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FERTILITY PROBLEMS: SEEKING MEDICAL HELP
You are probably beginning to understand how the complex and delicate balance of our reproductive systems can be upset by things we do, eat, or come into contact with in everyday life. Of all these factors, nutrition (getting your diet right and correcting any deficiencies) is probably the most important. It’s certainly a vital first step for any couple trying to improve their fertility, even if they eventually opt for an assisted conception.
However, when you keep trying to conceive and nothing happens it is easy to get into a panic and start thinking that something is seriously wrong – either with you or your partner. I describe the various medical tests you can both have, in order to check different aspects of your fertility. These tests can highlight specific medical problems and assess crucial factors like hormone levels and sperm quality. Sometimes simply going through the process of eliminating different possibilities can give you peace of mind and make you more relaxed (which can be helpful in itself). And the information you gain may be very useful. For instance, if you find that your partner has poor sperm motility you can target the problem directly with additional nutrients like L-arginine.
Barbara was 41 when she came to see me. She had tried four IUI cycles with no success. She had been told her FSH levels were too high, ranging from 24 to 33 at the beginning of her cycles over a number of months. The cutoff level is 10 for most IVF clinics and levels as high as Barbara’s would normally indicate that she was beginning the menopause. The clinic had asked her to be tested each month to see how the FSH was fluctuating. Although the clinic was focusing on Barbara’s hormone levels, I Still suggested that both she and her partner should be tested for nutritional deficiencies and have these corrected, which they did. They both followed the Four-Month Preconception Plan and Barbara conceived naturally on a cycle with an FSH of 24. She now has a healthy baby boy.
Although it is important to investigate any possible medical problems, most couples are better advised only to start these investigations once they have implemented their preconception dietary and lifestyle changes by following the four-month plan. They should then try to conceive on their own for approximately six months. This is because many of the factors that will be tested – such as hormone levels, ovulation and sperm quality – will start to improve very quickly of their own accord, once both partners have established the recommended changes. The only exceptions to this are couples where the woman is older than 35 or couples who have reason to believe that they have a medical problem (such as the symptoms of an infection, which should be treated immediately).
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