Naturopathy can help to optimise your IVF journey by supporting egg and sperm quality, balancing hormones, improving nutrition, reducing stress, and addressing underlying factors that may impact fertility. For many couples, this integrated approach leads not only to improved IVF outcomes, but also to healthier pregnancies and babies.

Looking Beyond Infertility: A Holistic Approach

Naturopathy views subfertility as multi-factorial—rarely is there just one cause. For many couples, it’s a combination of nutritional, hormonal, lifestyle, genetic, and environmental factors that affect fertility. By investigating and addressing these areas, naturopathic care can help identify potential barriers to conception that may otherwise go unnoticed.

Supporting Both Partners

Fertility is not just about female health—statistics show that about 40–50% of infertility is linked to female factors, 30% to male factors, and 20–30% to a combination of both. A naturopathic approach always considers both partners¹. For men, support may include optimising sperm quality, reducing DNA fragmentation through antioxidant therapy, and correcting nutrient deficiencies. For women, treatment often focuses on egg quality, hormone regulation, and ensuring the body is nutritionally prepared for both conception and pregnancy.

Nutritional and Lifestyle Optimisation

Certain nutrients are critical for fertility and IVF success²³:

• Folate, Vitamin B12 & B6 – support DNA formation, embryo development, and reduce miscarriage risk.
• Vitamin D, Zinc, Selenium, and Iron⁴ – essential for egg and sperm health, implantation, and healthy pregnancy outcomes.
• Antioxidants like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and CoQ10⁵ – protect eggs and sperm from oxidative stress, a major factor in reduced fertility and IVF failure.

Alongside supplementation, Naturopaths often guide couples on adopting a fertility-friendly diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, which has been shown to improve IVF outcomes⁶. Lifestyle factors like reducing alcohol, quitting smoking, moderating caffeine, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress, and avoiding toxin exposure are also emphasised.

When Naturopathy Works Best

The greatest benefits are often seen when couples allow a preconception period—three months before starting or returning to IVF. This window allows time to correct deficiencies, balance hormones, improve sperm and egg quality, and address underlying health concerns that may otherwise affect outcomes.

An Integrated Approach

Importantly, naturopathy does not replace IVF—it enhances it. By working alongside Fertility Specialists, Gynaecologists, and other practitioners, Naturopaths can help improve the chances of success, reduce the number of cycles needed, and support the health of both parents and their future baby.

Book a fertility appointment to discuss how I can support you on your IVF journey.

References

1. Australian, R. (2017). Male infertility – The other side of the equation. Australian Family Physician. https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2017/september/male-infertility#ref-2 ↩︎
2. Alrashidi, A. S., Feraih Aljaghwani, L., & Saleh AlMohimeed, R. (2024). The Effect of Nutrient Supplementation on Female Fertility: A Systematic Review. Cureus, 16(8), e67028. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.67028  ↩︎
3. Gullo, G., Zaami, S., Streva, A. V., Burgio, S., Billone, V., Kotlik, Y., Chitoran, E., Ganduscio, S., Baglio, G., Perino, A., & Cucinella, G. (2025). Multivitamin Supplementation and Fertility Outcome: A Retrospective Single-Center Cohort Study and the Clinical and Medicolegal Value of Nutritional Counseling. Life, 15(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.3390/life15010048  ↩︎
4. Zhou, X., Wu, X., Luo, X., Shao, J., Guo, D., Deng, B., & Wu, Z. (2022). Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on In Vitro Fertilization Outcomes: A Trial Sequential Meta-Analysis of 5 Randomized Controlled Trials. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.852428  ↩︎
5. Alesi, S., Villani, A., Mantzioris, E., Takele, W. W., Cowan, S., Moran, L. J., & Mousa, A. (2022). Anti-Inflammatory Diets in Fertility: An Evidence Review. Nutrients, 14(19), 3914. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14193914  ↩︎
6. Alesi, S., Villani, A., Mantzioris, E., Takele, W. W., Cowan, S., Moran, L. J., & Mousa, A. (2022). Anti-Inflammatory Diets in Fertility: An Evidence Review. Nutrients, 14(19), 3914. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14193914   ↩︎