The Centre For Balanced Medicine
Natural Fertility
One in every seven couples experiences difficulty conceiving. This shouldn’t really surprise, given the rising incidence of infections, poor nutrition, increasing stress levels, and the later age at which many people choose to start their family. Sadly, the incidence of miscarriage and other pregnancy related problems has also been on the rise.
Fortunately there is much that prospective parents can do, naturally, to improve their own health and therefore their fertility, and reduce the risk of many pregnancy related problems.
The charity Foresight has been promoting natural pre-conceptual care since 1978, and their results speak for themselves. Foresights large scale audits show that 78.4% of couples completing their programme have a healthy baby. The vast majority of these couples have had problems conceiving, or have experienced recurrent miscarriages or birth defects. The success rate for IVF is approximately 22.2%; combining Foresights approach with IVF gave a 47.1% success rate according to Foresight’s own audit figures. Foresight has also reported a 3.5% miscarriage rate, which compares very favourably to the national rate of approximately 25%. They have also found a 0.47% rate of birth defects compared to approximately 6% nationally. (See www.foresight-preconception.org.uk for more details).
We utilise the Foresight approach as part of our holistic Balanced Medicine programme for fertility and preconceptual care. The programme incorporates guidance on good nutrition, supplements and fertility awareness, nutritional and toxin analysis, and the treatment of allergy, malabsorption and genitourinary infections. We are also able to offer individual and couple counselling. This programme is suitable for couples who have experienced fertility or miscarriage problems, whether used alone or in conjunction with IVF, as well as couples who wish to ensure that they prepare for a baby in the healthiest way they can.