I just received an email from a patient announcing the birth of her first child. A little over a year ago, she came to me after being diagnosed with "unexplained infertility." Her husband, too, had low sperm count, motility, morphology and mobility issues. They both committed to an herbal medicine and acupuncture regimen, and made the decision to give the holistic wellness approach a try for 6 months before moving on to Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART). After three and a half months, they were thrilled to report that she was pregnant!
In my acupuncture practice at Ariele's Apothecary, this is not an uncommon scenario. A majority of the practice is made up of patients using acupuncture for fertility treatment. Why are so many people, especially women, struggling with infertility? Why has "unexplained infertility" become an epidemic? Yes, age has a lot to do with it. Our reproductive systems have not quite caught up to our lifespan. If we were still living just to the ripe old age of 35, we would be expected to start popping out babies soon after we began our menstrual cycle.
But it's not just age that is affecting our fertility. Years ago, there were fewer career expectations placed on women. In no way am I about to say that I think women should be home in the kitchen. I have two kids under 4 and run a business, and I know that I personally need my career to be fulfilled. But in the healing industry, emotion and stereotypically "female" energies are more accepted. However, many "career" women are working in what is still a "man's world." Women, at our core, are intuitive beings. In my practice, I have seen that many career-women have "shut down" that intuitive or feminine side of themselves to survive and get ahead in their careers.
I often recommend that women begin a yoga or meditation practice to help them to get grounded back into their bodies. Our bodies are smart - if we're constantly on the move, going and doing instead of BE-ing, our body will recognize that perhaps it's not the best scenario into which to bring a child. We have to make room for our baby even before we're pregnant. I've had patients tell me that they will cut back on their 60+ hour work-weeks once they're pregnant. But those 60+ hour work-weeks are precisely what might be preventing them from becoming pregnant.
The imbalances in our bodies often prevent us from becoming pregnant. But if we give our body a boost in the right direction with some lifestyle changes, acupuncture for fertility and herbs for health, we can correct those imbalances. I usually recommend that women begin their acupuncture treatments at least six months before deciding to move on to IVF or IUI. Most often, before those six months are over, their baby is on its way!
Contact Ariele's Apothecary for more information.