Uncategorized – Page 3 – Samantha Van Dort

When do you ovulate?

Its the number one question I get asked when clients come to see me. How do I know if I have ovulated? Most women dont know if they have ovulated or not and many get confused by watching the dates and using ovulation kits. There are many tell tale signs of ovulation; temperature changes, changes in the cervix, changes in cervical mucus, hormonal fluctuations etc. However the most accurate way to tell is by cervical mucus changes, and this is backed by years of research.

So what are you looking for ? Fertile mucus will look like clear or white stringy egg white that stretches if you touch it and will appear at the onset of ovulation. Non fertile cervical mucus will be clear or white and tachy or dry, more like cooked egg white, so it wouldn’t stretch if you touched it. The body actually has 5 different types of cervical mucus that all have different functions, from blocking and protecting the cervix from infection to a nutritive mucus that actually provides nutrition for sperm to survive and thrive on. So its important to work out if you have the correct type of ovulation mucus.

The easiest way to know if you have the right types of cervical mucus is to chart your cycles. Thats why charting is actually extremely important to map out your fertile window. Its something that is often overlooked by patients and clinicians alike generally because it sounds too complicated and too time consuming. Most people think that you have to track temperature, date, symptoms and LH surges but the most consistent fertility sign is cervical mucus. Now that there are mobile apps to help you with this though its take as little as 30 sec a day to record the necessary data. Recording information about cervical mucus and bleeding patterns can all help to track that ovulation, and once you have found your fertile window conceiving can be so much quicker.

Charting isn’t just great for trying to fall pregnant, it’s also fantastic for detecting hormonal fluctuations. Which can be helpful when supporting health issues such as PCOS, endometriosis, early menopause, fibroids and amenorrhea.

So what happens if you find out your not making the right type of cervical mucus to support fertility? Diet and lifestyle factors can play a role in the development of cervical mucus so can a lack of the correct vitamin and minerals in your system. Calcium, vitamin D, E, B6 and C all play important roles in the production of mucus in the body so assessing your intake and personal requirements is crucial.

So don’t just guess, know! Sign up to one of the many tracking apps. My favourite is fertility pinpoint as it allows clients to invite me to view their charting so I can help them identify ovulation and hormonal fluctuations. If you need help charting or advice about your diet in regards to cervical mucus quality make an appointment with Merge Health so we can discuss it together.

Iodine is especially important in pregnancy.

Have you heard all the talk about Iodine and its role in pregnancy and fertility?

Recent research has brought Iodine into the spotlight in regards to its necessity in conception and developing the foetus. We have always known that it is a necessary nutrient for a developing baby but in the last few years we have found out just exactly how important it is especially for Australian women due to our severe deficiency in this country.

Fast Facts

Australian soils are very low in naturally occurring iodine, therefore our produce is lacking in iodine.

Iodine deficiency in women can increase the risk of miscarriage.

Mothers who are iodine deficient have been found to have children with reduced IQ by up to 12 points.

The thyroid has a huge role to play in pregnancy and fertility. Without adequate iodine it can not perform its roles properly. This puts mother at risk of having hypothyroidism and other thyroid complications during pregnancy which can have negative impact on a mother and babies health and development.

The very presence of thyroid anti globulins – even in low levels – were found to increase the likelihood of have a miscarriage especially in the early weeks of pregnancy.

Hypothyroidism in pregnancy has also been linked with severe morning sickness.

Here is the good news; this is almost always preventable!

Most natal multivitamins contain iodine now, however individuals uptake of iodine differs from woman to woman. For accuracy, a very simple iodine spot test could be appropriate. This test will give you an idea of how much iodine your body is holding for that period of time and therefore be a valuable tool to mums planning or currently pregnant.

Iodine is a tricky nutrient though, it can cause unwanted effects on the thyroid and can be difficult to get the right dosage due to peoples changing needs. Thats why testing is so important. Its also important to make sure you have the right mineral co-factors to help your body absorb and use iodine efficiently. This being the case its always best to be guided by a Naturopath or nutritionist on the right dosage for you and to be monitored through your pregnancy as well.

The top 5 fertility myths

blue-424156_1920 There are many myths surrounding fertility which can get in the way of achieving healthy conception here are some that I sometimes hear from clients…

1 Most women will fall pregnant immediately and carry to full term first time….

Actually one in 4 women will miscarry and the rate increases if it’s your first pregnancy. These heart breaking figures will affect many of you or your family and friends and it can be utterly devastating for couples. There are ways to reduce the risk of miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage by ensuring you are not deficient in certain vitamins and minerals or predispositioned to have lower levels of certain nutrients.

2. Alcohol doesn’t affect a mans sperm quality or count….

Research proves that even just one beer a day had the potential to reduce a man’s sperm quality and quantity, so not only does alcohol have an effect on a man’s sperm but diet also influences it as well. Research shows that certain dietary food will increase sperm morphology and count. Simple stuff you might think, but its so often missed when couples are having problems conceiving.

3. Diet doesn’t affect a woman’s fertility …..

Diets high in processed carbohydrates sugar and saturated fats have been linked to poorer fertility outcomes in women. Conversely diets high in omega 3’s, fresh vegetables, quality protein and whole foods have been linked with higher rates of fertility. Changing dietary habits can be hard but we have ways of making it so easy.

4. Stress doesn’t affect fertility…..

Everything in our body works in harmony, so if there is stress there will be an obvious flow on effect onto the rest of the bodies systems and functions. Research has linked women’s stress with poorer rates of fertility and one study has even demonstrated better fertility outcomes using mindfulness techniques. There are many ways to help better cope with stress from supplements to herbs to mindfulness techniques which can all help with fertility if stress is a large part of your life.

5.Supplements can’t help fertility

A couple’s fertility is most certainly linked to having adequate vitamins and minerals in their systems to drive all manner of bodily processes, from egg production, correct follicle development to sperm quality and motility. Our busy lifestyles and poor food choices make it very easy to be deficient in nutrients and therefore supplementation is sometimes necessary to “top up” these levels. There are signs and symptoms that naturopaths look for to help us identify these deficiencies which once corrected can make the world of difference to fertility.

Supplementation can be a minefield with so many choices on the market, of which so many are poor quality and some even use substitutes instead of the real thing. So its always advised to see your naturopath to ensure you only spend your money on quality products with real ingredients that are of high standard.

Are you stressed out trying to fall pregnant?

Did you know that stress may be a major cause of infertility in men and women? Long days at work, poor sleep, not exercising enough, worrying about life, undergoing IVF treatment, or being too busy to let your body stop, can force the body into a constant state of alertness and consequent fatigue. When we are under these pressures our normal reaction for the body is a fight or flight reaction. The fight or flight response is our body’s in built primitive, automatic response that prepares the body to “fight” or “flee” from perceived harm or threat to our survival, or in our modern day life a “stressor”. To have this immediate reaction our body releases adrenaline, noradrenaline, alpha amylase and cortisol, among other hormones, to help the body react faster, better and more efficiently. These hormones are great if we were actually under attack, but long term chronic modern day stress can have negative effects on our body and health.

Higher levels of cortisol and alpha amylase have been found to reduce fertility by up to 12% in women. This may sound like a small amount, but when you consider how hard it is for some women to fall pregnant it may be the difference between becoming a mother and not becoming one. Further research has found links between high levels of stress hormones and ovulation, libido, sperm count, and hormone production such as the production of adequate levels of progesterone. In particular importance to those undergoing IVF there is some suggestion from research that the active cortisol can cause micro spasms in the uterus which in some cases may reduce the likelihood of the embryo attaching.This can all lead to couples finding it harder to conceive, which can in some cases lead to a cycle of constant stress.

So what can we do to help reduce these stress hormones and our personal reactions to stress?

Recent studies have shown that couples who underwent mind body relaxation techniques and couples who actively sought alternative treatments to combat stress were twice as likely to fall pregnant whilst undergoing IVF treatment. Being able to “let go and go with the flow” is easier said than done, and may seem to some like an impossible task. However the benefits will outweigh the effort of the task in the end, with not only a higher chance of conception but also a healthier, happier lifestyle. Reducing stress doesn’t need to be complicated or achieved through radical changes in life, there are simple ways to start the ball rolling.

Simple life solutions can include;

Eating regular meals. Making sure blood sugars are stable by eating regular meals can have a profound effect on our bodys reactions to stress. So try to have 3 healthy meals a day, and if snacks are needed ensure that you go for protein rich snacks such as nuts and seeds.
Sleep. Research proves those that people who get 7-8 hours of sleep react better to stressful events. Theres also a link between the amount of hours slept before midnight, and the more restful the sleep.
Keep hydrated and avoid caffeine. The old caffeine and stress link! Caffeine also tells the body to increase those stress hormones, so whilst it gives you the energy you’re so desperately looking for it will ultimately be draining you of energy and boosting your stress.
Try to slow your mind. Meditation, exercise and even reading can calm the nervous system down and help focus your attention. Attending mindfullness workshops can help direct you in the art of slowing down, or for beginners to meditation or those who are time poor try smilingmind.com.au. Simple, user friendly, on the spot meditations that range from 1 minute to 30 minutes. Its a great not-for-profit website!
Herbal supplements. There are some wonderful herbal supplements that can help your body adapt better to stress, these are best tailored to your individual needs by your naturopath.