In my virtual practice, I’ve worked with many women living with endometriosis and navigating their fertility journey. While it’s not without its challenges, Naturopathy and nutritional medicine provide holistic options to optimise fertility outcomes and improve your chances of IVF success, alongside conventional treatment.
Endometriosis is a complex chronic condition, and while research is ongoing; hormonal, genetic, immune, environmental and lifestyle factors are involved. Up to 50% of infertile women have been found to have endometriosis, and a 2024 review found 44% of unexplained infertility cases were attributed to undiagnosed endometriosis.
Whether you’re trying to conceive naturally or with IVF, we have options to maximise your outcomes. In my clinical experience, these are four key areas I have found to benefit most:
1. Calming Inflammation (the fire)
Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition, and when your body is unable to keep inflammation in check, fertility and egg quality are affected. Think of inflammation like ‘a fire’, and our goal is calming the flames.
Here’s where to start:
• Follow an Anti-Inflammatory diet: A Mediterranean-style diet—full of vegetables, legumes, fish, olive oil, and nuts—is ideal
• Supplements: Quality fish oil (they’re not all the same!), herbal medicines and Palmitoylethanolamide (also known as ‘PEA’)
• Stress management: Ongoing stress adds fuel to the fire. Chronic stress is an accelerant for inflammatory processes in the body.
2. Nourish & Optimise Egg Quality
Endometriosis can reduce both egg quality and egg count, but while egg number can’t be changed, lifestyle and environmental factors can improve egg quality. The eggs developing now are influenced by your current habits, with diet, blood sugar balance, and toxin exposure all affecting outcomes alongside age.
Here’s where we can start:
• Increase Antioxidant-rich foods: Berries, leafy greens, colourful vegetables, nuts and seeds. These foods help counter oxidative stress which occur as a result of endo, and protects the DNA of your eggs.
• Evidence-based supplements: Research supports using Co enzyme Q10, NAD+ (a Vitamin B3 derivative), Omega-3 fats, Vitamin D, and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) to support egg health.
• Balanced blood sugar: Making sure your meals contain quality protein, fibre, and healthy fats, which helps stabilise blood sugar levels and support hormonal balance.
Your egg quality is a changeable factor within your control. Remember, if you’re trying to get pregnant with IVF, you need to start working on this well before your egg retrieval (minimum 90 days).
3. Gut health and the microbiome
Many women with endo experience untoward digestive symptoms, from loose stools to constipation, multiple food sensitivities and bloating (commonly referred to as endo belly). The research has shown potential links with disturbed gut microbiome in women with endometriosis. Your gut health and your immune system are intimately linked.
Here’s what we can do:
• Adequate dietary fibre: 20-30g is the recommended daily intake for women. Nourish your gut microbiome with prebiotic fibres from vegetables and fruits (especially onion, garlic, leek and artichoke) to encourage the growth of good gut bacteria.
• Track daily bowel symptoms: and refer for further testing. Rule out coaleic disease or gluten intolerance and consider gut microbiome testing.
• Diet diary: to identify individual food triggers
4. Support Hormonal Balance
Endometriosis lesions depend on oestrogen for growth, but this doesn’t always mean you have high levels — blood testing this hormone on day 2 of your cycle can confirm. In endometriosis, oestrogen and histamine can drive each other in a cycle, worsening symptoms. Histamine is a chemical in the body released after injury or allergic reaction.
The hormone progesterone helps by calming our mast cells (responsible for releasing histamine), and supporting its clearance. If histamine is a factor for you, you might notice allergic-like symptoms that vary throughout your cycle.
If oestrogen is high, we can:
• Improve oestrogen clearance via the liver and bowels. Oestrogen is processed via the liver first, and then requires adequate dietary fibre to remove it via the bowels.
• Optimise ovulation: which naturally promotes progesterone production (oestrogens natural ‘counter’ hormone)
• Reduce the body’s toxic load: say goodbye to plastics, and limit EDC’s (endocrine disrupting chemicals) in toiletries and personal care items as much as possible.
Gentle next steps
It’s important to remember that there is no “quick-fix” for endo, and surgery alone doesn’t address the whole picture. Optimising fertility with endo requires the support of a multi-modality health care team, and I am quietly confident that after working together to create a personalised plan, we can improve your fertility outcomes and overall quality of life. Book a free Fertility Clarity Call here and get started today.
Author:
Corinne Leach
The Gentle Naturopath
Please note: this blog does not replace medical advice, and you should always seek personalised care. The Gentle Naturopath is a collaborative naturopathic clinic and we work alongside medical professionals for the best patient care.
References
1. Pessoa de Farias Rodrigues, M., Lima Vilarino, F., de Souza Barbeiro Munhoz, A. et al. Clinical aspects and the quality of life among women with endometriosis and infertility: a cross-sectional study. BMC Women’s Health 20, 124 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-00987-7
2. Van Gestel, H., Bafort, C., Meuleman, C., Tomassetti, C., & Vanhie, A. (2024). The prevalence of endometriosis in unexplained infertility: a systematic review. Reproductive biomedicine online, 49(3), 103848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2024.103848
When planning for a family, many couples focus on diet and lifestyle changes once pregnancy is confirmed. But one crucial phase often gets overlooked: preconception care. This essential aspect of reproductive health can significantly influence the health of both parents and their future children, even before conception occurs.
Preconception care refers to the nutritional, lifestyle, overall health, environmental impacts, fertility and timing a person/couple undertakes before trying to become pregnant. It’s a proactive approach that optimizes health outcomes, identifies potential risks, and helps ensure a smooth and healthy journey into parenthood.
Laying the Foundation for a Healthy Pregnancy
The first few weeks of pregnancy are critical to fetal development—often before a woman even knows she’s pregnant. During this time, major organs begin to form, and the risk of birth defects is highest. Preconception care ensures that the body is ready to support a pregnancy from day one, helping to reduce risks such as neural tube defects, miscarriage, and low birth weight. Laying this foundation of health also has lifelong and intergenerational impacts.
Providing optimum nutrition during this time increases the chances of conceiving, supports the health of the mother during pregnancy, the growth and development of your baby and supports your recovery and the ongoing development of your child.
For a healthy pregnancy you need a healthy egg, healthy sperm, a healthy, luscious uterine lining for the fertilised egg to implant and a good supply of essential nutrients to nourish the growth of that embryo.
It takes up to 3½ months for sperm to generate and eggs to mature, so preconception care recommendations are best started 3-6 months before trying to conceive. This will allow maximum uptake of nutrients, detoxification and help you to physically and emotionally prepare for pregnancy and parenthood.
Managing Chronic Health Conditions
Many chronic conditions—like diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, or autoimmune diseases—can complicate pregnancy if not properly managed. Preconception care involves reviewing and optimizing treatment plans to reduce risks to both the mother and the baby. For example, high blood sugar levels in the early weeks of pregnancy can increase the risk of birth defects and miscarriage. Managing these conditions before conception gives both mother and baby the best possible start.
Supplement and Medication Review
Certain medications that are safe under normal circumstances may pose risks during pregnancy. A preconception visit allows healthcare providers to review all prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements to ensure safety. Certain supplements are recommended both before and during pregnancy to support the growth and development of the egg, sperm and foetus and support the health of the mother. Ideally, this should begin at least 3 months before conception, even earlier if possible.
Addressing Lifestyle Factors
Preconception care provides a structured opportunity to evaluate lifestyle habits that could impact fertility and pregnancy. These may include:
• Smoking, caffeine and alcohol consumption, all of which can affect fertility and increase the risk of complications.
• Diet and nutrition, to ensure adequate intake of essential vitamins, omega 3’s and minerals.
• Exercise habits, maintaining a healthy weight and improving overall well-being.
• Underlying health issues, these can include gut issues and the gut and vaginal microbiome, thyroid imbalance, sleep disturbance, immune issues. These can lead to hormone imbalances, nutrient absorption issues, increased risk of implantation issues and higher miscarriage rates to name a few.
• Mental health, as stress, anxiety, and untreated depression can all influence reproductive health, hormone balance and parenting readiness.
Optimising and Improving Fertility Outcomes
For couples struggling with infertility, preconception care can identify underlying issues early. Hormonal imbalances, irregular cycles, or sexually transmitted infections can all affect the ability to conceive.
Partner Involvement
Preconception care isn’t just for women. Men’s health also plays a significant role in fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Poor diet, smoking, alcohol use, and exposure to environmental toxins can affect sperm quality. Including male partners in preconception health discussions ensures that both individuals are contributing to a healthy start for their child.
Personalised preconception care takes a holistic, individualised approach to preparing the body, mind, and spirit for conception. It recognizes that each person’s fertility journey is unique, shaped by their lifestyle, environment, emotional health, and physical constitution. Rather than simply addressing symptoms, naturopathic care seeks to uncover and treat the root causes of reproductive imbalances—whether they stem from hormonal disruptions, poor gut health, nutritional deficiencies, toxin exposure, or chronic stress. Through in-depth consultations, functional testing, and careful observation, a naturopathic practitioner develops a tailored plan that may include herbal medicine, therapeutic nutrition, detoxification support, lifestyle advice, advice about reducing exposure to environmental toxins and mind-body practices. This whole-person approach not only enhances fertility but also promotes long-term wellness, creating an optimal foundation for a healthy pregnancy and healthy child.
Want Personalised Support?
If you’re preparing for conception or IVF, Contact me – Nicole Haak | Naturopathy for fertility, hormone imbalance, gut and thyroid health for a free 15 minute discovery call to discover how I can support you to optimise your pregnancy success with personalised preconception care.
Preconception care is about more than just getting ready to have a baby—it’s about empowering individuals and couples to take control of their reproductive health, reduce preventable risks, and set the stage for a healthy family. A little preparation today can lead to a lifetime of benefits for both parents and children.
Author:
Nicole Haak
www.nicolehaak.com.au
Pregnancy is a profound time of change and as the body prepares to grow and nourish new life, nutritional needs shift significantly. Among the most important nutrients are Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, which play vital roles before, during and after pregnancy.
Omega-3s support cell membrane health, regulate inflammatory and immune responses, and strengthen the intestinal barrier, helping to reduce systemic inflammation. For fertility and pregnancy, this is crucial. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPs), the building blocks of fats, are especially important for both mothers and babies. They contribute to brain development¹, nervous system function², and healthy vision³.
With the worlds largest peer reviewed publication on omega 3, Zinzino’s test-based nutrition concept is world-leading. Read more here: https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12944-025-02676-6
Prenatal supplementation with Omega-3 is recommended at least six months before conception. These nutrients remain just as important throughout pregnancy, after delivery, and during breastfeeding, supporting maternal well-being while also aiding fetal brain and eye development, reducing the risk of preterm birth and promoting healthy growth in infants. Balanced Omega 6:3 ratios provide benefits from preconception right through to all stages of life.
Why BalanceOil+ Stands Out
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Safety and purity are key during pregnancy. BalanceOil+ is sustainably sourced, molecularly tested for toxins and free from environmental contaminants, making it a safe choice for expectant and new mothers. With its natural taste and easy integration into a smoothie or juice, it’s a convenient daily habit.
With over 15 EFSA-approved health benefits, BalanceOil+ helps women navigate the physical and emotional demands of pregnancy and beyond. It’s more than a supplement. It’s a daily step toward ensuring the body is in its best possible state for motherhood.
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
