Insights & Resources
Our Fertility Blog
Explore expert tips, research, and real guidance from the naturopathic doctors at Conceive Health — all focused on supporting your fertility journey, naturally.
Can the Birth Control Pill Impact Fertility?
In an interview with Dr. Tracy Malone, she discussed whether the birth control pill can impact fertility or contribute to infertility or menstrual disorders. Dr. Tracy Malone ND: One of the most common scenarios that I see come in is a woman in her adolescence or young 20s has either irregular menstrual cycles or very […]
What Are Progesterone Receptors (and How Do They Impact Fertility)?
There was a recent study that showed people with Neanderthal genes are more fertile. The reason why? They had more progesterone receptors. “In a cohort of present-day Britons, these carriers have more siblings, fewer miscarriages, and less bleeding during early pregnancy suggesting that the Neandertal progesterone receptor alleles promote fertility.” What you need to know […]
How Hormone Imbalances Affect Your Fertility
Many women understand that feeling of something being off. Some of us may ignore the signs, thinking that our painful periods are normal, or there’s nothing to be done about cyclical acne. But both of these and more are signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Although they might seem benign, for someone who is trying […]
Can Melatonin Impact Fertility?
Have you heard of melatonin? We usually hear of it as a way to induce sleep, however, did you know melatonin can be used to treat infertility? Yes, indeed, melatonin is an antioxidant that can assist in reversing oxidative damage to oocytes therefore improving egg quality and improving the chances of conception(1). Let’s take a […]
The Ultimate Guide to Conception Planning for Newlyweds
So you got married, and you’re looking forward to kids – but maybe not quite yet. Awesome! Time to start planning your conception – just like you planned your wedding. I want to put it into perspective. We spent a year (or more?) planning our weddings. We knew we needed to book the hall first […]
Is Your Thyroid Health Impacting Your Fertility?
Your thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped organ that sits at the base of the neck. It is part of the body’s hormone system, called the hypothalamus pituitary axis (HPA Axis), or simplistically the endocrine system. The thyroid makes two main hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). When these two hormone levels are low in […]
WHAT IS “LEAN” PCOS?
Not all PCOS cases are the same. A significant number of women I see in my office fit a description of something called “Lean PCOS.” In fact between 20-50% of women who fall into the PCOS category are normal weight or considered “thin” (Nestler 1997). These women have what we would consider a “normal” BMI […]
Preparing for IUI or IVF with Naturopathic Medicine
We know that taking the next step on your fertility journey can be a hard decision to make. It may feel scary, frustrating, tiresome, never-ending and any other number of emotions – but you’ve overcome them and are moving forward. And we’re here to support you every step. If you’re heading into IUI or IVF […]
The Story of My Ectopic Pregnancy
On the morning of May 9, 2015, I found out I was pregnant. I had just returned from a lush vacation in Turks & Caicos basking in the sun with my husband. I had had my IUD removed a few weeks prior and had no intention of conceiving, however, I ovulated extremely early and did. […]
Faces of Fertility: Interview with Dr. Fitzgerald ND
Listen to the podcast above, or check out the transcript of Dr. Fitzgerald ND’s interview below. Joanna: I’m Joanna. Katherine: And I’m Katherine. Joanna: And you’re listening to Faces of Fertility, by Knix Katherine: So Joanna, our next guest is Dr. Jennifer Fitzgerald ND from Conceive Health. Joanna: Okay. Katherine: She’s a naturopathic doctor I […]
The Ultimate Guide: How to Tell When You’re Ovulating
One of my favourite parts of fertility education is teaching women how to really know their cycles and how to read their bodies. Some of us may not have cared before; we get a period once a month – that’s good enough, right? But when you’re trying to get pregnant, knowing when you’re ovulating is […]
Miscarriage: Searching for Answers
Any woman/couple who has experienced miscarriage knows how devastating they can be. When recurrent miscarriages are experienced, it can leave women feeling very helpless about their fertility, and lead to fear and anxiety during subsequent pregnancy. Although in many cases the cause of miscarriage is unknown, pregnancy outcomes can be positively influenced by creating optimal […]