Episodes
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When it comes to miscarriage risk prevention we have to consider preconception care. Over the years more research has shed light on how lifestyle, diet, preconception health can predispose or reduce the risk of miscarriage for patients. When we support patients who are dealing with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and there is no identifiable cause, we need to start digging a bit deeper to these modifiable risk factors to determine if we can help identify potential cause(s) for the recurrent miscarriages.
A new research paper published in the Journal of Fertility and Sterility in 2022 published data collected from 10 different research papers (4 randomized clinical trials and 6 observational studies) and found that deficiency in a particular vitamin was associated with an increased risk for miscarriage.
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It is estimated in some studies that sperm-factor infertility affects upwards of 60% of infertility cases in couples. Yet, it is too common to hear from patients that very little attention was given to their male partners during the treatment plan and workup. Most patients have a simple sperm analysis and are given very little information as to the results as opposed to 'looks good' or some of the numbers are a 'little low.' It is important for patients to be informed as to which numbers are good, which ones are low, and which tests (if any) were not completed as a part of the baseline testing but are available. This is due to the fact that research over the last few years has emphasized the importance of advance sperm function tests, usually not included in the basic sperm analysis test.
Read more: https://www.infertilitynaturopath.com/post/the-common-and-hidden-cause-of-sperm-factor-infertility-affecting-around-12-of-patients
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It is well established that dietary patterns can strongly affect fertility outcomes, however, we are still learning about how specific nutrients can exert positive or negative effects when it comes to conception. Omega 3s are important in that they have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in the body.
Read more here.
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Infertility can be caused by a variety of factors, however, more patients hav been dealing with a diagnosis of 'Idiopathic Infertility,' meaning the cause for the issue is unknown. Even after various tests, ultrasounds, genetic screening some patients are left in the dark about why their sperm parameters are much lower than the healthy average. Read more here.
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Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can significantly affect chances of conceiving due to both follicle development/ovulatory issues and poor endometrial receptivity (negatively affecting implantation rates). One of the mainstay treatment options used in conventional medicine for supporting ovulation and fertility with PCOS is the medication letrozole (inhibits the activity of an enzyme called aromatase in the body).
Read more here.
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Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex and multifaceted condition, and diagnosis can be more complex for some patients since it can present differently depending on each case. One thing we know about PCOS is that the inability to conceive can directly be related to the inability to ovulate, although this is not the only factor that impacts chances of conception in patients with PCOS.
Read more here.
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Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common reproductive endocrine disorders across the globe. Depending on which population was studied it was estimated that anywhere from 6-21% of the population had a diagnosis of PCOS. This is a dramatic percentage of the population, and considering how PCOS can affect various health parameters, its optimal management is absolutely crucial to simultaneously improve overall health and quality of life for patients and reducing costs/burden to the healthcare system.
Read more here.
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There is a well documented negative impact that poor sperm health appears to have on the chances of conceiving. It is estimated that up to 50% of infertility cases involve poor sperm health. However, patients are rarely provided any counselling or treatment to help improve their sperm parameters. Many cases of couples dealing with infertility involve little to no treatment for low sperm-factors, and instead assume that no changes can be made.
The World Health Organization (WHO) itself encourages the use of medicinal plants and encourages researchers to help find rational uses of medicinal plants as a source for new medial therapies [1]. As such, interest in the use of medicinal herbs for the treatment of sperm-factor infertility is growing.
Read more here.
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Over the last few years we have seen a greater interest in research now evaluating the role of the microbiome on various reproductive disorders, fertility, and non-fertility related health conditions. In particular, there has been research published evaluating how the microbiome may be related to conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and sperm health.
Read more here. -
Thyroid disease is estimated to be the second most common endocrinological disease that affects Women of reproductive age. In fact, it might be more common among patients that experience infertility. There is research suggesting that patients with other reproductive conditions, like PCOS for example, are actually at a higher risk of developing auto-immune thyroid disease. It may also be present in patients that have been diagnosed with Unexplained Infertility.
Read more here. -
Over the last few years there has been more research looking in to the impact of the reproductive microbiome and its impact on fertility and reproductive function. There has been research finding that certain reproductive disorders are correlated with an increased risk of imbalance in the vaginal/uterine microbiome (or reproductive microbiome), such as, in patients affected by endometriosis.
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Over the years it has become more and more clear how oxidative stress may be a significant contributor to infertility. Particularly when it comes to Sperm health. Oxidative stress can be significantly impacted from our lifestyle, dietary choices, preexisting health conditions, radiation exposure, exposure to certain heavy metals, weight, and much more.
One of the negative impacts of increased oxidative stress on the body is the harmful impact it has on sperm health. Increased oxidative stress can cause damage to the DNA content of sperm cells, particularly because antioxidants (our body’s way to neutralizing oxidative stress) are largely removed from the sperm cells along with cytoplasm to help reduce the size of the sperm head. This leaves sperm cells very vulnerable to damage from oxidative stress. One of the main methods to assess damage to the sperm DNA is the DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI). In most cases, a sperm DNA fragmentation rate above 15% is considered elevated.
Read the rest here. -
Infertility is continuing to come to the forefront of health issues as a surprising percent of the population is expected to experience infertility. It is estimated that in more than half of the cases of infertility, poor sperm health is the sole or one of the various causative factors. Yet, there is very little that is shared about how to support sperm health and fertility. Patients are in many cases left to their own research using online forums or speaking with additional licensed healthcare providers to help determine what, if anything, can be done to help improve sperm health.
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Join us to learn more about diminished ovarian reserve and important considerations for the optimal treatment to support Egg reserve and Egg quality.
Click here to read the full article.
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The research behind progesterone and its impact during fertility treatments and early pregnancy has been growing over the last decade. We continue to see more studies evaluating for the efficacy of different types of progesterone supplementation: oral pills, vaginal suppositories, or intramuscular injections. What we are seeing is a clearer comparison where some forms of progesterone may be more beneficial over others. And we are still learning if and how progesterone might help support pregnancy. Tune in as we discuss some of the most important information to know about how progesterone can be of benefit!
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A quick Google search will warn patients about the consumption of Green Peas and how they can prevent you from getting pregnant? Is there actual validity to this claim? Listen to our latest podcast episode to learn if this is fact or fiction!
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Vitamin D continues to gather more attention from researchers and in Scientific journals. Tune in to this episode to learn more about how vitamin D may impact Fertility and Reproductive outcomes and when you should be checking for vitamin D deficiency if you are currently trying to conceive!
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Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after trying for 12 consecutive months and 6 months for patients above the age of 35. Dealing with infertility can quickly become overwhelming. From the range of treatment options, medications/injections, and the cost of treatments, all of these factors and more can contribute to overall stress and emotional wellbeing during the fertility journey.
Still, research has continued to explore additional treatments which can help support pregnancy and reproductive outcomes. The relative success rate of IVF per cycle still rests under 30% on average in Canada (this number may vary depending on number of embryos transferred, age of patient, and previous fertility treatment history). Some of the modifiable risk-factors which can improve fertility and reproductive health include: physical activity, metabolic health and weight, nutrition, lifestyle, and nutraceuticals. A number of studies have now been published and we are now seeing a clearer image of what an optimal diet can look like for patients struggling with infertility. And more importantly, how an evidence-based nutritional and dietary plan may help optimize fertility for patients trying to conceive naturally or with assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs).
And the numbers did not hold back, in fact, one prospective cohort study following over 18’000 nurses found that following a fertility diet reduced the likelihood of experiencing infertility by 66% due to ovulatory disorders and by 27% for all other causes of infertility! While this is an observational study, the results are significant! This is just one of the 100+ research papers published on this topic.
Click here for all the details and to download our Free PDF of the important points from this new research. - Show more
