The obvious goal of any fertility program is to achieve pregnancy and grow your family.
The “Plus” of the Fertility Plus program includes the extensive before, during and after healthcare to accompany your desired pregnancy.
Approximately 1 in 6 couples have trouble conceiving. There are many factors that contribute including delayed motherhood, toxins from the environment, and stressful lifestyles that affect the balance of hormones. Preconception care involves addressing these potential obstacles and developing an individualized treatment plan after a thorough history intake.
Dr. Kush will outline what tests (if any) should to be considered and the treatment time required (this may differ for each couple depending upon individual circumstances). The aim of preconception care is to optimize the health of both the female reproductive system and the sperm health prior to conceiving. The 3-6 months recommended to prepare for conception is based on the timeframe that the eggs need to mature in the ovaries before they ovulate, as well as the time the sperm require to turnover. Although many couples are eager to continue to try to conceive whilst they are undergoing naturopathic treatment, it is advised that you give your body and mind the time it needs to transform your state of fertility.
It is important to address any underlying issues (eg. heavy metals, genitourinary infections, irregular cycles, poor sperm quality etc) prior to conception in order to help improve the chances of conceiving, maintaining and giving birth to a healthy baby.
One of the benefits of preconception detoxification is that it will often make post conception detoxification such as morning sickness much easier to tolerate. Detoxification will vary from one woman or couple to the next depending on lifestyle, age, health history and overall level of health. Ongoing drainage type detoxification may be recommended but generally 3-6 weeks of more intensive cleansing will greatly improve overall health and fertility.
Although infertility is often believed to be a woman’s problem, studies indicate that approximately 30% of infertility is related to male factor problems such as structural abnormalities, low sperm count, ejaculation issues and immunologic disorders. Infertility is really a couples' problem and one that needs to be addressed together. This concept is incredibly important as the feelings of the man often get overlooked.
When a male is forced to contend with male factor infertility, he is facing an emotional journey. Men may experience profound feelings of guilt, anger, and low self-esteem, which can affect all aspects of their lives. We know that stress can affect a woman’s hormonal balance and interfere with conception and it is equally important to recognize the role of stress upon the male.
Any couple facing infertility, whether it be the male factor, female factor, a combination or unexplained, need to communicate about what is happening to them and what they are open and willing to do moving forward.
More than 90% of male infertility cases are due to low sperm counts, poor sperm quality, or both. The remaining cases of male infertility can be caused by a range of conditions including anatomical problems, hormonal imbalances, and genetic defects.
Sperm abnormalities are a critical factor in male infertility. These abnormalities include:
Risk factors for male infertility include:
Specific testing for male infertility include:
Naturopathic doctors are primary health care professionals who are dedicated to helping you achieve your optimal health.
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care that uses natural and non-invasive therapies to promote the body’s ability to heal itself on all levels. The most important goals of naturopathic medicine are to discover and treat the root causes of disease, to promote optimal health and to prevent illness. The philosophy of naturopathic medicine is founded on six principles: