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.
Rising Rates of Infertility Reversible
Infertility rates in Canada have been on a steady upward climb for the last many decades. I just wanted to share some statistics for the last 30 years, and some correlations that should not be overlooked. These correlations quite likely display some of the causes of the infertility trend,
6 Lessons We Can Learn From Eastern Chinese Medicine
Written by Leana Wen, M.D. – We should recognize there is much to learn from Eastern medicine, including what it means to be a physician to really care for our patients.
You Are Not Broken
Please take a moment to read these 2 paragraphs written by 2 famous female doctors who have dedcicated their lives to the treatment of women's health and fertility…
“If you have been told you are infertile, I have one message for you: There is no such thing as infertility;
Benefits of Facial Acupuncture
The Benefits of Facial Acupuncture
Constitutional:
■Improves acne (caused by hormonal imbalance)
■Helps menopause, perimenopause, PMS and other GYN issues
■Helps sinus congestion and headache
■Improves hyper- and hypothyroidism
■Reduces symptoms of toothache, TMJ, trigeminal neuralgia,
10 Steps to Optimize Your Fertility
10 steps to improve both your natural fertility potential and/or chances of success with modern medical assisted reproductive treatments such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Whether you have had a history of miscarriages, suffer from Endometriosis, have irregular menstrual cycles or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS),
Accessible mindfullness: some tools for exploring yourself
A friend sent me the following link earlier this week and I have been absolutely engrossed in it. I wanted to share one of the most accessible summaries of Buddhism that I have experienced. I hope that you also find it to be a great introduction into the experience of a different perspective on how to approach the world.
Doctor Said My Swimmers Are Bad, Now What?
The facts
Male infertility affects 10% to 15% of reproductive aged couples worldwide. Since male infertility is such a common problem, it is important to understand the true role it plays in male health and relationships. Men diagnosed with infertility suffer intense negative sexual, personal, and social strains that might be considered typical for other medical illnesses such as cancer or heart disease.
Killing us softly: The detrimental effects of environmental toxins on fertility rates
This past Wednesday, the Health Day News (a publication of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health) published an article quoting a recent study by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Rockville, Maryland about the serious risk to fertility that exposure to common chemicals can cause.
First Days of Life Determine Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Exposure to estrogens in the first days and weeks of a newborns life may be the cause of irreversible Polycystic Ovaries according to neurobiochemistry research from the University of Santiago Chile. This affects follicular/egg development and ovulation causing the characteristic long or absent menstrual cycles of women with polycystic ovaries.
Reclaiming Fertility
More and more women today are seeking fertility assistance. Stats Canada noted a decline in women having children in their 20’s and an increase in women conceiving in their 30’s. Overall, up to 15% of Canadian women from 18-44 years of age are having difficulty conceiving (a twofold increase from 1992).
Fertility declines in the woman’s 30’s and progressively becomes more difficult after age 35.
Lifestyle Changes to Decrease Estrogen Excess
Excess estrogen or ‘estrogen dominance’ refers to a state of hormone imbalance that may be due to stress, toxins, or poor detoxification. Excess estrogen causes uncomfortable symptoms in women including:
Supporting Progesterone Naturally
Progesterone (synthetic progestin or bio-identical progesterone) is often prescribed for women looking to balance their hormones. But is hormone replacement always necessary? Naturopathic Medicine uses foods, herbs, supplements and lifestyle changes to help normalize hormone levels and bring the body back to balance. Although Naturopathic Doctors can prescribe bio-identical hormones, adding new hormones into your body is often a last resort.
