Why we're going the herbal infertility treatment route first

Jayme recently posted about the various herbs and supplements that are useful when trying to conceive, and I thought now would be a good time to talk a little about why SS and I are going the herbal route first and what that involves for us.


Last year, SS got really sick and underwent two surgeries and has been on a lot of really harsh medications. He won't finish treatment for the blastomycosis until late March or early April. With that being the case, we felt it was better to wait to start all the infertility diagnostic testing until he's completed his current treatment plan. We don't know that the medications will interfere with any testing, but it's better safe than sorry.

That said, since he doesn't finish treatment for several more months, we decided we'd start with some of the herbal supplements and vitamins out there while we wait. If we conceive this way, then yay! We won't need to visit the RE to talk options. And if we don't conceive this way, at least we'll be making positive strides toward addressing some of the issues we face.

With PCOS, my body makes too much estrogen and androgens (ie: testosterone) and not enough progesterone (P4). The result is a hormonal imbalance that contributes to infertility. When we visit the RE in a couple of months, they'll likely want to prescribe something to help get things in balance. If herbal supplements can begin sorting things out before we go see him, why not give it a try?

Low P4 can cause all kinds of havoc in addition to infertility. A drop in P4 levels during pregnancy can cause a miscarriage. Since we already know I have low P4 and have miscarried before, we want to make sure we've covered the P4 base as best we can from the word go. 

In that vein, I'm using a paraben free progesterone cream twice a day, for two weeks each cycle. One of the great things about progesterone cream is that it's natural progesterone, whereas any progesterone therapy the RE can prescribe would be synthetic. I much prefer the natural stuff! It's safer and there are fewer chemicals involved. I use the cream twice a day for the 2 weeks leading up to my menstrual cycle, 1/4 teaspoon each time on a soft tissue area like my throat, inner arms or thighs, etc. If you plan on taking it, aim for a paraben free version that clearly states it has at least 500mg USP progesterone per ounce. If it doesn't have USP, it's not really progesterone. And if it doesn't have enough, it's not going to be particularly useful.

I'm also taking 540 mg daily of Black Cohosh, which helps regulate the menstrual cycle and can help with menstrual pain. With the PCOS, I sometimes have the absolute worst cramps. They radiate down my thighs and can be incredibly severe. If black cohosh can help ease them and get my menstrual cycle from 45 days to 28-30, I'd be crazy not to give it a try!

I also take 960mg daily of Red Raspberry Leaf (RRL), which helps strengthen and tone the uterus and can aid in implantation. RRL also lengthens the luteal phase. A typical luteal phase, or the period of time between day 1 of your menstrual cycle and ovulation, is between 10 to 16 days. Women who have shorter luteal phases struggle to become pregnant as the lining of the uterus isn't able to grow like it should to support a healthy pregnancy. RRL shouldn't be taken while pregnant, however, as there is a possibility it can lead to miscarriage.

Finally, SS and I both take 2000mg daily of Maca root. Maca root is full of vitamins and minerals... over 60 phytonutrients and 30 minerals. It affects the endocrine system by stimulating the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus and the thyroid. Maca can help balance hormones by lowering excess levels of hormones and stimulating the production of hormones that aren't high enough. It can also increase energy, improve sperm motility/mobility, and increase sexual drive. I've been taking it for about 2 weeks now, and I already feel more alert and energetic. My libido is also starting to kick into a higher gear. I'm perfectly okay with that! :)

Every woman of childbearing age should also take a prenatal (or a folic acid supplement at the very least) whether or not they are trying to conceive. A lack of folic acid can cause birth defects. More often than not with a birth defect like spina bifida, the issue occurs incredibly early in the pregnancy, often before a woman even knows she is pregnant. With that being the case, waiting for a BFP before starting a prenatal isn't a safe bet, especially for those who have a higher risk of birth defects. My nephew has spina bifida and a suspected genetic abnormality, so as soon as SS and I decided we were ready to really start trying again, I picked up a prenatal with DHA and started taking it. All of that said... women with the MTHFR mutation will want to talk with a doctor before taking a folic acid supplement, as folic acid supplements can be less than helpful in those cases.  
 
I haven't started Vitex (chaste berry) yet, but I do have it on hand to try if the black cohosh doesn't pan out. Like the black cohosh, Vitex helps regulate the menstrual cycle. And, like maca, helps balance hormones. Since I'm already on black cohosh and maca, I don't feel a pressing need to add the Vitex to the mix just yet, but plan to swap the black cohosh out for Vitex during the next cycle. Black cohosh shouldn't be used long term, and I just think it'd be better to take the Vitex and get both benefits than the black cohosh and get the one.

At the end of the day, we don't know if any of these supplements will help us conceive, but they're safe, inexpensive, have been shown to be beneficial, and we already know our traditional treatment options will be limited because of the stroke risk that comes with the brain lesions, so it just makes sense to try this avenue before we head to the RE in a couple of months. At the very least, we'll know we've done everything we could do on our own to get pregnant. And that peace of mind is incredibly important to both of us, particularly since I miscarried while on prescribed fertility medication. Anything we can do to avoid a repeat of that devastating scenario is a must for both of us. 

xoxo,

Ayden