If you’re over 35 and starting or expanding your family, you may have concerns about your age, the health of your eggs, and how this affects your fertility. While it’s true that women are born with all their eggs, emerging research suggests that lifestyle, diet, and targeted nutrient supplementation can improve egg quality. Whether you’re trying to conceive naturally or undergoing IUI or IVF, prioritising egg quality can reduce the risk of miscarriage and give you the best chance of having a healthy, happy baby.
Eggs and Sperm – What you can Influence
Women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have, which remain in a suspended state until a few months before ovulation. During this maturation phase, chromosomes are copied and excess material discarded—a process driven by mitochondria, the cell’s power generators. If mitochondria are compromised, cell division can falter, leading to eggs with chromosomal abnormalities.
During these critical months before ovulation, we can have a significant impact on egg quality. Supporting your body with acupuncture for fertility, Chinese herbal medicine, nutrients, and lifestyle adjustments can energise mitochondria, helping eggs develop optimally and increasing the likelihood of healthy embryos.
Fertility Focused Nutrients
Nutrient supplementation is key for fertility support. I recommend practitioner-only supplements, ensuring they contain physiologically active forms with the necessary co-factors for optimal absorption.
A note on folate: Folate (vitamin B9) is essential for DNA synthesis and cell repair. Folic acid, the synthetic form, is poorly metabolised by most people—especially those with the MTHFR gene mutation. The active forms, folinic acid or 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF/levomefolic acid), are more effective for supporting healthy egg development.
Male Fertility Matters Too
Sperm health is equally important. Sperm can be damaged by lifestyle factors and toxins, so protective measures are essential. Research shows that men who take antioxidant supplements have a five times higher chance of live birth compared with men who do not.
Key nutrients for egg and sperm health include CoQ10, Vitamins E and C, and choline. Seek guidance from a practitioner to ensure the best-quality nutrients at the right doses.
Supporting the Uterine Lining and Implantation
A healthy uterine lining is essential for successful implantation and early pregnancy. Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and targeted nutrients can help improve blood flow to the uterus, support endometrial thickness, and create an optimal environment for an embryo to implant. Regular treatments and a supportive lifestyle—such as stress management, proper nutrition, and gentle exercise—can make a significant difference in implantation success, whether you’re trying naturally or undergoing IVF.
The Whole You – Stress and Fertility
Stress can significantly impact fertility by diverting the body’s energy away from digestion and healing. During the few months when eggs are maturing, maintaining calm and reducing stress helps direct energy to where it matters most.
Stress can
~ Promote oxidation, damaging eggs and sperm
~ Disrupt hormones
~ Affect menstruation
~ Thin the uterine lining
~ Reduce implantation sites for embryos
For those undergoing IVF or other assisted reproductive techniques, stress management is essential to support optimal health and improve treatment outcomes. Chinese medicine and acupuncture can also improve your experience of infertility treatment, helping you to feel more in control and resilient
Holistic Fertility Support
I use a combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, diet, and lifestyle advice to help you achieve optimal fertility health. Working holistically, I support you in creating the ideal environment for conception, egg quality, and overall vitality—wherever you are on your fertility journey.