FOUNDER FERTILITY NOTES
Reflections on fertility, health, and the human journey toward creating life.
Drawing from more than two decades of caring for people trying to build families, Dr. Spence Pentland shares observations, clinical insights, and ideas that reach beyond tests, treatments, and protocols.
These notes explore not only what we can do to support fertility, but who we may become along the way – offering perspective, direction, and a more human way to understand the fertility journey.
How To Improve Your Chances of Conceiving After 40 With Chinese Herbs
Couples who are trying to get pregnant after the age of 40 may find some benefit from the deep history of Chinese medicine. There is a long tradition of imperial doctors using Chinese herbal medicine to enhance the fertility potential of the emperor and his wife to ensure there was an heir to his throne.
Acupuncture – No Pain Equals Better Gain
The biggest turnoff for people when they are considering acupuncture is the thought of needles and the possibility of pain. In actuality, pain should not be felt when acupuncture is performed correctly. The needles used for acupuncture are very thin and in most cases the recipient feels very little at all. I can remember back to my first time getting acupuncture and like many other people,
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT's) – the gold standard for modern medical research
Because modern scientific research gives many people confidence and for some the belief that the conclusion is ‘fact’, I need to be clear on my feeling about the pitfalls of modern research and how it is actually often not a good reflection of real life. We do not live in a vacuum and cannot be reduced to one aspect of health,
Medical Testing and Self-Monitoring
It is important to understand when it is time to ask your doctor to begin to run basic testing, at the very least to rule out the obvious like ensuring the Fallopian tubes are clear via HSG (hystero – uterus, salpingo – tubes, gram – image), and whether there is any sperm being ejaculated. Once these two tests are done,
Recent study validates the use of N-Acetylcysteine in treating Endometriosis: a close parallel to the Chinese medicine approach for this same condition
Endometriosis is a condition that affects 8%–10% of women of reproductive age. Women with endometriosis can experience a range of little to no symptoms at all to extreme pain and infertility. It is estimated that between 30 and 50% of women with endometriosis have troubles with fertility. The disease is caused by the growth of endometrial cells outside of the uterus.
Avoid these things to Optimize fertility…
There are many toxins in our environment that are known to disrupt hormonal balance and are contributing factors in conditions such as infertility, PMS, irregular menstrual cycles, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, premature ovarian failure, recurrent pregnancy loss, and anxiety.
A recent study of over 500 couples showed pregnancy rates declined significantly when increased levels of toxic chemicals were found in the blood (https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/2012/11/1205301).
Massage for Fertility
Tops three things to consider in how massage can benefit fertility.
1. A harmonious sonata happens between your nerves and hormones as you relax into your massage. A gentle shift in stimulation of the nervous system from ‘fight or flight’ to ‘rest and digest’ can change the function that nurtures the activities of hormones that play a big role in fertility success.
Massage for Common Pregnancy Aches & Pains
Feeling stressed and nervous is not unusual in pregnancy but some experts say prolonged severe stress can cause complications. Self Care is an important aspect for a mother-to-be to keep in her daily practice as her life is about to change. Make time to rest, try deep breathing and utilize massage during pregnancy for relief of many common aches &
Conceiving naturally after IVF
One in three women who have their first baby through infertility treatment, become pregnant again naturally within two years of their first birth, a new study from Australia & New Zealand has found.
A Monash University study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, was the first to examine the rates of unexpected conception in Australian women who had a first child through assisted reproductive technology (i.e.
LH Ovulation Strips for Tracking Fertility – the What Why and How
What are LH Ovulation Strips, and why should I be using them?
The LH Ovulation Strip is a fast and easy home-use test to predict when you are having your LH (Luteinizing Hormone) surge. This test is a preferred method of tracking when the most fertile days of your cycle occur, and is one of the most reliable predictors of ovulation.
How to optimize for IVF success
I was asked by a woman for a list of tips and things she could do herself to best optimize for IVF success. The following is my ever growing list. Simply choose a few of the items below and commit to being consistent with their implementation. Your plan must be sustainable and in no way shape or form ADD stress to your life,
Length of Human Pregnancies Can Vary Naturally by as Much as Five Weeks
Aug. 6, 2013 — The length of a human pregnancy can vary naturally by as much as five weeks, according to research published online August 7 in the journal Human Reproduction.
Normally, women are given a date for the likely delivery of their baby that is calculated as 280 days after the onset of their last menstrual period.
