Lesson 4: Alternative Therapies and Treatments
Course Overview

The course has come to an end, but our journeys will continue. I encourage you to join a support group if you have not done so already. Here I will give a very quick course overview.

In the first Lesson, we discussed what infertility is and is not. Knowing when infertility should be suspected, and some of the common causes educates us and allows us to speak with our doctor about our concerns. We also learned about fertility charting, OPKs, and when you should see a doctor. Putting off seeing a doctor if there might be a problem only delays possible treatment options, and depending on the age of the couple, may make it more difficult to achieve pregnancy. We also learned how to find a good doctor, what to expect at the exam, and that we should have a fertility journal to take with us to the exam.

The second Lesson explored blood tests, what the results mean, and helps us to communicate more effectively with our doctor. We then went beyond the basic blood tests and discussed thyroid function, as well as weight issues that are important to our fertility. Continuing with this train of thought, we looked at proper diet and why some people may need fewer carbs. We also discussed vitamins and minerals and how they helped the body to generate healthy egg and sperm cells. We wrapped this Lesson up by looking at habits that could be hurting our fertility, what to do, and what habits help fertility as well.

The next Lesson concentrated more on what some of your options are, and what some of the diagnoses mean. Here we learned about OB/GYNs, REs, and how they differ. We also discussed how to decide if it is time to switch from an OB to an RE. That was followed by a discussion of what Clomid is and how it works to make the woman ovulate. Endometriosis and PCOS were the next subjects of study, and we learned how they can affect fertility, and what can be done if that is the diagnosis. We finish this Lesson by discussing what a semen analysis is, why it needs to be done, and what it measures.

Our last Lesson took us to the world of alternative therapies by first looking at herbs that help fertility, and warning us against those that could be harming our fertility. We also discussed acupuncture and acupressure and learned where they came from, and how to find a practitioner. That brought us to creating support systems either through counseling and/or support groups. So, we have covered a great deal of information in just four Lessons.

I wish everyone here the best and I hope that your dreams come true soon!