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FERTILITY
LECTURE 12
Naturopathic Fertility Centre in Toronto – Judith Fiore ND
Success rates of conventional fertility treatments is 25-30%. There is more to it than just insemination, IVF. Dr. Fiore:
says her success rate is 60%-80%
20-40 million sperm: absolute minimum number of sperm needed for women to conceive naturally.
Normal sperm counts should be around 140 million. Sperm counts are much lower than they used to be.
Add FSH to diagnostic tests done for women. Looks at “ovarian reserve”, but these levels can fluctuate, especially in
times of stress.
Hysterosalpingogram: forces dye through fallopian tubes. Very uncomfortable test.
Sonohystogram: same as above, but uses saline solution and see if there is any spill into peritoneal cavity from Fallopian
tubes.
(re: varicocele: put frozen gel-packs around testes, 1-2 times a day. Castor oil packs, not with heat.)
Generally try 3 IUIs and then say have IVF. People should have more tries at it! Maybe 6? If she is older or there are
other concerns, this might be appropriate, but IVF brings in a lot of money, and this may be part of the push towards IVF.
Clinics may put women on drugs to make them ovulate so there are more follicles, more chances of conception. Minimum
size is 1.7-2.3cms to be fertilizable.
IUI: man provides a sample in clinic, or brings in fresh sample. Have to wash the sperm as it bypasses the vagina when
you use IUI. “post-wash” number are much lower than pre-wash.
Some clinics will do 1 insemination, others will do another the next day.
ICSI: Inject sperm right into woman’s egg. (done with IVF)
GIFT/ZIFT: not really done any more. 15-20% ectopic pregnancy with this procedure. Don’t worry about these so much.
Page 4
With acupuncture, success rates almost double. 45-50%.
Acupuncture is main therapy that Dr. Fiore uses in clinic.
Page 5
Make sure you cover food in intake. Variety in diet is good.
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S HEALTH OCTOBER 11TH, 2007 – PAGE 1
Recurrent pregnancy loss? May help to get off gluten. All grains on page 5 are gluten-free except for barley. (Oatmeal??)
Plain organic yogurt, fuller fat yogurt. Low fat dairy: a study found that there might be a link to infertility? (need fat!)
Increasing water intake, this is one of the most difficult changes to make for many people.
Good to drink room temperature water, even warm water.
Moon cycle: day of new moon is day 1. Sleep with curtains open, moonlight coming in for day before/of/after full moon.
Women may find they have regular cycles when they are camping outside for the summer, away on vacation and outdoors
for the days/nights.
This protocol gives women some subtle support, also gives them a sense of control during fertility treatments.
Page 6
Keep flax seeds at lower level in men.
Lifestyle changes:
TQ: BBT is least reliable indicator, cervical mucous is most reliable indicator.
Dry skin brushing: always move towards the heart. Stimulates lymphatics
Castor oil packs: do them between days 5-12 of cycle. Increase circulation, lymphatics. Kill microorganisms in
periotoneal cavity, break down scar tissue, good for liver.
Put castor oil over entire abdomen, covering liver and uterus.
Don’t do this in first trimester. Breaks down scars, might impact fetus.
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Exercise: if women are exercising vigorously before pregnancy, don’t cut it out completely. Reduce.
Page 8
Vitamin C: Dr. Fiore uses no more than 2 grams/day for women.
Folic acid: recent research says it increases quality of eggs.
Page 10
Rubeus: Wait until 4th month before taking it. Can shorten labour time (clinical)
Dr. Fiore likes to work with homeopathy first, tries to avoid using botanicals.
Ginkgo: good if person has a lot on their mind.
Uses a lot of glycyrrhiza: synergist, gives direction to herbal formula. Good for women with low estrogen levels
Ginseng suggested to male patients
Saw palmetto: definitely.
Skullcap: “fantastic!”
Vitex: the best thing for bringing down FSH levels in women. Increases LH production. Better communication btwn
ovaries and brain. Improves ovarian function.
First month or 2, do diet and lifestyle changes and see what they change on their own.
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S HEALTH OCTOBER 11TH, 2007 – PAGE 2
Mindful meditation techniques for managing stress.
Support implantation: ST 28, 29, 30. Warm the uterus.
Day 3 transfer: can do spleen 6 before transfer. Yin type points before transfer. Shen men, Ying tang.
Don’t do LV in first month of pregnancy, or suspected pregnancy.