Understanding Fertility
Cycle, ovulation, hormones, AMH, ovarian reserve, age.
- Menstrual Cycle — ACOG, The Menstrual Cycle: Menstruation, Ovulation, and How Pregnancy Occurs. An excellent, recently updated introduction to the cycle and its relationship with ovulation and conception.
- Ovulation — ASRM / ReproductiveFacts, Infertility: An Overview. How ovulation relates to the cycle, progesterone and fertility, and how clinicians determine whether ovulation is occurring.
- Hormones — ASRM / ReproductiveFacts, Diagnostic Testing for Infertility. FSH, TSH, prolactin, progesterone and LH, and the role of hormonal testing.
- AMH — ACOG, The Use of Antimüllerian Hormone in Women Not Seeking Fertility Care. Explains not only what AMH is, but what it cannot tell us — avoiding the misconception that “AMH = how fertile I am.”
- Ovarian Reserve — ASRM / ReproductiveFacts, Ovarian Reserve: Predicting Fertility Potential in Women.
- Age & Fertility — ACOG, Having a Baby After Age 35. How egg number, egg quality and the likelihood of conception change with age.
When Pregnancy Does Not Happen
Infertility, unexplained and secondary infertility, evaluation.
- Infertility — ACOG, Treating Infertility. What infertility means, common causes, the role of age and available treatment options.
- Unexplained Infertility — ASRM / ReproductiveFacts, Unexplained Infertility.
- Secondary Infertility — Mayo Clinic, Secondary infertility: Why does it happen?
- Infertility Evaluation — ACOG, Evaluating Infertility. When evaluation should begin, what the first consultation involves, and which tests may be performed.
IVF & Assisted Reproduction
Preparation, process, embryo transfer, unsuccessful attempts.
- Preparing for IVF — ASRM / ReproductiveFacts, Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Ovarian reserve, AMH, FSH/estradiol, AFC and uterine assessment.
- The IVF Process — ASRM / ReproductiveFacts, IVF Treatment Journey. Ovarian stimulation → egg retrieval → fertilization → embryo development → embryo transfer.
- Embryo Transfer — ASRM / ReproductiveFacts, Elective Single-Embryo Transfer (eSET).
- Unsuccessful IVF Attempts — HFEA, Coping if treatment doesn't work. Possible reasons treatment may not work, and the emotional impact of an unsuccessful cycle.
Pregnancy Loss
Miscarriage, recurrent pregnancy loss, trying again.
- Miscarriage — Mayo Clinic, Miscarriage: Symptoms and Causes. Explains that many early miscarriages are associated with chromosomal abnormalities rather than something the woman “did wrong.”
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss — ASRM / ReproductiveFacts, Treatment of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.
- Trying Again After Miscarriage — Mayo Clinic, Miscarriage: Diagnosis and Treatment. Physical and emotional recovery, and when further evaluation may be needed.
Body, Stress & Emotions
Anxiety, nervous system, psychological burden, relationship with the body.
- Stress & Fertility — ASRM / ReproductiveFacts, Stress and Infertility. A balanced source: we do not know with certainty whether stress by itself reduces the chance of conception, while stress management can improve quality of life and a sense of control.
- Nervous System & Stress Response — PubMed, Relationship between psychological stress and reproductive outcome in women undergoing IVF. Useful as scientific background — association does not prove causation.
- Psychological Burden of Infertility — ASRM / ReproductiveFacts, Infertility Counseling and Support.
- Relationship with the Body / Self-Image — ASRM / ReproductiveFacts, Infertility: An Overview.
Lifestyle & Fertility
Sleep, exercise, nutrition and everyday habits.
- Sleep & Fertility — PubMed, Sleep disturbances and female infertility: a systematic review.
- Exercise & Fertility — ACOG, Good Health Before Pregnancy: Prepregnancy Care.
- Nutrition & Fertility — ASRM, Optimizing Natural Fertility. Places limits on many popular claims about “fertility diets.”
- Everyday Habits & Fertility — ASRM / ReproductiveFacts, Optimizing Natural Fertility. Smoking, alcohol, caffeine, weight, diet and more.
Pregnancy & Well-Being
Support for women after conception.
- Overall Care & Well-Being — WHO, Recommendations on Antenatal Care for a Positive Pregnancy Experience.
- Nausea & Vomiting – Acupressure — PubMed, Efficacy and Safety of Acupressure in Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy (2024, 11 RCTs / 1,378 women).
- Nausea & Vomiting – Acupuncture — PubMed, Acupuncture for Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy (2024, 24 RCTs / 2,390 women).
- Reflexology During Pregnancy — PubMed, Effects of Foot Reflexology Massage on Pregnant Women (13 randomized studies / 1,189 women).
- Sleep, Fatigue & Relaxation — NHS, Tiredness and Sleep Problems in Pregnancy.
- Complementary Interventions for Nausea — PubMed, Comparative Effectiveness of Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy.
Where a source is linked, the title opens the original page. For the clinical evidence behind the Holistic Fertility® techniques, see Research & Sources.