Nutrition in the three months before conception has a more significant impact on pregnancy outcomes than at almost any other time. The egg that will become your baby takes around 90 days to mature, and the nutritional environment during that period directly influences egg quality, implantation, early development and the risk of miscarriage.
Yet most women trying to conceive receive only generic advice: take a folic acid supplement, eat a balanced diet, without any assessment of their individual nutritional status or hormonal health. For many, this is sufficient. For others, there are specific deficiencies or hormonal imbalances that, once addressed, can make a significant difference.
I work with women who are planning to conceive in the near future and want to prepare their bodies as well as possible, as well as those who have been trying for some time and want a deeper investigation of what may be affecting their fertility.
Trying to conceive for more than three months without success
History of miscarriage or recurrent pregnancy loss
Irregular cycles affecting the ability to time conception
Known hormonal conditions affecting fertility (PCOS, endometriosis, low AMH)
Previous investigations that have not identified a clear cause
Wanting to optimise nutrition and health before trying to conceive
Age-related concerns about egg quality
Preconception nutritional therapy starts with a thorough assessment of your hormonal health, cycle pattern, dietary intake and nutritional status. Where appropriate, functional testing can reveal specific gaps: iodine, folate, iron, zinc, omega-3 and vitamin D are among the nutrients most commonly implicated in fertility challenges.
Beyond nutrients, I look at the hormonal drivers that affect cycle regularity and egg quality: thyroid function, cortisol, insulin, oestrogen and progesterone. Supporting these systems nutritionally in the preconception period creates the best possible foundation for conception and pregnancy.
For couples, I also provide guidance for partners, since sperm quality is influenced by nutrition and lifestyle in the 90 days before conception, just as egg quality is.
A comprehensive preconception testing panel can assess hormonal health, nutrient status and metabolic function, providing the data needed to target nutritional support precisely where it will have the most impact on fertility outcomes.
View hormone testing optionsIdeally three to four months before you plan to start trying. This covers the full egg maturation cycle and allows time for nutritional interventions to take effect. However, working with a nutritional therapist at any stage of your fertility journey is worthwhile.
Yes. Unexplained infertility often has identifiable nutritional and hormonal drivers that standard investigations do not assess. Addressing these through functional testing and personalised nutrition frequently helps couples who have been unable to find answers elsewhere.
Yes. Nutritional therapy can be used alongside fertility treatment to support the best possible outcome. I work with women at every stage of the IVF process, from the stimulation phase through to the transfer and the two-week wait.
Book a free call to talk through your fertility goals and how nutritional therapy can support you.
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