Inability to conceive
There are many ways to give life a helping hand
Between hope and disappointment
There’s that moment that many couples are familiar with: the test is negative again. And with it, hope fades just a little bit more. On top of that come the well-meaning yet hurtful questions from those around you – and the quiet worry that something might be wrong with you.
Many women who come to see me have already been through quite a lot: tracking their cycles, having their hormone levels checked and undergoing hormone treatment, perhaps even having their partner’s sperm analysed. They’ve already picked up plenty of useful tips from social media – or the best piece of advice of all:
“Just relax – it’s just when you stop thinking about it that you get pregnant. It worked for my cousin too.”
Is everything all right – or is it not?
Even doctors often can’t say much more than: ‘Everything’s fine; we can’t find any reason why you shouldn’t be able to get pregnant. Please be patient!’ In medical terms, this is known as ‘unexplained’. For you, it feels like a door that nobody will open. For me, as a doctor who takes a personalised approach and your GP in Männedorf, this simply means:
You have not yet been assessed holistically using the methods of functional medicine. After all, nature’s purpose is to reproduce. We get to the root of the causes that are preventing you from falling pregnant.
Your desire to have children. My approach.
I complement fertility treatment; I do not replace it. The assessment carried out by your gynaecologist and the male fertility specialist remains the foundation. I focus on the underlying factors: micronutrients • hormones • gut health • stress • cellular energy • the thyroid, and the pressures you face in your everyday life. For both you and your partner.
Fertility is a sign of good health
Your body is clever. When its regulatory systems become out of sync, it holds back reproduction – as a precaution. A body that lacks the basic building blocks of life, that is under constant strain, or in which silent inflammation is smouldering, protects itself. And it protects a child that it might not be able to provide for optimally at that moment.
This is perhaps the most important message from functional medicine for those struggling to conceive: your body has not lost its ability to become pregnant. It is simply waiting for better conditions – to protect you and your baby. And we can change those conditions. That is exactly what we will work on together – calmly, at your own pace, step by step.
The decision to have children always involves two people
What sounds like a cliché is nevertheless often overlooked at the outset. Yet, for a great many couples struggling to conceive, the issue lies with the man and his reduced fertility. Nevertheless, I often find that the woman undergoes every possible test, takes every medication and makes every lifestyle change – whilst the man, at most, has a single semen analysis. This is not only medically incomplete; it also places an unnecessary burden on one partner. When you come to see me, you come as a couple, and both of you will be examined and treated.
What sperm reveal about the last three months
Sperm cells take around 74 days to reach full maturity, with the final stage of maturation taking about two weeks. How a man lives today – how he eats, sleeps and exercises, and how much stress he can cope with – only becomes apparent in his semen analysis around three months later. That sounds like a long time. But above all, it’s good news: there are steps you can take, and they work.
One important factor here is what is known as oxidative stress. You can think of it as rust at the cellular level: aggressive oxygen particles attack the outer membrane and the genetic material of the sperm cells. If this causes too many breaks in the genetic material – experts refer to this as DNA fragmentation – the chances of pregnancy decrease and the risk of an early miscarriage increases. This is true even if you are undergoing artificial insemination. Protection against this ‘cellular rust’, targeted nutrients and a less-stressed metabolism act precisely where the damage occurs.
The egg cell also needs time
Although women are born with their eggs, the crucial final stage of an egg’s maturation takes around 90 days. During these three months, it is determined how well it is supplied with energy and how stable its genetic material remains. Nutrients, mitochondria, blood sugar, inflammation and stress hormones all play a direct role in this process.
This gives us a timetable:
We expect it to take three to six months. This is the time your body needs for the changes to actually take effect in the quality of your eggs and sperm. I know that waiting is the last thing you want to hear. But these months are not a waste of time – they are part of the preparation.
In focus – far more than just the usual hormone levels
In focus – far more than just the usual hormone levels
You will usually have already had the standard fertility tests carried out: AMH, or anti-Müllerian hormone, which provides an indication of your egg reserve, as well as the cyclical hormones FSH and LH. I take a broader view to examine the systems at work behind the scenes. Here are just a few aspects we can investigate – depending on your individual situation. What follows is a map of possibilities, not a standard package. I select the tests that are appropriate for your medical history, your symptoms and your previous findings. Every test must serve a purpose – otherwise I will omit it. And I will explain every result to you transparently and openly. Or, to put it briefly:
Fertility treatment is personalised medicine.
Mitochondria – the energy source in egg and sperm cells
The egg cell is one of the cells with the most mitochondria in the whole body. It requires an enormous amount of energy to divide properly after fertilisation. And the sperm cell derives its motility from the powerhouse in its midpiece. If these mitochondria are not functioning properly, this reduces the fertility of both partners. That is why mitochondrial medicine is one of my areas of specialism – particularly for those hoping to conceive. After all, everything begins with vital energy!
Micronutrients – measure, act, measure
There are around 47 substances that your body cannot produce on its own. They work in synergy, not in isolation. Anyone who takes supplements based on advertising claims often disrupts this synergy. That is why we start by taking measurements, followed by a blend tailored to your needs – or, if you need a quick fix, as an infusion – and after eight to twelve weeks, we review the progress together.
Here’s an example that’s important to me: folate, also known as folic acid. It is one of the most important building blocks for fertility in both partners and for the early development of the child. However, some people are unable to utilise the synthetic form properly and need the activated form instead. This can be tested. And, in practice, it makes a surprisingly big difference.
Functional Medicine & Fertility Treatment
Artificial insemination builds on what you bring to the process. The better the quality of your eggs and sperm, the better your nutritional status and the lower your levels of inflammation prior to the transfer, the more favourable your starting position will be.
I will prepare you both for this over a period of three to six months and will be there to support you throughout the treatment – in consultation with your fertility clinic. You do not need to decide on a particular course of action.
Both approaches work towards the same goal – your baby.
Your next step
Arrange an initial consultation – ideally together with your partner. We’ll work out what your body needs to resume its natural function. What I can promise you is this: a thorough investigation into the causes, a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs – and a place where you won’t have to face this issue alone. Nobody can guarantee you’ll get pregnant. But together, we can ensure that you’re as well prepared as possible for pregnancy.
And when the time comes, I’ll be delighted to welcome you – and your baby!