Preconception
Conception involves both male and female partners equally
Healthy ova and sperm take around 120 days to develop; it is ideal if we may start your preconception care plan a minimum of four months prior to trying to conceive.
A preconception care plan may address your dietary requirements, lifestyle and nutritional supplementation needs.
By ensuring both you and your partner are at optimum health prior to conception, producing healthy sperm and ovum we aim to give your child the best possible start to life!
Testing May Provide Answers – Testing for Men:
We are able to test for comprehensive sperm health markers, including the morphological breakdown of any sperm head, sperm mid-piece and sperm tail-piece defects present allowing us to specifically and individually nutritionally target specific sperm health defects and aim to increase healthy sperm counts.
Antioxidants are highly important at this time for men, as oxidative stress may damage sperm DNA, increase sperm defects and is understood to increase the risk of miscarriage.
An equally important nutritional component for male partners is omega 3 fatty acids, particularly Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), understood to be important for sperm production, morphology and function including the formation of healthy sperm heads.
Testing May Provide Answers – Testing for Women:
For our mothers-to-be, we focus on testing for and increasing nutrient status including iron, zinc, folate, iodine, vitamins, minerals and selenium as well as healthy progesterone levels in the aim to provide every opportunity for optimal oocyte quality, healthy implantation and a safe and enjoyable pregnancy.
Testing allows us to understand your individual biochemistry requirements; whether this is low thyroid hormones, PCOS-tendencies such as androgen and insulin excess, hormone imbalance of oestrogen excess or progesterone deficiency; or nutritional deficiencies such as low vitamin D, folate, iodine or zinc.
As well as specific individualised nutrient, mineral and hormone support, we prescribe the same DHA for women as it is one of the major building structures of the brain and central nervous system, and is understood to directly assist the development of the brain and nervous system of your growing baby.
We offer individualised and specific preconception preparation programs prior to preconception for those couples who wish to support detoxification or ensure optimal hormone balance, such as balancing polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) hormones, prior to pregnancy.
Current statistics show one in six couples in Australia may struggle with fertility concerns.
We understand many of these issues may be successfully supported through natural medicine preconception support.
Our preconception programs include:
Hormone Balancing Support:
This may involve balancing an irregular hormone cycle; supporting PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome); aiming to increase low progesterone levels to prevent miscarriage; hormone support for couples later in life; and many other fertility concerns.
We regularly test and support both male and female hormones required for healthy fertility, including supporting PCOS concerns such as amenorrhea and anovulation; and low sperm counts.
Detoxification Support:
Detoxification support must be completed before the four-month preconception period, as we do not desire waste metabolites being released or mobilised through your system whilst producing sperm and ovum. Detoxification support may reduce oxidative stress which could impair sperm and ovum health, interfere with hormone signalling or reduce healthy mitochondrial function. Your detoxification support plan is tailored to your individual needs and may last 4 – 6 weeks.
Stress Support:
Stress may not only interfere with our daily happiness, but may also affect our hormone balance, fertility, implantation, and may even affect your developing baby whilst you are pregnant. Some people are more susceptible to feelings of stress, anxiety or low mood than others, and we believe it is important to ensure optimal stress-coping and emotional well-being prior to preconception and during pregnancy. Stress support may include testing and balancing our stress-coping hormones, adrenal hormones and specific nutritional targets as well as introducing stress coping techniques for your long-term health and well being.
Weight Support:
Weight management is an important aspect for both men and women, as we understand obesity and excess weight may compromise fertility and for women, may also increase the risk of complications during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia or miscarriage. Our comprehensive testing for thyroid hormones, chromium levels, insulin levels, hormone levels and specific weight management support is an excellent approach for those with insulin resistance to support fertility, healthy pregnancy and a healthy and happy baby.
We would love to be able to assist you and your partner with preconception and natural fertility, contact us today for more information or to make an appointment.