Common Fertility Myths

Myth #1

If your cycle is irregular, you can’t get pregnant

Although an irregular menstrual cycle is something that you’d want to check in on with your MD + ND, just because you have an irregular cycle doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant. An irregular cycle is defined as a cycle shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days.

Women who experience irregular cycles can still ovulate, meaning they can still get pregnant. It just may be a bit harder to predict when you’re ovulating if your cycle is irregular.

A few reasons for irregular cycles are - PCOS, stress levels, a change in exercise, thyroid conditions, perimenopause.

Myth #2

Couples should try for at least a year before looking into it

Infertility is defined as one year of unprotected intercourse without conception for women under 35 and 6 months for women over 35.

However, this is more of a guideline than an actual rule. Couples over 35 years old, or with a history of irregular periods, PCOS, fibroids, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy or miscarriages may wish to seek help sooner.

Your ND can help you optimize your reproductive health long before you start trying.

Myth #3

If you don’t get a positive LH/ovulation test, you didn’t ovulate

I often suggest at home LH or ovulation tests for patients looking to determine their fertile window. However, I always explain some caveats to testing. One caveat is that even if you don’t get a positive test, it doesn’t mean you didn’t ovulate. There are a few reasons limitations to testing + accuracy:

• If you have PCOS or irregular cycles, the LH ‘spike’ may not be as pronounced any may not register as a postitive

• You may have missed your fertile day

• there may be underlying conditions that cause low LH

Myth #4

Infertility is usually the woman’s fault

Infertility is not just a ‘female’ problem. It’s estimated that 1/3 of infertility is male factor infertility. Male infertility can be caused by many factors including:

• abnormal sperm count, quality or production

• difficulty with ejaculation of sperm

Illness, previous medical history, autoimmune reactions, and injuries can be a causative factor of these symptoms. As an ND, I look at the whole picture, which is why I like to check in on the health of both partners.

Myth #5

You’re getting a true period on the pill

Natural menstruation occurs when estrogen and progesterone levels drop post-ovulation due to the released egg staying unfertilized. This causes the endometrial lining to break down and is excreted. While on The Pill, the 'period' you have actually a withdrawal bleed. As you are not ovulating, the bleed is due to the cessation of pills (on the week off) and not from the hormonal signals from a non-fertilized egg, as in a natural cycle.

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How I Can Help:

I provide Fertility Support to help patients through pre-conception care, pregnancy and beyond. By looking at fertility through a holistic lens, we work towards a comprehensive plan that takes into account all aspects of health and its effect on fertility. I have advanced training in fertility support and offer pre + post IVF acupuncture. 

• An Individualized Treatment Plan to help:

  • Address underlying concerns (e.g. PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, thyroid)⁣⠀

  • Help you determine if and when you're ovulating to understand your fertile window

  • Improve egg quality and uterine lining health⁣⠀

  • Improve sperm health⁣⠀

  • Optimize nutrition and pre-conception diet

  • Balance hormones⁣

  • Regulate menstrual cycles

  • Manage stress and lifestyle⁣⠀

  • Support integrative fertility methods (IVF, IUI etc)⁣⠀

• Preconception Check-Up

  • At our first visit we’ll talk about your goals, reproductive + health history, cycles, complete pre-conception blood tests, physical exams and talk about other conditions that may be making it difficult to conceive like PCOS, thyroid conditions, obesity, autoimmune conditions, endometriosis, diabetes + more.

• Comprehensive Lab Testing

  • In order to ovulate, conceive and maintain a pregnancy, we must have optimal levels of hormones. I run comprehensive lab testing if necessary to help us understand your health better and guide treatments to improve fertility. This can include Estrogen (Estradiol), LH: FSH ratio, Progesterone, Insulin and/or HbA1C, TSH (and T3, T4, anti-TPO), Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH).

• Pelvic Floor Therapy

  • Pre-and-post natal concerns including labor and delivery preparation, pain, leakage, tearing or episiotomy support. Learn more here!

• Integrative Fertility Support

  • I’m happy to offer integrative fertility support to help improve fertility alongside other conventional therapy such as IVF, IUI and cycle monitoring.

• Equal Access for All

  • I am proud to provide LGBTQ2S friendly services in my practice and provide equal access for all individuals and couples looking to optimize their fertility.

If you are interested in optimizing your hormonal health, fertility + pregnancy support,  I am a Naturopathic Doctor virtually, and in person in Toronto and Vaughan .  I have additional training in Integrative Fertility Methods and would love to help you reach your health goals. 

In health,

Dr. Courtney Ranieri, ND