At Bloor Integrative Health in downtown Toronto, we offer naturopathic care prenatally, during pregnancy and postpartum.
Why seek the help of a naturopathic doctor for fertility care
Many patients seek out naturopathic of our doctors care to prepare their bodies for conception, to reduce the likelihood of miscarriages, to manage symptoms during pregnancy, to support a new mother’s body and mental health postpartum and address any lactation concerns.
Many patients come to us seeking support for optimizing fertility. Infertility rates continue to rise in Canada with ⅙ couples having trouble conceiving. Infertility is defined as a lack of conception after a reasonable period of sexual intercourse without contraception (one year for women who are under 35 years, 6 months for women over 35 years).
Fertility concerns are increasing for both men and women. A landmark study in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) revealed that over the past 50 years male sperm counts have dropped a whopping 52.8%. In the case of all women whose eggs are present from birth, a thorough investigation of total body health is required to ensure women are ovulating properly, that overall hormone balance is intact, egg quality is optimally supported, and any chronic health concerns are being addressed prior to conception.
Naturopathic care for fertility: how does it work?
We suggest couples begin naturopathic care 3-4 months prior to planned conception. It takes 3-4 months for female follicles (eggs) to mature properly prior to ovulation and 3 months for sperm. Our goal is to improve the body’s overall terrain, the environment within which the eggs and sperm are maturing in. This will optimize egg and sperm quality for the development of a healthy embryo. Getting started early is also recommended for women who are coming off birth control as there may be a 3-12 month lag in establishing regular menstrual cycles after discontinuing birth control.
If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with us.