Functional Lab Recommendations to Improve Fertility

When you’re trying to conceive, it can be discouraging when everything appears “normal” on paper, yet you still don’t feel like yourself. You may be experiencing fatigue, irregular cycles, poor sleep, mood changes, or other signs that your body isn’t functioning optimally, despite being told by your doctor that your labs look fine.

Investing in your health now is not just about improving your chances of conception, it’s also about supporting long-term wellness, reducing the risk of pregnancy complications, and promoting a smoother postpartum recovery. By identifying and addressing imbalances before pregnancy, you give your body the best foundation for both fertility and overall lifelong health.

This is where functional lab testing becomes invaluable. Instead of simply checking whether your results fall within standard reference ranges, functional testing helps identify how your body is functioning on a deeper level. These insights can uncover underlying imbalances—nutrient deficiencies, hormone irregularities, or metabolic stressors—that can quietly interfere with fertility long before they show up on conventional labs.

Below are some of the key tests I use to help women uncover root causes, restore balance, and build a strong foundation for conception.

1. Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)

Minerals are the spark plugs of the body. They influence everything from hormone balance to thyroid function and stress response. An HTMA measures mineral levels and heavy metals over a 3-month period, giving a picture of how your body is functioning on a cellular level, not just what’s circulating in your blood that day.

Key insights HTMA provides for fertility:

• Calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium balance (crucial for ovulation and adrenal health)

• Copper and zinc ratios (important for hormone production and implantation)

• Stress patterns that can impact the thyroid, progesterone, and blood sugar balance

  
  

2. DUTCH Test (Comprehensive Hormone Test)

The DUTCH (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) test is one of the best ways to see how your body is producing and metabolizing hormones. Blood work only shows static levels at one point in time, while the DUTCH test reveals hormone patterns over a 24-hour period.

This can help identify:

• Low progesterone (which supports implantation and early pregnancy)

• Estrogen dominance or poor detoxification of estrogen

• Cortisol rhythm (stress hormone output throughout the day)

• DHEA and testosterone imbalances that affect egg quality and libido

  
  

3. Organic Acids Test (OAT)

The OAT (Organic Acids Test) provides another layer of insight into what’s happening inside the body, especially when it comes to nutrient deficiencies and metabolic health. It measures over 70 different markers that reflect how well your cells are functioning and how your body is using nutrients for energy.

What we can learn from an OAT:

• B-vitamin, carnitine, and CoQ10 status (critical for egg quality and energy production)

• Gut imbalances, including yeast or bacterial overgrowth that can disrupt hormone metabolism

• Detoxification and oxidative stress markers that impact fertility and overall wellness

• Neurotransmitter metabolism, which connects to mood, sleep, and stress response

When combined with HTMA and DUTCH results, the OAT gives an incredible big-picture view of where your body might be struggling and what needs the most support.

4. Comprehensive Blood Work with Your Primary Care Provider (PCP)

Your PCP can order a thorough blood panel, and this is a great starting point to rule out obvious issues and establish baseline markers. The key is to make sure your labs include a full thyroid panel and not just TSH.

Ask your doctor to include:

• TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3

• Thyroid antibodies (TPO and TG antibodies) to screen for autoimmune thyroid issues

• Iron panel and ferritin, Vitamin D, B12, fasting glucose, A1C, and lipid panel

  
  

Once you get your blood results, that’s where working with a functional practitioner (like me!) comes in. While doctors check if results fall within standard lab ranges, functional medicine looks at whether your numbers are in the optimal ranges for energy, hormone health, and fertility.

Why Functional Labs Matter

Fertility is about so much more than your reproductive organs! It’s a reflection of your whole-body health. Nutrient depletion, stress, gut imbalances, poor detox pathways, and blood sugar dysregulation can all silently interfere with conception. Functional labs help uncover those hidden imbalances so you can finally start addressing the why.

Even if your doctor says your labs are “normal,” your body might still be operating below optimal levels. This is increasingly common in today’s world due to:

• Soil depletion, which reduces the mineral and vitamin content of our food

• Chronic stress, which accelerates nutrient turnover and impacts hormone balance

• Environmental toxin exposure, which can burden detox pathways and hormone metabolism

  
  

These aren’t meant to alarm you, they’re simply realities that many women face. The good news is that once we can see what’s happening inside your body, we can take targeted steps to restore balance and support fertility.

Start Making Changes That Move the Needle

Working with a practitioner allows us to take a proactive, personalized approach, identifying imbalances early, supporting detoxification and nutrient repletion, and helping your body function in the optimal ranges that support fertility.

By understanding your mineral status, hormone patterns, cellular metabolism, and nutrient deficiencies, we can craft a roadmap that gives your body the tools it needs to thrive.

You deserve to feel your best while preparing for pregnancy, and together, we can start making changes that truly move the needle toward long-term health and fertility

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to uncover hidden imbalances, support your fertility, and start making changes that truly make a difference, you can email me at madelynperez@restore-functional-wellness.com or book a discovery call today. Let’s create a personalized plan that works for your body and your journey.

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