Discovering the reason behind a couple’s infertility can be a stressful and difficult process, as traditional medicine can’t always uncover the root cause. Functional medicine seeks to find the “why” behind infertility and use holistic, natural treatments to encourage the body to function properly.
Causes of Infertility
Routine lab work doesn’t always show some of these factors that contribute to seemingly unexplained fertility problems, making diagnoses harder to get an effective treatment even harder. A few conditions functional medicine experts look for that could be causing infertility include:
- Endometriosis
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Premature Ovarian Failure
- Hormone Imbalances
- Nutrient Deficiency
These are some of the causes of infertility in women, but infertility also affects men too. Autoimmune disorders, stress, hormones, etc. can also impact men’s sexual health and contribute to infertility struggles. We look at the bigger picture of the body and underlying factors for both men and women that conventional medicine often overlooks. So how do we address infertility as functional medicine doctors? Keep reading to learn more!
A Holistic Approach to Infertility
Functional medicine relies on a combination of thorough testing, natural treatments, and lifestyle changes to address underlying factors causing infertility:
Stress & Sleep
Stress management and improving sleep patterns are keys to functional infertility treatments. Abnormal sleep cycles and chronic stress are two of the most common culprits when it comes to irregular menstrual cycles and hormone imbalances. High cortisol levels in particular can disrupt ovulation and suppress hormone production.
Hormones
Stress hormones aren’t the only disruptors; your thyroid and pituitary glands also produce important hormones necessary for optimal sexual health and fertility. Thyroid disease, autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto’s, and even diabetes and insulin resistance can wreak havoc on estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and other hormones. This is where treatments for improving hormone balance come in– bioidentical hormone replacement therapy among other peptide therapy options.
Nutrition
Nutrient deficiencies and poor diet can result in gut health issues, affect hormone balance, contribute to stress and weight management, and so much more. Certain factors such as Vitamin D, iron, and iodine levels can influence fertility, and eating a healthy diet also helps with insulin resistance, inflammatory response, the gut-immune barrier, metabolism, etc.
Exercise
Along with a nutrient-dense diet and high-quality sleep, exercising regularly helps to improve hormone balance and lower stress levels, not to mention its benefits for weight loss! Staying active is beneficial physically, but also supports your mental health and boosts energy and mood so you can maintain a positive mindset. Infertility can be draining on the body and mind, making it very important to find healthy coping strategies and avoid falling back into unhealthy habits.
Natural Infertility Options at Elite Personalized Medicine
Are you ready to get to the bottom of your infertility? Our functional medicine experts are here to help! From PCOS diagnoses to balancing hormone levels, weight loss, nutrition counseling, and supplement recommendations, our team of healthcare professionals takes the time to listen to you and consider all aspects of your health. Our treatment plans to improve fertility are personalized, detailed, and flexible, ensuring that you have all the knowledge and resources needed to take control of your health.
Get in touch with our infertility specialists and schedule an appointment today. We have experience helping numerous patients with fertility struggles and will do everything we can to support your wellness journey and help you achieve your health goals.
