Fertility
I’ve been working with people as an acupuncturist for just about 20 years now. In about 15 of those, I have specialized in fertility. Most of my patients, that take the longest, are using ART ( Assisted Reproductive Technology) which means they are seeing a Reproductive Endocrinologist. It has been incredibly rewarding and incredibly difficult. I have learned a few things in the last 15 years. Here are some of my thoughts on what to do when struggling with fertility after so many years of working with women.
It’s not about doing all the right things and then getting pregnant. There is such a loss of control when you are seeking western medical treatment for fertility. Yes, it’s important what you eat but becoming obsessed with eating the perfect diet and beating up on yourself when you don’t will not help you. If you eat a lot of junk food, processed food and sugar, you should definitely try to switch to a healthier, whole food, diet but that might or might not make a difference, for you.
Move your body but do things you love. If you are doing ART you will have times where you aren’t supposed to exercise and you have to learn to be ok with it. Walk, do yoga, lift weights, do HIIT, dance, do anything you like. Different people need different things. You have to figure out what makes YOU feel good. Just do something when you can. It helps you deal with stress too!
No one is to blame. You didn’t do anything wrong. There is this belief in the wellness world that you can just eat perfect, exercise perfectly, take the perfect supplements and you will get the body you want, the health you want, the baby you want. Life just does not work like that. It is a combo of genetics, stress, environment, race, and a bunch of other things that are factors that cannot be controlled.
Take time to enjoy your life. I know that a lot gets put on the back burner when you are struggling with fertility. You have to cancel your plans for vacation because you need to be monitored. You don’t know how much money you’re going to have to spend so you can't put money into your house. Often, you have to make a lot of sacrifices. Make sure you still do things you should enjoy.
Remember that it may not happen the way you want but, in the end, everyone I have talked to has been happy with how it works out.
