June 30, 2025

Infertility Factors

Reproductive health isn’t just about making babies—or only for women. It’s a mirror of overall health that can reflect one’s hormone balance, nervous system regulation, nutrient status, and more. If you’re actively trying to conceive, open to the possibility, or just tending to your long-term vitality, your reproductive system deserves attention.

For a deeper look at how acupuncture and functional medicine can support fertility and hormonal health—for all bodies, at every stage—read on!

More Qs = More As

Jelena share’s a peek into her practice for those seeking support with “getting pregnant.”

When someone comes to me for fertility support—whether they’re actively trying or just want to prepare their body—I don’t start with age or timelines. I start with questions: Are you ovulating consistently? Are your cycles regular? Do you have fibroids, PCOS, or endometriosis? How’s your gut function? What’s going on with your thyroid? How are your iron, B12, and folate levels? Are you methylating properly?

Many of these questions most people can’t answer, let alone be asked in the context of fertility, but they’re critical in understanding one’s reproductive health. However, over time, through testing and treatment, we gain clarity. For example:

Ovulation and regular cycles are the most basic indicators of reproductive health.
Fibroids, PCOS, and endometriosis can impact egg quality, implantation, and cycle regularity.
Gut health affects how you absorb nutrients and eliminate hormones—two key factors in fertility.
Thyroid function influences your menstrual cycle, metabolism, and hormone signaling.
Nutrient status (especially B12, folate, and iron) affects egg and sperm health, hormone production, and energy.
Methylation is a biochemical process that supports everything from detox to DNA synthesis—essential for conception and fetal development.

It’s not about doing everything at once. It’s about building the full picture, step by step, and understanding what your body needs to be in rhythm.

A fair share of people I work with are looking to get pregnant. On one end, some have already had a hard time and see me before (or after) trying IVF—but others are just at the beginning of their journey and want to set the stage for an easier go of it. If you’re looking to get pregnant, no matter where you fall on this spectrum, male or female, Acupuncture and Functional Medicine are tools that can support your goals and your body.

Yes, for Men

It’s typical for women to be the first to come to Jelena with fertility concerns. However, it takes two to make a baby!

Men are unsure where they fit in the process, or who assume everything must be fine because they feel fine. But sperm health is influenced by so many factors—some obvious, others not so much:

Sperm count, motility, and morphology
Sleep quality and stress levels
Diet and nutrient status (zinc, CoQ10, B12, folate, omega-3s)
Hormone levels, including testosterone
Inflammation markers and oxidative stress
Environmental and occupational exposures

Sometimes the root issue is low-grade inflammation or nutritional deficiencies. Sometimes it’s stress or lack of sleep. And sometimes it’s a hormonal imbalance that’s never been tested. Yes, men have hormones, too. Obviously. But we often forget this factor.

Regardless, there’s no shame—just information. And with that, a path forward. A comprehensive health intake and bio-marker testing gives a framework to understand the whole system. And when paired with acupuncture we can support hormone regulation, circulation, and the nervous system—not only improving fertility, but how you feel in your body, period.

Feeling … off?

It’s often a sign that your body’s asking for support when something feels “off,” (mood, sleep, digestion, metabolism, skin and/or energy levels). And your hormones often play a factor. Very briefly, and generally, these products from our shelves are often prescribed for a whole range of reproductive health reasons:

Rasananda Ayurveda Tonics (Kidney & Liver)
Rosita Cod Live Oil
Vitanica GABA Ease
Magnesium
Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics
Awakening Fertility by Heng Ou
Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler, MPH

You don’t have to be trying to get pregnant to benefit from understanding reproductive health, how it shifts over time, and how to care for it. Whether you’re navigating perimenopause, managing conditions like endometriosis or PCOS, or simply want to better understand your cycles and hormones, reproductive health is whole-body health.