The Treatment Ladder

The best and safest way to pursue fertility is to use the ladder approach. At the bottom of the ladder are the simplest, safest methods of increasing fertility. I suggest you begin with internal cleansing, lifestyle changes, and nutrition. Proceed to mild herbs, then stronger herbs.

If these methods are not successful then you may wish to pursue the milder fertility treatments and finally, if all else fails you can move on to stronger drugs and even in-vitro fertilization (IVF). At any point you can decide that you are unwilling to move up the ladder, you can even move down, but it is safest and most effective to start at the bottom and give each step several months or more to work before moving along the ladder. In some cases, however, you may see that there is no other option but to move to a higher level such as when a doctor recommends surgery and a second opinion suggest that this is the best option.re is even more important when you are pursuing natural treatments. Natural medicine has a tremendously strong safety record but even one problem is too many if you are it. Know what you are taking and why. Always seek more than one source of information about the topic. A simple internet search can yield all the information you need in many cases.


The First Steps

A thorough evaluation by a competent medical doctor is the first step towards treating infertility. It is important to be sure you are healthy before attempting to get pregnant. A variety of health problems can cause infertility, including such silent killers as cardio-vascular disease and diabetes. Some herbs and supplements can be quite dangerous even for a hidden illness. A good doctor will work with you to decide on the best form of treatment and will consider alternative medicine as well as conventional treatment.

Be sure to discuss the following tests with your doctor:
• Thyroid function and antibodies
• Adrenal function
• Tests for endometriosis, fibroids, tubal blockages, or cysts
• Tests for sperm count and health, structural abnormalities such as varicocele
• Blood sugar level
• Women’s hormone levels including FSH, LH, progesterone, testosterone and estrogen
• Tests for infections in the reproductive organs

Some doctors are too quick to start infertility treatments without evaluating the whole picture. Many couples have wasted time and money on infertility treatments when there was an undiagnosed underlying problem such as a thyroid problem, an infection, or low sperm count. Other doctors are too quick to dismiss infertility issues. If you have been trying for one year with no results, or you are over 30 and have been trying for six months or more, insist that your doctor take you seriously. If one doctor will not listen to your concerns—find a new doctor. You are the consumer and you have a right to a doctor that listens to your concerns.

About 20 percent of infertility is due to female problems, 20 percent due to male problems, 40 percent due to problems with both partners and about 20 percent is unexplained. For the best results, even if only one partner has been diagnosed with a fertility problem, it is best for both partners to work on naturally enhancing fertility. This will achieve the fastest results and spare you the heartache of waiting for a pregnancy only to find that the second partner also has some issues.

A good second step (after a medical evaluation) is to do a complete internal cleanse. This helps to reduce environmental pollutants and other factors that can reduce fertility and adversely affect all of your internal organs and systems. A cleanse can help to prepare a woman’s body for pregnancy, increase the quantity and quality of sperm or egg cells, and balance hormones.

A cleanse is also important because the herbs you choose will not be able to do their work if the liver and other organs are clogged with toxins. The liver is responsible for maintaining the levels of reproductive hormones in the body and it can not do so effectively if it is busy reducing your toxic load.
Finally, you will be ready to begin a program of herbs and nutritional supplements tailored to your particular situation. It is important to work with a skilled naturopath or herbalist who can help you choose the right herbs and dosages.

A Word of Warning

Fertility is big business. Desperate couples will sometimes pay anything and try outlandish treatments in the hope of fulfilling their dream of a baby. Be sure the treatments you try are safe. Always know what the treatment is and why it is considered safe. This goes for conventional treatments as well as herbs and other treatments. Anything strong enough to work is also strong enough to hurt you if it is misused. While most practitioners really want to help you, there are some who are poorly trained or simply want your money. Be a wise consumer!