Archive for the ‘fertility’ Category

MY NOT-SO-PERFECT JOURNEY TO MOTHERHOOD & FERTILITY AS WHOLE BODY HEALTH

Posted on: October 17th, 2024 by TouchStone Health

I am blessed to now have two beautiful girls, but I do remember being on the other side. The uncertainty, the doubt; the fear of it not happening. For me, it actually happened when I was hoping to conceive my second child.

Around the time that I was wanting a second baby, my menstrual cycle had disappeared. My body was showing numerous signs of hormonal chaos. I was extremely anxious about my health, about not being able to conceive again.

My anxiety led me to (in hindsight, prematurely) set foot in the world of reproductive endocrinology (a fertility clinic) & had a host of tests done to understand what was going on with my reproductive health.

In the end, nothing was truly wrong with me. However, I did a DUTCH hormone test at the time as well, and my Cortisol levels were 2X the normal morning limit. My CORTISOL was basically suppressing my reproductive hormone signalling, so I wasn’t getting normal hormone release in order to ovulate & menstruate.

Several months later, after a comprehensive approach to Cortisol reduction & hormone balancing, my cycle came back and I conceived quickly (again, I am fortunate that it was relatively easy for me).

I share my story because I know how stressful & emotional it can be to struggle when trying to have a baby.

In the end, I learned a lot about the importance of whole body health, how all systems of the body impact fertility, not just the reproductive system.

Digestive health, mental health, hormone health, immune health – ALL of these are important and require assessment & individualized treatment.

I don’t believe in ‘UNEXPLAINED INFERTILITY’. If we dive deeper into whole body health, there absolutely are answers & solutions.

4 Ways to be Proactive to Optimize Your Fertility

Posted on: September 12th, 2024 by TouchStone Health

By Melanie Reidl, Naturopathic Doctor

Whether you are currently TTC (trying to conceive) and have yet to achieve a healthy pregnancy, or are planning to TTC within the next year, these 4 items are key!

You absolutely *DO NOT* need to wait an entire year before having some basic testing done to see if your fertility is being impacted by things such as: suboptimal metabolic health, thyroid function, hormone dysfunction, or nutritional status factors.

Here are 4 things you can do *NOW*:

1 – SCREENING BLOOD WORK

2 – CYCLE/HORMONE/HEALTH ASSESSMENT

3 – DIET & LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS

4 – INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPLEMENTS

In some cases, there is a true reproductive pathology (ie low ovarian reserve, low sperm count, severe endometriosis) that may require intervention from a fertility clinic.

However, in MANY CASES, the previously mentioned systems are dysfunctional, and it is a matter of determining which systems need targeted support (via diet, lifestyle, supplements, etc).

If you’re currently/soon to be TTC, I would be honoured to support you in your journey! BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

PRECONCEPTION HEALTH BEGINS 3-6 MONTHS BEFORE TRYING TO CONCEIVE

Posted on: July 27th, 2024 by TouchStone Health

by Melanie Reidl, Naturopathic Doctor

Preconception health is *so* much more than just taking a prenatal vitamin (and even that should be looked at carefully!)

At minimum, preconception health begins 3 months before trying to conceive (TTC). Egg & sperm development takes approximately 90 days, so it is a critical window of time.

As a Naturopathic Doctor, these are the things I review with my patients who are planning/starting to TTC (this applies to both partners):

️ Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep, Stress Review
️ Menstrual Cycle Assessment
️ General Health Assessment (ie gut health, metabolic health)
️ Basic Preconception Bloodwork (ie iron, thyroid, fasting insulin & glucose for insulin resistance, vitamin D3, progesterone)
️ Fertility Awareness Method / Cycle Tracking education

There is so much to review & discuss before you TTC to optimize your hormones & reproductive health and therefore your chances of conceiving & maintaining a healthy pregnancy. I hope to be a part of your fertility & pregnancy journey.

Book an appointment with Dr. Melanie Reidl, ND

TUINA – ACUPRESSURE BODY WORK

Posted on: May 3rd, 2021 by Anna Totzke

By Anna Totzke, Registered Acupuncturist

Tuina is a type of bodywork based on Traditional Chinese Medicine principles. Tuina focuses on the pathways in the body called meridians to help encourage circulation in the body. Acupressure is also applied to acupuncture points to promote healing. Depending on the client’s constitution and concern, various Tuina techniques are used to help the body to heal by either: unblocking, nourishing, warming/cooling, dispersing/gathering, stimulating/calming, and helping with circulation throughout the body.

I enjoy applying Tuina along with cupping, acupuncture, or moxibustion but is a wonderful and effective treatment on its own. Tuina is also a great option for people that would prefer a needle-less treatment or a more hands-on approach.

Tuina Can Help With:

Muscle and Joint Pain and Weakness: Back pain, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, cervical spondylosis, wry neck, chronic neck and shoulder tension, back pain, sciatica, leg pain, hip pain

Menstrual / Fertility: PMS and menstrual problems, painful periods, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, fibroids, infertility

Digestive: Digestive & inflammatory bowel conditions (IBS, colitis, constipation, diarrhoea, Indigestion, poor appetite, epigastric pain, abdominal pain)

Head / Sinus Issues: Headaches and migraines, Sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, facial paralysis, toothache, teeth grinding, TMJ issues

Respiratory / Chest: Palpitations, angina, cough and asthma, plumstone throat, rib tightness

Emotional / Mental: Stress, depression, anxiety, insomnia

100 Days to Preconception Health

Posted on: April 2nd, 2021 by TouchStone Health

by Dr. Melanie Reidl, N.D.

If you’re wanting to conceive this spring/summer, you’ve got just enough time to focus on your preconception health! Because it takes approximately 100 days to impact egg and sperm quality as they mature, I recommend that both partners begin their ‘trying’ journey by taking 3-4 months to prepare their bodies and minds.

As a women’s health, fertility, and perinatal care-focused ND, my goal is to help you achieve a healthy pregnancy and baby. I struggled with my own fertility and pregnancy issues, so I truly understand the emotional impact as well as the need for a more holistic and integrative approach to preconception healthcare and fertility.

Preconception healthcare can help treat the root cause of fertility issues, can reduce risk of miscarriage or pregnancy complications, and improve fertility treatment outcomes. It can also ensure the best possible start for your baby, as the beginning of a child’s life has been shown to influence his/her health as an adult.

A preconception healthcare approach with me includes the following: lab testing, diet and lifestyle modifications, stress reduction and mindfulness practices, and individualized supplementation protocols.

Lab tests are done to determine thyroid function, hormone levels, nutrient levels such as iron, B12, and vitamin D3, and more depending on my assessment of your current health and health history.

Individualized dietary and lifestyle modifications are essential: they set the foundation for optimal fertility! I help my patients establish a whole foods fertility diet and healthy lifestyle habits such as optimizing sleep and exercise. Stress reduction and mindfulness practices are woven into their plan as stress has a significant impact on fertility.

Finally, individualized supplementation protocols are provided to each of my patients. The supplements I select help to optimize preconception nutritional status, and treat any underlying disorders/imbalances that may impact fertility.

I find it truly amazing how getting diet, lifestyle, stress reduction/mindfulness practices, and supplementation right can make the world of a difference in fertility and pregnancy outcomes. If you or someone you know is beginning their journey, I would be so happy and honoured to help.

Have you been trying to get pregnant but only getting negative pregnancy tests? OR Are you thinking about growing your family?

Posted on: September 9th, 2020 by TouchStone Health

Have you been trying to get pregnant but only getting negative pregnancy tests?

Are you thinking about growing your family?

Written by: Alexandria Muirhead, R.H.N.

Preparing for Pregnancy e-Program is a self-paced, online program that helps you optimize your health and boost your fertility to help you get pregnant! This e-program also reduces your risk of miscarriages, corrects any nutritional deficiencies to ensure your baby has all the nutrients required to grow and helps you have a healthy pregnancy!

Alex Muirhead has created this online program to address all areas of your life that impact your fertility such as your cycle, sleep, movement, mindset, nutrition and more. It’s based on scientific research and her experience in practice.

Who is this e-Program for?

Thinking about getting pregnant in the next 12 months
Have been trying but haven’t been able to get pregnant yet
Worried about whether or not they can get pregnant
Worried about miscarriages
Have a pre-existing health condition/illness (IBS, autoimmune disease, diabetes, PCOS, endometriosis, etc)
Have irregular, short or long cycles
Have painful periods
Experience PMS
Have digestive issues (heartburn, gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea)

This e-Program helps address any underlying health issue that interferes with your fertility. A body system that is out of balance and not functioning properly can have a really big impact on your ability to get pregnant. This e-program identifies if you have any imbalances and provides you with the proper tools to rebalance that system.

What does the e-Program Include?

8 modules, each covering an important area for fertility
3 bonus modules
Easy to understand information
Step-by-step guides
Worksheets
Resources
Personalized supplements
& more!

Each module contains a video of Alex Muirhead educating you on that particular topic and a step-by-step guide to help you implement everything you learnt in that video! In addition, she has created specialized worksheets and compiled resources pertaining to that module!

Are you Interested in Learning More About the e-Program?

If you are! Then click HERE or follow Alex Muirhead on instagram, @alexmuirhead_RHN . She has lots of information about her e-program and why it works.

Discount for Launch Week!!

The e-program is 25% off during launch week!

When is launch week?? September 8th to 14th!

Use the promo code LAUNCH at check out for 25% off!

Anemia During Pregnancy: How Acupuncture/Moxibustion Can Help

Posted on: May 21st, 2019 by TouchStone Health

by Anna Totzke, Registered Acupuncturist

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia women develop during pregnancy. The most vulnerable times for developing iron deficiency anemia is around the 20th week (the blood volume increases at this point), and the last 4-6 weeks (as the baby is developing its own iron stores).

Acupuncture and Moxibustion*:

When iron levels are low during pregnancy, women are generally advised to take an iron supplement. Studies have shown that doing a series of moxibustion and acupuncture treatments significantly helps increase the absorption rate of iron while taking an iron supplement.

*Moxibustionis a Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy which consists of burning dried mugwort (an herb) on particular points on the body

For more information about Acupuncture in Pregnancy or to ask a question, feel free to contact Anna Totzke, R.Ac. annatotzke@gmail.com

Lessons Learned from my Fertility Journey

Posted on: February 20th, 2019 by TouchStone Health

By Melanie Reidl, Naturopathic Doctor

2018 was a difficult year for me, to say the least. One of my fears became a reality, I was struggling with trying to conceive and was experiencing significant anxiety and depression about it. I wanted to share a little about my fertility journey in this article, as I have so many patients, friends, and family members who have had their own fertility challenges and I know it can be a very isolating and distressing experience.

Going through my own fertility challenges has given me insight and compassion for others who are also going through it. The extensive testing, frequent appointments, worry, sadness, relationship stress…I’ve been there. But I do know that your experience can really depend on the approach you choose to take toward your fertility journey. When I started going to a fertility clinic this summer, I was overcome with anxiety, fear, and distrust. I didn’t trust in my body, my decisions, the doctor… and the experience became very scary for me.

Life circumstances required me to take a short break from care with the fertility clinic. During this time, I decided that I was tired of feeling like my fertility was out of my control. I took my health into my hands and I started to take better care of myself. I wanted to do what I could to improve my fertility, naturally. So, I nourished my body with whole foods. I moved my body in ways that felt good: yoga and walking. I made sleep a priority. I took high quality supplements to support my nutritional status, egg quality, and hormonal balance. I started meditating to calm my mind at night and practiced mindfulness. I used affirmations and chose to think more positive thoughts.

After a few months, I felt ready to return to the fertility clinic, but this time I decided to go in with a new outlook. I trusted my body more, felt more confident in my decisions, and trusted my great doctor. I began to feel a sense of empowerment over my health and fertility. I no longer felt anxious about the experience, I felt excited about it. After all, it was leading me to (hopefully) conceiving!

With time and patience, my body responded to all of the self-care I had been doing. I started to get regular ovulatory menstrual cycles again. My bloodwork showed that my hormones were doing exactly what they should be. My ultrasounds showed that my follicles were growing and that I was ovulating. With each piece of encouraging news, I started to trust and love my body more and more for the amazing things it was doing for me.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned from this journey is to TRUST. Trust is the opposite of anxiety. When you trust in your body, yourself, your doctors, the universe… you will feel calmer and more at peace with your journey. Feeling calmer and more at peace is also exactly the state you want to be in to allow your nervous system to relax and support healthy conception. 🙂

Please let Melanie know if you have any questions ( MelanieReidlND@gmail.com ).

A Naturopathic Approach to Infertility

Posted on: January 22nd, 2019 by TouchStone Health

by Melanie Reidl, Naturopathic Doctor

For those of you struggling with infertility, I understand the pain. As an ND who has gone through it, I understand the worry, sadness, and stress it can cause. Even finding the right practitioners and the right treatment approach can be a challenge. From my own fertility journey, to the many patients I’ve supported on theirs, I have seen the magic of naturopathic medicine alone or alongside conventional fertility care.

In this article, I wanted to outline the assessment and treatment approach, and modalities that I use when a patient comes to me for fertility support. In some cases, a specific diagnosis for the infertility has been made, and we would start treatment. In other cases, patients come to me with ‘unexplained infertility’ and I will spend the time necessary to help uncover reasons for the infertility.

In the case of ‘unexplained infertility’, I often run some laboratory tests to more thoroughly check thyroid function and hormones such as cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone. This helps to determine if there are subtle abnormalities with the thyroid or hormones that are impacting fertility. I also have these patients track their BBT (basal body temperature) and ovulation signs so that we can monitor the cycle and increase fertility awareness.

Once a diagnosis has been established, we focus on treatment. As far as treatment goals, they include the following:

1) Optimize egg/sperm quality,

2) Balance hormones

3) Treat the specific cause of infertility

4) Support mental-emotional health (a very important piece!)

Treatment modalities that I frequently use with my fertility patients include the following:

1) Nutritional Medicine

2) Lifestyle Medicine

3) Herbs/Botanical Medicine

4) Acupuncture

5) Counselling & Mindfulness techniques.

Nutrition involves a dietary assessment, individualized dietary guidelines, and nutrient supplementation. Lifestyle medicine involves an assessment of one’s current lifestyle and introducing changes that support fertility such as exercise and sleep recommendations, and specific stress reduction strategies. Herbs can be very powerful in the treatment of infertility. There are several that have been studied and found to regulate the menstrual cycle and improve conception rates. Acupuncture has also been well studied and has been found to be a great supportive treatment in infertility. I find that acupuncture, in addition to mindfulness techniques can really improve patients’ mental-emotional health and support the relaxation of the nervous system that is needed for healthy conception.

An individualized approach to infertility is so important, since there are so many possible causes and reasons for it. This is why seeing and ND can be so helpful; the holistic and individualized assessment and treatment approach lends itself to fertility care. As an ND who has been there herself, I strive to be a compassionate practitioner who sees and supports you as a beautiful person going through a challenging time, not as an infertility diagnosis.

Acupuncture IVF Treatment Plan

Posted on: January 23rd, 2018 by TouchStone Health

By Anna Totzke, Registered Acupuncturist

Acupuncture has been used to optimize women’s fertility for over 2000 years. There have been several recent clinical studies showing that acupuncture for IVF can:

-Increase your chances of implantation and full-term births.

-Minimize symptoms associated with ART treatments.

-Reduce stress and help you relax before and during IVF.

Acupuncture: To Prepare for IVF

Starting acupuncture treatments 2-3 + months before your IVF cycle is ideal to help prepare your body for pregnancy, to encourage relaxation, to balance any underlying health concerns, and focus on the maturation of the egg.

One acupuncture treatment a week is recommended if acupuncture is started 2-3 months ahead but if acupuncture treatments are started 1 month or less before the IVF cycle, twice a week is recommended.

Acupuncture During the IVF Cycle: (days are approximate)

DAY 1-3 Menstrual Period – One acupuncture treatment

DAY 6-11 Follicular Development – One acupuncture treatment

Acupuncture can alleviate the side-effects of hormonal stimulation, improve blood flow to the ovaries and uterus (resulting in better ovarian response and a receptive endometrium).

DAY 11-14 Days leading into Trigger Injection and/or Day of – 1-2 treatments

Day 14- 16 After Egg Collection – One acupuncture treatment

Acupuncture can help recover from the procedure and prepare the uterus for implantation. This treatment also helps with any bloating and ease cramping after egg collection.

Day Of / Day Before Transfer – One acupuncture treatment

Research shows that this treatment significantly increases pregnancy rates.

Day after to week after Transfer – One treatment following transfer and one about a week later

These treatments promote implantation and eases any anxiety.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Anna Totzke, R.Ac. annatotzke@gmail.com.

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Waterloo, Ontario
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Archive for the ‘fertility’ Category

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