Infertility: Therapies and Lifestyle

According to the National Library of Medicine, CAM has been used by many infertile couples. Its use is associated with “a baseline for predisposition to using CAM, higher household income, and failure to achieve a pregnancy.” Couples struggling with infertility turn to alternative treatments like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), chiropractic care, meditation, and yoga. While these can be appealing, it is important to consult with a fertility specialist to ensure you're making the best choices. Labryo Fertility Center's world-renowned doctors offer personalized care and evidence-based treatments to help you achieve your dream of parenthood. 

As more people around the world struggle with infertility, both men and women are turning to alternative methods like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), meditation, yoga, and lifestyle changes. While less familiar than Western medicine, TCM has been used in Asia for centuries and is increasingly popular as a complement to assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

TCM takes a holistic approach, focusing on the whole body rather than just the reproductive organs. It often involves herbal remedies and techniques to balance the body's energy and support its organs. According to TCM, infertility can be linked to four main imbalances: kidney deficiency, liver qi stagnation, blood stasis in the uterus, and phlegm-damp accumulation. TCM often emphasizes preventing diseases and illnesses, so practitioners often emphasize a healthy lifestyle. 

Let's explore the various TCM treatments available to help address these imbalances and boost fertility. 

Chiropractic care, often associated with musculoskeletal health, has also gained attention to aid with fertility. The practice focuses on the body’s joints and spinal alignment, which is associated with the functions of the central nervous system. The health of your nervous system affects your fertility. Licensed chiropractors have worked with women with fertility issues for a long time, and some may specialize in prenatal and postpartum care for women. According to the American Pregnancy Association, chiropractors aim at reducing interference in the nervous system as their primary goal. Hormonal imbalance plays a huge part in infertility, and proper spinal alignment ensures that the nervous system functions as it should to release hormones into your body. 

Some alternative therapies focus more on prevention and preparation. Some couples and/or women may seek chiropractic care as a way to regulate ovulation and hormonal balance and increase blood flow to the reproductive organs. This all leads to creating the best environment for conception, and can sometimes even support a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. 

We’ve touched on Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbal medicine, and chiropractic care. But how do yoga, meditation, and mindfulness play a part in your fertility journey? Practicing yoga isn’t just for people who prefer a softer version of exercise, nor is meditation only reserved for people going on a self-exploration trip. While medicinal treatments are still common and widely used, practices like meditation and yoga play an important part in self-regulation. Yoga is a centuries-old practice that is known to benefit the body and mind in numerous ways. It reduces stress through breathing exercises and meditation, enhances blood flow, and supports the endocrine system that balances hormone production.

 

Yoga and meditation also go hand-in-hand. The main purpose of these practices is to optimize the physiological state to promote the best ecosystem and environment for fertility. It has gained worldwide popularity in recent decades due to its numerous benefits in reducing oxidative stress (OS), according to the National Library of Medicine, “Oxidative stress happens when the balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the body’s antioxidant defense system is disrupted, leading to cellular damage and DNA alterations.” 

It is also used in combination with conventional treatments like ART. The mind-body practice has demonstrated promising results in terms of semen production, hormone regulation, and emotional and mental well-being. More importantly, it significantly helps both men and women cope with the emotional and psychological problems that are presented during infertility and ART treatments. While yoga has earned its place in complementary medicine, it is still important to consult a licensed practitioner, especially if you’re trying to conceive or are already pregnant. 

Aside from alternative therapies that we touched upon above, lifestyle changes also play an astronomical role in your fertility journey. Everything starts from within, and your diet plays one of the most important parts in your general health. Nutritional choices can influence hormone production, menstrual regularity, overall balance, and reproductive health. While it is still recommended to consult your physician about your diet, a diet consisting of leafy greens, whole grains, and those high in antioxidants is generally suggested for your health. Conversely, a diet high in processed foods, alcohol, and caffeine can negatively impact your reproductive health in many ways. 

During pregnancy preparation or prenatal care, some women may take vitamins that support the pregnancy like folic acid or vitamin D3. It’s important to cut out inflammatory foods that lower your overall health. Maintaining a good diet can also directly reduce the possibility of pregnancy loss, miscarriages, and infertility.. According to the National Institute of Health, male and female fertility can be supplemented in different ways. The supplementation of folic acid and long chain Omega 3 fatty acids is beneficial for female fertility, while the supplementation of vitamin D is correlated to male fertility.

Both male and female fertility can benefit from a diet high in fish, poultry, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, leading to better fertility in women and better semen quality in men.

The quality of one’s life, as stated above, is also directly related to fertility. The definition of quality means achieving a state of emotional, mental, and physical well-being. According to a mini-review from the National Library of Medicine, while the role of exercise in fertility remains less clear, it is still imperative that regular movement of the body is recommended to achieve general health. There are several different kinds of exercise, like yoga, but specific exercise regimes are recommended for different patient characteristics. 

Exercise in general is well-known for its mental and emotional health, with people who regularly move their bodies report having clearer thoughts and increased levels of dopamine. The definition of “moderate” and “vigorous” exercises, however, sometimes varies between research and self-assessment. In conclusion, moderate exercise is helpful for fertility. 

Achieving good and high-quality sleep is often overlooked in fertility and general health. Modern-day schedules and stress levels have achieved an all-time high and people may sometimes compromise sleep. Lack of sleep also negatively affects your mood and productivity, and especially a woman’s cycle in regards to hormone production like progesterone, estrogen, Leptin, and Follicle-Stimulating Hormones (FSH). One of the most significant factors between sleep and fertility is hormone production. If you don’t sleep enough, your body will produce less hormones and too much of others. The same part of the brain that produces sleep-wake hormones like melatonin and cortisol is also responsible for regulating reproductive hormones, according to Carolinas Fertility Institute. Your circadian rhythm is also linked to reproductive hormones that trigger ovulation in women. It is already well-known that lack of sleep is detrimental to your physical and emotional health, it may also increase the risks of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Each challenge may make getting pregnant more difficult. Below are some tips for getting high-quality sleep:

Assisted reproductive treatments and alternative therapies can both be valuable tools during your fertility journey. We understand the emotional and physical challenges you may face and the significant impact each decision can have. Labryo Fertility Center is committed to supporting you every step of the way. Our team is here to provide personalized guidance and answer your questions. Our top priority is to help you achieve your family-building goals while ensuring a positive and supportive experience. 

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