Get Pregnant Naturally

Sarah Clark

Get Pregnant Naturally is the podcast for individuals and couples who have tried fertility treatments or done everything they were told and still do not have answers. Hosted by Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile, the show offers a functional fertility second opinion to help you understand what may be affecting your cycle, hormones, and ability to conceive when standard testing comes back normal. Each episode looks at patterns that are often overlooked in fertility care, including metabolic health, inflammation, hormone signaling, gut health, and nervous system stress, so you can think more clearly about what to do next. If you have been told everything looks normal, egg quality is the issue, or there is no clear explanation for why pregnancy is not happening, this podcast is for you.

  1. 3 HR AGO

    Told Donor Eggs Were Your Only Option? Sarah's POI Story and What Her REI Never Tested For

    Sarah Clark was told donor eggs were her only option. No second opinion. No workup. Just an IVF brochure pulled off the shelf. This is the story of what was actually going on, and what nobody looked for. At 28, Sarah was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure (now called premature ovarian insufficiency). Her OB/GYN handed her an IVF brochure during the appointment. She went to the REI, got on the donor egg list, and had both her kids through IVF with donor eggs. It took another decade before she discovered the underlying imbalances her REI never screened for: food sensitivities to dairy, gluten, and corn, plus a gut infection with H. pylori, streptococcus, fungal overgrowth and nervous system dysregulation (stressed out but didn;t even know it). In this rebroadcast episode, Monica Cox interviews Sarah about the clues her body was giving her for years before the POI diagnosis, and what she wishes someone had told her in her twenties. What you'll learn: The seemingly unrelated symptoms that were early signals (irregular periods twice a year, cystic acne, fungal rashes, chronic yeast infections, dark circles since age 12) Why a POI diagnosis at 28 doesn't automatically mean donor eggs, and why a second opinion matters The post-pregnancy health collapse that exposed the underlying gut and immune dysfunction Food sensitivities beyond digestion: mood, joint pain, skin, brain fog, autoimmune flares Why partners have to be in the protocol from day one, because infections pass back and forth The four foundational tests: food sensitivity, DUTCH hormone, GI-MAP stool, HTMA hair Why IVF should be the last choice, not the first, given the $60K average spend and three-cycle average Where to actually start: just diagnosed vs. one failed cycle vs. multiple failures behind you Timestamps: 00:00 Why this episode is for you if you have low AMH, high FSH, DOR, or POI 02:00 Diagnosed at 28 with premature ovarian failure, handed an IVF brochure, no second opinion 03:00 The clues in her twenties: irregular periods, acne, fungal rash, yeast infections 07:00 Post-kids health crash: chronic sinus infections, bladder infections, vertigo, antibiotic damage 08:00 Discovering food sensitivities (dairy, gluten, corn) and gut infections (H. pylori, strep, fungal overgrowth) 13:00 Connecting the dots: why every "unrelated" symptom was related 15:00 Why partners must be in the protocol, because infections pass between couples 21:00 Multiple failed IUIs and IVFs: burnout, cortisol, and the case for a pause 24:00 The four foundational tests: food sensitivity, DUTCH, GI-MAP, HTMA 35:00 Where to start: just diagnosed vs. one failed cycle vs. multiple failures This conversation is for women who've been told donor eggs are their only option, who are staring down a POI, low AMH, high FSH, or diminished ovarian reserve diagnosis, and who suspect their REI hasn't looked at the full picture. Not sure what's been fully evaluated? Download the free Embryo Audit Checklist to map your past cycles and labs so you can see what's been looked at and what may have been missed. 👉 Download the Embryo Audit Checklist here. Ready to go deeper? If you want an expert review of your labs, IVF history, and full health picture before your next cycle, this is where we start. 👉 Apply for a Functional Fertility Second Opinion here. About the host: I'm Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile and host of Get Pregnant Naturally, a podcast with over 1 million downloads. My team works with couples navigating low AMH and failed IVF, reviewing functional lab results including gut microbiome, food sensitivity, vaginal microbiome, nutrigenomics, HTMA, DUTCH, toxin testing, and bloodwork, alongside nervous system work, to help identify patterns that may not have been considered. We work alongside your medical team, not instead of them. Subscribe to Get Pregnant Naturally for weekly episodes on fertility optimization, IVF preparation, and the lab work your doctor probably isn't running. Keywords: premature ovarian insufficiency story, POI diagnosis at 28, donor eggs second opinion, low AMH underlying imbalance, high FSH functional medicine, diminished ovarian reserve, H pylori fertility, gut infection infertility, food sensitivity fertility, Sarah Clark story, Fab Fertile, Get Pregnant Naturally

    47 min
  2. 20 APR

    Why "Normal" Labs Aren't Optimized for Fertility | TSH, Ferritin, Glucose & IVF Failure

    Your TSH is "normal." Your ferritin is "normal." Your glucose is "normal." And IVF still isn't working. Here's why normal lab ranges were never built for fertility and what optimal actually looks like. Most reference ranges are designed to flag disease in the general population, not to optimize egg quality, embryo competence, or implantation. That gap is where a lot of unexplained IVF failure, embryo arrest, and recurrent loss live. In this episode, Sarah Clark walks through the four biomarker categories most often dismissed as "fine" but influence cycle outcomes in women with diminished ovarian reserve, low AMH, high FSH, and failed transfers. What you'll learn: - What "normal" lab ranges actually measure and what they miss - Why fertility-optimized TSH sits closer to 1–2 mIU/L, not 4.0 - Ferritin 80–100 ng/mL and what it means for egg energy and endometrial development - Fasting glucose under 86, insulin stability, and follicular development - Why hsCRP under 1 mg/L matters for implantation and embryo quality - The full thyroid panel most REIs skip: Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, TPO, TBG - Male factor inflammation, sperm DNA fragmentation, and recurring infections - The reframe: normal protects against disease, optimal supports conception Timestamps: 00:00 Why "normal" labs don't mean fertility-optimized 00:30 What conventional reference ranges actually measure 01:30 Why DIY fertility optimization stalls without functional lab review 03:00 TSH "normal" vs optimal and the full thyroid panel REIs skip (Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, TPO, TBG) 04:30 How thyroid signaling affects egg quality, ovulation, and pregnancy loss 05:00 Ferritin 80–100 ng/mL: the iron range for IVF and egg energy 06:00 Fasting glucose under 86, insulin stability, and follicular development 07:00 hsCRP under 1 mg/L: low-grade inflammation, implantation, and embryo development 07:30 Male factor inflammation, sperm DNA fragmentation, and recurring infections 08:30 Embryo Audit Checklist + Functional Fertility Second Opinion: next steps This conversation is for women navigating diminished ovarian reserve, low AMH, high FSH, embryo arrest, implantation failure, or recurrent pregnancy loss who keep being told their bloodwork looks fine. Not sure what's been fully evaluated? Download the free Embryo Audit Checklist to map your past cycles and labs so you can see what's been looked at and what may have been missed. 👉 Download the Embryo Audit Checklist here. Ready to go deeper? If you want an expert review of your labs, IVF history, and full health picture before your next cycle, this is where we start. 👉 Apply for a Functional Fertility Second Opinion here. About the host: I'm Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile and host of Get Pregnant Naturally, a podcast with over 1 million downloads. My team works with couples navigating low AMH and failed IVF, reviewing functional lab results including gut microbiome, food sensitivity, vaginal microbiome, nutrigenomics, HTMA, DUTCH, toxin testing, and bloodwork, alongside nervous system work, to help identify patterns that may not have been considered. We work alongside your medical team, not instead of them. Subscribe to Get Pregnant Naturally for weekly episodes on fertility optimization, IVF preparation, and the lab work your doctor probably isn't running. Keywords: normal labs IVF failed, fertility-optimized lab ranges, TSH for fertility, ferritin and egg quality, hsCRP fertility, low AMH normal labs, diminished ovarian reserve, IVF failure functional medicine, fertility second opinion, Embryo Audit Checklist, Sarah Clark, Fab Fertile, Get Pregnant Naturally

    11 min
  3. 13 APR

    The IVF Mistake That Causes Failed Cycles to Keep Repeating

    If you're heading into another IVF cycle after a failed transfer, you're probably being told to trust the process and try again. But what if the process is the problem? In this episode, we get into how to tell whether your next cycle is actually different — or whether you're about to repeat the same outcome with a new protocol number. In this episode you'll learn: The three signs your last cycle wasn't fully interpreted, just failed Why changing the protocol doesn't always change the outcome What "unexplained" actually means and why it's often a gap, not a diagnosis How time pressure pushes couples into decisions that don't serve them The specific questions to ask before you commit to another cycle I'm Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile and host of Get Pregnant Naturally, a podcast with over 1 million downloads. My team works with couples navigating low AMH and failed IVF, reviewing functional lab results including gut microbiome, food sensitivity, vaginal microbiome, nutrigenomics, HTMA, DUTCH, toxin testing, and bloodwork, alongside nervous system work, to help identify patterns that may not have been considered. We work alongside your medical team, not instead of them. Not sure what's been fully evaluated? Download the free Embryo Audit Checklist to map your past cycles and labs so you can see what's been looked at and what may have been missed. Access it here Ready to go deeper? If you want an expert review of your labs, IVF history, and full health picture before your next cycle, this is where we start. Learn more and apply for a Functional Fertility Second Opinion here.

    12 min
  4. 6 APR

    Normal Semen Analysis but IVF Still Failing? What Wasn't Tested

    div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 gap-3 standard-markdown"> Failed IVF with normal sperm? You're not alone, and the answer may be in what wasn't tested. DNA fragmentation and oxidative stress don't show up on a standard semen analysis. But they can drive fertilization failure, embryo arrest, and poor blastocyst development. If the male side was cleared after the basic parameters were evaluated, it may not have been fully evaluated. In this episode, you'll learn: What a semen analysis actually measures and what it leaves out Why normal parameters don't always translate to embryo development How DNA fragmentation and oxidative stress affect fertilization and blastocyst outcomes The patterns we see in recurrent IVF failure when male factor hasn't been fully assessed Why embryo development is a shared biological process, not an egg quality issue I'm Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile and host of Get Pregnant Naturally, a podcast with over 1 million downloads. My team works with couples navigating low AMH and failed IVF, reviewing functional lab results including gut microbiome, food sensitivity, vaginal microbiome, nutrigenomics, HTMA, DUTCH, toxin testing, and bloodwork, alongside nervous system work, to help identify patterns that may not have been considered. We work alongside your medical team, not instead of them. Not sure what's been fully evaluated? Download the free Embryo Audit Checklist to map your past cycles and labs so you can see what's been looked at and what may have been missed. Access it here Ready to go deeper? If you want an expert review of your labs, IVF history, and full health picture before your next cycle, this is where we start. Learn more and apply for a Functional Fertility Second Opinion here.   Timestamps div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 gap-3 standard-markdown"> 00:00 Why a "normal" semen analysis doesn't rule out male factor 01:00 What a standard semen analysis actually measures: count, motility, morphology 01:45 What semen analysis misses: DNA integrity, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function 02:30 Why couples with "normal" sperm still see embryo arrest and failed IVF 03:00 DNA fragmentation: what it is and why it matters for embryo development 04:00 Oxidative stress drivers: lifestyle, toxins, inflammation and metabolic health 05:15 The 70–80 day sperm lifecycle and why timing matters 06:00 Embryo development is shared biology, not just egg quality 07:15 Environmental and occupational factors impacting sperm health 08:30 When to revisit male testing before another IVF cycle

    11 min
  5. 30 MAR

    Why a Good Embryo Doesn't Implant in IVF (What's Often Missed)

    If your IVF transfer failed despite a good embryo, normal lining, and a smooth protocol, you may have been told it was "just bad luck." But failed implantation with a euploid or high-quality embryo is not random. It often means key biological factors were never fully evaluated before the transfer. You followed the plan. The embryo looked good. The lining was "fine." And it still didn't work. This is where many people get stuck. Not because there are no answers, but because no one stepped back to assess the full picture before repeating another transfer. In this episode, we break down why embryo quality alone does not determine implantation and what is often missed when a transfer fails. In this episode, you'll learn: Why a good embryo does not guarantee implantation The three biological layers that influence whether implantation happens How uterine environment, hormone timing, and systemic health interact What subtle inflammation and thyroid patterns can do to implantation What to review before transferring another embryo I'm Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile and host of Get Pregnant Naturally. For over a decade, my team and I have reviewed hundreds of low AMH and failed IVF cases using functional testing alongside conventional fertility care. We specialize in helping couples identify the physiological patterns driving poor outcomes so decisions are grounded in interpretation, not guesswork. If you've been moving from cycle to cycle without a clear way to evaluate what's actually been addressed, I created a free resource called the Embryo Audit Checklist. It helps you organize past cycles and labs so you can see what's been looked at and what may not have been considered yet. Access it here. 👉 Start with a Functional Fertility Second Opinion If you want an expert review of your labs, IVF history, and full health picture to identify missed patterns, this is the smartest first step before another cycle. Learn more and apply here. --- Timestamps 00:00 Failed IVF transfer with a good embryo 01:00 Why embryo quality doesn't guarantee implantation 02:00 Implantation is embryo + endometrium signaling 03:00 Uterine environment and implantation success 04:30 Ferritin, oxygen delivery, and implantation failure 06:00 Thyroid function and endometrial receptivity 07:30 Inflammation and immune response in implantation 09:00 Progesterone timing and implantation window 10:30 Nervous system, stress, and hormone regulation 11:30 What to review before your next embryo transfer

    13 min
  6. 23 MAR

    Unexplained IVF Failure What Is Being Missed Before Your Next Cycle

    Unexplained IVF failure happens when a cycle doesn't work, and no clear cause is identified, but that doesn't mean nothing is wrong. In many cases, it means the biology behind the cycle wasn't fully evaluated. You did everything you were told to do. The protocol looked good. The embryos developed. The lining was fine. And it still didn't work. Then you hear the word "unexplained." That's where many people get stuck. Not because there are no answers, but because no one has stepped back to assess the full picture. In this episode, we break down what unexplained IVF failure means and why repeating another cycle without deeper analysis often leads to the same outcome. We walk through the patterns that don't show up on a standard IVF summary but still influence embryo development and implantation. If you've been told to try again but feel like something is being missed, this will help you start asking better questions before your next step. In this episode, you'll learn: Why "unexplained" IVF failure often reflects a gap in interpretation, not a lack of information The three patterns that are commonly overlooked before repeating a cycle What to look at beyond embryo grading and lining thickness How to think about your next step without defaulting to another round Why clarity matters more than changing protocols I'm Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile and host of Get Pregnant Naturally. For over a decade, my team and I have reviewed hundreds of low AMH and failed IVF cases using functional testing alongside conventional fertility care. We specialize in helping couples identify the physiological patterns driving poor outcomes so decisions are grounded in interpretation, not guesswork. If you've been moving from cycle to cycle without a clear way to evaluate what's actually been addressed, I created a free resource called the Embryo Audit Checklist. It helps you organize past cycles and labs so you can see what's been looked at and what may not have been considered yet. Access it here. 👉 Start with a Functional Fertility Second Opinion If you want an expert review of your labs, IVF history, and full health picture to identify missed patterns, this is the smartest first step before another cycle. Learn more and apply here. Timestamps 00:00 Unexplained IVF failure what it means and why it matters 01:00 Why "unexplained" is not a diagnosis in fertility 02:00 The IVF interpretation gap what clinics may miss 03:00 Inflammation and IVF failure how it impacts egg quality and implantation 04:00 Hidden inflammation markers that affect IVF success 05:00 Metabolic instability blood sugar thyroid and nutrient deficiencies 06:00 Why "normal labs" may not be optimal for fertility 07:00 Nervous system and IVF how stress physiology affects implantation 08:00 What to review before repeating another IVF cycle 09:00 Embryo audit checklist and next steps before your next round

    10 min
  7. 16 MAR

    Failed IVF Cycle: How to Audit What Went Wrong Before Trying Again

    When an IVF cycle fails, the focus usually shifts to the next protocol. Different medications. Higher doses. Another retrieval. But an IVF cycle produces a huge amount of biological data that is rarely fully analyzed before repeating treatment. Ovarian response, egg maturity, embryo development, and the internal environment around transfer all provide important signals about what may be influencing the outcome. Yet many couples are encouraged to move forward with another cycle before those patterns are carefully reviewed. In this episode, we step back and walk through how to interpret a failed IVF cycle from a systems perspective so the next decision is based on biology, not momentum. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why a failed IVF cycle contains important biological clues that often go unexamined • What a true IVF cycle audit should include before repeating a protocol • The patterns in ovarian response, egg maturity, and embryo development that may reveal underlying imbalances • Why embryo development reflects whole body physiology, not just the laboratory environment • How to decide whether repeating a cycle makes sense or whether a different approach should be considered I'm Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile and host of Get Pregnant Naturally. For over a decade, my team and I have reviewed hundreds of low AMH and failed IVF cases using functional testing alongside conventional fertility care. We specialize in helping couples identify the physiological patterns driving poor outcomes so decisions are grounded in interpretation, not guesswork. If you've been moving from cycle to cycle without a clear way to evaluate what's actually been addressed, I created a free resource called the Embryo Audit Checklist. It helps you organize past cycles and labs so you can see what's been looked at and what may not have been considered yet. Access it here. 👉 Start with a Functional Fertility Second Opinion If you want an expert review of your labs, IVF history, and full health picture to identify missed patterns, this is the smartest first step before another cycle. Learn more and apply here. Timestamps 00:00 Why failed IVF cycles are rarely fully analyzed 01:00 What an IVF cycle audit should review before trying again 02:05 Ovarian response in IVF and what estrogen levels may reveal 03:15 Inflammation, thyroid, and blood sugar patterns affecting IVF outcomes 04:05 Uneven follicle growth and hormonal signaling during stimulation 05:05 Egg maturity in IVF and the role of cellular energy 06:10 Iron, thyroid, and nutrient patterns that may affect egg development 07:00 Embryo development from Day 3 to Day 5 and why embryos arrest 08:15 Implantation environment including inflammation, progesterone, and the microbiome 09:30 How to review a failed IVF cycle before repeating treatment

    12 min
  8. 9 MAR

    Why Implantation Fails: Gut Health, Inflammation and the Vaginal Microbiome

    Implantation failure is often blamed on the uterus. The lining. The timing. The transfer protocol. But implantation is not something the uterus decides on its own. Implantation is an immune event that reflects what is happening across the entire body. When inflammation, gut dysfunction, or microbial imbalance is present, the immune system may not shift into the receptive state required for implantation, even when embryos appear strong and transfers are performed correctly. In this episode we step back from the narrow focus on the uterus and explore how gut health, inflammation, and the vaginal microbiome can quietly interfere with implantation. These factors are often missed during standard fertility workups but can influence whether the body can support implantation. In this episode, you'll learn • Why implantation is an immune decision, not simply a mechanical one • How gut health influences immune signaling that affects implantation • The connection between chronic inflammation and repeated implantation failure • How the vaginal microbiome can influence the local immune environment of the uterus • Why focusing only on the uterus may miss the biological pattern affecting implantation I'm Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile and host of Get Pregnant Naturally. For over a decade, my team and I have reviewed hundreds of low AMH and failed IVF cases using functional testing alongside conventional fertility care. We specialize in helping couples identify the physiological patterns driving poor outcomes so decisions are grounded in interpretation, not guesswork. If you've been moving from cycle to cycle without a clear way to evaluate what's actually been addressed, I created a free resource called the Embryo Audit Checklist. It helps you organize past cycles and labs so you can see what's been looked at and what may not have been considered yet. Access it here. 👉 Start with a Functional Fertility Second Opinion If you want an expert review of your labs, IVF history, and full health picture to identify missed patterns, this is the smartest first step before another cycle. Learn more and apply here. Timestamps *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:ef5ed9ec-1067-4281-a607-f5ce0dded746-89" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> 00:00 Implantation failure and why the focus often stays only on the uterus 01:00 Implantation is an immune decision, not just a mechanical one 02:05 How inflammation can interfere with embryo implantation 03:10 Gut health and immune signaling affecting fertility 04:20 Gut infections and microbiome imbalance in fertility cases 05:25 When embryos look good but implantation still fails 06:20 Why the partner's microbiome and health may also matter 07:05 The role of the vaginal microbiome in implantation 08:05 Why testing the vaginal microbiome alone can miss the bigger picture 09:00 The Embryo Audit Checklist and Functional Fertility Second Opinion

    6 min

About

Get Pregnant Naturally is the podcast for individuals and couples who have tried fertility treatments or done everything they were told and still do not have answers. Hosted by Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile, the show offers a functional fertility second opinion to help you understand what may be affecting your cycle, hormones, and ability to conceive when standard testing comes back normal. Each episode looks at patterns that are often overlooked in fertility care, including metabolic health, inflammation, hormone signaling, gut health, and nervous system stress, so you can think more clearly about what to do next. If you have been told everything looks normal, egg quality is the issue, or there is no clear explanation for why pregnancy is not happening, this podcast is for you.

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