Comprehensive Fertility

Why Fertility Struggles Are on the Rise—And What You Can Do About It (Together)

Infertility is no longer a rare issue whispered about in hushed tones. Today, nearly 1 in 8 couples struggle to conceive. While some of this increase is due to greater awareness and diagnosis, much of it reflects a growing storm of modern lifestyle, environmental, and physiological challenges. The good news? There’s power in proactive, root-cause-based wellness—and it begins with both partners investing in their health.

Understanding the Fertility Crisis

Modern factors contributing to increased fertility struggles include:

• Endocrine Disruptors: Plastics (like BPA), pesticides, parabens, and heavy metals interfere with hormonal signaling.

• Delayed Parenthood: Fertility naturally declines with age as the body undergoes compounded inflammation, particularly after 35 for women and 40 for men. Address chronic inflammation and other issues can help counteract the effect of your age.

• Chronic Stress: Prolonged cortisol elevation can suppress ovulation and reduce sperm count and motility.

• Nutrient-Depleted Diets: Overprocessed foods lack the micronutrients in the soil growing our food is essential for reproductive health.

• Chronic Inflammation and Gut Dysfunction: These undermine hormone metabolism, immune tolerance, and detox pathways.

• EMF Exposure and Sedentary Lifestyles: Both impair mitochondrial function critical for egg and sperm energy.

Sources: Mayo Clinic, NIH, EWG, Harvard Health, Cleveland Clinic

Why Both Partners Matter

Fertility is not just a “female issue.” Up to 50% of infertility cases involve male factor issues such as low sperm count, poor motility, or DNA fragmentation. Even subtle imbalances in testosterone, thyroid, or micronutrients can quietly undermine reproductive success.

When both partners pursue optimal health together, outcomes improve dramatically—not just for conception, but for the health of future children.

We recommend both partners spending 3-6 months pursuing their most optimal health prior to conceiving. Sadly, in our day and age this doe have to be a conscious effort on both parties. This not only will increase your chance of conception, but also increase the woman’s chance of a healthy, comfortable pregnancy. There is mounting research to suggest the sperm’s role in miscarriage rates, morning sickness, gestational diabetes, and more.

A Functional Medicine Approach to Fertility

At The Wellness Lounge, we believe fertility is a reflection of whole-body health and a symptom rather than a diagnosis. We hope this is encouraging, because we believe when you’re struggling with fertility your body is trying to tell you something. Discover what that is and your overall health and chances of healthy conception multiply! We assess and support the root causes of hormone disruption and metabolic stress in both partners. Here's what we recommend:

Foundational Diet for Fertility

1. Anti-Inflammatory Base

   • Focus on whole, unprocessed foods

   • Organic vegetables, wild-caught fish, grass-fed meat, pasture-raised eggs

   • Eliminate all fortified and enriched grains and foods

2. Blood Sugar Balance

   • Avoid refined carbs and added sugars

   • Eat protein, fat, and fiber at every meal to stabilize insulin

   • Consider wearing a continuous glucose monitor to regulate your blood sugar

3. Fertility-Boosting Nutrients

   • Zinc: oysters, pumpkin seeds, grass-fed beef

   • Folate: leafy greens, liver, avocados (preferably from food, not folic acid, avoid all folic acid)

   • Omega-3s: sardines, anchovies, walnuts, chia seeds

   • Vitamin E: sunflower seeds, almonds, olive oil

   • Iodine + Selenium: sea vegetables, Brazil nuts, eggs

4. Detox-Friendly Additions

   • Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, arugula, cauliflower) to support healthy estrogen metabolism

   • Fermented foods and prebiotic fiber for gut health

Targeted Supplementation

Always test, don’t guess. These are commonly recommended foundational supports, best customized with lab data. Ask us if you would like custom lab panels so we can discover specifically what your body needs.

For Women:

• Methylated B-Complex (with active folate, B12, B6): supports egg quality & methylation

• Vitamin D3 + K2: optimal levels between 50–70 ng/mL

• CoQ10 (ubiquinol): enhances mitochondrial function and egg health

• Magnesium glycinate: supports progesterone, sleep, and blood sugar

For Men:

• Zinc & Selenium: critical for sperm count, motility, and morphology

• L-Carnitine: supports sperm motility and energy

• Vitamin C & E: antioxidant protection for sperm DNA

• Ashwagandha: adaptogen to support testosterone and reduce stress

Lifestyle Recommendations

• Sleep 7–9 hours nightly — circadian health = hormonal health

  • Avoid blue light one hour after waking and one hour before sleeping

• Exercise — moderate, consistent strength and cardio support detox, insulin, and testosterone

• Minimize toxin exposure: filter your water, avoid plastic containers, choose clean skincare

• Manage stress: acupuncture, breathwork, therapy, massage, sauna/cold plunge, and time in the mountains

• Track your cycle: Apps or LH strip tracking for women, and semen analysis for men

• Sunshine & grounding: Boosts vitamin D and cortisol rhythm

Fertility Support at The Wellness Lounge

We offer comprehensive, integrative fertility packages for couples who want a personalized, whole-body approach to conception.

Mercier Therapy

Mercier Therapy is a deep pelvic organ visceral manipulation designed to improve uterine and ovarian function by:

• Increasing blood flow and lymphatic drainage

• Releasing scar tissue or adhesions

• Enhancing mobility and communication between pelvic organs

Success rates of up to 83% within 12 months have been documented with Mercier Therapy alone.
(Mercier Therapy Research, 2013)

IV Nutrient Therapy for Fertility

We customize IV protocols based on your lab work and cycle phase. Infusions may include:

• Glutathione (for egg and sperm detox support)

• Vitamin C, Zinc, and Selenium (for antioxidant defense)

• B-Complex (for DNA methylation and hormone support)

• Magnesium and Calcium (for muscle relaxation and stress resilience)

• CoQ10 and L-Carnitine (for mitochondrial and sperm health)

We can cycle therapies in sync with your menstrual or sperm production cycles for even greater effect.

Ready to Begin Your Journey?

Whether you’re just starting your fertility journey or you’ve been trying for a while, our approach goes beyond quick fixes. At The Wellness Lounge, we support your whole system—nervous, endocrine, metabolic, and emotional. We believe your fertility journey is the beginning to an even greater adventure that we want you to be prepared for.

Fertility is not just about making a baby. It’s about creating the most optimal environment for life to flourish before, during conception, after you’ve delivered your healthy baby and begun your family. It all starts with you.

Schedule a free fertility consultation today and explore our couples’ packages customized to your body, labs, and goals.

References:

1. Mayo Clinic – Infertility Causes

2. Environmental Working Group – Hormone Disruptors

3. Mercier Therapy Outcomes Study, 2013

4. National Institutes of Health – Fertility & Nutrition

5. Harvard Health – Male Infertility

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