Infertility

Symptoms

The main symptom of infertility is the inability to become pregnant while trying to do so. Specific symptoms depend on what is causing the infertility. As a side effect, Infertility can cause many painful emotions in one or both partners.

Signs and tests

When you should seek treatment for infertility depends on your age. It is recommended that women under 30 should generally try to get pregnant on their own for 1 year before seeking testing. Infertility testing involves a complete medical history and physical examination of both partners.Blood and imaging tests will be done.

In women, this may include:

• A routine gynecological exam to check for excess or thick mucus
• Blood tests to check hormone levels, including progesterone and follicle stimulating hormone.
• Checking body temperature first thing in the morning to check if the ovaries are releasing eggs.
• FSH and clomid challenge test
• Hysterosalpingography (HSG)
• Pelvic ultrasound
• Laparoscopy
• Luteinizing hormone urine test (ovulation prediction)
• Thyroid function tests

Tests in men may include:

• Sperm testing
• Testicular biopsy (rarely done)

Causes

A wide range of physical and emotional factors can cause infertility. Infertility may be due to problems in the woman, man, or both.

Female infertility may occur when:

• A fertilized egg or embryo does not survive once it sticks to the lining of the womb (uterus)
• The fertilized egg does not attach to the lining of the uterus
• The eggs cannot move from the ovaries to the womb
• The ovaries have problems producing eggs

Female infertility may be caused by:

• Uterine or Vaginal mucus may be too thick for the sperm to reach the egg
• Autoimmune disorders, such as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)
• Cancer or tumor
• Clotting disorders 
• Diabetes
• Growths (such as fibroids or polyps) in the uterus and cervix
• Birth defects that affect the reproductive tract
• Excessive exercising
• Eating disorders or poor nutrition
• Use of certain medications, including chemotherapy drugs
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Obesity
• Older age
• Ovarian cysts and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Pelvic infection or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Scarring from sexually transmitted infection or endometriosis
• Surgery to prevent pregnancy (tubal ligation) or failure of tubal ligation reversal 
• Thyroid disease
• Too little or too much of certain hormones

Male infertility may be due to:

• A decrease in sperm count
• Sperm being blocked from being released
• Sperm that do not work properly

Male infertility can be caused by:

• Environmental pollutants
• Being in high heat for prolonged periods
• Birth defects
• Heavy use of alcohol, marijuana, or cocaine
• Too little or too much hormones
• Impotence
• Infection
• Older age
• Cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation
• Scarring from sexually transmitted diseases, injury, or surgery
• Surgery to prevent pregnancy (vasectomy), or failure of vasectomy reversal
• Retrograde ejaculation
• Smoking
• Use of certain drugs, such as cimetidine, spironolactone, and nitrofurantoin

In healthy couples under age 30 who have sex regularly, the chance of getting pregnant is about 25 - 30% per month. A woman's peak fertility occurs in her early 20s. After age 35 (and especially 40), the chances that a woman can get pregnant drops considerably.

It is not uncommon that a woman can get pregnant well into her 40s. If you are healthy and take good care of yourself, being in your late 30s or 40s is not a reason for having difficulty conceiving.

Traditional Medical Treatment Options and Diagnosis

Treatment depends on the cause of infertility. It may involve:

• Fertility treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF)
• Medicines to treat infections and clotting disorders
• Medicines that help the woman grow and release eggs from the ovaries

You can increase your chances of becoming pregnant each month by having sex at least every 3 days before and during ovulation. It is especially important to do so before ovulation occurs. Sperm can live inside a woman's body for at least 3 days. However, a woman's egg can only be fertilized by the sperm for a few hours after it is released. Ovulation occurs about 2 weeks before the next menstrual cycle (period) starts. If a woman gets her period every 28 days, the couple should have sex at least every 3 days between the 10th and 18th day after the period starts.

Expectations (prognosis)

As many as 1 in 5 couples diagnosed with infertility eventually become pregnant without treatment.

Medicines Two Choices for You

Dr. Huntoon's Alternative Medical Treatment Options

Dr. Huntoon has quite an extensive success rate at helping couples conceive naturally, without resorting to hormonal treatments.  Discussing the imbalances associated with infertility and then supporting the body to begin functioning properly, both hormonally and physiologically, would be important to allow the natural process of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy.  This is ideal, because using Traditional Medical methods the focus will usually be on the female and she will be required to take all the artificial hormones, even if the problem is with the male.  Do Not let this happen to you. 

A consultation with Dr. Huntoon to understand your complex situation is well worth the money that will be spent if you go the medical route.  Consider this before going forward.  Evaluating both partners using the 7 Pillars of Health has always worked for those couples who choose this form of care.

Working with a Holistic Chiropractor who has experience helping couples facing fertility problems is important. Discussing what is involved and developing a well-rounded multifaceted approach to address both the male and female aspects of this concern is necessary. This may include:

• Taking whole food supplements as well as modifying/cleaning up your diet is a must.

Having the right ingredients to support normal hormonal production is an absolute. Without the proper building blocks, conceiving may be a continuous problem. 

• Evaluating a possible allergy to the man's sperm is also important to have done. 

This has been part of the problem in more than one couples failure to conceive.  and when properly remedied, pregnancy has resulted.

Your Solution

Dr. Huntoon has quite an extensive success rate at helping couples conceive naturally, without resorting to hormonal treatments.  Discussing the imbalances associated with infertility and then supporting the body to begin functioning properly, both hormonally and physiologically, would be important to allow the natural process of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy.  Evaluating both partners using the 7 Pillars of Health has always worked for those couples who choose this form of care.

More than half of couples with infertility eventually become pregnant after medical treatment, not including advanced techniques such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).  These treatments can be quite costly and require full commitment and have no guarantee of success.

Working with a Holistic Chiropractor who can help you understand the underlying reason for your difficulty becoming pregnant is a great first step.  A well-rounded, multifaceted approach to fertility can help address all the underlying causes for your difficulties and avoid having to resort to costly medical intervention. Understanding what is involved and the time commitment necessary is important before beginning this type of care.

Many couples have been successful in conceiving after working with an Acupuncturist, Homeopath or Naturopath.

Education and counseling

It is important to recognize and discuss the emotional impact that infertility has on you and your partner, and to seek health advice from your health care provider. Infertility can be a terrible emotional strain on a relationship. Education and counseling can help deal with that strain while a couple works toward resolving their fertility problems. Depression, anxiety, and other marriage or relationship problems are very common. Infertility can be caused by a variety of factors that impact one, or both parties. A couple is a team and we treat infertility as a team effort. It is not uncommon for one party to feel isolated, stressed, or that their body has betrayed them. These emotions can contribute to infertility and therefore proper education and counseling is a vital step on the road to parenthood.

Calling your health care provider

Call for an appointment with your healthcare provider if you are unable to get pregnant.

Prevention

Preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, may reduce your risk of infertility. Maintaining a healthy diet, weight, and lifestyle may increase your chances for getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy. Take a whole food prenatal or multivitamin containing folic acid before and during pregnancy. This lowers your risk for miscarriage and developmental problems in the baby.