Taking charge of your fertility

Whether you’re a woman thinking about family planning, a teenager going through puberty or a woman past the years of welcoming a baby, taking charge of your fertility can improve your overall health and give you control over your wellness.

Many women experience pain, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and infertility symptoms for years but are told that it’s just part of being a woman. Deal with it.

“Women don’t have to deal with it. As a society, we’ve normalized it, but it’s not normal,” said Robin Bigger, RN, a fertility care nurse for OSF HealthCare. “There are natural ways to recognize and treat gynecological issues and improve fertility.”

What is infertility?

Infertility can be an isolating and frustrating road. But unfortunately, it’s not an uncommon problem. Infertility affects many women and couples. About 10% of women age 15-44 struggle to get or stay pregnant.

You are considered to have fertility if:

• You have been trying to get pregnant for a year and haven’t been successful
• You have been having intentional intercourse during your most fertile days for six months without achieving pregnancy

If you’re planning a family but struggling to achieve pregnancy, identifying where there is a problem can help you and your provider find the solution.

Signs of infertility

“A lot of times women look at their periods and think that their symptoms are normal – that it’s just what women deal with,” Robin said.

Menstrual symptoms that can indicate fertility issues include:

• Brown or black bleeding for two or more days before the start of the period or at the tail end of the period is not considered normal
• Irregular menstrual cycle – too long or too short is not normal
• Painful periods
• Spot bleeding outside of your menstrual cycle

This could be a sign that something else is going on, like low progesterone.

Conditions that may cause infertility

Infertility usually doesn’t occur on its own. There’s often something going on inside that may lead to a woman struggling to get pregnant.

“It’s good to be on top of your cycle before even trying to get pregnant. A lot of times, there are problems that women don’t even realize,” Robin said.

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): This is when too much of the hormone androgen is produced, which can cause cysts to form on the ovaries. This can cause severe abdominal pain, irregular periods, abnormally long periods, insulin resistance, weight gain and other symptoms.
• Endometriosis: This occurs when the tissue that lines the uterus grows in other areas where it’s not supposed to. It can cause severe pain, long periods, digestive issues, internal scarring and other issues.
• Uterine fibroids: These comprise of tissues that grow in and around the uterus. They can lead to heavy or painful periods, lower abdomen or back pain, frequent urination and pain during intercourse.
• Thyroid issues: Too much or too little thyroid hormone can also cause infertility or increase the likelihood of miscarriage.

The conditions listed above disrupt the natural process of releasing an egg, interfere with a fertilized egg implanting in the uterus or don’t allow the body to produce enough hormones to sustain a healthy pregnancy.

A woman may also experience infertility if she is over 35, has diabetes or has a poor diet.

Fertility tracker system

“Getting to the root of the problem is the key to treating infertility,” Robin said.

A fertility tracker, like the Creighton Model FertilityCare™ System, helps you monitor your cycles, observe cervical mucus and identify the most fertile days. This method also helps spot issues like endometriosis or PCOS, which may contribute to infertility.

Contrary to popular belief, irregular periods don’t cause infertility but can signal underlying health conditions.

Fertility tracking allows providers to identify and treat these issues, preserving natural fertility and helping you achieve or avoid pregnancy.

Fertility treatments

There are natural fertility treatments that work. They can effectively increase fertility by addressing root causes.

Living a heathy lifestyle that includes:

• Diet – non-processed, natural foods high in protein, fiber and healthy fats
• Supplements – prenatal vitamins can help with missing nutrients from your diet
• Exercise – helps maintain a healthy weight and general well-being
• Stress reduction – avoid stress and the accompanying hormones
• Smoking cessation – smoking contributes to hormone imbalances and general health

With no side effects, natural treatments empower you to make informed decisions about your health and fertility.

If you require medical intervention, your provider may recommend a health science like NaProTECHNOLOGY™, which treats women’s health abnormalities by working with their bodies – for fertility treatment and overall health and wellness.

NaPro provides medical and surgical treatments that cooperate with the reproductive system. Treatments can be medical or surgical and aim to correct what’s causing the issue.

Medical treatments

Medical NaPro treatments restore the normal functioning of the menstrual and fertility cycles by using medications that are timed to your cycle. These treatments enhance ovulation or regulate hormone levels, helping to optimize the body’s reproductive processes.

Sometimes, treatments can be as simple as taking over-the-counter medication to improve the quality of cervical mucus.

“Limited mucus cycles can be treated with medicines. Natural progesterone supplements can be used to help increase chances of achieving pregnancy and reduce the risk of miscarriage,” Robin said.

Surgical treatments

Sometimes, treatment includes surgery. NaPro surgical treatments involve minimally invasive techniques to help with things like:

• Endometriosis
• PCOS
• C-section scarring and scar tissue
• Fallopian tube problems
• Overall reproductive anatomy
• Ovary and uterus problems

Charting can help women document their reproductive health and, if need be, get fertility treatments quickly. It can help with not only fertility but also PMS and other menstrual symptoms – whether minor or debilitating. It also allows women to advocate for themselves and their health and take charge of their fertility.

Last Updated: November 19, 2024