Infertility in men and women can be one of the most stressful experiences a couple can endure. In some cases it just requires the right timing. However, in other cases it can be something more serious – and here it deserves the expert and specialist attention of a natural therapist with years of experience in fertility management.

At our Perth naturopathic clinic, the treatment of fertility with natural means, especially homeopathy, has become a specialist area. We support our treatments with the best of modern and traditional naturopathy, including dietary, nutritional and lifestyle advice . All in all, natural fertility management is one of our most satisfying and rewarding programs.

Infertility now affects around fifteen per-cent of couples in Australia, leading to an increase in the use of IVF. However, IVF is only successful around thirty-five per-cent of the time.

With the natural fertility management techniques that we use, given at least six months of treatment, our success rate is now consistently around ninety percent. Many of the women and couples we see have been trying to fall pregnant for years and many have already tried IVF.

We achieve these results through a combination of naturopathic dietary and lifestyle advice and traditional, classical and modern homeopathy. This allows us to boost natural health, vitality and fertility to treat all the major causes of infertility in both men and women.

Please note that all treatment is through a private consultation and no over the counter sales are made.

Diet & Lifestyle for Fertility & Preconception Care

As always, the bottom line in fertility remains the health of the individual. There are many causes of infertility, many of which are mentioned below. The most basic remain deficiencies in lifestyle and diet and the effects of stress. To use a metaphor: as any farmer knows you must till the soil, look after it well and provide the right nutrients for the seed to take root and flourish. Fertility in both the male and female is no different.

While the basics of a healthy diet are the same for fertility as for optimal health, there are certain areas that need special attention.  Blood sugar irregularities (often signalled by sweet cravings), insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome need special attention. This may well contribute to several of the underlying causes of infertility, including PCOS and absence of ovulation.

Saturated fats need to be reduced and trans-fats avoided, while monounsaturated and omega 3 oils should be increased in the diet. This means olive oil, nuts, seeds and avocados and fish should be consumed, along with plenty of fruits and vegetables and whole grains in moderation. Healthy weight range must be maintained: you should be neither under nor overweight. Alcohol is best avoided completely by both the male and female partner for optimum fertility. We will advise you of your specific needs.

Oestrogen Dominance Disorders: a Cause of Infertility

Oestrogen dominance is one of the lead causes of infertility in both males and females. This can result in endometriosis, fibroids and contribute to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or Disorder (PCOS or PCOD). This can lead in turn to lack of menstruation (amenorrhoea) or absence of ovulation and heavy or painful periods. Causes are multi-factorial and include dietary, environmental toxicities (xeno-oestrogens) and not least the effects of use of the Oral Contraceptive Pill and other hormones. You may read more about our approach to the homeopathic and naturopathic treatment of oestrogen dominance on our page on the treatment of fibroids.

Anovulation, Oligomenorrhoea and Luteal Phase Defect

Failure to ovulate (anovulation) can be caused by a number of factors including PCOS and dietary and lifestyle factors. As well as addressing lifestyle factors and treating any underlying pathology, at this Perth Naturopathic clinic we find that homeopathic treatment can help balance hormones and thereby improve fertility. The hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis of communication is normalised, through treatment and lifestyle changes ensuring proper follicle production and ovulation at the correct time. ith improvements in health, hormonal imbalance is dealt with and oestrogen, androgens and progesterone return to normal levels. This improves amenorrhoea (absence of periods), oligomenorrhoea (scanty or infrequent periods) and luteal phase defect (preventing implantation of a successful pregnancy). Please see the pages on treatment of women’s problems and treatment of menstrual problems for more information.

Cervical Mucus: Vital for Fertility

Cervical and vaginal mucus is an indicator of fertility. At ovulation, the mucus should increase in quantity and become thick enough to stain the woman’s underpants. It should resemble egg white and be able to be stretched apart several centimetres before breaking. Absence of this mucus may indicate that ovulation is not occurring. In any case, poor quality of the vaginal mucus reduces chances of conception. It is often acidic and unfriendly to sperm and known as “hostile mucus”. Good quality mucus allows the sperm to swim freely to their destination. Homeopathic remedies can improve the quality of mucus and treat any underlying condition such as thrush (candida). Candida and low progesterone can also be the cause of poor lubrication during sexual intercourse. Naturopathic dietary advice may also be appropriate.

Male Fertility

It is usually important to treat the male partner, unless they have been told that their sperm is adequate in both quality and quantity. Poor sperm quality is usually due to lifestyle, diet and stress factors, including poor sleep. Cigarette smoking, alcohol and excess caffeine consumption have a negative impact on fertility in men. We will discuss stress management and provide advice on dietary factors, which will include emphasis on foods rich in certain nutrients such as selenium zinc and the important fatty acids. Amongst others, we have found foods such as tomatoes, pumpkin seeds and brazil nuts to be especially beneficial for male fertility.

Both male and female partners who have been attempting to conceive for some time may suffer from problems of libido. The male may also suffer from performance problems. Sex may have become a “chore” or a “duty” especially at certain times of the month. The homeopathic approach may also help with problems of libido and performance. See the page on treatment of men’s problems.

Fertility: An Integrated Approach

As always, as with any condition dealt with at this Perth naturopathic clinic, you are dealt with as a person. Treatment is holistic and individual. No routine procedures are used. The importance of this is nowhere more obvious than in the treatment of fertility and infertility problems, which is a reflection of the health of the body as a whole and of the mental state. Not only do we take into account your PCOS and irregular periods, for example, we will enquire about and treat every other area of health imbalance: say, your hay fever, anxiety, migraines and poor sleep. After all, everything needs to be in balance to give the best chance of conception.

We also understand the stress suffered by people who have been trying to conceive for a year or more. Sometimes they are in a state of clinical depression. In choosing the right homeopathic remedies for infertility, the mental state is assessed and the result is improvement in the mental state along with fertility.