Female infertility is increasingly commonplace with complex medical, psychosocial and economic aspects. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ovulatory failure into 3 groups. The largest of these, comprising 70 to 85% of infertile women of reproductive age, secrete normal amounts of gonadotropins (reproductive pituitary hormones) and estrogens. However, FSH levels during the follicular phase of the cycle (typically, the first 14 days) is low. Some of these women ovulate occasionally or sparsely. Another 10 to 30% are classified as having ovarian failure.
Enormous gains have been made in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technologies. In addition to the use of hormonally active agents, and surgical strategies, new possibilities have opened up in the realm of egg-donation, and more.
While the tools of Assisted Reproductive Technology used by infertility specialists have been very successful, a back-to-basics approach used by Dr. Cooke has helped many of her patients on their path to motherhood. Review of diet, blood sugar balancing, stress factors, assessment for subclinical hypothyroidism, as well as acupuncture, have proven very rewarding.