Fertility Series Part 3: Naturopathic Support During IUI & IVF
Fertility treatments like IUI and IVF bring a different kind of intensity. There are timelines, protocols, appointments, monitoring, medications, and decisions that move quickly, often layered on top of months or years of trying. And while these treatments are powerful, they can also feel overwhelming.
Naturopathic care during this phase isn’t about replacing treatment. It’s about supporting your body through it.
Supporting the Body During Treatment
Each stage of fertility treatment has different physiological demands, and our approach to support evolves depending on where you are in the process.
If you are pursuing IUI, support may focus on ovulation and cycle timing, supporting sperm motility/morphology, and optimizing the uterine environment around insemination.
If you are preparing egg retrieval (an IVF cycle), we often shift toward supporting egg quality, and mitochondrial function. During these two weeks of ovarian stimulation your ovaries are in overdrive, doing all they can to grow into mature eggs, ideally leading to some amazing embryos. We can then pivot to recovery and mental health support after surgery while you await your results. This can be an agonizing week mentally as you await your fertilization report, then another few weeks if you did genetic testing.
If you are approaching an embryo transfer cycle, the focus becomes endometrial lining support and metabolic support to best support implantation. This can involve inflammatory and immune balance, blood sugar regulation, and nervous system support. This is also a great time to make sure our prenatal supports are on board for when the embryo implants and the fetus begins to develop.
If you are in a break between cycles or transfers, we step back to support rebuilding. This may involve rebuilding nutrient reserves, supporting blood sugar, reducing inflammation, and supporting this emotional and physical reset.
Across all stages, care is individualized. The goal is always to meet you where you are in the process and adjust support as your treatment plan and needs evolve.
A Note on Inflammation
There is growing discussion in reproductive medicine, including the upcoming book from reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Natalie Crawford, around the role of inflammation in fertility outcomes. A clear example is endometriosis, which is now understood as an inflammatory condition. There is also increasing awareness of “silent endometriosis,” where inflammatory processes may be present even without classic symptoms, which reinforces how often inflammation can be present without obvious clinical signs.
This matters because inflammation does not always show up clearly on standard testing, yet it can still influence fertility. It also connects to the reality of treatment itself. IVF and fertility care are physically and emotionally demanding, and this stress response activates cortisol. Elevated cortisol can contribute to increased inflammation, which in turn can further disrupt cortisol levels, creating a cycle that can be hard to break.
This isn’t about attributing outcomes to stress, but about recognizing how interconnected the stress and inflammatory systems are, and why supporting both can be a meaningful part of care alongside medical treatment.
Why Integrative Support Matters
During IVF, your reproductive endocrinologist is doing everything they can medically to support you. The protocols, medications, and monitoring are designed to give you the best possible chance of success. My role is different because it’s specific to you, and that support doesn’t have to look one particular way.
I know what it feels like to be spending a significant amount on medications and treatment, and the idea of adding more (supplements, therapies, appointments) can feel overwhelming, or simply not feasible. That matters.
For some, adding in supportive care feels empowering.
For others, it adds stress or decision fatigue.
Maybe you need to simplify.
Maybe you need breaks between cycles, when pill fatigue is real and your body (and mind) need space.
Maybe the most supportive thing is doing less, not more.
All of those experiences are valid.
My goal is to help you identify what will make the most meaningful difference for you—not based on a perfect protocol, but based on your capacity, your needs, and where you are in the process.
A Personal Note
In my own experience, I’ve seen just how heart wrenching and demanding this process can be. I’ve spent my days playing phone tag between the fertility clinic, the pharmacy, and the insurance company, all while trying to maintain your work, family, life, etc. It truly is all encompassing, and you don’t understand that until you’ve lived it.
I also understand the complicated emotions that come with failed cycles and disappointment. I’ve done acupuncture and red light therapy, just to have a failed transfer. I’ve also done absolutely nothing additional, which led to a positive pregnancy test that ultimately ended in a chemical pregnancy. And more recently, I’ve moved through a more intensive phase of a medication-induced menopause paired with a heavy, self-prescribed supplement protocol.
There isn’t a single formula that guarantees an outcome. But there is value in feeling supported in a way that actually feels sustainable to you.
Closing Thoughts
Fertility care isn’t linear.
It moves through phases, each with its own needs, questions, and challenges. Whether you’re preparing to try, navigating uncertainty, or moving through treatment, support can look different at each stage.
But the goal remains the same:
To feel informed.
To feel supported.
And to feel like you’re not doing this alone.
More From Our Fertility Series
Why The 3 Months Leading Up to Conception Matter
Fertility Series Part One
Navigating The First Year of Trying When It's Not Happening
Fertility Series Part Two
About the Author
Dr. Hannah is a naturopathic doctor providing whole body adjunctive healthcare to families in Maine. She believes every patient has their own unique health journey, which influences her personalized treatment approach. She has a passion for helping women, mothers and families heal and thrive, all while uncovering the root cause of whatever ails them. Her goal is to empower and guide her patients on the path towards healing the mind, body and soul through natural methods of healing. Dr. Hannah sees patients locally in both Brewer, Maine and Portland, Maine. Through telehealth, she is happy to serve the people of Lewiston, Ellsworth, and all the towns in between!
Disclaimer
The information provided on or through this website is for educational and informational purposes only. This information is not a substitution for proper and personalized medical diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or trusted healthcare provider before making an adjustments or changes to your healthcare regimen. Natural medicine is not inherently harmless, and therefore it is important to speak with your healthcare providers for personalized medical advice.