Assisted Reproduction & IVF Support
Assisted reproduction, including intrauterine injections (IUI), in-vitro fertilization (IVF), sperm/egg-donor use and others, is becoming a go-to solution for couples wanting to conceive. Depending on the couple’s or individual’s case (health, medical history, et.), assisted reproduction has very good outcomes and is a ray of hope for those wanting to start a family.
We have assisted a number of couples and individuals throughout the assisted reproduction process. Depending on your fertility physician, they may wish to limit exposure to herbal medicines that have a hormonal effect while you undergo reproductive therapy since this therapy often involves taking hormones. Typical hormones and drugs given for fertility are: progesterone, Clomid, Pregnyl, Novarel, Ovidrel, Profasi. Follistim, Fertinex, Bravelle, Gonal-F, Pergonal, Repronex, Metrodin. Factrel, Lutrepulse, Lupron, Zoladex, Synarel, Antagon, Cetrotide and others.
We can work with your fertility physician to support you as you take fertility drugs and manage your side effects, which are common with these types of medications. It is also important to work on your other health conditions while undergoing fertility treatments as if left unchecked, these may hinder your conception results. For example, untreated or poorly treated low thyroid function (hypothyroid) can decrease your risk of carrying the fetus to term. Obesity, diabetes, bacterial vaginosis and chronic yeast infection (vaginitis) are other examples. We can assist with these health concerns.
We have a keen understanding of what deficiencies may lower your rate of conception and increase your risk of miscarriage. With these tools, we are well suited to provide you with safe and effective treatments for fertility and pregnancy.
Our assessment will include a review of:
- medical history, including surgery, infections, etc.
- type of assisted fertility selected
- family history
- medication use, especially fertility drugs prescribed
- natural supplement use
- health systems, i.e. heart, lung, ear, eye, kidney, bladder, etc.
- existing blood tests (if any), e.g. hormone panel, CBC, CRP, AMH
- existing diagnostic tests, e.g. fertility assessment from your fertility physician, ultrasound, sperm analysis, etc.
- female reproductive status: menstrual cycle frequency and symptoms, absence of menstrual cycle, PMS, PCOS, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, history of Chlamydia or gonorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease and others
- male reproductive: varicocele, cystocele, history of undescended testicles, history of mumps, previous infections, previous cancers, erectile dysfunction, prostate function
- nutrition deficiencies
- drug-related nutrient deficiencies
- lifestyle, e.g. smoking, drug use, alcohol use, exercise
- physical examination.
If you are seeing a fertility physician, testing related to hormone function will have already been planned or completed. If needed, we may order additional testing, such as IgG food allergy testing, antibodies (anti-gliadin antibodies, anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA), anti-endomysium antibodies (EMA), deaminated gliadin peptide antibodies (DGP), anti-reticulin antibodies (ARA), anti-sperm antibodies), environmental testing (heavy metals, solvents, organophosphates and chlorinated pesticides, PCBs) and others (some tests may require a requisition from your family doctor).
We will then develop a treatment plan, which may include any of the items below. Some supplements, such as probiotics and coenzyme Q10, may improve conception rates and reduce miscarriage risk during IVF. Acupuncture is also an excellent complimentary treatment during fertility treatments. Studies have showed better IVF results when undertaken with acupuncture. We will then develop a treatment plan, which may include any of the items below.
- IV Therapy
- Vitamins, minerals, herbs and supplements
- Acupuncture
- Exercise and modification to exercise habits, e.g. bike seats in men
- Lifestyle changes
- Diet
- Detoxification (if environmental exposure)