Functional Fertility

Let’s take a trip down memory lane 🩷 Because if you were doing these things 20 years ago, it might be time to start thinking about how to future-proof your fertility.

The truth is, our fertility longevity depends on keeping our cells, hormones, and mitochondria healthy as we move through our 30s and 40s.

-        DHEA-S naturally declines after our mid-20s, and it’s one of the most important hormones for maintaining healthy eggs and ovarian function.
-       In your 30s or 40s? You’re officially in the era of supporting your mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses that fuel egg development. CoQ10 (300–600 mg daily) helps your eggs stay youthful and energetic.
-       Small nightly doses of melatonin can help defend against oxidative stress and slow ovarian aging (research typically uses 2-5 mg per night)
-       Antioxidants like vitamin C, E, and carotenoids protect your eggs from free radical damage and support reproductive longevity.
-       Focus on fiber (30g daily) to keep blood sugar stable and feed the healthy bacteria in the gut.

Are you registered for this super fun FREE event?!? I’ll be joining my friends over at for this talk just in time for Valentine’s Day! We’ll talk about:

💖 how hormones, romantic love, connection, and fertility are related
💖 lifestyle factors to support fertility and sexual health
💖 foods to support libido (which also happen to be great for male and female reproductive health)
💖 a fun challenge to help you create a nutrient-dense Valentine dinner!

Would love to have you with us on February 6th at 9am PST/ 12pm EST!

Register here ✨ https://learn.functionalmedicinecoaching.org/af/webinars/kalea-wattles-02-2024

Are you registered for this super fun FREE event?!? I’ll be joining my friends over at @functionalmedcoach for this talk just in time for Valentine’s Day! We’ll talk about: 💖 how hormones, romantic love, connection, and fertility are related 💖 lifestyle factors to support fertility and sexual health 💖 foods to support libido (which also happen to be great for male and female reproductive health) 💖 a fun challenge to help you create a nutrient-dense Valentine dinner! Would love to have you with us on February 6th at 9am PST/ 12pm EST! I’ll share registration deets in my stories ✨ #functionalmedicine #functionalmedicinecoach #functionalnutrition #functionalfoods #fertilityfood #fertilityfoods #fertilitynutrition #preconceptiondiet #preconceptioncare #preconceptionhealth

In this illuminating episode of the Functional Fertility podcast, Dr. Kalea Wattles engages in a captivating conversation with Dr. Robyn Murphy () shedding light on the multifaceted world of the microbiome and its profound impact on fertility and reproductive health. They embark on an exploration of the microbiome’s role in both the gut and the reproductive tract, unveiling its significance in the conception process and the maintenance of pregnancy. Dr. Murphy delves into the pivotal factors influencing the composition of our microbiome and shares invaluable insights into recognizing when it might contribute to fertility challenges. The episode takes a compassionate look at pregnancy loss and its relationship with the microbiome, offering tried-and-true methods for nurturing robust lactobacilli. Dr. Murphy also uncovers the connections between the microbiome, immune system health, and opportunistic infections. Chronic infections in the urogenital and gastrointestinal realms are discussed, alongside the intriguing link between the gut microbiota and conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis. Dr. Murphy’s expertise extends to the genetic dimension, where she explores how genetics can impact our microbiome and offers guidance on assessing this aspect of our health. This episode is a treasure trove of knowledge, providing a holistic perspective on microbiome health and its profound influence on fertility and reproductive well-being

🎧 Find the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts, YouTube or Podbean

Did you know many men don’t even realize they have conditions like pre-diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, or other cardiometabolic diseases until they are being evaluated for fertility concerns?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, hormonal issues, toxic exposures, and lifestyle factors can all contribute to both cardiometabolic disease AND infertility. This really underscores the importance of using fertility challenges as a signal to dig deep and look at the determinants of health.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Even further, some interesting research from 2017 showed that men with abnormal semen parameters were more likely to develop cardiometabolic diseases like diabetes and ischemic heart disease. The researchers even proposed that “semen quality may serve as a biological marker for future health.” HELLO!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So: to all my s***m-producing friends out there! S***m quality is almost like a vital sign, giving us clues to your overall health status. If you find your s***m quality is not ideal, I encourage you to keep digging and try to address any underlying issues.

You asked – I answered! This week’s Functional Fertility Podcast episode is dedicated to answering questions you submitted in my IG stories. Big thanks to my besties at for sponsoring this episode! 💗

Want to know what was covered in this fertility Q&A? Here’s the scoop!
- Does testosterone therapy affect male fertility?
- Can low iron be a cause of recurrent miscarriage?
- What is Dr. Wattles' favorite prenatal vitamin?
- Do you count spotting as cycle day 1?
- How can we increase egg-white cervical fluid?
- Should I avoid alcohol when TTC?

Thanks to all who submitted their questions. I’d love to know if you like this format and we will do some more!

Listen to the episode here: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-nv4kb-14c9bbe