Infertility is defined as trying to get pregnant with frequent, unprotected sex for at least a year with no success.
 

Infertility results from female factors about one-third of the time and both female and male factors about one-third of the time. The cause is either unknown or a combination of male and female factors in the remaining cases

There are various reasons for Infertility in women:

 

 - Physical Problems (eg.  blocked fallopian tubes or various hormonal imbalances).
- Obstructed fallopian tubes
- PCOS
- Endometriosis
- Ovulation problems
- Uterus and cervix disorders
 

THE THREE PHASES OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE:

Pre-Ovulation or Follicular Phase - Estrogen is produced within the ovaries by the follicles, which are stimulated by follicular stimulating hormone. Estrogen cools body temperature for the healthy production of eggs and stimulates a changing, developing pattern of cervical mucus production that typically culminates with secretions the consistency and color of egg white.
Sometimes these secretions are not seen but felt as a lubricative (slippery) sensation at the vulva. This fertile quality cervical mucus can keep sperm alive for up to 5 days. When this fertile quality mucus is not present, sperm die quickly. Estrogen also softens and opens the cervix and moves it higher in the vaginal canal.

 

Ovulation - Luteinizing Hormone is the pituitary hormone that surges when one follicle reaches maturity to prompt the release of the egg from the ovary. The egg lives for 12 to 24 hours. If a second egg is released, it is released within 24 hours of the first egg.

 

Post-Ovulation or Luteal Phase - Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum (the egg-releasing follicle) after ovulation. It prevents the release of all other eggs that cycle. Progesterone causes the uterine lining to thicken and sustain itself until the corpus luteum disintegrates, about two weeks after ovulation, or a pregnancy results.

 

REACHING PEAK FERTILITY

   Your most fertile period starts about 4 or 5 days before ovulation and ends about 24 hours following the release of the egg. Because the sperm can live in a woman's body for 5 days or so, a woman's fertile period is actually longer than the 24-hour live span of the ovum.

    To increase your chances of conceiving and becoming pregnant, predicting the days of peak fertility - and more specifically predicting the date of ovulation - is key. After this, chances of conception decrease quickly, as the egg has a short lifespan of about 24 hours.
 

    Ovulation is the period of peak fertility. Ovulation and pregnancy go hand in hand and the fertilization of the egg following ovulation leads to pregnancy. Therefore, awareness of your fertility cycle is the first step on the path to pregnancy. Every woman's cycle is unique (some cycles are short, some are long) and fertility awareness begins with monitoring your menstrual cycle and being attentive to ovulation symptoms.

The following are the three primary fertility signs:

- Waking temperature
- Cervical fluid
- Cervical position
 

BASAL BODY TEMPERATURE (BBT)
 

   Body temperature changes are due to the increase of progesterone in your system. At the onset of ovulation, your body temperature will rise between 0.4°F and 0.8°F. A BBT thermal shift tells you that ovulation has taken place. Other factors that may increase your waking temperature include:
 

Charting Your BBT Temperature

    Starting on day one of your menstrual cycle - the first day of your period - begin recording your BBT temperature using the chart. Each morning, record your temperature. Plot each day's BBT on the graph. Your temperature rise may be sudden, gradual, or in steps. The pattern may vary from cycle to cycle.

    Typically a rise of at least 0.4 to 0.6 degrees will take place at ovulation, though for different women the temperature increases may be sudden or gradual. Over time, charting your BBT will help you predict ovulation.

CERVICAL MUCUS -Cervical fluid is to the woman what seminal fluid is to the man. Fertile cervical fluid provides an alkaline medium to protect the sperm from an otherwise acidic vagina. It provides nourishment for the sperm, acts as a filtering mechanism, and functions as a medium in which to move.
 

Approaching Ovulation:

As you approach ovulation, your cervical mucus will increase. First, there will be a moistness or stickiness to the mucus, as well as a white or cream-colored appearance.
During ovulation, the quantity of mucus will increase greatly and the appearance will resemble "egg whites", often semitransparent. The texture will become increasingly slippery and 'stretchable'. This is your most fertile time.

Following ovulation, the slippery quality of the cervical mucus will decrease and the mucus will become sticky and cloudier. Post-ovulatory dryness will also ensue.

TESTS  

    There is no single best test for infertility. Doctors use a variety of ways to identify any problems that might help cause fertility trouble.
You may get a Pap smear, which is used to detect abnormal cells around the cervix. The test can detect cervical cancer and other problems with the cervix, or sexually transmitted diseases. Any of these can interfere with getting pregnant. 

A urine test at home for luteinizing hormone, or LH. This hormone shows up in high levels just before you ovulate

levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, or FSH, which triggers your ovaries to prepare an egg for release each month. High FSH can mean lower fertility in women. The FSH blood levels get checked early in your menstrual cycle (often on day 3).

levels of the hormone progesterone in your blood. Increases in progesterone show that you are ovulating.

HOW CAN WE HELP?
 

Naturopathic medicine can help in cases of hormonal imbalances, irregular cycles, endometriosis, and lack of ovulation due to polycystic ovaries and decrease the occurrence of miscarriages. It can also improve the success rates of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI)

Treatment methods include:

- Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Botanicals
- Nutrition
- Gentle Detoxification
- Lifestyle counseling
 

we can also create a program for optimum health and wellness before getting pregnant. we can establish what deficiencies you have through blood testing and then target your nutrient deficiency. Reduction of heavy metal toxicity i.e. aluminum, mercury, lead, and cadmium if your hair mineral analysis reveals high levels of heavy metals is another approach for providing your optimum health.