A Functional Guide to Fertility and Pregnancy

Trying to conceive can be exciting, overwhelming, and sometimes frustrating. While conventional advice often focuses solely on hormones or medical interventions, true fertility support looks at the whole body—addressing nutrition, lifestyle, stress, environmental exposures, and overall wellness. By understanding the root factors that influence reproductive health, individuals and couples can create the best possible conditions for conception and a healthy pregnancy.

Navigating fertility and pregnancy involves more than just hormones—it’s a whole-body process influenced by stress, nutrition, lifestyle, gut health, and environmental exposures. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a crucial role: chronic stress can disrupt ovulation and hormone balance, while supporting parasympathetic activity through chiropractic care, breathwork, meditation, and gentle movement can enhance fertility. Key nutrients like folate (5-MTHF), B12, vitamin D, choline, omega-3s, magnesium, melatonin, creatine, and alpha-lipoic acid support egg and sperm quality, implantation, and early fetal development.

Reducing exposure to toxins, improving gut health, and optimizing mitochondrial function can further improve reproductive outcomes. Functional testing—including hormone panels, thyroid, micronutrients, organic acids, and environmental toxin assessments—helps uncover hidden imbalances that may affect fertility.

Lifestyle habits also have a profound impact. Limiting alcohol, nicotine, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, choosing nutrient-dense meals, balancing movement with your cycle, and addressing prior medication or hormone use are foundational steps. For men, sperm health is equally critical, influenced by heat, toxins, lifestyle, and nutrient status. Tracking ovulation, understanding menstrual cycles, and using targeted supplementation can support conception naturally, while assistive reproductive technologies (ART) provide additional options when needed. Preparing for pregnancy with mindful birth planning, safe movement, prenatal chiropractic care, and functional support can reduce complications, support optimal fetal positioning, and promote postpartum recovery.

A holistic, functional medicine approach empowers couples to address root causes of infertility and create conditions for a healthy, thriving pregnancy—combining science-backed interventions, lifestyle optimization, and personalized care for the best possible outcomes.

Get the full guide: A Functional Guide to Fertility and Pregnancy