48. Gut Health & Fertility: How Inflammation Impacts Egg and Sperm Quality with Aimee Raupp
If you’re feeling frustrated, heartbroken, or completely confused by your fertility journey after a vasectomy reversal—this episode is for you. You’ve been told everything looks “normal,” but you’re still not getting pregnant. You’ve tried tracking, timing, maybe even medications… yet no one is talking to you about your gut health, your inflammation, or how those two things could be quietly impacting your chances of conceiving.
In this episode, I’m joined by bestselling author, acupuncturist, and fertility expert Aimee Raupp to explore the critical (and often ignored) link between gut health, inflammation, and egg and sperm quality. Aimee shares her holistic approach to supporting fertility after vasectomy reversal—one that goes far beyond the standard protocols and digs into the root causes of infertility.
We talk about:
How chronic inflammation affects both egg and sperm quality
Why gut health is the foundation of hormone balance and fertility
What conventional fertility clinics often miss—and how to advocate for more complete care
Practical lifestyle shifts that reduce inflammation and improve conception outcomes
The emotional toll of being told you're "just too old"—and why that's not the full story
If you’re trying to conceive after a vasectomy reversal and feeling unseen or unsupported, this episode will validate what your intuition has been telling you: there’s more to the story, and there’s more you can do—starting with your gut.
XO,
Susan
Thanks for listening!
If you loved this episode, please hit subscribe, leave a review (seriously, I read every single one!), and share it with someone who might need some inspiration.
Connect with Aimee:
Instagram @aimeeraupp
Facebook @bodybeliefexpert
YouTube @aimeeraupp
https://aimeeraupp.com/
Next Steps:
Join us in the free Facebook group: Conceiving After Vasectomy Reversal Community
Get Holistic Fertility Support Straight To Your Inbox
Let’s Connect on Instagram @conceivingaftervr
Schedule Your Free Fertility Consultation
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53:51
47. Top Fertility Nutrition Mistakes That Could Be Holding You Back from TTC with Lily Nichols RDN
Feeling overwhelmed by all the mixed messages about fertility nutrition? It can be so frustrating to navigate the maze of diet recommendations, conflicting advice, and all the “what should I eat?” questions. If you’re wondering how to nourish your body (and your partner’s) the right way for fertility, you’re not alone.
In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Lily Nichols, a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Educator, to get to the bottom of it all. Lily is the author of Real Food for Fertility, Real Food for Pregnancy, and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes, where she shares evidence-based, real-food strategies that help women and couples boost their fertility and reproductive health.
Here’s what we’re chatting about in today’s episode:
The most important nutrients for fertility: What both you and your partner should be eating to support egg quality, sperm health, and overall reproductive health.
Common fertility nutrition mistakes: Could your diet choices be unintentionally holding you back from conception? Lily’s got the answers.
Blood sugar balance and fertility: Why stabilizing blood sugar is essential for both you and your partner to improve fertility and balance hormones.
How food helps balance hormones: What to eat (and what to avoid) to support healthy progesterone levels and maintain a strong luteal phase for a better chance at conception.
Nutrition strategies for women over 35: If you’re in your late 30s or early 40s and feeling the pressure of declining fertility, this episode is packed with tips to improve your chances, no matter your AMH level.
Whether you’re struggling to conceive, dealing with hormone imbalances, or just looking for clear, practical guidance on optimizing your fertility (and your partner’s), you’ll walk away from this episode with actionable tips you can start using today.
XO,
Susan
Thanks for listening!
If you loved this episode, please hit subscribe, leave a review (seriously, I read every single one!), and share it with someone who might need some inspiration.
Connect with Lily:
https://lilynicholsrdn.com
Download first chapter of Real Food for Fertility for free at https://realfoodforfertility.com/
Instagram @LilyNicholsRDN
Next Steps:
Join us in the free Facebook group: Conceiving After Vasectomy Reversal Community
Get Holistic Fertility Support Straight To Your Inbox
Let’s Connect on Instagram @conceivingaftervr
Schedule Your Free Fertility Consultation
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45:36
46. TTC, Parenthood & Marriage: How to Stay Connected Through Every Season with Miranda Bayard-Clark
The TTC journey after a vasectomy reversal can feel overwhelming, isolating, and emotionally exhausting—especially when it starts to put strain on your marriage. You and your spouse want the same thing, but the stress of tracking cycles, dealing with setbacks, and waiting for your miracle baby can make you feel like you're drifting apart.
But what if this season of waiting could actually bring you closer together instead of pulling you apart?
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Miranda Bayard-Clark, couples therapist, relationship consultant, and host of the Love After Lullabies podcast. With over 13 years of experience, Miranda specializes in helping couples navigate the emotional and relational shifts that come with trying to conceive, pregnancy, and parenthood.
Inside This Episode, We Cover:
🔹 How TTC stress impacts your marriage (and what to do about it)
🔹 Small, daily habits to help you and your spouse stay connected—even when disappointment hits
🔹 Why intimacy can start to feel like a chore (and how to bring back emotional connection outside of your fertile window)
🔹 What to do when your partner isn’t as ‘all-in’ as you are with lifestyle changes, tracking, or treatment decisions
🔹 How to prepare your relationship for a new baby—so you don’t wake up months later feeling like roommates
If TTC has started to take over your relationship, you’re struggling with resentment over lifestyle changes, or you feel like you and your spouse are drifting apart under the weight of stress and disappointment, this episode is for you. Whether you already have kids or are trying to conceive your first together, we’re covering practical ways to protect your marriage, reconnect as a couple, and create a foundation that will last long after your baby arrives.
XO,
Susan
Thanks for listening!
If you loved this episode, please hit subscribe, leave a review (seriously, I read every single one!), and share it with someone who might need some inspiration.
Connect with Miranda Bayard-Clark:
Love After Lullabies Podcast
Website: www.loveafterlullabies.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveafterlullabies/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/818194252548981
Use code “CVR600” to save $600 off Miranda’s Baby Ready Blueprint plan
Next Steps:
Join us in the free Facebook group: Conceiving After Vasectomy Reversal Community
Get Holistic Fertility Support Straight To Your Inbox
Let’s Connect on Instagram @conceivingaftervr
Schedule Your Free Fertility Consultation or Phototherapy Consultation
Join the Hope & Healing Fertility Retreat wait list
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45:32
45. Should You Do IVF After Vasectomy Reversal? 5 Things to Know First
Are you feeling the pressure to “just do IVF” after months of trying to conceive post-vasectomy reversal?
You’re not alone—and you’re not without options.
In this deeply honest and eye-opening episode, I’m breaking down what most couples aren’t told about IVF. From success rates and emotional costs to the ethical questions no one prepares you for, we’re going beyond the surface to give you the full truth—so you can make this decision from a place of peace, not panic.
You’ll learn:
✔️ Why IVF is often recommended too soon after reversal
✔️ What the real success rates look like (and how age really factors in)
✔️ The financial, physical, and emotional toll of IVF most couples aren’t warned about
✔️ What IVF post-reversal actually entails—ICSI, sperm retrieval, and more
✔️ The ethical and faith-based considerations that deserve your attention
✔️ 5 critical things every couple should do before considering IVF
Whether you’re just a few months into trying or you’re feeling exhausted by the wait, this episode will help you feel seen, supported, and more empowered in your next step—whatever that looks like.
XO,
Susan
Thanks for listening!
If you loved this episode, please hit subscribe, leave a review (seriously, I read every single one!), and share it with someone who might need some inspiration.
Next Steps:
Join us in Costa Rica for the Refresh & Flourish Retreat, July 30-August 4
Join the Conceiving After Vasectomy Reversal Community
Get Holistic Fertility Support Straight To Your Inbox
Let’s Connect on Instagram @conceivingaftervr
Schedule Your Free Fertility Consultation or Phototherapy Consultation
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33:20
44. Why ‘Normal’ Fertility Results Aren’t Enough: How a Holistic Approach Can Transform Your Chances of Conceiving
Have you been told that your fertility labs are "normal," yet month after month, you’re faced with negative pregnancy tests? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m calling out one of the biggest frustrations I hear from couples trying to conceive — the belief that 'normal' means everything is fine. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.
You’ll learn why standard lab results often miss critical information, especially when it comes to thyroid health, testosterone levels, and overall hormonal balance. I’ll also break down why many doctors stop investigating after a basic panel, leaving couples without answers and feeling like their bodies are broken.
But here’s the truth: Normal doesn’t mean optimal. And optimal is what you need when trying to conceive.
If you’ve been drained emotionally, financially, and physically with nothing to show for it, this episode is your reminder that there’s still hope. You don’t have to accept defeat, and you don’t have to navigate this alone.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
Why 'normal' labs may still be holding you back from getting pregnant
The role of thyroid health and how subclinical hypothyroidism is often ignored
The shocking decline in testosterone levels and why it matters for male fertility
How Western medicine often fails couples by ignoring the holistic factors that impact fertility
Why a personalized, foundational approach can make all the difference
XO,
Susan
Thanks for listening!
If you loved this episode, please hit subscribe, leave a review (seriously, I read every single one!), and share it with someone who might need some inspiration.
Next Steps:
Join us in the free Facebook group: Conceiving After Vasectomy Reversal Community
Get Holistic Fertility Support Straight To Your Inbox
Let’s Connect on Instagram @conceivingaftervr
Schedule Your Free Fertility Consultation or Phototherapy Consultation
About Conceiving After Vasectomy Reversal | Natural Fertility, TTC Over 35, Sperm Health & Faith-Based Support
Trying to conceive after a vasectomy reversal—and wondering why it’s taking so long?
You’re tracking ovulation, eating clean, taking supplements… and still staring down another negative test. It’s frustrating, emotional, and honestly—you wanted a baby like yesterday.
Welcome to Conceiving After Vasectomy Reversal, the faith-based fertility podcast for couples who are doing everything right and still waiting for their miracle.
I’m Susan Gladstein, a holistic fertility practitioner, functional nutrition specialist, and mom of seven—including two miracle babies born in my 40s after my husband’s vasectomy reversal.
Each week, you’ll get faith-based encouragement, natural fertility tips, and honest conversations about hormone health, sperm quality, cycle tracking, and what doctors don’t always explain.
Whether you’re months into trying or years post-reversal, this podcast will help you cut through the noise, support your body, and walk in faith—one hopeful step at a time.
Even in the waiting, God is working.
Listen to Conceiving After Vasectomy Reversal | Natural Fertility, TTC Over 35, Sperm Health & Faith-Based Support, Real Health with Karl Henry and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app