Spotify LogoApple Podcast Logo

Fertility

Dr. Leah Gordon, ND, explores the critical role of preconception health and how practitioners can better support patients navigating fertility challenges. In this episode, she discusses key considerations for individuals pursuing IVF, IUI, and egg freezing, while also sharing insights from her own experience with male factor infertility and IVF. Drawing from both clinical practice and personal perspective, Dr. Gordon offers practical guidance to help practitioners support couples through natural conception and assisted reproductive technologies.

continuing education credit details

RDs Earn 1.25 CPEUs

Valid through 6/30/28

NDs Earn 1.0 CEs

Valid through 3/15/27

RNs Earn 1.0 CEs

Valid through 1/31/2028

Provider Details

This enduring activity (Type 741) awards 1.25 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. Provider # 1816, 1.0 Contact Hours.


Provider approved by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians for 1.0 CEs. NDs in Oregon, please see FAQ

Meet the expert

Dr. Leah Gordon, ND

Link to the Expert's Instagram in a separate page. Link to the Expert's website in a separate page.

 Dr. Leah Gordon is a licensed naturopathic and functional medicine doctor and mother of two who specializes in supporting women along their path to motherhood. Through her online membership, Womanhood Wellness™, she provides guidance for women wanting to break up with birth control, balance their hormones, restore their libido, prepare for pregnancy, conceive naturally, or navigate infertility.

In addition to being featured on HBOMax, Motherly, and various publications, she has been voted best Naturopathic Doctor locally, and is a founding formulator at Needed™, a fertility course creator for Oh Baby Nutrition™, co-host of the popular podcast Healthy As A Mother™,  and an avid speaker. Dr. Leah combines her clinical expertise and personal experience with hormonal struggles and a decade-long journey navigating severe male-factor infertility that ultimately led to IVF to empower women to overcome obstacles on their own path and realize their dream of becoming mothers.

Disclosure: Leah is a Needed advisor and has an equity interest in the company.

HOW to earn continuing education credits

Immediately receive
your certificate

Episode Highlights

  • The true definition of fertility as a vital sign of overall health
  • When to investigate fertility concerns and what comprehensive testing should include
  • Why nutrition is fundamental to fertility yet often overlooked in conventional care
  • Critical nutrients that influence hormonal balance, egg quality, and sperm health
  • The role of blood sugar balance and insulin resistance in ovulation and PCOS
  • How the preconception window (3-4 months before conception) impacts lifelong health outcomes
  • Evidence-based supplementation protocols including CoQ10, omega-3s, and methylated B vitamins
  • Why vitamin D optimization is crucial for egg reserve and fibroid management
  • The truth about plant-based diets, intermittent fasting, and restrictive eating patterns for fertility
  • How to support couples through IUI, IVF, and egg freezing with targeted nutrition
  • The overlooked importance of male fertility and sperm quality optimization
  • Practical daily eating patterns that support optimal reproductive function
  • Common nutritional deficiencies and optimal lab ranges for fertility patients
  • The emerging role of the microbiome, epigenetics, and environmental toxins

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this continuing education activity, practitioners will be able to:

Explain the mechanisms by which nutrition influences reproductive health in both men and women

Identify critical nutrients and dietary patterns that impact fertility outcomes and success rates in assisted reproductive technologies

Develop appropriate nutritional protocols for patients preparing for conception, including egg freezing and IVF procedures

Take the quiz
References

Winter HG et al. Can dietary patterns impact fertility outcomes? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients. 2023;15(11):2589. doi:10.3390/nu15112589.

Gaskins AJ et al. Iron and fertility: a review of epidemiological and mechanistic data. J Nutr. 2023;153(7):2190–2199. doi:10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.05.014.

Lin G et al. Clinical evidence of coenzyme Q10 pretreatment for women with diminished ovarian reserve undergoing IVF/ICSI: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Med. 2024;56(1):2389469. doi:10.1080/07853890.2024.2389469. 

Viña I et al. Efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in polycystic ovary syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients. 2025;17(2):284. doi:10.3390/nu17020284. 

Chavarro JE et al. Iron intake and risk of ovulatory infertility. Obstet Gynecol. 2006;108(5):1145–1152.

Salas-Huetos A et al. The effect of nutrients and dietary supplements on sperm quality parameters: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. Adv Nutr. 2020;11(3):559–573. doi:10.1093/advances/nmz031

Stephenson J et al. Before the beginning: nutrition and lifestyle in the preconception period and its importance for future health. Lancet. 2018;391(10132):1830–1841. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30311-8. 

Practice Committee of the ASRM. Optimizing natural fertility: a committee opinion. Fertil Steril. 2022;117(1):53–63. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.10.029.

Alexander EK et al. 2017 guidelines of the American Thyroid Association for the diagnosis and management of thyroid disease during pregnancy and the postpartum. Thyroid. 2017;27(3):315–389. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0457.