Naturopathy for Fertility

Like your menstrual cycle, your ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy is affected by your overall health and wellbeing. If you are unable to fall pregnant you are likely to be experiencing hormonal imbalances due to stress, fatigue, insomnia, nutritional deficiencies, poor gut function, histamine intolerance, thyroid abnormalities and much more. Correcting these underlying issues will often result in a successful pregnancy

Preconception care

The reasons Naturopaths are so adamant that you should undertake pre-conception care is that we now know that environment factors (ie stress, nutrients, toxins) impact the way our genes express. This is known as epigenetics. Amazingly, scientific evidence suggests that these modifiable environmental factors are responsible for 70-90 per cent of illness.

Conditions related to modifiable environmental prenatal factors:

  • Autism

  • Asthma

  • Allergies

  • Neural tube defects

  • Cardiac abnormalities

  • Down’s Syndrome

  • Cleft palate

  • Hypothyroidism

  • Intellectual disabilities

  • Small for gestational age infants

  • Preterm births

  • Miscarriage

Miscarriage prevention

Miscarriage can be a devastating experience for couples especially when they have experienced several miscarriages and don’t have a clear understanding as to why this is happening.

There are many modifiable risk factors that can be treated very effectively with naturopathic medicine including:

  • Low progesterone

  •  Defects in endometrial thickening

  • Genetic factors – MTHFR gene mutation

  • Thyroid problems

  • Autoimmunity

  • Thrombotic events

  • Poor egg and sperm quality

MTHFR gene mutation and miscarriage

There is a strong association between carries of the MTHFR gene mutation in both men and women and recurrent miscarriage. Yes, a man with the MTHR gene can cause miscarriage in a woman!

The MTHFR gene is involved in converting folate (from food) into the active form 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, which is the form the body uses for important processes such as DNA replication and detoxification. Proper replication of DNA is essential for cells to grow during pregnancy. If this does not occur, early miscarriage may result.

It is common for those with the MTHF gene to have high levels of homocysteine, which can cause blood clotting. When a blood clot develops in the uterus the placenta can become cut off from the important supply of oxygen and nutrients that the baby needs to survive.

If you do have the MTHFR gene it is very important to do 4 months of preconception care to ensure you have adequate amounts of folate and good homocysteine levels for pregnancy.

Our naturopath, Joanne Kennedy has helped hundreds of couples with complicated fertility issues haves successful pregnancies and healthy babies.

To book your appointment, email Joanne on jo@sydhealth.com.au or call 0400 658 003

Visit Joanne’s website for more information: www.joannekennedy.com.au