Bridget's Struggle with Infertility

Pregnancy. What is the cause of infertility?

Bridget, a twenty-seven year old nurse practitioner in a western medicine clinic, just couldn’t get pregnant. She had been struggling with the following symptoms for three to five years:
  • Irregular menstrual cycle
  • Bowel issues 
  • Bloating with food
  • Dry skin and eyes
  • Tiny, hard bumps on arms and thighs (Keratosis Pilaris)
  • Infertility
Bridget was previously diagnosed with hormone irregularities, as well as two autoimmune disorders—Polycycstic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Graves’ disease. She thought she had a handle on her life and body, but she still had problems getting pregnant.

Functional Evaluation to Determine the Reason for Infertility

We started by applying pressure to the different digestive points. With tenderness ranging from 0 to 10, ten being most tender, Bridget scored a 10 on her stomach acid point and a 7 for all other digestion points (liver, gall bladder, and pancreas). This was an immediate red flag.

Lab Testing to Identify Body System Imbalance(s)

  • HPA stress profile with SIgA test: 
    • HPA measured lower than average on the stress curve -- indicated advanced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysfunction (HPA-D axis), formerly known as adrenal fatigue
    • SIgA (secretory immunoglobulin A) measured high -- indicated potential intestinal barrier dysfunction, acute oral infection, or GI infection
  • Hair tissue mineral analysis (hTMA) -- indicated a Fast 4 pattern, meaning the levels of Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Sodium are below optimal values, causing a decrease in metabolism. This is usually caused by hypersensitivity to certain foods. 
VIEW TEST RESULTS

Findings: Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal Dysregulation (HPA-D)

The Adrenal Stress Profile which consisted of testing both the HPA axis and SIgA demonstrated an overworked and exhausted immune system and HPA-D axis dysregulation, formerly known as adrenal fatigue. Usually the root cause of adrenal fatigue is emotional stress, dietary stress, or pain-hidden inflammation. Bridget stated she had low emotional stress, and had been a devoted follower of a Paleo diet for some time, ruling out the first two typical causes. With a low adrenal stress curve indicated by her lab work, Bridget likely had hidden inflammation such as a parasite, bacterial or yeast/fungal overgrowth. This places stress on the adrenal glands, throwing the body into survival mode, and was likely the root cause of Bridget's infertility in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Lifestyle Change Recommendations

  1. Strict Paleo autoimmune diet (AIP) 
  2. Digestive enzymes with meals to help with metabolism
  3. Dietary supplements to manage HPA-D and blood sugar handling 

Individualized Treatment Plan

  1. Additional gastrointestinal testing via GI Map stool test to rule out potential parasites and other GI pathogens, add treatment protocol based on findings
  2. Supplements prescribed based on Bridget’s unique body composition to heal large intestine problems
    1. Enzymes to aid digestion and bring down gastrointestinal inflammation
    2. Bio Glycozyme Forte by Biotics to manage blood sugar issues
  3. Daily supplements to address HPA-D (adrenal fatigue) and restore normal production of these hormones in the body:
    1. Pregnenolone
    2. DHEA
  4. Daily supplements to aid digestion and metabolism
    1. Vitamin C, A, K, and D
    2. Magnesium 
    3. Potassium 

Results

After five months, Bridget came back to my office for follow-up testing. Her blood sugar handling and HPA-D/adrenal fatigue levels had improved. Within seven months of initiating our treatment plan, Bridget was able to conceive a child and gave birth to a healthy baby boy the following year.

NOTE: While this client gave us approval for sharing details, all names have been changed to protect the identity of the client.
I WANT THIS
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