Naturopaths' approach to care of women with infertility : a cross-sectional survey

Introduction: Infertility affects approximately one in six couples of reproductive age. Many women use traditional, complementary and integrative medicine to improve their chances of conceiving. While there is evidence of the use of naturopathy by women attempting to conceive, there is no evidence of the way that naturopaths approach and manage their treatment. This study aims to describe how naturopaths manage female infertility, including their approaches, clinical decisions, knowledge sources, and safety considerations in providing naturopathic care. Methods: Naturopaths in Australia or New Zealand, routinely treating female reproductive health concerns and practicing for at least two years were invited to complete an online survey through their professional naturopathic associations. Results: Data from 45 respondents were included. Women seeking preconception health and fertility promotion were frequently seen by 53 % and 44 % of the naturopaths, respectively. The naturopaths’ clinical management approaches for infertility were wide-ranging and extended beyond fertility. They reported prioritising peer-reviewed journal articles in guiding clinical decisions, collaborating with health practitioners (mostly general practitioners) and reporting adverse events. Most naturopaths (95 %) utilised multiple treatment strategies, recommending dietary and lifestyle modifications and a combination of ingestible substances. Conclusions: The naturopathic approach to management of women with infertility is holistic, considering physical, emotional, and environmental factors and promoting natural healing mechanisms. Greater knowledge of scientific methods for clinical decision-making and improved awareness of adverse event reporting would enhance naturopathic care. Additionally, evaluating the effectiveness of naturopathic treatment would improve safety, inform the profession, and clarify the role of naturopathy within a multidisciplinary approach to infertility.