In Vitro Fertility Goddess.
INTRODUCTION
When I sat down to write this book, I was aiming to educate patients and practitioners on how to best utilize herbs as a complimentary part of their conventional fertility and IVF programs.
But it quickly morphed into something much more significant than a comprehensive explanation on how to use herbs along with IVF to improve the chances of a successful pregnancy. This eBook has become a rallying cry for both the complimentary and conventional sides of treatment to work together to benefit the patient and the patient only. Bridging the gap here is essential as it would no longer force patients to choose between one or the other, leaving them stranded between a rock and a hard place in the process. Indeed, patients who are already going through intense emotional turmoil don't need the added pressure of having to make radical and unqualified choices between herbal and conventional therapies which they may later come to regret.
Time and time again, patients would be telling me how their doctors advised them to stay away from herbs and other supplements when going through IVF. The reasons they gave, if any, were the potential for herbs to interact with the medications and cause problems with the procedure. While I can relate to those statements because I used to say the same thing myself, a simple event changed my outlook forever.
Some years ago, I was experiencing a minor medical ailment for which the conventional medical system had no cure. So, like may of my patients, I moved from doctor to doctor only to be told that everything looked fine, that they had no idea why I was experiencing such discomfort and pain. I was astounded and bewildered with these comments, particularly because I have so much respect for the medical profession, its advances and the commitment most doctors have to their helping their patients.
When my frustration went into overdrive over my lack of improvement, I turned to herbs and supplements, researching every bit of information I could get my hands on. While I remained skeptical, I also allowed myself to have an open mind. And the results were astonishing: not only was I finally able to eliminate my own "non existent" ailment, I also stumbled upon a greater truth: that there was far more credibility in the field of complimentary therapies than I was ever led to believe
Another catalyst to writing this eBook stemmed from the frequent one-sided articles written by physicians and/or IVF clinics that use scare mongering to deter patients from using complimentary therapies. Not only do these articles totally disregard proven scientific or clinical research, they also use the same tactics they say are rampant in complimentary therapies i.e. single case studies, no scientific evaluation or clinical studies, opinion and hearsay, to make their argument against herbs. In extreme cases, some IVF clinics would even make their patients sign contracts stating that they will not use any other treatment while in their care. What you might see more of however is a dismissive attitude towards patients who admit to using or considering complementary modalities. Such comments coming from people in such positions of authority often confuse, infuriate and/or frighten patients, hence making them less likely to admit they are using such therapies. While we strongly encourage our patients to be upfront with their physicians about their use of herbs, we also expect physicians to understand how their attitudes and biases truly affect the overall health, safety and expectations of their patients. And I'm not along in saying this: there have been numerous articles written on the subject published by highly regarded journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Overall, what these practitioners have failed to recognize is the growing body of evidence that shows how beneficial herbs can be in addressing health issues. And as you will see further, IVF clinics are very narrowcast in their approach. For them, it's all about directly stimulating the ovaries with medications and preparing the lining of the uterus for implantation. There is little if no consideration given to other possibilities regarding what could be impacting a couples' fertility such as the role of the thyroid, the adrenals, the pancreas, the gut, the liver and other systems we will discuss in detail. One mustn't also forget how much these biased notions are supported by the pharmaceutical industry whose sole goal is to make a profit for its shareholders.
Some conventional physicians are also toeing this line because they might be frightened to see their patients starting to take responsibility for their own health by turning to herbal treatments. They might fear this could make their job less important, even obsolete. But that couldn't be further from the truth: most doctors using an integrative approach are in fact growing in popularity if their patient waiting lists are anything to go by.
As for the fertility-challenged couple, there is a growing realization that patient/doctor or patient/therapist relationship is no longer one where the doctor or therapist holds all the power in order to deliver results. It's the cooperative approach which is now seen a mutually beneficial.
This is why I would like this eBook to become the beginning of a conversation that I hope will spark interest from both patients and practitioners. In it, I want to dispel all the misconceptions and begin a genuine dialogue between patients and their doctors about the potential benefits of utilizing herbs to help prepare and support them through IVF. This discussion is based on hard evidence my clinic has documented over the past decade which is supported by authoritative peer-reviewed medical journals.
In the first part of the book, I will discuss how herbs can be used with IVF.
The second is dedicated to dispelling some of the many myths and misinformation about herbs and their use in conjunction with IVF.
And in the third section, I will expand further on how to prepare your body for an upcoming IVF cycle.
I hope this introduction has not only made clear my desire to support the patient but also the fact that I, along with the other therapists at our clinic, are not against conventional medicine or assisted procedures. What I want is for patients to have the whole spectrum of information available so that they can make a decision that is right for them, be it to only use IVF, to try naturally or a combination of both.
No one should be frightened or bullied into making any kind of decision regarding their fertility. These decisions should be carefully thought out to instill the utmost confidence in the couple that their decision was reached by a team in which they not just a spectator but the most valuable participant.
Stacey Roberts, PT, MH, Phd-c.
Stacey's eBook valued at $29.95 in available Free to all buyers of In Vitro Fertility Goddess »
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THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS EBOOK IS FOR YOUR
INFORMATION ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE,
TREAT OR SUBSTITUTE FOR ANY MEDICAL TREATMENT. FOR
YOUR MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS YOU SHOULD SEEK THE
ADVICE OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN
