Why IVF Isn’t Fixing the Fertility Crisis (and What Actually Will) | Dr. Ann Shippy

The Dr. Hyman Show

Dr. Mark Hyman

Medicine, Health & Fitness, Nutrition

4.5 • 9.1K Ratings

🗓️ 11 March 2026

⏱️ 67 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Fertility struggles are often treated as a problem to solve only after they appear. But what if they’re actually a signal from the body that something deeper needs attention? On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I sit down with functional medicine physician Dr. Ann Shippy, author of The Preconception Revolution, to talk about why the months—even years—before conception may shape not only your health, but your future child’s long-term health as well. Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. In this conversation, we explore: • What fertility challenges may be signaling about your health, and why infertility may be the body’s “check engine light” • Why the 3–36 month preconception window can shape fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and your child’s long-term health • How just three weeks of ultra-processed food can change sperm quality, and what that reveals about fertility • What couples can start doing now to improve fertility, from strengthening metabolic health to reducing toxic exposures • How preparing your body before pregnancy may reduce your child’s risk of chronic disease later in life Preparing for pregnancy isn’t just about fertility. Many of the factors that influence fertility are within your control, and your body often responds in remarkable ways. View Show Notes From This Episode Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman https://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal https://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Join the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Health https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Results https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive This episode is brought to you by Qualia, Fatty15, Sunlighten, Palleovalley, Pique and BIOptimizers. Go to qualialife.com/hyman and use code HYMAN at checkout for an extra 15% off. Visit fatty15.com/hyman and use code HYMAN to save an extra 15% on a 90-day subscription. Visit sunlighten.com and use code HYMAN to save up to $1400. Head to paleovalley.com and use code HYMAN20 for 20% off your first order. Secure 20% off your order plus a free starter kit at piquelife.com/hyman. Head to bioptimizers.com/hyman and use promo code HYMAN at checkout to save 15%. (0:00) Introduction to fertility issues and Dr. Hyman's personal health journey (3:48) The Preconception Revolution and the current fertility crisis (7:03) Dr. Ann Shippy's career and personal health journey (9:18) The functional medicine approach to fertility and conception (11:01) Biological vs. chronological age and older women conceiving (13:02) Sperm quality, infertility signals, and lifestyle changes (17:07) Strategies for preconception health and diet's role in fertility (22:05) Environmental toxins, endocrine disruptors, and detoxification (26:13) Supplements and patient examples in enhancing fertility (33:02) Neurodevelopmental issues in children and foundational health for fertility (37:37) Postpartum recovery and reducing toxin exposure (38:30) Tests and biomarkers for assessing fertility (43:02) Addressing autoimmune issues to improve fertility (48:52) NAD's role in longevity and reproductive health (52:02) The impact of stress and stress management on fertility (56:43) Holistic fertility treatments and the importance of neurofeedback (59:27) Introduction to Food Fix Uncensored and engagement strategies (1:01:46) Acknowledgment of sponsors and closing remarks

Transcript

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0:00.0	Unfortunately, there's this narrative making IVF to be expected.
0:04.0	So the way that I'm thinking about IVF these days is the check engine lights on,
0:08.0	the body's saying, hey, there's something going on, and then women are encouraged to do IVF.
0:13.0	That's like taking a car that has the check engine light on and trying to drive it at 200 miles an hour across the country.
0:20.0	One in seven couples is infertile. Sperm counts and sperm health is going down globally. Historically, women had babies in their early 20s. Now, you know, women are delaying it. And there's sort of some challenges with that. And that's where we're seeing a lot of women struggling. But you also talk about this idea that it's not your bronological age, but it's your biological age
0:38.4	that matters. Dr. Anne Shippey is a former IBM chemical engineer, functional medicine leader,
0:43.3	who uses a data-driven approach to help couples conceive healthy babies well into their 40s, even after
0:48.6	they've been told IVF is their only option. My oldest patient right now is 47 who got pregnant
0:53.6	naturally on the first try. I want to kind of emphasize it because it's generational. My oldest patient right now is 47. You got pregnant naturally on the first
0:54.5	drive. I want to kind of emphasize it because it's generational. And what you do now actually
0:58.9	couldn't affect your grandchildren. We can't change what genes we actually give to our child,
1:03.3	but we can have a dramatic change on how those genes are being dialed up and dialed down.
1:07.6	I actually have a true confession here.
1:19.5	One of the biggest challenges I see as we age is our body's ability to repair and heal.
1:23.6	That's because your body's repair system, stem cells, naturally slow down over time.
1:28.1	These are the cells that can become bone, muscle, skin, cartilage, even brain, and immune cells.
1:33.1	When stem cell activity declines, recovery, healing, and energy all take longer. But there's a way to support them that I trust called Qualia stem cell. You take it just four days a month. And it's
1:37.4	backed by the award-winning Qualia science team and includes 15 non-GMO ingredients that support all
1:42.5	aspects of stem cell function like survival, renewal,
1:45.5	proliferation, migration, mobilization, and differentiation.
1:48.8	Ingredients like Royal Jelly and C. Buckthorn extract are included because research shows they
1:53.3	can help support and mobilize stem cells. For me, this is a simple, accessible way to support
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