Contrary to popular belief, male factor infertility contributes up to 50% of total cases of a couple’s infertility. That is why it is just as important to not only test male fertility after 1 year of actively trying to conceive (or 6 months if he is 35 and older), but to also consistently treat both partners when it comes to preconception care and fertility.
allison's Blog
How Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Treats Period Pain so Effectively
Mar 08, 2021 | Allison Locke, R.TCM.P, FABORM In honour of endometriosis awareness month, I thought I would share how acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine can be so helpful in endo symptoms and period pain and give a few recent case studies. In Traditional Chinese medicine, we look at the whole picture of health to see what we can bring into balance to achieve your health goals. Often with hormone health and fertility, we look very closely at the menstrual cycle.
“Should my husband be coming in, too?”
Feb 08, 2021 | Allison Locke, R.TCM.P, FABORM This is a question I get often in the clinic from my female fertility patients. The short answer is yes, acupuncture is great for everyone, especially when it comes to fertility. There’s always something that can be improved upon to boost fertility, such as increasing circulation to reproductive organs, balancing hormones, reducing stress, or reducing inflammation.
Are Irregular Periods a Sign of Something More Sinister?
Jan 04, 2021 | Allison Locke, R.TCM.P, FABORM As someone that has had irregular menstrual cycles for most of her life, I never thought it was anything too serious - and that’s mostly because my doctors would brush it off whenever I mentioned it. I mean it still came eventually so it can’t be too much of an issue, right?
How to Emotionally Get Through an IVF Cycle
Nov 16, 2020 | Allison Locke, R.TCM.P, FABORM I was treating a patient last week preparing for her first IVF cycle when she asked me, “How do people get through this?” This particular patient, who I will call Emma, suffered a devastating miscarriage earlier this year and was plagued with so much guilt about not being able to provide her 5 year old son with a sibling.
Miscarriage: Causes and Treatment
Oct 13, 2020 | Allison Locke, R.TCM.P, FABORM Miscarriage and pregnancy loss is unfortunately an extremely common occurrence during one’s fertility journey. In fact, 20% of all confirmed pregnancies end in miscarriage, 80% of those occurring in the first 12 weeks. Everyone processes loss differently and requires different lengths of time and tools for healing.
Regulating Cycles and Getting Pregnant Naturally with PCOS
Sep 17, 2020 | Allison Locke, R.TCM.P, FABORM Since September is PCOS awareness month, I thought I would combine a success story with some information about one of my favourite supplements for people struggling with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).
Working From Home Hurting Your Back?
Sep 02, 2020 | Allison Locke, R.TCM.P, FABORM If you’re like the many thousands of people in Vancouver that transitioned to working from home due to the pandemic, you may have also struggled with setting up a decent home office space. Lack of proper desk space or office chairs resulting in poor posture for 8 hours a day can wreak havoc on your back, hips, neck, and/or shoulders.
Surgery for Endometriosis
Jul 15, 2020 | Allison Locke, R.TCM.P, FABORM When facing a diagnosis such as endometriosis, there are quite a few avenues of treatment. You may be presented with hormonal options like birth control to eliminate your periods or medication which puts you into temporary menopause, or perhaps you are contemplating surgery.
The Fertility Diet Simplified
Jul 12, 2020 | Allison Locke, R.TCM.P, FABORM Diet is one of the main pillars for a healthy mind and body, especially when you are focusing on boosting your fertility (preparing your body for pregnancy, prepping for an IVF or IUI, or trying to conceive naturally). Knowing what to eat is complicated enough, but through the lens of fertility adds another layer of complexity.