The month of April sees National Infertility Awareness Week, a full seven days dedicated to a struggle that roughly 17.5% of women in the world experience.
Infertility can be one of the most isolating experiences for both men and women. Weeks can lead to months followed by years of negative pregnancy tests, doctor appointments, and many tears shed along the way. However, if you’ve found yourself among those plagued with the struggle of infertility, you’re not alone.
Modern medicine often points to surgical procedures or assisted contraception to treat infertility, but what if we told you that we’ve uncovered ways to increase fertility naturally?
Naturopathic vs. Traditional Approaches to Infertility
More often than not, couples experiencing infertility begin their journey by seeking medical intervention from an infertility specialist. From there, doctors typically suggest various approaches, such as:
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
- Donor Eggs
- Gestational Carrier (Surrogacy)
- Egg Freezing
- Fertility Drugs
Though many couples have found success with the fertility methods mentioned above, we suggest trying natural ways to boost fertility before jumping to more invasive and costly procedures.
And that’s where naturopathy comes into play!
Naturopathy addresses the whole person, treating each patient as a unique individual. Inevitably, this approach dismisses any one-size-fits-all medical treatments for infertility by examining underlying causes to come up with a healthy, naturopathic approach tailored to the individual.
Addressing Female & Male Infertility Naturally
When discussing the topic of infertility, most minds shift towards the female reproductive system. However, both men and women are affected.
As mentioned, specific naturopathic plans to address infertility are unique to an individual and fully up to a naturopathic doctor’s discretion. However, we suggest both men and women kickstart their naturopathic fertility journey with a number of lifestyle changes, natural remedies, and dietary adjustments.
To boost fertility naturally, we suggest implementing the following:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
Being both underweight and overweight can have a negative impact on fertility. Given that BMI plays a vital role in menstrual cycle regularity, ovulation, and egg development, it’s important to determine a healthy weight when increasing fertility naturally.
- Implement daily exercise.
At least 30 minutes of daily moderate exercise is associated with a number of benefits for the body — key word in the case of infertility being ‘moderate.’ Unfortunately, excessive exercise could have a negative impact on fertility. Always notify your naturopathic doctor before introducing new exercise in order to gradually implement daily exercise without throwing off your body’s energy balance.
- Avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol.
Let’s be real: tobacco and excessive alcohol are a recipe for disaster, and that same logic applies to fertility. Boosting fertility naturally is completely possible, but both alcohol and tobacco hinder success rates by decreasing fertility in both men and women. If you’re hoping to get pregnant, ditch the tobacco and limit alcohol consumption ASAP.
- Consider supplements.
Certain vitamin deficiencies could interfere with ovulation and overall fertility. Though many women may start with a daily multivitamin, we’d suggest working closely with your naturopathic doctor to determine your individual vitamin deficiencies and establish a healthy supplement routine. If you want to begin giving your body the nutrients it needs, you can start on our Prenatal Kit featured on the shop page of our website.
- Reduce stress.
Very few physiological occurrences affect the body as frequently and as negatively as chronic stress. Though infertility is often a cause of increased stress, it’s imperative that you consult with your naturopathic doctor to discover daily routines for stress reduction and management.
- Make healthier dietary choices.
Similar to daily exercise, a healthy diet presents numerous health benefits. By eating healthier and choosing more antioxidant-rich foods, both men and women have found greater success in boosting fertility thanks to the increase in zinc and folate. Once again, it’s important to consult with your naturopathic doctor in order to determine deficiencies and implement a meal plan that’s specifically tailored to individual causes of infertility.
Success of Naturopathic Fertility Care
Naturopathic fertility care can be an incredibly successful and effective way to address infertility. In recent years, naturopathically boosting fertility has become increasingly popular because it’s both cost-effective and safe. Though success rates vary, a study in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine discovered that 79% of patients become pregnant after receiving naturopathic care.
By working closely with a naturopathic doctor and implementing the tips to increase fertility naturally mentioned above, both men and women have found great success in increasing fertility naturopathically.
Once again, if you’re struggling with infertility, you’re not alone! And if you’re ready to begin your naturopathic fertility journey, we’re here to help. Head to naturallysue.com and book a consultation with a doctor on the Naturally Sue Wellness team to address infertility naturally.
