Finding the cause of infertility

You may be ready for a baby - but is your body? Various factors affect your ability to conceive and carry a healthy baby to term. 

A successful embryo transfer doesn’t necessarily translate into a successful pregnancy - that is why the average success rate for IVF is only 20 to 40%. 

You may have been trying to conceive naturally for months or years, or perhaps you have attempted IUI or IVF without success. You may feel frustrated, especially if your fertility doctor says there is nothing else to do but keep trying or keep harvesting eggs. 

If you are feeling stuck, you are not alone. The reasons behind your struggles may be different from someone else’s, so it is vital to find an expert on reproductive health who is willing to take the time to investigate and unravel the keys to your fertility success.

Below are some important laboratory tests and things you should consider if you are struggling to start your family.

Reproductive immunology

The late Dr. Alan E. Beer was a pioneer in the field of reproductive immunology who believed that it is not simply due to bad luck that some women can’t become pregnant or have repeated miscarriages. 

Research tells us that the complex interplay between immune cells, the molecules they secrete, the cells they interact with, and hormones are crucial for establishing a pregnancy. 

A fetus may be rejected by the body due to an overreactive immune response or it may be attacked by unregulated inflammatory cytokines. 

In my practice, I use extensive diagnostic assessments including testing for inflammatory markers, auto-immunity, specific T-lymphocytes which impact fertility and miscarriage and certain antibodies that may drive excessive inflammation.

I also undertake general blood tests that look at immune function, thyroid function and vitamin D levels - all of which impact pregnancy. 

DNA testing to assess your unique biology

Each individual is unique, and how your body is genetically wired can have a huge impact on your ability to become pregnant. Increased toxic load and high oxidative stress affect egg and sperm quality. 

DNA or genetic testing looks at how well your body is functioning at the cellular level, particularly in the areas of detoxification, insulin resistance, DNA (cell) replication or repair, inflammatory regulation and oxidative stress. 

Another key factor for women is the MTHFR gene mutation, which affects around one third of the population. 

If you have a MTHFR gene mutation, your body cannot break folic acid down to folate. Studies show that people with a MTHFR gene mutation are more susceptible to recurrent miscarriages, pre-eclampsia and a baby born with spina bifida. 

Nutritional factors 

Studies show that women with low vitamin D levels are at a significantly increased risk of miscarriage. 

Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is also linked with preeclampsia, insulin resistance, gestational diabetes mellitus, bacterial vaginosis, and an increased risk for caesarean section delivery. 

Studies also suggest that low selenium levels can impact ovarian function and are linked to an increased risk of miscarriage and premature birth in women. 

In men, low levels of selenium are associated with poor sperm motility or morphology.

What you eat has a direct impact on your reproductive health

Fertility experts agree that what you consume has a direct impact on your reproductive health. 

A study carried out by the Harvard School of Public Health, showed that women who ate the highest amounts of monounsaturated fat, like avocados, olive oil, nuts & seeds, had triple the chance of IVF success. 

These women were 3.4 times more likely to have a child after IVF. In contrast, women who ate mostly saturated fat, like butter and red meat, produced fewer good quality eggs for use in fertility treatment. 

Another study looked at 4000 Danish women and found that women who drink five or more cups of coffee a day actually halve their chance of getting pregnant via IVF. 

Furthermore, a 2018 study from Human Reproduction concluded that women who consumed a Mediterranean diet had significantly higher success rates of IVF compared to other women. 

These studies confirm that what we eat can either support our reproductive health or curb it. 

Assessing toxin levels

A study conducted in Hong Kong, on 150 infertile couples undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) versus 20 fertile couples, found that the infertile couples had significantly higher blood mercury than the fertile group. 

Over one third of the infertile men had abnormally high mercury and about a quarter of the infertile women had high mercury levels. 

High levels of PBCs have also been linked to IVF failure. 

Biological age 

What about age, you ask? Yes, it’s true that fertility decreases as you age, but your biological age is different from your chronological age. The good news is that your biological age is not fixed, and is dependent on lifestyle and environmental factors.

Testing can identify what your biological age is, and how your lifestyle is influencing your rate of biological aging. 

Booking the right tests

I conduct a thorough assessment of your symptoms, lifestyle and environmental factors, using industry leading tests to identify the blocks to pregnancy and IVF success. 

By looking at you holistically, exploring all factors which influence health and pregnancy, we can clearly define a path forward.