Preconception is a critical phase when intentional steps can be taken to optimize health before an individual or couple actively attempts to conceive a child.

Although there are outliers, such as genetic anomalies, physical blockages, or age restrictions, some of the most common obstacles to improved fertility are lifestyle choices and environmental exposures that impair reproductive capacity.

Not all aspects of our lifestyle are within our control, however, many elements are. In module 1, you’ll learn effective strategies to help clients implement specific lifestyle practices during the preconception period to create the ideal environment for a future pregnancy.

The nutritional status of a couple prior to conception can impact their child’s health into adulthood. Therefore, making nutrition a priority during the preconception window is about more than just fertility outcomes, it can serve to nourish and positively impact the epigenetics of future generations.

Module 2 covers the precise nutrients necessary to enhance fertility and increase the ease of conception. You’ll learn about the critical role that each nutrient plays during the preconception period and how they influence the menstrual cycle, egg and sperm quality, the hormones needed for pregnancy to occur, and more.

We discuss the recommended daily requirements, and how to adjust all recommendations to accommodate various dietary preferences. We explore the best food sources of each nutrient and how to tell if your client is confidently consuming adequate amounts through food alone, or if additional supplementation may be recommended. You’ll gain a thorough understanding of the various nutrient forms found in supplements, which forms are most bioavailable, and how to create a personalized supplement protocol for each client’s unique needs.

There are four different phases of the menstrual cycle, and hormonal shifts in each phase can heavily influence mood, emotions, energy, food cravings, and more. Most women don't know how to read their cycles, or that normal monthly cervical mucus reveals incredibly insightful cues about their fertility. Understanding the phases of the cycle is exceptionally important when preparing to conceive.

As a Certified Nutrition Consultant, you have the unique opportunity to help others live more harmoniously, in sync with their menstrual cycle. In module 3, you’ll learn about each phase, the length, what occurs, and how to nurture and nourish it. You’ll also learn how to identify and interpret various fertility signs that the body offers, the critical fertile window for conception, best fertility intimacy practices, plus the benefits and disadvantages of various birth control options — including when and how to discontinue hormonal birth control before having a baby.

In module 4, you’ll acquire the skills to recognize and naturally support both the most common and the lesser-known reproductive health conditions that impede fertility.

This module also covers how to identify the main symptoms associated with each of these conditions, how common each condition is, and how to assess a client’s unique needs.

We provide the tools that enable you to create holistic protocols to support a wide variety of hormone imbalances, menstrual irregularities, PCOS, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, recurrent miscarriages, post-birth control syndrome, and several other conditions that affect both female and male fertility.

In module 5, you’ll gain insight into the various factors that impact the rising rates of infertility and be able to offer effective holistic support. As a Certified Nutrition Consultant, you’ll use a unique, comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying causes of infertility to help your clients navigate this journey with knowledge and confidence.

This module also discusses hormone testing, semen analysis, and other fertility testing, including how to interpret results. You’ll also acquire the skills and an understanding to guide clients through the overwhelming world of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), as well as alternative functional medicine treatments. We thoroughly explore all conventional recommendations, what’s involved in each treatment and procedure, benefits and disadvantages, success rates, and what can be done to support these options holistically.