Fertility warrior programme: 3 TOP functional FERTILITY testS
Did you know that in 2022, the average referral waiting time between seeing a GP and receiving NHS fertility treatment in York was 44 weeks? 44 WEEKS!
So what can you do in the meantime to optimise your fertility & potentially, prepare for IVF? Well loads actually. And that’s where our carefully crafted 12 week Fertility Warrior Programme comes in, the only fertility programme in Yorkshire to combine nutritional therapy, acupuncture, functional fertility testing & fertility tracking tech.
Now individually, bespoke nutrition, supplement protocols & targeted acupuncture treatments have been proven time and time again to help optimise reproductive health in both men and women. But put them together and you’ve got a really beautiful, holistic combination. You see, both nutritional therapy & acupuncture focus on identifying & addressing the root-cause of imbalances, not just treating specific symptoms.
And that’s where functional fertility testing really comes in handy. We’ve cherry-picked 3 tests, the results of which help enable us to understand what’s going on & tailor your programme accordingly. Let’s take a look at them.
ADVANCED THYROID FUNCTION TEST
Why is understanding thyroid function so important when it comes to optimising fertility?
Well, the thyroid gland plays a vital role in reproductive health including regulating the menstrual cycle and ovulation. Thyroid conditions can make it more difficult to conceive as an imbalance in thyroid hormones might mean ovulation doesn’t occur, even if a woman still has periods.
So assessing thyroid function in women who are perhaps struggling to conceive or sustain a pregnancy is therefore vital in order to help identify (or indeed rule out) the root cause of any issues.
By assessing your thyroid hormones and reviewing where these sit within the ranges for optimal fertility, we can support you in addressing any imbalances and in turn, optimise your thyroid function.
The same test also helps to identify whether there are any autoimmune thyroid issues going on, quantifies any inflammation and shows you iron status. It also tests your levels of specific vitamins including active B12, folate and vitamin D, which are all essential for optimal fertility and foetal development.
So all in all, it’s a pretty thorough and hugely insightful test. Oh and you won’t even have to arrange to have a blood sample taken. Our private, in-clinic phlebotomy service has got you covered.
2. DUTCH CYCLE MAPPING PLUS TEST
Often considered to be the Rolls-Royce of functional fertility testing and an absolute game changer when it comes to understanding your hormones and optimising your fertility.
But what is it? And why is it so good?
Well this test provides a lot of incredibly useful data but in short, it uses 25 dried urine and 5 saliva samples collected throughout your cycle to show us whether your sex hormones (think estradiol, testosterone & progesterone) are rising & falling as and when they should be. Also, what the production & metabolism of those hormones looks like. Having balanced sex hormones plays a pivotal role in promoting egg development, regulating cycles and maintaining fertility. So yeah, pretty important stuff.
And how do we use that data?
Well the wonderful thing is it allows us to work with a complete picture of your cycle. No guesswork. No trial and error. We can literally see any potential imbalances and target your acupuncture treatments and nutrition, supplement and lifestyle programme accordingly. Perfect.
3. VAGINAL MICROBIOME TEST
Achieving a successful pregnancy is dependent on (amongst other things) the optimal function of your endocrine hormones; thyroid, adrenal and sex hormones - all assessed in our programme and the health of your reproductive tract. This includes every part of a woman's reproductive organs from the vagina and cervix up to the fallopian tubes and ovaries.
Your body is home to trillions of tiny organisms called microbes. Microbes play an important role in our body by helping us digest food, fight off infections, bolster fertility and even protect a pregnancy. Your vaginal microbiome is a complex ecosystem of bacteria and fungi that live in your vagina and play a crucial role in your overall and reproductive health.
The hormones that dictate your menstrual cycles, such as oestrogen and progesterone, have a significant influence on your vaginal microbiome. When these hormones are out of sync, it can lead to an imbalance in our ‘good’ bacteria, known as dysbiosis, an important factor often overlooked when it comes to fertility. Dysbiosis within the vaginal microbiome can play an integral role in infertility, recurring miscarriage, endometriosis, pre-term birth, frequent urinary tract infections and bacterial vaginosis. Understanding if your vaginal microbiome is healthy is therefore incredibly important, especially if you are struggling to conceive.