Joy first visited in March, seven months after her miscarriage. She was very relieved that no abnormalities were found during the investigations that immediately followed her miscarriage. Joy said she had begun to lose faith in her body ‘performing properly’ on its own.

Her menstrual cycle since her miscarriage reflected this — it was irregular and lacked the usual healthy signs of ovulation. Joy felt very responsible about the way her body was ‘performing’ and she noted that she also felt very responsible about many aspects of her life and her loved ones.

Joy had become pregnant two years after the cessation of the oral contraceptive pill (OCP). Most women show signs of healthy ovulation within a few months of stopping the OCP, but Joy’s first ovulation was 12 months later. The delayed ovulation indicated that Joy might respond to the  individualised homeopathic treatment prescribed for circumstances like this. A medicine was also prescribed to help address Joy’s fears for the  recovery of her healthy menstrual cycle.

Since her miscarriage, Joy had suffered from candida. Candida can create an unfavourable vaginal environment for sperm and Joy willingly followed a candida diet. Her husband reported a slight decrease in his sperm motility test. He was given appropriate supplements, including a herb, two mineral nutrients and an amino acid.

At the first follow-up consultation in April, Joy reported a 30-day cycle and no signs of candida, but other indications of improvement (such as libido and ovulation signs) were lacking. Most concerning was Joy’s increasing anxiety. She felt almost as if something out of her control might rob her of her chance of having a child. She felt uncomfortably aware that she was in her late 30s. The program was continued, but this time the medicines were adjusted to address Joy’s anxiety. Joy confirmed her pregnancy in May and all is going well.

LIZ LALOR, professional homeopath, VIC