Services > Infertility and Family PlanningThis year alone, nearly ten million women will seek evaluation and / or treatment for suspected infertility. Approximately six million of those women between ages 15 and 44 will be diagnosed with some kind of impaired ability to have children. Over two million couples will be unable to create or maintain a pregnancy. The result for most will be heartache. Due to a wide variety of factors, folks are waiting longer to have children, and as a result, are experiencing fertility challenges. In addition, the increasing amount of stress to which we are exposed on a regular basis further inhibits our reproductive function. Infertility comprises a wide variety of issues. Individuals and couples want to both resolve or reduce the symptoms of infertility, but they also need to manage the overwhelming feelings associated with the process. Both goals can easily be managed in the outpatient setting. Fertility challenges may include, but are not limited to: Male Factor Fertility IssuesMale factor infertility refers to the inability of a man’s sperm to fertilize an ovum.
Female Factor Fertility IssuesThere are many conditions associated with female factor infertility. Some of those medical challenges include:
Unexplained Infertility – or Yet to be Explained Infertility“Unexplained infertility” is the term which describes a couple’s inability to conceive, despite healthy reproductive function, and in spite of repeated and varied efforts to conceive and maintain a pregnancy. It is this “diagnosis” which is most responsive to Integrative Medical efforts. These interventions move outside the “normal” fertility box and explore the impacts of all elements and systems on fertility, rather than those associated with just the reproductive organs. Typically, that which has been “unexplained” through conventional methods, becomes referred to as “yet to be explained” in Integrative approaches. Pregnancy LossEvery year, nearly six million women become pregnant. About 60% of those women have live births, but nearly a third lose their pregnancies. Of those that lose pregnancies, more than one million are to planned termination. Another 700,000 pregnancies are lost to ectopic and molar pregnancies, miscarriage, and stillbirth. We treat a multitude of symptoms associated with pregnancy loss including the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual sequelae of the loss. Physical issues associated with pregnancy loss may include insufficient evacuation following miscarriage, continued pain, bleeding, fever and infection. Our team works closely with physicians to ensure that these health needs, as well as any others are addressed quickly. Because many women desire pregnancy, we make every effort to avoid negative impacts to a woman’s fertility. Treatment of pregnancy loss also includes managing the grief and psychological impacts associated with this kind of loss. Whether the pregnancy loss is associated with miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy or with a planned termination of the pregnancy, complex emotions will follow the loss. Even if a woman is not able to bring a pregnancy to term for whatever reason, she may feel a mixture of feelings following the loss. Following abortion, many women express relief mixed with disappointment, sadness, guilt and even shame. Addressing these feelings with a clinician can allow a woman to gain closure about the loss. While many people do not consider the spiritual impacts of pregnancy loss, the clinicians at Healing Heart Center realize that these issues deserve to be addressed. Whether a couple is addressing feelings such as guilt following a planned termination or feelings such as spiritual abandonment following miscarriage, relief and peace can be achieved by openly discussing these feelings with clinicians and spiritual advisors. Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)
Naturally Assisted Reproductive Technologies (N-ART)Whether couples are motivated by their spiritual beliefs, values or by research and experience, many want to opt for natural solutions to fertility challenges. The Integrative options for fertility enhancement provide that! Integrative Medical Approaches to Fertility ChallengesAccording to new research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, women who undergo IVF increase their chances of pregnancy if they are also treated with acupuncture. The benefits may be large - a 65% increase in the chance of becoming pregnant, and a 91% increase in the number of live births. We are committed to serving the best interests with our clients who are struggling with fertility challenges. Treatment of these issues may not only include individual, couples and group psychotherapy, but may also combine services such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, nutritional counseling, movement therapy, meditation, and intuitive consultation when necessary. Vibrational and herbal medical services, as well as nutritional counseling and massage are provided through our collaboration with the clinical staff at Reproductive Wellness. |