Many couples are told to think about fertility only after they start trying to conceive.
But in my experience practicing functional medicine, fertility challenges are often an early signal that something deeper in the body needs attention.
On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I joined Mark Hyman to talk about why the months—and even years—before conception are one of the most powerful opportunities we have to influence health for the next generation.
During our conversation, we explored:
- Why fertility challenges may be the body’s “check engine light,” signaling underlying imbalances in metabolism, toxins, or inflammation
- How the 3–36 month preconception window can influence fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and long-term health for your future child
- Research showing that even three weeks of ultra-processed food can impact sperm quality, and what that reveals about how quickly fertility can change
- Practical steps couples can begin taking now—from optimizing metabolic health to reducing environmental toxin exposure
- How preparing your body before pregnancy may help reduce your child’s future risk of chronic disease
Preparing for pregnancy is about far more than fertility.
The choices we make before conception can influence gene expression, mitochondrial health, and the biological instructions passed on to the next generation.
The encouraging news is that many of these factors are within our control—and when we address the root causes, the body often responds in remarkable ways.
Watch the full episode on YouTube or on Dr. Hyman’s website.
Listen on Spotify or Apple.
