Functional Medicine Infertility

Infertility is a deeply personal and challenging journey for many couples. While conventional medicine has made significant strides in fertility treatments, an increasing number of individuals are turning to functional medicine for a holistic approach to address the root causes of infertility. In this article, we'll explore how functional medicine differs from conventional approaches, delve into the importance of specific nutrients for fertility, and uncover the critical role of gut health.

Conventional medicine is the mainstream healthcare system practiced by most medical doctors  and other healthcare professionals. The primary focus of conventional medicine is to address the symptoms of a disease or condition using pharmaceutical drugs, surgeries, and other medical interventions. In the case of infertility, this may include drugs to induce ovulation, like Clomid or Letrozole, or surgeries to remove uterine polyps, fibroids, or endometriosis. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI) are two other options that many couples  successfully use to start a family. 

However, other couples may not succeed in using conventional medicine in achieving a live birth and may seek alternative options. In fact, nearly 80 percent of couples report using at least one integrative modality, like acupuncture, yoga, meditation, or herbal supplements (1). At Root, we have many members who choose to use a mix of both conventional and functional medicine approaches for their condition.

Functional medicine for infertility aims to identify and address the root causes that may be hindering reproductive health. Learn more about the differences between conventional and functional medicine. 

Magnesium is an essential mineral with many important functions for optimal hormone balance. Unfortunately, most Americans fail to eat enough magnesium each day. Taking a magnesium supplement for PCOS may improve insulin resistance, reduce inflammation, and ease PMS symptoms (10). Magnesium can also be calming and helpful for restful sleep. This is particularly important for women with adrenal PCOS. In this category of PCOS, women have high levels of an androgen called DHEA-S. This androgen is made in your adrenal glands, generally increases in times of chronic stress and may cause acne as well. 

We focus on using food and lifestyle as the primary foundation of health. However, depending on your root cause(s), targeted supplements can support a functional medicine treatment plan for infertility.

Here are a few examples of supplements we may recommend for certain fertility conditions:

We include all four of these top PCOS supplements in our PCOS core supplement bundle.