If You’re Not Pooping & Sweating, You’re Not Detoxing — And It Could Be Affecting Your Fertility

By: Dr. Alyssa McPeak, DC, CFMP

Detoxing is everywhere these days—teas, cleanses, powders, supplements, 7-day resets, 30-day challenges, “metabolic detoxes,” and everything in between. But here’s what most women don’t realize:

👉 Your body already knows how to detox.

👉 And if you’re not pooping and sweating regularly, your detox pathways aren’t working.

👉 When detox pathways are backed up, your hormones—and your fertility—are the first to feel the effects.

Let’s break down what detoxing actually means, why it matters for getting pregnant, and how to support your body’s natural detox systems so your hormones can thrive.

Detoxing Isn’t a Trend — It’s a Daily Job Your Body Does Automatically

You don’t need a fancy cleanse to detox. You don’t need to starve yourself. You don’t need powders, teas, or quick fixes.

Your body detoxes every single day through four major systems:

1. Your bowels

Your liver filters toxins, old hormones, chemicals, and waste and sends them to your gut to be eliminated through your stool.

2. Your sweat

Your skin releases toxins, heavy metals, and metabolic waste through sweat.

3. Your urine

Your kidneys filter toxins from your bloodstream.

4. Your lymphatic system

This system moves waste out of your tissues and into detox pathways.

When any of these get backed up, your detox—and your hormones—get backed up too.

Why Detoxing Matters for Fertility

Your fertility relies on delicate hormonal balance. But your body can only manage your hormones effectively if detox pathways are open and moving.

When detox is sluggish, here’s what can happen:

1. Hormone Build-Up

If estrogen isn’t eliminated appropriately, it gets reabsorbed into the bloodstream. This leads to estrogen dominance, which can cause:

• Irregular cycles

• PMS

• Painful periods

• Breast tenderness

• Difficulty ovulating

• Infertility

2. Increased Inflammation

Toxins trapped in the body create systemic inflammation, which can affect:

• Egg quality

• Ovulation

• Implantation

• Immune balance (critical for maintaining a pregnancy)

3. Disrupted Thyroid Function

Poor detox puts strain on the liver, which is responsible for converting thyroid hormones. Low thyroid function = irregular cycles + reduced ovulation.

4. Stress on the Liver

Your liver metabolizes hormones. If it’s overburdened, you may experience:

• Hormone imbalance

• Poor blood sugar control

• Sluggish cycles

• Difficulty maintaining pregnancy

Healthy detox = healthy hormones = better chances of getting pregnant.

So Let’s Be Clear: If You’re Not Pooping, You’re Not Detoxing

You should be having 1–3 healthy bowel movements a day.

Not once a week. Not every few days. Not just when you drink coffee.

Constipation means hormones (especially estrogen) cannot leave the body. And if estrogen can’t leave, your hormonal balance—required for ovulation—is disrupted.

Common causes of sluggish bowels include:

• Low fiber intake

• Dehydration

• Stress

• Low stomach acid

• Dysbiosis or gut infections

• Food sensitivities

• Poor thyroid function

• Not enough fats

• Too little movement

If you’re trying to get pregnant, your gut health matters more than you think.

If You’re Not Sweating, You’re Also Not Detoxing

Sweating is one of the most efficient detox pathways. Your skin literally pushes toxins out through your pores.

But many women:

• Sit all day

• Rarely exercise intensely enough to sweat

• Wear antiperspirants (with aluminum) blocking sweat ducts

• Are chronically dehydrated

• Never use heat therapies

• Have sluggish lymphatic systems

Your body wants to detox…But lifestyle habits can get in the way.

If you’re TTC, sweating is essential because it supports:

• Hormone balance

• Lymphatic flow

• Better circulation to reproductive organs

• Lower inflammation

• Lower toxic load

• Improved egg quality

What Gets in the Way of Natural Daily Detox?

Here are the biggest barriers that affect BOTH detox and fertility:

1. Chronic Stress

Stress turns off digestion and slows bowel movements.It also affects liver detox and hormone production.

2. Dehydration

Not enough water = thick lymph, slow bowels, and no sweat.

3. Environmental Toxins

Endocrine disruptors from fragrance, plastics, cleaning products, and skincare can overwhelm your detox pathways and mimic estrogen.

4. Poor Diet

Low fiber, processed foods, and inflammatory oils slow digestion and create internal inflammation.

5. Sedentary Lifestyle

Movement pumps the lymphatic system. No movement = no detox.

6. Nutrient Deficiencies

Your liver requires B vitamins, magnesium, and antioxidants to detox efficiently.

How to Support Natural Detox Daily (No Cleanse Required)

Your body doesn’t need a detox program. It needs detox habits.

Here’s how to detox gently and naturally every day:

1. Support Daily Bowel Movements

• Drink half your body weight in ounces of water

• Increase leafy greens and fiber

• Add chia or flax

• Support stomach acid (lemon water, apple cider vinegar before meals)

• Identify food sensitivities

• Prioritize gut health testing if needed

2. Sweat Daily

Try at least one:

• Exercise that gets your heart rate up

• A brisk walk outside

• Hot yoga

• Infrared sauna therapy (my FAVORITE for fertility detox + hormone balance)

Infrared sauna gently heats the body to release toxins, improve circulation, lower inflammation, and support lymphatic flow—all essential for fertility.

3. Move Your Body

Movement = lymphatic pump. Aim for some type of intentional movement every day.

4. Drink Enough Water

Dehydration shuts down detox. Consistency matters more than perfection.

5. Reduce Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors

Swap to fertility-friendly cleaning products, skincare, laundry detergent, and fragrance-free options.

6. Support Your Liver

Your liver needs nutrients!

• Cruciferous veggies

• Beets

• Lemon water

• Bitter greens

• Milk thistle (if appropriate)

• Reduce alcohol

7. Create a Calm Nervous System

Your body cannot detox—or conceive—when stuck in fight-or-flight.

Practice:

• Breath work

• Slow mornings with a morning routine

• Walking

• Journaling

• Nervous system regulation

Your Fertility Depends on Detox — But Not the “Trendy” Kind

You do NOT need:

✖️ expensive cleanses

✖️ extreme diets

✖️ juice fasting

✖️ harsh supplements

✖️ detox teas

You DO need:

✓ regular bowel movements

✓ daily sweating

✓ liver support

✓ gut support

✓ hydration

✓ stress reduction

Detoxing isn’t a trend—it’s a biological requirement for hormone balance and fertility.

When your detox pathways are open, your hormones can stay in balance and function. When your hormones function, your fertility improves. When your fertility improves, your chance of getting pregnant naturally goes up.

Want Help Getting Your Detox + Hormones Back on Track?

This is exactly what I help women do inside The FERTILE Plan. If your cycles are irregular, your hormones feel out of balance, or you’re not pooping/sweating daily—your detox pathways may be the missing piece.

If you’re ready to finally understand your hormones, your cycle, and how to support your fertility naturally → check out my step-by-step course Cycle Syncing.