Infertility

Officially a couple is considered infertile if conception has not occurred within 1 year's unprotected intercourse. The number of couples in this category is increasing steadily in both Western and developing countries. Commonly quoted statistics state that 1 in 10 couples are unwillingly infertile and 1 in 6 couples have difficulty conceiving. Normal conception rates for the average couple are surprisingly low. For the 20 - 30 age group the chance of getting pregnant in any one month is around 20% and for the 30 - 40 age group that chance is halved to 10%.

Causes of infertility in women:

• Disorders of fallopian tubes 30%
• Disorders of ovulation 20%
• Endometriosis 15%
• Disorders of mucus 10%
• Other mechanical causes such as fibroids 5%
• Unknown causes 20%

Causes of infertility in men:

• Sperm disorders (quality and quantity) 50%
• Disorders of sexual intercourse 30%
• Unknown causes 20%

What can be done about it?

Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Assisted reproductive technologies or "ART", principally IVF, IUI and GIFT are being used more and more. These techniques give rise to many ethical and moral concerns as well as involve vast amounts of money. These technologies offer at best a 20% chance of conception and only a 10 - 15% chance of taking home a baby. As well as this, ART babies have a much higher incidence of prematurity and congenital abnormalities.

Natural Fertility

Natural approaches to fertility have been used for centuries and have the advantage of being non-invasive and non-traumatic. They offer couples the chance to feel more in control and able to contribute towards the solution to their problem. Natural Fertility methods can be used for either conception or contraception and gives you the information to use to suit your changing fertility needs.

The Natural Fertility Management (NFM) programme that I utilise in my practice was devised by Sydney based Naturopath, Herbalist and Hypnotherapist Francesca Naish. She has written three books on reproduction and health and runs the first clinic in Australia to specialise in Natural methods for fertility management, reproductive health and pre-conception health care.

Can ART and NFM be combined?

For optimum effect, and the best possible outcome for the health of parents, pregnancy and the child, the programme is best conducted in the absence of fertility drugs. However, in some cases it may be necessary for you to use ART or drug therapy. It has been documented that when naturopathic treatment and fertility awareness combines with an IVF conception attempt there is a higher chance of success than undergoing IVF alone. However IVF needs to be carefully considered as each failed attempt reduces your future chances of conception.

The Natural Fertility Management Programme:

The NFM programme teaches you to understand and co-operate with your fertility cycles, through observing body signs such as cervical mucus, basal body temperature and combining this knowledge with your personal bio-rhythmic lunar cycleThe angle of the moon and the earth at the exact time of your birth reoccurs approximately every 29.5 days.  A woman can spontaneously ovulate at this time – yes that´s right!  A woman can ovulate up to twice in one cycle!  This accounts for why the rhythm method has such a low success rate as a form of contraception and why women conceive when they have intercourse after their normal hormonal ovulation or during their period etc.  It is the addition of taking into account your lunar cycle that makes this form of contraception so effective..  Where there is a fertility problem, a holistic approach is used to explore its origins, and natural therapies used to assist healing and normal reproductive functioning.

The NFM programme is effective in cases of unexplained infertility as well as for specific conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, polycystic ovarian disease, ovarian cysts, hormonal imbalances, hostile cervical mucus and factors affecting male fertility.

A recent study by Foresight Organisation for Preconception Health care in Britain showed an 81% success rate in treating infertility by natural methods.

I recommend that you purchase a Natural Fertility Management Conception Kit. This contains the following:

• A copy of "Natural Fertility" by Francesca Naish the founder and developer of the Natural Fertility Management techniques taught.
• Work Book - for charting
• Fertility Thermometer
• An order card for your personal lunar calculations for 5 years (the cost for these calculations is included in the kit price)
• Time Machine - this allows you to make adjustments while travelling
• CD by Fransesca Naish - the first part is introducing you to Natural Fertility Management and the second part is a relaxation technique for aligning your hormonal cycle with your lunar cycle so that you have a more powerful ovulation for conception and help with any hormonal imbalances.