Functional Medicine is a systems biology–based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease, rather than simply treating symptoms.
In order to increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy and a healthy child, it is recommended to optimize your general health prior to conception for at least 3-6 months. Your body recruit eggs about three months prior to ovulation, this time is a window of opportunity to nourish your body, improve egg quality, and improve uterine environment for successful implantation. During preparation stage, it is also beneficial to help body to detoxify, follow a clean fertility diet, identify and eliminate endocrine disruptors from your diet and environment (household and kitchen items, makeup, bath products, perfumes and lotions).
It is also beneficial to start Acupuncture during this time to help balance your hormones, improve ovarian response and ovarian health, improve ovulation, improve blood circulation to the ovaries and the uterus. It is highly recommended that you start prenatal vitamins and other nutraceuticals and botanicals to help with mitochondria function, reduce oxidation damage, balance hormones, improve ovulation.
This approach to fertility and pregnancy is highly recommended for women with advanced maternal age. As women age, oxidation damage can impair egg quality and reduce blood flow to uterus, and lower estrogen levels due to advanced maternal age has a damaging effect on the uterine lining impacting pregnancy.
Sperm is also affected by age, diet and life style and environmental factors which can lower sperm count and have a negative effect on morphology, motility and quality of the sperm. Studies have shown natural antioxidants and phytocompounds found in herbs can improve male fertility.
