Female Fertility Clinic

There are many conditions which are helped by Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Naturopathy and Therapeutic Massage. Select from the list on the left to get detailed information regarding the different concerns with female fertility and their treatment through complimentary healthcare.

overview

At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, the pituitary gland in your brain releases a hormone which stimulates the ovaries to produce follicles. One of these follicles grows faster to become the ‘dominant follicle’. It is from this follicle that the egg will be released.

The ovaries produce many hormones, most importantly estrogen which promotes growth of the follicles and development of the endometrium (lining of the uterus), while progesterone, released after ovulation, prepares the endometrium for pregnancy. When the egg is released, it is swept into the fallopian tube and then begins to move slowly downwards to be fertilized in the outer third of the tube. The fertilized egg continues to the uterus to implant in the lining, resulting in a pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilized, or the embryo does not progress, the endometrium is shed as a menstrual period approximately 14 days after ovulation.

Infertility is a condition that affects approximately one out of every six couples. Many of these couples are now seeking assistance to conceive. Female infertility can be classified as primary, in women who have never conceived, or secondary, in women who have previously conceived.

 Read more

Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is the absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age. A sign, not a disease, amenorrhea seldom results from a serious condition. However, for those wanting to conceive, not knowing why menstruation has stopped can be stressful and waiting for it to recur may feel like a lifetime.

There are two types of amenorrhea: primary and secondary amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhoea is the absence of menstruation in a woman by the age of 16. Secondary amenorrhoea is where an established menstruation has ceased - for three months in a woman with a history of a regular periods or six months in a woman with a history of irregular periods.

Secondary amenorrhea is much more common than primary amenorrhea. Other than the two physiological reasons (pregnancy and breastfeeding) there are many possible causes of secondary amenorrhea including:

• Stress - Mental stress can temporarily alter the functioning of your hypothalamus — an area of your brain that controls the hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle. Ovulation and menstruation may stop as a result. Regular menstrual periods usually resume after the individual’s stress decreases.
  
  
• Drug-induced - Certain medications can cause menstrual periods to stop. For example, antidepressants, antipsychotics, some chemotherapy drugs and oral corticosteroids can cause amenorrhea.
  
  

 Read more

Anovulation

Some of the most common conditions that can cause of infertility in women are those affecting menstruation and ovulation. Disruptions in the menstrual cycle and a woman’s ovulation can significantly affect the reproductive system, in turn leading to difficulties conceiving.

Anovulation is one type of menstrual cycle disorder that may significantly affect female fertility. Between 6% and 15% of women of childbearing age are believed to suffer from this condition. Anovulation is the absence of ovulation in a woman who would normally be ovulating i.e. a woman of reproductive age that is not pregnant, breastfeeding or post-menopausal. When a woman is anovulatory, she does not release a mature egg for fertilization every menstrual cycle. Instead, this cycle is either erratic or no eggs are released at all, making conception extremely difficult.

Anovulation can be caused by a number of different factors including underlying fertility complications and reproductive system disorders including:

• Birth control pill - Some woman have been on the birth control pill for many years prior to trying to conceive. Sometimes it can take a while for the body’s own hormonal system to regulate itself and begin to ovulate again after discontinuing the birth control pill.
  
  

 Read more

Blocked Fallopian Tubes

Sometimes a woman can’t get pregnant simply because the path from the ovary to the uterus is compromised. The fallopian tubes are fine muscular structures that are responsible for getting the sperm to the egg and transporting the embryo to the uterus for implantation. A blockage of these tubes is what causes 14% of all female infertility. Most fallopian tube obstructions produce no noticeable symptoms other than infertility.

The procedure to test the openness of a woman’s fallopian tubes is called a hysterosalpingogram (HSG). In this diagnostic procedure, dye is injected into a woman’s uterus and examined via x-ray to see if the liquid passes through each of her fallopian tubes. If the tubes are unobstructed then there will be no spillage of dye from one or both of her tubes.

One of the most common causes of fallopian tube damage is from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and/or sexually transmitted diseases. Unfortunately, the fallopian tubes are often the first locations attacked by the opportunistic bacteria coming from the uterus in the case of PID or other infection. And because the fallopian tubes are such narrow structures, it doesn’t take much to obstruct them.

Fallopian tubes can become inflamed within, a condition called salpingitis. They may become filled with fluid (hydrosalpinx) or pus (pyrosalpinx), creating a bulge and/or possibly destroying the lining and musculature needed to nurture the egg and move it along. Some researchers suspect that the fluid from a hydrosalpinx can seep into the uterus and have an adverse effect on implantation. It is of utmost importance to treat these condition’s when they first appear to minimize damage to the reproductive organs these diseases can cause.
 Read more

Cysts

A cyst is a fluid filled sac. They can appear anywhere in the body. The cysts we will discuss in this article are those that occur in or around the ovaries or on the cervix. Most cysts come and go naturally and do not cause any problems. Problems occur when the cysts become too large or do not disappear naturally.

Cysts grow naturally in the cervix. Most of these cysts are harmless and do not cause any fertility problems. Ability to conceive may be affected when these cysts grow too large and impede sperm from entering the cervix and reaching the egg for fertilization. A secondary complication of cysts is they may become infected causing cervicitis. Cervicitis is an infection in the reproductive tract that does not allow the optimal environment for fertilization to occur.

There are many different types of ovarian cysts that have varying degrees of effect on a woman’s fertility.

• Functional ovarian cysts These are the most common type of ovarian cyst. These functional cysts are normal physiological occurrence and actually hold the egg that will be released at ovulation. Once they pop i.e. burst and the egg is released, the rest of the cyst is dissolved naturally. Problems only occur if these cysts do not rupture and grow large. Even then these unruptured cysts will often dissolve on their own after 1 - 3 months.
  
  
• Corpus luteum cysts This is another type of functional ovarian cyst that occurs if the sac holding the egg does not dissolve. In this situation the sac closes off after the egg is released and fluid builds up inside. This type of cyst can grow to almost 4 inches; twist the ovary and cause bleeding. Taking ovulation-stimulating drugs like Clomid or Serophene increases the possibility of developing these type of cysts.
  
  

 Read more

Endometriosis

When a woman’s endometrial tissue is found in the body, outside of its normal location in the uterus, it is termed endometriosis. Endometriosis can have many symptoms including dysmenorrhea (i.e. painful menstruation), menstrual bleeding irregularities, pelvic pain, abdominal pain or back pain among other symptoms. However the chief symptoms are cyclic pain in the lower abdomen, lumps in the pelvic cavity and infertility. Endometriosis is classified according to its severity (mild, moderate, severe). The classification does not seem to directly determine its impact on fertility.

Rogue endometrial tissue is usually found on the ovary or lower regions of the pelvis but can be found outside the pelvis and in rare incidence at locations including the lung, arm or kidneys. This misplaced tissue responds to the fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels in the woman’s hormonal cycle including bleeding at the time of menstruation. The blood may then trigger an immune response resulting in inflammation and also eventually cause scar tissue to form. The inflammation and scar tissue are thought to be responsible for the common symptom of severe cyclic pain.

Endometriosis is very common, with estimates of as many as 1 in 5 reproductive age women have some degree of misplaced endometrial tissue with 30 - 40% of those women being infertile. According to modern medicine, endometriosis is one of the most common causes of infertility...

 Read more

Fibroids

Uterine fibroids, or myomas, are the most common neoplasm, or abnormal growth, of the female reproductive organs. About ¼ of all women have these benign tumours and the incidence of these growths increase towards the end of the reproductive years. A women may have only one fibroid but most women have many - the average number is between four and seven depending on the age of the person. Fibroids can range in size from the size of a pinhead to being large enough to fill the whole lower abdomen (20cm across think cantoloupe!).

The exact cause of fibroids is unknown however their growth seems to be link to the amount of estrogen a woman produces or ingests. Fibroids are more common in women who are significantly overweight, or who have never had children.

Fibroids are named according to where they are found in the womb.

• Intramural fibroids grow within the muscular wall of the womb.
  
  
• Subserous fibroids grow from the outside wall of the womb into the pelvic cavity. They can become very large and are more likely to produce pressure symptoms than heavy periods or infertility.
  
  

 Read more

Hyperprolactanimia

Hyperprolactinemia is the presence of abnormally high levels of the hormone prolactin in your blood stream. High prolactin levels inhibit the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) that is responsible for stimulating Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH). FSH and LH are the hormones that are responsible for the growth of the follicle and the release of the mature egg in ovulation. If the prolactin levels are too high they can considerably decrease a woman’s fertility due to the suppression of FSH and LH production. Prolactin levels rise naturally during pregnancy, breast-feeding, sleep and stress.

Hyperprolactinemia causes infertility, and a decrease in menstruation. In some women the cessation of menstruation (amenorrhea) occurs. Besides amenorrhea, irregular menses and changes in the menstrual flow can also occur. Hyperprolactinemia can also cause women to have galactorrhea (produce milk from their breasts), low libido, and pain during intercourse due to vaginal dryness. This condition occurs in less than 1% of the general population and in 10-40% of patients presenting with secondary amenorrhea. Approximately 75% of patients presenting with galactorrhea and amenorrhea have hyperprolactinemia. Of these patients, approximately 30% have prolactin-secreting tumors.

The most common causes of hyperprolactinemia, besides stress, are as a side effect of some medications, chronic renal failure, hypothyroidism, or a tumour in or around the pituitary gland. Elevated prolactin levels are also found in polycystic ovary syndrome/PCOS.

Luteal Phase Defect

A woman’s menstrual cycle has a number of phases. The luteal phase is from ovulation until when the period starts. A strong 14-day luteal phase is necessary for successful implantation. This is the time required for an implanted embryo to begin to produce the hormones that will sustain the placenta, rather than the uterine lining shedding with a menstrual period.

A luteal phase defect occurs when a woman’s luteal phase is too short. Here, the woman’s ovaries secrete less progesterone after ovulation than is needed to maintain a thick, healthy uterine lining, and as a result, her uterus is unable to sustain the lining for long enough for any implanted embryos to grow properly. The progesterone produced in the ovary causes a woman’s body temperature to increase in the second half of her cycle. Therefore, luteal phase defect can be diagnosed by observing a woman’s Basal Body Temperature (BBT) chart to see how long her luteal phase is each month. If the temperature rise is too short, not large enough or does not happen at all, then luteal phase defect can be diagnosed.

A woman’s ovaries age along with her and consequently the chance for them to malfunction increases, as she gets older. Luteal phase defect occurs more often as a women approaches her late 30’s and early 40’s. As more women delay childbirth, luteal phase defect is more frequently seen as a source of fertility problems in clinical practice.

 Read more

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder in which the ovaries are enlarged and contain many cysts, the body has a tendency to high levels of androgens like testosterone, and ovulation is irregular, infrequent, or absent altogether resulting in subfertility or infertility. A 1990 National Institutes of Health conference stated that the two most consistent elements of PCOS include elevated androgenic hormones and chronic lack of ovulation. Women with PCOS are also at risk for other health conditions such as vascular disease and cancer.

PCOS is also known as Stein-Leventhal Syndrome or Polycystic Ovary Disease (PCOD). It is estimated that 1 in 15 women are affected. This ovulatory disorder impacts almost all aspects of the endocrine system, including the pancreas, hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal glands in various ways. Symptoms can also include elevated insulin levels, insulin resistance or diabetes, weight problems, acne, high blood pressure, excess hair on face and body, thinning of scalp hair and menstrual irregularities. PCOS can have a presentation that is very similar to some other diseases such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing’s syndrome, and hyperprolactinemia.

Women with PCOS will have unopposed long-term elevated estrogen levels which increases the risk of abnormal uterine bleeding, endometrial hyperplasia, and possibly carcinoma.

The cause of PCOS according to modern medicine can be varied but it has been linked to excess insulin in the body, insulin that does not function normally, or excess production of Luteinizing hormone (LH) by the pituitary gland.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of a woman’s upper reproductive tract (uterine lining and/or fallopian tubes). If the infection is severe it can spread to the ovaries. Usually the infection is transmitted during unprotected sexual intercourse (sexually transmitted diseases such as Chlamydia and gonorrhoea) with an infected partner. Sometimes the infection comes from bacteria (that is normally present in the vagina) moving up into the uterus. PID can also result from using an intrauterine device (IUD), as a complication from earlier pregnancy or infection following a gynaecological medical procedure such as a dilation and curettage (D & C). More than one million women in the U.S., most of them in their teens and twenties, are diagnosed with acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) every year.

PID is diagnosed with testing a woman’s vaginal and cervical secretions and sometimes an ultrasound. Symptoms that typically appear include lower abdominal pain, vaginal discharge and irregular menstrual bleeding.

One in five women diagnosed with PID have fertility problems. It is one of the most common preventable causes of infertility. Most fertility problems associated with PID are not caused by active infection, but instead by scarring from past infections. Untreated, chronic PID creates a condition of long-standing inflammation within the pelvic cavity, and this sets up a reactionary environment within the reproductive organs, especially the fallopian tubes. If antibiotics are not prescribed or have not been effective, chronic scarring may result. Checking for PID is standard procedure at many fertility clinics. If you have been diagnosed with PID, it is advisable for you to seek treatment before attempting to conceive. Conversely, if you are having difficulty getting pregnant, and you are experiencing pelvic pain, vaginal discharge or irregular menstrual bleeding, then see your doctor and get tested for PID.

Premature Ovarian Failure

POF is essentially very early menopause that begins before a woman reaches the age of forty. The gradual loss of eggs during our fertile years is normal. However, in POF, for some reason either the loss of eggs is accelerated, or the follicles themselves become less responsive to hormonal stimulation. Of course, these conditions contribute to each other. POF is one of the more common conditions affecting a woman’s fertility, occurring in one in every thousand women (0.10%) between the ages of fifteen and twenty-nine, and in one in every hundred women (1.0%) between the ages of thirty and thirty-nine.

Women with POF stop menstruating altogether or have short cycles characterized by early or no ovulation. Sometimes periods do not occur at all, and menopausal symptoms hot flashes, amenorrhea and vaginal dryness may appear suddenly over one to two months, or gradually over several years.

POF is an extremely frustrating diagnosis, as Western medicine cannot pinpoint its cause with any degree of accuracy. Some theories include chromosomal defects, damage from pelvic surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). One promising avenue of investigation has to do with autoimmune disorders, where a person’s immune system attacks their body’s own tissues including, in theory, the ovaries. Often a woman diagnosed with POF will have a concurrent diagnosis of a condition like autoimmune thyroiditis or Graves’ disease or Addison’s disease, which involves the adrenal glands.

 Read more

Threatened or Recurrent Miscarriage

The heartbreaking loss of a pregnancy with miscarriage takes with it all of the hopes and dreams that also began to gestate with the appearance of a positive pregnancy test. Miscarriage is defined as the unintentional loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation. Nearly 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, most often within the first 12 weeks. Signs and symptoms include:

• Vaginal spotting or bleeding
• Pain or cramping in your abdomen or lower back
• Fluid or tissue passing from your vagina

Keep in mind that spotting or bleeding in early pregnancy is fairly common. In most cases, women who experience light bleeding in the first trimester go on to have successful pregnancies.

Threatened miscarriage is the appearance of signs and symptoms of miscarriage such as low back pain and spotting. It is important to pay attention to the signs your body is sending and contact your health care provider if these signs appear.

Recurrent miscarriage is a devastating reproductive problem. Recurrent miscarriage, or habitual pregnancy loss, is defined as three or more consecutive, spontaneous pregnancy losses.

After the loss of the pregnancy, medical investigations often find no cause for the miscarriage. Possible causes include genetic defect, abnormally shaped uterus, uterine fibroids, scar tissue, hormonal imbalances and illness such as diabetes. Increased age, habits such as smoking, caffeine and alcohol, and the use of certain medications increase a woman's risk for miscarriage.

Thyroid Conditions

The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped organ located on the front of the neck, just below the voicebox. This gland produces hormones that are essential for the efficient functioning of a wide range of body processes including metabolism, growth, and development. There is a close interplay between all hormonal processes in the body, and therefore an imbalance in thyroid hormones can have a wide range of effects, including effects on women’s menstrual cycles and fertility. Thyroid gland disorders tend to affect women more frequently than men, and are fairly common, affecting at least one in twenty Canadian citizens. Borderline cases of thyroid hormone imbalance are even more common. In enhancing fertility, it is important to effectively diagnose and treat even the slightest imbalances in thyroid gland function.

Thyroid gland disorders are characterized by either an underproduction or overproduction of thyroid hormones, referred to as hypo or hyperthyroidism. The most common symptoms associated with hypothyroidism are fatigue, depression, coldness, elevated cholesterol, muscle cramps, constipation, and weight gain. Hyperthyroidism is often characterized by symptoms including weight loss, nervousness, and an increased heart rate. Thyroid hormone imbalances can also be associated with a number of women’s health conditions, including PMS, heavy periods, ovarian cysts, problems with ovulation, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, infertility, and an increased risk of miscarriage.

 Read more

Unexplained Infertility

Unexplained infertility is perhaps the most frustrating diagnosis for those trying to conceive because it does not come with clear insight into causes or a treatment solution to be followed. Although a diagnosis of unexplained infertility can be frustrating you are not alone, as up to 25% of clients at medical fertility clinics are diagnosed with unexplained infertility.

"Unexplained infertility" means that there is no identifiable medical reason within the realm of modern scientific understanding why you are not able to conceive. In other words, you are ovulating normally, your fallopian tubes work well, you have no pelvic adhesions or endometriosis, your partner’s sperm are healthy but you still cannot get pregnant.

At this point, couples with unexplained fertility are either told to go home and keep trying or they are subjected to different clinical procedures (even though nothing is clinicially wrong with them). Many of these patients are referred immediately for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). Once referred to these clinics, treatment options include superovulation, drug controlled cycles, IUI, and IVF.

It is important to note that approximately 60% of couples with unexplained infertility of less than 3 years duration will fall pregnant in the next 3 years without any treatment at all. Couples with this diagnosis are wise to consider non-invasive forms of treatment like naturopathy, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to regulate their bodies and naturally enhance their ability to conceive.

 Read more