US birth rates are declining, infertility is rising, and more women are struggling to get pregnant. But what’s actually causing it, and what can you do if you still want kids? Naturopathic fertility doctor Dr. Samantha Ess runs a fertility practice in Scottsdale, has worked with more than a thousand patients, and explains why even seemingly healthy women can struggle to conceive. From rising infertility and delayed pregnancies to the hidden health issues affecting your chances of getting pregnant, Dr. Ess breaks down what’s happening to fertility in America and what couples should know before trying for a baby.
Fertility isn’t just about whether you want kids. Dr. Ess treats infertility as a symptom of what’s happening underneath, so we get into how gut health, chronic stress, everyday toxins and even your grandparents’ habits through epigenetics are shaping your hormones right now. She also shares what she sees in women coming off birth control, why she thinks IVF gets pushed too early, and how nicotine can impact sperm quality and even the DNA passed down to the next generation.
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:21) Why Women Were Put on Testosterone
(07:56) Quitting Nicotine to Start a Family
(18:35) Why Society Is Struggling With Fertility
(24:40) Epigenetics: Your Grandparents’ DNA
(37:28) Why Fewer People Are Having Kids
(43:45) What Makes Her Approach Different
(57:00) The Missing Variable: Joy
(01:05:17) Alcohol, Wine, and the Gray Area
(01:17:28) What Conventional Medicine Misses
(01:26:50) The Birth Control Conversation
(01:40:25) AMH and the Fear of Running Out of Time
(01:51:42) Small Tweaks, Big Results
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Connect with Dr. Samantha Ess:
Website: https://www.walkthenaturalpath.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-ess-58824397/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkthenaturalpath
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@walkthenaturalpath
Substack: https://walkthenaturalpath.substack.com
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