What is Infertility?

Infertility is usually defined as a couple’s inability to conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse. It’s a deeply personal and often emotionally taxing experience that affects roughly 9 million women in the United States alone. If you or someone you love is dealing with fertility challenges, you’ve likely felt the physical strain, emotional roller‑coaster, and financial pressure that come with a journey that offers few clear answers and even fewer guarantees.

View Common Women’s Symptoms We Treat

IVF: Hopeful, but Not Always Enough

  • Cost: Each IVF cycle runs between $12,000 and $15,000.
  • Success: Outcomes are far from certain; many patients need multiple cycles.
  • Impact: Hormonal regimens, repeated needle sticks, and the emotional ups and downs can be exhausting.

While IVF remains a powerful tool, it is also aggressive, pricey, and not universally effective. Consequently, more couples are exploring integrative fertility care to boost their chances of success while restoring overall bodily balance.

A Holistic Approach to Fertility

At Dr. Skip’s clinic we treat the whole person—not just the reproductive organs. We examine how the endocrine, circulatory, and other systems influence fertility and then address any underlying imbalances.

Key pillars of our program

By blending Western medical science with Traditional Medicine, we create a healthier, more receptive environment for conception—whether you’re aiming for natural pregnancy or planning to combine the approach with IVF.

Integrative Care: Complement or Alternative to IVF

  • Standalone option: Some patients achieve pregnancy naturally after completing our program.
  • Adjunct to IVF: When paired with IVF, our treatments can prime the body, improve egg quality, and raise implantation rates, giving you a better shot at success.

What to Expect at Your First Visit

Your journey begins with a 90‑minute comprehensive consultation that includes:

  • Detailed review of reproductive and overall medical history
  • Assessment of hormonal health and functional endocrine balance
  • Creation of a personalized treatment plan

You may also receive recommendations for:

  • Functional lab tests (thyroid panels, iron status, inflammation markers, etc.)
  • Pelvic therapy and scar‑tissue release techniques
  • Body‑alignment evaluations

After this appointment you’ll leave with a clear roadmap, concrete options, and a supportive partner for the road ahead.

The Bodywork Advantage

One of the most effective components of our fertility program is Bodywork therapy—a hands‑on, non‑invasive modality that focuses on pelvic alignment, adhesion breakdown, and enhanced blood flow to the reproductive organs.

Core bodywork techniques

  • Visceral manipulation (external abdominal therapy)
  • Infrared heat to boost circulation
  • Oxygen therapy for healthier tissue oxygenation
  • Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (when appropriate)
  • Tailored Traditional Medicine protocols

A four-year study of patients undergoing Bodywork Therapy for infertility showed an 83% pregnancy success rate within one year of finishing the Shared Journey Fertility program.  The study was completed in September 2012 and was published in the Midwifery Today Spring 2013 journal.  Click HERE to read the Merciér Therapy Study Abstract.

Learn More About the Mercier Technique

You’re Not Alone—We’re With You Every Step

Fertility can feel isolating, but our “Fertility Is a Shared Journey” program offers year‑round support from the first appointment through treatment and beyond. You deserve compassionate, evidence‑based care and a dedicated team that helps you build the family you envision.

Schedule a Consultation Today

Take the first step toward renewed hope and whole‑body wellness. Contact us to book your initial visit and start your personalized fertility plan.

Additional Information

We strongly recommend a full blood‑and‑saliva analysis before Dr. Skip designs your fertility protocol.

Why this matters

  • Unique perspective: Dr. Skip’s training in functional medicine and functional endocrinology means he looks at labs differently than a typical OB‑GYN, reproductive endocrinologist, or primary‑care doctor.
  • Whole‑body view: The test evaluates every major system—thyroid, immune, detox pathways, digestion, and nutrient absorption—so any hidden issue that could be affecting fertility is identified.

What happens next

  • Based on the results, Dr. Skip creates a personalized health protocol that may:
    • Restore proper thyroid function
    • Resolve immune or inflammatory imbalances
    • Support detoxification processes
    • Fix digestive problems that prevent optimal nutrient uptake

By addressing these underlying factors, the protocol takes a truly holistic approach to improve your chances of conception.

Auricular Therapy for Fertility

Auricular (ear) therapy uses tiny “ear seeds” placed on specific points of the ear to trigger a healing response throughout the body. We offer an affordable, ready‑to‑use fertility kit that you can apply yourself and keep for ongoing home treatment. The kit includes seed placements for every phase of the menstrual cycle—and even a protocol for the male partner. It works well alongside your TCM cycle‑optimizing herbs and any bioidentical hormone replacement you may be using.

How the Kit Supports Each Cycle Phase

  • Phase 1 – Period
    • Enhances blood flow to promote complete shedding of the old uterine lining, preparing the uterus for a fresh, healthy lining.
  • Phase 2 – Pre‑Ovulation
    • Encourages the growth of a robust uterine lining and supports the maturation of one or more healthy eggs.
  • Phase 3 – Ovulation
    • Boosts circulation for optimal egg release, balances hormones, relaxes the fallopian tubes, and raises uterine energy to aid implantation of a fertilized embryo.
  • Phase 4 – Post‑Ovulation
    • Maintains hormonal balance, continues to support implantation and early pregnancy, and eases PMS symptoms if pregnancy has not occurred.

By applying the ear seeds according to the protocol, you can reinforce your body’s natural fertility rhythms while complementing other treatments you’re already receiving.

Should scarring from C-Section or other abdominal surgeries be contributing to your fertility challenges, additional comprehensive scar therapies can be added when needed.

Preparing for IVF with Dr. Skip’s Protocol

If you’re already scheduled for an IVF cycle, we begin our program before the ovarian‑stimulation phase. Starting early helps:

  • Reduce the number of stimulation cycles you may need.
  • Avoid interference with the “stim” phase—any work during stimulation can overstimulate the ovaries and risk cycle cancellation.
  • Give you ample time to schedule appointments well ahead of your cycle start date.

Our ultimate aim is to support you physically and emotionally so you enter IVF with:

  • Healthy pelvic organs
  • Balanced hormones
  • A calm, confident mindset

Dr. Skip will create an optimal internal environment—both in the pelvis and throughout the body—to give you the best chance of a successful first IVF attempt.

Why Build a Strong Foundation First?

  • Know your body’s rhythm: Understanding your natural fertility signals makes IVF less of a leap of faith and more of a coordinated step.
  • Identify hidden tension: Many women mistake chronic abdominal tightness for “normal.” Our assessment uncovers and releases that cement‑like tension.
  • Non‑invasive correction: A solid, holistic base often resolves issues that would otherwise require more aggressive interventions.

Our program is custom‑designed for each individual and couple, offering a gentle yet highly effective pathway to conscious conception.

Bottom line: Start the protocol before stimulation, give yourself time to learn your body, and let Dr. Skip help you create the healthiest possible environment for a successful IVF journey.

Evidence‑Based Practices for Boosting Fertility

The recommendations below are drawn from years of research, clinical work, and countless hours of continuing medical education since I earned my degree more than a decade ago. Adding one—or several—of these habits to your daily routine can:

  • Enhance your body’s natural fertility mechanisms
  • Improve overall wellness
  • Lighten the load on the delicate systems that are often over‑taxed during a fertility journey

All of the techniques listed have been chosen for efficacy, safety, and ease of home use. Some may feel unfamiliar if you’re new to integrative or “traditional” healing methods, but we’ve employed them successfully for many years, and each one is incorporated into Dr. Skip’s regimen only after careful evaluation.

Important: Your protocol should be customized to address your specific issues. Use good judgment, read the full Disclaimer before trying anything, and remember that any of these practices are undertaken voluntarily and at your own discretion.

Home‑Friendly Fertility Boosters (with links)

  • Magnesium Baths – Soak in a warm Epsom‑salt bath to relax muscles, improve circulation, and support hormone balance.
    👉 How to Prepare a Magnesium Bath
  • Essential Oils for Fertility & Progesterone Production – Certain oils (e.g., clary sage, rose, and geranium) can help regulate hormone levels when used aromatically or topically (diluted).
    👉 Essential Oil Guide for Fertility
  • Nutrition Guide for Infertility – A targeted eating plan rich in antioxidants, omega‑3s, folate, and trace minerals that support egg quality and sperm health.
  • Stress Management & Breathing Techniques – Simple diaphragmatic breathing, paced respiration, and mindfulness exercises that lower cortisol and create a calmer internal environment for conception.

Quick Tips for Getting Started

  1. Pick one practice that feels most approachable and integrate it consistently for at least two weeks before adding another.
  2. Track your response (energy, mood, sleep, any subtle changes in cycle patterns) in a journal.
  3. Stay hydrated and maintain a balanced diet—these basics amplify the effect of any supplemental technique.
  4. Consult your practitioner (Dr. Skip or your fertility specialist) if you have any medical conditions, are pregnant, or are taking medication that could interact with the suggested methods.

By thoughtfully incorporating these evidence‑backed strategies, you give your body a stronger, more harmonious foundation for fertility—and you do it in a way that’s safe, affordable, and entirely under your control.