Greenwich Acupuncture Clinic, LLC
Acupuncture, Counseling & Fertility Functional Medicine
What is Functional Fertility?
Functional Fertility is an individualized and comprehensive approach to care aimed at uncovering underlying health issues contributing to fertility challenges. Unlike conventional medicine that provides a symptom-based approach, functional medicine focuses on treating the root cause which in turn will alleviate the symptoms.
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Functional Fertility appointments are available in conjunction with in-person acupuncture treatments or as stand alone appointments via Telehealth. With a mind-body approach to healing, often it is a combination of treatments that yield the best results.
Lab Testing
Often when clients initially come for care it has been a while since they have had comprehensive blood work done. It is important to understand where one is starting from and if supplementing certain vitamins and/or minerals is warranted to optimize fertility.
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There are blood markers that are highly correlated to conditions impacting fertility that can provide insight into functioning. Often and especially in younger women, appropriate labs are not ordered, or in general results focus purely on "in range" values vs optimal levels.
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Saliva testing is also an important part of the whole picture. Especially when feeling "stressed," measuring cortisol levels across a 24 hour period provides data as well as tracking hormones across an entire menstrual cycle and not just a "screenshot" on cycle day 2 or 21. Saliva testing is an easy and accurate way to get a lot of information.
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Western practitioners at times are open to more extensive lab testing when requested, but if not, low cost labs can be ordered for you through Quest Labs.
Lifestyle Medicine
This area of care focuses on diet and lifestyle, including stress management and understanding environmental factors that can impact fertility.
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No matter how healthy we think we are, there is always room for improvement and sometimes small changes can make a huge impact. Whether you can benefit from losing or gaining a few pounds, modifying or starting an exercise routine, figuring out what to eat or incorporating cleaner products into your life, we will take a deep dive into your daily habits that can can be impacting fertility.
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Food sensitivity testing (up to 176 different foods) is also available and we work on an elimination and reintroduction plan to reduce inflammation and improve functioning.
The Microbiomes
Modern research has educated us about the buzz term "leaky gut" which is essentially dysfunction of the digestive system, aka gut microbiome. If the gut is unable to keep what it should out of the bloodstream, inflammation can ensue or you can end up with SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) when microbes from the colon get into the small intestine, able to cause or worsen a broad number of ailments.
Most of our immune system is in the gut and that is where we need to absorb all the nutrients from the food we eat. If there is dysfunction, the body can't get what it needs to stay healthy and nourished.
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More recently, not only are we looking at the gut microbiome, but also the vaginal microbiome. The vaginal and uterine environment needs to be balanced in order for implantation and a sustained pregnancy. When there is inflammation, it can be more difficult to achieve pregnancy or a woman may have experienced one or more miscarriages for "unexplained" reasons. Additionally, when there is disruption to the vaginal microbiome, potential consequences include infertility, miscarriage, premature delivery, endometriosis. PCOS, PID, candida, recurrent urinary tract infections, vaginal dryness, irritation, abnormal discharge, painful intercourse, loss of libido and more pronounced menopausal symptoms (based on the work of William Davis, MD).
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We evaluate the gut and vaginal microbiomes and ensure the correct probiotics are introduced into the body to maximize fertility.
Talk Therapy
We all need support and someone objective to talk to along the fertility journey. Not conceiving as expected, experiencing a miscarriage or receiving a diagnosis of infertility (especially "unexplained") can be devastating. Navigating the decision to use donor eggs, a gestational carrier or adopt can be overwhelming. Often family and friends are not able to offer appropriate support because they don't understand what you are going through or maybe you find it more comfortable not to confide in your support system.
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Male partners also experience strong emotions tied to a couple's overall inability to get or stay pregnant, but research supports they are less likely to talk about it with anyone. Even their partner.
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Talk therapy focuses on you and where you are today. No matter your journey and where you are coming from or where you are going, you will receive support to help smooth out the emotional side of the fertility journey.
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These appointments are billed as psychotherapy (and generally reimbursed by insurance) as Dr. Ryan is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, able to engage clients in counseling therapy.
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At times, IVF group support is also offered.
