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.
Does Vaping Affect Sperm & Male Fertility?
What effect does vaping have on male infertility, if any? This is a newer question being asked, with research hurrying to catch up with a global trend. We know that smoking (cigarettes) affects male fertility, largely due to 4000+ chemicals in the cigarette themselves. But what about just nicotine alone? What about the other products […]
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 You Get Enough Vitamin D From the Sun?
Vitamin D, our “sunshine” vitamin is so much more than a nutrient. Vitamin D is a steroid hormone with receptors located in almost every tissue in the body. Although many of us associate vitamin D with bone health or preventing seasonal affective disorder (SAD), this special hormone plays a significant role in our immune system, […]
How to Take Your Temperature for Fertility
Taking your basal body temperature (BBT) while trying to conceive is an important step to understanding what is going on with your menstrual cycle hormones. What is basal body temperature? This is the temperature of your body when you are at rest. What happens to basal body temperature throughout the menstrual cycle? Your basal body […]
Fertility Recipes: Avocado Devilled Eggs
Are you ready for a delicious and easy to make recipe for Summer (which is preconception and fertility-friendly)? Here is a recipe from the naturopathic kitchen of Dr. Rachel Corradetti- Sargeant. INGREDIENTS 12 large eggs 1 avocado, skin removed, pitted and diced 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon sea salt […]
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 […]
Secondary Infertility: What is it and What to Do About It
So you already have one (or more) kids, and want to grow your family. Secondary infertility is defined as difficulty in conceiving or carrying a child to term, following the birth of a previous child. It can have an incredible emotional toll, no matter how much or how little work it took to have your […]
Natural Cycle Monitoring at Home
Cycle monitoring is a process that follows the development of the ovarian follicles. This can be used to determine the health of a menstrual cycle and as a tool in preconception and fertility care. During the COVID-19 pandemic when we may not have access to conventional diagnostic cycle monitoring with ultrasound and bloodwork, we can […]
Can Healthy Fats Boost Your Fertility?
Healthy fats are extremely important for a fertility diet. Why? Not only for the nutrients fat provides, but for its effect on hormones. However, it is a bit of a “Goldilocks” situation, where we need a certain balance and too much or too little (known as dyslipidemia) can get us into trouble. “What is dyslipidemia […]
Should You Try to Conceive During COVID-19?
As of writing (March 23, 2020) this is what we know. More information comes to light as the global situation evolves, and the team at Conceive Health will continue to share it with you. Currently, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology recommends actively avoiding pregnancy at this time. However, the American, British, and Canadian […]
Improving Fertility with Acupuncture
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture is known for its therapeutic effects in fertility, and it is widely used as an adjunctive therapy during Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) — ranging from preconception to fertility treatment support. Specifically, acupuncture is used during an IVF cycle, IUI cycle, Oocyte Retrieval, Timed Intercourse, Frozen Embryo Transfers, and overall […]
Holiday Healthy Recipe: Almond Gingerbread Cookies
Need a healthy holiday recipe without sacrificing taste? When you’re following a fertility boosting diet, the holidays can be a challenge. Conceive Health’s Dr. Rachel has your back. The smell of delicious gingerbread cookies during the holiday season warms my heart! There are also a number of health benefits, as long as the sugar […]