There are many experts who offer different types of natural fertility treatments, but, not every solution fits everyone.
Infertility—the inability to get pregnant after one normal year of “unprotected sex”— affects 1 in 5 women. Contrary to popular belief, one-third of infertility problems are related to women’s health, one-third is related to men, and one-third is a blend of both male and female infertility.
Additionally, 1 in 2 women of menstruating age will struggle with amenorrhea (period loss) at sometime or another, setting many of them up for “infertility” if they decided they’d like to get pregnant one day.
Translation: fertility issues are common.
However, just because something is common, does not mean it’s normal for humans to experience infertility. (In fact, if you do some research into human fertility just 100 years ago, you’ll discover that the infertility was actually very uncommon).
Instead, infertility is often a symptom or a byproduct of other “root causes.”
The Root Causes of Infertility
Common “root causes” driving infertility include:
- Mycotoxin (toxic mold exposures) and toxin exposures (especially xenoestrogens like birth control pills and BPAs in plastic water bottles, pesticides, toxins in skincare and cleaning products)
- Nutrient imbalances (low protein, low fat or low carb diets; lack of antioxidant-rich veggies and fruits)
- High intake of hydrogenated
- Smoking and high alcohol intake
- Gut microbiome disruption (your “estrobolome” where your estrogens are activated and also degraded)
- Undetected or unaddressed autoimmune disease (systemic inflammation)
- Hypothyroidism
- Insulin spikes and blood sugar dysregulation
- PCOS (unmanaged or undetected)
- Underweight or overweight
- Excess stress (over-training, under-sleeping, blue light screens all day or under-eating)
- Sedentary lifestyle or too much exercise
- High estrogen (estrogen dominance from birth control pills, mycotoxins, and other endocrine disruptors)—Constant high levels of estrogen, without a significant dip signaling the start of a new cycle, can trick your brain into thinking you’ve already ovulated, and prevent you from ovulating again
The good news?
When we address the “root causes” addressed, many women and couples discover that they are able to correct fertility naturally using a combination of nutrients, supplements and lifestyle factors.
Enter: These 19 natural fertility treatments (that your Gyno probably won’t tell you about).
19 Natural Fertility Treatments Your Gyno Won’t Tell You About
Lifestyle Fertility Treatments
#1. Find Your Happy Weight
Both being underweight and obesity have negative impacts on fertility, increasing both the risk of being able to conceive, miscarriage and pregnancy complications. Find your happy weight by “loving the gut” and following the lifestyle, nutrition and supplemental supports in this article. (The same thing goes for males—their lifestyle and dietary factors matter just as much as females’ for fertility).
#2. Goldilock’s Exercise
Both sedentary and over trained women present with higher incidents of altered menstruation and infertility. And the relationship between exercise and infertility is increased by imbalances in weight as well (ie. Exercise is more likely to benefit overweight women and too much exercise is detrimental to underweight women). Moreover, overtraining patterns also reduce sperm count in men.
For some people “overtraining” means it’s too intense. For others, it’s too long. And for other people, it’s how frequently they’re doing it. They’re
not giving a person – a body to rest. For any of these, you’re really putting your body at a physiological stress to perform at the cost of reproduction.
Move your body daily (like brushing your teeth daily), while also being mindful to not go overboard (ie. 2 to 3 workouts per day or excess cardio is complexly unnecessary for improved fertility!). Mix it up between strength training, a little bit of HIIT training, walking, yoga and dance/activities. If you have ‘pent up energy’ from not overtraining, replace extra workouts with a walk with a friend or yoga class.
#3. Just Say No
Smoking is devastating for both male and female fertility. Chemicals in cigarettes and pesticides in weed, disrupt spermatozoa and impact all aspects of sperm function, motility, concentration and spermatogenesis. In women, smoking disrupts follicle development to embryo transfer, to endometrium, to quality of the eggs, and quantity over time could be decreased with chronic smoke exposure.
#4. Decrease Toxic Load
What happens when you combine inhaling cigarette smoke, with car exhaust, with parabens and formaldehyde in your skin and makeup products, with fluoride in your toothpaste, with air pollution, and someone drinking BPA. All those things add up as a “toxic load” impacting fertility. Mitigate toxins as much as possible such as:
- Buying organic meats and produce
- Swapping out conventional hygiene, makeup and cleaning supplies with non-toxic options
- Drinking purified water
- Avoiding plastics—especially BPA in water bottles and Tupperware containers
- Reduce light pollution—use natural light during the day and keep screens on “night shift” at all times
- Ensure you are living and breathing toxic mold FREE air with a mold scan
- Keep EMFs (cell phones and laptops) away from your body (especially your lap)
#5. Mind Your Gut Health
The gut is the gateway to health—hormone balance included. It’s where hormones are both activated and cleared out of the body. A diverse gut microbiome with plenty of healthy gut bugs and intestinal integrity (ie. Not a leaky gut) is often overlooked in the fertility conversation, despite its key role in hormone health. However, the more diverse the microbiome is, the more efficient the endocrine system is.
Work with a practitioner to address any underlying “gut pathologies”—like SIBO, candida/fungal overgrowth and dysbiosis with antimicrobial herbs and immune supports (like monolaurin), and rebuild the gut with quality probiotics, prebiotics and gut-lining supports (like colostrum, collagen, humic and filmic minerals, and bone broth).
#6. Rewire the Brain-Gut Connection
Our issues can wind up into our tissues. Years of unaddressed stress or trauma inhibits the body from optimal function—hormones and fertility included. Limbic system retraining (guided by a practitioner or video) and learning how to release negative emotions ‘locked’ into my body was a huge game changer in my personal health for getting my period back.
Breath work (deep breathing for several rounds), prayer and meditation are also excellent “maintenance” practices for a healthier gut brain connection.
#7. Balance Blood Sugar
Blood sugar instability (dysglycemia) provokes stress in the body and increases inflammation if left unaddressed. Blood sugar imbalance is also a key component of PCOS (a common ‘root cause’ behind infertility).
Signs of imbalanced blood sugar include:
- Feeling hangry between meals
- Needing to eat every 2-3 hours
- Feeling more energetic or tired after you eat
- Craving sweets, carbs, salt or caffeine often
- Thinking about food often
- Brain fog, shaky or light headed if meals are slightly delayed
- Low energy
Balance blood sugar with the nutrient treatments below, and AVOID skipping meals, low protein and/or fiber (veggie) intake, overtraining, high-sugary snacks, eating sweets instead of meals, fasting/intermittent fasting because you “should” and avoiding caffeine or nicotine (which can suppress your appetite).
#8. Love the Liver & gallbladder
All chemicals and hormones have to go through a Phase 1 and Phase 2 liver detox to be cleared out or activated by the body. If your liver (or its right wingman—the gallbladder) is “clogged” or not working properly, you end up with more toxic burden inside and hormone imbalances galore (like estrogen dominance). Constant high levels of estrogen, without a significant dip signaling the start of a new cycle, can trick your brain into thinking you’ve already ovulated, and prevent you from ovulating again. Estrogen dominance can also affect men (ever heard of man boobs or known the guy who cannot “lose that belly” for the life of him?). Too much estrogen in men (from chemicals in foods, hygiene products, mold toxins, etc.) can also decrease the production of sperm by the testes. This is due to the estrogen-induced decrease in LH and testosterone levels, both of which directly stimulate the testes to produce mature sperm.
Hence, “loving your liver” is essential for keeping both toxins at bay and hormones in check. Love your liver with daily detox practices built into your daily life:
- Celery juice or cucumber juice (on an empty stomach after water)
- Lemon water
- Daily sweat (sauna, steam, detox baths, exercise)
- Lymph/dry brushing
- Coffee enemas (weekly)
- Eating green things (dark leafy greens) several times per day — cooked especially
- Dandelion tea
- Cilantro
- Chlorella tablets
You get the picture.
Nutrient Fertility Treatments
#9. Eat the Real Thing
Real food doesn’t have a label. If it didn’t grow in the ground, swim in the sea or roam the earth, it’s not real food. If a food has more than 3 to 5 ingredients in it, run (ideally aim for one, unless it is a ‘medicinal food’ like a prebiotic fiber drink). While you’re at it, go organic. One meta analysis found that males who had the highest amount of pesticide exposure they have, the less sperm count they have. Another study in women yielded similar findings: the intake of high pesticide residue, fruits and vegetables, was associated with lower probabilities of clinical pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing infertility treatment. Basically the higher the pesticide exposure in fruits and vegetables, the greater the infertility issues.
#10. Eat Enough
Calories (energy) matters if you’re trying to conceive. Skipping meals or even intermittent fasting can be a stressor and counter intuitive for a body that is hungry for nutrients to begin creating a new life. Aim to eat three balanced meals daily consisting of healthy fats, organic proteins and color rich veggies.
#12. Balance Your Healthy Fatty Acids
Essential fatty acids are critical for male and female fertility. They help absorb nutrients you eat and serve as foundational components of healthy hormones.
#13. But Avoid These Fats & Foods
Industrial seed oils and hydrogenated fats (like canola, grapeseed, vegetable oil, peanut oil, margarine) enhance oxidative stress in the body and gut. So do lots of (non-grass-fed) red meat, processed meats, fast foods, soda, cholesterol-rich foods and fried foods, as well as chargrilled or overcooked meats and dietary advanced glycation end products (browned, higher temp foods).
#14. Power Up with Protein
Amino acids found in organic proteins and bone broths help stabilize blood sugar and keep cortisol levels in check, as well as serve as foundational building blocks for all life.
#15. Taste the Rainbow
One word: Vegetables! (Rich in antioxidants and polyphenols). Translation: low to no oxidative stress.
#16. Don’t Forget Minerals
Minerals are really important for helping cells absorb nutrients, maintaining a healthy gut and hormone activity.
#17. Include Gut Loving Foods into the Daily Diet
Fermented foods, prebiotic fibers (like cooked and cooled potatoes/sweet potatoes, white rice, green plantains), cooked veggies, celery juice, bone broth, colostrum, sea salt, organ meats (or capsules), ginger, fresh herbs (ciltntro, parsley, oregano, etc.)…just to name a few.
#18. Stick to 1 Cup of Coffee or Less
The last thing you need is more cortisol (stress).
#19. Supplement Fertility Treatments
You cannot out-supplement a bad diet or lifestyle. However, once those two things are ”dialed in”, supplements can enter the picture. The goal with supplements should be the least amount of supplements as possible—and the most amount of nutrients.
The first place I start when I look at supplement support for patients that have infertility is to look at the fatty acid intake, factors associated with blood sugar instability, factors involved with liver detoxification and gut microbiome health—these factors MUST be in order to get to an optimal level first.
Here is a general overview of supplemental supports that may assist in recovering from infertility (Note: it’s best to consult with a practitioner for a customized approach for your body to address the “root causes” and to avoid buying random supplements on Amazon or the grocery store. NOT all supplements are created equal. Fullscript is my go-to supplement suppler for patient orders along with a 10% discount on everything for all patients).
GENERAL
Fatty Acids
- Extra virgin cod liver oil
- Flax
- Gallbladder Support (if fatty acids make you nauseas or end up in your poo as greasy or clay colored stools)
- Phosphatydcholine
- Beta TCP or Ox Bile (if no gallbladder)
BLOOD SUGAR SUPPORT
- Berberine
- Cordyceps
- Ashwaghanda
- Essential Fatty Acids
- Vitamin D
- Probtioics
- Prebiotics
PCOS SUPPORT
Goals are to normalize female hormones, diminish male hormones, recover estral cycles, ameliorate insulin resistance, and improve lipid metabolism
- Inositol
- Alpha-lipoic acid
- Blood sugar balance: Berberine, rose hips, burdock, Gymnema sylvestre
- Ashwaghanda
- Antioxidants: Resveratrol, liposomal curcumin, liposomal glutathione
- DIM and/or Calcium D-Glucarate
AMENNORHEA
- Ashwghanda, rhodiola
- Chaste Tree Berry
- Probiotics
- Prebiotics
- Mitochondria Support
ENDOMETRIOSIS
- Folate, and B-6, B-12
- Vitamin D
- Antioxidants: Resveratrol, liposomal curcumin, liposomal glutathione
- Boswellia AKBA
- Calcium D Glucarate
- DIM
- Maca Root
- Systemic enzymes
- Topical progesterone
LIVER DETOX
- Antioxidants: Resveratrol, liposomal curcumin, liposomal glutathione
- Liver/organ capsules
- Chlorella
- Homeopathic “drainage” supports for lymph, kidney, liver and gallbladder
- B vitamins
- Amino acids (glycine, collagen, etc)
GUT MICROBIOME
- Probiotics
- Prebiotics
- Butyrate
- Humic & filmic minerals
- Herbal antimicrobials
SPERM
The following aid in sperm count and motility.
- Vitamin D
- Micronutrients: Zinc, selenium, B-12, alpha-lipoic acid, L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10, myo-inositol, alpha-tocopherol (E)
- NAC and glutathione
- Extra virgin cod liver oil (EPA/DHA)
- Tribulus
- Vitamin C
Don’t Go it Alone
If you have NOT exhausted these 16 natural fertility treatments, consider taking a functional medicine approach to improve your fertility naturally (maybe you’ll be like my patient Sarah or Kristy who got pregnant within 8 weeks of a holistic functional medicine approach to their fertility).