Unexplained Infertility? 4 Things to Consider Before you Except this Diagnosis
Unexplained infertility can be such a frustrating diagnosis. The name itself seems a little hopeless. Before accepting this diagnosis, look into these four things:
1. Have your partner get a sperm analysis
If you're struggling to conceive and your partner has not gotten a sperm analysis yet, it's time! It is estimated that 40% of infertility cases are male factor. It really takes two to make a baby and healthy sperm equals having a better chance of conceiving a healthy baby. There are many things your partner can do to improve his sperm quality such as refraining from smoking, eating a healthy diet, taking a men’s prenatal just to name a few.
2. Blood sugar testing
I always recommend getting an evaluation of your blood sugar when trying to conceive. This includes a blood test that looks at your A1c, fasting blood glucose and insulin levels. Having blood sugar that is out of whack can have a negative impact on other reproductive hormones. Ask your practitioner to order these tests for your. Lowering your sugar intake along with implementing a blood sugar balancing diet can help keep blood sugar levels under control.
3. Cortisol testing
Cortisol is a hormone your body produces to help deal with stress. When stress and cortisol are high, your body is not in the optimal state to conceive a baby. Getting an idea of what your cortisol levels look like can be a good step in determining what may be hindering your fertility. However, managing stress is easier said than done. My favorite tip for lowering cortisol is getting some morning sunlight and time in nature before heading off to work or dealing with your daily tasks. This can look like going for a 10 minute walk outside while sipping on your morning beverage.
4. Full evaluation of your diet with a fertility nutritionist
Have you taken a closer look at your diet to make sure it is optimal for conceiving a baby? Oftentimes we think we may be eating a “healthy diet” but that diet may not be a fertility boosting diet. A fertility nutritionist can help you make sure you are eating enough, eating the right amounts of macro and micro nutrients and help you pick out the best prenatal vitamins for you.
