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20+ Years in Clinical Practice
Bachelor of Naturopathy
Functional Testing
Supporting your body while preparing for IVF
When you are preparing for IVF or ART, the desire to do everything within your control is completely natural. Fertility Naturopathy offers a structured way to support your body in the months and weeks before your cycle begins, by addressing the nutritional, hormonal, metabolic, and lifestyle factors that a naturopathic consultation is designed to explore in depth.
Working in collaboration with your fertility specialist and within your treatment timeline, Fertility Naturopathy is a considered complement to your medical care, built around your body, your history, and your individual picture.
This is for you if...
You are preparing for your first IVF cycle and want to feel as physically prepared as possible before you begin
You want personalised evidence-based naturopathic support that works alongside your fertility specialist, protocol and timelines.
You've been through one or more IVF cycles and want to look at what else you could do to support your health
You're partners health is part of the picture and you want support for both of you
My approach to Naturopathy for IVF preparation
Nicole Peasnell, B.Nat
Bachelor of Naturopathy
Member ATMS
My approach to Naturopathic support and IVF preparation
Preparing for IVF involves far more than the cycle itself. The three months prior to egg collection are an important window when both eggs and sperm are maturing and may be susceptible to environmental, nutritional, and lifestyle influences in that time.
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This is where Naturopathic preconception care can be of value. Rather than focusing on a single result or a single supplement, I look at the full picture of your health. This can include your hormonal status, nutrients and diet, sleep, stress, and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. I work with you to address what is within your control, in the time available to you.
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Research continues to build a picture of how nutrition, diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors influence reproductive health and ART outcomes. Naturopathic care is uniquely placed to address these areas in depth, and it is from this evidence base that my approach to supporting you as you prepare for IVF is built.
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What the research tells us
A 2022 narrative review published in Frontiers in Nutrition found that "nutrition and other environmental factors are found to impact reproductive health in women as well as the outcome of assisted reproductive technologies (ART)".
The same review noted that "personalised nutritional advice and prescription of nutraceuticals for women who desire conception may become the new normal bringing a paradigm shift in the management of reproductive system disorders."
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This is the foundation from which naturopathic IVF preparation is approached. Not as an alternative to your medical treatment, but as a considered and evidence-informed complement to it.
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Working alongside your specialist
I work with your specialist's timeline and protocol. By understanding what your medical team is recommending, I tailor my care in collaboration with your plan.
What Naturopathic preparation before IVF looks like
Core areas of support
Every person's IVF preparation is different. Depending on your history, your results, and your timeline, naturopathic support prior to IVF focuses on areas that may include:
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Hormone health
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Egg and Sperm health factors
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Nutrient status and deficiencies
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Exploring Endocrine disruptors or environmental toxins
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Diet and metabolic health
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Sleep quality
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Stress and nervous system health
Timing your Naturopathic support around IVF
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Ideally, Naturopathic preconception care begins three to four months before your planned cycle. This timeline allows time to address key factors in your reproductive health, and make personalised dietary and lifestyle changes before your cycle begins.
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If you have less time available, do not let that stop you from starting. The benefits of naturopathic support are worthwhile and where timelines are short, priority is given to the areas most likely to have the greatest impact for your specific situation.
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I work within your specialist's schedule and will always coordinate my recommendations around your clinic's protocol and any upcoming procedures.
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If your timeline allows, and you are looking for a structured, comprehensive programme, I may recommend exploring the ALIGN Programme, a dedicated fertility and preconception programme for women and couples preparing to conceive.
Frequently asked questions about Naturopathic support for IVF
I'm planning to have IVF, are you able to help?
Supporting individuals and couples preparing for IVF forms an important part of my practice. Whether you are heading into your first IVF stim cycle or you have been through the process before, Naturopathic care in the months prior to your cycle focuses on preparing your body as well as possible within the time available. This might include support across nutrition, hormonal balance, stress, sleep, and the lifestyle and environmental factors that influence reproductive health.​ The starting point is always a thorough consultation to understand your history, your timeline and medications, and what your fertility specialist has planned so that the support I offer fits around your care. If you are not sure yet whether fertility naturopathic support is the right fit for you, a free 15-minute Strategy Call is a good place to start.
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Do I need a referral from my fertility specialist to work with you?
No referral is needed to book a consultation. However, I do recommend letting your fertility specialist know you are working with a Naturopath, and I am happy to communicate with your clinic directly where required.
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Can you support both partners?
Yes. I offer Fertility Naturopathic support for individuals and couples preparing for IVF, and I strongly encourage both partners to be involved where possible. The health of both egg and sperm in the 90 days prior to IVF is important to embryo quality, and addressing both sides of the equation helps to give the most complete preparation.
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What if I only have a few weeks before my next Stim cycle?
That's ok, we start where you are. We can provide meaningful support by prioritising the areas most likely to have the greatest impact given your timeline. The groundwork we lay together can also help support your health for any future cycles if required.
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What does Naturopathic support look like during the IVF cycle itself?
Support during your cycle is always tailored to what protocol you are doing, medications, and what your clinic has planned for you. During the stimulation phase, the focus is typically on sleep, stress, and nutrition which are the foundations that support your body through what can be a demanding process. Following embryo transfer, the focus may shift to supporting your needs through the early stages of pregnancy depending on your situation and what your medical team has recommended.
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How much are your consultations?
​Consultation fees vary depending on appointment type and whether you're coming as an individual or a couple. Initial Fertility consultations range from $319 for individuals to $359 for couples. We also have our ALIGN Preconception Care Program ranging from $702 (individual) to $812 for a couple. ​​​