Serving Los Gatos, San Jose and Surrounding Areas
What is Functional Medicine?
This question is asked frequently by Los Gatos and San Jose residents. Functional Medicine is a science-based approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and resolving the root cause of any illness. Practitioners of Functional Medicine use a patients Medical History and Lifestyle information to develop a personalized plan and test for underlying factors, recommend treatments based on what is discovered and provide education and support to patients that would benefit from diet and lifestyle changes.
How can it help Resolve Fertility and Women’s Health Issues?
Functional medicine provides a framework within which to investigate underlying factors that could be contributing to fertility or hormonal challenges. Since it’s a low priority in terms of personal survival, fertility is often impaired when the body is out of balance, under excessive stress, overloaded with toxins or not provided with the nutrients it needs. Once contributing factors are corrected fertility returns as a natural function of excellent health. Some of the most common underlying factors that we test for and correct are listed below.
- Inflammation
- Disorders of blood sugar and metabolism
- Environmental toxins
- Genetic issues such as MTHFR polymorphism
- Micronutrient deficiencies
- Chronic Stress
- Hormonal imbalance
- Gluten Intolerance or Celiac disease
- Poor diet
- Impaired methylation
- Insufficient or excessive exercise
- Leaky gut/disrupted microbiome
- Hidden infections
What are the benefits when used for preconception care?
When used prior to planning a pregnancy, functional medicine treatments can help to diagnose underlying factors in both partners and improve their overall health, thus having a positive impact on pregnancy outcomes by reducing rates of miscarriage, pre eclampsia, gestational diabetes and pre term delivery. Since studies show many chronic diseases in children begin in the womb, we can reduce disease risk and promote the health of the baby. This is particularly important when there is a family history of asthma, autoimmune disease, autism, type1 diabetes, overweight, developmental delays, epilepsy, allergies, eczema, cancer or mental illness as we want to take measures to prevent their occurrence in the child.
Who can benefit from Functional Medicine Treatments?
Patients with the following conditions and signs of imbalance are ideal candidates for Functional Medicine:
- Unexplained Infertility
- PCOS
- Endometriosis
- Those wanting to increase the chance of success with IVF/IUI
- Recurrent Miscarriage
- Failed IVF cycles
- Hypothyroid
- Hyperthyroid
- Diminished ovarian reserve/POF
- Male factor fertility issues
- Those wanting to improve their health prior to pregnancy
- Fatigue
- Brain Fog
- Insomnia
- Skin Problems
- PMS
- Breast tenderness
- Insulin Sensitivity
- Irregular periods
- Autoimmune conditions
- Overweight/Underweight
- Memory problems
- Emotional sensitivity
- Recurring Miscarriage
- Anxiety
- Depression
What should I expect?
Your first appointment is an in depth review of your lifestyle and medical history lasting between 60 and 90 minutes depending on complexity. You will receive a personalized treatment plan after your appointment including initial diet, supplement, lifestyle and testing recommendations. Follow ups typically run 30-60 minutes where test results are explained and treatment suggestions are updated. Appointments are offered over the phone, or in person in San Jose or Los Gatos.
