Fertility isn’t about one hormone. It’s the whole picture.
Just starting to try, been at it for a while, or in the middle of IVF or IUI? Wherever you are, we look at the whole picture together: your cycle, thyroid, blood sugar, digestion, sleep and stress. And your partner’s health counts too.
- 1 in 6 people worldwide experience infertility at some point in their lives. World Health Organization
- 6 days is about how long the fertile window lasts: the five days before ovulation, plus ovulation day. New England Journal of Medicine, 1995
- About half of the time, a male factor is part of the picture when a couple has trouble getting pregnant. AUA/ASRM guideline
When to reach out
You don’t have to wait 12 months.
You might have heard about the 12-month mark. That’s how the World Health Organization defines infertility: not getting pregnant after 12 months or more of regular sex without contraception.
But that’s a definition, not a waiting room. You can start fertility care whenever you’re ready: before you start trying, a few months in, or years in. Your timeline, your call.
- Whenever you’re readyBefore you start trying, or any time after. There’s no minimum.
- 6 months of tryingIf you’re 35 or older, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine suggests a fertility evaluation from here.
- 12 months of tryingThe point where the World Health Organization calls it infertility.
Your partner
Partners are welcome, in a visit of their own.
If you’re trying with a partner, their health is half the story. When a couple has trouble getting pregnant, a male factor is part of the picture about half the time, according to the American Urological Association and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Your first visit is 75 minutes, and it’s all yours: one whole health story takes that long to hear properly. So partners are very welcome to book a first visit of their own, and their story gets the same attention as yours.
Timing
Let’s find your fertile window, together.
Your fertile window is about six days: the five days before ovulation, plus ovulation day itself. That’s what a study that followed 221 women found. The tricky part? Ovulation doesn’t happen on the same day for everyone, or even every cycle.
That’s where working together comes in. We look at your cycle history and whatever tracking you already do (apps, ovulation tests, temperatures) and work out your own pattern, so you know which days matter most for you.
From Wilcox and colleagues, New England Journal of Medicine, 1995
Before you start trying
Labs worth checking, trying or not.
Whether conceiving has been tricky or not, a few blood tests give us a really useful starting point. These are the ones we look at together:
- FerritinFerritin is the protein that stores iron, so this test shows how much iron you have in reserve. Good to know before pregnancy asks for more.
- CBCA complete blood count counts your red and white blood cells and platelets and measures your hemoglobin. It can show signs of anemia.
- Vitamin DRoutine vitamin D testing isn’t recommended for everyone, so we decide together whether it’s useful for you. In Ontario, OHIP covers it only for certain conditions.
Had any of these done recently? Bring the results. If not, we’ll sort out together how to get them done.
| Not pregnant | 18 mg |
|---|---|
| Pregnant | 27 mg |
Working together
Alongside IVF and IUI.
- You
- Your partner
- Your fertility clinic
- Your family doctor
- Dr. Leizl Yance, ND
Naturopathic care can sit alongside fertility treatment, never instead of it. With your consent, I coordinate with your fertility clinic, check every supplement you take against their treatment plan, and time any changes around your cycles and procedures.
Your first visit
What we’ll chat about at your first visit.
- Your cycle history and any tracking: dates, temperatures, ovulation tests, app screenshots.
- How long you’ve been trying (if you have), and any tests or treatment so far.
- Recent lab results, like ferritin, vitamin D and a CBC, if you have them.
- Thyroid, blood sugar, digestion, mood, sleep and stress.
- Food, movement, alcohol, caffeine and smoking, as they really are.
- Medications and supplements, including anything your clinic has suggested.
If you’ve had a loss
There’s no right way to feel, and no timeline to follow. Support after a pregnancy loss.
Come say hi.
Your first visit is 75 minutes, all about you. Come see me at Functional Medicine Uptown in Waterloo, or join by video from anywhere in Ontario.
Not sure yet? Book a free 15-minute intro call first.