Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD

Thyroid Pharmacist

Podcast Episode 104: Fertility Secrets: What Doctors Don’t Tell You About Baby Making – Dr. Aumatma Simmons

104: Fertility Secrets: What Doctors Don’t Tell You About Baby Making – Dr. Aumatma Simmons

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LISTEN TO THE PODCAST – Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Pregnancy and fertility are topics I get asked about often, especially within the Hashimoto’s community. In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, I spoke with Dr. Aumatma Simmons, a double-board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist and fertility expert, about what really supports fertility, and what so many women are never told when they start trying to conceive.

Dr. Aumatma brings a true root cause lens to fertility. We talked about how thyroid health, immune dysfunction, microbiome imbalances, mold exposure, toxins, trauma, nutrient deficiencies, and even chronic stress can all affect the body’s ability to conceive and carry a healthy pregnancy. Rather than reducing fertility to a single diagnosis or a one-size-fits-all solution, she reminds us that fertility challenges are often symptoms of deeper imbalances that can be identified and supported.

We also explored why so many women are told to “just keep trying” for a year, why that advice can be so discouraging, and what proactive steps can help people better understand their fertility picture sooner. If you’ve been wondering what holistic fertility support actually looks like – especially if you have Hashimoto’s, hormone imbalances, or a history of pregnancy loss – this episode is packed with insights.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • Fertility challenges are often a symptom, not the root issue. Dr. Aumatma explains that infertility is usually not one single condition, but a sign that deeper imbalances may be present. Issues like autoimmunity, mold, gut infections, hormone dysregulation, trauma, and environmental toxins can all send the body the message that it is not safe to reproduce.
  • Safety matters more than perfection when it comes to fertility. One of the most important takeaways from this episode is the idea that the body needs to feel safe in order to conceive. When the immune system, nervous system, or hormones are stuck in survival mode, reproduction often gets deprioritized – even if lab work looks “normal” on the surface.
  • Thyroid antibodies can affect fertility even when standard labs appear normal. We talked about how Hashimoto’s and thyroid autoimmunity can interfere with ovulation, pregnancy maintenance, and ovarian reserve, even before a person is diagnosed with overt hypothyroidism. This is one reason why a full thyroid workup – including antibodies – can be so important when fertility issues are present.
  • The vaginal and uterine microbiome may be an overlooked missing piece. Dr. Aumatma shared how microbiome imbalances can impact conception, implantation, miscarriage risk, and even endometriosis. What’s especially striking is that many women with these imbalances have no obvious symptoms, making this an important area to investigate.
  • Mold, toxins, and hidden infections can quietly derail fertility. If hormones improve and then crash again, or if someone has experienced recurrent pregnancy loss, Dr. Aumatma often looks deeper for factors like mold exposure, H. pylori, dental infections, or gut dysbiosis. These can keep the body in a stressed, inflammatory state that makes it much harder to conceive.
  • Taking random fertility supplements is not the same as targeted support. We discussed how people often end up with an entire shelf of supplements based on internet advice, without knowing what their body actually needs. Dr. Aumatma emphasizes the importance of understanding your own root causes so you can focus on the true needle movers instead of guessing.

Freebies

  • Download the Blueprint for the EXACT tests you need to figure out the root cause of why TTC and fertility have been so challenging.
  • Smart Fertility Analysis

Guest Resources / Connect with Dr. Aumatma Simmons

Supplements We Discussed

  • Prenatal vitamins – Foundational support for nutrient repletion before conception, though Dr. Aumatma notes they are not enough on their own when root causes are present.
  • Fish oil / omega-3s – Often used to support inflammation balance, hormone health, and cellular function. Consider Pure Encapsulations EPA/DHA.
  • Probiotics – May be helpful in some cases, especially when microbiome support is needed, though the right strains and application matter. Consider Rootcology ProB 50.
  • CoQ10 – A commonly used antioxidant in fertility support, though Dr. Aumatma emphasizes that not everyone benefits equally from it.
  • Acetyl-L-carnitine – Mentioned as one of the popular antioxidants often used in fertility protocols. Consider Rootcology Carnitine Blend.
  • Alpha-lipoic acid – Another antioxidant commonly used in fertility support strategies.
  • PQQ – Discussed as a newer antioxidant compound gaining attention in fertility circles.
  • Açai berry – Sometimes used for antioxidant support in fertility protocols.
  • NAD – Mentioned as another popular fertility supplement, though not necessarily a fit for everyone. (If you don’t have a Fullscript account, you can sign up for one with my credentials here.)
  • L-glutamine – Discussed in the context of gut repair and lowering inflammation, which can indirectly support fertility.
  • Aloe juice – Mentioned as a possible support for calming digestive inflammation. Consider Rootcology Aloe, which contains 100% highly concentrated aloe vera powder.
  • DHEA – Can be appropriate in some fertility cases, but not all, which is why individualized care matters.
  • Myo-inositol – Helpful for some people, especially in specific metabolic or hormonal cases, but not universally indicated. Consider Rootcology Myo-Inositol Powder.
  • Selenium – Mentioned in the context of thyroid support and fertility. Consider Rootcology Selenium + Myo-Inositol.
  • Vitamin D – Important for immune balance, hormone health, and fertility support. Consider Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3.

Other Tools and Resources

  • Cycle day 2-4 fertility lab testing – Dr. Aumatma recommends checking FSH, LH, estradiol, and AMH early in the cycle for a basic fertility snapshot.
  • Thyroid antibody testing – A critical but often missed piece for people with Hashimoto’s or suspected thyroid autoimmunity.
  • Vaginal microbiome testing (NGS / next-generation sequencing) – Helps identify microbes that may interfere with conception, implantation, and pregnancy maintenance. Companies like Evvy and Juno Bio offer at-home testing kits.
  • Seed Vaginal Probiotic – Vaginal probiotic suppository designed to support vaginal microbiome and optimal vaginal pH through targeted probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus crispatus.
  • Endometrial microbiome testing – An emerging tool that may offer deeper insight in more complex fertility cases.
  • Mold testing and remediation – Important when hormonal improvements don’t “stick” or when recurrent losses are present.
  • Functional medicine evaluation for gut infections – Helpful for identifying H. pylori, parasites, dysbiosis, and other hidden triggers.
  • Sleep optimization – One of the most accessible and powerful ways to support hormone and fertility health.
  • Reducing toxin exposure – Especially BPA, BPS, phthalates, and glyphosate.
  • Alternative menstrual products – Menstrual cups, discs, period underwear, and cloth options may help reduce glyphosate exposure from conventional tampons and pads.
  • Fertilysis – Company out of Greece that is doing endometrial microbiome testing through menstrual blood. (Aumatma is starting to offer this testing, but notes it is expensive.)

Books and Articles About Fertility, Thyroid Health, and Root Causes

Get the Full Episode Transcript

Let’s Connect!

Got questions? Drop them in the comments! 🙂

About Our Host

Dr. Izabella Wentz 

Dr. Izabella Wentz is a compassionate, innovative, solution-focused integrative pharmacist dedicated to finding the root causes of chronic health conditions. Her passion stems from her own diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009, following a decade of debilitating symptoms.

Dr. Izabella Wentz has written several best-selling books, including the New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, the protocol-based #1 New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back, the Wall Street Journal bestseller Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, and Adrenal Transformation Protocol. Her latest book, IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is now out in the world, and available here!

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About Our Guest

Dr. Aumatma is a double board-certified Naturopathic Endocrinologist, in practice for close to 20 years. Dr. Aumatma founded the Holistic Fertility Institute to support couples to create the family of their dreams, without drugs, injections, or taking out a second mortgage! In recent years, she has also trained hundreds of doctors who want to specialize in fertility. She is the best-selling author of Fertility Secrets: What Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About Baby-Making and host of the award-winning podcast Egg Meets Sperm. Dr. Aumatma is also the co-founder of Madre Fertility, the world’s first Smart Fertility Analysis and individualized guidance app – It’s like having a fertility doctor + coach in your pocket, guiding your fertility journey step by step. Dr. Aumatma has been featured on ABC, FOX, CBS, KTLA, MindBodyGreen, and The Bump as the Holistic Fertility Expert. She is on a mission to help bring healthier babies into the world by creating healthier parents and a healthier planet.

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