How Sarah Got Pregnant at 39 After 7 Years of Infertility, 2 Miscarriages, and 2 Failed IVF Rounds Without IVF [EP 72]
If you've been told your age is the reason you can't get pregnant, that your eggs are "too old," or that IVF is your only option, this episode is for you. Today, I'm sharing one of my favorite client success stories because it highlights what's possible when we stop accepting "everything looks normal" as an answer and start investigating the real barriers standing in the way of fertility.
Sarah and Mike (names changed for privacy) had been trying to conceive for seven years. They experienced two miscarriages, two failed IVF cycles, and were running out of hope. After taking a root-cause approach to uncovering the factors affecting both egg quality and sperm quality, they conceived naturally. In this episode, I'm walking you through exactly what we found, what we changed, and why this story offers hope for anyone navigating infertility.
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“Unexplained infertility often means the investigation wasn’t complete.”
What You’ll Learn:
Why age is only one piece of the fertility puzzle
How egg quality is influenced by your internal environment
Why unexplained infertility is often an incomplete investigation
The functional lab markers that revealed Sarah's biggest fertility barriers
Why sperm quality matters just as much as egg quality
How nutrition, digestion, inflammation, and metabolic health affect fertility
Why DNA fragmentation and sperm morphology can improve
The lifestyle changes that helped support a healthy pregnancy
Why fertility is about creating the right environment—not finding a magic supplement
“IVF works with the eggs and sperm you have—it doesn’t improve their quality.”
Lab Findings Mentioned:
Sarah
Elevated fasting insulin
Elevated hemoglobin A1C
High hs-CRP (inflammation)
Elevated homocysteine
H. pylori overgrowth
Low digestive enzymes
Significant gut inflammation
Mineral deficiencies identified through HTMA
Mike
4% sperm morphology
45% sperm DNA fragmentation
Links Mentioned:
“Your fertility is responsive when you support the environment your eggs and sperm develop in.”
Transcript:
Today's episode is one of my favorites because it's a story of hope.
It's a story about what can happen when we stop accepting "everything looks normal" as an answer and start asking better questions.
I'd like to introduce you to Sarah and Mike. These aren't their real names, but their story is very real.
When we started working together, Sarah was 39, and Mike was 41.
They'd been trying to conceive for seven years.
During those seven years, they experienced two early miscarriages between five and six weeks of pregnancy. They had also gone through two IVF cycles, but neither resulted in an embryo that made it to transfer.
They were exhausted.
Heartbroken.
Confused.
And running out of hope.
Today, as I'm recording this episode, Sarah is 28 weeks pregnant with a healthy pregnancy.
And yes—they conceived without another round of IVF.
Age Matters, But It Isn't the Whole Story
Before we dive into their case, I want to say something incredibly important.
If you've been told your eggs are "too old," or that IVF is your only option because of your age, please hear me.
Age matters.
But age is not the whole story.
Egg quality is highly responsive to the environment your eggs mature in.
While we can't increase the total number of eggs remaining, we can absolutely improve the environment that supports egg development.
That means improving the health of the eggs you're preparing to ovulate over the months leading up to conception.
Don't let anyone tell you egg quality can't improve.
We see it happen every single day.
If you'd like to learn more about this topic, I've recorded several podcast episodes on AMH and egg quality that I'll link in the show notes.
There is far more within your control than you may have been led to believe.
Why We Always Start With Investigation
Like so many couples who join the Master Your Fertility Program, Sarah and Mike had been significantly under-investigated.
Unfortunately, that's very common.
One of the biggest limitations of a conventional fertility workup is that many important root causes simply aren't evaluated.
That's why our first step is always investigation.
Because we can't address barriers we don't know exist.
Our goal is to understand exactly what's preventing the body from functioning optimally so we can work with the body instead of against it.
What We Found for Sarah
Sarah's lab work revealed several significant barriers to fertility.
Her fasting insulin was 20, indicating significant blood sugar dysregulation.
Her hemoglobin A1C was 5.5%, which is higher than I'd like to see when someone is trying to conceive.
Her high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a marker of inflammation, was elevated at 3.5.
Her homocysteine was 11, suggesting impaired methylation and increased inflammation.
She also had an H. pylori overgrowth, low digestive enzymes, and significant inflammation throughout her digestive tract.
On top of that, her Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) showed severe mineral depletion.
Every one of these findings matters.
Eggs are some of the most metabolically active cells in the body.
They require an enormous amount of energy to mature properly.
Healthy egg development depends on:
Stable blood sugar
Healthy mitochondria
Optimal digestion
Adequate nutrient status
Balanced inflammation
Healthy mineral stores
Minerals play a critical role because every cell in the body relies on them to produce energy.
One recurring pattern I see in fertility is impaired energy production.
When the body doesn't have the resources to produce energy efficiently, egg quality often suffers.
This is one of the biggest gaps in the conventional fertility approach.
If any of these systems are struggling, fertility is affected.
And in Sarah's case, multiple systems needed support.
What We Found for Mike
Of course, fertility isn't just about egg quality.
We also needed to evaluate Mike.
His sperm morphology measured 4%.
While that's often considered "normal" by conventional standards, I prefer to see morphology closer to 12% for optimal fertility outcomes.
His DNA fragmentation was 45%.
Ideally, I like to see this below 20%.
These numbers don't just affect the chances of conception.
They also influence embryo development, implantation, placental health, miscarriage risk, and even the long-term health of a future child.
One thing I want you to remember is this:
These numbers are not permanent.
They are not your destiny.
Both sperm morphology and DNA fragmentation are highly responsive to nutrition, lifestyle, and addressing the underlying factors affecting sperm health.
I often hear couples being told these markers can't improve.
That simply isn't true.
We see meaningful improvements in practice all the time.
The key is understanding why they're abnormal in the first place and supporting the body accordingly.
How We Supported Sarah and Mike's Fertility
Once we understood the root causes affecting Sarah and Mike's fertility, we created a personalized plan to support both egg quality and sperm quality.
One of the reasons I believe they were so successful is because they approached this as a team.
Sarah wasn't carrying the burden on her own.
Mike wasn't sitting on the sidelines.
They committed to making changes together.
That partnership matters.
Nutrition Was the Foundation
We completely overhauled their nutrition.
Not through restriction.
Not through calorie counting.
And not by eliminating entire food groups.
Instead, we focused on nourishing their bodies and creating an internal environment that supports fertility.
We also simplified their supplement routines.
Rather than taking more supplements, we made them more targeted based on their lab results and the specific barriers we identified.
More isn't always better.
In fact, taking too many supplements can sometimes create additional stress on the body.
The goal is always to personalize your plan so you're giving your body exactly what it needs.
Lifestyle Changes That Support Fertility
Nutrition was only one piece of the puzzle.
We also prioritized sleep quality, strategic light exposure, meal timing, and appropriate movement.
These foundational habits have a significant impact on metabolism, hormone production, mitochondrial function, and reproductive health.
But one of my favorite changes had nothing to do with food or supplements.
The Importance of Joy During Your Fertility Journey
Sarah and Mike intentionally brought more joy back into their lives.
They started cooking most of their meals together and actually enjoyed the process.
They spent more time playing.
More time laughing.
More time connecting with each other.
And less time scrolling social media or zoning out in front of the television.
This is something we don't talk about enough.
Your nervous system matters.
Joy matters.
Connection matters.
Your body needs to feel safe.
That sense of safety doesn't come from food alone.
It comes from how you're living your life each day.
Four Months Later: Their Lab Results
After four months, we repeated their lab work.
The changes were incredible.
Sarah's fasting insulin dropped from 20 to 8, bringing her into an optimal range.
Her hemoglobin A1C improved from 5.5% to 5%.
Her blood sugar regulation was significantly healthier.
Her inflammation marker, hs-CRP, dropped from 3.5 to 0.5.
For fertility, I like to see this below 1, so this was an excellent improvement.
Her homocysteine decreased from 11 to 5.
This is important because homocysteine tells us a lot about how the body is using nutrients like folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and choline.
These nutrients play an essential role in DNA synthesis, methylation, and healthy egg development.
Her H. pylori overgrowth was gone.
Her digestive enzymes returned to optimal levels.
The inflammation in her gut had resolved.
This meant she was finally able to digest, absorb, and utilize the nutrients from the healthy foods she was eating.
Her Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis also showed significant improvements in mineral status.
Every one of these changes created a healthier environment for egg development.
Weight Loss Was a Byproduct—Not the Goal
Sarah also lost 15 pounds.
But here's what's important.
She didn't count calories.
She didn't follow a restrictive diet.
She didn't obsess over the scale.
Instead, her body became healthier.
Inflammation decreased.
Blood sugar improved.
Digestion improved.
She was absorbing nutrients more effectively.
She was actually eating more food than before—just in a way that better supported her physiology.
When we create the right environment, the body often responds in remarkable ways.
Improvements in Sperm Quality
Mike's results improved just as dramatically.
His sperm morphology increased from 4% to 8%.
That means the percentage of normally shaped sperm doubled.
Healthy morphology supports the sperm's ability to swim effectively and fertilize the egg.
Even more impressive, his DNA fragmentation decreased from 45% to 15%.
That's a massive improvement.
Lower DNA fragmentation supports healthier embryos, improved implantation, reduced miscarriage risk, and healthier pregnancies overall.
These improvements didn't happen by chance.
They happened because we identified the underlying barriers and addressed them with targeted nutrition and lifestyle changes.
About two weeks after reviewing their updated lab work, Sarah and Mike received the news they'd been hoping for.
Their pregnancy test was positive.
A Positive Pregnancy Test
About two weeks after we reviewed their updated lab results, Sarah and Mike got the news they'd been waiting seven years to hear.
Their pregnancy test was positive.
After two miscarriages.
After two failed IVF cycles.
After being told there was nothing more they could do.
They were pregnant.
There were tears.
From them.
And from me.
Because after everything they'd been through, they were healthier than they had been in years, and their bodies were finally in a position to support a healthy pregnancy.
Supporting a Healthy Pregnancy
Once Sarah became pregnant, our work didn't stop.
We continued monitoring her lab work throughout the first trimester to ensure she had the support she needed as her body adapted to pregnancy.
Everything progressed beautifully.
She had a smooth first trimester and continued to feel well as the pregnancy progressed.
Today, she's in her third trimester with a healthy pregnancy.
Watching couples reach this point after years of heartbreak never gets old.
Why This Story Matters
I wanted to share Sarah and Mike's story because I know there are so many couples listening who feel like they're running out of options.
Maybe you've been told your age is the problem.
Maybe you've been diagnosed with unexplained infertility.
Or maybe you've been told IVF is your only path to pregnancy.
While IVF can absolutely be the right option for many couples, I also want you to know that there's often much more we can investigate before assuming you've reached the end of the road.
Sarah and Mike didn't find a magic supplement.
They didn't stumble across a fertility hack.
They changed the environment their bodies were functioning in.
They identified the barriers affecting egg quality, sperm quality, metabolism, digestion, inflammation, and nutrient status.
Then they addressed those barriers with a personalized plan.
That's what made the difference.
Your Body Was Designed for Reproduction
Your body was designed for reproduction.
But modern life places an enormous amount of stress on that system.
Many of us are overfed but undernourished.
We're chronically stressed.
We're exposed to environmental toxins every day.
We're sleeping less.
And we're overwhelmed by conflicting information about fertility and nutrition.
When all of those factors come together, it's no surprise fertility struggles become more common.
The challenge is that it's incredibly difficult to identify your own unique barriers without the right testing and guidance.
There Is So Much Hope
After nearly a decade of helping couples improve their fertility, I've seen this happen again and again.
Couples who were told everything looked normal.
Couples who were told IVF was their only option.
Couples who believed their age was their biggest obstacle.
Time after time, we uncover opportunities that had never been investigated.
That's why I often say unexplained infertility isn't a diagnosis.
It's a sign the investigation is incomplete.
Your Story Isn't Over
If you're listening today feeling defeated...
If you feel like time is running out...
Or if you've been told your age is the reason pregnancy hasn't happened...
I want you to borrow some hope from Sarah and Mike.
Your story isn't over.
There may be barriers standing in your way.
But barriers can be identified.
And once we identify them, we can begin supporting your body in the way it was designed to function.
How to Get Additional Fertility Support
If you're ready to take a root-cause approach to your fertility and build a personalized plan based on your unique physiology, I'd love to support you.
You can apply for a Fertility Strategy Session through the link in the show notes to see whether the Master Your Fertility Program is the right fit for you.
Thank you so much for spending this time with me today.
If this episode gave you hope, I encourage you to share it with someone who needs to hear this message.
I'll see you next week on The Fertility Dietitian Podcast.