Age is one of the biggest sources of fear in fertility. Women are constantly told that time is running out, egg quality is declining, and decisions need to be made quickly. But while age absolutely matters, it is only one part of a much bigger fertility picture. In this episode of Beyond AMH, Dr. Marc Sklar is joined by fertility expert, licensed acupuncturist, bestselling author, and Rejoova co-founder Aimee Raupp for a conversation about egg quality, fertility after 35 and 40, low AMH, inflammation, metabolic health, nutrition, stress, and the factors that may influence reproductive health beyond chronological age. Marc and Aimee explore why fertility decisions are so often made from fear, what chronic stress may be doing physiologically, and why Aimee believes women need a more complete understanding of their fertility than age, AMH, and ovarian reserve alone. They also discuss some of the areas that may be overlooked during fertility treatment, including insulin resistance, inflammation, autoimmune conditions, thyroid health, endometriosis, nutrition, mitochondrial function, and male factor fertility. The conversation then turns to fertility nutrition and supplements, including why more is not always better, the importance of focusing on food and lifestyle first, and how Aimee approaches targeted nutritional support. In this episode, we discuss: Why so many fertility decisions are made from fear and urgencyWhat prolonged fertility-related stress may do to the nervous systemWhy Aimee encourages women to make fertility decisions from a more grounded placeThe fertility “cliff” narrative after 35 and why age is only one part of the pictureChronological age versus overall biological healthEgg quality versus egg quantity and ovarian reserveWhy low AMH does not automatically tell you the quality of your eggsFactors Aimee and Marc look at when thinking about egg qualityInsulin resistance, inflammation, mitochondrial health and autoimmune conditionsFertility testing and potential blind spots before or during IVFWhy it may be worth looking deeper before repeatedly transferring embryosFertility nutrition beyond restrictive diets and internet trendsWhy food and lifestyle should come before trying to “out-supplement” your fertilityNourishment, boundaries, slowing down and making space for yourself during TTCAbout Aimee Raupp Aimee Raupp, MS, LAc, is a leading fertility expert, women’s health advocate, licensed acupuncturist, researcher, and bestselling author with more than two decades of clinical experience. Her integrative approach to fertility and reproductive health blends evidence-based medicine, functional nutrition, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and emerging research in metabolism, inflammation, mitochondrial health, and the microbiome. Aimee is the author of five books on fertility and women’s wellness, including The Egg Quality Diet and the newly revised and expanded Yes, You Can Get Pregnant. She works with clients worldwide through virtual fertility coaching programs and sees patients in her New York and Connecticut clinics. She is also the founder of Aimee Raupp Beauty and co-founder of Rejoova, a fertility supplement company focused on supporting egg quality, sperm health, and reproductive wellness. Connect with Aimee Website: https://www.aimeeraupp.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aimeeraupp TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aimeerauppfertility YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/aimeeraupp Aimee's Resources: Egg Quality Masterclass: https://aimeeraupp.samcart.com/products/eggqualitymc Use code BEYONDAMH Aimee's Books & Workshops: https://aimeeraupp.com/fertility-books-and-workshops/ This episode is sponsored by Rejoova. This episode is sponsored by Rejoova, a fertility supplement company created by three fertility experts with one goal: to make fertility nutrition more intentional, targeted and easier to understand. Learn more at getrejoova.com/beyondamh
