Natural Fertility Treatments: Debunking Five Myths
When it comes to fertility, it feels like there are two extremes: either high tech interventions like IVF (in vitro fertilization) or doing nothing at all. But what if I were to tell you there is a middle ground – a root cause, natural fertility treatment option that can be just as powerful and life-changing?
Today, I'm tackling five common myths about natural fertility care and how approaches like Restorative Reproductive Medicine and fertility awareness can offer real solutions for infertility. So let's get started!
Myth 1: Natural Treatments Can’t Fix Infertility.
False! Natural treatments address root causes and actually have just as good, if not better, outcomes compared to artificial reproductive technologies.
Many people believe natural approaches are powerless in the face of infertility, especially when it's caused by deep seated things like PCOS, endometriosis, or male factor issues.
But the reality is natural treatments focus on identifying and correcting underlying issues, such as hormone imbalances, ovulation dysfunction, inflammation, or other health conditions that may not be specifically related to fertility at all.
We utilize treatments that work with the body rather than just trying to override it. For example, a patient with PCOS may have underlying insulin resistance and irregular cycles. So rather than using medications to force a cycle to happen, we treat the underlying insulin resistance and hormone imbalances to get her back to having regular cycles so she is able to conceive naturally.
Looking at these things from a root cause standpoint may involve utilizing prescription strength medications and targeted supplements. It may include a referral to a surgeon to treat endometriosis or lifestyle modifications tailored to the individual person. It all starts with the fertility awareness charting to identify ovulation patterns, hormone deficiencies, short luteal phases, etc. and then we can time our lab work appropriately.
Natural fertility treatments don't just fix infertility. They empower women to understand and heal their bodies for long-term health, which then promotes fertility in the long run.
Myth 2: Only IVF or IUI Can Help You Get Pregnant.
False! Natural approaches help to resolve the underlying issues and offer significant improvement when it comes to your chances of achieving a full term pregnancy.
Many women and couples are told the only solution for their supposed “unexplained infertility” is artificial reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI).
However, IVF bypasses problems rather than resolving them, which may lead to pregnancy complications or an inability to conceive naturally in the future. It also doesn't address any underlying hormone issues that may lead to a miscarriage, even if pregnancy begins.
Restorative Reproductive Medicine, on the other hand, helps to identify and treat underlying issues like not ovulating, suboptimal cervical mucus, low progesterone, cortisol deficiencies, or abnormal sperm parameters. I have worked with many, many clients who have gone through failed IUI and/or IVF attempts. At Radiant Clinic, we look for and treat the underlying root causes, and we’re able to help them achieve not only a successful pregnancy, but prevent miscarriage and go on to have a full term, successful birth. This tells me that artificial reproductive technologies are not always the answer we're looking for.
When we evaluate and treat male factor infertility, we're looking at natural methods to address sperm quality, as well as count or motility issues. This involves looking at the health of the male partner, and sometimes includes recommendations for lifestyle changes, hormone support, or changes to their supplement regimen.
In this way, natural approaches are not just bypassing the underlying health problems, we are solving those problems. This leads to healthier outcomes for mom, dad, and baby in the long run – something IVF and IUI do not address.
Myth 3: Natural Fertility Treatments Take Too Long To Work.
False! Natural fertility treatments are often faster and more sustainable while we're addressing underlying health conditions, which is good for all parties involved.
A common misconception many people have is that root cause approaches are slow and require years of work before seeing results. But the reality is natural methods often see results in months, not years, especially when we pair this with thorough diagnostics and targeted treatments.
Think about this too: IVF success is not instant. It often takes multiple rounds of IVF to get a positive pregnancy test. And during this time frame, there is significant financial and emotional cost, not to mention ART can come with risks like ovarian hyperstimulation. Again, ART doesn’t resolve any underlying health conditions that are contributing to your difficulties to conceive or sustain a pregnancy.
Natural fertility treatments, on the other hand, could resolve the health issues relatively quickly, depending upon your particular situation. For example, correcting a progesterone deficiency or identifying fertile windows can lead to pregnancy within just a few cycles for some women. For most women with a straightforward luteal phase defect, meaning her progesterone levels are a bit low even if she's having normal cycles, we can correct her progesterone defect within three to six months using bioidentical progesterone supplementation.
For women who may have more irregular cycles like PCOS, it can take a bit longer. However, we're addressing these health concerns that may have been present for many, many years. On average, for women with PCOS, we still see that most of them will achieve a pregnancy within the first six to 12 months. Sometimes it takes 18 months or more, depending upon other factors that may be present. But in the long run, these natural treatments are uncovering and addressing root causes leading to overall improved health.
Although it may take more than a month or two to correct these conditions, we are achieving lasting results, improving overall health, and time to pregnancy can be just as fast, if not faster, than utilizing artificial reproductive technologies.
Myth 4: Natural Methods Are Not Scientific.
False! Natural methods like Restorative Reproductive Medicine are based on evidence and advanced diagnostics in a field that is continuing to publish research.
Many critics argue that natural fertility approaches and the protocols we utilize in Restorative Reproductive Medicine lack scientific backing or rigorous evidence. The truth is there have been numerous studies published in the field of Restorative Reproductive Medicine. These are published articles in peer reviewed journals, and we are constantly advancing the research within this field. For example, scientific studies looking at the effectiveness of fertility awareness-based methods to prevent pregnancy have shown that many of these methods approach 98-99% percent efficacy at preventing pregnancy with perfect use. We can compare this to other types of hormonal birth control or the IUD and show that fertility awareness methods are more effective at pregnancy prevention than oral contraceptives.
There have also been lots of research studies done looking at supportive treatments like bioidentical progesterone, dietary changes for PCOS, or surgical interventions for endometriosis. Restorative Reproductive Medicine uses advanced diagnostics like hormone panels that have been studied over the past 50 years. We also are looking at conventional studies that have been done on things like ultrasound monitoring and semen analysis for male factor infertility. And while these research studies may have different backgrounds, we utilize these pieces to put together a comprehensive approach for how we treat women and how we address the underlying causes.
There are certainly many pioneers in the field of Restorative Reproductive Medicine who have been practicing, studying, researching, and publishing for the last 30 to 40 years. For example, there's a colleague of mine, Dr. Phil Boyle, who is over in Ireland, and he has been practicing Restorative Reproductive Medicine for the better part of 25 years. Many of his patients have already tried and failed IVF before they seek treatment from him. But with his approach of identifying and addressing the root cause of infertility, Dr. Boyle has a success rate of about 65-70% successful full-term pregnancies. To compare to the IVF success rates here in the US, it takes three to four cycles of IVF before they approach 65% pregnancy success rate.
Natural fertility care is rooted in evidence-based medicine, and we utilize cutting-edge science to address the root causes of infertility in ways that align with your body's natural design. Doctors like Dr. Boyle and others who are advancing this field are constantly looking for ways we can improve our diagnosis and treatment techniques. This is not just guesswork. This is science, and it's applied in a holistic framework.
Myth 5: Natural Fertility Care Is Just Lifestyle Advice.
False! This is medical treatment backed by science. While we incorporate lifestyle advice, we also are utilizing targeted, studied treatments to make noticeable changes, not only with your lab results, but with your symptoms.
Many people will dismiss natural approaches as little more than general advice, like eat better or reduce stress or try this supplement. Although we always will address these lifestyle advice pieces when it comes to treating your unique situation, we also utilize other therapies, like targeted supplements for egg quality or sperm health or metabolic function, or treatment with prescription strength bioidentical hormones to address deficiencies like low progesterone or estradiol. Sometimes treatment includes surgical interventions to address conditions like endometriosis or blocked fallopian tubes.
If a woman comes to me with recurrent miscarriages, I'm not going to just tell her to go home and relax. Although lifestyle modifications are helpful, we also need to evaluate the underlying cause. And most of the time, we find that she is deficient in either progesterone or estradiol, or she has a thyroid imbalance. So we correct those pieces. We treat with bioidentical progesterone support at the time that's appropriate for the cycle. We address the thyroid imbalance and treat with either supplements that are needed to help restore thyroid function or prescription strength thyroid medications. Lifestyle adjustments are definitely a component of this, but they are absolutely not the sole focus.
All of our treatments are tailored, based on diagnostics like your actual lab findings, as well as what works best for you. Natural fertility care is much more than just lifestyle. It's personalized, individualized medical care in an entirely holistic focus, designed to heal, restore, and support your long-term health, which will help to promote fertility if that's your intention.
Natural fertility care isn't just about what you can't do. It's about empowering you with what's possible. Let's work with your body, not against it, to create the best outcomes for you and your future family. If you're feeling stuck or frustrated with conventional options, or if you've been referred to IVF or IUI as your only hope, consider exploring natural fertility care. Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more!