Wellness & Fertility

Acupuncture and Naturopathy On-Site with A to Z Fertility

We work closely with our in-house Naturopathic Doctors, A to Z Fertility. They provide evidence-based naturopathic fertility care including recommendations about supplements, dietary and lifestyle counselling, acupuncture and more. We encourage you to reach out to Alan, Zeynep and Olivia, they are a fantastic resource and great benefit to our patients. 

Online Mental Health Support in Fertility with BRIA

Trying to start your family can bring up a lot of emotions, having a safe place to explore and process this information is important. BRIA is a virtual, comprehensive mental health clinic experienced in supporting individuals and families at all stages of reproduction and fertility. Please reach out to them if you have questions or want to receive support.

Vitamin D and Reproductive Health

Vitamin D plays an important role in many bodily functions, including reproductive health. If levels are low, your care team will recommend supplementation.

Ideally you would receive enough Vitamin D through natural sunlight, but in our Northern climate this can be difficult, particularly in winter months, therefore low Vitamin D is a common problem in Canada. While having low Vitamin D doesn’t mean you cannot become pregnant, having levels in the normal range may improve the odds of an embryo implanting in the uterus. Most patients will not have side effects from Vitamin D, it is recommended as an added layer of support to your overall fertility.

Having low levels of Vitamin D has been linked to complications in pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. If your levels are found to be low, your care team will prescribe a supplement according to your needs.

In Ontario, Vitamin D testing was removed from OHIP coverage meaning there will be a cost. Monitoring your serum levels will only be encouraged if medically indicated by your care team.

If you are doing your own research, note that in the US different units are used; normal serum Vitamin D will be expressed as >30 ng/ml.

Dietary Supplements to Optimize Fertility

Dietary supplements can be an important part of your fertility care plan. They are an additional option to a fertility-friendly diet and lifestyle—the foundation of optimal natural fertility. Determining which dietary supplements (and what dose) are right for you, depends on your individual situation.

Ask your care team for a referral to our in-house naturopathic team, A to Z Fertility.

Dietary supplements need to be taken for at least four weeks to be effective, though many ideally should be taken for twelve weeks or longer. After twelve weeks, the supplement plan should be reassessed. All supplements must be reviewed at a positive pregnancy test. Discontinue any supplements if you experience any adverse side effects (and check in with your care team or naturopath for modifications).

Common supplements to support overall health and egg quality:

• Folate: 1mg once daily (ideally as part of a prenatal vitamin)

• Vitamin D: 2000 IU once daily but depends on your vitamin D levels

• Omega-3: 500-2000 mg of combined EPA and DHA, daily

• CoQ10: 400-800mg daily

• Açai Berry powder: 1000 mg daily

Common supplements to support overall health and improve sperm function:

• Vitamin D

• Vitamin E

• Vitamin C

• Omega-3 fatty acids

• CoQ10

Additional supplements commonly used to address individual health matters:

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

In addition to specific dietary and lifestyle modifications, there are some supplements that can be particularly useful in supporting optimal health in PCOS. Myo-inositol is a supplement that can improve insulin sensitivity, and may increase proportion of mature eggs, improve body’s response to hormonal medications during IVF. Some people experience digestive side effects with this supplement. It is important to check in with your team if this occurs.

Endometriosis

Consider ginger supplements, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, melatonin, as they can decrease inflammation and the pain of endometriosis. Supporting egg quality is also an important part of a treatment plan in endometriosis.

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Supporting optimal egg and sperm health is the most important thing an individual or couple can do to support a healthy pregnancy. There may be additional supplements to consider including vitamin C, and higher doses of folate from food sources and supplements.

Metabolic Health Issues

Some individuals have a family history of type 2 diabetes, or have pre-diabetes or diabetes. Metabolic issues such as these can have an impact on reproductive health. In addition to targeted dietary and lifestyle behaviours, some supplements can help support improved metabolic health. Your physician team may recommend medications, and our naturopathic team may recommend supplements such as Myo-inositol, and N-acetyl cysteine.

Thyroid Health

While your physician and their team will be taking care of your thyroid, there are a few key nutrients that can support your thyroid health. These include key dietary nutrients such as iodine, selenium and zinc, ideally obtained from dietary sources. Iron is also a crucial nutrient in thyroid metabolism and myo-inositol may be relevant for some as well.

Preparing for your Transfer

In the period leading up to your transfer, we focus on optimally preparing your body for a healthy pregnancy. In addition to dietary and lifestyle behaviours, we look to optimizing iron and vitamin D levels as these are common deficiencies during pregnancy.

Thin Endometrial Lining

Some individuals struggle with an endometrial lining that doesn’t get optimally thick. Some supplements such as L-arginine and vitamin E have been shown to be helpful. Arginine should be taken leading up to frozen embryo transfer and arginine should not be taken prior to egg retrieval as it may be harmful to egg quality. CoQ10 and acupuncture may also be beneficial in supporting a thin lining.

Egg Freezing

Patients undergoing egg freezing should also consider taking the supplements that support egg quality.

• Folate: 1mg once daily (ideally as part of a prenatal vitamin)

• Vitamin D: 2000 IU once daily but depends on your vitamin D levels

• Omega-3: 500-2000 mg of combined EPA and DHA, daily

• CoQ10: 400-800mg daily

• Açai Berry powder: 1000 mg daily

The above information is informational and not a specific recommendation for you; always consult your care team about the appropriate supplement plan for you.