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How to Increase Your Chances of Fertility?
Have you encountered obstacles to becoming pregnant? Unfortunately, getting pregnant is not as easy as most couples think it is. When couples run into problems conceiving, they often do not know where to turn and some may be ashamed to talk about it. Infertility is not as uncommon as you think - statistics show that one in six couples in Canada experience infertility.1
Thankfully now more than ever, there are options to tackle infertility and take control of your reproductive health. Fertility can be enhanced when examining important health and lifestyle factors, and it can greatly improve the chances of a healthy conception and healthy pregnancy carried to term.
What is Infertility
Infertility is suspected when conception has not occurred after unprotected intercourse for 12 months, without medical assistance.
Did You Know?
Three times out of ten (3/10) the cause for infertility can be traced back to the male partner and that two times out of ten (2/10) infertility can arise because of health concerns in both partners.2
Body Literacy
Body literacy means understanding your reproductive system, menstrual cycle and body. Mothers and daughters should be proactive in learning about their cycles and genetic predispositions. Each woman is unique and the factors that affect fertility are unique as well. These factors can include, but are not limited to:
- Hormonal Imbalances.
- Early or Prolonged Use of Birth Control Pills.
- Pre-existing Health Conditions, Including Endometriosis or Fibroids.
- Age.
- Early Menopause Onset.
1“Fertility.” Government of Canada Website, December 28, 2020,
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/fertility/fertility.html
2 “Fertility.” Government of Canada Website, December 28, 2020,
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/fertility/fertility.html
Lifestyle Matters
Both men and women should look at lifestyle factors that may be impacting their combined fertility. Pre-existing health concerns can impede becoming and staying pregnant. This is where a registered healthcare professional is important because they can assess and guide you to achieving balance.
Naturopathic Medicine & Fertility
A Naturopathic Doctor (ND) with a focus on Family Health and Restorative Fertility is a great place to start. Instead of panicking or withdrawing when conception has not occurred, a Naturopath can help you get to the root of the problem. Some of the ways a Naturopathic Doctor can assist you is by taking the time to look at each of your body systems for imbalances and making individualized nutritional and botanical medicine recommendations given your health history. They can also guide you through this stressful process and discuss with you advanced standardized fertility charting and hormone testing. A Naturopathic Doctor can counsel both men and women throughout their fertility journey and offers a continuity of care with the achievement of pregnancy and beyond.
About the Author
Dr. Judith Ancheta Goguen, BSc (Hons), ND, is a board-certified Naturopathic Doctor with a focus on Reproductive Medicine, Family Medicine, and Chronic Disease Management. Dr. Ancheta Goguen, ND works at the award-winning Denise Semple & Associates Clinic in Burlington, Ontario and is also a St. Marguerite BourgeoysFertilityCare Board Member.