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SPECTRUM OF HOMEOPATHY
Maria Klompé with Alex Leupen
¦ Various Remedies
26
HORMONES
¦
WISH FOR A CHILD
INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM
INJECTION (ICSI)
ICSI is a method of in-vitro artificial fertilisation. The sperm
cell, the man
‘
s sperm, is injected directly into the cytoplasm
(ooplasm) of an egg cell. Failure of fertilisation can be almost
entirely excluded.
The ICSI method is a contemporary topic of discussion for
various reasons. The most common topic is that, due to the
direct intervention in nature, the complicated reciprocal rela-
tionship and the biological selection between sperm and egg
cell is disabled (such as the avoidance of embryos developing
with congenital disease). A higher rate of serious deforma-
tion remains so far unproved. Study data does, however,
indicate a relationship between fertility treatment and the
rate of congenital malformations. Yet it is unclear whether
this is due to the treatment itself or the disturbance it causes.
FERTILITY POLYCLINIC IN HOMEOPATHIC DOCTORS
’
CENTRE, UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: PURPOSE,
PRACTICE AND RESULTS
Unfulfilled desire for parenthood is a painful disappointment;
it is often the first real stumbling block in life. Until then
it seemed that plans could be fulfilled according to one
’
s
wishes and suddenly this is no longer the case. This causes
much grief. Many couples resort to the multitude of available
technical means for inducing pregnancies: IUI, IVF,
ICSI
(injection of selected sperm in the developing egg). All these
have become normal terms for such couples in their thirties.
Still, undesired childlessness is often a taboo, difficult to
talk about with friends and family. Relationships become
difficult when one
’
s friends and family of the same age are
all having children.
Homeopathy and the desire for a child:
We homeopaths
know the effects of good homeopathy. Besides relieving the
deep-seated complaint, there is often a general increase in
energy, the menstrual cycle improves and often the woman
falls pregnant even though that was no longer expected.
Aware of this possibility in homeopathy, we decided to
bundle our experience concerning this group of people; we
initiated a fertility clinic and placed it on a website.
Initial goals
•
Work from a homeopathic perspective
•
Use Liz Lalor’s protocol (see separate box), supplemented
by orthomolecular advice
•
Work as a team with other disciplines: orthomolecular
doctors, shiatsu and haptonomy
•
Refer to doctors trained in orthomolecular medicine for
serious nutritional problems
•
Conduct mutual consultations on a specific issue
•
Treat concurrently via one or more short consultations,
on indication, with prior patient consent and exchange
of documents (saving time and money). In this case it is
helpful if the therapists’ areas of expertise are comple-
mentary.
Treatment:
The protocol is followed for four to six months,
sometimes longer. Both partners are seen during the first
consultation. Ideally they are seen together and then
the couple
’
s case is taken, one partner after the other,
though this timing is not always possible. After the initial
consultation they come once per eight weeks, either together
or separately, for half an hour or an hour.
First consultation:
This includes:
•
The reason for the consultation, the medical history,
medical tests, and treatment to the present: is there a
known cause?
•
Homeopathic casetaking of both partners, with special at-
tention to their own birth history.
•
Attention to the wish for parenthood itself: why do you
wish to have a child, and what would be the case if this
were not possible? These questions are often asked here
for the first time, and sometimes the answers are very
revealing. Often the members of the couple do not
know the thoughts and emotions of their partner con-
cerning childlessness and the possible anxieties around
the subject.
•
Describing the strategy of the homeopathic and possible
supplementary treatment.
•
Determining whether partners are in agreement to fol-
low the regular course of treatment.
Results of three years of the fertility polyclinic in Utrecht:
Many of us have seen couples with fertility questions in this
phase. In practice, each doctor makes his/her own decisions
regarding the Lalor protocol. It seems that strict protocols are
not suited to us. The patients expect us to be well informed
as to the regular fertility treatments
–
they are meanwhile
often experts in this area!
A great variety of people are attracted to the clinic.
•
They are attracted by the term ‘poly.’
•
They expect a high level of expertise as this is often their
last hope.
•
Some are less well informed about the process and expect
phytotherapy and supplements. Usually one does not see
these couples return after two to three months.
•
Couples often follow various treatments at the same
time, regular and homeopathic.
There is also much diversity among the diagnoses, such as:
•
22 years old, not falling pregnant after one year, no
known cause
•
No second child conceived
•
No cause determined, do not want hormonal treatment
•
Amenorrhoea / oligomenorrhoea / PCOS
•
Endometriosis / fallopian tube adhesions / postoperative
adhesions
•
Several miscarriages, also after IVF