Conception is such a miracle! I am still amazed by it! Even when we have modern medicine trying to control and manipulate the sperm and eggs with Assisted Reproductive Medicine, it still has an element of mystery and the miraculous. All of the IVF docs and Reproductive Endocrinoligists ( RE’s) I am sure would admit this!
The answer is YES, IT IS perfectly normal and really beneficial to take a break between cycles. I have been either studying or practicing in this field of natural fertility care since 2006. I have dedicated myself to reading/research, apprenticing with mentors, symposiums and CEU’s and my practice with clients. Empowering women to take back their health and fertility is my life’s purpose. I have seen amazing things and heroic stories of women defying all odds in their quest to get pregnant and be a mama. I TOTALLY identify the desire to have a baby as one of the strongest primal urges in the universe. Women cannot be stopped on this journey! So, I get it. You may have had multiple miscarriages, rounds of IUI’s, and even unsuccessful medicated IVF cycles in your journey to birth a healthy baby. This article is specifically for you. I have had two miscarriages myself and the feeling to move forward is unstoppable. It should be! However….
I see in my practice with fertility clients that sometimes it is hard to stop for a second and take a breathing break in between miscarriages or IVF cycles. The biological clock ticks LOUDER and LOUDER with every day. It ticks so loudly that you can hardly see or think straight and restlessness, anxiety, and panic often sets in. I am getting bolder in suggesting that women take a moment to nourish themselves in body and spirit before attempting again. It is important to bring up the critical point that most chromosomal abnormalities do not happen over the 30-40 years as an egg ages, it happens in the few months before ovulation. Changing the conditions now can increase chances of healthy eggs. New research indicates that when women really take 3 months to prepare, pregnancy rates increase. What changes in 3 months? What is it?
Egg quality. It is one of the BIGGEST contributing factors in a successful pregnancy naturally or with ART ( assisted Reproductive Technology such as IVF).* This is absolutely why I have the greatest success with clients who take 3 months to do my tailored Fertility Care Program BEFORE any stim meds begin. This means that we work together for 90 days before retrieval of the eggs. It takes about 3 months for an immature egg to develop into a mature egg that your body ovulates. This is the crucial window of time for improving egg quality. It is also why I get sooo happy when clients find me BEFORE they start their IVF cycles or are willing to embrace this program after an unsuccessful cycle or cycles before starting another. The research is there. Want to know more of the scientific studies behind this? Check out the book, It Starts with the Egg by Rebecca Fett.
Who am I talking to? I am talking about anyone with history of repeat miscarriage, poor egg quality, unexplained infertility, PCOS, unsuccessful IUI’s and IVF cycles. I really have a heart for you. Why? Well, I can see that there is A LOT you can do to improve egg quality whether you are 25 or 4o+ or anywhere in between. And it breaks my heart to see cycles not succeed due to poor egg quality when there is something to do about it. The heartache is brutal. Egg quality absolutely can be improved. I am here to empower you to do it .The 3 months before retrieval is the MOST important time that reaps the greatest rewards. Even in women diagnosed with low ovarian reserve with FSH and AMH levels off, this program can work by increasing the number and quality of eggs and improved number of eggs that fertilize. Egg quality plays a huge role in how long it takes to get pregnant naturally or through IVF. The secret is the egg’s DNA.
What is my Natural Fertility Care Program? It is a 3 month tailored program that focuses on egg quality and improved pelvic circulation through nutrition, acupuncture, herbs/supplements, eliminating toxic endocrine disrupters, and de-stressing techniques.
Natural Fertility Care 90 Day Program
Cleanse. Balance. Nourish.
Month 1: Cleanse
I guide you through getting rid of the top endocrine disrupters that are proven to cause abnormal chromosomes and poor egg quality. This is the first step. Cleaning out your beauty and cleaning products that contain BPA, phthalates, parabens, and other toxins. Even small amounts are shown to be toxic to egg and sperm quality. One recent study showed that the later part of egg development shortly before ovulation is particularly sensitive to BPA. It showed that exposure to BPA shortly before ovulation was enough to cause severe chromosomal damage to the eggs and halt develpoment of them so that they didn’t mature.* This can explain what is seen in IVF cycles when embryos stop developing. Simply replacing toxic products with clean products is a must. If you have had cycles cancelled due to poor egg quality and embryos not developing, this is an area to really clean up. One study from 2011 showed that women with higher BPA levels in their blood had fewer eggs retrieved and lower estrogen levels. Become an educated and empowered consumer who priotizes health and fertility above all else. I help you do this.
During Month 1 we will also focus on improving your detox pathways. This is an especially important time if you have just done one or several medicated IVF cycles. The focus is fertility cleansing in all areas. Milk thistle, dandelion greens and root, apple cider vinegar, and warm lemon water in the am will gently help your liver process hormones and the stim meds if you have recently had a stim cycle. We will identify areas that need improvement and get out processed foods like stevia, soy products, and GMO foods. The eating guide is straight forward with lots of veggies and good fats. In general, we focus on unburdening the liver by giving it less to process as the liver has a lot to do with hormonal health. Clean eating while avoiding sugars, wheat, and most dairy will help your liver be able to process hormones more efficiently.
Month 2: Balance
Month 2 is all about balancing hormones that may be out of whack. I will ask you a ton of questions about your 5th vital sign, your period. If your period starts or ends with brown, you may need herbs to help boost your progesterone levels, especially in the second half of your cycle. If you have bad cramps, and clots/tissue in your flow, then we address that with herbal formulas designed to ease those issues and restore a more healthy flow. There is an herbal formula for everything! I love working with PCOS clients as there is much to be done to balance your hormones and androgen levels and lots of areas to improve insulin issues which is at the core of PCOS. If you have had repeat miscarriages or irregular cycles, we focus on herbs that help with implantation and help regulate your cycle to around 28-32 days. This is the time to test for the 4 most surprising infertility causes: Vit. D levels, hypothyroidism, celiac disease, and gum disease if you haven’t already. It is also a good time to make sure you have been tested for MTHFR gene mutation which can lead to reaccuring miscarriages. Some RE’s test for some of these routinely. If you haven’t been tested for these, ask for them. Feel powerful in making your decisions and asking for what you need. If you are not getting help, ask for another opinion or switch doctors.
Month 3: Nourish for Egg Quality
Month 3 is all about focusing on pre-conception and NOURISHING your cells. We focuse heavily on Pre-conception nutrition and eating and acting as if you are pregnant. The foods and recipes are designed to prepare your uterus for implantation. Lots of blood nourishing foods such as beets, goji berries, dark leafy greens, and some grass fed red meat. Juicing is a part of this. You can pick up at Whole Foods this month or incorporate juicing into your lifestyle. I personally have seen the most incredible results with clients who do this. I offer a tailored nutrition for your fertility type in your treatment plan. For example, if you always have cold hands and feet, I recommend energetically warming foods like Ceylon cinnamon, basil, and soups/stews. The other main focus is switching from refined carbs to slowly digested carbohydrates. This step is critical in boosting egg quality. There are insulin receptor sites on your ovaries. Insulin resistance and blood sugar swings/crashes most definitely affects your egg quality. Too much insulin leads to too much testosterone and other male hormones that cause your female hormones to be out of balance(PCOS). Eating sugar causes this chain reaction of high glucose levels, high insulin levels and then your body can’t keep up with all the sugar swings, so it develops “insulin resistance”. Hormone production in the ovaries can become severely disrupted, which disrupts ovulation. This is solidly backed by research that shows diet is HUGE in helping your body find hormonal balance.
Supplements I use for Egg Quality.
Some of the supplements I use are Ubiquinol, Alpha Lipoic Acid( only for those without Thyroid issues), Myo-inositol, NAC, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, B complex ( methyl folate), zinc, selenium, and herbal tinctures based on your fertility type. The brand is extremely important. Herbs and supplements are not regulated by the FDA and can vary widely in potency. I use the brands I recommend personally and in my clinic such as Pure and Thorne. When it comes to egg quality, buy the best. Please see a qualified practitioner when taking these as some are not indicated for specific conditions like PCOS or hypothyroidism. I offer all the supplements you need in my office and online.
Nutrition for Egg and Sperm Quality:
The diet is based on a Mediterranean diet with lots of good fats, oils, clean proteins, and tons of veggies. A Harvard study revealed that women who ate a diet higher in plant based proteins were more fertile than those who ate mostly an animal based protein diet. Your plate should mostly be vegetables with a side of meat or clean protein with a good amount of healthy fats such as olives, avocado, olive and coconut oil, minimal grains, and nuts/seeds. The focus is on anti-oxidant rich foods that protect the follicles ( and sperm) from DNA damage. Though this post is mostly about the egg, I often work with the partner as well to increase sperm health through anti-oxidants, men’s multi and co q 10 ( ubiquinol). It is half of the equation and too often I see a sperm analysis where everyone seems to think it is “good enough” even with lower levels. Most of the information in this article will also help men improve their sperm count. Why not put in some effort here with just a few basic changes. I have a couples treatment room where I offer acupuncture side by side. I also offer herbal medicine for men as well to help improve health.
How do we know this program works? I have experienced success stories where women were only given a 5% chance of conceiving on their own without IVF, after multiple unsuccessful IUI’s and IVF cycles , multiple miscarriages, women with PCOS, women over 40 with diminished ovarian reserve to name a few. I believe in natural medicine to get to the root of infertility and restore your hormonal vitality. If I feel you have needs beyond what I can meet, I refer you to either a RE, a functional medicine practitioner, and/or a Naturopathic physician that specializes in fertility. In difficulty cases I often work together with RE and Naturopathic physician.
All the most recent research on nutrition, and supplements for this plan is in the book : It Starts with the Egg.
Fertility Doctors Recommend my Services:
I recently had a local IVF doctor that now refers to me pull me aside in his office and tell me, ” Joy, keep on doing what you are doing. I have NEVER seen this drastic of improvement in egg quality from one cycle to the next.” He now sends me his patients that have had unsuccessful rounds due to poor egg quality and can’t proceed without help in this area. We were working together with a patient who only had one ovary and no Fallopian tubes due to a tubal miscarriage. I instantly wanted to help her however I could when she came in and told me her story. She had PCOS and egg quality issues like many do with PCOS. Her first transfer was cancelled due to poor quality. She worked with me for 6 month and then had excellent egg quality with her second transfer. She now has a healthy 5 month old boy. I have a couple fertility doctors ( RE’s) that recommend my care in the Valley and I regularly practice acupucture out of their offices.
Here is her story:
This is my miracle baby Freddie P. He has filled my world with joy, hope and wonder. The acupuncture I received from Joy played a huge part in him coming to this world. I was blessed to go to acupuncture with Joy every week for the 6 months leading up to my pregnancy. In that time I was able to significantly improve my egg quality. After 4 years of trying to get pregnant and two pregnancy losses I finally got pregnant and conceived Freddie P. I will forever be grateful to Joy. Not only is she an amazing acupuncturist but she was also so caring and encouraging on my journey to becoming a mom. And being a mom is a dream come true!”
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: ” What if I just do day of transfer acupuncture since I am only a few weeks away from my transfer date? Will it still be beneficial?”
A: The Paulus Protocol research study published in Fertility and Sterility Medical Journal in 2002 showed a little over a 40% increase in IVF success rates. It is still beneficial to do day of transfer only acupuncture. It won’t impact egg quality obviously, but it does decrease stress. The points selected are points that calm your nervous system, decrease stress and anxiety and keep the uterus calm for transfer.
Q: ” I am starting stim meds this week, with retrieval soon. Will this plan still help me get pregnant since I am not doing it for 3 months?”
A: While it is ideal to start the Fertility Care Program 3 months before retrieval to influence egg quality, starting now will still decrease your stress levels and mitigate some of the side effects of the stim meds. Clients note that they feel better and have less anxiety and stress through our sessions together. Also, research shows that steering clear of BPA shortly before ovulation ( retrieval) is important. Nutrition, acpuncture, and prenatal can be started and carried on throughout stim meds, transfer and thoughtout pregnancy. Latest research shows that most chromosomal errors occur shortly before ovulation, in the later stages of “meiosis”. This means that this is vitally important time for you.
Q; ” Why is it beneficial to do 90 days of Fertiliy Care Program before retrieval day?”
A; ” It takes about 90 days to influence the egg quality of the developing follicles. Recent research by Lee Hullender L.Ac. With over a 1000 women showed the most live birth rates for women who did “Whole Systems TCM” which is not just acupuncture by itself but all that Asian medicine has to offer. This program incorporates all the modalities of Asian medicine which are nutrition, herbs, and lifestyle changes based on your constitution. The study compared live birth rates after IVF cycles with acupuncture only on transfer day, acupuncture before transfer, and lastly acupuncture with TCM. Also, most chromosomal errors happen in the few months before ovulation( retrieval)not in the 30 or 40 years as an egg ages. ”
Q; ” Can I continue to take my egg quality supplements and herbs during the stim phase?”
A; ” The Reproductive Endocrinologists I work with and I don’t advise taking herbs/supplements while taking your stim meds. For best results, herbs and supplements should be started 3 months before you start your stim meds.”
Q; ” How does acupuncture help fertility and my chances of conceiving ?”
A: ” Acupuncture helps increase fresh oxygenated blood to the reproductive organs. This blood can nourish the developing follicles with nutrients. Acupuncture also positively affects the HPA and HPO axis.It promotes hormonal balance and lowers stress levels. High cortisol ( stress hormone) harms fertility and progesterone levels. It can help thicken endometrial lining. And lastly, it helps women feel empowered to take back their health and sense of well-being. The magic is not in the acupuncture alone. The magic is in the total approach with nutrition being the center focus.”
Q: ” I have frozen embryos. Will the 90 day Program still help?”
A: ” We will not be improving egg quality, but we can work to reduce stress levels by relaxing your nervous system. We will also focus on uterine lining preparing your body for implantation.”
References:
Fett, Rebecca.2016. It Starts with the Egg. New York. Franklin Fox Publishing
Can A, Semiz O, Cinar O. Bisphenol -A induces cell cycle delay and alters centrosome and spindle microtubular organization in oocytes during meiosis. Mol Hum Reproductive. 2005 Jun:11(6):389–96. 9″Can2005″)
Hullender Rubin LE1, Opsahl MS2, Wiemer KE2, Mist SD3, Caughey AB3. Impact of whole systems traditional Chinese medicine on in-vitro fertilization outcomes. Reprod Biomed Online. 2015 Jun;30(6):602-12. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2015.02.005. Epub 2015 Feb 24.
Joy Lechner, L.Ac. MSOM
If you want to improve your egg quality and learn more, call me at 480-577-5473 for a free 10 minute fertility consult or go to nourishedrootsacu.com and click on BOOK NOW to book your session.
Joy Lechner is the owner at Nourished Roots Acu. Her practice is dedicated to empowering women on their fertility journey. She is licensed, Nationally Board Certified, and has a 4 year masters degree in Oriental Medicine.
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