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.
The Stress and Infertility Connection
We often hear that stress can contribute to fertility difficulties – some couples can try for years, with no success and itâs when they are not actively trying that somehow pregnancy occurs.
Why does this happen? Â What is the connection between stress and infertility?
That answer is hormones!
Female hormones,
My Endometriosis
As a TCM practitioner, I think it is important that patients know they are not alone. I hope that sharing my story with you will encourage you to seek support and look for alternative treatments, if are needing them.
In high school, I began experiencing heavy and painful periods. I had no idea that the start of âwomanhoodâ was going to change my life in ways I couldnât even imagine.
How to be active in the Winter to Spring transition
Spring has officially sprung here on the West Coast and it couldnât be fresh and lovely outside. Spring is the time of rejuvenation, rebirth, and the revitalization of all things in nature.
In Chinese medicine, physical movement is essential for health as it is in this time where movement should begin once again after the cold hibernation of winter.
How to naturally help seasonal allergies
Winter is finally over and the warmth of Spring is upon us. The fresh morning breeze, the flowers in full bloom, the birds chirping and the trees showing off their new greenery brings us all tears of joy, or is it tears from all the pollen in the air? For some Spring is the season of growth and renewal while for some others it is the season of allergies resulting in watery,
Getting to the root of PMS
What is PMS?
Most women I have worked with over the years âknowâ when their period is coming. Â Some experience a change in their mood, have bloating or sore breasts, develop acne, have abdominal cramping, or a change in their bowels. Â Some unfortunate women have all of these things, and more.
Today it is estimated that 3 out of every 4 menstruating women will experience at least once in their lives some form of physical or emotional changes after ovulation happens until the menses begins,
Acupuncture Alters Sugar Metabolism & Gene Expression in PCOS
Recent research published in the journal NATURE concluded that low-frequency electroacupuncture with muscle contractions remodels epigenetic and transcriptional changes that elicit metabolic improvement[1]. In other words, after ONE electro-acupuncture treatment the authors reported a increase in whole body glucose (sugar) uptake, changes in the expression of over 2300 genes and changes in DNA methylation in over 7000 individual genes in the adipose (fat) tissue of women with PCOS.
Surrendering to yourself, one breath at a time
Giving back to your body after suffering loss is one of the most empathetic and compassionate things you can do for yourself. The energy that is put into trying to conceive whether it be naturally or with an IUI or IVF cycle, the financial resources, anticipation and unfortunately sometimes the result we didnât expect, can be a hard hit to the soul.
Progesterone and Yang: A TCM Perspective
Progesterone, also known as P4, is a reproductive hormone involved in the menstrual cycle. Influencing what is known as the âluteal phaseâ, it helps prepare the uterine lining for implantation. If implantation does occur, progesterone helps maintain the integrity of the endometrium, helping to secure the new pregnancy. It also plays a role in the development of an embryo.
How To Hydrate Your Face During Winter
Do you suffer from dry skin, deep wrinkles or both that becomes aggravated in the winter? Well, investing in cosmetic acupuncture to care for these areas of your face can be very uplifting (pun intended!) and free from the myriad of constituents in skin care products.
Winter time can produce very dry skin and this can increase the appearance of deeper set wrinkles on the face.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Food to Include
Food to Avoid
Fruit
Eat only 1 or 2 pieces of any of the following fruits a day and try and to eat mostly lower carbohydrate fruits (3 or 6%):
3% – cantaloupe, strawberries, melons, blueberries, raspberries, lemons and limes
6% – apriocts, blackberries, papaya, peaches,
Inflammation: Â What it does to you and how can your diet help
Inflammation: Â What it does to you and how can your diet help
The inflammatory response that is triggered in our bodies is necessary to help fight infection and is useful in the short term as it is part of the immune response. Â When the inflammatory reaction continues after an infection is gone it can cause many health problems.
Sleep helps you lose weight
Sleep is important for many other things, including reducing your risk of cancer and Alzheimer’s, proper digestion, regulating inflammation, memory, slowing telomere shortening, and the list goes on.
There are 2 stages of sleep; 1. non-REM (which has 1, 2, and slow-wave stages) and 2. REM. Just to keep it simple, they are all important for different reasons.
