Questions & Answers
Q. What Is the NFP 16-Week Fertility Coaching Program™?
The NFP (Natural Fertility Prescription) 16-Week Fertility Coaching Program is an in-depth and highly personalized natural fertility and preconception care program. The program is designed to help couples identify and systematically address the root causes of fertility problems.
The program is available online from any location. It’s designed to help couples overcome fertility problems and have a healthy conception, pregnancy, birth and baby.
Clients receive regular private coaching from an expert fertility naturopath. They also receive access to in-depth information, tools and one-on-one support. The advice and analysis is personalised to each client's case and condition.
The coaching program is based on the NFP (Natural Fertility Prescription) method, a unique, evidence-based natural approach developed by Swiss-based natural fertility specialist Iva Keene MRMed. ND.
It’s designed to help couples who want to do everything possible to address their fertility problems naturally, to conceive, and carry a healthy baby to term.
The method is based on more than ten years of clinical experience specializing in natural fertility treatments and working with infertile couples, combined with the latest scientific research.
The coaching is delivered 100% online, via phone/video/email and web, which means clients can use the service from any location with internet access. This makes it convenient to fit into a busy schedule.
Some clients had endured years of trying to conceive, with multiple diagnosed fertility conditions and failed IVF/ICSI/IUI, before finding success with the help of this unique approach.
To date we’ve helped thousands of previously infertile couples overcome many different types of fertility problems and go on to have healthy babies.
Our clinical results show that with the right advice, information and support many previously infertile couples are able to have children naturally.
The NFP approach has been endorsed by respected natural health practitioners, reproductive endocrinologists and medical doctors.
It’s an evidence-based, natural way to help overcome the underlying causes of infertility that fertility drugs and procedures simply don’t address.
These common root causes of fertility problems (or fertility roadblocks) include toxicities, macro/micro nutrient deficiencies, hormone imbalances and metabolic/systemic factors.
Each couple and their case is different, and during the coaching program, we work together with you to help you identify and address the factors specific to your case.
The 16-week program includes a fertility case analysis, a personalised diet including recipes and meal plans, nutrition and detoxification guidance, deficiency assessments and testing advice and interpretation, instructions on sleep hygiene for fertility, exercise techniques, conception timing, mind/body strategies and more.
This is a step-by-step, easy to follow process that can also help you balance other body systems and achieve better overall health.
In addition to pregnancy successes, clients regularly report additional unexpected benefits including: more energy, better digestion and improvements to sleep, mood and appearance.
Q. Why Is The Program 16 Weeks In Duration?
‘Why is the program 16 weeks in duration, and why is 16 weeks the minimum recommended time to improve our fertility?’
Sixteen weeks (or 120 days to be precise) is the time it takes for primordial cells to become egg cells. 90 days is the time it takes for sperm cells to mature for men. This means that your current state of fertility is influenced by what you were doing, ingesting and being exposed to 120 days ago.
Therefore, to have a measurable impact on your fertility, it’s recommended you allow yourself a minimum of 16 weeks from the time you start making changes to your diet, lifestyle, toxin exposure, and nutrition, before you start trying to conceive again.
Every week during the program you’ll be given new information and simple steps to take. And at the end of the 16 weeks, you’ll have made all the changes needed, you’ll know everything you need to know about natural fertility, and you’ll have a deep insight into you and your partner’s case.
You’ll have formed new fertility-promoting habits. You can expect to have experienced noticeable improvements in energy, well-being and measurable fertility markers such as sperm parameter, hormone levels, and AMH levels. The goal is for you to be well on your way to a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
Q. Can it Help Our Fertility Problems?
‘Can the program help us address the conditions my partner and I have been diagnosed with? What type of infertility conditions can (and can’t) it help solve?’
Certain fertility conditions (and underlying causes) cannot be helped by this method. For example, if you’ve got severely blocked fallopian tubes, or if you are missing fallopian tubes, if you had an ectopic pregnancy or if you had a large cyst and you had to have your tubes removed, then you will not be able to get pregnant by using this method only.
Also, if there are certain congenital malformations to the reproductive organs and certain other genetic issues, the all natural approach would not be able to help you. For example, if a man is missing vas deferens, which means he cannot ejaculate semen because he’s missing the tubes through which semen has to pass.
In those scenarios, your best option may be IVF, and in those scenarios, it’s marvelous that we have IVF and other ART procedures. They are the scenarios where the program will not be able to help or can only be helpful in combination with IVF.
What the program can help with is: PCOS, Ovulatory Infertility, Hypothyroidism (clinical & subclinical), Age-related Poor Egg Quality, Advanced Age or Late Pregnancy Concerns (Late 30's - mid 40's), FSH-related Infertility, Poor Ovarian Function, Fibroids and Polyps, Endometriosis, LPD - Luteal Phase Defect, Sperm Deficiencies / Abnormalities / Low Sperm Count, Low Progesterone, Recurrent Miscarriages, Weight-related Infertility, Mild Scarring or Mildly Blocked Fallopian Tubes (when blocked with mucus rather than severe scar tissue), Antibodies or Immunity Problems.
The reason this approach can be so effective is because many forms of infertility are not just originating in the reproductive system tend to be systemic or metabolic, which means there are other underlying issues. For example endometriosis can have genetic as well as immune-related, as well as endocrine-related origins, and it’s linked to your reproductive system. This is why we often need to work on a particular problem on multiple levels.
If you have MTHFR gene polymorphism and are therefore miscarrying, we will show you ways to address this as well. Also, in cases of unexplained infertility, we can help you find the cause of unexplained fertility with the help of additional tests where necessary to find out the actual cause and then we can help you address it in a targeted way.
Low AMH can't be raised for the simple reason that you were born with a certain number of primordial cells, which are secreting AMH. So we can’t boost your AMH numbers, but we can work with a low AMH number to help you improve the quality of the eggs that you do have.
Q. Can You Show Me the Science?
When it comes to health, there is a lot of unsubstantiated (and simply false) information out there. So it's understandable that sometimes couples (or partner's) ask:
"What is the scientific evidence showing that fertility may be significantly improved by things like foods, nutrients, removal of toxins, herbs, sleep hygiene, and exercise, or mindset and lifestyle choices?"
... and the answer may surprise you.
In recent years, hundreds of research studies related to this topic have been published in respected, peer-reviewed medical journals.
And people are sometimes surprised to learn that many studies have demonstrated that certain substances, activities, foods, nutrients and herbs can have a powerful positive (fertility boosting)... or negative (fertility reducing) effect.
Once you become aware of the number of relevant studies in the medical literature, it's hard to understand why natural fertility and natural preconception care is still largely ignored by fertility clinics.
Perhaps it’s the patient demand for quick-fixes, a magic pill or procedure… perhaps it’s about profit or maybe it’s simply the drug/procedure focus of conventional medicine…
Whatever the reason, we believe couples have a right to be exposed to a quality source of information about alternatives.
Below is a selection of examples from the medical journals and if you go here you can read many more study reviews:
- Obstetrics & Gynecology discovered that consumption of this mineral in this particular form may decrease the risk of ovulatory infertility.
- Lancet, reported in a study that twice the level of sperm counts were observed among men who ate these particular foods when compared to the control group of men who didn’t eat these foods.
- A study published in Fertility and Sterility reported a 60% rate of pregnancies among infertile women with endometriosis after consuming this fertility boosting food.
- A double-blind trial published in the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, found that taking a combination of vitamins and minerals increased female fertility.
- A study published in the Human Reproduction Update found that this mineral is crucial for optimal testosterone levels and sperm maturation.
- The Journal of Endocrinology reported that this herb increases sperm count and sperm motility in men. The same herb increases the number of follicles maturing each month in women. In a different study this herb was shown to increase progesterone and testosterone levels.
- The Journal of Medicinal Food found that when infertile men supplemented their diet with this vitamin their sperm count, sperm motility (ability to propel forward) and morphology (shape of the sperm) improved.
- The Journal of Phytomedicine published a study which reported that this herb normalizes luteal phase defect, improves progesterone secretion and improves overall fertility.
And this is just a small sample of the scientific studies that we draw upon in developing our Natural Fertility Coaching programs and protocols.
Q.What Makes This Program and Approach So Different?
The program is designed to help you identify and solve the underlying causes of your fertility challenges. Conventional fertility treatments typically involve only basic testing (sperm parameters, hormone levels) and the solution is always drugs and procedures. Fertility drugs and procedures try to go around the problem(s) that are causing infertility, to force a conception on a body that’s often not yet ready.
Only an in-depth natural approach that incorporates a comprehensive analysis and additional testing (when necessary) can effectively solve the major root causes of infertility. Our program gives clients a personalized fertility plan that teaches them how to address the root cause(s) and prepare their body for a healthy conception.
The other major differences between this program and other natural fertility information and advice is that it’s delivered by expert coaches who are ultra-specialized, and their advice and coaching is personalized to each client’s needs. It’s also super convenient and easy to follow.
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. We do the deep dive detective work and analysis that’s necessary for each case.
Clients receive information tailored to their specific condition(s), with individual test recommendations and interpretation (when necessary), tailored diet plan, personalized supplement prescriptions, email support and one-on-one phone consultations.
Moreover, this is an evidence-based natural approach. The information you'll receive is grounded in clinical experience and scientific research.
And it’s much easier than trying to do it yourself or rely on ad-hoc information or one-off consultations. With infertility there are no “easy answers"… yet, we’ve made the NFP 16-Week Fertility Coaching Program as easy as possible to use, access and apply.
When you become a Fertility Coaching member, we start with a detailed case analysis which helps us tailor the program to your individual needs and circumstances. We then guide you step-by-step and week-by-week, showing you what to focus on to improve your fertility, gradually and systematically.
The coaching program gives you a level of in-depth, personalised and step-by-step guidance that a one-off consultation, ad-hoc treatment, book or downloadable program could never provide.
Q.How Is The Coaching Personalized To The Unique Needs Of Each Couple?
The coaching is tailored to each couple’s needs and circumstances through the analysis, consultations and the information you receive.
At the start of the coaching, you’ll fill out an online case analysis questionnaire which looks at more than 150 different fertility and health parameters, including your diet and lifestyle, exposure to toxicity, food intolerances and digestion, and use of personal care products, as well as your personal and family medical history.
During your consultations you’ll receive personalised guidance, support and feedback.
Over the course of the 16 weeks, via your online coaching portal, you’ll receive information that’s specific to the condition(s) you and your partner are facing.
We’ll show you how to adapt the meal plans and diet to your individual needs, and if needed you’ll receive prescriptions for practitioner-grade supplements, as well as additional test recommendations, analysis and interpretation. If you have questions about the program and about what to do each week, you can get them answered by email and through the coaching portal.
Q. What Is The Success Rate Of This Approach?
What is the success rate of your program? What percentage of couples who follow the program have children?
Unfortunately, not everyone who follows our program is able to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term. That is the sad truth of any fertility treatment. No one can guarantee that you’ll have a child.
However, to date, the NFP Fertility Program has helped thousands of previously infertile couples have children, with new success stories being added all the time.
Every couple we work with has a different fertility case history, different health starting points, length of time they follow the program for, other treatments they combine it with and level of changes they’re prepared to make.
The program is more effective for certain cases than for others and for certain types of infertility the success rate is significantly higher than through conventional fertility drugs and procedures. This is shown by the number of success stories from couples who had previously been through one or more failed cycles of IVF/ICSI/IUI.
Overall, our data suggests that when couples follow the NFP Program and allow a 4-6 month minimum timeframe, it’s equally if not more effective than IVF (with less expense and better health outcomes for mother and baby).
Major university studies done in the UK and Australia have had a very high success rate with the natural fertility preconception approach, as high as 89.8% in one study with an 81% success rate in previously infertile couples).
Our NFP Fertility Optimization System, along with customized coaching and support, has been endorsed by Nim Barnes, the founder of Foresight, the Association for the Promotion of Preconception Care, which was established in the UK in 1978. In the first video, I shared the story of Nim, how I came to meet her and how she has influenced my work.
Nim’s work has been actively studied and reported on since 1995. The NFP Fertility Optimization System incorporates the same methods used by Nim in her research.
However, our approach expands considerably on Nim’s Foresight method, and is even more customized to each individual’s unique case, because it utilizes a comprehensive case analysis, modern lab tests and other investigations (including genetic testing).
Our approach is further enhanced by the latest practitioner-grade nutritional supplementation to address the root causes of infertility for each individual in a very precise and targeted way. Our approach also draws on recent research (much of which has only come out in the past few years).
The first Foresight study, conducted in conjunction with Surrey University (published in the Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine in 1995) included 367 couples.* *
The ages of the women were between 22 and 45 years old, and the ages of the men were between 25 and 59 years old
Before they did the Foresight program:
- 37% presented with Infertility
- 38% with miscarriages
- 11% with therapeutic abortion
- 3% with stillbirth
- 15% small for dates' (gestational size of babies) or low birth weight babies
- 2% with malformations
- 1% with SIDS.
After doing the Foresight program, Out of 367 couples, 89% had live births, and 81% of those previously infertile had live births as well. There were no miscarriages, perinatal deaths or malformations, and no babies were admitted to intensive care.
The normal statistical expectation for a group that size would be 70 miscarriages and six malformations - but there were none.
As I mentioned, The NFP Fertility Optimization System incorporates the same treatment methods used by Foresight in their research, but takes it a number of steps further by customizing the protocol to each individual, using modern lab tests (including genetic testing) as well as diet and the latest practitioner-grade nutritional supplementation.
The system calls on scientific research to identify and then treat the root causes in a very precise and individualized way.
Q. Would I Need to Travel to You?
No. You can participate from any location in the world where you have internet access and a smartphone, tablet or computer. To date we've had clients from more than 70 countries. You don't need to travel or even leave your home. The program is delivered entirely online.
Coaching content is provided via a secure membership website with one-on-one coaching interactions by email and phone/Zoom/Skype. This makes it very convenient and discreet.
Q. How Will the Time Difference Work With Calls?
Iva and the company are based in Switzerland. Iva makes times available during GMT+1 weekday office hours. This means that clients in U.S. time zones have morning slots available to choose from, while those in the Asia Pacific time zones have afternoon/evening slots available. All one-on-one consultations are done by phone or video so there’s no travel or physical face-to-face required.
We also have NFP Coaches in Melbourne, Australia who are in the GMT +10 time zone, which gives clients a range of appointment options to choose from.
Using a simple automated booking system, you book your appointments as you need them, choosing from the available time slots. This makes things flexible and enables you to fit things into your timeline.
The rest of the coaching is self-paced with videos, audios, guides, checklists, recipe books, meal plans, etc. which can all be accessed on any device and/or downloaded. Once you enroll, you'll receive a login to access the coaching members’ area and all the resources at any time of the day or night.
Q. Is the Program Hard to Follow?
The program is designed to be easy to follow. We break it down for you into individual, bite-sized chunks.
Once you’ve filled out the case analysis questionnaire, we’ll give you feedback on areas that specifically apply to you. This will take place during your consultations and email interactions.
Each week, you’ll have some information to review and simple steps to take, so you won’t be overwhelmed. You’ll get into a weekly “rhythm” of things to think about, each one building upon the previous steps.
Each week, you’ll receive a one-page checklist by email that summarizes key points, so if you’re short on time, you can scan the summary document or show it to your partner.
During the program, we’ll also be providing you with information specific to you and your partner’s condition(s).
And, if ever you don't understand something, you can email questions to us and we’ll reply within 1-2 days. Every aspect of the program is designed to make it as simple and convenient as possible, because the easier it is, the more likely you’ll be to do well with it, and the more impact it’s going to have on your fertility.
And, unlike a one-off consultation or clinic procedure, where you’re given a one-time treatment and then left on your own, this is a transformative and interactive process, with regular steps to help you stay on track and make progress at a pace you’re comfortable with.
Clients say they really like the flexibility of listening to the recordings in their car, or watching the videos and/or scanning the written material. The materials are available in multiple, convenient formats, so there’s bound to be one that suits how you prefer to consume information.
It’s also possible to moderate the pace according to your preferences, depending on your time availability, and what you feel comfortable with. This helps the program fit into your schedule without disrupting your normal routine.
These are not huge changes. You’ll still be shopping for and preparing food. You’ll still use certain products for your cosmetics and in your home. It’s just that we’re going to tweak those things which may be harming your fertility, and replace them with those which will either not be harmful or will actually be beneficial to your fertility.
And the recipes aren’t just good for your fertility! They’re easy to prepare and delicious, so you won’t feel like you’re missing out. And the meal plans and shopping lists make it super easy and hassle-free.
It must be said that this is an active process. It does involve you and your partner taking some action. However, I believe that, if you’re already here and you’ve read this far, you’re motivated to make some simple changes in order to significantly improve your chances of a healthy conception, pregnancy, birth and baby.
Q. How Natural Is The Program?
The program is 100% natural. There are no drugs, pharmaceutical medications or procedures of any kind involved (unless you choose to combine the program with ARTs).
The diet and detox is all-natural and suitable for everyone. All nutritional supplements we may recommend are completely natural (vitamins, herbs, minerals, etc). These high-potency nutrients are more like foods than drugs.
Apart from probably feeling better than you've felt in years, there are no drug-like side-effects. The only other possible 'side-effects' is that detoxing can occasionally cause minor symptoms that pass in a few days. Common (temporary) detox symptoms can include: headaches, lethargy, temporary muscle aches and irritability.
In addition, some nutritional supplements can have interactions with drugs or herbs, if you’re taking them concurrently. We’ll only prescribe supplements for you after a consultation and analysis where we’ll check for drugs or herbs that could interact with our practitioner-grade supplements.
Q. What Will We Need To Do To Optimize Our Chance Of Success?
You simply need to be willing to invest some time each week for 16 weeks.
We’ll be recommending you and your partner make simple changes to your diet, lifestyle and nutrition. It’s suggested that at least one of you make time to review the information once a week.
While the fertility diet is delicious and most clients say they feel amazing, it’s normal that any dietary changes can involve some effort, willpower and sometimes some unusual feelings, particularly in the first two weeks while detoxing.
Depending on your case, we may recommend additional tests that go beyond the standard fertility clinic tests. Typically, these will be tests your doctor hasn’t recommended for you.
Your individual case and condition will determine whether additional tests may help to pinpoint underlying causes. We also help you by recommending testing options that can be done conveniently (some can be done from home).
It’s always your decision whether you choose to have further tests done.
In the supplement and herbs section and as part of the individual condition protocols, we may recommend certain supplements, depending on your case and condition. Nutrients and herbs are an adjunct and not the basis of our approach. However, we may recommend practitioner-grade supplements to you.
You should now have a clear picture of the effort involved in pursuing this program. Of course, because everyone has a different starting point in terms of fertility, health, knowledge, diet & lifestyle, the program may be slightly more challenging or easier for you than it is for others.
Sometimes a coaching client will have a reluctant partner and want to know if their partner needs to take part in order for the program to be effective. Since it takes two to make a baby, we definitely recommend your partner takes part. but it's not always necessary.
Whether it is or not depends on where the problem is. For example, if the husband won't participate but his sperm is ok. then it won't be a problem if he is not 100% onboard.
It’s not uncommon for our female clients to use our programs when their male partner doesn’t want to participate. Many of these clients were successful with little or no participation from their male partner.
However, we usually recommend in such cases that the partner be persuaded to at least take certain supplements as a safety net to cover their nutritional needs. It’s usually possible to persuade the uninvolved partner to swallow some supplements each day.
Q. How Do You Monitor Our Progress During The 16 Weeks?
How do you monitor our progress and how do we measure the improvements and results during the program? What kind of measures will be in place to gauge whether the program is helping, and will there be adjustments made if a certain protocol isn’t working?’
During the regular consultations, we look at your latest test results, if you’ve had any. We ask you a series of questions to gauge how you’re doing, we review your case and talk about any symptoms or observations you’ve had.
We also look at your fertility charts to see how you’re progressing. All the relevant information is recorded in your file so we can refer back to it during the course of the program. Based on this information, we can recommend further tests, adjustments to your diet, and supplements and other therapies to complement your treatment as necessary.
Q. How Long Should We Expect It To Take?
If the program works for us, how long should we expect it to take?
If you get pregnant after using the program, you can expect it to take between 120 days and 6 months. Clients have been known to get pregnant within the first month or two, although that’s not the norm. Difficult or complex cases have taken 12 months and even up to 2 years.
How long it takes depends on factors including your fertility history and diagnoses, your age and starting point in terms of overall health, and your motivation and consistency in using the information and guidance you receive.
The good news is, because this is a holistic process designed to improve your fertility-related body systems, clients have also reported improvements to:
- cycle (more regular, less spotting, fewer PMS symptoms, more fertile mucous)
- sperm parameters (motility, morphology and count)
- egg quality
- digestive function
- immunity
- hormonal balance, including increased progesterone and lowered FSH
- thyroid function
- appearance (skin, hair, weight)
- energy (mood, vitality, outlook)
- heavy metal removal
Q. What Does The NFP Fertility Diet Involve?
‘What does the diet involve? Is it vegetarian/vegan or paleo? And what if we have special dietary needs such as kosher, halal, vegetarian/vegan or other considerations like food allergies, gluten-free or fasting? Will we get a blueprint of what to eat and when?’
The NFP Fertility Diet provides recipes and dietary recommendations specifically designed for fertility. In general terms, they’re based on fresh, whole-foods, organic where possible, and nutrient dense foods. They do incorporate some meat. They’re based around ‘slow-carb’, moderate protein, and healthy fats.
There are different dietary recommendations for different stages, such as detox, as well as for different conditions. If you're vegetarian or vegan, we’ll give you alternatives and guidance on substitutes. As part of the program you’ll get meal plans detailing what we recommend you eat and when, as well as shopping guides and a diet outline with recipes and preparation videos.
The diet is also suitable for gluten intolerance, food allergies, diabetes and celiac, with minimal adjustments. If you're kosher or halal you already know where to buy your ingredients. However, we don't recommend starting the program if you have a fasting period scheduled in the next four months.
Q. I’m Over 40, 43, 45, Or Older. Can This Help Me?
We all know that age is a significant factor in fertility. However, the cutoff age for conceiving naturally isn’t as early as most fertility clinics will tell you.
When clinics turn women away because they’re ‘too old’ at 41, or insist they need an egg donor, they’re basing this on statistics taken from IVF patients, not on natural conception rates in healthy populations, or on you as an individual.
It’s not uncommon for women to conceive naturally up to age 44 or 45 with the right preparation. Beyond that, it does get harder, but natural pregnancies have been known to happen up to 50 and, when combined with ARTs, well beyond that.
In terms of the question, ‘Is it too late?’, the short answer is this: scientifically speaking, when you’re menopausal, that’s too late.
If you’re still ovulating regularly, then you can use this program to help you balance your fertility-related systems and optimize the quality of your eggs and your partner’s sperm to help you significantly increase your chances of getting pregnant.
The main issue with someone in their 40’s is not so much the actual number. It’s not like your fertility suddenly changes on your 40th birthday. But if you go to a fertility clinic after you’ve gone over a certain age, they’ll treat you as if this has happened.
An important thing to understand about age and fertility is that there’s a difference between your chronological age and your biological age. Your chronological age is the number of times you’ve been around the sun, whereas your biological age is how old your body really is.
Your biological age is what matters most for fertility, and this is something you can control. There are some people in their 20s who have a much, much older biological age than their chronological age, and there are some people in their 40s and 50s whose biological age is still in their 20s or 30s.
This depends on a number of factors. The one you're born with and can’t change is your genetics, although we now know from epigenetics that even your gene expression can be influenced for the better.
Other factors such as your lifestyle, diet, nutrient sufficiency, mindset and the environmental toxins you’re coming into contact with can influence your biological age, your fertility and your offspring for better or worse.
That's why we ask some other important, age-related fertility questions including: "How’s your overall health?" "What toxin exposure do you have/have you had?" "What nutrient deficiencies are affecting your fertility?" "How’s your luteal phase?" "How’s your progesterone level and other hormone levels?"
One of the main factors is that someone in their 20s has lived for a shorter period of time. Therefore, if they have any nutrient deficiencies, toxicities, or genetic issues that are having an impact on the body, the negative effects have had less time to take a toll on their fertility.
If you’re in your 40s, you have 20 years more exposure to certain environmental toxins than someone in their 20’s. You’ve probably drank coffee or alcohol at some point in your life. You’ve probably taken some pharmaceutical drugs. Perhaps you’ve smoked or even taken recreational drugs.
The point is, you’ve undoubtedly been exposed to certain toxins. You’ve come into contact with heavy metals from tap water. You’ve come into contact with chemicals in cleaning products, your personal care products, your cosmetics and from many other modern sources.
All of these toxins accumulate in the body, often in our organs and our fat. So, as you get older, you experience their cumulative effect. It’s these factors that can influence your fertility-related body systems, the quality of your eggs and sperm and the hormonal balance in your body.
However, these things are not unchangeable. They’re fluid. They’re factors we can influence, because your body can detox and regenerate. It can eliminate toxins. We can address nutrient deficiencies with the right foods and nutrients, get your body back in the right state to balance its systems and hormones, and enable it to produce mature, healthy eggs and healthy sperm.
Strictly speaking, the follicles that you’re ovulating through are actually older than you, because they formed when you were an embryo. However, they’re in their primordial state. They’re in that frozen state where they can become anything, but they’re nothing yet, and they’re sitting dormant. They’re dormant for all this time, and every four months, five or six of those are recruited for maturation.
As long as you’re still ovulating, and as long as you still have a cycle, you can improve the quality of the eggs that you ovulate. Even if anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) tests show that the hormone is low, even if the fertility clinic told you your ovarian reserve is too low and that you should use donor eggs, if you’re still ovulating those eggs, there are things you can do to improve the quality of the eggs you mature.
AMH (anti-mullerian hormone) is really not telling us anything about your ability to get pregnant and stay pregnant or to give birth to a child. AMH values are usually only used by fertility clinics to determine what level of stimulation drugs they can safely give you. If the AMH is very high, high levels of fertility drugs can predispose you to hyper stimulation, which can be quite dangerous.
On the other hand, if the AMH level is low, your ovaries will probably not react too well, and even high levels of drugs won’t guarantee anything.
AMH levels are just one of those values that fertility clinics look for to determine how they’re going to treat you.
But I’ve seen that number cause a lot of unnecessary distress. I’ve seen many clients with low AMH values who are very upset because they believe, literally, that they only have one or two eggs left in their ovaries, and that’s not the case.
Remember that any woman at the time of menopause still has anywhere between 500 to 1,000 eggs, which will never develop!
I try to avoid generalizations about age and fertility, because they’re unique to each individual.
Someone may be 48, but they may still be ovulating and still have a good cycle. And while this isn’t typical, we regularly have clients in their early to mid 40s who conceive naturally and have healthy babies after following our program. We’ve even had a few conceive at 46 and give birth at 47. If you’re in your 40’s and trying to conceive, these examples should encourage you.
Women over 40 may need to be more patient and sometimes need to give the process a bit more time. This is often a challenge because women in their 40s tend to feel more rushed and like they’re running out of time. Plus, clinics and conventional wisdom reinforce this, telling them that they don’t have much time.
Your chronological age is a real factor in your fertility. However, I hope this shows you that a healthy, natural pregnancy in your early to mid 40’s is a realistic goal for most women, with the right preparation.
Q. What If We Can't Source All The Recommended Foods?
‘We live in a remote country or geographic location. What if we can't source all the recommended foods and products where we live?’
90% of the fertility diet ingredients we recommend are foods which are readily available in all countries and locations. The fertility superfoods are available in most countries, and if not, can usually be purchased online and delivered to you. Most other substitute products we recommend can be obtained locally or purchased online as well.
If five or ten percent of what we recommend is unavailable to you, it’s ok. You don’t need to be 100% perfect in terms of including every ingredient we mention in the recipes.
The most important thing is that you’re consistent. The results come from sticking to the program most of the time and for the recommended amount of time. For instance, you may not be able to get organic, but perhaps you can get fresh, farmer-sourced/locally grown produce. That's also good.
Q. What If My Problem Is Holding Onto a Pregnancy?
“What if my problem is holding onto a pregnancy? Can this help me avoid further miscarriages?”
We have worked with countless women who have gone through the trauma of a miscarriage.
…some have even experienced several…
…and despite their best efforts, they’ve previously been unable to carry a pregnancy through to full-term.
Yet, very few doctors or specialists have managed to offer reasons or solutions that could help solve their heartache – they usually say, “just try again.”
…But here’s our response, based on many miscarriage success stories attributed to the NFP Program:
We know there are solutions to many cases of recurrent miscarriages...
So, if you’ve been through the anguish of one or more miscarriages, believing your chances at a natural conception are over, the NFP Program could be the unexpected solution you’ve wished for – but never knew existed.
You’ll receive information on what you can do to help prevent miscarriage. We’ll help you pinpoint exactly why you've miscarried, and what you can do to address the cause(s) and solve them.
For example, some of the most common causes of miscarriage that can be addressed naturally are: the MTHFR gene polymorphism, poor egg quality, poor sperm quality, hormonal imbalances, toxicities, EM radiation, abnormal immunity, poor thyroid function and nutrient deficiencies.
You’ll receive guidance and information focused on understanding and solving the underlying cause of your miscarriages and on avoiding further pregnancy loss as well as what to do to get pregnant after miscarriage.
We also give you powerful tools and training to help you deal with the emotional trauma both of what has come before, as well as the stress of what the future may hold.
…You’ll achieve peace of mind during a turbulent time..., all while naturally boosting your fertility.
We sincerely wish to help you... and to take you beyond past fears, anxieties, and the negative thinking you might have about conception and pregnancy.
And we promise to guide you through your journey in the best possible way.
Q. Can It Be Combined With IVF And Other Treatments?
‘Can it be used in combination with other conventional or alternative fertility treatments? What if we’ve been through multiple cycles of IUI, IVF or ICSI without success. Can this help?’
Yes. Although the program is designed to be a stand-alone, natural solution to infertility, it can be combined with alternative medicine and conventional IVF fertility treatments to improve the overall odds of a healthy pregnancy.
With IVF, we advise you to follow our natural fertility protocols for at least four months before your next IVF cycle.
This will help you address the factors that can cause conventional drug and procedure- based treatments to fail, before you invest time, money and energy in your next IVF cycle.
Here are some things that could cause treatments to fail:
- The nutrient reserve in the eggs hasn’t been optimized for the duration of the egg maturation, which is four months
- There are certain toxicities that haven’t been addressed.
- Unaddressed immune issues can cause the immune system to attack the developing embryo and predispose to miscarriage.
- A hormonal imbalance is present, making the quality of the eggs and sperm and the endometrium less than optimal for a successful pregnancy.
- Cellular division is sluggish, which may cause a predisposition to chromosomal abnormalities and miscarriage.
- Sluggish thyroid
- Poor sperm quality and the passing on of suboptimal DNA, which can lower the chance of a successful pregnancy.
- An unaddressed digestive issue can make even an optimal diet a waste of time, because you won’t be properly digesting and assimilating nutrients
- A food intolerance may be predisposing you to poor digestion and abnormal immunity. which can impact your ability to get pregnant and stay pregnant (or to father a child).
These are some of the things that standard fertility treatments don’t address, and it’s why many couples who have endured multiple failed cycles use our program and then go on to get pregnant by combining it with IVF/ICSI/IUI.
On the other hand, if you’re using acupuncture, osteopathy, shiatsu, Chinese medicine, homeopathy, massage, yoga, etc., you can continue these alongside the program, as long as you're not doubling up on Chinese or Ayurvedic medicinal herbs while you’re taking other herbs from western herbal medicine.
Also, conventional drugs can in most cases be combined with the coaching program. If you have diabetes or poor thyroid function, for example, or if you have immune issues and allergies for which you need certain medications, you can use them while on our program.
As with all conventional medical therapies, if in any doubt we always recommend you check with your primary health care practitioner.
Q. Can You Help Me Cope With The Emotional Side Of This Difficult Journey?
‘Can you help me cope with the emotional side of this stressful journey? How do we get to the point of letting go of the past and believe again in new possibilities?’
A lot of couples who struggle with infertility experience severe emotional distress. Many couples experience depression and a spiral of negative thinking brought about by infertility. Often, watching friends, sisters and workmates become mothers, or hearing well-meaning comments like ‘so when are you two going to start having children?’ can bring about a cycle of tears.
I know it can be hard to believe in new possibilities after many disappointments, especially when you’ve been told by people whose opinion you respect, that it’s not possible (or going to be very difficult) for you.
If you’ve gone to a fertility clinic or perhaps several clinics, or if your doctor has told you that your egg quality isn’t optimal, plus you’ve miscarried or couldn’t get pregnant in the first place, and if it’s happened multiple times, then you may simply not believe it’s possible.
However, I want to remind you that your past doesn’t equal your future.
Your body has a phenomenal healing capacity. But first you need to awaken it, and that does take a certain amount of effort and preparation to create the right environment in your mind and body. And it may be that your body has never had the right environment for optimum fertility.
Addressing the emotional side and having strategies to make yourself feel better during the journey is important, and this is part of what we mean by ‘looking at infertility from a whole person perspective.’ This means that your mind, your body and your emotions are all interlinked and all can have an impact on your fertility.
During the coaching program, you’ll learn practical tips, tools and strategies to help improve your emotional wellbeing and help you to process and cope with the emotional side of your fertility struggle.
We'll help you believe in your body and mind that you can have a healthy conception, pregnancy, birth and baby. You’ll discover ways to take some of the stress away; strategies to stay positive; and things you can do to feel better, alleviate anxiety and improve your mood.
If needed, we can show you strategies to help you let go of the old patterns, old beliefs which may no longer be serving you, just the way you’ll be letting go of old habits and foods which aren’t good for you.
Once you go through this process, you’ll feel a positive shift.
Part of what we’re teaching in this program is that there are lots of myths we’re told about age and infertility and certain conditions, and that these things can make you feel defeated.
As you go through this process, you’ll begin to feel more empowered, and you’ll see that there are lots of areas where you can improve your fertility.
Once you start to see and feel results within your body, when you notice improvements in how you’re feeling, how you sleep, and so on, when you can measure improvements to your fertility based on the test results, your optimism is going to emerge again. You’ll start to believe more in your body, and see that your body can repair many forms of disease if it’s given sufficient time and the right building blocks.
Q. What If We Decide To Enroll And Then Change Our Mind?
‘How does the money-back guarantee and cancellation policy work if I’m not satisfied or if we change our minds?
Although the NFP Method™ has helped thousands of couples become proud parents, we cannot guarantee you’ll definitely get pregnant, even after following the program. No one can make that promise.
However, we do guarantee that you’ll be satisfied with the coaching, support and material you receive, or your money back. Here’s how it works:
When you decide to enroll, you have up to 30 days to use the program completely risk-free.
If within the first 30 days (or before your first coaching consultation, whichever comes first) you’re not thrilled with what you’ve received so far, or you’re dissatisfied for any reason, we'll happily refund your money.
Moreover, if at any stage during the 4 months you’re unsatisfied, you’re entitled to cancel your enrollment by simply emailing us with no further cost or obligation.
Q. Is There The Option To Extend After The 16 Weeks If We Need More Time?
Yes. Some couples would like additional support and coaching beyond the four months, either because they need more time to address their health and fertility issues, or because they’re pregnant and would like pregnancy support.
Clients have the option to continue working with me or one of our other coaches after the four months are over if they wish. The follow-up coaching service is available to all clients at the end of the 16 weeks at a reduced rate for as long as you need it.
With follow-up coaching, you get feedback on test results, regular phone consultations, supplement adjustments, ongoing analysis, information and guidance.