A Functional Medicine Guide to Preparing for Parenthood

Fertility is often framed around ovulation trackers, calendars, and timing, but it’s so much more than that. At its core, fertility is about readiness: the body’s ability to create, carry, and nourish a new life.

Think of fertility as the soil in which the seed of new life is planted. The richer and healthier the soil, the better the chances that the seed will grow strong and resilient. At our clinic, we believe preparing that “soil” is a powerful act of health creation, not just for conception, but for the long-term health of your baby and family.

Fertility Is a Vital Sign

Fertility reflects the state of your overall health. When your body is hormonally balanced, well-nourished, and not under chronic stress, fertility often flows naturally. For women, this might show up as regular cycles, healthy cervical mucus, and ovulation. For men, it means good libido, sperm quality, and hormone levels.

Fertility is not just the absence of infertility; it’s a marker of wellness, like stable energy, restful sleep, or a healthy immune system. And it’s something we can nurture, support, and optimise, whether you’re trying to conceive now or just planning.

The Modern Fertility Landscape: Timing, Age, and the Decline of “Natural” Fertility

Today, more women are having children later. In Australia, the average age of first-time mothers is now 31.9 years【1】, and births to women over 35 have doubled over the past two decades 【2】.

Fertility is highest in your 20s and begins to gradually decline after age 30, with a more noticeable drop after 35.

Fertility Rates by Age

Women aged 20–24:

Monthly pregnancy rate of 25–30%

86% conceive within a year【3】

Women aged 25–29:

Monthly conception rate of 20–25%

78–85% conceive within a year

Women aged 30–34:

Monthly conception rate begins to fall to 15–20%

Women aged 35–39: Down to 10–15% monthly
Women 40+: Around 5–10% chance per cycle

Miscarriage Risk by Age

Under 30: 10%
At 35: 20%
At 40: 33%
At 45: over 50%【4】

Biologically, our most fertile years often coincide with the busiest years of career, education, and financial focus. But biology doesn’t follow social timelines.

This doesn’t mean women over 30 can’t conceive it means preparation becomes more important. The body may need extra support with egg quality, hormone balance, detoxification, nutrient repletion, and gut health to give conception and pregnancy the best chance of success.

That’s where functional medicine offers real value: we identify and address the deeper drivers that may reduce fertility, even in younger women who should be at their most fertile, but aren’t seeing the results.

Sperm Health: It’s Not Just the Count That Counts

Male fertility is half the equation, but often only discussed as an afterthought.

Over the last 40 years, global sperm counts have dropped by more than 50%【5】. But quantity is only part of the story. We now know that sperm morphology (shape), motility (movement), and DNA integrity are all vital to successful fertilisation and a healthy baby.

Poor sperm quality has been linked to:

Lower fertilisation rates
Higher miscarriage risk
Increased risk of developmental issues in offspring【6】

Factors that affect sperm health include:

Nutrient deficiencies
High body fat and metabolic syndrome
Alcohol, smoking, and recreational drug use
Chronic stress and poor sleep
Environmental exposures like plastics, pesticides, and high heat

The good news? Sperm regenerate every 74 days. That means even small changes in health habits and nutrient status can make a big difference in just a few months.

Preconception Nutrition: Testing and Targeted Support

When building a house, you don’t just pick random materials and hope they hold together. You assess the site, check for structural integrity, and choose your tools carefully. Conception is similar, and nutrition is the foundation.

We use comprehensive nutrient panel testing as part of every preconception care plan. These panels help us identify:

Deficiencies that may affect ovulation, implantation, or egg/sperm health
Subclinical imbalances (like low vitamin D or borderline B12)
Antioxidant status and oxidative stress load
Inflammation, blood sugar, and metabolic markers

Some Key nutrients we support include:

Folate – crucial for DNA synthesis and prevention of neural tube defects【7】
Iron – supports oxygenation and fetal brain development【8】
Iodine – essential for thyroid function and fetal nervous system growth
Omega-3 fatty acids – reduce inflammation and support brain, eye, and placenta development【9】
Vitamin D – vital for egg quality, immune regulation, and implantation

Zinc: The Cellular Architect of Fertility

Zinc is one of the most underrated fertility nutrients. It’s involved in over 300 enzymatic processes, including cell division, hormone production, egg maturation, and sperm formation【10】.

Think of zinc as the foreman on a building site, nothing moves forward without it.

In women, zinc deficiency may delay follicle development and impair egg quality. In men, it affects sperm count, motility, and the integrity of sperm DNA【11】. It’s also critical for immune health, which plays a major role in implantation and early pregnancy maintenance.

Because zinc is easily depleted by stress, alcohol, the oral contraceptive pill, and vegetarian diets, it’s one of the first nutrients we assess and address in preconception testing.

The Gut and Vaginal Microbiome: The Hidden Fertility Factor

Your gut is not just about digestion; it’s also a hormone regulator, immune hub, and detoxification system. A disrupted gut microbiome can lead to inflammation, poor nutrient absorption, and even elevated oestrogen levels (due to the estrobolome).

Just as important is the vaginal microbiome. Research shows that imbalances in vaginal flora can interfere with conception, increase miscarriage risk, and affect implantation success【12】.

At our clinic, we include gut and vaginal microbiome screening as options in our preconception workup. Supporting microbial health is a foundational step in preparing the internal environment for conception and a healthy pregnancy.

Working Alongside IVF or Planning Ahead

If you’re preparing for IVF or IUI, functional medicine can enhance outcomes by:

Improving egg and sperm quality before stimulation
Reducing inflammation and oxidative stress
Optimising the uterine environment for implantation
Supporting the body through hormonal treatments

You don’t have to choose between natural and medical fertility care. They can work side by side with natural medicine, enhancing resilience and readiness at every stage.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you're ready to understand your fertility and prepare your body for conception, we invite you to book a Preconception Health Strategy Session with our clinic.

We’ll tailor a personalised plan that includes:

✅ Functional Hormone testing for both partners
✅ Nutrient panel testing to assess fertility-critical vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
✅ Gut microbiome analysis to optimise digestion, detoxification, and hormone balance
✅ Vaginal microbiome screening to assess the reproductive environment and reduce implantation risks
✅ Evidence-based nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle optimisation strategies for conception

Start your journey to parenthood feeling confident, informed, and supported.

References

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Australia’s Mothers and Babies 2023: In Brief. Canberra: AIHW, 2023.
Laws PJ, Hilder L. Australia's Mothers and Babies 2021. Perinatal Statistics Series no. 37. AIHW.
Dunson DB, Baird DD, Colombo B. Increased infertility with age in men and women. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2004;103(1):51–56.
Nybo Andersen AM, Wohlfahrt J, Christens P, Olsen J, Melbye M. Maternal age and fetal loss: population-based register linkage study. BMJ. 2000;320(7251):1708–1712.
Levine H, et al. Temporal trends in sperm count: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Human Reproduction Update. 2017;23(6):646–659.
Simon L, et al. Sperm DNA damage measured by comet assay correlates with IVF and ICSI outcomes. Reproductive Biomedicine Online. 2014;28(3):321–329.
Greenberg JA, et al. Folic acid supplementation and pregnancy: more than just neural tube defect prevention. Reviews in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011;4(2):52–59.
Haider BA, Bhutta ZA. Multiple-micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy. BMC Public Health. 2011;11(Suppl 3):S21.
Koletzko B, et al. Dietary fat intakes for pregnant and lactating women. Maternal & Child Nutrition. 2008;4(Suppl 1):2–14.
Fallah A, et al. Zinc is an essential element for male fertility: a review of Zn roles in men’s health, germination, sperm quality, and fertilization. Journal of Reproduction & Infertility. 2018;19(2):69–81.
Nazari L, et al. Serum trace element levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and their relationship with hormonal and metabolic profiles. BMC Endocrine Disorders. 2021;21(1):94.
Amabebe E, Anumba DOC. The vaginal microenvironment: the physiologic role of Lactobacilli. Frontiers in Medicine. 2018;5:181.

Written by - Kylie Cloney BHSc. Complementary Medicine. Adv. Dip Naturopathic Medicine.

Disclaimer:

This post is for general education only and is not medical advice. Please consult your healthcare professional. See our Medical Disclaimer.

Fertility Is More Than Just Getting Pregnant