Fertility & Pregnancy
Preconception is the window where nutrition has the most leverage, and it applies to both partners. Eggs mature over roughly three months and sperm are produced on a similar cycle, so what happens in the three to four months before conception is the part you can genuinely influence — and the male half of it is routinely ignored.
The first conversation is always free — 15 minutes, no obligation, and we will tell you honestly if we are not the right people for it.
This is usually the right fit if
- You are planning to conceive in the next six to twelve months
- You have been trying for a while with no clear reason given
- You have IVF or IUI coming up and want to prepare properly
- Your cycle is irregular, very short, very long, or has changed
- You have had a miscarriage and want to do what can be done
- You are pregnant and struggling to eat well
- Only one of you has been looked at so far
Why does the three-month window matter so much?
Because that is the runway. An egg spends roughly ninety days maturing before it is ovulated, and sperm take a comparable period to be produced. The nutrient status, blood sugar control, inflammatory load and toxic exposure during those months is the environment that development happens in.
Which means starting in the month you want to conceive is starting late. It also means that the couple who begin three or four months out have done something meaningfully different from the couple who begin a folic acid supplement the week they start trying.
Male fertility is half of it
Sperm quality is a substantial contributor to conception and to early pregnancy, and it is far more responsive to nutrition and lifestyle than most men are told. Oxidative stress, heat, alcohol, smoking, weight, blood sugar and zinc, selenium and antioxidant status all affect it — and unlike a great deal in fertility, most of that is modifiable within a single sperm cycle.
So we work with both partners, and it is not a formality. When only the woman is assessed and supported, half of the available leverage has been left on the table before anyone has started.
What we look at before conception
Nutrient status first — iron and ferritin, B12 and folate, vitamin D, iodine, zinc and omega-3, tested rather than assumed. Thyroid function, which affects both conception and early pregnancy and is frequently checked too narrowly. Blood sugar and insulin, which drive ovulation and are central where PCOS is involved.
Then cycle health: whether you are ovulating, the length of the luteal phase, and what your cycle symptoms indicate. And toxic load — the practical reductions that are worth making before conception rather than during it, when your options narrow considerably.
Through pregnancy and afterwards
In pregnancy the focus moves to eating well through a body that may not cooperate. First-trimester nausea and food aversion make ideal eating impossible, so the work is getting what matters in, in a form you can face, while keeping iron, iodine, choline and omega-3 in view for your baby’s development.
We also plan for afterwards, which almost nobody does. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are nutritionally expensive, and postnatal depletion is real and under-recognised. Restoring iron, B12, vitamin D and omega-3 status after birth changes how the first year feels, and it is easier if it was planned before rather than discovered at month six.
What working with us looks like
- Both partners assessed, not just one
- Nutrient status tested rather than assumed — iron, B12, vitamin D, thyroid and more
- Cycle and ovulation review, with blood sugar and insulin where relevant
- A preconception plan timed to the three-month window
- Practical support through first-trimester nausea and aversion
- A postnatal recovery plan made before you need it
Not sure if this is the right starting point?
That is exactly what the free call is for. Fifteen minutes, no cost and no obligation — we will work out whether fertility & pregnancy is where you should start, or whether something else fits better.
Common concerns we work with here
- trying to conceive
- male fertility
- egg quality
- cycle irregularity
- preparing for IVF
- pregnancy nutrition
- morning sickness
- postnatal recovery
Fertility & Pregnancy — your questions
How far ahead should we start?
Three to four months before you want to conceive is the sweet spot, because that covers a full egg and sperm cycle. Six months is better if you have a specific issue to address. If you are already trying, start now — it is still worth doing.
Can this run alongside IVF?
Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons couples come to us. We work around your clinic’s protocol and do not interfere with it — the preparation window before a cycle starts is where nutrition has the most to offer.
Is a prenatal supplement enough on its own?
It is a sensible baseline and it is not a plan. Prenatals are formulated for an average requirement, which means they can be both unnecessary in some nutrients and inadequate in the one you are actually low in. Testing tells you which.
Do you work with same-sex couples and solo parents?
Yes. The nutrition work applies to whoever is carrying and whoever is providing gametes, and we build the plan around your situation rather than an assumed one.
Further reading
Whats All The Beef About Bone Broth?
It's always nice to use the goodness from the whole bird, fish or 4 legged animal.
Why Your Vitamin D Level Matters More Than You Think
Over the past few years, working closely with many clients — especially those dealing with immune challenges and cancer — one thing I keep seeing again and again is low vitamin D. It’s one of the most important markers I look at on a blood test. Yet many people don’t realise just how powerful vitamin D is for protecting their health. When you next go for a blood test please ask your doctor to check for this as well.
Blood, Sweat, and Science
As a lot of you know I’m always signed up to one course or another to better understand my clients functional test results
You might also be looking for
- Hormone BalanceCycle, thyroid, stress and energy — working out which hormones are actually driving your symptoms
- Children’s NutritionChildren's digestion, immunity and mental health, including ADHD and autism support
- Functional TestingOrder tests through us as your practitioner, so someone reads and explains the results properly
Or see all our nutrition services.
Last updated: 8 September 2026. Written by Niki Charnock, Naturopathic Nutritionist (CNM/ANP registered) and Injury Specialist. We advise on nutrition and lifestyle — we do not diagnose, and nothing here replaces care from your GP or specialist.