Starting a family is an exciting decision, but it can sometimes feel overwhelming and even scary at first. If you are thinking about getting pregnant, there are some basic things you should know about fertility before you embark on your journey.

Learn how to prepare your body from Dr. Laura Belus, Naturopathic Doctor.

Fertility Basics: What You Need to Know Before Conception

Fertility Myths Debunked By A Naturopathic Doctor

When it comes to fertility, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there. Here are 3 common fertility myths debunked by Dr. Laura, so you can focus on the facts.

Myth #1 – Women can’t get pregnant past 40 years of age. 

While a woman’s age is an important factor that can affect fertility, it is important to note that women can still get pregnant past 40 years of age. Women do start to see a decrease in their egg quality around age 35, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t get pregnant. It just means they need to really pay attention, and get their body to optimum health from age 35 and on.

Myth #2 – Stress doesn’t matter when trying to conceive.

There is a myth that stress doesn’t matter when trying to conceive, but it certainly does. The more stressed you are, the more cortisol (stress hormone) you produce. If cortisol levels are elevated in the body, it lowers progesterone levels. Progesterone is a key hormone for not only getting pregnant, but staying pregnant. So elevated stress levels may be to blame for recurrent miscarriages, or for those struggling to conceive.

It’s important to try and reduce stress in any way you can throughout the day. Even small changes can help, like starting your day with a healthy smoothie, waking up early to quietly breathe and relax, taking a quick walk at lunch, or ending the day with a bath. It’s really about taking some time to make yourself a priority.

Myth #3 – Men’s health isn’t important when it comes to fertility.

Men’s health is just as important as women’s health when it comes to fertility. So men should also be taking a multivitamin, managing their stress, and avoiding any laptop use on their lap. Getting pregnant is a joint venture, it takes two!

Infertility & Natural Support: How to Improve Your Chances of Conceiving

Struggling with infertility? You’re not alone. About 1 in 6 Canadian couples experience infertility. The medical definition of infertility is if you’ve tried to conceive for about 12 months (without contraception) without any success.
Fortunately, there are some natural support options available to help boost fertility. Watch to learn what products Dr. Laura recommends.

Natural Support Options for Infertility:

• Wild Rose Herbal D-TOX Kit: This all natural 12 day detox program is a great way to get the body prepared for pregnancy. This detox is a gentle way to clean out the liver and digestive system, which can help with any hormonal imbalances. The Wild Rose Herbal D-TOX Kit is coupled with a really healthy diet, and comes with a program booklet with special diet instructions and recipes.

• CanPrev Magnesium Bis-Glycinate 200 Gentle: Many women are magnesium deficient, whether they are trying to conceive or not. Magnesium Glycinate can help lower stress hormones, help improve muscle function and tone, and help promote a healthy pregnancy. To learn more about magnesium, watch Dr. Laura’s video on her fave magnesium products.
• Douglas Laboratories Prenatal: The key to choosing a good prenatal supplement is to look for a prenatal with methylfolate (5-MTHF) – that is the activated form of folic acid that women need. While it’s hard to get everything you need in one dose, higher quality prenatals only require about 2 doses per day.

If you are having difficulties conceiving, it is best to work closely with your primary health care provider to try and uncover any underlying health problems that may be causing your infertility.