Seeding Your Fertile Ground: Why Putting in the Time is Often Worth It

Seeding your fertile ground- what does that mean? How can we compare ourselves and our fertile capacity to a garden and implement changes and practices to optimize our health (and probability of success when trying to conceive)?

I was listening to a podcast this past week on the importance of a healthy microbiome (the combined collection of genes within the micro-organisms that live in your body) and how one of the best things we can do is get outside, get our hands in the dirt, breathe in fresh air, be quiet and disconnect as our bodies need all the good bacteria that the earth can provide us right now. This had me thinking about our own internal soil and how it relates to health and fertility.

We know when planting a garden or purchasing a new house plant that we need to ensure it has proper lighting and the right amount of water (not too much and not too little). But the composition of soil and the plant’s receptive ability to take in light and water are the foundation of its ability to grow and bloom. The roots bring nutrients to the whole system and are essential to the health of each part.

We live in a world where everything is at our fingertips. And yet, it is important to remember that (like plants) when it comes to nourishing our own bodies, we need to take the time to care for ourselves. It isn’t realistic to expect things to shift overnight. It takes plants at least two years to develop a sustaining root system at which point it can often thrive with less watering than it needed at the start. As acupuncturists, we commonly see this with acupuncture, herbs, and diet- if we put in the regular work to set the foundation at the start, patients see improvement to their health (and increased likelihood of pregnancy).

When starting a supplement to balance hormones or improve the internal environment or beginning a course of acupuncture in preparation for IVF/IUI or to support natural conception, you will commonly hear that it is ideal to give your body (and these therapeutic interventions) 3-4 months to optimize results. Studies have shown that the ideal threshold for acupuncture in preparation for IVF (often alongside supplements and/or herbs) is 9-12 treatments prior to retrieval. We also see that whether preparing for a frozen embryo transfer or IUI or trying to conceive naturally that this preparation window can make all the difference. And why does this make sense?

We know that physiologically, in women it is at least 90-100 days from when our eggs are recruited (from the reserve we were born) to when they are mature enough for retrieval or ovulation. And for men, it is about 70-90 days from when sperm is created to when it is ejaculated. We also know that the environment and state of the body during that time of maturation greatly affects their quality and function. Poor diet choices (or eating foods that do not agree with your body), lack of movement, lack of hydration, poor or little sleep, and stress all can lead to inflammation and reduced blood flow in the body that can negatively impact fertility.

We know this is a hard time and many are feeling unsure of what their family-building timeline will look like and stress and anxiety may ebb and flow regularly. If possible, we encourage you to take this summer to nourish your own garden. Eat nourishing, anti-inflammatory foods, reduce sugar and alcohol where you can, move daily, drink clean water, sleep, sleep, sleep, breathe, dig in the dirt, and let go of the things (or people) that no longer bring you joy.

As for the acupuncture part, we are here! If you don’t have 3-4 months to put in the groundwork, that is OK, but reach out sooner than later so we can help support you wherever you are in creating a nourishing environment for your body to thrive (and welcome new life). We are so happy to be back doing what we love and are happy to answer any questions you have about how and when to resume your treatment plan.

We look forward to seeing you soon. Stay safe.