Alternative Methods

At the end of my last post I talked about finding alternative methods to controlling my fertility issues but I want to talk about them more freely on here.

There are several non-prescription alternatives that are much safer and much better for you than what the doctors prescribe. I found that much out during my research. I want to start out by saying this: if your doctor ever gives you provera, run in the other direction without the prescription. Provera is known to cause cancer in patients that use it because it is a superprogestin. It creates progestin (a synthetic version of progesterone) levels more than 900 times higher than what a woman has when she's in peak pregnancy. The reason it causes such adverse side effects (and mimics pregnancy symptoms) is because the dosage is so high. I had such horrible back pain from the provera that I'd rather have the symptoms I had before than deal with it. It's better to use alternative methods to increase fertility or fix fertility issues once you know what you are dealing with.

Alternative methods for fertility:

1. Dr. John Lee's Fertility Shutdown: I came across Dr. John Lee's fertility shutdown in my research and it is inspiring to know that a real MD dedicated his life to alternative fertility methods. The fertility shutdown requires eliminating everything but organic fruits and veggies from your diet for 2-3 months. During that time, you are applying USP Progesterone cream for 21 days starting the day after your menstrual period ends. You can apply as little as 1/4 tsp per day, but if you are obese you could need as much as 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 tsp per day. If you follow Dr. Lee's method for that time, then continue to use the progesterone cream from the day of ovulation for 14 days, it has in laboratory tests resulted in ovulation and regular cycles the majority of the time.
2. USP Progesterone Cream: This is more of an addition to Dr. Lee's fertility shutdown than a separate method. USP Progesterone Cream is one of the best ways to get the progesterone necessary if you are deficient. Women who do not ovulate or have very irregular cycles usually are progesterone deficient. The cream needs to say USP in the ingredient list and there needs to be at least 800mg of USP progesterone per ounce but 1000mg per ounce is better.I began using 1tsp of USP Progesterone Cream daily in February 2011 and it has worked. I haven't used provera to start my cycles in over a year, and I don't have the bad side effects. Plus, progesterone is better absorbed by the body through the skin than when digested because the dosage is diminished by stomach acid. Use as much as you want, but remember your symptoms will be exaggerated for the first couple of weeks because your body will fight the added progesterone until the progesterone takes effect. After your body stops fighting the effects of the progesterone, all of those symptoms associated with PMS usually disappear. So, if you experience PMS symptoms on the progesterone cream, increase your dosage rather than stop using it. Use it either 14 days after your period starts or starting the day after you detect ovulation by basal body temp (BBT) or ovulation tests, and continue using for 14 days. It is safe to continue using during pregnancy, so if you are pregnant after those 14 days go ahead and continue using it, but if not, stop and a natural cycle should start.
3. Vitamin D3: Most women who suffer from PCOS, insulin resistance, estrogen dominance, or are obese are deficient in Vitamin D3. In order for the body to get enough vitamin D, you need at least 20 minutes of sun exposure (without sunscreen) per day. Most of us who suffer from these issues don't get that. You should get a test to verify your vitamin D levels first, but if you suffer from milk allergies or intolerance, don't get enough sun, have bone or muscle pain, or are overweight and can't lose the weight no matter how hard you try, then it's a pretty good sign you're deficient. Vitamin D is actually a hormone in the body that regulates bone health, reproductive hormones, and many other body systems. The maximum safe daily dosage is 10,000 IU, but a doctor can prescribe a larger dose if they feel it is necessary. I just began vitamin D3 therapy two days ago and already can tell a difference in the way I feel and the way my body is behaving. In a British study on the effects of high dosages of vitamin D3, they noted that the menstrual cycle regulated and ovulation often occurred within TWO months when taken with calcium and magnesium.
4. Baby or Low Dose Aspirin: According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, one of the major causes of obesity-related problems is inflammation. By taking 2 low dose or baby aspirin per day, you can fight that inflammation. Most people aren't aware they have internal inflammation, but it is caused by the body not easily accepting foods we eat, chemicals we are exposed to, and other environmental factors. By cutting down on the internal inflammation, you can actually digest foods easier and help your body return to a more natural state. If you are on blood thinners or have blood clotting issues, you MUST talk to your doctor before starting low dose/baby aspirin therapy.
5. Chasteberry/Vitex: This is a touch and go method, or at least I think so. Many women swear by it, and it has been known to work. The problem is, if you have normal cycles and take this herb, it could mess up your cycles for a long time. If you have abnormal cycles, it can take 6 months or more to work. In my experience, I took it for months and noticed no change at all in my cycles. I'm not saying it doesn't work because anything is worth a shot, but it didn't work for me.
6. Buckwheat Farinetta: This is a source of a chemical called d-chiro inositol that is supposed to be a natural form of clomid. You can buy d-chiro inositol caplets from a reliable supplier, and hopefully it will work but they are prohibitively expensive. You can buy farinetta online and a month's supply costs roughly half of what the capsules do, but you have to eat it every day. It's like a very dense alternative flour, so be sure to find some good recipes to use with it. I bought it and after about three weeks couldn't stomach one more day of it, no matter the benefits, though it has a lot of good nutrients in it.
7. Maca Powder: Ground maca root powder is supposed to be great for fertility and libido. It is suggested that when the conquistadors discovered Central and South America, they and their women suffered from infertility and they wondered why the natives were so fecund. It turns out they were using Maca root daily and as an aphrodisiac. There were very few of the natives that were infertile. I have also tried this, it has an almost nutty taste to it, and goes perfectly with hot chocolate or coffee. I didn't really notice any changes with it, but I think if I used it with progesterone cream and vitamin d3, it would have been more effective.

These are the few methods I've tried, but there's something else I'm going to suggest that goes along with taking the baby aspirin/low dose aspirin. It is to buy organic foods. Non-organic foods are so high in chemicals, pesticides, and additives that they can cause inflammation even if they are healthy for you. Organic foods are strictly enforced by the FDA and once you have detoxed from those added chemicals you can really tell a difference.

Also try to remember not to use any plastics with PBAs because they create xenoestrogens that increase insulin resistance. I prefer glass or uncoated paper products to plastic for that reason. Other food items you need to make sure you buy without added hormones are dairy and meat products. Cows, pigs, and even poultry are given hormones to create more bulk, which means more meat per animal. In dairy cows, added hormones create more milk per cow. These added hormones have been shown to increase estrogen levels in women drastically, and have even caused young girls to begin their menstrual cycles as early as 9 or 10 years of age. It has also lead to a rise in gynocomastia (man boobs) in boys because the hormones are what is responsible for breast tissue creation in girls.

Keep all of these alternative methods in mind and try them if you are experiencing fertility issues, but remember, it's still best to know be diagnosed with these issues by a doctor before you attempt to self-medicate.