GETTING PREGNANT THE NATURAL WAY

The Path To Fertility
It's a familiar scenario; after establishing careers and settling down, a couple decides to have a child. Six months pass, then a year, but the woman is still not pregnant. Friends and family offer advice, articles and books are consulted, and eventually a doctor's appointment is made. Tests are done, followed perhaps by a series of drug treatments and surgical procedures. What supposed to be a joyful process turns into an ordeal marked by anxiety, frustration, depression, and possibly physical discomfort.

As a health professional, I have witnessed firsthand the trials and tribulations of patients facing infertility. All health problems cause distress, of course, but the inability to get pregnant is one of the most traumatic experiences a woman can endure.

It's hard to pinpoint an exact moment when infertility became a household word. But there's no doubt that recently we have been made more aware that many couples have trouble conceiving a child. The issue seems to be everywhere - on TV talk shows, magazine covers, books, radio, the Internet. It seems as if the media is presenting the struggle to get pregnant as the norm and trouble-free conception as the exception.

In fact, there has been only a slight rise in infertility in the last few decades. The greatest single factor in this upturn is the trend to start families much later in life than in the past. Since fertility declines with age, particularly for women, couples trying to conceive in their 30s and 40s are more likely to encounter difficulties. The dramatic increase in sexually transmitted diseases has played a significant role in reproductive problems, and many scientific researchers believe that the proliferation of environmental toxins has also taken its toll on fertility.

Even if infertility is not spiraling out of control, it is a very real concern for a lot of people. Each year, more than a million of people all over the world pursue treatment for infertility. The majority consult conventional doctors, who do an infertility workup and then, depending on the diagnosis, usually recommend drugs and/or high-tech procedures such as in vitro fertilization.

Since the 1980s, great strides have been made in reproductive medicine. Thanks to a vast amount of research, physicians now understand far more about conception occurs and what can prevent it from happening. These advances have led to a boom in assisted reproductive technology. In addition, to in vitro fertilization, a range of options are now available, including gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT), egg donation, and gestational carriers, among others. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is another possibility, as is surrogate pregnancy.

Unfortunately, despite the progress in understanding and treating infertility, only a minority of women who undergo high-tech procedures ultimately achieve the goal of pregnancy. Although statistics differ, it appears that the success rate is about 20%. Thus, four out five couples are left still wanting a child.

In recent years, more and more people have been turning to alternative or complementary medicine for answers to their health problem. Whereas small numbers of people have long sought out holistic practitioners, the '90s into the 21st century have witnessed a phenomenal explosion in the use of herbal remedies, acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic medicine, mind/body medicine, and a host of other therapies. These approaches are no longer hidden alternatives to conventional medicine but rather well-respected and well-researched treatment options that enhance health. Complementary medicine is now widely used for everything from colds and the flu to chronic fatigue syndrome to hypertension.

The application of natural medicine to infertility dates back thousand of years. Yet only in the last decade or so have a substantial amount of people begun to pursue alternatives treatments to improve their chances of conception.

If you are trying to have a child, there are several compelling reasons to explore alternative therapies. First and foremost, based on the clinical experience of hundreds of practitioners, these techniques can help you get pregnant. This is not to say that alternative health care offers some miracle cure; neither mainstream nor alternative medicine can promise a pregnancy. But infertility is a complex condition often caused by a multitude of chronic factors, and many of these respond to natural remedies. For example, hormonal problems are one of the main culprits in delaying conception. By altering diet, taking nutritional supplements, using herbs, and practicing relaxation exercises, many women are able to restore hormonal balance and eventually get pregnant.

Second, in addition to improving your fertility, alternative treatments will enhance your overall health. Indeed, these two outcomes are closely linked: in general, the better your health, the more likely you are to conceive. Consider the fact, that many of the greatest health risks - smoking, drinking, drug use, obesity, poor diet, stress - pose the biggest threat to fertility. By changing your lifestyle and supporting these changes with natural remedies, you will enjoy a higher level of physical activity.

Third, alternative therapies can give you more control over one of the most emotional issues anyone can face. While practitioners play an essential role in natural medicine, self-care is just as important. By forming a positive partnership with your physician based on mutual respect and responsibility, you and your partner can face the challenges of infertility with greater confidence and less anxiety.

Choosing a course of treatment of infertility is an incredibly personal decision. Some women who have difficulty getting pregnant are not interested in pursuing in vitro fertilization or taking another woman's egg into their body. Others are prepared to do anything to have a child.

This post offers many ideas for people in both categories. If you want to follow a natural conception program, the one described here will provide an excellent start. If your tried, are currently using, or are considering fertility drugs and high-tech procedures, many of the steps described here will also be helpful. Indeed, natural methods of enhancing fertility can complement conventional infertility treatment, giving you the greatest possible range of choices.

I have personally seen patients make incredible improvements in their health through holistic therapies. By changing their diet, exercising regularly, using herbs and nutritional supplements, and decreasing stress, they have regained vitality, which in turn has allowed them to get pregnant.

I believe very strongly that parenting starts long before the baby is born, even before conception. Partners are encourage to look carefully at their own life and make positive changes that will be of benefit both now and in the future.

This is a perfect time to take the steps necessary to enhance your physical and emotional well-being. By preparing for a successful, healthy pregnancy, you will also be planting the seeds for healthy children guided by loving, vital parents.