Dr. Emina jasarevic, nd | Naturopathic physician

Fertility Programs

We help to prepare your mind & body for a healthy and successful pregnancy. We work with natural conception and assisted reproductive techniques (IVF, ICSI and IUI) through acupuncture herbs, hormone assessments & sperm/egg optimization.

Today, more than ever before, women are completeing their education and setting up their careers first – THEN planning for a family. Optimizing fertilty and starting a family in your later 30’s and early 40’s is now the new normal. Read more about Fertility over 40 here.

No matter your age, Dr. Emina uses natural medicine for fertility enhancement to improve the chances for both a natural or assisted healthy conception, pregnancy, labour and baby. Dr. Emina will use naturopathic and conventional laboratory tests to assess overall health in order to treat fertility concerns.

A combination of any of the following will be considered: male and female weekly acupuncture, natural hormone balancing support, botanicals, vitamin-mineral therapies, homeopathic medicine, dietary and lifestyle plans, clinical counseling, will be available to help support natural fertility or assisted fertility. Numerous studies on specific nutrients, botanical medicines and acupuncture treatments have been shown to improve fertility rates.

For example, a milestone study published in the medical journal Fertility & Sterility (1) found that acupuncture dramatically improves the chances of becoming pregnant when used in conjunction with other assisted reproductive techniques. Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical Centre (2) in New York did a review of acupuncture studies in fertility and concluded:

5 Ways that acupuncture helps to boost your fertility:

Increases blood circulation to the uterus, improving chances of implantation
Reduces anxiety, stress and the hormones associated with stress, that can significantly decrease fertility (in men and women)
Normalizes hormone and endocrine systems that regulate ovulation, especially in cases of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
Improves internal communication of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which plays a key role in fertility
Regulates the menstrual cycle

A naturopathic approach allows us to uncover the underlying hormonal imbalances that may be at the root cause of infertility. Common conditions include PMS, irregular menstrual cycles, painful periods, luteal phase defects, endometriosis, chronic infections, miscarriage, and adrenal, thyroid or pituitary imbalance.

Some common naturopathic assessments for fertility may include:

Comprehensive female and male hormone profile — via urine or saliva collection.
Food Allergy Testing (ELISA blood test for IgG/IgE) with dietary recommendations.
Environmental Toxicity Testing for heavy metals, solvents, organophosphates and chlorinated pesticides — via urine and blood collection.

Acupuncture & Fertility

Acupuncture is extremely helpful during your 9 months of pregnancy and birth. According to the World Health Organization (WHO)(3), acupuncture has been found useful for relieving labour pain, nausea and vomiting, and significantly reducing the duration of labour. There is also strong evidence that acupuncture can help with a breech birth.

If you are a candidate for assisted reproductive therapies (ART), Dr. Emina collaborates with both the Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine (PCRM) and The Kelowna Regional Fertility Clinic. Naturopathic Medicine offers treatments to better support the success of assisted reproductive therapies (ART) such as IVF, IUD, and ICSI to optimize your chances of conceiving and sustaining a healthy pregnancy.

Paulus W, et al., Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertility and Sterility, volume 77, April 2002, 721-724.
5 Ways Acupuncture Can boost Fertility. Prevention.com, 2002.
Acupuncture: Review and analysis of reports on controlled clinical trials. World Health Organization, Geneva, 2002.www. who.int/medicines

Related Areas of Focus

Children’s Health

Providing comprehensive and holistic care for healthy children, from simple tummy pains and recurrent ear infections to more complex conditions.

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IV Vitamin Therapy

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What Causes Hypothyroidism?

Chronic Stress & Adrenal Fatigue

The adrenal glands take the leading role when it comes to managing stress through the production of cortisol. Research shows that adrenal fatigue has an impact on thyroid function. Even at a mild degree of deficiency, adrenal fatigue can negatively affect thyroid hormone conversion, utilization, and production. For example, high stress can cause too much cortisol in the circulation which promotes inflammation around the thyroid, and this reduces thyroid receptor responsiveness. Therefore, when treating thyroid issues with medicine or therapy it’s important to address the adrenals, this connection, and to care for them both effectively.

Hashimoto’s Hypothyroid

90% of cases of hypothyroidism are due to an autoimmune attack on the thyroid gland by either thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPOAb) or by thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb), a condition called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. What this means is that the body creates immune cells that attack the gland so that its function – and a person’s health – declines over time. This condition can be triggered by gluten in gluten-sensitive individuals. Similarly, in these people, gluten avoidance for at least 3 months may help lower antibody levels to a normal range.

Thyroid Conversion Disorder

In some cases, the conversion of T4 into T3 doesn’t function properly due an enzyme issue or otherwise. Test results will show normal levels of TSH and T4 but severely low levels of T3. Commonly, in these cases, patients are often told by their doctors that their thyroid function is “normal” even though they do not feel normal! This is also why some patients who receive medication or therapies that only supplement T4 levels may feel like the treatment is ineffective.

Thyroid Hormone Resistance

Thyroid hormone resistance can be thought of in the same way as insulin resistance is in diabetics. In this condition, the body’s cells are unresponsive to thyroid hormones. In these individuals, T3 and T4 levels can be normal but TSH levels are elevated.

Nutritional Deficiencies

For proper function and the creation of thyroid hormones, the thyroid gland requires the trace minerals iodine, selenium and zinc as well as an amino acid, thyroxine. Deficiency in any of these nutrients can create symptoms of hypothyroidism. Iodine is found in iodized salt and sea vegetables (such as nori and dulse flakes). I have come to find that iodine deficiency is more prevalent than previously given credit for (a 24 Hour Urine Iodine Challenge Test can determine this). The trace mineral Selenium is abundantly found in Oysters and Brazil nuts, and Zinc is rich in pumpkin seeds and beef. Thyroxine is the amino acid building block of thyroid hormones and can be found in most sources of protein.

Heavy Metal Toxicity and Mercury

The thyroid hormone and the heavy metal mercury have strikingly similar biochemistry. The long term exposure of this metal wreaks havoc on the thyroid gland and a person’s health, with these negative effects typically being experienced by dental patients who have currently have or previously had mercury amalgams. Sometimes it is prudent to screen for heavy metal toxicity and high levels of mercury that may be causing thyroid suppression. Heavy metal testing, followed by Chelation Therapy for removal of mercury from deep tissue stores is one naturopathic way to treat the underlying hypothyroid condition.

Central Hypothyroidism

In rare cases, disorders of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus in the brain may be an underlying cause for central Hypothyroidism (AKA secondary or tertiary hypothyroidism). There are usually other concerning symptoms (beyond the list seen on this page) that would warrant imaging and more advanced hospital testing.

Dr. Emina jasarevic, nd | Naturopathic physician

Fertility Programs

5 Ways that acupuncture helps to boost your fertility:

Some common naturopathic assessments for fertility may include:

Acupuncture & Fertility

Related Areas of Focus

Children’s Health

FAQ

How soon will I notice or feel a difference?

What Causes Hypothyroidism?

How does SIBO testing work?

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