A Conversation about Fertility with Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Carmen Anne Luterbach

One of the most common hormone imbalances in fertility care is progesterone.

Progesterone means to promote gestation --or the hormone that promotes a healthy preganncy. 

You may have low progesterone if you do not ovulate, if you have fertile mucus during the luteal or post-ovulatory phase or if the luteal phase is less than 11 days. 

Some symptoms of low progesterone include, but are not limited to:

-mid-cycle spotting

-cycles less than 25 days

-short luteal phase

-lack of a BBT temperature spike, or instability of temperatures during the luteal phase

-spotting before your cycle starts

-night sweats, hot flashes

-insomnia, especially in the luteal phase

-spotting just before your cycle starts for a few days

-long, heavy, prolonged menstrual cycle and flow.

Remember, it is the BALANCE of the progesterone --the YIN hormone and the estrogen ==the YANG hormone, that is important. You may have a relative estrogen excess or be in an estrogen dominant state, in which your naturopathic doctor can support your liver and digestive tract to detoxify the extra estrogen. 

Genes

The gene that involves folic acid and a critical process in the body called methylation --is the MTHFR gene. When you have deficits in this gene you have a higher requirement not just for folate BUT for the right form of folate: L-5-MTHF. The folate from food. From dark green leafy vegetables mainly.....like Kale! For patients hoping to conceive, dark green leafy vegetables are their POWER food. Here are some symptoms that may indicate your MTHFR gene needs support:

-Hypothyroidism

-Low wbc count (white blood cells) most of your life

-required IVF to conceive

-required significant interventions to become pregnant and carry to full term

-recurrent miscarriages

-have a child on the austim spectrum

-have a child with Down's syndrome

-blood tests for folate or Vitamin B12 are elevated even though you do not take these suppekents

-do not tolerate alcohol of any type

-feel BEST after eating leafy green vegetables.

list adapted from page 75 of Ben Lynch's 'Dirty Genes'.

Refreshing Spring Greens Salad.

One of my family's favourite ways to get in the super greens....and the natural folate!! Adapted by Dr. Luterbach from Christmas Kale Salad from www.nourishingmeals.com

Salad:
1 large bunch of your favourite type of kale, chopped (remove large stems)
1/4 purple onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup dried cranberries 1 large, ripe pomegranate peeled1/2 small can of mandarin oranges
1/2 cup pecans, roasted

Dressing:
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Place the kale in to a large serving bowl. Add the onions and cranberries; set aside. To make the dressing, place all of the ingredients into a small jar, cover, and shake. Pour dressing over the salad and massage into the kale to soften the kale and breakdown the cell walls. Massaging your kale with a salad dressing will partially digest it for you, increasing nutrient availability.  Add the roasted pecans just before serving so they remain crunchy! Enjoy!