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Too many women are going through the trauma of infertility and being met with inattentive care. The road to parenthood can be an extremely difficult one to navigate. So today, I’m welcoming Dr. Katie, a naturopathic physician onto the show for an “ask her anything” episode about holistic ways to increase fertility.

I believe every woman deserves to have access to a physician like Dr. Katie. She shares her own personal struggle with chronic illness as the impetus that led her towards holistic medicine. From informed consent when it comes to birth control to the importance of mental healthcare for parents struggling to conceive – we’re leaving nothing out of the conversation.

Unfortunately, when it comes to infertility, there is no silver bullet. You’re not going to listen to this episode and suddenly have all of the answers as to why you specifically are going through this hardship. But Dr. Katie does an incredible job of introducing a path forward where each individual has options. We don’t have to throw our hands up and shrug or immediately jump into IVF treatments.

Tune in to hear which toxins Dr. Katie tells all of her patients to avoid, how to manage stress through this process, and what tests you can run to get to the root of the issue.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Dr. Katie’s path towards holistic medicine and fertility care
• Birth control – Does it negatively effect our ability to get pregnant?
• Nutrition essentials for women trying to conceive
• Managing stress through an extremely stressful situation

A Holistic Approach Transforms Infertility Care

Katie decided to go to a specialized fertility doctor. The doctor asked questions she’d never been asked before about her stress, sleep, diet, and personal care products she was using. It was a compassionate and respectful conversation that led her to a treatment plan that worked for her lifestyle.

The team approach consisted of the doctor understanding what testing needed to be done and on Katie’s side of actually implementing the plan.

5 Holistic Ways to Increase Fertility

Infertility doesn’t always come down to single cause. It can be a reflection of overall health, lifestyle, and the body’s internal balance. While every journey is unique, Katie shares a few ways to increase fertility through holistic options.

1. Remove Hormone Disruptors

Studies are showing that it takes as few as three weeks for hormone disruptors to leave your bloodstream. So if you stop using products with hormone disruptors in them, your fertility can improve in less than a month.

This includes:

• Fragranced products
• Plastic food containers and water bottles
• Beauty and personal care products with harmful chemials

These toxins can affect hormone balance, making it difficult to get pregnant.

2. Manage Stress Effectively

We know how much stress can cause chaos in your body. It can easily turn into a vicious cycle of being stressed about not getting pregnant, which makes fertility harder, which makes you even more stressed.

Use tools such as meditation, breathwork, acupuncture, counseling, or support groups to help you effectively manage stress.

3. Choose a Fertility-Supportive Diet

Let’s start with getting off birth control first. It takes at least 3-6 months for your body to recalibrate and get back to normal. Allow at least this much time before trying to conceive.

You’ll also have to replenish depleted nutrients like vitamin B, magnesium, and omega-3s. Supporting your liver, adrenal system, and gut health helps the body detoxify synthetic hormones and regulate your cycle.

Okay, once you’re ready to start trying to get pregnant, focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods that are as close to their natural form as possible. A Mediterranean-style diet rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, adequate protein (eggs, fish, dairy, meat, beans, nuts, seeds), and lots of vegetables is a great option.

Of course, customize the diet based on your individual needs.

4. Address Underlying Health Conditions

Root health issues could be preventing conception. Get tested to make sure all your levels are where they should be:

• Full thyroid panel
• Autoimmune conditions, like Hashimoto’s

Work with a knowledgeable provider to identify and reduce individual triggers.

5. Optimize Lifestyle Factors

Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and rest. This can also help your stress levels!

Build a supportive social network that understands the challenges of infertility. It’s not helpful for your mental health to be around the wrong people during this stressful time.

Seek authentic support like a trusted counselor or support group. Building genuine connections with people who understand can be hugely beneficial.

Holistic Fertility Care

When improving your fertility, it’s important to treat the whole person – body, mind, and spirit. Make informed choices around birth control, reducing exposure to toxins, and managing stress. And, as always, speak to a trusted and specialized medical provider for individual advice and treatment.

While infertility is a complex journey, there are many personalized paths forward to support fertility and overall well-being.

Meet Dr. Katie

Hey there! I’m Dr. Katie Rose, licensed naturopathic physician and fertility puzzle solver.

After coming off birth control at 26 and not getting a period for 6 months at a time, I was given the option to “go back on birth control or stop worrying about it.” But I knew I wanted to get pregnant in the future. 

So I took my fertility into my own hands and developed a system to help my body feel safe to conceive naturally (not once but twice!). 

For the last decade I’ve used this system to help hundreds of couples defy the odds and finally get pregnant.

Follow Dr. Katie on Instagram.
Download her free Fertility Lab Guide.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 1: What the F*ck is an Endocrine Disruptor?
• Episode 14: Spring Cleaning: Is Your Household Cleaner Greenwashed?
• Episode 46: The Link Between Fragrance and Infertility: Cracking the Fragrance Code
• Episode 110: Polyester Underwear: The Hidden Fertility Factor in Your Underwear Drawer

If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please:

• Subscribe and leave a positive review or rating wherever you listen.
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• Download this free guide on my top 25 toxins to avoid and how to spot them on labels.
• Post a screenshot, what you loved, and tag me on Instagram @wendy_toxinfreeish.
• Get a deep-dive education on how toxins impact your health with Toxin Free in 3.