As a Natural Fertility Specialist in Sydney, Belinda is experienced in treating all female and male reproductive health problems.

Some couples have difficulty with conception and/or they conceive and experience miscarriage. Many are then told they have ‘unexplained infertility’ where this is often a case of ‘sub-fertility’.

Problems usually arise from a combination of genetic, environmental, inflammatory and immune components.

Common problems which may affect fertility include:

• Endometriosis
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Multi-follicular ovaries (PCO)
• Low ovarian reserve (low AMH)
• Thyroid issues (including sub-clinical hypothyroidism)
• Menstrual irregularity
• Auto-immune conditions (including Natural Killer Cells)
• MTHFR polymorphisms
• Recurrent miscarriage
• Advanced maternal age
• Insulin resistance and blood sugar issues
• Poor sperm count and health

Your initial consultation with Belinda will look at any testing you might have already had and Belinda will usually refer you for more comprehensive testing, as required. Many clients will feel like they have already “tested everything” but discover that Belinda has many more tests which can help to pinpoint any issues or barriers to conception.

After investigating and treating underlying health problems, changing diet and lifestyle and implementing appropriate nutritional supplementation, many couples achieve their dream of a healthy full-term pregnancy.

IVF Support

In addition to pre and post-conception care, Belinda also provides IVF support for those couples requiring medical intervention.

Medical intervention or assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as IVF/ IUI/ ICSI/ PICSI for a wide variety of reasons including those listed above.

For these women (especially those with “unexplained infertility”) it essential to complete comprehensive testing with Belinda to investigate any potential barriers to success.

The primary focus during ART cycles is:

• Promoting good egg quality and quantity
• Providing antioxidants and nutrients for mitochondrial support (giving the embryos adequate energy for growth and cell division)
• Supporting implantation by reducing inflammation and auto-immunity
• Ensuring good blood flow which is essential to embryo survival

During your initial fertility consultation, Belinda will examine each partner’s health history, order appropriate blood and semen analysis, explain how to chart the basal body temperature and cervical mucus, prescribe a reproductive health diet and prescribe individual herbal medicines and nutritional supplements to improve the fertility of both partners.

Researchers reveal that one in five pregnancies result in miscarriage while in many more cases it goes undetected. Some causes of miscarriage include:

• Thyroid problems
• Progesterone insufficiency
• Genetic and chromosomal problems
• Inflammation
• Auto immunity and antibody production

By following a preconception health care plan, Belinda aims to reduce the incidence of miscarriage. In cases where a single or multiple losses has been suffered, Belinda uses the latest medical testing to investigate the cause of the miscarriage so that it can be treated and the chance of it happening again reduced. These tests may include genetic testing, antibody testing, hormonal analysis and more.

Stress and the Emotional Aspect

Trying to conceive can be a time of excitement and anticipation but also a time of huge stress and anxiety for those who have been trying to conceive without success or have suffered pregnancy loss. The impact of this stress can affect relationships, friendships, finances, sleep quality and so much more.

For those attempting natural conception, sex can feel very clinical and unromantic or men may develop temporary problems with sexual function from the pressure and lack of positive results from such concerted efforts. In these situations, Belinda recommends that couples make an effort to spend some good quality time together and ensure that they are being intimate at times away from the fertile window to help reduce any pressure associated with trying to conceive.

When you have been trying for some time, there can be intense emotional stress when it feels like everyone on social media or all your friends are magically falling pregnant ‘so easily’. The stress and impact of subfertility is often not spoken about publically and many of your friends or relatives may not even know of your struggles. Even though you are happy for them, it can be really difficult hearing about other people’s successes so please know that you are not alone if you are feeling this way.

Sometimes life just isn’t fair and that injustice can feel overwhelming. People deal with this in different ways so remember to be kind to yourself, reach out to your support networks and consider seeing a counsellor or psychologist if you need some extra help.

If you are interested in a fertility appointment with Belinda and would like to speak with her first and see if she is the right fit for you, please contact us to arrange a time for a quick phone chat on 0400 551 622 or belinda@belindakirkpatrick.com.au