand or poor reserves in a mother’s body to begin.
Your protein needs increase dramatically during pregnancy as well as your need for essential vitamin and minerals such iron, B12, folate, magnesium, calcium, vitamin D, iodine and essential fatty acids that are required to build organs, glands, muscles, bones and brain development of your new child. Your diet and nutrient intake needs to sustain you and your baby’s needs during your pregnancy, birthing and most importantly support your postpartum recovery. A healthy, well balanced diet combined with appropriate nutritional and herbal support will ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby whilst providing you with the building blocks to recover after the birth of your child.
Written by Cheryl Penna
Naturopath specializing in fertility issues for both men & women
