How to Navigate Your Patient’s Infertility
Age related fertility decline has been highlighted in recent years in the popular media, however misconceptions still exist among the general public. Approximately 48.5 million couples worldwide experience infertility but the majority of the population does not understand natural fertility and age- related fertility decline.
Did you know? 1 in 8 couples struggle to get pregnant.
- Fertility declines naturally as women age
- A healthy 30-year-old-woman has about a 25% - 30% change of getting pregnant naturally
- A healthy 40-year-old-woman has 10% lower change of getting pregnant naturally each month
- Certain health conditions can affect fertility
- Infrequent or irregular periods
- History of recurrent miscarriage (2 or more)
- Ovulation disorders or hormone imbalances like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Endometriosis
- Uterine growths (like fibroids or polyps)
- Blocked fallopian tubes or uterine disorders
- Diminished ovarian reserve and/or poor egg quality
- While not always a cause of fertility issues, lifestyle can sometimes play a role
- Weight (being significantly under- or overweight)
- Male partner’s drug use
- Smoking
- Excessive physical or emotional stress
Prior research has demonstrated consistently low rates of fertility knowledge in populations, in reproductive-aged women and across the education spectra. Recent research has identified substantial gaps exist in fertility knowledge among family practice clinicians and OB-GYNs.
Without a strong understanding of this topic, clinicians may not be prepared to properly counsel patients and have family planning discussions during routine visits, an essential part of well woman care.
Jaclyn Smeaton, ND is one of the country's top leaders in functional and integrative approaches to infertility.
For 15 years, she has been helping couples just like you build their families, even when there seemed like there was no hope.
She works with individuals couples on proactive fertility preparation as well as with couples with infertility of almost all forms and causes. Her specialties are working with women to improve their egg quality as well as helping couples with unexplained infertility. She loves to work with couples on natural conception as well as through supporting IVF.
In addition to seeing clients, Dr. Jaclyn does extensive teaching, training other physicians how they can improve their success rates with patients.
In addition to reproductive medicine, Dr. Smeaton has a diverse career spanning dietary supplements, health technology and innovation, and strategic leadership and commercial strategy in the integrative medicine industry.
She has served as adjunct faculty for Bastyr University, as President for both the New Hampshire Association of Naturopathic Doctors and the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, as an Ambassador for the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine, and a board member of the Integrative Health Policy Consortium, the American Herbal Products Association, and several others.
