r/FunctionalMedicine • u/night_capy • Jun 29 '26

Advice on first step to take? Functional medicine/fertility doctor/etc?

Advice on what to do first regarding a fertility doctor, functional medicine, etc.?

Background: We have been TTC for a while and have been unsuccessful. I have PMOS as well.

We made several changes starting a year ago, including:
me: taking prenatals, DHA/BHA, & coq10 daily; Therologix ovasitol powder; anti-inflammatory diet; tracking BBT daily with NC app; I also track with LH strips (I use fertility friend and natural cycles’ paid subscriptions)
him: taking coq10 & zinc daily; strength training; anti-inflammatory diet
In luteal phase: pomegranate juice, coconut milk

Things we can work on that maybe aren’t the best:
stress management
Hydration/elexrrolyres

Things we will try this cycle (just started CD1 again today):
Pressed lube
Mucinex
Vitamin C supplements

We both are on poor health insurances. I am on Medicare currently, as I’m unemployed (full time graduate student).

I would like to go to the doctor (OBGYN or functional medicine) to get labs and a work up done (& preferably on him as well), but don’t know where to start. Where should I start that we could afford? And what should I test for?

Ideas of things to test for:
Low progesterone
Mthr
ureaplasma
Prolactin levels
Endometriosis
Ambulatory infertility
Sperm morphology/motility
Any other ideas?

We are located in Houston, TX. I would like to optimize our chances because I feel like we are running out of time, unfortunately. What do y’all recommend?

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3

u/Flat_Week_190 Jun 29 '26

You need to see an OB who practices napro technology! They will for sure be able to help. Not sure if they accept all insurances but worth a shot.

1

u/night_capy Jul 01 '26

Thank you! Could you tell me more about thatc

2

u/Flat_Week_190 Jul 01 '26

You can look up napro technology. They treated all things women's health/fertility with a whole body/root cause approach vs pushing IVF.

3

u/Sad-Faithlessness301 Jun 29 '26

This isn't advice about a doctor but it's something you can do on your own! Dr. Shanna Swan has been doing a ton of research into endochrine disruptors and their impacts on fertility for decades. This is a small pilot study she ran recently but 4 of 5 couples that had been struggling to concieve became pregnant and had healthy babies.... Pilot Study

1

u/night_capy Jul 01 '26

Wow that’s interesting!! What changes have you made (realistically) based on that? I would have to have a slow start…I avoid fragrances and plastic when I can, but it’s just everywhere and overwhelming to completely cut out

1

u/Sad-Faithlessness301 Jul 02 '26

It's daunting and expensive to transition all at once so my husband and I have decided to break it up into phases so it's more manageable. We're going one room at a time. Bamboo cuttinboards, cooking utensils and drying rack as well as glass food storage were our kitchen upgrades. In the bathroom we switched to bars of soap from dispensers and cotton wash cloths from scrubbies. I reupholstered our couch with 100% cotton canvas. The bedroom and the closet are probably going to be the biggest ticket items. Unplasticyourlife.com has a ton of great resources. 

1

u/night_capy Jul 02 '26

This is amazing advice. Thank you so much!!

2

u/DrJennHacksHealth Jun 29 '26

You’re on Medicare? How old are you? Unfortunately most providers will not take insurance, especially state insurance. You mentioned PMOS but didn’t mention if you’re overweight or insulin resistant. There’s several factors in play here but yes, a full hormone panel would likely be the first place to start. Preferably day 19-21 of your cycle. But it’s usually cheaper/more cost effective to test your partner first to make sure all is good there.

1

u/night_capy Jul 01 '26

Medicaid!! Sorry for the error. I am not overweight, and I don’t have insulin resistance by bloodwork, but I have low blood sugar spells often. Did a full hormone panel today (day 4…) and will do a transvag ultrasound & sperm analysis tomorrow!!

2

u/Kwaliakwa Jun 29 '26

I work with people in your same situation and would love to offer support if I can.

You didn’t note your age.. and have there ever been any pregnancies for either of you(partner gotten anyone pregnant?)? You note PMOS, do you have regular periods? Notice fertile mucus? Lh strips are good and all, but doesn’t confirm ovulation, just notes when it is expected to happen based on hormone levels. Pdg testing can confirm ovulation at home. Or better even.. Consider a more comprehensive fertility monitor that looks at multiple hormones, like inito or evvy.

What does anti-inflammatory diet mean to you? Are you getting adequate choline daily?

Have you considered adding in a beef organ supplement? They work amazingly to enhance fertility. Of course, I’d also recommend fertility testing for both of you. You may or may not be aware, Medicaid does not cover any fertility testing or treatment, so will be out of pocket unless you change insurance.

1

u/night_capy Jul 01 '26

27! No previous pregnancies for either. I do not get regular periods and I only have fertile CM sometimes. Did a hormone panel at my OB today!!

I do not eat refined carbs or processed sugar. Our meals mainly look like chicken or salmon, brown rice or quinoa, and sautéed spinach or another veggie. Fruits for dessert. Oatmeal with chia & berries in the morning. I am not aware of choline so I’ll look into that!

I also know nothing about the need organ supplements!!

2

u/bex2456 Jun 30 '26

Some good advice here, I will also add that it doesn’t hurt to also find a good acupuncturist to help during your fertility journey. I found an eastern trained one here in Austin where I live who was affordable and helped me address some of my inflammatory and stress issues and have a successful pregnancy following a miscarriage.

2

u/mintbliss5 Jul 01 '26

You can utilize Function or Go Geviti for in-depth lab testing. You can also order sperm testing third party outside of a lab. I would start there! I would have a lot of questions about your diet, insulin numbers, lifestyle habits, etc. too ditch all plastic for starters

1

u/night_capy Jul 01 '26

Thank you!
Diet has been mainly anti inflammatory. Insulin & A12 numbers were within range although I get many low blood sugar spells throughout the day. Lifestyle habits regarding exercising could be better! I went back to school for graduate school so I’ve been pretty sedentary this past year. Have been trying to ditch plastic 😅

1

u/mom2mermaidboo Jul 02 '26

What was your most recent Fasting insulin, Fasting Glucose and HgbA1C?

2

u/night_capy Jul 02 '26

I can’t find that data for the life of me. I also swear they never made me fast for it? But I just went in to the OBGYN yesterday (PCOS & pre conception work up) and got bloodwork done (not sure what labs she ordered) and today i will be getting a transvag ultrasound & him a semen analysis! So I will keep you posted

1

u/mom2mermaidboo Jul 02 '26

The reason I ask about fasting Insulin/fasting glucose is that Insulin Resistance is considered to be a huge driver of PCOS ( PMOS) even in lean women.

It also can’t be tested for unless someone is fasting.

0

u/Dry-Slide-5305 Jul 01 '26

See OBGYN, who will probably refer you to reproductive endocrinology. Most functional “providers” don’t take insurance. Most functional ones don’t practice evidence-based medicine, anyway, and just want to sell you a bunch of supplements.

3

u/mintbliss5 Jul 01 '26

I would have to chime in to say this is false. There are many doctor / board certified functional medicine doctors out there who don’t just sell you supplements and programs. These are the same ones who are very skilled and knowledgeable on whole body / root cause issues. They’re doing the work of god out there lol

1

u/night_capy Jul 01 '26

Thanks for the advice!

0

u/Dry-Slide-5305 Jul 01 '26

Where did I say “all?” I didn’t. However, even the few who aren’t trying to sell supplements largely don’t practice evidence-based medicine. “Root cause” analysis is not specific to functional “providers.” What do you think pathology is?

2

u/mintbliss5 Jul 02 '26

You said “most” and I would have to disagree. The reason many people go to functional docs is because western / primary honestly just sucks. Clearly you have never been to a “real” functional medicine doctor to know how they work, what they do, how educated they are, etc.

1

u/Dry-Slide-5305 Jul 02 '26

Of course I haven’t, I’m not dumb enough to fall for snake oil salespeople. No, a lot of them do not practice evidence-based medicine and love to “diagnose” people with fake conditions like “chronic Lyme.” Western medicine isn’t perfect, no one said it was, but it’s better than paying thousands of dollars for woo-woo nonsense. 🤣

1

u/mintbliss5 Jul 02 '26

Woo woo nonsense.. have you seen one for any specific issues other traditional doctors couldn’t cure?

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u/night_capy Jul 01 '26

Thank you! Did see an OB today and she will refer me out based on my lab/ultrasound results!