Dr. Sarah Penney, ND, MSc
865 Upper James St. L9C 3A3 Hamilton, ON, Canada

How do you find you are staying hydrated with a mask on all day? I am having more patients come in with headaches and constipation caused by dehydration. I’m finding a cup with a reusable straw at my desk I can easily slip under my mask is doing the trick! #masklife #covid19 #wearyourmask #hydration #hamont #naturopathicdoctor

Do you have a little one that is heading back to school in September? Even kiddos can sense the stress going on in their environment, and may feel some extra pressure with social distancing rules. I love this post about how to make a school kit that could help your child relax in times of panic or stress put together by social worker Nicole Carter (@raising.alfie )! Check out her page for more great info on childhood emotions and management. #backtoschool #covidschooling #covidschool2020 #anxiouskids #anxiouschildren #calmdown #hamont #naturopathicdoctor #hamiltonnd @ Hamilton, Ontario

Does smoking marijuana affect female fertility? Asking for a friend. Marijuana is the most common recreational drug used before and during pregnancy. As it turns out, smoking weed may not PREVENT you from getting pregnant, but it could cause some major issues during your pregnancy. ... Research shows that THC (one of the main chemical compounds in marijuana) can travel through the bloodstream and cause complications with the developing fetus, increasing the risk of pregnancy loss or miscarriage. Synthetic cannabinoids often used in vapes may have a stronger effect on THC receptors, posing an even higher risk of pregnancy complications. Activation of cannabinoid receptors in the body can have negative effects on the placenta, which is the organ that provides the developing fetus with all the nutrients and oxygen it needs. This can result in problems during early stages of embryo development, increasing risk for low birth weight and pre-term birth. Marijuana use may also increase the risk of a tubal pregnancy (a potentially life threatening condition) or cause implantation failure. One study showed that among 317 pregnancies, women who were smoking marijuana were more than two times more likely to have a miscarriage then women who had stopped smoking the drug or had never smoked it. Marijuana has also been shown to increase the risk of pregnancy loss among women undergoing treatments for infertility. CBD oil has not yet been well evaluated in pregnancy. These effects can even happen in women who only smoke marijuana one or twice per week. If you are thinking about preparing your body for pregnancy, it is important to stop smoking 3 months before getting pregnant to prevent issues with implantation. Want to know more about preparing your body for pregnancy? I am booking fertility discovery calls at the end April where you can learn more about Naturopathic Medicine and my fertility prep program. Link in profile to book! #fertility #infertility #marijuana #IVF #IUI #ttc #ttccommunity #ttcsupport #cbd #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathicfertility #naturopath #hamont #virtualvisit #virtualnd See more

It’s crazy how important Vitamin D is for our systems. It’s classically involved in bone health but also influences inflammation, cancer risk, sugar metabolism, autoimmune disorders and of course mood. A new study released in April 2020 describes the role that vitamin D levels can have in supporting fertility. Both men and women have vitamin D receptors in reproductive tissues. In men this may play an early role in sperm production. Women have vitamin D receptors in the ovary..., fallopian tube cells, walls of the uterus and in the placenta during pregnancy. It may influence both egg health and a healthy uterine lining. Vitamin D also plays an important role in estrogen and progesterone production. PCOS (poly-cystic ovarian syndrome) - During fertility treatments, Vitamin D supplementation decreased inflammatory markers, improved insulin resistance and helped increase the number of mature follicles at ovulation. Higher vitamin D levels also appear to increase the chance of ovulation and pregnancy in PCOS. ENDOMETRIOSIS - Vitamin D receptors in the uterine lining can regulate local inflammation and immune response, but it is not yet known though if Vitamin D actually makes endometriosis worse. Some human and animal studies suggest that decreasing stimulation of these receptors can improve symptoms although evidence is mixed. SPERM HEALTH - Low vitamin D levels have been correlated with decreased testosterone, low sperm motility and poor overall sperm quality, although supplemention with Vitamin D in studies does not seem to increase pregnancy rate. FEMALE VITAMIN D AND IVF - Some research suggests that women who have appropriate levels of Vitamin D get pregnant more often, and this may even holds true during IVF. Making sure to bring your vitamin D levels up to par before an IVF cycle certainly doesn’t hurt, and it may increase the chance of pregnancy, especially if you have PCOS. Get your vitamin D levels tested with an ND to know if you are deficient and determine how much you need to take! #naturopathicmedicine #infertility #fertilitysupport #IVF #vitaminD #testing #fertilitytreatment #womenshealth #hamont #905naturopath #virtualND @ Hamilton, Ontario