Your Fertility Guide

After working as a midwife with the NHS for over thirty years and with more than ten years’ experience practicing Chinese acupuncture, TuiNa and Chinese herbal medicine, I have an extensive knowledge of eastern and western medicine. Fertility is an area where the two systems of medicine are completely complimentary. In my experience when the two approaches are used concurrently we get the best results.

A ‘one size fits all’ approach to fertility rarely works: together we will address all aspects of your fertility profile. We will work with your body and cycle – honouring the details and subtleties – which is critical to making a positive change.

I believe that the label ‘infertility’ is used far too readily in the world of fertility treatment.  Very few couples are truly infertile. However, language is a powerful thing and the statement ‘infertile’ can have damaging consequences to a couples’ emotional and psychological well-being, both individually and together. It would be more accurate to say that there are factors which are interfering with a couples’ ability to conceive. The reality is that the probable cause – and possible solutions - to the challenges being faced just might not have been identified thus far.  This is often due to a lack of time, resources and detailed investigation, which can determine the multifactorial physiological and energetic in-balances potentially effecting both partners.

 Taking the best approaches from eastern and western medicine, together we will look at the whole ‘landscape’ in order to understand the details of what is - or perhaps isn’t - happening in your cycle. I will help you to understand what is happening both hormonally and energetically through examining your basal body temperature recordings. This is the most accurate way of assessing physiological functioning. Then, together, we can make a plan.

There is always a solution! But it takes work and commitment to find it.

My preference is for us to think of your fertility in four monthly cycles; this is the time it takes from when the egg is first ‘recruited’ to when it is released from the ovary. Therefore, it often takes this length of time for any changes in terms of treatment, diet, lifestyle, herbs and supplements to take effect, and have an impact on the overall quality of the egg and/or sperm.

Through a bespoke treatment programme across four months or more, my aim is to help you find the answers that you need and to reinvigorate your hope, which is essential to conducive fertile functioning. As part of this, I see my role as enabling couples to navigate their way through the customary ‘checklists’ of basic blood tests and investigations, which are offered through the traditional systems. These can be confusing and leave you feeling out of control. It is critical that you understand the details of these investigations and what the results actually mean for you. For example, whilst a result might be categorised as ‘normal’, what that means will differ from person to person and your markers may need further review. If for any reason you are unable to commit to a treatment programme, I am also happy to discuss working with you solely as a fertility guide.

I offer an unbiased and non-judgemental assessment of your situation. My ambition is to help you to understand the intricacies of your fertility ‘picture’, so that you can become your own bodies expert. You’ll be able to become an active participant in the investigative process, able to make decisions instead of waiting to be told what the course of action should be. In my experience the empowerment that comes from this knowledge brings with it a new confidence and freshly positive outlook. This, in my opinion, is fundamental to a successful outcome.