Lesson 4: Alternative Therapies and Treatments
Many couples look to alternative treatment and therapies either before or in conjunction with western medical treatments. This Lesson will discuss some of the more common alternatives for fertility treatment.
Overview of Lesson
In this last section, we will discuss some of the alternatives that can be used either alone or in conjunction with western medicine to treat infertility. In the next two sections, herbs will be the topic of discussion. Not only will we discover which herbs can help both male and female infertility, but we will also review what should be avoided and why.
By knowing which herbs help, and which herbs can actually harm, you will be better equipped to make a choice. Herbs are not for everyone. They work, but they do not work as quickly as western medicine does, and therefore are not the ideal treatment for each person or couple.
In the fourth section, we will discuss the benefits of both acupuncture and acupressure as a means of treating infertility. Not only will these treatments be discussed, but how to find a practitioner, and what the treatment will feel like to most people. From here, we will move on to counseling, which I feel all couples can benefit from.
One of the reasons that counseling is so important is because it helps the couple to not only discuss how they feel about their infertility diagnosis, but they can also work through what their next steps in treatment should be. A counselor will not be able to tell a couple what to do, but will be able to allow them to work out what is best for them.
The sixth section, Support Groups, will provide not only resources to real world and online support groups, but will discuss their roll in helping the couple find information and make treatment choices. Support groups are different from counselors, but they serve a similar function, allowing the person or couple to discuss their feelings in an open setting. Many groups also discuss their treatments, how much it costs them, as well as ask each other questions about doctors, tests, and treatment options.
The seventh section will be a general overview of the course, allowing you to conduct a quick review of many topics discussed, as well as links to important sections throughout the course. The last section will contain the last of the student resources used for this Lesson.
