10 Health Conditions That Affect Fertility (and What You Can Do About Them)
If you’re trying to conceive and not getting the results you hoped for, it’s natural to feel frustrated, confused, and overwhelmed. What many people don’t realize is that it’s an opportunity to dig deeper into underlying conditions that may be driving the challenge. Sometimes, underlying health conditions can silently disrupt your reproductive system. The following are some conditions your practitioners may look further into.
As a naturopath, I often see patients who have been told “everything looks normal,” yet their cycles are irregular, their energy is low, or conception just isn’t happening. In many of these cases, common but often overlooked health conditions are contributing to fertility challenges.
Here are 10 of the most common medical and hormonal conditions that can affect fertility in both women and men and what you can do to support your body naturally.
1. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility, affecting 1 in 10 women. It’s characterized by:
Irregular or missing periods
Elevated androgens (male hormones)
Insulin resistance
How it affects fertility: PCOS often leads to anovulation—the absence of ovulation—which means no egg is released for fertilization.
Naturopathic support:
Balance blood sugar with whole foods
Support ovulation with herbal medicine and acupuncture
Working with a naturopath for fertility can be especially beneficial for women with PCOS, as naturopathic medicine focuses on addressing the root causes of hormonal imbalances through natural, personalized approaches. PCOS is a leading cause of infertility, and naturopaths often use a combination of nutrition, herbal supplements, lifestyle changes, and targeted fertility medicine to support ovulation and improve reproductive health. By taking a holistic view of the body, a naturopath can help women regulate their cycles, reduce symptoms like insulin resistance, and increase their chances of conception—naturally and sustainably.
2. Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Your thyroid regulates metabolism and hormones, including those involved in ovulation and menstruation. Even subclinical hypothyroidism can affect fertility and the viability of the pregnancy. We recommend asking your practitioner for a thyroid panel as part of your preconception planning.
How it affects fertility:
Disrupted ovulation
Miscarriage risk increases
Irregular cycles
Naturopathic support:
Test TSH, Free T3, Free T4, and thyroid antibodies
Address nutrient deficiencies (selenium, iodine, zinc, iron)
Working with a naturopath for fertility can be especially beneficial for women with hypothyroidism, as naturopathic medicine focuses on restoring hormonal balance and supporting overall thyroid function through natural, personalized care. Hypothyroidism can significantly impact women’s fertility by disrupting ovulation and menstrual regularity, but a naturopath can address these issues with targeted nutrition, herbal supplements, lifestyle adjustments, and supportive fertility medicine. By treating the root causes and optimizing thyroid health, a naturopath helps improve reproductive function and increase the chances of a healthy, natural conception.
3. Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a painful condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, often affecting ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the pelvic cavity.
How it affects fertility:
Inflammation impairs egg quality and implantation
Scar tissue can block the fallopian tubes
Naturopathic support:
Anti-inflammatory diet (rich in omega-3s, cruciferous veggies)
Curcumin and NAC (N-acetylcysteine) supplements
Naturopathic medicine takes a holistic approach to managing inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and pain—key factors that affect fertility in this condition. Endometriosis can interfere with implantation and egg quality, but a naturopath can support reproductive health through personalized nutrition, herbal therapies, lifestyle changes, complementing allopathic medicine. By focusing on the root causes and improving overall pelvic and hormonal health, a naturopath can help women with endometriosis enhance their fertility, increasing chances of conception and working in conjunctiont with your primary practitioner.
4. Irregular or Missing Periods (Amenorrhea)
Irregular or absent menstruation often points to deeper hormonal issues such as hypothalamic amenorrhea, PCOS, or thyroid dysfunction.
How it affects fertility:
No ovulation = no chance of natural conception.
Naturopathic support:
Address stress and cortisol imbalance
Restore healthy weight if underweight
Use gentle herbal support (like Vitex or maca) to encourage cycle return
When supporting fertility issues associated with amenorrhea, working with a naturopath can help identify and address functional imbalances that may be contributing to the disruption of your cycle. A naturopath takes a holistic approach, considering how factors like diet, lifestyle, and hormonal signalling interact to influence ovulation. By working alongside your primary carer, a naturopath can support thorough investigation and offer targeted, natural interventions to help restore menstrual function and optimise your body’s capacity for conception.
5. Insulin Resistance or Type 2 Diabetes
Insulin is not just a blood sugar hormone—it also affects ovulation and sex hormone production.
How it affects fertility:
Disrupts hormonal signaling
Increases androgens and impairs egg development
Naturopathic support:
Low-glycemic, anti-inflammatory diet
Movement to improve insulin sensitivity
Cinnamon, berberine, or inositol as natural insulin regulators
When trying to conceive, blood glucose, insulin sensitivity and prediabetic symptoms are closely monitored to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Working with a naturopath can help stabilise blood sugar levels and improve metabolic health which plays a crucial role in healthy ovulation and pregnancy. A naturopath will look at dietary patterns, stress, sleep, and inflammation to understand how these factors may be affecting insulin sensitivity and hormonal balance. By collaborating with your primary carer, a naturopath can support a comprehensive approach that not only manages blood glucose but also enhances reproductive function through personalised, evidence-informed care.
6. Low Progesterone / Luteal Phase Defect
Progesterone is essential for maintaining a pregnancy. Low levels can shorten your luteal phase (the second half of your cycle), making implantation difficult.
How it affects fertility:
Difficulty conceiving or early miscarriage
PMS, spotting before period
Naturopathic support:
Vitex (chaste tree) to support ovulation
B6, magnesium, and zinc
Address stress and adrenal fatigue
When supporting fertility with low progesterone, working with a naturopath can help identify the underlying reasons for hormonal imbalance—whether it's related to stress, thyroid function, nutrient status, or ovulatory health. Progesterone is essential for regulating the menstrual cycle and supporting early pregnancy, so restoring its levels naturally is a key focus. A naturopath will assess the whole picture, including lifestyle and environmental factors, and work alongside your primary carer to implement strategies that support healthy ovulation and progesterone production, creating a more favourable environment for conception.
7. Adrenal Fatigue / HPA Axis Dysfunction
When your body is under chronic stress, your brain prioritizes survival over reproduction. This can suppress ovulation and sex hormone production.
How it affects fertility:
Irregular or missing ovulation
Hormonal imbalances (estrogen dominance, low progesterone)
Naturopathic support:
Adaptogenic herbs (ashwagandha, rhodiola)
Cortisol testing and nervous system regulation
Prioritize rest, sleep, and nervous system care
The HPA axis plays a central role in regulating the body’s stress response, and when it’s out of balance, it can disrupt the delicate communication between the brain and ovaries. A naturopath will assess how factors like sleep, nutrition, emotional stress, and blood sugar regulation are influencing your adrenal function. By working in partnership with your primary carer, a naturopath can guide a tailored approach to restore resilience in the stress response system and support the hormonal harmony needed for healthy fertility.
8. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
PID is an infection of the female reproductive organs, often resulting from untreated STIs like chlamydia or gonorrhea.
How it affects fertility:
Can cause scarring or blockage in the fallopian tubes
May result in ectopic pregnancies or infertility
Naturopathic support:
After acute treatment, support with immune-strengthening herbs
Anti-inflammatory nutrition and detoxification support
Microbiome support that encourages an environment for implantation.
PID can impact the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding structures, increasing the risk of fertility challenges. Working with a naturopath can help address the lasting effects of inflammation and potential damage to reproductive tissues. A naturopath will focus on reducing residual inflammation, supporting tissue healing, and strengthening immune function through a combination of dietary, lifestyle, and herbal strategies. You can work closely with your primary carer and in conjunction with a naturopath to create a supportive a comprehensive plan aimed at optimising pelvic health and improving the chances of conception.
9. Male Factor Infertility
Fertility isn’t just a women’s issue—40–50% of infertility cases involve male factors, such as low sperm count, poor motility, or abnormal morphology.
How it affects fertility:
Fewer viable sperm to fertilize the egg
Increased risk of miscarriage if DNA fragmentation is high
Naturopathic support:
Antioxidants: CoQ10, zinc, selenium, vitamin C, and E
Avoid heat (hot tubs, laptops on lap) and toxic exposures
Lifestyle support: reduce alcohol, smoking, and stress
Some factors that a naturopath will investigate that may be impacting sperm health include oxidative stress, nutritional status, hormonal balance, and lifestyle habits. Sperm quality is highly sensitive to both internal and external influences, and a naturopath will take a comprehensive approach, looking at diet, environmental exposures, stress, and general wellbeing. Small changes like avoiding hot showers and wearing loses boxers can be a simple lifestyle change that significantly improves chance of conception. In partnership with your primary carer, a naturopath can help guide a personalised plan to optimise sperm production, improve function, and support your overall fertility journey.
10. Autoimmune Conditions
Conditions like lupus, celiac disease, and autoimmune thyroiditis can contribute to inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and immune dysfunction that impairs fertility.
How it affects fertility:
Increased miscarriage risk
Poor implantation or embryo development
Hormone disruption
Naturopathic support:
Identify and eliminate food triggers (gluten, dairy, etc.)
Gut healing protocols
Anti-inflammatory supplements and gentle immune modulation
When supporting fertility challenges associated with autoimmune conditions, working with a naturopath can help modulate the immune response, reduce inflammation, and support overall hormonal balance. Autoimmune activity can interfere with implantation, ovulation, and hormone signalling, making a whole-body approach essential. A naturopath will explore how diet, gut health, stress, and environmental factors may be contributing to immune dysregulation, and offer targeted strategies to restore balance. A naturopath can support a tailored plan to create a more favourable environment for conception and a healthy pregnancy.
Fertility is not just about your reproductive organs—it’s about your whole body, your hormones, your mind, your lifestyle and even your environment. By identifying and addressing the underlying health conditions that may be affecting your cycle, you’re not just increasing your chances of conception—you’re supporting your long-term wellness, too. Sometimes it can just be a small tweak that shifts the balance in your favour and is the one thing that helps you conceive.
Need Help Navigating Your Fertility?
I offer individualized, root-cause fertility support for both women and men. Whether you're trying to conceive naturally or preparing for IVF, a personalized plan can help you move forward with confidence.
Book a consultation today and let’s uncover what’s standing in the way of your fertility—naturally.