Holistic approach

[AniSL]

Hi all

I'm hoping that there are people on here that have also pursued a holistic approach towards infertility. I was wondering, from those who have, what their experience has been? Have you been able to conceive?

I read a lot about people on Clomid and other prescribed medication and preparing the body with pre-natal vitamins, but very little mention of natural therapies.

I have tried Castor oil packs (I was amazed at how I felt after the pack and the first good nights sleep in ages), FertilAid for both me and DH, fertility massage, fertility acupuncture, Ayuerveda and the fertility diet. I am also using the ovulation calculator app.

Has anyone else used something else? Any experiences with any of what I have already mentioned?

Ani

I've been doing acupuncture and Chinese meds as well as supplements and a healthy diet, counselling etc. Natural conception is not possible anyway but I'm hoping for better outcomes with IVF ( so far so good).

Whether you might conceive naturally, will depend on your problems. Doing holistic things can help with regulating ovulation, better endometrium, improved semen etc but some things it can't help with.

Hi JoJo

That's the reason DH and I are on this path. We can't conceive naturally (apparently) but are doing everything we can to get our bodies to an optimum level to support any treatment. One thing I noticed about IVF success rates from NHS and private clinics was that the higher success rates belonged to clinics that had a hand in hand approach to medical and holistic

A

What is a castor oil pack? There is a book, 'It starts with the egg,' that details a lot of complementary treatments. I haven't purchased it yet because I am a bit sceptical, as we are born with all of the eggs we have so I'm not sure what a particular supplement will do to improve outcomes, but many ladies stand by it. There is nutrition/supplement advice that can improve semen counts, and better eating/exercise can help regulate periods.

The Castor Oil pack is based on an old therapy which apparently helps with uterine and ovarian health. Many women swear by it. It involves saturating a cotton flannel with castor oil and laying it over your abdomen with a heat source on top. I was really sceptical about it tbh but one thing I did find was that I had a very good nights sleep after (apparently this is one of the beneficial side effects).
I have been reading Science magazine and MUSE and read interesting studies that found that we are not born with all the eggs we are ever going to get, there is a very small percentage of 'stem cell like' cells that can generate eggs, although this study was in 2016 and I can't find anything since about this research.
I think the remedies are all about improving ovarian health, the egg takes time to develop and what we put into our bodies has a direct effect on the health of that egg and the environment it lives in, the same goes for sperm.

I am willing to try what I can to help with success rates if we go down the IVF route

A

I think there have been some ladies reporting improvements in embryo quality following doing a bunch of things with their lifestyle and nutrition.

Hi Ani
This approach worked for me after a long 6.5 years struggle with infertility including 2 ivf cycles.
Ivf was not successful and we had been told we had unexplained infertility.
I went to see a different fertility doctor who diagnosed Polycystic ovaries and possible endometriosis.
Prior to conceiving naturally for the first time ever I followed a strict health diet eating whole foods and largely plant based with no gluten, sugar, refined carbs, saturated fats, caffeine and limited dairy. I took ubiquitol and inofolic supplements. My DH took the wellman conception supplement. I did the period blood test with Serum clinic Athens.
I also had fertility reflexology.
I'm now 41 weeks pregnant and waiting for labour to start. Still can't believe it's finally happening for us after all this time :-)

That's fantastic news motherchuckinhen. Congratulations.
I have heard many success stories about conceiving naturally with the holistic approach after years of unsuccessful attempts. I hope I get good news too.
The diet sounds like a hard one but well worth it

Thanks Ani
I would recommend this approach to anyone I wish I had done all this before doing ivf. It is hard completely changing diet and time consuming preparing everything from scratch. I was inspired by Ella from Deliciously Ella as she healed herself through food. I was suffering with my pcos symptoms and my aim was to 'cure' myself naturally from my painful symptoms. The pain disappeared within 2 months of changes and the ultimate reward was my surprise natural BFP in month 3. Good luck With your journey x