For years I believed fertility was mostly about biology, timing, ovulation, age, and egg count. But after living through four pregnancy losses and sitting across from thousands of women asking the same question of “Why didn’t anyone tell me this sooner?” I realized there’s a missing link in how we think about fertility and pregnancy.
It’s not just about hormones or age. It’s about inflammation, the silent signal your body has been sending all along.
RELATED: The impact of inflammation on fertility and pregnancy outcomes
What inflammation really is (and why it matters for fertility)
When we hear “inflammation,” we often think of pain, redness, or swelling, but inflammation itself isn’t inherently bad. It’s your immune system’s built-in repair signal and how your immune system protects you. When you cut your finger, your body sends out immune cells and cytokines to heal the wound. That’s acute inflammation, and it’s short-term and helpful.
But when that immune response stays switched on because of chronic stress, poor sleep, nutrient deficiencies, or environmental toxins, it becomes chronic inflammation. That’s when problems start. Think of it as static interference in your body’s communication network. The brain acts as air traffic control, sending hormones to the ovaries, uterus, and thyroid. When inflammation is high, those signals get garbled, and the effects ripple through your fertility, pregnancy, and even IVF outcomes.
This interference can disrupt ovulation, impair egg quality, reduce sperm function, and even impact implantation.
RELATED: What to Know About Omega 3 and Pregnancy
How inflammation affects fertility in women and men
For women, inflammation can impair the delicate process of folliculogenesis, the growth and maturation of eggs inside the ovarian “vault.” When inflammation is high, oxidative stress damages the cell’s energy center (the mitochondria), leading to eggs that are less likely to fertilize or divide normally. Inflammation also directly inhibits the brain’s ability to receive and respond to signals correctly which hinders proper hormone production and ovulation.
In men, inflammation plays a similar role. It can lower sperm count, motility, and even damage the DNA inside sperm cells. That’s why I always say: Fertility is a team project. Optimizing inflammation isn’t just her job, it’s both.
For both partners, supporting the body with anti-inflammatory nutrients like omega-3s can make a measurable difference. I love that WeNatal DHA + provides pure, third-party-tested omega-3s in clinical doses to support this crucial balance.
WeNatal Omega DHA +
Why “inflammaging” makes fertility harder sooner
There’s a growing concept in medicine called “inflammaging” or the idea that chronic, low-grade inflammation accelerates biological aging. The same processes that make your joints stiff or your skin dull can also affect your ovarian reserve and the health of your eggs.
Think of your eggs as the most delicate cells in your body. They’ve been with you since before you were born. Over time, chronic inflammation slowly chips away at their ability to divide and grow normally. This is one of the hidden reasons why fertility challenges are rising, even among younger women.
Inflammation during Pregnancy: When it helps, when it harms
Here’s the fascinating part: not all inflammation in pregnancy is bad. In fact, your immune system needs to shift between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory phases at just the right times.
- Pro-inflammatory at implantation (so the embryo can attach)
- Anti-inflammatory during mid-pregnancy (so the body can tolerate the baby)
- Pro-inflammatory again at labor (to trigger contractions)
Problems arise when this balance is disrupted and inflammation stays too high for too long. That’s when we start to see increased risk for preeclampsia, preterm birth, growth restriction, or miscarriage. Supporting this immune balance starts before conception through nutrient repletion, healthy gut function, and reducing environmental stressors.
RELATED: Environmental toxins and fertility: What you need to know
Lifestyle and nutrients: The frontline against inflammation
The foundation of fertility is whole-body health. You can’t separate your ovaries from your metabolism or your uterus from your nervous system. Every choice you make, from your sleep to what is on your plate, sends a message to your reproductive system.
Here are some of the most evidence-based ways to lower inflammation and support fertility naturally:
- Prioritize sleep – Hormones recalibrate overnight; aim for 7 to 9 hours in a dark room.
- Move daily – Even 4,000 steps a day improves insulin sensitivity and lowers inflammatory markers.
- Manage stress – Breathwork, nature walks, journaling. These aren’t luxuries; they’re medicine.
- Nourish deeply – Focus on omega-3s, antioxidants, choline, and B vitamins. CoQ10 can improve mitochondrial health and egg quality, WeNatal’s Egg Quality + is made to support egg health.
- Limit toxins – Choose clean personal care, avoid plastics, and use a good air filter. Your eggs are exposed to everything you are.
Egg Quality +
The goal isn’t zero inflammation—It’s balance
Your immune system isn’t the enemy; it’s your greatest ally when balanced. Suppressing inflammation completely isn’t the goal. Instead, we want to help train your immune system to respond appropriately which allows for it to heal, recover, and quiet down.
That’s the heart of what I teach in The Fertility Formula. Learning to interpret your body’s signals for your cycle, your mood, your energy, your digestion, gives you more insight into your hormones and inflammation than a single lab test ever could.
Your body is always speaking to you. The key is learning how to listen.
A note from WeNatal on the connection between inflammation and fertility
We believe that understanding the connection between inflammation and fertility empowers you to take back control of your reproductive health. While we can’t change our genetics or the past, we can create a healthier environment for our eggs, sperm, and future pregnancies, one daily choice at a time. Small shifts in nutrition, stress, sleep, and lifestyle can make a profound impact on lowering inflammation and supporting conception, a healthy pregnancy, and better IVF outcomes.
Our formulations, including WeNatal for Her, WeNatal for Him, Omega DHA +, and Egg Quality +, were created to help couples nourish their bodies with the nutrients shown to support hormone health, reduce oxidative stress, and protect egg and sperm health. These science-backed essentials are designed to support you on the journey, no matter where you are today.
Because reducing inflammation isn’t just about fertility, it’s about your long-term health, your energy, and the environment you’re creating for your future family.
